QA Audio : 2020

How can we overcome envy2

How can we overcome envy1

Are the Mahabharata real or stories?

QA on humility 7 – Is spirituality meant to make us feel good. Or does spiritual growth require us to feel bad?

When our life is going on well and we hear that the world is a place of distress, how can we avoid becoming paranoid that problems will befall us in future?

If someone has been abused, can the victim just forgive the abuser?

Does Everyone Who Eat Meat Go To Hell – What About Their Other Good Deeds?

Why is bhakti, especially as presented by our movement, seen by many as non-intellectual or even anti-intellectual?

If we leave the room for the supernatural in the scientific quest for knowledge, won’t we tend to look for easy lazy ways out?

Is scientific advancement driven by simple curiosity or by the controlling mentality

Even after getting the darshan of the Lord, why do Kardama Muni or Aditi not become free from their material desires, the way Dhruva Maharaj did?

Is there place in ISKCON for someone who has belief in belief in God, but not belief in God?

As we can’t know for sure what are principles and what details, why not just follow the tradition as it is, without even attempting to change anything?

In the Vamanadeva pastime, how is adharma called dharma and dharma called dharma

As karma is based on janma, how is varnashrama not based on janma?

We find predictable movies boring, yet we seek predictability in our daily life – why?

If others pressure us into doing more than our capacity, what can we do?

Is the universal form of Krishna a material form?

Should we gratify our desires so that we don’t carry our desires to the next life?

If Krishna is merciful, he takes everything away from us – how to not become fearful on hearing this statement?

Why do we need to transcend the mode of goodness?

When the modes interrupt our bhakti practice, how can uninterrupted bhakti practice take us beyond the modes?

How do the modes influence our free will and our values?

Why did Rama kill the shudra Shambuka simply for doing a good activity like austerity?

Was Duryodhana cruel to the citizens or just to the Pandavas?

Is karma real?

As soon as the corona pandemic started, the temples shut down and only hospitals offered relief. Isn’t it better that we fund medical research?

Does science come from spirituality or is it made by man?

When exactly does the soul enter during the process of conception?

Why has atheism increased recently – is it due to science?

Is there any scientific proof of the existence of higher and lower planetary systems?

How is the vision of Krishna’s two-handed form rare when everyone at the time of Krishna’s descent could see it?

Is the idea of manifesting an external reality by inner contemplation a New Age notion or is it grounded in philosophical truth?

During animal sacrifices in Vedic times, did the animals experience pain – what was the rationale for such sacrifices?

In being liberal with others, isn’t there a danger that we may become liberal with ourselves too?

How to deal with learned devotees who lack empathy?

How can we kill the demons in our heart by hearing about the killing of the corresponding demons in Krishna lila?

How can we develop relationships with those whose services are different from ours?

How can children be helped to remember that Krishna protects everyone?

Isnt it ego to think that a service won’t happen without us?

How should a devotee decide whom to vote for in an election?

What is the spiritual perspective on adopting a child of unknown parents and hence unknown karma?

Why do some people celebrate beef-eating festivals – is it because of their hatred for brahminical culture?

Where do butchers and prostitutes fall among the four varnas – are they outcastes?

Is comparing capitalism or communism with varnashrama like comparing apples and oranges?

What does follow your heart mean – does it involve the conscience or the soul?

When Bhakti Charu Maharaj went to the US to serve Krishna, why was he not protected?

How can we deal with doubts that come from our bad experiences with our previous spiritual teachers?

How do Indians and Westerners approach spirituality differently?

QA on humility 6 – When pure devotees take offense, is that because of false ego?

QA on humility 5 – What is it about humility that attracts Krishna?

QA on humility 4 – Social media requires self-promotion, spiritual growth requires humility – how to reconcile?

QA on humility 3 – How can we be humble with those who are exploitative?

QA on humility 2 – While being tolerant, how can we ensure that we aren’t abused by others?

QA on humility 1 – How are the various points of Lord Chaitanya’s verse on humility inter-related?

Krishna told Arjuna to kill but Narada told Mrigari to not kill?

During the moment of sudden difficulty, how can we think positively at that time?

Why do some people find meaning in things and others don’t?

How can we deal with anger caused by people who have hurt us?

Will hearing regularly from few devotees not broaden our understanding of bhakti – do we need to hear from many devotees?

Is spirituality meant to make us feel bad about ourselves in the name of humility?

Does every thought in our mind result from something we have done in the past?

When people today are so untrustworthy how can we develop relationships?

If work is worship is a butcher also worshiping by slaughtering animals?

QA on racism Q 10 How do we as spiritualists manifest empathy (para-dukha-dukhi)?

If we label as fault-finders those who constantly find faults with others, are we ourselves indulging in fault-finding?

Is intelligence a part of consciousness or a part of the mind?

When we become unconscious because of anaesthesia, does the soul leave the body?

QA on racism Q 9 Is racial injustice caused by past karma?

How can hearing Krishna’s rasa-lila with the gopis free us from lust?

QA on racism Q 8 How do we balance knowing that we are not the bady and processing bodily pains?

Why did Rama spy on his own citizens?

QA on racism Q 7 When animals of one group don’t include animals from another group, is that racism?

Are the Abrahamic God, who orders killing and enslaving, and the Vedic God the same person?

QA on racism Q 6 Why is racism seen in humans, but not in animals?

QA on racism Q 5 What does seeing everyone equally mean practically?

QA on racism Q 4 Are varna and ashrama the only two hierarchies present in nature?

QA on racism Q 3 Do people of particular skin colors belong to particular castes?

QA on racism Q 2 Does racism exist because of the caste system?

QA on racism Q 1 From a spiritual perspective, why does racism exist?

Does brahmaloka refer to the abode of Brahma or to the Brahman effulgence?

Can we see adversities like the corona crisis as blessings?

During distress if someone turns away from Krishna and becomes an atheist, what is the role of God’s will in their misuse of free will?

Why did Krishna speak the Gita to Arjuna and not to the other Pandavas or to Bhishma?

Was India better under British rule than after independence? How do we understand Prabhupada’s statement

Will war break out because of the corona crisis, as some devotee-astrologers say – should we withdraw to self-sufficient village communities?

Should devotees believe conspiracy theories about say the origin of the corona virus?

When the holy name is everything, why do we need prudent action to complement prayer?

Can there be religion for atheists?

What is the spiritual perspective on capitalism?

What were the principles of dharma that Krishna descended to establish?

I like to talk about Krishna and feel nourished by speaking Krishna-katha, do I have a pure devotee syndrome – what should I do?

How have greed, anger and lust been institutionalized in today’s world?

What would be the Gita’s stand in today’s political world wrt the Left and the Right in India or the liberals and the conservatives in America

As the devatas are serving in a system created by Krishna, does it mean they are pure devotees?

What does it mean when it is said Yudhishthira’s gambling was orchestrated by Krishna – why would Krishna cause so much distress and destruction?

How do we understand harsh scriptural statements about certain classes of people as found in Bhagavatam 6.18.42

What is the difference between material and spiritual visions of history?

How would the Kauravas being neutralized by the Pandavas further their spiritual evolution?

Were the Kauravas harassing their citizens – were they tyrants who needed to be removed by force?