Author Archives: Chaitanya Charan das

Why does God not answer our prayers? (PK answered 5)
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Transcription :

Transcribed by: Suresh Gupta

Edited by: Raji Nachiappan

Question: Why does God not answer our prayers?

Answer: Prayers always work. God always answers our prayers, but we do not understand his answers because those do not always come in terms that we expect. If we truly understand God, then we should understand both his omnipotence and his omniscience. He is both supremely strong and supremely wise. We often go to God when we have a problem we cannot solve. We pray to him, that since you are much stronger, please utilize your strength to solve our problem. However, this is trusting only half of God. We are trusting only his strength, but not his intelligence. We are trusting only his omnipotence but not his omniscience. God knows what is best for us and because he knows, he will do what is best for us.

Sometimes, only by facing the problems, we will grow. If we are prematurely relieved of the problem, the opportunity for growth will be missed. Nature also tells that growth happens through struggle. Once a city-dweller was going through the forest and saw a bird’s egg that had fallen. Inside the egg was a birdlet who was struggling to come out. The wings were coming out partially through the cracked shell while the birdlet kept pushing and pushing. The tiny creature was applying all the force it could but was not able to crack the shell. The birdlet was in distress. The city-dweller out of compassion cracked open the shell and let the birdlet come out. When the birdlet started moving, suddenly a cat appeared and charged towards him. The birdlet tried to fly, but since its wings were not fully developed, it could not. It was then caught and devoured by the cat. The city-dweller realised that he had actually done a disservice to the birdlet. Nature had arranged in such a way that by struggling to push against the shell of the egg, the birdlet’s strength would grow. When the birdlet’s strength grows adequately enough to break the shell on its own, birdlet’s wings will also grow. Those developed wings will strengthen him to fly. Hence by pre-mature breaking of the shell, the birdlet was not helped, rather he was harmed.

We should not, therefore, think that God’s purpose is only to solve our problems. God’s purpose is primarily to help us grow. Problems are sometimes like the shell that are covering us. God allows us to go through those problems and that is why sometimes our problems may not be solved. It may appear to us that our prayers are not answered. However, if we pray to God, not with a demanding mood, but by saying that since he knows what is best for us, please guide us. By approaching him with such attitude, we will find ourselves internally strengthened. By such prayers, we will get the strength to face the problem.

Rather than telling God how big […]

Why does God not answer our prayers? (PK answered 5)
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Answer Podcast:

https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2014%20QA/12-14%20QA/Why%20does%20God%20not%20answer%20our%20prayers.mp3 Download by “right-click and save content”

 

Transcription :

Transcribed by: Suresh Gupta

Edited by: Raji Nachiappan

Question: Why does God not answer our prayers?

Answer: Prayers always work. God always answers our prayers, but we do not understand his answers because those do not always come in terms that we expect. If we truly understand God, then we should understand both his omnipotence and his omniscience. He is both supremely strong and supremely wise. We often go to God when we have a problem we cannot solve. We pray to him, that since you are much stronger, please utilize your strength to solve our problem. However, this is trusting only half of God. We are trusting only his strength, but not his intelligence. We are trusting only his omnipotence but not his omniscience. God knows what is best for us and because he knows, he will do what is best for us.

Sometimes, only by facing the problems, we will grow. If we are prematurely relieved of the problem, the opportunity for growth will be missed. Nature also tells that growth happens through struggle. Once a city-dweller was going through the forest and saw a bird’s egg that had fallen. Inside the egg was a birdlet who was struggling to come out. The wings were coming out partially through the cracked shell while the birdlet kept pushing and pushing. The tiny creature was applying all the force it could but was not able to crack the shell. The birdlet was in distress. The city-dweller out of compassion cracked open the shell and let the birdlet come out. When the birdlet started moving, suddenly a cat appeared and charged towards him. The birdlet tried to fly, but since its wings were not fully developed, it could not. It was then caught and devoured by the cat. The city-dweller realised that he had actually done a disservice to the birdlet. Nature had arranged in such a way that by struggling to push against the shell of the egg, the birdlet’s strength would grow. When the birdlet’s strength grows adequately enough to break the shell on its own, birdlet’s wings will also grow. Those developed wings will strengthen him to fly. Hence by pre-mature breaking of the shell, the birdlet was not helped, rather he was harmed.

We should not, therefore, think that God’s purpose is only to solve our problems. God’s purpose is primarily to help us grow. Problems are sometimes like the shell that are covering us. God allows us to go through those problems and that is why sometimes our problems may not be solved. It may appear to us that our prayers are not answered. However, if we pray to God, not with a demanding mood, but by saying that since he knows what is best for us, please guide us. By approaching him with such attitude, we will find ourselves internally strengthened. By such prayers, we will get the strength to face the problem.

