Author Archives: Chaitanya Charan das

​Was Karna a glorious example of faithful friendship to Duryodhana?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/07-16%20QA/Was%20Karna%20a%20glorious%20example%20of%20faithful%20friendship%20to%20Duryodhana.mp3
Download by “right-click and save content”

The post ​Was Karna a glorious example of faithful friendship to Duryodhana? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

​Did Indra unfairly weaken Karna by taking away his armor?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/07-16%20QA/Did%20Indra%20unfairly%20weaken%20Karna%20by%20taking%20away%20his%20armor.mp3
Download by “right-click and save content”

The post ​Did Indra unfairly weaken Karna by taking away his armor? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

​Bhagavatam study 54 1.11.1-7 Krishna’s arrival brings ecstasy
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Podcast

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/Lecture%20series/Bhagavatam%20study/Bhagavatam%20study%2054%201.11.1-7%20Krishna’s%20arrival%20brings%20ecstasy.mp3
Download by “right-click and save content”

The post ​Bhagavatam study 54 1.11.1-7 Krishna’s arrival brings ecstasy appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

​Bhagavatam study 53 1.10.28-36 Krishna’s departure and travel are celebrations of love
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Podcast

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/Lecture%20series/Bhagavatam%20study/Bhagavatam%20study%2053%201.10.28-36%20Krishna’s%20departure%20and%20travel%20are%20celebrations%20of%20love.mp3
Download by “right-click and save content”

The post ​Bhagavatam study 53 1.10.28-36 Krishna’s departure and travel are celebrations of love appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Avatar – Digital, Christian, monistic and bhakti conceptions
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Central to the concept of avatar is the idea of crossing over from one realm to another. In its original Sanskrit philosophical context, avatar refers to the Absolute Truth descending from the spiritual world to the material world. The divine’s existence beyond this world is called transcendence, whereas his existence in this world is called immanence. The question of how the transcendent can become immanent has intrigued many thinkers throughout history. To get a sense of the question’s profundity, let’s look at the digital, Christian, monistic and bhakti conceptions of avatar.

Digital avatar

The Sanskrit word avatar has become mainstream in English due to both a Hollywood blockbuster and computer role-playing games. In contemporary usage, avatar refers to an icon representing a person in digital arenas such as video games and Internet forums. In such usage, the crossing over implicit in avatar is from the physical world to the digital world. Our digital avatar is a step-down from the reality of who we are. Even if our video game avatar is expert at doing many things, still it has no consciousness. Its apparent consciousness results from the projection of our consciousness into it through the game’s interfacing mechanism. So, when we refer to something unconscious as our avatar, we conceive ourselves in reduced terms. Such a reduction is revealing, for it points to two distinct thought-trains:

A mechanistic conception of the self which makes us think that we can be represented by a digital profile that is as unconscious as the electrons that comprise the digital world.
A longing for crossing over to some reality other than our present mundane reality with all its inanity.

Though the word avatar traditionally refers to the Absolute Truth’s descent to this world, the word’s contemporary usage refers to the self, not the Absolute. Still, the problems of crossing over associated with the notion of avatar surface when applied to the self too.

 

Christian incarnation

Avatar is frequently translated in English as incarnation. This English word is intricately associated with Abrahamic conceptions about how the divine manifests in this world. In Christianity, the word “incarnation” refers usually to Jesus, who is conceived of as God descended in flesh as a human being. Jesus was born in a Jewish tradition that was heavily messianic, driven by the longing for a future messiah who would deliver people from their various problems. Based on Jesus’s teachings and miracles, his followers thought of him as the messiah. This notion was falsified for some by his crucifixion, but it was reinforced for others by his claimed resurrection. For nearly four centuries thereafter, the identity of Jesus was a matter of vigorous, even acrimonious, debate in the Christian community. Eventually, the Nicene Creed elevated Jesus from messiah to Incarnation. The Creed resolved that the divinity of Christ had manifested in the humanity of Jesus, who was therefore both fully human and fully divine. But the ascription of full divinity to him was problematic, given the relatively recent and undeniable historical memory of Jesus’ life as a […]

The post Avatar – Digital, Christian, monistic and bhakti conceptions appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

​Bhagavatam study 52 1.10.21-27 The Supreme appears human – and still remains Supreme
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Podcast

