Author Archives: Chaitanya Charan das

Bhagavatam-daily 240 – 11.11.46 – Specific details of Krishna’s forms are not to be transcended but to be treasured
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Bhagavatam daily Podcast:

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2015%20classes/06-15%20classes/Bhagavatam-daily%20240%20–%2011.11.46%20–%20Specific%20details%20of%20Krishnas%20forms%20are%20not%20to%20be%20transcended%20but%20to%20be%20treasured.mp3
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Bhagavatam-daily 239 – 11.11.45 – See social service as a form of devotional service, not its replacement
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Bhagavatam daily Podcast:

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2015%20classes/06-15%20classes/Bhagavatam-daily%20239%20–%2011.11.45%20–%20See%20social%20service%20as%20a%20form%20of%20devotional%20service,%20not%20its%20replacement.mp3
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CC daily 139 – M 6.203 – Krishna’s defining depiction reflects his loving disposition
→ The Spiritual Scientist

CC-daily Podcast:

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2015%20classes/06-15%20classes/CC%20daily%20139%20–%20M%206.203%20–%20Krishnas%20defining%20depiction%20reflects%20his%20loving%20disposition.mp3
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CC daily 138 – M 6.202 – The bhakti conception of the divine is polymorphic mono-theism
→ The Spiritual Scientist

CC-daily Podcast:

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2015%20classes/06-15%20classes/CC%20daily%20138%20–%20M%206.202%20–%20The%20bhakti%20conception%20of%20the%20divine%20is%20polymorphic%20mono-theism.mp3
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CC daily 137 – M 6.201 – Self-criticism is for our disposition not our composition
→ The Spiritual Scientist

CC-daily Podcast:

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2015%20classes/06-15%20classes/CC%20daily%20137%20–%20M%206.201%20–%20Self-criticism%20is%20for%20our%20disposition%20not%20our%20composition.mp3
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CC daily 136 – M 6.200 – Pride alters our destination by distorting our vision
→ The Spiritual Scientist

CC-daily Podcast:

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2015%20classes/06-15%20classes/CC%20daily%20136%20–%20M%206.200%20–%20Pride%20alters%20our%20destination%20by%20distorting%20our%20vision.mp3
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Krishna Can Bring Good Out Of Everything – Even Our Mistakes
→ ISKCON News

Sometimes when we commit mistakes, we may become embarrassed, irritated or enraged with ourselves. If we become excessively disturbed, that often becomes a second mistake.

A spiritual wonder down under (Reflections on my outreach tour to Melbourne)
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Some eight years ago my spiritual master His Holiness Radhanath Swami Maharaj told me to learn to write for a Western audience. He explained that since Indians were also getting westernized, material written for a Western audience would appeal to them too.

Since then, I have read various books written by devotee-authors for a Western audience. Then I corresponded by email with many of these devotee-authors, appreciating their works and offering to serve them as an editor for their future books. During the ensuing interactions, I got to know the story behind the story – how they came to write what they wrote. Based on the guidance of these devotees, I read many books written for a Western audience by other spiritual authors – Christians, yoga teachers, Buddhists, academic scholars of religion and post-modern thinkers – paying special attention to their choice of diction, style and content.

Finally after nearly a decade of distant preparation and at the prompting of several devotee-authors, I recognized that I needed to interact with my audience firsthand to understand them better. Accordingly, when Muralidhar Prabhu, who has long appreciated my talks and writings, and has even arranged the translation of three of my books into Chinese, invited me to come to Melbourne, I accepted the invitation.

After taking the blessings of senior devotees and offering my prayers to Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Gopinath – “Let this trip deepen my conviction that you, O Lord, are the only ultimate substance and that everything else, no matter how attractive-looking, is eventually insubstantial” – I embarked on the tour to Melbourne from 27th May to 9th June, 2015.

A heartwarming blend of the natural and the devotional

The eighteen-hour flight with a five-hour jet lag was uneventfully pleasant. I landed at Melbourne in the early morning cold in what was the coldest part of the year on one of the southernmost parts of Australia. As we drove to the temple, I noticed that the architecture of Melbourne was a pleasing blend of the traditional and the modern. In the Melbourne ISKCON temple, the central building is the oldest building in the whole area and is a heritage building. It also contains a large devotional heritage room: The room in which Srila Prabhupada lived during his visit in 1975 has been preserved as it is.

