Questions on today’s Swami call:

0:00 It is said that the role of the guru is to correct us, but a guru should also be free from the propensity to criticize. Is this a contradiction?

35:06 (Comment from Sajjan das regarding affection and criticism)

37:36 Do you think that it should be specified at initiation what the format will be for further instruction from the guru?

40:27 (Comment from Gokulacandra das regarding sweet and bitter medicine)

43:38 Is the story of Srila Rupa Goswami chastising Srila Jiva Goswami relevant to us as sadhakas?

50:50 If we do not understand the instruction of the guru, would you recommend to sit with the unknown and discomfort and have trust that acceptance will eventually come by practice?

56:10 I have heard that one can take birth on Sri Krishna’s planet, Goloka, by accumulating good karma. What happens there?

1:00:29 What is the relation of the rasa of fear (bhayanaka-rasa) to madhura-rasa?

1:02:45 Dandavat pranams, Guru Maharaja. Can you explain the concept of eligibility (adhikara) for study and practice of Gaudiya Vaishnavism?

1:09:03 Jaya, Guru Maharaja. I hope you are well. I have a concern about associating with devotees. Sometimes I experience that associating with other devotees simply turns into gossip and criticism. Is it better to try and find just a few like-minded devotees to associate with rather than a big community?

Questions on today’s Swami call:

0:00 What’s the difference between when sthayi-bhavas are mixed and when they are bundled?

7:30 Dear Guru Maharaja; some pure devotees set the example of not speaking or hearing negative things about other devotees even when those things are true. Others set the example of criticizing the misbehavior of other devotees to show the correct path. Which example are we to follow?

15:20 Dandavat, Guru Maharaja. Sometimes we are disillusioned about material life, but that does not necessarily make us inspired to serve Sri Krishna. How can we turn this mere disillusionment into something positive?

20:06 Dandavat, Maharaja. You recently mentioned representatives of other parivaras criticizing Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura and Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. Can you elaborate on this or direct me to where I can find out more about this topic?

40:06 The Gita describes the soul as a ten thousandth of the size of the tip of a hair. How does such become form in the spiritual world? Is it analogous to how it animates form in the material world?

47:20 On page 152 of Circle of Friends, you refer to the suhrt-rati that the gopas and their parents have for one another. Can you explain how this works?

51:08 (Follow up to previous question) Thank you, Guru Maharaja; pranama. So the love of the friend (suhrt-rati) is going both ways between the parents and the young gopas?

52:24 Pranama. In your commentary on Bhagavad-Gita 2.59 you mention that a drop of spiritual experience coming from following the teachings of the scriptures is more confirming than an ocean of scriptural mandates. Yet we are generally not encouraged to share about deep spiritual experiences as this could bring about pride. It seems, however that sharing could also be inspiring for others. How should we approach spiritual experiences? And on the other hand, how do we explain the instances where devotees practice for many years without having any deep spiritual experiences?

1:01:34 It’s an absolute pleasure to meet you, Swami. Could you share what it was that made you accept Sri Krishna as the highest form of the Godhead?

Questions on today’s Swami call:

0:00 Nityananda Trayodashi

12:43 Is a vrtti something like a samskara?

14:09 Dandavats pranama, Guru Maharaja. How did Subala-sakha manage to save Srimati Radharani from being caught by Jatila?

17:36 Pranama, Gurudeva. On this special day of Sri Nityananda Trayodasi, can you speak something about how Lord Nityananda reflects the light of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu? Do we need this reflective light as the direct light of Sri Caitanya would be too strong?

29:42 Is Hadai Pandit in Gaura-lila identified with Vasudeva in Krsna-lila?

31:18 Did Lord Balarama choose not to be present for the killing of Aghasura?

39:19 When you speak about the jiva as a dravya, is that the same thing as a vastu?

41:20 Dandavats, Maharaja. Today we are celebrating Sri Varaha-dvadasi in Europe. Can you say something about why Sri Krishna appeared as a boar?

44:39 Can you kindly elaborate on Srila Prabhupada’s connection to the lineage of Lord Nityananda?

51:25 Is the love that the manjaris have for Srimati Radharani part of their sthayi-bhava?