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/Lecture%20series/Bhagavatam%20study/Bhagavatam%20study%2052%201.10.21-27%20The%20Supreme%20appears%20human%20-%20and%20still%20remains%20Supreme.mp3
Download by “right-click and save content”

The post ​Bhagavatam study 52 1.10.21-27 The Supreme appears human – and still remains Supreme appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

How can infinity minus infinity give infinite results?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/07-16%20QA/How%20can%20infinity%20minus%20infinity%20give%20infinite%20results.mp3
Download by “right-click and save content”

The post How can infinity minus infinity give infinite results? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

​Does Krishna go through childhood, boyhood and youth stages in the spiritual world?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/07-16%20QA/Does%20Krishna%20go%20through%20childhood,%20boyhood%20and%20youth%20stages%20in%20the%20spiritual%20world.mp3
Download by “right-click and save content”

The post ​Does Krishna go through childhood, boyhood and youth stages in the spiritual world? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Bhagavatam study 51 1.10.9-20 Imminent separation from Krishna triggers intense emotion
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Podcast

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/Lecture%20series/Bhagavatam%20study/Bhagavatam%20study%2051%201.10.9-20%20Imminent%20separation%20from%20Krishna%20triggers%20intense%20emotion.mp3
Download by “right-click and save content”

The post Bhagavatam study 51 1.10.9-20 Imminent separation from Krishna triggers intense emotion appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

​Can the sadhya become the sadhana and the sadhana the sadhya?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/07-16%20QA/Can%20the%20sadhya%20become%20the%20sadhana%20and%20the%20sadhana%20the%20sadhya.mp3
Download by “right-click and save content”

The post ​Can the sadhya become the sadhana and the sadhana the sadhya? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

How do reconcile the contradiction between Gita 14.20 – we can transcend the modes – and 18.40 – everyone is under the modes?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/07-16%20QA/How%20do%20reconcile%20the%20contradiction%20between%20Gita%2014.20%20-%20we%20can%20transcend%20the%20modes%20-%20and%2018.40%20-%20everyone%20is%20under%20the%20modes.mp3
Download by “right-click and save content”

The post How do reconcile the contradiction between Gita 14.20 – we can transcend the modes – and 18.40 – everyone is under the modes? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

When the Gita talks about karma, jnana and bhakti equally, why emphasize bhakti unduly?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/07-16%20QA/When%20the%20Gita%20talks%20about%20karma,%20jnana%20and%20bhakti%20equally,%20why%20emphasize%20bhakti%20unduly.mp3
Download by “right-click and save content”

The post When the Gita talks about karma, jnana and bhakti equally, why emphasize bhakti unduly? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Metaphorical understanding in bhakti philosophy and in Krishna’s killing of Putana
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Sunday feast class at ISKCON, Chowpatty

Podcast

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/07-16%20QA/Did%20Uttama%20die%20because%20of%20his%20mother’s%20offense%20to%20Dhruva.mp3
Download by “right-click and save content”

The post Metaphorical understanding in bhakti philosophy and in Krishna’s killing of Putana appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Bhagavatam study 50 1.10.1-8 Yudhishtira’s dharmic reign harmonizes the natural order with the human order
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Podcast

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/Lecture%20series/Bhagavatam%20study/Bhagavatam%20study%2050%201.10.1-8%20Yudhishtira’s%20dharmic%20reign%20harmonizes%20the%20natural%20order%20with%20the%20human%20order.mp3
Download by “right-click and save content”

The post Bhagavatam study 50 1.10.1-8 Yudhishtira’s dharmic reign harmonizes the natural order with the human order appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

If Dharmaraja could expand as Vidura and Yudhisthira, why did Aryama need to officiate in his place?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/07-16%20QA/If%20Dharmaraja%20could%20expand%20as%20Vidura%20and%20Yudhisthira,%20why%20did%20Aryama%20need%20to%20officiate%20in%20his%20place.mp3
Download by “right-click and save content”

The post If Dharmaraja could expand as Vidura and Yudhisthira, why did Aryama need to officiate in his place? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

​Why do some people get facilities for bhakti practice and some don’t?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/07-16%20QA/Why%20do%20some%20people%20get%20facilities%20for%20bhakti%20practice%20and%20some%20don’t.mp3
Download by “right-click and save content”

The post ​Why do some people get facilities for bhakti practice and some don’t? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

