Category:Writings
Theme Analysis
Śrīla Prabhupāda draws a strict absolute distinction between mundane literature and authorized transcendental writings. Mundane writings—whether penned by material scientists, speculative philosophers, or unauthorized commentators—are produced on the mental or intellectual platform and lack genuine spiritual insight. In stark contrast, transcendental writings (śāstra) are composed strictly under the authority of the disciplic succession by empowered Vaiṣṇavas. When a pure devotee writes in service to the Lord, Śrī Kṛṣṇa personally dictates the words from within. Such authorized writings, exemplified by Śrīla Vyāsadeva's Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and the works of the Six Gosvāmīs, are free from material discrepancies and possess the supreme spiritual potency to deliver the conditioned souls from the cycle of birth and death.
- The Folly of Mundane Writings: Mundane writers construct their books on the basis of speculative theories, imperfect senses, and mental concoction. Their writings lack spiritual insight and ultimately spoil authentic Vedic culture.
- The Authority of Transcendental Literature: True śāstra is never produced by an ordinary fiction writer. Authorized transcendental writings are spoken directly by the Supreme Lord or compiled by exalted ācāryas who strictly follow the paramparā.
- The Empowered Devotee's Writing: Composing transcendental literature is not a matter of mundane academic skill, but of divine empowerment. When a pure Vaiṣṇava writes, Śrī Kṛṣṇa personally dictates the sublime words from within the devotee's heart.
- The Impact of Reading Vedic Writings: The writings of the great sages act as a lifeline for the conditioned souls of Kali-yuga. Hearing these wonderfully arranged narrations grants self-realization and removes all taste for mundane literature.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: The Distinction Between Mundane and Transcendental Writings.
Subcategories
This category has the following 16 subcategories, out of 16 total.
C
E
L
M
R
U
V
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Pages in category "Writings"
The following 77 pages are in this category, out of 77 total.
A
- A sentimentalist who has no Vaisnava qualifications cannot produce transcendental writings
- A Vaisnava should study the commentaries on the Vedanta-sutra written by the four sampradaya-acaryas, namely Sri Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya, Visnu Svami and Nimbarka
- According to Darwin's theory, 5000 years ago, men were uncivilized. Now this literature is written by uncivilized men. Just see. So highly intellectual writings, they were uncivilized. Now they have become civilized. That is Darwin's theory
- After his writing of the Vedanta philosophy - he (Vyasadeva) was also not happy. But when he wrote Srimad-Bhagavatam under the instruction of Narada, he became happy
- After writing this and thus accepting the real purport of the Gita, how can Dr. Radhakrishnan later state that Lord Krsna's body and soul are different? Such an idea must be a result of his materialistic education
- As stated in the Bhagavad-gita (BG 10.10), dadami buddhi-yogam tam yena mam upayanti te. Since a devotee writes in service to the Lord, the Lord from within gives him so much intelligence that he sits down near the Lord and goes on writing books
B
- Bhagavad-gita is not an ordinary book written by a poet or fiction writer; it is spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. BG 1972 purports
- Bhaktisiddhanta's writing is not very easy to understand, yes; but we should try, read and read again, and simply that vibration will help us
- By literary contribution, one's intelligence is tested. All big, big men of the material world, scientists, philosophers, even technicians, they are recognized by their writings, by their contribution, not by their gigantic body
E
- Even Darwin's theory. He's proposing, "Perhaps; it may be," and he's writing a big book, anthropology. And people are taking knowledge from that book. So if his knowledge based on "Perhaps; maybe," what is the value
- Everything had been arranged for her (Rukmini's) marriage to Sisupala; therefore she wrote a letter to Krsna, which she sent through a brahmana, and invited Him to kidnap her
H
- He (Vallabha Acarya) was very proud of his writings, but Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu corrected him, telling him that a Vaisnava should be humble and follow in the footsteps of his predecessors
