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
Chapter “Five”
Vaidhi-bhakti is Nitya (Eternal), Not Naimittika (Causal, Circumstantial & Temporary)
Segment 036: “Is Sandhya-Vandana not Hari-Bhajana? Do the divisions of Hari-Bhajana have some secondary results? Is There any difference between Sandhya-Vandana and the practices that constitute Vaidhi-bhakti (Bhakti that is performed by rule, law, religious injunction or regulation), such as Sandhya–vandana?”
Segment 037: “Then Why Do the Scriptures praise the virtues of the secondary results?”
Segment 038: “If that is the case, how should one know which directives of the Scripture to have Faith in? Moreover, how many of those of lower adhikara (eligibility), attain a higher destination?”
Segment 039: “The activities of the Vaisnavas consist of Sravanam, Kirtanam, Smaranam, Pada-sevanam, Arcanam, Vandanam, Dasyam, Sakhyam, and Atma-nivedanam, and they are significantly connected with mtter; so, why are not they also referred to as temporary, Naimittika? It appears that there is some partiality in these activities, such as the service of the Deity, easting, and worship with material ingredients, which are all connected with gross matter; so, how can they be Eternal?”
Segment 040: “If one worships the Sri-vigraha (Deity) of Bhagavan, but does not accept that Vigraha as Eternal, Then it is not worship of an Eternal Object; it is the Worship of a Temporary Forms? But Sri-vigraha that is worshiped is fashioned by a human being; so, how Can it be Eternal?”
Segment 041: “According to the ideology, of those who follow the tenets found in the Qur’an and the many books of the Sufis; what is meant by mukti? What is the primary teaching of the Qur’an? Does the Qur’an accept that the Lord has a transcendental form? What is the Opinion of the Sufis in this regard?”
Chapter “Six”
Eternal Dharma, Race & Caste
Question 1: “Is caste, eternally invariable? Is it constant, rigid, set, unchanging, inflexible, and consistent? Are the Vaisnavas and Hindus not become fallen by associating with Christians, Muslims, and Jew?
Question 2: However, does that mean that there is no caste distinction between Vaisnavas, Christians, Muslims, and Jew? Is there no difference in terms of birth?
Question 3: On the other hand, does the difference between Vaisnavas & Hindus or Muslims & Christians & Jews, consist of nothing more than the difference in clothing and other such things?
Question 4: Then how can Muslims/Christians/Jews be Vaisnavas, and how can respectable Vaisnavas associate with them?”
Segment 043: “According to this progression, one cannot become a Vaisnava without first completing one’s eligibility for Karma. Muslims/Christians/Jews are not eligible even to perform the prescribed Karma within the Varna system, because they are outcastes, so how can they become eligible for Bhakti?”
Segment 044: “How can the defect of degraded birth be removed? Can a defect relating to one’s birth be removed without taking another birth?”
Question 1: “What is the cause of eligibility for Karma, and what is the cause of eligibility for Bhakti?
Question 2: What is meant by ‘nature, birth, and other practical causes’ that make one suitable for a particular type of work; are these sources of eligibility?”
Segment 046: “What is meant by faith in the Absolute Truth? What if some people have developed faith in the Scriptures; although their natures are not elevated? Are such people also eligible for Bhakti?”
Segment 047: ,” What if one does not accept the authority of Srimad-Bhagavatam?” Part 1.”
Segment 048: “What if one does not accept the authority of Srimad-Bhagavatam?” Part 2.”
Segment 049: “How does Sraddha (Faith) develop? Muslims/Jews/Christians, do not perform Sat-Karma, so how can they be eligible for Bhakti?
Segment 050: Please explain clearly what you mean by Bhakta-sanga (association with devotees), and Bhakti-kriya-sanga (contact with acts of devotion). From what type of Sukrti do these arise?
Question 1: Does this mean that Nitya-sukrti comes about by chance?
Question 2: What is the circumstance by which the Jiva first entered the cycle of Karma?
Segment 052: Chapter 6, Is There no difference between an Aryan and a Yavana?
+Segment 53: What is meant by a Vyavaharika difference between Aryans and Yavanas?
Segment 054: “hen how can there possibly be no difference between Aryans and Yavanas from the Absolute point of view?
Segment 055: How can Rrice, Bbeans, Fruit, Milk, Nuts, & Vegetables be Spiritual?
Segment 056: What is the proper behavior’s between the Yavanas and Vaisnavas?
Segment 057: Can You Eat Food, Drink Water, & other such activities with a Yavana who Has truly become a Vaisnava?
Segment 058: Then why is it that Yavana Vaisnavas are not permitted to worship & werve the Deities in the Vainava Temples”
Segment 059: Sudras are not eligible to study the Vedas, so can a Sudra study the Vedas when he becomes a Vaisnava?
Segment 060: Then do you people conclude that the Vedas that promote tattva teach only vaisnava-dharma and no other religion?
Chapter Seven”
Nitya-dharma & Material Existence
Question 1: “My humble prayer is that you will be merciful to me, and clearly explain what is this material existence?”
Question 2: “The conceptions of ‘I’ and ‘mine’ are active in the conditioned state, but do they also exist in the liberated state?”
Question 3: “Then what is the defect in the different conceptions of ‘I’ and ‘mine’ that exist in the conditioned state?”
Question 4: “Is this deceptive material existence false?”
Question 5: “Why have we fallen into this illusory relationship?”
Question 6: “Why is it that our true identity does not become manifest despite significant endeavor?”
Question 7: “There are two types of endeavor: “appropriate and inappropriate. Appropriate endeavors will certainly dissipate false egoism, but how can inappropriate endeavors do so?”
Question 8: “What are inappropriate endeavors?”
