Skip to content

Cleansing the mirror of the heart

Become expert at cleaning..

Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu has brought everyone the process of congregational chanting of the Holy names , along with personal meditation on the holy names that are revealing the trancendental realms and varigatedness of Vrndavana Dharma. Trancendental sound purifies the atmosphere of the world and an individual heart and brings real intelligence to be able to see things as they are . Chanting the Holy names congregationally or personalised jappa are both the means and the end of a perfection of spiritual life . Cleaning the heart is the essential task , and Mahāprabhu showed a wonderful example in His pastimes when  cleaning the Gundicha temple that is recorded in the Caitanya Caratamrita with extensive commentaries by Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada . He relates within his writings the Gaudia Vaisnava acaryas thoughts on the processes of purification. Unwanted things are carried life after life , careful cleaning is needed and where to clean within the deep subtle heart and mind needs to be learned by those who are expert cleaners . All offences must be given up ,offences get in the way of deep flowing faith , faith carries one a long way . One should not be  expecting respect or a following, and giving respect to everyone is the key to success in chanting and reaching the esoteric trancendental planes of Krishna’s eternal pastimes with His family and friends .
The conclusion of Bhagavad Gita is “Think of Me become my devotee, ” Krishna says it, and Mahāprabhu demonstrated how to do it .
man-manā bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru
mām evaiṣyasi satyaṁ te
pratijāne priyo ’si me
Translation
Always think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend

Here is overview..

“The Gundicha Temple cleaning, or Gundicha Marjana, is a significant annual ritual before the Rath Yatra, where Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and His devotees thoroughly sweep and wash the temple, symbolizing the inner purification of the heart from unwanted desires (anarthas) to make it a fit place for Krishna. This act involves meticulous cleaning with brooms, water, and even personal garments, teaching devotees humility and selfless service (seva) through dedicated, loving effort.
Significance & Symbolism
Inner Cleansing: It’s a metaphor for cleansing one’s own heart of pride, envy, and selfish desires, much like cleaning the temple’s dust and dirt.
Spiritual Practice: The physical act of cleaning becomes a form of devotional service (seva) that helps remove anarthas (unwanted desires) from the heart, preparing it for Krishna’s presence.
Example of Lord Chaitanya: Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu personally led the cleaning with great enthusiasm, using His own clothes, demonstrating the ideal mood of selfless devotion. “.

Srila Rupa Goswami, in his writings, has given a thorough understanding of all things related to heart cleaning,  and Srila Ragganatha das Goswami’s book Sri Manah Siksa takes the matter into practical teachings and in other of his books the spiritual realms are revealed

http://www.thevedicspectator.com

---

---

When Srila AC Bhavtivedanta Swami Prabhupada formed his GBC  governing body , he did so with the aims of forming  an intelligentsia, the intelligentsia are made up of different types of persons, some very scholarly, some very devotional and advanced in the highest levels of pure Bhakti and some excellent practical spiritualists. Prabhupada no doubt expected this initial set up to refine itself and mature as time went on , and so it did , and so it does .
The full understandings of the workings of the Vedic way are not so easily grasped , Srila Goswami tells the eighteen Puranas with their 40000 verses along with the Mahabharata and Itihasas need contemplations and applications.  Of course, the Bhagavatam brings practical applications and incorporates many of the different aspects of the overall Vedic teachings . The Bhagavatam  and the Smritis of the Goswami’s of Vrndavana,  who Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally taught , are our real treasure of wisdom , the new testament , as given by Mahāprabhu, and the old smarta ways are to be discarded

.

“A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada initiated the need for an ISKCON constitution to establish foundational management, spiritual guidelines, and the duties of the Governing Body Commission (GBC), often referencing the “Direction of Management” as part of this structure. The official ISKCON Constitution was formally inaugurated on Jan 23, 2026, to ensure legal and theological continuity. 

Key aspects of the constitution call include:

To define the legal and theological framework of ISKCON.

 The GBC is recognized as the ultimate authority, but one that is also accountable to the constitution.

 The document incorporates the original 7 purposes of ISKCON drafted by Prabhupada in 1966, along with his instructions regarding the “Direction of Management”.

The finalized 2026 constitution includes over 50% direct quotes from Srila Prabhupada’s teachings and shastra

Much more on this soon
http://www.thevedicspectator.com

A bhajananandi is not interested in men and money a gostianandi is , not for his own benefit but for preaching purposes , no one much will listen to a person if they have no men ,money or opulences which are displayed in the form of buildings temples , organisations etc etc , .To preach successfully in this world as Srila AC Bhavtivedanta Swami Prabhupada demonstrated these two are essential, of course without unalloyed trancendental knowledge and the blessings of the previous acaryas and Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu not stick of furniture can be acquired nor will any sincere following be attracted.

