Virabahu Dasa 1

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‚One who is now the disciple is the next spiritual master.‛

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(SB 2.9.43, Ppt)

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ALL GLORY TO SRI GURU AND GAURANGA
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A Compilation and Analysis of Relevant Quotes about

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the Spiritual Master, from the Teachings of His Divine Grace

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A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada,
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Second Edition
Back Cover Picture: In the background, the author on a morning walk with Srila Prabhupada at
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Cheviot Hills Park (Los Angeles, December 26, 1973, the day after his initiation.)
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Copyright©1988 by Marcos A. Zafarani (Virabahu Dasa)
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Email: iskcon@myfamily.org
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Second Edition, August 2012
All Rights Reserved
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ISBN 0-913661-17-1
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Cover Design: Govinda-Damodara Dasa (Mendoza, Argentina)

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Printed at Krishna-Balarama Printery, WCD, Guyana

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All quotes from the books, letters and conversations of His Divine Grace
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A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada are copyrighted by The

Bhaktivedanta Book Trust and used with permission.
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No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or

transmitted in any form, by any means, including mechanical, electronic,
and
photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission

of the publisher.
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vancha-kalpa-tarubhyas ca
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krpa-sindhubhya eva ca
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patitanam pavanebhyo
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vaisnavebhyo namo namah
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To my departed dear Godbrothers Tamal Krsna Goswami,

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Srinath Prabhu, Kusakratha Prabhu, Radhanatha Prabhu and Aindra

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Prabhu, and to all of my Godbrothers and Godsisters, I offer this book

with my humble obeisances. By their mercy I am trying to be a servant
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of what Prabhupada Said. May they be pleased by this attempt to do so

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and tell of it to His Divine Grace.

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Quick Reference Guide
A Personal Note to the Reader xix -- List of Abbreviations -- xxii
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Acknowledgments xxv -- Invocation xxix -- Preface xxxv
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Introduction to the Second Edition xxxvii
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Introduction to the First Edition lxv
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PART ONE
The Guru That Prabhupada Spoke Of
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Is The Servant That Prabhupada Spoke Of

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CHAPTER ONE – Disciplic Succession: Unbroken, Still ? 3

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A worthy disciple ………………………………………………………………….4

The authority of Srimad-Bhagavatam …………………………………………...6
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The opening key is with the devotee ………….…………………………………7

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The living bhagavata ……………………………………………………………...8

One should approach the current link …………………………………………10
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Not by concoctions ………………………………………………………………10

How does someone become...? ………………………………………………………………..12
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The next spiritual master ………………………………………………………..13

It’s the law! ………………………………………………………………….…… 13
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A matter of etiquette …………………………………………………………….15

Even in his presence ……………………………………………………………..17
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What we have not heard of ……………………………………………………..18

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The Zonal Acarya ………….…………………………………………………….18

Still one must go ………………………………………………………………….18
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Is anyone in ISKCON qualified? ……………………………………………….20

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CHAPTER TWO – “There Are Many Societies...” 23
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Is ISKCON DISKCON? (...diskconnected!) ………….………………………23
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Is your mantra effective ?.………….…………………………………………….25
Powerful blessings ………….…………………………………………………….26
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For example, electricity ………….……………………………………………...28
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Did Srila Prabhupada leave untimely? ………….……………………………..28
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Is there anyone outside of ISKCON? ………….……………………………… 28
Our evidence ……………………….………….…………………………………29
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‚There are many Vaisnava families in Bengal‛ ………….……………………30
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‚There are many societies […] of pure devotees‛ ………….…………………..31
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Krsna conscious disagreements ………….……………………………………...31
A case of cooperation ………….………………………………………………...33
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The guru’s Godbrother ………….………………………………………………35
‚None of us is astray‛ ………….………………………………………………...36
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‚My dear Uncle Prabhupada‛ ………….……………………………………….37

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‚He has entered Krsna’s abode‛ ………….……………………………………..38

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CHAPTER THREE – “You Cannot Jump Over !” 41

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It’s like telling them to look somewhere else ………….……………………….42

Waiting for the messiah ………….……………………………………………...42
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The absolute necessity of guru ………….………………………………………42

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Even Krsna accepted a spiritual master ………….…………………………….44

An immediate offender ………….………………………………………...……45
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Prabhupada’s success ………….…………………………………………………45

Prabhupada’s mission ………….………………………………………………...46
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The future spiritual masters ………….…………………………………………47

‚Very soon when you will have many disciples‛ ………….…………………...48
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‚You shall continue...‛ ………….……………………………………………….48

‚In my absence…all my disciples‛ ………….…………….…………………….49
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‚Make me and Krishna very happy‛ ………….………………………………..49

The direct connection: one after another ………….…………………………50
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‚Your immediate boss‛ ………….……………………………………………….52

A vital concept: one cannot jump over ………….…………………………….53
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‚Even if you read some books‛ ………….………………………………………54

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An interesting incident ………….…………………………………………...…54
Praying to the grandguru ………….…………………………………………….54
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‚Through me‛ ………….…………………………………………………………55
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A sensitive issue ………….……………………………………………………....57
‚You have to associate‛ ………….………………………………………………57
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The ‚free-lance‛ approach ………….……………………………………….….58
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‚You must be initiated‛ ………….…………………………………………….58
The letters only are not the Holy Name ………….…………………………....59
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The effect of chanting is to accept the process………….……………………..61
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‚You cannot reject this organization‛ ………….………………………………61
Complacency is to be sahajiya ………….……………………………………….62
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You’d better be! ………….……………………………………………………….63
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‚Vast difference between initiated and non-initiated‛ ………….…………..63
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Our access to the previous acaryas ………….………………………………….66
‚The experience is direct‛ ………….……..…………………………………….67
Help me jump over, will you? ………….………………………………………..68
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He said she would take from someone else ………….……………………..….69

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The graduate and undergraduate acaryas ………….………………………….70

‚Liberated soul never says that ‘I am liberated.’‛ ………….………………….70
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‚I am not perfect‛ ………….…………………………………………………….74

A natural process ………….……………………………………………………..75
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CHAPTER FOUR – “At All Risk” 77

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The continuation of the parampara ………….………………………………...78

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Uncertain recognition ………….……………………………………………….78

A matter of duty ………….……………………………………………………...80
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A great risk…….………………………………………………………………….80
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Krsna’s recognition……………………………………………..…………………………83
Siksa and diksa: parallel lines ………….………………………………………..85
Actual need or just ambition? ………….………………………………………87
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The natural guru………………………......................................................…….90

Beware of visayis...............………….…………………………………………….91
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‚For all spiritual masters‛ ………….……………………………………………92

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He forgot his duty……….………….…………………………………………….92

Pure Krsna Consciousness is not enough (!)………….……………………….93
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CHAPTER FIVE – “Become Guru!” 95
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It’s Krsna’s choice ………………………………………………………………..96
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Serious, Sincere, Anxious ! ……………………………………………………..96
How to be fortunate ……………………………………………………………..97
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Krsna can understand …………………………………………………………97
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The same facility as Brahma …………………………………………………100
Krsna’s mercy: backordered…...………………………………………………..101
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Should we see them as Prabhupada said?...........................................................101
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‚Such and such Prabhu‛ ……………………………………………………….102
‚A devotee of a devotee‛ ……………………………………………………….103
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The last Vaisnava………………………….……………………………………103
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‚My disciples are my agents‛……...……………………………………………103 (I
‚All my disciples are pure devotees‛……..……………………………………104
‚Every one of us is messiah‛……………………………………………………104
A popular-but-unspoken belief………………...………………………………105
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A sample only……………………………………………………………………106
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‚The guru may be in a lesser degree‛……..……………………………………106

‚Just like a post peon‛……………………………...……………………………107
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Only one qualification………………………………………………………….109

‚We require millions of gurus‛…………………………………………………110
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The guru of your neighborhood………………………………………………..112

Something significant…………………………………………………………..112
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How many times should he say it?!…………..…………………………………112

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Uttama-adhikari, that’s all!……………………...………………………………113

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CHAPTER SIX – “My Disciples” 115

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A totally representative quote………………………………………………….116

A real Vaisnava’s vision………………………………………………………...116
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We are never perfect……………………………………………………………117

The teacher must be perfect……………………………………………………118
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Squibbing a riddle……………………………………………………………….118
Sri Radha-kunda ki jaya!………………………………………………………..118
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Neophytes, don’t chant Hare Krsna…………………………………………119

An apparent contradiction……………………………………………………..119
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Perfection: a very broad term…………………………………………………..120

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‚It is not a problem‛…………………………..…………………………………121
Time, place and circumstance………………………………………………….123
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An emergency…………………………………………………………………...123
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Who would initiate after him?…………………………………………………124
‚All of my disciples will take the legacy‛…...…………………………………124
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His generation, then ours and then theirs….………………………………….126
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‚I shall select some of you‛……………………...………………………………127
Aren’t any going back to Godhead?…………..…………………………….…128
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Some have to………………………………………………………………….…129
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The warning remains………………………………………………………...…129
Firm adherence……………………………………………………………….…130
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One may hear from others……………………………………………………130
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A parampara of siksa…………………………………………………………….131
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The disciple is never at a loss…………………………………………………...132
The story of Prsadhra…………………………………………………………...132
In spite of the guru’s curse……………………………………………………...134
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Both must be correct……………………………………………………………135

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‚No question of rejection‛……………………………………………………...138

A required change of guru……………………………………………………...138
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Accepting a weighty commitment.…………………………………………….139

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CHAPTER SEVEN – Stop that Pendulum! 141

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Unanswered questions………………………………………………………….142
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Prabhupada comes to our rescue……………………………………………….142

‚I don’t say that I’m liberated‛…………………………………………………142
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Those who follow are also pure………………………………………………143

How good are they?……………………………………………………………...145
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The essential point……………………………………………………………...146

‚Pendulumania‛…………………………………………………………………148
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The spirit remained intact……………………………………………………..149

No concoctions, please………………………………………………………….151
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‚Why you remain fool and rascal?‛…………………………………………….151

‚Everything is given in my books for you‛…………………………………….152
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CHAPTER EIGHT – The Moneytor Guru 155
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A rare species…………………………………………………………………....156
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Who coined the term? …………………………………………………………157
An instruction for any guru……………………………………………………158
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The risks of initiations…………………………………………………………158
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ALL gurus are like monitors……………………………………………………159
ALL initiations are ‚on behalf‛ ………………………………………………160
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The tax collector guru…………………………………………………………162
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The peon guru………………………………………………………………….163
The superintendent guru………………………………………………………164
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The postmaster guru (see footnote) …………………………………………164
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And the monitor guru...? –R.I.P. ………………………………………………165
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CHAPTER NINE – As Good as Who?! 167
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How should one see his guru? ………………………………………………….168

The example of Romaharsana Suta……………………………………………168
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Don’t make it a habit……………………………………………………………168

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Superhuman man………………………………………………………………169
How to be doomed………………………………………………………………169
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Don’t ask his relatives…………………………………………………………169

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Even a slight deviation…………………………………………………………171

A citizen of hell………………………………………………………………….171
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Pat his dog first………………………………………………………………….172

Remain fearful………………………………………………………………….172
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From a distant place……………………………………………………………172

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As a menial servant……………………………………………………………173
The proper way………………………………………………………………….173
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‚Dandabats, not namaskar‛ ……………………………………………………174

Offer obeisances constantly……………………………………………………174
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Dare not challenge………………………………………………………………175

The Servitor Godhead…………………………………………………………176
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The number one offense………………………………………………………177

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Don’t you dare! ………………………………………………………………….177

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You cannot criticize him………………………………………………………178

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Chastisement: Any way he likes………………………………………………178
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Quiz: Who is the best devotee? ………………………………………………...179
‚It is not cheap adoration‛ ……………………………………………………180
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Things used by no one else……………………………………………………180
As good as WHOOO?! …………………………………………………………181
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His Divine WHAAAT?! ………………………………………………………181
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Anyone who does this work…………………………………………………….181
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The sure way to perfection……………………………………………………182
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A joker…………………………………………………………………...............182
Unleaded mercy…………………………………………………………………183
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What is the use? ………………………………………………………………183
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‚Where you can willingly surrender‛ …………………………………………185
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Unless you agree cent percent…………………………………………………186
Don’t accept as a fanatic………………………………………………………187
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On the way to Krsna... or to hell? ……………………………………………187

He has to be a sadhu……………………………………………………………189
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Can he deliver all necessities? …………………………………………………189

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You can disagree before, but not after………………………………………190

10 years or 10,000 ?…………………………………………………………….191
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Treat him as you would Him………………………………………………..…193

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To honor Srila Prabhupada………………………………………………….…193

Believe what PRABHUPADA SAID………………………………………....193
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PART TWO
The Guru That Prabhupada Spoke Of
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Is The Servant Of What PRABHUPADA SAID

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QUESTION ONE ‚SRILA PRABHUPADA, IS IT REALLY NECESSARY

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TO ACCEPT A GURU AND TAKE INITIATION FROM HIM ?‛..........197

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QUESTION TWO ‚SOME SAY THAT TO CHANT IS ENOUGH, THAT
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IT DOES NOT REQUIRE INITIATION. IS IT ACTUALLY SO?‛..........231
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QUESTION THREE ‚IF SOMEONE IS LIVING IN THE TEMPLE, IS
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THERE ANY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HIS BEING OR NOT
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INITIATED?‛ …………………………………………………………………..239
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QUESTION FOUR ‚SRILA PRABHUPADA, ISN’T THIS KNOWLEDGE
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TRANSCENDENTAL AND, THEREFORE, ISN’T IT ENOUGH JUST
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TO CHANT HARE KRISHNA, READ YOUR BOOKS AND LISTEN TO
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YOUR TAPES ?‛ ………………………………………………………………241
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QUESTION FIVE ‚THEN, SRILA PRABHUPADA, WHO IS A BONA
FIDE, GENUINE GURU ?‛ …………………………………………………..255
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QUESTION SIX ‚SRILA PRABHUPADA, COULDN’T I JUST

SURRENDER UNTO YOU OR PARAMATMA WITHIN MY HEART ?‛
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…………………………………………………………….....................................271
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QUESTION SEVEN ‚BUT, SRILA PRABHUPADA, CAN JUST

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ANYONE BE GURU ?‛ ……………………………………………………….281

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QUESTION EIGHT ‚THEN, SRILA PRABHUPADA, WHO WERE YOU

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EXPECTING WOULD BE GURU AFTER YOUR DEPARTURE ?‛...…287

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QUESTION NINE ‚DIDN’T YOU SAY THAT THE GURU HAD TO BE

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A PURE DEVOTEE, AN UTTAMA-ADHIKARI, A LIBERATED

PERSON ?‛ ……………………………………………………………...............315
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QUESTION TEN ‚BUT THEN, SRILA PRABHUPADA, WHY DO

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WE SEE DISCREPANCIES ?‛ ……………………………………………….329

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QUESTION ELEVEN ‚SRILA PRABHUPADA, WHAT IF MY GURU IS
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A MONITOR (QUICKLY BEING TURNED INTO A JANITOR BY
SOME DEVOTEES WHO THINK HE SHOULD GET A JOB) ?‛ ………331
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QUESTION TWELVE ‚THE PROBLEM IS THAT HE MAY FALL
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DOWN IN THE FUTURE, ISN’T THAT RIGHT ?‛ …………………...…339
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QUESTION THIRTEEN ‚AND IF THE GURU DOES FALL DOWN… ?‛
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……………………………………………………………………………………345
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QUESTION FOURTEEN ‚SRILA PRABHUPADA, IT REALLY SEEMS
THAT ONLY SOMEONE
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LIKE YOU CAN DO IT. SHOULDN’T
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PEOPLE JUST WAIT UNTIL SUCH A VAISNAVA MESSIAH
APPEARS ?‛ ………………………………………….………………………...349
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QUESTION FIFTEEN ‚PRABHUPADA, IT SEEMS SO DIFFICULT TO

BECOME A SPIRITUAL MASTER. HOW CAN ANYONE THESE
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DAYS...?‛ ……………………………………………………………..................353
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QUESTION SIXTEEN ‚WE THINK THAT YOU ARE USING THE

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WORD GURU IN THE SENSE OF ANYONE BEING A SIKSA GURU,

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BECAUSE, OF COURSE, IT CAN’T MEAN THAT ANYONE CAN

BE A DIKSA GURU, ISN’T IT SO?‛ ………………………………………..367
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QUESTION SEVENTEEN ‚I AM STILL DOUBTFUL OF A GRHASTHA

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BEING A GURU. HOW SHOULD IT BE VIEWED?‛ ……………………371

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QUESTION EIGHTEEN ‚SOME ASK WHETHER THE GURU

ACTUALLY SUFFERS FOR THE SINS OF HIS DISCIPLES. WHAT IS
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THE ANSWER ?‛ ……………………………………………………………...381

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QUESTION NINETEEN ‚IS THE EXTERNAL APPEARANCE OF THE

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GURU IMPORTANT?‛ ………………………………………………………393

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QUESTION TWENTY ‚HOW SHOULD WE SEE A GODBROTHER
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FROM WHOM WE HAVE TAKEN SECOND INITIATION, OR, FOR
THAT MATTER, HOW SHOULD WE SEE ANY SENIOR
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GODBROTHER?‛ ……………………………………………………………..397
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QUESTION TWENTY-ONE ‚SRILA PRABHUPADA, THE
DIFFICULTY IS THAT DIFFERENT DEVOTEES PRESENT SO MANY
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DIFFERENT QUOTES. WHO TO FOLLOW...?‛ ……………………….401
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QUESTION TWENTY-TWO ‚BUT ISN’T IT POSSIBLE JUST TO HAVE
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ONE UNDERSTANDING THAT WOULD SATISFY US ALL?‛...........407
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A FINAL NOTE BY SRILA PRABHUPADA……………………………...411
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EPILOGUE
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Disciplic Succession: Unbroken, Still!

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APPENDIXES
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APPENDIX ONE – The Guru And What Parama-Prabhupada Said 419

Initiation into Spiritual Life 419
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Editor’s Response to Sree Vyas-Puja Addresses 428

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APPENDIX TWO – Who is Srila Prabhupada? 439

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Our Beloved Spiritual Master, His Divine Grace

A.C. BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMI PRABHUPADA
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The Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna

Consciousness and Greatest Exponent of the Krsna-conscious
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Philosophy in the Modern World

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SRILA PRABHUPADA’S WORDS about the spiritual master are to

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be found throughout all of his teachings and therefore constitute a

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vast ocean of quotes. This book is obviously not a compilation of all

that he said on the subject, but anyone familiar with what he said will
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agree that it is a very representative sample of it. Still, it should be

noted that the only portion of Srila Prabhupada’s teachings that we
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have actually researched thoroughly has been that of his letters. All
the other quotes from his books, lectures, and conversations, are
and
mostly those that this servant of his has remembered from personal
contact with them as one of his disciples.
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Of course, at the time I decided to work on this project1 I was very

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fortunate in that most of Srila Prabhupada’s spoken and written

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1 It was the summer of 1986.

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legacy (other than his published books) had been gathered by The
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Bhaktivedanta Archives in Los Angeles, and had already been
transcribed and made available in the form of microfiches. That is
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how I was able to find the quotes I was looking for and many more.
Otherwise, this book wouldn’t have seen the light.
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So I am very grateful that such a laborious enterprise as an Archives of
Srila Prabhupada’s legacy has been undertaken by some dedicated
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assistants of His Divine Grace, and I hope that this humble effort will
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serve as a good example of the importance of their work. As a token
of our heartfelt appreciation we would like to encourage the reader to
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offer all possible support to the preservation of Srila Prabhupada’s
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words for all time to come. The job is still to be completed, and you
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can be of great help. For more information please write or call:
THE BHAKTIVEDANTA ARCHIVES
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P. O. Box 255
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Sandy Ridge, NC 27046, USA

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Tel: (336) 871-3636; fax: (336) 871-3641

E-mail: archives@prabhupada.com
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The reader will note that all the quotes have been carefully
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referenced, so that at his convenience he may be able to go to the

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original and examine the context if so desired. The books quoted are
those published by The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust in Los Angeles,
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and the letters, lectures, and conversations are available from The
Bhaktivedanta Archives & Tape Ministry at the above address.
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It should also be noted that all emphasis in capital letters has been
and
added by the compiler TO SPECIALLY MARK A POINT UNDER

DISCUSSION. For the sake of expediency and because of the
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immediate lack of the adequate resources, we have not included the

diacritic marks for the words in Sanskrit. For the same reasons we
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were not able to keep a uniform standard in referencing the quotes.

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Nevertheless, there is no chance for confusion, as the quotes are –on
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their own– very clearly referenced.
Lastly, I must ‚warn‛ the reader (if as of yet you haven’t noticed) that
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English is not my native tongue. At this point all I can do is hope
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that you won’t mind, and with folded hands present to you our first
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quote, of which I take full shelter:
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‚We know that our honest attempt to present this great literature
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conveying transcendental messages for reviving the God
consciousness of the people in general and respiritualizing the
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world atmosphere is fraught with many difficulties. OUR
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PRESENTING THIS MATTER IN ADEQUATE LANGUAGE,
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ESPECIALLY A FOREIGN LANGUAGE, WILL CERTAINLY FAIL,
AND THERE WILL BE SO MANY LITERARY DISCREPANCIES
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DESPITE OUR HONEST ATTEMPT TO PRESENT IT IN THE

PROPER WAY. BUT WE ARE SURE THAT WITH ALL OUR FAULTS
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IN THIS CONNECTION THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE SUBJECT

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MATTER WILL BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION, and the

leaders of society will still accept this due to its being an honest
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attempt to glorify the Almighty God.

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‚When there is fire in a house, the inmates of the house go out

to get help from the neighbors who may be foreigners, and yet
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without knowing the language the victims of the fire express

hat
themselves, and the neighbors understand the need, even though

not expressed in the same language. The same spirit of
W
cooperation is needed to broadcast this transcendental message of

the Srimad-Bhagavatam throughout the polluted atmosphere of
and
the world. After all, it is a technical science of spiritual values,

and thus we are concerned with the techniques and not with the
uru
language. If the techniques of this great literature are

G
understood by the people of the world, there will be success.‛

he
–Srila Prabhupada in SB 1.5.11

T
xxi
on)
skc
I
of
ice
erv
S
A.: Answer
he
BG or Bg.: Bhagavad-gita As It Is
nt
BTG: Back to Godhead Magazine
(I
Cc or C.c.: Sri Caitanya-caritamrta
CONV.: Conversation
aid
EJTOP: Easy Journey to Other Planets

S
GBC: ISKCON's Governing Body Commission(er)

ada
KB: ‚Krsna Book‛ (Krsna, The Supreme

Personality of Godhead)
hup
K.C.: Krsna Consciousness

rab
LIT.: Literally
NOD: The Nectar of Devotion
P
NOI: The Nectar of Instruction

hat
POP: The Path of Perfection

W
PQPA: Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers

Q.: Question
and
SB or S.B.: Srimad-Bhagavatam
SSR: The Science of Self-realization
uru
TLC: Teachings of Lord Caitanya

G
he
T
xxii
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
xxiii
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
xxiv
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
on)
skc
I
‚One should not write books or essays on transcendental subject
of
matter for material name, fame or profit. Transcendental
ice
literature must be written under the direction of a superior
erv
authority because it is not meant for material purposes. If one
S
tries to write under superior authority, he becomes purified. All
Krsna conscious activities should be undertaken for personal
he
purification (apana sodhite), not for material gain.‛
nt
–Srila Prabhupada in Cc Adi 11.7
(I
I WANT TO THANK all of my Godbrothers who have befriended me in
these difficult years, in which we have had to learn how to be with Srila
aid
Prabhupada through what he said. They have requested me to put this book
S
together, and in their words of encouragement I have found ‚the direction of

a superior authority‛ that is required to present a work such as this one.
ada
May they be pleased by it, for in their pleasure I will also find the satisfaction
of that superior authority.
hup
Amongst my Godbrothers, special thanks to my good friend Ekanatha

rab
Prabhu, as well as to Radha Krsna Swami, Rama Govinda Swami, Makhanlal

P
Prabhu, Rohini-Priya Prabhu, Rajendranatha Prabhu, Ranjit Prabhu and

Radhanatha Prabhu, for their support in different ways.
hat
Special thanks also to my mother, Mrs. Ana M. Zafarani, whose great

W
appreciation for our movement and, very specially, for Srila Prabhupada’s
books, has been an inspiration in all of my Krsna conscious activities.
and
My thanks are also due to all who have helped finance and produce this
publication. Most notably: Karuna Avatar Dasa and Dvaraka-lila-devi Dasi,
uru
Rupa Raghunatha Dasa, Prabhupada-seva Dasa, Prabhupadacarya Dasa,

G
Gaura-priya-devi Dasi, Jagai Nitai Dasa and his mother (Mrs. Julia Stock),
the Lopez-Sanchez family (Mrs. Maria, Cesar and Norma), and German
he
Contreras.
T
xxv
on)
The First Edition of this book was produced by Vaikuntha-guna Prabhu,
Rohini-Priya Prabhu, Caitanya-Nrsimha Dasa, Kesava-Puri Dasa, Upananda
skc
Dasa and Bhaktin Samantha. I am most grateful to them.
I
of
This Second Edition was produced and financed by Paratma Nistha Tridandi
Gosvami Dasa and printed at his facility. A kind soul to all, he attracts the
ice
blessings of all the Vaisnavas. Thank you, prabhu.
erv
S
Finally I bow down to all of these devotees and friends, whose kindness
towards me is helping me become a better servant of Srila Prabhupada. May
he
he bless them all!
nt
(I
aid
S
ada
hup
rab
P
hat
W
and
uru
G
he
T
xxvi
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
xxvii
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
xxviii
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
on)
skc
I
of
ice
erv
S
he
nt
(I
aid
S
ada
hup
rab
nama om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale

srimate bhaktivedanta svamin iti namine
P
namaste sarasvati deve gaura vani pracarine

nirvisesa sunyavadi pascatya desatarine
hat
‚I offer my respectful obeisances unto my beloved spiritual master, His

W
Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who is very dear to

Lord Krsna, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.
and
‚Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master, servant of

uru
Sarasvati Gosvami. You are kindly preaching the message of Lord

Caitanyadeva and delivering the Western countries, which are filled with
G
impersonalism and voidism.‛

he
T
xxix
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
xxx
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
on)
nana-sastra-vicaranaika-nipunau sad-dharma-samsthapakau
lokanam hita-karinau tribhuvane manyau saranyakarau
skc
radha- krsna-padaravinda- bhajananandena mattalikau
I
vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri jiva-gopalakau
‚I offer my respectful obeisances unto the six Gosvamis, namely Sri
of
Sanatana Gosvami, Sri Rupa Gosvami, Sri Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami, Sri
ice
Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, Sri Jiva Gosvami, and Sri Gopala Bhatta
Gosvami, who are very expert in scrutinizingly studying all the revealed
erv
scriptures with the aim of establishing eternal religious principles for
S
the benefit of all human beings. Thus they are honored all over the
three worlds, and they are worth taking shelter of because they are
he
absorbed in the mood of the gopis and are engaged in the transcendental
loving service of Radha and Krsna.‛
nt
esaba-prasade likhi caitanya-lila-guna
(I
jani va na jani, kari apana-sodhana
aid
‚[Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami said:] It is by the mercy of all these

Vaisnavas and gurus that I attempt to write about the pastimes and
S
qualities of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Whether I know or know not, it

is for self-purification that I write this book.‛ (Cc Adi 9.5)
ada
sri-krsna-caitanya
hup
prabhu nityananda
sri-advaita gadadhara
rab
srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda
P
‚I offer my obeisances to Sri Krsna Caitanya, Prabhu Nityananda, Sri

Advaita, Gadadhara, Srivasa and all others in the line of devotion.‛
hat
esa prapanna-varado ramayatma-saktya

yad yat karisyati grhita-gunavatarah
W
tasmin sva-vikramam idam srjato ‘pi ceto

yugjita karma-samalam ca yatha vijahyam
and
‚[Lord Brahma said:] The Supreme Lord, the Personality of Godhead, is

always the benefactor of the surrendered souls. His activities are
uru
always enacted through His internal potency, Rama, or the goddess of

fortune. I pray only to engage in His service in the creation of the
G
material world, and I pray that I not be materially affected by my

works, for thus I may be able to give up the false prestige
he
of being the creator.‛ (SB 3.9.23)

T
xxxi
on)
namo bhismakendra-priya-haranaya
namah krsna-padambujaptyai ca devyai
skc
namo dvaraka-nayakabhyam parabhyam
I
namo rukmini-dvarakadhisvarabhyam
of
‚I offer my respectful obeisances unto Lord Krsna, the chivalrous hero
who kidnapped the daughter of King Bhismaka. I offer my respectful
ice
obeisances to Queen Rukmini, for whom the lotus feet of Lord Krsnacandra
erv
are more dear than life. I offer my respectful obeisances to Sri Sri
Rukmini-Dvarakadhisa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His eternal
S
consort, who are the transcendental monarchs of Dvaraka-puri.‛
he
(Sri-Sri Rukmini-Dvarakadhisa-pranamastakam 8, by Kusakratha Dasa)
nt
HARE KRSNA HARE KRSNA KRSNA KRSNA HARE HARE
(I
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE
aid
S
ada
hup
rab
P
hat
W
and
uru
G
he
T
xxxii
on)
skc
I
of
ice
erv
S
he
nt
(I
aid
S
ada
hup
rab
P
hat
W
I offer my respectful obeisances to Sri Sri Rukmini-Dvarakadhisa,

the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His eternal consort,
and
who are the transcendental monarchs of Dvaraka-puri.‛

(‚Sri-Sri Rukmini-Dvarakadhisa-pranamastakam‛ by Kusakratha Dasa)
uru
G
he
T
xxxiii
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
xxxiv
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
on)
skc
by Srila Prabhupada
I
of
‚[THE] ATTITUDE OF SURRENDERING to the Spiritual Master is
ice
the best qualification of spreading this movement of Lord Caitanya.
That is the Vedic way. One should have
erv
unflinching faith in Krsna and similarly in the
S
Spiritual Master. That is the way of understanding
he
the secret of Krsna Consciousness. Unfortunately,
attempt has been made lately in our Society to
nt
shake this formula. This mischievous attempt has
(I
done a great harm, but if you, the members of the
Governing Body Commission, can rectify this
aid
mischievous attempt, then still there is hope of

S
making our progress uninterruptedly. I hope Krsna will help us.

ada
‚There are two verses in the Canakya Sloka [of] how a family or an
institution can be glorified or burned into ashes by one person. The
hup
Canakya Pandit says that if there is one tree in the forest producing
rab
nice aromatic flower, that one tree can glorify the whole forest by the
flavor of its flower. Similarly if there is one tree in whose cavity there
P
is a little fire, that one tree can burn into ashes the whole forest. So
this simile is applicable anywhere. In a family if there is one good boy,
hat
he can glorify the whole family and similarly if there is bad boy he can
W
turn the whole family into ashes. Similarly in this institution if there
is a bad disciple he can burn the whole institution into ashes. The
and
Governing Body Commission’s duty is therefore to see that every

member is following the rules and regulations and chanting sixteen
uru
round regularly on the beads. I hope the GBC in cooperation with the
G
Sannyasis in their touring program will be able to keep vigilance

systematically in order to keep the Society as pure as possible.‛
he
--Srila Prabhupada in a Letter, 8/25/70

T
xxxv
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
xxxvi
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
on)
skc
I
2012 -- Twenty-five Years Later and Thirty-five Years After
of
-- And Counting --
ice
AS I BEGIN THIS WRITING, it must be mentioned that already
erv
twenty-five years have passed since the time of the first edition, 2 almost
S
thirty-five since Srila Prabhupada’s departure from this world. It has been a
long time on both counts, considering the extent of our lifespan. Much has
he
happened in these many years that shows the great need for and importance
nt
of works like this one on the topic of the spiritual master within the
(I
International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
In spite of the increased access to the complete teachings of Srila Prabhupada
aid
due to better audio, video and publishing technology,3 there are still doubts,
and ignorance, about Srila Prabhupada's desires and instructions for the
S
preservation and growth of the ISKCON branch of the disciplic succession.

ada
And this counter side of the subject (doubts and ignorance), too, is made
available to all by modern technology: the now-ubiquitous internet.
hup
All things considered, the present situation is not in the very least as bad as it
was twenty-five years ago. At that time, when I wrote the Introduction to the
rab
first edition (included in this second edition as a historical piece), I

P
commented,
"Evidently the situation is pathetic. … It is very painful to see Srila
hat
Prabhupada's creation in danger of extinction or, at best, of becoming

an apasampradaya (a deviated sampradaya)…"
W
I don't feel that way anymore. Srila Prabhupada's provision "for the
preservation and growth" of his society kept in order what had not been
and
undone, restored any order that was lost, and avoided the feared catastrophe
mentioned above. At the end of the Preface, Srila Prabhupada also happens
uru
to mention his provision:

G
he
2 The main body of the book was written in 1987.

T
3 (and the dedication of the prabhus and matajis at the Bhaktivedanta Archives)
xxxvii
on)
"I hope the GBC in cooperation with the Sannyasis in their touring
program will be able to keep vigilance systematically in order to keep
skc
the Society as pure as possible."
I
It is to be noted that he says "as pure as possible." This reminds us of
what he said about Utopia in a letter on the topic of problems and faults
of
that we may encounter in his society. This letter is another of his
ice
masterpieces, so I include most of it:
"It is not so much that because there may be some faults in our
erv
godbrothers and godsisters, or because there may be some
S
mismanagement or lack of cooperation, that this is due to being
impersonalists, no. IT IS THE NATURE OF THE LIVING
he
CONDITION TO ALWAYS HAVE SOME FAULT.
nt
‚EVEN IN THE SPIRITUAL WORLD THERE IS SOME FAULT
(I
AND ENVY -- sometimes the Gopis will quarrel over Krishna's favor,
and once Krishna was so much attracted to Radharani that by mistake
aid
he tried to milk the bull instead of the cow, and sometimes when the
Gopis used to put on their dress and make-up for seeing Krishna, they
S
would be too much hasty and smear kumkum and mascara in the wrong
ada
places and their ornaments and dresses would appear as if small

children had been trying to dress themselves and they were not very
hup
expert, like that. There are so many examples. BUT IT IS NOT THE
SAME AS MATERIAL FAULT OR MATERIAL ENVY, IT IS
rab
TRANSCENDENTAL BECAUSE IT IS ALL BASED ON

KRISHNA.
P
"Sometimes when one Gopi would serve Krishna very nicely, the others
hat
would say, Oh, she has done so nicely, now let me do better for pleasing
Krishna. That is envy, but it is transcendental, without malice. SO WE
W
SHALL NOT EXPECT THAT ANYWHERE THERE IS ANY

UTOPIA. RATHER, THAT IS IMPERSONALISM.
and
"PEOPLE SHOULD NOT EXPECT THAT EVEN IN THE

KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS SOCIETY THERE WILL BE
uru
UTOPIA. BECAUSE DEVOTEES ARE PERSONS, THEREFORE

G
THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOME LACKING -- but the difference

is that their lacking, because they have given up everything to serve
he
Krishna -- money, jobs, reputation, wealth, big educations, everything --

T
their lackings have become transcendental because, despite everything

xxxviii
on)
they may do, their topmost intention is to serve Krishna. "One who is
engaged in devotional service, despite the most abominable action, is to
skc
be considered saintly because he is rightly situated.''
I
"THE DEVOTEES OF KRISHNA ARE THE MOST EXALTED
PERSONS ON THIS PLANET, BETTER THAN KINGS, ALL OF
of
THEM, SO WE SHOULD ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT AND,
ice
LIKE THE BUMBLEBEE, ALWAYS LOOK FOR THE NECTAR
erv
OR THE BEST QUALITIES OF A PERSON. Not like the utopians,
who are like the flies who always go to the open sores or find the faults in
S
a person, and because they cannot find any utopia, or because they
cannot find anyone without faults, they want to become void, merge,
he
nothing -- they think that is utopia, to become void of personality.
nt
‚So if there is sometimes slight disagreements between devotees, it is not
(I
due to impersonalism, but IT IS BECAUSE THEY ARE PERSONS,
and such disagreements should not be taken very seriously. The devotee
aid
is always pessimistic about the material world, but he is very optimistic

about the spiritual life; so in this way, YOU SHOULD CONSIDER
S
THAT ANYONE ENGAGED IN KRISHNA'S SERVICE IS

ada
ALWAYS THE BEST PERSON.

-- From a letter to Atreya Rsi Dasa, Bombay, February 4, 1972
hup
This is certainly a powerful beacon to guide us in our interpersonal dealings

and in the understanding of the institution's ‚non-utopian‛ shortcomings
rab
following the departure of Srila Prabhupada.

P
After those thirty-five years of experience and maturation, the Society has
finally attained a solid position. Nonetheless, the ease of misusing modern
hat
communications continues to facilitate spurious attempts to propagate

misinformation. The motive is to create doubts among an unaware audience
W
about that which is genuine, and establish elsewhere a sentimental and

unauthorized concoction: imaginary initiations. It must be stated as
and
"something to be done elsewhere," because in spite of some dissenters’

intentions, there has been no opportunity to subvert the process within
uru
ISKCON --a process that was established by Srila Prabhupada himself.

G
It is the purpose of this book to inform the reader, beyond any doubt, of Srila
Prabhupada's unequivocal instructions in regards to the continuation of the
he
disciplic succession within his ISKCON society. The unequivocal nature of

T
these instructions is proven by the fact that he stated them from the very
xxxix
on)
beginning and reiterated them tirelessly throughout the twelve-year period
in which he personally conducted his Society.
skc
I
The book is composed in such a way as to help the reader identify this
consistency of Srila Prabhupada’s on the matter of succession: his final
of
instructions are the very same ones that he had been insisting on repeatedly
ice
throughout all the previous years. Even in this, His Divine Grace was
following his own Guru Maharaja.
erv
"[H]is first opening version was that "You are educated young men.
S
Why don't you preach Caitanya Mahäprabhu's gospel in the Western
he
countries?"[...]. So this was his blessing in the first meeting."
nt
(Lecture in Hyderabad, December 10, 1976)
(I
"[I]n 1936, just before His Divine Grace passed away at Jagannätha
Puré, I wrote him a letter asking what I could do to serve him. In reply, he
aid
wrote me a letter, dated 13 December 1936, ordering me, in the same way,
to preach in English the cult of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu as I had
S
heard it from him." (Cc Antya-lila, Concluding Words)

ada
His words "ordering me, in the same way" should be marked; please keep this
hup
statement always in mind. These are the crucial words that describe when and
rab
how Lord Caitanya's supreme order, Amara Ajnaya, was received by Srila
Prabhupada.
P
yare dekha, tare kaha ‘krsna'-upadesa

amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa
hat
W
"Whomever you meet, instruct him on the teachings of Krsna. In this

way, on My order, become a spiritual master and deliver the people of
and
this country." (Cc. Madhya 7.128)

uru
In that very concise instruction, received from his spiritual master the first
and the last time he contacted him, Srila Prabhupada heard Lord Caitanya's
G
and his own Guru Maharaja's order to become guru.

he
"I was born in a different family, my Guru Maharaja was born in a

different family. Who knew that I will come to his protection? Who
T
xl
on)
knew that I would come in America? Who knew that you American boys
will come to me? These are all Krsna's arrangement. We cannot
skc
understand how things are taking place.
I
"In 1936... Today is ninth December, 1938(68). That means thirty-two
of
years ago. In Bombay, I was then doing some business. All of a sudden,
perhaps on this date, sometimes between 9 or 10 December. At that time,
ice
Guru Maharaja was indisposed little, and he was staying at Jagannatha
erv
Puri, on the seashore. So I wrote him letter, "My dear master, your other
disciples, brahmacari, sannyasi, they are rendering you direct service.
S
And I am a householder. I cannot live with you, I cannot serve you
he
nicely. So I do not know. How can I serve you?" Simply an idea, I was
nt
thinking of serving him, "How can I serve him seriously?" So the reply
was dated 13th December, 1936. In that letter he wrote, "My dear such
(I
and such, I am very glad to receive your letter. I THINK YOU
SHOULD TRY TO PUSH OUR MOVEMENT IN ENGLISH."
aid
THAT WAS HIS WRITING. "AND THAT WILL DO GOOD TO

YOU AND TO THE PEOPLE WHO WILL HELP YOU." THAT
S
WAS HIS INSTRUCTION.

ada
"And then in 1936, on the 31st December -- that means just after writing
hup
this letter a fortnight before his departure -- he passed away. But I

TOOK THAT ORDER OF MY SPIRITUAL MASTER VERY
rab
SERIOUSLY, but I did not think that I'll have to do such and such
P
thing. I was at that time a householder. But this is the arrangement of

Krsna. If we strictly try to serve the spiritual master, HIS ORDER, then
hat
Krsna will give us all facilities. That is the secret. Although there was no
possibility, I never thought, but I took it little seriously by studying a
W
commentary by Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura on the Bhagavad-gita.

In the Bhagavad-gita the verse vyavasayatmika-buddhir ekeha
and
kuru-nandana [Bg. 2.41], in connection with that verse, Visvanatha

Cakravarti Thakura gives his commentary that WE SHOULD TAKE
uru
UP THE WORDS FROM THE SPIRITUAL MASTER AS OUR

LIFE AND SOUL. We should try to carry out THE INSTRUCTION,
G
THE SPECIFIC INSTRUCTION OF THE SPIRITUAL MASTER,

very rigidly, without caring for our personal benefit or loss."
he
T
xli
on)
"So I tried a little bit in that spirit. So he has given me all facilities to
serve him. Things have come to this stage, that in this old age I have come
skc
to your country, and you are also taking this movement seriously, trying
I
to understand it. We have got some books now. So there is little foothold
of this movement." (Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Disappearance Day, Lecture
of
-- Los Angeles, December 9, 1968)
ice
"In 1936, just on the 13th, December, I wrote him one letter. Not 13th. I
erv
think by the beginning of December, 1936, I wrote one letter to Guru
Maharaja. I knew he was little kind upon me, so I wrote that "Guru
S
Maharaja, you have got many disciples. I am also one of them. But they
he
are doing direct service to you. Some of them are brahmacaris, some of
nt
them sannyasis, but I am a householder. I cannot..."
(I
‚Of course, I was giving sometimes some monetary help, but I could not
give any direct service, so I asked him that "If there is any particular
service I can do for you?" So that letter was replied in 13th December,
aid
dated 13th December, from Puri. And he passed away on the 31st
S
December. Just a fortnight before.

ada
‚So THE REPLY WAS THE SAME AS HE WANTED ME TO DO

THIS PREACHING WORK IN 1922, WHEN I FIRST MET HIM,
hup
THAT "YOU TRY TO PREACH WHATEVER YOU HAVE

LEARNED FROM ME TO THE ENGLISH-KNOWING PEOPLE
rab
IN ENGLISH. THAT WILL DO GOOD TO YOU AND TO THE

PEOPLE TO WHOM YOU SHALL PREACH. THAT IS MY
P
INSTRUCTION."
hat
‚So I took up, direction. And then he passed away in 1936, 31st
December. So I consulted some of my Godbrothers, senior Godbrothers,
W
"Guru Maharaja has told me like this. What can I do?" So you have
heard the name of Professor Sanyal, and there were other Godbrothers.
and
They asked me to write on the Vaisnava-siddhanta in English. So

perhaps in 1935 I wrote one poetry. The part of it, somebody, you have
uru
got. He was very pleased. Since then he was insisting me that "You write
on, preach on in English." (Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Appearance Day,
G
Lecture -- Los Angeles, February 7, 1969)

he
T
xlii
on)
"[W]hen this friend, Mr. Mullik, took me to Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati
Gosvami Maharaja, he immediately asked me that, "You are educated
skc
young boys. Why don't you take up Lord Caitanya's message and preach
I
in the Western world?" IN THE VERY FIRST SIGHT, HE TOLD
ME.
of
[...]"So that was in 1922. [...] And in 1936, or 1933, I was initiated
ice
officially, although I was initiated 1922. But officially, I was initiated in
erv
1933, although from 1922 to 1933 I was always thinking of His Divine
Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja. So in 1936, he
S
was to pass away by 31st December. So I do not know... Out of my own
he
accord, I wrote him one letter that "Guru Maharaja, you have got many
nt
disciples. Some of them are directly serving you. I could not do so. I am a
householder. So if you give me some direct service to you, it will be very
(I
kind of you." So he replied that letter, that "You try to preach in English
language. Then the persons who will be instructed by you and both
aid
yourself will be benefited." AGAIN, HE SAID THE SAME THING

WHICH HE ORDERED ME IN 1922 AT THE FIRST SIGHT. Then
S
there... He passed away 1936, 31st December." (Srila Bhaktisiddhanta

ada
Appearance Day, Evening -- Gorakhpur, February 15, 1971)

hup
With the same sure consistency as his Guru Maharaja, Srila Prabhupada gave
us that same instruction at the beginning and at the end, and he also did so
rab
profusely throughout the entire time in between--with the additional

benefits for us, and posterity, that all along he was much more specific and
P
that it is all recorded. Even a layman or outsider exposed to Srila

Prabhupada's teachings will "hear" him loud and clear, sometimes shouting,
hat
ordering the listener to be guru. I say "the listener." Some of the times he
W
seems to be talking just to anyone in the audience. Humorously, this serves to

remind us of the following excerpt:
and
«The Mayavadis, the poor fund knowledge, they say, "Why you are
worshiping God here? He is everywhere."
uru
"He is everywhere? He is in the temple also!"

G
"No," they will say, "not in the temple. He is everywhere except in the
temple. Don't go to the temple."
he
T
xliii
on)
This is rascaldom. If God is everywhere, why He is not in the temple? So
this is their knowledge, poor fund of knowledge. Alpa-medhasa.
skc
Alpa-medhasa."»
I
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.5.19 -- Vrndavana, November 7, 1976)
of
Srila Prabhupada was ordering everyone to become guru --"except for his
disciples," the dissenters say. Actually, not so funny. It is frightening to think
ice
of the people who are being misguided by this "logic," and of the hatred and
erv
blasphemy of Vaisnavas that it has promoted and continues to promote.
S
Therefore this book. As the readers go through it they will hear him give the
order to everyone and in particular to his disciples. Please now "listen" and
he
watch for that, beginning from the beginning:
"LORD CHAITANYA WANTED EVERYONE SHOULD BE A
nt
(I
SPIRITUAL MASTER PROVIDED HE FOLLOWS THE ORDER
OF LORD CHAITANYA. The Lord's mission was to defeat the
aid
Mayavada philosophy and establish in the philosophy of Krishna

consciousness because Krishna is the Supreme Lord the Personality of
S
Godhead. Anyone following the order of Lord Chaitanya under the

ada
guidance of His bonafide representative, can become a spiritual master

and I WISH THAT IN MY ABSENCE ALL MY DISCIPLES
hup
BECOME THE BONAFIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER TO SPREAD

KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE
rab
WORLD. I WANT IT..." (Letter to Madhusudan, 11/2/67)

P
1967. It is quite significant, as we are analyzing Srila Prabhupada’s

hat
instructions and vision for the future of ISKCON, that as early as 1967 he
was already speaking of his absence and expressing his wish that ALL OF
W
HIS DISCIPLES "become the bonafide spiritual master to spread Krishna

consciousness throughout the whole world."
and
"When I return to India my ambition is to construct an American

House at Vrndaban and get some of you boys and girls there to train for
uru
our preaching work in this part of the world. AFTER ALL, I AM AN

OLD MAN. THERE IS NO CERTAINTY OF MY LIFE, AND AT
G
ANY MOMENT I CAN COLLAPSE AND IT WILL NOT BE

SURPRISING. But I WISH TO LEAVE SOME OF MY SPIRITUAL
he
CHILDREN who have so kindly joined me in faith and respect so that

T
xliv
on)
they may work, and this philosophy of Krishna Consciousness may be
broadcast all over the world. You are all educated, cultured, young boys
skc
and girls, and if you understand the philosophy it will be a great help for
I
the suffering humanity." (Letter to Jadurany, Book of Letters, #67-7-9)
of
"[T]here is a program for construction of an American house for
ice
training preachers at Vrindaban. Vrindaban is the only solitary
transcendental abode within this universe where Krishna Consciousness
erv
automatically reveals. Therefore I HAVE A GREAT HOPE TO
S
TRAIN SOME OF MY DISCIPLES FOR PREACHING WORK,
EVEN IN MY ABSENCE. I AM NOW OLD MAN, AND
he
ATTACKED WITH SERIOUS DISEASE; I MAY BE
nt
OVERCOME BY DEATH AT ANY MOMENT. Therefore I WISH
(I
TO LEAVE SOME TRAINED PREACHERS so that they can do the
work of Krishna Consciousness in the western world. That is my
ambition. I hope you all pray to Krishna so I may be able to execute my
aid
duty properly." (Letter to Janardan et al, 6/28/67)

S
‚I AM TRAINING YOU ALL TO BECOME FUTURE SPIRITUAL

ada
MASTERS...‛ (Letter to Achyutananda and Jaya Govinda, 8/21/68)

hup
"So on this occasion of my spiritual master's departure, AS I AM

TRYING TO EXECUTE HIS WILL, SIMILARLY, I SHALL ALSO
rab
REQUEST YOU TO EXECUTE THE SAME ORDER THROUGH

MY WILL. I AM AN OLD MAN, I CAN ALSO PASS AWAY AT
P
ANY MOMENT. THAT IS NATURE'S LAW. NOBODY CAN

hat
CHECK IT. SO THAT IS NOT VERY ASTONISHING, but my

appeal to you on this auspicious day of the departure of my Guru
W
Maharaja, that at least to some extent you have understood the essence
of Krsna consciousness movement. You should try to push it on. People
and
are suffering for want of this consciousness."
[...]"So this Krsna consciousness movement is authorized, very

uru
important. Now, you American boys and girls who have taken to this
G
movement, please take it more seriously and... THAT IS THE

MISSION OF LORD CAITANYA AND MY GURU MAHARAJA,
he
AND WE ARE ALSO TRYING TO EXECUTE THE WILL BY

T
xlv
on)
DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION. YOU HAVE COME FORWARD TO
HELP ME. I SHALL REQUEST YOU ALL THAT I SHALL GO
skc
AWAY, BUT YOU SHALL LIVE. Don't give up pushing on this
I
movement, and you'll be blessed by Lord Caitanya and His Divine
Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Prabhupada.‛
of
(Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Disappearance Day, Lecture -- Los Angeles,
ice
December 9, 1968)
erv
That was in the beginning, and year after year he continued conveying the
same message with insistence. The reader will find a large selection of those
S
statements in this work, such as the following ones,
he
‚A first examination will be held sometime next January on Bhagavad
nt
Gita As It Is, and those passing will have the degree of Bhaktishastri.
(I
Next year we will hold an examination on Srimad Bhagavatam, and the
person who passes will have the title Bhaktibaibhava. And the next year
we shall hold an examination on Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Nectar of
aid
Devotion and Vedanta Sutra, and those who will successfully passs will
S
be awarded with the title of Bhaktivedanta. BY 1975, ALL OF THOSE

WHO HAVE PASSED ALL OF THE ABOVE EXAMINATIONS
ada
WILL BE SPECIFICALLY EMPOWERED TO INITIATE AND

hup
INCREASE THE NUMBER OF THE KRISHNA

CONSCIOUSNESS POPULATION.‛
rab
(Letter to Kirtanananda, 1/12/69)

P
‚Regarding your question about the disciplic succession coming down

from Arjuna, it is just like I HAVE GOT MY DISCIPLES, SO IN
hat
THE FUTURE THESE MANY DISCIPLES MAY HAVE MANY

BRANCHES OF DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION. So in one line of
W
disciples we may not see another name coming from a different line. But
this does not mean that [that] person whose name does not appear was
and
not in the disciplic succession.‛ (Letter to Kirtanananda, 1/25/69)

uru
‚EVERY ONE OF US SHOULD BECOME SPIRITUAL MASTER

because the world is in blazing fire... SPIRITUAL MASTER IS NOT A
G
NEW INVENTION. It is simply following the orders of the spiritual

master. So ALL MY STUDENTS PRESENT HERE who are feeling so
he
much obliged... I am also obliged to them because they are helping me in

T
xlvi
on)
this missionary work. At the same time, I SHALL REQUEST THEM
ALL TO BECOME SPIRITUAL MASTER. EVERY ONE OF YOU
skc
SHOULD BE SPIRITUAL MASTER NEXT. And what is their duty?
I
Whatever you are hearing from me, whatever you are learning from me,
you have to distribute the same in toto without any addition or
of
alteration. THEN ALL OF YOU BECOME THE SPIRITUAL
ice
MASTER. THAT IS THE SCIENCE OF BECOMING SPIRITUAL
MASTER.
erv
S
‚[…]Don’t be satisfied that you have understood [and] that’s all. No.
This should be distributed. Just like in my old age I have come to your
he
country carrying the order of my spiritual master to distribute it, YOU
nt
ARE ALL YOUNG BOYS AND GIRLS, TAKE THIS MESSAGE
AND DISTRIBUTE IT. The whole suffering humanity will be happy.
(I
THAT IS OUR MISSION. Thank you very much.‛
(Vyasa-puja Address, Hamburg 9/5/69)
aid
‚So today is a very auspicious day, Thakura Bhaktivinoda’s birthday.

S
Here is the picture of Thakura Sac-cid-ananda Bhaktivinoda. He was

one of the acaryas of this disciplic succession from Krsna. We have got a
ada
succession table from Krsna, genealogical table. There are two kinds of
hup
genealogical tables, one by the semina. Father, his son, his son, like that.
That is material genealogical table. And there is one spiritual
rab
genealogical table, disciplic succession. Just like Krsna. Krsna, the

original father, Supreme Personality of Godhead, He spoke the Vedic
P
knowledge to Brahma, Lord Brahma. He spoke to Narada. Narada

spoke to Vyasa. Vyasa spoke to Madhvacarya. So in this disciplic
hat
succession, Lord Caitanya, from Lord Caitanya, the six Gosvamis, and
W
similarly, coming down, down, Bhaktivinoda Thakura, then

Gaurakisora Dasa Babaji Maharaja, then my spiritual master, then WE
and
ARE NEXT GENERATION, MY DISCIPLES. SO THERE IS A

DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION.‛ (Lecture, London 9/23/69)
uru
"[T]his Krsna consciousness movement is very, very essential, very, very

essential. I am very glad to inform you that this movement is being
G
especially received in the Western countries by the younger generation. I

he
AM VERY MUCH HOPEFUL. I AM OLD MAN OF

SEVENTY-SIX YEARS AGE. NOW, I CAN PASS AWAY AT ANY
T
xlvii
on)
MOMENT, BUT I AM CONFIDENT THAT MY DISCIPLES,
WHO ARE MOSTLY EUROPEANS AND AMERICANS, THEY
skc
WILL CONTINUE THIS MOVEMENT, and I wish there will be
I
considerable change on the face of the globe."
(Lecture -- Bombay, March 18, 1972)
of
"Some time ago you asked my permission for accepting some disciples,
ice
NOW THE TIME IS APPROACHING VERY SOON WHEN YOU
erv
WILL HAVE MANY DISCIPLES BY YOUR STRONG
S
PREACHING WORK. Stick to the line of our strong preaching method
and many misguided persons will be blessed by your proper guiding."
he
(Letter to Achyutananda, 5/16/72)
nt
"So we have got this message from Krsna, from Caitanya Mahaprabhu,
(I
from the six Gosvamis, later on, Bhaktivinoda Thakura,
Bhaktisiddhanta Thakura. And we are trying our bit also to distribute
aid
this knowledge. NOW, TENTH, ELEVENTH, TWELFTH... MY

GURU MAHARAJA IS TENTH FROM CAITANYA
S
MAHAPRABHU, I AM ELEVENTH, YOU ARE THE TWELFTH.

ada
So distribute this knowledge. People are suffering."

[Arrival Lecture -- Los Angeles, May 18, 1972]
hup
‚I AM VERY MUCH HOPEFUL THAT MY DISCIPLES WHO

rab
ARE NOW PARTICIPATING TODAY, even if I die, my movement

will not stop, I am very much hopeful, yes. All these nice boys and girls
P
who have taken so seriously...‛

hat
‚YOU WILL HAVE TO BECOME SPIRITUAL MASTER... YOU...

ALL MY DISCIPLES....‛ (Vyasa-puja Address, London 8/21/73)
W
‚So this movement [is] especially meant to establish the cult of Sri
and
Caitanya Mahaprabhu. THE CULT OF SRI CAITANYA

MAHAPRABHU IS THAT YOU BECOME, EVERY ONE OF
uru
YOU, YOU BECOME A GURU. ‛(Lecture Cc 1.4, Mayapur 3/28/75)

G
‚EVERY STUDENT IS EXPECTED TO BECOME ACARYA.

Acarya means one who knows the scriptural injunctions and follows
he
them practically in life, and teaches them to his disciples... KEEP

T
TRAINED UP VERY RIGIDLY AND THEN YOU ARE BONA

xlviii
on)
FIDE GURU, AND YOU CAN ACCEPT DISCIPLES ON THE
SAME PRINCIPLE. But as a matter of etiquette it is the custom that
skc
during the lifetime of your Spiritual Master you bring the prospective
I
disciples to him, and in his absence or dissapearance you can accept
disciples without any limitation. THIS IS THE LAW OF DISCIPLIC
of
SUCCESSION. I WANT TO SEE MY DISCIPLES BECOME
ice
BONAFIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER and spread Krishna
consciousness very widely; THAT WILL MAKE ME AND
erv
KRISHNA VERY HAPPY.‛ (Letter to Tusta Krishna, 12/2/75)
S
‚So, so nice movement, everyone should take part in it and dedicate to
he
the mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. And it is not at all difficult. It
nt
is very easy. Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, amara ajnaya guru hana tara
ei desa, yare dekha tare kaha krsna-upadesa. Anywhere, either you are
(I
in this district or that district, it doesn’t matter. Either you are at home
or outside home, it doesn’t matter. YOU BECOME A GURU
aid
–EVERYONE.” (Sannyasa Initiation, Mayapur 3/16/76)

S
"So we got this information from His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta

ada
Sarasvati Thakura, and that knowledge is still going on. You are
receiving through his servant. And in future the same knowledge will go
hup
to your students. This is called parampara system. Evam parampara

prap... IT IS NOT THAT YOU HAVE BECOME A STUDENT
rab
AND YOU’LL REMAIN STUDENT. NO. ONE DAY YOU SHALL

BECOME ALSO GURU AND MAKE MORE STUDENTS, MORE
P
STUDENTS, MORE. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission, not

hat
that perpetually... Yes, ONE SHOULD REMAIN PERPETUALLY A

STUDENT, BUT HE HAS TO ACT AS GURU. That is the mission
W
of Caitanya Mahaprabhu." (Lecture, Hyderabad 12/10/76)

Anyone familiar with Srila Prabhupada's teachings knows well that there are
and
innumerable more of his declarations similar to these. And those who are not
familiar with such statements will certainly learn more about them if they
uru
read this book, particularly in regards to What Prabhupada Said about "The
Guru in the International Society for Krishna Consciousness."
G
Reserving the detailed analysis of the central topic for the rest of the book,
he
we now arrive at 1977, the year of Srila Prabhupada's final instructions. We

T
xlix
on)
have also reached the point of revealing to the reader the conclusion of this
entire work. It is on the subject of Srila Prabhupada's succession, for which I
skc
will begin by drawing from the book itself:
I
«"As we will read later on in this book (see Part Two, Question Eight),
of
on several occasions in different years Srila Prabhupada was asked who
would succeed him. One of the last of such occasions was on May 1977,
ice
his final year with us, when the question became official: his entrusted
erv
directors of the movement4 asked who would initiate after him.
S
«"GBC1:...Then our next question concerns initiations in the
future, particularly at that time when you're no longer with us.
he
We want to know how first and second initiation would be
nt
conducted. (I
‚S.PRABHUPADA: Yes. I shall recommend some of you."»
(Meeting with GBCs, Vrndavana 5/28/77)
aid
There is much more to this conversation, which you will read later on. Here I
S
want to concentrate on the fact that, as far as the question itself is

concerned, "We want to know how first and second initiation would be
ada
conducted," that was his unmistakable answer, "Yes. I shall recommend some of
you."
hup
Then there was some request for clarification as to what would be the exact
status of those who he would "recommend:"
rab
"GBC1: Then what is the relationship of that person who gives the
P
initiation and the...

hat
The following is a summary of what, interjecting, Srila Prabhupada replied:

W
He's guru. He's guru.

They're his disciple. [Who is initiating. He's granddisciple.]
and
WHEN I ORDER, 'You become guru,' he becomes regular guru. That's

all. HE BECOMES DISCIPLE OF MY DISCIPLE. That's it.
uru
And Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, amara ajnaya guru hana. One who
G
can understand THE ORDER OF CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU, he

can become guru. Or one who understands HIS GURU'S ORDER, the
he
T
4
Known in ISKCON as the Governing Body Commissioners or ‚GBCs.‛
l
on)
same parampara, he can become guru. And therefore I SHALL
SELECT SOME OF YOU."
skc
Taking into account all that has been discussed so far in this Introduction,
I
would anyone think that the members of ISKCON could have expected some
of
other reply? Is it a wonder that in his last year Srila Prabhupada said exactly
the same that he had been saying from the beginning and throughout his
ice
years with us? On the basis of his order and that of Caitanya Mahaprabhu's, his
erv
disciples would become "regular" gurus and initiate their own disciples. Quite
simple. No need for guesswork. It is perfectly in accordance with everything
S
he had been saying all along, from the very beginning. Let us repeat some of
he
those words already stated, to ‚hear‛ them now in this context:
nt
From the initial years: (I
Anyone following the order of Lord Chaitanya under the guidance of
His bonafide representative, can become a spiritual master and I WISH
aid
THAT IN MY ABSENCE ALL MY DISCIPLES BECOME THE

BONAFIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER TO SPREAD KRISHNA
S
CONSCIOUSNESS THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE WORLD. I

ada
WANT IT..." (Letter to Madhusudan, 11/2/67)

hup

MASTERS...‛ (Letter to Achyutananda and Jaya Govinda, 8/21/68)
rab
‚So ALL MY STUDENTS PRESENT HERE who are feeling so much

P
obliged... I am also obliged to them because they are helping me in this

missionary work. At the same time, I SHALL REQUEST THEM ALL
hat
TO BECOME SPIRITUAL MASTER. EVERY ONE OF YOU

SHOULD BE SPIRITUAL MASTER NEXT.‛
W

From the middle years:
and
"Some time ago you asked my permission for accepting some disciples,
uru

G
PREACHING WORK. Stick to the line of our strong preaching method

and many misguided persons will be blessed by your proper guiding."
he

T
li
on)
‚[...]I AM VERY MUCH HOPEFUL THAT MY DISCIPLES WHO
ARE NOW PARTICIPATING TODAY, even if I die, my movement
skc
will not stop, I am very much hopeful, yes. All these nice boys and girls
I
who have taken so seriously....‛
of
‚YOU WILL HAVE TO BECOME SPIRITUAL MASTER... YOU...
ALL MY DISCIPLES....‛ (Vyasa-puja Address, London 8/21/73)
ice
erv
Years pass and we continue hearing from him the same instruction:
S
‚So this movement [is] especially meant to establish the cult of Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu. THE CULT OF SRI CAITANYA
he
MAHAPRABHU IS THAT YOU BECOME, EVERY ONE OF
nt
YOU, YOU BECOME A GURU. ‛ (Lecture Cc 1.4,Mayapur 3/28/75)
(I
‚I WANT TO SEE MY DISCIPLES BECOME BONAFIDE
SPIRITUAL MASTER AND SPREAD KRISHNA
aid
CONSCIOUSNESS VERY WIDELY; THAT WILL MAKE ME

S
AND KRISHNA VERY HAPPY.‛ (Letter to Tusta Krishna, 12/2/75)

ada
Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, amara ajnaya guru hana tara ei desa, yare
dekha tare kaha krsna-upadesa. Anywhere, either you are in this district
hup
or that district, it doesn’t matter. Either you are at home or outside home,
rab
it doesn’t matter. YOU BECOME A GURU –EVERYONE.‛

(Sannyasa Initiation, Mayapur 3/16/76)
P
‚So that is our mission. ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE COME TO

hat
KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS MOVEMENT, THAT IS OUR

REQUEST, THAT YOU, ALL OF YOU, BECOME GURU.‛
W
(Lecture, Honolulu 5/21/76)

and
As his last year among us was approaching, he said:

uru
receiving through his servant. And in future the same knowledge will go
G
to YOUR STUDENTS. This is called parampara system. Evam

he
parampara prap... IT IS NOT THAT YOU HAVE BECOME A

STUDENT AND YOU’LL REMAIN STUDENT. NO. ONE DAY
T
lii
on)
YOU SHALL BECOME ALSO GURU AND MAKE MORE
STUDENTS, MORE STUDENTS, MORE. That is Caitanya
skc
Mahaprabhu’s mission, not that perpetually... Yes, ONE SHOULD
I
REMAIN PERPETUALLY A STUDENT, BUT HE HAS TO ACT
AS GURU. That is the mission of Caitanya Mahaprabhu."
of
(Lecture, Hyderabad 12/10/76)
ice
Now, the following is not a repeat. It is taken from the first month in 1977:
erv
‚Caitanya Mahaprabhu said that YOU BECOME A GURU. Amara
S
ajnaya guru hana tara ei desa. YOU BECOME A GURU AND
DELIVER THEM. So I am a fool, I have no education. How can I
he
become a guru? The answer is ‘No no, Yare dekha tare kaha
nt
krsna-upadesa.’ IF YOU SIMPLY ADVISE PEOPLE WHAT
KRSNA HAS SAID, THEN YOU BECOME GURU....‛
(I
(Conversation, Bombay 1/7/77)
aid
And Srila Prabhupada’s insistence on this message-instruction-order!

continues subsequently into the month of May, towards the end of which the
S
official meeting with the GBCs took place:

ada
‚Guru, Caitanya Mahaprabhu has said, amara ajnaya guru hana tara'
ei desa [Cc. Madhya 7.128]. He says that " I ORDER YOU THAT
hup
YOU BECOME GURU. So.., and your business is to deliver this

rab
country." […] Caitanya Mahaprabhu says it is not difficult: yare dekha

tare kaha krsna-upadesa [Cc. Madhya 7.128].
P
‚So my request is that you people of Orissa, you are ordinarily

Vaisnava, so take this seriously. […A]s Caitanya Mahaprabhu said,
hat
yare dekha tare kaha krsna-upadesa [Cc. Madhya 7.128]: YOU

W
BECOME GURU. Whomever you meet, you simply speak what Krsna
has spoken. That's all. It is already there. YOU HAVE TO REPEAT
ONLY, AND YOU BECOME GURU.‛
and
(Lecture Bg 7.1 -- January 22, 1977, Bhuvanesvara)

uru
‚kiba vipra kiba sudra nyasi kene naya

yei krsna-tattva-vetta sei guru haya
G
[Cc. Madhya 8.128]

"You become a sannyasi or you become a grhastha or you are a
he
brahmana or a sudra, the Krsna consciousness has nothing to do with

T
liii
on)
these material things. IF YOU KNOW ACTUALLY WHAT IS
KRSNA, THEN YOU CAN BECOME GURU."
skc
‚[…]So Krsna bhajana is so magnanimous, so exalted, in any position
I
YOU CAN BECOME THE GREATEST GURU, PROVIDED
YOU FOLLOW THE FOOTSTEPS OF SRI CAITANYA
of
MAHAPRABHU.‛
ice
(Evening Lecture -- January 23, 1977, Bhuvanesvara)
erv
My Guru Maharaja, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, he was not
that type of Vaisnava. You should remember. That is his special gift. HE
S
WANTED EVERY ONE OF HIS DISCIPLES TO GO AND
PREACH THE CULT OF KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS.
he
CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU WANTED. Here we are in the
nt
Caitanya Mahaprabhu's country, birthplace. We should remember.
(I
Caitanya Mahaprabhu of course asked every Indian to take His
mission. At least Bengalis should take Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission.
aid
So Caitanya Mahaprabhu...What is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission?

amara ajnaya guru hana, tara ei desa
S
yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa

ada
[Cc. Madhya 7.128]

hup
Even if you cannot go outside, it doesn't matter. Wherever you are,

either you are here in Nabadwip or in Calcutta, anywhere, so YOU
rab
JUST BECOME A GURU. DON'T REMAIN A RASCAL. YOU

BECOME A GURU. "Now, how can I become a guru? I am not very
P
educated." No! You don't require to be very highly educated rascal.

SIMPLY REPEAT KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS AS KRSNA SAID
hat
-- YOU BECOME GURU.‛

W
(Srila Bhaktisiddhanta’s App. Day, Lecture -- February 8, 1977,

Mayapur)
and
‚YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES. "LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON." YOU

SHOULD BE. Gaurangera bhakta-jane. Everyone. Therefore
uru
Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa [Cc.
Madhya 7.128]. HE ASKED EVERYONE, "JUST BECOME
G
GURU." FOLLOW HIS INSTRUCTION, YOU BECOME GURU.

Amara ajnaya. Don't manufacture ideas. Amara ajnaya. "What I say,
he
you do. You become a guru." Where is the difficulty? "And what is Your
T
liv
on)
ajna?" Yare dekha tare kaha krsna-upadesa. Bas. Everything is there in
the Bhagavad-gita. You simply repeat. That's all. YOU BECOME
skc
GURU. TO BECOME A GURU IS NOT DIFFICULT JOB.
I
FOLLOW CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU AND SPEAK WHAT
KRSNA HAS SAID. BAS. YOU BECOME GURU."
of
(Room Conversation, April 15, 1977, Bombay)
ice
‚S.PRABHUPADA: I SHALL CHOOSE SOME GURU. I SHALL
erv
SAY, ‘NOW YOU BECOME ACARYA. YOU BECOME
AUTHORIZED.’ I AM WAITING FOR THAT. YOU BECOME
S
ALL ACARYA. I RETIRE COMPLETELY. BUT THE TRAINING
he
MUST BE COMPLETE.
nt
D: The process of purification must be there.
(I
S.PRABHUPADA: Oh, yes, must be there. CAITANYA
MAHAPRABHU WANTS THAT. AMARA AJNANA GURU
HANA. YOU BECOME GURU.‛ (Conversation, Bombay 4/22/77)
aid
‚Amara ajnaya guru hana tara ei desa. Suppose you are living in that
S
village. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, ‘You become a guru here.’ Here.

ada
You haven’t got to go out. Ei desa,‘where you are living.’ Just see how
nice it is. Amara ajnaya: ‘BY MY ORDER, YOU BECOME A GURU
hup
AND DELIVER THE PEOPLE OF THIS PLACE.’ This is Caitanya

Mahaprabhu’s.... ‘So I am not a guru. I do not know. How I shall
rab
become?’ NO,YOU HAVEN’T GOT TO BOTHER. Yare dekha tare

kaha krsna upadesa: ‘SIMPLY YOU REPEAT WHAT KRSNA HAS
P
SAID.’ YOU BECOME GURU. THAT’S ALL. Everyone can do that.

hat
Gita is there. You sit down in your place and preach Bhagavad-gita and
try to induce them to take it. YOU BECOME GURU.‛
W

‚OUR CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU’S MISSION IS THAT ‘YOU
and
BECOME GURU,’ as I was telling, ‘AND TEACH, DELIVER

PERSONS WHERE YOU ARE.’ If you say, ‘How can I become guru?,’
uru
there is no difficulty. SIMPLY REPEAT THE WORDS OF

BHAGAVAD-GITA. THAT’S ALL. YOU BECOME GURU. SO
G
OUR MISSION IS TO CREATE REAL GURU, NOT THESE

he
JUGGLERS. AND REAL GURU IS HE WHO SPEAKS ON

BEHALF OF KRSNA. And that is wan... IT IS VERY SIMPLE.
T
lv
on)
‚...This is our mission. Everything is there. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says,
yare dekha tare kaha krsna upade... ‘YOU SIMPLY MAKE YOUR
skc
LIFE SUCCESSFUL BY UNDERSTANDING
I
BHAGAVAD-GITA AND PREACH THIS. YOU BECOME
GURU.’ So where is the difficulty? WHY DON’T YOU DO THAT?‛
of
ice
‚That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission, that "You become guru,
erv
everyone." [break] You simply repeat. Don't misinterpret. Boliye. THIS
IS CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU'S... EVERY ONE OF YOU
S
BECOME A GURU, NOT A BLUFFER, BUT A GURU, REAL
GURU. " (Evening Darsana -- May 9, 1977, Hrishikesh)
he
nt
‚We repeat. We don’t manufacture. What is the use of manufacturing?
(I
I am imperfect. Whatever I manufacture, that is imperfect. So better to
repeat the words of the perfect. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission.
HE SAID, ‘EVERY ONE OF YOU BECOME GURU AND
aid
DELIVER YOUR SURROUNDING PERSONS, EITHER YOU

S
ARE IN FAMILY OR IN NEIGHBORHOOD OR IN SOCIETY OR

IN NATION, AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.’ Amara ajnaya guru hana
ada
tara ei desa. So whatever limited circle, YOU JUST BECOME GURU

AND DELIVER THEM.‛ (Conversation, Hrisikesa 5/11/77)
hup
‚We simply repeat. That is our business. We are not learned scholars,
rab
but our mission is to repeat the words of Krsna. That is Caitanya

P
Mahaprabhu's order. He says, amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa

[Cc. Madhya 7.128]: " YOU BECOME GURU." […] You, on My
hat
order, BECOME GURU simply..." Yare dekha tare kaha

krsna-upadesa. Bas. "You become guru. Whomever you meet, you
W
simply try to convince him what Krsna has spoken. Then you become
guru." SO WE REQUEST EVERYONE THE SAME THING. AND
and
BECOME GURU. IT IS VERY URGENTLY NECESSARY. People

are becoming godless, atheist, nonbelievers, and they are suffering. So
uru
every village, every home, every neighborhood, they require guru. But
who will be guru? One who repeats the instruction of Krsna. Yare dekha
G
tare kaha. IT IS VERY EASY.‛

(Evening Darsana -- May 12, 1977, Hrishikesh)
he
T
lvi
on)
Recapitulating, the directors of ISKCON officially approached Srila
Prabhupada to ask how initiations would be conducted in the future,
skc
"particularly at that time when you're no longer with us." And Srila Prabhupada
I
instantly replied, "I shall recommend some of you," and ended his categorical
answer with,"I shall select some of you."
of
Thus the next obvious question is, "What about that selection? Did it ever
ice
happen?"
erv
The answer is yes.
S
This official meeting was on May 28, 1977. It was the last meeting of its kind
he
with His Divine Grace. Counting from this day on to that of his departure,
there is only one record of his making a selection from the GBCs. It was on
July 7.
nt
(I
Although strictly speaking that selection was not stated by him to be the one
he had spoken of at the meeting of May 28, it was, coincidentally, about
aid
initiations. On July 7, due to his health condition, Srila Prabhupada is

S
recorded as appointing nine GBC members who would give initiations on his
behalf.
ada
"Tamala Krsna: ...Srila Prabhupada? We're receiving a number of

hup
letters now, and these are people who want to get initiated. So up until
now, since your becoming ill, we asked them to wait.
rab
Prabhupada: The local, mean, senior sannyasis can do that.

P
[...]Prabhupada: You can give me a list of sannyasis. I will mark who

will...
hat
Tamala Krsna: Okay.

[...]Tamala Krsna: These men, they can also do second initiation. So
W
there's no need for devotees to write to you for first and second
initiation. They can write to the man nearest them. But all these persons
and
are still your disciples. Anybody who gives initiation is doing so on your
behalf.
uru
Prabhupada: Yes.
Tamala Krsna: You know that book I'm maintaining of all of your
G
disciples' names? Should I continue that?

Prabhupada: Hm.
he
T
lvii
on)
[...]Prabhupada: You can note down these names.
Tamala Krsna: Yes, I have them.
skc
Prabhupada: Who are they?
I
Tamala Krsna: Kirtanananda Maharaja, Satsvarupa Maharaja,
Jayatirtha Prabhu, Bhagavan Prabhu, Harikesa Maharaja, Jayapataka
of
Maharaja and Tamala Krsna Maharaja.
ice
Prabhupada: That's nice. Now you distribute.
Tamala Krsna: Seven. There's seven names.
erv
Prabhupada: For the time being, seven names, sufficient. You can make
S
Ramesvara.
Tamala Krsna: Ramesvara Maharaja.
he
Prabhupada: And Hrdayananda.
nt
Tamala Krsna: Oh, yeah. South America. (I
Prabhupada: So without waiting for me, wherever you consider it is
right... That will depend on discretion.
Tamala Krsna: On discretion.
aid
Prabhupada: Yes.
S
Tamala Krsna: That's for first and second initiations.

ada
Between this date and July 9, two other GBC men were added by Srila
Prabhupada, unrecorded. On July 9, his approved list was officially circulated
hup
worldwide and consisted of eleven members.

As mentioned above, this selection of eleven GBC men was not directly and
rab
expressly stated by Srila Prabhupada to be that selection, the one that on May
P
28 he said he would make. Now, what else could it be?

On May 28, talking to the GBCs, he said, "I shall select some of you," a
hat
selection which was intended for the purpose to initiate on his behalf.
W
"That is formality. Because in my presence one should not become guru,

so ON MY BEHALF...."
and
Then, five weeks later, on July 7, he selected eleven GBC members to initiate
on his behalf--an unquestionable match.
uru
The reason for him to be mentioning a formality is that, in his official reply,
G
he had indicated that he would recommend some of the GBCs to be

initiating spiritual masters. He was then clarifying that, as a matter of
he
formality, they could only be in that role after his departure. This was a
T
lviii
on)
required clarification because he had stated that he would be selecting them
precisely to act in that capacity--as regular gurus. Once again, here is that
skc
summary of what he said at that time:
I
WHEN I ORDER, 'You become guru,' he becomes regular guru. That's
of
all. HE BECOMES DISCIPLE OF MY DISCIPLE. That's it.
ice
And Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, amara ajnaya guru hana. One who
erv
S
same parampara, he can become guru. And therefore I SHALL
SELECT SOME OF YOU."
he
There is no record of Srila Prabhupada ever changing his mind about what
nt
he had officially responded on May 28. The procedure for future initiations
(I
that he established in that official meeting was exactly the very well-known
scriptural and traditional system that he had always represented in his
aid
teachings and instructions. He had never even so much as hinted at anything

different, and now he was also not making any change.
S
"Sastra is never changed. And the sadhu... Sadhu means who follows the
ada
sastras. He is sadhu. He also does not change. Sadhu, sastra. And guru?
Guru means who follows the sastra and sadhu. So there are three, the
hup
same. A GURU WILL NOT CHANGE, that "It was spoken five
rab
thousand years ago. That is not applicable now. NOW I AM GIVING

YOU SOMETHING NEW, JUGGLERY." He is useless. Sadhu sastra
P
guru-vakya tinete kariya aikya."

(Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.6.8 Vrndavana, November 30, 1976)
hat
"So the same thing, it is chalked out by Krsna, and by parampara system
W
we have understood this philosophy. Evam parampara praptam imam

rajarsayo viduh [Bg. 4.2]. SO KEEP THIS PARAMPARA SYSTEM.
and
This Vyasa-puja is parampara system. Vyasa-puja means to accept this

parampara system. Vyasa. GURU IS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF
uru
VYASADEVA BECAUSE HE DOES NOT CHANGE

ANYTHING. What Vyasa-puja... What Vyasadeva said, your guru will
G
also say the same thing. Not that "So many hundreds of thousands of
years have passed away. Therefore I will give you a new formula." No.
he
THERE IS NO NEW FORMULA. THE SAME VYASA-PUJA,

T
lix
on)
THE SAME PHILOSOPHY. SIMPLY WE HAVE TO ACCEPT IT.
THEN OUR LIFE WILL BE SUCCESSFUL. Thank you very much."
skc
(Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Disappearance Day, Lecture -- Hyderabad,
I
December 10, 1976)
of
‚Krsna, the original father, Supreme Personality of Godhead, He spoke
ice
the Vedic knowledge to Brahma, Lord Brahma. He spoke to Narada.
Narada spoke to Vyasa. Vyasa spoke to Madhvacarya. So in this
erv
disciplic succession, Lord Caitanya, from Lord Caitanya, the six
S
Gosvamis, and similarly, coming down, down, Bhaktivinoda Thakura,
then Gaurakisora Dasa Babaji Maharaja, then my spiritual master,
he
then WE ARE NEXT GENERATION, MY DISCIPLES. SO THERE
nt
IS A DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION.‛ (I (Lecture, London 9/23/69)
aid

BRANCHES OF DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION. ‛
S

ada
"So we have got this message from Krsna, from Caitanya Mahaprabhu,
from the six Gosvamis, later on, Bhaktivinoda Thakura,
hup

rab

P

hat
(Arrival Lecture -- Los Angeles, May 18, 1972)

W
"WHEN I ORDER, 'You become guru,' he becomes regular guru.

That's all. HE BECOMES DISCIPLE OF MY DISCIPLE. That's it.
and
[...]"And Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, amara ajnaya guru hana. One

who can understand THE ORDER OF CAITANYA
uru
MAHAPRABHU, he can become guru. Or one who understands HIS

GURU'S ORDER, the same parampara, he can become guru. And
G
therefore I SHALL SELECT SOME OF YOU."

he
T
lx
on)
Srila Prabhupada did actually fulfill what he officially said he would do for
the purpose of initiations in the future --as documented above, on July 7 he
skc
selected some GBC members who would perform that function. On May 28
I
he had explained that while he was still present they would initiate on his
behalf and after his departure --and on his order-- they would initiate their
of
own disciples. This he stressed by saying that these disciples would be his
ice
granddisciples.
erv
On October 18, three weeks before his departure, he refers back to that sole
and only selection of GBCs he had made in the matter of initiations:
S
"Prabhupada: Hare Krsna. One Bengali gentleman has come from New
he
York?
nt
Tamala Krsna: Yes. Mr. Sukamal Roy Chowdury.
(I
Prabhupada: So I HAVE DEPUTED SOME OF YOU TO
INITIATE. Hm?
Tamala Krsna: Yes. Actually... Yes, Srila Prabhupada.
aid
Prabhupada: So I think Jayapataka can do that if he likes. I HAVE

S
ALREADY DEPUTED. Tell him.

ada
Tamala Krsna: Yes.

Prabhupada: So, DEPUTIES, Jayapataka’s name was there?
hup
Bhagavan: It is already on there, Srila Prabhupada. His name was on

rab
that list.
Prabhupada: So I DEPUTE HIM to do this atMayapura, and you may
P
go with him. I stop for the time being. Is that all right?
hat
Tamala Krsna: Stopped doing what, Srila Prabhupada?

Prabhupada: This initiation. I HAVE DEPUTED THE, MY
W
DISCIPLES. IS IT CLEAR OR NOT?

Giriraja: It’s clear.
and
Prabhupada: You have got the list of the names?

uru
Tamala Krsna: Yes, Srila Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: And if by Krsna’s grace I recover from this condition, then
G
I shall begin again, or I may not be pressed in this condition to initiate. It

is not good." (Room Conversation – October 18, 1977, Vrndavana)
he
T
lxi
on)
Three months after the selection, the emphasis he makes on that
appointment should be a clear indication of the importance it had for him. It
skc
also serves as a strong validation of the responsibility he had assigned to these
I
GBC members on May 28 in their two capacities in the matter of initiations.
of
Srila Prabhupada left this world on November 14, 1977. Thirty-four years
later, we can attest with full conviction to the truth contained in his words of
ice
dedication to his spiritual master:
erv
He lives forever by his divine instructions
S
and
the follower lives with him.
he
This book is a compendium of Srila Prabhupada's profuse instructions to his
nt
disciples and followers on the subject of the spiritual master within his
(I
society, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Again, that
voluminous set of instructions was summarized by Srila Prabhupada himself
aid
in his final instructions to the leaders of his movement, which he condensed

in an order:
S
"WHEN I ORDER, 'You become guru,' he becomes regular guru.

ada
"And Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, amara ajnaya guru hana. One who
hup
rab
same parampara, he can become guru."

Srila Prabhupada's spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati
P
Goswami Prabhupada, stated how to respond to the order of one's guru. May
it please Srila Prabhupada, I will conclude with this thunderbolt of words
hat
from his Guru Maharaja:

W
"If to carry out the command of the Vaisnava guru I have to be arrogant
or brutish, or suffer eternal perdition, I am prepared to welcome such
and
eternal damnation and even sign a contract to that effect. I will not
listen to the words of malicious persons in lieu of the command of Sri
uru
Gurudeva. I will dissipate with indomitable courage and conviction the

currents of thought of the rest of the world, relying on the strength
G
derived from the lotus feet of Sri Gurudeva. I confess to this arrogance."5
he
T
5
From «Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Vaibhava» by Bhakti Vikasa Swami, (2010-07-27). Bhakti Vikas
lxii
on)
Completed on July 25, 2012
Gaura Saptami of the Month of Sridhara
skc
Sri-Sri Gaura-Nitai Ashirvad Mandir
I
ISKCON of Guyana
of
ice
erv
S
he
nt
(I
aid
S
ada
hup
rab
P
hat
W
and
uru
G
he
T
Trust. Kindle Edition.

lxiii
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
lxiv
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
on)
skc
I
of
ice
erv
S
he
nt
(I
aid
S
ada
hup
(A Historical Record)
rab
P
‚In my books the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness is explained

fully, so if there is anything which you do not understand, then you
hat
simply have to read again and again. By reading daily the knowledge will
be revealed to you, and by this process your spiritual life will develop.‛
W
–Srila Prabhupada in a Letter to Bahurupa Das, 11/22/74

and
SRILA PRABHUPADA ALWAYS SAID that he had said it all. ‚I’ve said
everything in my books‛ is one of our favorite quotes. Therefore it is
uru
astonishing for some of us to see how ten years after his disappearance 6
there is so much confusion about the most basic and fundamental concept
G
and institution in our philosophy: the spiritual master.

he
T
6 The main body of the book was written in 1987.

lxv
on)
In some of our ISKCON communities the number of ‚schools of thought‛
that have appeared is unbelievable, and most of the devotees have heard so
skc
many versions about the ‚guru issue‛ that many do not know exactly what to
I
believe, much the less what to preach. The result is that today in many of
our temples there is a very thick atmosphere of doubt surrounding the
of
process of initiation, and there are many people wondering whether it is
ice
worthwhile or even bona fide to take initiation from a disciple of Srila
Prabhupada. A few of the new ‚philosophies‛ are herewith listed.
erv
* Some devotees are preaching that it is not necessary to take initiation at all,
S
that it is enough to follow Srila Prabhupada’s teachings as found in his books,
tapes, letters, etc. In this way you can call him your spiritual master and be
he
taken by him back home, back to Godhead. Generally, propounders and
nt
followers of this philosophy do not live in a temple and therefore do not feel
(I
the need for newcomers to have a spiritual name or admittance into the
direct worship of the Deity.
aid
* Others are advising newcomers to search for a disciple of Srila Prabhupada

who will agree to give them a ‚Prabhupada initiation,‛ i.e. who will make
S
them direct disciples of Srila Prabhupada. They believe that all initiations
ada
should be done on behalf of Srila Prabhupada, who is the actual guru.

* Another idea, which is like a corollary of the previous one, is that if you
hup
have been initiated by a disciple of Srila Prabhupada who later on fell down,
then you are now automatically a disciple of Srila Prabhupada by, what they
rab
call, ‚taking full shelter of him.‛

P
* Others say that only an uttama-adhikari is a bona fide spiritual master, and
therefore aspirants should wait until such a person manifests himself (the
hat
followers of this theory usually add that there is no one at present with this
qualification, therefore ‚Wait. Don’t worry. Didn’t Prabhupada wait for
W
eleven years?!‛).
* A well known pandit of our movement was explaining to me how there are
and
four kinds of gurus, the three we all know [the vartma-pradarsaka, the siksa
and the diksa gurus] and also the Supreme Personality of Godhead as
uru
caitya-guru, and that if someone could not find any guru whom would
G
awaken his faith, he could just accept caitya-guru as the spiritual master and
read the sastras guided by Him from within, which would be enough to attain
he
perfection. [Srila Prabhupada always refers to three kinds of gurus because

T
lxvi
on)
he considers the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the category of siksa, or
instructing, spiritual master (vide C.c. Adi 1.47 & 1.57, purport)].
skc
* Of those who think initiations should continue, some have suggested that a
I
written contract be drawn between guru and disciple (!) whereby the first
one admits very frankly to the latter of being a conditioned soul (!!) barely
of
capable of doing much for him beyond the establishing of the connection or
ice
link to the parampara.
erv
* Some prabhus have taken upon themselves the duty of ‚demystifying‛
guruship and training new disciples to view their guru as just another fellow
S
companion in the struggle for self-realization, who somehow or other (God
he
only knows!) is in the position of giving initiations.
nt
And so on and so forth. (I
Evidently the situation is pathetic. The movement that for years was
proudly, boldly and successfully preaching about having all the answers to all
aid
the questions, now, just as it once happened to Lord Brahma, seems to have
come under the spell of its own mystic power, not being able to answer to
S
even basic questions about such fundamental concepts as the spiritual master
ada
and initiations.
hup
This book is, therefore, a humble attempt to shed some light on the present
situation in an effort to help ISKCON pull out of this embarrassing
rab
quagmire. It is very painful to see Srila Prabhupada’s creation in danger of

extinction or, at best, of becoming an apasampradaya (a deviated
P
sampradaya), by the misguidance and distrust created by the speculative

conclusions of some people who do not know well Prabhupada’s words nor
hat
the Vaisnava ways and tradition by which the disciplic succession has
W
descended since time immemorial.

and
And, of course, because Srila Prabhupada is the only authority commonly

accepted by all parties involved in this issue, his direct words are the main
uru
instrument we will use in trying to solve a seemingly perplexing quandary.

For this we have prepared the book in such a way so that his statements
G
remain self-evident. In the main portion of the book (Part Two), our sole
contribution are the questions that we are fictitiously posing to Srila
he
Prabhupada at the beginning of every numbered section, and that represent

T
lxvii
on)
the different doubts that at present most of the devotees have about the
issues at hand, a system we are borrowing from a paper we presented in
skc
October of 1984, entitled ‚The First Thousand,‛ of which this book is an
I
expansion. Our own understanding can be concluded from the ‚answers‛ by
Srila Prabhupada that we have selected from his books, lectures,
of
conversations and letters.
ice
But some of my Godbrothers have considered it very important that I also
erv
present my own understanding more explicitly, and others even feel it would
S
be irresponsible on my part not to do so and, especially, not to give my own
conclusion on the matter. Following their advice I will express myself by
he
means of an introductory part (Part One) and an Epilogue that I hope will be
nt
of an additional help to the kind reader. (I
May Srila Prabhupada and, through him, all the predecessor acaryas,
specially our parama-guru, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, shower
aid
their blessings on this humble attempt to preserve the solid Vaisnava

siddhanta within our young ISKCON society (Appendix One consists of two
S
articles by His Divine Grace on the topic of Guru and Initiation).

ada
namas te gaura-vani-sri-murtaye dina-tarine

rupanuga-viruddhapasiddhanta-dhvanta-harine
hup
‚I offer my respectful obeisances unto Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati

rab
Gosvami Prabhupada, who is the personified teachings of Lord Caitanya.

He is the deliverer of the fallen souls, and does not tolerate any statement
P
which is against the teachings of devotional service enunciated by Srila Rupa

Gosvami.‛
hat
Completed at my home in New Dvaraka,

W
ISKCON of Los Angeles, on February 8, 1988

and
The Most Auspicious Appearance Day of

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada,
uru
The Colossal Protector of Vaisnava Siddhanta.

G
he
T
lxviii
on)
skc
I
of
ice
erv
S
he
nt
(I
aid
S
ada
hup
rab
P
hat
W
and
uru
G
Our Revered Grand-Spiritual Master, His Divine Grace

BHAKTISIDDHANTA SARASWATI GOSWAMI PRABHUPADA
he
The Collosal Protector of Vaishnava Siddhanta in the Recent Age

T
lxix
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
1
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
2
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
on)
skc
I
of
ice
erv
S
he
nt
(I
aid
S
ada
hup
rab
P
hat
W
‚[O]ur request is that if you want to decrease or completely

finish all the problems of life, take to Krsna consciousness in
and
the process of disciplic succession and you’ll be all happy.

