2024 Swami Padmanabha

Join the sanga where important aspects of our practice are fleshed out from the theoretical to the arena of our daily lives.

0:00 Reflections on how to honor and celebrate Guru Purnima: the day of the guru.

14:53 Richard Rohr speaks of the "Universal Christ." How can we think about the Universal Christ within our Gaudiya framework?

33:25 What does it actually mean to "serve the guru"? Are there different ways to serve the principle of guru and the individual who represents that agency?

1:04:39 If we really believe that "Krishna comes disguised as our life," how would we approach life differently?

1:23:26 Who is Srila Vyasadeva? Does he represent an aspect of Krishna? And what is his relationship with Sri Baladeva who is known as the origin of Guru Tattva?

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeOO3qfHLT8

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

▶ WEBSITE
▶ FACEBOOK
▶ INSTAGRAM
▶ YOUTUBE

*********

RADICAL PERSONALISM: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion.

How might process thought and Hindu traditions be in relationship?

In his video, “Evolution and Vedanta,” Swami Padmanabha talks about God or Love as the ultimate supreme reality, and how God along with all realities is dynamic, ever-evolving, and growing. Reality is not made up of fixed, changeless substances; rather, it is marked by what he calls “deep evolution” – a sacred evolution at the very depths of reality.

In this conversation, Dr. Jeffery Long, a practitioner and theologian in the Vedanta tradition of Sri Ramakrishna as well as a scholar of process philosophy and Asian studies, and Swami Padmanabha, a leader and teacher in the Gaudiya Vaishnavism tradition of Hinduism, will share their thoughts on resonances between their two Hindu traditions and process thought.

They’ll explore such areas as:

• The dynamic nature of God and reality
• Texts and tradition as “ever fresh,” especially in Vaishnava traditions and the tradition of Sri Ramakrishna
• Human purpose, consciousness, and “radical personalism”
• Astonishment and surrender; divine will, human choice, and grace

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nzvgsjv8t7Q&t=7s

Organized by Process & Faith: https://processandfaith.org

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

▶ WEBSITE
▶ FACEBOOK
▶ INSTAGRAM
▶ YOUTUBE

*********

RADICAL PERSONALISM: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion.

Join the sanga as many important aspects of our practice are fleshed out from the theoretical to the arena of our daily lives.

0:00 Introduction and Invitation

3:40 How does a serious attitude towards spiritual life lend itself to keeping a sense of humor about ourselves, others and the world?

20:49 Follow-up question. What is the role of surprise in our tradition?

29:02 We hear that Vaikuntha and Goloka are spiritual planets and places, and I hear that you mention them as states of being. So can you further explain what you mean by that and how I can integrate that into where I am now?

44:25 It is said in the Srimad Bhagavatam that we first enter material life as Brahma and then degrade to a worm. So if Brahma is engaging in service, and service is preserved, then how can we devolve to a worm?

1:00:00 What does it mean that our guru takes our karma and some will say that they get sick because of it?

1:12:41 How do we reconcile the importance of sadhana but not equate it with performance thinking “When I do this many things and I feel closer to God” and when I don’t, then I am not close.

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjwLptiZ5wg

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

▶ WEBSITE
▶ FACEBOOK
▶ INSTAGRAM
▶ YOUTUBE

*********

RADICAL PERSONALISM: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion.

0:00 Sharing some words relating Gundica marjana lila as being “Anartha-nivritti Day”

21:00 What is the difference between tough love and abuse, especially tough loving guidance and pastoral abuse?

40:10 Is anartha-nivritti a separate endeavor?

45:50 What do you mean by mystical traditions? Is thinking our tradition is higher than others a way of honoring the gifts that come to us or a result of dualistic thinking?

1:08:40 If we ourselves have trauma histories or are helping others who do, how can we distinguish necessary comfort from pampering and a healthy push coming from a place love from something that is too much to expect?

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjwLptiZ5wg

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

▶ WEBSITE
▶ FACEBOOK
▶ INSTAGRAM
▶ YOUTUBE

*********

RADICAL PERSONALISM: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion.

00:00 Swami Padmanabha invites us to the experience of Tadatmya, reminding us that we are of all one family, integrated into a whole and sacred circle with Bhagavan in the center, the axis and center of reality..

3:49 In the last class of your recent 4-part lecture series on Evolution in Divine Love: The Eternal Becoming of Soul, Matter and God, you referred to sadhana-bhakti as a rehearsal for bhava/prema bhakti. Would you please elaborate on this?

24:05 How important is belief in God for spiritual advancement? Can one advance spiritually without having an affirmative theistic belief in God? Do we suspend our belief to accept what guru, sastra and sadhu say before we experience it? How important is it that what we are told is objectively true or is subjectively accepting something as good good enough?

40:51 Does the notion of inherent bhakti eclipse free will?

