Questions on today’s Swami call:

Dear Guru Maharaja. My husband does not identify as a Vaishnava, but he is supportive of my practice and also approves of me teaching our children about bhakti. I think of him as a Vaishnava and serve him prasadam. However, he does not like food without onion, and according to deity worship standards, onions should not be offered to Sri Krishna. Can I still serve my husband food with onions, meditating that I am serving a Vaishnava according to his preferences?

Why do demons appear in the lila of Sri Krishna? Is it to show what happens when we turn away from Sri Krishna?

What is the significance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu worshipping Sri Advaita Acarya with the mantra "yo 'si so 'si namo 'stu te”, meaning "Whatever You are, You are — but I offer My respects unto You”?

What happens with deities that get stolen and end up in a place where there are no devotees around?

How can we dispose of mahaprasad items if we are in a country where such items cannot legally be disposed of in the way our scriptures prescribe, such as burning, burying or putting them a river?

Does Bhagavad-Gita 5.16-17 refer to realizing one’s bhava and seva and entering the spiritual world?

Are there any examples that illustrate Lord Balarama’s being the presiding deity of the rasa of laughter (hasya-rasa)?

Can you explain the differences between eligibility for vaidhi-sadhana-bhakti and for raganuga-sadhana-bhakti?

Pranams, Guru Maharaja. One devotee said that earlier in the history of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, when there were not many members, the small groups of practitioners made for an informal atmosphere suitable for the practice of raga-bhakti. But when it became bigger, things became more formal, and that is more suitable for spreading vaidhi-bhakti to the masses, and then there will be small pockets of people interested in raga-bhakti. What is your opinion on this view?

Questions on today’s Swami Call:

Can you share some advice to encourage our children in Krishna consciousness, especially pre-teens?

If we are not the actual doers of action (as per Bhagavad-Gita 3.27), do we have free will?

Pranams, Guru Maharaja. Regarding the title and artwork of your upcoming book, ”Birds of the Same Feather”, using the analogy from the Upanishad’s of two birds in the tree, isn’t this usually referring to the atma and Paramatma whereas your book is about the atma and Bhagavan?

Dandavats, Guru Maharaja. Is it appropriate to pray to Sri Radha, Sri Krishna’s primary shakti, to keep us away from the external shakti, the material energy?

Hare Krsna, Gurudeva. I hope you are well. How does a falldown from a high level of bhakti to a lower level show itself?

If the devotees in Vaikuntha look the same as Lord Narayana, how do you tell them from one another?

Dandavats, Guru Maharaja. Could it be said that demons live inside us in this age in the form of anarthas?

How would you describe humility? 

What books would you recommend to study Gaudiya Vaishnava philosophy in a systematic way?

In the Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Svarupa Damodara says that even a highly advanced Vaishnava who has accepted Sri Krishna as the Lord will change their mind if they hear the Vedanta commentary of Sankaracarya. Why would that be?

What is the connection between Sri Prabhodananda Saraswati and the Radha-Vallabhis?

Pranams, dear Maharaja. Should I be critical of others for their own good, or just focus on my own practice?

Questions on today’s Swami Call:

Did Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s teachings reach the whole world during his manifest lila on Earth?

Good morning, Maharaja. Pranama. What is the difference between Sri Krishna and the sages’ glorification of him?

What is the difference between the unmanifest and the manifest lilas of Sri Krishna?

Dear Guru Maharaja, can you tell us something about the extraordinary devotee Sri Akincana Krishna Dasa Babaji?

Pranama. At what point did it become a practice to offer a gheelamp to Srimati Yasoda Devi binding Lord Damodara?

Why is Sri Gadadhara Pandit not mentioned in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta 3.1?

Is there any separation in the unmanifest lila of Sri Krishna?

Is the rope in Damodara lila conscious?

Can you tell us something about the spiritual teacher Ramana Maharshi?

Can you say something about the festival of Diwali?

Where does transcendental faith (nirguna sraddha) reside?

Questions on today's Swami Call: 

In what ways could the Brahma-vimohan-lila be an entry point for those desiring servile (dasya-) or friendly love (sakhya-rati) for Sri Krishna?

Dear Maharaja; in the Bhagavad-Gita, Sri Krishna says he spoke this knowledge to the sun god. How come there is no Surya vaishnava sampradaya?

(Comments from Sajjan about the Kumara sampradaya, the sun god, and the upcoming appearance day of Srila B. R. Sridhara-Deva Goswami Maharaja)

Besides the tenth canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam, are there any other biographies of Sri Krishna? 

Dandavats pranama, Guru Maharaja. Is the Srimad Bhagavatam itself sweet and deep, or do the commentaries add those dimensions?

Is it correct to assume that the more advanced a devotee is the less he cares about the qualification (adhikara) of other devotees? Thank you, Maharaja.

Could it be said that the beginner (kanistha) devotee is characterized by faulty discrimination?

My loving obeisances, Guru Maharaja. Is it correct to see our human condition with all its weaknesses as an impetus for surrender to Sri Krishna?

