Author Archives: Vraja Kishor

Is Krishna sadistic and narcissistic? Sadistic means “to enjoy causing pain.” It may seem that God is sadistic: a) God is all-powerful, nothing can exist against his will. b) Pain exists c) Therefore God must want pain to exist. He is sadistic. Statement A, however, is flawed. Being all-powerful doesn’t mean you are the only … Continue reading Is God Sadistic?

Text 1 invokes blessings by respecting those who are attached to understanding Śrī Rūpa’s words. Text 2 is also introductory. It states that this book is something of a sequel to Bhakti-Rasāmṛta-Sindhu-Bindu Text 3 begins defining the difference between Vaidhi and Rāgānugā 3: Śāstra is the stimulus for Vaidhi. Lobha is especially the stimulus for Rāgānugā. “especially” (eva) might mean … Continue reading Raga Vartma Candrika Notes 1

According to Kapila Deva (Bhāgavatam 3.28-33). Start from the bottom and read upwards.

We’ve come to think of Rāgānugā Sādhana as an “advanced” practice. From what I can tell by considering what I have considered, it is more of a practice that evolves from a simple to a more advanced stage. There are advanced practitioners of Rāgānugā Sādhana and there are also beginners. Their qualifications and activities are … Continue reading Raganuga for Beginners?

Śrī Kapila Deva gives a wonderful summary of the most important rules (yama) and regulations (niyama) in Śrī Bhāgavata Mahā-purāṇa (3.28.2~5). These are exactly compatible, by the way, with Patāñjalī’s presentation of the same. Fulfill your responsibilities to the best of your ability, and don’t try to adopt someone else’s lifestyle. Everyone in the world … Continue reading Rules and Regulations

It seems that maybe a significant number of people who would like to consider themselves aspirants for Krishna-bhakti don’t recognize that the desire to be free from responsibilities is mukti-spṛhā in plain English. Mukti-spṛhā means the desire to be a mukta. A mukta is a person who has mokṣa. Mokṣa means liberating the consciousness from all bonds and limitations. The full definition of mukti is … Continue reading Freedom?

Canto 1 is the introduction, by Sūta. Here he meets Śaunaka and the Naimiṣāraṇya Sages, starts answering their questions, decides to narrate the Bhāgavatam to them, and answers their initial question about the three main people behind the Bhāgavatam (Vyāsa, Śuka and Parīkṣit). Canto 2 is another introduction, this time by Śuka. Here Śuka meets … Continue reading Very Short Summary of Cantos One, Two, and (esp) Three

Rāgānugā Bhakti Rasāmṛta Sindhu 1.2.270 virājantīm abhivyaktāṁ vraja-vāsī janādiṣu rāgātmikām anusṛtā yā sā rāgānugocyate Rāgānugā means to cultivate the unique affections (rāga-atmikā) that manifest most powerfully among the devotees, especially those who are residents of Vraja. Rāgātmikā 271 rāgānugā-vivekārtham ādau rāgātmikocyate To define rāgānugā, first I will define Rāgātmika (the unique affections). 272 iṣṭe svārasikī … Continue reading Srila Rupa Goswami on Raganuga Sadhana Bhakti

Where is the term “mañjarī-bhāva” defined or mentioned in the works of the Goswāmīs or their important disciples and contemporaries? Is it anywhere in Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu? No. Is it anywhere in Bhakti-sandarbha? Not as far as I know. This lack of mention in the two most important books defining the practice of Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava sādhana should … Continue reading Is “Manjari-bhava” “Bona-fide”?

“Spirit is an entity with no beginning. It is the true self. Its core-essence is sentience, consciousness, which it uses to illuminate itself to itself. It is the true essence of all that exists. It has no intrinsic relationship with matter, and cannot be adequately contained within the limited qualities of insentient matter.” अनादिरात्मा परुषो … Continue reading What is “Spirit”

Chanting Hare Krishna attentively is easy. Wanting to chant Hare Krishna attentively is not so easy. – – – – = – – – – Attention goes, and stays, wherever we put it. By its very nature, it goes wherever we will it to go. If this doesn’t sound like our experience, its likely we are … Continue reading Chanting Attentively

