NEW
Section
Madhva Commentaries
—
Sri Gayatri
Mantrartha Dipika—Introduction
by Sripad Swami B. G. Narasingha
In the Gaudiya Vaisnava sampradaya, the gayatri which the guru (bona fide spiritual master) gives to the sadhaka (devotee) at the time of diksa (initiation) is that of the Vedic diksa (upanayana) and also that of the Vaisnava pancaratrika-diksa. Diksa is defined in the Visnu Yamala as that process by which divine knowledge is given and papa (sins) are destroyed.
Sri Gayatri Mantrartha Dipika (Illuminations on the Essential Meaning of Gayatri) has been compiled for the pleasure of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and the followers of His disciplic succession known as the Gaudiya Vaisnava sampradaya. This publication presents the remarkable madhurya (conjugal) conception of gayatri as revealed by sastra (scripture), sadhus (pure devotees), and acaryas (bona fide spiritual masters). When the contents of this book are examined by the serious readers, all will surely agree that the Gaudiya Vaisnava conception of gayatri is the summit of theistic thought.
Sri Gayatri
Mantrartha Dipika
may now be ordered from Mandala
Publishing Group and will be available in
India during the 1999 Gaura Purnima festival.
Full Article
Planets
of Faith
by Sripad Swami B. G. Narasingha
We
have seen in the works of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura that sraddha
has been described as the "halo of Srimati Radharani" and
I have heard this also from Srila Sridhar Maharaja. Amongst the Gaudiyas
the Supreme Goddess of Fortune, Srimati Radharani, is called sraddha-devi
or the predominating deity of faith. She is faith personified. She has
more faith and deeper faith in Krsna than any other entity. Therefore,
faith must be given the highest position. Surely it is not simply an
abstract concept for beginners with no essential purpose for advanced
souls.
Full
Article
Faith
is Our Real Wealth
by Srila B. R. Sridhara Deva
Goswami Maharaja
Why does our consciousness come down to this mundane plane? Why doesn't it have a higher conception of higher spiritual existence. Instead our attention is drawn to some material thing on this lower plane. We think that some medicine, or some intoxication can help us. When we cannot raise my consciousness to the finer and higher conscious substance, then we come to seek help in the material world. "These substances will help me." It is suicidal.
We cannot
manage to have a connection directly with the higher conscious substance,
then we come to seek some means in the lower. "With the help of that
I will make advancement toward the finer consciousness. The matter will
help me to understand, to acquire consciousness." We are thus without
faith in the agents of that Absolute Truth, the Vaisnavas. It is due to
vaisnava aparadha, losing faith in the conscious agents of the Supreme,
that we go to the material substance, "Help me!" I lose faith
in the spiritual agency and the long and the short is this - we seek shelter
in a material thing and we lose our faith in the higher agency. We can’t
see their Grace. So, that is the underlying position of an intoxication
monger. No faith in the higher agent, that which is spiritual which is
soul-like in character, but more aspiration to get help from the lower
substance.
Full Article
The
Post is Paramahamsa
by Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta
Swami Prabhupada
So every Vaisnava, every devotee of Krsna, pure devotee of Krsna, is a paramahamsa. We are teaching people to become immediately paramahamsa, the highest stage of sannyasa. The method is simply chanting Hare Krsna. You see?
The
post is paramahamsa. Vaisnava means paramahamsa. He's
above brahmana, above sannyasa. But we must be real Vaisnava.
Vaisnava means anukulyena krsnanusilanam. Anyabhilasita-sunyam.
There is no other desire, material desire. Desire means material desire,
this contaminated desire. It does not mean that we shall not desire
to become Krsna conscious. That desire is real desire. And any other
desire, anyabhilasita, for some material benefit, that is not
required. But if we can keep ourself without any material desire, without
any propensity for enjoying fruitive result,``I am doing something,
I must enjoy this result. I must be enjoyer.'' This is called jnana-karma.
``Oh, I must try to understand Krsna by my speculative method.''
Why?
Krsna is explaining Himself. Why don't you try to understand Him in
that way? Nonsense. What speculative power you have got? Simply you'll
commit a blunder. Why? Krsna says, ``I am this, I am this, I am that,
I am that.'' In the Bhagavad-gita, explains. God says. Why don't
you understand Him as He says?
Full Article