With comforting greenery in the premises, the temple atmosphere is a heartwarming blend of the natural and the devotional. The Deities are the divinely beautiful Radha Vallabha, Jagannatha-Baldeva-Subhadra and Gaur-Nitai. By their sacred presence, they manifest in Melbourne simultaneously the three holiest abodes of Gaudiya Vaishnavism: Vrindavan, Jagannath Puri and Mayapur.

I had three illuminating meetings with the Temple President, His Grace Aniruddha Prabhu, who has been a rock of stability for the Melbourne community for the last twenty-five years. He explained the temple’s outreach strategy centered on prasad distribution. When Srila Prabhupada had come there, he had said that anyone from around ten miles should be able to come to the temple and get free prasad. Accordingly, the […]

If science just uses pre-existing mechanisms how does that apply to computer codes and programs?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast:

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/06-15%20QA/If%20science%20just%20uses%20pre-existing%20mechanisms%20how%20does%20that%20apply%20to%20computer%20codes%20and%20programs.mp3
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Does scripture have mathematical equation for relativity?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast:
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/06-15%20QA/Does%20scripture%20have%20mathematical%20equation%20for%20relativity.mp3
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Can yoga be copyrighted?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast:
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/06-15%20QA/Can%20yoga%20be%20copyrighted.mp3
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Is yoga a cure-all?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast:
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/06-15%20QA/Is%20yoga%20a%20cure-all.mp3
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Can there be something called Christian yoga?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast:
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/06-15%20QA/Can%20there%20be%20something%20called%20Christian%20yoga.mp3
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Is yoga Hindu or not?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast:
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/06-15%20QA/Is%20yoga%20Hindu%20or%20not.mp3
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World Yoga Day – Let’s Go Beyond Political and Physical Posturing
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Talk Podcast:

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2015%20classes/06-15%20classes/World%20Yoga%20Day%20–%20Lets%20Go%20Beyond%20Political%20and%20Physical%20Posturing.mp3
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If Gods will is the universal cause for everything why do some events such as quakes that happen only at specific places?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast:

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/06-15%20QA/If%20Gods%20will%20is%20the%20universal%20cause%20for%20everything%20why%20do%20some%20events%20such%20as%20quakes%20that%20happen%20only%20at%20specific%20places.mp3
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When heavenly residents have subtle bodies dont all bodies contain all elements?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast:

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/06-15%20QA/When%20heavenly%20residents%20have%20subtle%20bodies%20dont%20all%20bodies%20contain%20all%20elements.mp3
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When doctors find treatments nature endows germs with resistance to medicies – why?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast:
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/06-15%20QA/When%20doctors%20find%20treatments%20nature%20endows%20germs%20with%20resistance%20to%20medicies%20-%20why.mp3
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When likings are relative to species whats wrong with a hogs attraction to stool?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast:
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/06-15%20QA/When%20likings%20are%20relative%20to%20species%20whats%20wrong%20with%20a%20hogs%20attraction%20to%20stool.mp3
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How do we differentiate between the mind and the intelligence when the mind can also speak good things?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast:

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/06-15%20QA/How%20do%20we%20differentiate%20between%20the%20mind%20and%20the%20intelligence%20when%20the%20mind%20can%20also%20speak%20good%20things.mp3
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How do we know which is our voice, the minds voice and the Supersoul’s voice?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast:
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/06-15%20QA/How%20do%20we%20know%20which%20is%20our%20voice,%20the%20minds%20voice%20and%20the%20Supersouls%20voice.mp3
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How can we use emotional intelligence to manage our relationships?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast:

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/06-15%20QA/How%20can%20we%20use%20emotional%20intelligence%20to%20manage%20our%20relationships.mp3
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As we will become attached to services we like should we also take services we dont like?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast:
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/06-15%20QA/As%20we%20will%20become%20attached%20to%20services%20we%20like%20should%20we%20also%20take%20services%20we%20dont%20like.mp3
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Why do some bad habits stay on despite our devotional practice – how to deal with them?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast:
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/06-15%20QA/Why%20do%20some%20bad%20habits%20stay%20on%20despite%20our%20devotional%20practice%20-%20how%20to%20deal%20with%20them.mp3
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Does the soul’s composition change from the material world to the spiritual world?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast:

