Websites from the ISKCON Universe
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2015%20classes/12-15%20classes/Bhagavatam%20study%2027%20-%201.6.32-38%20-%20Krishnas%20glories%20fulfill%20our%20search%20for%20pleasure.mp3
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The post Bhagavatam study 27 – 1.6.32-38 – Krishnas glories fulfill our search for pleasure appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast:
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/01-16%20QA/Why%20do%20jnanis%20need%20many%20lives%20to%20become%20jnanavan.mp3
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The post Why do jnanis need many lives to become jnanavan? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast:
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/01-16%20QA/Why%20are%20the%20eka-bhakti%20jnanis%20of%20Gita%207.17%20considered%20jnana-mishra.mp3
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The post Why are the eka-bhakti jnanis of Gita 7.17 considered jnana-mishra? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
The Eye to See the I features 121 reflections on the Bhagavad-gita that make its insights appreciable in brief, relishable nuggets of wisdom. The book published in hard copy on Janmashtami last year is already nearing the end of its first print run and will go for the second print soon. Recently released on kindle, it is now available free for five days from 6th Jan to 10th Jan.
Some of the reflections in the book are:
Money talks – and walks away as it is talking
We can’t replace the mind, but we can re-place it
The soul seems far out because it is far in
Free love is a self-contradiction
The heart of knowledge is the knowledge of the heart
Let repetition be a re-petition
The past won’t last if to Krishna we hold fast
With punchy titles that distill each article’s central message, the Eye to See the I addresses a wide variety of issues, all meant to help us realize and relish the innermost core of our being.
The hard copy of the book can be ordered from voicebooks@voicepune.com and the kindle version can be downloaded from
The post The Eye to See the I free on kindle for five days appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Gita verse-by-verse study Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2015%20classes/12-15%20classes/Gita%2008.10%20-%20Yoga%20restrains%20the%20negative,%20bhakti%20energizes%20the%20positive.mp3
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The post Gita 08.10 – Yoga restrains the negative, bhakti energizes the positive appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2015%20classes/12-15%20classes/Bhagavatam%20study%2026%20-%201.6.23-31%20-%20Devotion%20offers%20the%20supreme%20liberation.mp3
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The post Bhagavatam study 26 – 1.6.23-31 – Devotion offers the supreme liberation appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2016%20classes/01-16%20classes/Positive%20Thinking%2033%20-%20Tap%20the%20power%20of%20meditation.mp3
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The post Positive Thinking 33 – Tap the power of meditation appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/01-16%20QA/Can%20we%20use%20freewriting%20in%20bhakti-yoga.mp3
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The post Can we use freewriting in bhakti-yoga? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/01-16%20QA/How%20can%20I%20go%20about%20writing%20in%20Krishnas%20service.mp3
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Contacts for writing forums:
1. Back to Godhead international (nagaraja.dasa@gmail.com)
2. BTG India (btgindia@gmail.com)
3. iskconnews.com (editor@news.iskcon.com)
4. dandavats.com (editor@dandavats.com)
The post How can I go about writing in Krishna’s service? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Concluding talk at a conference on Social Change through Spirituality
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2016%20classes/01-16%20classes/Be%20an%20agent%20of%20positve%20change.mp3
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The post Be an agent of positve change appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast:
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2016%20QA/01-16%20QA/Does%20the%20well-river%20example%20of%20Gita%202.46%20illustrate%20transcending%20the%20Vedas%20recommended%20in%20Gita%202.45.mp3
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The post Does the well-river example of Gita 2.46 illustrate transcending the Vedas recommended in Gita 2.45? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Valmiki Ramayana mentions that Dashratha desired to go to the forest with Rama. He wanted to take all the royal resources with him, as conveyed in his desire to make “the forest into Ayodhya and Ayodhya into the forest” with the forest-like Ayodhya left for Kaikeyi to enjoy.
But Kaikeyi opposed him rabidly, saying that when he had promised her the kingdom, it meant the kingdom with its resources. She accused both Dashratha and Rama of underhandedly going back on their word.
Rama was pained to see her accuse his venerable father and so decided to honour Dashratha’s word by departing for the forest immediately. Dashrath hoped fervently till the last moment that he could somehow avoid Rama’s exile, by requesting him to stay for at least one more day during which he would offer his beloved son all royal luxuries.
But Rama, not wanting to prolong the agony of the unavoidable bereavement, started to leave immediately. He asked the minister of Ayodhya, Sumantra, who was his charioteer to drive him swiftly. Despairing Dashrath ran after the chariot, calling Sumantra to slow and stop. Seeing Sumantra slowing, Rama told him not to prolong the agony. And as the chariot speeded, Dashrath trying to catch up fell to the ground and watched in dismay as the chariot became a speck in the horizon and then disappeared.
His anguished courtiers raised him and took him to his room for rest. Dashrath never came out of that room, because he passed away during his sleep that night.
The post Why did Dasharatha not follow Ram into his 14 year exile? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
I was hearing one of your lecture on the Positive Thinking series, where you talk about freewill.
