Websites from the ISKCON Universe
Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2017%20classes/09-17%20classes/Gita%2014.03%20We%20determine%20our%20bodies%20and%20our%20bodies%20determine%20us.mp3
The post Gita 14.03 We deter…
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/09-17%20QA/How%20can%20ghosts,%20being%20subtle,%20act%20on%20gross%20objects%20as%20when%20opening%20doors%20or%20breaking%20things.mp3
The post How can ghosts, being subtle…
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/09-17%20QA/When%20ghosts%20have%20only%20subtle%20bodies,%20how%20can%20they%20be%20seen%20by%20humans.mp3
The post When ghosts have only subtle bodies, how can they be seen …
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/09-17%20QA/Are%20increased%20natural%20calamities%20due%20to%20climate%20change%20or%20bad%20karma.mp3
The post Are increased natural calamities due to climate change or bad …
[Reflection at Pittsburg, USA]
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2017%20classes/09-17%20classes/Desires%20exhaust%20us,%20but%20remain%20inexhaustible%20themselves.mp3
The post Desires exhaust us, but remain inexhaust…
Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast
Gita verse-by-verse podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2017%20classes/09-17%20classes/Gita%2014.02%20Death%20can’t%20be%20avoided,%20but%20affliction%20due%20to%20death%20can%20be.mp3
The post Gita 14.02 Death can’t be avoided, but affliction due to death can be appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
[Bhagavatam at Bhakti Center, New York, USA]
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2017%20classes/09-17%20classes/Understanding%20and%20fulfilling%20the%20Bhagavatam’s%20purpose%20by%20cultivating%20sensitivity.mp3
The post Understanding and fulfilling the Bhagavatam’s purpose by cultivating sensitivity appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Gita verse-by-verse podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2017%20classes/09-17%20classes/Gita%2014.01%20The%20Gita%20uses%20diverse%20frames%20of%20analysis%20to%20reiterate%20its%20consistent%20conclusion.mp3
The…
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2017%20classes/09-17%20classes/Bhagavatam%20study%2066%2001.13.24-29%20Detachment%20emerges%20from%20education%20that%20changes%20our%20definition%20of%20success.mp3
The post …
[Talk at One Yoga Center, New York, USA]
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2017%20classes/09-17%20classes/The%20Bhagavad-gita%20is%20a%20yoga%20text%20for%20emotional%20empowerment.mp3
Podcast Su…
[Spiritual Recharge talk at Bhakti Center, New York, USA]
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2017%20classes/09-17%20classes/Change%20your%20inner%20world%20to%20change%20your%20outer%20world.mp3
The post Change…
The post Improving Japa (2) appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
[Seminar at ISKCON, Towaco, USA]
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2017%20classes/09-17%20classes/Improving%20Japa%202%20-%20Concentrate%20by%20cultivating%20interest%20and%20appreciating%20importance.mp3
The post Improving Japa 2 – Concentrate by cultivating interest and appreciating importance appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Podcast:
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2017%20classes/08-17%20classes/Improving%20Japa%201%20-%20Understand%20how%20and%20when%20we%20get%20distracted.mp3
Download by “right-click and save”
The post Improving Japa 1 – Understand how and when we get distracted appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/09-17%20QA/How%20can%20we%20be%20more%20and%20more%20in%20the%20present.mp3
The post How can we be more and more in the present? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/09-17%20QA/If%20someone%20has%20hurt%20us%20grievously,%20what%20should%20we%20do.mp3
The post If someone has hurt us grievously, what should we do? appeared first on The Spi…
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/09-17%20QA/Should%20we%20learn%20from%20the%20past%20or%20consider%20that%20whatever%20happened%20is%20God’s%20will.mp3
The post Should we learn from the past or consider that whatever happened is God’s will? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
[Bhakti Vriksha Program at Edison, USA]
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2017%20classes/09-17%20classes/Cultists,%20Fanatics%20and%20Spiritual%20Shoppers%20-%20Making%20sense%20of%20the%20world’s%20religious%20scenario.mp3
Podcast Summary
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2017%20classes/09-17%20classes/Summary%20-%20Cultists,%20Fanatics%20and%20Spiritual%20Shoppers%20-%20Making%20sense%20of%20the%20world’s%20religious%20scenario.mp3