Thank you very much.‛
uru
–Srila Prabhupada in a Lecture in London, 9/23/69

G
KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS in disciplic succession. This is the key to

he
solving all the problems of life. All the problems..., including the ones facing
T
our movement at present. Indeed, the reason we are having problems is that
3
on)
we have lost the understanding of what is the disciplic succession. Note that
I am saying lost, implying, obviously, that we had it. Collectively we had the
skc
correct understanding when the perfect representative was personally
I
present within our society making the disciplic succession a solid fact. We
lost it when offenses and deviations polluted the system and turned the
of
concept into almost a fantasy, something of the past that, to many, ended
ice
with Srila Prabhupada.
erv
Disciplic succession (lit.: a succession of disciples) necessitates that there be a
S
worthy disciple to represent amongst the people the previous acaryas and
their teachings. This worthiness is described by Srila Prabhupada in the
he
following words:
nt
‚[...I]n all Vedic literatures it is mentioned about the disciplic
(I
succession. You have read in Srimad Bhagawatam, first canto, first
chapter, where it is said that Brahma was inspired from within the
aid
heart by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Similarly, in the Katha

Upanishad it is said that ‚in order to learn the transcendental science,
S
one has to approach the Spiritual Master.‛ THIS SPIRITUAL

ada
MASTER MEANS ONE WHO HAS HEARD CORRECTLY FROM

HIS SPIRITUAL MASTER. In this way, ultimately it goes to Krishna,
hup
the Supreme Spiritual Master. There is no possibility of understanding

the Vedic knowledge without this descending process.‛
rab
(Letter to Janaki, 2/28/69)

P
‚YOU HAVE RIGHTLY OBSERVED THAT I AM SIMPLY

TRYING TO EXECUTE THE ORDER OF MY SPIRITUAL
hat
MASTER. [...]I am simply an instrument in the hands of my Spiritual

W
Master. [...] THIS IS PARAMPARA SYSTEM. IF A STUDENT

TRIES TO SATISFY HIS IMMEDIATE ACARYA OR THE
and
SPIRITUAL MASTER, that is the only qualification for advancing in

Krsna consciousness.‛ (Letter to Paramananda, 6/17/70)
uru
‚One has to hear the message of Godhead from the lips of the pure
G
devotee of the Lord or Acarya. The religion is originally spoken by

Krsna Himself and THAT MESSAGE OR SCIENCE IS COMING
he
DOWN DIRECTLY THROUGH THE CHAIN OF DISCIPLIC

T
SUCCESSION AND ONE WHO IS IN THAT CHAIN IS CALLED

4
on)
ACARYA OR ONE WHO TEACHES BY HIS LIFE. Religion is
practically presented by the bonafide spiritual master or acarya.‛
skc
(Letter to Krsna das, 10/6/70)
I
‚I beg to thank you for your nice appreciation of our disciplic
succession of Vaisnava Acaryas. THIS IS THE RIGHT
of
UNDERSTANDING OF THE SPIRITUAL MASTERS, THAT
ice
THEY ARE GLORIOUS BY SIMPLY DELIVERING THE
TRANSCENDENTAL MESSAGE OF KRSNA AS IT IS.‛
erv
(Letter to Jaya Pataka, 4/30/70)
S
‚Srila Vyasdeva therefore summarized the whole Vedic knowledge in
he
the shape of Srimad Bhagavatam which is known as the ripened fruit
nt
of the desire tree known as Vedic knowledge. THE RIPENED FRUIT
(I
IS RECEIVED HAND TO HAND THROUGH DISCIPLIC
SUCCESSION AND ANYONE WHO DOES THIS WORK IN
DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION FROM SRILA VYASDEVA IS
aid
CONSIDERED AS REPRESENTATIVE OF VYASDEVA...‛

S
(Letter to Bali Mardan, 8/25/70)

ada
‚Regarding our books, [...the] words are ambrosial because they are not
my personal words, they are instructions of my predecessors and I am
hup
just trying to administer them to my best knowledge. THAT IS THE

WAY OF PARAMPARA SYSTEM. WE HAVE NOTHING TO
rab
MANUFACTURE, BUT SIMPLY CARRY THE MESSAGE AS A

P
FAITHFUL PEON. That will be effective. One should be very sincere

to his Spiritual Master and Krsna simultaneously. Then everything
hat
comes out successful. That is the verdict of the Vedas and Lord
Caitanya.‛
W
(Letter to Jayapataka, 4/17/70)

and
‚Yes, as I have taken this work as my life and soul on the order of my
Spiritual Master, similarly if you take my desires as life and soul, then
uru
the whole thing is immediately connected with Krsna. THAT IS THE

MEANING OF PARAMPARA SYSTEM. NONE OF THE
G
ACTIVITIES ARE PERSONAL AFFAIRS.‛

he
T
5
on)
In the presence of that worthy representative, all the different philosophical
concepts, no matter how unbelievable or difficult, become feasible and clear
skc
to everyone as things under the sunlight. But when the people lose faith in
I
their spiritual leaders the simplest concepts become obscured, and such
disenchanted people begin concocting philosophies and jumping to
of
conclusions, not caring to see whether their understanding is in accord with
ice
tradition and sastra. The result: Authority crisis. Anarchy.
erv
Our main sastra is Srimad-Bhagavatam. The glory of Srimad-Bhagavatam
rests in it having originally emanated directly from the Lord in the beginning
S
of creation, and always remaining as the authority after millions of years.
he
That authority will always remain intact as long as we accept the process of
nt
parampara, the descending process of disciplic succession. We have to
accept the book and THE DEVOTEE Bhagavata.
(I
As Srila Prabhupada always explained, quoting from the Sixth Canto of the
aid
book (SB 6.3.19) –dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam–, the principles of

this Krsna consciousness movement, its philosophy, rules and regulations, are
S
enacted by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore our opinion has

to be in line with Srimad-Bhagavatam, the opinion of Krsna, specially if one
ada
claims to be in the disciplic succession that is coming from Krsna.

hup
‚In the parampara system, the instructions taken from the bona fide
rab
spiritual master must also be based on revealed Vedic scriptures. ONE

WHO IS IN THE LINE OF DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION CANNOT
P
MANUFACTURE HIS OWN WAY OF BEHAVIOR. There are

many so-called followers of the Vaisnava cult in the line of Caitanya
hat
Mahaprabhu who do not scrupulously follow the conclusions of the

sastras, and therefore they are considered to be apa-sampradaya,
W
which means ‘outside of the sampradaya.’

and
[...]‚Srila Narottama dasa Thakura advises, sadhu-sastra-guru-vakya,

hrdaye kariya aikya. The meaning of this instruction is that one must
uru
consider the instructions of the sadhu, the revealed scriptures and the
spiritual master in order to understand the real purpose of spiritual
G
life. Neither a sadhu (saintly person or Vaisnava) nor a bona fide

spiritual master says anything that is beyond the scope of the sanction
he
of the revealed scriptures. Thus the statements of the revealed

T
6
on)
scriptures correspond to those of the bona fide spiritual master and
saintly persons. ONE MUST THEREFORE ACT WITH
skc
REFERENCE TO THESE THREE IMPORTANT SOURCES OF
I
UNDERSTANDING.‛ (Cc Adi 7.48)
But one cannot force oneself into the understanding of Srimad-Bhagavatam
of
or any other scripture. We have to be admitted into it ushered by a devotee
ice
who has already been admitted himself. Otherwise, as Krsna says in
erv
Bhagavad-gita (9.2), this knowledge is raja guhyam, a very well-kept secret.
S
‚The Krsna-katha is not a subject matter for debating club. It is
he
meant for the devotees. WITHOUT DEVOTEES NOBODY CAN
nt
UNDERSTAND. The others who are not devotees, they simply
waste their time in reading Bhagavad-gita or Srimad-Bhagavatam,
(I
such literature. They simply waste their time, because these subject
matters are for the devotees. ...My Guru Maharaja used to say, ‘It is
aid
just licking the bottle of honey.’ Now you want honey, I give you one
S
bottle; but you do not know how to taste it –you begin to lick up the
bottle. What you will taste? If you think, ‘Here is the bottle of honey,
ada
let me lick.’ You will not get any taste. It must be opened. But THE
OPENING KEY IS WITH THE DEVOTEE. You do not know how to
hup
open it. Therefore it is said, satam prasangan mama virya-samvido

bhavanti hrt-karna-rasayanah. THE DEVOTEES KNOW HOW TO
rab
OPEN IT, the bottle. And then they can taste.

P
[...]
‚Therefore to understand Bhagavad-gita means one has to become
hat
first of all a bhakta. The so-called nondevotee atheist class, scholar

W
and politician, they cannot understand. It is not possible. THEY

CANNOT ENTER INTO IT. The same thing: licking the honey
bottle, that’s all. What you will taste? It is not possible. Therefore
and
Krsna says, Tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya,

upadeksyantitad jnanam jnaninah tattva-darsinah. The same
uru
example can be... YOU CAN GO TO A PERSON WHO KNOWS

G
HOW TO OPEN THE BOTTLE OF HONEY. Then you can taste.

Otherwise, if you simply lick up the book, Bhagavad-gita, becoming a
he
very big scholar, you will never taste it. You will never taste it. You
can satisfy yourself, ‘Now I am licking up daily Bhagavad-gita, thrice,’
T
7
on)
but what you will understand unless you are a devotee? You will not
understand. The bottle is packed up.‛ (Lecture, Bombay 12/4/74)
skc
I
"So Suta Gosvami is offering respect to the spiritual master, Sukadeva
of
Gosvami. When we offer respect to the spiritual master or anyone, we
glorify his transcendental qualities. That is glorification. Just like we
ice
offer respect to Krsna, glorify Him. So this is very important process,
erv
glorify the spiritual master by his activities, what he is actually doing.
That is glorification.
S
he
"So what Sukadeva did? Svanubhavam. He first of all heard from his
nt
father, Vyasadeva, Srimad-Bhagavatam, and realized it. Not a
professional Bhagavata reciter. Just like in India now there are a class
(I
of men, especially in Vrndavana, the gosvamis. They make a business.
Therefore there are many, many very artistic Bhagavata reciters, but
aid
they could not turn even one man to Krsna consciousness. Because
S
they are not self-realized, svanubhavam. Of course, we have tried our

best; so in few years there are so many Krsna conscious persons come
ada
out. This is the secret. Unless one is svanubhavam, self-realized, life is

bhagavata, he cannot preach Bhagavata. That is not... That will not
hup
be effective. A gramophone will not help. Therefore Caitanya

Mahaprabhu's secretary, Svarupa Damodara, recommended,
rab
bhagavata pora giya bhagavata-sthane, that "IF YOU WANT TO

P
READ SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM, YOU MUST APPROACH A

PERSON WHO IS LIFE LIVING BHAGAVATA." Bhagavata pora
hat
giya bhagavata-sthane. Otherwise, there is no question of Bhagavata

realization."
W
(Lecture, Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.3 -- Rome, May 27, 1974)

and
‚One bhagavata is this book Bhagavata, another bhagavata, the

person bhagavata. Who lives on the book Bhagavata, he is person
uru
bhagavata. Two kinds of bhagavata. So WE HAVE TO LEARN

BHAGAVATAM FROM THE LIVING BHAGAVATA. Caitanya
G
Mahaprabhu's secretary, Svarupa Damodara, he advised one

he
brahmana. One brahmana wrote something about Lord Caitanya

Mahaprabhu. There were many poets and writers used to come and
T
8
on)
visit Caitanya Mahaprabhu when He was at Jagannatha Puri, and
they would present some writings, but these writings would not be
skc
presented before Caitanya Mahaprabhu unless it was sanctioned by
I
His secretary Svarupa Damodara. That was the system. So one
brahmana, he wrote one poetry that... The purport of the poetry was
of
that "Jagannatha is Krsna. But He cannot move. He's wooden Krsna.
ice
And Caitanya Mahaprabhu is also Krsna, but He is moving Krsna."
That means he distinguished between Jagannatha and Caitanya
erv
Mahaprabhu. So this is not siddhanta.
S
‚This is not conclusion of the sastra. Sastra conclusion is: the Deity
he
and Krsna, the same. There is no difference. We have many times
nt
explained this. Deity, the worshipful Deity in the temple, is not
(I
different from Krsna. So Svarupa Damodara did not approve of the
poetry to be presented to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. At that time, he
aid
chastised him that "You do not know the conclusion, and you dare to
write some poetry. Don't do this." And he said, bhagavata para giya
S
bhagavata-sthane: "IF YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND

SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM, THEN YOU GO AND STUDY
ada
SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM FROM THE PURE DEVOTEE. THEN

hup
YOU'LL UNDERSTAND. Otherwise, you'll write all these

nonsense." Bhagavata para giya bhagavata-sthane. So one bhagavata...
rab
The two bhagavatas. YOU STUDY SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM

FROM LIVING BHAGAVATA. SO IF ONE DOES NOT TAKE
P
OR DOES NOT SURRENDER UNTO THE LIVING

BHAGAVATA, HE CANNOT UNDERSTAND
hat
SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM.‛
W
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.23, Los Angeles, June 20, 1972)

and
In the very first purport of his Bhagavad-gita, Srila Prabhupada establishes

this concept citing the Gita-mahatmya:
uru
‚There it says that one should read Bhagavad-gita very scrutinizingly

G
WITH THE HELP OF A PERSON WHO IS A DEVOTEE OF SRI

KRSNA and try to understand it without personally motivated
he
interpretations. The example of clear understanding is there in the

T
9
on)
Bhagavad-gita itself, in the way the teaching is understood by Arjuna,
who heard the Gita directly from the Lord. If someone is fortunate
skc
enough to understand Bhagavad- gita in that line of DISCIPLIC
I
SUCCESSION, without motivated interpretation, then he surpasses
all studies of Vedic wisdom, and all scriptures of the world.‛
of
ice
And in the Bhagavatam itself, PRABHUPADA SAID:
erv
‚A third-class devotee, therefore, has to receive the instructions of
S
devotional service from the authoritative sources of Bhagavata. THE
NUMBER ONE BHAGAVATA IS THE ESTABLISHED
he
PERSONALITY OF DEVOTEE, and the other Bhagavatam is the
nt
message of Godhead. THE THIRD-CLASS DEVOTEE
THEREFORE HAS TO GO TO THE PERSONALITY OF
(I
DEVOTEE IN ORDER TO LEARN THE INSTRUCTIONS OF
DEVOTIONAL SERVICE. Such a personality of devotee is not a
aid
professional man who earns his livelihood by the business of

S
Bhagavatam. Such a devotee must be a representative of Sukadeva

Gosvami, like Suta Gosvami, and must preach the cult of devotional
ada
service for the all-around benefit of all people.‛ (S.B. 1.2.12)

hup
‚The DEVOTEE BHAGAVATA is a direct representative of

Bhagavan, the Personality of Godhead. So by pleasing the devotee
rab
Bhagavata one can receive the benefit of the book Bhagavata.

P
[...]‚THE MESSAGES OF THE BOOK BHAGAVATA,

THEREFORE, HAVE TO BE RECEIVED FROM THE DEVOTEE
hat
BHAGAVATA, and the combination of these two Bhagavatas will

W
help the neophyte devotee to make progress on and on.‛ (S.B. 1.2.18)
‚...[I]n order to receive the real message of Srimad-Bhagavatam one

and
should approach the CURRENT LINK or spiritual master, in the

chain of disciplic succession.‛ (S.B. 2.9.7)
uru
The scriptures cannot be studied by one’s own concoctions. They have to be

G
studied with the help of a devotee, ‚devotee‛ meaning that he has to be a

representative of the parampara, that he is descending in the disciplic
he
succession coming from Krsna.

T
10
on)
‚One who directly hears Krsna can understand this confidential
knowledge. IF ONE DOES NOT COME TO THE DISCIPLIC
skc
SUCCESSION, HE CANNOT HEAR KRSNA; therefore his
I
knowledge is always imperfect, at least as far as understanding
Bhagavad-gita is concerned.
of
[…]‚Actually there is no difference between hearing directly from
ice
Krsna and hearing directly from Krsna via a bona fide spiritual
erv
master like Vyasa. The spiritual master is the representative of
Vyasadeva also.‛ (Bg 18.75)
S
‚Evam parampara-praptam, sa kaleneha mahata yogo nastah parantapa.
he
Yogo nastah. AS SOON AS THE PARAMPARA SYSTEM IS NOT
nt
ACCEPTED, THE SO-CALLED COMMENTARY
(I ON
BHAGAVAD-GITA IS LOST OR ROTTEN.‛
(Lecture, Bhubaneswara 1/24/77)
aid
‚WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND VEDIC KNOWLEDGE ON THE

S
AUTHORITY OF THE DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION not from

mental speculators who are simply rascals and have no entrance into
ada
the Vedic knowledge.‛ (Letter to Brian Marvin, 3/15/74)

hup
‚So far as your question about the disciplic succession, in all Vedic
rab
literatures it is mentioned about the disciplic succession. You have

read in Srimad Bhagawatam, first canto, first chapter, where it is said
P
that Brahma was inspired from within the heart by the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. Similarly, in the Katha Upanishad it is said
hat
that ‚in order to learn the transcendental science, one has to

approach the Spiritual Master.‛ This spiritual master means one who
W
has heard correctly from his Spiritual Master. In this way, ultimately
it goes to Krishna, the Supreme Spiritual Master. THERE IS NO
and
POSSIBILITY OF UNDERSTANDING THE VEDIC

KNOWLEDGE WITHOUT THIS DESCENDING PROCESS. The
uru
modern world is puffed up with personal research knowledge, but the

person who is engaging in this research work does not know that he is
G
imperfect on account of his aptitude for becoming illusioned, for

committing mistakes, for his cheating propensity and for his
he
possessing imperfect senses. Therefore THERE IS NO POSSIBILITY

T
11
on)
OF RECEIVING PERFECT KNOWLEDGE WITHOUT
APPROACHING A SELF-REALIZED SPIRITUAL MASTER
skc
COMING DOWN IN DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION. The mental
I
speculator, no matter how advanced he may be, cannot deliver us the
right knowledge.‛ (Letter to Janaki, 2/28/69)
of
ice
‚All transcendental messages are received properly in the chain of
disciplic succession. This disciplic succession is called parampara.
erv
Unless therefore Bhagavatam or any other Vedic literatures are
S
received through the parampara system, the reception of knowledge
is not bona fide. Vyasadeva delivered the message to Sukadeva
he
Gosvami, and from Sukadeva Gosvami, Suta Gosvami received the
nt
message. ONE SHOULD THEREFORE RECEIVE THE
(I
MESSAGE OF BHAGAVATAM FROM SUTA GOSVAMI OR
FROM HIS REPRESENTATIVE AND NOT FROM ANY
IRRELEVANT INTERPRETER.‛ (SB 1.3.42)
aid
S
At this point I can think of a number of questions that may be raised.

ada
--How does someone become such a representative with

whom others should study the scriptures?
hup
--Is that representative also an initiating guru? In other

rab
words, are there different kinds of representatives, i.e. some

P
that can link you to the succession and some that cannot?
(Some that are guru and some that are not?)
hat
--Does a representative have to be alive to connect you?

W
--Is the succession considered broken if there is no live

and
representative?
uru
These things should become clear in the course of this writing.

Generally speaking, by definition, disciplic succession means that the
G
disciples of a spiritual master become the spiritual masters of the next

disciples. Srila Prabhupada confirms this:
he
T
12
on)
‚ONE WHO IS NOW THE DISCIPLE IS THE NEXT SPIRITUAL
MASTER. And one cannot be a bona fide and authorized spiritual
skc
master unless one has been strictly obedient to his spiritual master.‛
I
(SB 2.9.43)
‚EVERY STUDENT IS EXPECTED TO BECOME ACARYA.
of
Acarya means one who knows the scriptural injunctions and follows
ice
them practically in life, and teaches them to his disciples... But as a
erv
matter of etiquette it is the custom that during the lifetime of your
Spiritual Master you bring the prospective disciples to him, and IN
S
HIS ABSENCE OR DISSAPEARANCE YOU CAN ACCEPT
he
DISCIPLES WITHOUT ANY LIMITATION. THIS IS THE LAW
OF DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION.‛
nt
(Letter to Tusta Krishna, 12/2/75)
(I
The question is whether this is an automatic process that occurs immediately
after the demise of a spiritual master. Do all of his disciples become
aid
instantaneously gurus? Are they all now the representatives of the

S
parampara?
The answer to this is very simple and can be understood from the above
ada
quotes from Srila Prabhupada and other quotes that will follow. The
hup
disciple does not become a link to the disciplic chain only when his spiritual
master passes away. He was always a link since he became a disciple!
rab
Technically speaking, AS SOON AS ONE IS INITIATED into the disciplic

succession he becomes a representative of the parampara and a guru to others
P
that know less than him, as long as ‚one has been strictly obedient to his
spiritual master.‛ The following quotes from Srila Prabhupada will illustrate
hat
this.
W
‚Yes, whoever you tell the chant to, it is effective. You have heard it
from me and my disciples, similarly I have heard it from my Guru
and
Maharaj, and so on, and on. Because you have heard it from a pure
devotee of the Lord, therefore it is transmitted from you to another.
uru
Just as an aerial message is transmitted from one place to another,

similarly, this Guru parampara system is working. MY DISCIPLES
G
ARE MY AGENTS, MY REPRESENTATIVES, SO BY HEARING

IT FROM THEM, YOU ARE RECEIVING IT FROM ME. And
he
because you are a sincere soul, those who are hearing the Mantra
T
13
on)
from you are receiving it in DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION, FROM
LORD CAITANYA AND FROM LORD KRISHNA.‛
skc
(Letter to Andrea Temple, 3/6/68)
I
‚So I thank you very much because I see you are doing very good. Now
of
you are doing something. So you should continue in this way. Do
ice
practical solid work. This is required. YOU ARE AN OLD
EXPERIENCED DEVOTEE AND I HAVE PERSONALLY
erv
TRAINED YOU IN SO MANY THINGS, SO NOW IT IS YOUR
S
RESPONSIBILITY TO TRAIN OTHERS OTHERWISE WHAT IS
THE MEANING OF MY TRAINING YOU? So do it with sincerity
he
and know that Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He will give you all facility and
nt
you will be a success.‛ (Letter to Gurudasa Swami, 11/12/75)
(I
‚The life of a sincere devotee of the Lord is thus explained in a
nutshell by Narada Muni by his personal example. SUCH A
aid
DEVOTEE, AFTER HIS INITIATION BY THE LORD OR HIS

S
BONA FIDE REPRESENTATIVE, TAKES VERY SERIOUSLY

CHANTING OF THE GLORIES OF THE LORD AND
ada
TRAVELING ALL OVER THE WORLD SO THAT OTHERS

MAY ALSO HEAR THE GLORIES OF THE LORD. Such devotees
hup
have no desire for material gain. They are conducted by one single
rab
desire: to go back to Godhead. This awaits them in due course on

quitting the material body. Because they have the highest aim of life,
P
going back to Godhead, they are never envious of anyone, nor are
they proud of being eligible to go back to Godhead. Their only
hat
business is to chant and remember the holy name, fame and pastimes
of the Lord and, according to personal capacity, to distribute the
W
message for others’ welfare without motive of material gain.‛

(SB 1.6.26 ppt)
and
‚When the Lord appeared on this earth 5,000 years ago, He

uru
instructed Bhagavad-gita to Arjuna, and this purely transcendental

message of Krishna has been passed down for the past 5,000 years BY
G
THE MEDIA OF SINCERE DISCIPLES giving submissive aural

he
reception to the words of Krishna via the medium of the bona fide
Spiritual Master. THIS ACTS LIKE ELECTRICITY, and if you
T
14
on)
touch a wire anywhere which is connected to the powerhouse, then
you will be in contact with the electric current. But IF THE WIRE
skc
IS BROKEN OR SEPARATED FROM THE POWERHOUSE,
I
THEN THERE WILL BE NO ELECTRIC CURRENT.‛
(Letter to Yamunacharya, 10/21/69)
of
ice
‚Vidhi means Brahma, the first created living being. He is the
original student as well as professor of the Vedas. He learned it from
erv
Sri Krsna and taught Narada first. So Narada is the second acarya in
S
the line of spiritual disciplic succession. He is the representative of
Brahma, and therefore he is respected exactly like Brahma, the father
he
of all vidhis (regulations); similarly ALL OTHER SUCCESSIVE
nt
DISCIPLES IN THE CHAIN ARE ALSO EQUALLY RESPECTED
(I
AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ORIGINAL SPIRITUAL
MASTER.‛ (SB 1.4.33)
aid
Then, Q.: Why was no disciple of Prabhupada accepted as guru while

S
Prabhupada was present? A.: They could have been taken as instructing
gurus, but, AS A MATTER OF ETIQUETTE, not as initiating gurus.
ada
‚...ONE WHO TEACHES CAN BE TREATED AS SPIRITUAL

hup
MASTER. It is not that after we become initiated we become

perfect. No. It requires teaching. So IF WE TAKE
rab
INSTRUCTION FROM THEM, ALL SENIOR GODBROTHERS

P
MAY BE TREATED AS GURU, THERE IS NO HARM. Actually

you have only one spiritual master who initiates you, just as you have
hat
only one father. But every Vaisnava should be treated as prabhu,

master, higher than me, and in this sense, IF I LEARN FROM HIM,
W
HE MAY BE REGARDED AS GURU. It is not that I disobey my

real Spiritual Master and call someone else Spiritual Master. That is
and
wrong. It is only that I can call Spiritual Master someone who is

teaching me purely what my initiating Spiritual Master has taught.
uru
Do you get the sense?‛ (Letter to Galim, 11/20/71)

‚Yes, A SHIKSA GURU IS ANYONE WHO CAN GIVE
G
SPIRITUAL ADVANCEMENT. You take instruction from my

he
books, and if you are unable to understand any portion of the books,
then you can get it explained by any senior devotee, whether
T
15
on)
Madhukanta or anyone else. ANY SENIOR DEVOTEE CAN BE
AN INSTRUCTOR IN SPIRITUAL SUBJECT MATTERS.‛
skc
(Letter to Satadari, 7/7/74)
I
‚IF KIRTANANANDA MAHARAJA SPEAKS WHAT I SPEAK,
of
THEN HE CAN BE TAKEN AS SIKSHA GURU. Guru shastra
sadhu. The spiritual master is one, that is a fact. Kirtanananda Swami
ice
may be taken as sadhu not spiritual master, or as instructor guru. I
erv
don’t think he is saying anything against our principles, so what is the
wrong?‛
S
(Letter to Satyabhama and Paramananda, 7/20/74)
he
nt
‚THE GBC SHOULD ALL BE THE INSTRUCTOR GURUS. I
am in the initiator guru, and you should be the instructor guru by
(I
teaching what I am teaching and doing what I am doing.‛
(Letter to Madhudvisa, 8/4/75)
aid
‚...[T]HE ETIQUETTE IS that so long the Spiritual Master is present,

S
all prospective disciples should be brought to him.‛

ada
(Letter to Achyutananda and Jaya Govinda, 8/21/68)

hup
‚So far as your taking initiation from Brahmananda Maharaja, I

HAVE NO OBJECTION, but IT IS THE ETIQUETTE that in the
rab
presence of one’s Spiritual Master one does not accept disciples.‛

P
(Letter to John Milner 3/24/71)

‚But AS A MATTER OF ETIQUETTE it is the custom that during
hat
the lifetime of your Spiritual Master you bring the prospective

W
disciples to him, and in his absence or disappearance you can accept

disciples without any limitation. THIS IS THE LAW OF DISCIPLIC
SUCCESSION.‛ (Letter to Tusta Krishna, 12/2/75)
and
‚[W]e are interested in preparing acarya, but THE ETIQUETTE IS,

uru
at least for the period the guru is present, one should not become
acarya. EVEN IF HE IS COMPLETE he should not, BECAUSE THE
G
ETIQUETTE IS, IF SOMEBODY COMES FOR BECOMING

INITIATED, IT IS THE DUTY OF SUCH PERSON TO BRING
he
THAT PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATE TO HIS ACARYA. Not

T
16
on)
that ‚Now people are coming to me, so I can become acarya.‛ That is
avamanya. Navamanyeta karhicit. Don’t transgress this etiquette.
skc
Navamanyeta. That will be falldown. Just like during the lifetime of
I
our Guru Maharaja, all our Godbrothers now who are acting as
acarya, they did not do so. THAT IS NOT ETIQUETTE.‛
of
(Lecture, Adi-lila 1.13 – Mayapur, April 6, 1975)
ice
In a late conversation, Srila Prabhupada hints that it was up to his discretion
erv
to allow his disciples to become guru even in his presence, despite what he
had always said –that generally it is not the etiquette. And then there was
S
also the question of qualification.
he
‚Yes. I shall choose some guru. I shall say, ‘Now you become acarya.
nt
You become authorized.’ I am waiting for that. You become all
(I
acarya. I retire completely. But the training must be complete.‛
aid
Even long before that, in the beginning of the movement, Srila Prabhupada
spoke of his disciples becoming initiating gurus in his presence.
S
‚MAYBE BY 1975 ALL OF MY DISCIPLES WILL BE ALLOWED

ada
TO INITIATE AND INCREASE THE NUMBERS OF THE

GENERATIONS. THAT IS MY PROGRAM.‛
hup
(Letter to Hansadutta, 12/3/68)

rab
‚BY 1975, ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE PASSED ALL OF THE

P
ABOVE EXAMINATIONS WILL BE SPECIFICALLY

EMPOWERED TO INITIATE AND INCREASE THE NUMBER
hat
OF THE KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS POPULATION.‛

W

This is not a new concept, unheard of in our sampradaya. For example, in
and
his renowned book –a transcendental novel– Jaiva Dharma (Ch.I), Srila

Bhaktivinoda Thakura presents a passage in which a guru takes his disciple to
uru
meet his own guru, his disciple’s parama-guru. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta

Sarasvati Thakura initiated disciples while his father, Bhaktivinoda
G
Thakura, and his own initiating guru were still present. And in the time of
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu –the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself–,
he
T
17
on)
Pundarika Vidyanidhi initiated Gadadhara Pandita. Other associates of Lord
Caitanya also initiated disciples in His presence.
skc
I
What we have not heard of up to now is of someone taking initiation into the
of
parampara from a departed acarya. Rather, in this connection there is the
example of the story of Srinivasa Acarya. When seeking out someone to
ice
teach him the Bhagavatam, he was faced a few times with the departure of
erv
the guru he had chosen –including Gadadhara Pandita and Rupa Goswami.
Still, he never thought of linking directly with the departed guru but sought
S
initiation and instruction from another acarya present at the moment. The
he
Bhakti-ratnakara records that he was finally initiated by Gopal Bhatta
nt
Goswami. (I
Now, we sympathize very much with all who have suffered any kind of pain,
disappointment, bewilderment and loss of faith under the so-called ‚Zonal
aid
Acarya‛ system, by which a guru was assigned a geographical zone where all
newcomers were expected to take initiation from him. Srila Prabhupada
S
had warned about such a system:

ada
‚It is imperative that a serious person accept a bona fide spiritual

hup
master in terms of the sastric injunctions. SRI JIVA GOSVAMI

ADVISES THAT ONE NOT ACCEPT A SPIRITUAL MASTER
rab
IN TERMS OF HEREDITARY OR CUSTOMARY SOCIAL AND

ECCLESIASTICAL CONVENTIONS. One should simply try to
P
find a genuinely qualified spiritual master for actual advancement in

spiritual understanding.‛ (C.c. Adi 1.35 ppt.)
hat
But frustration does not justify the concoction of a new philosophy. After all
W
failures, disappointments and deceptions, the process for spiritual

understanding and self-realization remains the same: one must go to a guru.
and
‚One cannot become a perfect devotee of the Lord without having

touched the lotus feet of a great devotee. [...]THE PROCESS OF
uru
SELF-REALIZATION AND THE PATH HOME, BACK TO

G
GODHEAD, MEANS SURRENDERING TO THE BONA FIDE

SPIRITUAL MASTER AND TAKING THE DUST OF HIS
he
LOTUS FEET ON ONE’S HEAD. Thus one advances on the path

T
of transcendental realization.‛ (SB 4.31.28)

18
on)
‚I am very much encouraged that you are all chanting Hare Krishna
skc
and trying to become Krishna Conscious. But I do not advise that you
approach the matter of perfecting your life in this independent way.
I
UNLESS THERE IS CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE
SPIRITUAL MASTER, COMING IN THE LINE OF DISCIPLIC
of
SUCCESSION, THERE IS NO POSSIBILITY OF MAKING
ice
PROGRESS IN SPIRITUAL LIFE. So I have established ISKCON
erv
centers for the purpose of catching up the Lotus Feet of Krishna by
intimate connection with the spiritual master. These are my
S
authorized centers for that purpose. You say that whatever I instruct
he
you you will carry out, so again my instruction is that you abandon
this independent scheme and join your good godbrothers and sisters
at some one of our ISKCON centers.‛
nt
(I
(Letter to Friends, 5/23/72)
‚In the Bhagavad Gita it is said that one should ‘prostrate oneself at
aid
the feet of the wise, rendering him all forms of service & question him
S
with a guileless heart again & again’, [and THIS] IS THE ONLY
MEANS TO ATTAIN SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE. THE
ada
PROCESS OF SPECULATION WITHOUT APPROACHING

THE BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER IS SIMPLY A WASTE
hup
OF TIME. In the Chaitanya Charitamrita, Lord Chaitanya affirms

this principle, when he says that a fortunate living being while
rab
wandering in different species of life gets the chance of meeting a

P
bona fide spiritual master by the causeless mercy of Krishna.‛

(Letter to Aatie, 10/28/67)
hat
‚[...]IF A DISCIPLE GETS A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER,

W
simply by satisfying him, he can attain a similar opportunity to serve

the Supreme Personality of Godhead.‛ (SB 4.28.43)
and
‚[...]ONE CANNOT AROUSE KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS

uru
SIMPLY BY HIS OWN MENTAL SPECULATION. ONE MUST

SURRENDER TO A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER. ONLY
G
THIS PROCESS WILL HELP ONE.‛ (SB 4.26.20)

he
T
19
on)
‚WE CANNOT MANUFACTURE OUR OWN PROCESS,
therefore mental speculation does not at all help us in spiritual life.
skc
ONE SIMPLY HAS TO SURRENDER HIMSELF TO HIS GURU
I
and everything will be revealed to him.‛
(Letter to Sriji devi dasi, 11/7/74)
of
The question to many is whether today there is anyone in ISKCON qualified
ice
to be guru. In analyzing this I will apply the procedure known in philosophy
erv
and mathematics as reductio ad absurdum [reduction to absurdity].
S
he
nt
(I
aid
S
ada
hup
rab
P
hat
W
and
uru
G
he
T
20
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
21
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
22
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
on)
skc
I
of
ice
erv
S
he
nt
‚So far as your question about controversy amongst the disciples
(I
of Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Maharaj, that is a fact.
But this controversy is not material. Just like in a national
aid
program, different political parties are sometimes in conflict and

S
make propaganda against each other, but their central point is

always service to the country. Similarly, amongst the disciples of
ada
Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati there may be some controversy, but the

hup
central point is how to preach the mission of His Divine Grace. If

the central point is fixed up then there is no harm in such
rab
controversy. Every individual being must have his opinion; that is

P
the significance of individuality, but all such different opinions

must coincide in Krishna. [...]So you do not be disturbed by such
hat
controversial points. Better you engage your mind very seriously in

the matter of the service entrusted upon you. That will make you
W
progressive in Krishna Consciousness.‛

(Letter to Mandali Bhadra, 7/28/69)
and
FIRST OF ALL, if there is no bona fide spiritual master in ISKCON, then we

uru
are saying that in our movement there is no current representative of the

parampara. In other words, it would mean that ISKCON is, for the time
G
being, disconnected from the parampara. Why? Because ‚no spiritual

master‛ means, according to Prabhupada, that ISKCON would be unable to
he
provide to the people ‚the actual connection with Krsna consciousness.‛

T
23
on)
‚From the date of initiation by the spiritual master, the connection
between Krsna and a person cultivating Krsna consciousness is
skc
established. WITHOUT INITIATION BY A BONA FIDE
I
SPIRITUAL MASTER, THE ACTUAL CONNECTION WITH
KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS IS NEVER PERFORMED.‛
of
(NOD Introduction, Second Edition, pg. XXII)
ice
erv
‚I thank you very much for your acceptance of my guidance. My
S
guidance means Krishna’s guidance. I am very poor and therefore I
he
can pray only to Krishna for your guidance. Krishna is Absolute and
we are all under His guidance but the bona fide Spiritual Master is
nt
accepted as guidance because he is transparent via media between
(I
Krishna and the devotee. THE DEVOTEE HAS NO ACCESS TO
KRISHNA WITHOUT THE VIA MEDIA.‛
aid
(Letter to: Umapati – Los Angeles 14 January, 1968)

S
ada
‚Your next question is, should we love Krishna or love the spiritual
master: YOU CANNOT GO TO KRISHNA DIRECTLY, LOVING
hup
HIM. It is common sense that if Krishna is the object of your love, His
pet dog is also the object of your love. Friends meet friends and if the
rab
friend is with his dog the gentleman pats his dog first, is it not? So the
P
man becomes automatically pleased, his dog being patted. I have seen
it in your country. The conclusion is this: Without pleasing the
hat
spiritual master he cannot please Krishna. IF ANYONE TRIES TO

PLEASE KRISHNA DIRECTLY, HE’S FOOL NUMBER ONE.‛
W
(Letter to: Tusta Krsna – Ahmedabad 14 December, 1972)

and
‚As already stated, Brahma is the original spiritual master for the
uru
universe, and since he was initiated by the Lord Himself, the message
G
of Srimad-Bhagavatam is coming down by disciplic succession, and IN

ORDER TO RECEIVE THE REAL MESSAGE OF
he
SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM ONE SHOULD APPROACH THE

T
CURRENT LINK, OR SPIRITUAL MASTER, IN THE CHAIN OF

24
on)
DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION. After being initiated by the proper
spiritual master in that chain of succession, one should engage
skc
himself in the discharge of tapasya in the execution of devotional
I
service.‛ (S.B. 2.9.7)
of
ice
‚...WE MUST KNOW THAT THE VEDIC SOUNDS RECORDED
IN SYMBOLIC EXPRESSIONS CANNOT BE UNDERSTOOD BY
erv
ANYONE WITHIN THE UNIVERSE UNLESS AND UNTIL ONE
S
IS INSPIRED BY THE VIBRATION OF SUPERNATURAL
(APRAKRTA) SOUND, WHICH DESCENDS IN THE CHAIN
he
OF DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION from the Lord to Brahma, from
nt
Brahma to Narada, from Narada to Vyasa and so on.
(I
‚NO MUNDANE SCHOLAR CAN TRANSLATE OR REVEAL
THE TRUE IMPORT OF THE VEDIC MANTRAS (HYMNS).
aid
THEY CANNOT BE UNDERSTOOD UNLESS ONE IS

INSPIRED OR INITIATED BY THE AUTHORIZED SPIRITUAL
S
MASTER. The original spiritual master is the Lord Himself, and the
ada
succession comes down through the sources of parampara, as clearly

stated in the Fourth Chapter of the Bhagavad-gita. So UNLESS ONE
hup
RECEIVES THE TRANSCENDENTAL KNOWLEDGE FROM

THE AUTHORIZED PARAMPARA, ONE SHOULD BE
rab
CONSIDERED USELESS....‛ (SB 2.4.22)

P
‚...[A] mantra should be received from the disciplic succession. The

Vedic injunction is sampradaya-vihina ye mantras te nisphala matah.
hat
IF YOUR MANTRA DOES NOT COME THROUGH THE

DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION, IT WILL NOT BE EFFECTIVE.
W
Mantras te nisphala. Nisphala means that it will not produce the

desired result. So the mantra must be received through the proper
and
channel, or it will not act. A mantra cannot be manufactured. It

must come from the original Supreme Absolute, coming down
uru
through the channel of disciplic succession. It has to be received in

that way, and only then will it act.‛
G
(Search for Liberation, pgs. 17-18)

he
T
25
on)
‚Your sentiments expressed in this letter are transcendentally
relished. Certainly you are mine and I am Krishna’s, therefore you are
skc
also Krishna’s. In the Krishna Consciousness activities that is the
I
process. BY FOLLOWING THE DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION,
BEGINNING FROM KRISHNA, EVERYTHING BECOMES
of
ULTIMATELY CONNECTED WITH KRISHNA. And Krishna
ice
being absolute, anything connected with Him becomes absolute,
without any duality of concept like in the material world. In the
erv
material world, it is called illusion because everyone thinks I or my.
S
But in the spiritual world, everything is Krishna. We being part and
parcel of Krishna, WHEN WE SURRENDER FULLY UNTO
he
KRISHNA WITH SINCERITY OF PURPOSE, THROUGH THE
nt
TRANSPARENT VIA MEDIA OF THE SPIRITUAL MASTER.
(I
One who thinks himself as Krishna’s, he is non-different from
Krishna. (Letter to Gargamuni, 6/18/68)
aid
S
‚In the Bhagavad-gita, therefore, it is recommended, acaryopasanam.

Acarya-upasana. Not only worshiping the Lord, but also the acarya.
ada
Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, guru-krsna-krpaya paya bhakti-lata-bija.

GURU –ACARYA– AND KRSNA. ONE SHOULD SEEK
hup
FAVOR OF BOTH OF THEM. Not that ‘I am now seeking favor of

rab
Krsna. What is the use of guru or acarya?’ No. YOU CANNOT

OVERLAP ACARYA AND GO TO KRSNA. THAT IS NOT
P
POSSIBLE. KRSNA WILL NOT ACCEPT YOU. Just like if you

want to see a big man you should go through his secretary, through his
hat
orderly, doorkeeper, similarly, OUR PROCESS IS

ACARYOPASANAM, GO THROUGH THE ACARYA. That is
W
the injunction of the Vedas.‛ (Lecture, London 9/23/69)

and
‚We sing in our daily prayers, yasya prasadad bhagavat- prasado

yasyaprasadan na gatih kuto ‘pi. By the pleasure of the spiritual
uru
master, one can get extraordinary power, especially in spiritual

advancement. THE BLESSINGS OF THE SPIRITUAL MASTER
G
ARE MORE POWERFUL THAN ONE’S PERSONAL

ENDEAVOR FOR SUCH ADVANCEMENT. Narottama dasa
he
Thakura therefore says:

T
26
on)
guru-mukha-padma-vakya, cittete kariya aikya,
skc
ara na kariha mane asa
I
‚Especially for spiritual advancement, one should carry out the bona
fide order of the spiritual master. BY THE PARAMPARA SYSTEM,
of
ONE CAN THUS BE ENDOWED WITH THE ORIGINAL
ice
SPIRITUAL POWER COMING FROM THE SUPREME
PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD (evam parampara-praptam imam
erv
rajarsayo viduh). (SB 8.15.28)
S
he
‚If you have got connection with the original power house then there
nt
is electricity. Otherwise it is simply wire. What is the value? Simply
(I
wiring will not help you. THE CONNECTION MUST BE THERE.
And if you lose the connection then it is of no value. Therefore
KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS MOVEMENT MEANS YOU HAVE
aid
TO KEEP YOURSELF ALWAYS CONNECTED WITH THE

S
ORIGINAL POWERHOUSE. Then wherever you’ll go there will be

light. There’ll be light. IF YOU’RE DISCONNECTED THERE
ada
WILL BE NO LIGHT. The bulb is there. The wiring is there. The

switch is there. Everything is there. That’s how Arjuna is feeling.
hup
That I am the same Arjuna. I am the same Arjuna who fought in the
Battlefield of Kuruksetra. I was known as so great a warrior and my
rab
bow is the same bow and my arrow is the same arrow. But now it is
P
useless. I could not defend myself because... disconnected with Krsna.

Krsna is no longer.‛ (Lecture, Los Angeles 12/6/73)
hat
W
‚Just like electrification. Touching electricity by one wire, another

joining another, another wire; IF THE TOUCH IS THERE
and
FACTUAL, then the electricity is everywhere. [...]AS SOON AS

IT IS TOUCHED WITH THE DIRECT CONNECTION... THAT
uru
IS CALLED DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION. Because the connection

is coming down ONE AFTER ANOTHER, so if we touch here, THE
G
SPIRITUAL MASTER WHO IS CONNECTED BY THE SAME

WAY, then the electric connection is there. [...]Evam parampara
he
praptam imam rajarsayo viduh. SIMPLY WE HAVE TO SEE

T
27
on)
WHETHER THE CONNECTION IS DISCONNECTED. If the
connection is there, tight, then the electricity [will] come without
skc
fail.‛ (Lecture, Los Angeles 11/29/68)
I
of
‚Evam parampara-praptam, sa kaleneha mahata yogo nastah parantapa.
ice
Yogo nastah. AS SOON AS THE PARAMPARA SYSTEM IS NOT
ACCEPTED, THE SO-CALLED COMMENTARY ON
erv
BHAGAVAD-GITA IS LOST OR ROTTEN.‛
S
(Lecture, Bhubaneswara 1/24/77)
he
nt
‚[For example:] Electricity. The copper is not electricity, but when it
(I
is charged with electricity, if it is touched, that is electricity. And,
similarly, this parampara system, the electricity is going. IF YOU
CUT THE PARAMPARA SYSTEM, THEN THERE IS NO
aid
ELECTRICITY. THEREFORE IT IS STRESSED SO MUCH. Sa

S
kaleneha mahata yogo nastah parantapa [Bg. 4.2: ‘In course of time
the succession was broken, and therefore the science as it is appears
ada
to be lost’]. The electricity is lost.‛ (Morning Walk, Bombay 1/4/77)

hup
Did Srila Prabhupada leave his movement crippled or disconnected? After

rab
being in the world a most worthy –and in many places and times, the only–
representative of Vaishnavism, ISKCON, the movement which we had
P
always understood as being most dear to Krsna, was dealt by Krsna a

deathblow, taking away Srila Prabhupada untimely, when there was yet no
hat
one qualified to keep the connection with the disciplic succession. It makes
W
perfect sense (!). In God we trust!

Anyway, continuing our analysis based on logic, and even assuming that in
and
ISKCON there is no one qualified to be guru, the next question (specially for
a newcomer) is whether there is anyone qualified outside of ISKCON.
uru
Some answer ‚no‛ without any doubts, based on certain statements by Srila
Prabhupada found in some of his purports, letters and conversations. For
G
example, undeniably, there are statements in which Srila Prabhupada

he
forbade his disciples from associating with his Godbrothers. Some of them
had been very critical of Prabhupada’s activities and had opposed him; others
T
28
on)
had a different vision of how to serve their spiritual master, Srila
Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura. But, frankly, can we safely conclude
skc
that Prabhupada actually thought he was the only bona fide guru in the
I
world? Was he expecting all of the disciples of his Godbrothers to reject
their gurus and become his disciples? Was he expecting all of his
of
Godbrothers to come under his authority? Did Srila Prabhupada think his
ice
was the only genuine society of devotees?
erv
Although nowadays some proponents are very readily answering ‚yes‛ to
most of these questions, I will not dare to speculate about the mind of my
S
spiritual master. But many of his statements in his books and other letters
he
and conversations answer these questions with a sound ‚no!‛. The fact is
nt
that either Srila Prabhupada contradicted himself, which would be our
conclusion if we accepted those proponents’ conclusions, or they are
(I
misunderstanding some of Srila Prabhupada’s statements. Our evidence
makes us believe the latter.
aid
S
‚Among Vaisnavas there may be some difference of opinion due to

ada
everyone’s personal identity, but despite all personal differences, the

cult of Krsna consciousness must go on. We can see that under the
hup
instructions of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta

Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja began preaching the Krsna
rab
consciousness movement in an organized way within the past

hundred years. THE DISCIPLES OF SRILA BHAKTISIDDHANTA
P
SARASVATI GOSVAMI MAHARAJA are all Godbrothers, and

although there are some differences of opinion, and although we are
hat
not acting conjointly, EVERYONE OF US IS SPREADING THIS

W
KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS MOVEMENT ACCORDING TO

HIS OWN CAPACITY AND PRODUCING MANY DISCIPLES
and
TO SPREAD IT ALL OVER THE WORLD. As far as we are

concerned, we have already started the International Society for
uru
Krishna Consciousness, and many thousands of Europeans and

Americans have joined this movement. Indeed, it is spreading like
G
wildfire. The cult of Krsna consciousness, based on the nine

principles of devotional service (sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam
he
pada-sevanam/ arcanam vandanam dasyam sakhyam atmanivedanam),

T
29
on)
will never be stopped. It will go on without distinction of caste, creed,
color or country. No one can check it.
skc
I
‚The word bhoksyate is very important in this verse. Just as a king
of
gives protection to his citizens, THESE DEVOTEES, FOLLOWING
ice
THE PRINCIPLES OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE, WILL GIVE
PROTECTION TO ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD. The
erv
people of the world are very much harassed by so-called religious-
S
principled svamis, yogis, karmis and jnanis, but none of these can show
the right way to become elevated to the spiritual platform. There are
he
primarily four parties spreading devotional service all over the
nt
universe. These are the Ramanuja-sampradaya,
(I the
Madhva-sampradaya, the Visnusvami-sampradaya and the
Nimbarka-sampradaya. The Madhva-Gaudiya-sampradaya in
particular comes from Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. ALL THESE
aid
DEVOTEES ARE SPREADING THIS KRSNA

S
CONSCIOUSNESS MOVEMENT VERY WIDELY AND GIVING

PROTECTION TO INNOCENT PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING SO
ada
MUCH EMBARRASSED BY PSEUDO-AVATARAS, -SVAMIS,

-YOGIS AND OTHERS.‛ (SB 4.28.31)
hup
rab
‚In the same order as Kardama Muni, about one hundred years ago,
Thakura Bhaktivinoda also wanted to beget a child who could preach
P
the philosophy and teachings of Lord Caitanya to the fullest extent.

By his prayers to the Lord he had as his child BHAKTISIDDHANTA
hat
SARASVATI GOSVAMI MAHARAJA, WHO AT THE

W
PRESENT MOMENT IS PREACHING THE PHILOSOPHY OF

LORD CAITANYA THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE WORLD
and
THROUGH HIS BONA FIDE DISCIPLES.‛ (SB 3.22.19)

uru
‚THERE ARE MANY VAISNAVA FAMILIES IN BENGAL whose

members, although not actually born brahmanas, act as acaryas by
G
initiating disciples and offering the sacred thread as enjoined in the

Vaisnava tantras. For example, in the families of Thakura
he
Raghunanda, Acarya Thakura Krsnadasa, Navani Hoda and

T
30
on)
Rasikananda-deva (a disciple of Syamananda Prabhu), the sacred
thread ceremony is performed, as it is for the caste Gosvamis, and this
skc
system has continued for the past three to four hundred years.
I
Accepting disciples born in brahmana families, THEY ARE BONA
FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTERS who have the facility to worship the
of
salagrama-sila which is worshiped with the Deity.‛ (Cc Adi 7.45)
ice
‚Birth in a family of yogis or transcendentalists–those with great
erv
wisdom–is praised herein because the child born in such a family
receives a spiritual impetus from the very beginning of his life. It is
S
especially the case in the acarya or gosvami families. Such families are
he
very learned and devoted by tradition and training, and thus they
nt
become spiritual masters. In India there are many such acarya
families, but they have now degenerated due to insufficient education
(I
and training. BY THE GRACE OF THE LORD, THERE ARE
STILL FAMILIES THAT FOSTER TRANSCENDENTALISTS
aid
GENERATION AFTER GENERATION. It is certainly very

fortunate to take birth in such families. Fortunately, both our
S
spiritual master, Om Visnupada Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta

ada
Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja, and our humble self had the

opportunity to take birth in such families, by the grace of the Lord,
hup
and both of us were trained in the devotional service of the Lord from
the very beginning of our lives. Later on we met by the order of the
rab
transcendental system.‛ (BG 6.42)

P
‚THERE ARE MANY SOCIETIES AND ASSOCIATIONS OF

hat
PURE DEVOTEES, and if someone with just a little faith begins to

W
associate with such societies, his advancement to pure devotional

service is rapid.‛ (NOD, 2nd. Ed., Ch 19, pg.146)
and
Srila Prabhupada gave the absolute understanding of the disagreements that

uru
may appear in the Krsna consciousness movement.

G
‚Disunity between individual souls is so strong within this material

world that even in a society of Krsna consciousness, members
he
sometimes appear disunited due to their having different opinions

T
and leaning toward material things. Actually, in Krsna consciousness

31
on)
there cannot be two opinions. There is only one goal: to serve Krsna
to one’s best ability. IF THERE IS SOME DISAGREEMENT OVER
skc
SERVICE, SUCH DISAGREEMENT IS TO BE TAKEN AS
I
SPIRITUAL. THOSE WHO ARE ACTUALLY ENGAGED IN
THE SERVICE OF THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF
of
GODHEAD CANNOT BE DISUNITED IN ANY
ice
CIRCUMSTANCE. This makes the Supreme Personality of
Godhead very happy and willing to award all kinds of benediction to
erv
His devotees, as indicated in this verse.‛ (SB 4.30.8)
S
‚THERE IS NO REASON WHY ACHARYAS CANNOT DIFFER
he
ON CERTAIN POINTS.‛ (Letter to Upendra, 2/19/72)
nt
‚According to Sripada Sridhara Svami, the original commentator on
(I
the Bhagavatam, there is not always a devastation after the change of
every Manu. And yet this inundation after the period of Caksusa
Manu took place in order to show some wonders to Satyavrata. But
aid
Sri Jiva Gosvami has given definite proofs from authoritative

S
scriptures (like Visnu-dharmottara, Markandeya Purana, Harivamsa,

etc.) that there is always a devastation after the end of each and every
ada
Manu. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti has also supported Srila Jiva

Gosvami, and he (Sri Cakravarti) has also quoted from
hup
Bhagavatamrta about this inundation after each Manu.‛

rab
(SB 1.3.15 ppt)

P
‚[…I]f one is following the instruction of his spiritual master and that
instruction is different from the instructions of another spiritual
hat
master, this is called detailed information. But the basic principle of

acceptance of a spiritual master is good everywhere, although the
W
details may be different.‛ (NOD, Ch 6, 2nd Ed, Pg. 53)

and
‚Every acarya has a specific means of propagating his spiritual

movement with the aim of bringing men to Krsna consciousness.
Therefore, the method of one acarya may be different from that of
uru
another, but the ultimate goal is never neglected.‛ (Adi 7.37 ppt)
G
he
‚Ballabacharya’s teachings are bonafide. THIS DIFFERENCE OF

T
OPINION IS THERE ALWAYS. Just like you differ with your

32
on)
husband, but that doesn’t mean that you and your husband are not
devotees...‛ (Letter to Ekayani, 8/31/71)
skc
This is exactly the same notion he applied in a previous quote (and in several
I
others below) when he explained the position of his Godbrothers:
of
‚Among Vaisnavas there may be some difference of opinion due to
ice
everyone’s personal identity, but despite all personal differences, the
erv
cult of Krsna consciousness must go on. [...] THE DISCIPLES OF
SRILA BHAKTISIDDHANTA SARASVATI GOSVAMI
S
MAHARAJA are all Godbrothers, and although there are some
differences of opinion, and although we are not acting conjointly,
he
EVERYONE OF US IS SPREADING THIS KRSNA
nt
CONSCIOUSNESS MOVEMENT ACCORDING TO HIS OWN
(I
CAPACITY AND PRODUCING MANY DISCIPLES TO
SPREAD IT ALL OVER THE WORLD.‛ (SB 4.28.31)
aid
Hardly the way to disapprove of them...! And there are also letters and talks
S
in which he acknowledges directly or indirectly the validity of the programs

of his Godbrothers (two of the letters quoted are also in connection with a
ada
‚Goduncle‛) as well as their position as spiritual masters, or expresses his

affection or submission to some of them. For example, in one such letter
hup
Srila Prabhupada even speaks of a possible ‚merger‛ of ISKCON and the

Gaudiya Mission (different from Gaudiya Math) in spite of disagreeing with
rab
some of its statutes (specifically, those concerning the acarya naming a

P
successor!):
‚So practically there is no difference of opinion in our missionary
hat
activities, especially because we are deriving inspiration from His

W
Divine Grace Prabhupad Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami

Maharaj. I THINK ALL OF OUR GODBROTHERS ARE DOING
THE SAME MISSIONARY ACTIVITIES WITHOUT A DOUBT,
and
but still the regrettable fact is we are doing all separately, not in
conjunction. I have also read specifically your articles on the matter
uru
of acharyas, wherein on the 14th Paragraph I see the acharya shall be

G
entitled to nominate in writing his successive acharya. But WE DO

NOT FIND ANY RECORD WHERE OUR SRILA PRABHUPAD
he
NOMINATED ANY ACHARYA AFTER HIM. DIFFERENT

T
PERSONS HAVE INTERPRETED ON THIS POINT, AND

33
on)
EVERY ONE OF OUR GODBROTHERS ARE ACTING AS
ACHARYA, SO THIS IS A CONTROVERSIAL POINT WHICH I
skc
DO NOT WISH TO ENTER WHILE WE ARE PROPOSING FOR
I
COOPERATION. I THINK NOW WE SHOULD COOPERATE
FULLY FOR PREACHING THE MISSION OF SRILA
of
PRABHUPAD. [...] I WISH THAT GAUDIYA MISSION
ice
SHOULD SEND THEIR PREACHERS AND ESTABLISH
DIFFERENT CENTERS IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE
erv
WORLD. THAT WILL FULFILL THE MISSION OF SRILA
S
BHAKTISIDDHANTA GOSWAMI MAHARAJA.
he
‚...We can also cooperate in selling your books in our different
nt
centers, and similarly you can cooperate by selling our books in your
different centers. SO THERE IS AMPLE OPPORTUNITY OF
(I
COOPERATION IN GOOD WILL, AND IF WE CONTINUE
LIKE THAT, IN THE NEAR FUTURE IT MAY BE POSSIBLE
aid
THAT WE COMPLETELY AMALGAMATE BOTH OUR

INSTITUTIONS. I hope you will give your due consideration to my
S
proposals and shall be glad to hear from you at your earliest

ada
convenience. ALSO PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF PERSONALLY

I CAN BECOME A MEMBER OF YOUR SOCIETY under clause 3
hup
on page 19 of the memorandum.

rab
[...]
‚Please offer my humble obeisances to HIS DIVINE GRACE Sripad
P
B.K. Audulomi Maharaj and other Vaishnavas of the Math.‛

hat
(Letter to H.H. Swami B.S. Bhagabat Maharaj, 8/21/69)

W
‚There is immense potency of preaching the philosophy of Krishna

and
Consciousness under the guidance of Lord Caitanya, and I WISH

THAT ALL MY GODBROTHERS SHOULD GO TO DIFFERENT
PARTS OF THE WORLD AND PREACH THIS SUBLIME
uru
MESSAGE EVERYWHERE, because that is the desire of Lord

G
Caitanya. Of course, as far as possible I am trying to spread this

movement all over the world, and at the present moment my
he
activities are prominent from Hamburg to Tokyo, a distance of 14,000

T
miles. I think the circumference of the whole earth is 25,000 miles.

34
on)
So this should be covered by some of our Godbrothers so that Lord
Chaitanya’s message may be properly executed. I do not know why
skc
none of our Godbrothers attempt to this important side of our
I
propaganda. Just now I am in correspondence with the Gaudiya
Mission secretary, and I have promised also to help them if they will
of
take up this work.‛ (Letter to Dr. Nagendra Babu, 8/28/69)
ice
erv
‚I AM PREPARED TO COOPERATE WITH THE GAUDIYA
MISSION WHOLEHEARTEDLY. I AM PREPARED ALSO TO
S
BE AMALGAMATED, and they have invited me to go to India to
he
talk frankly, face to face. [...] I am sure if Gaudiya Mission and I
combine together, it will be very nice thing to preach the cult of Lord
nt
Caitanya all over the world. aI can organize all the branches of the
(I
Gaudiya Math in India, and if there is any financial question, it will
be not difficult for our society to help in that way also. SO IF YOU
aid
CAN NEGOTIATE ABOUT OUR AMALGAMATION ON A

COOPERATIVE BASIS, IT WILL BE GREAT SERVICE TO
S
SRILA PRABHUPAD.‛
ada
(Letter to Dr. Shyam Sundardas Brahmacari, 9/5/69)

hup
‚I am very glad to know that His Grace Sadananda Swami has written
that he plans to visit the temple this Fall. When he visits kindly give
rab
him good reception and obeisances. He is my old friend and

Godbrother. CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU WAS VERY MUCH
P
RESPECTFUL TO THE GODBROTHER OF HIS SPIRITUAL

MASTER.‛ (Letter to Krsna das, 6/22/70)
hat
‚ 20th February, 1970

W
My Dear Jagannatham Prabhu,

and
Please accept my humble obeisances. I am so glad to receive your

letter dated 10 February, 1970, redirected from my New York center.
uru
Perhaps you are the eldest amongst us now living as disciples of Srila
G
Prabhupada. You are now eighty-one years old, and I am only

seventy-four. Therefore I am your younger brother and I shall always
he
expect blessings from you.

T
35
on)
[...]You are so kind upon me, and as your younger brother I shall
always be ready for your service. So please treat me as your humble
skc
servant. Thanking you in anticipation.
I
Yours affectionately,
of
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami‛
ice
‚Even amongst our Godbrothers we have misunderstanding but
erv
NONE OF US IS ASTRAY FROM THE SERVICE OF KRISHNA.
My Guru Maharaj ordered us to execute his mission combinedly.
S
Unfortunately we are now separated. BUT NONE OF US HAVE
he
STOPPED PREACHING KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS. Even if
there was misunderstanding amongst the Godbrothers of my Guru
Maharaj NONE OF THEM DEVIATED FROM THE
nt
(I
TRANSCENDENTAL LOVING SERVICE OF KRISHNA. The
idea is that provocation and misunderstanding may remain between
aid
one man and another. But our staunch faith in Krishna

Consciousness may not allow any material disruption. PLEASE
S
THEREFORE TRY TO BE SYMPATHETIC WITH ANY PERSON

ada
EVEN IF THEY DIFFER. THE ONLY QUALIFICATION WE

HAVE TO SCRUTINIZE IS IF ONE IS ACTING IN KRISHNA
hup
CONSCIOUSNESS AS FAR AS ONE IS ABLE TO DO IT.‛

(Letter to Brahmananda, 11/18/67)
rab
‚So far as your question about controversy amongst the disciples of

P
Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Maharaj, that is a fact. But

THIS CONTROVERSY IS NOT MATERIAL. Just like in a
hat
national program, different political parties are sometimes in conflict

W
and make propaganda against each other, but their central point is
always service to the country. Similarly, AMONGST THE
and
DISCIPLES OF BHAKTISIDDHANTA SARASWATI THERE

MAY BE SOME CONTROVERSY, BUT THE CENTRAL POINT
IS HOW TO PREACH THE MISSION OF HIS DIVINE GRACE.
uru
If the central point is fixed up then there is no harm in such

G
controversy. EVERY INDIVIDUAL BEING MUST HAVE HIS

OPINION; THAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF INDIVIDUALITY,
he
T
36
on)
BUT ALL SUCH DIFFERENT OPINIONS MUST COINCIDE IN
KRISHNA. In the battlefield of Kurukshetra were Arjuna and
skc
Bhisma who were fighting with one another, and because Krishna
I
was on the side of Arjuna, sometimes Bhisma pierced the body of
Krishna also with arrows. But still they remained the greatest
of
devotees of the Lord, and Krishna accepted the friendship of Arjuna
ice
just as He accepted the inimical arrows of Bhisma in the same loving
spirit. SO YOU DO NOT BE DISTURBED BY SUCH
erv
CONTROVERSIAL POINTS. Better you engage your mind very
S
seriously in the matter of the service entrusted upon you. That will
make you progressive in Krishna Consciousness.‛
he
nt
(Letter to Mandali Bhadra, 7/28/69)
(I
‚Whenever our men go to visit Lalit Prasad Thakur they must take
aid
some presentation, cash or kind, worth not less than Rs.50/- at least.
Some nice presentation should be always given. Not that you go
S
empty handed. It is customary to make a presentation to the Deity

ada
and Spiritual Master. LALIT PRASAD THAKUR IS SON OF

BHAKTIVINODE THAKUR AND YOUNGER BROTHER OF
hup
BHAKTISIDDHANTA SARASWATI SO HE IS CONSIDERED

MY SPIRITUAL MASTER.‛ (Letter to Jayapataka, 9/2/71)
rab
P
‚Calcutta
hat
4th March, 1972

W
His Divine Grace Lalita Prasad Thakur,

Bhaktivinode Institute
and
Ulla-Birnagar, Nadia dist., W. Bengal,

uru
My dear Uncle Prabhupad Lalita Prasad Thakur,

G
Kindly accept my humble obeisances at your Lotus Feet. The whole

day spent at your Temple on Thursday was so pleasant, and happy
he
that all my disciples felt celestial blessings in your association.

T
Personally, I am so much encouraged by you, that I appreciate this as

37
on)
the blessings of Bhaktivinode Thakur through his living
representative.
skc
Now you can expedite the lease agreement immediately so that before
I
returning to U.S.A. in about three weeks’ time I may advise my
of
assistants to take up the work seriously and begin construction and
other things.
ice
Next time when I go to you I shall stay not less than one week.
erv
Hoping this will meet you in the very best health and happy mood.
S
he
nt
(I
‚SO I AM FEELING NOW VERY MUCH OBLIGED TO MY, THIS
aid
GODBROTHER, THAT HE CARRIED OUT THE WISH OF MY

SPIRITUAL MASTER AND ENFORCED ME TO ACCEPT THIS
S
SANNYASA ORDER. So this Godbrother, His Holiness Kesava

Maharaja, is no more. HE HAS ENTERED KRSNA’S ABODE. So I
ada
wish to pass a resolution of bereavement and send them. So... And I

hup
have composed one verse also in this connection in Sanskrit. So you

all present, you sign this. I shall send it tomorrow.
rab
[...]
P
‚So anyway, ...I did not want to accept this sannyasa order, but this
Godbrother forced me. ‘You must.’ Apayayan mam, he forcefully
hat
made me to drink this medicine. [...] [T]he Vaisnavas, the spiritual

W
master, they forcefully [say], ‘You drink this medicine.’ You see.
Apayayan mam anabhipsu andham sri-kesava-bhakti-prajnana-nama.
and
‚So this my Godbrother, his name is Kesava, Bhaktiprajnan Kesava.

Krpambudhi. So he did this favor upon me because he was an ocean
uru
of mercy. [...] So I am offering my respectful obeisances unto this His

Holiness, because he forcefully made me adopt this sannyasa order. So
G
he is no more in this world. He has entered Krsna’s abode. So I am

offering my respectful obeisances along with my disciples.
he
T
38
on)
[...]‚We are writing like this, ‘Resolved that we, the undersigned
members and devotees of International Society for Krishna
skc
Consciousness Incorporated, in a condolence meeting under the
I
presidency of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, today
the 21st of October, 1968, at our Seattle branch, express our profound
of
bereavement on hearing the passing of HIS DIVINE GRACE OM
ice
VISNUPADA SRI SRIMAD BHAKTIPRAJNAN KESAVA
GOSVAMI MAHARAJA, THE SANNYASA GURU,
erv
PRECEPTOR, OF OUR SPIRITUAL MASTER, on October 6th,
S
1968, at his headquarters residence in Nabadwip, West Bengal. We
offer our respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of Sri Srimad B.P.
he
Kesava Gosvami Maharaja with the following verse composed on this
nt
occasion by our spiritual master.’ This verse I have already explained
(I
to you. So I wish that you all sign this and I’ll send it tomorrow by air
mail.‛
(Condolence Lecture, Seattle 10/21/68)
aid
S
ada
hup
rab
P
hat
W
and
uru
G
he
T
39
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
40
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
on)
skc
I
of
ice
erv
S
he
nt
(I
aid
S
ada
hup
rab
P
‚Suppose I have heard something from my spiritual master.

hat
So I speak to you the same thing. So this is parampara

W
system. You cannot imagine what my spiritual master said.

Or even if you read some books you cannot understand
and
unless you understand it from me. This is called

parampara system. You cannot jump over to the superior
uru
guru, neglecting the next acarya, immediate next acarya.‛

(Lecture, Los Angeles 12/8/73)
G
ANALYZING THAT LAST QUOTE from the previous chapter: Was Srila
he
Prabhupada expecting that the disciples of his departed sannyasa guru turn
T
41
on)
in their temples to ISKCON and from then on make disciples for him
(Prabhupada)?... Therefore, accepting that there are other bona fide societies
skc
and spiritual masters outside of ISKCON and no qualified guru within, why
I
would any newcomer want to remain in our society waiting for a ‚Vaisnava
messiah‛ to someday appear and initiate him? Specially when all of Srila
of
Prabhupada’s teachings stress constantly the absolute necessity of going to a
ice
spiritual master and taking initiation from him. What would be of our society
if we could not provide that very thing that our own books and propaganda
erv
present as essential and supreme, i.e. the shelter of a spiritual master?
S
‚SOMEBODY WAS ASKING WHETHER GURU IS
he
ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. YES, ABSOLUTELY
nt
NECESSARY. THAT IS THE VEDIC INJUNCTION. The Vedas
(I
say tad-vijnanartham. Tad-vijnana means spiritual knowledge.
Spiritual knowledge–for acquiring spiritual knowledge.
aid
Tad-vijnanartham. Sa–one. Gurum eva–eva means must. Gurum–to a

guru. MUST GO TO GURU. Not ‘a’ guru, ‘the’ guru. Guru is one.‛
S
(Lecture, London 8/22/73)

ada
‚THE PRINCIPLE OF ACCEPTING A SPIRITUAL MASTER, AS

hup
MENTIONED IN THE EIGHTH VERSE, IS ESSENTIAL. Even for

one who takes to devotional service, it is most important.
rab
TRANSCENDENTAL LIFE BEGINS WHEN ONE ACCEPTS A

BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER. The Supreme Personality of
P
Godhead, Sri Krsna, clearly states here that this process of knowledge
is the actual path. Anything speculated beyond this is nonsense.
hat
[...]
W
‚AS FOR ACCEPTANCE OF THE SPIRITUAL MASTER, THAT

IS ESSENTIAL, BECAUSE WITHOUT THE INSTRUCTION OF
A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER ONE CANNOT
and
PROGRESS IN THE SPIRITUAL SCIENCE. One should approach

the spiritual master with all humility and offer him all services so that
uru
he will be pleased to bestow his blessings upon the disciple.

G
BECAUSE A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER IS A

REPRESENTATIVE OF KRSNA, IF HE BESTOWS ANY
he
BLESSINGS UPON HIS DISCIPLE, THAT WILL MAKE THE

T
DISCIPLE IMMEDIATELY ADVANCED WITHOUT THE

42
on)
DISCIPLE’S FOLLOWING THE REGULATIVE PRINCIPLES. Or,
the regulative principles will be easier for one who has served the
skc
spiritual master without reservation.‛ (BG 13.8-12)
I
‚UNLESS ONE GETS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASSOCIATE
of
WITH A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER BY THE GRACE OF
THE LORD, THERE IS NO POSSIBILITY OF ONE’S
ice
LIBERATION FROM THE CYCLE OF BIRTH AND DEATH IN
erv
THE DIFFERENT SPECIES OF LIFE AND THROUGH THE
DIFFERENT GRADES OF PLANETS.‛ (SB 3.31.43)
S
‚One who has unflinching devotion for the Supreme Lord and is
he
directed by the spiritual master can see the Supreme Personality of
nt
Godhead by revelation. FOR ONE WHO DOES NOT TAKE
(I
PERSONAL TRAINING UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF A BONA
FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO EVEN
BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND KRSNA. The word tu is specifically
aid
used here to indicate that no other process can be used, can be

S
recommended, or can be successful in understanding Krsna.‛

(Bg. 11.54 ppt.)
ada
‚First of all, one must know in which subject matter he’s inquisitive,
hup
in material things, or in spiritual matters. If he’s actually interested in

spiritual matter, then he should search out a proper, bona fide
rab
spiritual master. Gurum eva abhigacchet. MUST FIND OUT. IT IS

NOT AN OPTION. IT IS A MUST. MUST –YOU CANNOT
P
AVOID IT. WITHOUT BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER, YOU

CANNOT GO A STEP FORWARD.‛
hat
(NOD Lecture, Vrndavana 11/13/72)

W
‚So we are interested in spiritual subject matter. Therefore the

process is adau gurv-asrayam. One has to accept a bona fide spiritual
and
master. That is our process. WITHOUT ACCEPTING A BONA

FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER WE CANNOT MAKE ANY
uru
PROGRESS. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE.‛ (Lecture, London 9/23/69)

G
‚Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum eva abhigacchet. This is Vedic

instruction. If you at all interested in the understanding of spiritual
he
subject matter, then you must approach a bona fide spiritual master.
T
43
on)
Tad vijnanartham sa gurum eva abhigacchet. Abhigacchet means must.
IT IS NOT THAT IF YOU LIKE, YOU CAN GO; IF YOU DO
skc
NOT LIKE, YOU DO NOT. NO, YOU MUST. Abhigacchet.
I
Samit-pani srotriyam brahma. Tasmad gurum prapadyeta jijnasuh
sreya-uttamam. It is not a fashion to accept one guru. If you are
of
actually interested in sreya uttamam, the highest perfection of
ice
life–tasmad gurum prapadyeta–then you have to accept a guru. This is
called acaryopasanam. EVEN KRSNA, THE SUPREME
erv
PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, HE ACCEPTED SANDIPANI
S
MUNI AS TEACHER, MASTER. CAITANYA
MAHAPRABHU, HE IS ALSO INCARNATION OF KRSNA,
he
BUT HE ACCEPTED ISVARA PURI AS HIS GURU. They do
nt
not require guru, but JUST TO KEEP PACE WITH THE OFFICIAL
(I
PROGRAM, EVEN GOD PERSONALLY, HE ACCEPTED
SPIRITUAL MASTER. SO THIS IS ESSENTIAL.
Acaryopasanam.‛ (Lecture, Bombay 10/2/73)
aid
‚A person who is fully Krsna conscious, he has no problem. Now

S
how to become Krsna conscious? Lord Caitanya says,

ada
sadhu-sastra-krpa: ‘One can become Krsna conscious by the mercy

of saintly devotees and by the mercy of the scriptures.’ These two
hup
things are recommended. Not that fools, as they are thinking, ‘I can,
I can think myself. I don’t agree with the sastra. I don’t agree with
rab
the spiritual master. I don’t agree with scriptures. I have got my

P
independent opinion.’ He is fool number one, rascal number one.

One who says like that, you’ll at once take him that he’s fool, rascal,
hat
anything. YOU HAVE TO TAKE SHELTER OF SADHU, GURU

AND SASTRA.‛ (Lecture, New York 11/24/66)
W
‚We must connect with the current. Just like you have heated your
room with electrical wires, but if you do not touch it with the current
and
going on, then simply electrical (sic:) feeting will not help you.
Similarly, INITIATION IS ESSENTIAL. Adau gurvasrayam. Srila
uru
Rupa Gosvami recommends in his Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu FOR

EXECUTING PROPER SPIRITUAL LIFE, ONE MUST TAKE
G
SHELTER OF THE BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER. Tasmad

he
gurum prapadyeta jijnasuh sreyah uttamam. [...I]f we establish our bona

T
44
on)
fide relationship with the spiritual master, representative of Krsna,
immediately our connection with Krsna becomes established. ‚
skc
I
‚ONE SHOULD ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT A PERSON WHO
of
IS RELUCTANT TO ACCEPT A SPIRITUAL MASTER AND BE
INITIATED IS SURE TO BE BAFFLED IN HIS ENDEAVOR TO
ice
GO BACK TO GODHEAD. One who is not properly initiated may
erv
present himself as a great devotee, but in fact he is sure to encounter
S
many stumbling blocks on his path of progress toward spiritual
realization, with the result that he must continue his term of material
he
existence without relief. Such a helpless person is compared to a
nt
ship without a rudder, for such a ship can never reach its destination.
IT IS IMPERATIVE, THEREFORE, THAT ONE ACCEPT A
(I
SPIRITUAL MASTER IF HE AT ALL DESIRES TO GAIN THE
FAVOR OF THE LORD. THE SERVICE OF THE SPIRITUAL
aid
MASTER IS ESSENTIAL.
S
‚[...]IF ONE THINKS THAT HE IS ABOVE CONSULTING

ANYONE ELSE, INCLUDING A SPIRITUAL MASTER, HE IS
ada
AT ONCE AN OFFENDER AT THE LOTUS FEET OF THE

hup
LORD. Such an offender can never go back to Godhead. IT IS

IMPERATIVE THAT A SERIOUS PERSON ACCEPT A BONA
rab
FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER IN TERMS OF THE SASTRIC

INJUNCTIONS.‛ (C.c. Adi 1.35)
P
Of course, this does not mean that, just to be able to continue our mission, we
hat
have to artificially fabricate gurus if we don’t have qualified ones. No.

Neither that we have to manufacture a new philosophy by which the new
W
members can still take initiation from Srila Prabhupada, or be considered to

have a direct connection with him without having to go THROUGH a
and
disciple of Srila Prabhupada. Are we saying that Srila Prabhupada was

successful in everything, except in making even one Krsna conscious disciple
uru
who could represent the parampara?

G
‚D1: Somebody put a question to Bhagavan Rajneesh that ‘you claim

that you are God. Can you show us your universal form?’ He said,
he
‘Well, I can show you. First you come like an Arjuna. First you
T
become Arjuna. Then I can show you a universal form.’

45
on)
S.PRABHUPADA: So he admits that much.
skc
D2: That he cannot.
D1: No, he admits that he can, but he has put...
I
S.PRABHUPADA: ‘So that’s all right. Have you shown anyone your
of
universal form amongst so many, your disciples? Have you shown?’
The next question should be like that.
ice
D1: He never asked. I was hearing a tape in one life member’s house.
erv
S.PRABHUPADA: No, no, no, if... You learn that, ‘Have you shown
S
ever your universal form to any one of your disciples?’
he
D1: There was not such intelligent person to ask this.
nt
S.PRABHUPADA: That is the... Say. (I
D1: So we have to ask that. (laughter)
S.PRABHUPADA: If he says, ‘No, none of my students are efficient,’
aid
‘Then why you are preaching? IF YOU CANNOT MAKE ANY

ONE OF YOUR STUDENTS AS EFFICIENT, THEN WHY YOU
S
ARE PREACHING, WASTING YOUR TIME?’‛

(Morning Walk, Vrndavana 12/10/75)
ada
hup
‚[...]IF EVEN ONE MAN BECOMES A PURE DEVOTEE OF THE

LORD, we shall consider our attempt a success.‛
rab
(BG, Preface, 2nd. Ed., pg. XX)

P
‚SRILA BHAKTISIDDHANTA SARASVATI THAKURA USED

TO SAY, ‘IF I COULD PERFECTLY DELIVER EVEN ONE SOUL
hat
back home, back to Godhead, I would think my mission –propagating

Krsna consciousness– to be successful.’‛ (SB 4.12.33)
W
‚According to revealed scriptures, IF A SPIRITUAL MASTER CAN

and
CONVERT EVEN ONE SOUL INTO A PERFECTLY PURE

DEVOTEE, his mission in life is fulfilled.‛ (Cc Adi 7.91)
uru
Didn’t Srila Prabhupada fulfill his mission? From the very beginning of the
G
movement, he was planning for his absence. From the very beginning he
spoke of the continuation of the disciplic succession by his disciples. It was
he
his wish. It was his duty.

T
46
on)
‚[...]I HAVE A GREAT HOPE TO TRAIN SOME OF MY
DISCIPLES FOR PREACHING WORK, EVEN IN MY ABSENCE.
skc
I am now old man, and attacked with serious disease; I may be
I
overcome by death at any moment. Therefore I WISH TO LEAVE
SOME TRAINED PREACHERS so that they can do the work of
of
Krishna Consciousness in the western world. THAT IS MY
ice
AMBITION. I HOPE YOU ALL PRAY TO KRISHNA SO I MAY
BE ABLE TO EXECUTE MY DUTY PROPERLY.‛
erv
(Letter to Janardan et al, 6/28/67)
S
‚When I return to India my ambition is to construct an American
he
House at Vrndaban and get some of you boys and girls there to train
nt
for our preaching work in this part of the world. After all, I am an
old man. There is no certainty of my life, and at any moment I can
(I
collapse and it will not be surprising. BUT I WISH TO LEAVE
SOME OF MY SPIRITUAL CHILDREN who have so kindly joined
aid
me in faith and respect so that they may work, and this philosophy of
Krishna Consciousness may be broadcast all over the world.‛
S
(Letter to Jadurany, Book of Letters, #67-7-9)

ada
‚[...]I am getting more and more enthused that my spiritual children

are growing to Krishna consciousness, and I CAN HOPE EACH
hup
ONE OF YOU IN FUTURE WILL BE ABLE TO PROPAGATE

rab
THIS TRANSCENDENTAL MESSAGE.‛

(Letter to Rupanuga, 7/3/68)
P
‚I AM TRAINING YOU ALL TO BECOME FUTURE

SPIRITUAL MASTERS...‛
hat
(Letter to Achyutananda and Jaya Govinda, 8/21/68)

W
‚So on this occasion of my spiritual master’s departure, as I am trying

to execute his will, similarly, I SHALL ALSO REQUEST YOU TO
and
EXECUTE THE SAME ORDER THROUGH MY WILL. I AM

AN OLD MAN, I CAN ALSO PASS AWAY AT ANY MOMENT.
uru
THAT IS NATURE’S LAW. Nobody can check it. So that is not

very astonishing, but my appeal to you on this auspicious day of the
G
departure of my Guru Maharaja, that at least to some extent you have

he
T
47
on)
understood the essence of Krsna consciousness movement. You
should try to push it on. People are suffering for want of this
skc
consciousness.
I
[...]‚NOW, YOU AMERICAN BOYS AND GIRLS WHO HAVE
TAKEN TO THIS MOVEMENT, PLEASE TAKE IT MORE
of
SERIOUSLY [...] You have come forward to help me. I SHALL
ice
REQUEST YOU ALL THAT I SHALL GO AWAY, BUT YOU
erv
SHALL LIVE. Don’t give up pushing on this movement, and you’ll
be blessed by Lord Caitanya and His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta
S
Sarasvati Goswami Prabhupada. Thank you very much.‛
he
nt
‚So you GBC men are my selected few for insuring that what I am
doing will be carried on very nicely for the pleasure of Lord Caitanya
(I
Mahaprabhu. [...]So now you are doing my work and YOU SHALL
BE LIKE ME AND BE YOURSELVES THE WORTHY
aid
REPRESENTATIVES OF OUR DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION.‛

S

‚Some time ago you asked my permission for accepting some disciples,
ada

hup

PREACHING WORK.‛ (Letter to Achyutananda, 5/16/72)
rab
P
‚[...]PRACTICALLY SPEAKING THE FUTURE OF OUR

KRISHNA CONSCIOUS SOCIETY RESTS IN THE HANDS OF
hat
MY OLDER DISCIPLES.‛ (Letter to Karandhar, 12/3/71)

W
‚So my advice to you, I am old man. So EVEN I MAY NOT

RETURN, YOU SHALL CONTINUE THIS KRSNA
and
CONSCIOUSNESS MOVEMENT.‛
(Departure Address, Los Angeles 8/2/70)
uru
‚Lord Chaitanya wanted that everyone should be a spiritual master,

G
provided he follows the order of Lord Chaitanya. The Lord’s mission

was to defeat the Mayavada philosophy and establish the philosophy
he
of Krishna consciousness, because Krishna is the Supreme Lord the

T
48
on)
Personality of Godhead. Anyone following the order of Lord
Chaitanya under the guidance of His bonafide representative can
skc
become a spiritual master and I WISH THAT IN MY ABSENCE
I
ALL MY DISCIPLES BECOME THE BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL
MASTER TO SPREAD KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS
of
THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE WORLD. I WANT IT...‛
ice
(Letter to Madhusudan, 11/2/67)
erv
‚I WANT TO SEE MY DISCIPLES BECOME BONAFIDE
SPIRITUAL MASTER AND SPREAD KRISHNA
S
CONSCIOUSNESS VERY WIDELY; THAT WILL MAKE ME
he
nt
Wasn’t his attempt in this regard a success? If not, it would mean that he
(I
failed in ensuring the immediate, and normal, continuation of the disciplic
succession within his own society.
aid
‚[...]I explained how service and prayers are accepted by Krishna

S
through the medium of the disciplic succession. It is something like

electricity: if ONE is in touch with HIS Spiritual Master, and HIS
ada
Spiritual Master is in touch with HIS bona fide Spiritual Master, then
in this way an offering is automatically transferred to Krishna. Just
hup
as the Mercy of Krishna is coming down through the disciplic

succession, so the service of the devotee is offered up to Krishna
rab
THROUGH the disciplic succession.‛

P

‚To follow in the footsteps of the Mahatmas means to give submissive
hat
aural reception to the words and instructions of the bona fide

W
Spiritual Master in the line of disciplic succession from the Lord

Himself. When the Lord appeared on this earth 5,000 years ago, He
instructed Bhagavad-gita to Arjuna, and this purely transcendental
and
message of Krishna has been passed down for the past 5,000 years BY
THE MEDIA OF SINCERE DISCIPLES giving submissive aural
uru
reception to the words of Krishna via the medium of the bona fide
G
Spiritual Master. THIS ACTS LIKE ELECTRICITY, and if you

touch a wire anywhere which is connected to the powerhouse, then
he
you will be in contact with the electric current. But IF THE WIRE
T
IS BROKEN OR SEPARATED FROM THE POWERHOUSE,

49
on)
THEN THERE WILL BE NO ELECTRIC CURRENT. Similarly, if
we hear the unadulterated message of Lord Krishna from the
skc
authorized source, we will immediately be in contact with the
I
transcendental atmosphere; but if we listen to someone who is
presenting a broken, concocted version of Bhagavad-gita, that will be
of
useless.‛ (Letter to Yamunacharya, 10/21/69)
ice
‚[...T]he thing is we should be Krsna conscious. Just like
erv
electrification. Touching electricity by one wire, another joining
another, another wire; IF THE TOUCH IS THERE FACTUAL,
S
then the electricity is everywhere. Similarly if our Krsna
he
consciousness is rightly connected, then there is no question of direct
nt
or indirect [service]. Because [in the] absolute world there is no
difference. AS SOON AS IT IS TOUCHED WITH THE
(I
DIRECT CONNECTION... THAT IS CALLED DISCIPLIC
SUCCESSION. Because the connection is coming down ONE
aid
AFTER ANOTHER, so if we touch here, THE SPIRITUAL

MASTER WHO IS CONNECTED BY THE SAME WAY, then the
S
electric connection is there. There is no question of direct or

ada
indirect [service]. Evam parampara praptam imam rajarsayo viduh.

SIMPLY WE HAVE TO SEE WHETHER THE CONNECTION IS
hup
DISCONNECTED. If the connection is there, tight, then the

electricity [will] come without fail.‛
rab

P
‚Understanding means when we are uncontaminated, we can

understand. So long we are contaminated daivi hy esa gunamayi mama
hat
maya duratyaya [Bg. 7.14] then you cannot. But you can get out of the
clutches of this maya. Then you can understand. How? Mam eva ye
W
prapadyante mayam etam taranti te [Bg. 7.14]. Just surrender. Surrender

means to surrender... Mayy asakta manah partha yogam yunjan
and
mad-asrayah. This is surrender. Mad-asrayah. Take shelter of Krsna.

Krsna, WE CANNOT TAKE SHELTER DIRECTLY, mad-asrayah.
uru
But YOU CAN TAKE SHELTER OF A PERSON WHO HAS

TAKEN SHELTER OF KRSNA. If one is surcharged with
G
electricity, if you touch him, then you will be also electrified. Evam
parampara praptam imam rajarsayo [Bg. 4.2].‛
he
(Lecture, SB 5.6.7, Vrndavana, 11/29/76)

T
50
on)
‚In regard to praying to Lord Nityananda Prabhu I have written to
you in my last letter that such a prayer is quite appropriate. Our only
skc
prayer should be in the matter of desiring further development of
I
devotional service and SUCH SINCERE PRAYER SHOULD BE
SUBMITTED NOT DIRECTLY TO THE LORD BUT THROUGH
of
THE VIA-MEDIA OF HIS BONA FIDE SERVITOR OR
ice
REPRESENTATIVE.‛ (Letter to Madhudvisa, 2/14/70)
erv
‚My blessings are always with you as you have requested. You are a
very good devotee and servant of Krsna. So far your questions are
S
concerned. Nityananda is the principle of the Guru. So, the Gurudev
is the incarnation of Nityananda. Anyone strictly following the
he
instruction of the Guru is following Nityananda. THE PRICE ONE
HAS TO PAY IF HE WANTS TO BECOME KRSNA
nt
(I
CONSCIOUS IS THAT HE MUST DEDICATE HIMSELF TO
FOLLOWING THE ORDER OF THE SPIRITUAL MASTER,
aid
MAHAT SEVA. If the Spiritual Master is pleased with [the] disciple

then the blessings of Guru will be there. That is the best way to
S
become Krsna conscious, and Krsna is non-different from

Nityananda. You may pray to Lord Nityananda to help you become
ada
dedicated in the service of your Guru. Krsna consciousness cannot be

hup
achieved artificially. YOU SHOULD APPROACH

NITYANANDA PRABHU THROUGH YOUR SPIRITUAL
rab
MASTER.‛ (Letter to Makhanlal, 10/24/76)

The best way to establish our relation in transcendental sweetness is
P
to approach Him through His recognized devotees. ONE SHOULD

hat
NOT TRY TO ESTABLISH THE RELATION DIRECTLY; THERE

MUST BE A VIA MEDIUM WHICH IS TRANSPARENT AND
W
COMPETENT TO LEAD US TO THE RIGHT PATH.

(SB 1.9.22, purport)
and
‚The pure devotee never attempts to reach the Supreme Lord

directly. THE MOST IMPORTANT WAY TO WORSHIP THE
uru
LORD IS TO GO THROUGH THE DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION

OF DEVOTEES.‛ (SB 4.30.3)
G
‚A VAISNAVA NEVER THINKS THAT HE HAS A DIRECT

RELATIONSHIP WITH KRSNA. Lord Caitanya says, ‘I am the
he
servant of the the servant of the servant of the servant –a hundred

T
51
on)
times the servant of the servant– of Krsna.’ We have to agree to
become the servant of the servant of the servant. THIS IS THE
skc
PROCESS OF DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION, and if one wants real
I
transcendental love of God, then he has to adopt this process.
Because people do not accept this process, they do not develop real
of
love of God. They speak of God, but actually they do not love God;
ice
because there is no cultivation of pure devotional service, they love
dog.‛
erv
(SSR, Ch.VIII, Approaching Krsna With Love, 1st. Prtng., pg.286)
S
he
Acarya-upasana. Not only worshiping the Lord, but also the acarya.
nt
Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, guru-krsnakrpaya paya bhakti-lata-bija.
GURU –ACARYA– AND KRSNA. ONE SHOULD SEEK
(I
FAVOR OF BOTH OF THEM. Not that ‘I am now seeking favor of
Krsna. What is the use of guru or acarya?’ No. YOU CANNOT
aid
OVERLAP ACARYA AND GO TO KRSNA. THAT IS NOT

POSSIBLE. KRSNA WILL NOT ACCEPT YOU. Just like if you
S
want to see a big man you should go through his secretary, through his
ada
orderly, doorkeeper, similarly, OUR PROCESS IS

ACARYOPASANAM, GO THROUGH THE ACARYA. That is
hup
the injunction of the Vedas.‛

[...]
rab
‚Just like you are working in office. IF YOUR IMMEDIATE

P
OFFICER, BOSS, IS PLEASED, THAT MEANS THE

PROPRIETOR OF THE FIRM, HE’S ALSO PLEASED. Although
hat
you do not see him. This is fact. YOUR IMMEDIATE BOSS, if

he’s pleased. So similarly, we, our business, THIS SPIRITUAL LINE
W
IS GURU- KRSNA-KRPA. WE HAVE TO FIRST RECEIVE

THE MERCIFUL BENEDICTION FROM THE ACARYA, AND
and
THEN KRSNA WILL BE PLEASED AND HE’LL ALSO GIVE HIS

BLESSINGS.‛ (Lecture, London 9/23/69)
uru
G
‚You have rightly observed that I am simply trying to execute the

order of my Spiritual Master. Whatever is being done it is not on
he
account of my intelligence or endeavor because I am simply an

T
instrument in the hands of my Spiritual Master. I do not know how

52
on)
far I have got the capacity to carry His order, but I may say that I have
a sincere desire to do it. THIS IS PARAMPARA SYSTEM. IF A
skc
STUDENT TRIES TO SATISFY HIS IMMEDIATE ACARYA OR
I
THE SPIRITUAL MASTER, THAT IS THE ONLY
QUALIFICATION FOR ADVANCING IN KRISHNA
of
CONSCIOUSNESS. This is explained in the ‚Guruvastakam‛
ice
–yasya prasadah bhagavat prasado.‛ (Letter to Paramananda, 6/17/70)
erv
‚...THROUGH Caitanya Mahaprabhu you will understand what is
S
the position of Krsna, what is your relationship with Krsna, what is
he
the ultimate goal of life. These things will be clearly exhibited.
nt
And Sri Caitanya-caritamrta is written for this purpose, so that a
person who is serious about Krsna consciousness may understand
(I
Krsna THROUGH the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. This is
wanted. YOU CANNOT JUMP OVER Krsna consciousness
aid
without going THROUGH the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

And to go THROUGH Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu means to go
S
THROUGH the six Gosvamis. THIS IS PARAMPARA SYSTEM.

ada
‚Therefore Narottama Dasa Thakura says, ei chay gosai jar – tar mui
das, ta-sabara pada-renu mora panca-gras. THIS IS PARAMPARA
hup
SYSTEM. YOU CANNOT JUMP OVER. YOU MUST GO

THROUGH THE PARAMPARA SYSTEM. YOU HAVE TO
rab
APPROACH THROUGH YOUR SPIRITUAL MASTER to the

P
Gosvamis, and THROUGH the Gosvamis you will have to approach

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and THROUGH Sri Caitanya
hat
Mahaprabhu you have to approach Krsna. THAT IS THE WAY.‛

(Lecture, Cc Adi 1.4, Mayapur 3/28/75)
W
This is definitely a vital concept for the continuation of the disciplic

succession: one cannot jump over the generation of disciples of the departed
and
acarya and connect directly with him.

uru
‚This is called parampara system. The person who heard

Bhagavad-gita directly from Krsna, whatever he says, that is to be
G
accepted. You cannot interpret. This is the parampara system. So if

you want to understand Bhagavad-gita then we must understand in
he
the same way as the person who directly heard from. This is called
T
53
on)
parampara system. Suppose I have heard something from my spiritual
master. So I speak to you the same thing. So this is parampara system.
skc
You cannot imagine what my spiritual master said. Or EVEN IF YOU
I
READ SOME BOOKS YOU CANNOT UNDERSTAND UNLESS
YOU UNDERSTAND IT FROM ME. THIS IS CALLED
of
PARAMPARA SYSTEM. YOU CANNOT JUMP OVER TO THE
ice
SUPERIOR GURU, NEGLECTING THE NEXT ACARYA,
IMMEDIATE NEXT ACARYA.‛ (Lecture, Los Angeles 12/8/73)
erv
In this regard I remember an incident which was narrated to me in 1974 by
S
one of Prabhupada’s personal servants, who lived in our temple for a few
he
months that year. The story impressed me very much and therefore it has
nt
always come back to memory from time to time.
(I
He told me that once he and other devotees were accompanying Prabhupada
to his room, and on the way there they all saw another devotee that was
aid
chanting japa very ardently in front of a picture of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta.

