Writings: Articles

Raga-patha is Above All

May 5 2008 - Krishna Talk 77
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura composed the verse, matala hari-jana visaya range pujala raga-patha gaurava-bhange, in 1930 on the occasion of moving the Deities of Sri Gaurasundara and Sri Sri Vinoda-Anandajiu from the old house at Ultadanga Junction Road to the new temple in Bagh Bazaar,... » more

Sampradayika Sannyasa

Apr 10 2008 - Krishna Talk 76
Real renunciation means to engage everything in the service of the Lord and to fix one's aspiration to serve Him with great determination -- not just simply renouncing for the sake of renouncing. If one does so, he is not actually a sannyasi. » more

Jesus as a Perfect Christian

Mar 24 2008 - Krishna Talk 75
Question: Do you think that Jesus was the example of a perfect Christian? Narasingha Maharaja: Historically and ontologically speaking, Jesus was a Jew and not a Christian. Jesus was a Jewish rabbi who studied the Jewish scriptures [the Torah] and taught Halakha, or Jewish law, as given in the... » more

Caitanya Monks

Jan 18 2008 - Krishna Talk 74
If you accept this sannyasa-vesa, this is only favorable to the activity, but the real thing is the service. The all-important thing is the service, not the dress. The dress can help me to a certain extent to remind me, 'Oh, I am a sannyasi, I am disconnected with other branches of knowledge and... » more

More on Real Religion is Not Man Made

Jan 10 2008 - Krishna Talk 73
There is no such statement in the revealed scriptures [sastras] that Visnu/Krsna [God] reveals His teachings in many places simultaneously. When it is mentioned that religion is taught according to time, place and circumstances, then that is referring to bona-fide teachers of eternal religion like... » more

Puri Goswami Appearance

Oct 19 2007 - Krishna Talk 72
Srila Puri Maharaja's appearance in this world was in 1898. Then his disappearance was 102 years later at the end of Karttika while he was residing at Jagannatha Puri. Jagannatha Puri is known as 'Vipralambha-dhama,' the place where the Lord and His devotees feel intense separation. » more

The Self-Defeating Philosophy of Mayavada

Sep 18 2007 - Krishna Talk 70
The idea of Mayavada has always been present since the decline of the Vedic age. It is born from the minds of those jivas who have been envious and desired to usurp the position of God. These jivas, having lost touch with the highest ideal of serving God as an individual part and parcel, have... » more

Prabhupada's Rooms at Radha Damodar Temple

Feb 19 2007 - Krishna Talk 69
Recently an announcement was posted on "Dandavats.com" wherein the representative of ISKCON's Sri Sri Krishna Balaram temple in Vrindavana [Shyamakrishna Das] informed all the devotees around the world that "Srila Prabhupada's Bhajan-kutir is now re-opened." » more

Daiva-varnasrama

Jan 4 2007 - Krishna Talk 68
Question: We have heard that Bhaktivinoda Thakura instructed Srila Bhaktisiddhanta to establish the system of daiva-varnasrama. My question is, what is daiva-varnasrama? Is it something different from varnasrama as we generally know it? Answer: Yes, daiva-varnasrama is significantly different from... » more

Aryan Invasion - History or Politics

N.S. Rajaram
Nov 21 2006 - Krishna Talk 67
Guest Article by N. S. Rajaram. The evidence of science now points to two basic conclusions: first, there was no Aryan invasion, and second, the Rigvedic people were already established in India no later than 4000 B.C.E. » more

Self Manifest Deities

Oct 16 2006 - Krishna Talk 65
During my many travels in India I have visited certain temples where it is claimed that the Deity of Visnu or Krishna was self-manifest. So my question is, whether it is possible that God self-manifests His Deity form or is it always necessary that an acarya or representative of God be instrumental... » more

Society Consciousness vs. Krsna Consciousness

Oct 16 2006 - Krishna Talk 66
I read a recent article on the internet by a leading ISKCON sannyasi/GBC/guru wherein he says, "We cannot even extend this family [ISKCON] to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta. We cannot even take one step forward because the problem is if we put too much emphasis on Srila Bhaktisiddhanta, then we will miss... » more

¿Por qué Peleamos?

