A foot placed firmly in culture .

The Vedic Spectator blog teaches about the Vedic idea of the descending process of wisdom and knowledge and writes about the special dispensation of Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu and the loving glance of Srimati Radharani and Sri Guru

The Vedic Spectator blog explores traditional Gaudiya Vaishnava philosophy, focusing on the descending process of knowledge (avaroha-pantha). According to this Vedic concept, absolute truth can not be reached through human logic or ascending speculation. Instead, it must descend from a higher spiritual reality through a chain of authorized teachers (parampara). However, the process of jnana and philosophically led speculations do have some benefits. The blog highlights three central figures in this descending flow of wisdom: Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu: Recognized as the special dispensation for the modern age , He distributed the highest spiritual love (prema) freely through the congregational chanting of the holy names and study of the Srimad Bhagavatam . Srimati Radharani: Representing the embodiment of topmost devotion , Her compassionate glance is considered the ultimate source of spiritual nourishment and grace .Sri Guru: Serving as the transparent medium through whom this divine, descending grace and knowledge are transmitted directly to the sincere seeker . Srila Jiva Goswami in his Bhagavat Sandarbha speaks about glances . The glance of Mahavisnu and the glance of the conditioned living beings are two different things . However, conditioned glances can change to less conditioned glances by cultivation and practice of spiritual knowledge in the correct manner. How does one view the material world and the people within it ?  in ignorance or with knowledge ?  that is the all-important question posed in  Vedic cultures . A  person of culture sees and acts one way, and an uncultured uncouth fellow sees in another way . He may have a pocket full of PHDs but be a complete idiot says Richard Feynman. Systematic acquisition of knowledge by the process of association and directions of the intelligentsia is much needed by everyone. The purest of cultures actually arrive to humanity by a decending process , and by grace and are never absent pe say . These truths are delineated within the Vedas and have been further elaborated upon in recent times by the Gaudia Vaisnava acaryas . Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu has decended to explain how in this age the highest of cultures are available to the most uncultured persons and immediately . Western scientific materialism and Darwinian hypothesis are based on guessing , speculations and an ascending attempt at knowledge , that “By MY efforts and MY intelligence I will become the great knower and I will give MY benedictions to MY fellow humans . To a degree ,the Vedas say , the process of “jnana” or speculative knowledge can assist in knowledge acquisition , but it’s a limited approach.  Ludwig van Beethoven knew something wonderful was flowing through him and that it was not just random neurons firing in his brain  . Ones glancing and observations of the world changes from one of exploitation to a humbled service attitude in recognition of the source of inspiration and of  widom of all kinds . Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita ” I will give you the intelligence to come to Me and understand all things as they are  ” There is no question left answered , God wants to communicate and different educational systems are in place accordingly . Within the teachings of Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the very highest exhibitions of glances of love saturated with Bhakti and devotional sentiments  is commented upon , this is defined as an ever increasing and ever new love ,  and in that sense,  an incalculable spiritual love and devotion are attempting to be described . The Gaudia Vaisnava acaryas , stemming from Srila Rupa and Ragganatha Goswami’s,  in their elaborations of the tenth Canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam , have opened the windows to the spiritual planes. Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally came to experience the power of such a glance of the Supreme Goddess of fortune Srimati Radharani and taught about Her  glorious position as the fountain head of pure Bhakti . Sri Sri Radha Krishna  loving mysteries have been somewhat revealed . The  inquisitive person who is eager and greedy to know about the very highest spiritual attractions can qualify themselves , and this  beauty of a glance of love that  shakes the very foundations of spiritual emotions may decend by the mercy of Bhakti devi , Sri Guru is her agent.

The members of any Gaudia Vaisnava societies would be sadly mistaken if they thought that the fullness and the conclusions of  the conversation between Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Ramananda Roy did not apply to their respective societies , or them personally.  Putting on foot firmly on the floor before lifting one’s leg to take another step is essential , of course, less we fall on the ground. All the litratures of the Gaudia Vaisnava acaryas are meant for the prospective members of Gaudia Vaisnava groups of devotees , without them, the full journey Ramananda Roy and Mahāprabhu had  spoken about could not be completed.
This is common sense Vaisnavism . The study of the Bhagavad Gita,  and the Srimad Bhagavatam and chanting Gods names with a great longing are the means and the end .

More on these essential topics soon .
http://www.thevedicspectator.com

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