Swami B. V. Tripurari Live Q&A; May 21, 2023: Imitate with Honesty

Questions on today’s Swami call:

In one place in Jaiva Dharma, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura says that in raganuga bhakti, bhava produces ruci from the very beginning. Here it sounds like the order of the stages of bhakti as they are usually explained is reversed. Can you explain this?

Is it better to do more practice even though it’s shallow or to do less in quantity but qualitatively more substantial practice?

If we understand that we should not pray for material things but do not yet have the desire to pray for devotion, what should we do?

Is Lord Balarama’s consort Revati an expansion of Srimati Radharani? What is her position?

How do we balance the aspiration to overcome material ego which includes family attachment with our day-to-day family responsibilities?

Can we talk to others about Sri Krishna at any stage or does it require some level of qualification?

What is your understanding of the teaching that one should keep one’s guru a secret?

Why do some Gaudiya temples have a deity of Sri Jagannatha without Lord Balarama and Lady Subhadra?