Author Archives: Vic DiCara

The breakthrough for me came when I stoped thinking in terms of “origins” – “inceptions” and so on. Also, go back to the very basic beginnings and make sure you understand the ramifications of statements like “na jayate kadācit” or “na tvevāham jātu” Another breakthough for me was carefully studying Tattva Sandarbha and hearing ŚrīContinue reading “Understanding the Origin of the Jiva”

A “homework question” from the online Bhakti Rasāmṛta Sindhu course I’m hosting.: Can Vṛndāvana be attained without Rāgānuga? Why or why not? Here is the reply of one student, with my responses: This is a tricky and controversial question. I have heard arguments from both sides and I personally cannot make up my mind onContinue reading “Can You Get to Vṛndāvana without Rāgānuga?”

QUESTION There is no one like Shri Radha, and there will never be anyone like her. No one makes Krishna happy the way she can. From this, it follows that somehow or other, one should help unite Radha and Krishna. Up to here what you are saying makes perfect sense to me. Therefore one wouldContinue reading “Love Rādhā or Love Krishna?”

A six-session course explaining the Vedic approach to knowledge and science, and clearly answering key questions like: What exactly are “the Vedas”? How to the Purāṇas fit into the Vedas? How can we read and truly understand sacred Vedic text? And why are the Gīta, Sūtra, and Bhāgavata so important? What is “knowledge”? How doContinue reading “What are the Vedas? (course announcement)”

QUESTION: So often we are taught to chant more and more. I’ve been advised to chant fast, with pronunciation almost an afterthought; but then I’ve also been instructed to chant with clear pronunciation, which slows it down. I’ve been told we can’t even be considered truly “human” unless we chant 108 mantras 16 times aContinue reading “Chanting Mantras”

QUESTION: Another thing which I wanted to ask you was regarding Chanting. Japa as I have understood is a Dhayana Yoga with Dhayana being done on Sri Naam which is non different from Sri Hari. So whatever Krishna has said in Chapter 6 can be taken as an aid towards Sri Naam Dhayan. This isContinue reading “Chanting Nāma Mantra”

Those who know the rituals to the Pitṛ know that a child, especially a son, is required to perform the rituals which will liberate the parents, especially the father, from the wrath of Yama and the Pitṛ. Those who know the Indian planetary mythos know that Śani (Saturn) is the son of Sūrya (the Sun).Continue reading “Saturn Liberates the Sun”

I am beginning a new Bhakti Rasāmṛta Sindhu group-study course. The schedule will be Sundays and Thursdays at 5:30pm, starting from January 7th, (Pacific time, which is 8:30pm Eastern time). There will be 17 online class sessions: 17 Class Sessions: (1) Definition of love (uttama-bhakti) (2) Six qualities & three stages of bhakti (3) Definition ofContinue reading “New Bhakti Rasamrta Sindhu Study Group”

Chapter 17, Text 23: oṁ tat sad iti nirdeśo brahmaṇas tri-vidhaḥ smṛtaḥ “Oṁ tat sat” is advised by the three vedas. Three vedas here should mean three divisions: karma, jñāna, and upāsana (bhakti). This mantra “Oṁ tat sat” is advised to be used in all three contexts. Another meaning in these words is: The threeContinue reading “Om tat sat – According to Bhagavad Gita”

QUESTION: I fully agree with what you said (The Truth is in Your Heart???), guru is a necessity. But I would like to ask what has to be the qualities of guru? In our days we can observe commercialization of spirituality. How can we differentiate a false, commercial guru from a genuine guru? MY ANSWER:Continue reading “Genuine Guru & Spiritual Progress over Multiple Lifetimes”

Many people claim that the truth and God is in your heart, so you don’t need a guru or the vedas to find god and truth. Sometimes they use Gītā 10.10 and 11 to substantiate this claim (which is ironic, since the claim itself would render Gītā no more important than a daydream your auntContinue reading “The Truth is in Your Heart???”

Q1:- Possessiveness of Krishna happens at Prema, but is the seed of it in Sādhana? In sādhana our relationship to Krishna is only a theory that we try to emulate or live up to. Maybe we have a theory that Krishna should be our sweetheart, for example. It is just a theory, not a reality.Continue reading “Questions About Prema and Changing Gurus”

1. To Understand Vedic Culture… If you want to understand Vedic culture, but don’t know how, realizing that studying the Vedas is an impossibly big and difficult ambition – then you should study the Gītā! Vyāsa wrote it especially to condense all the Veda, Upaniṣads and Purāṇas into a bite size, easy to digest cookie.Continue reading “3 Reasons to Study the Gita”

QUESTION: If consciousness stems from the “Ultimate Consciousness”, which is perfectly refined and brilliantly aware, why is our consciousness SO unrefined and SO unaware? Is our consciousness really so unrefined and unaware? Even animals, plants, insects, and germs seem to be so acutely aware of what to do and how to do it. Look how wellContinue reading “If we are Parts of God, Why are we so Ignorant?”

Amongst those who consider the Vedas something worth knowing, there are usually two opposing opinions about how they should be understood. One camp says, “Don’t take them literally, they are meant to be interpreted and adjusted according to the time, place and circumstance of the individual.” The other camp says, “They are absolute wisdom, andContinue reading “Are the Vedas Literal or to be Interpreted?”