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Currently Browsing: QA Audio : 2014
: Audio
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: Hindi Language
June 2022
710)
Why does God not answer our prayers? (PK answered 5)
November 2020
709)
How can we increase our determination for waking up in the morning?
July 2020
708)
When natural calamities disrupt our lives beyond tolerance point, what can we do other than pray?
April 2020
707)
What is the difference between a jnani and jnani-yogi?
February 2020
706)
How can an introvert practice bhakti when it is so social and public?
September 2019
705)
What is the role of vairagya in grihastha life?
December 2014
704)
Is PK an anti-Hindu movie? (PK answered 22)
703)
Are we meant to not ask questions in matters of faith? (PK answered 21)
702)
Is ISKCON misappropriating sanatana-dharma?
701)
Is dharma same as religion?
700)
If God has given scripture, then which scripture and to whom?
699)
If scripture is given by God, why is it not visible to a newborn child?
698)
Aren’t Hindu teachers by refuting PK unnecessarily promoting it?
697)
Why waste milk on God’s image when his children are starving? (PK answered 20)
696)
How can worshiping a cow get a person a job? (PK answered 19)
695)
If God has a plan for everything, does chanting mantras for getting something change his plan? (PK answered 18)
694)
Why do religious teachers threaten people with fear of future punishment? (PK Answered 17)
693)
Why does God like flattery? (PK answered 16)
692)
When God is all-powerful, why do religionists need to protect him and for that attack others? (PK answered 15)
691)
Why does God favor the wealthy by letting them bypass the queues in temples? (PK answered 14)
690)
Does God respond more to our prayers when we worship him in a bigger murti? (Pk answered 13)
689)
If God can hear our prayers directly, why do we need to pray to a murti? (PK answerd 12)
688)
Is going to temple due to fear cowardice? (PK answered 11)
687)
Is religion a business run by godmen to exploit people’s fears? (PK answered 10)
686)
Why do different religions have different rituals? (PK answered 9)
685)
Why aren’t we born with our religion stamped on our body? (PK answered 8)
684)
Is religion made by man or by God? (PK answered 7)
683)
Why would God want his children to roll on the ground to come to him? (PK answered 6)
682)
Do fearful people go to temples? (PK answered 4)
681)
Are rituals wrong numbers for calling God? (PK answered 3)
680)
Is the god who made us completely unknowable to us? (PK answered 2)
679)
Are there two gods – the god who made us and the god whom we made? (PK answered 1)
678)
Does God like atheists more than religionists because atheists don’t kill children?
677)
Was Arjuna aware of the soul’s existence before hearing the Gita?
676)
What is artistic license and how can it be used in devotional dramas?
675)
In SB 1.2.7 if the knowledge is acquired through devotion how is it causeless?
674)
In SB 1.2.2 what does the trees’ echoing Vyasadeva’s call to Shukadeva mean?
673)
In NoI 8 why is kirtanam mentioned separately from engaging the tongue?
672)
Is there any difference between urges and feelings?
671)
What feelings do impersonalists experience – material or spiritual?
670)
What does it mean to see Krishna everywhere?
669)
What exactly is the point of the nivrtta tarshair (SB 10.01.04) verse?
668)
Why would Prabhupada quote inauthentic books like the Aquarian Gospel?
667)
To practice bhakti strictly is it better to be fanatical?
666)
How do we help people hurt by insensitive behavior of devotees?
665)
Do we learn shastra by studying more or serving more?
664)
If we dont understand something in the Gita should we re-read it till we understand before going ahead?
663)
What is the joking referred to in Gita 1.25 purport?
November 2014
662)
How can we use gadgets in bhakti without becoming attached?
661)
If six systems of philosophy are progressive why are they contradictory?
660)
If the Gita is contextual, why is it considered such an important scripture?
659)
Is death alone away from loved ones successful death?
658)
Isn’t forcing ourselves to thank God for bad things self-repression?
657)
Does bhakti make us unambitious?
656)
Was Mirabai greater than Jiva Goswami because she saw beyond bodily gender?
655)
Is Modi anti-secular in giving the Gita to other heads of state?
654)
Is the Gita a religious book or a secular book?
653)
Is secularism against the Vedic tradition?
652)
Why does Gita 7.25 use yoga-maya instead of maha-maya?
651)
Does the Gita ask Arjuna to choose job over family?
650)
Should prostitution be legalized in India?
649)
What are the consequences of sin?
648)
Why is every sin ultimately a sin against God?
647)
What does it mean to be free from sin?
646)
What does it mean to be a slave to sin?
645)
How can I overcome a habitual sin?
644)
Why do we sin?
643)
Are all sins equal to God?
642)
Do parents suffer the sins of their children?
641)
Are children punished for the sins of their parents?
640)
How can I know if something is a sin?
639)
What is the definition of sin?
638)
Is caffeine addiction a sin?
637)
Is it ever right to lie?
636)
Is joking a sin?
635)
How is Mayavada offensive?
634)
When chanting requires mind control, why do we say that chanting leads to mind control?
633)
Where does people’s evil tendency come from?
632)
Could God have prevented the Holocaust?
631)
Who is responsible for the Holocaust – Hitler or the Jews’ karma?
630)
Why does God not protect his devotees today like he protected Prahlad?
629)
When we don’t know what past-life karma caused our present suffering how do we learn?
628)
Are only Indian breed cows go mata?
627)
When God doesn’t conjure tricks can he be considered a magician?
626)
When God doesn’t need to do research, can he be considered a scientist?
625)
Was Bhishma an impersonalist – he refers to Krishna in the third person not the second person?
624)
What is the difference between spiritual, transcendental and devotional?
623)
Where exactly is the pleasure of sex: in our mind, in our body’s hormonal secretion or in the other person’s body?
622)
What leads to spirtual advancement – taking more responsibility in service or doing more chanting?
621)
Should we stop voting in elections because no political party stops sinful activities?
620)
Is God a scientist or a magician?
619)
What are phantom limbs – how do they prove the soul’s existence?
618)
Is the God of the Abrahamic traditions the same as the God of the Vedic tradition?
617)
Will devotional service free us from a painful disorder?
616)
Does one lose wealth or gain wealth by worshiping Hari?
615)
Is controlling lust forcibly helpful or harmful?
614)
Does God create energy out of nothing?
613)
Why do devotees consult psychologists instead of chanting mahamantra?
612)
Why do you call your site spiritualscientist when there’s not much scientific content?
611)
Does om purnam imply that we should be complete and so we should be Krishna?
610)
How can we share scriptural wisdom in today’s secular government?
609)
Why does Bhishma Panchaka have 4 days this year instead of 5?
October 2014
608)
Does papa-yonayah in Gita 9.32 refer to a fourth category?
607)
Does Gita 18.56 refer to karma-yoga or bhakti-yoga?
606)
How can a material process karma-yoga grow into the transcendental process bhakti-yoga?
605)
Why do so many people commit suicide?
604)
Science believes in experiments – what does spirituality believe in?
603)
Is karma-yoga superior to jnana-yoga according to the Gita chp 3?
602)
Do animals have mind – how do they control it?
601)
Which dictionary meaning of the word ‘mind’ does the Gita refer to?
600)
What does panentheism mean?
