Questions:Questions on today's Swami call:

0min

Why does Sri Krishna use other philosophies instead of bhakti when he tries to convince Nanda Maharaja to worship Giriraja Govardhan instead of Indra?

8min

How did Lord Brahma know that the cowherd boys were Vishnus rather than devotees in sarupya-mukti in the Brahma-Vimohan-Lila?

16min

Is it okay to speak of common devotees as appearing in the world rather than taking birth? And if it's wrong and people still do, is it okay to correct them?

33min

If I understood correctly, you said that mysticism is controlled objective subjectivity and that Krishna's form is self-manifest according to the love of the individual devotee. Can you confirm this?

36min

Is it possible that we may not be in touch with Mahaprabhu's dispensation in our next life?

39min

(Continues answer to question asked at 33min)

55min

What does it mean that the siddha-deha is eternal?

58min

Did you see my siddha-deha when you gave me initiation and then I use my sadhaka-deha to work towards that?

Questions on today’s Swami call:

1min

How come the gopis use names of Sri Krishna that highlight his aisvarya when they are in the mood of separation?

6min

In Srila Rupa Goswami’s Radhastakam, Srimati Radharani is referred to as the mother of the cowherd boys. It appears that the priya-narma sakhas would be an exception to this. Can you comment on this reference?

12min

There is another text where Krishna is referred to as a parent and care-giver. Can you comment on this as well?

16min

What does it mean for you to have a real practice, and what advice would you give to neophytes who have not yet found balance in their practice?

27min

Why did Mahaprabhu show himself in three ways to Nityananda Prabhu: a six-armed, a four-armed, and then a two armed form?

38min

There are many statements in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta that are ascribed to Mahaprabhu, Rupa Goswami and others, but it appears that it’s the author, Srila Krishnadas Kaviraja Goswami who makes them. It seems he’s taking a lot of license. Can you comment on this?

46min

Can a Gaudiya Vaisnava worship a deity of Sri Laxmi-devi?

54min

Sivananda Sena’s son was disturbed when Nityananda Prabhu kicked his father. He then went to Mahaprabhu who consoled him. Can we perhaps learn from this example that having unfavorable thoughts is not necessarily the same as committing aparadha, but one may simply be hurt?

Questions on today’s Swami call:

0min

What kind of questions can a disciple ask to inspire the guru?

8min

The last time you said you talked with Krishna. Was it in a dream? What did he say?

13min

People say to just chant and be happy, but this may take the shape of spiritual bypassing. Should we take responsibility for our mental wellbeing or just try to surrender without caring for that?

28min

What does it mean to be integrated in the world in an enlightened way?

48min

What do you think are the 10 most important verses of the Bhagavad Gita?

Questions on today’s Swami call:

0min

Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana is said to have said that the gopis were betrothed to the gopas during the year of the Brahma-vimohana-lila, and are thus secretly betrothed to Krishna. Can you comment on this?

9min

Today is the commemoration of the Panihati festival. Would you like to say something about it?

17min

What would be the most important lesson to learn from the story of the Panihati festival?

20min

Can you explain the significance of Bhagavad Gita 8.17 that says you can understand what day and night are by understanding Brahma’s day and night?

25min

People ask me why I believe in Krishna if I haven’t seen him. I know we don’t have to see Krishna to believe him, but I would like to ask, have you seen Krishna?

32min

If bhakti comes from bhakti, how do we explain that some who are born in devotee families become inimical to bhakti?

43min

How can we navigate differences of opinion within our sangha with regards to important points of siddhanta?

Questions on today’s Swami call:

1min

How do I go about a systematic study of our scriptures?

22min

Who does Rama in the maha-mantra refer to?

34min

Should we try to make more devotees come to our programs or just focus together with those who come spontaneously?

37min

Who does Rama refer to in “Rama Krsna guna gay”?

40min

Where is it described that Mahaprabhu accepted two principles from each of the four main Vaishnava sampradayas, and what were those principles?

48min

Has mount Govardhana always been long and not broad?