It occurred to me that one of the strong arguments for humans having freewill is the presence of intelligence. If we accept that humans have intelligence then it necessarily follows that they have freewill. One of the functions of intelligence is to evaluate and make choices, which is not possible without the presence of freewill. Is this correlation correct?
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/12-15%20QA/Does%20our%20capacity%20for%20intelligence%20prove%20the%20reality%20of%20our%20free%20will.mp3
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Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/12-15%20QA/Which%20is%20the%20abode%20for%20sakhya%20rasa.mp3
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The post Which is the abode for sakhya rasa? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
The Ramayana features many intriguing group dynamics, among human groups, monkey groups, demon groups and even human-monkey groups. Divisive and cohesive forces are graphically evident in the group of monkeys that had gone south in search of Sita.
The search and the schism
The back-story is that Rama and Sugriva had formed an alliance: Rama would help Sugriva regain his wife and kingdom, and Sugriva would help Rama regain Sita. Rama had done his part, and the now-enthroned monkey monarch Sugriva had started doing his part. He had organized his leading monkeys into four groups and instructed them to go in the four directions to search for Sita. The search parties were asked to return within a month with latecomers liable to severe punishment. Among the groups, the south-bound group was most likely to locate Sita – Ravana, the demon-king who had abducted Sita, had been seen carrying her southwards. This group had as leaders three great monkey generals: Angada, Hanuman and Jambavan. Rama gave Hanuman a signet that he was to show to Sita on finding her; the signet would assure her that its bearer was an authorized messenger of Rama.
The south-bound group searched vigorously for over six weeks, braving many dangers, but couldn’t find any clue to Sita’s whereabouts. And amidst the consequent disappointment, concealed tensions within the group came to the fore. The group’s three leaders had different things to commend them: age, lineage and grace. By age, Jambavan was the senior-most and was accorded due deference. But his age had decreased his physical prowess. By lineage, Angada was a valiant prince, being the son of the previous monkey monarch, Vali. But he was young, impetuous and inexperienced. By grace, Hanuman had received from the gods many extraordinary powers. But those powers had made him, when he was still a mischievous child, into an innocent menace for forest sages. So, those sages had cursed him to forget his powers till he was reminded of them at a later, more opportune moment. Being thus forgetful, Hanuman hadn’t, till this point in the Ramayana, done anything extraordinarily heroic.
Their search for Sita having drawn a blank, the disheartened monkeys discussed their next strategy: Should they keep searching? Or should they return, report their failure and seek further orders? Their predicament triggered residual suspicions in Angada. He said that Sugriva’s hunger for power, which had made him conspire to kill his own brother, would also make him pounce on any pretext to kill his nephew. And their delay in returning would serve as such a pretext. Angada concluded that fasting to death in the forest would be better than returning only to be executed in disgrace in front of their loved ones.
On hearing Angada’s apprehension, the monkeys responded variously, discussing to and fro, till they split into two groups. One group agreed with Angada and resolved to fast to death. The other group sided with Hanuman, who underscored Sugriva’s fairness and assured that no one would be penalized for the delay.
Seismic fault-lines in […]
The post Unity – within and without appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Talk to Bhagavata Vidyapeetha Students at Govardhana Eco-village, Wada
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2015%20classes/12-15%20classes/Using%20jnana%20in%20bhakti.mp3
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The post Using jnana in bhakti appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/12-15%20QA/When%20we%20are%20speaking%20at%20some%20other%20organizations%20forum%20should%20we%20adjust%20or%20speak%20the%20truth.mp3
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The post When we are speaking at some other organization’s forum, should we adjust or speak the truth? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/12-15%20QA/While%20sympathizing%20with%20outsiders,%20how%20to%20ensure%20that%20insiders%20dont%20become%20like%20outsiders.mp3
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The post While sympathizing with outsiders, how to ensure that insiders dont become like outsiders? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/12-15%20QA/What%20were%20the%20most%20striking%20experiences%20of%20your%20US%20preaching%20tour.mp3
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The post What were the most striking experiences of your US preaching tour? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/12-15%20QA/How%20can%20we%20be%20sympathetic%20to%20people%20whose%20beliefs%20differ%20from%20scripture.mp3
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The post How can we be sympathetic to people whose beliefs differ from scripture? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Gita daily article with literary ornaments
Lecture Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2015%20classes/12-15%20classes/Using%20English%20to%20glorify%20Krishna.mp3
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The post Using English to glorify Krishna appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/12-15%20QA/For%20those%20practicing%20some%20other%20religion%20should%20KC%20be%20presented%20analytically%20or%20synthetically.mp3
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The post For those practicing some other religion, should KC be presented analytically or synthetically? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/12-15%20QA/Why%20did%20Ambedkar%20misundersand%20and%20reject%20the%20Vedic%20path.mp3
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The post Why did Ambedkar misundersand and reject the Vedic path? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/12-15%20QA/How%20does%20the%20jiva%20fall%20to%20the%20material%20world.mp3
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The post How does the jiva fall to the material world? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/12-15%20QA/Is%20the%20Warkari%20sampradaya%20personalist%20or%20impersonalist.mp3
