Philosophy
Articles by Satyanarayana Dasa Philosophy

The Ontology of the Jīva – Part 1

By Satyanarayana Dasa: This article describes the nature of the individual living being (jīva). It is based on a commentary on verses three through seven of the 26th Chapter of the Third Canto of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam by Śri Vīrarāghava Ācārya of the Śrī-sampradāya. I have included my own explanatory statements where required.

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Articles by Satyanarayana Dasa Gaudiya Vaishnavas Philosophy Sadhana

Svadhyaya – Japa and Shastra Treat

Two years ago I experimented with something I had been deliberating on for many years. Along with twelve of my students, I rented a house in Switzerland for a week in the summer and engaged in japa meditation as described in bhakti shastra. There was no contact with the outside world, (i.e. no phone or

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Gaudiya Vaishnavas Philosophy

No One Falls From Vaikuṇṭha – Part 12 (Bhagavat Sandarbha, 51)

Sometimes it is suggested that the jīva falls due to being envious of Kṛṣṇa. But as declared earlier, māyā is not present in Vaikuṇṭha, so from where could such envy arise? In Bhagavad Gītā 13.7, the Lord says that hatred, or envy, is connected to the material body.

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Articles by Satyanarayana Dasa Gaudiya Vaishnavas Philosophy Shastra

No One Falls From Vaikuṇṭha – Part 11 (Bhagavat Sandarbha, 51)

Teaching is an art. An expert teacher is one who educates in such a way that the students embrace the teaching as their own, without confusion or degradation. The conditioned souls, being unaware of any other reality, do not aspire to become free of the material world, but would rather be happy in this life,

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Articles by Satyanarayana Dasa Philosophy Shastra

No One Falls From Vaikuṇṭha – Part 6 (Bhagavat Sandarbha, 51)

No one can enter or remain in Vaikuṇṭha unless he has attained devotion for the Lord. Lord Ṛṣabhadeva confirms this: When the living being is covered by tamo-guṇa, his mind is subject to result-oriented action. Therefore, the jīva cannot be released from attachment to the body until love dawns for Me, Lord Vāsudeva.

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Articles by Satyanarayana Dasa Philosophy Shastra

No One Falls From Vaikuṇṭha – Part 4 (Bhagavat Sandarbha, 51)

(2) There is no possibility of committing sin in the spiritual world. Sin and piety exist only in the material world, both being products of the guṇas of nature. A devotee in the spiritual world is situated in his eternal inherent nature (svarūpa), free from material covering or ignorance...

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Articles by Satyanarayana Dasa Gaudiya Vaishnavas General Philosophy Shastra

No One Falls From Vaikuṇṭha – Part 3 (Bhagavat Sandarbha, 51)

Continuation of the commentary: Transcendental entities do not get converted from spiritual to material. Moreover, Vaikuṇṭha is unlimited—it has no bounds. It is anantam, as stated in the Bhāgavatam. This abode is truth, consciousness, the unlimited, the indestructible spiritual effulgence that silent sages witness in their trance

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