Author Archives: Chaitanya Charan

When Parashurama himself acted outside of his varna, why did he curse Karna for doing the same thing?
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Chaitanya Charan · When Parashurama himself acted outside of his varna,why did he curse Karna for doing the same thing?

If someone finds our statements about other spiritual leaders unbearable, how can we connect with them?
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Chaitanya Charan · If someone finds our statements about other spiritual leaders unbearable,how canwe connectwith them?

How we see it 1, We they mentality & other religious typicals, The Monk’s Podcast 102 with Shyamananda Prabhu
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Chaitanya Charan · How we see it:1,We-they mentality & other religious typicals,The Monk’s Podcast 102 Shyamananda

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Chaitanya Charan · How We See It:1,We They Mentality&Other Religious Typicals,The Monk’sPodcast 102 Shyamananda Summary

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When God is all-powerful, why does he need devatas to assist him?
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Chaitanya Charan · When God is all-powerful, why does he need devatas to assist him?

Can you give examples of settling for tolerable tradeoffs instead of seeking perfect solutions?
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Chaitanya Charan · Can you give examples of settling for tolerable tradeoffs instead of seeking perfect solutions?

Role of self-care in bhakti – The Monk’s Podcast 101 with Sukhavaha Mataji and Gaur Kumar Prabhu
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Chaitanya Charan · Role of self-care in bhakti – The Monk’s Podcast 101 with Sukhavaha Mataji and Gaur Kumar Prabhu

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Chaitanya Charan · Role of self-care in bhakti – The Monk’s Podcast with Sukhavaha Mataji summary

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If unfulfilled lust leads to anger, where was the lust behind Parashurama’s anger?
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Chaitanya Charan · If unfulfilled lust leads to anger, where was the lust behind Parashurama’s anger

Examining mythology 4 – The Monk’s Podcast 100 with Shyamananda Prabhu
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Chaitanya Charan · Examining mythology 4 – The Monk’s Podcast 100 with Shyamananda Prabhu

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Was Parashurama’s violence against the kshatriyas disproportionate?
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Chaitanya Charan · Was Parashurama’s violence against the kshatriyas disproportionate

Examining mythology 3 – The Monk’s Podcast 99 with Shyamananda Prabhu
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Chaitanya Charan · Examining mythology 3 – The Monk’s Podcast 99 with Shyamananda Prabhu

Why do we feel more envy toward some people than toward others?
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Chaitanya Charan · Why Do We Feel More Envy Toward Some People Than Toward Others

During Western outreach, results come very slowly – how to avoid becoming encouraged?
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Chaitanya Charan · During Western outreach, results come very slowly – how to avoid becoming encouraged

Gita key verses course 39 – What is education meant for – Gita 13.12
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Chaitanya Charan · Gita key verses course 39 – What is education meant for – Gita 13.12
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While doing yoga outreach, how can we ensure that our bhakti focus doesn’t get diluted?
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Chaitanya Charan · While doing yoga outreach, how can we ensure that our bhakti focus doesn’t get diluted

Examining mythology 2 – The Monk’s Podcast 98 with Shyamananda Prabhu
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Chaitanya Charan · Examining mythology 2 – The Monk’s Podcast 98 with Shyamananda Prabhu

 

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Sustainable Living and Rural Outreach – The Monk’s Podcast 96 with Sanat Kumar Prabhu
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Chaitanya Charan · Sustainable Living and Rural Outreach – The Monk’s Podcast 96 with Sanat Kumar Prabhu

 

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Chaitanya Charan · Sustainable Living and Rural Outreach – The Monk’s Podcast 96 with Sanat Kumar Prabhu summary

 

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Isn’t the Vedic path better because it doesn’t narrow-mindedly claim to be the only way as do the Abrahamic religions
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Chaitanya Charan · Isn’t The Vedic Path Better Because It Doesn’t Claim To Be The Only Way As Do Abrahamic Religions

Do We Need To Be Politically Correct And Say That All Paths Are The Same When Addressing Devotees?
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Chaitanya Charan · Do We Need To Be Politically Correct And Say That All Paths Are The Same When Addressing Devotees

The Monk’s Podcast 97 with Shyamananda Prabhu – Examining mythology 1
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Chaitanya Charan · Examining mythology 1 – The Monk’s Podcast 96 with Shyamananda Prabhu.mp3

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When we know that our senses are defective and that Big Pharma can be manipulative, how can we work in or with science without cognitive dissonance
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Chaitanya Charan · When We Know That Our Senses Are Defective , How Can We Work in Science Without Cognitive Dissonance

During Western outreach, results come very slowly – how to avoid becoming encouraged?
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Chaitanya Charan · During Western Outreach, Results Come Very Slowly – How To Avoid Becoming Encouraged

Gita key versescourse 38 – Does religion make people better or worse? – Gita 12.13
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Chaitanya Charan · Gita key versescourse 38 – Does religion make people better or worse – Gita 12.13
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The Monk’s Podcast 95 Krishna Kshetra Maharaj – Churning the Bhagavatam – Dashavatara 6 – Parashurama
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Chaitanya Charan · The Monk’s Podcast 95 KrishnaKshetra Maharaj – Churning the Bhagavatam – Dashavatara 6 – Parashurama