0:00 With regards to Srimad Bhagavatam

11.19.3, who does it mean that the perfect knowledge of the transcendentalist maintains God in happiness?

3:50 In text 38 of the same chapter, it says that truthfulness means to speak the truth in a pleasing way. I have also heard that the truth should be spoken whether it's pleasing or not.

Can you comment on this?

16:38 Guru Maharaja, how can we see our work as part of our sadhana when it appears to be entirely mundane?

25:10 With reference to Srila Prabhupada's purport to Bhagavad-Gita 2.34, how do I ensure that I am not misusing Sri Krishna's friendship, and what are some ways I might be misusing it?

37:41 What is the best process for our bhajana?

39:38 Why is the path of yoga recommended in the scriptures when it appears that it only brings the practitioner deeper into illusion as they become attached to the yogic siddhis?

44:01 Dandavat pranama, Guru Maharaja. I was very moved by what you said in a lecture about the yajnapatnis, the wives of the brahmins in Krishna-lila. You said that the cowherd boys were very attracted to see the yajnapatnis after hearing about the sacrifices they had made. Can you elaborate more on this? Does it make a difference if the one who has sacrificed is a sadhana- or a nitya-siddha?

51:09 How may sadhakas in the lower stages of sadhana approach descriptions of the aprakata-lila so as not to become confused about it's apparent mundanity?

57:48 Dandavats, Srila Guru Maharaja. Can you speak on the idea that Arjuna and Kunti exist within the prakata-lila perpetually?

Questions on today's Swami call:

0:00 News.

1:06 There are scriptural statements that can be taken to mean that everyone is encouraged to become gurus. But it seems that many people are unqualified for that task. Is it then okay to not become a guru?

35:49 What does it mean when it is said that in the stage of ruci one is more attached to bhakti than to Sri Krishna, whereas in a sakti one becomes more attached to Sri Krishna directly?

45:27 Hare Krsna, Maharaja. What is the difference between the prakata and the aprakata lila?

48:01 How is possible that matter is inert but Maya-devi is a person?

Questions on today’s Swami call:

0:00 News.

1:34 Sometimes it is said that one can simply practice surrender (saranagati) if one is not able to practice the limbs of bhakti. Other times it is said that surrender is practiced by practicing the limbs of bhakti. Can you resolve this apparent contradiction?

11:02 What does Sri Krishna wear in the winter season?

17:44 Hare Krishna, Maharaja. My cat passed away recently, and it felt like it had a truly Krishna conscious passing. Is that possible?

22:51 Did Srimati Radharani have divine qualities before meeting Sri Krishna?

27:40 Srila Prabhupada writes in his commentary to Caitanya-Caritamrta Adi Lila 1.19 that beginners, intermediate devotees, and perfect devotees worship Sri Madan Mohan, Sri Govinda, and Sri Gopinatha respectively. Can you explain how this works practically?

37:38 How much is our gurunistha shown by our avoiding association of people who do not appreciate our guru?

55:28 The Vedanta-sutra says that the world is created out of God’s lila. I heard from devotees that certain jivas become envious of Sri Krishna, and that’s why they are in the world. Can you comment on this?

Questions on today’s Swami call:

0:00 Among the nine processes of bhakti listed by Sri Prahlad Maharaja, what does ‘sakhyam’ refer to?

0:05:40 Can you comment on the position of Madhumangala, as he is curiously both a brahmana and a priya-narma sakha?

0:10:33 Would failure to follow the regulative principles and chant 16 rounds of japan prevent one from delving into deeper topics of Krishna consciousness, and does following these practices indicate that one is not taking Krishna consciousness cheaply?

0:20:23 What is the history of the term ‘sahajiya’ as it is used in the Gaudiya sampradaya?

0:24:56 The Bhagavatam states that if one is engaged in service to Sri Krishna one does not have any debt to anyone else, as everyone is a part of him. But wouldn’t one want to serve others if one sees them as parts of Krishna?

0:30:25 Forgiveness is a natural quality of brahmanas. How could people dominated by lower modes of nature learn to practice forgiveness, and what about if one is suffering from physical and emotional abuse?