599)
When sex is a fact of life, why be prudish about depicting it in the media?
598)
Does covering our bodies with clothes make us obsessed to see others’ bodies?
597)
Is wearing clothes unnatural as no other species in nature wears clothes?
596)
Do vaishyas have to do brahminical occupation to come to goodness for practicing bhakti?
595)
Why do we counter-push against lower modes and not against goodness?
594)
How do we deal with students who take to KC to escape from studies?
593)
When Arjuna’s chariot was destroyed after the MB war, why does he say in SB “The chariot is the same”?
592)
Are those who come to Krishna even for material benefit mahatmas?
591)
Is the jnani of Gita 7.17 one of the four categories of 7.16?
590)
When Prabhupada’s Gita is so obviously not as it is, how can he call it as it is?
589)
What is the benefit in hearing about Krishna?
588)
How can anyone accept such an antromorphic unscientific mythic conception of God as Krishna
587)
When the gopis were Dandakaranya sages, why does the Bhagavtam say that they had not gone on pilgrimage?
586)
What are the ten principles of godly life mentioned in Gita 16.1-3 purport?
585)
Which other Purana mentions that Bhagavatam is the commentary on the Vedanta Sutra?
584)
Is there any pastime describing how Krishna got his Sudarshan Chakra?
583)
Why does the list of eight siddhis not include garima?
582)
Aren’t Brahmavadis ultimately Mayavadis because they consider the Lord’s form to be temporary?
581)
Is the ability to remember past lives the mercy of the Lord?
580)
How is Krishna consciousness a science?
579)
Can science never prove the existence of God?
578)
Why can’t we remember our past lives?
577)
Can we take charanamrita when curd is forbidden during Chaturmasya?
576)
What is the basis for the classification of scripture as shruti smriti and nyaya?
575)
Did Krishna not have his conchshell before he killed Panchajanya?
574)
Is sensitivity the same as sentimentality?
573)
Is birthday celebration non-Vedic?
572)
How can birthday celebrations be made more traditional and spiritual?
571)
What is the philosophy behind the worship of a pure devotee’s Deity?
570)
Should birthday celebrations for devotees’ children be banned?
569)
Do devotees have to go through Brahman realization to attain Bhagavan realization?
568)
Does varnashrama romanticize, demonize or utilize the world?
567)
Should we just chant more or should we study philosophy more?
566)
Are attempts to interpret ancient Rathas in the Vedas as hi-tech cars misinterpretations of scripture?
565)
When remembrance of Krishna is so sweet, why is it compared to a sword?
564)
Is the love of a mother for her baby Maya?
563)
I study scripture but don’t find it relevant to me. What to do?
562)
Bali M rejects Shukracharya, yet Vamana respects him – Why?
561)
Did Bali M surrender out of devotion or fear of dishonor?
560)
When bhakti can’t be quantified, why have a bhakti shastri course with marks?
559)
What does the CC statement that scripture contains illusory stories mean?
558)
When the word ‘Bhagavan’ is used in scripture for sages and demigods why does Prabhuapda say it should be reserved only for God
557)
Is the doer the ego as Gita 18.58 states or the modes as Gita 3.27 states?
556)
Why does ISKCON have such a negatively sex-obsessed conception of bhakti?
555)
If all equations including those of quantum physics are thoughts of God, why does quantum physics not make sense?
554)
Don’t those who convert by force justify that they are saving others from eternal damnation?
553)
Those converted by force sometimes later become fanatical followers of that religion. How then is such conversion inconsequential?
552)
If we shouldn’t use questionable empirical sources to support scripture, why did Prabhupada do so?
551)
Do women have no varna?
550)
Why does Prabhupada glorify kaitava dharma by talking about how dharma produces artha?
549)
Why do we sometimes act like mad, doing things that we would normally never do?
548)
Isn’t it better to chant extra than to use dama and bheda with the mind?
547)
Is there any major difference between generic lust and specific lust
546)
How does the soul come under the influence of material nature?
545)
How can we approach science by which we can go closer to Krishna?
544)
If heavenly planets exist at a higher level does that mean there exist elements other than the eight elements?
543)
When science is being misused to propagate atheism, isn’t it the responsibility of devotees to counter that by scientific outreach?
542)
Can the conspiracy theory about the moon landing be used to refute the moon mission claims
541)
What is the meaning of the Gita statement about the moon being the most prominent nakshatra?
540)
How do we understand the Puranic statements about the distances of earth moon and sun?
539)
Are Chandraloka and the moon same or different?
538)
If quantum physics is incomprehensible how does it work?
537)
How can devotees staying in the temple be engaged according to their natures?
536)
As we don’t have many commentaries on CC, how can we go deep into it?
535)
When Bhagavatam rejects kaitava dharma why does it talk about Mayavada in many places?
534)
How do we see an acharya’s comments on contemporary issues?
533)
Is scripture not enough to determine the divinity of incarnation – is experience necessary?
532)
Who is the most recent acharya mentioned in the Chaitanya tree in CC?
531)
Are scriptural descriptions of huge numbers of people in lilas literal?
530)
How do we balance between endeavor for bodily maintenance and dependence on Krishna?
529)
How do we understand that Krishna’s pastimes are still happening in the dhamas?
528)
Are the Sthala Puranas and Upa-Puranas considered smriti?
527)
How do we balance between remaining faithful to Srila Prabhupada and presenting according to time-place-circumstances?
526)
When different devotees quote Srila Prabhupada’s different quotes to support their positions, how can we know what he would have wanted?
525)
Does the body change cell-by-cell or is it like a TV frame that changes completely at every moment?
524)
Why did Ravana despite being obstinate listen to Maricha first and give up his plan to abduct Sita?
523)
After seeing Rama’s power why did Akampana not flee entirely as did Maricha?
522)
How does Akampana reach Lanka before Shurapanakha?
521)
When material nature is unconscious how is it the doer?
520)
How can one avoid defying authority in the name of serving according to svabhava?
519)
Why does Prabhupada in his Gita sometimes place nishkama karma yoga above jnana and dhyana yogas?
518)
When today spiritual masters can’t personally instruct disciples about their services, how can we best serve Krishna?
517)
How much can devotees facing emergenices be allowed to relax standards?
516)
How do we avoid prayasa in the services we like to do?
515)
Why do some scriptures say that the demigods are supreme?
514)
Are the Vedas like a jungle, as a blasphemous scholar alleges?
513)
When Krishna is supreme, how can the knowledge he gives get lost?
512)
How can we know that there’s no loss in transmission of knowledge through the parampara?
511)
Are Bible and Koran considered to be smriti?
510)
How can we know that the Vedas have a divine origin?
509)
How does the Gaudiya philosophy relate with the six systems of philosophy?
508)
Are Puranas recent as compared to the Vedas?
507)
Does the Gita recommend Deity worship?
506)
How do the four Vaishnava sampradayas relate with the six systems of philosophy?
505)
Just as we take non-Ayurvedic medicines, can we adopt non-devotional astrological prescriptions?
504)
When Brahma says we should just accept misery as mercy, why do that Pandavas fight to take revenge
503)
When Krishna loves his devotees and can check karma, why does he let them suffer?
502)
When Krishna loves his devotees and can check karma, why do scriptures describe as karma being the cause of their suffering
501)
How do we deal with our tendency to perceive others negatively?
