Websites from the ISKCON Universe
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/How%20is%20the%20soul’s%20consciousness%20transmitted%20at%20the%20liberated%20stage.mp3
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Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/How%20can%20we%20become%20more%20selfless.mp3
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Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/What%20is%20the%20weight%20and%20the%20size%20of%20the%20soul.mp3
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Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/What%20does%20sarvatma%20snapanam%20in%20Shikshashtakam%20mean.mp3
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The post What does sarvatma snapanam in Shikshashtakam mean? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Hangout talk to University of Cincinnati students
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2016%20classes/09-16%20classes/Near-death%20Experiences%20-%20The%20evidence%20and%20the%20implication.mp3
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Near death experiences – where science points to spirituality from pustagopika26
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Youth meeting at Central New Jersey, USA
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2016%20classes/09-16%20classes/Spirituality%20-%20A%20higher-dimensional%20science.mp3
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Spirituality – a higher-dimensional science from pustagopika26
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Sunday feast class at ISKCON, Central New Jersey, USA
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2016%20classes/09-16%20classes/Take%20charge%20of%20your%20inner%20conversation.mp3
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Bhagavatam class on 2.5.5 at ISKCON, Central New Jersey, USA
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2016%20classes/09-16%20classes/Balancing%20renunciation%20with%20responsibility.mp3
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Talk at Philadelphia, USA
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2016%20classes/09-16%20classes/Growing%20in%20devotion%20through%20assimilation,%20application%20and%20appreciation.mp3
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Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/How%20can%20the%20awareness%20of%20our%20sinfulness%20enhance%20our%20devotion.mp3
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Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/When%20Krishna%20said%20that%20the%20Kauravas%20were%20doomed%20because%20of%20offending%20Draupadi,%20why%20did%20he%20go%20to%20them%20as%20a%20peace%20envoy.mp3
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The post When Krishna said that the Kauravas were doomed because of offending Draupadi, why did he go to them as a peace envoy? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/Sometimes%20we%20say%20Krishna%20is%20acting%20and%20sometimes%20karma%20is%20acting%20-%20what%20is%20it%20really.mp3
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The post Sometimes we say Krishna is acting and sometimes karma is acting – what is it really? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/Why%20does%20Krishna%20send%20problems%20that%20take%20devotees%20away%20from%20him.mp3
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Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/Why%20do%20devotees%20sometimes%20suffer%20and%20don’t%20get%20relief%20despite%20praying.mp3
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When I came to Alachua, Florida, USA, last year, I felt embarrassed to speak about Krishna to an audience primarily of senior devotees, many of whom are Prabhupada disciples. Still, they have been very kind to encourage me and appreciate my classes.
This year, Janmashtami Prabhu, who had started the Mayapur Institute (MI) in Mayapur and has started a Krishna Institute here for similarly revitalizing an educational ethos in our movement, asked me to speak on a workshop entitled “Relishing Shikshashtakam” at the Alachua Learning Center.
Fifty-seven devotees participated in the three-day workshop from 3rd to 5th Sep, 2016, with around forty-five of them being non-Indians and over a dozen being Srila Prabhupada disciples.
I spoke on the Shikshashtakam in twelve talks each of about one hour and fifteen minutes. The first text took three talks and the third took two talks, with all the other texts covered in one talk each. All the talks are available here.
Shikshashtakam – 12-part series at Alachua
The Shikshashtakam talks about exalted levels of consciousness and, also in its later verses, about esoteric states of devotion. I tried to take those lofty topics as starting points for descending to the practical challenges in our life as seekers.
After the course, a sentiment echoed by several devotees was that though they had been reciting the Shikshashtakam for decades, they hadn’t realized its practical relevance till now.
One devotee liked especially the point that the flow of the Shikshashtakam shows how from the holy name, Krishna manifests – the first text starts with the focus on the holy name and the last verse ends with a focus on Krishna. By systematic sustained meditation on the holy name, the holy one who is called by the name reveals himself. The Shikshashtakam thus teaches us to see chanting not as an isolated activity of uttering a mantra, but as an integral limb of developing a relationship with a living, loving person.
I relish the opportunity to go deep into a subject systematically, something that is not possible in one hour classes and even less so in the short Gita-daily articles. So, I saw this course as a blessing for dovetailing my interest in Krishna’s service.
Some devotees encouraged me to make the course into a book or at least a booklet. I would love to do that, and I pray that I can give up my laziness and make time for doing so. Till then, at the very least, I can recite the Shikshashtakam with deeper absorption and appreciation, and strive to better apply its shiksha in my own life.