Acyutānanda: Hṛdayānanda Mahārāja mentioned that before you went to America, Indians were not interested. And now you have come back with money, so they are willing to hear.

Prabhupāda: Money is the strength all over, all over the world. America is prestigious—why? They have got money. So we…, I have got American disciples. Why shall I not have money? If America, a guru of the Americans remain poor, it is contradictory..

Money propagates the Sankirtana movement…

Being in kirtan means we are with others calling on God, and if we are with others calling on God, our calling becomes stronger and deeper .
Srila BR Sridhar Swami says the flute sound of Krishna calls the devotees for service, and at this particular period of time Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu has instagated the Harinama Sankirtana , and these Holy Names are calling everyone to service no matter ones condition or state of life .
http://www.thevedicspectator.com

God is all good. Everything that breaks down naturally in nature’s course goes on to take another useful and purposeful place within a universal structure, energies transform, and are never lost , and particles of consciousness within these energies are  subjected automatically to this responsive and ever-changing and endlessly mutable substance.
Perfect design brings all  perfection in all its  purposes. Divinity is the Supreme engineer , thus, the book by Jonathan Wells “the myth of Junk Dna,” is a good read
The atheistic Darwinian wonders why God’s designed bodies break down and appear imperfect in their eyes . They do not understand the responsive universe ,personal  responsibility, or  karmic synchronicities . Dualism is beyond their purview. Ultimately, there is a  perfection in all so-called imperfections  if the “imperfection ” brings you closer to perfection , its perfect. The clue  to understand this world is dualim and to put scientific materialism on hold .
Bhagavad Gita tells all there is to know on the working of mind , matter , consciousness and activity, and the cause of the causes .

A heating engineer came to my house,  I gave him a Bhagavad Gita,  he said he didn’t know if he would read it , but I told him he could study the heating and plumbing of God .

The natural flow of the oceans’ currents causes the movements of all the waters of the ocean , they are constantly recycling it takes over a 1000 years to complete the global circuit.

The movement of the waters cause heating and cooling of air and along with the seasonal sunshine that brings the entropic atmospheres, which eventually  causes and dumps the oceans waters , having been condensed and purified on to the land in the form of rain creating  rivers and lakes , and yet more facilities for life .

This is something of the plumbing and heating of Divinity within the planet , yet similarly, flows of direction of heat and liquid are taking place in our bodies daily , we are not even aware .

Sir Fred Hoyle said that someone has monkeyed with the universe everything is just too perfect.

Yes, this is good objective scientific awareness. Much like Dna codes and informational exchanges that cause the cells in each body to form, creating specific functions and forms .

The universal order allows us to be entangled in the responsive universe under certain conditions and progress in our consciousness journey . The Brahminical intelligentsia know what those conditions are and how they are used properly.
The idea of freedom , every sane person knows is good, but equally, there are always restrictions to freedoms , which cause a superior freedom.
The unintelligent sentimentalist who are no more than , at most , sophisticated animals are clueless and haven’t the faintest idea about dualim or the systematic proggression of the consciousness that is afforded in the human form of life .
The Vedas is the breathing and directions of Divinity for our benefit
http://www.thevedicspectator.com

---

Consciousness requires a body to exhibit consciousness within. Generally, that is the case , sometimes, however, the Vedas indicates a consciousness particle can hover close to the material bodily energies but not for various reasons able to aquire an actual body after a death .The supervisory processes and a renewal of a body take place by the working of the material energies.

Bhagavad Gita explains this process,  and it operates within the automated process of the universal forms of Divinity, a kind of “Divine algorithm ” process is carrying on , in current times these automated trancendental processes can be perhaps further understood perhaps.

Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita…

“As wind carries scents (like from a flower or sandalwood) to a new place, the soul (the master of the senses) carries the mind and senses with them when leaving a body. The intense focus of the mind on specific desires at death forces the soul to take a form  that suits to be able to fulfil those attachments and desires. It’s generally, of course, a whole series of events that shapes the next life . This process explains how one becomes automatically attached to new bodies and situations based on past habits. “

“Bhagavad Gita 15.8 serves as a key verse regarding the mechanics of reincarnation, emphasizing that we are responsible for our spiritual destiny by nurturing our consciousness toward Krishna rather than just material attachments .”

One can, in some cases, for long periods of time by proper execution of renounced sacrifices merge into the impersonal energies of Divinity.