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The post Is the Warkari sampradaya personalist or impersonalist? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2015%20classes/12-15%20classes/Dasha%20Multa%20Tattva%201%20-%20Understanding%20its%20historical%20and%20philosophical%20significance.mp3
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The post Dasha Multa Tattva 1 – Understanding its historical and philosophical significance appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Talk at Govardhan Ecovillage, Wada
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2015%20classes/12-15%20classes/Sharing%20bhakti%20with%20a%20westernized%20audience.mp3
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The post Sharing bhakti with a westernized audience appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Sunday feast class at Radha Gopinath temple on the occasion of Gita Jayanti, 2015
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2015%20classes/12-15%20classes/Gita%20chp%2013-18%20overview%20-%20How%20jnana%20culminates%20in%20bhakti.mp3
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The post Gita chp 13-18 overview – How jnana culminates in bhakti appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Sunday feast lecture at Radha Gopinath temple
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2015%20classes/12-15%20classes/Gita%20chp%2013-18%20overview%20-%20How%20jnana%20culminates%20in%20bhakti.mp3
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The post Gita chp 13-18 overview – How jnana culminates in bhakti appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Positive Thinking 1 – Countering external and internal negativity
Positive Thinking 2 – Understanding the four kinds of thoughts
Positive Thinking – 3 Science and positive thinking
Positive Thinking 4 – Thoughts lead to things – and are things
Positive Thinking 5 – Think positive – think spiritual
Positive Thinking 6 – Don’t just see reality positively – see the positive reality
10. Positive Thinking 7 Get the IDEA Identity, Divinity, Eternity, Activity
Positive Thinking 8 – I of IDEA – Understanding our identity boosts our positivity
Positive Thinking 9 – D of IDEA – Divinity underlies the universes order
Positive Thinking 10 – E of IDEA – Eternal love provides inexhaustible positivity
Positive Thinking 11 – A of Activity – Spiritual vision inspires positive action
Positive Thinking 12 – IDEA at work 1 – Facing untimely death positively
Positive Thinking 13 – IDEA at work 2 – Facing reversal after reversal positively
Positive Thinking 14 – Understanding willpower 1 – Beyond genes, upbringing and association
Positive Thinking 15 – Understanding willpower 2 – Potential and actual
Positive Thinking 16 – Understanding willpower 3 – Sharpen and strengthen the intelligence
The post List of all talks in Positive Thinking Series appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/12-15%20QA/If%20we%20are%20getting%20too%20many%20doubts%20should%20we%20just%20switch%20off%20our%20intellectual%20faculty.mp3
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The post If we are getting too many doubts, should we just switch off our intellectual faculty? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/12-15%20QA/If%20we%20doubt%20Krishnas%20existence%20how%20can%20we%20have%20faith%20that%20he%20will%20remove%20our%20doubts%20in%20future.mp3
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The post How to decide whether our intellectual needs are for logical study or empirical research? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/12-15%20QA/If%20we%20doubt%20Krishnas%20existence%20how%20can%20we%20have%20faith%20that%20he%20will%20remove%20our%20doubts%20in%20future.mp3
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The post If we doubt Krishna’s existence, how can we have faith that he will remove our doubts in future? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/12-15%20QA/Is%20it%20ok%20to%20be%20disturbed%20in%20our%20bhakti%20when%20some%20questions%20dont%20get%20answered.mp3
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The post Is it ok to be disturbed in our bhakti when some questions don’t get answered? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/12-15%20QA/How%20did%20the%20soul%20enter%20during%20the%20birth%20of%20100%20Kauravas%20from%20Gandharis%20miscarriage.mp3
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The post How did the soul enter during the birth of 100 Kauravas from Gandharis miscarriage? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/12-15%20QA/Arent%20renunciates%20who%20lose%20semen%20accidentally%20denying%20bodies%20to%20the%20souls%20present%20in%20their%20semen.mp3
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The post Aren’t renunciates who lose semen accidentally denying bodies to the souls present in their semen? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/12-15%20QA/During%20the%20birth%20of%20twins%20does%20the%20soul%20split%20into%20two.mp3
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The post During the birth of twins does the soul split into two? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
When couple try to mate to have children they may not have children always but only by Krishna’s blessings they do. How does that work? meaning semen may have soul but cannot turn into a baby in the womb of mother. Also some times prematurely, soul leaves meaning miss carriage? what’s happening? Of course there is a karma factor but its not very clear in this case. please explain
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/12-15%20QA/During%20conception,%20how%20do%20sperm,%20egg,%20soul,%20karma%20and%20Krishnas%20will%20interrrelate.mp3
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The post During conception, how do sperm, egg, soul, karma and Krishna’s will inter-relate? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Does semen from men contain souls in it? or men has the ability to create, carry souls with in them in the form of semen? Or soul only enter when female release egg and semen enter into it to make a life?
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/12-15%20QA/During%20conception,%20when%20and%20where%20does%20the%20soul%20come%20into%20the%20picture.mp3
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The post During conception, when and where does the soul come into the picture? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/12-15%20QA/What%20is%20the%20relation%20between%20the%20Ishopanishad%20cover%20picture%20and%20its%20content.mp3
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The post What is the relation between the Ishopanishad cover picture and its content? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.