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/06-15%20QA/Does%20the%20souls%20composition%20change%20from%20the%20material%20world%20to%20the%20spiritual%20world.mp3
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How can the soul carry subtle elements from one body to another?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast:
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/06-15%20QA/How%20can%20the%20soul%20carry%20subtle%20elements%20from%20one%20body%20to%20another.mp3
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When the Supersoul is with the soul how can it be covered by the material energy?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast:
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/06-15%20QA/When%20the%20Supersoul%20is%20with%20the%20soul%20how%20can%20it%20be%20covered%20by%20the%20material%20energy.mp3
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Do elderly people in the spiritual world remain eternally elderly?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast:
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/06-15%20QA/Do%20elderly%20people%20in%20the%20spiritual%20world%20remain%20eternally%20elderly.mp3
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Bhagavatam-daily 238 – 11.11.44 – Worship of Krishna is eminently accessible through his devotees
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Bhagavatam daily Podcast:
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2015%20classes/06-15%20classes/Bhagavatam-daily%20238%20–%2011.11.44%20–%20Worship%20of%20Krishna%20is%20eminently%20accessible%20through%20his%20devotees.mp3
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CC daily 135 – M 6.198-99 – What the Bhagavatam teaches in principle it demonstrates in practice
→ The Spiritual Scientist

CC daily Podcast:

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2015%20classes/06-15%20classes/CC%20daily%20135%20–%20M%206.198-99%20–%20What%20the%20Bhagavatam%20teaches%20in%20principle%20it%20demonstrates%20in%20practice.mp3
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Should we seek financial security first so that we can focus more on bhakti later?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast:

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/06-15%20QA/Should%20we%20seek%20financial%20security%20first%20so%20that%20we%20can%20focus%20more%20on%20bhakti%20later.mp3
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Where do we get our individuality from – matter or spirit?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast:
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/06-15%20QA/Where%20do%20we%20get%20our%20individuality%20from%20-%20matter%20or%20spirit.mp3
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In Gita 6.35 what does abhyasa and vairagya mean?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast:
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/06-15%20QA/In%20Gita%206.35%20what%20does%20abhyasa%20and%20vairagya%20mean.mp3
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How do we differentiate between sentimental practice of bhakti and sentiments coming from bhakti?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast:
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/06-15%20QA/How%20do%20we%20differentiate%20between%20sentimental%20practice%20of%20bhakti%20and%20sentiments%20coming%20from%20bhakti.mp3
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How can following rules lead to developing of spontaneous love?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast:
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/06-15%20QA/How%20can%20following%20rules%20lead%20to%20developing%20of%20spontaneous%20love.mp3
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Should we seek satisfaction by serving according to our nature of sacrifice by doing whatever we are told to do?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast:
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/06-15%20QA/Should%20we%20seek%20satisfaction%20by%20serving%20according%20to%20our%20nature%20of%20sacrifice%20by%20doing%20whatever%20we%20are%20told%20to%20do.mp3
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Bhagavatam-daily 237 – 11.11.43 – See various worshipable things as pathways to the supreme worshipable
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Bhagavatam daily Podcast:
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2015%20classes/06-15%20classes/Bhagavatam-daily%20237%20–%2011.11.43%20–%20See%20various%20worshipable%20things%20as%20pathways%20to%20the%20supreme%20worshipable.mp3
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CC daily 134 – M 6.196-97 – Krishna’s qualities pull our mind towards him – other spiritual goals don’t
→ The Spiritual Scientist

CC daily Podcast:
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2015%20classes/06-15%20classes/CC%20daily%20134%20–%20M%206.196-97%20–%20Krishnas%20qualities%20pull%20our%20mind%20towards%20him%20-%20other%20spiritual%20goals%20dont.mp3
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Are Prabhupada’s standards being diluted by, say, singing mahamantra in Bollywood song tune?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast:

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/06-15%20QA/Are%20Prabhupadas%20standards%20being%20diluted%20by%20say%20singing%20mahamantra%20in%20Bollywood%20song%20tune.mp3
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How can I overcome confusion about which spiritual master to choose?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast:
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/06-15%20QA/How%20can%20I%20overcome%20confusion%20about%20which%20spiritual%20master%20to%20choose.mp3
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