Gaudiya Philosophy
Articles by Satyanarayana Dasa Gaudiya Philosophy Sandarbhas

Bhagavān Is Not Biased (Part 2)

Commentary on Paramātma Sandarbha, Anuccheda 93, by Satyanarayana Dasa Śrī Jīva now responds to the second objection regarding the accusation that Bhagavān is biased. Earlier he established that Bhagavān acts only to give delight to His devotees, which seemingly implicates Him in bias. Śrī Jīva writes that a person acts to please others for two

Read More
Gaudiya Philosophy Questions & Answers

Relation between Jiva and Siddha Deha – Part 2

Question: Presently, we’re studying SB 1.6.28 wherein the topic of receiving (prayujyamāne) the sidda-deha is being described by Nārada. I’ve been hearing your 1st Canto lectures as well to help our study. This topic of siddha-deha lead to many questions, given the siddha-deha is eternal, i.e without beginning and without end. Your insight is greatly sought b/c

Read More
Gaudiya Philosophy Questions & Answers

Relation between Jiva and Siddha Deha – Part 1

Question: When the atma attains Vaikuntha, he/she gets a spiritual form which is different from its form in this material world (1/10,000 the size of the tip of hair). How can we say that atma undergoes no modifications? Answer:  Getting a spiritual body is not a modification of atma, just as getting a material body

Read More
Gaudiya Philosophy Questions & Answers Sadhana

Chanting the Name without Offense

Question: Cakravarti Thakur writes: “Even so, the Yamadutas, the messengers of Yamaraj, are powerless to attack anyone who chant the Holy Name, even offenders, for the Bhagavatam says, “[These devotees] do not see Yama’s noose-bearing servants even in their dreams, for they are free from the need for any other atonements.” In the description of the

Read More
Gaudiya Philosophy Questions & Answers Shastra

The Purpose behind Storytelling in the Bhagavatam

Question:  I heard that Sukadeva Gosvami was Krsna’s parrot in his last life, and in this life he was a brahman-realized person. How is one to understand this, if he’s an eternal associate of the Lord? Is this a lila or something else? Answer: There are various types of stories related to Sukadeva in shastra, and

Read More
Gaudiya Philosophy Questions & Answers

Are the Vedas Inherent in the Heart? (3)

When I was requested to comment on the discussion, I wrote as follows: “Jīva Gosvāmī has refuted sphota-vāda in Sarva-samvādini. It is not a question of citing some verses to prove a point but to understand the complete system. Does acintya-bhedabheda-vāda of Jīva Gosvāmī entertain the idea of sphota-vāda or the Veda or love being

Read More
Gaudiya Philosophy Questions & Answers

More on the Origin of Jiva and the Siddhanta

Question: A question regarding Bhāgavatam 2.10.12 dravyaḿ karma ca kālaś ca svabhāvo jīva eva ca yad-anugrahataḥ santi na santi yad-upekṣayā Do you feel this is one of the pramānas establishing that the origin of the jīva is in Mahāviṣṇu / Puruṣa? I hear the verse like this: “He produced the fundamental material elements, and the

Read More