Over the Thanksgiving weekend I gave an extensive seminar on Harinama Cintamini. The central topic was how to improve and get the full effect of chanting Harinama. One chapter discusses Namabhasa, a stage of chanting that is less than pure and perfect, and how to go beyond it. There are different categories of Namabhasa, but they amount to the same: a glimmer, or a mere reflection of the Holy Name. Below is a description of Bhakti-abhasa. How powerful! What to speak of Suddha-bhakti!

Summary: This very famous verse is spoken by Lord Visnu to Durvasa Muni, who was pleading with Him to remove the influence of the Sudarshan Chakra, in hot pursuit of Durvasa for his offense to Ambarisa Maharaja. It reveals the intensity of love the Lord has for his pure devotee. Srila Prabhupada's purport is followed by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur's comments on this verse.

Reading Assignment

Srimad Bhagavatam 9.4.68

Why must there be material nature? Because of the criminal tendancy of some souls, the rebellious souls.

Reading assignment

From a lecture by Srila Prabhupada on Bhagavad-gita 2.30 - London, August 31, 1973

I will be conducting a seminar during the Thanksgiving holiday in Seattle on the topic of Harinama Cintamani by Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur. The subject covers the essential range of Nama-tattva, or the truths about the chanting of the Holy Name as spoken by Haridas Thakur to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in a question/answer format. The same teachings are covered almost point-by-point in Jaiva Dharma [Chapters 23-25], a novel also written by Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur, expressed in a slightly different way. Both books can be found in Vedabase. The section below is a discussion on the distinction between the secondary and the primary names of the Lord.

Not only does Krishna see that His devotee is cared for and provided for, but he does this directly, personally. That is our Supreme Father! When pure unmotived service exists on the part of the servitor, there are neither demands from the servant OR the master, although it may appear to be so. [Krishna demands surrender Bhagavad Gita: 18.66, and we make requests in our prayers and in our hearts.]

I was visiting a college town, where a person in the audience asked a classic question: "Why do we consider Krishna to be the source of all incarnations when it clearly states in Srimad Bhagavatam that Krishna is the 20th incarnation of Vishnu?" You may all have been asked this question at some point in time. One answer is found in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Adi 2.67-90. The entire section can be read from this file.

You will also find there the dialogue between Lord Caitanya and Venkata Bhatta on this topic. Madhya 9.111-161. Very important!!

Reading Assignment

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Adi 2.67-90 Adi 2.67

Prior to Krishna's appearance, there were six sons of Devaki who were killed by Kamsa. Who were these six sons, and how did they become so unfortunate that they would be killed by Kamsa just after their birth? In the introduction to Chapter 1 of Canto 10, Srila Prabhupada writes:

Reading assignment

a) THE DEATH OF GAUTAMI'S SON OR "WHO IS REALLY TO BLAME?" (Adapted from Mahabharata, Anushasana-parva, Chapter One; Taken from Bindu Magazine)

[Here, Bhishma responds to a question from Yudhisthir Maharaja.]

Since you are dependent on God, destiny, and time, why do you consider yourself to be the cause of your actions? There is an ancient story in this connection about a conversation between Mrityu (personified death), Kala (personified time), the sagacious lady Gautami, a hunter, and a snake.

The following is a quote from Sri Vedanta Deshika (1268-1387) of the Sri Sampradaya. This writing appears in the Sishyakrityadhikara section of the Srimad Rahasyatrayasara, one of his most important works. This piece is about the qualities required of the good disciple.

Reading assignment

a) Srimad Rahasyatrayasara by Sri Vedanta Deshika

Six Essential Qualifications for a Good Disciple

1. The disciple should have the highest devotion for his guru.

2. The wise disciple spreads the good name and fame of his guru to others.

3. The good disciple takes care of the guru's property and his possessions.

4. The good disciple protects his guru's teachings with a view to transferring them to a worthy disciple of his own.

Due to our coming to this material world, we are all faced with unwanted problems. Knowing this fact, Srila Prabhupada provided us with many explicit instructions how to address our circumstantial problems from the spiritual platform. Here are some of those instructions.

Reading assignment