500)
If someone asks ‘have you seen God’ how do we answer?
499)
Is Krishna’s giving kripa-siddhi an interference with the soul’s free will?
498)
We know Krishna loves devotees, still we offend them – how can we stop this?
497)
How do we understand when a pure devotee’s dealings lead to a person going away from Krishna?
496)
How do we connect with ISKCON people who are connected with other religious organisations?
495)
How do we deal with people who find our standard philosophical presentations too simple?
494)
How do 4 lakh species correlate with 4 varnas – how do we determine our varna?
493)
How much will the mode of preaching be affected by the nature of different preachers?
492)
When Krishna gave special darshan to Dhanurdas, didn’t he interfere with his free will?
491)
Do our past sukritis determine our ability to continue in devotion?
490)
Do offeneses to devotees make Krishna stop loving us?
489)
When we feel empty and impure, how can we persevere in devotion?
488)
If Krishna loves us, why is it necessary to suffer to return to him?
487)
How can we experience Krishna’s love at our present level of devotion?
September 2014
486)
Can God create a stone that he can’t lift?
485)
As yogis become bhaktas at their topmost stage does that mean we should practice yoga before bhakti?
484)
How can we stay open to new ideas without weakening our convictions?
483)
How can we keep our mind steady amidst outer agitation and inner temptation?
482)
What should we do when we are blamed for something?
481)
Why do we offer prasad and how is it to be offered?
480)
Are fish vegetarian or non-vegetarian?
479)
Why are the divisions of different scriptures called differently – skandha, kanda and parva
478)
How can the spiritual soul taste or enjoy a material sweet?
477)
How should we respond to classes that seem confusing and contradictory to the standard philosophical understanding
476)
What is the difference between object and concept – and how does it apply to our philosophy?
475)
What is the difference between phenomenal and numinous in Gita 7.2
474)
How should devotees respond to the threat of brutal religious groups like ISIS?
473)
Does ISKCON consider the English of the 1920s to be sacred?
472)
How should we deal with ex-ISKCON devotees who blaspheme ISKCON?
471)
Why are ISKCON temples so commercialised?
470)
Can sick devotees adopt a diet of only raw foods if it improves their health?
469)
How should we counter when a respected ex-SC judge says that scripture contains poetic exaggerations?
468)
How can I surrender to Krishna?
467)
When a mother stops a child from doing something harmful why does Krishna not stop the soul from wrongdoing?
466)
Can we realize our spiritual identity only by bhakti and not by intelligence?
465)
Is the insignificance of the duration of evil from an eternal perspective the only explanation for evil?
464)
Is the problem of evil inconceivable and beyond explaining through words?
463)
What is the actual difference between mind and intelligence?
462)
Are those who abuse their intelligence jnanis and those who use it to serve Krishna jnana-yogis?
461)
What does being free from all dualities mean wrt devotional service?
460)
Do we need to endeavour to get what is in our quota?
459)
If misery is caused by misidentification, then why is there not just mental pain but also physical pain?
458)
Did the Pandavas go to heaven or the spiritual world?
457)
Is there any spiritual reference for the meaning of ‘Bharata’ as ‘the land absorbed in light’?
456)
Why do the original Vedas give so little knowledge about the ultimate goal of bhakti?
455)
When Krishna says that the knowledge in disciplic succession was lost, weren’t the four sampradayas available at that time?
454)
A devotee is already righteous, so why does Krsna say that he becomes righteous in Gita 9.31?
453)
What is the difference between nitya and shashvata in Gita 2.20?
452)
When the guru is mostly inaccessible to disciples, isn’t initiation just a rubber-stamp?
451)
How can we convert our work in office into yajna?
450)
What is the difference between karma yoga, buddhi yoga and bhakti yoga?
449)
When the intelligence is material, how can it take us to the spiritual level of reality?
448)
Is it selfish to want taste in chanting?
447)
If Arjuna was superior to Karna, why does Bhagavatam say he was a small fish in an ocean of giant fishes?
446)
Why does Krishna refer to someone else as the object of surrender in the Gita 18.62?
445)
Dharma is that which is coming from God – do the Abrahamic religions also come from Krishna
444)
Are all religions coming from the Vedas?
443)
Is there a shiva-linga at the Kaba?
442)
Was Prabhupada’s renunciation in the mode of passion as it was triggered by frustration with uncooperative family members?
441)
When devotees are frustrated with the problems of grihastha life, should they think of the renounced ashramas as the solution?
440)
How do we reconcile the conflict of values in the Gita and the Chaitanya Charitamrita?
August 2014
439)
What does the Gita’s chp 13 title ‘Nature, enjoyer and consciousness’ refer to?
438)
In monozygotic twins where do the differences come from?
437)
Is the universal form in the Gita’s ninth chapter a conceptualization and the eleventh chapter, a revelation?
436)
What does the Gita’s inverted tree metaphor signify?
435)
How is the world a lila of the Pursha avatara? Is it a virtual reality manufactured by him with chosable scripts for us?
434)
When everything is in Prabhupada’s books, what is the need to read other books either by ISKCON devotees or previous acharyas?
433)
Does Prabhupada’s instruction ‘do as I have done’ mean there’s no need to innovate in preaching”
432)
How do we decide which of our emotions are material and which are spiritual?
431)
Is a devotee’s grihastha-ashrama a failure if the children don’t become devotees?
430)
Why do Abrahamic religions depict God as jealous when they are too are revelations?
429)
Is the prayer to get a good spouse a material prayer?
428)
To realize everything is illusion amidst adversities, is yoga and pranayama the way or is bhakti-yoga sufficient?
427)
As developing internal conviction takes time, isn’t it better to be stimulated in our devotion by external inspiration?
426)
When the number of breaths of a soul in a body are fixed, how can a purpose-driven attitude increase longevity?
425)
Why does Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati criticize organized churches when ISKCON is also an organised church?
424)
Is the holy name transcendental or immanent?
423)
How is the holy name different from ordinary sound
422)
Has the Lord come under Maya in Kali-yuga that he is not able to protect Deities
421)
Why were Indian rulers other than Shivaji not empowered by the Lord to protect Vedic culture?
420)
How do you maintain consistency in your daily writing year after year?
419)
Are tragedies in our lives such as a relative committing suicide God’s punishments on us?
418)
How should relatives of a suicide resolve their anger towards that person?
417)
Should relatives communicate via planchette with someone who has committed suicide?
416)
If a good person commits suicide due to some frustration, what is their destination?
415)
Does a sudden tragedy in the lives of God’s worshipers indicates that God is too busy in his own kingdom to protect?
414)
When we are attracted to material things through our senses, whereas Krishna is spiritual, how can Krishna be considered all-attractive?
413)
Why does the Gita use a setting of war to convey its transcendental message when such a setting can be abused to provoke communal violence?
412)
What is the theory of reflection Prabhupada refers to in the Gita 2.13 purport?
411)
What is the Vedic perspective on passive euthanasia?
410)
Why do we say that lust needs to be curbed when it can be channelized towards Krishna as Narottama Das Thakura says?
409)
Why does Krishna emphasise consciousness at death which is much more uncontrollable than consciousness while living?
