Extracted From Jaiva-dharma, By Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur
Extracted From Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur’s Jaiva-dharma (1896); without his Novel and Stories, which was meant to introduce the Gaudiya Vaisnava Philosophy to the general population of India that existed in the late 1880’s.
Translation by Nabadwip Dasa in the mid-1990’s.
Extraction, Editing, and Formatting by Upendranath Dasa in 2012 – 2022
“First Division”
The Fundamentals of Nitya- and Naimittika-dharma
Chapter 1: The Eternal & Temporary Natures of the Jiva/Soul
Chapter 2: The Eternal Natural Position & Function of the Jiva/Soul
Chapter 3: The Circumstantial Function, Duty, & Religion of a Conscious Being is to be Relinquished
Chapter 4: Vaisnava-dharma is Eternal-dharma
Chapter 5: Vaidhi-bhakti is Nitya (Eternal), Not Naimittika (Causal, Circumstantial & Temporary)
Chapter 6: Eternal Dharma, Race & Caste
Chapter 7: Nitya-dharma & Material Existence
Chapter 8: Nitya-dharma & Vaisnava Behavior
Chapters Nine to Twenty-Five are Currently Work in Progress
Nitya-dharma, Material Science & Civilization
Nitya-dharma & History
Nitya-dharma & Idolatry
Nitya-dharma & Sadhana
“Second Division”
The Fundamentals of Sambandha, Abhideya, and Prayojana
Prameya & The Commencement of Prameya
Prameya: Sakti-tattva
Prameya: Jiva-tattva
Prameya: Jivas Free from Maya
Prameya: Jivas Free from Maya
Prameya: Bhedabheda-tattva
Prameya: Abhidheya-tattva
Prameya: Abhidheya–Vaidhi-sadhana-bhakti
Prameya: Abhidheya–Raganuga-sadhana-bhakti
Prameya: The Commencement of Prayojana-tattva
Prameya: Nama-tattva
Prameya: Namaparadha
Prameya: Namabhasa
I have been using the term God, which is no more than a label specifying a position or status. I now will start to personalize this term by using a personal name. As I have hinted in this book so far, the “Absolute Truth”, is a different way of saying God. God is an individual, and Unique Person. He is simultaneously infinite, and finite. To the human intellect, this is inconceivable. Yet under the right condition, a human being can understand this inconceivability by the mercy of the Supreme Lord (another label). I will be using personal names, that have been revealed by God. And since He is an Individual Person, He has a favorite Name. You can say it is the Supreme Lord’s, Allah’s, Yahweh’s favorite name. As persons, we have things, which we consider as “favorite”. So how can us insignificant human beings deny God having a “favorite” name? Many scriptures have statements that God has no name. Yahweh means “God who has no name”. The Vedic Scriptures are written in Sanskrit, and specific God with many personal names. These scriptures also reveal that God has not just one name, but He has infinite names. All of God’s names are simply a word or term that describes Him in some way, like His Fame, Qualities, Pastimes, and Paraphernalia.
The Sanskrit word “Krishna[1]” means “all attractive”. Who can deny that God is not “all attractive”? Hence, Krishna is the embodiment of the totality of all energy and He has three categories of energy, which comprise all of His being and creation.
The subject matter that will be primarily be discussed, is the “Marginal Energy”, which is the totality of infinite jivas, or as most commonly known, the “infinite souls”. This section of the book will explore and reveal the individual jivas constitutional nature and purpose.
This presentation is taken from a vaisnava literature Jaiva-dharma, written by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura[2] and completed in the year 1896. Jaiva-dharma was written in the form of a novel consisting of one main story, which contained with several other individual sub-stories. The setting of this novel is around 400 years ago in West Bengal India. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura wrote this novel for an Indian audience, that existed at that time in India. India was over whelmed by Buddhist, Hindu Impersonalisum, and Islamic philosophies.
Today is in the year is 2022, and it would be a difficult read for the majority of people in modern developed nations on Earth. The setting of the novel, its characters, were those of at old society, and culture; and modern readers would not be so attracted to these characters, and story plots and sub-plots.
I consider the knowledge contained in this book, to be the most valuable, and a true treasure that exists. It reveals the goal of human life, and step by step on how it can be practically achieved. Thus, my desire is to somehow or another, present this knowledge to everyone in the hope that they would become informed of the eternal nature of their soul, and how it can be realized by the practice of bhakti[3], pure devotional service to God, and especially, by the chanting of His Holy Names.
The knowledge written by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura in the late-1800’s is contained in the Vedic Scriptures of India. The knowledge itself is eternal, and truly timeless. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur chooses to present this knowledge to the masses in India around 126 years ago. The vehicle was a novel. People, like stories, and novels. As time progresses into the future, the vehicle of the novel can reflect the time, place, and circumstances of the world that is existing at that time, place, and circumstance. Therefore, the novel (the vehicle) can change in time, but the passenger in the vehicle is the same. In this way, the novel would attract a wider reading audience beside vaisnavas of that particular time, places, and circumstances. A modern reader would connect, and find it more appealing if the novel’s setting, character, plot, and subplots, are familiar to the reader.