Srila Prabhupada immediately asked him what was he doing, to which the
S
devotee replied that because it is said that the grandfather is more merciful
ada
than the father, he was praying to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta, his spiritual

grandfather, seeking his mercy.
hup
The analogy ‚father–grandfather vs. guru–parama-guru‛ was one used by

rab
Srila Prabhupada, but was the devotee applying it properly? Here is one
instance of how Prabhupada used it:
P
‚You have got a nice temple by the grace of my Spiritual Master. It is

hat
very encouraging to me. You should always pray to His Divine Grace
because naturally He will be more affectionate TO YOU THAN TO
W
ME. Generally one is more affectionate TO THE

GRANDCHILDREN THAN TO THE CHILDREN directly. So I
and
am sure that my Guru Maharaj will be [more] easily inclined TO

YOUR PRAYERS THAN THAT OF MINE. You will do good
uru
always by offering your prayers to His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta

Goswami Maharaj.‛ (Letter to Brahmananda, 12/19/68)
G
At least here, Srila Prabhupada is not saying that the grandfather is more
he
merciful than the father, but that he is more merciful to the grandchildren
T
54
on)
than to their father. In other words, the grandchildren can more easily
convince the grandfather of something than their father is able to. At any
skc
rate, this is not in any way an open invitation to despise, ignore or override
I
the father. And, continuing our story, the fact is that on hearing the
devotee’s reply Srila Prabhupada became very angry and chastised him,
of
telling him that he had no connection whatsoever with his (Srila
ice
Prabhupada’s) spiritual master except through him (Prabhupada). This is a
point that has always been explicit in Srila Prabhupada’s teachings:
erv
‚You are all helping me in the execution of my mission so please do
S
not try to do anything beyond the jurisdiction of my instructions. My
will I have already disclosed to you all.... I can assure you that if you
he
follow my instruction as above mentioned there is no doubt about it
that THROUGH ME MY SPIRITUAL MASTER SRILA
nt
(I
BHAKTISIDDHANTA SARASVATI THAKUR WILL BE
PLEASED, and through His mercy Lord Nityananda will be pleased.
aid
In this way Lord Caitanya and ultimately Radha Krsna will be

pleased, and thus your life will be successful.‛
S
(Letter to Makhanlal, 6/3/70)

ada
Although the ‚jumping over‛ story is one long known to many devotees, still
I would not have referred to it here had I not recently found the following
hup
excerpt of a conversation of Srila Prabhupada with two of his sannyasis. It

took place two years after the same story was told to me:
rab
‚D1: I remember one time Karttikeya Maharaja was chanting to a

P
picture of Bhaktisiddhanta. You chastised him and said, ‘What is your

connection with Bhaktisiddhanta? Your connection is with me.’
hat
S.PRABHUPADA: Who said?

W
D1: You did.

D2: You did. I remember.
and
D1: When Karttikeya Maharaja was chanting to your Guru

Maharaja’s picture, you said, ‘How you can connect with him? Your
uru
connection is with me.’‛ (Conversation, Mayapur 2/3/76)

G
So, again, one cannot jump over, said Srila Prabhupada:

‚THIS IS PARAMPARA SYSTEM. YOU CANNOT JUMP
he
OVER. YOU MUST GO THROUGH THE PARAMPARA

T
55
on)
SYSTEM. YOU HAVE TO APPROACH THROUGH YOUR
SPIRITUAL MASTER to the Gosvamis, and THROUGH the
skc
Gosvamis you will have to approach Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and
I
THROUGH Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu you have to approach Krsna.
THAT IS THE WAY.‛ (Lecture, Cc Adi 1.4, Mayapur 3/28/75)
of
‚So this is parampara system. You cannot imagine what my spiritual
ice
master said. Or even if you read some books you cannot understand
erv
unless you understand it from me. This is called parampara system.
YOU CANNOT JUMP OVER TO THE SUPERIOR GURU,
S
NEGLECTING THE NEXT ACARYA, IMMEDIATE NEXT
he
ACARYA.‛ (Lecture, Los Angeles 12/8/73)
nt
‚THIS IS PARAMPARA SYSTEM. IF A STUDENT TRIES TO
(I
SATISFY HIS IMMEDIATE ACARYA OR THE SPIRITUAL
MASTER, THAT IS THE ONLY QUALIFICATION FOR
ADVANCING IN KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS. This is
aid
explained in the ‚Guruvastakam‛ –yasya prasadah bhagavat prasado.‛

S
(Letter to Paramananda, 6/17/70)

ada
‚Just like you are working in office. IF YOUR IMMEDIATE

OFFICER, BOSS, IS PLEASED, THAT MEANS THE
hup
PROPRIETOR OF THE FIRM, HE’S ALSO PLEASED. Although

you do not see him. This is fact. YOUR IMMEDIATE BOSS, if
rab
he’s pleased. So similarly, we, our business, THIS SPIRITUAL LINE

P
IS GURU- KRSNA-KRPA. WE HAVE TO FIRST RECEIVE

THE MERCIFUL BENEDICTION FROM THE ACARYA, AND
hat
THEN KRSNA WILL BE PLEASED AND HE’LL ALSO GIVE HIS

BLESSINGS.‛ (Lecture, London 9/23/69)
W
‚So, Sri Rupa Gosvami is first offering his respect, obeisances to

Sanatana Gosvami who is his elder brother, at the same time, guru. So
and
we offer our respect in that way, vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau

sri-jiva-gopalakau. That is the way. WE CANNOT JUMP OVER
uru
THE HIGHEST AUTHORITY DIRECTLY. That is not possible.

That is not the etiquette or rules, regulations we have to go. Caitanya
G
Mahaprabhu says, gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayor dasa-dasanudasah

he
[Cc. Madhya 13.80]. So He presents Himself as the servant of the

servant of the servant of the servant of Krsna. So in order to become
T
56
on)
Krsna’s servant, we have to become the servant of the servant of
Krsna. So, my Guru Maharaja is servant of Krsna, his guru, his guru is
skc
servant of Krsna, his guru is servant of Krsna. I AM ALSO
I
SERVANT OF KRSNA, BUT I HAVE TO APPROACH
THROUGH THE OTHER SERVANTS, NOT DIRECTLY. THAT
of
IS NOT POSSIBLE. KRSNA WILL NOT ACCEPT THAT
ice
SERVICE. IF ONE DISRESPECT THE PARAMPARA SYSTEM,
THEN HE’LL NOT BE ACCEPTED BY KRSNA.
erv
(NOD Lecture – Bombay, January 8, 1973)
S
Sensitive issue here; we will qualify the statement further. Needless to say,
he
anyone and everyone will benefit tremendously from approaching Srila
nt
Prabhupada’s words in any way. But that approach does not constitute an
initiation, and that benefit is never the same as if one had been regularly
(I
initiated.
‚In answer to your question about the importance of initiation, it is to
aid
be understood that initiation means that power is coming from the

S
Supreme by the bona fide disciplic succession. This is required. OF

COURSE, FOR ANYONE TO HEAR THE MESSAGE OF
ada
SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM WILL PRODUCE A FAVORABLE

RESULT, BUT FORMALLY ONE SHOULD RECEIVE THIS
hup
KNOWLEDGE FROM THE DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION. FOR

rab
EXAMPLE, ARJUNA AND KRISHNA WERE FRIENDS BUT

STILL ARJUNA SUBMITTED HIMSELF FORMALLY AS
P
KRISHNA’S DISCIPLE. THIS IS ESSENTIAL. We should take

example from these great Personalities. Arjuna was hearing Krishna
hat
speaking Bhagavad-Gita but still he submitted as Krishna’s disciple.

‘Now I submit unto You, please teach me.’ So THIS IS THE
W
PROCESS. I hope this will clear up your question sufficiently.‛

(Letter to John Darsinos, 11/23/68)
and
‚I: How does one contact the spiritual master? Through a book can
uru
you contact the spiritual master?

S.PRABHUPADA: NO, YOU HAVE TO ASSOCIATE.
G
S: ‘Can you associate through a book?’ she asked.

he
S.PRABHUPADA: Yes, through books, and also personal. Because

T
when you make a spiritual master you have got personal touch.
57
on)
NOT THAT IN AIR YOU MAKE A SPIRITUAL MASTER.
YOU MAKE A SPIRITUAL MASTER CONCRETE. So as soon as
skc
you make a spiritual master, you should be inquisitive.‛
I
(Lecture [Q&A], London 9/23/69)
of
It is just like the chanting of Hare Krsna –anyone may chant, but the effect
will vary depending, amongst other things, on whether or not the chanter is
ice
initiated. Srila Prabhupada explained this in no uncertain terms in the
erv
following conversation from 1977, up to the point of saying that some who are
S
uttering ‚Hare Krsna‛... may not be uttering the holy name! In this same
conversation he also points out that it is sahajiya to be satisfied with the little
he
advancement one gets by the ‚free-lance‛ approach –i.e. without accepting
nt
the regular process. It is a very important conversation, as Prabhupada
explains the matter minutely and extensively. Here is the whole portion in
(I
which he deals with it.
aid
‚D1: What about the idea that you do not have to move into a temple,
give up your family and everything, but you can actually chant Hare
S
Krsna in your own home. That idea –that it is available to you?

ada
S.PRABHUPADA: No, that chanting of Hare Krsna does not mean

whimsical.
hup
D1: No.
rab
S.PRABHUPADA: OFFENSELESS –HE MUST BE PROPERLY

P
INITIATED. IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT HE SHOULD NOT

BE INITIATED AND CHANT. THAT IS NOT THE IDEA. You
hat
can –you must be initiated, either you are a grhastha or sannyasi or

brahmacari. NOT THAT WITHOUT BEING INITIATED
W
YOU’LL WHIMSICALLY CHANT AND THE EFFECT WILL BE

THE SAME. NO, YOU MUST BE INITIATED. ADAU
and
GURV-ASRAYAM. YOU MUST ACCEPT A GURU.

D1: If you want to sell some product you may make so many claims
uru
and then the public will buy. So sometimes we quote [in BTG] these
psychologists who have done studies that ‘If you chant Hare Krsna,
G
there are some good effects.’

he
T
58
on)
S.PRABHUPADA: Good there is undoubtedly. If you eat something
there will be some effect of eating, but if it is properly eaten, properly
skc
made, it will have better effect. That is the idea.
I
D1: We were thinking that something is better than nothing.
of
S.PRABHUPADA: No.
D2: If you advertise, ‘The maha-mantra gives some material benefit,’
ice
isn’t that an offense?
erv
S.PRABHUPADA: Then that is aparadha.
S
D2: Yes.
he
S.PRABHUPADA: That is aparadha.
nt
D2: One of the ten offenses. (I
D1: ‘Cause sometimes when we interview these people who are
chanting, they speak from their own realization and it is not exactly
the version of Sukadeva Gosvami, it is not..., but it is their own
aid
realization. Whatever little bit they have realized.

S
S.PRABHUPADA: No, no. They may chant, but they must

understand that the chanting process, that will be more effective.
ada
That they must know. Chanting is open; anyone can chant. BUT
hup
THEY MUST KNOW IT THAT ‘IF I CHANT IN THE PROPER

PROCESS, THEN IT WILL BE EFFECTIVE.’
rab
D1: It must be clear to them that the goal is love of God. Not
something material.
P
S.PRABHUPADA: Yes. Prema pumartho mahan. That is wanted.

hat
There is one work by Bhaktivinoda Thakura, nama-ksara bahir haya,

nama nahi haya: ‘Simply the alphabets are coming, but that is not the
W
nama.’ Namaksara. Hare Krsna –SIMPLY THE ALPHABETS ARE

COMING, BUT IT IS NOT THE HOLY NAME.
and
D1: Suppose someone says that Caitanya Mahaprabhu has given

freely this holy name with no rules and regulations.
uru
D3: [In the old days] you wanted to make a distinction that a
G
nondevotee chanting is different from when a pure devotee chants.

D1: So that distinction should be there.
he
S.PRABHUPADA: Yes.
T
59
on)
D1: We were thinking that somehow this magazine...
skc
S.PRABHUPADA: No. Another thing is, it is aparadha. Namna
balad yasya hi papa-buddhih. Unless he is in the process he’ll think, ‘I
I
am chanting Hare Krsna mantra, so whatever sinful activities I am
doing it will be controlled.’
of
D3: That’s the worst offense.
ice
S.PRABHUPADA: Yes. That is very bad offense.
erv
D2: So we’re actually advertising the process of devotional service.
S
Not just simply haphazard chanting.
he
S.PRABHUPADA: First of all we are chanting just to make him little
nt
attracted. Adau sraddha. (I
D1: Just to popularize it.
S.PRABHUPADA: Yes, that’s it. Then if the heart is little cleansed,
aid
then they will understand. It will be effective, but WHEN IT IS

DONE PROPERLY IT WILL GIVE REAL EFFECT. Outsider, those
S
who are chanting, we don’t discourage him.

ada
D1: We want them to chant more.

S.PRABHUPADA: Yes. But THEY MUST KNOW THE SCIENCE
hup
ALSO.
rab
D1: Just like this Alice Coltrane. She has done her small part. She
made this record album with Govinda Jaya Jaya and Hare Krsna.
P
S.PRABHUPADA: That is... That will be a good thing. But when he

hat
[she] does it properly it will be more effective because there is... IF

ONE DOES NOT CHANT IN THE PROCESS, THEN
W
GRADUALLY IT DEGRADES. The offense will increase. There is

chance.
and
D1: In the past, in the magazine we have only shown people chanting
if they were initiated devotees, shaven-headed living in temple. And
uru
recently they have adopted to show people who have jobs outside the
movement and they are not brahmacari or sannyasi. They’re also
G
chanting, to give the public the idea that...

he
S.PRABHUPADA: So, that we are giving, the facility to chant and

T
take prasadam, but at the same time, gradually, IF CHANTING IS

60
on)
EFFECTIVE, THEN, NEXT, WE HAVE TO MAKE IT IN THE
PROCESS.
skc
D3: We want to bring them to the process.
I
S.PRABHUPADA: Yes, that is the ultimate. That is stated by Rupa
of
Gosvami, yena tena prakarena manah krsne nivesayet, sarve vidhi-
nisedha syur etayor eva kinkarah, that ‘Somehow or other, bring him
ice
to chant Krsna or to become little Krsna conscious. Then, when he’s
erv
little purified, then the vidhi-nisedha...’ He’s not rejecting the
S
vidhi-nisedha. Vidhi-nisedha means regulative principles. It is not
rejected, that... But when he’s a little purified, this vidhi-nisedha syur
he
etayor eva kinkarah. Just like one... First of all let him become rich,
nt
get some money. And then, when he has got money, he can keep
some servant, some assistant, some secretaries, like that. First of all
(I
earn money.
D1: So one step at a time.
aid
S.PRABHUPADA: Yes. But organized business means there must be

S
so many men, secretary, manager. That is regulated. So in the

ada
beginning, ‘All right, bring some money somehow. Then I shall...’ So

YOU CANNOT REJECT THIS ORGANIZATION BECAUSE
hup
HE’S CHANTING. THEN WHAT IS THE USE OF WRITING

SO MANY BOOKS, THE NAMA-APARADHA AND OTHER
rab
DISCUSSIONS, IF ANYONE CAN CHANT?

P
D1: So it definitely has to lead them to that.

S.PRABHUPADA: Yes. So we must come to that point. In the
hat
beginning you may be very liberal. ‘All right, chant.’ We do like

W
that, and I have done it. There is no regulation. But that does not
[mean] that it should be neglected. He should be given, AFFIRMED,
‘By simply whimsically chanting this...’ No, that is not.
and
D2: Niyamagraha.
uru
S.PRABHUPADA: Yes. DON’T MAKE IT CHEAP. IT HAS GOT

A SCIENCE. IT HAS GOT A FORM.
G
D1: I’ve seen in some articles they have written to defend our society
he
from the attack of deprogrammers, sometimes one argument they give

T
61
on)
is that meditation and chanting are being studied by scientists and
they are finding the effects to be good. Now...
skc
S.PRABHUPADA: Effect will be good. And if we do it properly it
I
will be first-class.
of
D1: Now, these scientists, they are studying Hare Krsna meditation,
ice
but they’re also studying some other processes which are not
authorized. And they are...
erv
S.PRABHUPADA: That is the defect.
S
D1: And they’re stating that in general, to meditate, to chant mantra,
he
this is good. This is healthy for the mind.
nt
S.PRABHUPADA: That’s all right. The thing is that some way or
(I
other, if you are near the fire you’ll get some heat, BUT THERE IS A
PROCESS HOW TO TAKE HEAT.
aid
D1: Oh, yes.

S
S.PRABHUPADA: That you cannot reject. ‘Because I am getting

little heat, it is sufficient.’ THAT IS SAHAJIYA.
ada
D1: So we are trying to use their endorsements and then make it very
hup
specific that ‘Therefore to meditate using the Hare Krsna, this is

healthy.’ So why are you attacking us?
rab
S.PRABHUPADA: Yes.
P
D1: We’re trying like that. They are endorsing something else.
hat
S.PRABHUPADA: This is a better meditation. Meditation... One is

W
performing meditation silently. But if we chant ‘Hare Krsna’ it is

forced meditation. He has to meditate. So, it is better meditation. Just
like they’re chanting [kirtana in the background]. I am engaged in
and
different business. Still I am hearing. This is the... And one [who] is

silently meditating, he’s getting, maybe he’s getting the benefit, but
uru
here anyone who is hearing [is] getting benefit. Therefore chanting is

G
better than... Yes. And it is recommended by Haridasa Thakura that...

This is discussed in Caitanya-caritamrta, that ‘Chanting, even the
he
trees, even the insects and the animals, they will hear and they get
T
the benefit.’ So it is better meditation. Even the trees, plants,

62
on)
animals, birds, beasts, they can take benefit. And if it is done by pure
Vaisnava, then they get the full benefit.‛
skc
(Conversation with the Editors of BTG, Mayapur 2/25/77)
I
For those still thinking that ‚all is one‛ and, therefore, still doubtful of
of
whether ‚to be or not to be‛, there is plenty of evidence to advise them
‚You’d better BE!‛
ice
‚YES, THERE IS DEFINITELY A VAST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
erv
INITIATED AND NON-INITIATED. ONE WHO IS INITIATED
S
IS AUTHORIZED, AND ONE WHO IS NOT INITIATED IS NOT
AUTHORIZED. Just like, for example, Pradyumna is attending class
he
in Sanskrit in a college; he is given chance to learn Sanskrit, but HE
nt
IS NOT EQUAL WITH THE REGULAR STUDENTS. One who
(I
becomes initiated is channelized to the authorities in the disciplic
succession. One who isn’t initiated may chant Hare Krishna (and
should certainly be encouraged to do so) and serve in his own way,
aid
AND GRADUALLY BY DOING SO HE MAY WANT TO BE

S
INITIATED. But OTHERWISE HE MAY FALL AWAY from

following the rules and regulations.‛ (Letter to Satsvarupa, 11/14/68)
ada
‚I am very much encouraged that YOU ARE ALL CHANTING

hup
HARE KRISHNA and trying to become Krishna Conscious. But I

DO NOT ADVISE THAT YOU APPROACH THE MATTER OF
rab
PERFECTING YOUR LIFE IN THIS INDEPENDENT WAY.

Unless there is connection with a bona-fide spiritual master, coming
P
in the line of disciplic succession, there is no possibility of making

progress in spiritual life. So I have established Iskcon centers for the
hat
purpose of catching up the Lotus Feet of Krishna by intimate

W
connection with the spiritual master. These are my authorized

centers for that purpose. You say that whatever I instruct you you will
and
carry out, so again my instruction is that you abandon this

independent scheme and join your good godbrothers and sisters at
uru
some one of our ISKCON centers.‛ (Letter to Friends, 5/23/72)

‚D1: Is there any way for a Christian to, without the help of a spiritual
G
master, to reach the spiritual sky through believing in the words of

Jesus Christ and trying to follow his teachings?
he
T
63
on)
S.PRABHUPADA: I don’t follow.
skc
D2: Can a Christian in this age, without a spiritual master, but by
reading the Bible and following Jesus’ words, reach the...
I
S.PRABHUPADA: When you read Bible, you follow spiritual master.
of
How can you say without? As soon as you read Bible, that means you
ice
are following the instruction of Lord Jesus Christ, that means you are
following spiritual master. So where is the opportunity of being
erv
without spiritual master?
S
D1: I was referring to a living spiritual master.
he
S.PRABHUPADA: Spiritual master is not the question of...
nt
Spiritual master is eternal. Spiritual master is eternal. So your
(I
question is without spiritual master. WITHOUT SPIRITUAL
MASTER YOU CANNOT BE, AT ANY STAGE OF YOUR LIFE.
You may accept this spiritual master or that spiritual master. That is a
aid
different thing. But you have to accept. As you say that ‚by
S
reading Bible,‛ WHEN YOU READ BIBLE THAT MEANS YOU

ARE FOLLOWING THE SPIRITUAL MASTER REPRESENTED
ada
BY SOME PRIEST OR SOME CLERGYMAN IN THE LINE OF

LORD JESUS CHRIST. So in any case, you have to follow a
hup
spiritual master. There cannot be the question without spiritual

master. Is that clear?
rab
D1: I mean, like we couldn’t understand the teachings of the

P
Bhagavad-gita without your help, without your presentation.

hat
S.PRABHUPADA: SIMILARLY YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND

BIBLE WITH THE HELP OF THE PRIEST IN THE CHURCH.‛
W
(Lecture [Q &A], Seattle 10/2/68)

and
‚WE SHOULD NOT JUMP OVER [TO] KRSNA WITHOUT THE

HELP OF GURU. That is not possible. You must go through. Because
uru
Krsna says, acaryam mam vijani... Tasmad gurum prapadyeta jijnasuh

sreya uttamam: [SB 11.3.21] ‚Actually one who is serious to understand
G
higher transcendental subject matter, he must approach guru.‛

Tasmad gurum, prapadyeta. These are Vedic injunctions.‛
he
(Lecture,Adi-lila 1.13 – Mayapur, April 6, 1975)

T
64
on)
‚We have to receive mercy both from the spiritual master and Krsna.
WE CANNOT JUMP OVER TO KRSNA. THAT IS ANOTHER
skc
NONSENSE. WE MUST APPROACH KRSNA THROUGH
I
GURU. THAT IS PARAMPARA SYSTEM. KRSNA IS NOT SO
CHEAP THING THAT YOU CAN JUMP OVER. Somebody says,
of
‚Oh, why shall I accept guru? I can approach Krsna directly.‛ No.
ice
Krsna does not accept such... Mad-bhaktah pujabhyadhikah. Krsna
says that ‚First of all you become devotee of My devotee.‛ Caitanya
erv
Mahaprabhu says, gopi bhartuh pada kamalayor dasa dasa
S
dasanudasah: ‚I am the servant of the servant of the servant of Krsna
[Cc. Madhya 13.80].‛ This is called parampara system. You have to
he
learn how to become servant of the servant of Krsna. The more you
nt
become in the lower position –servant, servant, servant, servant,
(I
servant, hundreds times servant, servant– then more you are
advanced. Here in this material world everyone is trying to be master
of the master. Just opposite. And the spiritual world, the endeavor is
aid
to become servant’s servant. This is the secret.‛

S
(Lecture, Bhagavad-gita 2.2 – London, August 3, 1973)

ada
‚It requires Krsna’s grace to understand Him. So try to receive

Krsna’s grace through the disciplic succession, Caitanya
hup
Mahaprabhu. Then you will understand everything. Yasya deve para

bhaktir yatha deve tatha gurau. This is the process, Vedic process.
rab
One should have unflinching faith in God and spiritual master.

P
DON’T JUMP OVER [TO] GOD, CROSSING THE SPIRITUAL

MASTER. THEN IT WILL BE FAILURE. YOU MUST GO
hat
THROUGH.
W
‚We are observing Vyasa Puja ceremony, the birth anniversary of our
Guru Maharaja. Why? We cannot understand Krsna without
spiritual master. That is bogus. IF ANYONE WANTS TO
and
UNDERSTAND KRSNA, JUMPING OVER THE SPIRITUAL

MASTER, THEN IMMEDIATELY HE BECOMES A BOGUS.
uru
Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, guru krsna krpaya paya

G
bhakti-lata bija. That is Vedic injunction. Tad viddhi pranipatena

pariprasnena sevaya. Nobody can understand Krsna without going
he
through His most confidential servant.

T
65
on)
‚This is the meaning of this Vyasa Puja. YOU CANNOT SURPASS.
IF YOU THINK THAT YOU HAVE BECOME VERY LEARNED
skc
AND VERY ADVANCED, NOW YOU CAN AVOID THE
I
SPIRITUAL MASTER AND YOU UNDERSTAND KRSNA,
THAT IS THE BOGUS. That is the meaning of this Vyasa Puja
of
ceremony. We should always pray, yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah.
ice
Yasya prasadad, only by the grace of spiritual master we can achieve
the grace or mercy of Krsna. This is the meaning of this Vyasa Puja,
erv
offering obeisances by parampara system.‛
S
(S.Bhaktisiddhanta’s App. Day, 3/2/75)
he
So, in conclusion, what is then our connection with the previous acaryas?
nt
Don’t we have any access to them? There is a simple answer to the ‚jumping
over‛ problem: as soon as one is initiated by a spiritual master, one becomes
(I
the disciple of all the spiritual masters in the succession, all the way up to
Krsna.
aid
"I am so glad to note that you have accepted the importance of the
S
spiritual master for making advancement in spiritual life. NOW

THAT YOU HAVE BEEN FORMALLY INITIATED, YOU ARE
ada
LINKED UP WITH ALL THE GREAT VAISHNAVA

ACHARYAS VIA THE PARAMPARA SYSTEM AND SO THE
hup
EFFECT WILL BE THERE FULLY. By the mercy of the acharyas the

rab
path for going back home, back to Godhead has been made very easy.
Simply we must rigidly follow the regulative principles of devotional
P
life, regularly chant 16 rounds of beads daily, read all our literatures
and engage in Krishna's business 24 hours. Then we will be happy and
hat
our lives will be a success."

W
(Letter to Srimati Manjari Devi Dasi (Maile), 5/28/71)

Which is another fundamental precept of our philosophy. Srila Prabhupada
calls it ‚the mystery of the disciplic succession‛. Although we are going (and
and
must go) through our spiritual master, the experience –and therefore the
connection– is direct.
uru
‚Vyasa was the spiritual master of Sanjaya, and Sanjaya admits that it
G
was by Vyasa’s mercy that he could understand the Supreme

Personality of Godhead. This means that one has to understand
he
Krsna not directly but through the medium of the spiritual master.
T
66
on)
The spiritual master is the transparent medium, although it is true
that THE EXPERIENCE IS STILL DIRECT. THIS IS THE
skc
MYSTERY OF THE DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION. When the
I
spiritual master is bona fide, then one can hear Bhagavad-gita
DIRECTLY, as Arjuna heard it.‛ (Bg. 18.75)
of
ice
By accepting a spiritual master one should not fear getting less than what was
available before. Through the disciplic succession, the experience –and the
erv
benefit– is always the same.
S
‚This is the way of the parampara system. IF WE FOLLOW THE
he
ACARYAS, WE ATTAIN THE SAME BENEFIT AS OUR
nt
PREDECESSORS. IF ONE FOLLOWS THE DECISIONS OF
ARJUNA, HE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED TO BE DIRECTLY
(I
HEARING BHAGAVAD-GITA FROM THE SUPREME
PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD. There is no difference between
aid
hearing Bhagavad-gita directly from the Supreme Lord and following

a personality like Arjuna, who formerly heard Bhagavad-gita directly
S
from the Lord.‛ (SB 4.30.10)

ada
Prabhupada’s ‚directly‛, as in the two previous quotes, means directly. There

hup
is nothing more direct. When we try to make it any ‚more‛ direct, it

becomes jumping over. We actually become disconnected; trying to get the
rab
electricity without the plug. Therefore, as previous quotes indicated,

specifically by repeating the example of electricity, there is a way to be directly
P
linked to any and all previous acaryas –through your own guru.
hat
‚Just like electrification. Touching electricity by one wire, another

joining another, another wire; IF THE TOUCH IS THERE
W
FACTUAL, then the electricity is everywhere. Similarly if our

Krsna consciousness is rightly connected, then there is no question of
and
direct or indirect [service]. Because [in the] absolute world there is no

difference. AS SOON AS IT IS TOUCHED WITH THE
uru
DIRECT CONNECTION... THAT IS CALLED DISCIPLIC

SUCCESSION. Because the connection is coming down ONE
G
AFTER ANOTHER, so if we touch here, THE SPIRITUAL

he
MASTER WHO IS CONNECTED BY THE SAME WAY, then the

electric connection is there. There is no question of direct or
T
67
on)
indirect [service]. Evam parampara praptam imam rajarsayo viduh.
SIMPLY WE HAVE TO SEE WHETHER THE CONNECTION IS
skc
DISCONNECTED. If the connection is there, tight, then the
I
electricity [will] come without fail.‛ (Lecture, Los Angeles 11/29/68)
of
Another current misconception, a variation of the ‚jumping-over‛ one, is the
ice
notion that someone can still initiate others as disciples of Srila Prabhupada
–the ‚help-me-jump-over‛ theory. Although Srila Prabhupada clearly
erv
intended to be always the final authority of the International Society for
S
Krishna Consciousness, he never indicated that he would be its only
initiating spiritual master for all time to come. Rather, as quoted
he
hereinbefore, from the very beginning of the Movement he stated his idea
nt
that in his absence his disciples be themselves the bona fide spiritual masters,
which he soon after specified as ‚initiating spiritual masters.‛
(I
[…] I WISH THAT IN MY ABSENCE ALL MY DISCIPLES
aid
BECOME THE BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER TO SPREAD

S
KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE

WORLD. I WANT IT...‛ (Letter to Madhusudan, 11/2/67)
ada
‚MAYBE BY 1975 ALL OF MY DISCIPLES WILL BE ALLOWED

hup
TO INITIATE AND INCREASE THE NUMBERS OF THE

rab
GENERATIONS. THAT IS MY PROGRAM.‛

P
‚BY 1975, ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE PASSED ALL OF THE

hat
ABOVE EXAMINATIONS WILL BE SPECIFICALLY

EMPOWERED TO INITIATE AND INCREASE THE NUMBER
W
OF THE KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS POPULATION.‛

and
uru
This definitive idea of his –that the time would come when he would not be
accepting more disciples but that it would be done by others—is patent in the
G
following letter from 1971 (my disciple pointed it out to me several years after
I had published the first edition of this book and some time before she had
he
taken initiation):
T
68
on)
‚So far naming your child is concerned, you as her parents should give
her a suitable name and you can add the prefix bhakta dasi, or servant
skc
of the devotee, as are we all. THEN WHEN SHE GROWS UP AND
I
TAKES INITIATION FROM A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL
MASTER, SHE MAY BE GIVEN A NEW NAME AT THAT
of
TIME.‛ (Letter to David R. Schomaker – London 9 August, 1971)
ice
As Srila Prabhupada indicated then and there, when she did grow up, this
erv
child, the daughter of a dear Godbrother and Godsister, took initiation from
me in 1993. And, following what Prabhupada said in that letter, ‚she may be
S
given a new name at that time,‛ I gave her the name Kunjesvari Devi Dasi.
he
nt
Therefore, Srila Prabhupada fully addressed what had to be done in what he
(I
himself called his absence –in so many words he told us, ‚Just follow the law!‛
[A]s a matter of etiquette it is the custom that during the lifetime of

aid
your Spiritual Master you bring the prospective disciples to him, and
S
IN HIS ABSENCE OR DISSAPEARANCE YOU CAN ACCEPT

DISCIPLES WITHOUT ANY LIMITATION. THIS IS THE LAW
ada
OF DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION.‛ (Letter to Tusta Krishna, 12/2/75)

hup
And at the end, when specifically and officially asked what to do at that time,
in so many words he said, "It's an order!"
rab
"WHEN I ORDER, 'You become guru,' he becomes REGULAR guru.

P
THAT'S ALL. HE BECOMES DISCIPLE OF MY DISCIPLE.

THAT'S IT.
hat
"[...]And Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, amara ajnaya guru hana. ONE

W
WHO CAN UNDERSTAND THE ORDER OF CAITANYA

MAHAPRABHU, HE CAN BECOME GURU. Or ONE WHO
and
UNDERSTANDS HIS GURU'S ORDER, the same parampara, HE

CAN BECOME GURU. And therefore I SHALL SELECT SOME
uru
OF YOU." (Meeting with GBCs, Vrindavana 5/28/77)

G
Additionally, we must also understand the serious implication of that other

idea, the belief that Srila Prabhupada’s disciples –and others in the
he
generations after– can still initiate someone as a disciple of Srila

T
69
on)
Prabhupada. Such a proposal is, amongst other things, not only a new
‚philosophy,‛ but an indirect offense to Srila Prabhupada and the previous
skc
acaryas. If initiations on behalf of the departed acarya were a genuine
I
procedure of our sampradaya, what was the need for Srila Prabhupada, or
anyone else before him, to initiate people as their own disciples? Why didn’t
of
the six Gosvamis initiate everyone as direct disciples of Sri Caitanya
ice
Mahaprabhu?
erv
What we would be saying by this kind of logic is that they all thought
themselves accomplished, liberated souls, uttama-adhikaris, fit to give
S
initiations on their own, as opposed to those who might not be as advanced
and would have to initiate on behalf of the previous acarya. It is as if all great
he
acaryas had ‚graduated‛ from their relationship with their spiritual master.
nt
To think this of them is certainly misleading and offensive, because all
(I
acaryas always feel dependent on the mercy of their guru and would never
have the slightest thought of occupying their position. If they could have still
aid
made disciples for their guru, they would have done so. This mood of
submission, dependence, and of feeling inadequate, is conclusively explained
S
by Srila Prabhupada in the following words:

ada
‚The author of Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, Srila Rupa Gosvami, very

humbly submits that he is just trying to spread Krsna consciousness
hup
all over the world, although he humbly thinks himself unfit for this
work. That should be the attitude of all preachers of the Krsna
rab
consciousness movement, following in the footsteps of Srila Rupa

Gosvami. WE SHOULD NEVER THINK OF OURSELVES AS
P
GREAT PREACHERS, BUT SHOULD ALWAYS CONSIDER

hat
THAT WE ARE SIMPLY INSTRUMENTAL TO THE PREVIOUS

ACARYAS, and simply by following in their footsteps we may be
W
able to do something for the benefit of suffering humanity.‛

(NOD, Introduction, 2nd. Ed., pg. XX)
and
‚LIBERATED SOUL NEVER SAYS THAT ‘I AM LIBERATED.’

AS SOON AS HE SAYS ‘LIBERATED’ HE’S A RASCAL. A
uru
liberated soul will never say that, ‘I am liberated.’ Caitanya

Mahaprabhu, He is God [still, He said]–guru more murkha dekhi
G
karila sasan. ‘My Guru Maharaja saw me a fool number one and he
he
has chastised Me.’ He’s God. This is the example. IF ONE

REMAINS ALWAYS A SERVANT EVERLASTINGLY OF
T
70
on)
GURU, THEN HE’S LIBERATED. And as soon as he thinks that
he is liberated, he’s a rascal. That is the teaching of Caitanya
skc
Mahaprabhu.‛ (Conversation, Bombay 8/16/76)
I
‚I am so pleased to have your association and I always thank my
of
Spiritual Master Om Visnupada Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta
Saraswati Goswami Maharaj for His favor by sending me some sincere
ice
representative of Him in missionary activities in this part of the
erv
world. I came here to execute His Will and by His Grace I have so
S
many good souls like you, Brahmananda, Satsvarupa, Hayagriva,
Rayrama, Haridas, Mukunda, etc. I CONSIDER YOU ALL AS
he
REPRESENTATIVE OF MY GURU MAHARAJA TO HELP ME
nt
IN THIS HELPLESS CONDITION.‛
(I
‚So in front of Caitanya Mahaprabhu you are chanting Hare Krsna
aid
mantra, and you are taking part in it very seriously. So MY GURU

MAHARAJA WILL BE VERY, VERY MUCH PLEASED UPON
S
YOU AND BLESS YOU WITH ALL BENEFITS. So he wanted this,

and he is not... IT IS NOT THAT HE IS DEAD AND GONE. That
ada
is not spiritual understanding. Even ordinary living being, he does

hup
not die. Na hanyate hanyamane sarire. And what to speak of such

exalted, authorized personality like Bhaktisiddhanta. HE IS SEEING.
rab
I NEVER FEEL THAT I AM ALONE. Of course, when I came to

your country without any friend, without any means... Practically,
P
just like a vagabond I came. But I HAD FULL FAITH THAT ‘MY
GURU MAHARAJA IS WITH ME.’ I never lost this faith, and that
hat
is fact.‛ (S.Bhaktisiddhanta’s App. Day, 3/2/75)

W
‚You are all my children and I LOVE MY AMERICAN BOYS AND

GIRLS WHO ARE SENT TO ME BY MY SPIRITUAL MASTER
and
AND I HAVE ACCEPTED THEM AS MY DISCIPLES.‛

uru
(Letter to Satsvarupa and Uddhava, 7/27/70)

‚PRACTICALLY, I DO NOT HAVE ANY DISCIPLES; I select so
G
many masters to train them in the service of the Lord.‛

(Letter to Jai Mazo, 1/18/68)
he
T
71
on)
‚Although officially I am your Spiritual Master, I CONSIDER YOU
ALL STUDENTS AS MY SPIRITUAL MASTER because your love
skc
for Krishna and service for Krishna teach me how to become a sincere
I
Krishna Conscious person.‛ (Letter to Jadurany, 12/16/67)
of
‚[...T]he spiritual master does not think of himself as Hari. Although
ice
he’s offered the respect of Hari, he thinks himself as humble servant
erv
of Hari and all others. A SPIRITUAL MASTER TAKES HIS
DISCIPLES AS HIS SPIRITUAL MASTER. That is the position. He
S
thinks that ‘Krsna has sent me so many spiritual masters.’ He does not
he
think himself as spiritual master. He thinks himself their servant.
nt
Because they have to be trained. Krsna has appointed him to train
them. Therefore HE THINKS HIMSELF AS SERVANT OF THE
(I
DISCIPLES. This is the position.‛
aid
‚You say that before meeting me you could not read or write, so this is
S
all Krishna’s grace. If He likes, he can make a crow into a peacock.

That is His grace. Krishna consciousness is so valuable that it plays
ada
wonderful, and there are many instances within our society. Similarly
hup
I was a crow, and now they consider me a peacock. But, I was trying to
be a peacock whenever there was the opportunity. I took the
rab
endeavor to publish the ‘Back to Godhead,’ but I wasted so much

time. Ultimately Krishna saved me.‛
P

hat
‚YOU HAVE RIGHTLY OBSERVED THAT I AM SIMPLY

W
TRYING TO EXECUTE THE ORDER OF MY SPIRITUAL

MASTER. WHATEVER IS BEING DONE IT IS NOT ON
and
ACCOUNT OF MY INTELLIGENCE OR ENDEAVOR

BECAUSE I AM SIMPLY AN INSTRUMENT IN THE HANDS
uru
OF MY SPIRITUAL MASTER. I do not know how far I have got

the capacity to carry His order, but I may say that I have a sincere
G
desire to do it.‛ (Letter to Paramananda, 6/17/70)

he
T
72
on)
‚I have not done anything personally, very wonderful. I AM SIMPLY
SERVING MY SPIRITUAL MASTER, SRILA
skc
BHAKTISIDDHANTA SARASWATI GOSWAMI MAHARAJ
I
AND ALL THE ACARYAS IN THE DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION. If
I have done anything of credit it is that I have not changed their
of
teachings. I have not added anything of my own interpretation.‛
ice
(Letter to Bhimadas et al, 5/16/74)
erv
S
‚You must know what is your duty from guru. You are singing every
day guru-mukha-padma-vakya, cittete koriya aikya, ar na koriho mane
he
asa. [‘My only wish is to have my consciousness purified by the
nt
words emanating from the lotus mouth of my spiritual master.’] This
is life. This is life. Guru- mukha-pad... You accept the bona fide
(I
guru, and what he orders you, carry out. Then your life is successful.
[...] ‚This is the order. Guru-mukha-padma-vakya, cittete koriya
aid
aikya. Now citta means consciousness or heart. ‘I shall do this only,

S
bas. My Guru Maharaja told me, I shall do this.’ Cittete koriya aikya,
ara na koriho mane asa. So it is not my pride, but I can say, for your
ada
instruction, I did it. Therefore, whatever little success you see [I’ve
had more] than all my Godbrothers, it is due to this. I HAVE NO
hup
CAPACITY, BUT I TOOK IT, THE WORDS OF MY GURU, AS

rab
LIFE AND SOUL. So this is fact. Guru-mukha-padma-vakya, cittete

koriya aikya. Everyone should do that.‛
P
(Lecture, Philadelphia 7/12/75)

‚I also thank you very much for the photograph of the sannyasis taken
hat
in Mayapur. I have had it framed and it is hanging here in my room in

W
Vrindaban, amongst the large paintings of the Disciplic succession. It

is by their kindness, of the previous acaryas, that they let us sit
between them just like a father calls for a child to sit down next to
and
him. ACTUALLY WE ARE UNQUALIFIED BUT BY THEIR

KINDNESS THEY LET US SIT NEXT TO THEM.‛
uru
(Letter to Visakha devi, 9/14/74)

G
‚BOB: Do you personally feel disease and sickness?

he
S.PRABHUPADA: Yes.
T
73
on)
BOB: Is this a result of your past karma?
skc
S.PRABHUPADA: Yes.
I
BOB: So one in this material world never escapes his karma
of
completely?
ice
S.PRABHUPADA: Yes, he escapes. No more karma for a devotee.
erv
No more karmic reaction.
S
BOB: But you must be the best devotee.
he
S.PRABHUPADA: Hm-m... NO, I DON’T CONSIDER MYSELF
THE BEST DEVOTEE. I AM THE LOWEST.‛
nt
(I
(PQPA, Ch.6, pgs.54-5)
‚DR.BENFORD: Then you are not perfect.
aid
S.PRABHUPADA: NO, I AM NOT PERFECT. None of us claims

S
to be perfect; we have so many faults.‛

ada
(Consciousness: The Missing Link, pg.14)

hup
‚Actually we are all conditioned souls so our demand from Krishna to

accept us is unreasonable. From my personal point of view, I think
rab
that I am so sinful that I cannot even approach Krishna to show me

any favor. But I HAVE ONLY ONE HOPE –MY SPIRITUAL
P
MASTER– HE IS VERY KIND. SO SOME WAY OR OTHER HE

IS DRAGGING ME TOWARDS KRISHNA. THAT IS THE
hat
ONLY HOPE. Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita says therefore: Guru

W
Krishnae. By the mercy of the Spiritual Master, and by the mercy of

Krishna, one gets into Krishna Consciousness. Narada Muni is our
original Spiritual Master and he has dragged so many fallen souls
and
towards Krishna, and we are also hoping to be dragged by Him

through the disciplic succession. Otherwise, IF WE STUDY OUR
uru
OWN QUALIFICATIONS, THERE IS NONE –RATHER I HAVE

G
GOT SO MANY DISQUALIFICATIONS.‛

he
T
74
on)
‚Just like we are also following the instruction of our spiritual master.
I DON’T CLAIM THAT I AM PURE DEVOTEE OR PERFECT,
skc
BUT MY ONLY QUALIFICATION IS THAT I AM TRYING TO
I
FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTION OF THE PERFECT.‛
(Lecture on Bg & Talk, Los Angeles 11/25/68)
of
‚We are not liberated. I am not liberated....
ice
‚...I am just a disciple of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati. I DON’T SAY
erv
THAT I AM LIBERATED. I AM CONDITIONED.‛
S
(Morning Walk, Bombay 1/4/77)
The obvious inference from this, going now to our next point, is that the
he
consideration that one is an uttama-adhikari –a devotee on the topmost
nt
platform of devotional service– is not the reason by which someone becomes
(I
a spiritual master and gives initiations. Or, are we to think that Srila
Prabhupada or any other bona fide spiritual master thought at one time:
‚Now I have become a mahabhagavata and therefore I can now give
aid
initiations‛? Or perhaps we should conclude that someone elected them on

S
that basis: ‚Now you have become a self-effulgent acarya –please start
accepting disciples.‛ The actual fact is, as we will read soon in Prabhupada’s
ada
words, that he saw the process of becoming guru as much more natural
–automatic.
hup
rab
P
hat
W
and
uru
G
he
T
75
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
76
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
on)
skc
I
of
ice
erv
S
he
nt
(I
aid
S
ada
hup
r
rab
P
‚So the sadhus, they take the risk of becoming friendly

hat
and merciful to the fallen conditioned souls, and they

W
preach the message of Godhead. Therefore their mercy

is required. They are merciful by nature. By nature,
and
they are merciful. One who is sadhu, one who is devotee,

by nature, he has developed that merciful quality,
uru
friendly quality. So their business is to enlighten those

G
who are ignorant, those who are fully absorbed in this

material concept of life. Therefore they preach.‛
he
(Lecture, New York 11/24/66)

T
77
on)
SHOULD THE CONTINUATION of the disciplic succession depend on
someone deciding that he has become an uttama-adhikari?
skc
I
‚SOMETIMES the first-class devotee also comes down to the
of
category of the second-class devotee for preaching work.‛
ice
(SB 2.3.21 ppt.)
erv
‚S.PRABHUPADA: The thing is that even the best devotee, when
S
he preaches, comes to the second-class platform of a devotee.
he
BOB: What would the best devotee be doing?
nt
S.PRABHUPADA: The best devotee does not preach.
(I
BOB: What does he do?
aid
S.PRABHUPADA: He sees that there is no need of preaching.For

him, everyone is a devotee. [Bob laughs heartily] Yes, he sees no more
S
nondevotees --all devotees. He is called an uttama-adhikari. BUT

WHILE I AM PREACHING, HOW CAN I SAY I AM THE BEST
ada
DEVOTEE? Just like Radharani--She does not see anyone as a

hup
nondevotee. Therefore we try to approach Radharani.‛

(PQPA, pg.55)
rab
And to depend on someone being recognized by his peers as self-effulgent

P
acarya may be very risky. In this connection, the story of the Gaudiya Math
speaks for itself, as also does the story of Srila Prabhupada.
hat
‚He [Srila Bhaktisiddhanta] never asked anybody to become acarya.

W
He asked that ‘you form a Governing Body of men and go on

preaching....’ None, none of them were advised by Guru Maharaja to
and
become acarya. His idea was ‘let them manage, then WHOEVER
WILL BE ACTUALLY QUALIFIED FOR BECOMING ACARYA,
uru
THEY WILL ELECT. Why I enforce upon them?’ That was his plan.
‘Let them manage by strong governing body, as it is going on. Then
G
ACARYA WILL COME BY HIS QUALIFICATIONS.’‛

he
T
78
on)
‚His [Srila Bhaktisiddhanta’s] idea was acarya was not to be
nominated amongst the governing body. ‚[...A] SELF EFFULGENT
skc
acarya would AUTOMATICALLY be selected.‛
I
(Letter to Rupanuga, 4/28/74)
of
‚A VAISNAVA ACARYA IS SELF-EFFULGENT, and there is no
ice
need for any court judgment.‛ (C.c. M.1.220)
erv
To teach us, Prabhupada spoke of his own case:
S
he
‚A powerful Vaisnava who has converted others into Vaisnavas is to
be worshiped, but because of material contamination, sometimes such
nt
an exalted Vaisnava is disrespected by other, minor Vaisnavas.
(I
‚...It has actually been seen that even an authorized devotee who is
engaged in the service of the Lord by preaching the mission of Krsna
aid
Consciousness is sometimes criticized by neophyte devotees.‛

S
(SB 7.14.39)
ada
‚...[N]eophytes, unable to appreciate the exalted service of the

advanced devotee, try to bring the maha-bhagavata to their platform.
hup
We experience such difficulty in propagating this Krsna

consciousness all over the world. Unfortunately we are surrounded by
rab
neophyte Godbrothers who do not appreciate the extraordinary

P
activities of spreading Krsna consciousness all over the world. They

simply try to bring us to their platform, and they try to criticize us in
hat
every respect. We very much regret their naive activities and poor
fund of knowledge. An empowered person who is actually engaged in
W
the confidential service of the Lord should not be treated as an

ordinary human being, for it is stated that unless one is empowered by
and
Krsna, one cannot spread the Krsna consciousness movement all over
the world.‛ (NOI Text 6, purport)
uru
The reason anyone takes the position of spiritual master is entirely different,
G
and it is very clearly understood and accepted in our Madhva-Gaudiya

sampradaya. One becomes a spiritual master exclusively as a matter of duty in
he
the service of the Lord and one’s own spiritual master.

T
79
on)
‚Personally I am humble servant of Krishna as you are also, but I am
deputed to accept your service just to transfer it to Krishna as via
skc
media. I SHALL TRY TO DO THIS SERVICE TO YOU AND
I
KRISHNA THROUGHOUT MY LIFE, and I am so proud to have
such assistants as you are to help me in my mission to push on the
of
Krishna Consciousness Movement.‛ (Letter to Dayananda, 5/1/69)
ice
erv
S
he
nt
(I
‚I have not done anything personally, very wonderful. I AM SIMPLY
aid

BHAKTISIDDHANTA SARASWATI GOSWAMI MAHARAJ,
S
AND ALL THE ACARYAS IN THE DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION.‛

ada
‚I may give initiation very easily, but what can I do? I AM

hup
PREPARED TO GO TO HELL FOR THE SERVICE OF LORD

CHAITANYA.‛ (Letter to Jadurani, 9/4/72)
rab
This service is always considered a great risk undertaken to fulfill the order of
P
one’s spiritual master and, finally, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s --yare dekha
tare kaha krsna upadesa, amara ajnaya guru hana tara ei desa. This risk is
hat
mentioned in The Nectar of Devotion, Srimad-Bhagavatam and in

Caitanya-caritamrta:
W
‚The one point is that without increasing the number of disciples,

there is no propagation of the cult of Krsna consciousness. Therefore,
and
sometimes EVEN AT A RISK, a sannyasi in the line of Caitanya

Mahaprabhu may accept even a person who is not thoroughly fit to
uru
become a disciple. Later on, by the mercy of such a bona fide spiritual
G
master, the disciple is gradually elevated. However, if one increases

the number of disciples simply for some prestige or false honor, he will
he
surely fall down in the matter of executing Krsna consciousness.‛

T
(NOD, Ch.7, 2nd. Ed., pgs.65-66)

80
on)
‚Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu therefore stated that the spiritual master
who plays the part of Krsna’s representative has to consume all the
skc
sinful reactions of his disciple. SOMETIMES A SPIRITUAL
I
MASTER TAKES THE RISK OF BEING OVERWHELMED BY
THE SINFUL REACTIONS OF THE DISCIPLES AND
of
UNDERGOES A SORT OF TRIBULATION DUE TO THEIR
ice
ACCEPTANCE. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu therefore advised that
one not accept many disciples.‛ (SB 4.21.31)
erv
S
‚Accepting an unlimited number of devotees or disciples IS VERY
he
RISKY for one who is not a preacher. According to Srila Jiva
nt
Gosvami, a preacher has to accept many disciples to expand the cult
(I
of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. THIS IS RISKY because when a
spiritual master accepts a disciple, he naturally accepts the disciple’s
sinful activities and their reactions. Unless he is very powerful, he
aid
cannot assimilate all the sinful reactions of his disciples. Thus if he is

S
not powerful, he has to suffer the consequences, for one is forbidden

to accept many disciples.‛ (Cc Madhya 22.118)
ada
In a conversation in Chicago, Srila Prabhupada further comments on this:

hup
‚D: [The Nectar of Devotion] says that a sannyasi should not take, be
rab
anxious for disciples but should only take those who are qualified. But
sometimes, when there’s no one qualified, he takes a risk.
P
S.PRABHUPADA: Yes. One who does not like to take the risk,
hat
THEY DO NOT TAKE THE RISK OF PREACHING. But one who

takes the risk, he is recognized by Krsna immediately, ‘Oh, he is
W
taking risk.’ But he must know where to take risk and where [it is] to
act foolishly.‛ (Conversation, Chicago 7/8/75)
and
It is obvious from this quote and the following ones that this recognition by
uru
Krsna, which presupposes pleasing Krsna, was considered by Srila

G
Prabhupada as a very important reason for someone to become a spiritual

master. He strongly emphasized this point in the following Vyasa-puja lecture
he
in which he urged his disciples to become spiritual masters:

T
81
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
82
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
on)
‚[...]I hope that all of you, men, women, boys and girls, become
spiritual master and follow this principle. Spiritual master, simply,
skc
sincerely, follow the principles and speak to the general public.
I
Then Krsna becomes your favorite. Krsna does not become your
favorite; you become Krsna’s favorite. Krsna says in the
of
Bhagavad-gita, na ca tasmad manusyesu kascin me priya-krttamah.
ice
‚One who is doing this humble service of preaching work, Krsna
consciousness, nobody is dearer than him to Me.‛ SO IF YOU
erv
WANT TO BECOME RECOGNIZED BY KRSNA VERY
S
QUICKLY, YOU TAKE UP THIS PROCESS OF BECOMING
SPIRITUAL MASTER, present the Bhagavad-gita as it is, your life is
he
perfect. Thank you very much.‛
nt
(Vyasa-puja Address, London 8/22/73)
(I
A few years later, in a conversation, he repeated the same thing:
‚So preaching is our life. The more we preach, the more we are
aid
successful. Yare dekha tare kaha krsna upadesa. This is Caitanya

S
Mahaprabhu’s preaching. Amara ajnaya guru hana tara ei desa, yare

dekha, tare kaha krsna-upadesa. This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
ada
EVERYONE OF YOU BECOME GURU AND DELIVER THE

RESIDENTS OF YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. EI DESA.
hup
WHEREVER YOU ARE LIVING, JUST DELIVER THEM.

rab
BECOME THEIR GURU. How to become guru? It is not difficult.

Yare dekha tare kaha krsna-upadesa. What Krsna has said instruct
P
them. You simply repeat it, that’s all. You become guru.
hat
‚So this should be preached all over the world. You learn from
Bhagavad-gita and repeat. You simply say, ‘Krsna said four things:
W
man mana bhava mad bhakto mad yaji mam namaskuru. ‘Just always
think of Me.’ Krsna said. ‘And just become My devotee. Just worship
and
Me and offer obeisances.’ Kindly do these things.’ So IF YOU CAN

INDUCE ONE PERSON TO DO THESE FOUR THINGS, YOU
uru
BECOME GURU. Is there any difficulty? ‘Then you become a

devotee of Krsna.’ How? ‘Always think of Krsna. Worship Krsna
G
and offer obeisances. Here is our temple, please come, offer

obeisances. Offer little flower if you can secure. Otherwise,
he
obeisances sufficient. And chant Hare Krsna.’ You become guru.

T
83
on)
‚To inform this message is difficult? Not at all. You may carry the
message. If he’s fortunate, he’ll do it. EVEN HE DOES NOT DO IT,
skc
YOU ARE CARRYING THE MESSAGE, YOU BECOME
I
RECOGNIZED BY KRSNA. NA CA TASMAN MANUSYESU
KASCIN ME PRIYA- KRTTAMAH. YOU ARE DOING
of
SINCERELY, THEN YOU ARE RECOGNIZED BY KRSNA. Just
ice
like a canvasser, salesman, goes to the market, tries his best to secure
some business. The master sees the report how he has worked. Even
erv
though he has not secured a single paisa business, but he has tried to
S
introduce the goods, then he’s bona fide. He’s bona fide. Similarly, we
have to simply carry the message of Krsna and try to convince people.
he
If one is convinced, it is good, if not, doesn’tmatter. I am not going
nt
to... Then you are recognized by Krsna. RECOGNITION MEANS
(I
YOU BECOME THE DEAREST SERVANT OF KRSNA. THEN
WHAT DO YOU WANT MORE? IF KRSNA RECOGNIZES
THAT ‘YOU ARE MY MOST DEAR SERVANT,’ THEN WHAT
aid
DO YOU WANT MORE? Yare dekha tare kaha krsna-upadesa.‛

S
(Conversation, Paris 8/2/76)

In the following letter he consolidates both ideas --becoming dear to Krsna
ada
and taking the risk of preaching:

hup
‚To sit down in a corner without PREACHING RISK and to make a

show of chanting Hare Krishna Mantra is condemned by my Spiritual
rab
Master and He has written a very nice song in this connection, which
P
I am recording. THE SUBSTANCE IS THAT TO BECOME VERY

DEAR TO KRISHNA OR BALARAMA OR IN OTHER WORDS
hat
TO LORD CHAITANYA AND NITYANANDA IS TO TAKE

THE TASK OF PREACHING WORK VERY SERIOUSLY AT
W
ALL RISK. Please always remember this and you will be successful.‛
(Letter to Gajendra, 1/27/70)
and
Still, the argument is forwarded that Prabhupada is referring in all those

uru
quotes to devotees becoming siksa gurus. ‚It means to give instructions, not
initiations.‛ But are siksa and diksa distant apart?
G
‚There is no difference between the shelter-giving Supreme Lord and

he
the initiating [diksa] and instructing [siksa] spiritual masters. IF ONE

T
FOOLISHLY DISCRIMINATES BETWEEN THEM, HE

84
on)
COMMITS AN OFFENSE IN THE DISCHARGE OF
DEVOTIONAL SERVICE.‛ (C.c. Adi 1.47 ppt.)
skc
‚Guru krsna krapaya paya bhakti lata bija. We have to acquire this
I
energy through the mercy of guru and Krsna. So Krsna is within as
of
caitya-guru, and when we are serious He comes out as the spiritual
master. Siksa-guru, diksa-guru. So THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE
ice
BETWEEN SIKSA-GURU AND DIKSA-GURU AND KRSNA.
erv
Krsna manifests Himself externally as siksa-guru and diksa-guru.‛
S
‚Cleansing oneself as well as teaching others to be clean; these two
he
things must be there simultaneously. None of us have perfect desires
nt
but we are trying to be perfect and teach others to be perfect as far as
(I
possible. THEY CANNOT BE SEPARATED BUT MUST GO
TOGETHER AS PARALLEL LINES. SIKSHA AND DIKSHA.
Siksha means learning. Diksha, or initiation, means the beginning of
aid
spiritual realization. So every disciple must take his own spiritual

S
progress positively and help others to do so.‛

(Letter to Nayan Abhiram, 2/4/71)
ada
‚Bilvamangala Thakura actually entered into the transcendental

hup
pastimes of Lord Krsna. He has recorded his transcendental

experiences and appreciation in the book known as Krsna-karnamrta.
rab
In the beginning of that book he has offered his obeisances to his

different gurus, and IT IS TO BE NOTED THAT HE HAS
P
ADORED THEM ALL EQUALLY. The first spiritual master

mentioned is Cintamani, who was HIS INSTRUCTING
hat
SPIRITUAL MASTER because she first showed him the spiritual

W
path. Cintamani was a prostitute with whom Bilvamangala was

intimate earlier in his life. She gave him the inspiration to begin on
and
the path of devotional service, and because she convinced him to give
up material existence to try for perfection by loving Krsna, HE HAS
uru
FIRST OFFERED HIS RESPECTS TO HER. Next he offers his

respects to his initiating spiritual master, Somagiri, and then to THE
G
SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, WHO WAS ALSO

HIS INSTRUCTING SPIRITUAL MASTER.‛ (Cc Adi 1.57)
he
T
85
on)
‚...SOMETIMES A CASTE GURU says that ye krsna-tattva-vetta, sei
guru haya means that one who is not a brahmana may become a
skc
siksa-guru or a vartma-pradarsaka-guru but not an initiator guru.
I
[...]THE WORD GURU IS EQUALLY APPLICABLE to the
vartma-pradarsaka-guru, siksa-guru and diksa-guru. UNLESS WE
of
ACCEPT THE PRINCIPLE ENUNCIATED BY SRI CAITANYA
ice
MAHAPRABHU, THIS KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS
MOVEMENT CANNOT SPREAD ALL OVER THE WORLD.
erv
According to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s intentions: prthivite ache
S
yata nagaradi-grama sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama. Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu’s cult must be preached all over the world.
he
nt
[...]‚SRILA BHAKTISIDDHANTA SARASVATI THAKURA
ALSO STATES that although one is situated as a brahmana, ksatriya,
(I
vaisya, sudra, brahmacari, vanaprastha, grhastha or sannyasi, IF HE IS
CONVERSANT IN THE SCIENCE OF KRSNA HE CAN
aid
BECOME A SPIRITUAL MASTER AS VARTMA

PRADARSAKA-GURU, DIKSA-GURU OR SIKSA-GURU.‛
S
(C.c. M. 8.128 ppt.)

ada
‚ACCORDING TO SASTRIC INJUNCTIONS, THERE IS NO

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SIKSA-GURU AND DIKSA-GURU,
hup
and generally the siksa-guru later on becomes the diksa-guru.‛

rab
(SB 4.12.32)
‚GENERALLY A SPIRITUAL MASTER WHO CONSTANTLY
P
INSTRUCTS A DISCIPLE IN SPIRITUAL SCIENCE BECOMES

hat
HIS INITIATING SPIRITUAL MASTER LATER ON.‛

(C.c. Adi 1.35 ppt.)
W
Some see only personal ambition in a devotee giving initiations. Is there any
pressing need for someone to become a diksa guru?
and
uru
‚THE ONE POINT IS THAT WITHOUT INCREASING THE

NUMBER OF DISCIPLES, THERE IS NO PROPAGATION OF
G
THE CULT OF KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS. [...]However, if one

increases the number of disciples simply for some prestige or false
he
honor, he will surely fall down in the matter of executing Krsna

T
consciousness.‛ (NOD, Ch.7, 2nd. Ed., pgs.65-66)

86
on)
"TRANSLATION
skc
"From each branch of the tree have grown hundreds and thousands of
subbranches of DISCIPLES AND GRANDDISCIPLES.
I
"PURPORT
of
"It was desire of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu that His cult be spread
ice
all over the world. Therefore THERE IS A GREAT NECESSITY
erv
FOR MANY, MANY DISCIPLES OF THE BRANCHES OF SRI
CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU’S DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION. His
S
cult should be spread not only in a few villages, or in Bengal, or in
he
India, but all over the world. It is very much regrettable that
complacent so-called devotees criticize the members of the
nt
International Society for Krishna Consciousness for accepting
(I
sannyasa and spreading the cult of Lord Caitanya all over the world.
It is not our business to criticize anyone, but because they try to find
aid
fault with this movement, the real truth must be stated. Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu wanted devotees all over the world, and Srila
S
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura and Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura

ada
also confirmed this. It is in pursuit of their will that the ISKCON

movement is spreading all over the world. GENUINE DEVOTEES
hup
OF LORD CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU MUST TAKE PRIDE IN

THE SPREAD OF THE KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS
rab
MOVEMENT instead of viciously criticizing its propaganda work.‛

(Cc Adi 10.160)
P
‚ACCORDING TO SRILA JIVA GOSVAMI, A PREACHER HAS

hat
TO ACCEPT MANY DISCIPLES TO EXPAND THE CULT OF

SRI CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU. This is risky because when a
W
spiritual master accepts a disciple, he naturally accepts the disciple’s

sinful activities and their reactions. Unless he is very powerful, he
and
cannot assimilate all the sinful reactions of his disciples. Thus if he is

not powerful, he has to suffer the consequences, for one is forbidden
uru
to accept many disciples.‛ (Cc Madhya 22.118)

G
‚IF LOCAL PEOPLE COME AND JOIN AND TAKE

INITIATION, THEN WE CAN CONSIDER DEVELOPING.
he
SIMPLY LIP-SYMPATHY WILL NOT DO. THEY MUST BE

T
87
on)
REGULAR DISCIPLE, follow the regulativeprinciples, and they will
develop it themselves. Besides that book distribution and preaching is
skc
our most important activity. Opening temples is subordinate. We
I
have to see how books are being distributed and how people are
joining wholeheartedly. That is actual development.‛
of
(Letter to Gopal Krishna, 7/11/76)
ice
‚Yes, I am very glad that temple arrangement in Boston is nicely
erv
being carried out and new devotees are joining --this is the success of
preaching work. PREACHING WORK MEANS INCREASING
S
THE NUMBER OF OUR FAMILY MEMBERS.
he
[...]"Krsna wants everyone of the living entities to go back to home,
nt
back to Godhead, so if we can induce even one person to understand
(I
that this material world is not meant for our living, our real home is
in the spiritual world, and if we can convince this philosophy to even
a single person, that is the success of our missionary activities.‛
aid
(Letter to Jadurany et al, 6/4/70)

S
‚PREACHING MEANS TO INCREASE OUR FAMILY

ada
MEMBERS, so I can see that the preaching at ISKCON St. Louis is

going on very sincerely, otherwise so many would not be interested in
hup
becoming devotees.‛ (Letter to Makhanlal, 6/22/73)

‚So far as recruiting men is concerned, we have to create men.
rab
PREACHING MEANS TO RECRUIT MORE AND MORE MEN.

P
This process is called gosthananda which means pleasure by

seeingincrease of followers. So far I know, NOT A SINGLE
hat
JAPANESE HAS BEEN INITIATED. WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF

IT?‛ (Letter to Sudama, 1/22/71)
W
‚AT THE PRESENT MOMENT, THOUSANDS OF SPIRITUAL

and
MASTERS ARE NEEDED TO SPREAD THIS GREAT SCIENCE

THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.‛
uru
[...]‚WE ARE ACTUALLY suffering due to our ignorance.... The

whole world is lacking this knowledge, and therefore THOUSANDS
G
OF TEACHERS OF THE SCIENCE OF KRSNA ARE NEEDED.

There is a great necessity for this knowledge NOW.‛
he
(Raja-vidya, pgs. 88, 92)

T
88
on)
‚Because people are in darkness, WE REQUIRE MANY MILLIONS
OF GURUS to enlighten them. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s
skc
mission is, He said, that ‘Every one of you become guru.’ Amara
I
ajnaya guru haya tara ei desa. (Lecture, Honolulu 5/21/76)
‚[…O]ur mission is to repeat the words of Krsna. That is Caitanya
of
Mahaprabhu’s order. He says, amara ajnaya guru haya tara ei desa:
ice
'You become guru.’ ‘Now, how shall I become guru? I am neither
erv
learned nor Vedantist, neither sannyasi. How can I become guru?’
‘NO, NO, YOU HAVE NO DIFFICULTY. YOU, ON MY ORDER,
S
BECOME GURU SIMPLY...’ Yare dekha tare kaha krsna upadesa.
Bas. ‘YOU BECOME GURU. WHOMEVER YOU MEET, YOU
he
SIMPLY TRY TO CONVINCE HIM WHAT KRSNA HAS
SPOKEN. THEN YOU BECOME GURU.’ SO WE REQUEST
nt
(I
EVERYONE THE SAME THING. AND BECOME GURU. IT IS
VERY URGENTLY NECESSARY. People are becoming godless,
aid
atheist, nonbelievers, and they are suffering. So every village, every

home, every neighborhood, they require guru. But who will be guru?
S
One who repeats the instruction of Krsna. Yare dekha tare kaha. IT IS
VERY EASY.‛ (Conversation, Hrishikesh 5/12/77)
ada
And how someone actually becomes a spiritual master in the preaching field
hup
is succinctly explained by Srila Prabhupada in the following quotes:

rab
‚WHEN ONE IS ADVANCED IN DEVOTIONAL SERVICE, IT IS

NATURAL THAT MANY PERSONS WILL COME TO THE
P
DEVOTEE FOR BECOMING HIS DISCIPLES, and will offer him

some material gains. So if a person becomes attracted by the increased
hat
number of disciples and the material conveniences offered by the

W
disciples, and forgets his duty as a bona fide Spiritual Master, that is
another disturbance in the growth of the plant of devotional service.‛
(TLC 1st. Ed., Ch. 1, pg. 28)
and
‚[...]GENERALLY THE SIKSA-GURU LATER ON BECOMES

uru
THE DIKSA-GURU.‛ (SB 4.12.32)

G
‚GENERALLY A SPIRITUAL MASTER WHO CONSTANTLY

INSTRUCTS A DISCIPLE IN SPIRITUAL SCIENCE BECOMES
he
HIS INITIATING SPIRITUAL MASTER LATER ON.‛

T

89
on)
In a few of these quotes, I have included some of the context of the
statements because of the warnings contained in them for the spiritual
skc
master, which makes it obvious that the spiritual master is not necessarily an
I
uttama-adhikari above the attractions of ‚material conveniences‛ or above
the risks of taking unfit, or too many, disciples, but still he may be advanced
of
and therefore ‚it is natural‛ --says Prabhupada-- that people will request to
ice
become his disciples. If a spiritual master was expected to be an
uttama-adhikari above all risks, why do the sastras and Srila Prabhupada issue
erv
so many warnings? Here are a few more:
S
‚The spiritual master must observe how inquisitive the disciple is and
he
how eager he is to understand the transcendental subject matter. The
nt
spiritual master should study the disciple’s inquisitiveness for no less
than six months or a year. A SPIRITUAL MASTER SHOULD NOT
(I
BE VERY ANXIOUS TO ACCEPT A DISCIPLE BECAUSE OF
HIS MATERIAL OPULENCES.
aid
‚Sometimes a big businessman or landlord may approach a spiritual

S
master for initiation. Those who are materially interested are called
visayis (karmis), which indicates that they are very fond of sense
ada
gratification. Such visayis sometimes approach a famous guru and ask

to become a disciple just as a matter of fashion. Sometimes visayis
hup
pose as disciples of a reputed spiritual master just to cover their

rab
activities and advertise themselves as advanced in spiritual

knowledge. In other words, they want to attain material success. A
P
SPIRITUAL MASTER MUST BE VERY CAREFUL IN THIS

REGARD. Such business is going on all over the world.
hat
‚The spiritual master does not accept a materially opulent disciple

W
just to advertise the fact that he has such a big disciple. He knows that
BY ASSOCIATING WITH SUCH VISAYI DISCIPLES, HE MAY
and
FALL DOWN. One who accepts a visayi disciple is not a bona fide
spiritual master. EVEN IF HE IS, his position may be damaged due to
uru
association with an unscrupulous visayi.‛ (Cc Madhya 24.330)

‚The grass is specifically mentioned in this verse because everyone
G
tramples upon it yet the grass never protests. THIS EXAMPLE

INDICATES THAT A SPIRITUAL MASTER OR LEADER
he
SHOULD NOT BE PROUD OF HIS POSITION; being always

T
90
on)
humbler than an ordinary common man, he should go on preaching
the cult of Caitanya Mahaprabhu by chanting the Hare Krsna
skc
mantra.‛ (Cc Adi 17.31)
I
"TRANSLATION
of
"‘Advaita Acarya, My spiritual master, should never accept charity
ice
from rich men or kings because IF A SPIRITUAL MASTER
ACCEPTS MONEY OR GRAINS FROM SUCH MATERIALISTS
erv
HIS MIND BECOMES POLLUTED.’
S
"PURPORT
he
"It is very risky to accept money or foodstuffs from materialistic
nt
persons, for such acceptance pollutes the mind of the charity’s
(I
recipient. According to the Vedic system, one should give charity to
sannyasis and brahmanas because one who thus gives charity becomes
free from sinful activities. Formerly, therefore, brahmanas would not
aid
accept charity from a person unless he were very pious. LORD

S
CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU GAVE THIS INSTRUCTION FOR

ALL SPIRITUAL MASTERS.‛ (Cc Adi 12.50)
ada
This indicates that the fact that a spiritual master has become a victim of any
hup
of the above-mentioned dangers (as has taken place in ISKCON and in other
Gaudiya societies), does not mean that neither he nor anyone else should
rab
have become spiritual master. It only means that he was not cautious enough
as a spiritual master or, in Prabhupada’s words in a quote above (TLC, Ch.1),
P
that he forgot his duty as a bona fide spiritual master. ‚There is always the
chance that this will happen,‛ says Srila Prabhupada, ‚and therefore one has
hat
to be very careful."
W
‚[T]HERE ARE MANY INSTANCES IN WHICH SOMEONE

and
ACTING IN KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS SUDDENLY

CHANGES. In the Upanisads it is stated, therefore, that the path of
spiritual realization is just like the sharp edge of a razor. The example
uru
is very appropriate. One shaves his cheeks with a sharp razor very
G
nicely, but as soon as his attention is diverted from the activity, he

immediately cuts his cheek because he mishandles the razor.
he
T
91
on)
‚NOT ONLY MUST ONE COME TO THE STAGE OF PURE
KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS, BUT ONE MUST ALSO BE VERY
skc
CAREFUL. ANY INATTENTIVENESS OR CARELESSNESS
I
MAY CAUSE FALLDOWN. This falldown is due to false ego. From
the status of pure consciousness, the false ego is born because of
of
misuse of independence. WE CANNOT ARGUE ABOUT WHY
ice
FALSE EGO ARISES FROM PURE CONSCIOUSNESS.
FACTUALLY, THERE IS ALWAYS THE CHANCE THAT THIS
erv
WILL HAPPEN, AND THEREFORE ONE HAS TO BE VERY
S
CAREFUL.‛ (SB 3.26.23-24)
he
nt
(I
aid
S
ada
hup
rab
P
hat
W
and
uru
G
he
T
92
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
93
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
94
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
on)
skc
I
of
ice
erv
S
he
nt
(I
aid
S
ada
hup
rab
P
hat
‚‘How shall I become guru? I have no qualification.’

W
Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, ‘You don’t require any

qualification. You simply require one qualification, that
and
you repeat the instruction of Bhagavad-gita. That’s all.’

Yare dekha tare kaha krsna-upadesa. That’s all. You
uru
become a guru. Don’t adulterate krsna-upadesa like a

G
rascal or nonsense. Present it as it is, Bhagavad-gita.

Then you become a guru. You can become a guru in
he
your family, you can become a guru in your society,

T
95
on)
your nation --wherever you are. And if it is possible,
skc
you go outside and preach this mission of
Bhagavad-gita. Therefore our movement’s name is
I
Krsna consciousness. Whatever Krsna says, you accept
of
and preach. You become guru. Thank you very much.
ice
erv
ACCORDING TO OUR VAISNAVA PHILOSOPHY, the position of
S
spiritual master is something natural that comes from Krsna, and not from
some arrangement --or decision-- one makes in this material world. It is
he
Krsna who chooses to manifest Himself through a particular devotee to a
nt
particular aspirant. This occurs when the aspirant is truly serious, sincere,
anxious!, about spiritual life.
(I
"In the Caitanya-caritamrta, by Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami, Lord
aid
Caitanya states that it is a fortunate person who comes in contact

with a bona fide spiritual master by the grace of Krsna. ONE WHO IS
S
SERIOUS ABOUT SPIRITUAL LIFE IS GIVEN BY KRSNA THE

INTELLIGENCE TO COME IN CONTACT WITH A BONA
ada
FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER, and then by the grace of the spiritual

hup
master one becomes advanced in Krsna consciousness. In this way the

whole jurisdiction of Krsna consciousness is directly under the
rab
spiritual energy --Krsna and the spiritual master. This has nothing to
do with the material world."
P
(NOD Introduction, Second Edition, pgs. XXII-XXIII)

hat
"This knowledge cannot be imparted by anyone other than the

Supreme Lord or His representative. In the Caitanya-caritamrta Lord
W
Caitanya instructs Rupa Gosvami that the living entities wander in

life after life, undergoing the miserable conditions of material
and
existence. But WHEN ONE IS VERY ANXIOUS TO GET FREE

FROM THE MATERIAL ENTANGLEMENT, HE GETS
uru
ENLIGHTENMENT THROUGH A SPIRITUAL MASTER AND

KRSNA. This means that Krsna as the Supersoul is seated within the
G
heart of the living entity, and WHEN THE LIVING ENTITY IS

SERIOUS, THE LORD DIRECTS HIM TO TAKE SHELTER OF
he
HIS REPRESENTATIVE, A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER.

T
96
on)
Directed from within and guided externally by the spiritual master,
one attains the path of Krsna consciousness, which is the way out of
skc
the material clutches.
I
"Therefore there is no possibility of one's being situated in his own
position unless he is blessed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
of
Unless he is enlightened with the supreme knowledge, one has to
ice
undergo the severe penalties of the hard struggle for existence in the
material nature. THE SPIRITUAL MASTER IS THEREFORE THE
erv
MERCY MANIFESTATION OF THE SUPREME PERSON. The
S
conditioned soul has to take direct instruction from the spiritual
master, and thus he gradually becomes enlightened to the path of
he
Krsna consciousness. The seed of Krsna consciousness is sown within
nt
the heart of the conditioned soul, and when one hears instruction
(I
from the spiritual master, the seed fructifies, and one's life is blessed."
(SB 3.31.16)
aid
‚So to come to Krsna consciousness, it is meant for persons who are

very, very fortunate, kono bhagyavan. Guru krsnakrpaya paya bhakti
S
lata bija. When one is very much eager, SERIOUS, that ‘I want to see
ada
God...’ Nobody’s SERIOUS. But IF ONE BECOMES SERIOUS,

THEN KRSNA GIVES HIM CHARGE. HE SENDS HIM TO THE
hup
PROPER GURU.‛ (Conversation, Hrisikesa 5/15/77)

‚If someone is fortunate enough to find out a bona fide Spiritual
rab
Master, his life is successful. And TO BE FORTUNATE, THERE

MUST BE SINCERITY, and Krishna will lead him to a bona fide
P
Spiritual Master.‛ (Letter to Malati, 11/12/68)

hat
‚Your eagerness to spread the Krishna Consciousness movement in

that part of the country is certainly dictated by Krishna, Who is
W
situated within your heart. There are innumerable living entities

wandering within the universe in different forms of life and
and
conditions in different planetary systems. Out of many, many of such

conditioned souls, only one will come into contact with a bona fide
uru
Spiritual Master by the Grace of Krishna. KRISHNA CAN

UNDERSTAND FROM WITHIN THE SINCERITY OF
G
PURPOSE OF A PARTICULAR LIVING ENTITY, and He gives

he
direction to such sincere devotee to the path of realizing Krishna

Consciousness.‛ (Letter to Larry Snyder et al, 2/1/69)
T
97
on)
‚So TO FIND OUT A BONA FIDE GURU IS NOT DIFFICULT,
PROVIDED ONE IS BONA FIDE TO SEARCH OUT A GURU.
skc
Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, guru krsna krpaya paya bhakti
I
lata bija. By the mercy of guru and Krsna... Because BY THE MERCY
OF KRSNA ONE GETS A BONA FIDE GURU AND BY THE
of
MERCY OF BONA FIDE GURU, ONE GETS KRSNA. THIS IS
ice
THE PROCESS. When I am actually SERIOUS to have connection
with Krsna, Krsna is sitting in everyone’s heart. Isvarah
erv
sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese ‘rjuna tisthati. So Krsna can understand. We
S
cannot hide anything from Krsna. That is not possible. Because Krsna
is sitting side by side, just like two birds, sitting side by side. one bird is
he
eating the fruit of the tree. Another bird is the witness. That is the
nt
Vedic version. (I
‚So as soon as I become serious to know about Krsna, KRSNA CAN
UNDERSTAND, ‘NOW MY FRIEND IS VERY SERIOUS.’ So He
aid
will find out a bona fide guru for him. Therefore Caitanya
Mahaprabhu says that guru krsna krpaya paya bhakti lata bija. By the,
S
by the double mercy... Krsna’s mercy, and guru’s mercy. If one is

ada
SERIOUS, Krsna is satisfied. ‘Now he’s SERIOUS about finding out,

about knowing Me.’ Then KRSNA GIVES HIM DIRECTION
hup
THAT ‘HERE IS GURU, MY REPRESENTATIVE. YOU TAKE

SHELTER OF HIM AND YOU WILL GET ME.’ This is the way.
rab
That is explained in this.., that by the grace of Krsna, that it is a

P
fortunate person. Fortunate person means he must be SINCERE,

SERIOUS to know about Krsna. THAT IS FORTUNATE.‛
hat

W
‚As for your nice sentiments about our first meeting on Houston
Street, it was all arranged by Krishna. That was practically a favor
shown to me by Krishna because I came in your country by superior
and
order. I had been feeling lonely although I had the mission of starting
this Krishna Consciousness movement. So KRISHNA SENT YOU
uru
TO ME, AND THEREFORE OUR MEETING WAS ALSO THE

DESIRE OF KRISHNA. Therefore, both of us, or for that matter, all
G
of the boys and girls who are working with me, have met by the desire
he
of Krishna. As such, everyone should always feel the responsibility

T
98
on)
that Krishna wants us to do something for Him, and we must invest
all of our energies to fulfill this mission of Krishna Consciousness.‛
skc
(Letter to Hayagriva, 1/31/69)
I
‚In the Shastras it is said that Spiritual advance of life is achieved
of
thru the combined mercy of the Spiritual Master and
Krishna.THOSE WHO ARE SINCERE SOULS, KRISHNA HELPS
ice
THEM TO HAVE A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER, and the
erv
bona fide Spiritual Master helps the disciple approach Krishna.THIS
IS THE PROCESS.‛ (Letter to Jadurany, Book of Letters #67-7-9)
S
‚SO WHEN KRSNA SEES THAT A LIVING ENTITY IS VERY
he
ANXIOUS TO UNDERSTAND HIM OR TO REVIVE HIS
nt
KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS, THEN KRSNA GIVES HIM ALL
(I
OPPORTUNITY, ESPECIALLY BY MANIFESTING HIMSELF AS
THE SPIRITUAL MASTER. Antar bahih. The spiritual master is
therefore Krsna’s manifestation. Krsna’s mercy manifestation to help
aid
a person to develop His Krsna consciousness. From within He’s

S
helping, therefore He’s called caitya-guru, and from without He sends

His representative to help how to become advanced in Krsna
ada
consciousness. Therefore to advance in Krsna consciousness we

require two kinds of help--one from Krsna and another from the
hup
spiritual master.‛ (Vyasa Puja Lecture, London 8/21/73)

rab
‚[...I]F YOU ARE SINCERE, Krishna will help you in all respects. It
is said that ACCORDING TO ONE’S SINCERE DESIRE TO
P
HAVE KRISHNA, KRISHNA LEADS ONE TO A BONA FIDE

hat
PURE DEVOTEE OF KRISHNA, and that pure devotee, he is

qualified to lead one to Krishna.‛
W
(Letter to Stephen Graham, 10/14/74)

‚ONE CAN ACHIEVE THE ULTIMATE SUCCESS OF GOING
and
BACK TO GODHEAD IF HE IS FAVORED BY THE LORD’S

SENDING HIS TRUE REPRESENTATIVE. As soon as a true
uru
representative of the Lord is met by a devotee of the Lord, the

devotee is assured a guarantee for going back to Godhead just after
G
leaving thepresent body. THIS, HOWEVER, DEPENDS ON THE

he
SINCERITY OF THE DEVOTEE HIMSELF. The Lord is seated in

the heart of all living beings, and thus he knows very well the
T
99
on)
movements of all individual persons. AS SOON AS THE LORD
FINDS THAT A PARTICULAR SOUL IS VERY EAGER TO GO
skc
BACK TO GODHEAD, THE LORD AT ONCE SENDS HIS
I
BONA FIDE REPRESENTATIVE. The SERIOUS devotee is thus
assured by the Lord of going back to Godhead. The conclusion is that
of
to get the assistance and help of a bona fide spiritual master means to
ice
receive the direct help of the Lord Himself.‛ (SB 1.19.36)
erv
‚Tatra laulyam eka-mulam na labhyate yad janmabhih sukrtibhih.
Krsna consciousness can be achieved simply by your INTENSE
S
DESIRE that ‘This life I shall try to achieve the favor of Krsna.’ Krsna
he
will help you. Tesam satata-yuktanam bhajatam priti-purvakam,
nt
buddhi-yogam dadami tam. IF YOU ARE ACTUALLY SERIOUSLY
ENGAGED IN KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS, THEN KRSNA
(I
GIVES US INTELLIGENCE HOW TO APPROACH HIM. So pure
devotional service is rarely achieved. But by chance, guru krsna
aid
krpaya paya bhakti lata bija, if we somehow or other come in contact

with bona fide guru and Krsna... Krsna is already there. We are
S
already in touch. And IF WE ARE SERIOUS, THEN BY THE

ada
GRACE OF KRSNA, WE GET NISKINCANA, A DEVOTEE, and

by his grace we achieve to the platform of devotional service.
hup
Otherwise it is very difficult.‛ (NOD Lecture, Vrndavana 11/03/72)

rab
‚One should not, however, think himself on the level of Brahma to be

initiated directly by the Lord from inside because in the present age
P
no one can be accepted to be as pure as Brahma. [...]But one can have

the same facility through unalloyed devotees of the Lord, through
hat
scriptural instructions (as revealed in the Bhagavad-gita and

W
Srimad-Bhagavatam especially), AND ALSO THROUGH THE

BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER AVAILABLE TO THE
SINCERE SOUL. THE LORD HIMSELF APPEARS AS THE
and
SPIRITUAL MASTER TO A PERSON WHO IS SINCERE IN

HEART ABOUT SERVING THE LORD. Therefore the bonafide
uru
spiritual master who happens to meet THE SINCERE DEVOTEE

G
should be accepted as the most confidential and beloved

representative of the Lord. If a person is posted under the guidance of
he
such a bona fide spiritual master, it may be accepted without any

T
100
on)
doubt that THE DESIRING PERSON HAS ACHIEVED THE
GRACE OF THE LORD.‛ (SB 2.9.7 ppt.)
skc
Did this grace and mercy of the Lord become unavailable after the departure
I
of Srila Prabhupada?
of
‚Your second question: Is there any particular reason why some spirit
souls become directed toward Krsna Consciousnessin the first place?
ice
How does one get on the progressive path of elevation to Krsna
erv
Consciousness? THE ANSWER IS THAT IT IS BY THE MERCY
S
OF THE LORD THAT ONE COMES IN CONTACT WITH A
SPIRITUAL MASTER WHO CAN REVIVE THE DORMANT
he
KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE CONDITIONED SOUL.
nt
Krsna is always merciful and He comes Himself, He leaves behind
Him instruction like the Bhagavad Gita, etc. AND HE SENDS HIS
(I
REPRESENTATIVE, THE SPIRITUAL MASTER. IN THIS WAY
THE MERCIFUL PROPAGANDA IS GOING ON.‛
aid
(Letter to Jagadisha, 7/9/70)

S
Aren’t there any more sincere souls, sincere enough for Krsna to come to
them as the bona fide spiritual master? Did Krsna temporarily stop
ada
manifesting Himself through His devotees until further notice? This issue is
one of the most important points to be addressed. Amongst other things, it
hup
has to do with our current vision about who is a Vaisnava and what it means
rab
to be one. How important are the Vaisnavas these days? Should we really see
them as PRABHUPADA SAID?
P
‚You’ll find in Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, it is stated somewhere, that if,

if a devotee is coming, then another devotee who is engaged in
hat
worship of the Deity may stop Deity worship for the time being and
W
should go immediately to receive the devotee. So Krsna also says,

mad-bhakta-puja abhyadhika. KRSNA IS SATISFIED MORE WHEN
and
A DEVOTEE WORSHIPS HIS DEVOTEE. Krsna says, ‘If one is

worshiping Me and one is worshiping My devotee,’ then the person
uru
who is worshiping the devotee, he’s more important than the person
who is worshiping Krsna.
G
[...]‚So WHEN ONE IS ADVANCED, HE CAN SEE THE

IMPORTANCE OF DEVOTEES. Advanced devotee never disobeys
he
or disrespect another devotee. Disrespect to another devotee is a

T
101
on)
great offense. Vaisnava aparadha. Vaisnava aparadha is very serious
offense. Therefore we teach to address amongst the devotees,
skc
‘PRABHU’, ‘PRABHU’, ‘Such and such PRABHU.’ This should not
I
be simply spoken by the lips. It should be realized. Everyone should
think other devotee as his prabhu, master. Not that he should try to
of
become master. Trinad api sunicena taror api sahisnuna amanina
ice
manadena.‛ (NOD Lecture, Vrndavana 10/23/72)
erv
‚So Lord Nityananda or Baladev is the original Spiritual Master, and
such pure devotee sometimes takes the risk of life in order to reclaim
S
a person who might have otherwise been rejected by the Lord. The
he
devotee knows that the Lord wants all the fallen souls to come back to
nt
Home, and therefore the devotees always try to induce the
conditioned souls to take to Krishna Consciousness by various ways
(I
and means. Therefore THE CONCLUSION IS THAT A DEVOTEE
IS MORE KIND THAN THE LORD HIMSELF.
aid
‚By such advanced devotional service a devotee becomes quickly

S
recognized by the Lord. That is also stated in the Bhagavad Gita.

Actually, WITHOUT THE MERCY OF A DEVOTEE NOBODY
ada
CAN APPROACH THE LORD DIRECTLY--AND IT IS EASIER

TO GET MERCY OF A DEVOTEE THAN TO GET MERCY OF
hup
THE LORD. SO THEREFORE THE MOST INTELLIGENT WAY

rab
OF APPROACHING GOD IS TO TAKE SHELTER OF A PURE

DEVOTEE.
P
‚Somehow or other if one can please a pure devotee of the Lord, such
action means immediate satisfaction of the Lord, even though such a
hat
person is not officially qualified to receive the mercy of the Lord.‛

W
(Letter to Sriman Yeager, 1/21/70)

Srila Narottama dasa Thakura says, chadiya vaisnava seva nistara
and
payeche keba: UNLESS ONE SERVES A VAISNAVA, HE

CANNOT BE DELIVERED. (Cc Madhya 1.218)
uru
‚All the great stalwart personalities in the universe, including Lord

G
Brahma and Lord Siva, are fully under the control of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, but THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF
he
GODHEAD IS FULLY UNDER THE CONTROL OF HIS

T
DEVOTEE. Why is this? Because the devotee is anyabhilasita-sunya;

102
on)
in other words, he has no material desires in his heart. His only desire
is to think always of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and how to
skc
serve Him best.
I
‚Because of this transcendental qualification, the Supreme Lord is
of
extremely favorable to the devotees --indeed, not only the devotees,
but also the devotees of the devotees. Srila Narottama dasa Thakura
ice
says, chadiya vaisnava-seva nistara payeche keba: WITHOUT BEING
erv
A DEVOTEE OF A DEVOTEE, ONE CANNOT BE RELEASED
FROM MATERIAL ENTANGLEMENT. Therefore Caitanya
S
Mahaprabhu identified Himself as gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayor
he
dasa-dasanudasah. Thus he instructed us to become not directly
nt
servants of Krsna but servants of the servant of Krsna. Devotees like
Brahma, Narada, Vyasadeva and Sukadeva Gosvami are directly
(I
servants of Krsna, and one who becomes a servant of Narada,
Vyasadeva and Sukadeva, like the six Gosvamis, is still more devoted.
aid
‚Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura therefore says, yasya prasadad

S
bhagavat-prasadah: if one very sincerely serves the spiritual master,

Krsna certainly becomes favorable to such a devotee. FOLLOWING
ada
THE INSTRUCTIONS OF A DEVOTEE IS MORE VALUABLE

THAN FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE SUPREME
hup
PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD DIRECTLY.‛ (SB 9.4.63)

rab
‚Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has therefore sung: vaisnava thakura

tomara kukura baliya janaha more. In this way Bhaktivinoda
P
Thakura offers to become a Vaisnava’s dog. A dog always keeps

himself at his master’s door and does not allow any person
hat
unfavorable to enter. Similarly, ONE SHOULD ENGAGE IN THE

W
SERVICE OF A VAISNAVA AND TRY TO PLEASE HIM IN

EVERY RESPECT. UNLESS ONE DOES SO, HE DOES NOT
and
MAKE SPIRITUAL ADVANCEMENT.‛ (SB 4.29.31)

Was Srila Prabhupada the last Vaisnava? Didn’t he create any genuine
uru
Vaisnavas? What did he think of his disciples?

G
‚MY DISCIPLES ARE MY AGENTS, MY REPRESENTATIVES,

SO BY HEARING IT FROM THEM, YOU ARE RECEIVING IT
he
FROM ME. And because you are a sincere soul, those who are
T
hearing the Mantra from you are receiving it in DISCIPLIC

103
on)
SUCCESSION, FROM LORD CAITANYA AND FROM LORD
KRISHNA.‛ (Letter to Andrea Temple, 3/6/68)
skc
‚So one who does not indulge in speculating habit, neither tries to
I
gain something by his work, but simply engages himself in the service
of
of the Lord, he is called a pure devotee. Such pure devotees are very
rare. But by the Grace of Krishna, PRACTICALLY ALL THE
ice
DEVOTEES AND DISCIPLES WHO HAVE KINDLY JOINED
erv
ME, THEY ARE, THEIR SYMPTOMS ARE PURE DEVOTEES.
Even if they have got some ulterior desire, that will be removed very
S
soon, because they have taken to the pure process of Krishna
he
Consciousness.‛ (Letter to Janaki, 10/13/68)
nt
‚Krishna Consciousness is itself Brahma platform, so ALL OUR
(I
STUDENTS WHO ARE ENGAGED IN THE SERVICE OF GOD,
THEY ARE NOT ON THE MATERIAL PLATFORM. THEY ARE
ALREADY LIBERATED...‛ (Letter to Sachisuta, 9/19/69)
aid
‚ALL OF MY DISCIPLES ARE PURE DEVOTEES. Anyone

S
sincerely serving the spiritual master is a pure devotee...Anyone who

ada
is surrendered to the spiritual master is a pure devotee....‛

hup
‚Anyone who is coming to Krsna consciousness, he’s not ordinary

living being. Anyone who is connected with our movement, he’s not
rab
ordinary living being. ACTUALLY HE’S LIBERATED SOUL. I am

very much hopeful that my disciples who are now participating today,
P
even if I die, my movement will not stop, I am very much hopeful,

yes.‛ (Vyasa Puja Lecture, London 8/22/73)
hat
‚S.PRABHUPADA: Every one of us [is] messiah. Anyone Krsna

W
conscious, he’s the messiah. Everyone. Why...? All of us. Gaurangera

bhakta-gane, jane jane sakti dhari, brahmando tari saksi: ‘The devotee
and
of Lord Caitanya, everyone has so immense power that every one,

they can deliver the whole universe.’ Gaurangera bhakta-jane, jane
uru
jane sakti.., brahmando tari... That is Gauranga’s men.

G
D: Only you are that powerful, Srila Prabhupada. We’re like...

S.PRABHUPADA: Why you are not? You are my disciples.
he
T
D: We’re like the bugs.