408)
When Krishna had said he wouldn’t lift weapons in the Kurukshetra war, why does he say in Gita 11.33 that the Kauravas are already killed by him?
407)
Does taking anti-depressant drugs as medicine violate the no intoxication principle?
406)
When opulences are disqualifications for devotion, why does ISKCON preach to the opulent?
405)
If consciousness of the couple at conception determines the nature of the child, will a child born through rape be evil?
404)
Does Krishna control us through remembrance and forgetfulness just as computer controls through zeroes and ones?
403)
Why do we need to justify the Pandavas’ actions? Isn’t “Krishna told them to do it” enough reason?
402)
Why do we need to be in the mode of goodness to practice bhakti?
401)
What is the significance of the two metaphors of rivers and moths used in the Gita’s description of warriors entering into the Universal Form
400)
In shabda pramana we receive knowledge from our senses (ears), so how is it superior to pratyaksha pramana?
399)
How have so many languages come up worldwide when developing a computer language requires so much effort?
398)
How does Ishopanishad mantra 17 refute impersonalism?
397)
Do we need to introspect whether we are progressing in our spiritual life?
396)
Does one have to give up one’s material life on becoming an ISKCON member, even if one doesn’t become a brahmachari?
395)
Is ISKCON an organization for rich people?
July 2014
394)
If the suffering of great devotees is for their glorification why does Bhishma say Pandavas’ suffering is due to time?
393)
When the Pandavas were so virtuous why did Krisha let them suffer so much?
392)
Why was Kunti’s unknowing statement ‘share whatever you have brought’ considered absolute and Draupadai married to all the Pandavas?
391)
Draupadi forgave Ashwatthama but not the Kauravas. Why?
390)
Why did Krishna and Arjuna meet each other first time so late in their lives?
389)
Why did Balaramji favor Duryodhana?
388)
When different religious groups have their own scriptures how is the authority of Vaishnava scriptures to be established?
387)
Is the expansion of the Mahabharata from its short Jaya version a contamination?
386)
What guided humanity before scripture was written?
385)
Is the Mahabharata contaminated due to interpolation?
384)
Why did Duryodhana become vicious despite being born in a virtuous family?
383)
Did Krishna establish dharma just for 36 years after fighting such a big war?
382)
Why did Yaksha ask so many questions to the Pandavas?
381)
How do we decide when to forgive and when to fight back?
380)
Why did Krishna not protect Yudhisthira from errors of judgment?
379)
Did Vikarna get any good result for trying to defend Draupadi’s honor?
378)
Who was Yuyutsu? How did he come from the Kaurava side to the Pandava side?
377)
Why did Yudhisthira agree for a second gambling match after the disastrous first gambling match?
376)
Why did the virtuous Bhishma fight on the side of the vicious Kauravas?
375)
Did Karna have to choose the side of evil due to his past karma?
374)
How to choose between doing our worldly repsonsibilities devotionally and doing directly devotional activities?
373)
Did Duryodhana have any good qualities?
372)
What are the authentic sources for learning the Mahabharata?
371)
How did a ciranjeevi Ashwatthama fight against the virtuous Pandavas?
370)
Why did Krishna and others not try to reform Duryodhana as reformation is the ultimate goal?
369)
Why do the Bhagavatam and the Mahabharata describe the same stories differently?
368)
Where does Vishishtadvaita fall in the six systems of philosophy?
367)
If we have canine teeth for eating meat, then doesn’t it go against the regulative principle of no meat-eating?
366)
How do we develop taste for studying scripture?
365)
When can a devotee seek honor instead of being humble?
364)
How does atheism lead to abolition of our free will?
363)
“Love yourself” – what is Vedic perspective on this idea?
362)
What exactly is vrtti?
361)
Are the intelligence and ego just transformations of the mind or are they constitutionally different?
360)
What does vikalpa mean in the mind’s sanklpa-vikalpa?
359)
Is the Gita’s teaching that women are sinful resposible for female infanticide?
358)
While writing articles should we write about topics connected with our personal lives or about unconnected topics?
357)
Should the gold in temples be used for social development?
356)
Is scriptural knowledge needed only when devotion is dilute and not when devotion is pure?
355)
Is experience a pramana if one’s experience contradicts scripture?
354)
Is God hard of hearing that his devotees need to chant his names loudly?
353)
If Krishna’s ultimate instruction is to give up all duties for surrendering to him why shouldn’t everyone join the temple?
352)
Is Krishna omninpresent as his energy or personally as the Supersoul?
351)
If the Supersoul is present in all atoms and the space between them, what is special about the Superoul in our heart?
350)
What happens to the Supersoul after death and after liberation?
349)
Is the Supersoul actually expanded in every heart or is it an appearance of expansion?
348)
How do we deal with people’s fear that ISKCON preachers will make ours sons into brahmacharis?
347)
What is wrong with worship of devatas if one understands them to be devotees of Krishna?
346)
How do we reconcile different Puranic versions of the origin of Lord Shiva?
345)
How do we know whether we desire to preach for fame or for pleasing Krishna?
344)
Why is Krishna worshiped in North India in intimate mood and Vishnu worshiped in South India in reverential mood?
343)
Can grihasthas who want to preach make preaching as their source of livelihood?
342)
The religious rural culture of India is being replaced by materialisitc culture. What can we do to counter this?
341)
Should we preach to make people ISKCON devotees or to make them better human beings?
340)
How can we understand which mode we are in?
339)
How can we stay in the mode of goodness?
338)
If one doesnt practice raganuga bhakti then how will one get the realizations needed to return to our svarupa?
337)
Does one have to practice raganuga bhakti to go BTG or is just departing in devotional circumstances enough
336)
Hearing Krishna’s pastimes with the gopis is said to remove lust, but it often induce lust. How do we understand
335)
Why does the mind develop bad habits more easily than good habits?
June 2014
334)
Doesn’t religious violence disprove the existence of God?
333)
Is Deity worship needed only for neophyte devotees who can’t see Krishna in the heart?
332)
How can we overcome the tendency to take the association of devotees for granted?
331)
What is the difference between bhara-vahi and sara-grahi Vaishnavas?
330)
Are we compromising when we use mild words like outreach instead of Prabhupada’s standard words like preaching?
329)
Why are Einstein’s and Prabhupada’s metaphors about blind man-lame man contradictory?
328)
What does Einstein’s metaphor about science and religion mean?
327)
Is science based on rational faith and religion on irrational faith?
326)
Does religion require faith from start to end whereas science requires faith only occasionally?
325)
If we shouldn’t be disturbed by the mind’s impurities, then how can we beat the mind?
324)
Why do we have to give up material pleasures to experience spiritual pleasures?
323)
Did past people believe in miracles like Govardhana lila because they were unscientific and gullible?
322)
If Krishna is the cause of all causes, is he the cause of everything that we and others do?
321)
If we concede that scripture doesn’t contain literal report of conversations then where will the erosion of scriptural authority end?
320)
Why are certain important verses quoted by acharyas not found in the scriptures?
319)
Are chanting praying and meditation the same?
318)
Why do some scriptures declare other gods to be Supreme?
317)
Are the Puranas unreliable because they have so many different versions?
316)
Prabhupada quotes largely from the Puranas so how can we show that our sampradaya is based on shruti?
