Author Archives: Chaitanya Charan das

Does Krishna have plans only for his pure devotees?
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Answer Podcast
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Gita 01.44 When our emotion rules our reason, we rationalize a one-sided view of reality
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Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/Lecture%20series/Gita%20verse-by-verse/Series2/Gita%2001.44%20When%20our%20emotion%20rules%20our%20reason%2C%20we%20rationalize%20a%20one-sided%20view%20of%20…

The heart of yoga is yoga of the heart
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[Talk at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA]
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2018%20classes/11-18%20classes/The%20heart%20of%20yoga%20is%20yoga%20of%20the%20heart.mp3

 
Podcast Summary
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Gita 01.43 Hearing is important, but from whom we are hearing is even more important
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Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/Lecture%20series/Gita%20verse-by-verse/Series2/Gita%2001.43%20Hearing%20is%20important%2C%20but%20from%20whom%20we%20are%20hearing%20is%20even%20more%20import…

How can we ensure that our conscience deters us but doesn’t discourage us?
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Answer Podcast
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Gita 01.42 Disruption of dharma leads to overpopulation of disruptive souls, causing total breakdown of dharma
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Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast
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How can we use anger constructively in parenting?
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Answer Podcast
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ACE your life with gratitude
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[Sunday feast class at ISKCON, Baltimore, USA]
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2018%20classes/11-18%20classes/ACE%20your%20life%20with%20gratitude.mp3

 
Podcast Summary
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4 principles to get past our past – PAST – Positivity, Association, Spirituality and Time
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[Sunday feast class at ISKCON, Washington DC, USA]
Podcast
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3 principles for inner empowerment – Intelligence, Identification, Intention
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[Congregation program at Washington DC, USA]
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2018%20classes/11-18%20classes/3%20principles%20for%20inner%20empowerment%20-%20Intelligence%2C%20Identification%2C%20Intention.mp3…

Gita 01.41 When the family is disrupted, the faith of the children is also devastated
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Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast
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If someone gets a special service that we long for, how can we see that devotionally?
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Answer Podcast
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God Is The Supreme Controller, But Not The Sole Controller
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Some people say, “Everything that happens is God’s will.” They may think that such a statement conveys their unquestioning faith, but does it really? Or does it raise disturbing questions that detract from God’s goodne…

How to forgive ourselves if we have made a serious mistake?
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Answer Podcast

https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2018%20QA/11-18%20QA/How%20to%20forgive%20ourselves%20if%20we%20have%20made%20a%20serious%20mistake.mp3

 

Transcription :

Transcribed by: Raji Nachiappan

Question: How to forgive ourselves if we have made a serious mistake?

Answer: Firstly, we are the only resource we have. All our other resources are dependent on the foundation of this resource. Even Krishna cannot help us, if we do not help ourselves. For example, you have a car that has a history of break-downs on a regular basis. However, if that is the only car you have and there is no way you can buy a new car, you can kick or punch the car in frustration, but you will not take a big bolder and break the car completely, out of anger.

Similarly, we are the only resource we have. There is no other resource for us. Uddhared atmanatmanam (BG 6.5)– Lord Krishna says elevate yourself with the mind, and do not degrade yourself with the mind. Now, who is going to do the elevation? We have to do it. Krishna is there to help if we want to do it, but it is we who have to do it.

For example, if we had an assistant or an employee who makes a mistake, then we may be angry, we may chastise and berate them. In the past, masters even beat the employee, but if we beat up the employee to an extent that the employee cannot even walk, then there is no use. The master has to do all the work himself. Similarly, if we become so upset with ourselves, that we become disheartened and start feeling hopeless, then there is no use because we are our only resource. Therefore, if there are changes that are to happen, then we need to begin it. Once we begin, Krishna can help.

Secondly, Krishna is such an expert that he can work even through our mistakes. Our mistakes are not Krishna’s plan but our mistakes can be included in his plan. Lord Krishna does not plan that we make mistakes and neither does he want us to make mistakes, but if we make mistakes, Lord Krishna’s plan can include them. For example, in the famous Akshaya-patra pastime, wherein Durvasa muni arrives for a meal at the Pandavas’ residence after Draupadi has eaten. Usually in houses, after food utensils are cleaned. For special utensils, e.g. silver or golden utensils, they are cleaned very carefully. For an extraordinary utensil like Akshaya-patra, how is that Draupadi could not have cleaned it properly? In a way it is a mistake, but Lord Krishna acted through that mistake. Therefore, we do not have to think of our mistakes as permanently condemning. Mistakes happen and Lord Krishna’s plan can act through our mistakes.

