Websites from the ISKCON Universe
Talk at ISKCON, Richmond, USA
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2016%20classes/09-16%20classes/Responding%20maturely%20to%20unfair%20criticism.mp3
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The post Responding maturely to unfair criticism appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Talk at Bhaktivedanta Academy, Alachua, USA
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2016%20classes/09-16%20classes/What%20science%20can’t%20provide%20-%20and%20spirituality%20can.mp3
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The post What science can’t provide – and spirituality can appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Sunday feast class at ISKCON Washington DC, USA
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2016%20classes/09-16%20classes/Do%20we%20need%20spirituality%20in%20an%20age%20of%20science.mp3
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PPT
Do we need spirituality in an age of science washington from pustagopika26
The post Do we need spirituality in an age of science? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Talk at Krishna House, Gainesville, USA
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2016%20classes/09-16%20classes/Your%20worst%20enemy%20is%20inside%20you%20and%20so%20is%20your%20best%20friend.mp3
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PPT
Your worst enemy is inside you and so is your best friend from pustagopika26
The post Your worst enemy is inside you and so is your best friend appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Bhagavatam class at ISKCON, Alachua, USA
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2016%20classes/09-16%20classes/Understanding%20how%20bhakti-rasa%20reclaims%20those%20who%20fall%20away.mp3
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The post Understanding how bhakti-rasa reclaims those who fall away appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/Which%20wrong%20default%20programs%20can%20sabotage%20people%20who%20start%20business.mp3
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The post Which wrong default programs can sabotage people who start business? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/What%20does%20self-mastery%20mean.mp3
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The post What does self-mastery mean? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/For%20knowing%20God,%20is%20there%20any%20basis%20other%20than%20the%20Bhagavad-gita.mp3
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The post For knowing God, is there any basis other than the Bhagavad-gita? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/What%20is%20the%20cause%20of%20wars%20fought%20in%20the%20name%20of%20religion.mp3
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The post What is the cause of wars fought in the name of religion? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/Does%20change%20adopted%20because%20of%20frustration%20induce%20growth.mp3
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The post Does change adopted because of frustration induce growth? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/Just%20as%20scientific%20truths%20are%20proven,%20can%20spiritual%20truths%20be%20proven.mp3
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The post Just as scientific truths are proven, can spiritual truths be proven? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/Can%20abuse%20of%20power%20occur%20in%20spiritual%20organizations.mp3
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The post Can abuse of power occur in spiritual organisations? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/How%20does%20scientific%20curiosity%20lead%20to%20theories%20like%20Darwinian%20evolution.mp3
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The post How does scientific curiosity lead to theories like Darwinian evolution? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Class at ISKCON, Orlando, USA
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2016%20classes/09-16%20classes/Radhashtami%20class%20-%20Appreciating%20the%20transcendence%20of%20the%20Radha-Krishna%20relationship.mp3
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The post Radhashtami class – Appreciating the transcendence of the Radha-Krishna relationship appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Class at ISKCON, Alachua, USA
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2016%20classes/09-16%20classes/Radhashtami%20class%20-%20When%20Krishna%20leaves%20the%20gopis%20and%20Radharani%20during%20rasa%20lila.mp3
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The post Radhashtami class – When Krishna leaves the gopis and Radharani during rasa lila appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/Science%20is%20based%20on%20curiosity%20to%20know%20-%20where%20does%20faith%20come%20in.mp3
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The post Science is based on curiosity to know – where does faith come in? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/How%20can%20the%20Gita%20help%20us%20in%20change%20management.mp3
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The post How can the Gita help us in change management? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/What%20is%20the%20spiritual%20motivation%20for%20becoming%20a%20leader.mp3
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The post What is the spiritual motivation for becoming a leader? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/Should%20we%20differentiate%20between%20pre-Gita%20leadership%20and%20post-Gita%20leadership.mp3
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The post Should we differentiate between pre-Gita leadership and post-Gita leadership? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/Why%20did%20Arjuna%20need%20to%20hear%20the%20Gita%20-%20did%20he%20as%20a%20leader%20not%20have%20that%20spiritual%20knowledge%20earlier.mp3
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The post Why did Arjuna need to hear the Gita – did he as a leader not have that spiritual knowledge earlier? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/How%20is%20Krishna%20the%20enjoyer%20of%20the%20sacrifices%20done%20without%20knowing%20his%20supremacy.mp3
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The post How is Krishna the enjoyer of the sacrifices done without knowing his supremacy? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/Does%20Krishna%20accept%20service%20done%20passionately.mp3
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The post Does Krishna accept service done passionately? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/What%20is%20the%20meaning%20of%20Gita%202.47%20-%20don’t%20think%20of%20yourself%20as%20the%20cause%20of%20the%20result.mp3
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The post What is the meaning of Gita 2.47 – don’t think of yourself as the cause of the result? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/While%20practicing%20bhakti,%20how%20can%20we%20avoid%20losing%20interest%20in%20our%20work.mp3
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The post While practicing bhakti, how can we avoid losing interest in our work? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
he hema-kāra! para-duḥkha-vicāra-mūḍha!
kiṁ māṁ muhuḥ kṣipasi vāra-śatāni vahnau?
sandīpyate mayi suvarṇa-guṇātireko
lābhaḥ paraṁ tava mukhe khalu bhasma-pātaḥ
he hema-kāra! — O goldsmith!; para-duḥkha-vicāra-mūḍha — who is oblivious to others’ suffering; kim — why; mām — me; muhuḥ — constantly; kṣipasi — do you throw; vāra-śatāni — hundreds of times; vahnau — in fire; sandīpyate — keeps increasing; mayi — in me; suvarṇa-guṇātirekaḥ — the excellence of golden color; lābhaḥ — gain; param — highest; tava — your; mukhe — on mouth; khalu — but; bhasma-pātaḥ — the deposit of soot and ash;
“[The golden ornament says to the goldsmith]: O goldsmith! You are oblivious to others’ suffering! Why do you constantly throw me in fire hundreds of times? [Nonetheless, even if you do so,] the brilliance of my golden color keeps increasing in me, whereas your only gain is that your face progressively becomes covered with more soot and ash.”