​How can we be confident about our ability to do a service without becoming proud?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/07-16%20QA/How%20can%20we%20be%20confident%20about%20our%20ability%20to%20do%20a%20service%20without%20becoming%20proud.mp3
Download by “right-click and save content”

The post ​How can we be confident about our ability to do a service without becoming proud? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

​Is brahmanas’ feeling hurt at just a harsh glance due to their sensitivity or their ego?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/07-16%20QA/Is%20brahmanas’%20feeling%20hurt%20at%20just%20a%20harsh%20glance%20due%20to%20their%20sensitivity%20or%20their%20ego.mp3
Download by “right-click and save content”

The post ​Is brahmanas’ feeling hurt at just a harsh glance due to their sensitivity or their ego? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

​Did Uttama die because of his mother’s offense to Dhruva?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/07-16%20QA/Did%20Uttama%20die%20because%20of%20his%20mother’s%20offense%20to%20Dhruva.mp3
Download by “right-click and save content”

The post ​Did Uttama die because of his mother’s offense to Dhruva? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Can slowing down help in developing clarity of thought?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/07-16%20QA/Can%20slowing%20down%20help%20in%20developing%20clarity%20of%20thought.mp3
Download by “right-click and save content”

The post Can slowing down help in developing clarity of thought? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Is worshipping some devata while practicing bhakti a dilution of bhakti?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/07-16%20QA/Is%20worshipping%20some%20devata%20while%20practicing%20bhakti%20a%20dilution%20of%20bhakti.mp3
Download by “right-click and save content”

The post Is worshipping some devata while practicing bhakti a dilution of bhakti? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

​What to do if our conviction doesn’t increase after studying scripture?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/07-16%20QA/What%20to%20do%20if%20our%20conviction%20doesnt%20increase%20after%20studying%20scripture.mp3
Download by “right-click and save content”

The post ​What to do if our conviction doesn’t increase after studying scripture? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

​Bhagavatam study 49 1.9.43-48 Departure of great souls is a victory worthy of celebration
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Podcast

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/Lecture%20series/Bhagavatam%20study/Bhagavatam%20study%2049%201.9.43-48%20Departure%20of%20great%20souls%20is%20a%20victory%20worthy%20of%20celebration.mp3
Download by “right-click and save content”

The post ​Bhagavatam study 49 1.9.43-48 Departure of great souls is a victory worthy of celebration appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

​Bhagavatam study 48 1.9.36-42 Bhishma’s memories go beyond the personal to the Krishna-centered
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Podcast

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/Lecture%20series/Bhagavatam%20study/Bhagavatam%20study%2048%201.9.36-42%20Bhishma’s%20memories%20go%20beyond%20the%20personal%20to%20the%20Krishna-centered.mp3
Download by “right-click and save content”

The post ​Bhagavatam study 48 1.9.36-42 Bhishma’s memories go beyond the personal to the Krishna-centered appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Bhagavatam study 47 1.9.31-35 Bhishma identifies and adores the ultimate cause of his death
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Podcast

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/Lecture%20series/Bhagavatam%20study/Bhagavatam%20study%2047%201.9.31-35%20Bhishma%20identifies%20and%20adores%20the%20ultimate%20cause%20of%20his%20death.mp3
Download by “right-click and save content”

The post Bhagavatam study 47 1.9.31-35 Bhishma identifies and adores the ultimate cause of his death appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

​How can we reconcile the Vedic geocentric and scientific heliocentric models of the universe?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/06-16%20QA/How%20can%20we%20reconcile%20the%20Vedic%20geocentric%20and%20scientific%20heliocentric%20models%20of%20the%20universe.mp3
Download by “right-click and save content”

The post ​How can we reconcile the Vedic geocentric and scientific heliocentric models of the universe? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

​How can we develop faith in the acharyas’ commentaries on scripture?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/06-16%20QA/How%20can%20we%20develop%20faith%20in%20the%20acharyas’%20commentaries%20on%20scripture.mp3
Download by “right-click and save content”

The post ​How can we develop faith in the acharyas’ commentaries on scripture? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

​Why do we need to read purports while reading scripture?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/06-16%20QA/Why%20do%20we%20need%20to%20read%20purports%20while%20reading%20scripture.mp3
Download by “right-click and save content”

The post ​Why do we need to read purports while reading scripture? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.