http://www.swami.org/pages/swami/blog Read the editorials on life at the Mendocino hermitage. Wed, 02 Jul 2008 18:58:53 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en The idea that the cosmos corresponds with our psyche is of course and old one common to East and West. However this notion faded with the Copernican revolution and Decarte's scientific method. While there is considerable evidence that the heavens do influence or mirror our psyche, it does not fit ... http://www.swami.org/pages/swami/blog/2008/07/02/gods-in-goloka/ Something on the logic of form from Aesthetic Vedanta: Setting sacred literature and the logic for adherence to its conclusions aside, is there any other logic that supports the notion of a concrete Absolute of unlimited form? While the highest form of divine revelation must be free from sectarianism and thus ... http://www.swami.org/pages/swami/blog/2008/06/10/positive-universality/ The Brahma-sutras of Vyasa are the first attempt in human history to develop a systematic theology derived from revelation (Upanisads). This early Eastern effort was followed in the West in relation to the Bible, most notably in Catholic scholasticism. It is a pity that the West has not paid more ... http://www.swami.org/pages/swami/blog/2008/05/14/sankara-and-revelation/ One of my students asked me to address a challenge from a Christian monk: “Christ represents a life of morality and sacrifice and Krsna represents a life of indulgence and immorality. Thus it should be obvious which of the two better represents the Divine.”  A better question is how can we ... http://www.swami.org/pages/swami/blog/2008/05/11/christ-and-krsna/ Careful study of Sri Jiva Goswami's Sat-sandarbha reveals that he was fully aware of the arguments of both Sankara and Ramanuja but not entirely satisfied with their explanations as to why consciousness is the ultimate undeniable reality (in the case of Sankara), and why the objective world and jiva souls ... http://www.swami.org/pages/swami/blog/2008/05/10/inconceivable-not-illogical/ We are in the final push to finish the temple construction here at Audarya, and all of the major obstacles have been overcome. We are in the home stretch. The exterior is finished except for the deck that will surround the structure. Work on the interior is in progress. I find ... http://www.swami.org/pages/swami/blog/2007/09/23/home-stretch/ In one sense the first necessity of the human species, like any other species, is self preservation. Thus we need to eat in order to live. But under scrutiny we find that human life is unique and that it has another primary necessity. It needs to love. While we eat ... http://www.swami.org/pages/swami/blog/2007/09/22/eat-to-live-live-to-love/ Nama sankirtana is one thing, but prema sankirtana is another. It is the creation of Sri Gaurasundara—caitanyera sristi ei prema sankirtana. Mahaprabhu wove together a wreath of prema and nama sankirtana and thus created prema sankirtana. He came to give prema--krsna prema pradaya te--through sankirtana. Prema means Vrindavana, the wealth ... http://www.swami.org/pages/swami/blog/2007/08/20/prema-sankirtana/ During my recent visit to Finland Krsnagi devi (Kaisa Lekha) spoke with me about an idea she had for a new comic book—a small brochure she wanted to publish for an upcoming event in the world of comics where she is a highly respected artist. She told me that she ... http://www.swami.org/pages/swami/blog/2007/08/01/mathematics-of-revelation/ Kamalini devi gave me a copy of Srutakirti dasa's new book, "What Is the Difficulty?" The book gives the reader a glimpse into Srila Prabhupada's humanity/divinity, as Srutakirti remembers his two-year stint as Prabhupada's personal servant. In my opinion, it is the humanity of Srila Prabhupada as portrayed by Srutakirti ... http://www.swami.org/pages/swami/blog/2007/06/30/common-sense/