Author Archives: Chaitanya Charan das

Appreciating different definitions of success in devotional service
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Lecture Podcast Lecture Outline: Bhag 1.15.16 – Arjuna appreciate Prahlad’s devotion – form different, but substance same Prabhupada disapproved cloning of successful book distributors: “Devotional service is individual, voluntary and spontaneous.” He also suspended the GBC when it tried to centralize ISKCON’s finances Institutionalization should facilitate, not stagnate, the flow of devotion Come up with new […]

Different approaches to Gita study: historical, literary, philosophical, revelational, descriptive, prescriptive
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Lecture Podcast Lecture Highlights: Each branch of knowledge like a lens to see the Gita  from a particular perspective Gita synthesizes six systems of philosophy within a devotional worldview – six systems were originally progressive departments within the same university but later became competitive independent bodies of knowledge, so Baladeva Vidyabhushan refutes the other five […]

Balance philosophy with sensitivity – Be dharma-centered, not karma-centered
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Lecture Podcast Lecture Highlights: Only when body is maintained can it give the fruit of dharma, mukti and bhakti Maintaining body means also maintaining mind with emotional sensitivity while applying the philosophy 1. Be encouraging and commiserating with sick devotees eg. Body is like a dream – but that means, according to Baladeva Vidyabhushan, even […]

Don’t be worn out by the mind – wear the mind out
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Lecture Podcast Lecture Summary: 1. How we are at war with the mind: Battle of attrition between us and the mind. e.g. Trench warfare, staring match 2. How the mind deludes us: Incorrect auto-correct eg. sat as Saturday, Pseudo-hunger – untimeliness and selectiveness The mind’s ventriloquism: 2.61-62 (contemplation, attraction, obsession, irritation, delusion, oblivion, stupefaction, destruction) […]

Right and wrong definitions of success in grihastha life
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Lecture Podcast Lecture Summary: Don’t offend bhakti by minimizing its potency unfavorably in comparison with the problems of grihastha ashrama (g. a.) Pessimistic attitude towards g a becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy Pendulum in definitions of success: Extreme: adopt grihamedhi’s definition eg “all this bhakti is too much.” Regular practice of sadhana ensure that we don’t […]

As yogis become bhaktas at their topmost stage does that mean we should practice yoga before bhakti?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

From Raj: Although Arjuna says that it is difficult to control the mind 6.34), in the latter slokas, Lord Sri-Krishna explains how one can attain such arduous dhyana-yoga through diligent practice. Also, in Srimad-Bhagavatam (SB 11.14.31-46), Lord Sri-Krishna explains the same process to Udhava. Undoubtedly, Devotees are the supreme yogis of all (6.47), but to […]

How can we stay open to new ideas without weakening our convictions?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

From Vaishakh R Very often it happens that discussions invariably bring in topics of spirituality and what follows is each one defending his views. Usually such discussions end without any conclusion but nevertheless brings to the table a pool of new ideas. Sometimes these new ideas affect one’s conviction, especially when it’s not possible to […]