Author: Swami B.G. Narasingha

In a recent Krsna Talk you mentioned that we should appreciate prasadam more deeply, but I have also heard you say that everything called 'prasadam' may not actually be prasadam. This seems to be inconsistent, so can you please explain this more clearly?

Our wandering in maya from body to body is stopped when we find guru. There are different gradations of guru, but Krsna must be within. A pure devotee can never fall down, even from the spiritual world. In Goloka there are many Prabhupadas. To enter there we must be pure, so we can't take our dirty baggage there.

Sri Sanatana Goswami is the acarya of sambandha, the process of understanding our relationship with Lord Krsna. The soul is a unit of dedicated consciousness which must become fixed in making progress. Sri Rupa Goswami, the acarya of abhidheya, reveals how to execute devotional service.

Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura has written that there were thirteen apa-sampradayas that developed after the time of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. One of these apa-sampradayas is called ativadi, which means too great. Can you please explain how those who are ‘too great’ have become an apa-sampradaya?

It has been stated by some persons who claim to follow the pure line of devotion presented by Srila Prabhupada Sarasvati Thakura, that Sri Nityananda Prabhu was a sannyasi who later gave up His sannyasa and married the two daughters of Surya Vipra. Is this a fact?

The qualifications of a pure devotee. Humility is the crown jewel of a Vaisnava — it attracts Krsna. Our sincerity will save us, so let it be our guide. Don't be a self deceiver and forget why we have come to the path of devotional service.

There has been some discussion on the use of the honorific title 'Deva' as in the name of Srila B.R. Sridhara Deva Gosvami Maharaja, to the extent that some parties say that it is appropriate, while others say that it is not. Could you please say something that would shed some light on this topic?

We have heard it said that Srila Prabhupada (A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja) received the name "Bhaktivedanta" from his guru, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. Others have said that he received the name "Bhaktivedanta" from Srila Sridhara Maharaja and yet others are saying that he received the name "Bhaktivedanta" from Srila Kesava Maharaja. Can you please say something to clarify this issue?

Nitai-Gaura Radhe-Syama, japa... Their idea is that Srimati Radharani is Lord Nityananda. The improper conception of a mantra brings a bad taste. According to ones' conception, the mantra will take you in that direction. If we have no conception of what we are doing or what is our goal we will not go far.

This material world is not created as a place of enjoyment. Engaging in devotional service while maintaining impurities is not pleasing to Krsna. All that we do is simply to awaken a feeling of prema within our heart.

Once we counted Raghunatha Dasa Goswami’s gurus, and we found that he had nine gurus. So then the question is, “Which one of his gurus is most important?”