— (Subhāṣita-ratna-bhāṇḍāgāra, Suvarṇa-kāraḥ, Page 246, Verse 23)
This Subhashita helps us see unfair criticism positively, as a refiner of character –as is fire for gold.
In life, few things are as hurting as criticism. Even more excruciating is unwarranted criticism, that is, criticism based on misunderstandings or untruths.
We tend to respond to such criticism in one of three broad ways.
Clarify: We try to defuse the antagonism by clarifying the situation. If the critic is too hostile to have a rational discussion with us, we may clarify through an intermediary whom both parties see as trustworthy or at least as neutral. Clarification offers the best possibility for resolution, all the more so if the critic is reasonable. If the clarification works, both sides understand each other better and may even come closer than earlier.
Counter: A more instinctive response to criticism is to refute it, to objectively point out errors in the criticism. Such countering can work if the critic is intellectually honest and is ready to admit limitations in their perspective. They acknowledge the validity of our perspective of things, even if it is different from theirs. Sometimes, even if our perspective doesn’t become acceptable, it becomes at least intelligible, and they agree to “live and let live.”
Ignore: Some people stick to their opinions, whatever the facts or however valid the counter-arguments. About such people, it is rightly said, “A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.”
With such people, clarifying and countering are both wastes of time. The more the discussion prolongs, the more acrimonious it becomes. The only way to stop the nastiness is by ignoring the criticism.
No doubt, ignoring is extremely difficult. We fear that others may think we have been defeated – that in our refusal to argue any further, we have admitted our inability to argue any further. If such a fear goads us into dragging on an unfruitful interaction, we can check ourselves by contemplating a graphic quote of George Bernard Shaw: “I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it.”
Characterizing a critic as a pig might be uncharitable […]
The post Criticized? Clarify, counter – or ignore? (Subhashita commentary) appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/How%20are%20the%20attached%20the%20cause%20of%20the%20fruit%20and%20the%20detached%20not.mp3
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The post How are the attached the cause of the fruit and the detached not? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Talk to University of North Florida students at Jacksonville, USA
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2016%20classes/09-16%20classes/Understanding%20the%20mind%20through%20tech%20metaphors.mp3
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The post Understanding the mind through tech metaphors appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/If%20we%20are%20to%20be%20detached%20from%20results,%20how%20can%20we%20motivate%20ourselves%20for%20our%20work.mp3
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The post If we are to be detached from results, how can we motivate ourselves for our work? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/How%20can%20we%20know%20when%20we%20are%20ready%20for%20taking%20vanaprastha.mp3
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The post How can we know when we are ready for taking vanaprastha? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/How%20to%20respond%20when%20our%20family%20members%20get%20spikes%20of%20desires.mp3
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The post How to respond when our family members get spikes of desires? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/Should%20we%20feel%20guilty%20about%20some%20immoral%20desires%20that%20are%20unconnected%20with%20our%20waking%20desires.mp3
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The post Should we feel guilty about some immoral desires that are unconnected with our waking desires? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/What%20is%20conscience%20-%20and%20what%20is%20the%20subconscious.mp3
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The post What is conscience – and what is the subconscious? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/If%20we%20have%20to%20go%20against%20our%20family%20members%20to%20practice%20bhakti,%20is%20the%20inner%20bad%20feeling%20conscience%20or%20pseudo-conscience.mp3
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The post If we have to go against our family members to practice bhakti, is the inner bad feeling conscience or pseudo-conscience? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/If%20we%20tolerate%20the%20spikes%20of%20desires,%20won’t%20those%20repressed%20desires%20return%20more%20forcefully%20in%20future.mp3
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The post If we tolerate the spikes of desires, won’t those repressed desires return more forcefully in future? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/Do%20we%20experience%20higher%20spiritual%20states%20through%20the%20intelligence.mp3
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The post Do we experience higher spiritual states through the intelligence? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/Is%20cessation%20of%20misery%20not%20stable%20without%20bhakti.mp3
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The post Is cessation of misery not stable without bhakti? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/What%20can%20we%20do%20if%20we%20can’t%20serve%20in%20a%20selfless%20mood.mp3
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The post What can we do if we can’t serve in a selfless mood? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/What%20is%20intuition.mp3
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The post What is intuition? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/Chanting%20frees%20us%20from%20suffering%20-%20is%20this%20a%20conceptualisation%20or%20an%20experience.mp3
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The post Chanting frees us from suffering – is this a conceptualisation or an experience? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/09-16%20QA/What%20is%20the%20relationship%20between%20studying%20exalted%20devotional%20states%20and%20experiencing%20those%20states.mp3
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The post What is the relationship between studying exalted devotional states and experiencing those states? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.