Reference to Acharyas: Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur

Q. You have explained that the Supreme Lord Himself personally descends in the archa-murti at the request of the acharyas, and invests all His spiritual potencies within the Deity.

The use of the word "descends" creates the impression in my mind that the murti is like a residence, with the Lord being free to leave anytime if He is not well taken care of. I've also heard from a senior vaishnava that Srila Prabhupada had once stated that the deity form is Krishna.

Q. One of my close friends has stopped chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra saying that since the mantra destroys all material desires, as a grhastha (householder), he needs the material motivation to support his family, and also that chanting the maha-mantra while maintaining material desires is offensive. He has taken to the chanting of Sri Lakshmi Suktam, which awards material prosperity and also indirectly reminds him of Lord Vishnu. How do I explain things properly to him?

Q. When we are in great difficulty, why does our faith in the Supreme Lord decrease? How can we keep great faith in the Lord in such time?

Q. In the purport to SB 1.15.46, Srila Prabhupada mentions that Pandavas performed supreme pious work in this life and also in their previous lives. But we have the understanding from Srila Prabhupad's books that when Krishna appears in this material world to perform His pastimes, His eternal associates also appear along with Him to assist in His pastimes. So, can you kindly explain how the Pandavas, who are eternal associates of the Lord, have a previous life sukriti?

Q. How do i overcome fear because of impatience either in spiritual path or in material affairs...because impatience bring tension and i get disturbed mentally?

Q. 1. In ISKCON devotees always say that we should talk about Lord only. I work in a public sector corporation. I have many friends; they are materially very much attached. They tease me and they even tease my Lord.
 

Q. My question is how to break habits? How can one become serious and follow Srila Prabhupada's instructions more closely?

Retraction of bad habits was compared by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura as being synonymous to the jiva's returning back to the spiritual world, because in effect these bad habits are nothing but the binding effects of our long material association and past activities.

Q. This question is in response to digest 84 on "How to make good decisions and priorities?"

You have raised my curiosity about the following statement: "... scriptures place our day-to-day duties in three categories viz. daily or obligatory duties, emergency duties, and preferred or occasional duties."

Q. I have struggled through material life and achieved material success but I am still not happy. I also chant Hare Krishna mantra 4 rounds and sometimes 16 rounds. What is transcendental happiness? Is it possible to live happily without material worries?