The post Cultists, Fanatics and Spiritual Shoppers – Making sense of the world’s religious scenario appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
People often want to rise to the top in their fields and delight in being high above everyone else. Even if they attain a lofty position like that of a king on a throne, that majesty often makes them lonely.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/Gita%20daily/2017%20Gita%20daily/08-17%20Gita%20daily/When%20waves%20of%20desire%20come%20suddenly,%20do%20they%20have%20some%20rational%20cause.mp3
The post When waves of desire come suddenly,…
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/Gita%20daily/2017%20Gita%20daily/08-17%20Gita%20daily/When,%20because%20of%20our%20bhakti%20principles,%20we%20can’t%20eat%20the%20food%20offered%20by%20our%20relatives,%20how%20can%20we%20avoid%20alienating%20them%20from%20bhakti.mp3
The post When, because of our bhakti principles, we can’t eat the food offered by our relatives, how can we avoid alienating them from bhakti? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
[Reflection at Gainesville, USA]
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2017%20classes/09-17%20classes/Temptation%20is%20caused%20not%20so%20much%20by%20perception%20as%20by%20provocation.mp3
The post Temptation is…
[Talk at Krishna House, Gainesville, USA]
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2017%20classes/09-17%20classes/Six%20loving%20exchanges%20-%20Opening%20the%20heart%20and%20reciprocating%20with%20the%20opened%20heart.mp3
Podcast Summary
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2017%20classes/09-17%20classes/Summary%20-%20Six%20loving%20exchanges%20-%20Opening%20the%20heart%20and%20reciprocating%20with%20the%20opened%20heart.mp3
The post Six loving exchanges – Opening the heart and reciprocating with the opened heart appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
[Talk at Krishna House, Gainesville, USA]
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2017%20classes/09-17%20classes/We%20are%20defined%20by%20the%20questions%20we%20ask%20-%20in%20life,%20in%20science%20and%20in%20spirituality.mp3
Podcast Summary
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2017%20classes/09-17%20classes/Summary%20-%20We%20are%20defined%20by%20the%20questions%20we%20ask%20-%20in%20life,%20in%20science%20and%20in%20spirituality.mp3
The post We are defined by the questions we ask – in life, in science and in spirituality appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Audio Podcast :
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/Srila%20Prabhupada%20life-story/Prabhupada%20life-story%2004%20-%20League%20of%20Devotees%20-%20A%20clique%20thwarts%20the%20promise.mp3
Video :
The post Prabhupada life-story 04 – League of Devotees – A clique thwarts the promise appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
[Reflection at Gainesville, USA]
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2017%20classes/09-17%20classes/Irrational%20irritability%20results%20from%20indiscriminate%20sensuality.mp3
The post Irrational irritability r…
[Reflection at Gainesville, USA]
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/09-17%20QA/Can%20machines%20think.mp3
The post Can machines think? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
[Reflection at Gainesville, USA]
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2017%20classes/09-17%20classes/Go%20beyond%20the%20mind’s%20transitory%20feelings%20to%20the%20heart’s%20transcendental%20feelings%20Gita%2018.37.mp3
The post Go beyond the mind’s transitory feelings to the heart’s transcendental feelings appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
“Merely having an open mind is nothing; the object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid.”
– G K Chesterton
Video:
Podcast:
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/WOW/2017%20WOW/07-17%20WOW/Be%20open-minded%2C%20not%20empty-minded.mp3
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Contemporary ethos exhorts us to be open-minded and excoriates the follies and perils of close-mindedness. Given that many people with narrow-minded, black-and-white view of things are intolerant and even violent, we do need reminders to be open-minded.
And yet overemphasizing the danger of one extreme can push us to the other extreme, whose dangers we overlook because of our paranoia about the other extreme. That’s why we need to remember the dangers not just of narrow-mindedness but also of extreme open-mindedness. We need to guard against being so open-minded that our brains fall out, of becoming utterly uncritical in evaluating things, of sentimentally assuming to be subjective things that have an objective reality, especially when such a wrong assessment can have objective harmful consequences.