The post Shiksha from Shikshashtakam appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/How%20is%20the%20mind%20like%20a%20mirror.mp3
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Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/When%20Krishna%20had%20vowed%20not%20to%20lift%20weapons%20during%20the%20Kurukshetra%20war,%20why%20did%20he%20lift%20up%20a%20wheel.mp3
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Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/How%20could%20the%20Narayana%20sena%20agree%20to%20fight%20against%20Krishna.mp3
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Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/Separation%20from%20Krishna%20is%20like%20a%20yuga%20for%20the%20gopis%20but%20like%20twelve%20years%20for%20Lord%20Chaitanya%20-%20why%20the%20difference.mp3
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Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/How%20can%20we%20differentiate%20between%20emotional%20experiences%20and%20transcendental%20experiences.mp3
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Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/Do%20spiritual%20memories%20ever%20come%20automatically,%20as%20material%20memories%20do%20presently.mp3
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Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/Why%20should%20esoteric%20memories%20of%20spiritual%20experiences%20not%20be%20shared.mp3
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Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/Should%20we%20share%20our%20devotional%20memories%20when%20such%20memories%20are%20considered%20Krishna’s%20private%20gifts%20to%20us.mp3
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Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/After%20Uddhav%20sees%20the%20gopis’%20exalted%20love%20for%20Krishna,%20why%20does%20he%20still%20speak%20about%20Krishna%20to%20them.mp3
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The post After Uddhav sees the gopis’ exalted love for Krishna, why does he still speak about Krishna to them? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/When%20the%20management%20gives%20services%20to%20one%20person%20and%20not%20another,%20isn’t%20that%20discrimination.mp3
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The post When the management gives services to one person and not another, isn’t that discrimination? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/Isn’t%20life%20all%20about%20discriminating%20-%20how%20can%20we%20be%20nonjudgmental.mp3
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Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/What%20is%20the%20difference%20between%20judging%20and%20discriminating.mp3
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The post What is the difference between judging and discriminating? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/How%20is%20Krishna%20impartial%20if%20he%20offers%20kripa-siddhi%20to%20some%20and%20asks%20for%20sadhana%20from%20others.mp3
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The post How is Krishna impartial if he offers kripa-siddhi to some and asks for sadhana from others? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/Aren’t%20both%20sadhana-siddha%20and%20kripa-siddha%20ultimately%20dependent%20on%20kripa.mp3
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The post Aren’t both sadhana-siddha and kripa-siddha ultimately dependent on kripa? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/Is%20na%20dhanam%20na%20janam%20na%20sundarim%20applicable%20to%20householder%20life.mp3
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Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/If%20we%20are%20never%20disqualified%20in%20bhakti,%20why%20did%20Lord%20Chaitanya%20reject%20Kala%20Krishnadas%20for%20just%20one%20mistake.mp3
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The post If we are never disqualified in bhakti, why did Lord Chaitanya reject Kala Krishnadas for just one mistake? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/Is%20Krishna%20partial%20because%20he%20responds%20only%20those%20who%20call%20out.mp3
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Talk at Temple University, Philadelphia, USA
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2016%20classes/09-16%20classes/Discover%20your%20inner%20power.mp3
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Discover your inner power from pustagopika26
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Talk at evening congregation program in Atlanta, USA
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2016%20classes/09-16%20classes/The%20Quest%20for%20Happiness.mp3
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Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/How%20does%20guilt%20practically%20help%20increase%20our%20bhakti.mp3
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The post How does guilt practically help increase our bhakti? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Self destruction Strategies 1 – Mistake self-pity to be humility
Private: Self-destruction strategies 2 – Be a perfectionist
Self-destruction strategies 3 – Treat the peripheral as the essential
Self-destruction strategies 4 – Let guilt come between you and Krishna
Self-destruction Strategies 5 – See your work as Maya
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Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/How%20can%20guilt%20manifest%20in%20a%20way%20favourable%20for%20bhakti.mp3
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Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/Is%20praying%20for%20the%20removal%20of%20our%20material%20desires%20a%20selfish%20prayer.mp3
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Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/Does%20chanting%20purely%20itself%20give%20rise%20to%20virtues%20or%20should%20we%20strive%20to%20develop%20virtues.mp3
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Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/What%20is%20the%20difference%20between%20remorse%20and%20atonement.mp3
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The post What is the difference between remorse and atonement? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.