Philosophy
Articles by Satyanarayana Dasa Gaudiya Philosophy Shastra

Bhagavān, Grace and Material Suffering – Part 6

By Satyanarayana Dasa – Continuation from Paramātmā Sandarbha, Anuccheda 93.6:Translation: Furthermore, [the fact that Bhagavān does not personally act to sustain the universe] does not disprove that the avatāras are endowed with the intrinsic potency. The sole purpose of Bhagavān is to

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Articles by Satyanarayana Dasa Gaudiya Philosophy Shastra

Bhagavān, Grace and Material Suffering – Part 5

Continuation from Paramātmā Sandarbha, Commentary on Anuccheda 93.5 by Satyanarayana Dasa - Another example of bhakti impelling a bhakta to act in an apparently mundane way is found in the Tenth Canto in the story of the twin Arjuna trees. In that narration, the sage Nārada curses the sons of Kubera who were enjoying water

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Articles by Satyanarayana Dasa Gaudiya Philosophy Shastra

Bhagavān, Grace and Material Suffering – Part 4

Continuation from Paramātmā Sandarbha, Commentary on Anuccheda 93.5 by Satyanarayana Dasa -- Śrī Jīva now responds to the second objection regarding the accusation of Bhagavān's being biased. Earlier he established that Bhagavān acts only to give delight to His devotees, which seemingly implicates Him in bias.

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Articles by Satyanarayana Dasa Gaudiya Philosophy

Bhagavān, Grace and Material Suffering – Part 3

By Satyanarayana Dasa - Continuation from Paramātmā Sandarbha, Anuccheda 93.5: Bhagavān Has No Experience of Material Misery. Translation: With regard to the second objection [that Bhagavān is subject to favoritism], we say the following: One engages in giving delight to others for two possible reasons: to attain what one desires from the other, or sometimes

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Articles by Satyanarayana Dasa Philosophy Shastra

Bhagavān, Grace and Material Suffering – Part 2

By Satyanarayana Dasa - Continuation from Paramātmā Sandarbha, Anuccheda 93.4: Devotees are Self-Satisfied - Translation: [An objection is raised] It is not to be conjectured that since the Lord gives bliss to His devotees and they to Him, He [or His devotees] must not be self-satisfied; nor that since He gives pleasure to His devotees

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Articles by Satyanarayana Dasa Bhakti Philosophy

The Two Divisions of Pure Bhakti – 1

This article describes the two divisions of pure devotion, known as vaidhī and rāgānugā, based on Śrī Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura’s explanation of Śrī Kapila’s statements in the 25th chapter of the Third Canto of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam.

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Articles by Satyanarayana Dasa Philosophy

The Self and Free Will in the Caitanya Sampradāya – Conclusion

One of the knotty problems in Vedānta is the relation of ātmā with the three guṇas of prakṛti. Ātmā, although conditioned by the material guṇas, never contacts them. The guṇas of prakṛti are not inherent in the ātmā and have no direct contact with it. The self does not have any type of relation with

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