Rather than telling God how big […]

The post Why does God not answer our prayers? (PK answered 5) appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

If Krishna is merciful, he takes everything away from us – how to not become fearful on hearing this statement?
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Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2020%20QA/10-20%20QA/If%20Krishna%20is%20merciful%2C%20he%20takes%20everything%20away%20from%20us%20-%20how%20to%20not%20become%20fearful%20on%20hearing%20this%20statement.mp3

The post…

When the modes interrupt our bhakti practice, how can uninterrupted bhakti practice take us beyond the modes?
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Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2020%20QA/10-20%20QA/When%20the%20modes%20interrupt%20our%20bhakti%20practice%2C%20how%20can%20uninterrupted%20bhakti%20practice%20take%20us%20beyond%20the%20modes.mp3

The post When th…

The Monk’s Podcast 78 with Krishna Kshetra Maharaj – Churning the Bhagavatam – Dashavatara 2 – Kurma
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Podcast

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2020%20classes/09-20%20classes/The%20Monk%27s%20Podcast%2078%20with%20Krishna%20Kshetra%20Maharaj%20-%20Churning%20the%20Bhagavatam%20-%20Dashavatara%202%20-%20Kurma.mp3

 

Podcast Summary

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2020%20classes/09-20%20classes/The%20Monk%27s%20Podcast%2078%20with%20Krishna%20Kshetra%20Maharaj%20summary%20-%20Churning%20the%20Bhagavatam%20-%20Dashavatara%202%20-%20Kurma.mp3

 

 

Transcription :

Churning the Bhagavatam – Dashavatara 2 – Kurma – The Monk’s Podcast 78 with Krishna Kshetra Maharaj

Summary from 1.38.55

Chaitanya Charan Prabhu: We started with the special features of Kurmadev. We talked about how it seems that He doesn’t speak, He is a very silent avatar. And there are no prayers offered to him. And then we had a lot of discussion on the nonliteral aspects. So Kurma Dev is worshipped for stability as is recommended by Bhakti Vinode Thakur.

We discussed how Srila Prabhupad while presenting Krishna Bhakti in a relevant way in a context where the Mahatma Gandhi and others were reducing it to myth or bias myth, Srila Prabhupad spoke strongly about literal understanding. Bhakti Vinode Thakur while addressing Bankim Chandra Chatterji’s attempts to bowdlerize Krishna Lila, and to present things, he, he gave people a non-literal way to understand it, but also emphasize that ultimately, it has to be an initial transcendental level.

We discussed various allegories. Metaphor would be more of a particular point of parallel way. Allegory is a narrative in which certain abstract properties are personified to teach something. So Chaintanya Chandrodaya natak is an allegory. At least there are allegorical characters in that. And then with respect to the Bhagavatam’s first canto in the bull and the cow narrative there is a blurring of categories, and the emphasis is on remembering and relishing Krishna. The Acharyas don’t talk so much about whether this is allegorical or not. So, depending on historical context, certain things, which we may consider very important individuality, 100- or 200-years others may think that something else is very important. So rather than focusing on what is considered contextually important we can be more Saragrahahi- essence seeking and focus on remembering the Lord. Before that you mentioned how there are not only multiple avatars present in this, but multiple avatars are cooperating in the pastime.

Then we discuss how Parshuram interacts with Ram. In the spiritual world there seems to be some awareness of at least Dwarka and Vrindavana. But whether there is interaction between the various lokas and the various devotees; that is something which we don’t have clear mention about.
And then we mentioned about Mandala and Yantra.

So, the Kurma being present with the churning rod above him is like a Mandela. Then we have the Mandala’s in the 1st cantoo where Nimisharanya is considered to be the center of the universe. Then we have Bhu Mandala in the 5th canto, and of course we have Rasa Mandala in the 10th canto.

We also discussed the idea of a universal turtle, or the turtles all the way. In our tradition, if you consider Kurma to be the supreme Lord. Then Kashyapa is the Prajapati. So, from the Prajapati everything comes. Kurma sustains everything. So, in that sense, there is a parallel over here.

You also discussed a lot in detail about how when Kurma appears, there is the churning in the 8th the 10th cantos. While, the churning in the 10th […]

The post The Monk’s Podcast 78 with Krishna Kshetra Maharaj – Churning the Bhagavatam – Dashavatara 2 – Kurma appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

The Monk’s Podcast 77 with Govinda Prabhu – Racism – what it is, what it isn’t and how to deal with it?
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Podcast

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2020%20classes/09-20%20classes/The%20Monk%27s%20Podcast%2077%20with%20Govinda%20Prabhu%20-%20Racism%20-%20what%20it%20is%2C%20what%20it%20isn%27t%20and%20how%20to%20deal%20with%20it.mp3

 

Podcast Summary

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2020%20classes/09-20%20classes/The%20Monk%27s%20Podcast%2077%20with%20Govinda%20Prabhu%20Summary%20-%20Racism%20-%20what%20it%20is%2C%20what%20it%20isn%27t%20and%20how%20to%20deal%20with%20it.mp3

 

Video:

 

Transcription :

Racism -What it is and what it isn’t and how to deal with it

Summary at 2.15.34

We discussed the topic of racism.
We started by talking about how to consider belonging to a nation to be special, that could be a form of illusion. But we also said that for everybody to belong to something to say this is special is not bad it’s a matter of gratitude. But the thing that I’m superior, that’s what makes it bad.

