Websites from the ISKCON Universe
[Brahmachari class at ISKCON, Nasik]
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2017%20classes/07-17%20classes/Appreciating%20India%20after%20traveling%20in%20America%20-%20Hindi.mp3
The post Appreciating India after traveling in America – Hindi appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/07-17%20QA/When%20we%20don’t%20get%20an%20intimation%20of%20our%20death,%20as%20did%20Parikshit,%20how%20should%20we%20practice%20bhakti.mp3
The post When we don’t get an intimation of our death, as did Parikshit, how should we practice bhakti? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/07-17%20QA/How%20can%20we%20know%20what%20karma%20we%20have%20done%20in%20the%20past.mp3
The post How can we know what karma we have done in the past? appeared first on The S…
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/07-17%20QA/How%20can%20we%20conquer%20all%20our%20fears.mp3
The post How can we conquer all our fears? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/07-17%20QA/Does%20the%20default%20setting%20come%20from%20the%20mind%20or%20the%20brain.mp3
The post Does the default setting come from the mind or the brain? appeared first …
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/07-17%20QA/Why%20should%20we%20go%20to%20a%20temple%20when%20we%20can%20serve%20poor%20people%20or%20open%20hospitals.mp3
The post Why should we go to a temple when we can se…
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/07-17%20QA/When%20we%20can%20have%20a%20temple%20in%20our%20home,%20why%20do%20we%20need%20to%20go%20to%20a%20temple.mp3
The post When we can have a temple in our home, why d…
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/07-17%20QA/How%20do%20we%20help%20people%20who%20know%20about%20karma%20but%20think%20it%20won’t%20apply%20to%20me.mp3
The post How do we help people who know about karma but think it won’t apply to me? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/07-17%20QA/When%20we%20are%20provoked,%20we%20get%20angry%20despite%20our%20resolutions%20not%20to%20do%20so%20-%20what%20to%20do.mp3
The post When we are provoked, we get angry despite our resolutions not to do so – what to do? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2017%20classes/07-17%20classes/See%20the%20positive,%20not%20the%20negative,%20as%20the%20primary%20active%20force%20in%20the%20cosmos.mp3
The post See the positive, not the n…
[Phone class to everydaychant.com online sanga]
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2017%20classes/07-17%20classes/Spiritualizing%20our%20relationships%202%20-%20To%20improve%20relationships,%20decrease%20expectation%20and%20increase%20contribution.mp3
Podcast Summary
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2017%20classes/07-17%20classes/Summary%20-%20Spiritualizing%20our%20relationships%202%20-%20To%20improve%20relationships,%20decrease%20expectation%20and%20increase%20contribution.mp3
The post Spiritualizing our relationships 2 – To improve relationships, decrease expectation and increase contribution appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2017%20classes/07-17%20classes/Our%20intelligence%20is%20our%20security%20system%20-%20don’t%20let%20temptation%20disable%20it%20Gita%2002.63.mp3
The post Our intelligence is our security system – don’t let temptation disable it Gita 02.63 appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2017%20classes/07-17%20classes/Why%20crave%20for%20hours%20and%20years%20for%20pleasures%20that%20last%20for%20moments%20Gita%2005.22.mp3
The post Why crave for hours and year…
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2017%20classes/07-17%20classes/To%20say%20that%20philosophy%20is%20dead%20is%20to%20be%20dead%20to%20philosophy%20Gita%2018.22.mp3
The post To say that philosophy is dead is t…
[Bhagavatam class at ISKCON, Nasik, India]
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2017%20classes/07-17%20classes/Whom%20are%20we%20giving%20our%20mind%20-%20Hindi.mp3
Podcast Summary
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2017%20classes/07-17%20classes/Summary%20-%20Whom%20are%20we%20giving%20our%20mind%20-%20Hindi.mp3
The post Whom are we giving our mind – Hindi appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/07-17%20QA/Can%20we%20say%20that%20the%20brain%20processes%20various%20energies%20and%20one%20kind%20of%20energy%20processing%20leads%20to%20consciousness.mp3
