What is the book about? | Read online

I’m happy to announce that after a long time in the works, the new book on Vedic cosmology, Making Sense of the Vedic Universe, a Higher-Dimensional Reality, is officially available! The book is available for free, so all interested devotees can have easy access to it. You can help by spreading the news.

⤵️ Get the ebook:

My books are available for free on most platforms, and you can contribute with donations according to your means.

On Google Play Books: If this platform is available in your country, you should see the “Books” tab at the bottom of the screen when you open Google Play on your phone or tablet. Just search for the names of the books, or open the link for the series.

This is very practical for reading on a phone or tablet because it is formatted to fit the screen well, unlike PDFs, which can be very uncomfortable to read on a small screen.

My books are also available on Amazon Kindle, but Amazon charges a fee.

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There are three options of files:

a) The regular version, with margins for printing.
b) A version without borders (more convenient for on-screen viewing).
c) An EPUB file compatible with most e-readers.

Feel free to download what is convenient for you.

Share this page with others who are interested in the book. You can find my other books here.

📖 Do you prefer a printed book?

My books are available in printed form on Amazon self-publishing. They are available in most of the world. They print and sell the books and give me a few euros for each copy.

Here are the direct links to the Amazon stores for my books:

US , UK , DE , FR , ES , IT , NL , JP , CA , AU

In India, they are available through Pothi. They also send to a few other countries. Here is the link to buy.

➡️ Read the book online:

+ Preface: Rethinking the Vedic Universe

+ Introduction: Different perceptions of reality

+ Chapter 1: The Vedic Universe

• The origin of everything

• Kṛṣṇa becomes the Puruṣa-avatāras

• Primary and secondary creation

• The creation of the material elements

• The creation of the false ego

• The appearance of the mind and senses

• The other material elements manifest

• The concept of predominating deities

• How does it relate to modern theories?

• More scientific than it appears

• The process of creation starts

• The planetary systems

• The seven coverings of the universe

• Parallels with modern science

• The nature of material time

• Units of time used in the Vedas

• The divya-yuga

• The manvantara cycles

• The earth and the extended earth

• The life of Brahmā

• The 14 Manus

• What happens at the end of each day of Brahmā?

• Śrīdhara’s factor of two: How the cosmic dates given in the Vedas match modern science

• The size of the universe

+ Chapter 2: Studying the structure of Jambūdvīpa

• The keys to understanding the Vedic model of the universe

• Jambūdvīpa: the central region of Bhū-mandala

• The inconceivable material creation

• Bhū-mandala as a lotus flower

• The nine divisions of Jambūdvīpa

• Mount Sumeru: The golden mountain

• Where exactly does our planet fit into the description of Jambūdvīpa?

• Bhārata-varṣa means India?

• The celestial rivers of Ilāvṛta-varṣa

• Does the description of Bhū-mandala indicate that the earth is flat?

• The Descent of the River Ganges

• Three divisions of heavens in the Vedic universe

• The celestial standard of living in the other varṣas

+ Chapter 3: More details on the varṣas of Jambūdvīpa

• The prayers of the inhabitants of the other eight varṣas

• Ilāvṛta-varṣa: The abode of Lord Śiva

• Bhadraśravā: The land of Lord Hayagrīva

• Hari-varṣa: Prahlāda Mahārāja worships Nṛsiṁhadeva

• Ketumāla-varṣa, the abode of Ramādevī

• Ramyaka-varṣa, the seat of Vaivasvata Manu

• Aryamā, and his worship in Hiraṇmaya-varṣa

• Bhūmi becomes present in Uttarakuru-varṣa

• Hanumān worships Lord Rāma in Kimpuruṣa-varṣa

• Bhārata-varṣa: the door out of material existence

• The opportunity of taking birth in Bhārata-varṣa

+ Chapter 4: Bhū-mandala, the intermediate system

• Making sense of the description of Bhū-mandala

• How the inhabitants of the dvīpas live and worship

• A description of the inhabitants of Plakṣadvīpa

• Worshipers of the moon: the inhabitants of Sālmalīdvīpa

• The inhabitants of Kuśadvīpa, who worship the Lord through fire

• Krauñcadvīpa: the abode of the fearless mountain

• Śākadvīpa, the island of the great śāka tree

• Puṣkaradvīpa, and the chariot of the sun

• The orbit of the sun

• The periodic table in multiple dimensions

• What is the real composition of matter?

• Lokāloka: The edge of the observable universe

• What is beyond Lokāloka?

• The mysterious commentary by Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura

• What does “yojana” mean?

• Time dilation and other mysterious features of the Vedic universe

• A non-Euclidean space

+ Chapter 5: The movements of the sun

• The annual orbit of the sun

• North, south, or through the equator

• The movement of the sun facing the constellations

• What about the sun moving slowly, swiftly, or moderately?

• The movement of the sun in relation to Bhū-mandala

• The daily movement of the sun around the Mānasottara path

• The chariot of the sun

• Life on top of Mount Sumeru

• Bhāgavatam confirms: the earth is a globe

+ Chapter 6: The orbits of the planets and stars

• The example of the potter’s wheel

• The purpose of the movements of the luminaries

• Three different calendars

• The orbit of the moon

• Characteristics of the celestial moon

• The 28 nakṣatras

• The orbits of the planets

• Dhruvaloka, the universal pivot

• Śiśumāra, the celestial dolphin

• The Prajapatis and the process of populating the universe

• The Saptarṣi, the seven great sages

• The astral realms of Maharloka, Janaloka, Tapoloka, and Satyaloka

• The orbit of Rāhu, the dark planet

• The planets of the lower demigods

• Exoplanets from the Vedic perspective

+ Chapter 7: Bila-svarga, the subterranean heavens

• The planetary systems of the demons

• Atala, the Kingdom of Bala

• Vitala, the Land of Unlimited Gold

• Sutala, the Abode of Bali Mahārāja

• Talātala, the abode of Maya Dānava

• The planetary systems of Mahātala, Rasātala, and Pātāla

• Lord Ananta at the bottom of the universe

+ Chapter 8: The Hellish Planets

• How devotees are protected

• The destiny of others

• Different paths to the court of Yamarāja

• Description of the hellish planets

• The ultimate purpose of the study of the cosmos

• The journey of a soul through the universe

☀️ What is the book about?

The spiritual value of the Vedas is undeniable. Hundreds of millions of people seek guidance from books such as the Bhagavad-gītā, Mahābhārata, Rāmāyaṇa, and the Purāṇas, receiving from them practical wisdom about the soul, our relationship with God, the purpose of life, and the path of self-realization. No other literature offers such a deep and systematic exploration of these themes.

At the same time, however, the Vedic cosmological model can be bewildering. For many modern readers, the descriptions of Bhū-maṇḍala, Mount Sumeru, the higher and lower planetary systems, the movements of the sun, and so on, appear at first glance strange, inaccessible, or incompatible with the picture of the universe offered by contemporary science. In other words, the same scriptures that describe the deepest spiritual knowledge also describe a universe that may seem incoherent.

Nowhere is this contrast more evident than in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, a book that simultaneously offers the most in-depth exposition of spiritual knowledge in the Vedic scriptures and the most difficult elaborations on Vedic cosmology, especially in the Fifth Canto. As a result, these cosmological sections are often neglected, reduced to symbolism, or treated as remnants of an ancient worldview with little relevance in the modern world. Others collapse this knowledge into conspiracy theories, forcing the descriptions into crude literalism and turning profound cosmological teachings into claims about a flat earth, hidden continents, and similar misunderstandings.

This book begins from a different perspective. It is not an apologetic work written to defend the Vedic model against modern scientific conclusions through forced harmonizations, nor does it start from the assumption that the Bhāgavatam’s cosmology is a problem requiring rescue. On the contrary, it begins from the understanding that the Vedic cosmological model is coherent and meaningful, and from there tries to present the richness of this knowledge. It does not ignore modern findings or dismiss them as hoaxes. Rather, it considers recent discoveries carefully, but does so from a particular standpoint: not by accepting science as the final tribunal before which the scriptures must justify themselves, but by asking whether recent discoveries may actually help us better appreciate the Vedic description of reality.

In most cases, modern discoveries do not weaken the Vedic model, but instead offer unexpected support for it, checking our tendency to flatten and misunderstand the scriptural description of the universe. The Vedic model then shines in its own light, helping us understand that reality is far more complex, layered, and counterintuitive than a narrow materialistic framework allows. It offers the higher philosophical system that saves us from the mechanistic conclusion of a universe created by chance and a life devoid of purpose.

Stories of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in Simple English is a book dedicated to the small ones. Written using very simple words, it is great for introducing the stories of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam to small children. All the stories are told in a very simple, understandable way that even small children who are just starting to speak can understand and relate to.