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Chaitanya Charan · The Monk’s Podcast 95 KrishnaKshetra M summary – Churning the Bhagavatam- Dashavatara 6 – Parashuram

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Why are Prabhupada’s non-confrontational quotes so less known and his confrontational quotes so well-known?
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Chaitanya Charan · Why Are Prabhupada’s Non-ConfrontationalQuotesSoLess Known&His ConfrontationalQuotes So Well – Known

When our movement quantifies spirituality in terms of targets, won’t this alienate thoughtful new people?
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Chaitanya Charan · When Our MovementQuantifiesSpirituality InTermsOf Targets, Won’t This Alienate Thoughtful New People

The Monk’s Podcast 94 with Lokanath Maharaja – Gaudiya bhakti, Maharashtrian bhakti, universal bhakti
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Chaitanya Charan · The Monk’s Podcast 94 with Lokanath Maharaja -Gaudiya bhakti, Maharashtrian bhakti, universal bhakti

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Chaitanya Charan · The Monk’s Podcast 94 Lokanath Maharaja summary-Gaudiya bhakti,Maharashtrian bhakti,universal bhakti

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In the Daksha pastime, why do we blame Daksha alone and not consider that others also acted hastily or insensitively?
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Chaitanya Charan · Daksha Pastime,Why Do We Blame Daksha Alone And Not Consider That Others Also Acted Insensitively?

The Monk’s Podcast 93 with Radha Gopinatha Prabhu – Preserving a simple heart in a complex world
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Chaitanya Charan · The Monk’s Podcast 93 with Radha Gopinatha Prabhu – Preserving a simple heart in a complex world

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Chaitanya Charan · The Monk’s Podcast 93 Radhagopinatha Prabhu summary – Preserving a simple heart in a complex world

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What can we do when we feel emotions that we aren’t meant to feel?
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Chaitanya Charan · What Can We Do When We Feel Emotions That We Aren’t Meant To Feel?

If I am happy now why do I need to learn about reincarnation?
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Chaitanya Charan · If I Am Happy Now Why Do I Need To Learn About Reincarnation?

Gita key verses course 37 – Beyond black and white conceptions of spirituality – Gita 12.10
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Chaitanya Charan · 38 Beyond black and white conceptions of spirituality Gita key verses course 38 – Gita 12.10
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If we say the Itihasas – historical scriptures – are not historical, won’t people get reasons to reject scriptures as imaginary?
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Chaitanya Charan · If We Say The Itihasas Are Not Historical,Won’tPeople GetReasons To Reject Scriptures As Imaginary?

How do people use spirituality and religion to justify suffering?
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Chaitanya Charan · How Do People Use Spirituality And Religion To Justify Suffering

Does the caste system still exist in some parts of India?
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Chaitanya Charan · Does The Caste System Still Exist In Some Parts Of India?

How can humility go along with self-respect?
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Chaitanya Charan · How Can Humility Go Along With Self – Respect

Transcription
Question: How can humility go along with self-respect?

Answer: Let’s look at it this way. Is there a difference between humility and humiliation? Yes, there is, definitely.

We say we should cultivate humility, but none of us want to be humiliated. Let’s put it another way, we all want to cultivate humility. So, should we start insulting and humiliating each other in our community? Then we will all become humble. You are proud and I will insult you, I will humiliate you and you humiliate me and in this way by exchanging humiliation we will all get humility. No!

Does humiliation make one humble? Not necessarily. Humiliation can make one feel offended, it can make one feel enraged. Sometimes it may make one humble, but not necessarily. So, clearly, there is a difference between humiliation and humility, and certainly although we talk about, say, we should be humble, but we also say respect each other. That’s the injunction in our devotee community and that’s normal human conduct also. So, we could put it that humiliation is false ego frustrated. Humility is false ego rejected.

Humiliation is false ego frustrated. I want to be respected, but instead of being respected, I was disrespected, I was mocked, I was derided, I can’t bear this. So, humiliation is false ego frustrated. I want to be respected, but I was not.

But humility is false ego rejected. That means I don’t crave for respect from others. I don’t depend on respect from others. That doesn’t mean that I don’t care at all. I mean it’s not so easily possible. We are human beings and we will notice how people are dealing with us. We can’t artificially become stone-like and that’s not exactly humility. But humility and humiliation are… Humiliation is I want something and I don’t get that respect, that’s humiliation. But humility is I don’t want it that much.

So, we could look at humility from the perspective of what we expect, what we demand from the world, what we need from the world. So that’s one aspect of humility.

Another aspect is, if I’m not demanding, how am I looking at myself? So now we have great saintly people saying that, Bhaktivinoda Thakura says “Amara Jeevana Sada Pape Rata,” that my life is full of sin and there is no good that is seen in me. Now, he has songs like that, but then he is writing books, he is sharing Bhakti wisdom confidently, countering misconceptions. So, when he is saying there are no good qualities in me, I am sinful, he is looking at it from a very elevated perspective. So, he is thinking of how pure Krishna’s devotees are, how pure Krishna is. As compared to them, what am I? Krishna loves me […]

If we label people positively – you are specially talented – can that help people grow?
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Chaitanya Charan · If We Label People Positively – You Are Specially Talented – Can That Help People Grow