East or West KC is the Best
Dec 14, 2015
veda-shastra kahe—‘sambandha’, ‘abhidheya’, ‘prayojana’‘krishna’—prapya sambandha, ‘bhakti’—praptyera sadhanaabhidheya-nama ‘bhakti’, ‘prema’—prayojanapurushartha-shiromani prema maha-dhana
Realizations in the Journey of Life
• Material life: Realization of value-lessness
• Spiritual life: Realization of value-ableness
Three Types of PathsThree Types of Paths
Pluralism:“All ways are right.”
Exclusivism:“My way is the only right way”
Inclusivism:There is one way with various levels on it
Uniqueness of Uniqueness of Vedic revelationVedic revelation
1.1. Systematic Sambandha Jnana:Systematic Sambandha Jnana:
• With whom should I develop a relationship? Why?With whom should I develop a relationship? Why?
• What happens if I don’t? Why?What happens if I don’t? Why?
2.2. Practical, clear, potent Abhidheya:Practical, clear, potent Abhidheya:
• What is the process by which I can transfer my What is the process by which I can transfer my love from krishnetara to Krishna?love from krishnetara to Krishna?
3.3. Endearing, captivating Prayojana:Endearing, captivating Prayojana:
• What happens when I develop my love for God?What happens when I develop my love for God?
Sambandha with what?Materialism: Possessions, Positions, People
Religious Materialism: God as means to above things
Scientism: Particles
Impersonalism: Nothing
Bhakti: God
Sambandha with what?Materialism: Possessions, Positions, People
Religious Materialism: God as means to above things
Scientism: Particles
Impersonalism: Nothing
Bhakti: God
Hero – Krishna Director – Yoga-Maya
Script-Writer – Krishna
Hero – Krishna Director – Yoga-Maya
Script-Writer – Krishna
•Mundane Literature•Revealed Scripture•Vedic Scripture (Shruti)•Smriti (Purana / Itihasa)•Vaishnava Smriti•Shrimad Bhagavatam•Dashama Skandha•Goswami Grantha
The Calamity of Impersonlism:Depict the highest
revelation that can help us come out of Maya to
itself be a product of Maya.
Eg. Depicting medicine as poison
Uniqueness of Uniqueness of Vedic revelationVedic revelation
1.1. Systematic Sambandha Jnana:Systematic Sambandha Jnana:
• With whom should I develop a relationship? Why?With whom should I develop a relationship? Why?
• What happens if I don’t? Why?What happens if I don’t? Why?
2.2. Practical, clear, potent Abhidheya:Practical, clear, potent Abhidheya:
• What is the process by which I can transfer my What is the process by which I can transfer my love from krishnetara to Krishna?love from krishnetara to Krishna?
3.3. Endearing, captivating Prayojana:Endearing, captivating Prayojana:
• What happens when I develop my love for God?What happens when I develop my love for God?
2121
Are good intentions good Are good intentions good enough?enough?
Can willpower alone cure a Can willpower alone cure a disease?disease?
Eg. Cough, loose motionEg. Cough, loose motion
The Progressive Revelation of Bhakti
• Ramanuja: Continuous recollection of God Love is a kind of knowledge, bhakti – sadhana and phala
• Madhva: Strong emotion of love accompanied by knowledge of God’s majesty
• Nimbarka: Special kind of love, sadhana & phala
• Vallabha: Love, Maryada and Pushti
The Progressive Revelation of Bhakti
Jiva Goswami: Bhakti is the essence of God’s int potency of bliss, which is his most important potency.
Gaudiya Vaishnavism:
Unparalleled sweetness
sadhu-saìga, nama-kirtana, bhagavata-shravana
mathura-vasa, shri-murtira shraddhaya sevana
sadhu-saìga, nama-kirtana, bhagavata-shravana
mathura-vasa, shri-murtira shraddhaya sevana
Uniqueness of Vedic revelation
1. Systematic Sambandha Jnana:
• With whom should I develop a relationship? Why?
• What happens if I don’t? Why?
2. Practical, clear, potent Abhidheya:
• What is the process by which I can transfer my love from krishnetara to Krishna?
3. Endearing, captivating Prayojana:
• What happens when I develop my love for God?