Author: Swami B.G. Narasingha

I have read in an article that brahma-gayatri worships Srimati Radharani. Where does this conception have its origin?

Who is a real guru? Guru means that he says Krsna is Bhagavan, not that he claims to be Bhagavan. Real guru teaches how to serve Krsna. To meet guru is a very rare thing. By service our eyes are opened to see guru.

Everything must be received by the descending process. The good will that comes with that is all important for success. Sentiment cannot omit the established process; it cannot obstruct the descent of divinity. Many questions cannot be answered from the books. In fact there is no Krsna consciousness with only the books. The kanistha adhikari only sees Krsna in the Deity and the guru. The madhyama adhikari sees Krsna in the Vaisnavas.

It has been said that the disciple should see his guru as a direct manifestation of Srimati Radharani. Is such actually appropriate?

The appearance of Lord Chaitanya. The Lord is always sinless even when apparently engaging in sinful activities. He does not come with karma to this world. He appears with His entourage (parshadas). According to the intensity of our love for the Lord we become more free with the Lord to relish more intimate rasas.

I have read an article by a scholar (Mr. Jan Brzezinski, aka. Jagadananda Dasa/ Jagat) in which he suggests that Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has counterfeited three books; Caitanya-upanisad, Prema-vivarta and Navadvipa-satakam. My question is: How much attention or credit should a practicing devotee give to the opinions of scholars.

On this past Radhastami you gave Babaji Sannyasa (initiation) to a disciple of one of your Godbrothers (Srila Turya dasa Prabhu Mahasaya). But as per my understanding the Babaji Sannyasa is not authorized in the disciplic succession of your Guru Maharaja (A.C. Bhaktivedanta Svami Prabhupada). So why have you done something so unprecedented as this?

Sri Guru may be compared to the Pole Star because with the help of the guru we can derive great benefit from the Vedic knowledge. But without the help of the guru we will be bewildered in our attempt to understand the Vedic knowledge.

In this world all are envious of Krsna, so have foregone the serving tendency. But the Vaisnavas do not do the work of this world, they do Krsna's work. Our worst danger is that we misuse our life. If you don't feel a pinch from a donation then Krsna doesn't notice it either.

The real meaning of Rathayatra is the returning of Lord Jagannatha to Vrndavana. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu spent the last 12 years of his life in Puri experiencing intense feelings of separation from Krsna (vipralambha). The great wealth of the maha-bhagavatas are their qualities.

Haridasa Thakura is the personification of devotion. First become a pure devotee then after some time we may experience what is love of Krsna, gradually as we undergo purification. When we satisfy Krsna with pure devotion then we will understand and experience what is prema.

In the eleventh Canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam, we find the instructive story of the brahmana of Avantipura who had previously been a miserly businessman. He was so cantankerous and prone to anger that his wife, children, relatives and servants all despised him. In due course, the avariciousness of the brahmana bore its fateful fruit.