104
on)
S.PRABHUPADA: ‘LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON.’ You should be.
Gaurangera bhakta... jane. Everyone. Therefore Caitanya
skc
Mahaprabhu said, amara ajnaya guru hana tara ei desa. He asked
I
everyone, ‘just become guru.’ Follow His instruction. You become
guru. Amara ajnaya. ‘What I say, you do. You become a guru.’ Where
of
is the difficulty? ‘And what is Your ajna?’ Yare dekha tare kaha krsna
ice
upadesa. Bas. Everything is there in the Bhagavad-gita. You simply
repeat. That’s all. You become guru. To become a guru is not difficult
erv
job. Follow Caitanya Mahaprabhu and speak what Krsna has said.
S
Bas. You become guru.‛ (Morning Walk, Bombay 4/13/77)
he
‚Hare Krsna. Bhakta sane vasa. Such a great opportunity. YOU ARE
nt
ALL PURE DEVOTEES. To live with you and to die while you are
chanting, such a great opportunity. So there is no question of being
(I
afraid of death.‛ (Vigil, Vrndavana 5/28/77)
(For more quotes on this topic, please turn to Part Two, Question Eight)
aid
Thus, when someone accepts as a guru a genuine Vaisnava devotee (one of

S
those Vaisnavas that Srila Prabhupada just described as pure devotees) and,
therefore, ‚has achieved the grace of the Lord‛ (SB 2.9.7), is it the correct
ada
thing to do to create doubts in the heart of such a person about the actual
advancement of that Vaisnava? Are we going to subscribe in our preaching to
hup
that somewhat common-but-unspoken belief, ‚Nowadays, saints are only

rab
found in tombs‛?
‚WHEN A MAN COMES INTO GOOD CONSCIOUSNESS AND
P
ACCEPTS A SAINTLY PERSON AS A SPIRITUAL MASTER, he

hears many Vedic instructions in the form of philosophy, stories,
hat
narrations about great devotees and transactions between God and

W
His devotees. [...]ONE CANNOT RETURN TO KRSNA

CONSCIOUSNESS UNLESS HE IS FAVORED BY THE
and
INSTRUCTIONS OF A SAINTLY PERSON. Therefore Srila

Narottama dasa Thakura sings: sadhu-sastra-guru-vakya, cittete kariya
uru
aikya. If we want to become saintly persons, or if we want to return to

our original Krsna consciousness, we must associate with sadhu (a
G
saintly person), sastra (authoritative Vedic literature) and guru (a

bona fide spiritual master). THIS IS THE PROCESS.‛ (SB 4.26.12)
he
T
105
on)
What we would be indirectly doing by such an attitude is requesting the
aspirant disciple to reject or doubt the way in which Krsna has manifested
skc
Himself to him7. Was this Prabhupada’s intention when advising that the
I
guru be an uttama-adhikari?
of
Of course, there is no doubt that Srila Prabhupada recommends strongly that
the guru be an uttama-adhikari. Such statements will be found in this book.
ice
But if they are understood as a deterrent, as a total discouragement or as a
erv
condition sine qua non, i.e. absolutely indispensable, then he would be
contradicting himself in an unimaginable number of occasions in which he
S
presented the matter under a totally different light. Many of these latter kind
he
of quotes (which outnumber any others by far) will also be found in this book.
nt
Here is a sample. (Mind you, it is only a sample.) (I
‚Guru is only one. Guru means, as you explained, ajnana
timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya, caksur unmilitam yena tasmai
sri-gurave namah. One who eradicates the ajnana, andhakara,
aid
darkness. In the darkness, if somebody brings lamp, ajnana

S
timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya..., the jnana-rupa, torchlight, he’s

guru. SO MAYBE OF DIFFERENT DEGREES, BUT ANYONE
ada
WHO OPENS THE SPIRITUAL EYES, HE’S GURU.

hup
‚[...I]t doesn’t matter that degree. ACTUALLY, IF THE GURU

TEACHES KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS, THEN HE MAY BE IN
rab
LESSER DEGREE, BUT HE’S ACCEPTED AS GURU. THERE IS

NO QUESTION OF REJECTION. Because Krsna is actually jnana,
P
one who teaches Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, ‚one

has to know Krsna, one has to surrender to Krsna,‛ this kind of
hat
teaching is required.
W
‚[...] So THE REAL TEST IS WHETHER THE GURU IS A

VAISNAVA, WHETHER HE KNOWS THE SCIENCE OF
and
KRSNA. That is also confirmed by Caitanya Mahaprabhu: kiba vipra

uru
7 The situation of someone who is looking for a guru is different from that of someone who
G
comes to his guru without having searched for him. Previous quotes have stated that someone
finds a guru by Krsna's direct mercy. Again, we should not ask someone who has received Krsna's
he
mercy, to doubt or reject it.

T
106
on)
kiba sudra nyasikene naya, yei krsna-tattva vettha sei guru haya. A... IT
DOESN’T MATTER WHAT HE IS, whether he’s a sannyasi or a
skc
grhastha or a brahmana or a su..., born in brahmana family or.... It
I
doesn’t matter. Yei krsna-tattva, anyone who knows Krsna, he can
become guru, not others. So that is the statement of the sastras. A
of
avaisnava cannot become guru.‛ (Lecture, Ahmedabad 12/13/72)
ice
‚Just like a post peon who gives you five thousand rupees, delivers. He
erv
does not deliver. Somebody else is delivering. He’s simply carrying.
That’s all. Similary, IF WE SIMPLY CARRY THE MESSAGE OF
S
KRSNA AS IT IS, WE BECOME PERFECT. IT IS NOT VERY
he
DIFFICULT. IF I SIMPLY CARRY THE MESSAGE OF KRSNA,
nt
WHERE IS THE DIFFICULTY? Everything is there. Krsna has said
everything. Krsna says, man-mana mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam
(I
namaskuru. We carry this message. Just always think of Krsna, always
offer obeisances to Krsna, become a devotee of Krsna. Man-manah,
aid
think of Krsna always. We have to carry this message. Where is the

difficulty?
S
‚So TO BECOME A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER, THERE

ada
IS NO DIFFICULTY. If you, simply, if we carry the message of Krsna

as it is without any adulteration. So we must find out a person who is
hup
actually bona fide spiritual master by this test, that he’s not, I mean to
rab
say adulterating Krsna’s message. He’s not playing howl with the
message of Krsna in order to introduce himself, his person. He’s
P
simply presenting the message of Krsna as it is. Then he’s spiritual

master. Nobody else.‛ (NOD Vrndavana 10/31/72)
hat
"EVERYONE CAN BECOME REPRESENTATIVE OF KRSNA.

W
How? If you simply carry the message of Krsna without any

adulteration. That's all. Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, amara
and
ajnaya guru hana [Cc. Madhya 7.128], "You become a spiritual master
under My order." SO IF YOU CARRY OUT THE ORDER OF
uru
CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU, KRSNA, THEN YOU BECOME

GURU. Amara ajnaya guru hana. Unfortunately, we do not wish to
G
carry out order of the acaryas. We manufacture our own ways. We

have got practical experience how a great institution was lost by
he
whimsical ways. Without carrying out the order of the spiritual

T
107
on)
master, they manufactured something and the whole thing was lost.
Therefore Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura stresses very much on the
skc
words of the spiritual master. Vyavasayatmika buddhir ekeha
I
kuru-nandana [Bg. 2.41]. IF YOU STICK TO THE ORDER OF
SPIRITUAL MASTER, THEN, WITHOUT CARING FOR YOUR
of
OWN CONVENIENCE OR INCONVENIENCE, THEN YOU
ice
BECOME PERFECT."
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.11 -- Vrndavana, October 22, 1972)
erv
‚...So Caitanya Mahaprabhu says amara ajnaya guru hana tara’ei desa,
S
yare dekha, tare kaha ‘krsna’-upadesa... He says amara ajnaya... ‘by My
he
order you become a spiritual master....’So one may be very illiterate,
nt
no education, no scholarship, may not be born in a brahmana family,
or may not be a sannyasi --there are so many qualifications. But one
(I
may not have all these qualifications. HE MAY BE RASCAL
NUMBER ONE. But still he can become spiritual master. ...How?
aid
Amara ajnaya!!! As Krsna says, as Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, if you

follow, then you become spiritual master. ONE MAY BE RASCAL
S
NUMBER ONE FROM MATERIAL ESTIMATION, BUT IF HE

ada
SIMPLY STRICTLY FOLLOWS WHATEVER IS SAID BY

CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU OR HIS REPRESENTATIVE
hup
SPIRITUAL MASTER, THEN HE BECOMES A GURU.‛

rab
‚IT IS SRI CAITANYA’S WISH that everyone should become a

P
Vaisnava AND GURU. Following the instructions of Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu and His disciplic succession, one can become aspiritual
hat
master, for THE PROCESS IS VERY EASY. One can go everywhere

and anywhere to preach the instructions of Krsna. (...)The DUTY of
W
every Vaisnava is to travel and preach Bhagavad-gita, either in his

country or a foreign country.‛ (C.c. M. 24.277 ppt.)
and
‚This time I have requested all Nairobi important friends that ‘Now
uru
you take sannyasa and become guru. Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu

asked everyone to become guru.’Amara ajnaya guruhaya tara ei desa.
G
‘You have come to Africa. Now become their guru and deliver them.’
‘Now, how shall I do it?’ Yare dekha tare kaha krsna upadesa: ‘Simply
he
T
108
on)
speak. Don’t become very big. SIMPLY SPEAK WHAT KRSNA
HAS DONE. THAT’S ALL. YOU BECOME GURU.’‛
skc
I
‚We do not have to manufacture anything new. We are getting
of
perfect knowledge from Krishna through the disciplic sucession, so
our position is very firm. WHATEVER WE HEAR FROM THE
ice
BONAFIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER SHOULD BE PRACTICED IN
erv
LIFE AND THE SAME MESSAGE DELIVERED TO WHOMEVER
S
WE MEET. IN THIS WAY YOU BECOME SPIRITUAL
MASTER.‛ (Letter to Kirtiraja, 12/31/75)
he
‚INTERVIEWER: What is your hierarchy in Krsna conscious? That
nt
is, do you have anything comparable to bishops and the hierarchy of
(I
the Christian faith and of other major faiths? That is, you are the
spiritual preceptor, and who are all those below you, between you and
aid
the congregation, the members?

S
‚PRABHUPADA: It is not exactly the hierarchy, but in the

Christian method, Roman Catholic method, the process of the Pope,
ada
Archbishop, and..., that is very nice. There is no objection of us. But

our point is that Krsna consciousness is lacking. In spite of all
hup
arrangement, if people lost faith in God, so simply by hierarchy, what

is the benefit there? There is no benefit. You see? Bambarambhe
rab
laghu-kriya, in the Sanskrit word, that you can make a very

P
high-grade arrangement, but the result is zero. So that hierarchical

arrangement is exactly not in Krsna consciousness. But OUR
hat
METHOD IS VERY SIMPLE. IF ONE IS FORTUNATE ENOUGH

TO MEET A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER AND IF HE
W
ACTS STRICTLY UNDER HIS DISCIPLINE, HE ALSO

BECOMES WITHIN A VERY SHORT TIME ANOTHER
and
SPIRITUAL MASTER.‛ (Interview, Seattle 9/24/68)

uru
‚ ‘HOW SHALL I become guru? I have no qualification.’ Caitanya

Mahaprabhu said, ‘You don’t require any qualification. YOU
G
SIMPLY REQUIRE ONE QUALIFICATION, that you repeat the

instruction of Bhagavad-gita. That’s all.’ Yare dekha tare kaha
he
krsna-upadesa. That’s all. You become a guru. Don’t adulterate

T
109
on)
krsna-upadesa like a rascal or nonsense. Present it as it is
--Bhagavad-gita. Then you become a guru. You can become a guru in
skc
your family, you can become a guru in your society, your nation
I
--wherever you are. And if it is possible, you go outside and preach
this mission of Bhagavad-gita. Therefore our movement’s name is
of
Krsna consciousness. WHATEVER KRSNA SAYS, YOU ACCEPT
ice
AND PREACH. YOU BECOME GURU. Thank you very much.‛
erv
‚Make sure that they are well aware of the four rules and regulations
S
and that they are fixed in chanting the prescribed number of 16
he
rounds daily on the beads. Without these two principles no one can
nt
make advancement on the path of regulated bhakti. Teach them the
science of the Bhagavad gita and train them to be first class
(I
representatives of Krsna. IT IS NOT VERY DIFFICULT, simply one
has to hear from the perfect authority who is in disciplic succession
aid
from Krsna Himself, and then repeat the same message without any
change. IF ONE DOES THIS THEN HE IS QUALIFIED TO
S
BECOME GURU.‛ (Letter to Jayadharma, 8/20/76)

ada
‚Because people are in darkness, WE REQUIRE MANY MILLIONS

OF GURUS to enlighten them. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s
hup
mission is, He said, that ‘Every one of you become guru.’ Amara
rab
ajnaya guru haya tara ei desa. You haven’t got to go foreign countries.
Wherever you are, you teach; become guru. It doesn’t matter. Ei desa.
P
He says, ei desa. If you have got power, you can go other country but it
doesn’t require. In whichever village, whichever country or town you
hat
are, you become a guru. This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission.

Amara ajnaya guru haya tara ei desa. ‘This country, this place.’
W
‚So ‘But I have no qualification. How can I become guru?’ THERE IS

and
NO NEED OF QUALIFICATION. ‘Still, I can become guru?’ Yes.

‘How?’ Yare dekha tare kaha krsna upadesa: ‘Whomever you meet, you
uru
simply instruct what Krsna has said.’ That’s all. You become guru.
Everyone is very anxious to become guru, but rascal does not know
G
how to become guru, A SIMPLE THING.

he
T
110
on)
[...]‚So that is our mission. ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE COME TO
KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS MOVEMENT, THAT IS OUR
skc
REQUEST, THAT YOU, ALL OF YOU, BECOME GURU but
I
don’t speak nonsense. That is our is request. Simply speak what Krsna
of
has said. Then you become brahmana. You’ll be guru, and everything.
Thank you very much.‛ (Lecture, Honolulu 5/21/76)
ice
‚Caitanya Mahaprabhu said that you become a guru. Amara ajnaya
erv
guru hana tara ei desa. You become a guru and deliver them. So I am a
S
fool, I have no education. How can I become a guru? The answer is
‘No no, Yare dekha tare kaha krsna-upadesa.’ IF YOU SIMPLY
he
ADVISE PEOPLE WHAT KRSNA HAS SAID, THEN YOU
nt
BECOME GURU. But if you manufacture your ideas, then you are
(I
not a guru.‛ (Conversation, Bombay 1/7/77)
aid
‚Amara ajnaya guru hana tara ei desa. Suppose you are living in that
S
village. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, ‘You become a guru here.’ Here.

You haven’t got to go out. Ei desa,‘where you are living.’ Just see how
ada
nice it is. Amara ajnaya: ‘By My order, you become a guru and deliver
the people of this place.’ This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s.... ‘So I am
hup
not a guru. I do not know. How I shall become?’ NO,YOU HAVEN’T

rab
GOT TO BOTHER. Yare dekha tare kaha krsna upadesa: ‘SIMPLY

YOU REPEAT WHAT KRSNA HAS SAID.’ YOU BECOME
P
GURU. THAT’S ALL. Everyone can do that. Gita is there. You sit
down in your place and preach Bhagavad-gita and try to induce them
hat
to take it. YOU BECOME GURU.‛

W

and
BECOME GURU,’ as I was telling, ‘AND TEACH, DELIVER

PERSONS WHERE YOU ARE.’ If you say, ‘How can I become
uru
guru?,’ there is no difficulty. SIMPLY REPEAT THE WORDS OF

BHAGAVAD-GITA. THAT’S ALL. YOU BECOME GURU. SO
G
OUR MISSION IS TO CREATE REAL GURU, NOT THESE

JUGGLERS. AND REAL GURU IS HE WHO SPEAKS ON
he
BEHALF OF KRSNA. And that is wan... IT IS VERY SIMPLE.

T
111
on)
‚...This is our mission. Everything is there. Caitanya Mahaprabhu
says, yare dekha tare kaha krsna upade... ‘YOU SIMPLY MAKE
skc
YOUR LIFE SUCCESSFUL BY UNDERSTANDING
I
of
BHAGAVAD-GITA AND PREACH THIS. YOU BECOME
ice
GURU.’ So where is the difficulty? WHY DON’T YOU DO THAT?‛
erv
S
‚We repeat. We don’t manufacture. What is the use of
manufacturing? I am imperfect. Whatever I manufacture, that is
he
imperfect. So better to repeat the words of the perfect. That is
nt
Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission. HE SAID, ‘EVERY ONE OF YOU
(I
BECOME GURU AND DELIVER YOUR SURROUNDING
PERSONS, EITHER YOU ARE IN FAMILY OR IN
NEIGHBORHOOD OR IN SOCIETY OR IN NATION, AS
aid
MUCH AS YOU CAN.’ Amara ajnaya guru hana taraei desa. So

S
whatever limited circle, YOU JUST BECOME GURU AND

DELIVER THEM. (Conversation, Hrisikesa 5/11/77)
ada
hup
‚THIS IS VERY EASY. So I am not a scholar. I am simply...Whatever

is said there, I am trying to distribute in a palatable way. That’s all. It
rab
is not my manufacture. And that is Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s... Amara

P
ajnaya guru hana tara ei desa. YOU ALL BECOME GURU. ‘How can
I become guru? I have no education. I have no knowledge.’’ No, you
hat
haven’t got to acquire all these things. That is already...Yare dekha

tare kaha. Finished. So I never tried to become a scholar. But I tried.
W
Whatever is spoken by Krsna, deliver. That’s all. And that is guru.‛

and
(Conversation, Vrndavana 6/26/77)

uru
It is very significant that, as you see from the dates of some of these quotes
and the similar ones in Part Two - Question Fifteen, Srila Prabhupada was
G
insistently stressing this point in his last years amongst us. And it is quite
improbable, to say the least, that what Prabhupada was actually saying was:
he
T
112
on)
Become guru! Become guru! Become guru!
skc
It is very simple.
Become guru!
I
It is not difficult. It is very easy.
of
Become guru!
ice
You don’t need any scholarship.
erv
Become guru!
S
You don’t have to be a brahmana.
Become guru!
he
You don’t have to be a sannyasi.
Become guru!
nt
(I
You don’t need any qualification whatsoever.
Become guru!
aid
You may be Fool Number One!

S
Still, become guru!!!

ada
(P.S.: All you need is to be an uttama-adhikari.)

hup
rab
P
hat
W
and
uru
G
he
T
113
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
114
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
on)
skc
I
of
ice
erv
S
he
nt
(I
aid
S
ada
hup
rab
‚So we got this information from His Divine Grace

P
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, and that

knowledge is still going on. You are receiving through
hat
his servant. And in future the same knowledge will go to

W
your students. This is called parampara system. Evam

parampara prap... It is not that you have become a
and
student and you'll remain student. No. One day you

shall become also guru and make more students, more
uru
students, more. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's

mission, not that perpetually... Yes, one should remain
G
perpetually a student, but he has to act as guru. That is

he
the mission of Caitanya Mahaprabhu.‛

T

115
on)
AT THIS POINT one may naturally ask, ‚What about all those
statements in which Prabhupada refers to a guru as an
skc
uttama-adhikari or mahabhagavata?‛ One of such statements [you
I
may read more of them in Part Two, Question Seven], taken from
Nectar of Instruction, is the most quoted and is totally
of
representative of the others:
ice
‚ONE SHOULD NOT BECOME A SPIRITUAL MASTER
erv
UNLESS HE HAS ATTAINED THE PLATFORM OF
S
UTTAMA-ADHIKARI. A neophyte Vaisnava or a Vaisnava situated
on the intermediate platform can also accept disciples, but such
he
disciples must be on the same platform, and it should be understood
nt
that they cannot advance very well toward the ultimate goal of life
(I
under his insufficient guidance. Therefore A DISCIPLE SHOULD
BE CAREFUL TO ACCEPT AN UTTAMA ADHIKARI AS A
SPIRITUAL MASTER.‛ (NOI Text 5 ppt.)
aid
S
What does this mean exactly? In the midst of so many other instructions
given by Srila Prabhupada, this quote comes as a perplexity. Didn’t he just say
ada
that a liberated soul never says he’s liberated (as quoted in Chapter Three)?
Isn’t it a main symptom of the uttama-adhikari that he does not see himself as
hup
being any better than anybody else?

rab
‚...[T]he maha-bhagavata or uttama-adhikari, the devotee in the

highest stage of devotional life, does not see anyone as being against
P
the Vaisnava principles, for HE REGARDS EVERYONE AS A

hat
VAISNAVA BUT HIMSELF.‛ (Cc Adi 7.51)

‚A REAL VAISNAVA, OF COURSE, WILL NEVER SAY THAT
W
HE IS SUPERIOR TO ANYONE. He will say that he is the lowest of

the living entities. If he says that he is superior then actually he is not
and
superior.‛ (Letter to Sukadeva, 12/28/74)

‚S.PRABHUPADA: If anyone approaches Radharani, She
uru
recommends to Krsna, ‘Here is the best devotee. He is better than

G
Me,’ and Krsna cannot refuse him. That is the best devotee. But it is
not to be imitated: ‘I have become the best devotee.’
he
T
116
on)
isvare tad-adhinesu
balisesu dvisatsu ca
skc
prema-maitri-krpopeksa
I
yah karoti sa madhyamah (SB 11.2.46)
of
A second-class devotee has the vision that some are envious of God,
but this is not the vision of the best devotee. The best devotee sees,
ice
‘Nobody is envious of God. Everyone is better than me.’ Just like
erv
Caitanya-caritamrta’s author, Krsnadasa Kaviraja. He says, ‘I am
lower than the worm in the stool.‛
S
BOB: Who is saying this?
he
S.PRABHUPADA: Krsnadasa Kaviraja, the author of
nt
Caitanya-caritamrta: purisera kita haite muni se laghistha. He is not
(I
making a show. He is feeling like that. ‘I am the lowest. EVERYONE
IS BEST, BUT I AM THE LOWEST. EVERYONE IS ENGAGED
aid
IN KRSNA’S SERVICE. I AM NOT ENGAGED.’ Caitanya

Mahaprabhu said ‘Oh, I have not a pinch of devotion to Krsna. I cry
S
to make a show. If I had been a devotee of Krsna, I would have died

ada
long ago. But I am living. That is the proof that I do not love Krsna.’
That is the vision of the best devotee. He is so much absorbed in
hup
Krsna’s love that he says, ‘Everything is going on, but I am the lowest.
Therefore I cannot see God.’ That is the best devotee.‛
rab
(PQPA, pgs.55-56)
P
Furthermore, Prabhupada directly states that we should never think we have

become perfect:
hat
‚I thank you for your sincere appreciation, and for your feelings of
W
imperfectness. The more you think as imperfect, the more you make
actual progress in Krishna Consciousness. This hankering after
perfection is seen in even the most perfect devotees. So WE
and
SHOULD NEVER THINK OF BEING PERFECT AT ANY

STAGE. Actually, Krishna Consciousness is unlimited, because
uru
Krishna is unlimited, so WE DO NOT KNOW AT WHICH POINT

G
THE PERFECTION IS THERE. Even Krishna Himself thinks that

He is imperfect to understand Radharani’s feelings of devotion; and
he
to understand the devotional feelings of Radharani, He became Lord

T
Caitanya, to worship Krishna in the feelings of Radharani. So

117
on)
transcendental activities are so nice that it is all perfection, and still
there is no perfect satisfaction. That is the duty of spiritual life.‛
skc
I
However, in another quote, PRABHUPADA SAID:
of
‚So, when you want to learn something, you have to approach a
ice
teacher, and if the teacher is perfect, then you get perfect knowledge.
erv
This is the process. If the teacher is only another rascal like you, then
whatever knowledge he may give you is useless. THE TEACHER
S
MUST BE PERFECT; he must have real knowledge. Then he can
teach. Therefore, the process is that you have to find out a perfect
he
teacher. If you are fortunate, and you get such a perfect teacher, then
nt
you can learn everything. But if you approach a teacher who is blind
(I
as you are, then you don’t learn anything.‛
(Consciousness: The Missing Link, pgs. 13-14)
aid
Now, let’s put all the pieces together:

S
The uttama-adhikari does not see himself as such + ‚One should not become
ada
a spiritual master unless he has attained the platform of uttama-adhikari‛ = A

The other equation: ‚We should never think of being perfect at any stage‛ +
hup
‚The teacher must be perfect‛ = B

rab
It doesn’t take a degree in advanced calculus to solve the riddle:

P
A = B = No one a guru will be!

The quote from Nectar of Instruction (5) is definitely similar to other
hat
perplexing ones that require further elucidation. For example, in that same
book we find some surprising idea being emphasized: should we take it
W
verbatim?
and
‚Srila Rupa Gosvami has given much stress to Radha-kunda because

of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s desire to find it. Who, then, would give
uru
up Radha-kunda and try to reside elsewhere? No person with

transcendental intelligence would do so.‛ (NOI Text 9, pg.80)
G
‚Therefore everyone interested in Krsna consciousness should

ultimately take shelter of Radha-kunda and execute devotional
he
service there throughout one’s life.‛ (NOI Text 10, pg.88)

T
118
on)
‚The conclusion is that to live on the banks of the Radha-kunda and
to bathe there daily constitute the highest perfection of devotional
skc
service.‛ (NOI Text 11, pg.91)
I
Before packing your bags and leaving for Radha-kunda, please read on. In the
of
following quote from Caitanya-caritamrta, Srila Prabhupada says something
ice
truly amazing if we were to accept it ‚face-value‛:
erv
‚A neophyte student who is not sufficiently educated or enlightened
S
should not indulge in the worship of Sri Radha and Krsna or the
chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra. Even if he does so, he cannot get
he
the desired result.‛ (Cc Adi 8.31)
nt
(I
Which is a quote that requires Prabhupada’s further elucidation to
understand what he actually means. For that I refer you to the full purport.
aid
So, in regards to the previous uttama-adhikari quote from the Nectar of

S
Instruction, if we don’t allow ourselves any further elucidation, then, again,

Srila Prabhupada would seemingly be contradicting himself.
ada
‚As stated hereinbefore, there are three kinds of devotees of the Lord.
hup
The first-class devotee does not see anyone who is not in the service
of the Lord, but the second-class devotee makes distinctions between
rab
devotees and nondevotees. THE SECOND-CLASS DEVOTEES

P
ARE THEREFORE MEANT FOR PREACHING WORK, and as

referred to in the above verse, they must loudly preach the glories of
hat
the Lord. THE SECOND-CLASS DEVOTEE ACCEPTS

DISCIPLES FROM THE SECTION OF THIRD-CLASS
W
DEVOTEES OR NONDEVOTEES.
and

category of the second-class devotee for preaching work. But the
uru
common man, who is expected to become at least a third-class

devotee, is advised herein to visit the temple of the Lord and bow
G
down before the Deity, even though he may be a very rich man or
even a king with a silk turban or crown.‛ (SB 2.3.21 ppt.)
he
T
119
on)
The perfection required of a spiritual master is also, in Prabhupada’s own
words, something very broad, as we read in previous quotes (see Chapter
skc
Five) and will be confirmed in the following ones:
I
‚PERFECTION, IN OUR PHILOSOPHY, IS TO ACT WITH
of
UNFLINCHING FAITH IN KRSNA AND [THE] SPIRITUAL
MASTER....‛ (Letter to Karandhar, 4/22/71)
ice
erv
‚S.PRABHUPADA: So, when you want to learn something, you have
to approach a teacher, and if the teacher is perfect, then you get
S
perfect knowledge. This is the process. If the teacher is only another
he
rascal like you, then whatever knowledge he may give you is useless.
THE TEACHER MUST BE PERFECT; he must have real
nt
knowledge. Then he can teach. Therefore, the process is that you
(I
have to find out a perfect teacher. If you are fortunate, and you get
such a perfect teacher, then you can learn everything. But if you
aid
approach a teacher who is blind as you are, then you don’t learn
anything.
S
DR.BENFORD: Are there many perfect teachers?

ada
S.PRABHUPADA: Yes. Otherwise, there is no question of accepting

hup
a teacher. The first perfect teacher is Krsna, and others are those who
have learned from Him. For example, you are a scientist. Suppose I
rab
learn something from you. Even if I am not a scientist, because I have

P
learned from you my knowledge is perfectly scientific.

hat
DR.BENFORD: I don’t understand.

W
S.PRABHUPADA: Suppose a child goes to a mathematics teacher,

and he says, ‚Two plus two equals four.‛ The child is not a
mathematician, but if he accepts the teacher’s teaching, ‚Two plus
and
two equals four,‛ and repeats that, then his knowledge is perfect.
uru
DR.BENFORD: But how does one know when the teacher is

perfect?It seems to be very difficult.
G
S.PRABHUPADA: No, it is not difficult. A TEACHER IS

he
PERFECT WHO HAS LEARNED FROM A PERFECT TEACHER.

T
120
on)
DR.BENFORD: But that merely removes the problem a step.
skc
S.PRABHUPADA: No, it is not a problem. There is a perfect
teacher, Krsna, who is accepted by all classes of teachers as their
I
teacher. In India, the Vedic civilization is conducted by Vedic
of
teachers. All these Vedic teachers accept Krsna as the supreme
teacher. They take lessons from Krsna, and they teach the same
ice
message. That is the process.
erv
S
DR.BENFORD: SO EVERYONE I MIGHT MEET WHO
he
ACCEPTS KRSNA AS THE PERFECT TEACHER IS THE
PERFECT TEACHER?
nt
(I
S.PRABHUPADA: YES, because he is teaching only Krsna’s
teachings, that’s all. It is the same as the example we gave before:
THEY MAY NOT BE PERSONALLY PERFECT, BUT
aid
WHATEVER THEY ARE SPEAKING IS PERFECT BECAUSE IT

S
IS TAUGHT BY KRSNA.
ada
DR.BENFORD: Then you are not perfect.

S.PRABHUPADA: No, I am not perfect. None of us claims to be
hup
perfect; we have so many faults. But because we don’t speak anything

beyond Krsna’s teachings, our teaching is therefore perfect....‛
rab

P
‚The science of Krishna Consciousness is transcendental science

hat
which is never understood by materialistic persons. Therefore, the

Vedas order is that one must approach a spiritual master to
W
understand that transcendental science. And THE

QUALIFICATION OF A SPIRITUAL MASTER IS THAT HE
and
HAS TO HAVE RECEIVED THE KNOWLEDGE SIMILARLY

FROM A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER, AND THE
uru
RESULT IS THAT A SPIRITUAL MASTER IS COMPLETELY

CONVINCED OF THE EXISTENCE OF THE SUPREME
G
PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, AND HE IS FIXED. THAT IS

THE QUALIFICATION OF THE SPIRITUAL MASTER. In other
he
words, this science is appreciated by service attitude only. It is never

T
121
on)
understood by any challenging spirit. One who is submissive and
ready to give aural reception of the transcendental message, to him
skc
only the transcendence becomes revealed. So the more you become in
I
service attitude for Krishna, Krishna will reveal Himself to you.
Krishna is within you and He is awaiting your surrender and service,
of
and as soon as He sees that you are seriously in serving mood, you will
ice
understand everything about Krishna--His qualities, His form, His
pastimes, His entourage, and His abode.‛(Letter to Sachisuta, 6/17/88)
erv
S
‚Everyone of us has got a certain amount of good energy derived from
he
Krishna, and when that energy is employed under the expert
nt
direction of Spiritual Master, one’s life becomes successful. That is
(I
the secret of Krishna Consciousness. THE SPIRITUAL MASTER
MUST BE BONA FIDE REPRESENTATIVE OF KRISHNA, BY
DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION, RECEIVING ORDERS FROM THE
aid
SUPERIOR, and the disciple must agree to abide by the orders of the
S
Spiritual Master. This is the simple method of spiritual advancement;

if you remember this principle it will be very nice.‛
ada
(Letter to Nathan Baruch, 8/7/68)

hup
‚S.PRABHUPADA:...Acarya is explained, bhakti-samsanah: ‘ONE

WHO’S PREACHING THE CULT OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE,
rab
HE’S ACARYA.’ Then why should you find any discrepancy?

P
D: Because we see... For instance, sometimes the acarya may seem to

forget something or not to know something, so from our point of
hat
view, if someone has forgotten, that is...

W
S.PRABHUPADA:No, no, no.Then...

and
D:...an imperfection.
S.PRABHUPADA:That is not the...Then you do not understand.
uru
Acarya is not God, omniscient. HE IS SERVANT OF GOD. HIS

BUSINESS IS TO PREACH BHAKTI CULT. THAT IS ACARYA.
G
D:And that is the perfection.

he
S.PRABHUPADA:THAT IS THE PERFECTION. Hare Krsna.

T
122
on)
D:So we have a misunderstanding about what perfection is?
skc
S.PRABHUPADA:Yes. PERFECTION IS HERE, HOW IS HE
PREACHING BHAKTI CULT. THAT’S ALL.‛
I
(Morning Walk, Mayapur 4/8/75)
of
ice
One way to reconcile these apparently contradictory quotes is by
erv
understanding the emergency character of the preaching mission.
Deha-kala-patra: time, place and circumstance are of the essence while
S
preaching. In Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.17.16, Srila Prabhupada speaks of
he
concessions in an emergency situation. The text speaks of anapady, which is
translated as ‚ordinary times, when there is no emergency.‛ In the purport
nt
Prabhupada speaks of ‚apad-dharma, or occupational duty at times of
(I
extraordinary happenings,‛ explaining that in an emergency one may do
something that in ordinary times he wouldn’t.
aid
The emergency situation is quite clear. Srila Prabhupada entrusted the

S
continuation of his mission to his disciples, just like in the previous

generation his Guru Maharaja had done.... Disciplic succession, remember?
ada
‚EVERY ONE OF US SHOULD BECOME SPIRITUAL MASTER

hup
BECAUSE THE WORLD IS IN BLAZING FIRE. [...] So ALL MY

STUDENTS PRESENT HERE who are feeling so much obliged...I
rab
am also obliged to them because they are helping me in this

missionary work. At the same time, I SHALL REQUEST THEM
P
ALL TO BECOME SPIRITUAL MASTER. EVERY ONE OF YOU

SHOULD BE SPIRITUAL MASTER NEXT.
hat
‚...[D]on’t be satisfied that you have understood [and] that’s all. No.
W
This should be distributed. Just like in my old age I have come to your
country carrying the order of my spiritual master to distribute it,
and
YOU ARE ALL YOUNG BOYS AND GIRLS, TAKE THIS

MESSAGE AND DISTRIBUTE IT. The whole suffering humanity
uru
will be happy. THAT IS OUR MISSION. Thank you very much.‛

G

he
receiving through his servant. And IN FUTURE THE SAME
T
123
on)
KNOWLEDGE WILL GO TO YOUR STUDENTS. THIS IS
CALLED PARAMPARA SYSTEM. Evam parampara prap... IT IS
skc
NOT THAT YOU HAVE BECOME A STUDENT AND YOU'LL
I
REMAIN STUDENT. NO. ONE DAY YOU SHALL BECOME
ALSO GURU AND MAKE MORE STUDENTS, MORE
of
STUDENTS, MORE. THAT IS CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU'S
ice
MISSION." (Lecture, Hyderabad 12/10/76)
erv
As we will read later on in this book (see Part Two, Question Eight), on
S
several occasions in different years Srila Prabhupada was asked who would
he
succeed him. The last of such occasions was on May 1977, his final year with
nt
us, when the question became official: his entrusted directors of the
movement asked who would initiate after him.
(I
‚GBC1:...Then our next question concerns initiations in the future,
particularly at that time when you’re no longer with us. We want to
aid
know how first and second initiation would be conducted.‛

S

Every time, he answered in the same matter-of-fact way: ‚My disciples.‛
ada
Wasn’t he perfectly aware of what kind of adhikaris his disciples were? Did he
hup
actually fail to indicate how his movement would continue? At this point we
could borrow his words when he was speaking about the same situation
rab
occurred after the departure of his spiritual master:

P
‚He [Srila Bhaktisiddhanta], before passing away, he gave all

direction.... He said so many things, and this point [referring to his
hat
succession] he missed? The real point?‛

W
Indeed, soon after Srila Prabhupada left, our Back to Godhead Magazine
and
(Vol.13, No.1-2) published his idea of his own succession:

‚ALL OF MY DISCIPLES WILL TAKE THE LEGACY. If you
uru
want, you can also take it. Sacrifice everything. I --one-- may soon
pass away. But they are hundreds, and this movement will increase.
G
It’s not that I’ll give an order: ’Here is the next leader.’ Anyone who
follows the previous leadership is a leader. I don’t make any
he
distinction between Indian and European. All my disciples are

T
124
on)
leaders... as much as they follow purely. If you want to follow, then
you can also lead. But you don’t want to follow. ‘Leader’ means one
skc
who is a first-class disciple. Evam parampara-praptam. One who is
I
perfectly following. Our instruction is, guru-mukha-padma-vakya. Do
you know this? Ara na kariha mane asa [‘My only wish is to have my
of
consciousness purified by the words emanating from the lotus mouth
ice
of my spiritual master’]. To become a leader is not very difficult,
provided one is prepared to follow the instructions of the bona fide
erv
guru.‛
S
From early he had included his disciples when speaking of the parampara:
he
nt
(I
BRANCHES OF DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION. So in one line of
disciples we may not see another name coming from a different line.
aid
But this does not mean that [that] person whose name does not
S
appear was not in the disciplic succession.‛

ada
"We have got a succession table from Krsna, genealogical table. There
hup
are two kinds of genealogical tables, one by the semina. Father, his
son, his son, like that. That is material genealogical table. And there
rab
is one spiritual genealogical table, disciplic succession. Just like Krsna.

Krsna, the original father, Supreme Personality of Godhead, He
P
spoke the Vedic knowledge to Brahma, Lord Brahma. He spoke to

Narada. Narada spoke to Vyasa. Vyasa spoke to Madhvacarya. So in
hat
this disciplic succession, Lord Caitanya, from Lord Caitanya, the six
W
Gosvamis, and similarly, coming down, down, Bhaktivinoda Thakura,

then Gaurakisora Dasa Babaji Maharaja, then my spiritual master,
then WE ARE NEXT GENERATION, MY DISCIPLES. So there is
and
a disciplic succession.‛ (Lecture, London 9/23/69)

uru
"So we have got this message from Krsna, from Caitanya

Mahaprabhu, from the six Gosvamis, later on, Bhaktivinoda Thakura,
G

he

T
125
on)
skc
I
Therefore, there is no doubt that he intended purposefully that his disciples
of
would succeed him. But, were they uttama-adhikaris?
ice
Interestingly enough, when Srila Prabhupada was asked about initiations in
the future he was also asked about publications in the future:
erv
‚GBC1: Next we have a question about the BBT. At present, no
S
translation work is to be published without your seeing and approving
it. So the question is: is there any system for publishing works in the
he
future that you may not see? For example, we’ve heard suggested that
nt
the Padma Purana or the Sat-Sandarbha may be translated. But what
(I
would the system be to insure the parampara if you would not
persnonally see these translations?
aid
S.PRABHUPADA: That you have to examine expertly.

S
GBC2: In other words, there’s no set principle that only the works
which you have already translated can be published by the BBT. If
ada
there is some worthy translation of a bona fide Vedic reference, if it’s

hup
properly done, the BBT could publish it.

S.PRABHUPADA: THAT WE ARE DOING, JUST LIKE HINDI.
rab
WE ARE DOING OTHER LANGUAGES. If it is properly

P
translated, it can be...

GBC2: Even if it’s a work which you have not yet translated yourself.
hat
S.PRABHUPADA: No, no, no, THE PRINCIPLE IS... JUST LIKE

W
MY TRANSLATION, ANOTHER PERSON TRANSLATING

INTO HINDI OR OTHER LANGUAGES, WE ARE
and
PUBLISHING. Similarly, if somebody has translated properly, it can

be published. But amongst our disciples, I don’t think there are many
uru
who can translate properly.

GBC3: None. We’re not eager to publish anything which is not
G
perfect because you have already set the highest standard for the
he
BBT. The name BBT means the highest standard right now in the
world.
T
126
on)
S.PRABHUPADA: That is good answer.
skc
GBC4: Therefore, Srila Prabhupada, we think that you cannot leave
us very soon.
I
S.PRABHUPADA: I don’t want. But if I am obliged, what can I do?
of
GBC4: If you don’t want, Krsna will not want.
ice
erv
S.PRABHUPADA: A REALIZED SOUL, MUST BE.
S
OTHERWISE, SIMPLY BY IMITATING ABCD WILL NOT HELP.
he
My purports are liked by people because it is presented as practical
experience. [...]OUR TRANSLATION MUST BE DOCUMENTS.
nt
THEY ARE NOT ORDINARY... IT CANNOT BE DONE UNLESS
(I
ONE IS VERY REALIZED. IT IS NOT ABCD TRANSLATION.
GBC5: It’s not a matter of scholarship.
aid
S.PRABHUPADA: And Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, amara ajnaya

S
guru hana. One [who] can understand the order of Caitanya

Mahaprabhu, he can become guru. Or one who understands his guru’s
ada
order, the same parampara, he can become guru. And therefore I

hup
SHALL SELECT SOME OF YOU.‛

rab
Just see! When asked about future initiations he immediately replied, ‚Yes. I
P
shall recommend some of you‛ (see also Part Two, Question Eight), but when
asked about future publications he expressed so much caution, ‚It cannot be
hat
done unless one is very realized.‛ And even while saying this he spoke again
of his disciples becoming gurus, ‚I shall select some of you.‛ Considering his
W
statement in Nectar of Instruction, ‚One should not become a spiritual

master unless he has attained the platform of uttama-adhikari,‛ shouldn’t he
and
have expressed the same caution as with the writing of purports and say
something to the effect of: ‚You will have to wait until some of you become
uru
uttama-adhikaris‛?
A clue for solving the predicament can be found in a previous statement (SB
G
2.3.21):
he

category of the second-class devotee for preaching work.‛
T
127
on)
So, what to do at those times in which he does not come down or is otherwise
unavailable? Emergency! Enter the second-class devotee, who, according to
skc
the same quote, is meant for preaching work and ‚accepts disciples from the
I
section of third-class devotees or nondevotees.‛
What we are trying to say is that the quote from Nectar of Instruction (5) is
of
obviously propounding the most ideal situation, but does it mean that in its
ice
absence all initiations should stop? In a way, this is answered by the same
erv
quote:
‚A neophyte Vaisnava or a Vaisnava situated on the intermediate
S
platform can also accept disciples....‛
he
One may still argue that the quote adds ‚but such disciples must be on the
nt
same platform, and it should be understood that they cannot advance very
well toward the ultimate goal of life under his insufficient guidance.‛ Now,
(I
does this mean that they are better off without any guidance at all? And, also,
does it mean that this guru will remain on that ‚same platform‛ permanently?
aid
Isn’t this guru continuing his advancement and, therefore, taking along his
S
disciples with him? Or, more bluntly, aren’t any of Srila Prabhupada’s
disciples going back to Godhead?
ada
"The life of a sincere devotee of the Lord is thus explained in a

nutshell by Narada Muni by his personal example. Such a devotee,
hup
after his initiation by the Lord or His bona fide representative, takes
rab
very seriously chanting of the glories of the Lord and traveling all
over the world so that others may also hear the glories of the Lord.
P
Such devotees have no desire for material gain. They are conducted
by one single desire: to go BACK TO GODHEAD. THIS AWAITS
hat
THEM IN DUE COURSE ON QUITTING THE MATERIAL

BODY. Because they have the highest aim of life, going back to
W
Godhead, they are never envious of anyone, nor are they proud of
being eligible to go back to Godhead. Their only business is to chant
and
and remember the holy name, fame and pastimes of the Lord and,
according to personal capacity, to distribute the message for others’
uru
welfare without motive of material gain." (SB 1.6.26 ppt)

G
Therefore, another way of understanding this quote, aside from the obvious
meaning of describing the best and ideal situation, is understanding its
he
application in those times in which there is a dire need. At such times we can
T
resort to the alternative it hints at:

128
on)
‚A neophyte Vaisnava or a Vaisnava situated on the intermediate
platform can also accept disciples....‛
skc
In other words, the quote is obviously saying: ‚One can, but shouldn’t.‛ So,
I
again, normally one wouldn’t, but, in this emergency, some have to.
of
Still, in such a circumstance the quote remains a warning both to the
prospective disciple who is looking for a guru8 and to a guru who is not on the
ice
topmost platform. To the prospective disciple, the warning is not to be --nor
erv
become-- a blind follower, to understand that there are different levels of
S
devotees acting as gurus, and to see that he takes shelter of a guru who is
constantly engaged in the service of the Lord and is therefore always
he
advancing towards the supreme goal and thus taking his disciples along.
nt
‚ONE SHOULD THEREFORE CHOOSE A BONA FIDE
(I
SERVANT OF THE LORD CONSTANTLY ENGAGED IN HIS
SERVICE, ACCEPT SUCH A SERVANT AS THE SPIRITUAL
aid
MASTER AND ENGAGE HIMSELF IN HIS (THE SPIRITUAL

MASTER’S) SERVICE. Such a spiritual master is the transparent
S
medium by which to visualize the Lord, who is beyond the conception

of the material senses. By service of the bona fide spiritual master, the
ada
Lord consents to reveal Himself in proportion to the service

hup
rendered.‛ (SB 1.5.23)

rab
The quote (NOI 5) also indirectly instructs the second- and third-class
P
devotees acting as gurus that they should not claim the sole exclusivity to
their disciples, that they should strive to advance more and more, that they
hat
should always be willing to hear from others, especially from those more
advanced, and that they should be constantly seeking firm adherence to the
W
instructions of their uttama-adhikari spiritual master, for whose service they

have taken the position of guru. When pointing to the future of the
and
parampara within his society, Srila Prabhupada himself stated this much by
saying that his disciples acting as gurus should remain his students
uru
perpetually.
G
8 Again, the situation of someone who is looking for a guru is different from that of someone
who comes to his guru without having searched for him. Previous quotes have stated that
he
someone finds a guru by Krsna's direct mercy. Again, we should not ask someone who has
T
received Krsna's mercy to doubt or reject it.

129
on)
skc
receiving through his servant. And in future the same knowledge will
I
go to your students. This is called parampara system. Evam parampara
prap... It is not that you have become a student and you'll remain
of
student. No. One day you shall become also guru and make more
ice
students, more students, more. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's
mission, not that perpetually... Yes, ONE SHOULD REMAIN
erv
PERPETUALLY A STUDENT, BUT HE HAS TO ACT AS
S
GURU. That is the mission of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. IT IS NOT
THAT BECAUSE I AM ACTING AS GURU, I AM NO LONGER
he
STUDENT. NO, I AM STILL STUDENT. CAITANYA
nt
MAHAPRABHU TAUGHT US THIS INSTRUCTION THAT
(I
WE SHALL ALWAYS REMAIN A FOOLISH STUDENT
BEFORE OUR GURU MAHARAJA. THAT IS THE VEDIC
CULTURE. I MAY BE VERY BIG MAN, BUT STILL, I SHOULD
aid
REMAIN A FOOLISH STUDENT TO MY GURU. THAT IS THE

S
QUALIFICATION." (Lecture, Hyderabad 12/10/76)

That everyone --like these gurus and their disciples-- is always able to hear
ada
from those more advanced, is fundamental. The fact is that in Vaisnavism it

hup
is accepted that one may hear from others who are not one’s initiating guru,
as exemplified by the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself.
rab
‚Although Balarama and Krsna are both transcendental

P
personalities, They strictly followed the regulative principles. BOTH

WERE INITIATED BY THEIR FAMILY PRIEST,
hat
GARGACARYA, USUALLY KNOWN AS GARGAMUNI, THE

ACARYA OF THE YADU DYNASTY.
W
[...]‚It is customary, after being initiated in the Gayatri mantra, for

one to live away from home for some time, under the care of the
and
acarya, to be trained in spiritual life. [...B]oth Lord Krsna and

Balarama strictly followed those regulative principles WHILE
uru
LIVING UNDER THE INSTRUCTION OF THEIR SPIRITUAL

G
MASTER, SANDIPANI MUNI, in his place in northern India.‛

(KB, Ch.44, New Ed., pg.357)
he
T
130
on)
Often times it has been seen in Vaisnava history that even a spiritual master
would send his disciples to study with another spiritual master. And, as it has
skc
become common knowledge in nowadays ISKCON, ‚Our parampara is one of
I
siksa more than diksa.‛ This means that a siksa-guru may become more
prominent than the diksa-guru in the life of a disciple. So much so, that it is
of
interesting to note how in the summary to Chapter One, Adi-lila, of the Sri
ice
Caitanya-caritamrta , Srila Prabhupada describes part of our parampara in
the following way:
erv
‚The direct disciple of Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami was Srila
S
Narottama dasa Thakura, who accepted Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti
he
as his servitor. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura accepted Srila
nt
Jagannatha dasa Babaji, the spiritual master of Srila Bhaktivinoda
Thakura, who in turn accepted Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji, the
(I
spiritual master of Om Visnupada Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati
Gosvami Maharaja, the divine master of our humble self.‛
aid
But we know that the initiating guru of Srila Narottama dasa Thakura was
S
Lokanatha dasa Goswami, and that of Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti was Sri
Radha-Ramana Cakravarti. It is also said that the guru of Srila Jagannatha
ada
dasa Babaji was Madhusudana Dasa Babaji. Similarly, the initiating guru of
Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura was Vipina Vihari Goswami; Jagannatha dasa
hup
Babaji was his siksa-guru. About Srila Gaurakisora Dasa Babaji, Prabhupada
himself says:
rab
‚...Thakur Bhaktivinode was not official Spiritual Master of Gour

P
Kishore das Babaji Maharaj. Gour Kishore das Babaji Maharaj was
already [in the] renounced order, Paramhansa, but Thakur
hat
Bhaktivinode, while He was even playing the part of a householder,

W
was treated by Gour Kishore das Babaji Maharaj as Preceptor, on

account of His highly elevated spiritual understanding, and thus He
was always treating Him as His Spiritual Master. The Spiritual Master
and
is divided into two parts: namely, siksha guru and diksha guru. So
OFFICIALLY BHAKTIVINODE THAKUR WAS LIKE SIKSHA
uru
GURU OF GOUR KISHORE DAS BABAJI MAHARAJ.‛

G
(Letter to Dayananda 5/1/69)

Likewise, still more specifically for those ‚insufficient-guidance‛ cases, in
he
Jaiva Dharma (Ch. XX) Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura says that if the
T
131
on)
preceptor has insufficient knowledge, then, with due respect to him and with
his permission, one may go to another preceptor to learn more, without
skc
rejecting one’s original preceptor.
I
Therefore, generally speaking, a disciple is never at a loss if we follow the true
Vaisnava ways.
of
Here is more on this, straight from the Srimad-Bhagavatam. It is the story of
ice
Prsadhra being cursed by his spiritual master.
erv
"[…]Prsadhra, following the order of his spiritual master, was engaged
S
as a protector of cows. He would stand all night with a sword to give
the cows protection."
he
"Once at night, while it was raining, a tiger entered the land of the
nt
cowshed. Upon seeing the tiger, all the cows, who were lying down,
(I
got up in fear and scattered here and there on the land."
"When the very strong tiger seized the cow, the cow screamed in
distress and fear, and Prsadhra, hearing the screaming, immediately
aid
followed the sound. He took up his sword, but because the stars were
S
covered by clouds, he mistook the cow for the tiger and mistakenly
cut off the cows' head with great force."
ada
"Because the tiger's ear had been cut by the edge of the sword, the
tiger was very afraid, and it fled from that place, while bleeding on
hup
the street."
rab
"In the morning, when Prsadhra, who was quite able to subdue his
enemy, saw that he had killed the cow although at night he thought
P
he had killed the tiger, he was very unhappy."

"Although Prsadhra had committed the sin unknowingly, his family
hat
priest, Vasistha, cursed him, saying, "In your next life you shall not be
able to become a ksatriya. Instead, you shall take birth as a sudra
W
because of killing the cow.""

"PURPORT"
and
"It appears that Vasistha was not free from tamo-guna, the mode of
ignorance. As the family priest or spiritual master of Prsadhra,
uru
Vasistha should have taken Prsadhra's offense very lightly, but

instead Vasistha cursed him to become a sudra. It is the duty of a
G
family priest not to curse a disciple but to give him relief through the
he
performance of some sort of atonement. Vasistha, however, did just

the opposite. Therefore Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura says
T
132
on)
that he was durmati; in other words, his intelligence was not very
good.
skc
"WHEN THE HERO PRSADHRA WAS THUS CURSED BY HIS
I
SPIRITUAL MASTER, HE ACCEPTED THE CURSE WITH
of
FOLDED HANDS. Then, having controlled his senses, he took the
vow of brahmacarya, which is approved by all great sages."
ice
"Thereafter, Prsadhra gained relief from all responsibilities, became
erv
peaceful in mind, and established control over all his senses. Being
S
unaffected by material conditions, being pleased with whatever was
available by the grace of the Lord to maintain body and soul together,
he
and being equal toward everyone, he gave full attention to the
nt
Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva, who is the
(I
transcendental Supersoul, free from material contamination. Thus
Prsadhra, fully satisfied in pure knowledge, always keeping his mind
on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, achieved pure devotional
aid
service to the Lord and began traveling all over the world, without
S
affection for material activities, as if he were deaf, dumb and blind."

ada
"WITH THIS ATTITUDE, PRSADHRA BECAME A GREAT

SAINT, and when he entered the forest and saw a blazing forest fire,
hup
he took this opportunity to burn his body in the fire. THUS HE

ACHIEVED THE TRANSCENDENTAL, SPIRITUAL WORLD."
rab
"PURPORT"
"The Lord says in Bhagavad-gita (4.9):
P
janma karma ca me divyam / evam yo vetti tattvatah

hat
tyaktva deham punar janma / naiti mam eti so 'rjuna

W
""One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and

activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this
and
material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna." Prsadhra,

because of his karma, was cursed to take his next birth as a sudra, but
uru
because he took to saintly life, specifically concentrating his mind

always upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he became a pure
G
devotee. Immediately after giving up his body in the fire, he reached

the spiritual world, as mentioned in Bhagavad-gita (mam eti), as a
he
result of his devotional situation. Devotional service performed by

T
133
on)
thinking of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is so powerful that
although Prsadhra was cursed he avoided the terrible consequence of
skc
becoming a sudra and instead RETURNED HOME, BACK TO
I
GODHEAD. As stated in Brahma-samhita (5.54):
of
yastvindra gopam athavendra mahosva
karma bandhanurupa phala-bhajanam atanoti
ice
karmani nirdahati kintu ca bhakti-bhajam
erv
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
S
"Those who engage in devotional service are unaffected by the results
of their material activities. Otherwise, everyone, from the smallest
he
microbe up to the King of heaven, Indra, is subject to the laws of
nt
karma. A pure devotee, being always engaged in the service of the
(I
Lord, is exempt from these laws." (SB 9.2.3-14)
In spite of having a guru who "was not free from tamo-guna" and who cursed
aid
him to take another birth (and that the birth would be as a sudra),
S
nevertheless Prsadhra "returned home, back to Godhead," due to his proper

attitude as a disciple. Having a guru less than the ideal (and even having been
ada
cursed by his guru!) did not keep him from becoming self-realized and
attaining the Supreme Destination. Thus, as said before, a disciple is never at
hup
a loss if we follow the true Vaisnava ways.

rab
A side note. Although the focus of this book is to document that Srila
P
Prabhupada was unequivocally expecting --and ordering-- his disciples and

subsequent ISKCON generations of disciples to be the gurus for ISKCON,
hat
we should not miss the cue afforded by this Bhagavatam passage to look for
one more moment at this aspect of "discipleship."
W
"THE IDEA IS THAT BOTH THE SPIRITUAL MASTER AND

THE DISCIPLE MUST BE BONA FIDE.
and
[...]There was none so attentive as Maharaja Pariksit in the matter of

uru
hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam, and there was none so qualified as

Sukadeva Gosvami to recite the text of Srimad-Bhagavatam.
G
Therefore, anyone who follows in the footsteps of either the ideal

reciter or the ideal hearer, Sukadeva Gosvami and Maharaja Pariksit
he
respectively, will undoubtedly attain salvation like them." (SB 2.1.10)

T
134
on)
"TRANSLATION
And because you are submissive, your spiritual masters have endowed
skc
you with all the favors bestowed upon a gentle disciple. Therefore you
I
can tell us all that you have scientifically learned from them.
of
PURPORT
[...]It is essential, therefore, that a disciple be very much obedient and
ice
submissive to the bona fide spiritual master. SRILA SUTA
erv
GOSVAMI FULFILLED ALL THESE QUALIFICATIONS AS A
DISCIPLE, and therefore he was endowed with all favors by his
S
learned and self-realized spiritual masters such as Srila Vyasadeva and
he
others. The sages of Naimisaranya were confident that Srila Suta
nt
Gosvami was bona fide. Therefore they were anxious to hear from
him." (SB 1.1.8)
(I
"ONE WHO IS NOT SELF-CONTROLLED, SPECIFICALLY IN
SEX LIFE, CAN BECOME NEITHER A DISCIPLE NOR A
aid
SPIRITUAL MASTER. One must have disciplinary training in

S
controlling speaking, anger, the tongue, the mind, the belly and the
genitals. One who has controlled the particular senses mentioned
ada
above is called a gosvami. WITHOUT BECOMING A GOSVAMI

ONE CAN BECOME NEITHER A DISCIPLE NOR A SPIRITUAL
hup
MASTER. ( SB 2.9.43)
rab
"SO TWO THINGS MUST BE CORRECT: THE GURU MUST BE

CORRECT AND THE DISCIPLE MUST BE CORRECT. THEN
P
THE BUSINESS WILL BE CORRECT. And either of them, if guru

is incorrect or the disciple is incorrect, there will be no action. So
hat
therefore Bhägavata says, tasmäd guruà prapadyeta jijïäsuù çreya

W
uttamam [SB 11.3.21]. Who shall approach? Tad-vijïänärthaà sa

gurum eva abhigacchet [MU 1.2.12]. According to Vedic instruction,
and
everyone should approach a guru. But who is that everyone? One who
is jijïäsu. Athäto brahma jijïäsä. One who is inquisitive to understand
uru
"What I am? Am I this body or something else?" That is beginning of

spiritual instruction."
G
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.10.3 -- Mayapura, June 18, 1973)

he
T
135
on)
Therefore, "true Vaisnava ways" fully includes that the disciple must also be
qualified. The importance of this should not be minimized nor forgotten in
skc
the equation.
I
Back to our focus. From early in his teachings, Srila Prabhupada explained
of
the three levels of adhikara, or qualification. The following is from a letter he
ice
wrote in 1968:
erv
"Affection for God-brothers is nice, it is a good sign. Affection for
God-brothers as well as for all other living entities, even they are not
S
God-brothers, these signs are seen in the advanced devotees.
he
"There are three kinds of devotees: The lower grade devotees, they
nt
have high regard for the Deity in the temple, but not very much
regard for devotees or people in general. THE SECOND GRADE
(I
DEVOTEE TAKES COMPASSION WITH INNOCENT
NON-DEVOTEES. In that stage, he has got 4 kinds of vision: one is
aid
that he always keeps Krishna as the most Lovable Object, second is

S
that he makes intimate friendship with his devotee God-brothers or

any other devotees, third is that he takes compassion with innocent
ada
non-devotees, and tries to convince them about the importance of

Krishna Consciousness, and fourth is that he does not take any
hup
serious interest for the atheist class of men."

rab
That is the exact description of the madhyam-adhikari, which is the platform

from where to preach. It has already been stated that the guru performs his
P
function as such in that state of consciousness --as a madhyam-adhikari. It is

from "there" that he accepts disciples. So much so, that the uttama-adhikari
hat
must "descend" to this platform to also accept disciples, because as an

W
uttama-adhikari he doesn't see the need to preach, he doesn't make the

distinctions mentioned above, as will continue to explain Srila Prabhupada
in the letter at hand:
and
"The first grade devotee, of course, sees everyone in relationship with

uru
Krishna and as such, he makes no distinction between a devotee or

nondevotee. His vision is high grade, because he sees that everyone is
G
engaged in Krishna's service directly or indirectly. This position of

high-grade devotee should never be imitated. It was possible only in
he
Lord Caitanya or Lord Nityananda, or Haridasa Thakura. Thakura

T
136
on)
Haridasa was so powerful that he could convert even a harlot. But we
should not try to imitate Haridasa Thakura or Lord Caitanya. OUR
skc
POSITION IS IN THE SECOND GRADE PLATFORM. We should
I
not be satisfied remaining in the third grade platform. But we should
try to elevate ourselves in the second grade platform. SO FAR THE
of
FIRST GRADE PLATFORM IS CONCERNED, IT IS NOT
ice
ATTAINED BY OUR ENDEAVOR, BUT IT IS POSSIBLE WHEN
WE HAVE FULL GRACE OF KRISHNA. IT COMPLETELY
erv
DEPENDS ON THE CAUSELESS MERCY OF KRISHNA.‛
S
(Letter to: Madhusudana -- Montreal 29 July, 1968)
Thus, from the very beginning, Srila Prabhupada was asking his disciples to
he
be madhyam-adhikaris and show concern for all living entities and preach. It
nt
is in no one's power to manifest the level of realization of an uttama-adhikari
(I
--"it completely depends on the causeless mercy of Krishna," he asserted.
Over and above all said, Prabhupada did directly address and accept as valid
aid
the circumstance of someone acting as a spiritual master and not being on

the topmost platform. Those quotes are in Part Two, Question Nine. The
S
following ones are examples of his teachings in this regard, and indicate that
ada
a guru may be bona fide without being on that topmost platform of

uttama-adhikari and cannot be rejected:
hup
‚Guru is only one. Guru means, as you explained,

rab
ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya, caksur unmilitam yena

tasmai sri-gurave namah. One who eradicates the ajnana, andhakara,
P
darkness. In the darkness, if somebody brings lamp,

ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya..., the jnana-rupa,
hat
torchlight, he’s guru. SO MAYBE OF DIFFERENT DEGREES,BUT

ANYONE WHO OPENS THE SPIRITUAL EYES, HE’S GURU.
W
‚[...]But it doesn’t matter that degree. ACTUALLY, IF THE GURU

and
TEACHES KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS, THEN HE MAY BE IN

LESSER DEGREE, BUT HE’S ACCEPTED AS GURU. THERE IS
uru
NO QUESTION OF REJECTION.‛ (Lecture, Ahmedabad 13/12/72)

‚I1: If one has accepted a bona fide spiritual master and he did not
G
receive much knowledge from him, can he change his spiritual master
at later...
he
T
137
on)
S.PRABHUPADA: A bona fide spiritual master, where is the
necessity of changing?
skc
I1: No, he has not got the knowledge from him, but... can I change..?
I
S.PRABHUPADA: No, no, bona fide spiritual means he must get
of
knowledge. He must get knowledge. He must inquire from the... The
ice
student must inquire from the spiritual master. If he remains dumb,
then what bona fide spiritual master can do? Adau gurv-asrayam
erv
sad-dharma-prcchat, jijnasuh. He must be jijnasuh. He must be
S
jijnasuh. We get so many letters daily. So many inquiries. The student
must be very inquisitive. Otherwise how he shall make progress? If he
he
remains dumb, then what the bona fide spiritual master can do?
nt
‚If you go to a very nice school but if you do not study, if you do not
(I
inquire, then what is the use of going to the nice school? You must be
also very alert to inquire, to understand, to make progress. Then it
aid
will be all right. If you do not utilize the benefit of having a bona fide
spiritual master, then that is your fault. You must utilize the
S
opportunity. We are publishing so many books, so many literatures,

ada
magazines, why? Just to enlighten more and more. But if you don’t
take advantage of this, then how can you make progress? CHANGE
hup
OF SPIRITUAL MASTER [sic:] REQUIRES WHEN THE

SPIRITUAL MASTER IS NOT BONA FIDE. OTHERWISE
rab
THERE IS NO NECESSITY OF CHANGING.

(Lecture [Q&A], London 9/23/69)
P
‚Generally the spiritual master comes from the group of such eternal
hat
associates of the Lord; but ANYONE WHO FOLLOWS THE

PRINCIPLES OF SUCH EVER LIBERATED PERSONS IS AS
W
GOOD AS ONE IN THE ABOVE MENTIONED GROUP....A

person who is liberated acharya and guru cannot commit any mistake,
and
but THERE ARE PERSONS WHO ARE LESS QUALIFIED OR

NOT LIBERATED, BUT STILL CAN ACT AS GURU AND
uru
ACHARYA BY STRICTLY FOLLOWING THE DISCIPLIC

SUCCESSION.‛ (Letter to Janardana 4/26/68)
G
‚This Krsna consciousness movement directly receives instructions

he
from the Supreme personality of Godhead via persons who are

T
strictly following His instructions. ALTHOUGH A FOLLOWER

138
on)
MAY NOT BE A LIBERATED PERSON, IF HE FOLLOWS the
supreme, liberated Personality of Godhead, his actions are naturally
skc
liberated from the contamination of the material nature. Lord
I
Caitanya therefore says: ‘By My order you may become a spiritual
master.’ ONE CAN IMMEDIATELY BECOME A SPIRITUAL
of
MASTER by having full faith in the transcendental words of the
ice
Supreme Personality of Godhead and by following His instructions.‛
erv
(SB 4.18.5 ppt.)
S
‚DR.BENFORD: So everyone I might meet who accepts Krsna as the
perfect teacher is the perfect teacher?
he
S.PRABHUPADA: Yes, because he is teaching only Krsna’s
nt
teachings, that’s all. It is the same as the example we gave before:
(I
THEY MAY NOT BE PERSONALLY PERFECT, BUT
WHATEVER THEY ARE SPEAKING IS PERFECT BECAUSE IT
aid
IS TAUGHT BY KRSNA.‛
(Consciousness: The Missing Link, pg. 14)
S
Therefore, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada who is in the preaching field and

ada
has already become the siksa-guru of some aspirant devotees, can safely take
shelter of his duty to the mission of his spiritual master and become their
hup
diksa-guru, if he is so requested by them and, of course, if he feels the need to

accept such a weighty commitment.
rab
‚Generally a spiritual master who constantly instructs a disciple in

P
spiritual science becomes his initiating spiritual master later on.‛

(C.c. Adi 1.35)
hat
W
and
uru
G
he
T
139
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
140
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
on)
skc
I
of
ice
erv
S
he
nt
(I
aid
S
ada
hup
rab
P
hat
‚A conditioned soul in the material world has the

W
disqualification of cheating. He has four

disqualifications: he is sure to commit mistakes, he is
and
sure to be illusioned, he is prone to cheat others, and his

senses are imperfect. But if one carries out the order of
uru
the spiritual master by disciplic succession, or the

G
parampara system, he overcomes the four defects.‛

he
(SB 3.24.12)
T
141
on)
NEVERTHELESS, I AGREE, there are still unanswered questions about our
quote in point (NOI, Text 5):
skc
‚ONE SHOULD NOT BECOME A SPIRITUAL MASTER
I
UNLESS HE HAS ATTAINED THE PLATFORM OF
of
UTTAMA-ADHIKARI. A neophyte Vaisnava or a Vaisnava situated
on the intermediate platform can also accept disciples, but such
ice
disciples must be on the same platform, and it should be understood
erv
that they cannot advance very well toward the ultimate goal of life
under his insufficient guidance. Therefore A DISCIPLE SHOULD
S
BE CAREFUL TO ACCEPT AN UTTAMA-ADHIKARI AS A
he
SPIRITUAL MASTER.‛
nt
Undoubtedly a piercing statement. It still faces us with one of our initial
questions. Can an uttama-adhikari acknowledge, both to himself and others,
(I
that he has attained that perfected stage, that he is liberated? So far, we have
basically said "no," but the quote implies something different. Then, also, how
aid
distasteful and anguishing wouldn’t it be for an honest devotee to become a

S
guru --even under the emergency theory-- knowing that he is insufficient.

And, wouldn’t all this logic force people, either directly or indirectly, to have
ada
to surrender to a guru without fully trusting him? How would they relate to
him? Could they genuinely feel that they are being taken back to Godhead?
hup
Once again, Srila Prabhupada’s words come to our rescue. With one stroke he
rab
resolves everything. There is an understanding by which a liberated soul can

think and say that he’s liberated. It’s the same understanding by which any
P
guru becomes as good as the uttama-adhikari:

‚Our system, parampara system, is that, for example, I am just a
hat
disciple of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati. I DON’T SAY THAT I AM

W
LIBERATED. I am conditioned. But BECAUSE I AM

FOLLOWING the instruction of Bhaktisiddhanta, I’M
and
LIBERATED. This is the distinction between conditioned and

liberated. WHEN ONE IS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF A
uru
LIBERATED PERSON.... The same thing: Electricity. The copper is

not electricity, but when it is charged with electricity, if it is touched,
G
that is electricity. And, similarly, this parampara system, the

electricity is going. If you cut the parampara system, then there is no
he
electricity. Therefore it is stressed so much.‛

T

142
on)
On this Morning Walk he discussed the matter very explicitly; his complete
analysis is in Part Two, Question Nine. And there are many more
skc
statements like this one, in which Prabhupada emphasizes that someone who
I
is following the liberated person is as good as liberated. In that same talk, he
furthers:
of
ice
‚It is very easy. Just like a child. If he takes your direction, he is
liberated, and if he acts according to his childish nature, then he’s
erv
conditioned. If you take Krsna’s instruction, then you are liberated. If
S
you manufacture your own idea, then you are conditioned. Two
things. Child is not actually liberated. He is child. But because he
he
takes blindly the direction of the father, he’s liberated. That is mam
nt
eva ye prapadyante [Bg 4.11: ‘As they surrender unto Me, I reward them
(I
accordingly’]. ANYONE WHO HAS SURRENDERED TO KRSNA
AND STRICTLY FOLLOWS WHAT KRSNA SAYS, THEN HE IS
LIBERATED. Otherwise not. If he manufactures [his own] idea then
aid
he’s conditioned.‛
S
ada
That was in 1977, his last year amongst us, but Srila Prabhupada had been
saying exactly the same thing since the beginning of the movement:
hup
rab
‚Generally the spiritual master comes from the group of such eternal
associates of the Lord; but ANYONE WHO FOLLOWS THE
P
PRINCIPLES OF SUCH EVER LIBERATED PERSONS IS AS

GOOD AS ONE IN THE ABOVE MENTIONED GROUP. The
hat
gurus from nature’s study are accepted as such on the principle that
W
an elevated person in Krishna Consciousness does not accept anyone

as disciple, but he accepts everyone as an expansion of his guru. That
is very high position, called Maha-bhagavat. Just like Radharani,
and
sometimes thinks a subordinate of hers as her teacher, to understand

devotion of Krishna. A person who is liberated acharya and guru
uru
cannot commit any mistake, but THERE ARE PERSONS WHO

G
ARE LESS QUALIFIED OR NOT LIBERATED, BUT STILL CAN

ACT AS GURU AND ACHARYA BY STRICTLY FOLLOWING
he
THE DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION.‛ (Letter to Janardana 4/26/68)

T
143
on)
‚YES, [THOSE WHO FOLLOW] THEY’RE ALSO PURE
DEVOTEES BECAUSE THEY’RE FOLLOWING MY
skc
INSTRUCTION. Just like a technician, he is expert, but somebody is
I
assisting him. So the assistants, because they are following the
instruction of the expert, therefore their work is also complete. So IT
of
IS NOT NECESSARILY THAT ONE HAS TO BECOME PURE
ice
DEVOTEE IMMEDIATELY.Just like we are also following the
instruction of our spiritual master.I don’t claim that I am pure
erv
devotee or perfect, but my only qualification is that I am trying to
S
follow the instruction of the perfect. Similarly...This is called disciplic
succession. Just like here it is stated that Krsna is the original spiritual
he
master and Arjuna is the original student.
nt
(I
‚[...I]f we follow Arjuna and Krsna, then we get the perfect
knowledge.We may not be cent percent perfect, but as far as possible,
if we follow the instruction as it is, that much perfect. In this way one
aid
will get perfection. So one has to follow. The same example, try to
S
understand, that a perfect, expert technologist or technician or

mechanic is working, and somebody is working under his instruction.
ada
So THIS SOMEBODY, BECAUSE HE IS STRICTLY WORKING

UNDER THE INSTRUCTION OF THE EXPERT, HE’S ALSO
hup
EXPERT. HE MAY NOT BE CENT PERCENT EXPERT, BUT HIS

rab
WORK IS EXPERT. Is that clear? Because he is working under the

expert. Do you follow?
P
‚So IF YOU FOLLOW PURE DEVOTEE, THEN YOU ARE ALSO

hat
PURE DEVOTEE. It may not be that one is cent percent pure.

Because we are trying to raise ourself from the conditional life. But IF
W
WE STRICTLY FOLLOW THE PURE DEVOTEE, THEN WE

ARE ALSO PURE DEVOTEE. So far we do, that is pure. So pure
and
devotee does not mean one has to become immediately cent percent
pure. But IF HE STICKS TO THE PRINCIPLE THAT ‘WE’LL
uru
FOLLOW A PURE DEVOTEE,’ THEN HIS ACTIONS ARE...HE

IS AS GOOD AS A PURE DEVOTEE. It is not I am explaining in
G
my own way. It is the explanation of Bhagavat. Mahajano yena gatah

sa panthah. We have to follow the footprints of pure devotees.‛
he

T
144
on)
Now, how good does such a follower actually become by following? What
platform of liberation has he actually attained?
skc
I
‚A conditioned soul in the material world has the disqualification of
cheating. He has four disqualifications: he is sure to commit mistakes,
of
he is sure to be illusioned, he is prone to cheat others, and his senses
ice
are imperfect. BUT IF ONE CARRIES OUT THE ORDER OF THE
erv
SPIRITUAL MASTER BY DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION, OR THE
PARAMPARA SYSTEM, HE OVERCOMES THE FOUR
S
DEFECTS.‛ (SB 3.24.12)
he
‚WHEN ONE BECOMES SERIOUS TO FOLLOW THE MISSION
OF THE SPIRITUAL MASTER, HIS RESOLUTION IS
nt
(I
TANTAMOUNT TO SEEING THE SUPREME PERSONALITY
OF GODHEAD. As explained before, THIS MEANS MEETING
aid
THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD IN THE

INSTRUCTION OF THE SPIRITUAL MASTER. This is
S
technically called vani-seva. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura

ada
states in his Bhagavad-gita commentary on the verse vyavasayatmika

buddhir ekeha kuru-nandana (Bg. 2.41) that one should serve the
hup
words of the spiritual master. The disciple must stick to whatever the
spiritual master orders. SIMPLY BY FOLLOWING ON THAT
rab
LINE, ONE SEES THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF

GODHEAD.
P
hat
‚The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Paramatma, appeared before

the Queen as a brahmana, but why didn’t He appear in His original
W
form as Sri Krsna? Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura remarks that

unless one is very highly elevated in loving the Supreme Personality
and
of Godhead, one cannot see Him as He is. Nonetheless, IF ONE

STICKS TO THE PRINCIPLES ENUNCIATED BY THE
uru
SPIRITUAL MASTER, SOMEHOW OR OTHER HE IS IN

ASSOCIATION WITH THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF
G
GODHEAD. Since the Lord is in the heart, He can advise a sincere

disciple from within. This is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (10.10):
he
T
145
on)
tesam satata-yuktanam
bhajatam priti-purvakam
skc
dadami buddhi-yogam tam
I
yena mam upayanti te
of
‘To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I
ice
give the understanding by which they can come to Me.’
erv
‚In conclusion, IF A DISCIPLE IS VERY SERIOUS TO EXECUTE
S
THE MISSION OF THE SPIRITUAL MASTER, HE
IMMEDIATELY ASSOCIATES WITH THE SUPREME
he
PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD BY VANI OR VAPUH. This is
nt
the only secret of success in seeing the Supreme Personality of
(I
Godhead. Instead of being eager to see the Lord in some bush of
Vrndavana while at the same time engaging in sense gratification, if
one instead sticks to the principle of following the words of the
aid
spiritual master, he will see the Supreme Lord without difficulty.

S
[...]IF ONE ENGAGES IN THE SERVICE OF THE SPIRITUAL

MASTER, HE NOT ONLY SEES THE SUPREME PERSONALITY
ada
OF GODHEAD BUT ATTAINS LIBERATION.‛ (SB 4.28.51)

hup
Therefore, the essential point is for someone to be a strict FOLLOWER of

rab
his liberated spiritual master.

P
‚SPIRITUAL MASTER IS NOT A NEW INVENTION. IT IS

SIMPLY FOLLOWING THE ORDERS OF THE SPIRITUAL
hat
MASTER. So ALL MY STUDENTS PRESENT HERE who are

W
feeling so much obliged...I am also obliged to them because they are

helping me in this missionary work.At the same time, I SHALL
REQUEST THEM ALL TO BECOME SPIRITUAL
and
MASTER.EVERY ONE OF YOU SHOULD BE SPIRITUAL

MASTER NEXT. And what is their duty? WHATEVER YOU ARE
uru
HEARING FROM ME, WHATEVER YOU ARE LEARNING

G
FROM ME, YOU HAVE TO DISTRIBUTE THE SAME IN TOTO

WITHOUT ANY ADDITION OR ALTERATION. Then all of you
he
T
146
on)
become the spiritual master. THAT IS THE SCIENCE OF
BECOMING SPIRITUAL MASTER.‛
skc
I
‚...So Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, amara ajnaya guru hana tara’ei desa,
of
yare dekha, tare kaha ‘krsna’-upadesa... He says amara ajnaya... ‘by My
ice
order you become a spiritual master....’ So one may be very illiterate,
no education, no scholarship, may not be born in a brahmana family,
erv
or may not be a sannyasi --there are so many qualifications. But one
S
may not have all these qualifications. HE MAY BE RASCAL
NUMBER ONE. But still he can become spiritual master. ...How?
he
Amara ajnaya!!! As Krsna says, as Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, IF
nt
YOU FOLLOW, then you become spiritual master. ONE MAY BE
(I
RASCAL NUMBER ONE FROM MATERIAL ESTIMATION,
BUT IF HE SIMPLY STRICTLY FOLLOWS WHATEVER IS SAID
BY CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU OR HIS REPRESENTATIVE
aid
SPIRITUAL MASTER, THEN HE BECOMES A GURU.‛

S

ada
‚Regarding the Teachings in the temple; everyone of my disciples

hup
may become a teacher strictly following my instructions. I AM A

BONA FIDE TEACHER AS LONG AS I FOLLOW THE
rab
INSTRUCTIONS OF MY SPIRITUAL MASTER. THAT IS THE

ONLY ONE QUALIFICATION FOR BECOMING A TEACHER.
P
As soon as one deviates from this principle one is no longer a

teacher.‛ (Letter to Nandarani, 10/29/67)
hat
W
‚This is called vyavasayatmika buddhi. I may be quite incomplete. It

doesn’t matter. But IF I TRY TO FOLLOW THE WORDS OF MY
GURU MAHARAJA THEN I BECOME COMPLETE. This is the
and
secret. Yasya deve para bhaktir yatha deve tatha guro. If one has strong
faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead and as much faith in the
uru
guru, yatha deve tatha guru, then the revealed scriptures become
G
manifest. It is not the education. It is not the scholarship. It is faith in

Krsna and guru.‛ (Lecture, Los Angeles 12/8/73)
he
T
147
on)
‚IF ONE REMAINS ALWAYS A SERVANT EVERLASTINGLY
OF GURU, THEN HE’S LIBERATED. And as soon as he thinks
skc
that he is liberated, he’s a rascal. That is the teaching of Caitanya
I
of
That is the main platform of liberation that we should be concerned with in
ice
continuing the line of disciplic succession. But it’s interesting to note that
erv
although for years we have heard Prabhupada say so, now that we actually
have to apply it, some of us are finding it ‚hard to swallow‛.
S
he
It’s again the pendulum syndrome. When Srila Prabhupada left, some
nt
thought that his successors automatically had to be regarded as him. Now
(I
that the idea has proven a fallacy, the pendulum has swung to the other peak:
‚No one is qualified!‛.
aid
Well, it’s about time that we stop that pendulum if we want our mission to
S
succeed. ‚Pendulumania‛ comes from sentimentality and ignorance. But we

ada
are meant to conduct our activities on the supremely solid basis of sastra and
parampara understanding, not on the basis of ‚vox populi‛ feelings or
hup
‚practical‛ speculations. These are the elements of the pendulum.

rab
Granted, in preaching we have to be practical. But Prabhupada gave the

P
example of what it meant to be practical. He never adjusted things in a way

that would defeat the spirit of sastra and the disciplic succession, or make it
hat
seem obsolete.
W
‚It is important that we preach the message of Krishna Consciousness

exactly as we have heard it from our Spiritual Master. THE SAME
and
PHILOSOPHY AND SPIRIT MUST BE THERE EXACTLY. Just

like we preach in this country exactly as we have heard from our
uru
Spiritual Master, but there are changes due to the time,

circumstances, and the trainees. THE SPIRIT OF THE DISCIPLIC
G
SUCCESSION MAY NOT BE CHANGED, BUT THERE MAY BE

ADJUSTMENTS MADE TO SUIT THE SPECIAL
he
CIRCUMSTANCES.‛ (Letter to Shivananda, 1/23/69)

T
148
on)
A case in point was the ‚mingling‛ of men and women in our movement; in
spite of all practical adjustments, the spirit remained intact: no illicit sex.
skc
I
‚Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was an ideal acarya. AN ACARYA IS
AN IDEAL TEACHER WHO KNOWS THE PURPOSE OF THE
of
REVEALED SCRIPTURES, BEHAVES EXACTLY ACCORDING
ice
TO THEIR INJUNCTIONS AND TEACHES HIS STUDENTS TO
erv
ADOPT THESE PRINCIPLES ALSO. As an ideal acarya, Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu devised ways to capture all kinds of atheists
S
and materialists. Every acarya has a specific means of propagating his
spiritual movement with the aim of bringing men to Krsna
he
consciousness. Therefore, the method of one acarya may be different
nt
from that of another, but THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS NEVER
(I
NEGLECTED.
aid
‚Srila Rupa Gosvami recommends:

S
yena tena prakarena

manah krsne nivesayet
ada
sarve vidhi-nisedha syur

hup
etayor eva kinkarah

rab
‚AN ACARYA SHOULD DEVISE A MEANS BY WHICH

PEOPLE MAY SOMEHOW OR OTHER COME TO KRSNA
P
CONSCIOUSNESS. First they should become Krsna conscious, and

all the prescribed rules and regulations may later gradually be
hat
introduced. In our Krsna consciousness movement we follow this

W
policy of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. For example, since boys and
girls in the Western countries freely intermingle, special concessions
and
regarding their customs and habits are necessary to bring them to

Krsna consciousness. THE ACARYA MUST DEVISE A MEANS
uru
TO BRING THEM TO DEVOTIONAL SERVICE. Therefore,

although I am a sannyasi I sometimes take part in getting boys and
G
girls married, although in the history of sannyasa no sannyasi has

personally taken part in marrying his disciples.‛ (Cc Adi 7.37)
he
T
149
on)
‚It is the concern of the acarya to show mercy to the fallen souls. In
this connection, desa-kala-patra (theplace, the time and the object)
skc
should be taken into consideration. Since the European and
I
American boys and girls in our Krsna consciousness movement
preach together, less intelligent men criticize that they are mingling
of
without restriction. In Europe and America boys and girls mingle
ice
unrestrictedly and have equal rights; therefore it is not possible to
completely separate the men from the women. However, we are
erv
thoroughly instructing both men and women how to preach, and
S
actually they are preaching wonderfully. OF COURSE, WE VERY
STRICTLY PROHIBIT ILLICIT SEX. Boys and girls who are not
he
married are not allowed to sleep together or live together, and there
nt
are separate arrangements for boys and girls in every temple.
(I
Grhasthas live outside the temple, for in the temple we do not allow
even husband and wife to live together. The results of this are
wonderful. Both men and women are preaching the gospel of Lord
aid
Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Lord Krsna with redoubled strength.

S
‚In this verse the words saba nistarite kare caturi apara indicate that
ada
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted to deliver one and all.

THEREFORE IT IS A PRINCIPLE THAT A PREACHER MUST
hup
STRICTLY FOLLOW THE RULES AND REGULATIONS LAID

DOWN IN THE SASTRAS YET AT THE SAME TIME DEVISE A
rab
MEANS BY WHICH THE PREACHING WORK TO RECLAIM

THE FALLEN MAY GO ON WITH FULL FORCE.‛
P
(Cc Adi 7.38)

hat
What I am trying to discuss now is the tendency that is there these days to
create an ‚adjusted‛ understanding of guru, guruship, and discipleship, that is
W
not supported by sastra. We can adjust anything as long as it does not

contradict guru-sadhu-sastra. But, today, are we backing all we say with the
and
authorities and the scriptures, or are we just reacting out of frustration,

accepting concocted ideas?
uru
‚So there is a disciplic succession. And the acaryas, they’re

G
authorities. OUR PROCESS OF KNOWLEDGE IS VERY SIMPLE.

WE TAKE IT FROM THE AUTHORITY. WE DON’T
he
SPECULATE. Speculation will not help us to come to the real

T
knowledge. Just like when we are in difficulty, in legal implication, we

150
on)
go to some authority, lawyer. When we are diseased we go to a
physician, the authority. There is no use, speculation.‛
skc
I
‚Srila Narottama dasa Thakura says, sadhu-sastra-guru-vakya, cittete
of
kariya aikya. One should accept a thing as genuine by studying the
words of saintly people, the spiritual master and sastra. THE
ice
ACTUAL CENTER IS SASTRA, THE REVEALED SCRIPTURE.
erv
If a spiritual master does not speak according to revealed scripture, he
is not to be accepted. Similarly, if a saintly person does not speak
S
according to the sastra, he is not a saintly person. Sastra is the center
he
for all. UNFORTUNATELY, AT THE PRESENT MOMENT,
nt
PEOPLE DO NOT REFER TO THE SASTRAS....‛
(Cc Madhya 20.352)
(I
Guru and disciple are two of the concepts that Srila Prabhupada explained
the most. Why is there confusion? He wondered this himself.
aid
S
‚WHY DON’T YOU SEE ALL THESE INSTRUCTIONS? And you

are presenting yourself as following Caitanya Mahaprabhu? Why?
ada
Answer! Why you remain fool and rascal? If you want to remain fool
and rascal and question that is not very good. YOU MUST KNOW
hup
WHO IS GURU. And you say, ‘I do not know who is guru.’Why?

Hm? What is the answer? Guru is defined by Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
rab
We are chanting daily, sri krsna caitanya prabhu nityananda sri

P
advaita gadadhara sri.. Take their lesson.Otherwise why you are

praying, sri krsna caitanya prabhu nityananda? You rather glorify
hat
Hitler or Mussolini. Make them guru. Everything is there. You cannot

say that ‘I do not understand.’ Do not understand means you do not
W
take.‛ (Conversation, Mayapur 2/3/76)

and
So, please, let’s not try to redefine what is a guru, a disciple, and their
relationship. Let’s just keep it as PRABHUPADA SAID. ‚I’ve said
uru
everything in my books.‛ If this is not in his books, then what is?

G
‚I HAVE INSTRUCTED EVERYTHING IN MY BOOKS." (Letter

to Dina Dayala dasa, 25th February, 1976)
he
T
151
on)
‚I HAVE GIVEN MY IDEAS AND DIRECTION IN MY BOOKS.
People appreciate. I think from my side I have done everything.‛
skc
(Morning Conversation -- April 29, 1977, Bombay)
I
"Krsna has given you nice opportunity to preach the philosophy so
of
you must be sure to understand it rightly. EVERYTHING IS GIVEN
IN MY BOOKS FOR YOU." (Letter to Gunagrahi dasa, 10/14/73)
ice
‚I HAVE GIVEN YOU ALL THE GUIDANCE AND HINTS AND
erv
IT IS DESCRIBED IN ALL MY BOOKS. Now it is up to you."
S
(Letter to Mukunda, 1st February, 1974)
he
‚IN MY BOOKS THE PHILOSOPHY OF KRISHNA
CONSCIOUSNESS IS EXPLAINED FULLY, so if there is anything
nt
which you do not understand, then you simply have to read again and
(I
again. By reading daily the knowledge will be revealed to you, and by
this process your spiritual life will develop.‛
aid
(Letter to Bahurupa Das, 11/22/74)

S
ada
hup
rab
P
hat
W
and
uru
G
he
T
152
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
153
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
154
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
on)
skc
I
of
ice
erv
S
he
nt
(I
aid
S
ada
hup
rab
P
hat
‚Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura comments that

W
there are many materialistic persons who become

preachers, gurus, religionists or philosophers only for the
and
sake of maintaining a high standard of living and sense

gratification for themselves and their families. Sometimes
uru
they adopt the dress of a sannyasi or preacher. They train

G
some of their family members as lawyers and continually

seek help from a high court to acquire riches on the plea of
he
maintaining temples. [...]They may also professionally

T
155
on)
recite the Bhagavatam or other scriptures, worship the
skc
Deity in the temple and initiate disciples. Making a show of
devotional paraphernalia, they may also collect money
I
from the public and use it to cure the disease of some family
of
member or near relative. [...]Thus they spread a network of
business schemes to collect money for sense gratification by
ice
cheating people in general who have no knowledge of pure
erv
devotional service.‛ (C.c. Antya 9.69)
S
AND, THEN, WE DO KNOW what is not in Prabhupada’s books. For
he
example, there are no instructions about that new species of life, the so-called
nt
‚monitor‛ gurus and their disciples. If we were to accept that in our society
(I
we have ‚monitor‛ gurus, we would have to write new books about everything
concerning them. Besides the fact that Prabhupada considered this kind of
classification bogus. According to him, guru is just one thing: guru.
aid
S
‚Gurus cannot be of different types. All gurus are of one type.‛

(PQPA, Ch.3, pg. 28)
ada
As God is one, guru is also one. THERE CANNOT BE DIFFERENT

hup
GURUS. Nowadays it has become a fashion that "I have got my own
guru. You have got your own guru." No. Guru means the
rab
representative of God. As God is one, similarly, guru is also one.

THERE CANNOT BE DIFFERENT GURUS. BECAUSE GOD IS
P
ONE, HOW THERE CAN BE DIFFERENT GURUS? THE

PRINCIPLE OF GURU IS ONE.
hat
(Arrival Lecture -- San Francisco, July 15, 1975)

W
‚What you have to do is simply try to understand what a genuine guru

and
is. The definition of a genuine guru is that he is simply talking about

God--that’s all. If he is talking about some other nonsense, then he is
not a guru. A GURU CANNOT BE BAD. THERE IS NO
uru
QUESTION OF A BAD GURU, any more than A RED GURU or

G
A WHITE GURU. GURU MEANS ‚GENUINE GURU.‛ All we

have to know is that the genuine guru is simply talking about God
he
and trying to get people to become God’s devotees. IF HE DOES

T
THIS, HE IS GENUINE.‛ (SSR, 4th.Printing, pg.71)

156
on)
Well, didn’t Prabhupada coin the ‚monitor guru‛ term himself in Easy
Journey to Other Planets?... Help yourself:
skc
‚13. He [the serious candidate for going back to Godhead] must not
I
take on unlimited disciples. This means that a candidate who has
of
successfully followed the first twelve items CAN ALSO BECOME A
SPIRITUAL MASTER HIMSELF, just as a student becomes a
ice
MONITOR in class with a limited number of disciples.‛
erv
(EJTOP, 7th Printing, pg.34)
S
If we take this quote as some unique statement exclusive of that book, I would
agree that the example of the monitor in class could suggest the idea of an
he
assistant of a spiritual master. But even so it would be confusing, as
nt
Prabhupada had just said that the candidate ‚can also become a spiritual
(I
master himself.‛ He didn’t say ‚can become an assistant of a spiritual master‛
nor ‚an assistant spiritual master.‛ Anyway, fortunately this is not something
aid
special that Prabhupada is only mentioning in this book. All that he is doing
here is listing the practices to be observed by someone in the path of
S
devotional service, just as they were enumerated by Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu to Sanatana Gosvami in Caitanya-caritamrta (see
ada
Madhya-lila, Ch.22, as well as Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Ch.12), and as

hup
were later identically recorded by Srila Rupa Gosvami in the

Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu. Let’s take a look at them (take note of the
rab
numbers).
‚12. One should avoid the association of unholy non-devotees.
P
13. ONE SHOULD NOT ATTEMPT TO HAVE MANY

hat
DISCIPLES.
14. One should not take the trouble of understanding various books or
W
to understand partially any particular book, and one should avoid

discussing different doctrines.‛ (TLC, Ch.12, 1st. Ed., pg.109)
and
‚The twelfth item is to give up the company of nondevotees.

uru
(13) ONE SHOULD NOT ACCEPT AN UNLIMITED NUMBER

OF DISCIPLES.
G
(14) One should not partially study many scriptures just to be able to
give references and expand explanations.
he
T
157
on)
PURPORT
skc
‚Accepting an unlimited number of devotees or disciples is very risky
for one who is not a preacher. According to Srila Jiva Gosvami, a
I
preacher has to accept many disciples to expand the cult of Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu. This is risky because when a spiritual master
of
accepts a disciple, he naturally accepts the disciple’s sinful activities
ice
and their reactions. Unless he is very powerful, he cannot assimilate
erv
all the sinful reactions of his disciples. Thus if he is not powerful, he
has to suffer the consequences, for one is forbidden to accept many
S
disciples.‛ (Cc Madhya 22.118)
he
From this purport it is crystal clear that the instruction is referring to what
nt
Srila Prabhupada calls ‚a regular guru‛ (see Part Two, Question Eight,
Meeting with GBCs quoted). The same is concluded by reading Nectar of
(I
Devotion (Prabhupada’s summary of the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu), Chapters
Six and Seven, where we find the exact same list of devotional principles as
aid
in Easy Journey, Teachings of Lord Caitanya and Caitanya-caritamrta.

Whenever Prabhupada mentioned this instruction of Lord Caitanya (‚Don’t
S
make many disciples‛), he always referred to it as an instruction for any guru.

ada
‚Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu therefore stated that the spiritual master

who plays the part of Krsna’s representative has to consume all the
hup
sinful reactions of his disciple. Sometimes a spiritual master takes the

risk of being overwhelmed by the sinful reactions of the disciples and
rab
undergoes a sort of tribulation due to their acceptance. SRI

P
CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU THEREFORE ADVISED THAT

ONE NOT ACCEPT MANY DISCIPLES.‛ (SB 4.21.31)
hat
Indeed, Srila Prabhupada even applies the instruction to himself when

W
explaining the risks of initiations. Is he calling himself a ‚monitor‛ guru?

‚S.PRABHUPADA: You see, Krsna says:
and
aham tvam sarva-papebhyo

moksayisyami ma sucah
uru
‘I will deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear.’ So Krsna is so
G
powerful that He can immediately take up all the sins of others and
immediately make them right. But when a living entity plays the part
he
on behalf of Krsna, he also takes the responsibility for the sinful

T
158
on)
activities of his devotees. Therefore to become a guru is not an easy
task. You see? He has to take all the poisons and absorb them. So
skc
sometimes --because he is not Krsna-- sometimes there is some
I
trouble. THEREFORE CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU HAS
FORBIDDEN, ‘DON’T MAKE MANY SISYAS, MANY
of
DISCIPLES.’ But for preaching work we have to accept many
ice
disciples --for expanding preaching-- even if we suffer. That’s a fact.
The spiritual master has to take the responsibility for all the sinful
erv
activities of his disciples. Therefore to make many disciples is a risky
S
job unless one is able to assimilate all the sins.
he
[...]‚After initiation, all sinful reaction is finished. Now if he again
nt
commits sinful activities, his spiritual master has to suffer. A disciple
should be sympathetic and consider this. ‘For my sinful activities, my
(I
spiritual master will suffer.’ If the spiritual master is attacked by some
disease, it is due to the sinful activities of others. ‘DON’T MAKE
aid
MANY DISCIPLES.’ But we do it because we are preaching. Never

mind --let us suffer-- still we shall accept them. Therefore your
S
question was --when I suffer is it due to my past misdeeds? Was it not?

ada
That is my misdeed --that I accepted some disciples who are nonsense.

