Author Archives: Vraja Kishor

Question: I want to give up lust, but I always have lusty thoughts. How can I renounce lust? My Answer: You ask how it might be possible to renounce lust. It is impossible. I am sorry. Even the gods cannot get free from lust. Even Brahmā became confused by it and began to pressure the goddess Vāk…

In this section of Gita, Krishna establishes reincarnation by way of logic alone, without reference to scripture. Vraja Kishor explains it by reading from his book, A Simple Gita – which is available at www.vrajakishor.com Tagged: Death, Gita, Krishna, life after death, Reincarnation

When discussing certain topics – like the answer to the essential question, “Where do I come from?” – I have a few times heard senior disciples of Śrīla Prabhupāda suggest that Prabhupāda told us things that are different from what Śrī Jīva Goswāmī told us. If asked how Prabhupāda could teach something different from what…

“There is no division between the name and the named”(abhinatvaṁ nāma-nāmīnaḥ). This is certainly the Gauḍīya conclusion, but it does not mean that the name is just a sound with no meaning. It means that the the sound of the word is intrinsic to and inseparable from its meaning. If the true Gauḍīya attitude is…

Consciousness is the essence of who and what we are. Consciousness exists without needing to be created, maintained, or destroyed. It expresses itself in various forms, seeking happiness. These forms need to be created, maintained, and destroyed. A specific form manifest from consciousness can die, but the essence of who and what we are never…

The correct way to chant a mantra, traditionally, is to receive it from a person who understands it deeply and is willing to guide you through its use and practices, and to then chant the mantra under that guidance. This is called diksha and shiksha. Diksha refers to getting the mantra and shiksha refers to…

Question: In the purport to Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 4.12.48, Śrīla Prabhupāda writes: Unless one is twice-born one cannot understand the transcendental characteristics of the Lord and His devotees. Study of the Vedas is therefore forbidden for śūdras. What does it mean that being twice-born is the qualification for understanding transcendental knowledge?  My reply: The verse itself says, “celebrate the story of…

Question: I heard that the highest topmost form of pleasure or bliss for the jiva is to see Sri Radha and Kṛṣṇa enjoying. But in the rasa dance, the mood is different. There the jiva is enjoying with the Lord. So which is higher or more pure? It is not different. The mood of rāsa-līlā is not…

Question: You’ve said, “in love, the pleasure comes from humility.” Can you explain this more thoroughly? My Answer:  Non-humility means to feel that the self is of central importance. The self, however, is a very dependent entity, so to put it in a central position is unnatural and stressful because it is like putting a weak…

Do the wise also experience pain, suffering and difficulty? What is death? What ends and what doesn’t? What is duty, and does taking care of children have any relation to becoming enlightened? Krishna and Arjuna discuss all these topics and more in section 11~15 of Gita’s Chapter Two. Tagged: Bhagavad Gita, Bhagavadgita, Death, duty, Gita,…

The main purpose of my recent posts about Gurus and Surrender was confront an outlook epitomized by what I see as a too militant a use of the word “surrender”; an outlook that winds up dumbing-down Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavism by encouraging blind followers, empowering micro-managers, and thus destroying the real essence of guru-disciple relationship: transmission of…

After the very small matinee show in Detroit, we drove over to the ISKCON temple. I was surprised to discover that it was “Fisher Mansion,” a veritable palace built by an auto-baron in the late 1920s. I found myself on a tour of the place, walking through decadent room after decedent room, with our devotee…

My dad recently gave me a whole bunch of my old diaries. One of them is from the first Shelter tour, with Quicksand and Inside Out in the Summer of 1990. As I read it, it becomes clear that I never “surrendered” to ISKCON, at least not in a spiritual sense. It was very clear to me from…

Qualification of Guru Śrīmad Bhāgavata 11.3.21: “śābde pare ca niṣṇātaṁ, brahmaṇy upaśamāśrayam.” Guru has utmost faith in śāstra (śābde pare) and understands and can explain śāstra very clearly and thoroughly (ca niṣṇātam). Guru is fully dedicated to spirituality (brahmaṇyāśraya) and therefore calm and quiet / without selfish desire (upaśama)   Bhagavad Gītā 4.34: “upadekṣyanti te jñānaṁ, jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ” Gurus have seen / realized the true nature…

We usually find dīkṣā translated as “initiation” because to “initiate” something is to start it, to set it in motion – and dīkṣā is the thing that starts us in a certain direction. In bhakti-yoga, dīkṣā is the thing that starts our devotional practices, sādhana-bhakti. Dīkṣā is the beginning of yoga. By dīkṣa we are accepted into a “school” of yoga and begin to be given whatever techniques and…

After a full day at Disneyland followed by a twelve hour airplane flight, I feel I have come several steps closer to self-realization. I think I finally comprehend how entertainment actually works – and this clarifies my understanding of how time works in three phases: past, present and future; which ties in with my understanding…

Question: From your previous article (Questions about Gurus) and its followup (diksha vs shiksha guru), it seems that you place very little importance on a formal commitment to guru. Is this true? That was an inadvertent insinuation on my part, I apologize for not being more clear about it. A formal commitment between guru and śiṣya is…

For charity to be effective, in either a religious or a practical sense, it must be given to the right person in the right way. #1: Who to Give to? Donations are primarily supposed to be given to brāhmaṇas, not primarily to vaiṣyas or kṣatriyas. All śāstra concurs on this basic point. Brāhmaṇas are people who spend the vast…

Usually I worry about achieving things in the future. That is rajoguna. At other times I regret that I haven’t yet managed to achieve many things. This is tamoguna. Sometimes rajoguna and tamoguna temporarily subside and I can feel the fact that I actually exist. This is sattvaguna. In these moments life becomes naturally joyful and…