315)
I was born in another sampradaya, but became introduced to seriously bhakti through ISKCON. Which sampradaya should I follow?
314)
Why do insubstantial religious groups spread extensively and pure saints remain unknown?
313)
What is the destination of patriotic atheists like Bhagat Singh?
312)
Why is there no Radha Krishna worship in the Madhva sampradaya?
311)
Who is better – one who chants all day or one who chants a few times and serves others all day?
310)
When Krishna always uses his free will properly, why don’t we too when we are his parts?
309)
If we cant fast nirjala on Pandava Nirjala Ekadashi what benefit do we get?
308)
Is belief in God like belief in a cosmic teapot – undisprovable yet unreasonable?
307)
How can India’s wisdom-literature be introduced in the education without the saffronization of the syllabus?
306)
Should every action in the Lord’s pastimes be interpreted to get some instruction from it?
305)
Why does the Gita 12.11 include material charity in the bhakti hierarchy?
304)
Where do religious social workers like Mother Terersa fall in the Gita’s yoga ladder?
303)
How does karma yoga mature into ashtanga yoga?
302)
How does the nishkama karma yogi attain knowledge and liberation? Through the same path or by adopting another yoga?
301)
Does ashtanga yoga always start from jnana yoga?
300)
If Durga is the superintendent of material nature how can Krishna alone grant liberation?
299)
Is Durga devi a demigodess in the category of jiva tattva?
298)
Are the jnanis mentioned in Gita 7.16-18 impersonalists as the example of Kumaras suggests or devotees as Vishvanath Chakravarti Thakura’s commentary states?
297)
For a devotee-sadhaka Is the desire to go BTG desirable or should one just desire service?
296)
How should we respond to indiscriminate violence against other communities done in the name of religion as a response to distortion of respected images?
295)
What does the identification of Krishna with time mean practically?
294)
When there are so many cases of past life memories, why don’t we find some people remembering their experience in heaven, hell or as animals?
293)
Isn’t it distasteful for brahmacharis to be watching and quoting movies when people come to them to hear about Krishna
292)
What is the difference between the Gita 9.34 and 18.65?
291)
Isn’t violence against women in India, as in the Badaun rape case, caused more by the casteist society and not by the obscenity in the culture?
290)
Is instantaneous forgiveness the characteristic of pure devotion and seeking retribution that of neophyte devotion
289)
What is the significance of the word avyaya in Gita 9.2?
288)
If Draupadi was dishonored due to her past karma, why did the Pandavas have to take revenge?
287)
How can we strengthen our resolve to correct our wrongs?
286)
How can we forgive not just with lips but with the heart?
285)
When we don’t feel like asking for forgiveness what should we do?
284)
What is the use of writing insubstantial articles in newspapers that don’t even mention the name of Krishna once?
283)
Why are divorces more among devotees than nondevotees?
282)
Why are all forms of science not equally authoritative – why is evoluion less reliable than gravity when its all science?
281)
Can devotees watch TV serials about Krishna’s pastimes?
280)
What is the meaning of Gita 14.11: “The manifestations of the mode of goodness can be experienced when all the gates of the body are illuminated by knowledge”?
May 2014
279)
Has ISKCON replaced the scriptural worship of Ganesh in Hindu temples with the unscriptural worship of Prabhupada in its temples?
278)
Do we need to posit the existence of eternal souls to make the design argument robust?
277)
Do the Anthropic Principle and the multiverse theory make the design argument redundant?
276)
If all three aspects (SAT CIT ANANDA) are present within brahman, why can’t we perceive all of them just within the brahman itself?
275)
Just as one can climb out of a well without a rope using footholds in the wall, can one get liberated without following a valid process?
274)
If one has devotion, why does one need to count the names of God?
273)
When this world is duhkhalayam why are the distressed only one of the four categories of people coming to Krishna
272)
Isn’t demonisation of the present with its promise of hi-tech paradise necessary to make people seek spiritual happiness?
271)
As India is still receptive to direct devotional preaching and Prabhupada emphasized that, shouldn’t that be our emphasis too?
270)
Islam and Christianity have damaged Vedic culture yet we consider them revealed religions – so are they part of Kali’s plan or have they become distorted over time?
269)
Does the M-theory do away with the need for God, as Stephen Hawking claims in The Grand Design?
268)
How do we respond when prominent scientists like Stephen Hawking write books propounding atheism?
267)
Why do dharma-shastras say that aggressors should be forgiven?
266)
Do the dharma-shastras say aggressors shouldn’t be killed and artha-shastras that they should be killed?
265)
What are dharma-shastra and artha-shastra? How are they different?
264)
Is belief in God a virus of the mind, as atheists claim?
263)
Do cultural practices change as per age as does the yuga-dharma?
262)
How do we respond to scientistic fanatics who deny even emotions like happiness?
261)
If we have scriptural knowledge, why do we need science?
260)
I like to chant and meditate on the Supersoul. As that is my nature, can I just do this and not do other devotional activities?
259)
When religions like Buddhism are non-Vedic, how can Veda be the source of all knowledge?
258)
When science explains planetary motion through gravity, why do we need God to explain it?
257)
When the design argument is so logical, why don’t most people and most scientists accept God’s existence?
256)
Is God improbable because he has to be more complex than his creation and complex things have very low probability of emerging?
255)
When Ramanuja has refuted the design argument, why does Prabhupada use it so extensively?
254)
Why has Ramanuja refuted the design argument in his Vedanta Sutra commentary?
253)
Do religionists become self-centered due to believing that God has a personal relationship with them?
252)
Does religion cause sexual repression?
251)
Is it ok to have belief in belief instead of belief in God?
250)
How can we know whether we are using our intelligence in Krishna’s service or are just enjoying Krishna consciousness intellectually?
249)
Isn’t varnashrama based on looking at the harness instead of the horse?
248)
Why was Hiranyakashipu not liberated even after being killed by Narasimhadeva?
247)
Why did Hiranyakashipu let Prahlad return to school after trying to assassinate him?
246)
How can we make our work into worship when it is not according to our nature and is not connected with Krishna?
245)
Can devotional, non-devotional and anti-devotional cultures be connected with goodness passion and ignorance?
244)
Should a devotee avoid initiation due to not being able to follow the fourth regulative principle fully?
243)
Won’t the progress of science make the God-of-the-gaps redundant?
242)
Does bringing God into science stop progress as does attributing plague to evil spirits?
241)
Do devotees have to oppose science to be faithful to Prabhupada?
240)
Isn’t it better to be satisfied with the beauty of the garden without imagining a fairy at its bottom?
239)
Does Krishna compassionately pull impersonalists from Brahman to Bhagavan?
238)
What is vidvat pratiti? How can it be attained?
237)
Does our seeking end after we find God as the Bible indicates or continue forever as Gaudiya Vaishnavism indicate?
236)
Why do we do pradakshina?
235)
Are Manava seva and Madhava seva like two largely overlapping circles?
234)
Why does Prabhupada translate bhakti in Bhaktirasamritasindhu as ‘devotion’ instead of ‘devotional service’?
233)
Why does Ambarish M consider his wealth to be material when he knows that it can be used in Krishna’s service?
232)
Why does the Bhagavatam, a Vaishnava book, state that Kashi is the greatest of all holy places?