That is my misdeed.‛ (PQPA, Ch.6, pgs.57-59)
hup
This leads us to conclude that the example of the monitor refers to anyone
who becomes a guru. It is not only for some so-called ‚monitor‛ gurus. In
rab
other words, all gurus are supposed to be like ‚a monitor in class with a
P
limited number of disciples,‛ for Caitanya Mahaprabhu warns ALL gurus not
to take many disciples. ‚Unless one is a preacher‛--interjects Srila
hat
Prabhupada--, and then ‚he is taking a risk.‛

W
‚Accepting an unlimited number of devotees or disciples is very risky

for one who is not a preacher. According to Srila Jiva Gosvami, a
preacher has to accept many disciples to expand the cult of Sri
and
Caitanya Mahaprabhu. THIS IS RISKY because when a spiritual

master accepts a disciple, he naturally accepts the disciple’s sinful
uru
activities and their reactions. Unless he is very powerful, he cannot

G
assimilate all the sinful reactions of his disciples. Thus if he is not

powerful, he has to suffer the consequences, for one is forbidden to
he
accept many disciples.‛ (Cc Madhya 22.118)

T
159
on)
Furthermore, going back to a previous discussion about the humility of the
Vaisnava and his dependence on the previous acaryas, every spiritual master
skc
feels he is a "monitor," thinking he does everything ON BEHALF OF HIS
I
GURU, on whom he is always depending and who is --to him-- the actual
guru, whose ‚business‛ (or ‚class‛) he is taking care of. In this sense, EVERY
of
GURU INITIATES ON BEHALF OF HIS GURU.
ice
‚You have rightly observed that I am simply trying to execute the
erv
order of my Spiritual Master. WHATEVER IS BEING DONE IT IS
NOT ON ACCOUNT OF MY INTELLIGENCE OR ENDEAVOR
S
BECAUSE I AM SIMPLY AN INSTRUMENT IN THE HANDS
he
OF MY SPIRITUAL MASTER. I do not know how far I have got the
nt
capacity to carry His order, but I may say that I have a sincere desire
to do it.‛ (Letter to Paramananda, 6/17/70)
(I
‚So in front of Caitanya Mahaprabhu you are chanting Hare Krsna
mantra, and you are taking part in it very seriously. So MY GURU
aid
MAHARAJA WILL BE VERY, VERY MUCH PLEASED UPON

S
YOU AND BLESS YOU WITH ALL BENEFITS. So he wanted this,

and he is not... IT IS NOT THAT HE IS DEAD AND GONE. That
ada
is not spiritual understanding. Even ordinary living being, he does

not die. Na hanyate hanyamane sarire. And what to speak of such
hup
exalted, authorized personality like Bhaktisiddhanta. HE IS SEEING.

rab
I NEVER FEEL THAT I AM ALONE. Of course, when I came to

your country without any friend, without any means... Practically,
P
just like a vagabond I came. But I HAD FULL FAITH THAT ‘MY
GURU MAHARAJA IS WITH ME.’ I never lost this faith, and that
hat
is fact.‛ (S.Bhaktisiddhanta’s App. Day, 3/2/75)

W
‚[...]I am so much grateful to you for your kind sentiments for me. It is
all Krishna’s Grace that He has sent such a nice assistants to me, for
and
executing the mission of my Spiritual Master. PERSONALLY, I AM

NONENTITY; I HAVE COME HERE ON THE ORDER OF MY
uru
SPIRITUAL MASTER, and He has kindly sent you all boys to assist
me. SO WHATEVER IS BEING DONE, THERE IS NO CREDIT
G
FOR ME, BUT ALL THE CREDIT GOES TO MY SPIRITUAL

MASTER, BECAUSE HE HAS ARRANGED EVERYTHING,
he
AND I AM SIMPLY TO ABIDE BY HIS ORDER.‛

T

160
on)
‚You are doing so much for fulfilling the desire of my Spiritual Master
so YOU ARE INDIRECTLY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF MY
skc
GURU MAHARAJ. HE HAS BEEN HELPING ME IN THIS
I
MATTER by sending so many young boys and girls, otherwise who
would help me in this mission while I came here empty handed and
of
without any friend. I can only pray to Krsna to take care of you,
ice
otherwise I cannot repay your sincere service in my mission.‛
erv
‚All of the sentiments expressed in all of your letters are just
S
according to the Vaisnava parampara. This means that you are
he
understanding the Krishna Consciousness philosophy rightly and I
nt
am very pleased. It is a fact that by serving the spiritual master one
becomes free from material life and makes spiritual advancement. I
(I
have not done anything personally, very wonderful. I AM SIMPLY
aid
BHAKTISIDDHANTA SARASWATI GOSWAMI MAHARAJ

AND ALL THE ACARYAS IN THE DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION. If
S
I have done anything of credit it is that I have not changed their

ada
teachings. I have not added anything of my own interpretation.‛

hup
‚[O]n behalf of Krishna I am accepting your sincere service, but on

rab
the whole, I am servant of the servant of Krishna. Therefore I MAY

BE IN DESIGNATION YOUR SPIRITUAL MASTER, BUT
P
ACTUALLY I AM SERVANT OF THE SERVANT OF KRISHNA,

AND BECAUSE YOU ARE ALL SINCERE SERVANTS OF
hat
KRISHNA, I AM YOUR SERVANT.‛

(Letter to Brahmananda 2/15/68)
W

and

uru

‚Although officially I am your Spiritual Master, I CONSIDER YOU
G
ALL STUDENTS AS MY SPIRITUAL MASTER because your love

for Krishna and service for Krishna teach me how to become a sincere
he
Krishna Conscious person.‛ (Letter to Jadurany, 12/16/67)

T
161
on)
‚Your strong desire to serve me is very beautiful; your serving me
means serving Krishna. I am also your servant so I cannot accept your
skc
service from you, or from any of my disciples. I ACCEPT SERVICE
I
FROM MY DISCIPLES ON BEHALF OF KRISHNA. Just like a tax
collectori5 must collect for the treasury, not for himself. If he himself
of
touches so much as a farthing it would be unlawful. So I have no right
ice
to accept service from any disciple, but ON BEHALF OF KRISHNA
I CAN ACCEPT. Sincere service to the Spiritual Master is service to
erv
the Supreme Lord. As stated in the prayer, ‘Prasadad Bhagavat
S
Prasadad’. That means because Krishna accepts service through the
via media of Spiritual Master, therefore pleasing the Spiritual Master
he
is equal to pleasing the Supreme Lord.‛
nt
(Letter to Upendra, 2/13/68)
(I
‚[T]he spiritual master does not think of himself as Hari. Although
aid
of Hari and all others. A SPIRITUAL MASTER TAKES HIS

DISCIPLES AS HIS SPIRITUAL MASTER. That is the position. He
S
thinks that ‘Krsna has sent me so many spiritual masters.’ He does not
ada
think himself as spiritual master. He thinks himself their servant.

Because they have to be trained. Krsna has appointed him to train
hup
them. Therefore HE THINKS HIMSELF AS SERVANT OF THE

DISCIPLES. This is the position.‛
rab

P

hat

W
‚Regarding our books, yes, they are being printed in our press and
they will come out very shortly. The books are being written
and
specifically for my students and I am so glad to learn that you read

them so carefully. THE WORDS ARE AMBROSIAL BECAUSE
uru
THEY ARE NOT MY PERSONAL WORDS, they are instructions

of my predecessors and I am just trying to administer them to my best
G
knowledge. THAT IS THE WAY OF PARAMPARA SYSTEM. WE

HAVE NOTHING TO MANUFACTURE, BUT SIMPLY CARRY
he
T
162
on)
THE MESSAGE AS A FAITHFUL PEON9. That will be effective.
One should be very sincere to his Spiritual Master and Krsna
skc
simultaneously. Then everything comes out successful. That is the
I
verdict of the Vedas and Lord Caitanya.‛
of
‚I am so pleased to learn that you are constantly trying to follow my
ice
instructions. OF COURSE, I HAVE NO PARTICULAR
erv
INSTRUCTIONS, SAVE AND EXCEPT THE INSTRUCTION
WHICH I HAVE ALSO HEARD FROM MY SPIRITUAL
S
MASTER. So all instructions in the disciplic succession directly come
he
from the Supreme Person. Therefore to follow the instructions of a
nt
Spiritual Master is to follow the instructions of the Supreme Person.
And as soon as we are accustomed to this habit, then all our
(I
misgivings of material existence are over.‛
(Letter to Dayananda, 5/10/68)
aid
‚I thank you very much for your nice letter of appreciation. The kind
S
words that you have used in this connection are very much pleasing,
but ALL THE CREDIT GOES TO MY GURU MAHARAJ. He
ada
asked me to take up this job as soon as I met Him in 1922;

unfortunately I was so worthless that I delayed the matter until 1965,
hup
but He is so kind that by force He engaged me in His service; and

rab
because I am very much worthless, therefore He has sent me so many

of His nice representatives--the beautiful American boys and girls
P
like you. I am so much obliged to you that YOU ARE ALL HELPING
ME IN THE DISCHARGE OF MY DUTIES TOWARDS MY
hat
SPIRITUAL MASTER, although I was so much reluctant to execute

it. After all, we are the eternal servants of Krsna, and by the Divine
W
Will of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur we are now

combined together, although originally we are born in different parts
and
of the world, unknown to one another.

(Letter to Chandanacarya, 3/12/70)
uru
G
9
Just see! Srila Prabhupada must be speaking here of the ‚peon‛ guru, a member of the same
he
family of the ‚monitor‛ guru.

T
163
on)
‚Yes, as I have taken this work as my life and soul on the order of my
Spiritual Master, similarly if you take my desires as life and soul, then
skc
the whole thing is immediately connected with Krsna. THAT IS
I
THE MEANING OF PARAMPARA SYSTEM. NONE OF THE
ACTIVITIES ARE PERSONAL AFFAIRS. It comes only through
of
the proper channel, otherwise each and every activity is directly
ice
connected with Krsna. It is received through the Spiritual Master,
but the business is for Krsna as much as an office superintendent 10 is
erv
the via media for pleasing the ultimate master.‛
S
he
"...I am so much moved from your kind sentiments that you have
nt
expressed for my humble activities. ACTUALLY I AM NOT
WORTHY OF ANY ONE OF THE WORDS SPOKEN BY YOU,
(I
BUT ALL OF THEM ARE DUE TO MY SPIRITUAL MASTER
WHO WAS SO KIND TO ME. In fact I am a worthless person
aid
because my Spiritual Master ordered me to take up this work in 1922

but I did not carry His order until 1958, when I was obliged to carry
S
out His order by His arrangement only. This means although I was
ada
not very enthusiastic to carry out His order He forced me

circumstantially to accept it. So this is His special mercy upon me and
hup
I always think about this with gratitude to this exalted personality

coming directly from Vaikuntha World and we had the great fortune
rab
to meet Him. I think that is theonly credit on our part that we

happened to meet Him by some ‘ajnata sukriti’ or unknown auspicious
P
activities. HE IS SO KIND UPON ME THAT WHEN I CAME TO

hat
YOUR COUNTRY, WHERE I WAS COMPLETELY UNKNOWN,

HE SENT TO ME SOME GOOD SOULS LIKE YOU
W
UNSOLICITED. SO I ACCEPT YOU ALL AS ASSISTANTS OR

REPRESENTATIVES OF MY GURU MAHARAJ WHO IS STILL
and
HELPING ME BECAUSE I AM SO FEEBLE AND UNWORTHY.

Anyway, THE BUSINESS WHICH WE HAVE TAKEN TO WORK
uru
TOGETHER IS NEITHER YOUR BUSINESS NOR MY

G
10
Yes, there are many kinds of gurus. Here's another one! The "superintendent" guru. And
reconsidering Prahupada's famous examples of the post peon (on pgs. 107 & 163), we could also
he
coin a most appropriate term, the "postmaster" guru. Postmaster, spiritual master, ...so obvious!
T
164
on)
BUSINESS AS FAR AS WE ARE PERSONALLY CONCERNED,
BUT IT IS THE BUSINESS OF LORD CAITANYA AND HIS
skc
BONA FIDE SERVANTS LIKE MY GURU MAHARAJ. Therefore
I
it is the duty of all of us to execute it as nicely as far as possible within
our capacity. In other words, we shall just try to discharge our
of
responsible duties faithfully and seriously, then all facilities will come
ice
for our help.‛ (Letter to Hayagriva, 1/14/70)
erv
S
"So this is a memorable day. What he desired, I am trying little bit,
and you are all helping me. SO I HAVE TO THANK YOU MORE.
he
YOU ARE ACTUALLY REPRESENTATIVE OF MY GURU
nt
MAHARAJA (Srila Prabhupada starts to cry) because you are
(I
helping me in executing the order of my Guru Maharaja." (Srila
Bhaktisiddhanta Disappearance Day, Lecture -- Los Angeles,
December 13, 1973)
aid
S
So, ultimately, number 13 is an instruction for ALL gurus, and the example of
ada
the monitor is not for referring to some different kind or category of guru,
but to describe something that is applicable to ALL gurus. Therefore, please,
hup
the term and concept of ‚monitor‛ guru, let it R.I.P.

rab
P
hat
W
and
uru
G
he
T
165
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
166
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
on)
skc
I
of
ice
erv
S
he
nt
(I
aid
S
ada
hup
rab
Who
P
hat
W
yasya saksad bhagavati

and
jnana-dipa-prade gurau
martyasad-dhih srutam tasya
uru
sarvam kunjara-saucavat
G
‚The spiritual master should be considered to be directly the

he
Supreme Lord because he gives transcendental knowledge for

T
enlightenment. Consequently, for one who maintains the

167
on)
material conception that the spiritual master is an ordinary
human being, everything is frustrated. His enlightenment and
skc
his Vedic studies and knowledge are like the bathing of an
I
elephant.‛ (SB 7.15.26)
of
THIS BRINGS US to a most important item in our analysis: In the light of
all said here and recent events in our ISKCON history, how should a disciple
ice
view his guru nowadays? Certain clarification on this point is very much in
erv
order, and I have been impatiently waiting to present it. This whole
S
discussion about the level of a devotee acting as guru could very easily give
way to offenses, and I definitely want to clear myself from being implicated.
he
We have indulged in such a discussion because of the special circumstances
nt
our movement has gone through in recent times, specifically due to the
falldown of spiritual masters. In such circumstances one may apply this kind
(I
of study to understand an unfortunate incident, just as one may analyze a
devotee’s material background to understand some misbehavior or blemish in
aid
his character. An example of this is found in the story of Romaharsana Suta.

S
‚When Lord Balarama saw that Romaharsana Suta did not

ada
understand the highest principle of religion in spite of his having

studied all the Vedas, He certainly could not support his position.
hup
Romaharsana Suta had been given the chance to become a perfect

brahmana, but BECAUSE OF HIS ILL BEHAVIOR IN HIS
rab
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF

P
GODHEAD, HIS LOW BIRTH WAS IMMEDIATELY

REMEMBERED.‛ (Krsna, Ch.77, New Ed., pg. 663)
hat
But this kind of analysis should not be in any way a regular practice. It is only
W
for understanding the specific instance in which (as in the case of

Romaharsana Suta) a spiritual master has deviated. Otherwise, the disciple is
and
ordered to see his spiritual master with the highest regard and love, and
Prabhupada’s teachings are flooded with instructions directing so.
uru
‚THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SPIRITUAL MASTER MUST

G
ALWAYS BE CONTINUED WITH THE GREATEST RESPECT

AND VENERATION, without forgetting His exalted position; like
he
father and son.‛ (Letter to Hansadutta, 1/16/69)

T
168
on)
‚Our Krishna Consciousness movement is based on complete fellow
feeling and love, but there is a word, maryada, which means
skc
RESPECT WHICH SHOULD ALWAYS BE OFFERED TO THE
I
SPIRITUAL MASTER AND ELDERLY MEMBERS.‛
of
‚It is the injuncture of the Vedas that the Spiritual Master should not
ice
be treated as ordinary man even if sometimes the Spiritual Master
erv
behaves like ordinary man. IT IS THE DUTY OF THE DISCIPLE
TO ACCEPT HIM AS SUPERHUMAN MAN.‛
S
(Letter to Brahmananda and Gargamuni, 7/31/70)
he
TRANSLATION
nt
The spiritual master should be considered to be directly the Supreme
(I
Lord because he gives transcendental knowledge for enlightenment.
Consequently, FOR ONE WHO MAINTAINS THE MATERIAL
aid
CONCEPTION THAT THE SPIRITUAL MASTER IS AN

ORDINARY HUMAN BEING, EVERYTHING IS FRUSTRATED.
S
His enlightenment and his Vedic studies and knowledge are like the
ada
bathing of an elephant.
PURPORT
hup
‚IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT ONE HONOR THE SPIRITUAL

rab
MASTER AS BEING ON AN EQUAL STATUS WITH THE

SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD. Saksad dharitvena
P
samasta-sastraih. This is enjoined in every scripture. Acaryam mam

vijaniyat. One should consider the acarya to be as good as the
hat
Supreme Personality of Godhead. In spite of all these instructions, IF

W
ONE CONSIDERS THE SPIRITUAL MASTER AN ORDINARY

HUMAN BEING, ONE IS DOOMED. His study of the Vedas and
and
his austerities and penances for enlightenment are all useless, like the
bathing of an elephant.An elephant bathes in a lake quite
uru
thoroughly, but as soon as he comes on the shore it takes some dust

from the ground and strews it over its body. Thus there is no meaning
G
to the elephant’s bath. One may argue by saying that since the
spiritual master’s relatives and the men of his neighborhood consider
he
him an ordinary human being, what is the fault on the part of the
T
169
on)
disciple who considers the spiritual master an ordinary human being?
This will be answered in the next verse, but THE INJUNCTION IS
skc
THAT THE SPIRITUAL MASTER SHOULD NEVER BE
I
CONSIDERED AN ORDINARY MAN. One should strictly adhere
to the instructions of the spiritual master, for if he is pleased,
of
certainly the Supreme Personality of Godhead is pleased. Yasya
ice
prasadad bhagavat-prasado yasyaprasadan na gatih kuto’pi.
erv
TRANSLATION
S
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krsna, is the master of all
other living entities and of the material nature. His lotus feet are
he
sought and worshiped by great saintly persons like Vyasa.
nt
Nonetheless, there are fools who consider Lord Krsna an ordinary
(I
human being.
PURPORT
aid
The example of Lord Krsna’s being the Supreme Personality of

S
Godhead is appropriate in regard to understanding the spiritual

master. THE SPIRITUAL MASTER IS CALLED
ada
SEVAKA-BHAGAVAN, THE SERVITOR PERSONALITY OF

GODHEAD, and Krsna is called sevya-bhagavan, the Supreme
hup
Personality of Godhead who is to be worshiped. The spiritual master

is the worshiper God, whereas the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
rab
Krsna, is the worshipable God. This is the difference between the

P
spiritual master and the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

‚Another point: Bhagavad-gita, which constitutes the instructions of
hat
the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is presented by the spiritual

W
master as it is, without deviation. Therefore the Absolute Truth is

present in the spiritual master. As clearly stated in Text 26,
jnana-dipa-prade. The Supreme Personality of Godhead gives real
and
knowledge to the entire world, and the spiritual master, as the

representative of the Supreme Godhead, carries the message
uru
throughout the world. THEREFORE, ON THE ABSOLUTE

G
PLATFORM, THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE

SPIRITUAL MASTER AND THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF
he
GODHEAD. If someone considers the Supreme Personality --Krsna

T
or Lord Ramacandra-- to be an ordinary human being, this does not

170
on)
mean that the Lord becomes an ordinary human being. Similarly, if
the family members of the spiritual master, who is the bona fide
skc
representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, consider the
I
spiritual master an ordinary human being, this does not mean that he
becomes an ordinary human being. THE SPIRITUAL MASTER IS
of
AS GOOD AS THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD,
ice
AND THEREFORE ONE WHO IS VERY SERIOUS ABOUT
SPIRITUAL ADVANCEMENT MUST REGARD THE
erv
SPIRITUAL MASTER IN THIS WAY. EVEN A SLIGHT
S
DEVIATION FROM THIS UNDERSTANDING CAN CREATE
DISASTER IN THE DISCIPLE’S VEDIC STUDIES AND
he
AUSTERITIES.‛ (SB 7.15.26-27)
nt
‚arcye visnau sila-dhir gurusu nara-matir vaisnave jati-buddhir
(I
visnor va vaisnavanam kali-mala-mathane pada-tirthe ‘mbu-buddhih
sri-visnor namni mantre sakala-kalusa-he sabda-samanya-buddhir
aid
visnau sarvesvarese tad-itara-sama-dhir yasya va naraki sah

S
‘One who thinks the Deity in the temple to be made of wood or stone,
WHO THINKS OF THE SPIRITUAL MASTER IN THE
ada
DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION AS AN ORDINARY MAN, who thinks

the Vaisnava in the Acyuta-gotra to belong to a certain caste or creed
hup
or who thinks of caranamrta or Ganges water as ordinary water is

taken to be a resident of hell.’ (Padma Purana)‛ (SB 4.21.12)
rab
‚As enjoined in the sastras, arcye visnau sila-dhir gurusu nara-matih:

P
‘No one should treat the Deity in the temple as stone or metal, NOR
SHOULD ONE THINK THAT THE SPIRITUAL MASTER IS AN
hat
ORDINARY HUMAN BEING.’ One should strictly follow this

W
sastric injunction and worship the Deity, the Supreme Personality of

Godhead, without offenses. THE SPIRITUAL MASTER IS THE
and
DIRECT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE LORD, AND NO ONE

SHOULD CONSIDER HIM AN ORDINARY HUMAN BEING. By
avoiding offenses against the Deity and the spiritual master, one can
uru
advance in spiritual life, or Krsna consciousness.‛ (SB 5.17.14)

G
‚Therefore, a devotee who engages in the service of the Supreme

Lord and who constantly thinks of Him should never be considered to
he
have a material body. It is therefore enjoined, GURUSU

T
171
on)
NARA-MATIH: ONE SHOULD STOP THINKING OF THE
SPIRITUAL MASTER AS AN ORDINARY HUMAN BEING
skc
WITH A MATERIAL BODY. Arcye visnau sila-dhih: everyone
I
knows that the Deity in the temple is made of stone, but to think that
the Deity is merely stone is an offense. Similarly, to think that the
of
body of the spiritual master consists of material ingredients is
ice
offensive. Atheists think that devotees foolishly worship a stone
statue as God and an ordinary man as the guru. The fact is, however,
erv
that by the grace of Krsna’s omnipotence, the so-called stone statue of
S
the Deity is directly the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the
body of the spiritual master is directly spiritual.‛ (SB 8.3.2)
he
nt
‚Yes, IF ONE SIMPLY COMES TO THAT PLATFORM OF
SPONTANEOUS LOVE FOR THE SPIRITUAL MASTER, THEN
(I
VERY QUICKLY HE WILL GET LOVE OF GOD, OR KRISHNA,
and his all hankerings and lamentations of life will be finished. That
aid
is the process. Just like when two friends meet and, if the friend is also
with his dog, the gentleman pats his dog first, is it not? So the friend
S
becomes automatically pleased, his dog being patted. I have seen it in

ada
your country sometimes when I used to walk in the Regents Park

early mornings. So it is like that, the spiritual master is the pet dog of
hup
Krishna, and if he is pleased so Krishna is also pleased. That is the

process.‛ (Letter to George, 1/4/73)
rab
‚I am very glad to learn that you are doing spiritual activities very
P
nicely and you are always alert to see whether you are committing
some offense. This is a very nice attitude. IN RENDERING
hat
SERVICE TO LORD KRSNA AND HIS REPRESENTATIVE THE

SPIRITUAL MASTER, WE SHOULD ALWAYS MAINTAIN
W
THIS FEARFUL ATTITUDE which means careful attention. This

attitude will advance you progressively in Krishna Consciousness.‛
and
(Letter to Gopal Krishna 4/21/70)

uru
‚[...O]ne should not come very near a superior. THE DEITY OF THE
LORD AND THE SPIRITUAL MASTER SHOULD BE SEEN
G
FROM A DISTANT PLACE. This is called maryada. Otherwise, as is

said, familiarity breeds contempt. Sometimes coming too near the
he
Deity or the spiritual master degrades the neophyte devotee. Personal

T
172
on)
servants of the Deity and the spiritual master should therefore always
be very careful, for negligence may overcome them in their duty.‛
skc
(Cc Madhya 12.212)
I
‚The words guru-susrusaya mean that one should personally serve the
of
spiritual master by giving him bodily comforts, helping him in
bathing, dressing, sleeping, eating and so on. This is called
ice
guru-susrusanam. A DISCIPLE SHOULD SERVE THE SPIRITUAL
erv
MASTER AS A MENIAL SERVANT, AND WHATEVER HE
HAS IN HIS POSSESSION SHOULD BE DEDICATED TO THE
S
SPIRITUAL MASTER. Pranair arthair dhiya vaca. Everyone has his
he
life, his wealth, his intelligence and his words, and all of them should
nt
be offered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead through the via
medium of the spiritual master. Everything should be offered to the
(I
spiritual master as a matter of duty, but the offering should be made to
the spiritual master with heart and soul, not artificially to gain
aid
material prestige.‛ (SB 7.7.30)

S
‚I thank you very much for your many gifts to me and your concern
for my well being. This is the correct attitude for a disciple. THE
ada
DISCIPLE SHOULD BE PREPARED TO OFFER EVERYTHING

HE HAS INCLUDING HIS BODY, MIND, AND WORDS, IN THE
hup
SERVICE OF THE GURU. Anyone who is sincerely serving to his

rab
greatest capacity becomes dear in the eyes of the Lord.‛

(Letter to Radhe-Syama, 8/14/76)
P
‚I thank you very much for your guru dakshine gift and your nice
hat
letter expressing your appreciation for your spiritual master. THIS IS

THE PROPER WAY TO RECEIVE THE BLESSINGS OF KRSNA,
W
BY BEGGING THE MERCY OF THE SPIRITUAL MASTER.

Yasya prasadad bhagavat prasado. If one pleases the spiritual master,
and
then it is to be understood that Krsna is pleased.‛

(Letter to Padmanabha and Mahojjvala, 7/2/75)
uru
‚A DISCIPLE SHOULD NOT DO ANYTHING WITHOUT

G
ASKING FIRST HIS SPIRITUAL MASTER. It is said in Srimad

Bhagavatam that a brahmachary should beg and collect things and
he
then deliver them to his Spiritual Master, and when the Spiritual
T
173
on)
Master will ask him to come and take prasadam he will do so. If one
day the Spiritual Master forgets to call a brahmachary to participate
skc
in the lunch, he should rather fast that day than take food out of his
I
own accord. Of course I do not mean to impose upon you such
strictures, but the purport is that a brahmachary should not do
of
anything without being directed by the Spiritual Master. I know that
ice
you are sincere devotee and a faithful brahmachary, but still you
should not do anything without consenting me.‛
erv
(Letter to Shivananda, 12/31/68)
S
‚You have also mentioned to repeatedly offer obeisances to your
he
spiritual master. This is very important. A DISCIPLE SHOULD
nt
OFFER DANDABATS, NOT NAMASKAR. THE MORE ONE
BECOMES FIXED UP IN GURU OBEISANCES, THE MORE HE
(I
ADVANCES IN SPIRITUAL PROGRESS. Yasya deve para bhaktir
yatha deve tatha gurau.‛ (Letter to Attreya Rishi, 11/15/74)
aid
‚One should always engage in the Lord’s devotional service. As

S
recommended in the arcana-marga, one should worship the Deity in

the temple and CONSTANTLY OFFER OBEISANCES TO THE
ada
SPIRITUAL MASTER AND THE DEITY. These processes are

recommended to one who actually wants to become free from
hup
material entanglement.‛ (SB 4.29.75)

rab
‚Your confidence to do whatever you are instructed by the Spiritual

Master is very encouraging. Yes, this is the method of the Vedic
P
injunction, STAUNCH FAITH IN SPIRITUAL MASTER AND

KRSNA MAKES ONE PERFECT IN SPIRITUAL
hat
UNDERSTANDING.‛ (Letter to Himavati, 4/1/70)

W
‚It is customary, after being initiated in the Gayatri mantra, for one
to live away from home for some time, under the care of the acarya, to
and
be trained in spiritual life. During this period, ONE HAS TO WORK

UNDER THE SPIRITUAL MASTER AS AN ORDINARY
uru
MENIAL SERVANT. There are many rules and regulations for a

brahmacari living under the care of an acarya, and both Lord Krsna
G
and Balarama strictly followed those regulative principles while living

under the instruction of Their spiritual master, Sandipani Muni, in
he
his place in northern India. ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURAL

T
174
on)
INJUNCTIONS, A SPIRITUAL MASTER SHOULD BE
RESPECTED AND REGARDED ON AN EQUAL LEVEL WITH
skc
THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD. Both Krsna and
I
Balarama exactly followed those principles with great devotion and
underwent the regulations of brahmacarya. Thus They satisfied Their
of
spiritual master, who instructed Them in Vedic knowledge. Being
ice
very satisfied, Sandipani Muni instructed Them in all the intricacies
of Vedic wisdom and in supplementary literatures such as the
erv
Upanisads.‛ (KB, Ch.44, New Ed., pg.357)
S
‚The Vedic literature instructs: Tasmad gurum prapadyeta Jijnasuh
he
sreya uttamam. An intelligent man must be very inquisitive to know
nt
the transcendental science deeply. Therefore ONE MUST
APPROACH A GURU, A SPIRITUAL MASTER. Although Jada
(I
Bharata explained everything to Maharaja Rahugana, it appears that
his intelligence was not perfect enough to understand clearly. He
aid
therefore requested a further explanation.As stated in Bhagavad-gita

(4.34):Tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya. THE STUDENT
S
MUST APPROACH A SPIRITUAL MASTER AND

ada
SURRENDER UNTO HIM FULLY (PRANIPATENA). He must

also question him in order to understand his instructions
hup
(Pariprasnena ). One should not only surrender to the spiritual

master but also render loving service unto him (sevaya) so that the
rab
spiritual master will be pleased with the student and explain the
transcendental subject matter more clearly. A CHALLENGING
P
SPIRIT BEFORE THE SPIRITUAL MASTER SHOULD BE

hat
AVOIDED IF ONE IS AT ALL INTERESTED IN LEARNING

THE VEDIC INSTRUCTIONS IN DEPTH.‛ (SB 5.12.3)
W
‚TRANSLATION
‘One should know the acarya as Myself and never disrespect him in
and
any way. One should not envy him, thinking him an ordinary man,
for he is the representative of all the demigods.’
uru
‚PURPORT
G
This is a verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.17.27) spoken by Lord

Krsna when He was questioned by Uddhava regarding the four social
he
and spiritual orders of society. HE WAS SPECIFICALLY

T
175
on)
INSTRUCTING HOW A BRAHMACARI SHOULD BEHAVE
UNDER THE CARE OF A SPIRITUAL MASTER. A spiritual
skc
master is not an enjoyer of facilities offered by his disciples. He is like
I
a parent. Without the attentive service of his parents, a child cannot
grow to manhood; similarly, WITHOUT THE CARE OF THE
of
SPIRITUAL MASTER ONE CANNOT RISE TO THE PLANE OF
ice
TRANSCENDENTAL SERVICE.
erv
‚THE SPIRITUAL MASTER IS ALSO CALLED ACARYA, OR A
TRANSCENDENTAL PROFESSOR OF SPIRITUAL SCIENCE.
S
The Manu-samhita (2.140) explains the duties of an acarya,
he
describing that a bona fide spiritual master accepts charge of
nt
disciples, teaches them the Vedic knowledge with all its intricacies,
and gives them their second birth. [...]In the Vayu Purana an acarya is
(I
defined as one who knows the import of all Vedic literature, explains
the purpose of the Vedas, abides by their rules and regulations, and
aid
teaches his disciples to act in the same way.

S
‚Only out of His immense compassion does the Personality of

Godhead reveal Himself as the spiritual master. Therefore in the
ada
dealings of an acarya there are no activities but those of

transcendental loving service to the Lord. HE IS THE SUPREME
hup
PERSONALITY OF SERVITOR GODHEAD. It is worthwhile to

rab
take shelter of such a steady devotee, who is called asraya-vigraha, or

the manifestation or form of the Lord of whom one must take shelter.
P
‚If one poses himself as an acarya but does not have an attitude of
servitorship to the Lord, he must be considered an offender, and this
hat
offensive attitude disqualifies him from being an acarya. The bona

W
fide spiritual master always engages in unalloyed devotional service to

the Supreme Personality of Godhead. By this test he is known to be a
and
direct manifestation of the Lord and a genuine representative of Sri

Nityananda Prabhu. Such a spiritual master is known as acaryadeva.
uru
Influenced by an envious temperament and dissatisfied because of an

attitude of sense gratification, mundaners criticize a real acarya. In
G
fact, however, a bona fide acarya is nondifferent from the Personality

of Godhead, and therefore to envy such an acarya is to envy the
he
Personality of Godhead Himself. This will produce an effect

T
subversive to transcendental realization.

176
on)
‚As mentioned previously, A DISCIPLE SHOULD ALWAYS
RESPECT THE SPIRITUAL MASTER AS A MANIFESTATION
skc
OF SRI KRSNA, but at the same time one should always remember
I
that a spiritual master is never authorized to imitate the
transcendental pastimes of the Lord. [...]Srila Raghunatha dasa
of
Gosvami [...] says that ONE SHOULD ALWAYS THINK OF THE
ice
SPIRITUAL MASTER IN TERMS OF HIS INTIMATE
RELATIONSHIP WITH MUKUNDA (SRI KRSNA). [...]In his
erv
prayers to the spiritual master, Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura
S
confirms that ALL THE REVEALED SCRIPTURES ACCEPT THE
SPIRITUAL MASTER TO BE IDENTICAL WITH THE
he
PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD because he is a very dear and
nt
confidential servant of the Lord. Gaudiya Vaisnavas therefore
(I
worship Srila Gurudeva (the spiritual master) in the light of his being
the servitor of the Personality of Godhead. In all the ancient
literatures of devotional service and in the more recent songs of Srila
aid
Narottama dasa Thakura, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and other

S
unalloyed Vaisnavas, the spiritual master is always considered either

one of the confidential associates of Srimati Radharani or a
ada
manifested representation of Srila Nityananda Prabhu.‛

(Cc Adi 1.46)
hup
rab
‚Out of the ten kinds of offenses, THE NUMBER ONE OFFENSE IS

TO DISOBEY THE ORDERS OF THE SPIRITUAL MASTER.‛
P

hat
W
‚We should always, therefore, be careful in the matter of being

attacked by Maya’s influence and the only means of guarantee is to
chant Hare Krishna offenselessly. THE GREATEST OFFENSE IS
and
TO DEFY THE SPIRITUAL MASTER AND TO ACT SINFULLY,

THINKING IN THE STRENGTH OF CHANTING.‛
uru
(Letter to Woomapati, 11/23/67)

G
‚[...D]O NOT DARE TO QUESTION IMPRUDENTLY BEFORE

he
YOUR SPIRITUAL MASTER.‛ (Letter to Niranjan, 11/21/72)

T
177
on)
‚Damodara Pandita was a great devotee of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Sometimes, however, a person in such a position becomes impudent,
skc
being influenced by the external energy and material considerations.
I
Thus a devotee mistakenly dares to criticize the activities of the
spiritual master or the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Despite the
of
logic that ‘Caesar’s wife must be above suspicion,’ a devotee should
ice
not be disturbed by the activities of his spiritual master and should
not try to criticize him. A DEVOTEE SHOULD BE FIXED IN THE
erv
CONCLUSION THAT THE SPIRITUAL MASTER CANNOT BE
S
SUBJECT TO CRITICISM AND SHOULD NEVER BE
CONSIDERED EQUAL TO A COMMON MAN. Even if there
he
appears to be some discrepancy according to an imperfect devotee’s
nt
estimation, the devotee should be fixed in the conviction that even if
(I
his spiritual master goes to a liquor shop, he is not a drunkard; rather,
he must have some purpose in going there. It is said in a Bengali
poem:
aid
yadyapi nityananda sura-badi yaya

S
tathapio haya nityananda-raya

ada
‘Even if I see that Lord Nityananda has entered a liquor shop, I shall
hup
not be diverted from my conclusion that Nityananda Raya is the

Supreme Personality of Godhead.’‛ (Cc Antya 3.11)
rab
‚Your very sincere attitude for serving your Spiritual Master, as

P
indicated in your letters, is the only way for making advancement is

spiritual life. TO OFFER THE HIGHEST RESPECTS TO THE
hat
SUPREME PERSON AND AS MUCH RESPECT TO THE

SPIRITUAL MASTER, MAKES ONE BONA FIDE TO RECEIVE
W
SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE BY REVELATION; THAT IS THE

INJUNCTION OF THE VEDAS. I see that your attitude is quite
and
appropriate and so I pray to Krishna to bestow upon you all his

blessings.‛ (Letter to Karandhar, 4/9/71)
uru
‚Your third question: why does Srila Narada Muni condemn Srila
G
Vyasadeva for compiling the Vedic Scriptures? Sri Narada Muni was
the Spiritual Master of Srila Vyasadeva. A SPIRITUAL MASTER
he
HAS THE RIGHT TO CHASTISE HIS DISCIPLE ANY WAY HE

T
LIKES. A sisya or a disciple means one who accepts the disciplinary

178
on)
action given by the Spiritual Master. Even although sometimes a
Spiritual Master chastises his disciple as a fool or rascal in fatherly
skc
affection, it does not mean necessarily that the disciple is a fool or a
I
rascal. You will find even in the statement of Lord Chaitanya--He
presents Himself as a fool designated by His Spiritual Master, but that
of
does not mean that He was a fool. A SINCERE DISCIPLE FEELS IT
ice
PLEASURABLE WHEN HIS SPIRITUAL MASTER CHASTISES
HIM WITH CALLING HIM SUCH NAMES AS FOOL AND
erv
RASCAL. My Spiritual Master sometimes called me in that way and I
S
remember that day always and feel transcendental pleasure.‛
(Letter to Gajendra, 1/27/70)
he
nt
‚You’ll find in Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, it is stated somewhere, that if,
if a devotee is coming, then another devotee who is engaged in
(I
worship of the Deity may stop Deity worship for the time being and
should go immediately to receive the devotee. So Krsna also says,
aid
mad-bhakta-puja abhyadhika. KRSNA IS SATISFIED MORE WHEN

A DEVOTEE WORSHIPS HIS DEVOTEE. Krsna says, ‘If one is
S
worshiping Me and one is worshiping My devotee,’ then the person

ada
who is worshiping the devotee, he’s more important than the person
who is worshiping Krsna.
hup
‚Therefore in, in the Gurvastaka by Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura,

rab
it is said there: yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado. Yasya prasadad

bhagavat-prasado yasya aprasadad na gatih kuto ‘pi. THE BEST
P
DEVOTEE IS THE SPIRITUAL MASTER. UNLESS ONE IS

DEVOTEE, PURE DEVOTEE, HOW HE CAN BE SPIRITUAL
hat
MASTER? Spiritual master means representative of God. So who can

become representative of God. Unless he is twenty-four hours
W
engaged in the service of God, Krsna, how he can be spiritual master?

This is also explained by Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura saksad
and
dharidtvena samasta-sastraih. THE SPIRITUAL MASTER IS

DESCRIBED AS GOOD AS HARI, THE SUPREME
uru
PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD. Because the, the spiritual master is

representative of Krsna because he’s most confidential servant of
G
Krsna. Kintu prabhor ya priya eva tasya. Yasya pra... Saksad dharitvena
he
samasta-sastrair uktas tatha bhavyata eva sadbhih. The spiritual master

is worshiped as good as the Supreme Person. Saksad dharitvena. This
T
179
on)
is not artificial, but in all the sastras, this is recommended. Saksad
dharitvena samasta-sastrair uktas tatha bhavyata eva sadbhih. Those
skc
who are learned devotees, advanced devotees, they also accept this,
I
that the spiritual master should be treated as good as Hari, the
Supreme Person.
of
‚But the spiritual master does not think of himself as Hari. Although
ice
erv
of Hari and all others. A spiritual master takes his disciples as his
spiritual master. That is the position. He thinks that ‘Krsna has sent
S
me so many spiritual masters.’ He does not think himself as spiritual
he
master. He thinks himself their servant. Because they have to be
nt
trained. Krsna has appointed him to train them. Therefore he thinks
himself as servant of the disciples. This is the position.‛
(I
‚This is the duty of the guru, to awaken that divya-jnana. Divya
aid
jnana. And BECAUSE GURU ENLIGHTENS THAT

S
DIVYA-JNANA, HE IS WORSHIPPED. That is required. [...] So, to

worship guru means, because he gives us superior knowledge. Not this
ada
knowledge --how to eat, how to sleep, how to have sex life and defend.
[...]A guru has no bussiness with these things. He is giving
hup
divya-jnana, superior knowledge. That is required. This human form

of life is an opportunity to awaken that divya-jnana, hrde prakasito.
rab
And if he’s kept in darkness about that divya-jnana, simply if he is

P
trained up how to eat, how to sleep, how to have sex and to defend,
then life will be lost. That is a great loss. [...]We should always
hat
remember this. Very risky life. Once again thrown into the waves of
birth and death, we do not know where I am going. Very serious.
W
and
‚This Krsna consciousness is divya-jnana. It is not ordinary

knowledge. [...]So you should always remember this word, divya jnana
uru
hrde prakasito. And because the spiritual master enlightens the

divya-jnana, one feels obliged to him. Yasya prasadad bhagavat
G
prasado yasya prasadan na gatih kuto ‘pi. So THIS GURU-PUJA IS

ESSENTIAL. AS THE DEITY WORSHIP IS ESSENTIAL... IT IS
he
NOT CHEAP ADORATION. It is the process of enlightening the

T
divya-jnana.‛ (Lecture, Bombay 4/1/77)

180
on)
‚According to etiquette, things used by Krsna should not be used by
anyone else. Similarly, THINGS USED BY THE SPIRITUAL
skc
MASTER SHOULD ALSO NOT BE USED BY ANYONE ELSE.
I
That is etiquette. Whatever is used by Krsna or the spiritual master is
worshipable. In particular, their sitting or eating places should not be
of
used by anyone else. A DEVOTEE MUST BE VERY CAREFUL TO
ice
OBSERVE THIS.‛ (Cc Madhya 15.234)
erv
‚Saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair, uktas tatha bhavyata eva
S
sadbhih/kintu prabhor yah priya eva tasya, THE GURU SHOULD BE
he
TREATED AS GOOD AS GOD. THIS IS STATED IN ALL THE
nt
SHASTRAS. The difference is that God is master-God and guru is
servant-God.‛ (Letter to Karandhar, 1/29/76)
(I
aid
‚One thing you may note also as a matter of etiquette. The Spiritual
Master is addressed as HIS DIVINE GRACE, a Godbrother is
S
addressed as His Grace, and any Sannyasin is addressed as His

ada
Holiness.‛ (Letter to Brahmananda, 1/30/67)

‚Srila Vyasdeva therefore summarized the whole Vedic knowledge in
hup
the shape of Srimad Bhagavatam which is known as the ripened fruit

rab
of the desire tree known as Vedic knowledge. The ripened fruit is

received hand to hand through disciplic succession and ANYONE
P
WHO DOES THIS WORK IN DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION FROM

SRILA VYASDEVA IS CONSIDERED AS REPRESENTATIVE
hat
OF VYASDEVA and as such the bonafide Spiritual Master’s

Appearance Day is worshiped as Vyas Puja. Not only that, the exalted
W
seat on which the Spiritual Master sits is also called Vyasasana.‛

and
‚We should always remember that Krishna is the only order giver. His
uru
order is received through the agency of the spiritual master. THE

BONAFIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER IS THE MANIFEST
G
REPRESENTATIVE OF KRISHNA. The spiritual master is desribed

in the scriptures as good as Krishna because he is the most
he
confidential servitor of Krishna. TO PLEASE THE SPIRITUAL

T
181
on)
MASTER IS TO PLEASE KRISHNA. On this principle we must
advance our Krishna Consciousness and there is no danger.‛
skc
(Letter to Nandarani et al, 10/3/67)
I
‚Thank you for your nice appreciation of the Spiritual Master.
UNLESS ONE HAS GOT UTMOST CONFIDENCE IN BOTH
of
SPIRITUAL MASTER AND KRSNA HE CANNOT ADVANCE
ice
ON THE PATH OF BHAKTI YOGA OF KRSNA
CONSCIOUSNESS. Please keep up this nice attitude and render
erv
service sincerely and your life will come to perfection, love of Krsna.‛
S
(Letter to Danavir, 2/11/71)
he
‚Actually you are correct, it is not possible for the disciple to repay
nt
the debt to the spiritual master. Therefore THE DISCIPLE
REMAINS ETERNALLY INDEBTED TO THE SPIRITUAL
(I
MASTER and continually works in such a way that the spiritual
master may become pleased upon him for such sincere services
aid
rendered.‛ (Letter to Mantrini devi dasi, 7/29/76)

S
"KNOWLEDGE OF KRSNA IS SUCH A GREAT GIFT THAT IT

IS IMPOSSIBLE TO REPAY THE BENEFACTOR. Therefore
ada
Prthu Maharaja requested the Kumaras to be satisfied by their own

benevolent activities in delivering souls from the clutches of maya.
hup
The King saw that there was no other way to satisfy them for their
rab
exalted activities. The word vinoda-patram can be divided into two

words, vina and uda-patram, or can be understood as one word,
P
vinoda-patram, which means "joker." A joker's activities simply arouse

laughter, and A PERSON WHO TRIES TO REPAY THE
hat
SPIRITUAL MASTER OR TEACHER OF THE

TRANSCENDENTAL MESSAGE OF KRSNA BECOMES A
W
LAUGHINGSTOCK JUST LIKE A JOKER BECAUSE IT IS NOT

POSSIBLE TO REPAY SUCH A DEBT. The best friend and
and
benefactor of all people is one who awakens humanity to its original

Krsna consciousness." (SB 4.22.47)
uru
‚Doubts may come about, but ONE SHOULD BE FIRMLY FIXED

G
UP THAT THERE CANNOT BE ANY DOUBT ON THE

SPIRITUAL MASTER OR KRSNA.‛
he
(Letter to Satyabhama, 11/1/70)

T
182
on)
‚ONE MUST LOVE THE SPIRITUAL MASTER WITH
UNFLINCHING FAITH, and one must be very steady and fixed.
skc
The bona fide disciple should be inquisitive to understand
I
transcendental subject matter. HE MUST NOT SEARCH OUT
FAULTS AMONG GOOD QUALITIES, and he should no longer
of
be interested in material topics. His only interest should be Krsna, the
ice
Supreme Personality of Godhead.‛ (Cc Madhya 24.330)
erv
‚PLEASING THE SPIRITUAL MASTER IS THE ACTIVE
PRINCIPLE IN SPIRITUAL LIFE and offerings made with love and
S
devotion are always pleasing to the spiritual master.‛
he
(Letter to Kapardini dasi, 7/24/76)
nt
‚Yes WE ARE RUNNING ON THE MERCY OF THE(I
SPIRITUAL MASTER, to understand this point is to get mercy more
and more. Yasya prasadat bhagavat prasada.‛
(Letter to Yogescandra, 12/7/75)
aid
‚One should always be sincere to PLEASE THE SPIRITUAL

S
MASTER BY FOLLOWING HIS INSTRUCTIONS, then life is

ada
very easy.‛ (Letter to Joan Feilds, 7/24/76)

‚To take shelter of the Spiritual Master means to follow his
hup
instructions. So, YOU SHOULD BE VERY CAREFUL TO NOT

DEVIATE EVEN A LITTLE BIT FROM THE ORDER OF YOUR
rab
GURU.‛ (Letter to Sivani, 3/14/75)

P
‚AS A MAN CANNOT SEPARATE HIS LIFE FROM HIS BODY,

A DISCIPLE CANNOT SEPARATE THE ORDER OF THE
hat
SPIRITUAL MASTER FROM HIS LIFE. If a disciple follows the

W
instruction of the spiritual master in that way, HE IS SURE TO

BECOME PERFECT.‛ (SB 3.24.13)
and
One should only accept as a spiritual master someone whom he can surrender
to wholeheartedly, someone whom he can accept as his worshipable superior,
uru
someone whom he sees as the spiritual master the scriptures describe. What is
the use of ‚accepting‛ someone otherwise?
G
‚[...W]HAT IS THE USE OF ACCEPTING A SPIRITUAL

he
MASTER IF YOU CANNOT TAKE HIS WORDS?‛

(Letter to Bilasvigrahadas, 1/22/69)
T
183
on)
‚Here is a technique. The same Krsna and same Arjuna, they are
talking as friends. Then what was the necessity of Arjuna accepting
skc
Krsna as spiritual master? The same Arjuna and same Krsna, they’ll
I
talk, but what is the necessity of accepting [Krsna] as spiritual master?
That means after accepting spiritual master he’ll not argue. He’ll
of
simply accept whatever He says. That is the technique. Friendly talks,
ice
equal level, He, Krsna was talking something, and he [Arjuna] was
replying. So that argument has no end. But when he accepts Him as
erv
spiritual master, there is no more argument. One has to accept
S
whatever He says. Therefore he’s accepting [Krsna] as spiritual
master. After this, Arjuna will never say, ‘This is wrong, this is, no,’ or
he
‘I don’t agree.’ No. He’ll accept. So acceptance of spiritual master
nt
means to accept anything, whatever he says. Therefore ONE HAS
(I
TO SELECT A SPIRITUAL MASTER WHOM HE CAN
COMPLETELY SURRENDER. That is the technique. Veda vakya.
Just like in the Vedic injunction, nobody can deny. Similarly,
aid
spiritual master is also representative of Veda. Acaryavan puruso veda.

S
So similarly, [whatever he says] it is just like Vedic injunction.‛

ada
‚IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH, then you have to follow
hup
these principles, how to know isvara tattva. And how to know? Tad
vijnanartham sa gurum eva abhigaccet. Then you have to go, approach
rab
the bona fide guru. He will let you know. Tad viddhi pranipatena
pariprasnena sevaya. No challenge. That is foolishness. No challenge.
P
Pranipatena. First of all surrender. YOU DON’T SURRENDER TO

hat
A FOOLISH MAN. BUT YOU HAVE TO SURRENDER. Now it is

your business to find out where to surrender. But you have to
W
surrender. THIS IS THE PROCESS. WITHOUT SURRENDER,

YOU CANNOT UNDERSTAND THE TRUTH AS IT IS. THAT
and
IS THE INSTRUCTION OF VEDAS EVERYWHERE. Tasmad

gurum prapadyeta jijnasuh sreya uttamam. ‘One has to surrender to
uru
guru.’ Why? Jijnasu:’ If you are inquisitive to know the Absolute

Truth.’ And if you want to know something which is flickering,
G
relative truth, that is another thing. But if you want to know the
Absolute Truth, sreyah uttamam... Absolute Truth means ultimate
he
benefit, sreya. Ultimate... Yes, exactly the word, benefit. If you want
T
184
on)
ultimate benefit, then gurum prapadyeta. Who is guru? Sabde pare ca
nisnatam brahmany upasamasrayan. One who is expert in
skc
understanding the Vedic literature, sabde, pare ca, especially
I
transcendental. So WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH LIKE THAT.‛
Lecture, Mayapur 4/5/75)
of
‚First process is that you must surrender. Tasmad gurum prapadyeta,
ice
surrender. YOU HAVE TO FIND OUT SUCH AN EXALTED
erv
PERSON WHERE YOU CAN WILLINGLY SURRENDER....‛
S
‚To accept a spiritual master is not a fashion. Just like we keep a dog,
he
pet, similarly, if we keep a spiritual master, pet spiritual master, to get
nt
sanction of all my sinful activities. That is not accepting spiritual
(I
master. Spiritual master means Tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena
sevaya. YOU SHOULD ACCEPT A SPIRITUAL MASTER
WHERE YOU THINK THAT YOU CAN SURRENDER
aid
YOURSELF FULLY. And offer him your service. That is spiritual

S
master.
ada
‚[...]YOU CANNOT ARGUE WITH THE SPIRITUAL MASTER.

First of all, you have to select a spiritual master where you can
hup
completely surrender. And as soon... Just like Arjuna surrendered to

Krsna. When he saw that ‘The questions which have arisen in my
rab
mind, it cannot be solved by ordinary person,’ therefore he selected.

He told Him that ‘I can understand, without Your Lordship, nobody
P
can mitigate all the doubts in my mind.’ Tasmad gurum prapadyeta.

Sisyas te ‘ham sadhi mam. Therefore original spiritual master is Krsna.
hat
Krsna is original spiritual master.‛

W

‚I am glad that you are taking the recommendation of new initiates
and
very seriously, that they are writing essays. Yes, it is a serious matter.
NOT THAT LET ME TAKE A SPIRITUAL MASTER AS A PET
uru
AND I CAN DO WHATEVER I WANT. No, one must be prepared

to follow the order of the spiritual master with life and soul.‛
G
(Letter to Tulsi das, 10/7/74)

he
T
185
on)
‚UNLESS YOU CENT PERCENT AGREE WITH THE
SPIRITUAL MASTER’S OPINION OR PHILOSOPHY, THERE IS
skc
NO NEED OF ACCEPTING A SPIRITUAL MASTER. There is no
I
need.‛ (Lecture, Los Angeles 11/27/68)
Therefore, a candidate should take his time in analyzing the spiritual master
of
sufficiently before initiation, not after.
ice
‚S.PRABHUPADA: According to our Vaisnava principles, adau
erv
gurvasrayam, the first business is to accept a spiritual master.
S
Sad-dharma-prcchat. Then one has to inquire about sad-dharma.
Sadhu-marganugamanam. One should follow the footprints of the
he
previous acaryas. This is the process, one after another. So first thing
nt
is adau gurvasrayam, one has to accept a guru. SO YOU MAY, YOU
SHOULD, I MEAN TO SAY, CHECK WHETHER HE’S GURU
(I
OR NOT. THAT IS ALLOWED. IT IS SAID FOR ONE YEAR
THE SISYA AND THE GURU SHOULD MEET TOGETHER...
aid
V: And don’t talk.

S
S.PRABHUPADA: Eh? No, the guru, I mean, THE ASPIRANT

ada
SISYA WILL HEAR AND STUDY WHETHER HE’S ACTUALLY

FIT FOR BECOMING GURU. Similarly, the guru will also study
hup
that whether he’s actually fit for becoming a...Just like in our society.
We don’t accept immediately. We don’t give initiation immediately.
rab
First of all [he] lives for some time. Then when he becomes eager, we
P
give the first initiation, chanting Hare Krsna mantra. Then after one
year, when he’s fit, he’s doing everything well, then we initiate him.
hat
This is our process.‛ (Conversation, Bombay 3/23/74)

W
‚Now here is another verse, Krsna says, tad viddhi pranipatena

pariprasnena sevaya, in the Bhagavad-gita. Tad viddhi pranipatena
pariprasnena sevaya upadeksyanti te jnanam jnaninas tattva-darsinah.
and
So you have to learn from guru by three processes. What is that? First
process is that you must surrender. Tasmad gurum prapadyeta,
uru
surrender. You have to find out such an exalted person where you can
G
willingly surrender, ‚Yes.‛ Therefore IT IS ENJOINED IN THE

SASTRAS, BEFORE MAKING A GURU, TRY TO STUDY HIM,
he
WHETHER YOU CAN SURRENDER THERE. DON’T ACCEPT

T
ANY GURU ALL OF A SUDDEN AS FANATIC. No, don’t do

186
on)
that. That is the injunction. And guru also must study the disciple
who wants to become a disciple, must study him, whether he's fit for
skc
becoming a disciple. This is the way of making relationship between
I
guru and disciple. Everything is there provided we take them
seriously. Then we can train up how to become bona fide disciple,
of
how to find out bona fide guru, how to establish our relationship with
ice
guru and act accordingly and make our life successful.‛
erv
‚One who teaches other conclusion from that of the Bhagavad- gita
S
and the succession of acaryas is certainly not a guru, and in fact
he
according to Lord Krsna, he is a fool, (the word Krsna uses is mudha,
nt
ass, rascal). SO WE HAVE TO EXAMINE WHETHER THE
PERSON WHO IS PRESENTING HIMSELF AS OUR GURU IS
(I
ACTUALLY IN KNOWLEDGE OF THE SCIENCE OF KRSNA
OR WHETHER HE IS LEADING US AWAY FROM KRSNA, OR
aid
LEADING US TO HELL IN THE NAME OF YOGA MYSTICISM.

In this connection, the chanting of Hare Krsna is very efficacious
S
because it develops personal relationship with the Personality of

ada
Godhead and cleans the heart of sinful reactions. Please go on

reading our literatures and pray to Krsna to give you the right
hup
direction from within how to approach a bona fide spiritual master

for advancing in spiritual life.‛ (Letter to Trista Hubbarth, 5/3/74)
rab
‚Now, the idea of accepting spiritual master, that is also very

P
obligatory. You see? As soon as you accept one as the spiritual master.
First of all, we have recorded in our...You have heard it, THAT
hat
ACCEPTANCE OF SPIRITUAL MASTER MUST BE

SELECTED, YOU SEE, AFTER CAREFUL EXAMINATION, just
W
like one selects his bride or bridegroom after careful examination.

And in India they are very careful because the marriage of the boys
and
and girls take place under the guidance of the parents. So the parents
very carefully see. So similarly, if one has to... The acceptance of
uru
spiritual master is necessary. ACCORDING TO VEDIC

INJUNCTION, ONE, EVERYONE, SHOULD HAVE A
G
SPIRITUAL MASTER.
he
T
187
on)
[...]‚One cannot deny the order of a spiritual master.Therefore ONE
HAS TO SELECT A SPIRITUAL MASTER WHOSE ORDER,
skc
CARRYING, YOU’LL NOT COMMIT A MISTAKE. You see? Now,
I
suppose if you accept a wrong person as spiritual master, and if you, IF
HE GUIDES YOU WRONGLY, THEN YOUR WHOLE LIFE IS
of
SPOILED. SO ONE HAS TO ACCEPT A SPIRITUAL MASTER
ice
WHOSE GUIDANCE WILL MAKE HIS LIFE PERFECT. That is
the relation between spiritual master and disciple. IT IS NOT A
erv
FORMALITY. IT IS A GREAT RESPONSIBILITY BOTH FOR
S
THE DISCIPLE AND FOR THE SPIRITUAL MASTER.
he
[...]‚V:But if the disciple is in ignorance before...
nt
S.PRABHUPADA: Yes. (I
V: ...how does he know which master to choose? I mean, because he
doesn’t have the knowledge...
aid
S.PRABHUPADA: Yes.
S
V: ...to make a wise selection.

ada
S.PRABHUPADA: Yes. Yes. So the first thing is that one should be

searching after a spiritual master. Now, just like you search after some
hup
school. You search after some school. So when you are searching
after some school, you must have at least some preliminary knowledge
rab
what a school means. You cannot search after a school and go to a

P
cloth shop. If you are so ignorant that you do not know what is a
school and what is a cloth shop, then it is very difficult for you. You
hat
must know, at least, what is a school.‛ (Lecture, New York 3/2/66)

W
‚YOU HAVE TO CORROBORATE WHETHER GURU, WHAT

GURU IS SPEAKING, WHETHER IT IS THERE IN THE
and
SCRIPTURE. WHAT SCRIPTURE IS SPEAKING, WHETHER

THAT IS IN THE CHARACTER OF GURU, or in the sadhu,
saintly persons, or spiritual master. So you have to always make
uru
comparison with three things: sadhu, sastra, guru. Nobody can

G
become a spiritual master who has no reference to the scriptures and

these qualities. Nobody can be accepted as a qualified man, if he has
he
not, if one has not developed his character through the scripture
T
under the instruction of guru. So sadhu-sastra-guru. A sadhu, a guru...

188
on)
Here Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, sadhu-sastra. That sadhu includes
guru also, because a spiritual master, unless he’s a sadhu, he cannot be
skc
a guru, cannot be a spiritual master. And the primary qualification of
I
spiritual master that he is completely surrendered to Krsna,
completely Krsna conscious person.‛ (Lecture, New York 11/24/66)
of
‚The best thing will be that if you can come here for some days, say, at
ice
least for a fortnight, you can remain here with us in the temple here,
erv
and talk with me in details before you become my disciple. Actually, I
shall be very glad to accept an educated and intelligent disciple like
S
you, but FIRST OF ALL WE MUST MEET AND YOU SHOULD
KNOW WHETHER YOU CAN ACCEPT ME AS YOUR
he
SPIRITUAL MASTER, OR I CAN ACCEPT YOU AS MY
nt
DISCIPLE. THIS IS PRELIMINARY NECESSITY. I am therefore
(I
requesting you to come here at least for a fortnight, and let us
understand one another.‛ (Letter to Vinode Patel, 7/6/68)
aid
‚As far as the mutual testing of the spiritual master and disciple is
S
concerned, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura explains that a

bona fide disciple must be very inquisitive to understand the
ada
transcendental subject matter. As stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam

(11.3.21):
hup
tasmad gurum prapadyeta

rab
jijnasuh sreya uttamam

P
‘One who is inquisitive to understand the highest goal and benefit of

life must approach a bona fide spiritual master and surrender unto
hat
him.’ A SERIOUS DISCIPLE MUST BE ALERT WHEN

SELECTING A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER. HE MUST BE
W
SURE THAT THE SPIRITUAL MASTER CAN DELIVER ALL

THE TRANSCENDENTAL NECESSITIES.‛ Cc Madhya 24.330)
and
After being initiated, the disciple has to relate to his guru just as it is
enjoined by Srila Prabhupada throughout his teachings.
uru
‚SO AT THE PRESENT MOMENT WE ARE IN THE

G
KALI-YUGA. EVERYONE DISAGREES WITH THE OTHER.

EVEN THE SO-CALLED DISCIPLE ALSO DISAGREES WITH
he
THE SPIRITUAL MASTER. THIS IS THE INFLUENCE OF

T
189
on)
KALI-YUGA. One becomes disciple of a spiritual master, then he
whimsically disagrees. So why, if you disagree, why should you accept
skc
somebody as spiritual master? That is not very good. THAT IS THE
I
WAY OF NOT BEING SUCCESSFUL. We are chanting every day
that yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah . By satisfying the spiritual
of
master, one can satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Yasya
ice
prasadat, ‚by the satisfaction of the spiritual master.‛ Samsara
davanala lidha loka tranaya karunya ghanaghanatvam. One of the
erv
symptom is this, that spiritual master is so bona fide. Before accepting
S
somebody as spiritual master you must know about his bona fides.
‚That time is allowed. It is said in the sastra that if you like to accept
he
somebody as spiritual master, you should associate with him at least
nt
for one year, see how things are going. If you follow of course others,
(I
that is also good. But personally, it is advised that you just remain
with the proposed spiritual master for at least one year, so that the
spiritual master is also given chance to study you, whether you are
aid
acceptable. This is the process.

S
‚But when one leaves a spiritual master, the spiritual master, there
ada
may be some reason. That reason is also given in the sastra, gurur api
avaliptasya karyakaryam ajanatah(?). Karya akarya. If the spiritual
hup
master does not know what is actually to be done, what is actually not
to be done, and he acts against the rules and regulations of the sastra,
rab
then such spiritual master may be given up. ‚But SO LONG YOU
DO NOT FIND THE SPIRITUAL MASTER IS DOING AGAINST
P
THE PRINCIPLES OF SASTRA OR GURU, THEN IF YOU GIVE

hat
UP THE COMPANY OF SPIRITUAL MASTER, THAT IS NOT

GOOD FOR YOU. THAT IS YOUR DOWNFALL. First of all, you
W
must take sufficient time to study the movements of a spiritual

master. Spiritual master is onethe spiritual master. Because there may
and
be many spiritual masters, but if their business is oneto satisfy Krsna

although they're many, they're one. Although they're many, they are
uru
still one. The principle is one: to satisfy Krsna. Such is the position of
spiritual master, that yasya prasadad bhagavat prasadah: if you try to
G
please your spiritual master, then God, Krsna, becomes pleased. That
is natural.
he
T
190
on)
‚So in the Kali-yuga why there should be... In Kali-yuga even with the
spiritual master there is disagreement. That is due to influence of
skc
Kali.‛ (Lecture on SB 1.16.36, Tokyo 01/30/74)
I
"Prabhupada: [...A] DISCIPLE IS ALWAYS IN DEFICIENCY
of
BEFORE HIS SPIRITUAL MASTER. Just like Caitanya
Mahaprabhu says, guru more murkha dekhi karila sasana [Cc. Adi 7.71].
ice
"My spiritual master saw Me a fool number one. Therefore he has
erv
chastised Me." SO DISCIPLE SHOULD BE ALWAYS READY TO
BE CHASTISED. He should not think that he has become perfect.
S
That is perfection. So long he thinks that he is not perfect-he's to be
he
chastised -- then he's perfect. And as soon as he thinks that he has
nt
become perfect, he's nonsense immediately, nonsense number one.
[Break] ...always to be chastised by the spiritual master for perfection.
(I
And if he thinks that now he has become perfect, then he's a foolish.
Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, guru more murkha dekhi. "My spiritual
aid
master saw Me a fool number one." Was He fool number one? He's
God Himself. But THAT IS THE POSITION. HE SHOULD
S
REMAIN ALWAYS A FOOL NUMBER ONE, READY TO BE

ada
CHASTISED. Then he's perfect. In the moral instruction, Canakya

Pandita gives this instruction, that lalane bahavo dosas tadane bahavo
hup
gunah: "If you chastise your son or disciple, he'll improve, and if you
say, 'Oh, you are all right,' then he'll degrade." Tasmat putram ca
rab
sisyam ca tadayet na tu lalayet: " THEREFORE YOU ALWAYS

CHASTISE YOUR SON AND DISCIPLE. NEVER flat..." What is
P
called?
hat
Devotee (1): FLATTER.

Prabhupada: No.
W
[...]Devotee (2): Srila Prabhupada, is there any instance when you

were chastised by your spiritual master?
and
Prabhupada: Eh?
Devotee (2): Is there any instance when you were chastised by your
uru
spiritual master?
Prabhupada: Oh, yes. Oh, yes.
G
Devotee (2): Can you tell us?

Prabhupada: I remember the moment was very valuable. Yes.
he
Devotee (2): Can you tell us the story?

T
191
on)
Prabhupada: Yes. I think I have said that.
Devotee (3): When you were speaking to one man...
skc
Prabhupada: Yes. He became very angry and chastised me.
I
Devotee (4): Srila Prabhupada, was this during a lecture by Srila
Bhaktisiddhanta?
of
Prabhupada: Eh?
ice
Devotee (4): Was this during a lecture?
Prabhupada: Yes. I was not... One of my old brother, he, he wanted to
erv
speak something. So I leaned my... I immediately became... [laughter]
S
So he chastised him more than me.
Devotee (2): When Lord Caitanya chastised someone more than
he
Advaita Acarya, Advaita felt that He had been neglected 'cause he
nt
had not received a greater chastisement. (I
Prabhupada: He wanted to be chastised, so Caitanya fulfilled His
desire.‛ ( Morning Walk -- Mayapur, April 8, 1975)
aid
We cannot introduce a different standard on the plea of the many problems

S
we have had to face. As I see them, those problems, more than a test to the
system, are a test to how much we believe in what PRABHUPADA SAID.
ada
Did ‚the lawbooks for mankind for the next ten thousand years‛ become
obsolete in the first ten?11
hup
‚So we have no difficulty. Tandera carana sevi bhakta sane vasa.

rab
That’s all. Let us follow the footprints of the acaryas, Gosvamis, and
live together as sincere, serious devotees. Then our life is successful. It
P
is not very difficult. Bhakta sane vasa. Tandera carane. We should live
hat
together as devotees and follow the footprints of the acaryas. DON’T

MANUFACTURE CONCOCTION. THEN IT WILL BE
W
SPOILED. SIMPLY TRY TO FOLLOW. THEY’LL PROTECT.

THEY’LL GIVE PROTECTION. Because Krsna says, aham tvam
and
sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami. So if we take shelter of the acaryas,

that means we take shelter of Krsna. Yasya prasadad bhagavat-
uru
prasadah. If the acarya, guru, is satisfied, then we must know certainly

that Krsna is satisfied. Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah. Acarya
G
mam vijaniyat. So this is the principle, and the acaryas give us

he
11 This book was originally written in the year 1987, ten years after Srila Prabhupada's
T
disappearance.
192
on)
direction. It is not very difficult. Simply we have to be, become very
serious and sincere. Then everything is all right.‛
skc
I
Either we accept that we have regular gurus in our movement, i.e. the kind of
guru that is described in Prabhupada’s teachings, or we honestly say we don’t
of
believe that at this moment anyone is qualified to be a guru. But let’s not
ice
invent a new system by which a disciple can doubt his guru or not see him nor
erv
treat him as it is said in sastra.
S
‚The disciple accepts the spiritual master as the Supreme Personality
of Godhead. As stated by Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura in
he
Gurv-astaka, saksad-dharitvena: ‘One directly accepts the guru, the
nt
spiritual master, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.’ One should
accept the spiritual master not in the sense that the Mayavadi
(I
philosophers do, but in the way recommended here. SINCE THE
SPIRITUAL MASTER IS THE MOST CONFIDENTIAL
aid
SERVANT OF THE LORD, HE SHOULD BE TREATED

S
EXACTLY LIKE THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF

GODHEAD. The spiritual master should never be neglected or
ada
disobeyed, like an ordinary person.‛ (SB 4.28.43)

To try to introduce an understanding different from Prabhupada’s
hup
instructions is to disrespect him. To honor Srila Prabhupada properly, he

rab
himself gives the formula:

‚To honor the spiritual master means to carry out his instructions
P
word for word.‛ (SB 3.24.12)

hat
And Prabhupada’s instructions in regards to the supreme position of the

spiritual master are patent. We don’t need a ‚revised edition‛ of what is a
W
guru. We just need to truly and firmly believe in what PRABHUPADA

SAID.
and
uru
G
he
T
193
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
194
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
195
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
196
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
on)
skc
I
of
ice
erv
‚SOMETIMES LESS INTELLIGENT MEN ASK WHETHER ONE HAS
S
TO APPROACH A GURU TO BE INSTRUCTED IN DEVOTIONAL
SERVICE FOR SPIRITUAL ADVANCEMENT.
he
The answer is given here --indeed, not only here, but
nt
also in Bhagavad-gita, where Arjuna accepted Krsna
(I
as his guru (sisyas te’ham sadhi mam tvam
prapannam). The Vedas also instruct, tad
-vijvanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet: one must
aid
accept a guru for proper direction if one is seriously

S
inclined toward advancement in spiritual life. The

Lord says that one must worship the acarya, who is
ada
the representative of the Supreme Personality of

Godhead (acaryam mam vijaniyat). One should
hup
definitely understand this. In Caitanya-caritamrta it is said that the guru is

rab
the manifestation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore,

according to all the evidence given by the sastra and by the practical
P
behavior of devotees, one must accept a guru. Aditi accepted her husband as
her guru, so that he would direct her how to advance in spiritual
hat
consciousness, devotional service, by worshiping the Supreme Lord.‛

W
(SB 8.16.23 ppt.)
‚THERE ARE MANY INEXPERIENCED PERSONS WHO ADVOCATE

and
SELF-REALIZATION WITHOUT THE HELP OF A SPIRITUAL

MASTER. They decry the necessity of the spiritual master and try
uru
themselves to take his place by propagating the theory that a spiritual master
is not necessary. Srimad-Bhagavatam, however, does not approve this
G
viewpoint. Even the great transcendental scholar Vyasadeva had need of a

spiritual master, and under the instruction of his spiritual master, Narada, he
he
prepared this sublime literature, Srimad-Bhagavatam. Even Lord Caitanya,

T
197
on)
although He is Krsna Himself, accepted a spiritual master; even Lord Krsna
accepted a spiritual master, Sandipani Muni, in order to be enlightened; and
skc
all the acaryas and saints of the world had spiritual masters. In Bhagavad-gita
I
Arjuna accepted Krsna as his spiritual master, although there was no
question about the necessity of accepting a spiritual master. The only
of
stipulation is that the spiritual master be bona fide, i.e., the spiritual master
ice
must be in the proper chain of disciplic succession, called the parampara
system.‛ (S.B. 3.7.39 ppt.)
erv
‚ONE SHOULD ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT A PERSON WHO IS
S
RELUCTANT TO ACCEPT A SPIRITUAL MASTER AND BE
he
INITIATED IS SURE TO BE BAFFLED IN HIS ENDEAVOR TO GO
nt
BACK TO GODHEAD. One who is not properly initiated may present
himself as a great devotee, but in fact he is sure to encounter many stumbling
(I
blocks on his path of progress toward spiritual realization, with the result that
he must continue his term of material existence without relief. Such a
aid
helpless person is compared to a ship without a rudder, for such a ship can
never reach its destination. IT IS IMPERATIVE, THEREFORE, THAT
S
ONE ACCEPT A SPIRITUAL MASTER if he at all desires to gain the

ada
favor of the Lord. The service of the spiritual master is essential.

‚...IF ONE THINKS THAT HE IS ABOVE CONSULTING ANYONE
hup
ELSE, INCLUDING A SPIRITUAL MASTER, HE IS AT ONCE AN

rab
OFFENDER AT THE LOTUS FEET OF THE LORD. Such an offender can

never go back to Godhead. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT A SERIOUS
P
PERSON ACCEPT A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER IN TERMS OF

THE SASTRIC INJUNCTIONS. Sri Jiva Gosvami advises that one not
hat
accept a spiritual master in terms of hereditary or customary social and

ecclesiastical conventions. One should simply try to find a genuinely
W
qualified spiritual master for actual advancement in spiritual understanding.‛

and
(C.c. Adi 1.35)

‚[...]We can offer many services with our bodily activities. But all such
uru
activities must be in relationship with Krsna. This relationship is established

by connecting oneself with the bona fide spiritual master, who is the direct
G
representative of Krsna in disciplic succession. Therefore, the execution of

Krsna conscious activities with the body should be directed by the spiritual
he
master and then performed with faith. The connection with the spiritual
T
198
on)
master is called initiation. From the date of initiation by the spiritual master,
the connection between Krsna and a person cultivating Krsna consciousness
skc
is established. WITHOUT INITIATION BY A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL
I
MASTER, THE ACTUAL CONNECTION WITH KRSNA
CONSCIOUSNESS IS NEVER PERFORMED.‛
of
(NOD Introduction, Second Edition, pg. XXII)
ice
‚In the Caitanya-caritamrta, by Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami, Lord Caitanya
erv
states that it is a fortunate person who comes in contact with a bona fide
spiritual master by the grace of Krsna. ONE WHO IS SERIOUS ABOUT
S
SPIRITUAL LIFE IS GIVEN BY KRSNA THE INTELLIGENCE TO
he
COME IN CONTACT WITH A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER, and
nt
then by the grace of the spiritual master one becomes advanced in Krsna
consciousness. In this way the whole jurisdiction of Krsna consciousness is
(I
directly under the spiritual energy --Krsna and the spiritual master. This has
nothing to do with the material world.‛
aid
(NOD Introduction, Second Edition, pgs. XXII-XXIII)

S
‚In answer to your question about the importance of initiation, it is to be

understood that initiation means that power is coming from the Supreme by
ada
the bona fide disciplic succession. This is required. Of course, for anyone to
hear the message of Srimad-Bhagavatam will produce a favorable result but
hup
FORMALLY ONE SHOULD RECEIVE THIS KNOWLEDGE FROM THE

rab
DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION. FOR EXAMPLE, ARJUNA AND KRISHNA

WERE FRIENDS BUT STILL ARJUNA SUBMITTED HIMSELF
P
FORMALLY AS KRISHNA’S DISCIPLE. THIS IS ESSENTIAL. We

should take example from these great Personalities. Arjuna was hearing
hat
Krishna speaking Bhagavad-Gita but still he submitted as Krishna’s disciple.

‘Now I submit unto You, please teach me.’ So THIS IS THE PROCESS. I
W
hope this will clear up your question sufficiently.‛

(Letter to John Darsinos, 11/23/68)
and
‚Although Balarama and Krsna are both transcendental personalities, They

uru
strictly followed the regulative principles. Both were initiated by Their

family priest, Gargacarya, usually known as Gargamuni, the acarya of the
G
Yadu dynasty. ACCORDING TO VEDIC CULTURE, EVERY

RESPECTABLE FAMILY HAS AN ACARYA, OR SPIRITUAL
he
MASTER. ONE IS NOT CONSIDERED A PERFECTLY CULTURED

T
199
on)
MAN WITHOUT BEING INITIATED AND TRAINED BY AN
ACARYA. It is said, therefore, that one who has approached an acarya is
skc
actually in perfect knowledge. Lord Krsna and Balarama are the Supreme
I
Personality of Godhead, the master of all education and knowledge. THERE
WAS NO NEED FOR THEM TO ACCEPT A SPIRITUAL MASTER OR
of
ACARYA, YET FOR THE INSTRUCTION OF ORDINARY MEN, THEY
ice
ALSO ACCEPTED A SPIRITUAL MASTER FOR ADVANCEMENT IN
SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE.‛ (KB, Ch.44, New Ed., pg.357)
erv
S
‚So to approach a bona fide Spiritual Master and to understand the science
he
of God from him is the Vedic way of understanding. Even Lord Krishna, Lord
nt
Caitanya, and what to speak of other acharyas, ALL OF THEM ACCEPTED
(I
A SPIRITUAL MASTER, EVEN IF SOME OF THEM WERE
INCARNATIONS OF GOD. The Vedic way of receiving knowledge is
called avaroha, against aroha. Aroha means to try to understand God by
aid
one’s own effort, and avaroha means to understand God by disciplic

S
succession. THEREFORE WE FIND IN VEDIC INSTRUCTION THAT

ONE MUST APPROACH A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER TO
ada
LEARN THAT TRANSCENDENTAL SUBJECT.‛

(Letter to Gopal Krishna das, 9/3/69)
hup
‚Acaryopasanam. Here it is said. You have to worship acarya. Acaryavan

rab
puruso veda. One who has accepted... Narottama dasa Thakura has also said,
asraya loiya bhaje krsna tare nahi tyaje ara saba more akarana. Asraya. You
P
have to take shelter. Evam parampara praptam imam rajarsayo viduh. And
Arjuna also said, sisyas te ‘ham sadhi mam prapannam. Sisyas te... Acarya,
hat
acaryopasanam. Krsna and Arjuna, two friends. There was no need of

W
accepting Krsna as Arjuna’s spiritual master. Still, he is accepting officially.

Sisyas te ‘ham sadhi mam prapannam: ‘I am accepting You as my spiritual
and
master. Please teach me.’ So THIS IS ESSENTIAL. Acaryopasanam.

‚Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum eva abhigacchet. This is Vedic instruction. If
uru
you at all interested in the understanding of spiritual subject matter, then

you must approach a bona fide spiritual master. Tad vijnanartham sa gurum
G
eva abhigacchet. Abhigacchet means must. IT IS NOT THAT IF YOU LIKE,

YOU CAN GO; IF YOU DO NOT LIKE, YOU DO NOT. NO, YOU
he
MUST. Abhigacchet. Samit-pani srotriyam brahma. Tasmad gurum

T
200
on)
prapadyeta jijnasuh sreya-uttamam. It is not a fashion to accept one guru. If
you are actually interested, sreya uttamam, the highest perfection of life
skc
--Tasmad gurum prapadyeta-- then you have to accept a guru. This is called
I
acaryopasanam. EVEN KRSNA, THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF
GODHEAD, HE ACCEPTED SANDIPANI MUNI AS TEACHER,
of
MASTER. CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU, HE IS ALSO INCARNATION
ice
OF KRSNA, BUT HE ACCEPTED ISVARA PURI AS HIS GURU. They
do not require guru, but JUST TO KEEP PACE WITH THE OFFICIAL
erv
PROGRAM, EVEN GOD PERSONALLY, HE ACCEPTED SPIRITUAL
S
MASTER. SO THIS IS ESSENTIAL. Acaryopasanam.‛
(Lecture, Bombay 10/2/73)
he
nt
(I
‚First of all, one must know in which subject matter he’s inquisitive, in
material things, or in spiritual matters. If he’s actually interested in spiritual
matter, then he should search out a proper, bona fide spiritual master. Gurum
aid
eva abhigacchet. MUST FIND OUT. IT IS NOT AN OPTION. IT IS A

S
MUST. MUST --YOU CANNOT AVOID IT. WITHOUT BONA FIDE

SPIRITUAL MASTER, YOU CANNOT GO A STEP FORWARD.‛
ada

hup
‚We must connect with the current. Just like you have heated your room
rab
with electrical wires, but if you do not touch it with the current going on,
then simply electrical (sic:) feeting will not help you. Similarly,
P
INITIATION IS ESSENTIAL. Adau gurvasrayam. Srila Rupa Gosvami

recommends in his Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu FOR EXECUTING PROPER
hat
SPIRITUAL LIFE, ONE MUST TAKE SHELTER OF THE BONA FIDE

SPIRITUAL MASTER. Tasmad gurum prapadyeta jijnasuh sreyah uttamam.
W
[...I]f we establish our bona fide relationship with the spiritual master,
representative of Krsna, immediately our connection with Krsna becomes
and
established.‛ (NOD Lecture, Vrndavana 10/29/72)

uru
‚A person who is fully Krsna conscious, he has no problem. Now how to

become Krsna conscious? Lord Caitanya says, sadhu-sastra-krpa: ‘One can
G
become Krsna conscious by the mercy of saintly devotees and by the mercy of
the scriptures.’ These two things are recommended. Not that fools, as they
he
are thinking, ‘I can, I can think myself. I don’t agree with the sastra. I don’t
T
201
on)
agree with the spiritual master. I don’t agree with scriptures. I have got my
independent opinion.’ He is fool number one, rascal number one. One who
skc
says like that, you’ll at once take him that he’s fool, rascal, anything. YOU
I
HAVE TO TAKE SHELTER OF SADHU, GURU AND SASTRA.‛
of
(Lecture, New York 11/24/66)
ice
‚By acting on the platform of fruitive activity, one wanders throughout the
universe in different species and forms. UNLESS HE COMES IN
erv
CONTACT WITH A DEVOTEE OF THE LORD, A GURU, HE DOES
S
NOT BECOME ATTACHED TO THE SERVICE OF LORD
VASUDEVA. Knowledge of Vasudeva requires many births to understand.
he
As confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (7.19): vasudevah sarvam iti sa mahatma
nt
sudurlabhah. After struggling for existence for many births one may take
(I
shelter at the lotus feet of Vasudeva, Krsna. When this happens. one actually
becomes wise and surrenders unto Him. That is the only way to stop the
repetition of birth and death. This is confirmed in Caitanya-caritamrta
aid
(Madhya 19.151) in the instructions given by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to

S
Srila Rupa Gosvami at Dasasvamedha-ghata.

ada
brahmanda bhramite kona bhagyavan jiva

guru-krsna-prasade paya bhakti-lata-bija
hup
The living entity wanders throughout different planets in different forms

rab
and bodies, but if by chance he comes in contact with a bona fide spiritual
master, by the grace of the spiritual master he receives Lord Krsna’s shelter,
P
and his devotional life begins.‛ (SB 5.5.26 ppt.)

hat
‚Here the process of devotional service is further explained. Kasyapa Muni

wanted to instruct Aditi in the same process recommended to him by Brahma
W
for satisfying the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is valuable. The guru
does not manufacture a new process to instruct the disciple. The disciple
and
receives from the guru an authorized process received by the guru from his
guru. This is called the system of disciplic succession (evam
uru
parampara-praptam imam rajarsayo viduh). This is the bona fide Vedic system
of receiving the process of devotional service, by which the Supreme
G
Personality of Godhead is pleased. Therefore, TO APPROACH A BONA

FIDE GURU, OR SPIRITUAL MASTER, IS ESSENTIAL. The bona fide
he
spiritual master is he who has received the mercy of his guru, who in turn is
T
202
on)
bona fide because he has received the mercy of his guru. This is called the
parampara system. UNLESS ONE FOLLOWS THIS PARAMPARA
skc
SYSTEM, THE MANTRA ONE RECEIVES WILL BE CHANTED FOR
I
NO PURPOSE. Nowadays there are so many rascal gurus who manufacture
their mantras as a process for material advancement, not spiritual
of
advancement. Still, the mantra cannot be successful if it is manufactured.
ice
Mantras and the process of devotional service have special power, provided
they are received from the authorized person.‛ (SB 8.16.24 ppt.)
erv
‚ONE WHO IS NOT TAUGHT BY A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER
S
CANNOT UNDERSTAND THE VEDIC LITERATURE. To emphasize
he
this point, Lord Krsna, while instructing Arjuna, clearly said that it was
nt
because Arjuna was His devotee and confidential friend that he could
understand the mystery of Bhagavad-gita. It is to be concluded, therefore,
(I
that one who wants to understand the mystery of revealed scriptures must
approach a bona fide spiritual master, hear from him very submissively and
aid
render service to him. Then the import of the scriptures will be revealed. It is
stated in the Vedas:
S
yasya deve para bhaktlr yatha deve tatha gurau

ada
tasyaite kathita hy arthah prakasante mahatmanah

hup
‘THE REAL IMPORT OF THE SCRIPTURES IS REVEALED TO ONE

rab
WHO HAS UNFLINCHING FAITH IN BOTH THE SUPREME

PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD AND THE SPIRITUAL MASTER.’ Srila
P
Narottama dasa Thakura advises, sadhu-sastra-guru-vakya, hrdaye kariya

aikya. The meaning of this instruction is that one must consider the
hat
instructions of the sadhu, the revealed scriptures and the spiritual master in
order to understand the real purpose of spiritual life. Neither a sadhu (saintly
W
person or Vaisnava) nor a bona fide spiritual master says anything that is
beyond the scope of the sanction of the revealed scriptures. Thus the
and
statements of the revealed scriptures correspond to those of the bona fide

spiritual master and saintly persons. One must therefore act with reference
uru
to these three important sources of understanding.‛ (C.c. Adi 7.48 ppt.)

G
‚Srila Rupa Gosvami states that his elder brother (Sanatana Gosvami) has
compiled Hari-bhakti-vilasa for the guidance of the Vaisnavas and therein
he
has mentioned many rules and regulations to be followed by the Vaisnavas.

T
203
on)
Some of them are very important and prominent, and Srila Rupa Gosvami
will now mention these very important items for our benefit. The purport of
skc
this statement is that Srila Rupa Gosvami proposes to mention only basic
I
principles, not details. For example, A BASIC PRINCIPLE IS THAT ONE
HAS TO ACCEPT A SPIRITUAL MASTER. Exactly how one follows the
of
instructions of his spiritual master is considered a detail. For example, if one
ice
is following the instruction of his spiritual master and that instruction is
different from the instructions of another spiritual master, this is called
erv
detailed information. But THE BASIC PRINCIPLE OF ACCEPTANCE
S
OF A SPIRITUAL MASTER IS GOOD EVERYWHERE, although the
details may be different. Srila Rupa Gosvami does not wish to enter into
he
details here, but wants to place before us only the principles.
nt
‚HE MENTIONS THE BASIC PRINCIPLES AS FOLLOWS: (1) accepting
(I
the shelter of the lotus feet of A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER, (2)
becoming initiated by THE SPIRITUAL MASTER and learning how to
aid
discharge devotional service from him, (3) obeying the orders of THE
SPIRITUAL MASTER with faith and devotion, (4) following in the
S
footsteps of great acaryas under the direction of THE SPIRITUAL

ada
MASTER, (5) inquiring from THE SPIRITUAL MASTER how to advance

in Krsna consciousness...‛ (NOD Ch.6, 2nd. Edit. pg.53)
hup
‚WITHOUT FOLLOWING THE ABOVE-MENTIONED TEN

rab
PRINCIPLES, ONE CANNOT PROPERLY ELEVATE HIMSELF TO THE

PLATFORM OF SADHANA-BHAKTI, OR DEVOTIONAL SERVICE IN
P
PRACTICE. Altogether, Srila Rupa Gosvami mentions twenty items, and all
of them are very important. OUT OF THE TWENTY, THE FIRST THREE
hat
--namely accepting the shelter of a bona fide spiritual master, taking

initiation from him and serving him with respect and reverence-- ARE THE
W
MOST IMPORTANT.‛ (NOD Ch.6, 2nd. Edit. pg.54)

and
‚The following details outline a general practice by which one can prepare
himself for an easy journey to the Vaikuntha (antimaterial) planets, where
uru
life is free from birth, old age, disease and death.

General practice (positive functions):
G
1. THE SERIOUS CANDIDATE MUST ACCEPT A BONA FIDE

he
SPIRITUAL MASTER in order to be trained scientifically. Because the

T
senses are material, it is not at all possible to realize the Transcendence by

204
on)
them. Therefore the senses have to be spiritualized by the prescribed method
under the direction of the spiritual master.
skc
2. When the student has chosen a bona fide spiritual master, HE MUST
I
TAKE THE PROPER INITIATION FROM HIM. This marks the beginning
of
of spiritual training.
ice
3. THE CANDIDATE MUST BE PREPARED TO SATISFY THE
SPIRITUAL MASTER IN EVERY WAY. A bona fide spiritual master who
erv
is fully cognizant of the methods of spiritual science, learned in the spiritual
S
scriptures such as the Bhagavad-gita, Vedanta, Srimad-Bhagavatam and
Upanisads, and who is also a realized soul who has made a tangible
he
connection with the Supreme Lord, is the transparent medium by which the
nt
willing candidate is led to the path of the Vaikunthas. The spiritual master
(I
must be satisfied in all respects, because simply by his good wishes a candidate
can make wonderful progress along the path.
aid
4. THE INTELLIGENT CANDIDATE PLACES INTELLIGENT

QUESTIONS TO THE SPIRITUAL MASTER IN ORDER TO CLEAR
S
HIS PATH OF ALL UNCERTAINTIES. The spiritual master shows the

ada
way, not whimsically, but in accordance with the principles of the authorities
who have actually traversed the path. The names of these authorities are
hup
disclosed in the scriptures, and one has simply to follow them under the
direction of the spiritual master. The spiritual master never deviates from the
rab
path of the authorities.‛ (EJTOP, 7th Printing, pgs.32-33)

P
‚In the Shastras it is said that Spiritual advance of life is achieved thru the
combined mercy of the Spiritual Master and Krishna. THOSE WHO ARE
hat
SINCERE SOULS, KRISHNA HELPS THEM TO HAVE A BONAFIDE

SPIRITUAL MASTER, and the bonafide Spiritual Master helps the disciple
W
approach Krishna. THIS IS THE PROCESS.‛

and
(Letter to Jadurany, Book of Letters #67-7-9)

‚[...Y]OU SHOULD KNOW THAT WITHOUT THE INSTRUCTIONS
uru
OF THE SPIRITUAL MASTER THAT THERE IS NO QUESTION OF

DEVOTIONAL SERVICE.‛ (Letter to Shivananda, 12/17/68)
G
‚IT IS A BASIC PRINCIPLE THAT ONE MUST ACCEPT A BONAFIDE

he
SPIRITUAL MASTER IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE HIGHEST

T
205
on)
PERFECTION OF LIFE, LOVE OF GOD. I thank all of you very much for
accepting me as your spiritual master, and I promise that I will take you back
skc
to home, back to Godhead. I ask you all to promise me to always chant at least
I
16 rounds, follow the regulative principles, read our books and try to preach
this Krishna Consciousness Movement all over the world. So far my
of
qualifications are concerned, I am simply trying to carry out the order of my
ice
Guru Maharaj.‛ (Letter to Nityananda Dasa, 12/11/71)
erv
"tad viddhi pranipatena
S
pariprasnena sevaya
upadeksyanti te jnanam
he
jnaninas tattva-darsinah
TRANSLATION
nt
(I
‚JUST TRY TO LEARN THE TRUTH BY APPROACHING A
SPIRITUAL MASTER. Inquire from him submissively and render service
aid
unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because
S
they have seen the truth.

ada
PURPORT
‚The path of spiritual realization is undoubtedly difficult. THE LORD
hup
THEREFORE ADVISES US TO APPROACH A BONA FIDE

rab
SPIRITUAL MASTER IN THE LINE OF DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION

FROM THE LORD HIMSELF. No one can be a bona fide spiritual master
P
without following this principle of disciplic succession. The Lord is the

original spiritual master, and a person in the disciplic succession can convey
hat
the message of the Lord as it is to his disciple.

W
‚NO ONE CAN BE SPIRITUALLY REALIZED BY MANUFACTURING

HIS OWN PROCESS, AS IS THE FASHION OF THE FOOLISH
and
PRETENDERS. The Bhagavatam (6.3.19) says, dharmam tu saksad

bhagavat-pranitam: the path of religion is directly enunciated by the Lord.
uru
Therefore, mental speculation or dry arguments cannot help lead one to the
right path. Nor by independent study of books of knowledge can one progress
G
in spiritual life. One has to approach a bona fide spiritual master to receive
the knowledge. Such a spiritual master should be accepted in full surrender,
he
and one should serve the spiritual master like a menial servant, without false
T
prestige.
206
on)
‚SATISFACTION OF THE SELF-REALIZED SPIRITUAL MASTER IS
THE SECRET OF ADVANCEMENT IN SPIRITUAL LIFE. Inquiries and
skc
submission constitute the proper combination for spiritual understanding.
I
Unless there is submission and service, inquiries from the learned spiritual
master will not be effective. One must be able to pass the test of the spiritual
of
master, and when he sees the genuine desire of the disciple, he automatically
ice
blesses the disciple with genuine spiritual understanding.
erv
‚In this verse, both blind following and absurd inquiries are condemned. Not
only should one hear submissively from the spiritual master, but one must
S
also get a clear understanding from him, in submission and service and
he
inquiries. A bona fide spiritual master is by nature very kind toward the
nt
disciple. Therefore when the student is submissive and is always ready to
render service, the reciprocation of knowledge and inquiries becomes
(I
perfect.‛ (BG 4.34 text & ppt.)
‚So tad viddhi. YOU HAVE TO FIRST OF ALL SEARCH OUT A
aid
PERSON. So Krsna recommends that if you want knowledge then first of

S
all... THAT IS THE PROCESS, THE WHOLE VEDIC PROCESS. In the

Kathopanisad also it is said that tad-vijnanartham gurum eva abhigacchet: ’If
ada
you want to understand the transcendental science, then you have to

approach to a spiritual master.’
hup
‚...Tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena. In Katha Upanisad it is said

rab
tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet. Abhigacchet. This is a Sanskrit

grammatical injunction. Where there is the question of imperative, ‘you
P
must,’ there vidhilin, this form of verb, is used, gacchet, gacchet. Gacchet
means ‘You must go.’ YOU DON’T THINK THAT WITHOUT GOING TO
hat
A QUALIFIED, BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER YOU CAN HAVE.

