For Gaudiya Vaishnavas Only

[Prayag Das]

I am interested in various topis about Gaudiya Vaishvana (GV) philosophy.

If you are not a practicing Gaudiya Vaishnava, wish to present opposing views or start a debate, kindly go elsewhere. While respectful questions regarding anyone's guru, beliefs or organization are appropriate, keep in mind that a challenging attitude can be very offensive.

I understand there are 4 main GV sampradayas with many offshoots.

So , tell me about your philosophy. Which sastras do you follow? What tapasyas do you observe? Do you believe a Gaudiya Vaishnava strictly follows the teachings and example of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu?

What benefits have you experienced by chanting the Mahamantra?

Yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada.

Prayag das

 

[ratikala]

Namaskaram Prayag Das ji

to my understanding there are four main Vaisnava Sampradayas , Sri Brahma Sampradaya , Sri Rudra Sampradaya , Sri Kumara Sampradaya and Sri (laxmi) sampradaya


but that Gaudiya Vaisnava's belong to Sri Brahma, Madhava Gaudiya Sampradaya , ....allthough you hear Gaudiya Vaisnava'a say Brahma Sampradaya , Madhava Sampradaya , Gaudiya Sampradaya , ....are these in truth not the same Sri Brahma , madhava , Gauduya Sampradaya ?

we are generaly required to study the vedas , upanisaids , Brahma Samhita , ...

The Itihasas ...Ramayana , Mahabarata , Bhagavad Gita and Bhagavatam , ...
Sri Krsna Chaitanya's Sri Siksastakam , ........Caitanya-Caritamrta.,

Srila Prabhupada's nectar of devotion (a study of Rupa Goswamis of Bhakti-rasamrta sindhu)

and I am sure there are lots more one can choose to read , ...

personaly I read very badly , very slowly , ..and have a very poor memory for actualy memorising texts .
altough the meanings stay with me I will often not be able to tell you where I read it , ..
I am far more inclined to Deity seva , ....

As a pilosophy ? ...I think of it more as a realisation of ones true nature , ...I am not this body (at least not perminantly) I am traped temporarily in this imperfect and impermenant world , ...and I want to go home , ....
I am not saying this because it is a philosophy which I choose to follow , but because in my heart of heart's I realise this world and this life to be just an evolutionary stage in our spiritual development , ...

I do not know what inclines other Gaudiya Vaisnavas prehaps they follow for many reasons , ..we are all at different stages in that spiritual evolution .

Tapasya ? ...... I do no deliberate Tapasya , ......I only live a simple life , observing simple regulative principles and living by my conscience , ..personaly I seek nothing but the mercy and blessings of our lordships Sri Sri Gaura Nitai , ...

followig the example of Sri Krsna Chaitanya ? ......from experience I canot say I follow in any deliberate or intentional way , ...I am not so much looking to acheive some perceived result , ....I follow only in the sence that Sri Krsna is all atractive , ....I canot help but follow , .....I am powerless , ...and even if I think I am doing this , I am doing that , ..or I think that I am following this example I will get this result , ....no , no , no ! ...it is not like this , ...following is being called , ...Sri Krsna is the dooer in all things

what benifits come from chanting Mahamantra ? ...... peacefullness , absorbtion , bliss , ...and Knowledge , ....Blissfull knowledge .

 

[Acintya_Ash]

Hare Krishna Prayag prabhuji

So , tell me about your philosophy. Which sastras do you follow? What tapasyas do you observe? Do you believe a Gaudiya Vaishnava strictly follows the teachings and example of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu?

What benefits have you experienced by chanting the Mahamantra?

My Philosophy is the same as that of Arjuna in the Kurukshetra war.

Sastras...Gita, Bhagavatam, for now...Srila Prabhupada's other books like Science of Self Realization, Perfect Questions Perfect Answers, Challenge are among ones i've enjoyed reading. I'm a slow and inconsistent reader, as i read many books together, in bits.

I don't observe any tapasyas, but just try to follow the Regulative Principles strictly and Live a simple life performing the prescribed actions.

Mahamantra helps us to establish sustain our inner connection with the Lord. Once there's inner connection, everything flows smoothly. Bliss!

 

[Prayag Das]

Hare Krishna Prayag prabhuji

My Philosophy is the same as that of Arjuna in the Kurukshetra war.

Sastras...Gita, Bhagavatam, for now...Srila Prabhupada's other books like Science of Self Realization, Perfect Questions Perfect Answers, Challenge are among ones i've enjoyed reading. I'm a slow and inconsistent reader, as i read many books together, in bits.

I don't observe any tapasyas, but just try to follow the Regulative Principles strictly and Live a simple life performing the prescribed actions.

Mahamantra helps us to establish sustain our inner connection with the Lord. Once there's inner connection, everything flows smoothly. Bliss!

Dear Acintya_Ash:

Yes, the Gita was meant for all of us, not just Arjuna. Prabhupada does say in the introduction that the Gita is enough, one does not need any other book. He did instruct his disciples to also read the Srimad Bhagavatam, the Caitanya Caritamrta and The Nectar of Devotion at least 1 hour per day.

Have you read Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 11 where Krishna instructs Uddhava? This section is called the Uddhava Gita and it is similar to the Gita except just talks about devotional service in more detail.

Well, following the 4 regs is considered tapasya and sankirtan is definitely considered tapasya. Do you ever walk around the street chanting loud enough for others to hear? In the west here, when I do this, sometimes people think I have a bead bag on my hand because I hurt it! They do not know what a bead bag signifies.

So chanting out loud benefits every living entity; people, tree, dogs, bugs, grass, birds, etc.

For me, the mahamantra cleans the mirror of the mind so that I can understand the science of bhakti-yoga more clearly. In the Vedabase, which is a collection of all Prabhupada's books, conversations, letters, etc. You can see that when some disciple asked Prabhupada what they could do to please him most, 99% of the time he replied "Chant Hare Krishna". Simple, it pleases the acarya and it is also seva, so no one can say they they cannot perform service. And since Krishna is non-different than His name, form, qualities, etc., we associate with Krishna when we are chanting. He is dancing on our tongue.

Do you know the story of the Kaliya serpent? He was a serpent that polluted the river Yamuna in Vrindavan. He had many hoods (heads). Krishna fought with him and danced on all his moving hoods in the most artistic way. While doing this, Krishna's lotus feet were purifying the serpent and he vomited poison and was cleansed.

So when I chant Hare Krishna, He is dancing on my tongue and purifying it so that eventually I will relish only Krishna prasadam and only talk about devotional service.

Haribol,

Prayag das

PS, I love your Vishnu avatar picture.

 

[Acintya_Ash]

Well, following the 4 regs is considered tapasya and sankirtan is definitely considered tapasya. Do you ever walk around the street chanting loud enough for others to hear?

I do manasic japa when walking around the street, and count on my fingers. I do chant louder when i'm with devotees. I'm just a beginner.

Have you read Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 11 where Krishna instructs Uddhava? This section is called the Uddhava Gita and it is similar to the Gita except just talks about devotional service in more detail.

I've not read yet, but i've heard it on TV. Lord Krishna tells Uddhava how the message of scriptures which emphasizes Bhakti got changed depending upon the quality of the person who interprets them and answers his various questions.

hare krishna