At this time, this presentation is without the novel, and stories. It therefore contains only the knowledge taught by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura.
The majority is questions and answers by the characters. Some portions at the end, I left the original character’s name just to make sure that you know that there are several characters speaking in a discussion, and not a question-and-answer dialog between two persons. Will I write a novel, reflecting human civilization that exists in the 21st Century; only time will tell. That project will follow, once I finish this one.
In the coming years I will novelize this presentation with a modern setting of circumstances, which exist in today’s world. There will be the addition of many other characters, to reflect the diverse religious societies, which exist in modern time of, 2022.
This presentation is especially written in order to facilitate those who are already on the path of bhakti, and for anyone who desires to know what the Absolute Truth is, in regards to the jiva, or as some know it to be, the Soul.
This is a work in progress presentation, so do not expect it all to be perfect in all regards.
Many of the philosophical truths have to be reviewed, so that they are presented in a way that will be understood by even the common person.
I also plan to add to the knowledge written by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. Many of the philosophical truths present can be expanded on for further clarity and understanding.
According to Vedic[4] knowledge. spiritual truth is revealed through three harmonious sources: the scriptures, [sastras[5]], the disciplic succession of previous saints and teachers, [sadhus[6]], and one’s own spiritual master, [guru]. When these 3 authorized sources agree, the information presented, is “conclusive”, and “incontrovertible”.
Srila Prabhupada Wrote in Purport to Srimad-bhagavatam[7] 1.4.1:
“Personal realization does not mean that one should, out of vanity, attempt to show one’s own learning by trying to surpass the previous acharyas. He must have full confidence in the previous acharyas[8], and at the same time he must realize the subject matter so nicely that he can present, the matter for the particular circumstances in a suitable manner. The original purpose of the text must be maintained. No obscure meaning should be screwed out of it, yet it should be presented in an interesting manner for the understanding of the audience. This is called realization”.
In the Narada-bhakti-sutra 7.5 Purport: Srila Prabhupada Wrote:
“The bhakti method of receiving truth is by parampara[9], or disciplic succession. It is confirmed by a checks-and-balances system of hearing from guru, sastra, and sadhu. On the other hand, one who rejects the parampara system and persists in hearing argumentation will never understand the Absolute Truth”.
Lecture at Tittenhurst England, December 1969, Srila Prabhupada Said,
“These three, guru, sastra, and sadhu, should corroborate one another. If the spiritual master says something that is not in the sastra, that is not good. Similarly, a saintly person, a sadhu, also does not disregard the regulative principles of sastra”.
As instructed by Srila Prabhupada in Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.4.1 Purport. The writer of this book, has full confidence in the instructions and orders of the previous acharyas, and at the same time, has inderstood the subject matter nicely enough, so that the subject matter of this book will be presented in a suitable manner. The original purpose of the all text by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, will be maintained. No obscure meaning will be screwed out of it, yet it will be presented in an interesting manner for your understanding.
Extracted From Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur’s Jaiva-dharma (1896); without his Novel and Stories, which was meant to introduce the Gaudiya Vaisnava Philosophy to the general population of India that existed in the late 1880’s.
Translation by Nabadwip Dasa in the mid-1990’s.
Extraction, Editing, and Formatting by Upendranath Dasa in 2012 – 2022
“First Division”
The Fundamentals of Nitya- and Naimittika-dharma
Chapter 1: The Eternal & Temporary Natures of the Jiva/Soul
Chapter 2: The Eternal Natural Position & Function of the Jiva/Soul
Chapter 3: The Circumstantial Function, Duty, & Religion of a Conscious Being is to be Relinquished
Chapter 4: Vaisnava-dharma is Eternal-dharma
Chapter 5: Vaidhi-bhakti is Nitya (Eternal), Not Naimittika (Causal, Circumstantial & Temporary)
Chapter 6: Eternal Dharma, Race & Caste
Chapter 7: Nitya-dharma & Material Existence
Chapter 8: Nitya-dharma & Vaisnava Behavior
Chapters Nine to Twenty-Five are Currently Work in Progress
Nitya-dharma, Material Science & Civilization
Nitya-dharma & History
Nitya-dharma & Idolatry
Nitya-dharma & Sadhana
“Second Division”
The Fundamentals of Sambandha, Abhideya, and Prayojana
Prameya & The Commencement of Prameya
Prameya: Sakti-tattva
Prameya: Jiva-tattva
Prameya: Jivas Free from Maya
Prameya: Jivas Free from Maya
Prameya: Bhedabheda-tattva
Prameya: Abhidheya-tattva
Prameya: Abhidheya–Vaidhi-sadhana-bhakti
Prameya: Abhidheya–Raganuga-sadhana-bhakti
Prameya: The Commencement of Prayojana-tattva
Prameya: Nama-tattva
Prameya: Namaparadha
Prameya: Namabhasa