And then, you talked about how spirituality is meant to elevate our consciousness, but also to expand our consciousness. And if, if there is no expansion, there’s only elevation, then it is good if somebody is doing solitary bhajan. But if somebody is actually living in society. Then they will alienate people. Then we talk about Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, He was also conscious of Shankar Pandit and Shrikant, although he was in high ecstasy. So, the expansion of consciousness is there. That means we recognise and we embrace people from various backgrounds. So that expansion itself will at one level counter racism.

Then we talked about how rather than focusing on racism, we focused on the idea of group identity. It could be nationalism; it could be gender group. It could be regional groups. So, at four levels we have equality and identity and be everybody’s soul, but different people have different abilities, and everybody can be given equal opportunity, but we can’t mandate equal results. So, in the example of a cricket coach, if they have a quota system then they will not have the best team. So, equality of opportunity has to be given.

Then we discuss that at an individual level, acknowledging that different people are different abilities is straightforward; it’s a fact of life. But could some groups of people have certain abilities more and certain abilities less? That’s also possible. So, we could go to two extremes. One is to impose that all groups should be equal in every way. So, you said that a Telugu athlete will be as good as a African sprint runner. It’s unlikely. And we could do a lot of social engineering and do it, but what is the point of it. Is it worth the effort? Instead of that, train them and facilitate them in growing and what they are good at.
One extreme would be to absolutely equalise all races, the other is to stereotype that everybody in this race will be good in this and bad in this. Say somebody from a Telugu community is very good at athletics they should also be in the facility.

You actually at the start mentioned that racism arises from individual insecurity. If I have insecurity, then I try to get a sense of strength from the group which I belong to. And then, if it is an individual thing. It can be tolerated, and it can be corrected at an individual level, but when it becomes a group thing, the whole group of people start […]

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As soon as the corona pandemic started, the temples shut down and only hospitals offered relief. Isn’t it better that we fund medical research?
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Answer Podcast

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2020%20QA/05-20%20QA/As%20soon%20as%20the%20corona%20pandemic%20started%2C%20the%20temples%20shut%20down%20and%20only%20hospitals%20offered%20relief.%20Isn%E2%80%99t%20it%20better%20that%20we%20fund%20medical%20research.mp3

 

Transcription :

Transcription by: Suresh Gupta

Question: As soon as the corona pandemic started, the temples shut down and only hospitals offered relief. Isn’t it better that we fund medical research?

Answer: Often, comparison is a tool for emotional manipulation against a particular thing. If at all we want to compare, we can say that the money spent on sports is way more than the money received in donation at temples. Playing and watching sports is a luxury, especially when compared to a dying person in need of a lifesaving medicine. Some people can spend lakhs of rupees for a ticket of a world cup final. Why can’t such money be used to save the life of some person who is terribly sick? Why not compare all the money that we are spending on cricket and decide to give it to medical research?

Different areas in life serve different purposes. Some so-called religious teachers might do some faith healing, but such a thing is not what is traditionally recommended. The idea that religion is used to heal our physical ailments does not have much scriptural basis. Certainly, religion is never presented as a substitute for medicine. In the Vedic tradition also, Ayurveda is considered as a separate branch of knowledge from those Vedic texts which are recommended for spiritual development.

One may say, cricket serves the purpose of entertainment but what purpose does religion serve? Well, certainly for many people, religion at the very basic level serves the purpose of calming the mind, up lifting the heart, give strength. Even if we presume that from functional purposes one does not believe in the religious tenet such as the existence of God, even then atheists have also recognised that religion provides certain things to people which are valid human needs. There is an atheist who has written a book called ‘Religion for Atheists’ where he says that – if we want to prescribe atheism, we need to be able to provide it to people in some healthy way so that they can fulfil their needs. If we do not do that, then religion is going to persist.

Scientific research and spiritual growth are two independent areas. At present when we are trying to deal with the pandemic curve through medicine there is also panic curve which needs to be dealt. For many people, it is their religion that calms them. Now, one can say that there are some religious people who have congregated indiscriminately causing the spread of the disease. That is true, but such people are doing the same mistake the questioner is doing by accusing religion by saying that if religion is not providing solace, so why have religion, just have medical research. Basically, those who congregating indiscriminately and are defying science, they are saying, replace religion by science. However, we need to understand that the two cannot be equated.

Medical research is important and those medical workers who are providing health care even at great risks are to be lauded. At the […]

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The Monk’s Podcast 72 with Krishna Kshetra Maharaj – Churning the Bhagavatam – Dashavatara 1 – Matsya
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Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2020%20classes/10-20%20classes/The%20Monk%27s%20Podcast%2072%20with%20Krishna%20Kshetra%20Maharaj%20-%20Churning%20the%20Bhagavatam%20-%20Dashavatara%201%20-%20Matsya.mp3

&nbs…

The Monk’s Podcast 71 with Radha Gopinath Prabhu – Devotee care – Becoming materially well-situated and spiritually happy
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Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2020%20classes/09-20%20classes/The%20Monk%27s%20Podcast%2071%20with%20Radha%20Gopinath%20Prabhu%20-%20Devotee%20care%20-%20Becoming%20materially%20well-situated%20and%20spiritu…