Author Archives: Chaitanya Charan das

Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s contributions 2 – See the unity of purpose underlying the diversity of religions
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Special Day Meditation Podcast “When we have occasion to be present at the place of worship of other religionists at the time of their worship, we should stay there in a respectful mood, contemplating thus: ‘Here is being worshiped my adorable highest entity God, in a different form than that of mine. Due to a […]

Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s contributions 1 – Let faith and reason remove the mosses of illusion
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Special Day Meditation Podcast “When the stream of reason joins the river of ancient faiths, the stagnant mosses of illusion are swept away. And with the gradual flow of time when this unwanted stench will disappear, the knowledge of the Indians will blossom again.” – Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Krishna Samhita

Selecting our association without being judgmental or offensive
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Lecture Podcast Lecture Outline: 1. Association is the most precious blessing 2. Association with like-minded and affectionate devotees 3. Surrender is not just an emotion but also an action – surrender by choosing favorable association within devotee circle. 4. Two kinds of favourable association: that which inspires us to serve Krishna generically and that which […]

Autobiographical Writing in Vaishnavism
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As an author, I am often asked questions about the different kinds of writing that devotees can engage in. One genre whose authenticity comes up for questioning is the genre of autobiographical writing in Vaishnavism. The most prominent example of this kind of writing is The Journey Home by His Holiness Radhanath Maharaj, but several […]

Is ISKCON an American organization that sends temple donations from India to America?
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Answer Summary: ISKCON is not an American organization, but an international organization. ISKCON has a standard policy of each center being financially self-sustaining. So normally donations from one temple are not sent to another temple even in the same country, what to speak of outside the country. As special holy places in India like Vrindavan […]

Why are Einstein’s and Prabhupada’s metaphors about blind man-lame man contradictory?
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From Grisham P Einstein compares religion to feet and science to eyes, whereas Prabhupada compares Eastern wisdom to eyes and Western technology to feet. Why the difference? Answer Podcast Another relevant quote: “You know in the West we have built a large, beautiful ship. It has all the comforts in it. but one thing is […]

What does Einstein’s metaphor about science and religion mean?
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Answer Podcast Albert Einstein’s full quote: “Science  can  only  be  created by  those  who  are  thoroughly imbued  with  the  aspiration towards truth and understanding. This source of feeling, however, springs from religion. To this there also belongs the faith in the possibility that  the regulations valid for the world of existence  are  rational, that  is, […]

Does religion require faith from start to end whereas science requires faith only occasionally?
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Answer Podcast Physicist Paul Davies: “Science can proceed only if the scientist adopts an essentially theological worldview … even the most atheistic scientist accepts as an act of faith  the existence of a law-like order in nature that is at least in part comprehensible to us”.  

If we shouldn’t be disturbed by the mind’s impurities, then how can we beat the mind?
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Asked in relationship with this Gita-daily article: Be not alarmed by the presence of impurities; be heartened by the presence of the alarm Prabhuji, this beautiful explanation of text 18.38 removes some of the misgivings but how to connect it with the words of Srila Bhakti Sidhanta Goswami Prabhupada that one must thrash the mind […]