In Chapter Ten [of Canto Three] we get a very logical, evolutionarily sequential description of Creation progressing through 10 stages. Brahmā becomes involved from stage 7. In that 7th stage, Brahmā creates flora. In the 8th, fauna. In the 9th, humans. And in the 10th he creates super-humans. In Chapter Twelve we seem to get other details. … Continue reading The Evolution / Creation of the Universe, Detailed Overview

Śvetāśvataropaniṣad 4.5 अजाम् एकाम् लोहितशुक्लकृष्णम् बह्वीः प्रजाः सृजमानां सरूपाः अजो ह्येको जुषमाणोनुशेते जहात्येनां भुक्तभोगाम् अजोन्यः ajām ekām lohita-śukla-kṛṣṇām bahvīḥ prajāḥ sṛjamānāṁ sarūpāḥ ajo hy eko juṣamāṇo ‘nuśete jahāty enāṁ bhukta-bhogām ajo ‘nyaḥ Translation There is one beginningless entity who is clear-white when she transmits conscious perception, reddish-hued when she inspires creativity, and dark-blue when she coagulates and … Continue reading Shvetashvatara Upanishad 4.5

स्रस्तस्रस्त निरुद्धनीवि विलसद्गोपीसहस्रावृतं srasta-srasta niruddha-nīvi vilasad-gopī-sahasrāvṛtaṁ Those flute vibrations loosen all tightly bound, dazzling skirts (and all bonds of ignorant infatuation with superficial glitter) which fall away to reveal thousands of splendid gopīs, who surround and smother him. The key phrase in this line (line 3 of Krishna Karnamṛta, Verse 2) is निरुद्धनीवि  (niruddha-nīvi) the nīvi is the more original style of … Continue reading Naked Feminine Hearts

“Why does the dust that falls from my lotus-like feet immediately destroy all impurities? Why does Goddess Śrī not leave my side even though I do nothing to keep her there, while everyone else struggles to attract the slightest fragment of her attention? I am so pure and blessed only because I am so thoroughly … Continue reading Why is Hari Pure and Blessed?

Vaikuṇṭha is the most desirable abode. Everything there is absolute unity in tangible form. The All-Attractive Original Person, whom words yearn to describe, personally resides there, exhibiting radiantly pure existence and showering his companions with ever-increasing joy. Everyone there has a body free from limitation or trouble. They have no duty except to follow their … Continue reading Brahmā Describes Vṛndāvana (“Vaikuṇṭha”)

“He is the root of all beings, including ourselves; if we do not love him, how deeply can we really love ourselves?” – Brahmā to Svāyambhuva and Śatarūpā [ŚB 3.13.13]

I think we should turn to the correct form of Krishna for the specific need or interaction we desire. There are primarily two forms of Krishna we can access directly: the name “Krishna” and the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. There are also three other important forms within our reach: Krishna’s deity, Krishna’s devotee, and Krishna’s dhāma. I … Continue reading Five Forms of Krishna You Can Access Right Now

In my life I have a material existence and a spiritual existence. They both proceed, and they overlap, but they are distinct. I don’t anymore feel the need to sing “Hare Krishna to you” instead of “Happy birthday to you.” Or say, “Ho ho ho, haribol to all and to all a good night.” =) … Continue reading “Material” Life is Material Life, that’s fine.

Krishna is not really “our heavenly father.” Brahmā is our heavenly father, the Pitamaha, the Param-Parajapati. At best we can perhaps say that Viṣṇu, being the mother/father of Brahmā, is the supreme father. Viṣṇu is also a “father” in the sense that his seed impregnates nature, thus activating the living entities merged in her. And … Continue reading Is Krishna “Our Heavenly Father”?

Continued from Part 2 Vraja shows simple ways to express the fundamental kīrtan beats (Tāla) using hand-cymbals (Karatāla). He shows the “3-beat” (8-mātra, 3-tāla) and the “2-beat” (6-mātra, 2-tāla), each in normal, double and half speed variations. He also mentions the need to select karatāla carefully, being sure they are tuned to themselves and to […]

The Art of Kīrtan, Part 2 – Tāla (Rhythm) Kīrtan rhythm is a little different from the modern idea of rhythm. Arguably the Indian concept of rhythm is more complex and sophisticated than the western, globalized concept, but the biggest and most relevant difference is that our modern concept of rhythm is very rigid while […]

How to Deal with Disobedience According to the principles of ancient Indian politics, there are four way to deal with disobedience: 1) sāma – harmonize / compromise 2) dāna – empower / bribe 3) bheda – break / terminate 4) daṇḍa – beat / punish These have to be applied by an expert leader as […]