However, the theological texts say eventually after inculcabable amounts of time the individual consciousness particle desire to develop relationships,  and if they have not perfected a relationship with Krishna or God , they must again come to the material energies.

The spiritual realms are full of spiritual bodies and spiritual varigatedness,  everyone and everything is made of the same energies as consciousness itself. Consciousness is spiritual,  the symptoms of the soul is feelings and consciousness.

http://www.thevedicspectator.com

The scientific yoga …free will free wont and neuron interaction.

Lord Krishna speaks about the glorious yoga system . Yoga means to link with God . To link with God, we need to know the uncoupling process , we can not be coupled with the  illusions of this world if we want to understand pure trancendental knowledge. It’s like embracing a person tightly and screaming, “Let me go.” The commercial yoga groups understand very little of yoga. It’s a monetary show as far as they understand,  good for money good for some fame , that’s not yoga .

Lord Krishna says this in His Bhagavad Gita.

“Everyone is forced to act helplessly according to the qualities he has acquired from the modes of material nature; therefore, no one can refrain from doing something, not even for a moment.”

Lord Krishna has defined a systematic process , from karma yoga to niskama karma yoga, then jnana yoga,  then jnana sunya bhakti , this is the  beginnings of  much more development of the yoga of devotion process which has began to be accompanied by stronger trancendental knowledge.  Trancendental knowledge also comes in various stages of  development , there is in reality, no limits to trancendental knowledge. Bhakti is accompanied by and takes help from  karma and jnana in the beginnings of the Bhakti process. In the  phase of jnana sunya Bhakti , the  stronger development  phase of trancendental knowledge, the devotees hear increasingly and directly the Srimad Bhagavatam , and by the blessings and grace of all the param para acaryas can study their litratures and meditate on the lila pastimes described by them in their books . This accompanied by a rich jnana sunya bhakti leads to  increasingly deeper meditation, so this is pure Bhakti and it is  leading to purely  enriched Astanga like  yoga , but unique because of being soaked with devotion and remembrances of Krishna lila gained  through the processes of hearing , chanting and remembrances . Srila Ragganatha das Goswami in his meditations and instructions on  Krishna consciousness lead us to the  glories and science of yoga .

The Professor of neuroscience Michael Egnor has made a point that brain neurons fire in different ways according to discipline and habit changes , those addicted to certain behaviours are almost forced to act due to psychological modes of nature . Modes of nature can change, and patterns of life and habits can change .That Krishna is clearly telling us , we have free will , we can strengthen our consciousness and exercise a free wont . Ie .we will not let bad things degrade our consciousnes,  but we will rather elevate our consciousness through better choices and feel the benefit.

Unfortunately, low class leaders and scientific materialism, as well as the Darwinian hypothesis, drive everyone to become like street dogs following their senses anywhere and lifting their legs on anyone. The Vedic way is one of elevated consciousness and progressive social and spiritual mobility for all . When the intelligentsia return so will real education,  the sophisticated animals will be forced back in their baskets .

http://www.thevedicspectator.com

---

In the summary of the Bramha sutra , which are the encoded four Vedas , along with the fifth Veda , consisting of the Itihasas , the Puranas and the Mahabharata, in the Srimad Bhagavatam, which  its  natural commentary ,  curiously,  glow worms are mentioned.

In the 10th Canto of that great Srimad Bhagavatam, ” in the Autumn season chapter,” It is said”  that the rain clouds gather at twilight and the starlight is hampered by the darkening of the atmosphere.”

At that time, glow worms thrive, providing a glimps of light that the moths may mistake for something substantial , and they are fooled .

Similarly,  in the darkness of Kali yuga , the current age , the moon, and the starlight of the Vedas are covered by the darkness of cheating and hypocrisy, fake interpretations  and speculations develop and a misunderstandings of the original Vedas develop that do not follow the truthful speaking of the great great saints.  Demons , fools, and materially motivated persons take shelter of the glow worms of many  false doctrines or philosophically flawed  speculations and interpretation of all kinds . Aggressive self-centred politics of hatred and violence develop.  Subjective speculations in all kinds of sciences are  presented as fact based sciences to children, and educational institutions are infiltrated.

Thus, scientific materialism,  Darwinian hypothesis,  impersonal philosophy tainted with voidism , and infiltrated democracies are thriving currently,  they all claim to give light .However,  a glow worm can never be compared to the moon , and moth like rascals flock around this artificial light of the modern man , who shed light like the  glow worms and attempt to cover the light of the full moon of knowledge by their cloudlike speculations and deliberate cheating . The glow worm fizzles out ultimately, and the artificial light it produces attracts only those who want to be cheated . The real light of the full moon of  knowledge and its inherant wisdom contained in the vedas can be properly and only understood when the glowworm is understood for what it is . Then, the darkness of the illusory energies subside .