It is also very useful for children entering school age, who are learning to read. They can easily understand the book, and this can help them to get a taste for reading.

Devotees who are learning English may also find it useful as a study material. The simple vocabulary makes the book easy to understand, and it can then be used to practice speaking by retelling the stories using one’s own words.

This book was produced by Mahima Radha Devi Dasi and their team. The printed version is available only in Russia, but you can get a digital copy here:

🧾 On Amazon Kindle:

Here are the direct links to the Amazon stores for my books:
US , UK , DE , FR , ES , IT , NL , JP , CA , AU

🔻 Direct download:

You can also just download the PDF file directly here and leave a donation of any amount that is suitable for you.

Stories Of The Srimad Bhagavatam In Simple English Ccdas

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📖 Stories included in the book:

» The birth of Pariksit Maharaja
» The previous life of Narada Muni
» Diti becomes pregnant, and the whole Universe suffers
» Kardama Muni and Devahuti
» The story of Ajamila
» The story of Dhruva Maharaja
» Daksa curses Lord Shiva
» The story of Prahlada Maharaja
» Mrgari the Hunter
» The story of King Prthu
» Indra fights Vritrasura
» Rama fights Ravana
» The birth of Krsna
» The day Krsna lifted a mountain
» Brahma steals the boys and the calves

What is the book about? | Read online

Subscribe now

⤵️ Get the ebook:

My books are available for free on most platforms, and you can contribute with donations according to your means.

On Google Play Books: If this platform is available in your country, you should see the “Books” tab at the bottom of the screen when you open Google Play. Just search for the names of the books, or open the link for the series.

This is very practical for reading on the phone or tablet because it is formatted to fit well on the screen, different from PDFs, which can be very uncomfortable to read on a small screen.

My books are also available on Amazon Kindle, but there Amazon charges a fee.

You can also just download the PDF file directly here and leave a donation of any amount that is suitable for you.

Donate on Paypal | Stripe | Wise | Revolut | Other ways (UPI, PIX, etc.)

Things I Wish Someone Had Taught Me When I Started Krsna Consciousness Ccdas For Screen

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Things I Wish Someone Had Taught Me When I Started Krsna Consciousness Ccdas

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Things I Wish Someone Had Taught Me

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There are three options of files:

a) The regular version, with margins for printing.
b) A version without borders (more convenient for on-screen viewing).
c) An EPUB file compatible with most e-readers.

Feel free to download what is convenient for you.

Share this page with others who are interested in the book. You can find my other books here.

📖 Do you prefer a printed book?

My books are available in printed form on Amazon self-publishing. They are available in most of the world. They print and sell the books and give me a few euros for each copy.

Here are the direct links to the Amazon stores for my books:
US , UK , DE , FR , ES , IT , NL , JP , CA , AU

In India, they are available through Pothi. They also send to a few other countries. Here is the link to buy.

➡️ Read the book online:

+ Introduction

+ Part 1: Dealing with our personal struggles

• Emotions play an important role in spiritual life

• Sometimes our spiritual progress depends on our mind and the false ego

• Depression is also a problem amongst devotees

• Learning to love ourselves

• Fear and guilt can be a difficult obstacle in our spiritual practice

• Struggling with spiritual principles is not a reason to leave Kṛṣṇa Consciousness

• Often we associate with devotees but are still alone

• Balancing self-care and determination

• The māyā we should fight is inside ourselves

• Developing good qualities is the real test of success, not material results

• Caring for others makes our problems small

• A mistake that can make our hearts harder over time, instead of softer

• Avoiding burnout

• We can’t love Kṛṣṇa while mistreating His devotees

• We should be kind, like Kṛṣṇa

• Not trusting everyone is one of the secrets to having good friends

• Kṛṣṇa doesn’t send us more difficulties than we can handle

+ Part 2: Dealing with the challenges of family life

• There are lessons to be learned in family life

• Often, it is not about becoming a pure devotee, but escaping sinful life

• Astrology is not the best tool to find a spouse

• Making our family part of our service to Kṛṣṇa

• Illicit sex has three different meanings

• Finding the right spouse by developing our qualities

• An important secret for a happy marriage

• Love and relationships play an important role in our spiritual practice

• Women value men who are in control of their desires and emotions

• The male fantasy of a submissive wife

• Inferiority complex

• The three essential qualities of a great man

• It is not māyā to become a parent

• Tulasi Devi speaks about family life

+ Part 3: Dealing with bad examples from the top

• What to do when senior devotees don’t act properly?

• Two dangerous mistakes we often make in spiritual life

• The worst betrayal

• If I take shelter of you, and you cut my throat, that’s the worst sin

• We also have a role to play

• Forgiveness breaks the cycle of conditioned life

• The role of a spiritual leader is to inspire, not to repress

• Vices of the material world can also creep into spiritual societies

• The temporary harm and the eternal good

• Living in a spiritual society is not always easy, but it brings us the best chance of progressing

• Devotional service is often performed under the three modes of material nature

• Our attitude in facing challenges has a great influence on the outcome

• A spiritual institution can still be imperfect

• The role of trust in spiritual life

• The principle of authority is a central point in the scriptures

• Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future

+ Part 4: Finding the right balance and the right path

• Beware of personality cults

• Using our natural talents for Kṛṣṇa

• The trap of entitlement

• Without education, varṇāśrama doesn’t work

• Dealing with different opinions in spiritual life without becoming bewildered

• Material science is not necessarily an enemy

• Waking up early solves many of our problems

• “We are what we eat”

• Simplicity makes us rich

• The danger of impersonalism

• We can progress on our own only up to a certain point

• Hearing the spiritual master demands giving up our previous conditioning

• Some say Prabhupada only taught the ABCD. They are wrong

• The ritvik philosophy is a dead end

• Finding our way out of battles of quotes

☀️ What is the book about?

We usually come to Krishna consciousness looking for shelter or relief. Material life is hard. Expectations can be crushing, relationships unreliable, friendships disappointing, and life exhausting. Unfortunately, we soon find that the spiritual path is also full of challenges, with the ideals we read about in the books not always matching what we encounter in our devotee interactions. Instead of a quick and direct path back to Godhead, we often find ourselves struggling to navigate our internal battles, our relationships, our communities, and our attitude toward the spiritual process itself.

Some time ago, I wrote a short article outlining eleven conclusions that I wish someone had taught me when I started practicing Krishna consciousness. That reflection became the seed of this book: a practical look at common challenges we face, and how to recognize them before they quietly stall our progress.

The obstacles are many and often subtle. A strong false ego can be a powerful enemy, but a broken ego can be an even more formidable challenge, requiring an entirely different approach. The same rules meant to guide us can, when misunderstood, turn into fanaticism, which damages individuals and communities. Mental health can become an issue, and family life, which is supposed to be one of our supports in life, can easily become a battleground. We often feel alone even while surrounded by devotees, bogged down by fear and guilt, or caught in the trap of projecting an idealized image just for the sake of maintaining appearances.

Sometimes, the hardest challenges come from the top, with bad examples or even betrayals from trusted seniors leading us toward bitterness or even considering giving up the process altogether. Even when we can avoid this whole maze of pitfalls and challenges, there is still the danger of impersonalism, which can go much deeper than we imagine, undermining the very basis of our spiritual practice.

Most of these lessons came to me only after years of trial and error. If I had understood them earlier, I could have avoided much unnecessary pain and frustration on my spiritual path. This book is my attempt to share those lessons, in the hope that others may walk the path with more clarity and confidence.

What is the book about? | Read online

⤵️ Get the ebook:

My books are available for free on most platforms, and you can contribute with donations according to your means.

On Google Play Books: If this platform is available in your country, you should see the “Books” tab at the bottom of the screen when you open Google Play. Just search for the names of the books, or open the link for the series.

This is very practical for reading on the phone or tablet because it is formatted to fit well on the screen, different from PDFs, which can be very uncomfortable to read on a small screen.

My books are also available on Amazon Kindle, but there Amazon charges a fee.

You can also just download the PDF file directly here and leave a donation of any amount that is suitable for you.

Donate on Paypal | Stripe | Wise | Revolut | Other ways (UPI, PIX, etc.)

Vedanta Sutra The Govinda Bhasya Of Baladeva Vidyabhusana Ccdas

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Vedanta Sutra The Govinda Bhasya Of Baladeva Vidyabhusana Ccdas

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There are three options of files:

a) The regular version, with margins for printing.
b) A version without borders (more convenient for on-screen viewing).
c) An EPUB file compatible with most e-readers.

Feel free to download what is convenient for you.

Share this page with others who are interested in the book. You can find my other books here.

📖 Do you prefer a printed book?

My books are available in printed form on Amazon (available for most of the world):

Here are the direct links to the Amazon stores for my books:
US , UK , DE , FR , ES , IT , NL , JP , CA , AU

In India, they are available through Pothi. They also send to a few other countries. Here is the link to buy.

➡️ Read the book online:

+ Preface

+ Srila Prabhupada explains the Vedānta-sūtra

+ Introduction: The evolution of spiritual understanding

• Lord Buddha - Śūnyavāda (nihilism)

• Śaṅkarācārya - Advaita-Vedanta (non-dualism)

• The Vaishnava schools

• Rāmānujācārya - Viśiṣṭādvaita-vāda
  (specific monism, non-dualism with distinctions, or purified monism)

• Madhvācārya - Śuddha-dvaita (purified dualism)

• Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu: Acintya-bhedābheda-tattva (inconceivable oneness and difference)

• Acintya-bhedābheda-tattva and the Govinda-Bhāṣya

+ The flow of arguments

+ The conclusions of the Vedanta-sutra

+ The First Pada

+ Topic 1: Brahma-jijñāsādhikaraṇam - Inquiry into Brahman

• Sutra 1.1.1 - athāto brahma-jijñāsā: It's time to enquire about the Absolute Truth

• Light in the darkness from the scriptures

• Fruitive activity is not the goal of the scriptures

• Positive factors in understanding the Vedas

• Limited and temporary results

• Further arguments

• Brahman means the soul?

• How does the original text of Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa look?

• Exercise

+ Topic 2: Janmādyādhikaranam - Definition of Brahman

• Sutra 1.1.2 - janmādy asya yataḥ: Brahman is He from whom everything emanates

• Counterarguments: Is Brahman the jīva?

• Rules for interpreting passages of the scriptures

• The doctrine of by-products

• The theory of illusion of Śaṅkarācārya

• The originality of the scriptures

• Exercise

+ Topic 3: Śāstra-yonitvādhikaraṇam - The scriptures are the source of knowledge

• Sutra 1.1.3 - śāstra-yonitvāt: The Lord is known through the sastras

• The process for understanding the Absolute Truth

• The limitations of material logic

• Further arguments

• Exercise

+ Topic 4: Samanvyādhikaraṇam - Harmonizing the conclusions of the Vedas

• Sutra 1.1.4 - tat tu samanvayāt: Lord Viṣṇu is the sole topic discussed in the Vedas

• Exercise

+ Topic 5: Īkṣater-adhikaranām - Brahman is knowable

• Sutra 1.1.5 - īkṣater nāśabdam: The Lord is not indescribable

• Srila Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa counters Śaṅkarācārya

• Sutra 1.1.6 - gauṇaś cen nātma-śabdāt: The Supreme Self

• Sutra 1.1.7 - tan-niṣṭhasya mokṣopadeśāt: Descriptions of the transcendental Lord

• Sutra 1.1.8 - (na) heyatva-vacanāc ca: There is nothing higher

• Sutra 1.1.9 - (na) svāpyayāt: The source of all incarnations

• Sutra 1.1.10 - (na) gati-sāmānyāt: The One and transcendental Brahman

• Sutra 1.1.11 - śrutatvāc ca: Material qualities can’t touch the Lord

• Exercise

+ Topic 6: Ānandamayādhikaraṇam - The Lord is full of bliss

• Sutra 1.1.12 - ānanda-mayo’bhyāsāt: The Lord is full of bliss

• A central passage from the Taittirīya Upaniṣad

• The anna-maya, prāṇa-maya, mano-maya, and vijñāna-maya

• The ānanda-maya

• Questions are raised

• Sutra 1.1.13 - vikāra-śabdān neti cen na prācuryāt

• Sutra 1.1.14 - tad-hetu-vyapadeśāc ca

• Sutra 1.1.15 - māntra-varṇikam eva ca gīyate

• Sutra 1.1.16 - netaro ’nupapatteḥ

• Sutra 1.1.17 - bheda-vyapadeśāt

• Sutra 1.1.18 - kāmāc ca nānumānāpekṣā

• Sutra 1.1.19 - asminn asya ca tad-yogaṁ ca śāsti

• Exercise

+ Topic 7: Antar-adhikaraṇam - The person within the Sun

• Sūtra 1.1.20 - The person within the Sun

• Sūtra 1.1.21 - The Lord is present with the demigod, but they are different

• Exercise

+ Topic 8: Ākāsādhikaraṇam - The section discussing the ether

• Sutra 1.1.22 - Why the word ākāśa denotes the Lord

• Exercise

+ Topic 9: Prāṇādhikaraṇam - The section concerning Prāṇa

• Sutra 1.1.23 - The meaning of the word prāṇa

• Exercise

+ Topic 10: Jyotiścaraṇādhikaraṇam - The light that has feet

• Sūtra 1.1.24 - Jyotiś refers to the Supreme Brahman

• Sūtra 1.1.25 - The meaning of the gāyatrī mantra

• The passage about Gāyatrī and the five doors to heaven from the Chāndogya Upaniṣad

• Sūtra 1.1.26 - The key for understanding the passage

• Sūtra 1.1.27 - There is no contradiction

• Exercise

+ Topic 11: Pādānta-prāṇādhikaraṇam - A final discussion on prāna

• Sūtra 1.1.28 - Prāna does not mean the jīva

• Sūtra 1.1.29 - The speaker does not refer to himself

• Sūtra 1.1.30 - Indra’s declaration is in accordance with scripture

• Sūtra 1.1.31 - Prāṇa denotes Brahman alone

• The passage of Patardana and Indra from the Kauṣītaki Upanisad

• Exercise

+ All the sūtras of the first pāda in prose

+ The Second Pada

+ Topic 1: Sarvatra-prasiddhādhikaraṇam - The Lord is mentioned everywhere in the scriptures

• Sūtra 1.2.1-2 - The word manomaya refers to the Lord

• Sūtra 1.2.3 - The qualities mentioned can’t be attributed to the jīva

• Sūtra 1.2.4 - The meeting of the devotee and the Lord

• Sūtra 1.2.5 - The object of meditation is not the jīva

• Sūtra 1.2.6 - The reference from the Gītā

• Sūtra 1.2.7 - The Lord is greater than the sky, but fits inside the heart

• Sūtra 1.2.8 - The difference between the two souls in the heart

• Exercise

+ Topic 2: Attādhikaraṇam - The Eater mentioned in the Kaṭha Upaniṣad is the Lord

• Sūtra 1.2.9 - The Lord takes all moving and non-moving entities

• Sūtra 1.2.10 - Nachiketā meets Yamaraja

• Exercise

+ Topic 3: Guhādhikaraṇam - The person in the heart

• Sūtra 1.2.11 - The two selves inside the heart

• Other references

• Sūtra 1.2.12 - The scriptures describe the differences between them

• Exercise

+ Topic 4: Antarādhikaraṇam - The person in the eye

• Sūtra 1.2.13 - The person in the eye is the Lord

• Sūtra 1.2.14 - The statements in the scriptures

• Sūtra 1.2.15 - Transcendental bliss

• Sūtra 1.2.16 - Those who hear the Upaniṣads attain the Lord

• Sūtra 1.2.17 - The person in the eye can’t be anyone else

• Exercise

+ Topic 5: Antaryāmy-adhikaraṇam - The antaryāmī

• Sūtra 1.2.18 - His qualities are described

• Sūtra 1.2.19 - The ruler within is not pradhāna

• Sūtra 1.2.20 - No yogī has the mentioned qualities

• Exercise

+ Topic 6: Adṛśyādhikaraṇam - The unseen person

• Sūtra 1.2.21 - The word akṣara refers to the Lord

• Sūtra 1.2.22 - It is not pradhāna or the jīva

• Sūtra 1.2.23 - Other passages specifically describe the Lord

• Sūtra 1.2.24 - The context in the scriptures

• The passage from the Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad describing akṣara

• Exercise

+ Topic 7: Vaiśvānarādhikaraṇam – The meaning of Vaiśvānara

• Sūtra 1.2.25 - The qualities are appropriate for the Lord only

• Sūtra 1.2.26 - The fire of digestion

• Sūtra 1.2.27 - Vaiśvānara is not ordinary fire

• Sūtra 1.2.28 - Vaiśvānara is not the demigod, nor the material element

• Sūtra 1.2.29 - Names of demigods can also indicate the Lord

• Sūtra 1.2.30 - The Lord manifests in a small form for His devotee

• Sūtra 1.2.31 - For the purpose of meditation

• Sūtra 1.2.32 - Transcendental and inconceivable power

• Sūtra 1.2.33 - Inconceivable potencies

• Exercise

+ All the sūtras of the second pāda in prose

+ The Third Pada

+ Topic 1: Dyu-bhv-ādy-adhikaraṇam - The abode of heaven, earth, and other things

• Sūtra 1.3.1 - Where everything that exists rests

• Sūtra 1.3.2 - Liberated souls attain the Lord

• Sūtra 1.3.3 - The material creation is dependent on the Lord

• Sūtra 1.3.4 - The jīva also can’t be the abode

• Sūtra 1.3.5 - The One who maintains many

• Sūtra 1.3.6 - The context of the passage

• Sūtra 1.3.7 - The analogy of the two birds

• Exercise

+ Topic 2: Bhūmādhikaraṇam - Bhūmā, the infinite

• Sūtra 1.3.8 - Bhūmā in the Chāndogya Upaniṣad refers to the Lord

• Sūtra 1.3.9 - Qualities that can be applied only to the Lord

• Exercise

+ Topic 3: Akṣarādhikaraṇam - Akṣara, the imperishable

• Sūtra 1.3.10 - Akṣara is the Lord

• Sūtra 1.3.11 - He controls everything

• Sūtra 1.3.12 - His attributes are described

• The timeless debate of Yājñavalkya and Gārgī

• Exercise

+ Topic 4: Īkṣati-karmādhikaraṇam - The person seen

• Sūtra 1.3.13 - Brahma-loka means the abode of the Lord

• The dialogue of Satyakāma and Pippalāda from the Praśna Upaniṣad

• Exercise

+ Topic 5: Daharādhikaraṇam - Dahara, the “small sky” inside the heart

• Sūtra 1.3.14 - The dahara is the abode of Paramātmā inside the heart

• The passage describing the dahara from the Chāndogya Upaniṣad

• Sūtra 1.3.15 - Additional support

• Sūtra 1.3.16 - The maintainer of the Universe

• Sūtra 1.3.17 - The common usage of the word

• Sūtra 1.3.18 - There is a great gap between the qualities of the jīva and the Lord

• Sūtra 1.3.19 - We can develop spiritual qualities only through sādhana

• Sūtra 1.3.20 - Attaining spiritual perfection

• Sūtra 1.3.21 - The Lord can be unlimitedly big, or inconceivably small

• Sūtra 1.3.22 - The jīva is never as great as the Lord, even in the liberated stage

• Sūtra 1.3.23 - Evidence from the Bhagavad-gītā

• Exercise

+ Topic 6: Pramitādhikaraṇam - The Person the Size of a Thumb is the Lord

• Sūtra 1.3.24 - Passages describing the Lord and the jīva within the heart

• Sūtra 1.3.25 - He becomes small to facilitate one’s meditation on Him

• Exercise

+ Topic 7: Devatādhikaraṇam - The devas also meditate on the Lord

• Sūtra 1.3.26 - The demigods also have material bodies

• Sūtra 1.3.27 - The demigods manifest in many forms to attend sacrifices

• Sūtra 1.3.28 - The temporality of the demigods does not contradict the eternality of the Vedas

• Sūtra 1.3.29 - The manifestation of the Vedas in human society

• Sūtra 1.3.30 - How the Vedas survive the universal cycles of creation and destruction

• Sūtra 1.3.31 - An argument from Jaimini

• Sūtra 1.3.32 - Another misconception

• Sūtra 1.3.33 - Vyasadeva gives the conclusion

• Exercise

+ Topic 8: Apaśūdrādhikaraṇam - The śūdra’s lack of qualification

• Sūtra 1.3.34 - A universal process

• Sūtra 1.3.35 - Jānaśruti was a kṣatriya

• The meeting of Jānaśruti and Raikva from the Chāndogya Upanisad

• Sūtra 1.3.36 - There are no saṃskāras prescribed to śūdras

• Sūtra 1.3.37 - The qualification of the student

• Sūtra 1.3.38 - A higher grade of knowledge

• Exercise

+ Topic 9: Kampanādhikaraṇam - The cause of trembling

• Sūtra 1.3.39-40 - Mysterious passages that indicate the Lord

• Exercise

+ Topic 10: Arthāntarādhikaraṇam - Ākāśa refers to the Lord, who is different from the jīva

• Sūtra 1.3.41 - Dismissing incorrect interpretations

• Sūtra 1.3.42 - How the soul is embraced by the Lord

• Sūtra 1.3.43 - The subordinate position of the jīva

• Exercise

+ All the sūtras of the third pāda in prose

+ The Fourth Pāda

+ The six philosophical systems
+ The atheistic Sānkhya

+ Topic 1: Anumānādhikaraṇam - The limits of inference in obtaining knowledge

• Sūtra 1.4.1 - Avyakta refers to the subtle body, and not to Pradhāna

• The conversation of Yamaraja and Nāciketa from the Kaṭha Upaniṣad

• Sūtra 1.4.2 - The appropriate definition

• Sūtra 1.4.3 - Material nature is dependent on the Lord

• Sūtra 1.4.4 - Pradhāna is not indicated in the text

• Sūtra 1.4.5 - Sānkhya loses its foundation

• Sūtra 1.4.6 - Three questions and answers

• Sūtra 1.4.7 - Mahat means the soul

• Exercise

+ Topic 2: Camasādhikaraṇam - The cup

• Sūtra 1.4.8 - The metaphor of the inverted cup

• The Lord is the cause

• Sūtra 1.4.9 - The divine potency of the Lord

• Sūtra 1.4.10 - Created by the Lord, but still unborn

• Tamas, the subtle potency

• One and separated

• Exercise

+ Topic 3: Sankhyopasangrahādhikaraṇam - The five pañca-janās

• Sūtra 1.4.11 - Counting the material elements

• Sūtra 1.4.12 - Five pañca-janās doesn’t mean five groups of five

• Sūtra 1.4.13 - The two recensions of the Bṛhad-āraṇyaka Upaniṣad

• Exercise

+ Topic 4: Kāraṇatvādhikaraṇam - The cause of everything

• Sūtra 1.4.14 - The Lord is the cause of the elements, not material nature

• Sūtra 1.4.15 - The Lord is also non-existent and unmanifest

• Exercise

+ Topic 5: Jagad-vācitvādhikaraṇam - The creator of the world

• Sūtra 1.4.16 - The word karma means the universe, composed of matter and souls

• Sūtra 1.4.17 - Prāna is also not the supreme cause

• Sūtra 1.4.18 - The jīva merges into prāna and again emerges from there

• The instructions of King Ajātaśatru to Bālākī from the Kauṣītaki Upaniṣad

• Exercise

+ Topic 6: Vākyānyādhikaraṇam - By context, the Lord is understood

• Sūtra 1.4.19 - Paramātmā is the Self

• Sūtra 1.4.20 - By knowledge of the Self, everything becomes known

• Sūtra 1.4.21 - The pure soul develops the qualities of the Lord

• Sūtra 1.4.22 - The Lord in the heart is great and full of knowledge

• Yājñavalkya teaches Maitreyī: The passage from the Bṛhad-āraṇyaka Upanisad

• Exercise

+ Topic 7: Prakṛty-adhikaraṇam - Arguments against prakṛti as the material cause

• Sūtra 1.4.23 - Material nature is not separated from the Lord

• The cause and effect of the material manifestation

• Sūtra 1.4.24 - The Lord creates out of desire

• Sūtra 1.4.25 - Brahman created from Himself, standing upon Himself

• Sūtra 1.4.26 - Permutation of energy

• Sūtra 1.4.27 - The womb of the material creation

• Internal, external, and marginal energies

• Exercise

+ Topic 8: Sarva-vyākyātādhikaraṇam - All names are names of the Lord

• Sūtra 1.4.28 - All names belong to the Supreme Lord

• Exercise

+ All the sūtras of the fourth pāda in prose

☀️ What is the book about?

The Brahma-sūtra, or Vedānta-sūtra, is a short treatise written by Srila Vyāsadeva to transmit the ultimate conclusions of the Vedas. As Srila Prabhupada explains, “The Vedānta-sūtra, which consists of aphorisms revealing the method of understanding Vedic knowledge, is the concise form of all Vedic knowledge.”

It is called nyāya-prasthāna because it was written to allow one to understand the absolute truth through logic and argument, and this infallible logic becomes even more apparent in the commentary of Srila Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa. Nowadays, more than ever, we often base our convictions on emotion rather than logic, and this can lead to many misconceptions that are very difficult to extirpate. The profound and delicate arguments presented in the Govinda Bhāṣya can help us rewire our brains in this direction, which can be invaluable in all spheres of life.

This book is an attempt to provide an extensive, but at the same time easy-to-understand explanation of the Govinda Bhāṣya commentary of Srila Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa, based on the explanations of Srila Prabhupada, as a humble offering to the devotees who are interested in studying this important masterpiece under the light of Srila Prabhupada’s teachings.

What is the book about? | Read online

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➡️ Read the book online:

+ Preface

+ Chapter 1: The creation of an illusory world

• Internal, external, and marginal: Understanding the potencies of the Lord

• The role of Lord Sadāśiva

• What is pradhāna?

• The relationship between the souls and matter

• Why is the soul here in the material world?

+ Chapter 2: The “fall” of Jaya and Vijaya

• The demigods ask Brahmā for help

• The Kumāras visit Vaikuṇṭha

• Jaya and Vijaya are cursed by the Kumāras

• The Lord protects His devotees

• Jaya and Vijaya come to the material world

• How could Jaya and Vijaya “fall” into the material world?

• Questions about this mysterious pastime

• If devotional service is eternal, how can we forget?

+ Chapter 3: Lord Kapila explains our relationship with this material world

• Understanding the elements and material creation

• Souls and matter: like oil and water

• The creation of material consciousness

• The creation of the false ego from Sankarṣaṇa, followed by the mind, intelligence, and senses

• Uncovering the soul’s eternal nature

• Achieving the transcendental platform

• Conditioned life: The reflection in the dark room

• How the soul enters the body without leaving the spiritual sky

• Reflected consciousness

• Becoming free from the false ego

• Releasing the soul from material bondage

• Awakening from the dream

+ Chapter 4: The teachings of Sanat-kumāra

• The process of bhakti is described in more detail

• Our real position and relationship with the Lord

• The conclusion of the instructions of Sanat-kumāra

• Everyone should surrender to the Lord

+ Chapter 5: Lord Śiva instructs us on devotional service

• Attaining devotional service, the topmost process

• The Lord is the only object of worship

• The material world is only material when we want to imitate the Lord

+ Chapter 6: The history of every conditioned soul

• The allegory of King Purañjana

• Purañjana comes in contact with the material intelligence

• How we become entangled in matter, and how we can become free

• Purañjana abandons his intelligence and hunts in the forest

• Reviving our original Kṛṣṇa Consciousness

• Purañjana becomes princess Vaidarbhī in his next life

• Malayadhvaja retires to the forest

+ Chapter 7: Kṛṣṇa reveals our original nature

• Vaidarbhī meets the Lord

• The original home

• The meaning of the allegory

• The final conclusion on the “fall” of the Jīva

+ Chapter 8: A commentary on ‘Crow and Tal-Fruit Logic’

• Always With Kṛṣṇa

• Covered by māyā

• Jaya and Vijaya and the eternal lila with Kṛṣṇa

• An Allegory

• Why shouldn’t we discuss if the answer is there?

☀️ What is the book about?

Prabhupāda explains that the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the ripened fruit of spiritual knowledge. That’s the book Prabhupāda dedicated most of his literary efforts to, commenting in detail and explaining all the philosophical facets of Kṛṣṇa Consciousness.

Just as in other topics, Prabhupāda’s commentary explains in detail our situation in this material world, including how we came here and what our original position is. The “fall” of the jīva has an inconceivable element to it, a spiritual mystery that is very hard to comprehend. At the same time, however, it became a source of much debate, often based on little more than dry logic and speculation, which produces confusion and doubt. Considering the situation and the negative effect it has on the spiritual lives of many, one may be interested in a detailed study of the answers Śrīla Prabhupāda gives.

The goal of this book is not to just give you a long and inconclusive list of quotes, but to examine the way Prabhupāda develops his explanation of the constitutional position of the soul in his commentary on the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, starting from the First Canto, and going all the way to the end of the Fourth Canto, where his conclusions are revealed.

Although these conclusions are clear enough when properly supported, they can be fully understood only when we carefully study the text, something not many of us have the time to do. Because the passages where Prabhupāda develops his explanation are spread through the four Cantos and intercalated with passages discussing other topics, even the most intellectual can have difficulty following through.

In this book, we focus on the passages that are directly connected with this topic, creating a short and sequential study that is easier to follow. By becoming familiar with the way Prabhupāda explains, we can understand this difficult topic without falling into all the useless and damaging mental speculation and pedantic arguments Prabhupāda warns us about.

The conclusion is not just true but also uplifting, nourishing our desire to leave this temporary material world and return to the association of our eternal friend, who follows us even in our conditioned state, guiding us from inside the heart.

The Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣad is the shortest of the Upaniṣads. It was spoken by Varuṇa, who assumed the form of a frog (maṇḍūka). Māyāvādīs give a monistic interpretation of these verses, with the individual soul being the cause of the different states of consciousness and the ultimate stage as merging into Brahman. This is, however, not what the verses speak about. The Lord is the source of the different stages of consciousness experienced by the soul, and ultimately, He is their supreme enjoyer. In fact, each of the four stages is a manifestation of the Lord. Turīya is thus simultaneously a state of consciousness and a form of the Lord, the same for Taijasa and so on, just like Vāsudeva is an expansion of the Lord, the source of consciousness, and also a state of consciousness. By describing these different states of consciousness, the Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣad calls our attention to the ultimate goal of reviving our original consciousness as an eternal servant of the Supreme Lord, beyond all material contamination.

Just like all other Upaniṣads, the Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣad describes the Lord's transcendental qualities, the soul's eternal relationship with Him, and the process of devotional service that creates the conditions for the revival of this eternal relationship. Only by covering the real meaning of the words and hiding the context of the verses can an impersonal interpretation be sustained.

In this book, we have a translation and commentary of the verses from the Vaishnava perspective, following the commentaries of Srila Madhvācārya and Srila Ranga Rāmānuja, based on the teachings of Srila Prabhupada. By the mercy of these three powerful ācāryas, we hope to reveal the text's real meaning.

This is the third book in the series on the 11 main Upanisads I’m publishing. The first was the Taittirīya Upaniṣad, and the second the Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad.

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💬 Table of Contents

+ Preface

+ The conclusions of the Upaniṣads

+ 108 Upaniṣads

+ The Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣad

+ The fourth dimension

+ Śānti sūkta: prayers for auspiciousness

+ The First Khaṇḍa

+ The four aspects of the Lord

• Text 1.1

• Text 1.2

+ Viśva, and the waking state

• Text 1.3

+ Taijasa and the dream state

• Text 1.4

+ Prājña and the unconscious state

• Text 1.5

• Text 1.6

+ Madhvācārya adds further explanations

• Kārikā 1.7

• Kārikā 1.8

• Kārikā 1.9

• Kārikā 1.10

• Kārikā 1.11

• Kārikā 1.12

+ Refuting false theories

• Kārikā 1.13

• Kārikā 1.14

• Kārikā 1.14b - 1.15

+ The Second Khaṇḍa

+ Turīya, the fourth

• Text 2.1

+ Beyond all causes of bondage

• Kārikā 2.2

• Kārikā 2.3

+ The supreme eternal existence

• Kārikā 2.4

• Kārikā 2.5

• Kārikā 2.6

• Kārikā 2.7

+ Our original position in the eternal existence

• Kārikā 2.8

• Kārikā 2.9

• Kārikā 2.10

+ The Third Khaṇḍa

+ The connection with the Omkāra

• Text 3.1

• Text 3.2

• Text 3.3

• Text 3.4

+ Gaining mystic powers by meditation on the Lord

• Karika 3.5

• Karika 3.6

• Karika 3.7

• Karika 3.8

• Karika 3.9

+ The Fourth Khaṇḍa

+ The ultimate revelation

• Text 4.1

+ Attaining perfection

• Karika 4.2

• Karika 4.3

• Karika 4.4

• Karika 4.5

• Karika 4.6

• Karika 4.7

⬇️Download the PDF of the book (available soon)

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It would not be an exaggeration to say the Bhagavad-gītā is our most important book and the basis of our whole philosophy. When we can understand the mysteries of the Gītā, all the doors open, but when fail to study it, we risk getting stuck.

The Bhagavad-gītā, however, is not an easy book to understand. Just like in other Upaniṣads, the verses of Gītā are very complex in language and follow a very intricate logic. Srila Prabhupada does a masterful job in explaining the details in his purports, giving us a book that is worthy of being called "The Bhagavad-gītā As It Is". The weak link in the chain is however our own capacity to understand everything he explains.

If you already read the Gītā and felt just scratching the surface, this is a study that may be interesting for you. I'm writing it in the form of three volumes, explaining chapters 1 to 6, 7 to 12, and 13 to 18. Inside each chapter, the verses are broken into sections, helping to understand the flow of the text, the logic, and the arguments. At the end of each section, there are also the main points of the purports of Prabhupada, which can help you to go deeper into the points he makes. In this way, I try to find a balance between explaining the general flow of the text and the details of each verse, allowing you to get everything.

Here are the parts of the book that are already published. You will be seeing new updates here daily until we finish publishing the book. Feel free to follow along. You can subscribe to receive these updates by email:

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💬 Read the book online:

+ How to use this book

+ Why would one want to study the Bhagavad-gītā?

+ Introduction: The conclusions of the Bhagavad-gītā

• The essential qualification to understand the Gītā

• Understanding the Absolute Truth

• The 21 conclusions of the Bhagavad-gītā

• The Gītā-māhātmya

• Disciplic succession: the key to understanding the scriptures

+ Chapter One: Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra (Arjuna Viṣāda Yoga)

• Setting the scene of the Gītā (Bg 1.1)

• Duryodhana speaks to Droṇācārya (Bg 1.2 to 1.9)

• The political game before the battle (Bg 1.10 and 1.11)

• Signs of victory: the sounding of the conchshells (Bg 1.12 to 1.19)

• Arjuna orders Krsna (Bg 1.20 to 1.23)

• Arjuna sees the armies and his heart shatters (Bg 1.24 to 1.27)

• Arjuna feels compassion and fear (Bg 1.28 to 1.29)

• The result of material attachment (Bg 1.30)

• Arjuna's reasons for not fighting (Bg 1.31 to 1.39)

• How unwanted progeny destroys society (Bg 1.40 to 1.43)

• Arjuna voices his conclusion: He will not fight (Bg 1.44 and 1.45)

• The perfect opportunity (Bg 1.46)

• Summary of the first chapter of the Gītā

+ Chapter Two: Contents of the Gītā Summarized (Sānkhya Yoga)

• Krsna speaks to Arjuna as a friend (Bg 2.1 to 2.3)

• Arjuna's doubts persist (Bg 2.4 to 2.6)

• The moment of surrender (Bg 2.7 to 2.9)

• Descendant of Bharata (Bg 2.10)

• Krsna assumes a new role and chastises Arjuna (Bg 2.11)

• Knowledge about the soul (Bg 2.12 and 2.13)

• Beyond temporary happiness and distress (Bg 2.14 and 2.15)

• The eternal and the temporary (Bg 2.16)

• The true nature of the soul (Bg 2.17 to 2.21)

• More about the characteristics of the soul (Bg 2.22 to 2.25)

• Krsna argues from the atheistic perspective (Bg 2.26 to 2.28)

• The amazing people who can see the amazing soul (Bg 2.29 and 2.30)

• Do thou fight for the sake of fighting (Bg 2.31 to 2.38)

• Krsna explains the path of buddhi-yoga (Bg 2.39 to 2.41)

• Rejecting aparā-vidyā (Bg 2.42 to 2.46)

• You have a right to perform your duty, but not to enjoy the fruits (Bg 2.47 to 2.53)

• Four questions: The characteristics of a pure devotee (Bg 2.54)

• What are his symptoms? (Bg 2.55)

• How does he speak? (Bg 2.56 and 2.57)

• How does he sit? (Bg 2.58 to 2.63)

• How does he walk? (Bg 2.64 to 2.72)

• Wrapping it all up

• Summary of the second chapter of the Gītā

+ Chapter Three: Karma-yoga

+ Chapter Four: Transcendental Knowledge (Jñāna-Karma-Sannyāsa Yoga)

+ Chapter Five: Karma-yoga – Action in Kṛṣṇa Consciousness (Karma-Sannyāsa Yoga)

+ Chapter Six: Dhyāna-yoga

This book is being published as a free e-book so everyone can have free access to it. New topics are being added daily, and when the book is complete you will be able to download the PDF. If you would like to support my work, you can donate:

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⬇️Download the PDF of the book

(The PDF of the book will be available here at the end)

The Muṇḍaka Upanisad describes a conversation between the sage Angirasa and Śaunaka Rsi, the leader of the sages performing sacrifices in the forest of Naimiṣāraṇya. They started at the end of Dvapara-yuga and continued after the start of Kali-yuga. Although this great meeting of sages is commonly associated with the narration of the Srimad Bhagavatam by Sukadeva Goswami, it was also the stage for the narration of many other important scriptures.

This narration happened at some point before the narration of the Srimad Bhagavatam, and it is organized into three parts or muṇḍakas, each divided into two sections or khandas, making a total of six sections. Like in other Upanisads, the text uses poetic and metaphorical language to convey the teachings, making a literal translation practically unintelligible.

One of the topics described in the books is the distinction between two types of knowledge inside the Vedas: para-vidya (spiritual knowledge, describing the nature of the Supreme Lord, the soul, our eternal relationship with Him and the process of devotional service) and apara-vidya (lower knowledge about fruitive activities and other material subjects). Understanding the distinction between the two is essential in understanding the Vedas because the same verses can be understood at both levels according to one's level of qualification. When interpreted based on apara-vidya, the verses of the Vedas appear to describe fruitive activities, rituals, and different branches of material knowledge, but when the higher meaning, para-vidya, is revealed, one can see that the verses actually describe the Lord and the process of devotional service that allow us to attain Him.

This concept is essential to understanding the scriptures, because the same instructions acquire different meanings and the same actions lead to different results according to the mentality of the performer. This higher knowledge becomes accessible only when studied under the right conclusions.

The Muṇḍaka Upanisad is considered one of the cornerstones of the Advaita school. Śaṅkarācārya wrote an extensive commentary on it, which defined much of the basis of the Mayavada philosophy. Superficially, it indeed appears that many of the verses describe the impersonal aspect and impersonal liberation, but when we dive deep, we can see the verses actually describe the Supreme Lord in His personal aspect, the nature of the soul, and devotional service to Him as the supreme goal of life. In this way, this commentary is not just an explanation of the Muṇḍaka Upanisad according to the Vaishnava school, but also a refutation of the Mayavada interpretation.

Both Srila Ranga Ramanuja and Srila Madhvacarya wrote brief commentaries on the Muṇḍaka Upanisad, and Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana explains the conclusions in his Govinda Bhasya. However, they are not easily understandable without the conclusions given by Srila Prabhupada in his books. It's only because Prabhupada explains the concepts discussed in the Upanisads in so much detail in his books that understanding the commentaries of the previous acaryas in their entirety becomes possible.

This is the second book in the series on the 11 main Upanisads I’m publishing. The first was the Taittirīya Upaniṣad, which is already available in full.

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💬 Table of Contents

+ Preface

+ The conclusions of the Upaniṣads

+ 108 Upaniṣads

+ The Muṇḍaka Upanisad

+ First Muṇḍaka - 1st Section

• The disciplic succession
  Text 1.1.1
  Text 1.1.2

• Śaunaka approaches Angirasa
  Text 1.1.3

• Parā-vidyā and aparā-vidyā: The secret of the Vedas is revealed
  Text 1.1.4
  Text 1.1.5

• The imperishable Brahman
  Text 1.1.6
  Text 1.1.7

• Understanding the cosmic creation
  Text 1.1.8

• The Supreme Brahman is a Person
  Text 1.1.9

+ First Muṇḍaka - 2nd Section

• The original understanding of the Vedas
  Text 1.2.1

• The performance of Vedic sacrifices
  Text 1.2.2
  Text 1.2.3
  Text 1.2.4
  Text 1.2.5

• Destinations of different performers of sacrifice
  Text 1.2.6

• Repeated birth and death
  Text 1.2.7
  Text 1.2.8
  Text 1.2.9
  Text 1.2.10

• The path of the sages
  Text 1.2.11
  Text 1.2.12
  Text 1.2.13

+ Second Muṇḍaka - 1st Section

• The Lord and the souls
  Text 2.1.1
  Text 2.1.2

• Description of the Universal Form
  Text 2.1.3
  Text 2.1.4

• The universal cycle of sacrifices
  Text 2.1.5

• The source and support of all manifestations
  Text 2.1.6
  Text 2.1.7
  Text 2.1.8
  Text 2.1.9
  Text 2.1.10

+ Second Muṇḍaka - 2nd Section

• The nature of the soul
  Text 2.2.1
  Text 2.2.2

• Achieving the ultimate goal of life
  Text 2.2.3
  Text 2.2.4
  Text 2.2.5

• Different states of consciousness
  Text 2.2.6

• Cutting the knots inside the heart
  Text 2.2.7
  Text 2.2.8
  Text 2.2.9-11

+ Third Muṇḍaka - 1st Section

• Two birds residing in the same tree
  Text 3.1.1
  Text 3.1.2

• Turning our face to the Lord
  Text 3.1.3
  Text 3.1.4

• Destroying all impurities
  Text 3.1.5
  Text 3.1.6

• The Supreme Destination
  Text 3.1.7
  Text 3.1.8
  Text 3.1.9
  Text 3.1.10

+ Third Muṇḍaka - 2nd Section

• Knowing the Lord
  Text 3.2.1
  Text 3.2.2

• Attaining the Supreme
  Text 3.2.3
  Text 3.2.4

• Our original spiritual nature
  Text 3.2.5
  Text 3.2.6
  Text 3.2.7
  Text 3.2.8

• Final words
  Text 3.2.9
  Text 3.2.10
  Text 3.2.11

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Mundaka Upanisad Ccdas

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The explanation of the Sankhya philosophy in the Srimad Bhagavatam encompasses eight of the final chapters of the third canto. In these chapters, Lord Kapila offers an incredibly detailed explanation about the universe, the goal of life, and the process of devotional service, the very means to achieve this goal.

Lord Kapila explains our existence in this material world, as well as details about the process of devotional service that are not explored in other passages. Following the deepness of the teachings, Srila Prabhupada gives some of his most memorable purports, revealing even more details. Apart from the deepness of the knowledge discussed, another striking characteristic of these teachings is the logical way they are transmitted. The topics are discussed with very intricate logic, which makes the explanations incredibly attractive, especially for inquisitive persons who are after answers. However, the fact that so much knowledge is discussed in such a concise way makes most of us go through it merely scratching the surface or licking the bottle without opening it.

This book is published as a free e-book so everyone can have free access to it. The PDF is at the end of the page. If you would like to support my work, you can donate:

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+ Preface

+ Introduction: The false Kapila

+ Chapter 01: The Sankhya Philosophy of Lord Kapila

• The philosophy of the real Kapila

  Freedom from material entanglement

  Finding real sādhus

  The result of good association

• Kapila introduces the Sankhya system

  Eternal opulences

+ Chapter 02: Understanding the elements and material creation

• Knowledge of the absolute truth

  Description of material nature

  Who is responsible for our current position?

  Devahuti enquires further

• The material creation

  The time factor

  Manifestation of the mahat-tattva

  Souls and matter: like oil and water

  Lord Kapila adds to the previous descriptions of creation

• The creation of material consciousness

  The creation of material consciousness from Vāsudeva

  The creation of the false ego from Sankarṣaṇa

  The creation of the mind, intelligence, and senses

• The creation of the material elements

  The creation of sound

  The creation of ether (sky)

  The creation of touch and air

  The creation of form and fire

  The creation of taste and water, odor and earth

  A short conclusion

• The material universes are created

  The Lord manifests the Virat-rupa inside each universe

  The senses appear inside the universe

  The soul and the Supersoul

+ Chapter 03: Understanding Material Nature

• Uncovering the soul’s eternal nature

  Like the sun reflected on the water

  Like a dream

  Achieving the transcendental platform

  Maintaining the body, in pure consciousness

• Conditioned life: The reflection in the dark room

  How the soul enters into the body without leaving the spiritual sky

  The eternal servitor of the Lord

  Reflected consciousness

  Becoming free from the false ego

• Releasing the soul from material bondage

  Real liberation

  Manifestation of the internal fire

  Awakening from the dream

  The ultimate perfection

+ Chapter 04: Meditation on the Lord

• The preliminary process of yoga

  Yama and Niyama

  Asana and Prāṇāyāma

• Seeing the Lord

  The glories and pastimes of the Lord

  The lotus feet of the Lord

• Meditating on the form of the Lord

  Developing pure love

  The yogi and his body

  The Lord and the jiva

+ Chapter 05: Different categories of devotional service

• Devahuti asks more questions

• Devotional service in the three modes of material nature

  Pure devotional service

• Practical devotional activities

  Prescribed duties

  Nonviolence and temple worship

  Relationship with others

• Catching the Supersoul

  How a devotee should deal with others

  Varieties of living entities

  The ultimate goal

• The devastating effects of time

  Time as a manifestation of the Lord

  A devotee has nothing to fear

  Krsna protects His devotees

  Everything is under the control of the Lord

  The nature of time

+ Chapter 06: Adverse Fruitive Activities

• Playing with the material energy

  The deluding effect of material energy

• Life and death of a materialist

  The dark side of the material world

+ Chapter 07: The suffering of a new birth

• The baby suffers in the womb

  Prayers and remembrance of past lives inside the womb

  10 months, or 9 months?

• The perils of a new birth in the material world

  The problem of bad association

  Purifying our relationships

• Our eternal nature beyond death

+ Chapter 08: Entanglement in Fruitive Activities

• The dangerous path out of material illusion

  Attached workers

  Detached workers

  The great yogis

  Why even Lord Brahma sometimes does not attain liberation

  Elevation to Pitṛloka

• Kapila's last instructions

  A summary of Kapila's teachings

  Who are the suitable students?

+ Chapter 09: Devahuti attains perfection

• Prayers of Devahuti to her divine son

  A simple path of self-realization

  Devahuti attains perfection

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Sankhya Of Lord Kapila Ccdas

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The Upaniṣads are collections of passages from the original Vedas that discuss self-realization. The Taittirīya Upanisad, for example, is composed of three chapters that came originally from the Yajurveda. In his Sat-Sandarbhas Srila Jiva Goswami explains that while most of the verses of the original Vedas didn't survive the passage of time, we can still understand the meaning of the original Vedas by studying the Upaniṣads through the conclusions offered in the Vedanta Sutra, as well as the Puranas, of which the Srimad Bhagavatam is the chief.

Often we have the idea that the Upaniṣads support the impersonal conception of the Absolute Truth, but this is actually due to the many Mayavadi interpretations of the texts. In reality, the Upaniṣads directly speak about the personal form of the Lord, just like the Bhagavad-Gita and the Srimad Bhagavatam. The difficulty is that the Upaniṣads are parts of the original Vedas, and thus the language is more metaphorical, and the concepts more abstract.

Different from books like the Mahabharata or Ramayana, the Upaniṣads were written to be studied in the company of the spiritual master, receiving explanations, asking questions, and so on. Considering most of us don’t have the opportunity to study the Upanisads from a self-realized soul, how can we understand? It happens that Srila Prabhupada gave all the important conclusions of the Upanisads in his purports, basing his work on the conclusions of Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana in the Govinda Bhasya, as well as the works of other acaryas. These conclusions allow us to properly interpret the texts and unveil the deep meaning hidden in the verses.

This translation and commentary on the Taittirīya Upaniṣad is the first in a series on the eleven main Upanisads and the Govinda Bhasya of Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana, a humble attempt to explain all these works according to the teachings of Srila Prabhupada.

Often we fail to appreciate how much Srila Prabhupada gives the conclusions of the Upaniṣads, the Vedanta sutras, and the Sat Sandarbhas in his books. I hope this attempt may also shed some light in this direction.

This book is published as a free e-book so everyone can have free access to it. You are also welcome to share the file. If you would like to support my work, you can donate:

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+ Preface

+ The conclusions of the Upaniṣads

+ 108 Upaniṣads

+ The Taittiriya Upanisad

+ Chapter One: The Śikṣā-vallī

• Section 1: All names belong to the Lord

• Section 2: The science of phonetics (śikṣā)

• Section 3: The teaching of connecting links

• Section 4: The purpose of auspiciousness

• Section 5: The four vyāhṛtis, the sacred syllables

• Section 6: The golden person inside the heart

• Section 7: Description of the material elements

• Section 8: Om is the essence of everything

• Section 9: The role of material duties

• Section 10: Positive spiritual identity

• Section 11: Duties for a pious life

• Section 12: The end of the teachings

+ Chapter Two: The Ānanda-vallī

• Section 1: Five levels of consciousness

• Section 2: The anna-maya and prāṇa-maya

• Section 3: The mano-maya

• Section 4: The vijñāna-maya

• Section 5: The ānanda-maya

• Section 6: The Nature of the Supreme Lord

• Section 7: The basic principle of bliss

• Section 8: The Ultimate Perfection

• Section 9: Attaining the Supreme Destination

+ Chapter Three: The Bhṛguvallī

• Section 1: Brahman is the source of everything

• Section 2: Bhṛgu realizes the anna-maya

• Section 3: Bhṛgu realizes the prāṇa-maya

• Section 4: Bhṛgu realizes the mano-maya

• Section 5: Bhṛgu realizes the vijñāna-maya

• Section 6: Bhṛgu realizes the ānanda-maya

• Section 7: Spiritual instructions

• Section 8: Everything comes from the Lord

• Section 9: The Lord is merciful

• Section 10: Seeing the Lord Everywhere

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Taittiriya Upanisad Ccdas

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Introduction

+ Chapter 1: What does the Bhagavatam say?
- The island of Jambudvipa
- The other islands
- The vertical dimension

+ Chapter 2: Different perceptions of reality

+ Chapter 3: A Multidimensional Universe

+ Chapter 4: Vedas vs Science

+ Chapter 5: Understanding Bhu-Mandala

+ Chapter 6: Is the Earth flat?

+ Chapter 7: The orbit of the Sun

+ Chapter 8: The different planetary systems

+ Chapter 9: The Realms of the Devas and Asuras

+ Chapter 10: Time and Space in the Vedic Universe

+ Chapter 11: Cycles that affect our planet

+ Chapter 12: Dawn of a New Golden Age

+ Chapter 13: Cosmic Cycles

+ Chapter 14: How the cosmic dates given in the Vedas match modern science

+ Chapter 15: Are we living in a different dimension than people from other eras?

