This presentation examines the definition of “supreme bhakti” (uttamā-bhakti) as given by Sri Rupa Gosvamin, the 15th century medieval saint and leader of the famed gosvamis of Vrndavan who were devout followers of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Considered especially empowered by Sri Caitanya to codify the teachings of bhakti that enjoyed a renaissance under Sri Caitanya’s influence, Sri Rupa Gosvamin’s magnum opus—Bhakti-Rasāmrta-Sindhu—systematically established bhakti as universal, as the basis of accomplishment for other systems of self-actualization, while being independent from those systems and from the stipulations of the socio-religious structure of Vedic society knowns as varnāsrama (caste system). For these reasons and more, this strand of bhakti became revolutionary for the time that it appeared.
What is the difference between love encountered in this world, and bhakti as presented by Sri Rupa? Who is the truly abiding object of love? What is the intrinsic and extrinsic nature of bhakti and how does it manifest in this world? What is bhakti’s relationship to other system of self-realization? All these questions and more will be explored with the hope of getting a clearer understanding of “A Love Supreme,” i.e. uttamā-bhakti.
Bhakti, the Indic term generally translated as “devotion”, has many connotations including “adoring,” “sharing,” and “belonging.” While often discussed as a mental or emotional state, bhakti becomes manifest only in a bhakta – a devotee. Who is an ideal bhakta? What is the definition of a person...
Since there are as many flavors of bhakti as there are human hearts wherein it abides, this talk will focus on one prominent expression of bhakti, the Krishna (Kṛṣṇa) bhakti of the 16th century Vraj (Vrindavan) tradition, as a lens into the larger multi-faceted universe of bhakti.
The Bhagavad Gita is a dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna – a dialogue between Man and God. Hence it touches on all aspects of the various relationships between man and god. The dialogue is made more dramatic by the fact that it is set in the middle of a battlefield in which Arjuna, the hum...