The post Can we…
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/07-17%20QA/Is%20an%20unfavourable%20family%20situation%20Krishna’s%20arrangement%20-%20should%20we%20accept%20or%20reject%20that%20situation%20-%20Hindi.mp3
The post Is an unfavourable family situation Krishna’s arrangement – should we accept or reject that situation – Hindi? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/07-17%20QA/If%20feelings%20of%20satisfaction%20deter%20us%20from%20doing%20difficult%20duties,%20what%20should%20we%20do%20-%20Hindi.mp3
The post If feelings of satisfaction deter us from doing difficult duties, what should we do – Hindi? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/07-17%20QA/If%20we%20give%20up%20all%20emotions,%20then%20what%20will%20motivate%20us%20to%20work%20-%20Hindi.mp3
The post If we give up all emotions, then what will motivate us to work – Hindi? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/07-17%20QA/Is%20thinking%20negatively%20the%20default%20setting%20of%20the%20mind%20-%20Hindi.mp3
The post Is thinking negatively the default setting of the mind – Hindi? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/06-17%20QA/If%20we%20feel%20fear%20about%20losing%20our%20loved%20ones,%20how%20can%20we%20overcome%20that%20fear.mp3
The post If we feel fear about losing our loved ones, ho…
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/06-17%20QA/Is%20it%20natural%20to%20have%20expectations%20-%20does%20spiritual%20life%20change%20that.mp3
The post Is it natural to have expectations – does spiritual life change that? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/06-17%20QA/If%20someone%20helps%20us%20but%20makes%20us%20feel%20bad%20about%20having%20taken%20their%20help,%20should%20we%20keep%20a%20distance%20from%20them.mp3
The post I…
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/06-17%20QA/In%20ancient%20India,%20there%20were%20many%20different%20belief%20systems,%20as%20there%20are%20now%20-%20why%20is%20this.mp3
The post In ancient India, there were many different belief systems, as there are now – why is this? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/06-17%20QA/If%20we%20practice%20bhakti%20simply%20to%20look%20good%20in%20others’%20eyes,%20how%20can%20we%20advance.mp3
The post If we practice bhakti simply to look good in others’ eyes, how can we advance? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/06-17%20QA/Is%20there%20a%20fine%20line%20between%20when%20matter%20takes%20us%20towards%20Krishna%20and%20when%20it%20takes%20us%20away%20from%20him.mp3
The post Is there a …
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/06-17%20QA/How%20can%20we%20remember%20that%20we%20are%20devotees%20when%20we%20are%20with%20materialistic%20people.mp3
The post How can we remember that we are devotees when…
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/06-17%20QA/If%20we%20surrender%20to%20Krishna%20because%20of%20fear%20that%20we%20will%20face%20problems%20otherwise,%20is%20that%20surrender%20genuine.mp3
The post If we sur…
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/06-17%20QA/After%20practicing%20spirituality,%20we%20feel%20less%20materially%20insecure%20-%20does%20that%20mean%20we%20are%20spiritually%20advanced%20or%20are%20irresponsible.mp3
The post After practicing spirituality, we feel less materially insecure – does that mean we are spiritually advanced or are irresponsible? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/06-17%20QA/If%20we%20cursed%20someone%20who%20disappointed%20us%20in%20a%20relationship,%20are%20our%20present%20problems%20a%20karmic%20reaction%20for%20cursing%20that%20pers…
Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2017%20classes/06-17%20classes/To%20evaluate%20devotion%20by%20its%20material%20benefits%20is%20like%20evaluating%20dancing%20by%20the%20distance%20covered%20Gita%2002.44.mp3
…
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/06-17%20QA/If%20we%20can’t%20decide%20whether%20a%20particular%20desire%20is%20good%20or%20bad,%20what%20should%20we%20do.mp3
The post If we can’t decide whether a particular desire is good or bad, what should we do? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/06-17%20QA/When%20dharma%20has%20gone%20down%20so%20much%20now,%20why%20is%20Krishna%20not%20appearing.mp3