By God’s grace , He can remove His illusory energies  influence that make a worm in stool think he is happy.

Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is very expert in explaining the whole process of seeing the light of the Bhagavat and the Srimad Bhagavatam.

http://www.thevedicspectator.com

---

Risking risking risking

In matters of love sometimes, even in this world, people risk everything . Although in this world, love is somewhat tainted with self-interests . AC Bhaktivedanta Swami would say the love of the mother fir the child is more like pure unmotivated love .Generally, we see the illusion of love or lust to be an enjoyer , and if it’s convenient,  it’s called love .  Such is the state of the conditioned heart that is more often than not self calculating .If you give me what I want, I love you , when you can’t,  I won’t,  or if somebody else gives more , it’s goodbye…. This is the nature of materialism , scientific materialism and Darwinian hypothesis does not bring wisdom but self survival of the fittest calculations,  one can say . Who is acting  without any self-interest in this world?  Different degrees of love mixed with lust and self interests are exhibited in this world. The love between the mother and the child is very pure , as previously said . Pure unmotivated love is found in the highest realms of spiritual sacrifice , where no self interests are found .
In the purest of  spiritual sense, Srila BR Sridhar Swami gives the example of the purest of pure love , and he cleverly termed it ” All risk no gain.” In the material world, we hear of no risk, no gain .But all risk no gain ?
The residents of the spiritual Vrndavana  abodes , who are described by the Gaudia Vaisnava acaryas , and who are eternally participating in Radha Krishna lila . They are in whom the topmost realms of spiritual love are found .Such love has no limits or preconditions,  its is ever expanding and  fresh expanding love in spiritual consciousness is experienced as ever new in every way , it never become stale or unfulfilling  , rather its increasingly filling the unlimited heart filled with love and attraction. Soul on soul relationships is the Svarupa Sakti of Krishna at work .Every participant centres themselves around the love of Srimati Radharani that She exibits toward Krishna , and vice verser. There are unlimited assistants to help increase arrangements of lila pastimes centred on the Divine couple , who demonstrate the highest of the highest principles of spiritual sacrifice . Radharani and Krishna risk everything for love , and so do their associates. When Krishna “left them” and left  supposedly Vrndavana , their hometown ,  they thought everything of their invested  love was lost. Still, they never gave up on their unalloyed love, and their feelings for Krishna, in fact, in separation, the feelings increased  more and more so much so that union and separation become one . Even though Krishna had appeared externally to reject or disappoint them , their motivations were only ever to continue to be Krishna’s greatest well wishers and lovers .They meditated and remembered  satisfying  the emaculate senses of Krishna . In spiritual consciousness meditations become a part of eternal spiritual reality , thus Krishna revealed the eternal spiritual realms of Vraja  .The residents of Vrndavana  had risked everything and remained deeply  hankering and  continued risking everything of their reputations  for Krishna, thinking of Him twenty-four hours daily . In their  unwavering sacrifice, they were prepared in love to gain nothing , and Krishna may never return.  In their extreme separation from the object of their love Krishna,  their hearts were , and remained the supreme abode of  pure love . It seemed  externally that they had risked and risked everything of themselves, including all external expectations to society. They rejected all social norms . In their supreme separation, however, there was still hope against hope , that they would again be united with Krishna. This kept them alive and enthusiastic in spiritual love .
Thus, in our spiritual life, Srila BR Sridhar Swami says , “we feel we are risking risking risking, but we do not feel we have gained our goal .” and we never feel we have done enough in our services to Divinity or that we have truly gotten Krishna.
Such is the path of pure spiritual love .The humble hearts of the residents of Vrndavana whose inner state of mind are revealed by the Gaudia Vaisnava acaryas in their writings.
On the rooftops of Mathura having left Vrndavana , Krishna Himself wept tears of love, and indeed , His separation was even more difficult to bear for Him than that of some of the gopies , but Radharani’s separation feelings astounded Krishna. Remembering the pure love of Srimati Radharani and Her friends  Krishna  thought He could never pay back such the sacrifice of their  hearts . The spiritual truth of pure unmotivated love between God and His devotees is delineated in the 10th Canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam and greatly elaborated upon by Srila Rupa and Ragganatha das Goswami’s. Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu has come to reveal this mystery of spiritual love . All risk, no gain , and  the trancendental mysteries of union in separation and separation in union .

Smriti and Sruti.