Oct 9 2006 - Krishna Talk 74
La prédica significa luchar, pelear contra la ilusión y el mal entendimiento. Nuestras armas son argumentos filosóficos respaldados por los sastras y las opiniones de los acaryas anteriores. Predicar significa decir la verdad y la naturaleza de la verdad es que quiere ser encontrada y quiere luchar... » more

Why We Fight

Oct 9 2006 - Krishna Talk 64
Preaching means fighting - fighting with illusion and misconception. Our weapons are philosophical arguments backed by sastra and the opinions of previous acaryas. Preaching means speaking the truth and the nature of truth is that it wants to be found and it wants to fight with ignorance and... » more

Técnicas de Meditación y El Santo Nombre

Oct 2 2006 - Krishna Talk 63
Recientemente ha habido algunas controversias acerca de las técnicas de meditación y de control mental mientras uno está realizado el canto de la japa (el Santo Nombre). A menudo se dice que estamos haciendo meditación con mantras, por ello deseaba saber si nuestros Acaryas o los Sastras han... » more

Meditation Techniques and the Holy Name

Oct 2 2006 - Krishna Talk 63
There have been some recent discussions about techniques for meditation and controlling the mind while chanting japa [the Holy Name]. It is often said that we are doing mantra meditation, so I was wondering if our acaryas or the sastra have recommended any particular techniques that we can use... » more

More on Christianity: Only Krsna Consciousness Can Enhance Krsna Consciousness

Sep 26 2006 - Krishna Talk 62
Wasn't there perhaps sincerity in some of these religions at the time when they emerged? God is omnipresent and, after all, a man in the desert who had some desire to know truth would experience an aspect of God's beauty, power, love etc. He could feel that to be God and not yet know about Sri... » more

Real Religion is not Man-made

Sep 8 2006 - Krishna Talk 61
During a recent visit to Europe I had some informal discussions about religious conceptions with other Gaudiya Vaisnavas and I was surprised to hear some devotees speak about such groups as the Sufis, Whirling Dervishes, Jews, Christians, Catholics, Orthodox Christians and Muslims as being deeply '... » more

Jesus in the Vedas

Jan 17 2006 - Krishna Talk 58
Recent articles claim that the fable of Jesus is mentioned in the Bhavisya Purana. However, a closer look at this prediction strongly suggests foul play or interpolation on the part of Christian Missionaries in India during the late 18th century. » more

Адбхута Мандир и Видение Бхактивиноды

Sep 20 2005 - Krishna Talk 57
В статье «Адбхута Мандир и видение Бхактивиноды», написанной в 2005 году, Шрила Нарасингха Махараджа подробно рассказывает о том, как Бхактивинода Тхакур открыл Йогапитху, место рождения Шри Чаитанйи. Он приводит убедительные аргументы в пользу того, почему храм Йогапитха — это настоящий Адбхута... » more

Adbhuta Mandira and Bhaktivinoda's Vision

Sep 20 2005 - Krishna Talk 57
Bhaktivinoda Thakura was not staying in Godrumadvipa when he had his vision of the Adbhuta Mandira. In fact Bhaktivinoda's house at Godruma was not built until two years later. » more

Gita Govinda of Jayadeva Goswami

Sep 5 2005 - Krishna Talk 56
So far as the Gita-govinda is concerned, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta did not allow his disciples to read Gita-govinda nor did he ever write a forward to that book. » more

The Worship of Gaura-Gadadhara

May 21 2005 - Krishna Talk 55
I have seen on your website that you are worshiping Gaura-Gadadhara at your ashrama. Why are you worshiping Gaura-Gadadhara rather than Gaura-Nitai? » more

Inconceivable Topics

Feb 3 2005 - Krishna Talk 54
I have heard it said recently by some devotees that the origin of the jiva (regarding the soul's falling or not falling from the lila of Krsna) is inconceivable and that we cannot imagine or understand how or from where the soul has come into this material world. Can you please comment on this... » more

Jivas and the marginal plane

Jan 31 2005 - Krishna Talk 53
I have read the book "Our Original Position" (OOP) published by the Iskcon GBC Press in which it is stated that the jivas (living entities) come to this material world after falling from grace in the spiritual world. Is this 'fall philosophy' correct according to sastra and previous acaryas? » more