- He began it in that way, but now, following the order of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he has divided it in two and is writing two plays
I
- I approve of the arrangement for the writing on the "Bhaktivedanta Swami Gate"
- I have given in writing. My will, my executive power, everything. Disaster will happen if you cannot manage it
- I offer my respects to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, by whose desire I have become like a dancing dog and suddenly taken to the writing of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, although I am a fool
- I shall always pray to Krishna that you may come out a successful and eminent scholar so that your writings and thoughts may be seriously taken by the mundane wranglers
- I shall call so many people, "Come and live with me and be trained up." I am just writing one advertisement. We shall have to publish it
- I specifically formed the BBT to invest in it exclusive rights for the printing of all literature containing my teachings, writings and lectures
- I want that in all of our books, magazines and other writings the scholarly presentation be given in all instances, so for every Sanskrit word there must be the appropriate spelling and diacritic marks
- If you don't accept Krsna's works, which are very plainly explained in the Bhagavad gita, then you have to remain in this mrtyu-samsara-vartmani. It is very plain truth. There is no doubt about it
- In other words, a person who has relished the transcendental bliss of Srimad-Bhagavatam cannot be satisfied with mundane writings
- In the Vedic writings such as the Katha Upanisad, the Lord is described as the sarva-bhuta-antaratma, or the Personality of Godhead who resides in everyone's body and who directs everything for one who is a soul surrendered unto Him
- In the writings of so-called poets there is generally a possibility of overlapping transcendental mellows. When the mellows thus go against the conclusive understanding, no one likes to hear such poetry
- It appears from your writings that you are a true devotee of the Lord and you have respect for other devotees. That is a very good sign of a devotee
- It has been suggested that Candidasa and Vidyapati were great friends because the writings of both express the transcendental feelings of separation profusely
M
- Mahabharata is especially written for such (varna-sankara) class of men and women. And the hero of Mahabharata is Arjuna. Similarly, the hero of Srimad-Bhagavatam is Arjuna's grandson, Maharaja Pariksit, King Pariksit
- Maharaja Prataparudra was as powerful as King Indra. The drama named Caitanya-candrodaya was written under his direction
O
- On the throne of the temple (which was established by Sri Madhusudana Mullik) are both Gaura-Nityananda Deities and Radha-Krsna Deities. Below the throne is a tablet with an inscription written in Sanskrit
- One cannot write on spiritual matters without being blessed by Krsna and the disciplic succession of gurus. The blessings of the authorities are one’s power of attorney
- One gosvami, he has taken very much objection to this writing, and he is making propaganda against me like anything. There was arrangement of reception. He stopped it
- One should not try to write anything about Vaisnava behavior and activities without being authorized by superior authorities. This is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita (BG 4.2): evam parampara-praptam imam rajarsayo viduh
- Only the poetry and other writings of such devotees (who fully understand pure devotional service and follow the parampara system) are accepted with great happiness by devotees
S
- Sastra means the transcendental literature, not ordinary writings. That is sastra. Just like Bhagavad-gita is sastra, Veda is sastra, or Bible, sastra. Scripture means given by God or His authorized representative. That is sastra
- Srila Rupa Gosvami warns devotees to not commit such incompatibilities in their writings or in their dealings
- Such activities are so nicely arranged in writing by the greatly learned sages that the actual purpose of the ear is served just by being near them
- Svarupa Damodara pointed out the drama’s (written by Bhagavan Acarya's friend) many mistakes & its disagreements with the conclusion of DS, & the author became aware of the faults in his writing & then surrendered to Svarupa Damodara, begging his mercy
T
- That gentleman has written, "Swami Bhaktivedanta will be remembered for centuries, making history." Is not that?