0:37:25 What is your opinion about the Jiva Institute?

0:45:12 Does the conditioned jiva act through the maya-shakti, or is it rather acted upon by that same shakti?

Questions on today’s Swami call:

0:00 News.

0:00:28 It appears that narrations of Sri Krishna’s sakhya-rasa pastimes are easier to digest for beginners than the madhurya-rasa pastimes. Is this true?

0:12:13 Is the belief that one has to be psychologically balanced to enter Krishna-lila tantamount to karma-misra bhakti or the belief that one has to be accomplished in karma and jnana before practicing bhakti?

0:15:24 If a madhurya-rasa bhakta is preaching the glories of other rasas, might that sound different from when bhaktas in those rasas preach about the same thing, given the different vantage points?  

0:19:33 Is it offensive to believe that one has to be psychologically balanced to enter Krishna-lila?

0:20:18 Sometimes it is said that Narada Muni is a sadhana-siddha and at other times that he is a nitya-siddha. Can you explain this?

0:25:18 Did Sanskrit use to be spoken popularly or has it always been only an academic language?

0:27:04 How is it possible for demons to enter the lila?

0:31:27 Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura states in his commentary to Bhagavad-Gita 9.26 that a woman cannot make offerings to the deities during her period. Why is that so and in what other circumstances would women or men be unqualified to make offerings?

0:39:47 What is the referent of the word “self” according to Gaudiya Vedanta? Do individual jivatmas have unique forms?

0:45:35 If the jiva is a doer, what does it do?

0:52:36 As the jiva comes closer to the goal of bhakti, does its will express itself directly and naturally, uncovered by the mind?

0:54:55 Does the pure will of the jiva correspond with the siddha-deha?

57:02 Does the individuality play itself out in the material world?

1:03:13 Are some jivas destined to follow Advaita Vedanta?

0:00 News.

00:40 Guru Maharaja, I’m wondering why Srila Prabhupada chose Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura’s Gurvastakam for mandala arati. I also wonder why in Iskcon the last verse of the song is not sung. And why is there a song for Sri Guru during the morning arati and a song for Sri Gauranga during the evening arati?

09:10 Who’s song is Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s Gaura-arati based on?

11:05 Does Navadvipa dhama exist eternally on earth? Is there a Navadvipa planet in the spiritual sky?

14:48 Dandavats, dear Guru Maharaja. It is said that bhakti, requiring only our faith, is more generous than the paths of jnana or yoga which have many prerequisites. At the same time it is said that if bhakti practices are taken up without surrender then the practice is lifeless. Surrender is very difficult. How can we reconcile this?

24:18 Srila Prabhupada made the point that Sri Krishna is more generous in the form of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, because in the Bhagavad-Gita he required surrender whereas in Gaura-lila he freely gave out bhakti. It seems then that Srila Prabhupada separates faith from surrender. Can you explain this? 

26:12 What are some ways of surrendering to Sri Krishna in the midst of the movements of the gunas in terms of directing our attention?

42:33 How to best practice tolerance of the material dualities?

48:18 It is said that when Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu met for the first time, most of their communication was non-verbal. What emotions and so on did they communicate in that way?

52:13 Is the pastime of Sri Nityananda Prabhu and Sri Haridasa Thakura going from door to door preaching an eternal lila?

56:57 Is there any loss in reciting the prayers of our acaryas translated into our mother tongue if our mother tongue is neither Sanskrit or Bengali?

0:00 Could you recommend poetic works dealing with Krishna lila?

04:15 Should we direct our prayers to Sri Krishna or to Lord Caitanya, or Sri Radha or to different appearances of the absolute according to the circumstance or level of advancement?

27:57 Do you have any advice for dealing with stress and anxiety in the moment as it is affecting one?

34:00 Is Yoga-maya present in Vraja-lila?

36:06 In what rasa is the Kaliya serpent with Sri Krishna?

38:20 How is the Kama-gayatri understood from a sakhya-rati point of view?

52:55 Could it be said that all of Gaudiya Vaishnavism is poetry?

57:53 What is the most important part of deity seva, the physical or the mental aspect?