Swami B. V. Tripurari

Swami B. V. Tripurari
Swami B. V. Tripurari

It is difficult to find someone from the West that both understands and can elegantly express the theory behind an Eastern mystical tradition. It is even more difficult to find a modern mystic. In Swami Tripurari we have both: a traditional mystic who can articulate the teachings of an ancient spiritual tradition. A compelling speaker, to hear him and be in his presence is itself a spiritual experience. Swami Tripurari met his initiating guru, Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, in the spring of 1972. He relates that he felt as though he had met a long-lost friend, as Srila Prabhupada blessed him with his all-knowing glance. Over the years of service that followed, Srila Prabhupada showered him with affection and repeatedly expressed his appreciation for his selfless service and ability to inspire others. In 1974 Srila Prabhupada instructed him in a widely circulated letter, “So you organize freely. You are the incarnation of book distribution. Take the leadership and do the needful.” Accordingly, Swami Tripurari has set an example of one who is independently thoughtful and capable of making an insightful literary contribution to the world. In 1975 Swami Tripurari was initiated by Srila Prabhupada into the renounced order of sannyasa.

  1. 12/29/2024

    Swami B. V. Tripurari Live Q&A; December 29, 2024: Crying Over Understanding Our Predicament

    0:00 News. 00:40 Guru Maharaja, I’m wondering why Srila Prabhupada chose Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura’s Gurvastakam for mandala arati. I also wonder why in Iskcon the last verse of the song is not sung. And why is there a song for Sri Guru during the morning arati and a song for Sri Gauranga during the evening arati? 09:10 Who’s song is Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s Gaura-arati based on? 11:05 Does Navadvipa dhama exist eternally on earth? Is there a Navadvipa planet in the spiritual sky? 14:48 Dandavats, dear Guru Maharaja. It is said that bhakti, requiring only our faith, is more generous than the paths of jnana or yoga which have many prerequisites. At the same time it is said that if bhakti practices are taken up without surrender then the practice is lifeless. Surrender is very difficult. How can we reconcile this? 24:18 Srila Prabhupada made the point that Sri Krishna is more generous in the form of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, because in the Bhagavad-Gita he required surrender whereas in Gaura-lila he freely gave out bhakti. It seems then that Srila Prabhupada separates faith from surrender. Can you explain this?  26:12 What are some ways of surrendering to Sri Krishna in the midst of the movements of the gunas in terms of directing our attention? 42:33 How to best practice tolerance of the material dualities? 48:18 It is said that when Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu met for the first time, most of their communication was non-verbal. What emotions and so on did they communicate in that way? 52:13 Is the pastime of Sri Nityananda Prabhu and Sri Haridasa Thakura going from door to door preaching an eternal lila? 56:57 Is there any loss in reciting the prayers of our acaryas translated into our mother tongue if our mother tongue is neither Sanskrit or Bengali?

    1h 9m
  2. 12/15/2024

    Swami B. V. Tripurari Live Q&A; December 15, 2024: Balarama's Reflection on the Brahma Vimohana Lila

    0:00 News. 00:00:59 You sometimes make the point that 'I' is the smallest, most used, and least understood word in the English language. Have you read that somewhere? 00:01:30 Was Lord Brahma really able to overpower the cowherd boys in the Brahma vimohana lila? 00:07:11 Did Sri Krishna experience sakhya-rasa during the year that he took the form of the other cowherd boys? 00:09:15 Is selfless love in this world akin to the prema of the spiritual world? 00:13:08 As sadhakas we try to see Krishna everywhere, and everything in Krishna, yet we feel separation from him. What is this separation if he is actually present everywhere? 00:16:31 What do you mean by ontological good and evil? 00:21:50 Is the following of rules or the expression of love that pleases Sri Krishna? I am wondering because of the story where Sri Krishna sends Narada Muni to gather footdust from Krishna's devotees to cure Krishna's headache. 00:29:02 Why did Sri Krishna not make any effort to bring Pradyumna back when he was kidnapped? Was it because they are aware of actually being sakhas from Vraja-lila taking these new forms in Dvaraka rather than feeling as father and son? 00:30:42 Why must a sakhya-rati upasaka enter Krishna-lila during go-dhuli and at no other time? 00:37:47 Was Sri Krishna betrothed to the gopis during the year of the Brahma vimohana lila? 00:46:40 What would be the Vedic perspective on experiences of deja vu? 00:48:40 Why is Sri Radha sometimes jealous? 00:53:14 Why did Lord Balarama take time off from cowherding after coming out of Sri Krishna's spell during the Brahma vimohana lila?

    1h 2m

About

It is difficult to find someone from the West that both understands and can elegantly express the theory behind an Eastern mystical tradition. It is even more difficult to find a modern mystic. In Swami Tripurari we have both: a traditional mystic who can articulate the teachings of an ancient spiritual tradition. A compelling speaker, to hear him and be in his presence is itself a spiritual experience. Swami Tripurari met his initiating guru, Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, in the spring of 1972. He relates that he felt as though he had met a long-lost friend, as Srila Prabhupada blessed him with his all-knowing glance. Over the years of service that followed, Srila Prabhupada showered him with affection and repeatedly expressed his appreciation for his selfless service and ability to inspire others. In 1974 Srila Prabhupada instructed him in a widely circulated letter, “So you organize freely. You are the incarnation of book distribution. Take the leadership and do the needful.” Accordingly, Swami Tripurari has set an example of one who is independently thoughtful and capable of making an insightful literary contribution to the world. In 1975 Swami Tripurari was initiated by Srila Prabhupada into the renounced order of sannyasa.

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