Is this an Awful World? This follows the previous post, and represents the end of chapter 31 of canto 3 “This is so negative!” Devahūti would think. “Is the world really so negative?” Kapila explained that the world is a mixture of positive and negative relativities. Here he had simply focused on how sleepless time […]

Can a “Guru” Preach Something That Isn’t In Śāstra? In case you are wondering if a “Guru” is so “holy” and “spiritual” that he or she can say anything, and we should just believe them… here is a short extract from the first chapter of a summary study of Nāma Cintāmaṇī by Śrī Kānupriya Goswāmī, […]

”Bhāgavatam says that Women are Māyā!” Śrī Bhāgavata 3.31.33 ~ 42: “How can we recognize the ‘bad road’?” Devahūti would surely wonder. Kapila explained, “The ‘bad road’ consists of things that destroy truthfulness, purity, compassion, quietude, thoughtfulness, beauty, modesty, renown, tolerant forgiveness, patient neutrality, self-control, and dignity.” “What things destroy these good qualities?” Devahūti would […]

Time “Prabhu,” Devahūti would request, “please also answer my question about time.” “The supernatural thing which causes all forms to evolve from the great primal origin is called ‘Time,’” Kapila explained. “It is feared by those with separatist vision.” “Why?” She would ask. “Time is the powerful master,” Kapila explained. “In comparison to time everyone […]

This is a translation of Tattva-sandarbha 10 & 11, with “my” comments inset. Please think about the implications of excluding “Statements of Scholars” and “Tradition” from śabdha-pramāṇa and the significance this has on 95% of what is most often spoken on contemporary disscussions of śāstra (like Bhāgavatam classes or public lectures). ~ ~ ~ ~ = ~ ~ […]

What does “Krishna” mean? The meaning is immediately evident to anyone who knows any of the thousands of śāstric statements like “The All-Attractive himself is Krishna” (kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam). It is immediately clear to anyone who has been able to hear Krishna’s glories described by a realized paramparā. It is even immediately obvious to […]

Is Guru More of an Authority Than Śāstra? I encounter a lot of people who feel that Śrīla Prabhupāda (our guru) is the primary authority, and all other gurus before him and even the śāstra itself have to be understood in a way that conforms with his teachings. This is a complex and delicate issue […]

More About Advancing in Bhakti-Yoga This continues my previous article. Unsteady Practice I think a very good translation of utsāha-mayī, the very first stage of practicing bhakti, is fanaticism. Unsteady practice (aniṣṭhitā-bhajan) boils down to not really having a clear picture what “devotion” really is, and not really bing particularly convinced (therefore) that its really […]

What is Śāstra? This question is the first topic of Jīva Gosvāmī’s Ṣaḍ-sandarbha. I’ll summarize and include a concept or two borrowed also from Nāma Cintāmaṇī of Kānupriya Govāmī. Śāstra is valid-knowledge, which in Sanskrit is called veda. Veda is embedded within creation itself from the source of creation, Viṣṇu. Thus a great deal of […]

Progress in the Early Stages of Sādhana Bhakti In Bhakti Rasāmṛta Sindhu (1.4.15–16) Śrī Rūpa divided the progress of bhakti-yoga into nine stages from its seed (śraddhā, conviction/attraction) to its mature fruit (prema, full-fledged love). Some generations later, Śrī Viśvanātha wonderfully elaborated on this nine-stage progression in a book titled Mādhurya Kādambinī. Let’s discuss the […]

Clearing a Few More Misconceptions about Rāgānugā Sādhana. There seems to be a lot of interest in my previous article on the subject, and some discussion has cropped up, which makes me realize there are many other misconceptions about Rāgānugā-Sādhana that gradually have to be addressed before anyone can gain a clear, confident, and wise […]

How and When to Practice Rāgānugā-Bhakti HOW TO PRACTICE RĀGĀNUGĀ-BHAKTI 1. kṛṣṇaṁ smaran* janaṁ cāsya… tat-tat-kathā… [BRS 1.2.294]* “Remember Krishna with a particular Vṛndāvana devotee who exemplifies the type of love you seek.” how? “By always doing kīrtan of their līlā, guṇa, rūpa, nāma.” What is the remembrance for? To provide internal relevance to external […]