56:50 When we ask the question, “Who am I?”, from which place should we answer that? As an atma/soul or as the psychological self?

1:07:34 Considering that the hari-nama initiation is not diksa, what is our relationship with the guru that gives us hari-nama? What do we call the guru who gives us hari-nama but not diksa?

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jA4BntXpZsw&t=1s

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

▶ WEBSITE
▶ FACEBOOK
▶ INSTAGRAM
▶ YOUTUBE

*********

RADICAL PERSONALISM: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion.

0:00 Swami Padmanabha shares some news about the completion of his latest book. He then proceeds to invite us to bring our “wood” to the fire of contemplation and sacred space for the ongoing journey of ISTAGOSTHI.

06:33 Since Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura accepted diksha from the Bipin Bihar who is in the line of Jahnava Mata Thakurani, as well as his strong siksha relationship with Jagannath dasa Babaji, is our lineage both coming from Jahnava Mata and Jagannatha dasa Babaji?

18:47 If Krishna’s name, being non-different from him, are always pure, how do we harmonize statements like hearing the holy name from non-devotees is compared to milk being touched by the lips of a snake?

41:11 How do we go from “reading” scriptures to “studying” scriptures and then “realizing” scripture?

01:03.40 When I engage in meditative practices I experience peace but not when I chant japa. Am I doing something wrong?

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/live/_QNx-2TXr3g

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

▶ WEBSITE
▶ FACEBOOK
▶ INSTAGRAM
▶ YOUTUBE

*********

RADICAL PERSONALISM: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion.

0:00 Swami Padmanabha shares a few words about his recent travel to NY and his attendance at the NY Ratha-yatra and the celebration of Bhaktisiddhanta’s life. He also offers his appreciation of Sudharma dasi, who passed away the previous night, and requests prayers and well-wishing for her transition.

05:37 I understand Guru means ideal representation of Krishna, but sometimes an individual Guru may not meet such standard. Is it offensive for a disciple to question the Guru's incomplete representation of Krishna? Since the disciple is supposed to have unwavering faith, where does a disciple draw a line of Guru aparad?

23:21 Does love have a transactional quality to it?

48:15 How would I see things if I were seeing everything nondually? How do you see the misbehavior of others and the things that go on in the world if we are seeing nondually?

01:00.59 How can we have faith or hope that chanting the Holy Name is the most important thing if we don’t have experience of that?

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/gbrTaFi7YQA

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

▶ WEBSITE
▶ FACEBOOK
▶ INSTAGRAM
▶ YOUTUBE

*********

RADICAL PERSONALISM: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion.

Renunciation is not the ultimate goal of bhakti, just as exploitation is not. However, many practitioners do not approach their practice with this understanding. Distorted views of both family and monastic life have unfortunately become the accepted norm, leading to unchecked, uncurbed, and unresolved negative effects.

Swami Padmanabha offers a fresh perspective, illuminating the positive role of family life within the path of bhakti.

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EA1XS6nM310

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

▶ WEBSITE
▶ FACEBOOK
▶ INSTAGRAM
▶ YOUTUBE

*********

RADICAL PERSONALISM: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion.

In this class, Swami Padmanabha explores the concept of wholeness within bhakti, emphasizing the recognition that reality, and everything emanating from that reality, is inherently whole and complete where everything belongs. This journey involves the harmonious integration of our humanity and spirituality. Contrary to the common notion that we are human beings seeking a spiritual experience, Swami Padmanabha points out that we are spiritual beings navigating a human experience, though our humanity may often feel fragmented.

Neglecting our human aspects in favor of spirituality can lead to various forms of dysfunction. Bhakti necessitates a balanced approach where both humanity and spirituality are intertwined in coexistence. Embracing our human side, with all its vulnerabilities, brokenness, and fears, is an essential part of the spiritual path. Despite the messiness of our human condition, it is crucial to understand that God loves and accepts us fully as we are. Our struggle to fit in can be eased by the understanding that we are already accepted. Because we are loved, we are lovable and therefore able to love.

This foundational understanding is vital as we embark on our journey toward a deeper love for God. We are guided to acknowledge and integrate all aspects of ourselves, fostering a more holistic and fulfilling spiritual practice.

---

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

▶ WEBSITE
▶ FACEBOOK
▶ INSTAGRAM
▶ YOUTUBE

*********

RADICAL PERSONALISM: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion.

Our Gaudiya glossary contains profound concepts that often become familiar and lose their deep meaning, leading us to engage with them superficially. One such concept is "sadhu sanga." In this class, we will rediscover the true essence of "sadhu sanga" and elevate our understanding beyond the ordinary. Join us to explore "sadhu sanga" from a fresh, extraordinary perspective and appreciate its profound significance.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

▶ WEBSITE
▶ FACEBOOK
▶ INSTAGRAM
▶ YOUTUBE

*********

RADICAL PERSONALISM: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion.