Swami B. V. Tripurari

What should be our focus when we chant? How should we as Gaudiya Vaishnavas understand puranic stories that make it seem that forms of Sri Krishna and his associates are not eternal, and that some other form than Krishna's is his origin? Sometimes it is said that we must meditate on Sri Sri Radha Krishna embracing and kissing when we recite the Kama-gayatri. This makes me uncomfortable. What i...

Do we need to understand the adhikara of others in order to relate to them properly? Is there a risk involved in assessing the adhikara of others, as we may make mistakes? Is it possible that Sri Krishna may put one in a position where one has to stand up for oneself, and that would be the humble thing to do? Do self-realized souls never make mistakes about material knowledge? Could self-realized...

In a recent lecture, you mentioned that for a devotee, the spiritual path is initially narrow and curved, but later becomes straight and broad. Could you kindly elaborate on this realisation and reveal the deeper meaning behind these stages of devotion? I've been greatly appreciative of the Q&A sessions and other classes of yours on YouTube and I am inspired to hear more and take shiksa fr...

Pranama to Sri Sri Guru Gauranga and the devotees The questions in this session are the following: Does one have realize one's guru's siddha-deha before one can realize one's own, or vice versa? A couple weeks ago you mentioned that Srila Prabhupada once translated the Maha Mantra as "O my friend! O my friend!" I find this translation so sweet and charming and was wondering if...

Pranama to Sri Sri Guru Gauranga and the Vaishnavas The questions in this Swami call are the following: I heard you mentioning that at the time of initiation one's body is transformed in sadhaka-deha and is no longer material to a degree to which one is engaged in Bhakti. Is this statement actually about a theological aspect of initiation, or rather about a transformative nature of devotional...

Pranama to Sri Guru Gauranga and the Vaishnavas 🙏  The questions in this Swami call are the following: Should we make offerings to the deities according to the timings of Gaura- and Krishna-lila? What is the relationship between lust and envy? What readings do you recommend for studying what lilas Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Sri Radha Krishna are engaged in throughout the day? Do you have a f...

Question on today's Swami call: At the end of last Saturday's class, you spoke about the simplicity of Srila Bhaktikavi Atulananda Acarya Maharaj and about how this beautiful quality was so favorable to his devotional life, although it could sometimes be misunderstood by others. You also mentioned that perhaps you might speak a little more about this topic in today's class. If you cons...

Questions on today's Swami call: Some time ago, I asked Srila Gurudeva Atulananda: "If you are no longer physically present, in whom may I take refuge?" He had previously told me that Srila Tripurari Maharaja was a vast source from which bhakti flowed; he reminded me of that conversation and repeated that I could take refuge in you. What must I do so you accept me? Pranams Guru Maharaj...

During this special Q&A session on the departure of the spiritual master, the following questions were asked: After the passing of our guru, what do we need to feel to completely accept a shiksha-guru as the same with our gurudeva? Is the relationship one of complete surrender or rather distant? Will we be ready someday? "Could you guide us on how to understand the spiritual perfection and...

Questions on today's Swami call: In Circle of Friends, on page 301, Krsna is absent from Vraja, appearing as if a *sphurti - a hallucination. it is written that Yasoda’s experience of Krsna in dreams while separated was actual. “Indeed, he said he was eating her cooking daily” meaning that in the dreams he was eating it. Is this the same way a Murti of Sri Krsna eats Mahaprasadam? What does th...

Questions on today's Swami call: Dear Maharaj, please accept my most humble obeisances. As you know our dearest Sripad Gurudeva Atulananda left this world for the eternal past times in Goloka Vrindavan, leaving his disciples heartbroken by the separation. I am trying to navigate this situation where I feel completely lonely and lost without my beloved spiritual master. I turn to you with humil...

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 i...

Questions on today’s Swami call: Dandavats, Guru Maharaja. Please accept my humble obeisances. I have a question that has been on my mind. If Mahāprabhu spent much of His early life as Nimāi Paṇḍita, deeply engaged in nyāya, grammar, and scholarship in Navadvīpa, what was the transformative element in His meeting with Īśvara Purī that brought forth such profound ecstatic devotion? More specificall...

Questions on today's Swami call: Dandavat Pranams Guru Maharaja! Recently I came across Guru Gita from the Skanda Purana, and it made me wonder if we have any such texts in our tradition that comprehensively speak of the Glories of Sri Guru and explain the Guru Tattva that practitioners can read and meditate upon. There is this discussion in Jaiva Dharma, chapter 9, that confuses me: Adwaita d...

Questions on today's Swami call: My question is a bit strange: what should one do in case onebecomes a target of an "attack" by someone who can utilize spirits/ghost entities or some kind of energetic influence or spells? I remember Bhaktivinoda Thakur used to read the Bhagavatam when he was attacked by the mistik who pretended to be Bhagavan. But for one whois far less eligible than B...

Questions on today's Swami call: Jay Sri Radhe most respected dear Swamiji, deeply grateful to be able to reconnect with YOU like this. U might remember me under the NAME of MALATI. Much of the FAITH & STRENGH 4 BHAKTI YOU did implant into my SOUL - many years ago. I still remember WORD by WORD many of the Secrets & Divine treasures u told me 1993 in VRINDAVAN. My question please: HOW...

Dear Guru Maharaja, is it possibly an upset for Radharani to have Sri placed next to Krsna? Are interfaith relations ultimately not meant to last, since the practitioners will attain different goals? Where in Bhaktivinoda Thakura's writings are the theological points of Christianity and Vaishnavism you spoke of found in, Guru Maharaja? Guru Maharaja mentioned recently that he says special pray...

Questions on today’s Swami Call:  Bhaktivedanta Swami in his purport says in his purport to Bhagavad Gita 10.38: "Among the confidential activities of hearing, thinking and meditating, silence is most important because by silence one can make progress very quickly." These words sound very inspiring, could you comment on this? Dandavats, dear Guru Maharaja. I have a question about the theod...

Can you share something about your relationship with Agnideva Prabhu who passed away recently? What is the role of reason in the life of faith? Dandavats Guru Maharaja. I want to know what how you felt after Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance. What did you think to be the right succession of leadership in Iskcon? Did the eleven zonal acharyas/gurus appoint themselves or were they chosen by Prabhupad...

Questions on today’s Swami Call:  If Krishna's marriage to Radha and the young gopis happens during the gopi vasta harana lila, and is a legitimate form of marriage, then it seems the gopis' subsequent marriages to their "husbands" would be parakiya and their relationships to Krishna would be svakiya. Jiva Goswami says so I believe. Is this correct? Is this another case of wonderfu...

Questions on today's Swami Call: Hare Krishna, Guru Maharaja. Dandavat pranams. Is it okay to read the Sri Caitanya-Caritamta before completing the Srimad Bhagavatam? Also, what is your favorite book? As Sri Krishna's mercy flows downward reaches the lowest places, is the best way to attain his mercy to lower and humble ourselves? Does the topic of mercy and effort relate to the Bhagavad-g...

Questions on today's Swami Call: When our mind is filled with bhakti, are we connecting directly with Sri Krishna? How do we figure out what seva to offer if we are not aware of our gifts? Or if we have an idea of what our gifts are, how can we overcome our fear that by expressing them we may be seen as not humble? How should we understand the phrase "Krishna will provide"? Does the fo...

Questions on today's Swami call: How to hear the caitya-guru before we have reached higher stages of bhakti? Are there any contemporary sadhus that you would recommend hearing from? What is the difference between Dvaraka bhava and Mathura bhava? If Sri Krishna is supposed to be humanlike, why did he mature faster than normal? Why do some devotees in the Brhad-Bhagavatamta say that they have no...

Questions on today's Swami call: Dear Guru Maharaja, how can learn to see the good qualities in others like you do instead of getting stuck on bad qualities that I perceive If one does the heavy lifting of overcoming a bad tendency in this life, will one be reborn without that tendency in the next life? What is the role of constructive criticism in Gaudiya Vaishnavism? Dandavats Guru Maharaja....

Questions on today's Swami call: Is the limb of saranagati called atma-niksepa the same as the limb of bhakti called atma-nivedanam? Could the idea that bhakti is not inherent cause the problem of thinking that one has to go to a different guru if one does feel they are making progress? Is it correct that the svarupa-sakti in the jiva is minute and needs stronger