W
NO. THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE. Here also, Lord Krsna also recommends,
Tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya: ‘If you want to learn that
and
transcendental science, then you have to find out a transcendentalist first of

all.’ That is also recommended in Kathopanisad.
uru
‚In Bhagavata also it is said, Tasmad gurum prapadyeta Jijnasuh sreya

uttamam: ‘One who is hankering after the highest type of question...’ We
G
have got so many questions. We can question the whole day and night ‘What
is the rate of this commodity? What is happening in the political field? What
he
is going on in China?’ These questions are not... Not these question. Sreya
T
207
on)
uttamam. One who has become inquisitive in the uttamam. Uttamam means
udgata-tama, not any question of pertaining to the material world. One who
skc
is eager to question about the Absolute Truth or the spiritual world, he
I
requires a spiritual master.
of
‚Tasmad gurum prapadyeta. THE FIRST INJUNCTION IS THAT
TASMAD GURUM PRAPADYETA: ‘YOU MUST SUBMIT TO A
ice
SPIRITUAL MASTER.’ Who? Who is recommended to find out a spiritual
erv
master? Tasmad gurum...jijnasuh. Jijnasuh means who is inquisitive. What
kind of inquisitive? Jijnasuh sreya uttamam: ‘What is the ultimate goal of my
S
life?’ If you have no such view to inquire what is the ultimate goal of your..,
he
you need not require to search out a spiritual master. Spiritual master is not a
nt
show bottle. Just like, ‘Oh, so many people, they have got a spiritual master.
Let me have also some spiritual master.’ It is not like that. It is only jijnasuh,
(I
one must be very much inquisitive of the transcendental subject matter. He
requires a spiritual master. So here also, the Lord says that tad viddhi: ‘If you
aid
want to understand that transcendental subject matter, then you must

approach a person, a bona fide spiritual master.’
S
‚And the process is pranipata, pranipatena. PRANIPATAMEANS FULL

ada
SURRENDER. Pra means prakrsta-rupena, fully, and nipata means

completely becoming a blank slate. Blank slate. Nobody should approach a
hup
bona fide spiritual master just to argue with him and just to, with a desire that
rab
‘I shall see what kind of spiritual master.’ No. This is useless. You have to
select a spiritual master... My guru maharaja, my spiritual master, used to say
P
that YOU HAVE TO SELECT A SPIRITUAL MASTER NOT BY SEEING

BUT BY YOUR EAR, BUT BY HEARING. And you don’t select a spiritual
hat
master who has got a very good hair or beard or some very beautiful feature,
‘Oh, he is a very good, nice looking.’ No. You must hear. Tad viddhi
W
pranipatena. Sruti. The whole process is sruti. The Vedas are called sruti. The
ear has to give aural reception.
and
‚So here also the same thing is recommended by Lord Krsna, that pranipata.
uru
First of all, you have to find out a bona fide spiritual master, and then you
should surrender unto him. This is the first process. Pranipatena
G
pariprasnena. Pariprasnena means by sincere inquiries. Not only surrender,

you must be intelligent enough to inquire. Not that when something is heard,
he
T
208
on)
and there is no question. No. There must be some question. Pariprasnena
and sevaya. So surrender, inquiry, and seva, service.
skc
‚We sing this song every day, yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado yasyaprasadan
I
na gatih kuto ‘pi, dhyayan stuvams tasya yasas tri-sandhyam vande guroh
of
sri-caranaravindam. Yasya, IF WE ACTUALLY FIND A SPIRITUAL
MASTER, BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER, AND IF WE CAN MAKE
ice
HIM SATISFIED BY MY SERVICE, THEN MY PATH FOR
erv
REALIZATION OF GOD IS GUARANTEED. This is the thing. Here it is.
First of all we have to find out a bona fide spiritual master. Then by my
S
service, by my surrender, by my questions, if we utilize, then my path for back
he
to Godhead, back to home, is guaranteed. That is the... It is very important
nt
verse. Tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya, upadeksyanti te jnanam.
That knowledge by which you can go to the point of your self-interest, Visnu,
(I
that knowledge you can realize. Thank you very much.‛
(Lecture, BG 4.34, NY 8/12/66)
aid
‚Your nice letter with deep regard for Guru is quite appropriate. Guru and
S
Krishna are two parallel lines on which the spiritual express runs very
smoothly. In the Chaitanya Charitamrita it is said ‘Guru Krishna prasade
ada
paya bhakti lata vija.’ By the Grace of Guru one gets Krishna and by the
Grace of Krishna one gets a bonafide Guru. THEREFORE KRISHNA
hup
CONSCIOUSNESS MEANS STAUNCH FAITH BOTH IN GURU AND

rab
KRISHNA. ONE MINUS THE OTHER IS NO GOOD FOR THE

DEVOTEE. So your faith in the principle of devotion to Guru will certainly
P
help you more and more Krishna. DO NOT EVER TRY TO APPROACH
KRISHNA DIRECTLY. Anyone who talks of Krishna without service to
hat
Guru will not be successful. So your faith in Guru and Krishna

simultaneously will help you to become crowned with success in the
W
progressive march in Krishna consciousness. Do not be worried, be situated

in the present aptitude and everything will be clear.‛
and
(Letter of 9/27/67, portion to Devananda)

uru
‚TO STICK TO THE PRINCIPLES ADVISED BY THE SPIRITUAL

MASTER AND SERVE KRISHNA UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE
G
SPIRITUAL MASTER IS THE ONLY HOPE OF OUR ADVANCING IN

KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS. The Spiritual Master and Krishna are two
he
parallel lines. You have to make progress on these two parallel lines, you
T
209
on)
cannot avoid one in preference of the other. The train, on two tracks, moves
forward. The Spiritual Master and Krishna are like these two tracks, they
skc
must be served simultaneously. Krishna helps one to find bona fide Spiritual
I
Master, and [the] bona fide Spiritual Master helps one to understand
Krishna. IF ONE DOES NOT GET BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER,
of
THEN HOW HE CAN EVER UNDERSTAND KRISHNA? YOU
ice
CANNOT SERVE KRISHNA WITHOUT SPIRITUAL MASTER, OR
SERVE JUST SPIRITUAL MASTER WITHOUT SERVING KRISHNA.
erv
THEY MUST BE SERVED SIMULTANEOUSLY.‛
S
(Letter to Mahapurusha, 2/12/68)
he
‚AS I HAVE REPEATEDLY SAID, THAT KRISHNA
nt
CONSCIOUSNESS IS DEVELOPED BY FOLLOWING TWO
PARALLEL LINES, MEANS SERVICE OF KRISHNA, AND SERVICE
(I
OF THE SPIRITUAL MASTER. THIS IS THE SECRET OF SUCCESS.
The Spiritual Master must be bona fide, that is, he must come down from a
aid
bona fide Spiritual Master and must act according to the directions of the
Spiritual Master, and by doing so he gives proper directions about Krishna
S
and the devotees serve Krishna under the direction of such Spiritual Master,
ada
and Krishna accepts service, and in this way the whole thing becomes
beautiful and successful.‛ (Letter to Brahmananda, 2/20/68)
hup
‚...Rsabhadeva tells His sons how they can be freed from the false
rab
identification arising from false ego and material conditional life. One
gradually becomes liberated by practicing as mentioned above. All these
P
prescribed methods enable one to give up the material body (lingam

vyapohet) and be situated in his original spiritual body. FIRST OF ALL ONE
hat
HAS TO ACCEPT A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER. This is

advocated by Srila Rupa Gosvami in his Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu:
W
sri-guru-padasrayah. To be freed from the entanglement of the material

world, one has to approach a spiritual master. Tad-vijvanartham sa gurum
and
evabhigacchet. By questioning the spiritual master and by serving him, one

can advance in spiritual life.‛ (SB 5.5.13 ppt.)
uru
‚D1: One Mayavadi sannyasi, he wrote a book, ‘Be Your Own Guru,’ and he
G
said you can...

S.PRABHUPADA: So why do you write book?
he
T
D1: Yes, he is being guru. He is teaching them to do without a guru.

210
on)
S.PRABHUPADA: Let everyone become his guru. Why you write books?
skc
D2: ...one book that one should not write a book without the permission of a
spiritual master.
I
S.PRABHUPADA: Yes. You’ll find in today’s tape that Prahlada Maharaja is
of
recommending, that ‘SPIRITUAL LIFE BEGINS BY GURU-SUSRUSAH,
ice
BY SERVING GURU.’ (break) ...[Rupa] Gosvami said, adau gurvasrayam:
‘THE FIRST BEGINNING IS TO TAKE SHELTER OF THE BONA FIDE
erv
SPIRITUAL MASTER.’ Sad-dharma-pracchat: ‘THEN INQUIRE FROM
S
HIM ABOUT THE SPIRITUAL PATH.’ Sadhu-marganaugamanam:
‘Follow the previous acaryas.’ These are the steps. Bhagavad-gita, Arjuna said,
he
sisyas te ‘ham sadhi mam: ‘Now I become Your disciple. Teach me.’ And these
nt
rascals are more than Arjuna --’There is no need of guru.’ He says, sisyas te
(I
‘ham. Why? He was already friend. WHY HE SHOULD SUBMIT HIMSELF
AS DISCIPLE? THAT IS THE BEGINNING OF SPIRITUAL LIFE.‛
aid
‚So there is a disciplic succession. And the acaryas, they’re authorities. OUR
S
PROCESS OF KNOWLEDGE IS VERY SIMPLE. WE TAKE IT FROM

ada
THE AUTHORITY. WE DON’T SPECULATE. Speculation will not help

us to come to the real knowledge. Just like when we are in difficulty, in legal
hup
implication, we go to some authority, lawyer. When we are diseased we go to

a physician, the authority. There is no use, speculation.
rab
‚Suppose I am in difficulty in some legal implication. I simply speculate, ‘I

P
shall be free in this way and that way.’ That will not help. We have to go to
the lawyer who knows things, and he gives us instruction that ‘You do not do
hat
this; then you’ll be free.’ Similarly, when we are diseased, if I speculate at

home that ‘My disease will be cured in this way and that way,’ no. That is
W
useless. You go to an authorized physician and he will give you a nice

prescription and you’ll be cured. That is the process of knowledge.
and
‚But in the modern age people think that ‘I am free, I am independent, and I
can make my own solution.’ That is rascaldom. That’s not good. So Arjuna,
uru
when he was talking with Krsna as friend, but when he saw that there was no
G
solution talking like this, he surrendered to Krsna. He said, sisyas te ‘ham,

aham: ‘Myself, I, surrender unto You as Your disciple.’ Sisyas te ‘ham sadhi
he
mam prapannam. Prapannam means surrender.‛

T
211
on)
‚...Simply you require little intelligence. That intelligence is developed
through the instruction of acarya. Therefore, Vedic injunction is not to
skc
acquire knowledge by speculation. That is useless. Athapi te deva
I
padambuja-dvayam-janati tattvam, prasada-lesanugrhita eva hi, na canya eko
‘pi ciram vicinvan. Ciram vicinvan. Ciram means for thousands of years you
of
can speculate; you cannot understand what is God. That is not possible. But
ice
IF YOU RECEIVE KNOWLEDGE FROM THE DEVOTEE, HE CAN
DELIVER YOU.
erv
S
‚Therefore Vedic injunction is that tad-vijnana... in order to understand
tad-vijnana... Vijnana means science. IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE
he
TRANSCENDENTAL SCIENCE, THEN YOU MUST APPROACH A
nt
GURU. Tad-vijnanartham, in order to... If you are at all interested to
understand the spiritual science. Tad-vijnanartham, gurum eva abhigacchet.
(I
You must approach guru. GURU MEANS THIS DISCIPLIC
SUCCESSION, as I have explained.
aid
‚...So we have to follow the acaryas. If we at all, if we are at all interested in

S
spiritual science, then we must follow the Vedic instruction,

ada
tad-vijnanartham sa gurum eva abhigacchet. We must approach. You cannot

have spiritual knowledge simply by speculating. Impossible. Simply waste of
hup
time. Srama eva hi kevalam...

rab

Acarya-upasana. Not only worshiping the Lord, but also the acarya. Caitanya
P
Mahaprabhu said, guru-krsna-krpaya paya bhakti-lata-bija. GURU

--ACARYA-- AND KRSNA. ONE SHOULD SEEK FAVOR OF BOTH
hat
OF THEM. Not that ‘I am now seeking favor of Krsna. What is the use of
W
guru or acarya?’ No. YOU CANNOT OVERLAP ACARYA AND GO TO

KRSNA. THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE. KRSNA WILL NOT ACCEPT YOU.
Just like if you want to see a big man you should go through his secretary,
and
through his orderly, doorkeeper, similarly, OUR PROCESS IS

ACARYOPASANAM, GO THROUGH THE ACARYA. That is the
uru
injunction of the Vedas.

G
‚...Therefore sastra says, dharmasya tattvam nihitam guhayam. The truth is

very confidential. So if you want to know that truth, mahajano yena gatah sa
he
panthah, you should have to follow the great acaryas. Then you will
T
212
on)
understand. THEREFORE ACARYA-UPASANA IS ESSENTIAL.
Acarya-upasana is very essential. In all the Vedic sastras the injunction is
skc
that. Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum eva abhigacchet, srotriyam brahma-nistham.
I
Tasmad gurum prapadyeta Jijnasuh sreya uttamam. ANYONE WHO IS
INQUISITIVE TO UNDERSTAND HIGHER TRUTHS, HE MUST
of
SURRENDER TO GURU. Tasmad gurum prapadyeta, Jijnasuh sreya
ice
uttamam. One who is inquisitive, who is now inquiring about transcendental
subject matter. Tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya. So all the sastras
erv
says, in our Vaisnava sastra also, Rupa Gosvami says, ADAU
S
GURV-ASRAYAM: ‘IN THE FIRST BEGINNING, YOU MUST TAKE
SHELTER OF A BONA FIDE GURU.’
he
nt
‚...So we are interested in spiritual subject matter. Therefore the process is
adau gurv-asrayam. One has to accept a bona fide spiritual master. That is our
(I
process. WITHOUT ACCEPTING A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER
WE CANNOT MAKE ANY PROGRESS. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE.
aid
‚...Acarya-upasana, simply by the blessings of the acaryas we can make very

S
rapid progress. Vedesu durlabham adurlabham atma-bhaktau. If we... Yasya

prasadad bhagavat-prasadah... We sing every day. By the mercy of the
ada
spiritual master, acarya, we immediately get the blessings of Lord.

Immediately. Yasya prasadat. Yasya means whose, prasadat, benediction. By
hup
the benediction of the spiritual master. Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah.

rab
IF SPIRITUAL MASTER, ACARYA, IS PLEASED, THEN YOU

SHOULD KNOW THAT KRSNA IS ALSO PLEASED. You should know
P
through. This is not very difficult.

hat
‚Just like you are working in office. If your immediate officer, boss, is pleased,
that means the proprietor of the firm, he’s also pleased. Although you do not
W
see him. This is fact. Your immediate boss, if he’s pleased. So similarly, we,
our business, THIS SPIRITUAL LINE IS GURU-KRSNA-KRPA. WE
and
HAVE TO FIRST RECEIVE THE MERCIFUL BENEDICTION FROM

THE ACARYA, AND THEN KRSNA WILL BE PLEASED AND HE’LL
uru
ALSO GIVE HIS BLESSINGS. Mad-bhaktah.

‚There is a version in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, mad-bhaktah pujyabhyadhikah.
G
He says, Krsna says, that ‘If anyone worships Me directly and if anyone
worships Me through the acarya, he’s better devotee who is coming to Me
he
through acarya.’ Mad-bhaktah pujyabhyadhikah. SO OUR, THIS

T
213
on)
VAISNAVA PHILOSOPHY, PROCESS, IS TO GO THROUGH THE
ACARYA. Servant of the servant of the servant. We should try to become
skc
servant of the servant. Gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayor dasa-dasanudasah.
I
Dasa-dasanudasah. WE SHOULD NOT APPROACH THE SUPREME
PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD DIRECTLY. THAT IS NOT GOOD.
of
‚...Tasmad gurum prapadyeta Jijnasuh sreya uttamam. Those who are
ice
inquisitive to understand higher scientific knowledge, uttamam. Uttama
erv
means higher. Uttama, madhyama, adhama. There are three words.
First-class, second-class, third-class. So spiritual knowledge is uttamam.
S
ANYONE WHO IS INQUISITIVE TO UNDERSTAND FIRST-CLASS
he
KNOWLEDGE, HE REQUIRES TO GO TO A GURU. Those who are
nt
interested in third-class knowledge, they do not require any guru.
(I
‚...So after being liberated from the material concept of life by the blessings
of Krsna and guru, one comes to the platform of first-class knowledge, where
he engages himself directly in the service of the Lord. That is first-class
aid
knowledge.‛ (Lecture, London 9/23/69)

S
‚Suppose a man is fallen in the pit and he’s trying to come out, and another
ada
man drops a rope, ‘Please catch it. I shall take you out of the pit.’ He does not
catch it. Then how he can be taken out? So sadhu and sastra, they’re always
hup
ready to give you mercy, but you have to take it. If you don’t accept it, then
how you can recover?
rab
‚Therefore initiation means to accept the mercy of the sadhu and spiritual
P
master. If you don’t accept, so there is no other way. If you think... If you cry
that ‘I am fallen in the pit. Please take me,’ and when somebody comes to
hat
help you, you say, ‘No, I’ll not catch it,’ then you remain there. Who’ll help
you?
W
‚So because I am a living entity, I try for so many things, for my daily bread,
and
and I don’t try to catch the mercy of sadhu and sastra. Just see my foolishness.
I, for getting a work, I flatter so many persons and put my, serving my
uru
application, but for my deliverance from the material bondage I don’t care.
‘No, I am not going to submit to anyone. I don’t require.’ Just see. How much
G
foolishness there is. Just like a dog, for his bread he’ll submit to everyone, but
for his spiritual emancipation, oh, he’s not agreeing to submit. Just see the
he
foolishness.
T
214
on)
[...]‚We are not creating anything. It is not a manufactured thing, concocted
thing. It is standard. Followed by great acaryas like Caitanya. So we have to
skc
accept. That is the way. We have to become Krsna conscious, and follow, as
I
the sastra says. Sometimes, as we... The law books are there. As we take help
of a lawyer, how to utilize the law book, similarly YOU HAVE TO UTILIZE
of
THE SCRIPTURES BY ACCEPTING A SPIRITUAL MASTER WHO
ice
CAN GUIDE YOU. He’s a lawyer. This is the process. If you don’t accept,
then go on suffering. If you accept, then everything is there. That is the way
erv
of Krsna consciousness.‛ (Lecture, New York 11/24/66)
S
‚You have inquired why Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has not mentioned
he
anything about accepting a Spiritual Master in His Shikshastak. But perhaps
nt
you have missed the point that He says amanina manadena kirtaniya sada
hari. This means one has to chant the Holy Names of Krishna, becoming
(I
humbler than the straw, and more tolerant than the tree. So WHO CAN
BECOME HUMBLER THAN THE STRAW UNLESS HE ACCEPTS A
aid
SPIRITUAL MASTER? The whole world is puffed up. Everyone wants to

become the Lord of everything. Ultimately, the Mayavadi philosopher wants
S
to become one with the Supreme Lord. This means that when one fails to
ada
become Lord of everything, he wants to mix up with the Supreme Lord and
tries in that way to automatically become Lord of everything. What he can’t
hup
perform by his own capacity he wants to have done by being merged into the
Supreme Lord. That is the mentality of the general people. But if anyone
rab
becomes humbler than the grass and more tolerant than the tree, it is
understood that he has accepted a Spiritual Master. Besides that, if we accept
P
Sikshastak as authority given by Lord Chaitanya, this means we accept Lord

hat
Chaitanya as Spiritual Master. In the Bhagavad Gita it is openly mentioned

that Arjuna accepted Krishna as the Spiritual Master.
W
‚There is another mention in the Sikshastak, Lord Chaitanya says ‘I do not

want any wealth of this world, I do not want any following, neither do I want
and
a beautiful wife. Simply I want to become a servant of the Lord.’ TO

BECOME THE SERVANT OF THE LORD MEANS TO ACCEPT A
uru
SPIRITUAL MASTER. Without accepting somebody as master, how can

one become an expert servant? It is not that in every literature you will find
G
the words that everyone has to accept a Spiritual Master, but we have to
he
study things scrutinizingly. In the Chaitanya Charitamrita there is mention

guru krishna kripaya paya bhakti latha bij. By the mercy of the Spiritual
T
215
on)
Master and Krishna one can get the seeds of bhakti lata, the plant of
devotional service.‛ (Letter to Jaya Govinda, 7/4/69)
skc
‚Yes, the students should agree to be malleable by the Spiritual Master, then
I
his success is sure. In your western part of the world, people are falsely taught
of
not to become slavish. Everyone wants to assert his personal views and
opinions, without following any authority. That is the general tendency. But
ice
although such persons claim not to be slaves, actually they are slaves to the
erv
senses. So instead of being a slave of the senses, if one voluntarily becomes
the slave of Krishna, or His representative, that is good for him. This is maya,
S
thinking that we are independent. We are slaves--every moment we are
he
serving our senses. We are slaves to so many abominable things, to drugs,
nt
intoxication, sex, doing the most abominable things in the service of the
senses. So IT IS NOT SLAVISH WHEN ONE AGREES TO BECOME
(I
SLAVE OF KRISHNA AND HIS REPRESENTATIVE, THEN THIS IS
LIBERATED POSITION, liberated from being slave to the senses. Yes, Srila
aid
Bhaktivinode Thakur said, My Dear Vaishnava Thakur, Spiritual Master, let

me become your dog, and I shall remain at your door, and I shall guard against
S
any nonsense persons trying to enter, and whatever food you will give me, I
ada
shall eat, and I shall remain as your dog.

‚Your specific talents are to be engaged under direction of the Spiritual
hup
Master. Everything, every talent can be employed in Krishna’s service, and

rab
how to do it is known to the Spiritual Master.

P
‚[...O]ne should, by deliberate consideration, raise himself to the platform of

Krsna consciousness. To attain such an end, one must touch the lotus feet of
hat
the spiritual master. KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS CANNOT BE

W
ACHIEVED BY SELF-ENDEAVOR. One must therefore approach a

self-realized, Krsna conscious person and touch his lotus feet. Prahlada
and
Maharaja therefore said:

naisam matis tavad urukramagghrim
uru
sprsaty anarthapagamo yad-arthah

mahiyasam pada-rajo-’bhisekam
G
niskincananam na vrnita yavat

(Bhag. 7.5.32)
he
T
216
on)
‚ONE CANNOT COME TO THE PRECINCTS OF KRSNA
CONSCIOUSNESS UNLESS HE TOUCHES THE DUST OF THE
skc
LOTUS FEET OF A PERSON WHO HAS BECOME A MAHATMA, A
I
GREAT DEVOTEE. This is the beginning of the surrendering process. Lord
Krsna wants everyone to surrender unto Him, and this surrendering process
of
begins when one touches the lotus feet of a bona fide spiritual master. BY
ice
SINCERELY RENDERING SERVICE TO A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL
MASTER, ONE BEGINS HIS SPIRITUAL LIFE IN KRSNA
erv
CONSCIOUSNESS. Touching the lotus feet of a spiritual master means
S
giving up one’s false prestige and unnecessarily puffed-up position in the
material world. [...] In other words, ONE CANNOT AROUSE KRSNA
he
CONSCIOUSNESS SIMPLY BY HIS OWN MENTAL SPECULATION.
nt
ONE MUST SURRENDER TO A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER.
(I
ONLY THIS PROCESS WILL HELP ONE.‛ (SB 4.26.20)
‚From the personal example of Sri Narada Muni in his previous birth, it is
aid
clear that the service of the Lord begins with the service of the Lord’s bona
fide servants. The Lord says that the service of His servants is greater than
S
His personal service. Service of the devotee is more valuable than the service
ada
of the Lord. ONE SHOULD THEREFORE CHOOSE A BONA FIDE

SERVANT OF THE LORD CONSTANTLY ENGAGED IN HIS
hup
SERVICE, ACCEPT SUCH A SERVANT AS THE SPIRITUAL

MASTER AND ENGAGE HIMSELF IN HIS (THE SPIRITUAL
rab
MASTER’S) SERVICE. Such a spiritual master is the transparent medium

by which to visualize the Lord, who is beyond the conception of the material
P
senses. By service of the bona fide spiritual master, the Lord consents to
hat
reveal Himself in proportion to the service rendered.‛ (SB 1.5.23)

‚UNLESS ONE GETS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASSOCIATE WITH A
W
BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER BY THE GRACE OF THE LORD,

there is no possibility of one’s liberation from the cycle of birth and death in
and
the different species of life and through the different grades of planets.‛
(SB 3.31.43)
uru
‚Once one enters into the continuation of material existence, it is very

G
difficult to get out. Therefore the Supreme Personality of Godhead comes

Himself or sends His bona fide representative, and He leaves behind
he
scriptures like Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam, so that the living

T
217
on)
entities hovering in the darkness of nescience may take advantage of the
instructions, the saintly persons and the spiritual masters and thus be freed.
skc
Unless the living entity receives the mercy of the saintly persons, the
I
spiritual master or Krsna, it is not possible for him to get out of the darkness
of material existence; BY HIS OWN ENDEAVOR IT IS NOT POSSIBLE.‛
of
(SB 3.32.38 ppt.)
ice
‚The Vedic literature instructs: Tasmad gurum prapadyeta Jijnasuh sreya
erv
uttamam. An intelligent man must be very inquisitive to know the
transcendental science deeply. Therefore ONE MUST APPROACH A
S
GURU, A SPIRITUAL MASTER. Although Jada Bharata explained
he
everything to Maharaja Rahugana, it appears that his intelligence was not
nt
perfect enough to understand clearly. He therefore requested a further
explanation. As stated in Bhagavad-gita (4.34): Tad viddhi pranipatena
(I
pariprasnena sevaya. THE STUDENT MUST APPROACH A SPIRITUAL
MASTER AND SURRENDER UNTO HIM FULLY (PRANIPATENA).
aid
He must also question him in order to understand his instructions

(Pariprasnena ). One should not only surrender to the spiritual master but
S
also render loving service unto him (sevaya) so that the spiritual master will
ada
be pleased with the student and explain the transcendental subject matter
more clearly. A CHALLENGING SPIRIT BEFORE THE SPIRITUAL
hup
MASTER SHOULD BE AVOIDED IF ONE IS AT ALL INTERESTED IN

LEARNING THE VEDIC INSTRUCTIONS IN DEPTH.‛ (SB 5.12.3)
rab
‚THE PRINCIPLE OF ACCEPTING A SPIRITUAL MASTER, AS

P
MENTIONED IN THE EIGHTH VERSE, IS ESSENTIAL. Even for one

who takes to devotional service, it is most important. TRANSCENDENTAL
hat
LIFE BEGINS WHEN ONE ACCEPTS A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL

MASTER. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna, clearly states
W
here that this process of knowledge is the actual path. Anything speculated
beyond this is nonsense.
and
‚[...]As for acceptance of the spiritual master, that is essential, because

uru
WITHOUT THE INSTRUCTION OF A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL

MASTER ONE CANNOT PROGRESS IN THE SPIRITUAL SCIENCE.
G
One should approach the spiritual master with all humility and offer him all
services so that he will be pleased to bestow his blessings upon the disciple.
he
BECAUSE A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER IS A

T
REPRESENTATIVE OF KRSNA, IF HE BESTOWS ANY BLESSINGS

218
on)
UPON HIS DISCIPLE, THAT WILL MAKE THE DISCIPLE
IMMEDIATELY ADVANCED WITHOUT THE DISCIPLE’S
skc
FOLLOWING THE REGULATIVE PRINCIPLES. Or, the regulative
I
principles will be easier for one who has served the spiritual master without
reservation.‛ (BG 13.8-12)
of
‚Before the creation the Lord was there (narayanah paro’vyaktat), and
ice
therefore the words spoken by the Lord are vibrations of transcendental
erv
sound. There is a gulf of difference between the two qualities of sound,
namely prakrta and aprakrta. The physicist can deal only with the prakrta
S
sound, or sound vibrated in the material sky, and therefore WE MUST
he
KNOW THAT THE VEDIC SOUNDS RECORDED IN SYMBOLIC
nt
EXPRESSIONS CANNOT BE UNDERSTOOD BY ANYONE WITHIN
THE UNIVERSE UNLESS AND UNTIL ONE IS INSPIRED BY THE
(I
VIBRATION OF SUPERNATURAL (APRAKRTA) SOUND, WHICH
DESCENDS IN THE CHAIN OF DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION from the
aid
Lord to Brahma, from Brahma to Narada, from Narada to Vyasa and so on.
S
‚NO MUNDANE SCHOLAR CAN TRANSLATE OR REVEAL THE

TRUE IMPORT OF THE VEDIC MANTRAS (HYMNS). THEY
ada
CANNOT BE UNDERSTOOD UNLESS ONE IS INSPIRED OR

INITIATED BY THE AUTHORIZED SPIRITUAL MASTER. The original
hup
spiritual master is the Lord Himself, and the succession comes down through
rab
the sources of parampara, as clearly stated in the Fourth Chapter of the

Bhagavad-gita. So UNLESS ONE RECEIVES THE TRANSCENDENTAL
P
KNOWLEDGE FROM THE AUTHORIZED PARAMPARA, ONE

SHOULD BE CONSIDERED USELESS (VIPHALA MATAH), even
hat
though one may be greatly qualified in the mundane advancements of arts or

science.‛ (SB 2.4.22)
W
‚If one develops love for Krsna by Krsna conscious activities, one can know
and
the Supreme Absolute Truth, but HE WHO TRIES TO UNDERSTAND

GOD SIMPLY BY LOGICAL ARGUMENTS WILL NOT SUCCEED, nor
uru
will he get a taste for unalloyed devotion. THE SECRET IS THAT ONE
MUST SUBMISSIVELY LISTEN TO THOSE WHO KNOW PERFECTLY
G
THE SCIENCE OF GOD, AND ONE MUST BEGIN THE MODE OF

SERVICE REGULATED BY THE PRECEPTOR. A devotee already
he
attracted by the name, form, qualities, etc., of the Supreme Lord may be
T
219
on)
directed to his specific manner of devotional service; he need not waste time
in approaching the Lord through logic. The expert spiritual master knows
skc
well how to engage his disciple’s energy in the transcendental loving service
I
of the Lord, and thus he engages a devotee in a specific devotional service
according to his special tendency.‛ (C.c. Adi 1.35 ppt.)
of
‚When by learning from the self-realized spiritual master one actually
ice
engages himself in the service of Lord Visnu, FUNCTIONAL
erv
DEVOTIONAL SERVICE BEGINS. The procedures of this devotional
service are known as abhidheya, or ACTION ONE IS DUTY-BOUND TO
S
PERFORM. Our only shelter is the Supreme Lord, and ONE WHO
he
TEACHES HOW TO APPROACH KRSNA IS THE FUNCTIONING
nt
FORM OF THE PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD.‛ (I (C.c. Adi 1.47 ppt.)
‚Therefore, in all actions, the experienced guide, THE SPIRITUAL
MASTER, who is the manifested mercy of the Lord, SHOULD ALWAYS
BE CONSULTED, and the path of progress will be assured.‛(SB 1.10.36 ppt.)
aid
‚In this verse the word vrddha-sevaya is very significant. Vrddha means ‘old.’
S
Sevaya means ‘by service.’ Perfect knowledge is acquired from the acaryas, or
ada
liberated souls. NO ONE CAN BE PERFECT IN KNOWLEDGE

WITHOUT BEING TRAINED BY THE PARAMPARA SYSTEM.‛
hup
(SB 4.20.4)
‚FREEDOM FROM MAYA’S INFLUENCE IS POSSIBLE WHEN ONE
rab
ENGAGES IN THE SERVICE OF THE GREAT DEVOTEES

P
(MAHAC-CARANA-SEVA). WITHOUT WORSHIPING THE LOTUS

FEET OF A GREAT DEVOTEE, ONE CANNOT BE FREED FROM
hat
MAYA’S INFLUENCE. Srila Narottama dasa Thakura therefore says,

chadiya vaisnava-seva nistara payeche keba: ‘WHO HAS BEEN FREED
W
FROM MAYA’S CLUTCHES WITHOUT SERVING THE LOTUS FEET

OF A VAISNAVA?’ Maya is aparajita, and her influence is also aparajita. As
and
confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (7.14):

daivi hy esa gunamayi
uru
mama maya duratyaya

G
‚’This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material

nature, is difficult to overcome.’ Only a devotee can surpass maya’s great
he
influence. It was no fault on Maharaja Nabhi’s part that he wanted a son. He

T
wanted a son like the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the best of all
220
on)
sons. By the association of the Lord’s devotee, one no longer desires material
opulence. This is confirmed in Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya 22.54):
skc
‘sadhu-sanga’, ‘sadhu-sanga’ sarva-sastre kaya
I
lava-matra sadhu-sange sarva-siddhi haya
of
and Madhya 22.51:
mahat-krpa vina kona karme ‘bhakti’ naya
ice
krsna-bhakti dure rahu, samsara nahe ksaya
erv
‚IF ONE IS SERIOUS ABOUT ESCAPING MAYA’S INFLUENCE AND
S
RETURNING HOME, BACK TO GODHEAD, ONE MUST ASSOCIATE
WITH A SADHU (DEVOTEE). THAT IS THE VERDICT OF ALL
he
SCRIPTURES. By the slight association of a devotee, one can be freed from
nt
the clutches of maya. Without the mercy of the pure devotee, one cannot get
(I
freedom by any means. Certainly a pure devotee’s association is necessary in
order to obtain the loving service of the Lord. One cannot be freed from
maya’s clutches without sadhu-sanga, the benediction of a great devotee. In
aid
Srimad-Bhagavatam (7.5.32) Prahlada Maharaja says:

S
naisam matis tavad urukramagghrim

sprsaty anarthapagamo yad arthah
ada
mahiyasam pada-rajo-’bhisekam
niskincananam na vrnita yavat
hup
‚ONE CANNOT BECOME THE LORD’S PURE DEVOTEE WITHOUT

rab
TAKING THE DUST OF A GREAT DEVOTEE ON HIS HEAD

(PADA-RAJO-’BHISEKAM). A pure devotee is niskincana; he has no
P
material desire to enjoy the material world. One has to take shelter of such a
hat
pure devotee in order to attain his qualities. The pure devotee is always free
from the clutches of maya and her influence.‛ (SB 5.3.14)
W
‚TRANSLATION
and
My dear King, if a sinful person engages in the service of a bona fide devotee
of the Lord and thus learns how to dedicate his life unto the lotus feet of
uru
Krsna, he can be completely purified. One cannot be purified merely by

undergoing austerity, penance, brahmacarya and the other methods of
G
atonement I have previously described.

he
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221
on)
PURPORT
skc
‚Tat-purusa refers to a preacher of Krsna consciousness, such as the spiritual
master. Srila Narottama dasa Thakura has said, chadiya vaisnava-seva nistara
I
payeche keba: ‘WITHOUT SERVING A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL
of
MASTER, AN IDEAL VAISNAVA, WHO CAN BE DELIVERED FROM
THE CLUTCHES OF MAYA?’ This idea is also expressed in many other
ice
places. Srimad-Bhagavatam (5.5.2) says, mahat-sevam dvaram ahur vimukteh:
erv
if one desires liberation from the clutches of maya, one must associate with a
pure devotee mahatma. A mahatma is one who engages twenty four hours
S
daily in the loving service of the Lord. As Krsna says in Bhagavad-gita (9.13):
he
mahatmanas tu mam partha
nt
daivim prakrtim asritah (I
bhajanty ananya-manaso
jnatva bhutadim avyayam
aid
‚‘O son of Prtha, those who are not deluded, the great souls, are under the
protection of the divine nature. They are fully engaged in devotional service
S
because they know Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, original and

ada
inexhaustible.’ Thus the symptom of a mahatma is that he has no engagement

other than service to Krsna. ONE MUST RENDER SERVICE TO A
hup
VAISNAVA IN ORDER TO GET FREED FROM SINFUL REACTIONS,

REVIVE ONE’S ORIGINAL KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS AND BE
rab
TRAINED IN HOW TO LOVE KRSNA. This is the result of mahatma-seva.

Of course, if one engages in the service of a pure devotee, the reactions of
P
one’s sinful life are vanquished automatically. Devotional service is necessary

not to drive away an insignificant stock of sins, but to awaken our dormant
hat
love for Krsna. As fog is vanquished at the first glimpse of sunlight, one’s
W
sinful reactions are automatically vanquished as soon as one begins serving a

pure devotee; no separate endeavor is required.
and
‚The word krsna-rpita-pranah refers to a devotee who dedicates his life to

serving Krsna, not to being saved from the path to hellish life. A devotee is
uru
narayana-parayana, or vasudeva-parayana, which means that the path of

Vasudeva, or the devotional path, is his life and soul. Narayana-parah sarve
G
na kutascana bibhyati (Bhag. 6.17.28): such a devotee is not afraid of going

anywhere. There is a path toward liberation in the higher planetary systems
he
and a path toward the hellish planets, but a narayana-para devotee is

T
222
on)
unafraid wherever he is sent; he simply wants to remember Krsna, wherever
he may be. Such a devotee is unconcerned with hell and heaven; he is simply
skc
attached to rendering service to Krsna. When a devotee is put into hellish
I
conditions, he accepts them as Krsna’s mercy: tat te ‘nukampam
susamiksamanah (Bhag. 10.14.8). He does not protest, 'Oh, I am such a great
of
devotee of Krsna. Why have I been put into this misery?’ Instead he thinks,
ice
‘This is Krsna’s mercy.’ SUCH AN ATTITUDE IS POSSIBLE FOR A
DEVOTEE WHO ENGAGES IN THE SERVICE OF KRSNA’S
erv
REPRESENTATIVE. THIS IS THE SECRET OF SUCCESS.‛
S
(SB 6.1.16 ppt.)
he
‚TRANSLATION
nt
Because you are great personalities, you can give me real knowledge. I am as
(I
foolish as a village animal like a pig or dog because I am merged in the
darkness of ignorance. Therefore, please ignite the torch of knowledge to
save me.
aid
PURPORT
S
‚This is the way to receive knowledge. One must submit oneself at the lotus
ada
feet of great personalities who can actually deliver transcendental

knowledge. It is therefore said, Tasmad gurum prapadyeta Jijnasuh sreya
hup
uttamam: ‘ONE WHO IS INQUISITIVE TO UNDERSTAND THE

rab
HIGHEST GOAL AND BENEFIT OF LIFE MUST APPROACH A BONA

FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER AND SURRENDER UNTO HIM.’ Only one
P
who is actually eager to receive knowledge to eradicate the darkness of

ignorance is eligible to approach a guru, or spiritual master. The guru should
hat
not be approached for material benefits. One should not approach a guru just
to cure some disease or receive some miraculous benefit. This is not the way
W
to approach the guru. Tad-vijnanartham: one should approach the guru to

understand the transcendental science of spiritual life.‛ (SB 6.15.16 ppt.)
and
‚One has to receive the transcendental sound from the right source, accept it
uru
as a reality and prosecute the direction without hesitation. THE SECRET

OF SUCCESS IS TO RECEIVE THE SOUND FROM THE RIGHT
G
SOURCE OF A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER. Mundane

manufactured sound has no potency, and as such, seemingly transcendental
he
sound received from an unauthorized person also has no potency. One should
T
223
on)
be qualified enough to discern such transcendental potency, and either by
discriminating or by fortunate chance if one is able to receive the
skc
transcendental sound from the bona fide spiritual master, his path of
I
liberation is guaranteed. The disciple, however, must be ready to execute the
order of the bona fide spiritual master as Lord Brahma executed the
of
instruction of his spiritual master, the Lord Himself. FOLLOWING THE
ice
ORDER OF THE BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER IS THE ONLY
DUTY OF THE DISCIPLE, AND THIS completely faithful execution of the
erv
order of the bona fide spiritual master IS THE SECRET OF SUCCESS.‛
S
(SB 2.9.8 ppt.)
he
‚THE SECRET OF SUCCESS in spiritual life is in satisfying the spiritual
nt
master and thereby getting his sincere blessings. Srila Visvanantha
Cakravarti Thakura has sung in his famous eight stanzas on the spiritual
(I
master as follows:’I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my
spiritual master. ONLY BY HIS SATISFACTION CAN ONE PLEASE
aid
THE PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, and when he is dissatisfied there is

only havoc on the path of spiritual realization.’ It is essential, therefore, that
S
a disciple be very much obedient and submissive to the bona fide spiritual
ada
master.‛ (SB 1.1.8 ppt.)

‚In the spiritual field nobody can become a bonafide spiritual master by
hup
dissatisfying his spiritual master. IT IS SAID THAT ONE CAN SATISFY

rab
THE SUPREME LORD SIMPLY BY SATISFYING THE SPIRITUAL

MASTER AND ONE WHO DISSATISFIES THE SPIRITUAL MASTER
P
HAS NO PLACE IN THE SPIRITUAL WORLD.‛

(Letter to Madhusudan, 11/2/67)
hat
‚THE LORD’S ORDER DESCENDS IN DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION

W
THROUGH THE BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER, and thus execution

of the order of the bona fide spiritual master is factual control of the senses.‛
and
(SB 2.9.8 ppt.)

‚So how they will understand unless they come to the proper guru? Therefore
uru
sastra says, tad-vijnanartham: ‘If you want to know the real problem of your
life and if you want to be enlightened how to become Krsna conscious, how
G
to become eternal, go back to home, back to Godhead, then YOU MUST

APPROACH THE GURU.’
he
T
224
on)
‚And who is guru? That is explained, very simple thing. Guru never
manufactures idea that ‘You do this and give me money and you become
skc
happy.’ That is not guru. That is another process of earning money.
I
‚So here it is said, mudha, everyone who is simply living in the fool’s paradise,
of
manufacturing his own ideas like Ajamila --somebody has taken, ‘This is my
duty,’ somebody has...-- he is a fool. YOU MUST KNOW WHAT IS YOUR
ice
DUTY FROM GURU. You are singing every day guru-mukha-padma-vakya,
erv
cittete koriya aikya, ar na koriho mane asa. [‘My only wish is to have my
consciousness purified by the words emanating from the lotus mouth of my
S
spiritual master.’[This is life. This is life. Guru-mukha-pad... YOU ACCEPT
he
THE BONA FIDE GURU, AND WHAT HE ORDERS YOU, CARRY
nt
OUT. THEN YOUR LIFE IS SUCCESFUL. (I
[...]‚This is the order. Guru-mukha-padma-vakya, cittete koriya aikya. Now
citta means consciousness or heart. ‘I shall do this only, bas. My Guru
Maharaja told me, I shall do this.’ Cittete koriya aikya, ara na koriho mane asa.
aid
So it is not my pride, but I can say, for your instruction, I did it. Therefore,
S
whatever little success you see [I’ve had more] than all my Godbrothers, it is
due to this. I HAVE NO CAPACITY, BUT I TOOK IT, THE WORDS OF
ada
MY GURU, AS LIFE AND SOUL. So this is fact.

Guru-mukha-padma-vakya, cittete koriya aikya.
hup
‚Everyone should do that. But if he makes addition, alteration, then he is

rab
finished. No addition, alteration. YOU HAVE TO APPROACH GURU

--GURU MEANS THE FAITHFUL SERVANT OF GOD, KRSNA-- AND
P
TAKE HIS WORD HOW TO SERVE HIM. THEN YOU ARE

SUCCESSFUL. If you concoct, ‘I am more intelligent than my guru and I
hat
can make addition or alteration,’ then you are finished.

W
[...]‚Sri-guru-carane rati, ei se uttama-gati. If you want to make real progress

then you must be firmly faithful at the lotus feet of guru.
and
[...]Je prasade pure sarva asa. [By the guru’s mercy all desires are
fulfilled.[Yasya prasadad... THIS IS THE INSTRUCTION IN THE WHOLE
uru
VAISNAVA PHILOSOPHY. SO UNLESS WE DO THAT, WE REMAIN

G
MUDHA...‛ (Lecture, Philadelphia 7/12/75)

he
T
225
on)
‚We sing in our daily prayers, yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado yasyaprasadan
na gatih kuto ‘pi . By the pleasure of the spiritual master, one can get
skc
extraordinary power, especially in spiritual advancement. THE BLESSINGS
I
OF THE SPIRITUAL MASTER ARE MORE POWERFUL THAN ONE’S
PERSONAL ENDEAVOR FOR SUCH ADVANCEMENT. Narottama
of
dasa Thakura therefore says:
ice
guru-mukha-padma-vakya, cittete kariya aikya,
ara na kariha mane asa
erv
‚Especially for spiritual advancement, one should carry out the bona fide
S
order of the spiritual master. BY THE PARAMPARA SYSTEM, ONE CAN
he
THUS BE ENDOWED WITH THE ORIGINAL SPIRITUAL POWER
nt
COMING FROM THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD (evam
parampara-praptam imam rajarsayo viduh).‛ (SB 8.15.28)
(I
‚S.PRABHUPADA: ... Because you are rascal, you do not know. You learn it.
One who knows the meaning. Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet. You
aid
are fool, rascal. How can you know the meaning? You must have to go to the
S
real person.
ada
J: Who knows?
S.PRABHUPADA: Guru. Therefore we go to guru. Tasmad gurum
hup
prapadyeta jijnasur sreya uttamam. ONE WHO IS ACTUALLY SERIOUS

rab
ABOUT INQUIRING, HE MUST GO. GURUM PRAPADYETA. MUST

SURRENDER TO GURU.
P
S: Sabde pare ca nisnatam.

hat
S.PRABHUPADA: Ah. That is... Therefore there is guru. Adau

gurvasrayam. If you know, want to know, FIRST OF ALL TAKE SHELTER
W
OF GURU. THAT IS THE INJUNCTION.‛

(Conversation, Mayapur 2/3/76)
and
‚Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, ei rupe bhramando bhramite kono bhagyavan jiva,

guru krsna krpaya paya bhakti lata bija. Krsna also says, bahunam janmanam
uru
ante jnanavan mam prapadyate. TO APPROACH KRSNA IS NOT SO

G
EASY THING. AFTER MANY, MANY BIRTHS... WE ARE

ROTATING... (Break)
he
T
226
on)
‚[...T]here are innumerable planets. That we can see. So we are wandering in
all these places, sometimes down, sometimes up, sometimes in the middle,
skc
according to our karma, in different species of life, in different planets, in
I
different position. So we are rotating. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, ‘Out of
these innumerable entities who are entrapped with this brahmanda and
of
janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi...’ Mrtyu-samsara-vartmani. Life after life, life after
ice
life, they are... That we do not know. This is called mrtyu-samsara-vartmani.
You die, accept another body, another place, another situation, another
erv
position. This is going on. Brahmando bhramite. And Caitanya Mahaprabhu
S
says, ‘In this way, rotating, and IN COURSE OF OUR ROTATION, IF WE
ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH, THEN WE COME TO KRSNA
he
CONSCIOUSNESS.’ Ei rupe brahmando bhramite. Ei rupe brahmando
nt
bhramite kono bhagyavan. (I
‚So to come to Krsna consciousness, it is meant for persons who are very, very
fortunate, kono bhagyavan. Guru krsna krpaya paya bhakti lata bija. When
aid
one is very much eager, serious, that ‘I want to see God...’ Nobody’s serious.
But IF ONE BECOMES SERIOUS, THEN KRSNA GIVES HIM
S
CHARGE. HE SENDS HIM TO THE PROPER GURU.‛

ada
(Conversation, Hrsikesa 5/15/77)

‚So KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS MOVEMENT MEANS WE HAVE TO
hup
ACT EVERYTHING FOR KRSNA UNDER PROPER DIRECTION. We

rab
cannot manufacture that ‘I am doing for Krsna.’ Then that is another

misleading. Therefore we require the guidance of the spiritual master. Krsna.
P
Guru krsna krpaya. In the Caitanya-caritamrta [it is said] that YOU HAVE
TO SEEK THE MERCY BOTH OF KRSNA AND GURU, NOT THAT
hat
YOU HAVE BECOME SO ADVANCED THAT YOU ARE DIRECTLY

IN CONNECTION WITH KRSNA and whatever you are doing, it is mercy.
W
No. Don’t think like that. IT MUST BE GUIDED, IT MUST BE

CONFIRMED BY GURU. Guru krsna krpaya paya bhakti lata bija.‛
and

uru
‚If you feel at all indebted to me then you should preach vigorously like me.
That is the proper way to repay me. Of course no one can repay the debt to
G
the spiritual master, but the spiritual master is very much pleased by such an
attitude by the disciple. In the Bhagavad-gita it is said: vyavasayatmika
he
buddhir ekeha kuru-nandana, ‚Those who are on this path are resolute in
T
227
on)
purpose, and their aim is one.‛ Our only business is to be fixed up in
devotional service by pleasing the spiritual master. Those who are not fixed
skc
up they have various lines of action. (Eka means ‘one’ and bahu means
I
‘many’).
of
‚The real ocean of mercy is Krsna and it is the duty of the spiritual master to
tell his disciple to come to the ocean and be happy. The spiritual master’s
ice
duty is to lead the disciple to this ocean. I am trying my best and if you try to
erv
follow, surely you will benefit.
S
‚Bhaktivinode Thakura has sung, ‘krsna sei tomara, krsna dite para, tomara
sakati ache. Ami ta’kangala, krsna krsna boli, dhai tava pache pache.’ ‘Krsna is
he
yours and you have the power to give Him to anyone you wish. I am poor and
nt
wretched and running behind you shouting Krsna Krsna!’
(I
‚Krsna is unlimited, no one can catch Him, but IF SOMEONE FOLLOWS
THE PARAMPARA, He agrees to be captured. Everyone is afraid of Krsna,
aid
but Krsna is afraid of Mother Yasoda. That is Krsna’s special mercy.‛

(Letter to the Residents of New Dvaraka 08/14/76)
S
ada
hup
rab
P
hat
W
and
uru
G
he
T
228
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
229
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
230
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
on)
skc
I
of
ice
erv
S
‚NO, THAT CHANTING OF HARE KRSNA DOES NOT MEAN
WHIMSICAL. [...]OFFENSELESS –HE MUST BE
he
PROPERLY INITIATED. IT DOES NOT MEAN
nt
THAT HE SHOULD NOT BE INITIATED AND
CHANT. THAT IS NOT THE IDEA. You can –you
(I
must be initiated, either you are grhastha, sannyasi or
brahmacari. NOT THAT WITHOUT BEING
aid
INITIATED YOU WHIMSICALLY CHANT AND

S
THE EFFECT WILL BE THE SAME. NO, HE MUST

BE INITIATED. ADAU GURV ASRAYAM. YOU
ada
MUST ACCEPT A GURU.‛ (Conv. Editors BTG, Mayapur 2/25/77)

hup
‚I am very much encouraged that you are all chanting Hare Krishna and
trying to become Krishna Conscious. But I do not advise that you approach
rab
the matter of perfecting your life in this independent way. UNLESS THERE
IS CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER,
P
COMING IN THE LINE OF DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION, THERE IS NO

POSSIBILITY OF MAKING PROGRESS IN SPIRITUAL LIFE. So I have
hat
established ISKCON centers for the purpose of catching up the Lotus Feet of
W
Krishna by intimate connection with the spiritual master. These are my

authorized centers for that purpose. You say that whatever I instruct you you
will carry out, so again my instruction is that you abandon this independent
and
scheme and join your good god-brothers and sisters at some one of our
ISKCON centers.‛ (Letter to Friends, 5/23/72)
uru
‚These boys and girls, European and Americans, they were not informed
G
about the regulative principles in the beginning. We enforce the regulative

he
principle when a student is serious to become initiated. Otherwise,

ordinarily, in all our centers, everyone is welcome to join the chanting of
T
231
on)
Hare Krsna mantra. GRADUALLY, BY MIXING WITH THE DEVOTEES,
BY BEING PURIFIED ON THE TRANSCENDENTAL VIBRATION OF
skc
HARE KRSNA MANTRA, THEY VOLUNTARILY OFFER TO BECOME
I
SERIOUS STUDENT, INITIATED.‛ (NOD Lecture, Vrndavana 11/14/72)
of
‚WHEN THE SPIRITUAL MASTER UTTERS THE HOLY NAME OF
THE LORD, Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare, Hare Rama
ice
Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare, AT THAT TIME, the vibration enters
erv
into the ear of the disciple, and IF THE DISCIPLE RECEIVES THE HOLY
S
NAME ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTION GIVEN BY THE
SPIRITUAL MASTER, and with faith and reverence he places the Hare
he
Krsna maha-mantra within his heart AND, AS INSTRUCTED AND
nt
GUIDED BY THE SPIRITUAL MASTER, he worships the holy name as
good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, then the beginning of
(I
worshipment to the Lord immediately starts. In this way, when the disciple
continues to worship the holy name of the Lord, the holy name, being Krsna
aid
Himself, by His own internal potency, expands His influence upon the
S
person who is engaged in chanting the holy name.‛

(Lecture, Seattle 10/21/68)
ada
‚Communion with the Lord by transmission of the transcendental sound is

nondifferent from the whole spirit Lord Sri Krsna. It is a completely perfect
hup
method for approaching the Lord. By such pure contact with the Lord,
rab
without offense of material conceptions (numbering ten), the devotee can

rise above the material plane to understand the inner meaning of the Vedic
P
literatures, including the Lord’s existence in the transcendental realm. The

Lord reveals His identity gradually to one who has unflinching faith, both in
hat
the spiritual master and in the Lord. After this, the devotee is endowed with
mystic opulences, which are eight in number. And above all, the devotee is
W
accepted in the confidential entourage of the Lord and is entrusted with

specific service of the Lord through the agency of the spiritual master. A pure
and
devotee is more interested in serving the Lord than in showing an exhibition

of the mystic powers dormant in him. Sri Narada has explained all these from
uru
his personal experience, and one can obtain all the facilities which Sri
Narada obtained by perfecting the chanting process of the sound
G
representation of the Lord. THERE IS NO BAR FOR CHANTING THIS

TRANSCENDENTAL SOUND BY ANYONE, PROVIDED IT IS
he
RECEIVED THROUGH NARADA’S REPRESENTATIVE, COMING

T
232
on)
DOWN BY THE CHAIN OF DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION, OR THE
PARAMPARA SYSTEM.‛ (SB 1.5.39)
skc
‚I am very glad to hear you are following my instructions by chanting 16
I
rounds daily. In order to chant offenselessly, so that the chanting will have
the greatest effect, one must avoid the four sinful activities. You have asked
of
‘How serious would it be for me if I should miss the golden oppotunity to
ice
become your initiated disciple?’ YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT THE
erv
VALUE OF ACCEPTING A BONAFIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER IS
MORE THAN WE CAN CALCULATE. IT IS NOT A MERE
S
FORMALITY. Of course everyone is encouraged to chant Hare Krishna, but
until one gives up sinful activities and becomes determined to serve Krishna
he
through His representative then the firm fixing up of devotional service will
nt
not take hold, and there is every chance that one will fall prey to all sorts of
(I
material desires and have to come back again in the next life–and one cannot
guarantee that he will be born in the form of life he may desire. ‚I know you
aid
have been attending our temple in Boston sometimes, and that you wish to be
a sincere devotee of Krishna. So go on faithfully with you chanting and pray
S
to Krishna to give you strength for advancing in His service. IT IS A FACT,

HOWEVER THAT WE MUST BECOME FREE OF ALL MATERIAL
ada
DESIRE BEFORE GOING BACK TO GODHEAD, AND THIS CAN

hup
ONLY BE ACHIEVED BY FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS OF A

BONAFIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER.‛ (Letter to Ravendra Gupta, 2/12/74)
rab
‚The chanting Hare Krishna is our main business, that is real initiation. And
AS YOU ARE ALL FOLLOWING MY INSTRUCTION, IN THAT
P
MATTER, THE INITIATOR IS ALREADY THERE. Now the next

hat
initiation will be performed as a ceremony officially, OF COURSE THAT

CEREMONY HAS VALUE BECAUSE THE NAME, HOLY NAME, WILL
W
BE DELIVERED TO THE STUDENT FROM THE DISCIPLIC

SUCCESSION, it has got value, but in spite of that, as you are going on
and
chanting, please go on with this business sincerely and Krishna willing, I may
be coming to you very soon.‛ (Letter to Tamal Krishna, 8/19/68)
uru
‚[A] mantra should be received from the disciplic succession. The Vedic
injunction is sampradaya-vihina ye mantras te nisphala matah. IF YOUR
G
MANTRA DOES NOT COME THROUGH THE DISCIPLIC

SUCCESSION, IT WILL NOT BE EFFECTIVE. Mantras te nisphala.
he
Nisphala means that it will not produce the desired result. So the mantra
T
233
on)
must be received through the proper channel, or it will not act. A mantra
cannot be manufactured. It must come from the original Supreme Absolute,
skc
coming down through the channel of disciplic succession. It has to be
I
received in that way, and only then will it act.‛
(Search for Liberation, pgs. 17-18)
of
‚In the beginning, we simply invite men to come and join us in the
ice
transcendental vibration by chanting Hare Krishna. We do not say that you
erv
pay me something and I give you this chanting. But this chanting is open
without any secret, and we do not ask anyone to pay for it. But the chanting
S
is transcendental, and therefore, simply by vibration, ONE GRADUALLY
he
BECOMES SPIRITUALLY ADVANCED, AND THUS HE OFFERS
nt
HIMSELF TO BECOME MY DISCIPLE. In that discipleship also, I do not
charge anything. Neither do I offer anything new. I offer the same Hare
(I
Krishna beads, but IT BECOMES SPIRITUALLY POWERFUL ON
ACCOUNT OF BEING DELIVERED IN DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION. And
aid
practically we see that the students who are initiated in this way, they are
advancing slowly and surely, and any one of my students can challenge any
S
student of so-called yogis, and that is practical evidence.‛

ada
(Letter to Christopher, 7/13/68)

‚To chant the holy name of the Lord, one need not depend upon other
hup
paraphernalia, for one can immediately get all the desired results of
rab
connecting or linking with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It may

therefore be questioned WHY THERE IS A NECESSITY FOR
P
INITIATION or further spiritual activities in devotional service for one who

engages in the chanting of the holy name of the Lord. The answer is that
hat
although it is correct that one who fully engages in chanting the holy name
need not depend upon the process of initiation, generally a devotee is
W
addicted to many abominable material habits due to material contamination

from his previous life. In order to get quick relief from all these
and
contaminations, it is required that one engage in the worship of the Lord in

the temple.
uru
‚THE WORSHIP OF THE DEITY IN THE TEMPLE IS ESSENTIAL to

G
reduce one’s restlessness due to the contaminations of conditional life. Thus

Narada, in his pancaratriki-vidhi, and other great sages have sometimes
he
stressed that since every conditioned soul has a bodily concept of life aimed
T
at sense enjoyment, to restrict this sense enjoyment the rules and regulations
234
on)
for worshiping the Deity in the temple are essential. Srila Rupa Gosvami has
described that the holy name of the Lord can be chanted by liberated souls,
skc
but almost all the souls we have to initiate are conditioned. It is advised that
I
one chant the holy name of the Lord WITHOUT OFFENSES and according
to the regulative principles, yet due to their past bad habits they violate these
of
rules and regulations. Thus the regulative principles for worship of the Deity
ice
are also simultaneously essential.‛ (C.c. Adi 7.76 ppt.)
erv
‚Somebody may argue that if the holy name of the Lord, or the maha-mantra,
is so much powerful, then why there is necessity of formal initiation and
S
other ritualistic function. So in answer to this question, Srila Jiva Gosvami
has concluded that although A PERSON [THAT] IS CHANTING
he
WITHOUT ANY OFFENSE THE HOLY NAME OF THE LORD DOES
nt
NOT REQUIRE TO BE INITIATED SEPARATELY, still, because the
(I
conditioned soul is presently situated within this contaminated body, it is
sometimes found that he is addicted to some undesirable bad habits. As such
aid
in order to purify from such bad habits, great rsis like Narada and other sages,
they have recommended in their books to chant gayatri mantra and bija
S
mantra, although factually, by chanting the holy name of Krsna, everything

is completed. In other words, both the processes should be followed side by
ada
side. But if the initiation mantra cannot be followed circumstantially, simply

hup
by chanting the holy name of the Lord OFFENSELESSLY, one can achieve
the highest perfection.‛ (Lecture, Seattle 10/21/68)
rab
‚We should always, therefore, be careful in the matter of being attacked by

Maya’s influence and the only means of guarantee is to chant Hare Krishna
P
offenselessly. THE GREATEST OFFENSE IS TO DEFY THE SPIRITUAL

hat
MASTER AND TO ACT SINFULLY, THINKING IN THE STRENGTH

OF CHANTING.‛ (Letter to Woomapati, 11/23/67)
W
‚Actually one who takes to chanting Hare Krsna Mantra OFFENSELESSLY

immediately becomes situated transcendentally and therefore HE HAS NO
and
NEED OF BEING INITIATED WITH SACRED THREAD, but Guru

Maharaj introduced this sacred thread because a Vaisnava was being
uru
mistaken as belonging to the material caste. To accept a Vaisnava in material

caste system is hellish consideration (naraki buddhi). Therefore, to save the
G
general populace from being offender to a Vaisnava, He persistantly

introduced this sacred thread ceremony and we must follow His footsteps.‛
he

T
235
on)
‚...[T]he chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra is so powerful that IT
DOES NOT DEPEND ON OFFICIAL INITIATION, BUT IF ONE IS
skc
INITIATED AND ENGAGES IN PANCARATRA-VIDHI (DEITY
I
WORSHIP), HIS KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS WILL AWAKEN VERY
SOON, AND HIS IDENTIFICATION WITH THE MATERIAL WORLD
of
WILL BE VANQUISHED. The more one is freed from material
ice
identification, the more one can realize that the spirit soul is qualitatively as
good as the Supreme Soul. At such a time, when one is situated on the
erv
absolute platform, he can understand that the holy name of the Lord and the
S
Lord Himself are identical. At that stage of realization, the holy name of the
Lord, the Hare Krsna mantra, cannot be identified with any material sound.
he
If one accepts the Hare Krsna maha-mantra as a material vibration, he falls
nt
down. One should worship and chant the holy name of the Lord by accepting
(I
it as the Lord Himself. ONE SHOULD THEREFORE BE INITIATED
PROPERLY according to revealed scriptures under the direction of a bona
fide spiritual master. Although chanting the holy name is good for both the
aid
conditioned and liberated soul, it is especially beneficial to the conditioned

S
soul because by chanting it one is liberated. When a person who chants the
holy name is liberated, he attains the ultimate perfection by returning home,
ada
back to Godhead. ln the words of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta (Adi 7.73):

hup
krsna-mantra haite habe samsara-mocana

krsna-nama haite pabe krsnera carana
rab
‘Simply by chanting the holy name of Krsna one can obtain freedom from
P
material existence. Indeed, simply by chanting the Hare Krsna mantra one
will be able to see the lotus feet of the Lord.’
hat
‚The OFFENSELESS chanting of the holy name does not depend on the
initiation process. Although initiation may depend on purascarya or
W
purascarana, the actual chanting of the holy name does not depend on
purascarya-vidhi, or the regulative principles. If one chants the holy name
and
once WITHOUT COMMITTING AN OFFENSE, he attains all success.

During the chanting of the holy name, the tongue must work. Simply by
uru
chanting the holy name, one is immediately delivered. The tongue is

sevonmukha-jihva –it is controlled by service. One whose tongue is engaged
G
in tasting material things and also talking about them cannot use the tongue
he
for absolute realization.

T
atah sri-krsna-namadi
236
on)
na bhaved grahyam indriyaih
skc
sevonmukhe hi jihvadau
svayam eva sphuraty adah
I
‚According to Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya 17.134):
of
ataeva krsnera ‚nama;, ‚deha;, ‚vilasa,
ice
prakrtendriya-grahya nahe, haya sva-prakasa
erv
‘With these material senses, one cannot understand the transcendental holy
name of the Lord or His form, activities and pastimes. However, when one
S
actually engages in devotional service, utilizing the tongue, the Lord is
he
revealed.’‛ (C.c. Madhya 15.108 ppt.)
nt
(I
aid
S
ada
hup
rab
P
hat
W
and
uru
G
he
T
237
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
238
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
on)
skc
I
of
ice
erv
S
he
nt
(I
aid
‚YES, THERE IS DEFINITELY A VAST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN

S
INITIATED AND NON-INITIATED. ONE WHO IS INITIATED IS

AUTHORIZED, AND ONE WHO IS NOT
ada
INITIATED IS NOT AUTHORIZED. Just like, for

hup
example, Pradyumna is attending class in Sanskrit in a

college, he is given chance to learn Sanskrit, but HE IS
rab
NOT EQUAL WITH THE REGULAR STUDENTS.

One who becomes initiated is channelized to the
P
authorities in the disciplic succession. One who isn’t

initiated may chant Hare Krishna (and should certainly
hat
be encouraged to do so) and serve in his own way, and

W
GRADUALLY BY DOING SO HE MAY WANT TO

BE INITIATED. But otherwise he may fall away from following the rules and
regulations.‛ (Letter to Satsvarupa, 11/14/68)
and
uru
G
he
T
239
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
240
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
on)
skc
I
of
ice
erv
S
he
nt
‚Suppose I have heard something from my spiritual master. So I speak to you
(I
the same thing. So this is parampara system. You cannot imagine what my
spiritual master said. Or EVEN IF YOU READ
aid
SOME BOOKS YOU CANNOT UNDERSTAND

S
UNLESS YOU UNDERSTAND IT FROM ME.

THIS IS CALLED PARAMPARA SYSTEM. YOU
ada
CANNOT JUMP OVER TO THE SUPERIOR

GURU, NEGLECTING THE NEXT ACARYA,
hup
THE IMMEDIATE NEXT ACARYA.‛ (Lecture,

Los Angeles 12/8/73)
rab
‚...[I]n order to receive the real message of

P
Srimad-Bhagavatam one should approach the CURRENT LINK or spiritual

master, in the chain of disciplic succession.‛ (S.B. 2.9.7)
hat
‚I: How does one contact the spiritual master? Through a book can you
W
contact the spiritual master?

and
S.PRABHUPADA: NO, YOU HAVE TO ASSOCIATE.

S: ‘Can you associate through a book?’ she asked.
uru
S.PRABHUPADA: Yes, through books, and also personal. Because when you
make a spiritual master you have got personal touch. NOT THAT IN AIR
G
YOU MAKE A SPIRITUAL MASTER. YOU MAKE A SPIRITUAL

MASTER CONCRETE. So as soon as you make a spiritual master, you
he
should be inquisitive.‛ (Lecture [Q&A], London 9/23/69)

T
241
on)
‚D1: Is there any way for a Christian to, without the help of a spiritual
master, to reach the spiritual sky through believing in the words of Jesus
skc
Christ and trying to follow his teachings?
I
S.PRABHUPADA: I don’t follow.
of
D2: Can a Christian in this age, without a spiritual master, but by reading the
Bible and following Jesus’s words, reach the...
ice
S.PRABHUPADA: When you read Bible, you follow spiritual master. How
erv
can you say without? As soon as you read Bible, that means you are following
S
the instruction of Lord Jesus Christ, that means you are following spiritual
master. So where is the opportunity of being without spiritual master?
he
D1: I was referring to a living spiritual master.
nt
S.PRABHUPADA: Spiritual master is not the question of... Spiritual master
(I
is eternal. Spiritual master is eternal. So your question is without spiritual
master. WITHOUT SPIRITUAL MASTER YOU CANNOT BE, AT ANY
aid
STAGE OF YOUR LIFE. You may accept this spiritual master or that
spiritual master. That is a different thing. But you have to accept. As you say
S
that ‚by reading Bible,‛ WHEN YOU READ BIBLE THAT MEANS YOU
ARE FOLLOWING THE SPIRITUAL MASTER REPRESENTED BY
ada
SOME PRIEST OR SOME CLERGYMAN IN THE LINE OF LORD JESUS

hup
CHRIST. So in any case, you have to follow a spiritual master. There cannot
be the question without spiritual master. Is that clear?
rab
D1: I mean, like we couldn’t understand the teachings of the Bhagavad-gita

without your help, without your presentation.
P
S.PRABHUPADA: SIMILARLY YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND BIBLE

hat
WITH THE HELP OF THE PRIEST IN THE CHURCH.‛

(Lecture, Seattle 10/2/68)
W
‚...[M]ental speculation or dry arguments cannot help lead one to the right
path. NOR BY INDEPENDENT STUDY OF BOOKS OF KNOWLEDGE
and
CAN ONE PROGRESS IN SPIRITUAL LIFE. One has to approach a bona

fide spiritual master to receive the knowledge. Such a spiritual master should
uru
be accepted in full surrender, and one should serve the spiritual master like a
G
menial servant, without false prestige. Satisfaction of the self-realized

spiritual master is the secret of advancement in spiritual life.‛ (Bg 4.34 ppt)
he
T
242
on)
‚Concerning your questions: Yes, it will help to read Bhagavad-gita but to
have to hear from the realized person. WITHOUT THE HELP OF GURU,
skc
IF YOU READ INDEPENDENTLY, YOU MAY BE MISGUIDED.‛
I
(Letter to Punjabi Premanand, 4/16/76)
‚Bhagavad-gita is the widely read theistic science summarized in the
of
Gita-mahatmya (Glorification of the Gita). There it says that one should
ice
read Bhagavad-gita very scrutinizingly WITH THE HELP OF A PERSON
erv
WHO IS A DEVOTEE OF SRI KRSNA AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND IT
WITHOUT PERSONALLY MOTIVATED INTERPRETATIONS.‛
S
(BG 1.1 ppt)
he
‚SO BY STUDY OF SRIMAD BHAGAWATAM UNDER THE BONA
nt
FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER, one becomes aware of the full value of life, and
then he revives his original Krishna consciousness. That is the perfection of
(I
life.‛ (Letter to Swarupa Damodar, 8/31/75)
aid
"So Suta Gosvami is offering respect to the spiritual master, Sukadeva

Gosvami. When we offer respect to the spiritual master or anyone, we glorify
S
his transcendental qualities. That is glorification. Just like we offer respect to

Krsna, glorify Him. So this is very important process, glorify the spiritual
ada
master by his activities, what he is actually doing. That is glorification.

hup
"So what Sukadeva did? Svanubhavam. He first of all heard from his father,
Vyasadeva, Srimad-Bhagavatam, and realized it. Not a professional Bhagavata
rab
reciter. Just like in India now there are a class of men, especially in
P
Vrndavana, the gosvamis. They make a business. Therefore there are many,
many very artistic Bhagavata reciters, but they could not turn even one man
hat
to Krsna consciousness. Because they are not self-realized, svanubhavam. Of

course, we have tried our best; so in few years there are so many Krsna
W
conscious persons come out. This is the secret. Unless one is svanubhavam,
self-realized, life is bhagavata, he cannot preach Bhagavata. That is not...
and
That will not be effective. A gramophone will not help. Therefore Caitanya
Mahaprabhu's secretary, Svarupa Damodara, recommended, bhagavata pora
uru
giya bhagavata-sthane, that "IF YOU WANT TO READ

SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM, YOU MUST APPROACH A PERSON
G
WHO IS LIFE LIVING BHAGAVATA." Bhagavata pora giya

bhagavata-sthane. Otherwise, there is no question of Bhagavata realization."
he
(Lecture, Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.3 -- Rome, May 27, 1974)

T
243
on)
‚[…]Svarupa Damodara did not approve of the poetry to be presented to Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu. At that time, he chastised him that "You do not know
skc
the conclusion, and you dare to write some poetry. Don't do this." And he
I
said, bhagavata para giya bhagavata-sthane:(?) "If you want to understand
Srimad-Bhagavatam, then you go and study Srimad-Bhagavatam from the
of
pure devotee. Then you'll understand. Otherwise, you'll write all these
ice
nonsense." Bhagavata para giya bhagavata-sthane. So one bhagavata... The two
bhagavatas. YOU STUDY SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM FROM LIVING
erv
BHAGAVATA. SO IF ONE DOES NOT TAKE OR DOES NOT
S
SURRENDER UNTO THE LIVING BHAGAVATA, HE CANNOT
UNDERSTAND SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM. Many scholarly, learned
he
scholars, Sanskrit scholars, they cannot understand Bhagavatam.‛
nt
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.23, Los Angeles, June 20, 1972)
(I
‚Another important feature in this connection is anena yogena
yathopadesam. The instructions received from the spiritual master must be
aid
followed immediately. One should not deviate from or surpass the

S
instructions of the spiritual master. ONE SHOULD NOT BE SIMPLY

INTENT ON CONSULTING BOOKS but should simultaneously execute
ada
the spiritual master’s order (yathopadesam).‛ (SB 5.5.14 ppt.)

hup
‚S.PRABHUPADA: ...[Y]ou have to approach the right teacher, who will

show you. In order to become a scientist you have to go to the university and
rab
find a professor who can instruct you.

DR.BENFORD: I could have done it by reading books.
P
S.PRABHUPADA: But a teacher is required also, or you cannot get your

hat
degree. Is it not?
DR.BENFORD: Yes.
W
S.PRABHUPADA: So, WHEN YOU WANT TO LEARN SOMETHING,

YOU HAVE TO APPROACH A TEACHER...‛
and
(Consciousness: The Missing Link, pg. 13)

uru
‚Tarko apratisthah. If you want to enter into the spiritual world, you cannot
get through simply by arguments. Because there is no limit of argument. I
G
place my argument in one way. Another man, who is better arguer, he places
his argument in a different way. So if you simply go on arguing, it is not
he
possible. Tarko apratisthah. It will never help you. Argument.

T
244
on)
‚Srutayo vibhinna. IF YOU THINK THAT ‘I SHALL READ SCRIPTURES
AND I SHALL UNDERSTAND GOD,’ NO, THAT IS ALSO NOT
skc
POSSIBLE. Srutayo vibhinnah. Scriptures are also different. Because
I
scriptures are made according to time, circumstances, people. Just like Bible.
Bible Lord Jesus Christ preached in the desert, Jerusalem. Or where it is?
of
People who were not so advanced. Therefore his first instruction is ‘Thou
ice
shall not kill.’ That means they were very much engaged in killing affairs;
otherwise, why is this instruction? And actually, it so happened that they
erv
killed Jesus Christ. So that society was not very enlightened society.
S
he
‚...So IF YOU SIMPLY TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOD BY
nt
READING SCRIPTURES, YOU CANNOT ACHIEVE. YOU MUST
APPROACH A GURU. Just like a medical book. It can be available in the
(I
market. If you purchase one medical book and study and you become doctor,
that is not possible. You must hear the medical book from a medical man in
aid
the college, medical college. Then you will be qualified. And if you say, ‘Sir, I
have read all the medical books. Recognize me as a medical practitioner,’ no,
S
that will be not. So srutayo vibhinnah.Scriptures are different.

ada

hup
‚Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum eva abhigacchet. This is Vedic injunction. IF

YOU WANT TO BE LEARNED FULLY, ESPECIALLY IF YOU WANT
rab
TO LEARN THE TRANSCENDENTAL SCIENCE, GURUM EVA

ABHIGACCHET, ONE MUST GO TO A GURU. Guru, the spiritual
P
master, as well as the teacher, also guru. So HE MUST GO TO A GURU.

hat
‚Tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya. AND GOING TO GURU

WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO? PRANIPATENA, YOU HAVE TO FULLY
W
SURRENDER. Pariprasnena. After surrendering then you can inquire, you

can put question. Otherwise it is illegal. If you do not accept anybody as guru,
and
then don’t put question before him to waste his time and your time. This is
the process. First of all find out whom you like to accept as guru, then put
uru
question.
G
‚But sometimes we have to talk with persons who are not student, outsiders.
That is preaching work. But sastra says that one should approach a guru, and
he
with surrender ask him, and guru will talk with a person who is surrendered.
T
Otherwise there is no necessity of talk. Because he will not accept. One who
245
on)
has come to challenge the guru, so he will simply waste time. He will not
accept. But a disciple who has surrendered, he will accept. Therefore talking
skc
is recommended between guru and disciple, not outsider. Tad-vijnanartham
I
sa gurum eva abhigacchet. This is essential.‛ (Lecture, Dallas 7/29/75)
of
‚IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH, then you have to follow these
principles, how to know isvara tattva. And how to know? Tad vijnanartham
ice
sa gurum eva abhigacchet. Then you have to go, approach the bona fide guru.
erv
He will let you know. Tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya. No
challenge. That is foolishness. No challenge. Pranipatena. First of all
S
surrender. YOU DON’T SURRENDER TO A FOOLISH MAN. BUT YOU
he
HAVE TO SURRENDER.
nt
‚Now, it is your business to find out where to surrender. But you have to
(I
surrender. THIS IS THE PROCESS. WITHOUT SURRENDER, YOU
CANNOT UNDERSTAND THE TRUTH AS IT IS. THAT IS THE
INSTRUCTION OF VEDAS EVERYWHERE. Tasmad gurum prapadyeta
aid
jijnasuh sreya uttamam. ‘One has to surrender to guru.’ Why? Jijnasu: ‘If you
S
are inquisitive to know the Absolute Truth.’ And if you want to know
something which is flickering, relative truth, that is another thing. But if you
ada
want to know the Absolute Truth, sreyah uttamam... Absolute Truth means
ultimate benefit, sreya. Ultimate... Yes, exactly the word, benefit. If you want
hup
ultimate benefit, then gurum prapadyeta.

rab
‚Who is guru? Sabde pare ca nisnatam brahmany upasamasrayan. One who is

expert in understanding the Vedic literature, sabde, pare ca, especially
P
transcendental. So WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH LIKE THAT.‛

hat
(Lecture, Mayapur 4/5/75)

‚Therefore our Vedic instruction is sastra caksusat: You should see through
W
the sastra, not through these useless eyes. These are useless.
Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet. IN ORDER TO KNOW
and
PERFECTLY, ONE SHOULD GO TO THE GURU. And Bhagavad-gita has

said, tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya, upadeksyanti tad jnanam
uru
jnaninas tattva- darsinah: ‘One who has seen, go there and learn it.’ That is
the injunction. DON’T TRY TO SEE YOURSELF. THAT IS
G
FOOLISHNESS. This very word is used, tattva-darsinah, ‘one who has seen.’
he
T
246
on)
YOU HAVE TO GO THERE AND SEE THROUGH HIS EYES,
THROUGH HIS INSTRUCTION. THAT IS REAL SEEING.‛
skc
(Lecture, Bombay 11/13/75)
I
‚We are not creating anything. It is not a manufactured thing, concocted
of
thing. It is standard. Followed by great acaryas like Caitanya. So we have to
accept. That is the way. We have to become Krsna conscious, and follow, as
ice
the sastra says. Sometimes, as we... The law books are there. As we take help
erv
of a lawyer, how to utilize the law book, similarly YOU HAVE TO UTILIZE
S
THE SCRIPTURES BY ACCEPTING A SPIRITUAL MASTER WHO
CAN GUIDE YOU. He’s a lawyer. This is the process. If you don’t accept,
he
then go on suffering. If you accept, then everything is there. That is the way
nt
of Krsna consciousness.‛ (I (Lecture, New York 11/24/66)
‚EVERYTHING MUST BE EXECUTED UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF A
GURU, NOT WHIMSICALLY, ‘Oh, I have got my own idea, I have got my
aid
own God. I can do whatever I like.’ This is simply waste of time. Yah
sastra-vidhim utsrjya vartate kama-karatah. In the Bhagavad-gita it is said that
S
‘Anyone who does not follow the instruction of the sastra, how things should
be done,’sastra-vidhim utsrjya vartate kama- karatah,’ does things
ada
whimsically,’ na sukham navapnoti, ‘he will never get happiness.’ Yah

hup
sastra-vidhim utsrjya vartate kama- karatah, na sukham sa...

‚So everything should be done according to sastra. And THE SASTRA
rab
SHOULD BE GUIDED BY ACARYA, GURU. Acarya means one who

P
knows what is there in the sastra. He practices in his life and teaches the
disciple. He is called acarya. Acarya is not a whimsical thing. He must know.
hat
Therefore Pariksit Maharaja appointed acarya, saradvatam. He is the brother

of Dronacarya. Dronacarya was also acarya, but he was military acarya. And
W
here he was acarya for Vedic rituals, acarya. Tad- vijnanartham sa gurum eva.
Gurum krtya. In order to do things very rightly, you must appoint... Just like if
and
you are going to the court to file some suit, do it very nicely. You have to
appoint a very good lawyer. Similarly, THESE VEDIC PRINCIPLES, THE
uru
VEDIC RITUALS, THEY SHOULD BE PERFORMED UNDER THE

DIRECTION OF ACARYA, GURU, NOT WHIMSICALLY.‛
G

he
T
247
on)
‚Action in Krsna consciousness has to be executed in accord with the
examples of previous bona fide devotees. This is recommended in the 15th
skc
verse. WHY SUCH ACTION SHOULD NOT BE INDEPENDENT will be
I
explained in the text to follow.
of
‚TO ACT IN KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS, ONE HAS TO FOLLOW THE
LEADERSHIP OF AUTHORIZED PERSONS WHO ARE IN A LINE OF
ice
DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION as explained in the beginning of this chapter.‛
erv
(BG 4.16 ppt.)
S
‚ONE CANNOT BE INDEPENDENT AND AT THE SAME TIME
BECOME A DEVOTEE, BECAUSE ALL DEVOTIONAL ACTIVITIES
he
ARE BASED ON SURRENDER. So in the association of devotees we learn
nt
this important item –how to surrender, but if we keep our independence and
(I
try to become devotees, that is not possible.‛ (Letter to Rayarama, 10/22/71)
‚S.PRABHUPADA: Om tat sat. So the tat knowledge is recommended in
aid
the Bhagavad-gita, tad-viddhi. Tad viddhi pranipatena. Pranipatena. You

S
understand pranipata? Surrendering.

ada
I: Surrender.
hup
S.PRABHUPADA: So tad viddhi. IF YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND

rab
THAT TRANSCENDENTAL KNOWLEDGE, then you have to accept this

P
process, pranipata. PRANIPATA MEANS SURRENDER, AND

SURRENDER MEANS THERE MUST BE SOMEBODY TO WHOM
hat
YOU SURRENDER.
I: Whom you surrender, yes.
W
S.PRABHUPADA: There are two, NOT ALONE. So you cannot alone

think of tat knowledge. YOU HAVE TO SURRENDER TO SOMEBODY.
and
That is the process.

[...]
uru
‚Just like Bhagavad-gita says that tad viddhi: ‘You understand that
G
transcendental knowledge by surrender.’ So if you do not surrender, there is

no possibility.
he
I: But I might have surrendered myself to my own...

T
248
on)
S.PRABHUPADA: That is another foolishness. You are thinking lower
level, and how you can surrender to yourself? Then how you can get advance?
skc
Your surrender means to a superior person, as soon as you call surrender. And
I
without this, there is no possibility. Tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena
sevaya, upadeksyanti tad-jnanam jnaninas tattva-darsinam. We have to accept
of
these principles; otherwise how it can make the... There is no possibility. Just
ice
like if you want to be educated. YOU HAVE TO BE ADMITTED TO AN
INSTITUTION, IN SCHOOL, IN A COLLEGE. IF YOU SAY, ‘I SHALL
erv
BE EDUCATED AT HOME,’ THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE.
S
I: Many have...
he
S.PRABHUPADA: No ‘many.’ This is the general process.
nt
I: No, general process sometimes have failed. (I
S.PRABHUPADA: No, why fail? The schools are going on. Colleges are
going on.
aid
I: Therefore they are fearing also...

S.PRABHUPADA: Still, they are not closed.
S
I: Closed... Today they are coming to that.

ada
S.PRABHUPADA: That is another theory. But the process is, our Vedic
process, tad-vijnanartham sa gurum eva abhigacchet: ‘In order to understand
hup
tat knowledge ONE MUST APPROACH A SPIRITUAL MASTER.’

‘Gacchet.’ If you don’t accept these principles, then how you can make
rab
progress? Tasmad gurum prapadyeta jijnasur sreya uttamam. If you don’t

P
accept this principle, there is no possibility. Then you can go on thinking in

your own way. There is no question of going to anyone. You make yourself
hat
perfect by thinking, as many others are doing, speculating. That is possible

but never to the perfectional point.
W
I: Perfectly, you see... What is the category of different perfection?

and
S.PRABHUPADA: That you have to learn. That you have to learn.

I: No, no, learn from whom?
uru
S.PRABHUPADA: From the higher authority.

G
I: So how we know?
S.PRABHUPADA: That is another thing, who is higher authority. That you
he
have to search out. That you have to search out.

T
249
on)
I: We must understand what is higher person and what is lower and whether
Buddha is correct or not.
skc
S.PRABHUPADA: Now, higher authority... Suppose we accept Krsna as the
I
higher authority. Our, this Krsna consciousness movement, we accept Krsna
as the higher authority.
of
I: I mean, I am shown the form. You see...
ice
S.PRABHUPADA: There is no question of shown. Krsna is accepted higher
erv
authority not only by us by big acaryas like Sankaracarya, Ramanujacarya,
S
Madhvacarya, those who are guiding our Vedic life in India, Caitanya. So
Krsna is accepted the highest authority. Krsna in the Bhagavad-gita says,
he
mattah parataram nasti: ‘There is no more higher authority than Me.’ Then, if
nt
you don’t accept Krsna as the higher authority, that is your business, but we
accept Krsna as the higher authority.
(I
[...]
aid
S.PRABHUPADA: ...Therefore the Vedas says, tad-vijnanartham: ‘In order

to know that transcendental science,’ sa gurum evabhigacchet, ‘HE MUST
S
GO TO A GURU. HE MUST APPROACH.’ A guru means not bogus guru.

One who knows, expert. But one has to do that. THERE IS NO OTHER
ada
ALTERNATIVE. That is the injunction of every Vedic sastra. And this

hup
order is from the Kathopanisad.

‚Then, on the Bhagavad-gita the same thing is said, tad viddhi pranipatena.
rab
PRANIPATA MEANS SURRENDER. Surrender where? Where to

P
surrender? To a coolie? No, to a superior person, guru. Similarly, Bhagavata

says, tasmad gurum prapadyeta jijnasur sreya uttamam: ‘One who is inquisitive
hat
to understand the spiritual science,’ tasmad, ‘therefore,’ gurum prapadyeta,

‘must surrender to a guru.’ Just our, this morning prayer is guru, beginning of
W
life, beginning of day’s work, FIRST WORSHIPING GURU.

Samsara-davanala-lidha-loka-tranaya-karunya-ghanaghanatvam, praptasya
and
kalyana-gunarnavasya vande guroh sri-caranaravindam.

‚So in our, this Vedic way of life, TO ACCEPT GURU IS ESSENTIAL.
uru
Even big, big acarya... EVEN KRSNA, HE ACCEPTED GURU,

G
SANDIPANI MUNI. Lord Caitanya accepted guru, Isvara Puri. They are
perfect, but still They are showing the ways because They are acarya. Krsna is
he
teaching, taking the part of the acarya, so he is also accepting, although the
T
fact is as soon as [He] went to..., within a few days He learned everything.
250
on)
That is stated in our Krsna Book. Within a few days He became expert
warrior, expert magician, expert yogi, every.., so many things, all arts. But HE
skc
LEARNED FROM A GURU. He is perfect Himself, Krsna. He is called
I
Yogesvara. He knows all the yoga process, but still, in order to teach us,
because He is playing the part of a teacher, He shows us that you must learn
of
from guru. ‘I am learning from guru.’
ice
‚So ANY SCIENCE, YOU CANNOT LEARN IT AUTOMATICALLY BY
erv
YOURSELF. No, that is not. THEN WE SHALL CREATE SO MANY
MENTAL SPECULATORS, SO MANY THINGS. That will be not a
S
science. Even all scientists, they accept a formula from an authority: ‘law of
he
gravitation.’ They accept it. Then their physical, so many things they
nt
discover. But accept one formula. Just like this formula is given by Sir Isaac
Newton. So they accept guru. So from all practical point of view, the things
(I
which are unknown to us, we have to accept a guru, for things unknown to
us. Now, there is another verse. Parabhavas tavad abodha-jatah. Abodha
aid
jatah. We are all born ignorant. Is it not? What do you think? Are we not
born fools? Is it not?
S
[...]
ada
S.PRABHUPADA: That is the process. So how can you deny to understand

the supreme science –you can do it independently? No, that is not possible.
hup
Therefore it is the verb, the form, gacchet. It is called vidhilin. You know
rab
Sanskrit? Yes. This form of verb is... Perhaps you also know. Gacchet, kuryat,
gadyat. These are vidhilin. Vidhilin means that is COMPULSORY. Is it not?
P
I3: Yes.
S.PRABHUPADA: He knows Sanskrit very well. COMPULSORY.
hat
Therefore it is said, gacchet –COMPULSORY. Tad-vijnanartham... Tat, the

W
transcendental knowledge, vijnana, that is science. Tad-vijnanartham sa

gurum eva niscayate. Eva is niscayate. EVA MEANS CERTAINLY. AND
and
AGAIN GACCHET, ‘MUST GO.’ Now, just like to be educated, one must
be admitted in a school, must be. Now, what kind of school he has to select,
uru
that is another thing, but he must. That’s a fact. Similarly, YOU HAVE TO
ACCEPT A GURU. NOW, WHOM YOU WILL ACCEPT AS GURU,
G
THAT IS ANOTHER THING. BUT YOU HAVE TO DO IT. That is the

injunction of all sastras. Vedic process is like that. This upanayana, the
he
sacred thread, upanayana. Upa means ‘near’, and nayana means ‘bringing’.
T
251
on)
Anayanam, coming or going, like that, nayanam. So ‘to go near the spiritual
master,’ upanayana.
skc
I3: Upanayana-samskara.
I
S.PRABHUPADA: Yes. And that sacred thread is the certificate that he has
of
accepted a spiritual master. That is our Vedic system, identity, thread, sacred
thread. So the samskara is called upanayana-samskara. UPANAYANA
ice
MEANS HE HAS GONE NEAR THE SPIRITUAL MASTER. Therefore
erv
he is now dvija, second birth. When a person goes to the spiritual master, that
is his second birth because he is born foolish. Take birth by the combination
S
of father, mother–that is material birth–that is birth of ignorance, just like
he
animals. The animals also take their birth in that way. There is no different
nt
process, the sex life. So what is the difference between animal and man?
Therefore, upanayana, dvija.‛ (Conversation, Allahabad 1/17/71)
(I
‚S.PRABHUPADA: ...Bhagavad-gita says, tad viddhi pranipatena. Is it not?
Tad viddhi pranipatena.YOU HAVE TO SURRENDER FIRST OF ALL.
aid
V: SURRENDER TO WHOM?
S
S.PRABHUPADA: ANYONE WHEREFROM YOU ARE SEEKING

ada
KNOWLEDGE.
V: Ah! Surrender and...
hup
VI: You lose your identity.

rab
S.PRABHUPADA: Yes. FIRST OF ALL YOU HAVE TO FIND OUT A

PERSON WHERE YOU CAN SURRENDER. THEN you can ask and you
P
can seek knowledge. Otherwise there is no... Simply waste of time. Why
should you waste your time? Why shall I waste my time? Are you surrendered
hat
to me? If you are not surrendered to me...

W
V: I, I...
S.PRABHUPADA: No, no. Stop this. Just try to understand. IF YOU ARE
and
NOT SURRENDERED TO ME YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO ASK ME

ANYTHING.‛ (Conversation Allahabad 1/18/71)
uru
G
he
T
252
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
253
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
254
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
on)
skc
I
of
ice
erv
S
‚D: Then we will ask, how do we know who is really guru?
S.PRABHUPADA: That is another rascaldom. YOU SEE HOW OTHERS
he
ARE TAKING GURU, parampara system. You are
nt
rascal. You will place so many questions. But the
(I
answers are already there. Evam parampara-praptam.
GURU IS HE WHO KNOWS KRSNA, WHO
EXPLAINS KRSNA. THAT IS GURU. Otherwise
aid
he’s not guru.

S
D:Samit-pani srotriyam brahma-nistam.

ada
S.PRABHUPADA: Ah. ANYONE WHO IS

KRSNA CONSCIOUS, WHO KNOWS KRSNA,
hup
HE IS GURU. Otherwise all rascals. Why should you

go to a rascal? Immediately you can understand he is guru who has fully
rab
surrendered to Krsna. He is guru. Others? They are all rascals. Na mam

duskrtino mudha prapadyante naradhamah. Who has not surrendered to
P
Krsna, he is under these four groups: duskrtina, mudha, naradhama,

mayapahrta-jnana. They may talk of so much knowledge but they are rascal
hat
fools because they have not surrendered to Krsna. All the Mayavadis, they
W
are all rascals. They have not surrendered. This is the test.
‚Why don’t you take lesson from Bhagavad-gita? He is guru. ONE WHO
and
HAS SURRENDERED TO KRSNA, ONE [WHO] IS SERVANT OF

KRSNA, HE IS GURU. THAT IS THE TEST. If you want to select a guru,
uru
you have to see ‘Whether this person is fully surrendered to Krsna?’ Then he
is guru. Huh? What is the definition of guru given by..? Why don’t you read
G
all these things? Why you remain fools and rascals? Why..? We are following
Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, amara ajnaya guru hana.
he
You become a guru. How? Yare dekha tare kaha krsna upadesa. That’s a guru.
T
255
on)
‚Why don’t you see all these instructions? And you are presenting yourself as
following Caitanya Mahaprabhu? Why? Answer! Why you remain fool and
skc
rascal? If you want to remain fool and rascal and question that is not very
I
good. YOU MUST KNOW WHO IS GURU. And you say, ‘I do not know
who is guru.’ Why? Hm? What is the answer? Guru is defined by Caitanya
of
Mahaprabhu. We are chanting daily, sri krsna caitanya prabhu nityananda
ice
sri advaita gadadhara sri... Take their lesson. Otherwise why you are praying,
sri krsna caitanya prabhu nityananda? You rather glorify Hitler or Mussolini.
erv
Make them guru. Everything is there. You cannot say that ‘I do not
S
understand.’ Do not understand means you do not take.‛
(Conversation, Mayapur 2/3/76)
he
nt
‚...BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER MEANS WHO CARRIES OUT
THE ORDER OF HIGHER AUTHORITIES. Otherwise he is not spiritual
(I
master. Anyone who manufactures his own process of religion, that is
rascaldom. Dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam. Just like lawyer,
aid
representative of the law, means who carries the order of the supreme
executive. He is lawyer. Similarly, a spiritual master means who carries the
S
order of superior authority. We are carrying the order of Caitanya

ada
Mahaprabhu or Krsna. Krsna taught this Bhagavad-gita, and He has said that
‘Anyone who will preach this confidential message of Bhagavad-gita, he is
hup
very dear to Me.‛ (Conversation Allahabad 1/18/71)

rab
‚Anyone who has preached Krsna consciousness, may be little differently

P
according to time, circumstances, but anyone who has tried to preach God
consciousness, he is guru. Yei krsna tattva vetta sei guru haya. That is Caitanya
hat
Mahaprabhu’s version. ANYONE WHO PREACHES ABOUT THE

SUPREME LORD, HE IS GURU. May be in a different way according to
W
time, circumstances.‛ (Conversation, Bombay 9/30/75)

and
‚The only stipulation is that the spiritual master be BONA FIDE, i.e., THE
uru
SPIRITUAL MASTER MUST BE IN THE PROPER CHAIN OF

DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION, CALLED THE PARAMPARA SYSTEM.‛
G
(S.B. 3.7.39 ppt.)

