Author Archives: pritd

SB 3.1.1-16: Meditations on Saintly Vidura

Hare Krsna, From the study of verses SB 3.1.1-16, several unique features in Vidura’s character stand out. His inquisitiveness to learn from his spiritual master: Throughout the study in this month, we have seen how significant a role a bonafide spiritual master makes in the life of a sincere disciple. The whole first chapter onContinue reading “SB 3.1.1-16: Meditations on Saintly Vidura”

CC Adi 1: Meditations on Dissipating the Darkness of Ignorance

Hare Krsna, In my recent readings of the scriptures, coincidentally I have come across detailed descriptions of the kinds of ignorance a conditioned living entity is subjected to. In our current lesson (CC Adi Chapter 1), five kinds of ignorance are described. They are (1) accepting the body to be the self, (2) making materialContinue reading “CC Adi 1: Meditations on Dissipating the Darkness of Ignorance”

CC Adi 1: Meditations on Incarnations, Plenary Portions and Energies of the Lord

Hare Krsna, [Note: This forum post will be academic in nature because I am trying to understand the concepts of incarnations, plenary portions and energies of the Lord better] As Srila Prabhupada mentioned in his lecture, clearly understanding the difference between incarnations, plenary portions and energies of the Lord is complicated. “So it is aContinue reading “CC Adi 1: Meditations on Incarnations, Plenary Portions and Energies of the Lord”

CC Adi 1: The Initiating and Instructing Spiritual Masters

Hare Krsna, In this lesson, the following paragraph caught my attention. “As one advances in devotional activities, the process becomes progressively clearer and more encouraging. Unless one gets this spiritual encouragement by following the instructions of the spiritual master, it is not possible to make advancement. Therefore, one’s development of a taste for executing theseContinue reading “CC Adi 1: The Initiating and Instructing Spiritual Masters”

CC Adi 1: The Inner Meaning of the Catuḥ-ślokī Verses

Hare Krsna, As I was trying to meditate on this topic and wondering how to respond, I was also drawn by the once-in-many-lifetime ceremony of Srila Prabhupada’s grand welcome to TOVP today (Oct 15). The central theme that played in my mind is ‘guru’ (spiritual master). We often wonder what would have happened if SrilaContinue reading “CC Adi 1: The Inner Meaning of the Catuḥ-ślokī Verses”

Direct Communication between the Lord and His Devotee

Hare Krsna, In the last lesson, we discussed about spiritual masters being representative of Lord Krsna. This reminds me of a particular like in Sri Guru Vandana (prayer to Srila Prabhupada) that we sing at temples every day. divya-jnana hrde prakasito. “By his mercy divine knowledge is revealed within the heart, bestowing prema-bhakti and destroyingContinue reading “Direct Communication between the Lord and His Devotee”

How the Spiritual Masters Represent Lord Kṛṣṇa

Hare Krsna, The greatest fortune of one’s existence (both material and spiritual) is to attain shelter at the lotus feet of a spiritual master who is a pure devotee of the Supreme Lord Krsna. The greatest misfortune is to neglect the instructions of one’s spiritual master. In fact, one of the ten offenses to theContinue reading “How the Spiritual Masters Represent Lord Kṛṣṇa”

GLORIFICATION OF SRI CAITANYA-CARITAMRTA

After reading & hearing Antya lila chapter 17 (The Bodily Transformations of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu), I must confess that these supreme transcendental pastimes of Mahaprabhu are beyond comprehension of our dull material senses. It is difficult to understand how much intense separation from Lord Krsna can affect a pure devotee in intense love of Godhead. But I definitely appreciate them, have faithContinue reading “GLORIFICATION OF SRI CAITANYA-CARITAMRTA”