Vedanta is often equated exclusively to Advaita Vedanta of Sri Sankaracharya, but there are several other acharyas who have expounded the Vedanta in quite a different way and whose status as teachers of Vedanta requires recognition.This book by Swami Tapasyananda, a scholar-monk and former vice-president of the Ramakrishna Order, expounds the life and philosophy of Sri Chaitanya, whose illustrious disciples formed a distinctive set of metaphysics and theology around his teachings that came to be known as Acintya-bhedabheda philosophy. This book will help readers acquaint themselves with his devotional life and the fundamental concepts of Vedanta as formulated by his disciples based on his teachings.
In today’s India, the scene that presents itself before any impartial observer is a welter of conflicting ideologies amidst drift and restlessness. In such a situation, the youth of the country are restive. They seek an answer. Swami Vivekananda’s words, touching upon every facet of our national life, provide answers to questions that agitate both the individual and society. Vivekananda's words are as pertinent today as when they were uttered more than a hundred years ago and his words carry an appeal not just to the people of India, but to the nation of humankind. The book published by Advaita Ashrama, a publication house of Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math, is a compilation of short excerpts taken from the Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda arranged under the following headings: Faith and Strength Powers of the mind Man: The Maker of his Destiny Education and Society Serve Man as God Religion and Ethics India: Our Motherland Other Exhortations The first third of the book presents a brief life of Swami Vivekananda.
The Volume Entitled Sri Chaitanya In The Religious Life Of India Is A Comprehensive Account Of The Life, Activities And Philosophy Of Sri Chaitanya With Particular Reference To Orissa.
Illustrations: 1 B/w Illustration Description: This is a comprehensive, critical and comparative study of all aspects of the philosophy and religion of Sri Caitanya. In the first three chapters the history of the Vaisnava religion is traced from the earliest Vedic period to pre-Caitanya Vaisnavism in Bengal and some controversies regarding the life of Sri Caitanya and the Sampradaya or the sect to which he belongs are set at rest. In the succeeding chapters the problems of philosophy and religion are discussed in detail. It is shown how Sri Caitanya breathes a new spirit into philosophy and religion by transcending the narrow and mutually conflicting 'isms' and dogmas and reconciling them in a higher synthesis by means of the concept of the absolute as Bhagavan and the doctrine of Acintya-bhedabheda or inconceivable identity-indifference. The importance of Bhakti as the exclusive means of attaining God is His highest and sweetest form is stressed. Prema or divine love is distinguished from eroticism and established as the highest end. The doctrine of Rasa or transcendental relish is explained and Parakiya Rasa is established as the highest Rasa.
"In this jewel-like volume, the venerable Tirtha Maharaja recounts the nectarean activities of the associates of Lord Gauranga and the acharyas of the Gaudiya Vaishnava religion." ––Swami B.P. Puri, Founder Acharya, Gopinath Gaudiya Math Srila Bhakti Ballabha Tirtha Goswami Maharaja has gathered a great deal of information about the lives of the devotees from numerous sources, and has made this information more relishable by virtue of his own insight. These biographies of Mahaprabhu's devotees should be read on their appearance and disappearance days, for this will bring great joy to both those who hear and those who read them. In this English translation, it will be possible for devotees around the world to enjoy them. Herein, the author delights in the life stories of Jagannath Mishra, Madhavendra Puri, Ishvara Puri, Advaita Acharya, Srivas Pandit, Chandrasekhar Acharya, Pundarika Vidyanidhi, Gadadhar Pandit, Vakresvara Pandit, Gadadhar Das, Shivananda Sen, Paramananda Puri, Murari Gupta, and many others. Every letter of these accounts is drenched with the nectar of devotion. The sincere seeker will never be able to enter the transcendental kingdom nor to advance in the devotional life unless they also discover this delight.
Tucked away in ancient Sanskrit and Bengali texts is a secret teaching, a blissful devotional (bhakti) tradition that involves sacred congregational chanting (kīrtana), mindfulness practices (japa, smaraṇam), and the deepening of one’s relationship with God (rasa). Brought to the world’s stage by Śrī Chaitanya Mahāprabhu (1486–1533), and fully documented by his immediate followers, the Six Goswāmīs of Vrindāvan, these unprecedented teachings were passed down from master to student in Gauḍīya Vaishnava lineages. The Golden Avatāra of Love: Śrī Chaitanya’s Life and Teachings, by contemporary scholar Steven J. Rosen, makes the profound truths of this confidential knowledge easily accessible for an English language audience. In his well-researched text, modern readers—spiritual practitioners, scholars, and seekers of knowledge alike—will encounter a treasure of hitherto unrevealed spiritual teachings, and be able to fathom sublime dimensions of Śrī Chaitanya’s method. Using the ancient texts themselves and the findings of contemporary academics, Rosen succeeds in summarizing and establishing Śrī Chaitanya’s life and doctrine for the modern world.
A Summary Study of Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita Taking the role of His own devotee, Lord Sri Krishna appeared as Sri Krishna Chaitanya about five centuries ago in Bengal, India, and began a great social and spiritual revolution that has profoundly affected the lives of millions worldwide. His conversations with the great scholars, kings, and mystics of the day form the basis of Teachings of Lord Chaitanya.
The Life of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu offers a brief history of the 15th-century Vedic spiritual revolutionary, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who expounded Bhakti yoga, popularized the chanting of Hare Krishna, and is an incarnation of Lord Krishna. In this abridged biography of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Swami B. B. Bodhayan informs how Sri Krsna appeared in the form of Lord Chaitanya to deliver all fallen souls by distributing His love without discrimination. He taught his devotees how to surrender by His own example and how surrender is the soul of devotional practice. Many scriptures describe Lord Chaitanya as non-different from Lord Krsna; although Lord Chaitanya is Krsna Himself, He took the role of being His own devotee to deliver the people of the world. To spread the chanting of the holy name of the Supreme Lord, which will ultimately give us the taste of divine love, Lord Chaitanya took the renounced order (sannyasa). Thus, He gave the order to everyone to spread His name: Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. We have seen Lord Chaitanya, Himself, preach and inspire people to chant the Hare Krsna mahamantra. But personally, He did not give initiation. He also did not establish any temples. He taught us to spread sankirtana without having any ulterior motives. Our spiritual lineage all follow in the footsteps of Lord Chaitanya. If anyone follows the principle of “first preserve then propagate,” then one shall definitely be delivered from this material world.