‚Regarding the Teachings in the temple; everyone of my disciples may
he
become a teacher strictly following my instructions. I AM A BONA FIDE

T
256
on)
TEACHER AS LONG AS I FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS OF MY
SPIRITUAL MASTER. That is the only one qualification for becoming a
skc
teacher. As soon as one deviates from this principle one is no longer a
I
teacher.‛ (Letter to Nandarani, 10/29/67)
of
‚As I have repeatedly said, that Krishna Consciousness is developed by
ice
following two parallel lines, means service of Krishna, and service of the
erv
Spiritual Master. This is the secret of success. THE SPIRITUAL MASTER
MUST BE BONA FIDE, THAT IS, HE MUST COME DOWN FROM A
S
BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER AND MUST ACT ACCORDING
he
TO THE DIRECTIONS OF THE SPIRITUAL MASTER, and by doing so
nt
he gives proper directions about Krishna and the devotees serve Krishna
under the direction of such Spiritual Master, and Krishna accepts service,
(I
and in this way the whole thing becomes beautiful and successful.‛
aid
S
‚THE BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER IS he who has received the

mercy of his guru, who in turn is bona fide because he has received the mercy
ada
of his guru. This is called the parampara system.‛ (SB 8.16.24 ppt.)
hup
‚...THE GENUINE GURU IS GOD’S REPRESENTATIVE, AND HE

rab
SPEAKS ABOUT GOD AND NOTHING ELSE. THE GENUINE GURU

P
IS HE WHO HAS NO INTEREST IN MATERIALISTIC LIFE. He is after

God, and God only. That is one of the tests of a genuine guru:
hat
brahma-nistham. He is absorbed in the Absolute Truth. In the Mundaka

Upanisad it is stated, srotriyam brahma-nistham: ‘The genuine guru is well
W
versed in the scriptures and Vedic knowledge, and is completely dependent

on Brahman.’ He should know what Brahman is and how to become situated
and
in Brahman. These signs are given in the Vedic literature.

uru
‚As I said before, the real guru is God’s representative. He represents the
G
Supreme Lord, just as a viceroy represents a king. THE REAL GURU WILL
NOT MANUFACTURE ANYTHING. Everything he says is in accordance
he
with the scriptures and the previous acaryas. He will not give you a mantra
T
and tell you that you will become God in six months. This is not a guru’s
257
on)
business. A guru’s business is to canvass everyone to become a devotee of
God. That is the sum and substance of a real guru’s business. Indeed, he has
skc
no other business. He tells whomever he sees,
I
of
‘Please become God conscious.’ IF HE CANVASSES SOMEHOW OR
OTHER ON BEHALF OF GOD AND TRIES TO GET EVERYONE TO
ice
BECOME A DEVOTEE OF GOD, HE IS A GENUINE GURU.
erv
[...]
S
‚What you have to do is simply try to understand what a genuine guru is.
THE DEFINITION OF A GENUINE GURU IS THAT HE IS SIMPLY
he
TALKING ABOUT GOD –THAT’S ALL. If he is talking about some other
nt
nonsense, then he is not a guru. A GURU CANNOT BE BAD. THERE IS
(I
NO QUESTION OF A BAD GURU, any more than a red guru or a white
guru. GURU MEANS ‘GENUINE GURU.’ All we have to know is that the
genuine guru is simply talking about God and trying to get people to become
aid
God’s devotees. IF HE DOES THIS, HE IS GENUINE.‛

S
(SSR, II, ‚Saints and Swindlers‛, 4th.Printing, pg.71)

ada
‚Unfortunately, in this age of Kali there are many bogus gurus who display
hup
magic to tbeir disciples, and many foolish disciples want to see such magic for
material benefits. These disciples are not interested in pursuing spiritual life
rab
to save themselves from the darkness of ignorance. It is said:

P
om ajnana-timirandhasya
jnananjanasalakaya
hat
caksur unmilitam yena

W
tasmai sri-gurave namah

‘I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my spiritual master opened my eyes
and
with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him.’

THIS GIVES THE DEFINITION OF THE GURU. Everyone is in the
uru
darkness of ignorance. Therefore everyone needs to be enlightened with

transcendental knowledge. ONE WHO ENLIGHTENS HIS DISCIPLE
G
AND SAVES HIM FROM ROTTING IN THE DARKNESS OF

IGNORANCE IN THIS MATERIAL WORLD IS A TRUE GURU.‛
he
(SB 6.15.16 ppt.)

T
258
on)
‚EITHER THE SUPREME LORD OR HIS REPRESENTATIVE CAN
BECOME GURU. The Lord says, mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam
skc
taranti te: ‘One can get relief from the clutches of maya as soon as he
I
surrenders unto Me.’ Therefore it is the guru’s business to instruct his disciple
to surrender to the Supreme Personality of Godhead if he wants relief from
of
the material clutches. THIS IS THE SYMPTOM OF THE GURU. This same
ice
principle was instructed by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu: yare dekha, tare kaha
‘krsna’- upadesa. In other words, one is advised not to accept a guru who does
erv
not follow the path of instruction given by Lord Krsna.‛ (SB 8.24.50 ppt.)
S
he
‚So tad viddhi. YOU HAVE TO FIRST OF ALL SEARCH OUT A
nt
PERSON. So Krsna recommends that if you want knowledge then first of
all... THAT IS THE PROCESS, THE WHOLE VEDIC PROCESS. In the
(I
Kathopanisad also it is said that tad-vijnanartham gurum eva abhigacchet: ‘If
you want to understand the transcendental science, then you have to
aid
approach to a spiritual master.’

S
‚And WHO IS SPIRITUAL MASTER? Oh, nowadays everyone wants to be

ada
spiritual master. Oh, that is also mentioned, who is spiritual master.

Samit-panih srotriyam brahma-nistham: ‘You have to approach a spiritual
hup
master who is srotriyam and brahma-nistham.’ Srotriyam means WHO HAS

rab
COME DOWN FROM THE DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION, or from the

Supreme. Just like we have understood in the Fourth Chapter, in the
P
beginning of the Fourth Chapter, evam parampara-praptam imam rajarsayo

viduh. There is a parampara; there is disciplic succession. So ONE WHO IS
hat
COMING INTO THAT DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION AND by coming from

that disciplic succession, he IS FIRMLY CONVINCED IN THE
W
ABSOLUTE, he is FIRMLY CONVERSANT IN THE ABSOLUTE

TRUTH, HE IS GURU. TWO QUALIFICATIONS.‛
and
(Lecture, BG 4.34, NY 8/12/66)

uru
‚Y: Isn’t there some conditioning between the guru and sisya, that, ‘The guru
G
should be like this and a sisya should be like this.’

he
T
S.PRABHUPADA: Yes.
259
on)
Y: Not that anybody can say, ‘I am sisya,’ and not anybody can say, ‘I am
guru.’
skc
I
S.PRABHUPADA: Samsara-dava. You are singing daily.
of
Samsara-davanala-lidha-loka-tranaya karunya-ghanaghanatvam. One who
can deliver from this entanglement of material, miserable condition of life,
ice
he is guru. THAT IS THE FIRST DEFINITION OF GURU.
erv
Samsara-davanala-lidha-loka-tranaya karunya-ghanaghanatvam, praptasya
kalyana–one who has obtained this qualification–vande guroh sri caranara...,
S
he is guru.
he
nt
Y: ‘Cause nowadays... (I
S.PRABHUPADA: Nowadays... Nowadays let them talk all nonsense. But
aid
this is the definition of guru. ‘Nowadays the sun is rising on the western side.’
If somebody says like that, who is going to accept it? ‘Nowadays.’ There is no
S
question of ‘nowadays’ and ‘formerly.’ The truth is truth always. Hare Krsna.
ada
That is Absolute Truth. Jaya.‛ (Lecture Bombay 11/13/75)

hup
‚So become authority. That is... We said that. You become guru, authority.
BUT YOU LEARN FIRST OF ALL AS CHELA [DISCIPLE] FROM THE
rab
GURU. AND THEN YOU BECOME GURU. And without any learning,
P
without any..., how become a guru? That is going on. Everyone is self-made
guru. That has to be stopped.‛ (Conversation, Hrisikesa 5/12/77)
hat
W
‚Even though we may not have the fortune to contact the Supreme Lord
personally, the Lord’s representative is as good as the Lord Himself because
and
such a representative does not say anything unless it is spoken by the

Supreme Personality of Godhead. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu therefore gives
a definition of guru. Yare dekha, tare kaha ‘krsna’-upadesa: the bona fide guru
uru
is he who advises his disciples exactly in accordance with the principles

G
spoken by Krsna. THE BONA FIDE GURU IS HE WHO HAS ACCEPTED

KRSNA AS GURU. This is the guru-parampara system.
he
T
260
on)
‚The original guru is Vyasadeva because he is the speaker of Bhagavad-gita
and Srimad-Bhagavatam, wherein everything spoken relates to Krsna.
skc
Therefore guru-puja is known as Vyasa-puja. In the final analysis, the
I
original guru is Krsna, His disciple is Narada, whose disciple is Vyasa, and IN
THIS WAY WE GRADUALLY COME IN TOUCH WITH THE
of
GURU-PARAMPARA. One cannot become a guru if he does not know what
ice
the Personality of Godhead Krsna or His incarnation wants. THE MISSION
OF THE GURU IS THE MISSION OF THE SUPREME PERSONALITY
erv
OF GODHEAD: TO SPREAD KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS ALL OVER
S
THE WORLD.‛ (SB 8.24.48 ppt.)
he
nt
‚In the Vedic injunction also it is said, yasya deve para bhaktir yatha deve tatha
gurau. If one has got unflinching faith in the Supreme Personality of
(I
Godhead, yatha deve, and similar faith in guru... Of course, we must make
guru bona fide. Then it is disciplic succession. And THAT IS ALSO NOT
aid
VERY DIFFICULT TO SELECT WHO IS BONA FIDE GURU. BONA

FIDE GURU MEANS HE PRESENTS HIMSELF AS SERVANT OF GOD.
S
He does not pose himself falsely that ‘I am God.’ This is bona fide. It is not
ada
difficult to find out bona fide. But this is the test. If anyone says that ‘I am
guru, I am God,’ then he cannot be guru. Because he has no knowledge. How
hup
he is God? But he can cheat some people. That is different thing. You can
cheat all people for some time and some people for all time, but not all people
rab
for all time. That is not possible. So these kinds of guru, who poses themself
that ‘I am God,’ he’s a false guru.
P
hat
‚THE BONA FIDE GURU WILL SAY THAT ‘I AM SERVANT OF THE

SERVANT OF THE SERVANT OF KRSNA,’ OR GOD. SERVANT OF.
W
THAT IS THE BUSINESS OF GURU. He serves Krsna as Krsna desires;

that is his business. That is also not very difficult. Krsna says, Krsna desires,
and
sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja, that ‘You give up all
other engagement, just surrender unto Me, and I’ll give you protection.’
uru
Krsna says. So guru’s business is that ‘You simply surrender to Krsna.’ What is
the difficulty? Simply repeat the same thing. Not for himself, but for Krsna.
G
He’s bona fide guru.

he
T
261
on)
‚So our this Krsna consciousness movement is very bona fide because we say
the same thing as Krsna says. We don’t make any addition, alteration. Not
skc
like big scholars like, ‘It is not to Krsna...’ Krsna says, man-mana bhava
I
mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru, and the scholar interprets, ‘It is not to
Krsna.’ Just see [the] foolishness. Krsna directly says, ‘unto Me.’ He says, ‘Not
of
to Krsna.’ Misleading. Such misleading guru will not help you. So therefore to
ice
find out a BONA FIDE GURU MEANS THAT HE DOES NOT CHANGE
THE WORDS OF KRSNA. That is his position. He places everything as it is
erv
and he has understood thoroughly the science. Jijnasuh sreya uttamam. Guru,
S
what is the symptom of guru? Tasmad gurum prapadyeta Jijnasuh sreya
uttamam.‛ (Lecture, London 9/23/69)
he
nt
‚First of all, you have to know who is guru. If you accept one rascal as guru,
(I
how you can be helped? First thing is who is guru. That I have already
explained. GURU IS HE WHO REPEATS THE WORDS OF KRSNA. He
aid
is guru. Otherwise he’s a rascal. This is the test.

S
‚Krsna says that Tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya, upadeksyanti te

ada
jnanam jnaninas tattva darsinah. So tattva darsi, ONE WHO HAS SEEN
THE TRUTH, YOU HAVE TO ACCEPT HIM AS GURU. Tattva darsi.
hup
Darsi means who has practical experience.

rab
‚Take, for example, just like Arjuna. Arjuna is directly receiving the
P
knowledge from Krsna. He’s guru. What he said, we accept that. But if you
accept somebody who wants to kill Krsna and become himself Krsna, he’s a
hat
rascal. He’s not guru. Because his policy is to accept the place of Krsna, not to
W
serve Him. That is maya. And Krsna has said very freely that na mam
duskrtino mudha prapadyante naradhamah mayayapahrta jnana asuram
and
bhavam asritah. A person who is imbibed with asuric tendency...

uru
‚Asuric tendency means to refute the Supreme Personality of Godhead. All

the asuras... Just like Ravana. Ravana is described as raksasa, asura. What was
G
his fault? His fault was that he did not care for Rama. ‘What is this Rama?
Kidnap his wife, bring her, I shall enjoy.’ This is raksasa. So he could not
he
enjoy Sita, but the result was, with his whole family, state, and himself,
T
262
on)
everything, he was ruined. This is asura. So those who are asurim bhavam
asritah, followers of Ravana, Hiranyakasipu, Kamsa, they do not surrender to
skc
Krsna. Na mam duskrtino mudhah prapadyante naradhamah mayayapahrta
I
jnana asuram bhavam asritah.
of
‚So our simple method is to see whether somebody is speaking about Krsna or
ice
what Krsna has said. If he does not do so, then immediately accept him
erv
asuram bhavam asritah, a raksasa. How you can accept him as guru? A
raksasa? That is your mistake. How can you accept a person as guru who has
S
imbibed with raksasa [tendencies]. So then what is their position? Duskrtina.
he
Very sinful. Mudha, rascal, ass. Naradhamah, lowest of the mankind. ‘No, he’s
nt
so educated.’ Mayayapahrta jnana. His so-called education has no value
because maya has taken away the essence of... Because education means...
(I
‚Veda means knowledge. So the Vedas are there for education. So vedais ca
aid
sarvair aham eva vedyo. Ultimately Vedanta, Vedanta means the ultimate
S
knowledge. The end of knowledge. The end of knowledge is to know Krsna.

Vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyo. So after studying Vedas, if he does not
ada
understand Krsna, then it is to be understood, mayayapahrta jnana, his

knowledge has been taken away by maya. So simple thing is that Krsna is the
hup
original guru. Mattah parataram nanyat kincid asti dhananjaya. There is no

rab
more better guru than Krsna. So ANYONE WHO REPEATS THE WORDS
OF KRSNA, TEACH OTHERS, HE IS GURU. Otherwise he’s a rascal.‛
P
(B.G. Lecture, Toronto 6/20/76)

hat
‚Here it is stated, ‘It is, it is a fortunate person.’ Not the unfortunate. ‘It is the
fortunate person who comes in contact with a bona fide spiritual master.’
W
This question, we were just discussing before coming to the class, HOW TO
SELECT A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER. So THAT IS NOT VERY
and
DIFFICULT. Just like in our ordinary business life, we accept somebody as

representative of the firm who has actually come, canvassing for the benefit
uru
of the firm. He’s representative. Suppose he’s representing some book seller,
publisher, so he should canvass for selling the books published by his firm.
G
Not for anything else. Suppose he has taken the advantage of becoming
representative of a business firm, but he’s doing his own business. He’s not
he
bona fide. He’s not bona fide.

T
263
on)
‚So real guru is Krsna. Krsna... Aham eva asam agre. Krsna existed before the
creation. Then He made His representative, Brahma. Tene brahma hrda
skc
adi-kavaye. He instructed the original guru, Brahma. Because there was no
I
other living creature, except Brahma, in the beginning of creation, and He
instructed Brahma. Tene brahma hrda-adi-kavaye. There are other versions
of
in the Vedas, that He instructed Brahma. So therefore, the original guru is
ice
Krsna. The same guru, Krsna, is instructing Arjuna also. Krsna became guru
of Arjuna. Arjuna accepted Him as guru. Sisyas te ‘ham. Arjuna said, ‘Now I
erv
am not talking with you as friend, but I accept You as my guru.’ Therefore, by
S
sastric conclusion, Krsna is the original guru. Who can deny it? Krsna is
jagat-guru. He’s guru of everyone, because everyone is accepting this
he
authority of Krsna. Anyone who is accepting the authortiy of Bhagavad-gita,
nt
he’s accepting, imperceptibly, Krsna as guru. Therefore, BONA FIDE
(I
SPIRITUAL MASTER MEANS WHO IS REPRESENTING KRSNA. Who
can deny it?
aid
‚So to find out a bona fide spiritual master is not a very difficult job. Because
S
if one is representing guru, Krsna, then he must speak of Krsna, canvass for
ada
Krsna... So that is bona fide guru. Where is the difficulty to find out a bona
fide guru. Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, yare
hup
dekha tare keha krsna upadesa. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that ‘You preach
the words of Krsna.’ Therefore He’s bona fide. Similarly, ANYONE WHO IS
rab
REPRESENTING KRSNA, AND CANVASSING FOR KRSNA, HE’S

P
BONA FIDE GURU. Where is the difficulty? Is there any difficulty?

Anyone can understand that if Krsna is the original guru, and if somebody’s
hat
canvassing for Krsna, he’s bona fide guru. If somebody is canvassing for
himself, he’s not bona fide guru.
W
‚So THERE IS NO DIFFICULTY TO FIND OUT A BONA FIDE GURU

and
PROVIDED I AM SERIOUS TO FIND OUT A BONA FIDE GURU. But if

I want something else... Because hrdy antah-stho hy abhadrani. If in my heart
uru
there is something else, then I must be cheated by some, somebody else who is
not a bona fide guru. Ye yatha mam prapadyante tams tathaiva bhajamy aham.
G
he
‚So TO FIND OUT A BONA FIDE GURU, SPIRITUAL MASTER, IS

T
NOT VERY DIFFICULT. IT IS VERY EASY. Krsna says explicitly, evam

264
on)
parampara-praptam imam rajarsayoh viduh. This knowledge, vedic
knowledge, is received by parampara system. Just like Krsna said to sun-god,
skc
imam vivasvate yogam proktavan aham avyayam, vivasvan manave praha
I
manur iksvakave ‘bravit, evam parampara-praptam imam rajarsayoh viduh.
Krsna said that ‘This yoga system, first of all I explained to the sun-god, and
of
he explained to his son, Manu, and Manu explained to his son, Iskvaku. In
ice
this way, by the parampara system, by the disciplic succession, the knowledge
is coming.’ Sa kalena yoga-nastah parantapa. But as soon as it began to be
erv
explained to others without being in the disciplic succession, in the chain of
S
disciplic succession, speaking the same truth, it becomes broken. Sa kalena
yoga-nastah. Yoga-nastah. It is spoiled. If one does not come in the disciplic
he
succession, he’ll spoil the teaching.
nt
(I
‚That is being done. So-called commentator, teacher of Bhagavad-gita, he
does not come in the disciplic succession. He is self-made guru. Therefore
aid
he’s not guru. SELF-MADE GURU CANNOT BE GURU. HE MUST BE

AUTHORIZED BY THE BONA FIDE GURU. THEN HE’S GURU. This is
S
the fact. Nobody can be self-made anything. A medical practitioner, he

ada
cannot become self-made, that ‘I have studied all the medical books in my
home.’ No. Have you ever gone to the medical college and taken instruction
hup
from the bona fide teachers? Then, if you have got the certificate, then you
are medical practitioner. Similarly, bona fide guru means he must be
rab
authorized by the superior guru. Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, amara
P
ajnaya guru hane tara ei desa. He must receive the order from the superior.
And the superior must be bona fide. Then he’s bona fide. Not self-made.
hat
Tasmad gurum prapadyeta jijnasuh sreyah uttamam. The direction is that one
must go to a guru. But who is guru? Sabde ca pare ca nisnatam brahmany
W
upasamasrayam. These are the descriptions.‛

and
‚Then what is... wherefrom I shall get the right information? That Vedas
uru
says, tad-vijnanartham sa gurum eva abhigacchet. If you want right

G
information then go to the guru. And who is guru? That Caitanya

Mahaprabhu explains that, amara ajnaya guru hana. He says, ‘You just
he
become guru on My order.’ Guru means who carries the order of Krsna.
T
265
on)
Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Krsna. Who is Krsna’s servant, that is guru. Nobody
can become guru unless he carries the order of the Supreme.
skc
I
‚Therefore you will find... Because every one of us is an ass, we do not know
of
what is our self-interest, and somebody comes, ‘I am guru.’ How you become
guru? ‘No, I am self-perfected. I don’t require to read any book. I have come to
ice
bless you.’ [laughter] And the foolish rascals they do not know, ‘How you can
erv
become guru?’ If he does not follow the sastra or the supreme authority
Krsna, how he can become. But they accept guru. So this kind of guru is going
S
on.
he
nt
‚But you should know that guru means who carries the order of the Supreme
(I
Lord, That is guru. Any rascal who manufactures some idea is not guru.
Immediately kick him out. Immediately. He is a rascal, he is not a guru. Guru
is here, as Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, amara ajnaya guru hana. GURU
aid
MEANS THE FAITHFUL SERVANT OF GOD, THAT IS GURU. So you

S
have to first of all test that ‘Are you faithful servant of God?’ If he says, ‘No, I
am God,’ oh, kick him on his face immediately. [laughter] Kick him
ada
immediately that ‘You are rascal. You have come to cheat us.’ Because test is
there that guru means faithful servant of God. Simple. You don’t require
hup
large definition, what is guru.

rab
‚So Vedic knowledge gives you indication that tad-vijnanartham. If you want
P
to know the science of spiritual life, tad-vijnanartham sa gurum eva

abhigacchet, you must approach guru. And who is guru? Guru means who is
hat
the faithful servant of God. Very simple. So this is the position. Without guru
W
if he is manufacturing his own way of life, then he is mudha, rascal.‛

(Lecture, Philadelphia 7/12/75)
and
‚[S]amsara davanala-lidha-loka. The whole material world is blazing fire.

uru
Samsara davanala-lidha-loka-tranaya karunya-ghanaghanatvam. Now, this

G
davanala... Just like in the forest, you cannot send your fire brigade. That is
not possible. Neither you can go there to help the animals for extinguishing
he
the fire by bucketful of waters. That is also not possible. Helpless. Similarly,
T
this samsara davanala, you cannot extinguish it. So how it will be

266
on)
extinguished? Samsara davanalalidha-loka-tranaya karunya-ghanaghanatvam.
You have to beg for the mercy of Krsna; then this blazing fire can be
skc
extinguished, not by your arrangement. That is not possible. Tranaya
I
karunya-ghanaghanatvam. That cloud is mercy cloud, not this ordinary cloud.
Because davanala, the example, personal experience that on the hill of
of
Nainital, some thousand feet high, how this fire will be extinguished? The
ice
extinguished it will be when there is cloud on the sky and there is rainfall.
Otherwise it is not possible.
erv
"Similarly, the mercy cloud, karunya, karuna, ghanaghanatvam... So just like
S
ordinary cloud is made possible by evaporating water from the sea, similarly,
Krsna has the sea of mercy, karunayamaya, karuna-sagara. Krsna's another
he
name is Karuna-sagara. So as the air evaporate or the heat evaporate from
nt
the sea, and the cloud is formed in the sky, similarly, ONE WHO HAS
(I
CONNECTION OR THE POWER TO EVAPORATE THE MERCY SEA
OF KRSNA, HE CAN EXTINGUISH THE SAMSARA DAVANALA.
aid
AND THAT IS GURU. GURU IS THE CLOUD OR HE IS THE AGENT

OF DRYING WATER FROM THE OCEAN OF MERCY OF KRSNA
S
AND TURN IT INTO A MERCY CLOUD AND POUR WATER ON

THE SAMSARA DAVANALA, AND THEN IT IS EXTINGUISHED.
ada
Samsara davanala-lidha-loka-tranaya karunya-ghanaghanatvam, praptasya

hup
kalyana.
‚THEREFORE GURU MUST BE AUTHORIZED PERSON, NOT THAT
rab
BHUMI-PHALA-GURU(?). NO. "I AM GURU," NO. YOU CANNOT

BECOME GURU UNLESS YOU ARE AGENT TO DRAW OUT THE
P
MERCY WATER FROM THE OCEAN OF MERCY OF KRSNA. THAT

hat
IS GURU. AND THEREFORE A GURU IS NOT AN ORDINARY

PERSON. HE IS THE REPRESENTATIVE, BONA FIDE
W
REPRESENTATIVE OF KRSNA. Bhaktivinoda Thakura has sung, krsna se

tomara, krsna dite para: "Vaisnava Thakura, Krsna is your property. If you
and
like, you can give." Vedesu durlabham adurlabham atma-bhaktau [Bs. 5.33].
You cannot get Krsna by studying Vedas. That is not possible. There is Krsna
uru
in the Vedas, but you cannot pick up. It is not possible. But if you go to the
Krsna's favorite person... Kintu prabhor yah priya eva tasya. KRSNA'S VERY
G
DEAR SERVANT, CONFIDENTIAL SERVANT, IS GURU. NOBODY

CAN BECOME GURU UNLESS HE IS IN CONFIDENCE OF KRSNA.
he
NA CA TASMAD MANUSYESU KASCID ME PRIYA-KRTTAMAH.

T
267
on)
THESE THINGS ARE THERE. NOT THAT BY MAGIC ONE CAN
BECOME GURU. No. He must be...
skc
‚Samsara davanala-lidha-loka-tranaya karunya-ghanaghanatvam, praptasya
I
kalyana. Everything is there in the sastra. WE HAVE TO SEE WHETHER
A PERSON IS ACTUALLY BONA FIDE AGENT OF KRSNA. THEN
of
WE ACCEPT HIM AS GURU. OTHERWISE USELESS WASTE OF
ice
TIME. Gurur apy avaliptasya karyakaryam ajanatah. Guru is very
erv
confidential serv... Saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair uktas tatha bhavyata
eva sadbhih. Guru is saksad hari; there is no distinction between guru and
S
Krsna. Just like if you have got some business with a very big man, when his
representative comes, you treat him as the same person because he is
he
authorized agent. That is natural. Just like in India during British days, the
nt
governor general, viceroyhis name was viceroyso people treated him exactly
(I
like the king, viceroy, in place of the king. Although he was a servant, but
still, the honor was given to him just like the king. His dress was like king. He
aid
was given honor like king. Wherever he would go, he was received like the
king. But he is not king. He does not say that "I am king," but his honor is like
S
the king. Saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair, uktah. It is said in our all..., that

you sing always, vede gaya yahara carita. You read this verse daily.
ada
Guru-mukha..., vede gaya yahara car... What is that? Eh? Who can sing this?
hup
‚Gurudasa: Guru-mukha-padma-vakya, cittete kariya... Vede gaya jahara carito.

rab
P
‚Prabhupada: Hm. Vede gaya jahara carito. This is according to, strictly
according to the version of the Ve... Saksad-dhari... You'll see. This is...
hat
Narottama dasa Thakura is singing, vede gaya yahara carita, and Visvanatha
W
Cakravarti Thakura, he is also singing, saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastraih. So

there is no difference. NOT THAT ONE ACARYA WILL SAY, "I HAVE
SEEN"SO-CALLED ACARYA, NOT REAL ACARYA"I HAVE SEEN IN
and
DREAM." THE OTHER DAY THE LETTER CAME? HE HAS SEEN,

REALIZED IN DREAM, NITAI-GAURA RADHE-SYAMA. THIS IS
uru
NOT THE PROCESS. PROCESS IS THE SASTRA, AUTHORITY.

G
THAT IS... WE HAVE TO... NOT THAT JUGGLERY: "I HAVE SEEN IN
DREAM. I HAVE TO BECOME GURU." No. Whether you are actually in
he
terms of the sastra? Whether actually you are dear to Krsna, you are most
T
confidential servant? That we have to test.

268
on)
"And what is the confidential servant of Krsna? Everything is explained.
Krsna says, ya imam paramam guhyam mad-bhaktesv abhidhasyati. This
skc
paramam guhyam. What is that paramam guhyam? Sarva-dharman parityajya
I
mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. This is paramam guhyam, Krsna said.
Guhyad guhyatamam. What is that verse? Who can say? Just before saying,
of
sarva-dharman parityajya, Krsna said that "You are My very dear friend.
ice
Therefore I am talking to you the most confidential part of knowledge." Is it
not? What is that confidential part? Sarva-dharman parityajya: "Give up
erv
everything. Simply surrender unto Me." This is confidential knowledge.
S
Jnana, karma, yoga, this will not help. It will take some time. You can waste
your time in that way, you are at liberty, but real dharma is that "You fully
he
surrender unto Me. Don't talk nonsense." Arjuna was talking so many
nt
nonsense things. So Krsna ultimately said, "My dear Arjuna, you are My
(I
confidential friend. Therefore I am asking you. You do this. Don't waste your
time. It will not help." It will help bahunam janmanam ante [Bg. 7.19]. You can
go on with your learning, with your study of Vedas, with your practice of yoga
aid
or ritualistic ceremonies, karma-kanda, jnana-kanda, but unless you come to

S
this point sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66] there
is no happiness. That is not possible. This is the confidential...
ada
‚So if this confidential knowledge, one who preaches without any

hup
compromise, he is the confidential servant of Krsna. There is no compromise.

This is real religion. The Krsna says, na ca tasmad manusyesu kascid me
rab
priya-krttamah. So this is the person who has received the authority to draw
mercy water from the ocean of mercy of Krsna. Saksad-dharitvena
P
samasta-sastraih. And what Krsna said five thousand years ago, the same
thing Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, same thing. There was no change, as there
hat
was no change between the statement of Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura

W
and Narottama dasa Thakura. Sadhu sastra. As sastra, there is no change.

Not that "Modernize. The sastra should be changed." No. That is nonsense.
and
That is not sastra. Sastra cannot be changed. "Circumstantially, it will be

changed, seasonal changes." No. That is not sastra. Sastra means it is
perpetual.
uru
"What Krsna said five thousand years ago or Krsna said some forty millions of
G
years ago to the sun god... Imam vivasvate yogam proktavan aham avyayam
[Bg. 4.1]. He says, "I am talking to you that puratanam yogam." Not that
he
"Because it has passed millions of years and now it is a different time, so I will
T
269
on)
have to change." No. He said, "I am talking to you that very old system." Is it
not? Just see. THE SASTRA CANNOT BE CHANGED. GOD'S WORD
skc
CANNOT BE CHANGED. Then what will be the difference between God
I
and ourself? He is always perfect. He is always perfect. What He said forty
millions of years ago, what He said five thousand years ago, that is also
of
correct up to date. THAT IS SASTRA. NOT THAT "SO MANY YEARS
ice
HAVE PASSED AND IT HAS BECOME OLD. NOW LET US REFORM
IT AND PUT IT INTO NEW WAY." No. You can put the same thing in a
erv
new way, but you cannot change the principle. Sadhu sastra guru-vakya,
S
tinete kariya aikya. Sastra is never changed. And the sadhu... Sadhu means
who follows the sastras. He is sadhu. He also does not change. Sadhu, sastra.
he
And guru? Guru means who follows the sastra and sadhu. So there are three,
nt
the same. A GURU WILL NOT CHANGE, THAT "IT WAS SPOKEN
(I
FIVE THOUSAND YEARS AGO. THAT IS NOT APPLICABLE NOW.
NOW I AM GIVING YOU SOMETHING NEW, JUGGLERY." HE IS
USELESS. Sadhu sastra guru-vakya tinete kariya aikya. Yah sastra-vidhim
aid
utsrjya vartate kama karatah, na siddhim avapnoti [Bg. 16.23].‛

S
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.6.8 Vrndavana, November 30, 1976)

ada
hup
rab
P
hat
W
and
uru
G
he
T
270
on)
skc
I
of
ice
‚As already stated, Brahma is the original spiritual master for the universe,
erv
and since he was initiated by the Lord Himself, the message of
S
Srimad-Bhagavatam is coming down by disciplic succession, and IN ORDER
TO RECEIVE THE REAL MESSAGE OF SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM
he
ONE SHOULD APPROACH THE CURRENT LINK OR SPIRITUAL
nt
MASTER, IN THE CHAIN OF DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION. After being
(I
initiated by the proper spiritual master in that chain of
succession, one should engage himself in the discharge of
tapasya in the execution of devotional service.
aid
‚ONE SHOULD NOT, HOWEVER, THINK HIMSELF

S
ON THE LEVEL OF BRAHMA TO BE INITIATED

DIRECTLY BY THE LORD FROM INSIDE because in
ada
the present age no one can be accepted to be as pure as

hup
Brahma. The post of Brahma to officiate in the creation

of the universe is offered to the most pure living being,
rab
and unless one is so qualified one cannot expect to be treated like Brahmaji
directly. But one can have the same facility through unalloyed devotees of
P
the Lord, through scriptural instructions (as revealed in the Bhagavad-gita

and Srimad-Bhagavatam especially), and also through the bona fide spiritual
hat
master available to the sincere soul. The Lord Himself appears as the spiritual
W
master to a person who is sincere in heart about serving the Lord. Therefore
the bona fide spiritual master who happens to meet the sincere devotee
should be accepted as the most confidential and beloved representative of
and
the Lord. If a person is posted under the guidance of such a bona fide spiritual
master, it may be accepted without any doubt that the desiring person has
uru
achieved the grace of the Lord.‛ (SB 2.9.7 ppt.)

G
‚This is called parampara system. The person who heard Bhagavad-gita

directly from Krsna, whatever he says that is to be accepted. You cannot
he
interpret. This is the parampara system. So if you want to understand

T
271
on)
Bhagavad-gita then we must understand in the same way as the person who
directly heard from. This is called parampara system. Suppose I have heard
skc
something from my spiritual master. So I speak to you the same thing. So this
I
is parampara system. You cannot imagine what my spiritual master said. Or
EVEN IF YOU READ SOME BOOKS YOU CANNOT UNDERSTAND
of
UNLESS YOU UNDERSTAND IT FROM ME. THIS IS CALLED
ice
PARAMPARA SYSTEM. YOU CANNOT JUMP OVER TO THE
SUPERIOR GURU, NEGLECTING THE NEXT ACARYA, THE
erv
IMMEDIATE NEXT ACARYA.‛ (Lecture, Los Angeles 12/8/73)
S
he
‚It requires Krsna’s grace to understand Him. So try to receive Krsna’s grace
nt
through the disciplic succession, Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Then you will
understand everything. Yasya deve para bhaktir yatha deve tatha gurau. This
(I
is the process, Vedic process. One should have unflinching faith in God and
spiritual master. DON’T JUMP OVER [TO] GOD, CROSSING THE
aid
SPIRITUAL MASTER. THEN IT WILL BE FAILURE. YOU MUST GO

THROUGH.
S
ada
‚We are observing Vyasa Puja ceremony, the birth anniversary of our Guru
Maharaja. Why? We cannot understand Krsna without spiritual master. That
hup
is bogus. IF ANYONE WANTS TO UNDERSTAND KRSNA, JUMPING

rab
OVER THE SPIRITUAL MASTER, THEN IMMEDIATELY HE

BECOMES A BOGUS. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, guru krsna
P
krpaya paya bhakti-lata bija. That is Vedic injunction. Tad viddhi pranipatena
pariprasnena sevaya. Nobody can understand Krsna without going through
hat
His most confidential servant.

W
‚This is the meaning of this Vyasa Puja. YOU CANNOT SURPASS. IF

YOU THINK THAT YOU HAVE BECOME VERY LEARNED AND
VERY ADVANCED, NOW YOU CAN AVOID THE SPIRITUAL
and
MASTER AND YOU UNDERSTAND KRSNA, THAT IS THE BOGUS.

That is the meaning of this Vyasa Puja ceremony. We should always pray,
uru
yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah. Yasya prasadad, only by the grace of

G
spiritual master we can achieve the grace or mercy of Krsna. This is the
meaning of this Vyasa Puja, offering obeisances by parampara system.‛
he
(S.Bhaktisiddhanta’s App. Day, 3/2/75)

T
272
on)
‚One who has unflinching devotion for the Supreme Lord and is directed by
the spiritual master can see the Supreme Personality of Godhead by
skc
revelation. FOR ONE WHO DOES NOT TAKE PERSONAL TRAINING
I
UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER, IT
IS IMPOSSIBLE TO EVEN BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND KRSNA. The
of
word tu is specifically used here to indicate that no other process can be used,
ice
can be recommended, or can be successful in understanding Krsna.‛
erv
(Bg. 11.54 ppt.)
‚D1: I remember one time Karttikeya Maharaja was chanting to a picture of
S
Bhaktisiddhanta. You chastised him and said, ‘What is your connection with
he
Bhaktisiddhanta? Your connection is with me.’
nt
S.PRABHUPADA: Who said? (I
D1: You did.
D2: You did. I remember.
aid
D1: When Karttikeya Maharaja was chanting to your guru maharaja’s

picture, you said, ‘How you can connect with him? Your connection is with
S
me.’‛ (Conversation, Mayapur 2/3/76)

ada
‚D: Srila Prabhupada, there’s also a question of reciprocation. You have so

hup
many disciples –thousands–, and one devotee was asking me yesterday, ‘How
does... I WANT TO PLEASE SRILA PRABHUPADA. How does he know
rab
my progress and my service, because I’m..., when I’m so far away from him
P
and if I don’t write him?’

hat
S.PRABHUPADA: So HIS REPRESENTATIVES ARE THERE, the

W
president, the GBC. They will see.‛ (Morning Walk, Mayapur 4/8/75)
and
‚...THROUGH Caitanya Mahaprabhu you will understand what is the

position of Krsna, what is your relationship with Krsna, what is the ultimate
uru
goal of life. These things will be clearly exhibited. And Sri

Caitanya-caritamrta is written for this purpose, so that a person who is
G
serious about Krsna consciousness may understand Krsna THROUGH the

mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. This is wanted. YOU CANNOT JUMP
he
OVER Krsna consciousness without going THROUGH the mercy of Sri

T
273
on)
Caitanya Mahaprabhu. And to go THROUGH Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
means to go THROUGH the six Gosvamis. THIS IS PARAMPARA
skc
SYSTEM.
I
of
‚Therefore Narottama Dasa Thakura says, ei chay gosai jar – tar mui das,
ta-sabara pada-renu mora panca-gras. THIS IS PARAMPARA SYSTEM.
ice
YOU CANNOT JUMP OVER. YOU MUST GO THROUGH THE
erv
PARAMPARA SYSTEM. YOU HAVE TO APPROACH THROUGH
YOUR SPIRITUAL MASTER to the Gosvamis, and THROUGH the
S
Gosvamis you will have to approach Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and
he
THROUGH Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu you have to approach Krsna. THAT
nt
IS THE WAY. (I
‚Therefore Narottama Dasa Thakura said, ei chay gosai jar – tar mui das. WE
ARE SERVANT OF SERVANT. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s
aid
instruction, gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayor dasa-dasanudasah. THE MORE

S
YOU BECOME SERVANT OF THE SERVANT, the more you are perfect.
And if you all of a sudden want to become master, then you go to hell. That’s
ada
all. DON’T DO THAT. This is the teaching of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. IF

YOU GO THROUGH THE SERVANT, SERVANT, SERVANT, THEN
hup
YOU ARE ADVANCED. And if you think that you have now become
rab
master, then you are going to hell. This is the process. Dasa-dasanudasah.
Caitanya Mahaprabhu said.
P
‚So SERVANT, SERVANT, SERVANT, A HUNDRED TIMES

hat
SERVANT NOW, that means he is advanced. He is advanced. And one who

W
is becoming directly master, then he is in the hell.‛

(Lecture, Cc Adi 1.4, Mayapur 3/28/75)
and
‚Yes, whoever you tell the chant to, it is effective. You have heard it from me
uru
and my disciples, similarly I have heard it from my Guru Maharaj, and so on,
G
and on. Because you have heard it from a pure devotee of the Lord, therefore
it is transmitted from you to another. Just as an aerial message is transmitted
he
from one place to another, similarly, this Guru parampara system is working.
T
MY DISCIPLES ARE MY AGENTS, MY REPRESENTATIVES, SO BY

274
on)
HEARING IT FROM THEM, YOU ARE RECEIVING IT FROM ME. And
because you are a sincere soul, those who are hearing the Mantra from you
skc
are receiving it in DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION, FROM LORD CAITANYA
I
AND FROM LORD KRISHNA.‛ (Letter to Andrea Temple, 3/6/68)
of
‚Regarding your question, this surrender to Supersoul is in the advanced
ice
stage of Krishna Consciousness. SO LONG ONE IS NOT ADVANCED,
erv
HE HAS TO TAKE INFORMATION AND DIRECTION FROM THE
REPRESENTATIVE OF SUPERSOUL OR THE SPIRITUAL MASTER.
S
The spiritual master is external manifestation of the Super Soul. Thus the
he
Lord helps the living entity, helps both from inside & outside.‛
nt
(I (Letter to Rupanuga, 2/22/72)
‚Regarding your question of Paramatma: you are fortunate enough for your
aid
sincere service, Krishna as Paramatma Who is sitting within your heart is

now dictating. Krishna is so kind that He wants to help us as Spiritual Master
S
in two ways. He helps us from within as Chaitta Guru and He expands

Himself externally as Siksha Guru (as instructor) and Diksha Guru
ada
(initiator). SO THE PRINCIPLE IS THAT WHATEVER YOU ARE

hup
INSTRUCTED BY THE CHAITTA GURU INTERNALLY MAY BE

CONFIRMED BY THE INSTRUCTOR OR INITIATOR EXTERNALLY.
rab
Then your progress will be complete.‛ (Letter to Shivananda, 5/21/69)

P
‚I am glad to learn that you are realizing about Krishna’s providing us with
hat
more and more facilities and that you are appreciating for my following
purely the instructions of my Spiritual Master. Yes, that is the secret of
W
success. In the Chaitanya Charitamrita it is said that one is successful in

Krishna consciousness by the combined Mercy of the Spiritual Master and
and
Krishna. By the Mercy of Krishna we come in contact with a bona fide

Spiritual Master and by the Mercy of a bona fide Spiritual Master we can
uru
approach Krishna.
G
‚So, BOTH OF THEM ARE CAUSE AND EFFECT OF EITHER OF

he
THEM. Krishna is the original Spiritual Master known as Chaitya Guru and
T
He manifests Himself as the Instructor Spiritual Master. So this principle of

275
on)
following Krishna and Guru simultaneously is the secret of success, and if you
follow this policy in the chain of disciplic succession than there is no doubt
skc
about your final achievement.‛ (Letter to Jaya Pataka, 1/21/70)
I
of
‚Bhagavad-gita was spoken directly by the Supreme Lord, and Arjuna
accepted Krsna as guru, or spiritual master. Similarly, WE SHOULD
ice
ACCEPT ONLY KRSNA AS THE SUPREME SPIRITUAL MASTER.
erv
KRSNA, OF COURSE, MEANS KRSNA AND HIS CONFIDENTIAL
DEVOTEES; KRSNA IS NOT ALONE. When we speak of Krsna, ‘Krsna’
S
means Krsna in His name, in His form, in His qualities, in His abode and in
he
His associates. Krsna is never alone, for the devotees of Krsna are not
nt
impersonalists. For example, a king is always associated with his secretaries,
his commander, his servant and so much paraphernalia. AS SOON AS WE
(I
ACCEPT KRSNA AND HIS ASSOCIATES AS OUR PRECEPTORS, NO
ILL EFFECTS CAN DESTROY OUR KNOWLEDGE.‛ (SB 3.25.38)
aid
S
‚Even though we may not have the fortune to contact the Supreme Lord
personally, THE LORD’S REPRESENTATIVE IS AS GOOD AS THE
ada
LORD HIMSELF because such a representative does not say anything unless
it is spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Sri Caitanya
hup
Mahaprabhu therefore gives a definition of guru. Yare dekha, tare kaha

rab
‘krsna’-upadesa: the bona fide guru is he who advises his disciples exactly in
accordance with the principles spoken by Krsna. THE BONA FIDE GURU
P
IS HE WHO HAS ACCEPTED KRSNA AS GURU. This is the

guru-parampara system.‛ (SB 8.24.48 ppt.)
hat
W
‚ONE CAN ACHIEVE THE ULTIMATE SUCCESS OF GOING BACK

TO GODHEAD IF HE IS FAVORED BY THE LORD’S SENDING HIS
and
TRUE REPRESENTATIVE. As soon as a true representative of the Lord is

met by a devotee of the Lord, the devotee is assured a guarantee for going
uru
back to Godhead just after leaving the present body. This, however, depends
on the sincerity of the devotee himself. THE LORD IS SEATED IN THE
G
HEART of all living beings, and thus he knows very well the movements of
all individual persons. As soon as the Lord finds that a particular soul is very
he
eager to go back to Godhead, the Lord at once sends his bona fide
T
representative. The sincere devotee is thus assured by the Lord of going back
276
on)
to Godhead. THE CONCLUSION IS THAT TO GET THE ASSISTANCE
AND HELP OF A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER MEANS TO
skc
RECEIVE THE DIRECT HELP OF THE LORD HIMSELF.‛ (SB 1.19.36)
I
‚There is a verse in the Bhagavad gita, tenth chapter, that anyone who serves
the Lord sincerely with love and affection is certainly instructed by the Lord
of
from within. THE LORD HELPS US IN TWO WAYS: INTERNALLY AS
ice
PARAMATMAN, AND EXTERNALLY AS SPIRITUAL MASTER. So I
erv
think your sincere activities are being appreciated by the Lord from within
and He is dictating you all for advancement of Krishna Consciousness.‛
S
(Letter to Janardan et al, 6/28/67)
he
nt
‚My sincere blessings are for you for your nice prosecution of Krishna
(I
Consciousness. Whatever you are doing at the present moment is approved
by me and I think on account of your becoming a sincere soul, Krishna is
dictating from within and you are doing things so nicely. There are two
aid
gurus–one internal and the other external. The internal Guru is Krishna
S
Himself seated in everyone’s heart, and the external Guru is the Spiritual
Master. So a sincere devotee is helped both externally and internally. To the
ada
sincere devotee the internal Guru Krishna dictates, but THE THING HAS
TO BE CONFORMED BY THE EXTERNAL GURU THEN IT IS ALL
hup
RIGHT.‛ (Letter to Kanchanbala, 1/14/68)

rab
‚So the idea is–you work sincerely on behalf of Krsna according to

P
instructions of Lord Krsna in His great magnanimous form as Lord Caitanya.

I know you are very intelligent and sincere servant of Krsna, so try to serve
hat
His Lordship to your best capacity and He shall give you proper intelligence.
W
YOU KNOW THAT KRSNA IS SPIRITUAL MASTER FROM WITHIN

AND SPIRITUAL MASTER IS MANIFESTATION OF KRSNA
and
WITHOUT. That is the position; both ways a sincere student is instructed,

which is called Guru-Krsna kripa. Simply you have to receive it properly and
uru
execute it orderly.‛ (Letter to Jagadisha, 7/29/70)

G
‚Regarding utilizing intelligence in devotional service, INTELLIGENCE

SHOULD BE CONFIRMED BY THE SPIRITUAL MASTER. Therefore we
he
accept the Spiritual Master for guidance. You should not depend on your
T
277
on)
own intelligence. Just like a child requires a parent to tell him the correct
thing to do, similarly, a strict disciple should always use his intelligence in
skc
conformity with the instructions of the Spiritual Master.‛
I
of
‚This knowledge cannot be imparted by anyone other than the Supreme
ice
Lord or His representative. In the Caitanya-caritamrta Lord Caitanya
erv
instructs Rupa Gosvami that the living entities wander in life after life,
S
undergoing the miserable conditions of material existence. But WHEN ONE
IS VERY ANXIOUS TO GET FREE FROM THE MATERIAL
he
ENTANGLEMENT, HE GETS ENLIGHTENMENT THROUGH A
nt
SPIRITUAL MASTER AND KRSNA. This means that Krsna as the
Supersoul is seated within the heart of the living entity, and WHEN THE
(I
LIVING ENTITY IS SERIOUS, THE LORD DIRECTS HIM TO TAKE
SHELTER OF HIS REPRESENTATIVE, A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL
aid
MASTER. Directed from within and guided externally by the spiritual

S
master, one attains the path of Krsna consciousness, which is the way out of
the material clutches.
ada
hup
‚Therefore there is no possibility of one’s being situated in his own position

unless he is blessed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Unless he is
rab
enlightened with the supreme knowledge, one has to undergo the severe
penalties of the hard struggle for existence in the material nature. THE
P
SPIRITUAL MASTER IS THEREFORE THE MERCY

MANIFESTATION OF THE SUPREME PERSON. The conditioned soul
hat
has to take direct instruction from the spiritual master, and thus he gradually
W
becomes enlightened to the path of Krsna consciousness. The seed of Krsna

consciousness is sown within the heart of the conditioned soul, and when
one hears instruction from the spiritual master, the seed fructifies, and one’s
and
life is blessed.‛ (SB 3.31.16)

uru
‚A VAISNAVA NEVER THINKS THAT HE HAS A DIRECT

G
RELATIONSHIP WITH KRSNA. Lord Caitanya says, ‘I am the servant of

the the servant of the servant of the servant –a hundred times the servant of
he
the servant of Krsna.’ We have to agree to become the servant of the servant
T
278
on)
of the servant. THIS IS THE PROCESS OF DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION,
and if one wants real transcendental love of God, then he has to adopt this
skc
process. Because people do not accept this process, they do not develop real
I
love of God. They speak of God, but actually they do not love God; because
there is no cultivation of pure devotional service, they love dog.‛
of
(SSR, Ch.VIII, Approaching Krsna With Love, 1st. Prtng., pg.286)
ice
erv
‚In regard to praying to Lord Nityananda Prabhu I have written to you in my
S
last letter that such prayer is quite appropriate. Our only prayer should be in
the matter of desiring further development of devotional service and SUCH
he
SINCERE PRAYER SHOULD BE SUBMITTED NOT DIRECTLY TO
nt
THE LORD BUT THROUGH THE VIA-MEDIA OF HIS BONA FIDE
SERVITOR OR REPRESENTATIVE.‛ (Letter to Madhudvisa, 2/14/70)
(I
aid
‚[...]KRISHNA IS NEVER APPROACHED DIRECTLY. KRISHNA IS

APPROACHED THROUGH HIS BONAFIDE SERVITORS. He says that,
S
‘Carrying out the order of My pure devotee is greater than carrying out that
directly given by Me.’ In this connection, I may inform you that you try your
ada
best to serve Krishna under the direction of your Spiritual Master and
hup
Krishna will surely help you in all respects.‛ (Letter to Sudama, 1/8/70)
rab
‚I am feeling well here because the climate is warmer. I thank you very much
P
for your acceptance of my guidance. My guidance means Krishna’s guidance.

I am very poor and therefore I can pray only to Krishna for your guidance.
hat
Krishna is Absolute and we are all under His guidance, but the bona fide
Spiritual Master is accepted as guidance because he is transparent via media
W
between Krishna and the devotee. THE DEVOTEE HAS NO ACCESS TO

KRISHNA WITHOUT THE VIA MEDIA.‛
and
(Letter to Woomapati, 1/14/68)

uru
‚The pure devotee never attempts to reach the Supreme Lord directly. THE
G
MOST IMPORTANT WAY TO WORSHIP THE LORD IS TO GO

THROUGH THE DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION OF DEVOTEES.‛
he
(SB 4.30.3)
T
279
on)
‚Your next question is, should we love Krishna or love the spiritual master:
You cannot go to Krishna directly, loving Him. It is common sense that if
skc
Krishna is the object of your love, His pet dog is also the object of your love.
I
Friends meet friends and if the friend is with his dog the gentleman pats his
dog first, is it not? So the man becomes automatically pleased, his dog being
of
patted. I have seen it in your country. THE CONCLUSION IS THIS:
ice
WITHOUT PLEASING THE SPIRITUAL MASTER HE CANNOT
PLEASE KRISHNA. IF ANYONE TRIES TO PLEASE KRISNA
erv
DIRECTLY, HE’S FOOL NUMBER ONE.‛
S
he
nt
(I
aid
S
ada
hup
rab
P
hat
W
and
uru
G
he
T
280
on)
skc
I
of
ice
erv
‚THE GURU MUST BE SITUATED ON THE TOPMOST PLATFORM
S
OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE. There are three classes of devotees, and the
he
guru must be accepted from the topmost class.... The maha-bhagavata is one
nt
who decorates his body with tilaka and whose name indicates him to be a
servant of Krsna by the word dasa. He is also initiated
(I
by a bona fide spiritual master and is expert in
worshiping the Deity, chanting mantras correctly,
aid
performing sacrifices, offering prayers to the Lord, and

performing sankirtana. He knows how to serve the
S
Supreme Personality of Godhead and how to respect a

ada
Vaisnava. WHEN ONE HAS ATTAINED THE

TOPMOST POSITION OF MAHA-BHAGAVATA,
hup
HE IS TO BE ACCEPTED AS A GURU AND

WORSHIPED EXACTLY LIKE HARI, THE PERSONALITY OF
rab
GODHEAD. ONLY SUCH A PERSON IS ELIGIBLE TO OCCUPY THE

POST OF A GURU.‛ (C.c. Madhya 24.330 ppt.)
P
‚In this verse Srila Rupa Gosvami advises the devotee to be intelligent
hat
enough to distinguish between the kanistha-adhikari, madhyama-adhikari

and uttama-adhikari. The devotee should also know his own position and
W
should not try to imitate a devotee situated on a higher platform. Srila

Bhaktivinoda Thakura has given some practical hints to the effect that an
and
uttama-adhikari Vaisnava can be recognized by his ability to convert many

fallen souls to Vaisnavism. ONE SHOULD NOT BECOME A SPIRITUAL
uru
MASTER UNLESS HE HAS ATTAINED THE PLATFORM OF

UTTAMA-ADHIKARI. A neophyte Vaisnava or a Vaisnava situated on the
G
intermediate platform can also accept disciples, but such disciples must be on
the same platform, and it should be understood that they cannot advance
he
very well toward the ultimate goal of life under his insufficient guidance.
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on)
Therefore a disciple should be careful to accept an uttama-adhikari a spiritual
master.
skc
[...]‚The uttama-adhikari, or highest devotee, is one who is very advanced in
I
devotional service. An uttama-adhikari is not interested in blaspheming
others, his heart is completely clean, and he has attained the realized state of
of
unalloyed Krsna consciousness. According to Srila Rupa Gosvami, THE
ice
ASSOCIATION AND SERVICE OF SUCH A MAHA-BHAGAVATA,
erv
OR PERFECT VAISNAVA, ARE MOST DESIRABLE. ...When a neophyte
devotee is actually initiated and engaged in devotional service by the orders
S
of the spiritual master, he should be accepted immediately as a bona fide
Vaisnava, and obeisances should be offered unto him. Out of many such
he
Vaisnavas, one may be found to be very seriously engaged in the service of
nt
the Lord and strictly following all the regulative principles, chanting the
(I
prescribed number of rounds on japa beads and always thinking of how to
expand the Krsna consciousness movement. Such a Vaisnava should be
aid
accepted as an uttama-adhikari, a highly advanced devotee, and his

association should always be sought.‛ (NOI Text 5 ppt.)
S
ada
‚UNLESS ONE IS A RESIDENT OF KRISHNA LOKA, ONE CANNOT

BE A SPIRITUAL MASTER. That is the first proposition. A layman cannot
hup
be a Spiritual Master, and if he becomes so then he will simply create

disturbance. And who is a liberated person? One who knows Krishna. It is
rab
stated in BG, fourth chapter, anyone who knows Krishna in truth is

P
immediately liberated, and after quitting the present body, he immediately

goes to Krishna. That means he becomes a resident of Krishna Loka. As soon
hat
as one is liberated he is immediately a resident of Krishna Loka, and anyone

who knows the truth of Krishna can become Spiritual Master. That is the
W
version of Lord Caitanya. So to summarize the whole thing, it is to be

understood that a bona fide Spiritual Master is a resident of Krishna Loka.
and
‚Your next question, whether the Spiritual Master was formerly a

uru
conditioned soul, actually A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER IS

G
NEVER A CONDITIONED SOUL. There are three kinds of liberated

persons. They are called 1)sadhan siddha, 2)kripa siddha, and 3)nitya siddha.
he
Sadhan siddha means one who has attained perfection by executing the
T
regulative principles of devotional service. Kripa siddha means one who has
282
on)
attained perfection by the special mercy of Krishna and the Spiritual Master,
and nitya siddha means one who was never contaminated. The symptoms of
skc
nitya siddha is that from the beginning of his life he is attached to Krishna,
I
and he is never tired of rendering service to Krishna.
of
‚So we have to know what is what by these symptoms. But when one is
ice
actually on the siddha platform there is no such distinction as to who is
erv
sadhan, kripa, or nitya siddha. When one is siddha, there is no distinction
what is what. Just like when the river water glides down to the Atlantic
S
Ocean nobody can distinguish which portion was the Hudson River or some
he
other river. Neither is there any necessity to make any such distinction.
nt
(I
‚Actually, every living entity is eternally uncontaminated, although he may
be in the material touch. This is the version of the Vedas. Asanga ayam
purusha –the living entity is uncontaminated. Just like when there is a drop
aid
of oil in water you can immediately distinguish the oil from the water, and
S
the water never mixes with the oil. Similarly, a living entity, although in
material contact, is always distinct from matter.
ada
hup
‚You are correct when you say that when the Spiritual Master speaks it
should be taken that Krishna is speaking. That is a fact. A SPIRITUAL
rab
MASTER MUST BE LIBERATED. It does not matter if he has come from

P
Krishna Loka or he is liberated from here. But he must be liberated. The

science of how one is liberated is explained above, but when one is liberated,
hat
there is no need of distinction whether he has come directly from Krishna

Loka or from the material world. But in the broader sense everyone comes
W
from Krishna Loka. When one forgets Krishna he is conditioned, when one
remembers Krishna he is liberated. I hope this will clear up these points.‛
and
(Letter to Mukunda 6/10/69)

uru
‚If Arjuna is on the same level with Krsna, and Krsna is not superior to
G
Arjuna, then their relationship of instructor and instructed becomes

meaningless. If both of them are deluded by the illusory energy (maya), then
he
there is no need of one being the instructor and the other the instructed.
T
283
on)
Such instruction would be useless because, IN THE CLUTCHES OF
MAYA, NO ONE CAN BE AN AUTHORITATIVE INSTRUCTOR.‛
skc
(BG 2.13 ppt.)
I
of
‚D1: I was recently told by one devotee that the acarya does not have to be a
pure devotee.
ice
S.PRABHUPADA: What?
erv
D1: That the acarya does not have to be a pure devotee.
S
S.PRABHUPADA: Who is that rascal? Who said? ...Who is that rascal? The
he
acarya does not require to be a pure devotee?
nt
D1: Nitai said it. He said it in this context. He said that Lord Brahma is the
acarya in the Brahma-sampradaya, but yet he is sometimes afflicted by
(I
passion. So therefore he is saying that it appears that the acarya does not
have to be a pure devotee. So it does not seem right.
aid
S.PRABHUPADA: So who is that rascal? I want to know who has said.

S
D1: Nitai. Nitai dasa.

ada
D2: Our Nitai.

S.PRABHUPADA: Oh, our Nitai? Oh.
hup
D1: He said he couldn’t understand it, but he thought, he said that he

thought...
rab
S.PRABHUPADA: He manufactured his idea. Therefore he’s a rascal.

P
Therefore he’s a rascal. Nitai has become an authority?

D1: No, actually he said that he thought...
hat
S.PRABHUPADA: He thought something rascaldom, and he is expressing

W
that. Therefore he is more rascal. These things are going on. As soon as he
reads some books, he becomes an acarya, whatever rascal he may be.
and
D1: So there’s no doubt that Lord Brahma is a pure devotee?

S.PRABHUPADA: Whatever he may be, he is acarya. So you... Then Krsna
uru
is also passionate. Krsna is also passionate. Krsna danced with so many gopis;
therefore He is passionate. They... These things are to be seen in this way,
G
that ‘Such exalted person, he sometimes become passionate, so how much we

he
shall be careful.’ This is the instruction. Then we, petty things, petty persons,
T
284
on)
how much we shall be careful. It is not that ‘Acarya has become passionate,
therefore I shall become passionate. I am strict follower of acarya.’ These
skc
rascals say.
I
D3: So Lord Brahma’s being attracted to his daughter, that is just as an
example...
of
ice
S.PRABHUPADA: So why you discuss this? Therefore you shall be attracted
erv
with your daughter, mother? Do you think so, like that?
S
D1: No.
he
nt
I: In this world this is our disease. This is our disease.
(I
aid
S.PRABHUPADA: Yes. That disease... Brahma... Lord Siva also, he was

attracted to the Mohini. So they are isvara. They are controllers. So the
S
instruction is that even such personalities may be sexually attracted, so how

much we shall remain careful. This is the instruction.‛
ada

hup
‚As for your next question, can only a few pure devotees deliver others,
rab
anyone, if he is a pure devotee he can deliver others, he can become spiritual

P
master. But UNLESS HE IS ON THAT PLATFORM HE SHOULD NOT

ATTEMPT IT. Then both of them will go to hell, like blind men leading the
hat
blind.‛ (Letter to Tusta Krishna, 12/14/72)

W
‚The spiritual master outside and the spiritual master within are both
and
representations of the Lord. UNLESS ONE HAS CONTACT WITH

SUCH BONA FIDE REPRESENTATIONS, ONE CANNOT CLAIM TO
BE A SPIRITUAL MASTER.‛ (SB 3.9.26)
uru
G
‚UNLESS ONE IS SELF-REALIZED AND KNOWS WHAT HIS

RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SUPERSOUL IS, HE CANNOT BE A
he
BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER.‛ (SB 3.28.2)

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on)
‚S.PRABHUPADA: Now, our point is that if you are not liberated how you
can become leader? That is cheating.
skc
D.P.: This is the... The political, socio-political... I don’t know the sort of...
I
of
S.PRABHUPADA: Our point is that IF YOU DO NOT GET
KNOWLEDGE FROM LIBERATED PERSON, THAT KNOWLEDGE IS
ice
USELESS. THAT IS CHEATING.
erv
[...]
S
THUS, WITHOUT BEING LIBERATED, NOBODY CAN GUIDE
ANYONE. THAT IS USELESS. That is andha yathandhair upaniyamana.If
he
you have no eyes, then how can you lead others? You are blind and they are
nt
blind, what is the use of becoming their leaders? Actually all the so-called
(I
leaders and scholar, they are blind themselves and they have become big, big
leader. That is the misfortune of the present life. And, therefore our
aid
proposition is you take direction from Krsna and His representative. That’s
all. That will help you. Try to understand this point.‛
S

ada
hup
rab
P
hat
W
and
uru
G
he
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286
on)
skc
I
of
ice
erv
S
he
nt
‚ONE WHO IS NOW THE DISCIPLE IS THE NEXT SPIRITUAL
(I
MASTER. And one cannot be a bona fide and authorized spiritual master
unless one has been strictly obedient to his spiritual master.‛ (SB 2.9.43)
aid
S
1977
ada
‚ALL OF MY DISCIPLES WILL TAKE THE LEGACY. If you want, you

hup
can also take it. Sacrifice everything. I –one– may soon pass away. But they
are hundreds, and this movement will increase. It’s not that I’ll give an order:
rab
’Here is the next leader.’ Anyone who follows the

P
previous leadership is a leader. I don’t make any

distinction between Indian and European. All my
hat
disciples are leaders... as much as they follow purely. If

you want to follow, then you can also lead. But you don’t
W
want to follow. ‘Leader’ means one who is a first-class

disciple. Evam parampara-praptam. One who is perfectly
and
following. Our instruction is, guru-mukha-padma-vakya.

Do you know this? Ara na kariha mane asa [‘My only wish
uru
is to have my consciousness purified by the words emanating from the lotus

mouth of my spiritual master’]. To become a leader is not very difficult,
G
provided one is prepared to follow the instructions of the bona fide guru.‛
he
(BTG Vol.13, No.1-2, 1978)

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THE LAST MENTION OF THE TOPIC OF INITIATIONS --
skc
VRNDAVANA, OCTOBER 18, 1977 (Commented in the Introduction)
I
Prabhupada: Hare Krsna. One Bengali gentleman has come from New York?
of
Tamala Krsna: Yes. Mr. Sukamal Roy Chowdury.
ice
Prabhupada: SO I HAVE DEPUTED SOME OF YOU TO INITIATE. Hm?
erv
Tamala Krsna: Yes. Actually... Yes, Srila Prabhupada.
S
Prabhupada: So I think Jayapataka can do that if he likes. I HAVE
ALREADY DEPUTED. Tell him.
he
Tamala Krsna: Yes.
nt
Prabhupada: So, DEPUTIES, Jayapataka’s name was there?
(I
Bhagavan: It is already on there, Srila Prabhupada. His name was on THAT
LIST.
aid
Prabhupada: So I DEPUTE HIM to do this at Mayapura, and you may go with

S
him. I STOP FOR THE TIME BEING. Is that all right?

Tamala Krsna: STOPPED DOING WHAT, SRILA PRABHUPADA?
ada
Prabhupada: THIS INITIATION. I HAVE DEPUTED THE, MY

hup
DISCIPLES. IS IT CLEAR OR NOT?

Giriraja: It’s clear.
rab
Prabhupada: You have got THE LIST OF THE NAMES?

P
Tamala Krsna: Yes, Srila Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: And IF BY KRSNA’S GRACE I RECOVER FROM THIS
hat
CONDITION, THEN I SHALL BEGIN AGAIN, OR I MAY NOT BE

W
PRESSED IN THIS CONDITION TO INITIATE. IT IS NOT GOOD.

(Room Conversation – October 18, 1977, Vrndavana)
and
THE LIST OF NAMES OF THOSE DEPUTED – VRNDAVANA, July 7,

1977 (Commented in the Introduction)
uru
G
Prabhupada: You can note down these names.

he
Tamala Krsna: Yes, I have them.

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288
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Prabhupada: Who are they?
skc
Tamala Krsna: Kirtanananda Maharaja, Satsvarupa Maharaja, Jayatirtha
Prabhu, Bhagavan Prabhu, Harikesa Maharaja, Jayapataka Maharaja and
I
Tamala Krsna Maharaja.
of
Prabhupada: That's nice. Now you distribute.
Tamala Krsna: Seven. There's seven names.
ice
Prabhupada: For the time being, seven names, sufficient. You can make
erv
Ramesvara.
S
Tamala Krsna: Ramesvara Maharaja.
he
Prabhupada: And Hrdayananda.
nt
Tamala Krsna: Oh, yeah. South America. (I
Prabhupada: So without waiting for me, wherever you consider it is right...
That will depend on discretion.
aid
Tamala Krsna: On discretion.

Prabhupada: Yes.
S
Tamala Krsna: That's for first and second initiations.

ada
Prabhupada: Hm.
(Room Conversations, July 7, 1977, Vrndavana)
hup
‚THIS IS VERY EASY. So I am not a scholar. I am simply...Whatever is said

rab
there, I am trying to distribute in a palatable way. That’s all. It is not my

manufacture. And that is Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s... Amara ajnaya guru hana
P
tara ei desa. YOU ALL BECOME GURU. ‘How can I become guru? I have no
education. I have no knowledge.’’ No, you haven’t got to acquire all these
hat
things. That is already...Yare dekha tare kaha. Finished. So I never tried to

W
become a scholar. But I tried. Whatever is spoken by Krsna, deliver. That’s

all. And that is guru.‛ (Conversation, Vrndavana 6/26/77)
and
THE OFFICIAL MEETING WITH GBCS -- VRINDAVANA, MAY 28,

1977 (Commented in the Introduction)
uru
G
‚GBC1:...Then our next question concerns initiations in the future,

particularly at that time when you’re no longer with us. We want to know
he
how first and second initiation would be conducted.

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on)
S.PRABHUPADA: Yes. I SHALL RECOMMEND SOME OF YOU. After
this is settled up, I shall recommend some of you to act as officiating acaryas.
skc
GBC2: Is that called rtvik acarya?
I
S.PRABHUPADA: Rtvik,yes.
of
GBC1: Then what is the relationship of that person who gives the initiation
and the...
ice
S.PRABHUPADA: HE’S GURU. HE’S GURU.
erv
GBC1: But he does it on your behalf.
S
S.PRABHUPADA: Yes. That is formality. Because in my presence one
he
should not become guru, so ON MY BEHALF, ON MY ORDER... Amara
ajnana guru hana. HE’S ACTUALLY GURU, BUT BY MY ORDER.
nt
GBC1: So they may also be considered your disciples.
(I
S.PRABHUPADA: Yes, they are disciples. Why consider? Who?
aid
GBC2: No, he’s asking that these rtvik acaryas, they’re officiating, giving
diksa. Their... The people who they give diksa to, whose disciple are they?
S
S.PRABHUPADA: THEY’RE HIS DISCIPLE.

ada
GBC2: They’re his disciple.

S.PRABHUPADA: WHO IS INITIATING. He’s GRANDDISCIPLE.
hup
GBC1: Yes.
rab
GBC2: That’s clear.

P
GBC1: Then we have a question concer...

S.PRABHUPADA: When I order, ‘You become guru,’ he becomes
hat
REGULAR guru. THAT’S ALL. HE BECOMES DISCIPLE OF MY

DISCIPLE. THAT’S IT.
W
[...]And Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, amara ajnaya guru hana. One who can
understand the order of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he can become guru. Or
and
ONE WHO UNDERSTANDS HIS GURU’S ORDER, the same parampara,

HE CAN BECOME GURU. And therefore I SHALL SELECT SOME OF
uru
YOU.‛ (Meeting with GBCs, Vrindavana 5/28/77)

G
‚D: How can we be happy when you’re not well?

he
S.PRABHUPADA: Hm? Hm?

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on)
D: We can’t be happy if you’re not well.
skc
S.PRABHUPADA: I am always well.
D: Why can’t you give us your old age?
I
S.PRABHUPADA: When I see that things are going on nicely, I am happy.
of
What is this with this body? Body is body. We are not body.
ice
D: Wasn’t it Purudasa that gave his father his youth?
erv
S.PRABHUPADA: Hm?
D1: Yayati. King Yayati traded his old age.
S
D: With his son. You can do that.
he
S.PRABHUPADA: (Laughs) Who did?
nt
D1: King Yayati. (I
S.PRABHUPADA: Ah. Yayati. No, why? YOU ARE MY BODY. SO YOU
LIVE ON. THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE. Just like I am working, so my guru
aid
maharaja is there, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati. Physically he may not be, but

in every action he is there. I think actually I have written that.
S
D2: Yeah, it’s in the Bhagavatam, that ‘He who lives with him, he lives
ada
eternally. He who remembers his words lives eternally.’

S.PRABHUPADA: So I am not going to die. Kirtir yasya sa jivati: ‘One who
hup
has done something substantial, he lives forever.’ He doesn’t die. Even in our
practical life... Of course, this is material, karma-phala. One has to accept
rab
another body according to his karma. But for devotee there is no such thing.
P
He always accepts a body for serving Krsna. So there is no karma-phala.‛

(Conversation, Vrndavana 5/27/77)
hat
‚We simply repeat. That is our business. We are not learned scholars, but our
W
mission is to repeat the words of Krsna. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's

order. He says, amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa [Cc. Madhya 7.128]: "You
and
become guru." "Now, how shall I become guru? I am neither learned nor
Vedantist, neither sannyasi. How can I become guru?" "No, no, you have no
difficulty. You, on My order, become guru simply..." Yare dekha tare kaha
uru
krsna-upadesa. Bas. "You become guru. Whomever you meet, you simply try
G
to convince him what Krsna has spoken. Then you become guru." So we
request everyone the same thing. And BECOME GURU. IT IS VERY
he
URGENTLY NECESSARY. People are becoming godless, atheist,

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nonbelievers, and they are suffering. So every village, every home, every
neighborhood, they require guru. But who will be guru? One who repeats the
skc
instruction of Krsna. Yare dekha tare kaha. IT IS VERY EASY.‛
I
(Evening Darsana -- May 12, 1977, Hrishikesh)
‚We repeat. We don’t manufacture. What is the use of manufacturing? I am
of
imperfect. Whatever I manufacture, that is imperfect. So better to repeat the
ice
words of the perfect. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission. HE SAID,
erv
‘EVERY ONE OF YOU BECOME GURU AND DELIVER YOUR
SURROUNDING PERSONS, EITHER YOU ARE IN FAMILY OR IN
S
NEIGHBORHOOD OR IN SOCIETY OR IN NATION, AS MUCH AS
YOU CAN.’ Amara ajnaya guru hana tara ei desa. So whatever limited circle,
he
YOU JUST BECOME GURU AND DELIVER THEM.‛
nt
(Conversation, Hrisikesa 5/11/77)
(I
‚That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission, that "You become guru, everyone."
[break] You simply repeat. Don't misinterpret. Boliye. THIS IS CAITANYA
aid
MAHAPRABHU'S... EVERY ONE OF YOU BECOME A GURU, NOT A

S
BLUFFER, BUT A GURU, REAL GURU. "How real guru? I can become? I
have no qualification." Yare dekha tare kaha krsna-upadesa [Cc. Madhya
ada
7.128]: "You simply take the words of Krsna and preach." Krsna says, mattah
parataram nanyat [Bg. 7.7]. You simply repeat, "Sir, Krsna is the Supreme
hup
Being, God." What is the difficulty? Krsna says, "There is no superior

authority than Me." You simply say, "Krsna is the supreme authority." That's
rab
all. Krsna says, man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam... You preach,
P
"Come here in the temple. See Krsna's Deity and always think of Him."
Where is the difficulty?‛ (Evening Darsana -- May 9, 1977, Hrishikesh)
hat

W
BECOME GURU,’ as I was telling, ‘AND TEACH, DELIVER PERSONS

WHERE YOU ARE.’ If you say, ‘How can I become guru?,’ there is no
difficulty. SIMPLY REPEAT THE WORDS OF BHAGAVAD-GITA.
and
THAT’S ALL. YOU BECOME GURU. SO OUR MISSION IS TO

CREATE REAL GURU, NOT THESE JUGGLERS. AND REAL GURU
uru
IS HE WHO SPEAKS ON BEHALF OF KRSNA. And that is wan... IT IS

G
VERY SIMPLE.
‚...This is our mission. Everything is there. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, yare
he
dekha tare kaha krsna upade... ‘YOU SIMPLY MAKE YOUR LIFE
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on)
SUCCESSFUL BY UNDERSTANDING BHAGAVAD-GITA AND
PREACH THIS. YOU BECOME GURU.’ So where is the difficulty? WHY
skc
DON’T YOU DO THAT?‛ (Conversation, Bombay 4/24/77)
I
‚Amara ajnaya guru hana tara ei desa. Suppose you are living in that village.
of
Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, ‘You become a guru here.’ Here. You haven’t
got to go out. Ei desa,‘where you are living.’ Just see how nice it is. Amara
ice
ajnaya: ‘By My order, you become a guru and deliver the people of this
erv
place.’ This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s.... ‘So I am not a guru. I do not know.
How I shall become?’ NO,YOU HAVEN’T GOT TO BOTHER. Yare dekha
S
tare kaha krsna upadesa: ‘SIMPLY YOU REPEAT WHAT KRSNA HAS
he
SAID.’ YOU BECOME GURU. THAT’S ALL. Everyone can do that. Gita
nt
is there. You sit down in your place and preach Bhagavad-gita and try to
induce them to take it. YOU BECOME GURU.‛
(I
‚S.PRABHUPADA: ...[Y]ou become guru, but you must be qualified first of
aid
all. Then you become. [...] What is the use of producing some rascal guru?
S
D: Well, I have studied myself and all of your disciples, and it’s clear fact that
we are all conditioned souls, so we cannot be guru. Maybe one day it may be
ada
possible...
hup
S.PRABHUPADA: Hm.
D: ...but not now.
rab
S.PRABHUPADA: Yes. I SHALL CHOOSE SOME GURU. I SHALL

P
SAY, ‘NOW YOU BECOME ACARYA. YOU BECOME AUTHORIZED.’

I AM WAITING FOR THAT. YOU BECOME ALL ACARYA. I RETIRE
hat
COMPLETELY. BUT THE TRAINING MUST BE COMPLETE.

D: The process of purification must be there.
W
S.PRABHUPADA: Oh, yes, must be there. CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU

WANTS THAT. AMARA AJNANA GURU HANA.YOU BECOME
and
GURU. But be qualified. Little thing, strictly follower...

uru
D: Not rubber stamp.

S.PRABHUPADA: Then you’ll not be effective. You can cheat, but it will
G
not be effective.
[...]‚Stick to our principle, and see our GBC is very alert. Then everything
he
will be all right, even I am not present. Do that. That is my request. Whatever
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little I have taught you, follow that, and nobody will be aggrieved. No maya
will touch you. Now Krsna has given us, and there will be no scarcity of
skc
money. You print book and sell. So everything is there. We have got good
I
shelter all over the world. We have got income. You stick to our principles,
follow the... Even if I die suddenly, you’ll be able to manage. That’s all. That I
of
want. Manage nicely and let the movement go forward. Now arrange. Don’t
ice
go backward. Be careful. Apani acari prabhu jiveri siksaya [one should teach
by his own example].‛ (Conversation, Bombay 4/22/77)
erv
S
‚Prabhupada: Every one of us messiah. Anyone Krsna conscious, he's the
he
messiah. Every one. Why one? All of us. Gaurangera bhakta-gane, jane jane
nt
sakti dhari, brahmanda tari saksi: "The devotee of Lord Caitanya, every one
has so immense power that every one, they can deliver the whole universe."
(I
Gaurangera bhakta-jane, jane jane sakti..., brahmanda tari... That is
Gauranga's men.
aid
Tamala Krsna: Only you are that powerful, Srila Prabhupada. We're like...
S
Prabhupada: Why you are not?

Tamala Krsna: We're like the bugs.
ada
Prabhupada:You are my disciples. "Like father, like son." You should be.
hup
Gaurangera bhakta-jane. Everyone. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu said,

amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa [Cc. Madhya 7.128]. He asked everyone,
rab
"Just become guru." Follow His instruction, you become guru. Amara ajnaya.
Don't manufacture ideas. Amara ajnaya. "What I say, you do. You become a
P
guru." Where is the difficulty? "And what is Your ajna?" Yare dekha tare kaha
hat
krsna-upadesa. Bas. Everything is there in the Bhagavad-gita. You simply

repeat. That's all. YOU BECOME GURU. TO BECOME A GURU IS NOT
W
DIFFICULT JOB. FOLLOW CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU AND SPEAK

WHAT KRSNA HAS SAID. BAS. YOU BECOME GURU."
and
(Room Conversation, April 15, 1977, Bombay)

My Guru Maharaja, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, he was not that
uru
type of Vaisnava. You should remember. That is his special gift. He wanted
every one of his disciples to go and preach the cult of Krsna consciousness.
G
Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted. Here we are in the Caitanya Mahaprabhu's

country, birthplace. We should remember. Caitanya Mahaprabhu of course
he
asked every Indian to take His mission. At least Bengalis should take
T
294
on)
Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu...What is
Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission?
skc
amara ajnaya guru hana, tara ei desa
I
yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa
of
[Cc. Madhya 7.128]
ice
Even if you cannot go outside, it doesn't matter. Wherever you are, either
you are here in Nabadwip or in Calcutta, anywhere, so YOU JUST
erv
BECOME A GURU. DON'T REMAIN A RASCAL. YOU BECOME A
S
GURU. "Now, how can I become a guru? I am not very educated." No! You
don't require to be very highly educated rascal. SIMPLY REPEAT KRSNA
he
CONSCIOUSNESS AS KRSNA SAID -- YOU BECOME GURU.‛ (Srila
nt
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Prabhupada's Appearance Day, Lecture
(I
-- February 8, 1977, Mayapur)
‚Ramananda Raya, he belonged to the karana caste of Orissa, and he was
grhastha, at the same time in government service. So he was feeling little
aid
shameful like that, that "I am teaching Caitanya Mahaprabhu." So when he

S
was feeling like that, Caitanya Mahaprabhu encouraged him,

kiba vipra kiba sudra nyasi kene naya
ada

[Cc. Madhya 8.128]
hup
"You become a sannyasi or you become a grhastha or you are a brahmana or a

rab
sudra, the Krsna consciousness has nothing to do with these material things.
IF YOU KNOW ACTUALLY WHAT IS KRSNA, THEN YOU CAN
P
BECOME GURU."
hat
‚[…]So Krsna bhajana is so magnanimous, so exalted, in any position YOU

CAN BECOME THE GREATEST GURU, PROVIDED YOU FOLLOW
W
THE FOOTSTEPS OF SRI CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU.‛

and
‚Guru, Caitanya Mahaprabhu has said, amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa
[Cc. Madhya 7.128]. He says that " I ORDER YOU THAT YOU BECOME
uru
GURU. So.., and your business is to deliver this country." "This country"
G
means wherever you are living, you can become guru and deliver them. And
one may say that "You are asking me to become guru, but I have no
he
qualification." A sincere man will say like that: "How can I become guru, and
T
how can I deliver this country?" Caitanya Mahaprabhu says it is not difficult:
295
on)
yare dekha tare kaha krsna-upadesa [Cc. Madhya 7.128]. Krsna-upadesa, there
are two krsna-upadesa. One krsna-upadesa is what Krsna is speaking
skc
personally, Bhagavad-gita; and the other krsna-upadesa, what Vyasadeva is
I
speaking about Krsna. Krsna sa upadesa or krsnena upadesa. Krsnena upadesa
-- Bhagavad-gita. And instruction about Krsna is Srimad-Bhagavatam.
of
‚So my request is that you people of Orissa, you are ordinarily Vaisnava, so
ice
take this seriously. Don't be misguided by rascals who is not guru. There is no
erv
difficulty. Suppose, as Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, yare dekha tare kaha
krsna-upadesa [Cc. Madhya 7.128]: YOU BECOME GURU. Whomever you
S
meet, you simply speak what Krsna has spoken. That's all. It is already there.
YOU HAVE TO REPEAT ONLY, AND YOU BECOME GURU.‛
he
(Lecture Bg 7.1 -- January 22, 1977, Bhuvanesvara)
nt
‚Caitanya Mahaprabhu said that you become a guru. Amara ajnaya guru hana
(I
tara ei desa. You become a guru and deliver them. So I am a fool, I have no
education. How can I become a guru? The answer is ‘No no, Yare dekha tare
aid
kaha krsna-upadesa.’ IF YOU SIMPLY ADVISE PEOPLE WHAT KRSNA

S
HAS SAID, THEN YOU BECOME GURU. But if you manufacture your
ideas, then you are not a guru.‛ (Conversation, Bombay 1/7/77)
ada
hup
1976
rab
P

Sarasvati Thakura, and that knowledge is still going on. You are receiving
hat
through his servant. And in future the same knowledge will go to your
students. This is called parampara system. Evam parampara prap... IT IS NOT
W
THAT YOU HAVE BECOME A STUDENT AND YOU’LL REMAIN

STUDENT. NO. ONE DAY YOU SHALL BECOME ALSO GURU AND
and
MAKE MORE STUDENTS, MORE STUDENTS, MORE. That is Caitanya

Mahaprabhu’s mission, not that perpetually... Yes, ONE SHOULD REMAIN
uru
PERPETUALLY A STUDENT, BUT HE HAS TO ACT AS GURU. That

is the mission of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. It is not that because I am acting as
G
guru, I am no longer student. No, I am still student. Caitanya Mahaprabhu

taught us this instruction that we shall always remain a foolish student before
he
our Guru Maharaja. That is the Vedic culture. I may be very big man, but
T
296
on)
still, I should remain a foolish student to my guru. That is the qualification.
Guru more murkha dekhi’ karila sasana [Cc. Adi 7.71]. We should be always
skc
prepared to be controlled by the guru. That is very good qualification. Yasya
I
prasadad bhagavat-prasadah. Ara na kariha mane asa. So we should become
always a very obedient student to our guru. That is the qualification. That is
of
the spiritual qualification." (Lecture, Hyderabad 12/10/76)
ice
erv
‚I am very pleased that you have taken up this mission of spreading the Krsna
consciousness movement all over the world. This is the wish of Sri Caitanya
S
Mahaprabhu that, yare dakho tare kaho krsna upadesa, everyone you see or
he
meet, tell him about Krsna; amara ajnaya guru haya tara ei desa, and by My
nt
command YOU BECOME A GURU AND SAVE THIS LAND. This was
also the mission of my guru maharaj and IT IS MY MISSION. YOU WILL
(I
PERFECT YOUR LIFE IF YOU MAKE IT ALSO YOUR MISSION.
aid
‚People everywhere are suffering on account of being led by blind leaders

S
who are devoid of all knowledge of the soul. Such foolish men lead other
foolish men and all concerned suffer. Andha yathandhair upaniyamana, when
ada
one blind man leads another, the result is that both of them fall into the
ditch. Therefore THERE IS A REQUIREMENT FOR A SECTION OF
hup
SOCIETY TO BECOME FIRST CLASS MEN, FREE OF THE

rab
INFLUENCE OF THE MODES OF MATERIAL NATURE, WHO CAN

UNDERSTAND THE MISSION OF THIS HUMAN FORM OF LIFE
P
AND WHO CAN TEACH IT TO OTHERS. I AM TRYING TO CREATE

THESE MEN, but it is hard, for people have become lost of all intelligence
hat
due to the coverings of the three modes of material nature. So I AM ONE

MAN ALONE, YET NOW THERE ARE SO MANY NICE BOYS AND
W
GIRLS LIKE YOU TO HELP ME PUSH ON THIS MOVEMENT IN MY

OLD AGE. I thank you very much for your sincere efforts and you have my
and
blessings that you will without a doubt be successful if you stick to the
regulative principles and chant at least 16 rounds a day. Surely Krsna will
uru
recognize your service, and as soon as you are recognized by Krsna, then your
life immediately becomes perfect.‛ (Letter to Jagajivan, 9/1/76)
G
‚I: ...Do you have a successor to take your place when you die?
he
S.PRABHUPADA: Not yet settled up. Not yet settled up.

T
297
on)
I: So what process would the Hare Krsnas...?
skc
S.PRABHUPADA: We have got secretaries. They are managing.
D: He has appointed from all the disciples a group of secretaries. Each one is
I
in charge of a different sector of the world.
of
I: How many secretaries?
ice
D: Presently there’s eighteen.
erv
I: And so that group of eighteen secretaries will choose another leader?
S.PRABHUPADA: I AM TRAINING EACH ONE OF THEM AS
S
LEADER SO THAT THEY CAN SPREAD EXTENSIVELY. THAT IS MY
he
IDEA.‛ (Newsweek Interview, New York 7/14/76)
nt
I: What happens when that inevitable time comes when a successor is
needed?
(I
D: He is asking about the future, who will guide the movement in the future.
aid
S.PRABHUPADA: They will guide. I am training them.

I: Will there be one spiritual leader though?
S
S.PRABHUPADA: NO, I AM TRAINING GBC, EIGHTEEN ALL OVER

ada
THE WORLD.
D: His personal secretaries.
hup
I: I see.‛ (Magazine Interview, Los Angeles 6/10/76)

rab
‚I: Is there anyone who is designated to succeed you as the primary teacher of
the movement?
P
S.PRABHUPADA: I am training some, I mean to say, advanced students so

hat
that they may very easily take up the charge. I have made them GBC. They
are under my direct training, and I think they will be able to conduct this
W
movement.
I: Do you expect to name one person as your successor or have you already?
and
S.PRABHUPADA: That I am not contemplating now. But there is no need

of one person. As other things are managed, but by committee, so this can
uru
also be managed, and the committee may elect one person as chief. As, just
like in the democracy there are senators and there is president, so it may be I
G
may nominate or they can nominate.‛ (Interview, Los Angeles 6/4/76)

he
T
298
on)
‚So that is our mission. ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE COME TO KRSNA
CONSCIOUSNESS MOVEMENT, THAT IS OUR REQUEST, THAT
skc
YOU, ALL OF YOU, BECOME GURU. But don’t speak nonsense. That is
I
our request. Simply speak what Krsna has said. Then you become brahmana.
You’ll be guru, and everything. Thank you very much.‛
of
ice
erv
‚He said that all his disciples should become gurus and each make
S
THOUSANDS OF DISCIPLES, JUST AS HE HAD, THUS SPREADING
KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS EVERYWHERE.
he
‚...YOU EACH BE GURU ,‛ he said. ‚As I have five thousand disciples or
nt
ten thousand, so you have ten thousand each. In this way, create branches
(I
and branches of the Caitanya tree. But you have to be spiritually strong. This
means chanting your rounds and following the four rules. It is not an
artificial show. It is not a material thing. Chant and follow the four rules and
aid
pray to Krsna in helplessness.‛ (Lilamrta VI, pg.167-9)

S
‚So, so nice movement, everyone should take part in it and dedicate to the
mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. And it is not at all difficult. It is very
ada
easy. Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, amara ajnaya guru hana tara ei desa, yare
hup
dekha tare kaha krsna-upadesa. Anywhere, either you are in this district or
that district, it doesn’t matter. Either you are at home or outside home, it
rab
doesn’t matter. YOU BECOME A GURU –EVERYONE.‛

P
hat
1975
W
‚EVERY STUDENT IS EXPECTED TO BECOME ACARYA. Acarya

and
means one who knows the scriptural injunctions and follows them practically
in life, and teaches them to his disciples... Keep trained up very rigidly and
uru
then you are bona fide Guru, and you can accept disciples on the same
principle. But as a matter of etiquette it is the custom that during the lifetime
G
of your Spiritual Master you bring the prospective disciples to him, and IN
he
HIS ABSENCE OR DISSAPEARANCE YOU CAN ACCEPT DISCIPLES

WITHOUT ANY LIMITATION. THIS IS THE LAW OF DISCIPLIC
T
299
on)
SUCCESSION. I want to see my disciples become bonafide Spiritual Master
and spread Krishna consciousness very widely; THAT WILL MAKE ME
skc
I
of
‚So I thank you very much because I see you are doing very good. Now you
are doing something. So you should continue in this way. Do practical solid
ice
work. This is required. You are an old experienced devotee and I have
erv
personally trained you in so many things, so NOW IT IS YOUR
RESPONSIBILITY TO TRAIN OTHERS OTHERWISE WHAT IS THE
S
MEANING OF MY TRAINING YOU? So do it with sincerity and know
he
that Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He will give you all facility and you will be a
nt
success.‛ (Letter to Gurudasa Swami, 11/12/75)
‚ALL OF OUR STUDENTS WILL HAVE TO BECOME GURU, but they
(I
are not qualified. This is the difficulty.‛ (Letter to Alanath, 11/10/75)
aid
[T]O BECOME ACARYA IS NOT VERY DIFFICULT. First of all, to

S
become very faithful servant of your acarya, follow strictly what he says. Try
to please him and spread Krsna consciousness. That's all. It is not at all
ada
difficult. Try to follow the instruction of your Guru Maharaja and spread
hup
Krsna consciousness. That is the order of Lord Caitanya.

amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa
rab
yare dekha tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa

P
[Cc. Madhya 7.128]

"By following My order, you become guru." And if we strictly follow the
hat
acarya system and try our best to spread the instruction of Krsna... Yare dekha
W
tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa. There are two kinds of krsna-upadesa. Upadesa

means instruction. Instruction given by Krsna, that is also 'krsna'-upadesa,
and instruction received about Krsna, that is also 'krsna'-upadesa. Krsnasya
and
upadesa iti krsna upadesa. Samasa, sasti-tat-purusa-samasa. And Krsna visaya

upadesa, that is also Krsna upadesa. Bahu-vrihi-samasa. This is the way of
uru
analyzing Sanskrit grammar. So Krsna's upadesa is Bhagavad-gita. He's

G
directly giving instruction. So one who is spreading krsna-upadesa, simply

repeat what is said by Krsna, then you become acarya. Not difficult at all.
he
Everything is stated there. We have to simply repeat like parrot. Not exactly
T
parrot. Parrot does not understand the meaning; he simply vibrates. But you
300
on)
should understand the meaning also; otherwise how you can explain? So, so
we want to spread Krsna consciousness. Simply prepare yourself how to
skc
repeat Krsna's instructions very nicely, without any malinterpretation. Then,
I
in future... Suppose you have got now ten thousand. We shall expand to
hundred thousand. That is required. Then hundred thousand to million, and
of
million to ten million. […]SO THERE WILL BE NO SCARCITY OF
ice
ACARYA, and people will understand Krsna consciousness very easily. SO
MAKE THAT ORGANIZATION.‛
erv
(Lecture, Cc Adi-lila 1.13 -- Mayapur, April 6, 1975)
S
‚So this movement [is] especially meant to establish the cult of Sri Caitanya
he
Mahaprabhu. THE CULT OF SRI CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU IS
nt
THAT YOU BECOME, EVERY ONE OF YOU, YOU BECOME A GURU.
How to become guru? Now, yare dekha, tare kaha krsna-upadesa. Simply that
(I
qualification is sufficient. Don’t adulterate the krsna-upadesa. You simply
present what Krsna says as it is. THEN EVERY ONE OF YOU WILL
aid
BECOME A GURU. Don’t adulterate.‛ (Lecture Cc 1.4, Mayapur 3/28/75)

S
‚V: What do you see as the future of your movement and are you planning
ada
to...
hup
S.PRABHUPADA: My movement is genuine.