+ Chapter 16: The Journey of a Soul through the Universe

+ Chapter 17: Prabhupada explains the material Universe

+ Appendix One: Why space exploration is a waste of time and money

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When someone starts a diet or starts doing exercise, the first day is relatively easy. The problem is to continue long term. As soon as we try to do something that demands sacrifices, especially for a long period, many obstacles, distractions, temptations, and difficulties appear, testing our determination. In our spiritual life, it’s not different.

As Srila Prabhupada puts it, to try to follow spiritual life seriously means to declare war against Maya. When one declares war against a strong adversary, he shouldn’t expect that the opponent will stay still and not react.

It’s very common to see devotees who are enthusiastic in the beginning but have problems later due to a lack of deep philosophical understanding. Some succumb to material desires or mental speculation, others get burned out, and some lose their faith in the teachings and gradually stop following them. Some try to find shortcuts on the spiritual path and get attracted to different groups with concocted philosophies and practices, some get involved with Vaishnava aparadha due to bad association, others get too much involved with mental speculation or materialistic views, etc.

To be able to navigate through the difficulties we must have not only determination but also a good deal of maturity. The goal of this small book is to offer some philosophical basis about common traps in our spiritual development, so we can understand the pitfalls and thus be able to avoid them.

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura explains that spiritual progress should be based on three components: Sambandha, Abhidheya, and Prayojana. Abhidheya is our spiritual practice and Prayojana is the goal we aim to achieve with this practice, but to understand what should be our practice and what is the goal we need to first cultivate Sambandha, or philosophical understanding. Without this proper understanding, it’s difficult to understand where and how we should go.

When there is no Sambandha, or practice doesn’t have a very solid basis and tends to crumble over time. Our spiritual practice then becomes lax and our spiritual health decays.

Keeping our focus is essential not only for our own spiritual life but also for the success of our whole movement. A group is only as strong as the sum of its parts. If our devotees are individually weak, the movement as a whole will also be weak. If we lose focus, our movement can fragment and degenerate into a bunch of un-bonafide sects. It happened in the past and can happen again if we are not careful. Krsna is in control, but He respects our free will.

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Apasampradayas Traps In Our Path Back To Godhead

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Chapter 1: A historical perspective

What are apasampradayas?

Saki-Bheki, Chuda Dhari, Gauranga Nagari (Prakrta-sahajiyas)

Caste goswamis

Caste brahmanas

Ativadi: too great

Kartabaja: blind followers

Bauls and others

Chapter 2: The Revival

Srila Prabhupada comes to the West

Obstacles on our path

Chapter 3: Traps in our way back to Godhead

Sahajiya and Mayavada

The example of the “Gopi-bhava club”

Being sincere

“Time, place and circumstance”

Although the body is not our true self, the body is a vehicle that one can use to achieve self-realization. As in any long and difficult journey, it’s important to take care of our vehicle so we can achieve our destination.

Instead of again publishing a physical book, which creates a series of logistical challenges for it to reach readers in different parts of the world, I decided to simply publish it digitally, so all interested can have easy access to it. Feel free to read and share.

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How To Have A Better Health To Better Serve Krsna Ccdas

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Chapter 1: Understanding diet and health

How disease is cured
The three health issues that are the source of most other problems

Chapter 2: What to use and what to avoid

The problem with refined vegetable oils
The problem with sugar
The problem with wheat flour
Rice: good or bad?
Why fried food isn’t such a good idea
An alert about starches and high glycemic foods
Is soy good or bad?
The importance of vegetables and fruits
It’s not rocket science: Carbohydrates, resistant starches, and soluble fibers
How to cook when we don’t have time to cook
Being raw food is good or bad?

Chapter 3: Activating the natural healing mechanisms of the body

Feasting and fasting
The power of intermittent fasting
The 16:8 system
18:6 and 20:4
HGH and testosterone
One time per day?
Water fasting as a healing aid
Fasting and hunger
Fasting is not a panacea
How to start?
How to break the fast?
How to make fasting easier?

Chapter 4: How to lose weight in a sustainable way

Something to avoid
Insulin and glucagon
How to avoid loose skin when losing weight
A spiritual perspective
Milk: good or bad?
What about exercise?

Chapter 5: More topics

Supplements: what to consider, what to avoid
A solution for pain
Cancer and diet?
Take away: eight principles for good health

In recent years, many books about book distribution have been written and published. With so many experienced book distributors sharing their experience, it seems that book distribution in ISKCON is entering a new era.

At the same time, there is a great danger: weakened spiritual practices, lack of systematic training and focus in bridge preaching and ritualistic activities are reducing the number of stable and experienced book distributors in our movement. Many of our experienced book distributors are becoming old, and it is still not clear if a new generation is going to step forward to replace them. If these tendencies are not addressed, we may instead enter a dark age, where book distribution may become part of a forgotten past.

HG Aindra Prabhu was speaking about a kirtana grassroots revolution. Similarly, we can create a book distribution grassroots revolution, starting with interested individuals and them progressing to all spheres of our ISKCON society. We can learn from past mistakes and master ways to not only increase the quantity, but also improve the quality of our book distribution, touching people’s hearts and inspiring them to study our books and start their spiritual path.

Srila Prabhupada once said that history will mark how ISKCON saved the world in its darkest hour. As the world society becomes more and more degraded, our mission to step forward and bring some light in the form of spiritual books becomes more and more urgent and necessary. For this, we need some moons: devotees that will be inspired to dedicate their lives to improve their spiritual practice and to inspire others through their example and potency.

This book is my small attempt in this direction. The main factor in deciding about publishing this book as a free e-book instead of hard copy is to allow all interested devotees to have easy access to it and to share with their friends. There is no marketing department or advertisement budget: this book is being propagated by word of mouth alone. If you get some inspiration, some valuable information, or some realization in this book, feel free to share it with others. This book took a long time to ripen. I started working on it in 2014, but it was finally completed only in the spring of 2019. This long period allowed me to relate in detail many realizations from book distribution while they were still fresh in the memory. Many passages were written directly on the frontline, in the van, or on park benches during breaks on book distribution.

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Getting The Mercy Book Distribution And The Ultimate Goal

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Chapter 1: The sankirtana tree
How did it start?
Not only in the street
E-books and new mediums
Developing compassion
A golden opportunity
Krsna helps
Key points in this chapter

Chapter 2: Cooperation is the key
The ultimate instruction of the Bhagavad-gita
Cooperation is the key
Bombing-raid or invasion?
“Be an instrument in the fight”
Unity in diversity
Advancing beyond rajas and tamas
Sadhu-sanga and social interaction
Key points in this chapter

Chapter 3: Practical considerations
Getting the mercy
Three important points
Understanding the basics
To not contaminate our book distribution
Dealing with small donations
Getting the proper equipment
“Burned” places
Using our time effectively
A few more points Other styles of book distribution
Distribution in difficult places
Distribution and cultivation
Techniques can only bring one so far
Where to start?
Key points in this chapter

Chapter 4: Improving our sankirtana
Stability, discipline and empowerment
Molding our lives around book distribution
The best balance Surpassing the mental platform
Inspiration and discipline
Improving our results
“Then what’s the use?”
Bringing the mind to our side
Being self-satisfied
The hard way and the smart way
The difference between detachment and laziness
Transcendental competition
Don’t burn yourself out
Book distribution in old age
The tip of the iceberg
Key points in this chapter

Chapter 5: Going further
Krsna is the doer
Samadhi on book distribution
Mature book distribution
Different classes of devotees
A word from the scriptures
Discrimination, compassion and humility
More practical considerations
The 9th offence
Contrary arguments
Good Christians are going to become devotees
Training new book distributors
Kirtanas and spiritual practice
Constant chanting
The eternal present
Key points in this chapter

Chapter 6: Traveling sankirtana
Some basic preparations
Organizing the travelings
Living in a van Using stacks
On diet, nutrition and health
The importance of temples
Key points in this chapter

Chapter 7: Maintaining purity
Being sincere
The enemy within
Polemical statements, a case study
Casting doubts
The example of the “Gopi-bhava club”
Babajis, siddha-pranali and raganuga
» False siddha-pranali
» The reforms of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura
» The two limbs of sadhana-bhakti
» Our connection with Krsna
» Real siddha-deha
» The gray line
The source of knowledge and detachment
“Time place and circumstance”
Key points in this chapter

Chapter 8: Spreading Krsna consciousness in family life and beyond
Some philosophy
Spiritual standards
Why, if, when and how?
The danger of illicit sex
False renunciation
Preventing quarrels and solving problems
Tolerance and detachment Bringing it all out
On choosing a partner
The ultimate goal
Key points in this chapter