Dandavats, Maharaja. Thank you. What is the significance of the rope binding Sri Krishna's belly being praised in the Damodarastakam?

How should we understand Srila Prabhupada's statement that the Srimad Bhagavatam should be received from representatives of Sukadeva Goswami in the renounced order?

Questions on today’s Swami Call:

What do the terms chaya- and pratibimba-bhakti-abhasa mean?

I fear death since I became a mother, as I wouldn’t be able to care for my children if I died. How can I turn fear into trust?

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura said both that attaining anartha-nivrtti will automatically awaken one’s svarupa and that one needs to focus on artha-pravrtti to attain perfection. How can these statements be harmonized?

Pranama, Maharaja. Why is Sri Krishna’s Damodara-lila especially emphasized during the month of Kartika?

Why is the Damodara month considered to be Srimati Radharani’s month?

Is there a particular calling for each devotee to perform a certain service in their sadhaka-deha?

Some devotees talk about a second wave of bhakti coming over the world. What do you think about this idea?

Questions on today’s Swami call:

If jivas have different origins, such as Maha-Vishnu (for those in samsara) or Lord Balarama (for eternal associates of Sri Krishna), would a jiva going from the material world to Vaikuntha, could this be seen as changing nationality, or is it rather like becoming a world citizen?

Throughout my life I have been attracted to both Gaudiya Vaishnavism and Advaita Vedanta. I am now 50 years old. What do you think I should do?

Could a devotee both be bliss and taste bliss?

Pranama Gurudeva; namaskar. I feel inspired to support Srimati Radharani in her yudha-vira bhava with Sri Krishna. Is that possible?

Can you share something about Sri Jahnava Thakurani’s inner identity and her contribution to our sampradaya?

Dandavats, Swami Maharaja. How could demons enter Vrindavan, which is a spiritual place?

It seems that we can find examples of both spiritually responsible suicide as well as delusional suicide. What is your perspective on this?

Why did Srila Prabhupada say that the stars reflect the light of the sun?

Questions on today’s Swami call:

Sometimes it seems that even spiritually powerful devotees have gone astray theologically. How can this be?

What constitutes sadhu sanga?

Srila Sridhara Maharaja says that devotees need to prepare themselves for times when Sri Krishna will appear indifferent to them. Why are such experience necessary?

Would Srila Haridas Thakura’s getting beaten up in different marketplaces be an example?

How can we inspire faith in the Veda in others?

How to deal with interfaith questions where there are important differences such as Hindus having deities while the Bible says one should not worship graven images?

What are your thoughts on ahimsa?

Questions on today’s Swami call:

Are there demigods in the unmanifest lilas in the spiritual world?

What is the interrelation between Bhagavan, Brahman, and the jivas?

It is said that chanting the holy name will purify us, but it is also said that we need to chant purely for the practice to be effective. Can you explain this seeming contradiction?

Please, would you elaborate on the sixth verse of Gurvastakam by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, as much as time allows?

Questions on today’s Swami call:

It appears that Gaura-lila is a meeting place for devotees from different spiritual realms. Is this so only in the pastimes manifest in the world (prakata-lila) or also in the spiritual world (aprakata-lila)?

Are there devotees with the love of servitude (dasya-rati) as their dominant emotion (sthayi-bhava) in Vraja-lila?

Do the pastimes of separation draw jivas into the lila as there is a need for their service there?

Guru Maharaja, please accept my humble obeisances. What is the relationship between our actions and our inner states? On what should we base the latter?

When we go on pilgrimage, for example to Vrindavan, is it enough to see the place as an excitant (uddipana) for our bhakti, or is it important to emphasize as a historical fact that Sri Krishna was physically there 5000 years ago?

What would you answer to the argument that one could meditate on anything, such as a flame, and experience the same results as from meditating on Sri Sri Radha Krishna?

What should I keep in mind as I serve Srimati Tulasi-devi?

Do you have any thoughts or advice to share about today’s lunar eclipse?

The description of the Gopala yantra in Gopala-tapani Upanisad is very complicated and technical. Can you explain it?

The Vraja-vasis are not aware that Sri Krishna is God, but in times of calamity they take shelter of him. Why is that?

Questions on today's Swami call:

Is it common to have stronger feelings for one's own guru than for Sri Krishna?

Today being Sri Radhastami, is there anything you would like to share about Srimati Radharani or any recommendations for reading and chanting on this day? Also, if you have any particular recommendations for those aspiring for manjari-bhava or priya-narma-sakha-bhava, I would be interested to hear those.

It is said that Lalita-sakhi recommends qualified newcomers to enter Sri Radha's group. How does it work for those aspiring for sakhya-rasa? Also, in Jaiva Dharma we hear that two disciples of the same guru can view the guru according to their own rasas. Could you explain this?

How come Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu sometimes encouraged devotees along the lines of a bhava that was different from their own?

What does the word 'sudhama' refer to in your pranama mantra?

Could you say something in glorification of Sri Visakha sakhi?

Can I worship a statue of Sri Sri Radha Krishna that I bought in a shop?