For example, when doctors diagnose a patient, they need to be open-minded about what the patient might be suffering from. If they go in with a preconceived notion that the patient is a hypochondriac or that the patient, having come from a drug user’s social stratum, must be suffering from a drug-induced complication, that bias can skew their objectivity.
And yet, doctors can’t diagnose with an entirely empty mind. If they refuse to use the knowledge they have acquired during their medical education and experience, equating such knowledge with close-mindedness, they can’t assess the symptoms and the implication of those symptoms. A doctor who stays inconclusive about the diagnosis can’t help the patient. Worse still are the doctors who consider such inconclusiveness a virtue. Similar are those extreme relativists who claim subjectivity to be the ultimate virtue in the pursuit of knowledge.
To better understand this, let’s analyze the mouth metaphor used in this quote. If we are to be nourished, we need to open our mouth to take in food. And taking in food requires not just opening the mouth at the right time, but also closing it at the right time. Otherwise, if our mouth stays open, the food can’t nourish us just as it couldn’t have nourished us if our mouth were closed.
Similarly, our mind needs to stay open to take in the world, to receive the information coming in through our sensory channels. If we don’t objectively take in the sensory information, that is, if we don’t hear what others are saying as they are saying it, then we will simply read our own biases into their statements. While striving for objectivity, we need to simultaneously strive for comprehension. We need to arrive at some tangible understanding of the situation – our mind needs to wrap itself around the information taken in and process it properly using our God-given intelligence. Just as opening our mind to receive information is critical for comprehension, so too is closing the mind around that information in the sense of processing that information.
Overemphasis on open-mindedness leads […]
The post Be open-minded, not empty-minded appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2017%20classes/09-17%20classes/To%20be%20devoted%20means%20to%20look%20for%20devotional%20openings%20constantly.mp3
The post To be devoted means to look for devotional opening…
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2017%20classes/09-17%20classes/The%20Entertainment%20Industry%20-%20Giving%20the%20least%20valuable%20the%20most%20value%20reflects%20ignorance.mp3
The post The Entertainment Industry – Giving the least valuable the most value reflects ignorance appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Enrich yourself with inspirational reflections on the new TV show, “Enlightened Living with Chaitanya Charan” only on Hare Krsna Live scheduled from 4th September to 10th September at US Eastern time 2.30 pm to 3.00 pm (IST 12.00 am to 12.30 am)
Check channel availability – http://harekrsnalive.com/available-on/
The post Enlightened Living with Chaitanya Charan – TV Show appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
[Talk Show at Salt Lake City, USA]
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2017%20classes/09-17%20classes/Talk%20show%20-%20Virtual%20Reality%20and%20Spirituality.mp3
The post Talk show – Virtual Reality and Spirituality appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/09-17%20QA/Is%20depression%20a%20mental%20problem%20or%20a%20medical%20problem.mp3
The post Is depression a mental problem or a medical problem? appeared first on The Spiritu…
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/09-17%20QA/If%20a%20devotee%20familiar%20to%20us%20starts%20blaspheming%20our%20spiritual%20master,%20how%20should%20we%20deal%20with%20that%20devotee.mp3
The post If a devot…
The post Bring out the best you (03) appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/09-17%20QA/When%20our%20goals%20are%20in%20the%20future,%20how%20can%20we%20live%20in%20the%20present.mp3
The post When our goals are in the future, how can we live in the pr…
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/09-17%20QA/For%20devotees,%20are%20things%20happening%20beyond%20our%20control%20due%20to%20destiny%20or%20Krishna’s%20mercy.mp3
The post For devotees, are things happening beyond our control due to destiny or Krishna’s mercy? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/09-17%20QA/In%20outreach,%20what%20needs%20to%20come%20first%20-%20knowledge%20and%20inspiration%20or%20facilities.mp3
The post In outreach, what needs to come first – knowledge and inspiration or facilities? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/09-17%20QA/Among%20knowledge,%20inspiration%20and%20facilities,%20if%20we%20can’t%20provide%20all%20three%20to%20others,%20what%20is%20the%20most%20important%20thing%20to%20provide.mp3
The post Among knowledge, inspiration and facilities, if we can’t provide all three to others, what is the most important thing to provide? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.