Note down these principles in your heart and on your paper, and, when needed, you can boldly say, “This is our philosophy.”
Svayaṁ Bhagavān Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has given instructions on ten types of tattva to the faithful jīvas. Of these, the first is the principle of evidence (pramāṇa-tattva), and the remaining nine are prameya-tattva the subject which is established by pramāṇa-tattva.
1. Pramāṇa: The teachings of the Vedas received through Guru-paramparā are known as āmnāya. The infallible evidence of the Vedas, of the smṛti-śāstras headed by the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, as well as evidence such as direct sense perception (pratyakña), that concur with the guidance of the Vedas, are all accepted as pramāṇa (evidence). This pramāṇa establishes the following prameyas (fundamental truths):
2. Hari is the Supreme Truth.
3. He is sarva-śaktimān—possessor of all potencies.
4. He is akhila-rasāmṛta-sindhu—the ocean of all nectarean transcendental mellows.
5. There are two kinds of jīvas—namely mukta and baddha (liberated and conditioned) — and they are His separated expansions (vibhinnāṁśa-tattva).
6. The conditioned souls are under the control of māyā.
7. The mukta-jivas are liberated from the influence of māyā.
8. Everything in existence, whether conscious or unconscious, is a manifestation of Śrī Hari and is simultaneously and inconceivably one with Him and different from Him.
9. Bhakti is the only sādhana (means to attain the goal).
10. Love for Kṛṣṇa (prema) is the only objective (sādhya).
February 18, 2002 Murwillumbah