- That knowledge of the field of activities and of the knower of activities is described by various sages in various Vedic writings-especially in the Vedanta-sutra-and is presented with all reasoning as to cause and effect. BG 13.5 - 1972
- The fiction writers, poets and celebrated litterateurs are generally engaged in writing of sensuous subjects, but if they turn towards the service of the Lord they can describe the transcendental pastimes of the Lord
- The Gosvamis not only engaged in writing books but also constructed temples because both are needed for preaching work
- The Lord inquired, "What kind of book are you writing?" He held up a palm leaf that was a page of the manuscript, and when He saw the fine handwriting, His mind was very pleased
- The people in this age, they will be dull-headed rascals. Therefore, if they get this knowledge recorded in writing, they may be able to derive some benefit
- The person in charge of writing is also called deula-karana-pada-prapta karmacari. He is employed especially to write a calendar called Matala-panji
- The process (of writing transcendental literatures) is maha-jano yena gatah sa panthah: one has to strictly follow great personalities and acaryas
- The regulation was that Lord Caitanya's secretary, Svarupa Damodara, first examined all of these writings scrutinizingly
- The Sanskrit poetry writing is very difficult. They have got rhetoric system. So many words should be first, so many words, second. You cannot deviate
- The standard for writing dramas has been set by Rupa Gosvami. If a devotee hears the introductory portions of his two dramas, they enhance his transcendental pleasure
- The subject matter of this book (Sri Caitanya Mangala) is so sublime that it appears that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has personally spoken through the writings of Sri Vrndavana dasa Thakura
- The unauthorized commentary upon Bhagavad-gita is known as Mayavadi-Bhasya, and Lord Caitanya has warned us about these unauthorized men (who try to banish or kill Krsna when writing commentary on Bhagavad-gita). BG 1972 Preface
- The writing of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta by Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami manifests specific mercy bestowed upon the author, although he thought of himself as the most fallen. We should not consider him fallen because he describes himself as such
- There are different branches of knowledge in the Vedic writings, including sociology, politics, medicine and military art. All these and other branches of knowledge are perfectly described in the Vedas
- There are many instances in the various Vedic writings of persons who were aspiring after liberation by speculative knowledge but gave up this process in order to take complete shelter under the lotus feet of Krsna
- There is an account of Rukminidevi's writing a letter to Krsna requesting Him to kidnap her before her marriage to another person. At that time the specific attachment of Rukmini for Krsna was expressed by Rukmini as follows
- These (commentaries on the Vedanta-sutra written by the four sampradaya-acaryas) are based upon the philosophy that the Lord is the master and that all living entities are His eternal servants
- These Aurobindos or Vivekanandas and Gandhis, they have spoiled Hindu culture. Vedic culture they have spoiled. Hodgepodge writing, hodgepodge speaking, dry speaking, speculation - choked up the progress of Vedic civilization
- These four items (marking tilaka on different parts of the body, writing the names of the Lord all over the body, accepting the Deity’s garland & accepting caranamrta) are understood to be included by Kaviraja Gosvami within arcana, worship of the Deity
- This Brahma-samhita was accepted by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who copied it when He toured South India. Formerly there were no presses to print these literatures, and these important Vedic writings were written by hand
- This is the way (Krsnadasa Kaviraja simply admits his indebtedness to the notes taken by Svarupa Damodara and other authoritative persons) of writing transcendental literatures, which are never meant for so-called scholars and research workers
- Those who are on the mental platform, they're writing poetries and philosophical speculation to satisfy the mind. Similarly, there is intellectual platform. But soul is above intellect
- Those who have no knowledge how material things are acting, covering the soul, they utmost they can think of the mind, the activities of the mind - thinking, feeling, willing, psychology, or writing some books, some mental speculation philosophy
- To these thirty-five items (of devotional service to God), another four are added - namely marking tilaka on different parts of the body, writing the names of the Lord all over the body, accepting the Deity’s garland and accepting caranamrta
- Transcendental activities of the Lord are so arranged in writing by the great sages that simply by hearing of those narrations one becomes perfectly self-realized, and the proper use of the ear and the tongue is also achieved
W
- When Nilambara Cakravarti saw those marks, he smilingly said, "Formerly I ascertained all this by astrological calculation and noted it in writing
- Writing book is not a whimsical, whatever I like. No. You must be empowered by superior authority; then you can deliver the right things. So Vyasadeva was empowered by his guru, Narada