Jayadvaita Swami

If you've read An accidental falldown is one thing, but. . ., an exchange of views that might interest you is Sin or Aparadha? Sin might be washed away, writes Pandu Dasa, but are we looking at sins or offenses (aparadhas)? I follow his letter with my comments. Since the exchange appears on a part of this site where you might not otherwise see it, I bring it to your attention here. … [Read more...] about Sins or offenses?

Must there not be some limit on how much we can forgive and excuse? (A letter and reply)   Dear Jayadvaita Swami, Re: Can one who has sinned be a saint? Throughout our books and their purports the word "accidentally" is often used to describe the event for the "falldown" or "sin" of the devotee. But what is written in purports about "intentionally" or the event where one says "I'm going to get out of this chair and go over there and .."? And they get out of that chair intentionally over and over again to do their deeds. There must be some measured limit on the quality … [Read more...] about An accidental falldown is one thing, but. . .

Sometimes people think that once a person has performed sinful acts, especially acts that are grievously sinful, he must be regarded as a sinner forever. This notion runs contrary to Vaishnava philosophy. As stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (6.2.8–10) about the sinful Ajamila: etenaiva hy aghono ’sya    krtam syad agha-niskrtam yada narayanayeti    jagada catur-aksaram stenah sura-po mitra-dhrug    brahma-ha guru-talpa-gah stri-raja-pitr-go-hanta    ye ca patakino ’pare sarvesam apy … [Read more...] about Can one who has sinned be a saint? (part 7)

Sometimes people think that once a person has performed sinful acts, especially acts that are grievously sinful, he must be regarded as a sinner forever. This notion runs contrary to Vaishnava philosophy. We find relevant instructions in Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.5.42 (translated, with commentary, by disciples of Srila Prabhupada): sva-pada-mulam bhajatah priyasyatyaktanya-bhavasya harih paresah vikarma yac cotpatitam kathanciddhunoti sarvam hrdi sannivistah One who has thus given up all other engagements and has taken full shelter at the lotus feet of Hari, the Supreme Personality of … [Read more...] about Can one who has sinned be a saint? (part 6)

Sometimes people think that once a person has performed sinful acts, especially acts that are grievously sinful, he must be regarded as a sinner forever. This notion runs contrary to Vaishnava philosophy. Several important quotations pertaining to this point appear in Chapter One of The Nectar of Devotion, "Characteristics of Pure Devotional Service," in the section "Relief from Material Distress." One such verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.14.19, which Srila Prabhupada renders as follows: "My dear Uddhava, devotional service unto Me is just like a blazing fire which can burn into ashes … [Read more...] about Can one who has sinned be a saint? (part 5)

I posted in this journal an item, under the title "Shabby Behavior," complaining about disregard for copyrights. The particular circumstance that prompted that item has now been cordially settled. I have therefore deleted the item. Though I felt justified in writing it, its tone was sharp, so I feel far better about deleting it than I felt about writing it. My thanks to my godbrother involved for dealing with the matter in a conscientious way. The error may very well have been mine. Thank you also to Candidasa and Sitapati Dasa for commenting on the item. Since I've deleted it, we … [Read more...] about The disappearance of “Shabby Behavior”