I am watching a very good television show with my wife and son – it’s called The Walking Dead. It’s set in a zombie apocalypse scenario and shows how human beings try to survive. It’s much more about human psychology than about zombies. One of the most disturbing and terrifying things the show reveals is that…

In ISKCON and in many of the saṅgas that have developed from ISKCON, there is a widespread idea that Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Prabhupāda did not support rāgānugā-bhakti. This is not an accurate statement. The accurate fact is that Bhaktisiddhānta did not support Rāgānugā in the same way that Śrī Bhaktivinoda and his predecessors did. Specifically, Bhaktisiddhānta did not support the…

In response to my article, Accusations Against Rāgānugā Sādhana, someone asked: Who is the source of the “accusations” you are responding to? An ISKCON Sannyāsī recently said these things while doing an otherwise excellent job of explaining the subject during a seminar. It seems to me that ISCKON leaders are very cautious about allowing devotees…

 “Rāgānugā Sādhana deals with Krishna’s intimate Vraja-līlā and therefore is not appropriate for the general public. Thus Rāgānugā should not be the focus of a preaching mission.” If Krishna’s intimate Vraja-līlā is not appropriate for the general public, why did the ācārya who took Krishna consciousness to the general global public immediately present “The Krishna…

Q: Your article “Varṇāśrama is Natural” makes sense but I have some lingering doubts. Is there really no need to impose guidelines on how that natural behavior should take place? Yes, Varṇāśrama is a social system and every social system has rules that govern the behavior of its citizens. But the previous article was specifically addressing…

The point Prabhupada made in the purport to 4.2.31 is that Varṇāśrama is natural. It happens automatically whether you recognize it or not. The system is already in place, we “implement” it by being sensitive to it. For example, the Bhagavatam describes that the four ashramas are followed in different ways by the four varnas. Each…

Question: Is this true, the diksa guru should be your most inspiring, enlightening siksa guru? I wouldn’t say “should be.” I would say “could be.” Saying “should be” hangs on to a conception that still belittles the true importance of Śikṣa guru. It’s saying something like, “The best śikṣā guru is promoted to a higher level,…

The ancestrals, divinities and philosophers were satisfied and delighted by the king’s speech. All the good people said, “Very good! Very good! Now we know why Vedas speak the truth when they say that parents attain success through their children – the guardian is partially responsible for the deeds of the protected. By your excellent…

Q: How is it possible that all the sins and so on from a deciple go to the guru, and the guru becomes sick? Is this true? It is just a principle of karma that everyone involved in an activity gets some portion of the results. This principle is even reflected in our conception of law.…

What qualifications should a disciple possess before accepting a guru?  Śraddha – sincere, strong appreciation for what the guru possesses and sincere, strong desire to attain the same. What are the primary qualifications of the guru? 1. Clear knowledge and realized faith in… …the philosophy, practice, and ultimate result of Krishna-bhakti. 2. The ability to…

Everyone assembled expressed their agreement with what the King had said. This put Pṛthu’s mind at ease, and he said, “Ah! All of you have given me a great, kind gift! You accept Hari as the ultimate goal of your efforts, the most important guide, and the supreme proprietor. And, you agree with my advice…

I am not “against intoxication.” I just haven’t had been drunk or high for many, many years, and have lived the majority of my life that way. It’s not because I am “against it.” It’s because I practice yogic mantra-meditation and rarely have much, if any, interest in drinking or getting high. When the opportunities…

This is Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 4.21.34 & 35… Some of the scholars in the assembly seemed unconvinced that conventional duties could grant transcendental results. After all, such things were material but transcendental results are spiritual. “Spiritual” and “material” are certainly like day and night, they thought. Seeing the look of confusion on their faces, Pṛthu explained…

Q: What’s the real reason for abstaining from onion, & garlic? I know that some sampradayas avoid from eating carrot too. Is it because they’re all roots of plants. We eat potatoes, but potatoes came to India later on, and maybe that’s why there is no rule about them? It is an interesting theory, but then…

“All of you should certainly make his devotional service your true career; devote your actions to him, using all the talents of your thoughts, words and body. If you do this without pretense and as best you can, then his desire-fulfilling lotus-feet will become the source of perfecting your every want and need.” Spoken by…

A simple śāstric presentation demystifying this big mystery. The basic notes for the presentation are: 1. “Guru” “guru” simply means “significant” or “heavy” – its the important person. Its the person with a lot of weight. Dance-guru, music-guru, archery-guru, cooking-guru, grammar-guru, sanskrit-guru… 2. Bhakti-guru The person from whom we can learn/get bhakti. The tattva of…

Q: What do you think about extreme human antiquity, anti-evolution campaign, ideas like “we didn’t go to the Moon”, “Sun travels around the Earth”, “humans were ten times taller before Kali-Yuga” etc.? Should people see these ideas as a part of Vaisnavism? These are ideas of people who are trying to be Vaiṣṇavas and trying to…

Another big topic in Enquirer #5 was sexism, featured in an article blatantly titled, “Krishna and Sexism.” The article started out by defining sexism as the evaluation of a person’s worth primarily on the basis of their type of body, male or female. Thus, the ultimate root of sexism is a bodily concept of ourselves…

So there we were, master conductors orchestrating our spiritual revolution through music – “taking straightedge to the next level of purity” – when, suddenly, something unexpected happened. One day we were busy preaching vegetarianism to the straightedge kids. Then the next day we were busy defending against the straightedge kids preaching veganism to us. It…

Shelter toured so frequently and played so constantly that Hare Krishna’s had become as common as stage dives at hardcore shows, especially in the North East. But besides taking the temple to the kids, we were taking kids to the temple. In downtown Philly, a devotee named Hariyāśva had a vegetarian restaurant named Govinda’s. It…