231)
When Dhruva Maharaj was going BTG and had got a spiritual body, how could he remember a material relationship such as that with his mother?
230)
When South Indian brahmins are famous as learnt, why does Chaitanya lila depict an illiterate South Indian brahmin?
229)
Can we preach without using technology as such use can distract one from Krishna?
228)
During preaching, how important is it to provide relevant material information in addition to the paramapara’s message?
227)
If the son practices bhakti, then will his non-devotee parents’ get a good next-life destination due to their son’s bhakti?
226)
How is Draupadi’s polygamy justified especially when it involves the same man being required to see her alternately as wife and as sister-in-law?
225)
How does attachment to result make us the cause of action, as the Gita 2.47 purport states?
224)
How to see spiritual organizations that are largely Vaishnava except for considering their founder as an incarantion?
223)
If someone is following an Abrahamic religion, should we encourage them to follow that religion or to take up Krishna consciousness?
222)
If Prahlada learnt bhakti by hearing from Narada in his mother’s womb, why did Narada say to the devatas before this that the child in the womb is a great devotee?
221)
Did Hiranyakashipu not know that Vishnu lived in the Kshira-sagara? Why did he ask Prahlad where Vishnu was and whether he was in the pillar?
220)
Narasimhadeva told Prahlad that 21 generations of his family had been delivered, then how did Bali become such a demon that Vamanadeva himself had to come to deliver him?
219)
We hear so much in various classes, but apply very little from it. How can we change this?
218)
We often feel like doing different things in bhakti at different times – how can we steadily maintain interest in one thing?
217)
When scriptures usually refer to Vishnu, do they refer to Maha-vishnu, Garbhodakshayi Vishnu or Kshirodakshayi Vishnu?
216)
What is the relationship between Sadashiva, the Shiva born from Brahma and the eleven Rudras?
215)
What is the difference between brahma of Mayavadis and shunya of voidists?
214)
What is the difference between hatha-yoga, dhyana yoga and ashtanga yoga?
213)
When envy is the cause of our material bondage, how did Shishupala’s envy lead to his liberation?
212)
If our svarupa happens to be in dasya, how will be satisfied in that svarupa now that we know madhurya is highest?
211)
While using a talent such as music for Krishna how can we transfer our attachment from that talent to Krishna?
210)
How can we avoid frustration at our inability to follow the standards of devotional service?
209)
How is Draupadi’s polygamy be justified especially when the Pandavas have to sometimes see her as a wife and at other times as sister-in-law?
208)
Is conscience always the voice of the Supersoul? Does everyone’s conscience tell them that meat-eating is wrong?
207)
Is terminal restlessness caused by fear of Yamadutas?
206)
If one has not had the habit of reading books but likes to hear, how can one develop that habit in bhakti?
205)
Wouldn’t ISKCON be more united if it had Prabhupada as the only diksha-guru?
204)
When a disciple whose guru falls doesn’t have to be re-initiated because of being connected with Prabhupada why can’t the same happen without initation in the first place?
203)
When ISKCON’s diksha-guru is not absolute but is subordinate to GBC due to Prabhupada’s will, doesn’t that make Prabhupada ISKCON’s diksha-guru?
202)
Why does the Gita 18.68 restrict its message of devotion to devotees?
201)
Should Indian devotees preach to Indians and Western devotees preach to Westerners so as to have culturally sensitive presentations of Krishna-bhakti?
200)
How much should we seach on the internet for good Krishna conscious content?
199)
How can I protect my bhakti when I go home and am with my pre-bhakti friends with whom I had indulged in bad habits?
198)
Why does the Lakshmi Narasimha karavalambam stotra focus more on misery of material existence than the glory of Narasimhadeva?
197)
How much should devotee-writers learn English grammar and style to write effectively for Krishna?
196)
How are the feelings of victory and adventure Krishna’s opulences, especially when people get those feelings in illicit activities such as gambling?
195)
Did the Pandavas actually complete the full year of ajnata vasa or were they detected before time?
194)
When Ashwatthama’s Brahmastra is charging towards Arjuna how does he get time to do achmana and offer prayers to Krishna before countering it?
193)
Why did Drona despite being a brahmana desire revenge against Drupada?
192)
Why did Drona despite being virtuous come up with the unfair scheme to kill Abhimanyu?
191)
When I hear the Mahabharata, I identify much more with Karna than Arjuna. What should I do?
190)
Are devotees being told to be too other-worldly that something so simple as voting is made into such a big issue?
189)
Why is Parikshit considered the sole survivor of the Pandava dynasty when sons of Bhima and Arjuna like Sutasoma and Babruvahana were still alive?
188)
Why did Bahlika despite being virtuous fight against the virtuous Pandavas?
187)
Does being humble mean that we shouldn’t give advice to others?
186)
Are chanting and going to the temple bhakti only if they are done to please Krishna?
185)
Why doesn’t ISKCON practice what it preaches? First new devotees are told to be detached from their parents and then senior brahmacharis spend months caring for their dying parents
184)
Can you explain the difference in the defects of being illusioned and committing mistakes as illustrated through the evolution theory?
183)
Are the demigod worshipers in Gita 9.15 different from normal karma kandis because the Gita refers to them as jnanis?
182)
Do the ekatvena worshipers of Gita 9.15 refer to 9.11-12 or 12.3-6?
181)
Was Hitler interested in India’s ancient spiritual culture? If yes, then why was he so hateful towards Jews?
April 2014
180)
Is it right to feel envious of advanced devotees for their spiritual advancement? If not, how to deal with it?
179)
Does Krishna initiate us to do punya? Did he initiate Dhritarashtra to do punya for getting 100 sons?
178)
What kind of rules and regulations do the prestige-seekers referred to in the Gita 16.17 follow?
177)
Can talents like mimicry and comedy be used in devotional service?
176)
How can we know if someone is correcting out of ego or out of concern?
175)
Should we as followers of Srila Prabhupada also study the books of the previous acharyas?
174)
Did Prabhupada sanction the post-publishing editing of his books?
173)
Are the Gita’s instructions applicable in the spiritual world too or only in the material world?
172)
If the Gita is a transcendental literature, then why does the Gita Mahatmya glorify the attainment of heavenly planets?
171)
Why do we have a right to do prescribed duties as the Gita 2.47 states?
170)
Did Prabhupada want to re-write Bhagavad Gita As It Is because he worked very fast to publish it quickly?
169)
Why doesn’t Srila Prabhupada mention even once in the Bhagavad-gita As It Is that we should chant 16 rounds of Hare Krsna Mahamantra?
168)
Can chanting Hare Krsna help one to assimilate the knowledge of the scriptures more efficiently? How?
167)
How can I turn my occupational duty into devotional service to Krishna?
166)
How does contemplating on Krishna differ from mental speculation about Krishna?
165)
Does Gita 2.47 ma phasehu kadachana mean that we don’t have a right to obtain the result or a right to enjoy the result?
164)
How exactly are “those in Krishna consciousness not responsible for their actions”, as Prabhupada states?
163)
Is it appropriate to judge students by the marks obtained by them in their examination?
162)
Can Gita 18.14 adhisthanam refer to some place of action other than the body?
161)
Who is the actual doer according to the Gita?
160)
How can we reconcile the Gita (3.4) – don’t give up work – and the Bhagavatam (1.5.17) – give up work?