The other example is that of a GPS. If the GPS tells us to turn right and if we instead turn left, the GPS does not stop guiding us because we did not follow its direction. The GPS then re-routes and tells us the right path again. Similarly, even if we commit mistakes, Lord […]

Gita 01.40 Dharma prevents human society from being ruled by the law of the jungle
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Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast
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The living bhakti tradition – a museum or a garden?
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[Talk at Institute for Applied Spiritual Technology, Washington DC, USA]
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2018%20classes/11-18%20classes/The%20living%20bhakti%20tradition%20-%20a%20museum%20or%20a%20garden.mp3…

When spiritual life seems impractical – because of body, family, society and job
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[Congregation program at Ashburn, Washington DC, USA]
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2018%20classes/11-18%20classes/When%20spiritual%20life%20seems%20impractical%20-%20because%20of%20body%2C%20family%2C%20s…

How can we clear our subconscious mind?
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Answer Podcast
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Gita 01.39 Our sense of honor coming from our lineage can raise us but can also stop us from rising to the highest
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Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast
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Avoiding verbal violence in bhakti
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[Discussion at Bhakti Lounge, Washington DC, USA]
Podcast
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Gita 01.38 To restrain a violent madman, their restrainers may have to fight like the madman
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Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/Lecture%20series/Gita%20verse-by-verse/Series2/Gita%2001.38%20To%20restrain%20a%20violent%20madman%2C%20their%20restrainers%20may%20have%20to%20fight%20like%2…

Does the spiritual world really exist? – SPIRIT acronym
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[Congregation program at Washington DC, USA]
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2018%20classes/11-18%20classes/Does%20the%20spiritual%20world%20really%20exist_%20-%20SPIRIT%20acronym.mp3

 
Podcast Summary
…

Demons in Krishna lila 5 – Aghasura – Cruelty and violence
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[Bhagavatam class at ISKCON, Washington DC, USA]
Podcast
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Podca…

Gita 01.37 Consciousness that is contaminated becomes conquered and covered
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Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast
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Gita 01.36 The ethical tension between kula-dharma and kshatriya-dharma leads to emotional over-reaction and physical inaction
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Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast
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Appreciating life’s ARC – Achievements, Relationships, Consciousness
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[Talk at Intel, Phoenix, USA]

Podcast

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2018%20classes/11-18%20classes/Appreciating%20life%27s%20ARC%20-%20Achievements%2C%20Relationships%2C%20Consciousness.mp3

 

Podcast Summary

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PPT:

Appreciating life’s arc achievements, relationships, consciousness from Chaitanya Charan

Video:

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Appreciating Prabhupada’s powerful practicality – PASS acronym
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[Prabhupada disappearance day class at ISKCON, Phoenix, USA]
Podcast
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Ramayana series 4 – Sita’s faithfulness – The strength of devotional acceptance
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[Talk at Phoenix, USA]
Podcast
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Podcas…

Ramayana series 3 – Shurapanakha’s manipulativeness – Exploiting others’ weaknesses doesn’t make us strong
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[Talk at Phoenix, USA]
Podcast
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Ramayana series 2 – Ravana’s recklessness – Attachment makes us overvalue things
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[Talk at Phoenix, USA]
Podcast
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 …

Ramayana series 1 – Comparing Dasharatha and Dhritarashtra – What we do is not as important as why we do it
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[Talk at Phoenix, USA]
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2018%20classes/11-18%20classes/Ramayana%20series%201%20-%20Comparing%20Dasharatha%20and%20Dhritarashtra%20-%20What%20we%20do%20is%20not%20as%20important%…

Govardhana lila lessons – Krishna disempowers and empowers – and opens channels for reciprocating love
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[Govardhana puja talk at ISKCON, Phoenix, USA]
Podcast
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Gita 01.35 Our pleasure-pain calculation determines our decisions and is determined by our worldview
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Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast
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Gita 01.34 To retaliate and cause death requrires courage, but to not retaliate at the cost of one’s own death requires greater courage
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Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/Lecture%20series/Gita%20verse-by-verse/Series2/Gita%2001.34%20To%20retaliate%20and%20cause%20death%20requrires%20courage%2C%20but%20to%20not%20retaliate%20at%…

Gita 01.33 When various purposes pull us in different directions, we need to prioritize our purposes
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Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast
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Gita 01.32 Don’t let the means to an end become an end that diverts us from the actual ends
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Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast
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God in the bhakti tradition – How can we infer his existence and communicate with him?
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[Talk to World Philosophy students at Scottsdale Community College, Phoenix, USA]
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2018%20classes/11-18%20classes/God%20in%20the%20bhakti%20tradition%20-%20How%20can%20we%20infe…

Can a devotee scientist do animal testing for professional research?
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Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2018%20QA/10-18%20QA/Can%20a%20devotee%20scientist%20do%20animal%20testing%20for%20professional%20research.mp3

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Pride takes us on a perilous ride
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Sunday feast class at ISKCON, Milton, Toronto, Canada]
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2018%20classes/11-18%20classes/Pride%20takes%20us%20on%20a%20perilous%20ride.mp3

 
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