The post When dharma has gone down so much now, why is Krishna not …
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/06-17%20QA/Isn’t%20Prabhupada’s%20Gita%20just%20one%20among%20the%20many%20interpretations%20of%20the%20Gita.mp3
The post Isn’t Prabhupada’s Gita just one among the many interpretations of the Gita? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/06-17%20QA/How%20can%20we%20connect%20our%20IT%20job%20with%20Krishna.mp3
The post How can we connect our IT job with Krishna? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/06-17%20QA/How%20is%20the%20intelligence%20connected%20with%20the%20heart.mp3
The post How is the intelligence connected with the heart? appeared first on The Spiritual Scien…
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/06-17%20QA/If%20my%20job%20requires%20me%20to%20do%20medical%20testing%20on%20animals,%20how%20can%20that%20be%20reconciled%20with%20bhakti.mp3
The post If my job requires me…
Answer Podcast
Transcriptions
Question: If our children do not become devotee, are we failing in our primary duty?
Answer: We have often heard this phrase – “Parents’ primary duty is to liberate the child.” This aspect of parenting should not become a burden on the child.
Sometimes it may happen that, despite having the greatest parents, the child may not become a devotee. We see in Chaitanya Charitamrita that one of Advaita Acharya’s sons did not become a devotee, but became a Mayavadi. Now, Advaita Acharya is an important associate of the Lord. The fact that his son did not become a devotee is not a deficiency in parenting of Advaita Acharya.
The mood in this sentence is that one should do one’s best to offer facilities to children for spiritual growth. One should not think of becoming a parent simply as just an ordinary activity. It is not just a result of the biological activity of mating. One should see parenting not just a material responsibility but also as a spiritual responsibility.
At the same time, if our children do not become devotees, we shouldn’t see that as a personal failure. Sometimes something similar happens with spiritual masters also. Spiritual masters are far more potent than most parents, but sometimes some of their disciples may not become devotees. In contrast to parenting, the spiritual master-disciple relationship is formed on a spiritual basis and still sometimes the disciples may leave practicing bhakti.
Yes, at one level, it is heartbreaking for the spiritual master when the disciple gives up bhakti. But still, this is not to be seen as a personal failure of the spiritual master and certainly this should not be used to whip the disciple into submission. The disciple is an independent soul and the disciple may choose to give up bhakti. Similarly, the child is also a separate soul and if the child doesn’t practice bhakti, we shouldn’t make this as a personal antipathy. The relationship with the children should still go on irrespective of whether they are practicing bhakti or not.
If we take too much of a “holier than thou” attitude of moral superiority – “You know, you are giving up devotional life, one day you will learn a lesson. You will come crawling back. You will understand that I was right and you were wrong!” – it becomes an ego issue and even if they realize that they were wrong, their ego would not let them come back.
I remember one case of a child whose both parents were devotees. His sister also became a wonderful devotee. This child went through a difficult phase in his life and just gave up practicing bhakti. His parents were very concerned but the parents didn’t force him. One day this child went to a rock music concert. It was many years ago when Michael Jackson first came to India. There was a huge crowd, he pushed through, got a ticket in black, spending a lot of money. And then when he was there […]
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/06-17%20QA/Aren’t%20parents%20who%20want%20their%20children%20to%20succeed%20in%20competitions%20encouraging%20materialistic%20over-endeavo.mp3
The post Aren’t parents who want their children to succeed in competitions encouraging materialistic over-endeavor? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2017%20QA/06-17%20QA/Should%20we%20as%20parents%20encourage%20our%20children%20to%20participate%20in%20competitions%20for%20discovering%20and%20developing%20talents.mp3
The post Should…