159)
Did Krishna-Arjuna commit environmental holocaust at Khandava?
158)
By asking devotees to vote, why are you dragging Prabhupada’s pure legacy into dirty politics?
157)
What is the difference between charity in goodness and transcendence?
156)
Why does Prabhupada talk about the three energies in his purport to the atyahara verse (NoI 2)?
155)
In the division of the Vedas into Samhitas, Aranyakas and Upanishads, where do the Brahmanas fall?
154)
If the material world is perfect in itself, then why do we need to go to Godhead?
153)
How can we know that the Vedas and the stories in them are true?
152)
How can we introspect about our devotional progresss? How can we rise from kanishtha to madhyama level?
151)
Why is prana-pratistha not performed for the utsava-murtis though they ave their own names?
150)
Where do Abrahamic religions fall among the six systems of philosophy?
149)
Why is the edited BBT Gita different from Prabhupada’s unedited original Gita?
148)
What is the point of taking initiation from a spiritual master when there is very little chance of getting personal guidance from him?
147)
Are the five rasas progressive? What is the difference between rasa and bhava? Does rasa grow into bhava?
146)
How did Nanda and Yashoda allow Krishna to go to Mathura so readily?
145)
Where was Radharani when the rasa-lila was performed? Why is there no mention of her in the Bhagavatam’s rasa-lila narration?
144)
What is the connecting link between the Gita’s ninth and tenth chapters?
143)
In which verses of the Gita’s eight chapter are the Lord’s glories stated?
142)
When the Pandavas meet Krishna after being exiled to the forest, why do neither mention Krishna’s protecting Draupadi during the gambling match?
141)
What is the philosophical meaning of common expressions like “My head has become hot” or “My heart is fully satisfied”?
140)
What is the difference between the mind and the citta?
139)
What exactly is the mind? And where exactly is it located?
138)
When we are the soul, why do we use the phrase ‘my soul’ as in ‘my soul was crying’?
137)
Was the Karna who was defeated by Bhima during the pre-Rajasuya yajna conquest different from the Karna who befriended Duryodhana?
136)
When the Ramayana says monasteries shouldn’t accept donations from women, why does ISKCON accept donations from women?
135)
Is banning books a part of the Abrahamic religions and not of dharmic religions which focused on intellectually debating and defeating opposing ideas not banning them?
March 2014
134)
Should a devotee work in a devotional project where one can directly serve Krishna or in a secular company by which one can offer more donation?
133)
How can women be said to have their own varna when Prabhupada says that the wife’s varna should be identified by the husband’s varna?
132)
How much anxiety shoud we take up for our devotional activities?
131)
If our nondevotee parents discourage our children’s enthusiasm for bhakti by calling it brainwashing by dangerous cults, how should we respond?
130)
Can ghosts commit suicide?
129)
Have all the people who die in disasters done the same bad karma?
128)
When people around us force us to things that aren’t according to devotional standards how should we respond?
127)
When we worship God so that he will solve our problems aren’t we bribing God like students who flatter their teachers to get better marks?
126)
As all paramparas are based on beliefs and as Prabhupada’s Gita is an interpretation based on his beliefs why not just follow our own paramapara?
125)
All parents want their children to get married. Then wouldn’t Krishna the supreme parent want his children to become married and not take sannyasa?
124)
Were Valmiki and Vyasadeva eyewitnesses to the full Ramayana and the Mahabharata? Or did they write them based on some historical sources?
123)
Can different family members take diksha from different spiritual teachers?
122)
Is it proper for one to neglect one’s family duties to devote oneself to God?
121)
When the disciplic succession has many branches, why do we need to connect with it only through Srila Prabhupada’s branch?
120)
Is it ok to be attracted more to the cultural aspects of KC than its philosophical aspect?
119)
When we ask questions how can we know whether we simply want to confirm our pre-conconceptions or seek open-minded understanding?
118)
You have your sampradaya, others like Shiva worshipers have their sampradaya – ultimately it’s all just different beliefs. Why should one sampradaya be considered higher than another?
117)
Is the soul present all over the body or in a specific place like the heart?
116)
If we give up our controlling tendency completely won’t we lose our individuality and become like trees who don’t do anything differently?
115)
Once I had immense bhakti, but now I have lost it. How can I regain it?
114)
Has God created the universe for living things or living things for the universe?
113)
Why does God not come as a savior incarnation when things are already so bad?
112)
What is the definition of development in spiritual science?
111)
If God is the proprietor of everything is he the proprietor of tsunamis that kill thousands?
110)
If God becomes controlled by the love of his devotees then how is he the supreme controller?
109)
What is the need for God to have made the creation?
108)
Do the daivi maya in Gita 7.14 and daivi prakriti in 9.13 to the same thing or different things?
107)
I am a Physics student. How can I study the Bhagavad-gita scientifically when it seems like a discussion in a story?
106)
If Karna was not stronger than Arjuna why did Kunti weaken him emotionally and Indra weaken him physically before the war?
105)
In the Mahabharata, why are other warriors like Eklavya, Ghatothakcha and Barbarika manipulated to favor Arjuna?
104)
How can we control the hyperactive imagination during chanting?
103)
If eating opulent prasad harms our consciousness how can we regulate our eating?
102)
When Kamsa’s capital Mathura and Kaurava’s capital Hastinapura were so close to each other why is there no record of any conflict between them?
101)
NoI 9 refers to the Mathura in the material world being the birthplace of Krishna as higher than Vaikuntha Where does Mathura in the spiritual world fit in this hierarchy?
100)
When Vali and Sugriva are born from the union of demigods (Indra and Surya with Aruni) why do they have a monkey form?
99)
Is the Nectar of Instruction a part of a larger work by Rupa Goswami?
98)
By hearing about a particular rasa say Madhurya rasa in Gaudiya Vaishnavism, we will become attracted to it But if our svarupa is in a different rasa what will happen?
97)
What is the relationship between the svarupa of the soul and its present seed form?
96)
Is there a hierarchy among the five potent forms of devotional service? Is any one of them the highest?
95)
While chanting is it better to just focus on the holy name or on a mahamantra sticker or on a picture of the Deities?
94)
When some devotee praises us, should we stop that devotee or go away or hear passively?
93)
When bhakti is transcendental, why do scriptures give importance to bodily designations like birth in India or birth in a royal dynasty?
92)
When all of us are unique, why do we compare devotees as per their level of advancement?
91)
Is their a hierarchy of devotees at higher and lower levels even in the spiritual world?
90)
Is the jnani in Gita 7.16 and jnanavan in 7.19 the same or different?
89)
In the Gita chp 8, what is the yogis’ conception of Krishna?
88)
In NoI 8 purport, what do the dashas from shravana to sampatti refer to?
87)
In Gita chp 13, what exactly does jneya refer to?
86)
If the soul’s nature is to love and serve Krishna, where does our nature to love and serve worldly things come from?
85)
If dharma meaning to love and serve God is so simple and universal why do so many religions focus on such aggressive conversion?
84)
How does Krishna consciousness practically solve the world’s problems like violence, poverty and drug abuse?
83)
How can we practically engage in Krishna’s service all the time?
82)
How can we explain to newcomers the difference between prasad and ordinary food?
