Questions on today's Swami call:
In one of your classes, you mentioned that Bhaktivinoda Thakur sent letters to Western scholars in an effort to draw their attention to his ideas. You also said that finding those letters would be a real gem. Were those letters ever found? If so, could you share a little about them?
Gurumaharaj, during the years I lived in Mayapur, a question repeatedly arose in my heart. I have always been fascinated by how the spiritual atmosphere of Vṛndāvana, centered on Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, came to take root and flourish so deeply in Bengal, a land with such a distinct cultural identity. From a historical perspective, how did this transmission take place? Who were the personalities, traditions, and historical developments that served as bridges between Vraja and Bengal? And considering that it was primarily through Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His followers that the divine mood of Vṛndāvana was widely disseminated and established in Bengal, what historical, cultural, and spiritual conditions prepared the ground for this message to be received so deeply and embraced so wholeheartedly?
Gurumaharaj, when you reflect upon the life and teachings of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, is there a particular pastime, teaching, or aspect of His personality that has taken on a special significance for you over the years and that you would like to share with us?
Dear Guru Maharaja, In the last Swami call you talked about Srila Prabhupada shakti avesa and about shakti avesa avatars in general. We accept this concept that Avatars of the Lord, the shakti avesas (the ones that are jivas and not Bhagavan himself, like Narada, Prthu or Prabhupada) can receive at one point different types of shaktis of the Lord. One could argue that it is the same concept that bhakti is not in the jiva and at some moment that jiva is invested with some type of Shakti. In this case those jivas invested with some type of svarupa shakti (in this case Bhava) would be called as Devotees or Bhava Bhaktas.
Jaya Guru Maharaja. Good morning. If a householder has to attend to other duties than bhakti, is that a distraction, or is it just bhakti mixed with karma?
Jaya Maharaja. Is it true that Gokula manifest in the material world is superior to Goloka in the spiritual world?