50 min

Can you say something about the song Sri Gaura Mangala Mahima that you wrote?

Questions on today’s Swami call:

0min

Does Sri Krishna have babyhood pastimes in Goloka Vrindavana?

19min

If Sri Krishna needs to come to the material world to take birth, does that mean he is dependent on the maya-sakti to perform a lila like that? It sounds problematic that the svarupa-sakti would not be able to facilitate that in the spiritual world?

23min

Can there be different siddhantas depending on the author and what vantage point they come from in the lila?

32min

Can the stories of our tradition be retold in a secular way?

40min

I’m curious as to why Srila Vrindavana Dasa Thakura speaks about Sriman Mahaprabhu more as Narayana than as Krishna in his Caitanya Bhagavata. Can you share your thoughts in this?

53min

Srimati Laksmi-priya Devi is identified with Sita-devi and Queen Rukmini. Who is Srimati Vishnu-priya Devi identified with?

Questions on today’s Swami call:

0min

How can we navigate conflicts among the members of our sangha without committing offenses?

9min

Am I going to be shunned by the Vaishnava community if my wife and I divorce?

22min

Sometimes it is said that any of the nine angas of bhakti enumerated by Prahlada Maharaja are powerful enough to give perfection. Other times it is said that without kirtana the other angas are incomplete. Can you explain this?

29min

Can you explain the two similar verses that both contain the words “Vyaso vetti na vetti va”?

39min

What is the etiquette for bathing in Radha Kunda?

44min

Is it okay to study about rasa theoretically or should one wait until one is at a higher stage?

50min

Where in the Srimad Bhagavatam does Sri Krishna talk about gandharva-marriage?

52min

I’m having difficulties understanding what manjari-bhava means. It is supposed to belong to madhurya-rasa but seems to be more about sakhya and dasya. Can you explain?

Questions on today's Swami call:

0min

What is Prahlada Maharaja’s ultimate destination?

4min

I have heard that there is an ugra form of Sri Narasimhadeva and a more sweet form. I have also heard that Hiranyakasipu actually died from not being able to handle the loving glance of Narasimhadeva. Can you comment on this?

8min

Is there anything said about the disappearance of Sri Narasimhadeva? I heard a story that he went to wash his hands in a river in Mayapura after killing Hiranyakasipu? Do we accept that story as authentic?

14min

Do radical politics fit into Krishna consciousness? I look at our planet as being created by Krishna and that it is our service to protect it.

30min

Today is said to be the appearance day of Lord Buddha. Would you like to say something about this?

40min

In Madhva sampradaya they mention three types of souls, one type seeming not to be eligible for self-realization. This is not the view in our sampradaya, yet we accept Madhvacarya as authentic. So would we see his angle of vision as a different angle of perfect spiritual vision? Is there an official view in our sampradaya of Madhva’s teachings?

50min

It is said that Lord Narayana told Lord Shiva to take birth in Kali-yuga as a brahmana and preach against Krishna consciousness. If Krishna wants us to go to Him, why would he give such an order?

Sri Narasingha Caturdasi 2022 May 14, 2022

Questions on today's Swami call:

0min

Is it okay to bring outsiders to our gatherings or would it be a disturbance?

3min

In Murari Gupta’s Sri Caitanya-Carita Mahakavya, there is a Krishnadasa guiding Sriman Mahaprabhu on a tour of the 12 forests of Vraja. Who is this Krishnadasa?

5min

The same book mentions a stotram of names of Sriman Mahaprabhu by Advaita Acarya. Do you know whether this stotram is available somewhere?

6min

What are your thoughts on the tradition of bathing Jagannatha-deva in preparation for Ratha-yatra?

10min

How to understand ontologically that Krishna never leaves Vraja?

22min

Why are the disappearance days of Sita Thakurani, Jahnava Mata, and Visnupriya Devi not celebrated while their appearance days are?

29min

Can you explain Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura’s verse beginning pujala raga-patha gaurava bhange?

48 min

Where does the false ego get its nourishment from?