Interesting topic. Though perhaps we should consider the mind of Krishna difficult if not impossible to understand. Does Krishna need the jivas? The jivas are as absolute as Krishna Himself, being parts and parcel of the Supreme. Therefore to question the “need” for the jivas is like questioning the “need” for Krishna himself.

On the pure philosophical plane, the existence of everything, being a rock or a demigod, has in its very existence its own validity. The fact that it exists is all the proof needed. If it exists it was needed, otherwise it would not exist.

I think until we can clearly define what is consciousness, it cannot be determined id AI can achieve it. If we break apart all the components of consciousness, we can one by one eliminate what does not constitute consciousness. In the end what remains is feelings, that will not be experienced by an AI, even though it may learn all about it and act like it can.

“Because we are made of spirit, not matter, we have no ability to independently manipulate matter, and to think we do is the ultimate binding delusion.”

I suggest this statement wrongfully assumes that spirit and matter are completely separated. How does Lord Brahma “create” the universe, if you statement was true? Is he also in delusion that he is the creator? Matter is based on spirit and therefore spirit can move matter, as well as matter can move spirit. How else can matter trap us in our material body?

“One person is Indian, another person is American. One person is old, another is young. One person is a man, another is a woman. One person is rich, another is poor. One person has a formal education, another person doesn’t. …. When we look at these things and give them importance and meaning, they divide us. These divisions and distinctions cause arguments and disagreements.”

“person is Indian, another person is American” — Then why you expect Americans to dress like Indians? Does that not “give them importance and meaning, they divide us.”? I’m trying to understand here.

Has the issue of Srila Bhaktisiddhnata Sarasvati taking sannyasa from a picture of his departed guru been officially addressed by ISKCON? Does this not support the Ritvik initiation concept that has been banned in ISKCON?

I think the idea that the soul cannot manipulate matter is over simplistic. How can Lord Brahma, who is a jiva, create the universe? Why does Lord Krishna advise Arjuna to act a certain way, if the jiva has no power to act and manipulate matter? The verse in Bhagavad-gita mentioned tells that the body is under influence of the 3 gunas, thereby influencing the free will of the jiva to act. Do the demigods have no power other than to decide whether they want to be near god or not?

A well written article. I would like to add some important aspects to this discussion. The spirit soul is by nature free, however when trapped in a material body which is under the influence of the 3 gunas, it is bound to act according the bodies urges and limitations. A person under the influence of tama guna has much less freedom to decide what he wants to do, than a person under influence of sattva guna. The jiva at any given time has the free will to listen to his conscience or not, which is known as the super soul with the heart of every jiva.

Very nice kirtan, Haribol!

Disksa is explained here: Bhakti-sandarbha (283):

divyaṁ jñānaṁ yato dadyāt kuryāt pāpasya saṅkṣayam
tasmāt dīkṣeti sā proktā deśikais tattva-kovidaiḥ

“Dīkṣā is the process by which one can awaken his transcendental knowledge and vanquish all reactions caused by sinful activity. A person expert in the study of the revealed scriptures knows this process as dīkṣā.”

So, at least based on the official definition of Diksa (Initiation), tapa or renunciation, austerity is not mentioned, but rather the transfer of divya jnana, spiritual knowledge.

Amazing story about Kumbhamela…