In the teachings of Gaudia Vaisnavas, the Smriti must follow the Sruti , otherwise, it is not Smriti.
The supposed Smriti of the smarta Brahminical classes or the Smriti of the impersonal philosophers is not to be classed as Smriti .The Smriti per se are paths that lead genuinely to the spiritual world. They are directly windows to the spiritual worlds .The Gaudia Vaisnava acaryas follow Srila Rupa and Ragganatha das Goswami’s Smriti as well as Srila Jiva Goswami and Srila Sanantana Goswami plus all the Gaudia Vaisnava acaryas in param para from them .

http://www.thevedicspectator.com

---

---

So many persons seek to be proof readers amongst men , or women, for that matter . In the trancendental affairs of Gaudia Vaisnavism , or the proper execution of its messaging to the world at large , its important to get the right messaging out .The Vedas is for everyone but everyone cannot necessarily understand its simplicity and complexity.  Before one steps in , after all , fools rush in where angels dare to tread,  one should make sure of two things .

That one has properly and thoroughly proofread his or herselves own character , using all of the appropriate tools and methods that have been recommended by the Gaudia Vaisnava acaryas , teachings originating from Srila Rupa Goswami and Ragganatha das Goswami along with their contemporaries , that they personally learned from Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu,  who declared that He learned them from Ramananda Roy.

One’s proofreading must be   aligned perfectly with one of the greatest proof readers of men in modern times , Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Maharaj, whose extensive writing and analysing powers were based on the absolute and perfectly correct assessments of what it means to practically act , speak and conduct affairs of trancendance within the material world but remain situated spirituality.

“Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakura (1874–1936) was a pioneering Gaudiya Vaishnava spiritual leader who famously declared himself a “proofreader of men” and a “proofreader of religions”. This title highlights his commitment to scrutinizing the actions, intentions, and philosophical creeds of people to identify and correct spiritual faults and “antagonism toward Sri Krsna’s supreme overlordship”.

The “Proofreader of Men” Metaphor

• Beyond the Press: While trained by his father, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, in literal editing and printing—gaining a reputation as an expert scholar—he applied this discipline metaphorically to human character.
• Correcting Misconceptions: He aimed to “dissect [people’s] faults and try to correct them,” acting as a spiritual guide who removes misconceptions that impede spiritual progress.
• Non-Compromising Teacher: As a “Lion Guru,” he was known for his uncompromising, direct preaching against imitationist, so-called devotional practices, or “pseudo-devotion,” acting like a crab (astrological karkata) to “pierce” these misconceptions.
• Author over Book: He once said, “I don’t read the book, I read the author. I first check whether the author is authentic,” emphasizing the purity of the person behind the teachings.”

http://www.thevedicspectator.com

The Vedas is all encompasing , spoken by the Lord in the forms of commands , whatever the absolute says is immediately actioned and becomes universal law . There are always law breakers, and thus, the law includes the laws of both free will and determinism , The responsive universe will respond or adjust . Mercy above justice is one of the greatest principles of those who practice the highest cultures.  The Vedas , the living breathing God , is designed by the Lord for both social and spiritual mobility. However , one is not supposed to get stuck on the ladder of life , or run down the ladder having once ascended,  neither should we suppose other runs of the ladders and not important and only our journey counts . Many persons who  follow the Vedas can easily get stuck due to the attachments to results and settle down in temporary illusions of material living. It’s a natural progression that good follows good , it’s meant to point one to further and further good . In absolute terms , however,  sometimes good is bad and bad is good , one who has completed his or her studies of the Vedas will understand these points .

The Srimad Bhagavatam 4.29.48 says this …

Those who are less intelligent accept the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies as all in all. They do not know that the purpose of the Vedas is to understand one’s own home, where the Supreme Personality of Godhead lives. Not being interested in their real home, they are illusioned and search after other homes.

Some followers  of the Vedas who are also teachers of the Vedas do a partial job of explaining its real benefits . The Srimad Bhagavatam itself encourages that one should hear the Bhagavatam from someone who has understood the absolute conclusions of the text . The Srimad Bhagavatam is the natural commentary on the Bramha sutra and is the condensed form of the four Veda. The six Goswami’s of Vrndavana who were highly learned scholars and taught personally by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu are bringing ever us the expanded meanings to the Srimad Bhagavatam , as revealed by Mahāprabhu,  which is the cream of the cream  of the Vedas , so the Srmiti of the Goswami’s are like the cream of the cream . Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu has come to give this ever expanding knowledge of the Vedas , the Srimad Bhagavatam brings us its somewhat hidden details,  but Mahāprabhu has brought out more after churning the ocean of transcendental bliss,  this nectar he handed to the Goswami’s

More on this soon

http://www.thevedicspectator.com