Question 9: “Why are these endeavors inappropriate?”
.
Segment 062: “What are appropriate endeavors?”
.
Question 1: “The sadhus who are present in this world, and whom they are also oppressed by the miseries of material existence, so how is it that they can deliver other jivas?”
Question 2: “The Bhagavatam slokas which you just quoted refer to four categories of people who possess spiritual insight. Out of these four, which type of association is considered sadhu-sanga?”
Question 3: “You have explained that bhaktas live in two conditions. Kindly explain this clearly so that people like myself, who have limited intelligence, may understand easily?”
Question 4: “Please describe the nature of the grhastha-bhaktas’ relationship with this world?”
Question 1: “Grhastha Vaisnavas are obliged to remain under the jurisdiction of smarta-brahmanas, otherwise they will have to suffer much harassment in society. Under such circumstances, how can they practice suddha-bhakti?”
Question 2: “If grhastha-bhaktas are so highly respected and dear to everyone, why do some of them renounce household life?”
Question 3: “Kindly explain how one becomes eligible to renounce household life?”
Question 4: “What are the symptoms of a bhakta who is eligible to give up household life?”
Segment 066: “These days, young men often renounce household life and adopt the dress of the renounced order. They establish a place for sadhus to congregate, and begin to worship the Deity of the Lord. After some time, they fall into association with women again, but do not give up chanting hari-nama. They maintain their hermitage by collecting alms from many places. Are such men tyagis or grhastha-bhaktas?”
Chapter “Eight”
Nitya-dharma & Vaisnava Behavior
Segment 06 “I understand that vaisnava-dharma is eternal religion, and I would like to know in detail how one who has taken shelter of vaisnava-dharma should behave with others?”
.Segment 070:
Question 1: “What is a Vaisnava and what are the symptoms by which he can be recognized?”
Question 2: “The philosophical outlook lodged in the heart of Mayavadis and proponents of other similar doctrines is that Bhagavan has no form and that the Deity which is worshiped is simply an imaginary icon. Under such circumstances, how can there be any faith in the Deity?
Question 3: “How should suddha-bhaktas behave towards such inimical people?”
Question 4: “Some members of one’s own family may acquire a malicious nature as a result of their sinful activities from a previous life. Should one abandon such people?”
.Segment 071:
Question 1: “What is the behavior of uttama-bhaktas?”
Question 2: “What are the Vedas, or sruti?”
Question 3: “To which category of Vaisnavas do you think I belong? Am I a kanistha or a madhyama Vaisnava? I am certainly not an uttama Vaisnava. I sincerely want to know my actual position.
Question 4: “To which class of Vaisnava do I belong, and how should I behave?”
.Segment 072:
Question 1: “What are the primary and secondary characteristics of a kanistha-bhakta in regard to bhakti?”
Question 2: “How can the kanistha Vaisnava be called a bhakta when he is contaminated with the faults of karma and jnana, and his heart is filled with desires for things other than bhakti?”
Question 3: “When will he obtain bhakti?” 20
Question 4: “Suddha-bhakti appears along with sambandha-jnana. When is that knowledge awakened by which one becomes eligible for suddha-bhakti?”
Question 5: “How long does that take?”
Question 6: “What is the first result attained by past sukrti?”
Question 7: “What is the progression that evolves from sadhu-sanga?”
Question 8: “How does one attain sadhu-sanga”
Question 9: “What are the stages of progress for a kanisthabhakta?”
Question 10: “Why is it that many kanistha-bhaktas do not progress?”
Question 11: “When does that happen?”
Question 12: “Under what circumstances can his advancement be assured?”
Question 13: “What is the nature of the kanistha-adhikari’s inclination towards sinful and pious activities?”
Question 14: I have understood the situation of kanistha-adhikaris. Now kindly describe the primary symptoms of the madhyama-adhikari bhaktas
Question 1: “What are the secondary symptoms of the madhyama-bhakta?”
Question 2: “Can he still commit sins or offenses?”
Question 3: “Does the madhyama-bhakta have any trace of karma, jnana, or extraneous desires?”
Question 4: “Do such bhaktas even desire to live, and if so, why?”
Question 5: “However, why don’t they long for death?” 24
Question 6: “What happiness can come from remaining in this gross material body?”
Question 7: “When they die, will they not obtain their spiritual forms and identities by Krishna’s mercy?”
Question 8: “I have understood the symptoms of the madhyama-adhikari. Now, please tell me about the secondary symptoms of the uttama-adhikari.”
Question 9: “Is it possible that some uttama-adhikaris will live as householders?”
Question 10: “If an uttama-adhikari bhakta is a grhastha, and a madhyama-adhikari bhakta is in the renounced order, how should they behave towards each other?
Question 11: “Should one bring many Vaisnavas together and hold festivals for distributing bhagavat-prasada?”
Question 12: “A new caste has emerged in Baragachi consisting of people who refer to themselves as descendants of Vaisnavas. Kanistha-adhikari householders invite them and feed them in the name of Vaisnava seva. How is this to be viewed?”
Question 13: “Babaji: Have these descendants of Vaisnavas taken up suddhabhakti?”
.
Question: 1 “Do the descendants of Vaisnavas deserve any special regard?”
Question: 2 “What if the descendant of a Vaisnava is only a worldly man?”
Question 3: “How can one be free from pride?”
Question 4: “It seems from this that one cannot be a Vaisnava without humility and compassion.”
Question 5: “Then does Bhakti-devi depend on humility and compassion?”
Question: 6 “When I am so wretched and insignificant myself, how can I inflict punishment upon others?”
Question: 7 “How should a Vaisnava behave towards the followers of other religions?”
Question 8: “Is it our duty to preach Vaisnava dharma or not?”
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