81)
How can we ensure that the give and take between devotees doesn’t become artificial or business-like?
80)
Does chanting all 16 rounds at one stretch lead to greater concentration?
79)
As repeated hearing leads to belief, what is the difference between devotional hearing and indoctrination by religious fanatics?
78)
Are there any examples of yoga-mishra bhaktas becoming kevala bhaktas?
77)
When Prabhupada’s books will be the lawbooks for 10,000 years, how can we contextualize them?
76)
Can Gita verses be translated differently from Prabhupada’s translations?
75)
How can we understand Prabhupada’s equating buddhi-yoga in 2.39 purport with bhakti-yoga?
74)
How is the Gita 18.57 definition of buddhi-yoga different from that in 2.39 and 10.10?
73)
How do we understand Krishna’s statement to Arjuna that Karna is a better archer than him?
72)
As tapa is not a distinct spiritual path, what does Gita 6.46 tapsvibhyo adhiko yogi refer to?
71)
Why is the flow the Gita verses not given in Prabhupada’s Gita?
70)
How is the car-body analogy a good analogy when the car can’t reproduce and the driver can live independent of the car?
69)
Our endeavor play a part in determining the result, so does endeavoring more make the result more likely?
68)
What is the connection between Gita 6.4 yogarudha stage and 6.5-6 mind’s inimical nature?
67)
With what attitude should we quote new verses or scriptural points apart from those given In Prabhupada’s books?
66)
How can we practically understand the modes influencing us wrt the jnana karma and karta analysis in Gita 18.20-28?
65)
How are the 6 components of action in Gita 18.18 reduced to 3 in Gita 18.19?
February 2014
64)
While explaining the philosophy we sometimes come up with examples that we not have heard in classes. How can we know whether they are realizations or speculations?
63)
Gita 3.9 enjoins yajna for the satisfaction of Vishnu. Then why does the next section talk about the lower level of karma kanda?
62)
What is the connection between the Gita’s fifth and sixth chapters? Is Gita 6.1 a rejection of jnana-yoga?
61)
Gita 2.38 and 2.48 seem very similar. What is the difference between them?
60)
What is the difference between karma-kanda and sakama karma-yoga? Which does Gita 2.31-37 refer to?
59)
Gita 2.39 is a linking verse. Which sections in the Gita and which levels in the yoga ladder does it link?
58)
Is there any difference between nishkama bhakti and shuddha bhakti?
57)
Do karma-mishra, yoga-mishra, jnana-mishra bhakti come under sakama bhakti?
56)
What is the mechanism of memory recollection? What is the Supersoul’s role in it?
55)
How can advanced devotees be both transcendental to material pains and still sensitive to others’ material pains?
54)
How important is it for devotee-couples to follow the Vedic model for gender roles in their relationship?
53)
If one’s nature doesn’t change even after purification then how is a pure devotee transcendental?
52)
When we become purified does the predominant mode of the mind change?
51)
How are the living symptoms of consciousness manifestations of the subtle body as the Gita 13.6-7 purport says?
50)
Doesn’t the idea that the infant suffers in the womb deny the glory of the mother’s love in caring for her infant?
49)
When the mahaprasad of devotees is so glorious, why are we discouraged from taking it during our regular interactions with other devotees?
48)
Should a devotee be eager to die, as Kulakshekhar Maharaj’s prayer says?
47)
When we face unexpected and big problems, does that meant God is angry with us?
46)
According to Krishna, which is more important – karma-yoga, bhakti-yoga or both?
45)
Can you explain clearly the role of mind, intelligence and consciousness in the path from impulse to intent?
44)
Do our impulses come from outside us or inside us?
43)
Is karma yoga practical when even the people for whom we sacrifice consider it insane?
42)
Why does the Bhagavatam say that we shouldn’t endeavor even for our necessities?
41)
If people in Dwapara Yuga were ten times bigger, why don’t we see such fossils?
40)
Are our senses actually defective or do we just have to be alert while taking in sense information?
39)
If the demigods are not Krishna’s competitors, why do they compete with him as in Govardhan lila?
38)
Why did Draupadi insult Duryodhana when he fell in the Maya sabha by saying ‘andhe ka beta andha’?
37)
What should a devotee do on being overcome by temptation?
36)
When our senses are designed by God and they are defective, doesn’t that make God’s design defective?
35)
Is our memory a manifestation of our mind, intelligence or soul?
34)
What is the Vedic perspective of godless religions like Jainism and Buddhism whose followers still live good lives?
33)
How can we understand scientific concepts like space and time from the Vedic perspective?
32)
How is the Gita 4.9 the essence of the Bhagavad-gita?
January 2014
31)
Is niyoga – begetting children through some man other than one’s husband – an authorized Vedic practice?
30)
Isn’t it better to refer to women as behenji instead of mataji especially when they are of the same age as the men?
29)
What is the difference between ‘nishkarma’ & ‘karma’ as explained in Gita & its significance?
28)
If both Krishna and we are eternal, then how is he our source and why don’t we have the six opulences fully?
27)
Amidst life-threatening situations like attack by robbers, should a devotee tolerate, retaliate or flee?
26)
When we suffer due to our past karma does the Supersoul feel pain because his part is suffering?
25)
If a person feels spaced out after chanting 16 rounds daily and more focused after chanting less rounds, what should be done?
24)
If devotees’ children are advanced devotees from past lives, why do many of those children not become devotees in this life?
23)
Should we avoid offering obeisances to senior devotees in public places because people find it alienating
22)
Do Yamadutas commit mistakes by taking some person other than the intended?
21)
When Krishna is satisfied by simple devotion do we need technical intellectual analysis as done by Gita-daily articles?
20)
Can we integrate walking as an exercise with our daily chanting?
19)
Is the quality of chanting inversely proportional to the speed of chanting?
18)
When Krishna is complete, how can he be the beneficiary of our sacrifices, as Gita 5.29 says?
17)
How can we channelize our emotions in devotional service?
16)
When the Lord’s glance is purifying why did Mohini-Murti’s glance not purify the demons?
15)
When Krishna knows everything, how did he not know that Rahu & Ketu were impersonatings as demigods?
14)
How can devotees do their material activities in spiritual consciousness?
13)
Why has God given us free will?
12)
If God is complete and doesn’t desire anything, doesn’t he desire our deliverance?
11)
Is ignorance a thing? What does “ignorance is nothing but the absence of knowledge” mean?
10)
Is chanting 16 rounds practical for an engineering student (or for anyone in our fast-paced times)?
9)
If serving the Lord is more important than serving parents, why did Pundalika keep Vitthal waiting?
8)
Are spiritualists seeking a soul driving the brain like illiterates seeking a horse driving a car?
7)
Why are we bound to certain patterns of thinking? Doesn’t that make us like pre-programmed robots?
6)
Why do so many saints from so many traditions desire to merge with the Absolute Truth?
5)
When the Gita instructs sarva dharman parityajya why does a devotee need to perform apara dharma?
4)
Is teaching children about religion before they can think on their own child abuse?
3)
If someone is really determined in one’s devotional service, why would that person fall?
2)
How can we practice humility in a competitive world where everyone parades their credentials?
1)
Do we need a personal culture with many devotee teachers? Does it mean that one guru is not enough?