V: ...TO CHOOSE A SUCCESSOR.
rab
S.PRABHUPADA: It is already successful.

P
V: ...SUCCESSOR...
S.PRABHUPADA: Genuine thing is always successful.
hat
V: ...AFTER ...AFTER YOU...

W
S.PRABHUPADA: Gold is gold. If somebody is fortunate, he can purchase

gold, but gold remains gold. If somebody purchases and somebody does not, it
and
doesn’t matter. Gold is gold. So future, gold future is always the same...
[Laughter]...as it is at present –if it is gold. If it is something glittering, that is
uru
another thing.
V: BUT THERE MUST BE SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW, NEEDED TO
G
HANDLE THE THING...

he
T
301
on)
S.PRABHUPADA: Yes, therefore we are preaching, WE ARE CREATING
THESE DEVOTEES WHO WILL HANDLE.‛
skc
(Conversation, Mexico 2/12/75)
I
of
1974
ice
erv
‚I have come here to Mayapur and my health has improved much but still I
S
am suffering from high blood pressure. After all, it is old age. As far as
he
possible Krishna will keep me to work, and when He desires I will go. So I
WISH ALL MY DISCIPLES TO PUSH ON THIS MOVEMENT FOR THE
REHABILITATION OF SUFFERING HUMANITY.‛
nt
(I
(Letter to Tusta Krishna Swami, 10/14/74)
aid
‚I AM TRAINING SOME OF MY EXPERIENCED DISCIPLES HOW TO

S
MANAGE AFTER MY DEPARTURE.‛ (Letter to Karandhara, 10/8/74)

ada
‚From Madhavananda I have heard that there is some worship of yourself by

hup
the other devotees. Of course it is proper to offer obeisances to a Vaishnava,

but not in the presence of the spiritual master. AFTER THE DEPARTURE
rab
OF THE SPIRITUAL MASTER, IT WILL COME TO THAT STAGE, but

P
now wait. Otherwise it will create factions.‛ (Letter to Hansadutta, 10/1/74)

hat
‚I feel happy that even after my departure, things will go on. I AM HAPPY
THAT I HAVE GOT SO MANY SINCERE DEVOTEES WHO WILL
W
CARRY ON. That is my happiness.‛ (Letter to Madhudvisa, 9/18/74)

and
uru
1973
G
‚Yes, I remember the old days in San Francisco. Krsna has been so kind upon
he
me to have sent so many sincere disciples to help me push on this Movement

T
on behalf of my Guru Maharaj. You continue with your program there in San
302
on)
Francisco, always strictly keeping our principles and Krsna will bless you with
greater and greater realization of the importance of this Movement. I AM
skc
DEPENDENT UPON YOU, MY OLDER DISCIPLES, TO CARRY IT
I
ON.‛ (Letter to Jayananda, 12/1/73)
of
‚[...]I AM VERY MUCH HOPEFUL THAT MY DISCIPLES WHO ARE
ice
NOW PARTICIPATING TODAY, even if I die, my movement will not
erv
stop, I am very much hopeful, yes. All these nice boys and girls who have
taken so seriously...‛
S
he
‚YOU WILL HAVE TO become spiritual master... you... ALL MY
nt
DISCIPLES... (I
‚...I HOPE THAT ALL OF YOU, MEN, WOMEN, BOYS AND GIRLS,
aid
BECOME SPIRITUAL MASTER AND FOLLOW THIS PRINCIPLE.

Spiritual master, simply, sincerely, follow the principles and speak to the
S
general public. Then Krsna becomes your favorite. Krsna does not become
ada
your favorite; you become Krsna’s favorite. Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita,
na ca tasmad manusyesu kascin me priya-krttamah. ‘One who is doing this
hup
humble service of preaching work, Krsna consciousness, nobody is dearer

than him to Me.’ SO IF YOU WANT TO BECOME RECOGNIZED BY
rab
KRSNA VERY QUICKLY, YOU TAKE UP THIS PROCESS OF

BECOMING SPIRITUAL MASTER, present the Bhagavad-gita as it is, your
P
life is perfect.‛ (Vyasa-puja Address, London 8/21/73)

hat
‚You are asking me to advise what should be your program, but now I [am]
W
wanting to leave these matters in the hands of my disciples. I have created

GBC specifically for this purpose. IF YOU THE ELDER DISCIPLES
and
CANNOT MANAGE THINGS, THEN WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF

THE SOCIETY?‛ (Letter to Amarendra, 4/19/73)
uru
G
he
T
303
on)
1972
skc
I
‚Now I am old man and a little inclined for retirement, but now our
organization is expanding more and more and I simply want to see that the
of
things get done, therefore I AM RELYING ON YOU, MY SENIOR
ice
DISCIPLES, TO DO EVERYTHING NICELY FOR KRSNA. Thank you
very much for helping me in this way.‛ (Letter to Rebatinandan, 9/25/72)
erv
S
‚So you GBC men are my selected few for insuring that what I am doing will
he
be carried on very nicely for the pleasure of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. SO
NOW YOU MUST ALL MY SENIOR DISCIPLES AND LEADERS
BECOME VERY, VERY MUCH AWARE OF YOUR GRAVE
nt
(I
RESPONSIBILITY TO THE HUMAN SOCIETY for delivering them from
the clutches of catastrophe, and be always cool-headed and utilize every
aid
moment in the best manner possible. I am successful only because I am

following strictly the orders of my Guru Maharaja and do not deviate.
S
Therefore people respect what I am saying and they listen, because I do not
ada
say one thing and do another. So now you are doing my work and YOU
SHALL BE LIKE ME AND BE YOURSELVES THE WORTHY
hup
REPRESENTATIVES OF OUR DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION.‛

rab
‚I am feeling the tendency more and more to retire behind the scenes for
P
translating work, and I WANT TO TURN OVER THE MANAGEMENT

OF EVERYTHING TO THE GBC AND OTHER SENIOR LEADERS
hat
AMONGST MY DISCIPLES, so if you have in future any more matters for

discussing you may assist me in training these leaders and managers by
W
placing your questions before them.‛ (Letter to Bhargava, 6/13/72)

and
‚I am feeling more and more the urge to retire behind the scenes and
uru
translate these Vedic literatures for the greatest benefit for mankind in
general. So I have given you my all senior disciples and leaders everything so
G
IF YOU WILL KINDLY TAKE THIS MATTER VERY SERIOUSLY AND

DO MY WORK FOR ME I SHALL BE VERY MUCH THANKFUL TO
he
YOU ALWAYS.‛ (Letter to Stoka Krsna, 6/13/72)

T
304
on)
"As I am old man, I am traveling all over the world. Now to give me relief, the
GBC members... I shall expand into twelve more so that they can exactly
skc
work like me. GRADUALLY THEY WILL BE INITIATORS. AT LEAST
I
FIRST INITIATION."
(Conversation with the GBC – May 25, 1972, Los Angeles)
of
ice
"So we have got this message from Krsna, from Caitanya Mahaprabhu, from
erv
the six Gosvamis, later on, Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Bhaktisiddhanta
S
Thakura. And we are trying our bit also to distribute this knowledge. NOW,
TENTH, ELEVENTH, TWELFTH... MY GURU MAHARAJA IS TENTH
he
FROM CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU, I AM ELEVENTH, YOU ARE
nt
THE TWELFTH. So distribute this knowledge. People are suffering."
(I
aid
‚Some time ago you asked my permission for accepting some disciples, NOW
THE TIME IS APPROACHING VERY SOON WHEN YOU WILL HAVE
S
MANY DISCIPLES BY YOUR STRONG PREACHING WORK. Stick to

ada
the line of our strong preaching method and many misguided persons will be
blessed by your proper guiding.‛ (Letter to Achyutananda, 5/16/72)
hup
"[...T]his Krsna consciousness movement is very, very essential, very, very

rab
essential. I am very glad to inform you that this movement is being especially
P
received in the Western countries by the younger generation. I AM VERY

MUCH HOPEFUL. I AM OLD MAN OF SEVENTY-SIX YEARS AGE.
hat
NOW, I CAN PASS AWAY AT ANY MOMENT, BUT I AM

CONFIDENT THAT MY DISCIPLES, WHO ARE MOSTLY
W
EUROPEANS AND AMERICANS, THEY WILL CONTINUE THIS

MOVEMENT, and I wish there will be considerable change on the face of
and
the globe." (Lecture -- Bombay, March 18, 1972)

uru
‚[...]I am very much pleased that you are making such nice advancement in
G
Krishna Consciousness and that you are always thinking in so many ways
how to best serve the Lord. By fixing your attention in this way, worrying
he
how He will be pleased with me, you will naturally very soon reach the
T
305
on)
supreme highest perfection of life which is pure Krishna Consciousness. You
should be very serious for trying for it, as I think that you are one of my
skc
senior disciples and I AM VERY MUCH RELYING ON YOU NOW TO
I
CARRY ON THIS MISSION WITH FULL RESPONSIBIITY.
of
‚We must become so responsible for seriously practicing this art of of Krishna
ice
Consciousness, because this world is so full of degrading elements of life for
erv
dragging everyone down and down, and if just a few men can perfect the art,
they can save the rest of all the people from the greatest dangers. So I count
S
you and your godbrothers among those few men who are treading seriously
he
on the path back to Home, back to Godhead, and now we must maintain such
nt
exhalted position and not fall back by neglecting our highest standards of
devotional practices. In this way, what I have introduced into your Western
(I
countries, the pure love for Godhead process of Lord Chaitanya
Mahaprabhu, will go on increasing more and more to have effect by saving
aid
others; OTHERWISE, IT WILL GRADUALLY BECOME MECHANICAL

AND FADE AWAY LIKE EVERY OTHER SO-CALLED RELIGIOUS
S
MOVEMENT. SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THAT I AM VERY

ada
MUCH DEPENDING ON YOU TO BECOME VERY MUCH

CONVINCED YOURSELF OF OUR KRISHNA PHILOSOPHY AND TO
hup
TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR TEACHING OTHERS PURELY.‛

(Letter to Ranadhir, 1/17/72)
rab
‚PRACTICALLY THE LEADERSHIP OF THIS KRISHNA

P
CONSCIOUSNESS SOCIETY IS NOW IN THE HANDS OF YOU MY

OLDER DISCIPLES AND I AM VERY PLEASED THAT YOU ARE
hat
TAKING SUCH HUGE RESPONSIBILITY VERY SERIOUSLY. In this

way remain very sober and cool-headed and always think of Krishna
W
somehow or other, and there is no doubt this Movement will one day conquer
all over the world.‛ (Letter to Makhanlal, 1/5/72)
and
uru
1971
G
he
‚Now you must guide them very nicely in Krishna Consciousness, because
T
you are a veteran devotee and PRACTICALLY SPEAKING THE FUTURE

306
on)
OF OUR KRISHNA CONSCIOUS SOCIETY RESTS IN THE HANDS
OF MY OLDER DISCIPLES. Give them all facility to perfect their lives by
skc
protecting them and instructing them nicely, that is now the duty of my
I
senior disciples.‛ (Letter to Karandhar, 12/3/71)
of
‚So far naming your child is concerned, you as her parents should give her a
ice
suitable name and you can add the prefix bhakta dasi, or servant of the
erv
devotee, as are we all. THEN WHEN SHE GROWS UP AND TAKES
INITIATION FROM A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER, SHE MAY
S
BE GIVEN A NEW NAME AT THAT TIME.‛
he
(Letter to David R. Schomaker – London 9 August, 1971)
nt
(I
‚So far as your taking initiation from Brahmananda Maharaja, I HAVE NO
OBJECTION, but it is the etiquette that in the presence of one’s Spiritual
Master one does not accept disciples.‛ (Letter to John Milner, 3/24/71)
aid
S
ada
1970
hup
‚So my advice to you, I am old man. So EVEN I MAY NOT RETURN, YOU
rab
SHALL CONTINUE THIS KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS MOVEMENT.‛

(Departure Address, Los Angeles 8/2/70)
P
hat
‚Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur entrusted the responsibility to my Guru

Maharaj, and He also in His turn empowered us to do the work. SIMILARLY,
W
I AM REQUESTING YOU, ALL MY EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN

STUDENTS, to spread this movement city to city and village to village and
and
make all people of the world happy.‛ (Letter to Hansadutta, 3/12/70)

uru
1969
G
‚So today is a very auspicious day, Thakura Bhaktivinoda’s birthday. Here is

the picture of Thakura Sac-cid-ananda Bhaktivinoda. He was one of the
he
acaryas of this disciplic succession from Krsna. We have got a succession

T
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on)
table from Krsna, genealogical table. There are two kinds of genealogical
tables, one by the semina. Father, his son, his son, like that. That is material
skc
genealogical table. And there is one spiritual genealogical table, disciplic
I
succession. Just like Krsna. Krsna, the original father, Supreme Personality of
Godhead, He spoke the Vedic knowledge to Brahma, Lord Brahma. He spoke
of
to Narada. Narada spoke to Vyasa. Vyasa spoke to Madhvacarya. So in this
ice
disciplic succession, Lord Caitanya, from Lord Caitanya, the six Gosvamis,
and similarly, coming down, down, Bhaktivinoda Thakura, then Gaurakisora
erv
Dasa Babaji Maharaja, then my spiritual master, then WE ARE NEXT
S
GENERATION, MY DISCIPLES. So there is a disciplic succession.‛
he
nt
‚Every one of us should become spiritual master because the world is in
(I
blazing fire... SPIRITUAL MASTER IS NOT A NEW INVENTION. It is
simply following the orders of the spiritual master. So ALL MY STUDENTS
aid
PRESENT HERE who are feeling so much obliged... I am also obliged to them
S
because they are helping me in this missionary work. At the same time, I
SHALL REQUEST THEM ALL TO BECOME SPIRITUAL MASTER.
ada
EVERY ONE OF YOU SHOULD BE SPIRITUAL MASTER NEXT. And

what is their duty? Whatever you are hearing from me, whatever you are
hup
learning from me, you have to distribute the same in toto without any
addition or alteration. Then all of you become the spiritual master. That is
rab
the science of becoming spiritual master.

P
‚...[D]on’t be satisfied that you have understood [and] that’s all. No. This
should be distributed. Just like in my old age I have come to your country
hat
carrying the order of my spiritual master to distribute it, YOU ARE ALL
YOUNG BOYS AND GIRLS, TAKE THIS MESSAGE AND
W
DISTRIBUTE IT. The whole suffering humanity will be happy. THAT IS

OUR MISSION. Thank you very much.‛
and

uru
‚Regarding your question about the disciplic succession coming down from
G
Arjuna, it is just like I HAVE GOT MY DISCIPLES, SO IN THE FUTURE

THESE MANY DISCIPLES MAY HAVE MANY BRANCHES OF
he
DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION. So in one line of disciples we may not see

T
308
on)
another name coming from a different line. But this does not mean that
[that] person whose name does not appear was not in the disciplic
skc
succession.‛ (Letter to Kirtanananda, 1/25/69)
I
of
‚A first examination will be held sometime next January on Bhagavad Gita
As It Is, and those passing will have the degree of Bhaktishastri. Next year we
ice
will hold an examination on Srimad Bhagavatam, and the person who passes
erv
will have the title Bhaktibaibhava. And the next year we shall hold an
examination on Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Nectar of Devotion and
S
Vedanta Sutra, and those who will successfully passs will be awarded with the
he
title of Bhaktivedanta. BY 1975, ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE PASSED
nt
ALL OF THE ABOVE EXAMINATIONS WILL BE SPECIFICALLY
EMPOWERED TO INITIATE AND INCREASE THE NUMBER OF THE
(I
KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS POPULATION.‛
aid
S
1968
ada
hup
‚He, [in] 1896, Bhaktivinoda Thakura wanted to introduce this Krsna

consciousness movement by sending this book, ‘Shree Chaitanya
rab
Mahaprabhu, His Life and Precepts.’ Fortunately, that year was my birth
P
year, and by Krsna’s arrangement, we came in contact. I was born in a

different family, my Guru Maharaja was born in a different family. Who
hat
knew that I will come to his protection? Who knew that I would come in
America? Who knew that you American boys will come to me? These are all
W
Krsna’s arrangement. We cannot understand how things are taking place.

and
‚In 1936... Today is ninth December, 1938[68]. That means thirty-two years
ago. In Bombay, I was then doing some business. All of a sudden, perhaps on
uru
this date, sometimes between 9 or 10 December. At that time, Guru Maharaja

G
was indisposed little, and he was staying at Jagannath Puri, on the seashore.
So I wrote him [a] letter, ‘My dear master, your other disciples, brahmacari,
he
sannyasi, they are rendering you direct service. And I am a householder. I

T
309
on)
cannot live with you, I cannot serve you nicely. So I do not know. How can I
serve you?’ Simply an idea, I was thinking of serving him, how can I serve him
skc
seriously?
I
‚So the reply was dated 13th December, 1936. In that letter he wrote, ‘My
dear such and such, I am very glad to receive your letter. I think you should
of
try to push our movement in English.’ That was his writing. ‘And that will
ice
[do] good to you and to the people who will help you.’ That was his
erv
instruction. And then in 1936, on the 31st December–that means just after
writing this letter a fortnight before his departure–he passed away.
S
‚But I took that order of my spiritual master very seriously, but I did not
he
think that I’ll have to do such and such thing. I was at that time a
nt
householder. But this is the arrangement of Krsna. If we strictly try to serve
the spiritual master, his order, then Krsna will give us all facilities. That is the
(I
secret. Although there was no possibility, I never thought, but I took it little
seriously by studying a commentary by Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura on
aid
the Bhagavad-gita. In the Bhagavad-gita the verse, vyavasayatmika-buddhih

ekeha kuru-nandana, in connection with that verse Visvanatha Cakravarti
S
Thakura gives his commentary that we should take up the words from the
ada
spiritual master as our life and soul. We should try to carry out the
instruction, the specific instruction of the spiritual master very rigidly
hup
without caring for our personal benefit or loss. So I tried a little bit in that
spirit. So he has given me all facilities to serve him.
rab
‚Things have come to this stage, that in this old age I have come to your
P
country, and you are also taking this movement seriously, trying to
understand it. We have got some books now. So there is little foothold of this
hat
movement. SO ON THIS OCCASION OF MY SPIRITUAL MASTER’S

DEPARTURE, AS I AM TRYING TO EXECUTE HIS WILL,
W
SIMILARLY, I SHALL ALSO REQUEST YOU TO EXECUTE THE

SAME ORDER THROUGH MY WILL. I am an old man, I can also pass
and
away at any moment. That is nature’s law. Nobody can check it. So that is not
very astonishing, but my appeal to you on this auspicious day of the departure
uru
of my Guru Maharaja, that at least to some extent you have understood the
essence of Krsna consciousness movement. You should try to push it on.
G
People are suffering for want of this consciousness.

he
[...]‚So this Krsna consciousness movement is authorized, very important.

NOW, YOU AMERICAN BOYS AND GIRLS WHO HAVE TAKEN TO
T
310
on)
THIS MOVEMENT, PLEASE TAKE IT MORE SERIOUSLY and... That is
the mission of Lord Caitanya and my Guru Maharaja, and we are also trying
skc
to execute the will by disciplic succession. You have come forward to help me.
I
I SHALL REQUEST YOU ALL THAT I SHALL GO AWAY, BUT YOU
SHALL LIVE. Don’t give up pushing on this movement, and you’ll be blessed
of
by Lord Caitanya and His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami
ice
Prabhupada. Thank you very much.‛ (Lecture, Los Angeles 12/9/68)
erv
‚Next January there will be an examination on this Bhagavad-gita. Papers
S
will be sent by me to all centers, and those securing the minimum passing
he
grade will be given the title as Bhaktishastri. Similarly, another examination
nt
will be held on Lord Caitanya’s Appearance Day in February, 1970, and it will
be upon Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita. Those passing will get the
(I
title of Bhaktibaibhava. Another examination will be held sometime in 1971
on the four books, Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Teachings of Lord
aid
Caitanya and Nectar of Devotion. One who will pass this examination will
be awarded with the title of Bhaktivedanta. I want that all of my spiritual
S
sons and daughters will inherit this title of Bhaktivedanta, so that the family
ada
transcendental diploma will continue through the generations. Those

possessing the title of Bhaktivedanta will be allowed to initiate disciples.
hup
MAYBE BY 1975 ALL OF MY DISCIPLES WILL BE ALLOWED TO

INITIATE AND INCREASE THE NUMBERS OF THE GENERATIONS.
rab
THAT IS MY PROGRAM.‛ (Letter to Hansadutta, 12/3/68)

P
‚I am getting gradually older, therefore even if I remain in your country, I

hat
shall restrain my moving and MY MAIN BUSINESS WILL BE

HENCEFORWARD TO TRAIN YOU ALL MY DISCIPLES FOR
W
PREACHING WORK.‛ (Letter to Satsvarupa, 11/1/68)

and
MASTERS, but do not be in a hurry. [...]Don’t be allured by cheap disciples.

Go on steadfastly to render service first. If you immediately become Guru,
uru
then the service activities will be stopped; and as there are many cheap gurus
G
and cheap disciples, without any substantial knowledge, and manufacturing

new sampradayas, and with service activities stopped, and all spiritual
he
progress choked up.‛ (Letter to Achyutananda and Jaya Govinda, 8/21/68)

T
311
on)
‚[...]I am getting more and more enthused that my spiritual children are
growing to Krishna consciousness, and I CAN HOPE EACH ONE OF YOU
skc
IN FUTURE WILL BE ABLE TO PROPAGATE THIS
I
TRANSCENDENTAL MESSAGE.‛ (Letter to Rupanuga, 7/3/68)
of
‚Personally I have no credit for myself, but I am trying to act as faithful
ice
servant of my predecessors and just presenting without any adulteration the
erv
message which I have received from my Spiritual Master. SIMILARLY, IF
THIS MESSAGE IS PRESENTED BY YOU ALL who have accepted me as
S
the Spiritual Master, then all the people of the world may be benefitted by
he
receiving this transcendent message of Krishna Consciousness. Try to
nt
execute this mission wholeheartedly and faithfully, and all of you try to
broadcast the message to your best capacity.‛ (Letter to Krsnadas, 6/1/68)
(I
‚[...]If things go on nicely, we can prepare some preachers so that EVEN IF I
aid
RETIRE, THE MISSIONARY WORK WILL GO ON UNDER THE ABLE

S
GUIDANCE OF SOME OF MY SELECTED DISCIPLES, LIKE YOU,

BRAHMANANDA, RUPANUGA, ETC.‛ (Letter to Rayrama, 2/17/68)
ada
hup
‚[...]I am so happy to hear that you are finding strength to be determined to

spread Krishna Consciousness all over the world; my Guru Maharaj wanted
rab
like that, especially the Western world, and MY ONLY REQUEST IS THAT
YOU ALL SINCERE BOYS AND GIRLS, TO SPREAD THIS KRISHNA
P
CONSCIOUSNESS TO EVERY HOME, TO EVERY VILLAGE AND

TOWN, AND TO TAKE THIS MISSION VERY SERIOUSLY.‛
hat

W
and
1967
uru
‚Lord Chaitanya wanted everyone should be a spiritual master provided he

G
follows the order of Lord Chaitanya. The Lord’s mission was to defeat the
Mayavada philosophy and establish in the philosophy of Krishna
he
consciousness because Krishna is the Supreme Lord the Personality of

T
312
on)
Godhead. Anyone following the order of Lord Chaitanya under the guidance
of His bonafide representative, can become a spiritual master and I WISH
skc
THAT IN MY ABSENCE ALL MY DISCIPLES BECOME THE
I
BONAFIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER TO SPREAD KRISHNA
CONSCIOUSNESS THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE WORLD. I WANT
of
IT...‛ (Letter to Madhusudan, 11/2/67)
ice
erv
‚When I return to India my ambition is to construct an American House at
Vrndaban and get some of you boys and girls there to train for our preaching
S
work in this part of the world. After all, I am an old man. There is no
he
certainty of my life, and at any moment I can collapse and it will not be
nt
surprising. BUT I WISH TO LEAVE SOME OF MY SPIRITUAL
CHILDREN who have so kindly joined me in faith and respect so that they
(I
may work, and this philosophy of Krishna Consciousness may be broadcast all
over the world. You are all educated, cultured, young boys and girls, and if
aid
you understand the philosophy it will be a great help for the suffering
humanity.‛ (Letter to Jadurany, Book of Letters, #67-7-9)
S
ada
‚[...T]here is a program for construction of an American house for training

preachers at Vrindaban. Vrindaban is the only solitary transcendental abode
hup
within this universe where Krishna Consciousness automatically reveals.

rab
Therefore I HAVE A GREAT HOPE TO TRAIN SOME OF MY

DISCIPLES FOR PREACHING WORK, EVEN IN MY ABSENCE. I am
P
now old man, and attacked with serious disease; I may be overcome by death
at any moment. Therefore I WISH TO LEAVE SOME TRAINED
hat
PREACHERS so that they can do the work of Krishna Consciousness in the

western world. That is my ambition. I hope you all pray to Krishna so I may
W
be able to execute my duty properly.‛ (Letter to Janardan et al, 6/28/67)

and
uru
G
he
T
313
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
314
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
on)
skc
I
of
ice
erv
‚AND WHO IS A LIBERATED PERSON? ONE WHO KNOWS
KRISHNA. It is stated in BG, fourth chapter, anyone
S
who knows Krishna in truth is immediately liberated,
and after quitting the present body, he immediately goes
he
to Krishna. That means he becomes a resident of Krishna
nt
Loka. As soon as one is liberated he is immediately a
(I
resident of Krishna Loka, and anyone who knows the
truth of Krishna can become Spiritual Master. That is
aid
the version of Lord Caitanya.‛ (Letter to Mukunda

6/10/69)
S
‚Generally the spiritual master comes from the group of

ada
such eternal associates of the Lord; but ANYONE WHO FOLLOWS THE
PRINCIPLES OF SUCH EVER LIBERATED PERSONS IS AS GOOD AS
hup
ONE IN THE ABOVE MENTIONED GROUP. The gurus from nature’s

study are accepted as such on the principle that an elevated person in
rab
Krishna Consciousness does not accept anyone as disciple, but he accepts

everyone as an expansion of his guru. That is very high position, called
P
Maha-bhagavat. Just like Radharani, sometimes thinks a subordinate of hers

as her teacher, to understand devotion of Krishna. A person who is liberated
hat
acharya and guru cannot commit any mistake, but THERE ARE PERSONS
W
WHO ARE LESS QUALIFIED OR NOT LIBERATED, BUT STILL CAN

ACT AS GURU AND ACHARYA BY STRICTLY FOLLOWING THE
and
DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION. It is the injunction of the shastras that anyone

who sees the Deity in the Temple as made of wood or stone, or considers the
acharyas and gurus as ordinary common men, and discriminates Vaisnavas or
uru
devotees as belonging to a certain group or caste, are called hellish.‛

G
(Letter to Janardana 4/26/68)

he
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315
on)
"TRANSLATION
skc
‚A foolish person who manufactures his own ways and means through
mental speculation and does not recognize the authority of the sages who lay
I
down unimpeachable directions is simply unsuccessful again and again in his
attempts.
of
‚PURPORT
ice
‚At the present moment it has become fashionable to disobey the
erv
unimpeachable directions given by the acaryas and liberated souls of the past.
S
Presently people are so fallen that they cannot distinguish between a
liberated soul and a conditioned soul. A conditioned soul is hampered by four
he
defects: he is sure to commit mistakes, he is sure to become illusioned, he has
nt
a tendency to cheat others, and his senses are imperfect. Consequently we
have to take direction from liberated persons.
(I
aid
‚This Krsna consciousness movement directly receives instructions from the

Supreme personality of Godhead via persons who are strictly following His
S
instructions. ALTHOUGH A FOLLOWER MAY NOT BE A LIBERATED

PERSON, IF HE FOLLOWS the supreme, liberated Personality of Godhead,
ada
his actions are naturally liberated from the contamination of the material
hup
nature. Lord Caitanya therefore says: ‘By My order you may become a
spiritual master.’ ONE CAN IMMEDIATELY BECOME A SPIRITUAL
rab
MASTER by having full faith in the transcendental words of the Supreme

Personality of Godhead and by following His instructions.‛ (SB 4.18.5 ppt.)
P
hat
‚S.PRABHUPADA: Now, our point is that if you are not liberated how you
can become leader? That is cheating.
W
D.P.: This is the... The political, socio-political... I don’t know the sort of...
and
uru
S.PRABHUPADA: Our point is that if you do not get knowledge from

liberated person, that knowledge is useless. That is cheating. [...] It is very
G
easy. Just like a child. If he takes your direction,he is liberated, and if he acts
according to his childish nature, then he’s conditioned. If you take Krsna’s
he
instruction, then you are liberated. If you manufacture your own idea then
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316
on)
you are conditioned. Two things. Child is not actually liberated. He is child.
But because he takes blindly the direction of the father, he’s liberated. That
skc
is mam eva ye prapadyante. ANYONE WHO HAS SURRENDERED TO
I
KRSNA AND STRICTLY FOLLOWS WHAT KRSNA SAYS, THEN HE
IS LIBERATED. Otherwise not. If he manufactures idea then he’s
of
conditioned.
ice
erv
D.P.: It is what? Sarva dharman parityajya?
S
S.PRABHUPADA: Yes, and it is very easy: ‘Henceforward I shall simply
he
follow what Krsna says.’ That’s all. You become liberated immediately. IT IS
nt
ONE MINUTE’S TASK, SIMPLY TO DECIDE THAT ‘NO MORE MY
(I
CONCOCTION, MY IMAGINATION.’ THEN HE IS LIBERATED.
aid
D.P.: But this decision, all these things [sic:] is done by the mind which has
got all the vartmas of the past births.
S
ada
S.PRABHUPADA: Mind may be, but if I ask the mind that ‘You cannot do
anything except what Krsna says,’ then you are liberated. Very easy. You see?
hup
We are doing the same thing. We are not liberated. I am not liberated. But I
am presenting Bhagavad-gita as it is. That’s all. That’s my doing.
rab
P
D.P.: You mean sve sve karmany abhiratah samsiddhim labhate narah. That is
your duty you have. That is what...
hat
W
S.PRABHUPADA: So that verse is very important, that mam eva

prapadyante mayam etan taranti te. AS SOON AS YOU BECOME FULLY
and
SURRENDERED TO KRSNA, YOU ARE LIBERATED, NOT THAT

LIBERATED MEANS ONE HAS TO GROW FOUR HANDS AND
uru
EIGHT LEGS. No. Simply you have to change the consciousness that
‘Henceforward I shall act only as directed by Krsna.’ That’s all. You are
G
liberated. It is one minute....

he
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317
on)
D.P.: How do you get that direction moment by moment, hour by hour?
skc
S.PRABHUPADA: By His representative, by His words, they are present.
I
Where is the difficulty to get His direction? Tad viddhi pranipatena
of
pariprasnena. One who has seen, one who has understood Krsna, take
direction from him. ‘He’s my representative.’ Yasya prasadad bhagavat
ice
prasadah. If you get right guru, then you are liberated. If you follow the
erv
direction, if you want to please him, yasya prasada bhagavat prasadah, then
you are liberated. Otherwise, what is the meaning of this? Mam eva ye
S
prapadyante. THERE IS NO NEED OF WAITING FOR LIBERATION. ‘As
he
soon as one surrenders to Me, he is immediately above the platform of maya.’
nt
Aham tvam sarva papebhyo moksayisyami. Hare Krsna.
[...]
(I
‚Our system, parampara system, is that, for example, I am just a disciple of
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati. I don’t say that l am liberated. I am conditioned.
aid
But because I am following the instruction of Bhaktisiddhanta, I’m liberated.

S
This is the distinction between conditioned and liberated. WHEN ONE IS

UNDER THE DIRECTION OF A LIBERATED PERSON... The same
ada
thing: Electricity. The copper is not electricity, but when it is charged with
electricity if it is touched, that is electricity. And, similarly, this parampara
hup
system, the electricity is going. If you cut the parampara system, then there is
rab
no electricity. Therefore it is stressed so much. Sa kalena mahata yogo nastah

parantapa [Bg 4.2: ‘In course of time the succession was broken, and therefore
P
the science as it is appears to be lost’]. The electricity is lost.‛

hat
W
‚Yes, [those who follow] they’re also pure devotees because they’re following
my instruction. Just like a technician, he is expert, but somebody is assisting
and
him. So the assistants, because they are following the instruction of the
expert, therefore their work is also complete. So IT IS NOT NECESSARILY
uru
THAT ONE HAS TO BECOME PURE DEVOTEE IMMEDIATELY. Just

like we are also following the instruction of our spiritual master. I DON’T
G
CLAIM THAT I AM PURE DEVOTEE OR PERFECT, BUT MY ONLY

QUALIFICATION IS THAT I AM TRYING TO FOLLOW THE
he
INSTRUCTION OF THE PERFECT. Similarly... This is called disciplic

T
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on)
succession. Just like here it is stated that Krsna is the original spiritual master
and Arjuna is the original student.
skc
I
‚[...I]f we follow Arjuna and Krsna, then we get the perfect knowledge. We
of
may not be cent percent perfect, but as far as possible, if we follow the
instruction as it is, that much perfect. In this way one will get perfection. So
ice
one has to follow. The same example, try to understand, that a perfect, expert
erv
technologist or technician or mechanic is working, and somebody is working
under his instruction. So this somebody, because he is strictly working under
S
the instruction of the expert, he’s also expert. He may not be cent percent
he
expert, but his work is expert. Is that clear? Because he is working under the
nt
expert. Do you follow? So IF YOU FOLLOW PURE DEVOTEE, THEN
YOU ARE ALSO PURE DEVOTEE. It may not be one is cent percent pure.
(I
Because we are trying to raise ourself from the conditional life. But IF WE
STRICTLY FOLLOW THE PURE DEVOTEE, THEN WE ARE ALSO
aid
PURE DEVOTEE. So far we do, that is pure. So pure devotee does not mean
one has to become immediately cent percent pure. But IF HE STICKS TO
S
THE PRINCIPLE THAT ‘WE’LL FOLLOW A PURE DEVOTEE,’ THEN

ada
HIS ACTIONS ARE... HE IS AS GOOD AS A PURE DEVOTEE. It is not I

am explaining in my own way. It is the explanation of Bhagavat. Mahajano
hup
yena gatah sa panthah. We have to follow the footprints of pure devotees.‛

rab
P
‚THE INFLUENCE OF THE HOLY NAME IS EXHIBITED BY THE

POWER DELEGATED TO THE DISCIPLE. That means if a disciple, by
hat
chanting the holy name in pursuance of the direction of the spiritual master,
W
comes to the perfectional stage, [then] at that time, he is eligible to distribute

the holy name to the world and is able to make disciples also. SIMPLY BY
CHANTING THE HOLY NAME OF THE LORD, AND BECAUSE HE IS
and
EMPOWERED NOW BY THE SPIRITUAL POTENCY OF THE LORD,

HE CAN MAKE DISCIPLES ALL OVER THE WORLD. [By] such
uru
propaganda work, the whole world begins to chant Hare Krsna. Because in
G
the form of the holy name, Krsna Himself controls the whole world in that
way.‛ (Lecture, Seattle 10/21/68)
he
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319
on)
‚D1: I remember over five years ago you telling me about, ‘If you read the first
nine cantos of Srimad-Bhagavatam, you become fully Krsna conscious.’
skc
Would you kindly tell me what does it mean to be fully Krsna conscious?
I
S.PRABHUPADA: What do you understand, fully Krsna conscious?
of
D1: What does it mean to be fully Krsna conscious?
S.PRABHUPADA: No, what you mean, first of all let me know.
ice
D2: What do you think fully Krsna concious means? You tell Prabhupada.
erv
D1: It’s to see Krsna face to face?
S
S.PRABHUPADA: That means Krsna conscious? Everyone is seeing Krsna
he
face to face. When you go to the temple Krsna is there, and you are seeing.
Does it mean everyone is Krsna conscious?
D1: No.
nt
(I
S.PRABHUPADA: Then what is the meaning of Krsna conscious?
aid
D3: Brahma-bhutah prasannatma na socati na kanksati.

S.PRABHUPADA:Hm, that is part of Krsna consciousness, brahma bhutah.
S
REAL KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS IS: ‘KRSNA IS MASTER, I AM

ada
SERVANT.’ This Is Krsna Consciousness.

D1: To understand that you’re the servant and Krsna is the master. I see.
hup
S.PRABHUPADA: When you fully understand, that is your Krsna... That is

Krsna conscious. ...So long you think that ‘I can also become like Krsna,’ then
rab
you are not Krsna conscious.

P
D1: In other words, if you still have material desires you can’t be fully Krsna
conscious.
hat
S.PRABHUPADA: Yes. That is the beginning of Krsna consciousness,

W
anyabhilasita-sunyam. Make all your material desires zero.

D1: Thank you very much.
and
S.PRABHUPADA: That is Krsna conscious. You should only desire to serve

Krsna. ...Clear or not?
uru
D1: Very clear. Thank you very much.

G
D2: What if a person doesn’t desire material enjoyment, but still, there is so
much dirt?
he
T
320
on)
S.PRABHUPADA: Hm? Who is that person who has no material desires?
skc
D2: A person really wants to be Krsna conscious, but somehow or another, so
much dirts gets in the way.
I
S.PRABHUPADA: Yes. Dirt means it is not yet zero. I said that all material
of
desires should be made zero. Anyabhilasita-sunyam.
D2: As soon as the desires completely change, then everything else is
ice
purified.
erv
S.PRABHUPADA: Yes. As Arjuna said, karisye vacanam tava nasto mohah:
S
‘Now my illusion is over. I agree to act as you say.’ This is Krsna conscious.
Nastah mohah smrtir labdha tvat prasadan madhusudana. [...]The moha is
he
there. Moha means these desires are illusion, like dreaming. In dream we see
nt
so many things. They are all false. In dreaming I am seeing that somebody is
(I
coming to kill me but there is nobody, but still, I am dreaming. This is called
moha. So when one is free from moha, then he’s Krsna conscious.‛
aid

‚A conditioned soul in the material world has the disqualification of
S
cheating. He has four disqualifications: he is sure to commit mistakes, he is

ada
sure to be illusioned, he is prone to cheat others, and his senses are imperfect.
BUT IF ONE CARRIES OUT THE ORDER OF THE SPIRITUAL
hup
MASTER BY DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION, OR THE PARAMPARA

SYSTEM, HE OVERCOMES THE FOUR DEFECTS.‛ (SB 3.24.12)
rab
P
‚Liberated soul never says that ‘I am liberated.’ As soon as he says ‘liberated’

he’s a rascal. A liberated soul will never say that, ‘I am liberated.’ Caitanya
hat
Mahaprabhu, He is God [still, He said] –guru more murkha dekhi karila sasan.
‘My Guru Maharaja saw me a fool number one and he has chastised Me.’ He’s
W
God. This is the example. IF ONE REMAINS ALWAYS A SERVANT

EVERLASTINGLY OF GURU, THEN HE’S LIBERATED. And as soon as
and
he thinks that he is liberated, he’s a rascal. That is the teaching of Caitanya

uru
‚Krishna Consciousness is itself Brahma platform, so all our students who are
G
engaged in the service of God, they are not on the material platform. THEY
ARE ALREADY LIBERATED...‛ (Letter to Sachisuta, 9/19/69)
he
T
321
on)
‚S.PRABHUPADA: So, when you want to learn something, you have to
approach a teacher, and if the teacher is perfect, then you get perfect
skc
knowledge. This is the process. If the teacher is only another rascal like you,
I
then whatever knowledge he may give you is useless. The teacher must be
perfect; he must have real knowledge. Then he can teach. Therefore, the
of
process is that you have to find out a perfect teacher. If you are fortunate,
ice
and you get such a perfect teacher, then you can learn everything. But if you
approach a teacher who is blind as you are, then you don’t learn anything.
erv
S
DR.BENFORD: Are there many perfect teachers?
he
nt
S.PRABHUPADA: Yes. Otherwise, there is no question of accepting a
(I
teacher. The first perfect teacher is Krsna, and others are those who have
learned from Him. For example, you are a scientist. Suppose I learn
something from you. Even if I am not a scientist, because I have learned from
aid
you my knowledge is perfectly scientific.

S
ada
DR.BENFORD: I don’t understand.

hup
S.PRABHUPADA: Suppose a child goes to a mathematics teacher, and he

says, ‘Two plus two equals four.’ The child is not a mathematician, but if he
rab
accepts the teacher’s teaching, ‘Two plus two equals four,’ and repeats that,
P
then his knowledge is perfect.

hat
DR.BENFORD: But how does one know when the teacher is perfect? It
W
seems to be very difficult.

and
S.PRABHUPADA: No, it is not difficult. A TEACHER IS PERFECT WHO

HAS LEARNED FROM A PERFECT TEACHER.
uru
G
DR.BENFORD: But that merely removes the problem a step.

he
S.PRABHUPADA: No, it is not a problem. There is a perfect teacher, Krsna,

T
322
on)
who is accepted by all classes of teachers as their teacher. In India, the Vedic
civilization is conducted by Vedic teachers. All these Vedic teachers accept
skc
Krsna as the supreme teacher. They take lessons from Krsna, and they teach
I
the same message. That is the process.
of
DR.BENFORD: So everyone I might meet who accepts Krsna as the perfect
ice
teacher is the perfect teacher?
erv
S
S.PRABHUPADA: Yes, because he is teaching only Krsna’s teachings, that’s
all. It is the same as the example we gave before: they may not be personally
he
perfect, but whatever they are speaking is perfect because it is taught by
nt
Krsna. (I
DR.BENFORD: Then you are not perfect.
aid
S
S.PRABHUPADA: No, I am not perfect. None of us claims to be perfect; we

have so many faults. But because we don’t speak anything beyond Krsna’s
ada
teachings, our teaching is therefore perfect...‛

hup

rab
‚J: Krsna says in Bhagavad-gita that one who knows Him knows everything.
P
S.PRABHUPADA: Yes. But IF HE KNOWS THAT KRSNA IS THE

hat
SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, THEN HE KNOWS

W
EVERYTHING. THAT’S ALL. Not that he should know as Krsna. If he...

Yasmin vijnate sarvam eva vijnatam... If he accepts Krsna, the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, the Absolute Truth, then he knows everything.
and
That is finish.‛
(Morning Walk, Mayapur 4/8/75)
uru
G
‚As stated hereinbefore, there are three kinds of devotees of the Lord. The
first-class devotee does not see anyone who is not in the service of the Lord,
he
but the second-class devotee makes distinctions between devotees and

T
323
on)
nondevotees. The second-class devotees are therefore meant for preaching
work, and as referred to in the above verse, they must loudly preach the
skc
glories of the Lord. THE SECOND-CLASS DEVOTEE ACCEPTS
I
DISCIPLES FROM THE SECTION OF THIRD-CLASS DEVOTEES OR
NONDEVOTEES.
of
ice
erv
‚SOMETIMES the first-class devotee also comes down to the category of the
S
second-class devotee for preaching work. But the common man, who is
expected to become at least a third-class devotee, is advised herein to visit the
he
temple of the Lord and bow down before the Deity, even though he may be a
nt
very rich man or even a king with a silk turban or crown.‛
(I (SB 2.3.21 ppt.)
‚13. He [the serious candidate for going back to Godhead] must not take on
aid
unlimited disciples. THIS MEANS THAT A CANDIDATE WHO HAS

SUCCESSFULLY FOLLOWED THE FIRST TWELVE ITEMS CAN
S
ALSO BECOME A SPIRITUAL MASTER HIMSELF, just as a student

becomes a monitor in class with a limited number of disciples.‛
ada
(EJTOP, 7th Printing,pg.34)

hup
‚There are three divisions of devotees –first-class, second-class and

third-class. EVEN THE THIRD-CLASS DEVOTEES ARE LIBERATED
rab
SOULS. It is explained in this verse that although they do not have

knowledge, simply by seeing the beautiful decoration of the Deity in the
P
temple, the devotee is absorbed in thought of Him and loses all other
consciousness. Simply by fixing oneself in Krsna consciousness, engaging the
hat
senses in the service of the Lord, one is imperceptibly liberated. This is also
W
confirmed in Bhagavad-gita. Simply by discharging uncontaminated

devotional service as prescribed in the scriptures, one becomes equal to
and
Brahman. In Bhagavad-gita it is said, brahma-bhuyaya kalpate.‛

(SB 3.25.36 ppt.)
uru
‚One can thus conclude that when a person shows love for God and
friendship for devotees, displays mercy towards the innocent and is reluctant
G
to associate with nondevotees, HE MAY BE CONSIDERED A PURE

DEVOTEE.‛ (TLC Ch.11, 1974 Ed., pg.119)
he
T
324
on)
‚Anyone from any part of the world who becomes well conversant in the
science of Krsna BECOMES A PURE DEVOTEE AND A SPIRITUAL
skc
MASTER FOR THE GENERAL MASS OF PEOPLE and may reclaim them
I
by purification of heart.‛ (SB 2.4.18 ppt.)
of
‚EVERY VAISNAVA IS A SPIRITUAL MASTER, and a spiritual master is
ice
automatically expert in brahminical behavior.‛ (C.c. Madhya 24.330 ppt.)
erv
S
‚SRILA BHAKTIVINODA THAKURA SAID THAT THE POSITION OF
A VAISNAVA CAN BE TESTED BY SEEING HOW GOOD A
he
TOUCHSTONE HE IS –that is, by seeing how many Vaisnavas he has made
nt
during his life. A Vaisnava should be a touchstone so that he can convert
(I
others to Vaisnavism by his preaching. [...] Kanistha-adhikari devotees
cannot turn others into Vaisnavas, BUT A MADHYAMA-ADHIKARI
VAISNAVA CAN DO SO BY PREACHING. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
aid
advised His followers to increase the numbers of Vaisnavas.‛

S
(C.c. M.24.277 purp. ppt.)

ada
‚Anyone who is coming to Krsna consciousness, he’s not ordinary living

hup
being. ANYONE WHO IS CONNECTED WITH OUR MOVEMENT,

HE’S NOT ORDINARY LIVING BEING. ACTUALLY HE’S LIBERATED
rab
SOUL.‛ (Vyasa Puja Lecture, London 8/21/73)

P
‚You speak of pure devotee, that he is saktavesha avatar, that we should obey
hat
him only –these things are the wrong idea. IF ANYONE THINKS LIKE
THAT, THAT A PURE DEVOTEE SHOULD BE OBEYED AND NO
W
ONE ELSE, THAT MEANS HE IS A NONSENSE. We advise everyone to

address one another as Prabhu. Prabhu means master, so how the master
and
should be disobeyed? Others, they are also pure devotees. ALL OF MY

DISCIPLES ARE PURE DEVOTEES. ANYONE SINCERELY SERVING
uru
THE SPIRITUAL MASTER IS A PURE DEVOTEE, it may be

Siddhaswarup or others, a-Siddhaswarup. This must be very clearly stated. It
G
is not only that your Siddhaswarup is a pure devotee and not others. Do not
try to make a faction. Siddhaswarup is a good soul. But others should not be
he
misled. ANYONE WHO IS SURRENDERED TO THE SPIRITUAL

T
325
on)
MASTER IS A PURE DEVOTEE, it doesn’t matter if Siddhaswarup or
non-Siddhaswarup. Amongst ourselves one should respect others as Prabhu,
skc
master, one another. As soon as we distinguish here is a pure devotee, here is
I
a non-pure devotee, that means I am a nonsense. Why you only want to be in
the spiritual sky with Siddhaswarup? Why not all? If Siddhaswarup can go,
of
why not everyone? Siddhaswarup will go, you will go, Shyamasundar will go,
ice
all others will go. We will have another ISKCON there.‛
erv
S
he
nt
(I
aid
S
ada
hup
rab
P
hat
W
and
uru
G
he
T
326
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
327
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
328
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
on)
skc
I
of
ice
erv
S
‚J: ...But sometimes, from our material viewpoint, we see some discrepancies.
Just like we think that...
he
S.PRABHUPADA: Because material viewpoint. The
nt
viewpoint is wrong, therefore you find discrepancies.
(I
J: So we should think that we have the defect.
S.PRABHUPADA: Yes. Acarya is explained,
aid
bhakti-samsanah: ‘ONE WHO’S PREACHING THE

S
CULT OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE, HE’S

ACARYA.’ Then why should you find any discrepancy?
ada
J: Because we see... For instance, sometimes the acarya may seem to forget
something or not to know something, so from our point of view, if someone
hup
has forgotten, that is...

rab
S.PRABHUPADA: No, no, no. Then...

J: ...an imperfection.
P
S.PRABHUPADA: That is not the... Then you do not understand.

hat
ACARYA IS NOT GOD, OMNISCIENT. HE IS SERVANT OF GOD. HIS

BUSINESS IS TO PREACH BHAKTI CULT. THAT IS ACARYA.
W
J: And that is the perfection.

S.PRABHUPADA: THAT IS THE PERFECTION. Hare Krsna.
and
J: So we have a misunderstanding about what perfection is?

uru
S.PRABHUPADA: Yes. PERFECTION IS HERE, HOW IS HE

PREACHING BHAKTI CULT. THAT’S ALL.
G
[...]‚S: Prabhupada, in one purport in the Bhagavad-gita you write that a

disciple of a bona fide spiritual master is supposed to know everything.
he
T
S.PRABHUPADA: Yes, if he follows the spiritual master.

329
on)
S: But how could he know...? What does that mean, ‘everything’?
skc
S.PRABHUPADA: ‘Everything’ means whatever his guru knows, he should
know. That much. Not like God, everything. Within his limits. That’s all. If
I
he tries to understand whatever his guru has said, that much is ‘everything.’
Otherwise, ‘everything’ does not mean that we know everything like God,
of
like Krsna. That is not possible. IF HE REGULARLY CHANTS AND
ice
FOLLOWS THE REGULATIVE PRINCIPLES, FOLLOWS THE ORDER
erv
OF GURU, THEN HE KNOWS EVERYTHING. THAT’S ALL. NOT
VERY MUCH. Knows everything... Then what is the use of reading books
S
when he knows everything? [Break]
he
‚...[E]verything... except Krsna. Aham... Sarvasya caham hrdi sannivistho. He
nt
knows past, present, future, everything. You cannot expect anyone to know
like Krsna everything.
(I
J: Krsna says in Bhagavad-gita that one who knows Him knows everything.
S.PRABHUPADA: Yes. But IF HE KNOWS THAT KRSNA IS THE
aid
SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, THEN HE KNOWS

S
EVERYTHING. THAT’S ALL. Not that he should know as Krsna. If he...

Yasmin vijnate sarvam eva vijnatam... If he accepts Krsna, the Supreme
ada
Personality of Godhead, the Absolute Truth, then he knows everything.

That is finish.‛ (Morning Walk, Mayapur 4/8/75)
hup
rab
P
hat
W
and
uru
G
he
T
330
on)
skc
I
of
ice
erv
S
he
‚Thank you for your nice appreciation of the Spiritual Master. UNLESS
nt
ONE HAS GOT UTMOST CONFIDENCE IN BOTH (I
SPIRITUAL MASTER AND KRSNA HE CANNOT
ADVANCE ON THE PATH OF BHAKTI YOGA OF
aid
KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS. Please keep up this nice

attitude and render service sincerely and your life will
S
come to perfection, love of Krsna.‛ (Letter to Danavir,

ada
2/11/71)
hup
‚GURUS CANNOT BE OF DIFFERENT TYPES. ALL

GURUS ARE OF ONE TYPE.‛ (PQPA, Ch.3, pg. 28)
rab
‚Guru is only one. Guru means, as you explained, ajnana-timirandhasya

P
jnananjana-salakaya, caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah. One

who eradicates the ajnana, andhakara, darkness. In the darkness, if somebody
hat
brings lamp, ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya..., the jnana-rupa,

torchlight, he’s guru. SO MAYBE OF DIFFERENT DEGREES, BUT
W
ANYONE WHO OPENS THE SPIRITUAL EYES, HE’S GURU.

‚So..., but in the sastras it is said, gurur api karyakaryakam ajanatah, IF I
and
ACCEPT SOME GURU, BUT IF LATER ON IT APPEARS THAT HE

DID NOT KNOW WHAT IS TO BE DONE, WHAT IS NOT TO BE
uru
DONE, THEN SRILA JIVA GOSVAMI SAYS THAT SUCH GURU:

G
PARITYAGO VIDHIYATE, SUCH GURU SHOULD BE REJECTED.

‚BUT IT DOESN’T MATTER THAT DEGREE. ACTUALLY, IF THE
he
GURU TEACHES KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS, THEN HE MAY BE IN

T
LESSER DEGREE, BUT HE’S ACCEPTED AS GURU. THERE IS NO

331
on)
QUESTION OF REJECTION. Because Krsna is actually jnana, one who
teaches Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, ‚one has to know
skc
Krsna, one has to surrender to Krsna,‛ this kind of teaching is required.
I
of
‚[...] So the real test is whether the guru is a Vaisnava, whether he knows the
science of Krsna. That is also confirmed by Caitanya Mahaprabhu: kiba vipra
ice
kiba sudra nyasi kene naya, yei krsna-tattva vettha sei guru haya. A... IT
erv
DOESN’T MATTER WHAT HE IS, whether he’s a sannyasi or a grhastha
or a brahmana or a su..., born in brahmana family or.... It doesn’t matter. Yei
S
krsna-tattva, anyone who knows Krsna, he can become guru, not others. So
he
that is the statement of the sastras. A avaisnava cannot become guru.‛
nt
(I(Lecture, Ahmedabad 12/13/72)
‚What you have to do is simply try to understand what a genuine guru is. The
aid
definition of a genuine guru is that he is simply talking about God –that’s all.
If he is talking about some other nonsense, then he is not a guru. A GURU
S
CANNOT BE BAD. THERE IS NO QUESTION OF A BAD GURU, any

more than a red guru or a white guru. GURU MEANS ‘GENUINE GURU.’
ada
All we have to know is that the genuine guru is simply talking about God and
hup
trying to get people to become God’s devotees. IF HE DOES THIS, HE IS

GENUINE.‛ (SSR, 4th.Printing, pg.71)
rab
P
‚I1: If one has accepted a bona fide spiritual master and he did not receive
much knowledge from him, can he change his spiritual master at later...
hat
W
S.PRABHUPADA: A bona fide spiritual master, where is the necessity of

changing?
and
I1: No, he has not got the knowledge from him, but... can I change..?
uru
S.PRABHUPADA: No, no, bona fide spiritual means he must get knowledge.
He must get knowledge. He must inquire from the... The student must
G
inquire from the spiritual master. If he remains dumb, then what bona fide
spiritual master can do? Adau gurv-asrayam sad-dharma-prcchat, jijnasuh.
he
He must be jijnasuh. He must be jijnasuh. We get so many letters daily. So

T
332
on)
many inquiries. The student must be very inquisitive. Otherwise how he shall
make progress? If he remains dumb, then what the bona fide spiritual master
skc
can do?
I
of
‚If you go to a very nice school but if you do not study, if you do not inquire,
then what is the use of going to the nice school? You must be also very alert to
ice
inquire, to understand, to make progress. Then it will be all right. If you do
erv
not utilize the benefit of having a bona fide spiritual master, then that is your
fault. You must utilize the opportunity. We are publishing so many books, so
S
many literatures, magazines, why? Just to enlighten more and more. But if you
he
don’t take advantage of this, then how can you make progress? CHANGE OF
nt
SPIRITUAL MASTER [sic:] REQUIRES WHEN THE SPIRITUAL
MASTER IS NOT BONA FIDE. OTHERWISE THERE IS NO
(I
NECESSITY OF CHANGING. (Lecture [Q&A], London 9/23/69)
aid
"TRANSLATION
S
The spiritual master should be considered to be directly the Supreme Lord

ada
because he gives transcendental knowledge for enlightenment.

Consequently, FOR ONE WHO MAINTAINS THE MATERIAL
hup
CONCEPTION THAT THE SPIRITUAL MASTER IS AN ORDINARY

HUMAN BEING, EVERYTHING IS FRUSTRATED. His enlightenment
rab
and his Vedic studies and knowledge are like the bathing of an elephant.
P
PURPORT
hat
‚IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT ONE HONOR THE SPIRITUAL

W
MASTER AS BEING ON AN EQUAL STATUS WITH THE SUPREME

PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD. Saksad dharitvena samasta-sastraih. This
and
is enjoined in every scripture. Acaryam mam vijaniyat. One should consider

the acarya to be as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In spite of
uru
all these instructions, IF ONE CONSIDERS THE SPIRITUAL MASTER

AN ORDINARY HUMAN BEING, ONE IS DOOMED. His study of the
G
Vedas and his austerities and penances for enlightenment are all useless, like
the bathing of an elephant. An elephant bathes in a lake quite thoroughly,
he
but as soon as he comes on the shore it takes some dust from the ground and
T
333
on)
strews it over its body. Thus there is no meaning to the elephant’s bath. One
may argue by saying that since the spiritual master’s relatives and the men of
skc
his neighborhood consider him an ordinary human being, what is the fault
I
on the part of the disciple who considers the spiritual master an ordinary
human being? This will be answered in the next verse, but THE
of
INJUNCTION IS THAT THE SPIRITUAL MASTER SHOULD NEVER
ice
BE CONSIDERED AN ORDINARY MAN. One should strictly adhere to
the instructions of the spiritual master, for if he is pleased, certainly the
erv
Supreme Personality of Godhead is pleased. Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado
S
yasyaprasadan na gatih kuto’pi.
he
nt
"TRANSLATION
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krsna, is the master of all other
(I
living entities and of the material nature. His lotus feet are sought and
worshiped by great saintly persons like Vyasa. Nonetheless, there are fools
aid
who consider Lord Krna an ordinary human being.

S
PURPORT ‚The example of Lord Krsna’s being the Supreme Personality of

Godhead is appropriate in regard to understanding the spiritual master. THE
ada
SPIRITUAL MASTER IS CALLED SEVAKA-BHAGAVAN, THE

SERVITOR PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, and Krsna is called
hup
sevya-bhagavan, the Supreme Personality of Godhead who is to be

rab
worshiped. THE SPIRITUAL MASTER IS THE WORSHIPER GOD,

whereas the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, is the worshipable God.
P
This is the difference between the spiritual master and the Supreme
Personality of Godhead.
hat
W
‚Another point: Bhagavad-gita, which constitutes the instructions of the

Supreme Personality of Godhead, is presented by the spiritual master as it is,
and
without deviation. Therefore the Absolute Truth is present in the spiritual

master. As clearly stated in Text 26, jvana-dipa-prade. The Supreme
uru
Personality of Godhead gives real knowledge to the entire world, and the
spiritual master, as the representative of the Supreme Godhead, carries the
G
message throughout the world. THEREFORE, ON THE ABSOLUTE

PLATFORM, THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SPIRITUAL
he
MASTER AND THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD. If

T
someone considers the Supreme Personality –Krsna or Lord Ramacandra– to

334
on)
be an ordinary human being, this does not mean that the Lord becomes an
ordinary human being. Similarly, if the family members of the spiritual
skc
master, who is the bona fide representative of the Supreme Personality of
I
Godhead, consider the spiritual master an ordinary human being, this does
not mean that he becomes an ordinary human being. THE SPIRITUAL
of
MASTER IS AS GOOD AS THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF
ice
GODHEAD, AND THEREFORE ONE WHO IS VERY SERIOUS
ABOUT SPIRITUAL ADVANCEMENT MUST REGARD THE
erv
SPIRITUAL MASTER IN THIS WAY. EVEN A SLIGHT DEVIATION
S
FROM THIS UNDERSTANDING CAN CREATE DISASTER IN THE
DISCIPLE’S VEDIC STUDIES AND AUSTERITIES.‛ (SB 7.15.26-27)
he
‚Damodara pandita was a great devotee of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
nt
Sometimes, however, a person in such a position becomes impudent, being
(I
influenced by the external energy and material considerations. Thus a
devotee mistakenly dares to criticize the activities of the spiritual master or
aid
the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Despite the logic that ‘Caesar’s wife
must be above suspicion,’ a devotee should not be disturbed by the activities
S
of his spiritual master and should not try to criticize him. A DEVOTEE
SHOULD BE FIXED IN THE CONCLUSION THAT THE SPIRITUAL
ada
MASTER CANNOT BE SUBJECT TO CRITICISM AND SHOULD

hup
NEVER BE CONSIDERED EQUAL TO A COMMON MAN. Even if there

appears to be some discrepancy according to an imperfect devotee’s
rab
estimation, the devotee should be fixed in the conviction that even if his
spiritual master goes to a liquor shop, he is not a drunkard; rather, he must
P
have some purpose in going there. it is said in a Bengali poem:

hat
yadyapi nityananda sura-badi yaya

tathapio haya nityananda-raya
W
‘Even if I see that Lord Nityananda has entered a liquor shop, I shall not be
diverted from my conclusion that Nityananda Raya is the Supreme
and
Personality of Godhead.’‛ (Cc Antya 3.11)

uru
‚D: The spiritual master gives knowledge, and then a disciple is eternally
G
indebted to the spiritual master.

he
S.PRABHUPADA: Yes.
T
335
on)
D: It is not that, like Mayavadis, they serve the spiritual master in the
beginning and then they...
skc
I
S.PRABHUPADA: Then they...
of
ice
D: ...themselves become...
erv
S.PRABHUPADA: ...throw him away, ‘Go away. I have now learned.’
S
Guru-mara-vidya, the knowledge of how to kill guru. Guru-mara-vidya.
he
Their, the philosophy is that you cannot rise up. You take a ladder. But AS
SOON AS YOU RISE, THROW AWAY THE LADDER. NO MORE. NO
nt
MORE NEEDED. THAT IS MAYAVADA PHILOSOPHY. Our philosophy
(I
is dhyayam stuvams tasya yasyas tri-sandhyam. [I should always remember and
praise the spiritual master. At least three times a day I should offer my
aid
respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master.]

S
D: Three...
ada
hup
S.PRABHUPADA: Eternally. [...]We should always remain servant of the

servant. NEVER WE SHALL THINK THAT ‘I AM BETTER THAN MY
rab
GURU MAHARAJA. THAT IS FALL DOWN.’‛

P
(Morning Walk, Los Angeles 12/5/73)

hat
‚ONE MUST LOVE THE SPIRITUAL MASTER WITH UNFLINCHING

W
FAITH, and one must be very steady and fixed. The bona fide disciple should
be inquisitive to understand transcendental subject matter. HE MUST NOT
SEARCH OUT FAULTS AMONG GOOD QUALITIES, and he should no
and
longer be interested in material topics. His only interest should be Krsna, the
Supreme Personality of Godhead.‛
uru
(Cc Madhya 24.330)

G
‚A Spiritual Master is always liberated. In any condition of His life He should

he
not be mistaken as ordinary human being. This position of a Spiritual Master

T
336
on)
is achieved by three processes. One is called saddhan siddha. That means one
who is liberated by executing the regulative principle of devotional service.
skc
Another is kripa siddha, one who is liberated by the mercy of Krsna or His
I
devotee. And another is nitya siddha who is never forgetful of Krsna
throughout his whole life. These are the three features of the perfection of
of
life.
ice
erv
‚So far Narada Muni is concerned, in His previous life He was a
maidservant’s son, but by the mercy of the devotees He later on became
S
siddha and next life He appeared as Narada with complete freedom to move
he
anywhere by the grace of the Lord. So even though He was in his previous
nt
life a maidservant’s son there was no impediment in the achievement of His
perfect spiritual life. Similarly any living entity who is conditioned can
(I
achieve the perfectional stage of life by the above mentioned processes and
the vivid example is Narada Muni. So I do not know why you have asked
aid
about my previous life. Whether I was subjected to the laws of material

nature? So, even though accepting that I was subjected to the laws of material
S
nature, does it hamper in my becoming Spiritual Master? What is your

ada
opinion?
hup
‚From the life of Narada Muni it is distinct that although He was a

rab
conditioned soul in His previous life, there was no impediment of His

becoming the Spiritual Master. This law is applicable not only to the
P
Spiritual Master, but to every living entity. There are thousands of examples
explained in our books that the conditioned soul is never affected with the
hat
material body. It is said in the Vedas asanga ayam purusa which means the
living entity is always unaffected with matter. Another example is given that
W
the reflection of the moon on water appears to be moving, but actually the
moon is not moving, it is fixed up. So any living entity is like that. His
and
reflection on the material body appers to be changing, but the spirit soul is
fixed up, therefore this movement is called illusion.
uru
‚Liberation means liberation from this changing condition.‛

G
(Letter to Tamal Krishna, 6/21/70)

he
T
337
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
338
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
on)
skc
I
of
ice
erv
S
‚S.PRABHUPADA: No, this argument is not very strong. Just like one
foodstuff, freshly made, it is fresh. But if somebody argues that if it remains
he
four days more it will become bad, that is surmisation. Now it is fresh. We
nt
take it fresh. What will happen in future, that is no
(I
consideration. In future, everyone may fall and everyone
may become elevated. But WE HAVE TO TAKE HIS
PRESENT SITUATION, WHAT HE IS AT PRESENT.
aid
F: But couldn’t it be the difference between appearance

S
and reality?
ada
S.PRABHUPADA: This is reality. If at the present

moment he is free from all sinful activities, that is reality.
hup
In future, everyone is susceptible to fall down. If he does

not carry the principles strictly. That proneness is there. But THAT IS NOT
rab
CONSIDERATION. WHAT HE IS AT PRESENT, THAT IS

CONSIDERATION.
P
F: But what he is at present may be an accident.

hat
S.PRABHUPADA: Why accident? Which is actually happening, why it is

accident?
W
F: Well, for instance, if you take a man shipwrecked on an island alone, he is

not in any sense taking part in impure love, or illicit love. But it doesn’t mean
and
to say that he is free from all desire for illicit love.

uru
S.PRABHUPADA: No. Nobody’s free. But SO LONG HE ACTS NICELY,

HE’S NICE.‛ (Conversation with Father Tanner, London 7/11/73)
G
‚Originally, pure Krsna consciousness exists, but because of misuse of

he
marginal independence there is a chance of forgetting Krsna. This is

T
exhibited in actual life; THERE ARE MANY INSTANCES IN WHICH

339
on)
SOMEONE ACTING IN KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS SUDDENLY
CHANGES. In the Upanisads it is stated, therefore, that the path of spiritual
skc
realization is just like the sharp edge of a razor. The example is very
I
appropriate. One shaves his cheeks with a sharp razor very nicely, but as soon
as his attention is diverted from the activity, he immediately cuts his cheek
of
because he mishandles the razor.
ice
‚NOT ONLY MUST ONE COME TO THE STAGE OF PURE KRSNA
erv
CONSCIOUSNESS, BUT ONE MUST ALSO BE VERY CAREFUL. ANY
S
INATTENTIVENESS OR CARELESSNESS MAY CAUSE FALLDOWN.
This falldown is due to false ego. From the status of pure consciousness, the
he
false ego is born because of misuse of independence. WE CANNOT ARGUE
nt
about why false ego arises from pure consciousness. FACTUALLY, THERE
IS ALWAYS THE CHANCE THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN, AND
(I
THEREFORE ONE HAS TO BE VERY CAREFUL.‛ (SB 3.26.23-24 ppt.)
aid
‚In this regard, there is the example of Bilvamangala Thakura, who, in his
previous life, WAS ELEVATED ALMOST TO PREMA-BHAKTI, the
S
highest platform of devotional service. However, SINCE THERE IS

ada
ALWAYS A CHANCE FOR A FALLDOWN, somehow or other he fell

down. In his next life, he was born in a very rich brahmana family, in
hup
accordance with the principle enunciated in the Sixth Chapter of

Bhagavad-gita (6.41): sucinam srimatam gehe.‛ (POP Ch.8, pg. 118)
rab
‚[S]O LONG YOU DO NOT FIND THE SPIRITUAL MASTER IS

P
DOING AGAINST THE PRINCIPLES OF SASTRA OR GURU, THEN

IF YOU GIVE UP THE COMPANY OF SPIRITUAL MASTER, THAT IS
hat
NOT GOOD FOR YOU. THAT IS YOUR DOWNFALL.‛

W
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.16.36, Tokyo, January 30, 1974)

and
‚Not only does the illusory energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
act on the conditioned soul within this material world, but sometimes it also
uru
acts on the most advanced learned scholars, who factually know the
constitutional position of this material world through realization.
G
‚As soon as someone thinks, ‘I am this material body (aham mameti) and
he
everything in relationship with this material body is mine,’ he is in illusion

T
340
on)
(moha). THIS ILLUSION CAUSED BY THE MATERIAL ENERGY
ACTS ESPECIALLY ON THE CONDITIONED SOULS, BUT IT
skc
SOMETIMES ALSO ACTS ON LIBERATED SOULS AS WELL.
I
‚A liberated soul is a person who has sufficient knowledge of this material
of
world and is therefore unattached to the bodily conception of life. But
ice
because of association with the modes of material nature for a very long time,
EVEN LIBERATED SOULS SOMETIMES BECOME CAPTIVATED BY
erv
THE ILLUSORY ENERGY DUE TO INATTENTIVENESS IN THE
S
TRANSCENDENTAL POSITION. Therefore Lord Krsna says in
Bhagavad-gita (7.14), mam eva ye prapa-dyante mayam etam taranti te: ‘Only
he
those who surrender unto Me can overcome the influence of the material
nt
energy.’ (I
‚Therefore NO ONE SHOULD THINK OF HIMSELF AS A LIBERATED
PERSON IMMUNE TO THE INFLUENCE OF MAYA. Everyone should
aid
very cautiously execute devotional service by rigidly following regulative

principles. Thus he will remain fixed at the lotus feet of the Lord. Otherwise,
S
a little inattention will create havoc. We have already seen an example of

ada
this in the case of Maharaja Bharata. Maharaja Bharata was undoubtedly a

great devotee, but because he turned his attention slightly toward a small
hup
deer, he had to suffer two more births, one as a deer and another as the
brahmana Jada Bharata. Afterward he was liberated and went back home,
rab
back to Godhead.
P
‚The Lord is always prepared to excuse His devotee, but if a devotee takes
advantage of the Lord’s leniency and purposefully commits mistakes again
hat
and again, the Lord will certainly punish him by letting him fall down into
W
the clutches of the illusory energy. In other words, theoretical knowledge

acquired by studying the Vedas is insufficient to protect one from the
clutches of maya. One must strongly adhere to the lotus feet of the Lord in
and
devotional service. Then one’s position is secure.‛ (SB 5.18.4 ppt.)

uru
‚EVERY PERSON ENGAGED IN THE TRANSCENDENTAL LOVING

SERVICE OF THE LORD IN THIS MATERIAL WORLD IS PRONE TO
G
SO MANY MATERIAL ACTIVITIES, and if one is not strong enough to

he
protect himself against the onslaught of material affection, he may be

diverted from the spiritual energy. In the material creation Brahma has to
T
341
on)
create all kinds of living entities with bodies suitable to their material
conditions. Brahma wants to be protected by the Lord because he has to
skc
contact many, many vicious living entities. An ordinary brahmana may fall
I
from the brahma-tejas, or the power of brahminical excellence, due to his
association with many fallen, conditioned souls. BRAHMA, AS THE
of
SUPERMOST BRAHMANA, IS AFRAID OF SUCH A FALLDOWN,
ice
AND THEREFORE HE PRAYS TO THE LORD FOR PROTECTION.
erv
‚THIS IS A WARNING FOR ONE AND ALL IN THE SPIRITUAL
S
ADVANCEMENT OF LIFE. Unless one is sufficiently protected by the lord,
he may fall down from his spiritual position; therefore one has to pray
he
constantly to the Lord for protection and the blessing to carry out one’s duty.
nt
LORD CAITANYA ALSO ENTRUSTED HIS MISSIONARY WORK TO
HIS DEVOTEES AND ASSURED THEM OF HIS PROTECTION
(I
AGAINST THE ONSLAUGHT OF MATERIAL AFFECTION. The path
of spiritual life is stated in the Vedas to be like the edge of a sharpened razor.
aid
A little inattentiveness may at once create havoc and bloodshed, but ONE
S
WHO IS A COMPLETELY SURRENDERED SOUL, ALWAYS SEEKING

PROTECTION FROM THE LORD IN THE DISCHARGE OF HIS
ada
ENTRUSTED DUTIES, HAS NO FEAR OF FALLING INTO

MATERIAL CONTAMINATION.‛ (SB 3.9.24)
hup
‚So these two things are always side by side–Maya and Krsna–Krsna is
rab
service and Maya is sense gratification, so EVERY MOMENT WE ARE

PRONE TO BE SUBJUGATED BY EITHER OF THEM. Our duty is
P
therefore to be very, very careful. The poison is personal ambition. So

hat
everyone has the chance, therefore one should not be complacent. DOUBTS
MAY COME ABOUT, BUT ONE SHOULD BE FIRMLY FIXED UP
W
THAT THERE CANNOT BE ANY DOUBT ON THE SPIRITUAL

MASTER OR KRSNA.‛ (Letter to Satyabhama, 11/1/70)
and
‚ANYWAY, MY DEAR BOY, PLEASE REMEMBER THAT MAYA IS

uru
VERY STRONG. ANY ONE OF US CAN BE ARRESTED BY HER AT

ANY MOMENT IF WE ARE NOT STRONGLY ATTACHED TO
G
KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS. So my request to you and all others is to

he
follow the principles of Krishna Consciousness adherently and there is no

danger however the Maya may be strong..‛ (Letter to Woomapati, 1/14/68)
T
342
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
343
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
344
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
on)
skc
I
of
‚...[I]n the sastras it is said, gurur api karyakaryakam ajanatah, IF I ACCEPT
ice
SOME GURU, BUT IF LATER ON IT APPEARS THAT HE DID NOT
erv
KNOW WHAT IS TO BE DONE, WHAT IS NOT TO
S
BE DONE, THEN SRILA JIVA GOSVAMI SAYS
THAT SUCH GURU: PARITYAGO VIDHIYATE,
he
SUCH GURU SHOULD BE REJECTED.‛ (Lecture,
nt
Ahmedabad 12/13/72) (I
"So gurun ahatva. A devotee of Krsna, if need be, if he’s
aid
unqualified guru... Unqualified guru means who does not

know how to guide the disciple. Guru’s duty is to guide.
S
So such kind of guru can be at least rejected. That is Jiva Gosvami’s...

Karya-karyam ajanatah. A GURU WHO DOES NOT KNOW WHAT TO
ada
DO AND WHAT NOT TO DO, BUT BY MISTAKE, BY MISTAKENLY I

hup
HAVE ACCEPTED SOMEBODY AS GURU, HE CAN BE REJECTED.

BY REJECTING HIM, YOU CAN ACCEPT AN ACTUAL BONA FIDE
rab
GURU. SO GURU IS NOT KILLED, BUT HE CAN BE REJECTED.

THAT IS THE INJUNCTION OF THE SASTRA. So Bhismadeva or
P
Dronacarya, certainly they were gurus, but Krsna indirectly giving indication
to Arjuna, that ‚Although they are in the position of guru, you can reject
hat
them.‛ Karya-karyam ajanatah. ‚They do not know factually.‛

W

and
"[W]hen one leaves a spiritual master, the spiritual master, there may be some
reason. That reason is also given in the sastra, gurur api avaliptasya
uru
karyakaryam ajanatah. Karya akarya. IF THE SPIRITUAL MASTER DOES

NOT KNOW WHAT IS ACTUALLY TO BE DONE, WHAT IS
G
ACTUALLY NOT TO BE DONE, AND HE ACTS AGAINST THE

RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE SASTRA, THEN SUCH
he
SPIRITUAL MASTER MAY BE GIVEN UP. But so long you do not find
T
345
on)
the spiritual master is doing against the principles of sastra or guru, then if
you give up the company of spiritual master, that is not good for you. That is
skc
your downfall." (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.16.36, Tokyo, January 30, 1974)
I
of
‚Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura remarks that Bali Maharaja remained
silent at a critical point. How could he disobey the instruction of Sukracarya,
ice
his spiritual master? It is the duty of such a sober personality as Bali Maharaja
erv
to abide by the orders of his spiritual master immediately, as his spiritual
master had advised. But Bali Maharaja also considered that SUKRACARYA
S
WAS NO LONGER TO BE ACCEPTED AS A SPIRITUAL MASTER,
he
FOR HE HAD DEVIATED FROM THE DUTY OF A SPIRITUAL
nt
MASTER. (I
‚According to sastra, the duty of the guru is to take the disciple back home,
back to Godhead. If he is unable to do so and instead hinders the disciple in
aid
going back to Godhead, he should not be a guru. Gurur na sa syat (Bhag.

S
5.5.18). ONE SHOULD NOT BECOME A GURU IF HE CANNOT

ENABLE HIS DISCIPLE TO ADVANCE IN KRSNA
ada
CONSCIOUSNESS. The goal of life is to become a devotee of Lord Krsna so

that one may be freed from the bondage of material existence (tyaktva deham
hup
punar janma naiti mam eti so’rjuna). The spiritual master helps the disciple
rab
attain this stage by developing Krsna consciousness.

P
‚Now Sukracarya has advised Bali Maharaja to deny the promise to

Vamanadeva. Under the circumstances, therefore, Bali Maharaja thought
hat
that there would be no fault if he disobeyed the order of his spiritual master.
W
He deliberated on this point –should he refuse to accept the advise of his

spiritual master, or should he independently do everything to please the
and
Supreme Personality of Godhead? He took some time. Therefore it is said,

tusnim bhutva ksanam rajann uvacavahito gurum. After deliberating on this
uru
point, he decided that Lord Visnu should be pleased in all circumstances,

even at the risk of ignoring the guru’s advice to the contrary.
G
‚ANYONE WHO IS SUPPOSED TO BE A GURU BUT WHO GOES

he
AGAINST THE PRINCIPLE OF VISNU-BHAKTI CANNOT BE

T
346
on)
ACCEPTED AS GURU. If one has falsely accepted such a guru, ONE
SHOULD REJECT HIM. Such a guru is described as follows (Mahabharata,
skc
Udyoga 179.25):
I
guror apy avaliptasya
of
karyamkaryam ajanatah
ice
utpatha-pratipannasya
erv
parityago vidhiyate
S
"Srila Jiva Gosvami has advised that such a useless guru, a family priest acting
as guru, should be given up, and that THE PROPER, BONA FIDE GURU
he
SHOULD BE ACCEPTED.‛
nt
(I
sat-karma-nipuno vipro
mantra-tantra-visaradah
aid
avaisnavo gurur na syad

vaisnavah svapaco guruh
S
"A scholarly brahmana expert in all subjects of Vedic knowledge is unfit to

ada
become a spiritual master without being a Vaisnava, but if a person born in a

hup
family of a lower caste is a Vaisnava, he can become a spiritual master."

(Padma Purana) (SB 8.20.1 ppt.)
rab
P
hat
W
and
uru
G
he
T
347
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
348
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
on)
skc
I
of
ice
erv
S
he
nt
(I
aid
‚S.PRABHUPADA: EVERY ONE OF US [IS] MESSIAH. Anyone Krsna

conscious, he’s the messiah. Everyone. Why...? All of us.
S
Gaurangera bhakta-gane, jane jane sakti dhari, brahmando

tari saksi: ‘The devotee of Lord Caitanya, everyone has so
ada
immense power that every one, they can deliver the

hup
whole universe.’ Gaurangera bhakta-jane, jane jane sakti..,

brahmando tari...That is Gauranga’s men.
rab
D: Only you are that powerful, Srila Prabhupada. We’re

like ...
P
S.PRABHUPADA: Why you are not? You are my

hat
disciples.
D: We’re like the bugs.
W
S.PRABHUPADA: ‘Like father, like son.’ You should be. Gaurangera

bhakta... jane. Everyone. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, amara
and
ajnaya guru hana tara ei desa. HE ASKED EVERYONE, ‘JUST BECOME

GURU.’ Follow His instruction. You become guru. Amara ajnaya. ‘What I
uru
say, you do. You become a guru.’ Where is the difficulty? ‘And what is Your
ajna?’ Yare dekha tare kaha krsna upadesa. Bas. Everything is there in the
G
Bhagavad-gita. You simply repeat. That’s all. You become guru. To become a
he
guru is not difficult job. Follow Caitanya Mahaprabhu and speak what Krsna
T
has said. Bas. You become guru.‛ (Morning Walk, Bombay 4/13/77)
349
on)
‚Just as an aerial message is transmitted from one place to another, similarly,
this Guru parampara system is working. MY DISCIPLES ARE MY
skc
AGENTS, MY REPRESENTATIVES, SO BY HEARING IT FROM
I
THEM, YOU ARE RECEIVING IT FROM ME. And because you are a
sincere soul, those who are hearing the Mantra from you are receiving it in
of
DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION, FROM LORD CAITANYA AND FROM
ice
LORD KRISHNA.‛ (Letter to Andrea Temple, 3/6/68)
erv
S
he
nt
(I
aid
S
ada
hup
rab
P
hat
W
and
uru
G
he
T
350
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
351
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
352
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
on)
skc
I
of
ice
erv
S
he
nt
(I
aid
‚YOU WILL HAVE TO BECOME SPIRITUAL MASTER... you... all my

S
disciples... you... everyone should become spiritual

master. IT IS NOT DIFFICULT. It is difficult when
ada
you manufacture something, but if you simply present

hup
whatever you have heard from your spiritual master,

IT IS VERY EASY. If you want to become
rab
over-intelligent... to present something, to interpret

something... whatever you have heard from your
P
spiritual master you can make some further addition

or alteration, then you will spoil the whole thing;
hat
then you spoil everything... Remain always a servant of your spiritual master
W
and present the thing as you have heard –you will be spiritual master. This is
the secret.
and
‚...SO CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU SAYS amara ajnaya guru hana tara’ ei

desa, yare dekha, tare kaha ‘krsna’-upadesa... He says amara ajnaya... ‘by My
order you become a spiritual master....’ So one may be very illiterate, no
uru
education, no scholarship, may not be born in a brahmana family, OR MAY

G
NOT BE A SANNYASI –there are so many qualifications. But one may not
have all these qualifications. HE MAY BE RASCAL NUMBER ONE. But
he
still he can become spiritual master. ...How? Amara ajnaya!!! As Krsna says,
T
as Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, if you follow, then you become spiritual

353
on)
master. ONE MAY BE RASCAL NUMBER ONE FROM MATERIAL
ESTIMATION, BUT IF HE SIMPLY STRICTLY FOLLOWS WHATEVER
skc
IS SAID BY CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU OR HIS REPRESENTATIVE
I
SPIRITUAL MASTER, THEN HE BECOMES A GURU.
[...]‚SO IT IS NOT VERY DIFFICULT. ONE MAY NOT THINK THAT, ‘I
of
AM NOT QUALIFIED TO BECOME GURU.’ No! you are qualified! ...if
ice
you follow strictly the parampara system, then you are qualified. That’s all.
erv
Amara Ajnaya guru. And what is the difficulty? Caitanya Mahaprabhu says
don’t feel any difficulty. Because as spiritual master what you have to do?
S
Yare dekha tare kaha krsna upadesa. Whomever you meet you simply speak to
him the instruction which Krsna gives.
he
nt
[...]‚So if you simply preach this cult, ‚My dear friend, my dear brother, you
surrender to Krsna.‛ You become spiritual master. You become spiritual
(I
master. You go door to door. No other talks.
[...]‚Just adhere yourself to the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
aid
Then you become spiritual master. That’s all. SO I HOPE THAT ALL OF
S
YOU, MEN, WOMEN, BOYS AND GIRLS, BECOME SPIRITUAL

MASTER AND FOLLOW THIS PRINCIPLE. Spiritual master, simply,
ada
sincerely, follow the principles and speak to the general public. Then Krsna
becomes your favorite. Krsna does not become your favorite; you become
hup
Krsna’s favorite. Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita, na ca tasmad manusyesu

kascin me priya-krttamah. ‚One who is doing this humble service of
rab
preaching work, Krsna consciousness, nobody is dearer than him to Me.‛ SO

P
IF YOU WANT TO BECOME RECOGNIZED BY KRSNA VERY

QUICKLY, YOU TAKE UP THIS PROCESS OF BECOMING
hat
SPIRITUAL MASTER, present the Bhagavad-gita as it is, your life is perfect.

Thank you very much.‛ (Vyasa-puja Address, London 8/22/73)
W

and
Sarasvati Thakura, and that knowledge is still going on. You are receiving
through his servant. And IN FUTURE THE SAME KNOWLEDGE WILL
uru
GO TO YOUR STUDENTS. THIS IS CALLED PARAMPARA SYSTEM.

G
Evam parampara prap... IT IS NOT THAT YOU HAVE BECOME A

STUDENT AND YOU'LL REMAIN STUDENT. NO. ONE DAY YOU
he
SHALL BECOME ALSO GURU AND MAKE MORE STUDENTS,

T
MORE STUDENTS, MORE. THAT IS CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU'S

354
on)
MISSION, not that perpetually... Yes, ONE SHOULD REMAIN
PERPETUALLY A STUDENT, BUT HE HAS TO ACT AS GURU.
skc
THAT IS THE MISSION OF CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU. It is not that
I
because I am acting as guru, I am no longer student. No, I am still student.
Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught us this instruction that we shall always remain
of
a foolish student before our Guru Maharaja. That is the Vedic culture. I may
ice
be very big man, but still, I should remain a foolish student to my guru. That
is the qualification. Guru more murkha dekhi’ karila sasana [Cc. Adi 7.71]. We
erv
should be always prepared to be controlled by the guru. That is very good
S
qualification. Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah. Ara na kariha mane asa. So
we should become always a very obedient student to our guru. That is the
he
qualification. That is the spiritual qualification.
nt
(I
‚IT IS SRI CAITANYA’S WISH THAT EVERYONE SHOULD BECOME
aid
A VAISNAVA AND GURU. Following the instructions of Sri Caitanya

S
Mahaprabhu and His disciplic succession, one can become a spiritual master,
for THE PROCESS IS VERY EASY. One can go everywhere and anywhere
ada
to preach the instructions of Krsna. [...]The DUTY of every Vaisnava is to

travel and preach Bhagavad-gita, either in his country or a foreign country.‛
hup
(C.c. M. 24.277 ppt.)

rab
‚ ‘HOW SHALL I BECOME GURU? I have no qualification.’ CAITANYA

P
MAHAPRABHU SAID, ‘YOU DON’T REQUIRE ANY

QUALIFICATION. YOU SIMPLY REQUIRE ONE QUALIFICATION,
hat
that you repeat the instruction of Bhagavad-gita. That’s all.’ Yare dekha tare
W
kaha krsna-upadesa. That’s all. You become a guru. Don’t adulterate

krsna-upadesa like a rascal or nonsense. Present it as it is ––Bhagavad-gita.
and
Then you become a guru. You can become a guru in your family, you can
become a guru in your society, your nation –wherever you are. And if it is
uru
possible, you go outside and preach this mission of Bhagavad-gita. Therefore

our movement’s name is Krsna consciousness. Whatever Krsna says, you
G
accept and preach. You become guru. Thank you very much.‛
he
T
355
on)
‚[A]mara ajnaya guru hana tara ei desa. This instruction was given in South
India when Caitanya Mahaprabhu was traveling in South India. So many
skc
people... He was attractive, and... ‘Sir, take me with You. Sir, take me with
I
You.’ He traveled in the villages, villages, very extensively. Especially He
traveled in South India.
of
ice
‚So at that time this instruction was given to some South Indian brahmana,
erv
‘My dear sir, better stay here. Don’t come with Me. You try to preach My
philosophy. You haven’t got to come with Me.’ So He said, amara ajnaya guru
S
hana, that ‘Why you want to come with Me? My mission is this. IF YOU
he
WANT TO HELP ME, THEN YOU BECOME A GURU UNDER MY
nt
INSTRUCTION. YOU BECOME A GURU.’ ‘Sir, I have no education. I am
not a brahmana. I am this. I am that. How can I become guru?’
(I
‚So Caitanya Mahaprahu says, amara ajnaya guru hana tara ei desa.‛Where
aid
you are living, you just try to deliver them. But you become a guru.‛ ‚How I
S
shall become?‛ Yare dekha tare kaha krsna upadesa:‛ SIMPLY YOU
INSTRUCT WHAT KRSNA HAS SAID, THAT’S ALL. THEN YOU
ada
BECOME GURU. You don’t require any other qual...‛ ‚No, I am not a
brahmana, I am sudra, I am this or...‛ That is also all right because He said to
hup
Ramananda Raya when... He was sudra. He was talking with Caitanya

rab
Mahaprabhu but he was very learned devotee. So he was feeling hesitation

that ‚Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s coming from very high grade brahmana and He
P
is sannyasi. His position is very exalted. I am a sudra. How I can advise Him?‛
He was questioning and Ramananda Raya was answering. So the
hat
answer-giver is in superior position, so he hesitated. So while he was

hesitating, Caitanya Mahaprabhu encouraged him, kiba sudra kiba vipra nyasi
W
kene naya, ye krsna tattva vetta sei guru haya. He said, ‚It doesn’t matter
whether you are a brahmana or a sudra or... These are all bodily conception of
and
life. You become above the bodily conception of life. You simply try to
understand Krsna. Yei krsna tattva vetta.‛ (Lecture Nel 1/4/76)
uru
G
‚Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu strictly followed Krsna. That is his grace: yare
dekha tare kaha krsna upadesa / amara ajnaya guru hana tara ei desa: 'Instruct
he
everyone to follow the orders of Lord Sri Krsna as they are given in the
T
356
on)
Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita. In this way become a spiritual master
and try to liberate everyone in this land.’ (Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila,
skc
Chapter 7, Verse 128.)
I
"THIS MEANS THAT CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU ADVISES
EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY EVERY INDIAN, TO BECOME A GURU
of
UNDER HIS ORDER. And when there is a question what is His order, that
ice
is explained in the next line: you simply repeat the instructions of Krsna, that
erv
is, Bhagavad-gita, to everyone whom you may meet. Therefore Caitanya
Mahaprabhu’s mission is as good as that of Krsna, but sometimes
S
non-devotees misunderstand purposefully or foolishly the instruction given
by Krsna in the Bhagavad-gita. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that you
he
strictly follow the instructions of Krsna and preach it to everyone. Therefore
nt
our Krsna consciousness movement is based on the advise of Sri Caitanya
(I
Mahaprabhu to preach the Bhagavad-gita As It Is.‛
(Letter to Shree Shastri, 11/14/75)
aid
S
‚This time I have requested all Nairobi important friends that ‘Now you take
sannyasa and become guru. Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked everyone to
ada
become guru.’ Amara ajnaya guru haya tara ei desa.’ You have come to
Africa. Now become their guru and deliver them.’ ‘Now, how shall I do it?’
hup
Yare dekha tare kaha krsna upadesa:’ Simply speak. Don’t become very big.
SIMPLY SPEAK WHAT KRSNA HAS DONE. THAT’S ALL. YOU
rab
BECOME GURU.’ (Conversation, Bombay 11/3/75)

P
‚Just like a post peon who gives you five thousand rupees, delivers. He does
hat
not deliver. Somebody else is delivering. He’s simply carrying. That’s all.
W
Similary, IF WE SIMPLY CARRY THE MESSAGE OF KRSNA AS IT IS,

WE BECOME PERFECT. IT IS NOT VERY DIFFICULT. IF I SIMPLY
CARRY THE MESSAGE OF KRSNA, WHERE IS THE DIFFICULTY?
and
Everything is there. Krsna has said everything. Krsna says, man-mana

mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru.We carry this message. Just always
uru
think of Krsna, always offer obeisances to Krsna, become a devotee of Krsna.

G
Man-manah, think of Krsna always. We have to carry this message. Where is

the difficulty?
he
T
357
on)
‚So TO BECOME A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER, THERE IS NO
DIFFICULTY. If you, simply, if we carry the message of Krsna as it is without
skc
any adulteration. So we must find out a person who is actually bona fide
I
spiritual master by this test, that he’s not. I mean to say adulterating Krsna’s
message. He’s not playing howl with the message of Krsna in order to
of
introduce himself, his person. He’s simply presenting the message of Krsna as
ice
it is. Then he’s spiritual master. Nobody else.‛ (NOD Vrndavana 10/31/72)
erv
‚So preaching is our life. The more we preach, the more we are successful.
S
Yare dekha tare kaha krsna upadesa. This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s
he
preaching. Amara ajnaya guru hana tara ei desa, yare dekha, tare kaha
nt
krsna-upadesa.This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu. EVERYONE OF YOU
BECOME GURU AND DELIVER THE RESIDENTS OF YOUR
(I
NEIGHBORHOOD. EI DESA. WHEREVER YOU ARE LIVING, JUST
DELIVER THEM. BECOME THEIR GURU. How to become guru? It is not
aid
difficult. Yare dekha tare kaha krsna-upadesa. What Krsna has said instruct
them. You simply repeat it, that’s all. You become guru.
S
‚So this should be preached all over the world. You learn from Bhagavad-gita
ada
and repeat. You simply say, ‘Krsna said four things: man mana bhava mad
bhakto mad yaji mam namaskuru. ’Just always think of Me.’ Krsna said.
hup
‘And just become My devotee. Just worship Me and offer obeisances.’ Kindly
do these things.’ So IF YOU CAN INDUCE ONE PERSON TO DO THESE
rab
FOUR THINGS, YOU BECOME GURU. IS THERE ANY DIFFICULTY?

P
‘Then you become a devotee of Krsna.’ How? ‘Always think of Krsna.

Worship Krsna and offer obeisances. Here is our temple, please come, offer
hat
obeisances. Offer little flower if you can secure. Otherwise, obeisances

sufficient. And chant Hare Krsna.’ You become guru.
W
‚TO INFORM THIS MESSAGE IS DIFFICULT? NOT AT ALL. You may

and
carry the message. If he’s fortunate, he’ll do it. EVEN HE DOES NOT DO
IT, YOU ARE CARRYING THE MESSAGE, YOU BECOME
uru
RECOGNIZED BY KRSNA. NA CA TASMAN MANUSYESU KASCIN

G
ME PRIYA-KRTTAMAH.YOU ARE DOING SINCERELY, THEN YOU

ARE RECOGNIZED BY KRSNA. Just like a canvasser, salesman, goes to the
he
market, tries his best to secure some business. The master sees the report how
T
he has worked. Even though he has not secured a single paisa business, but he
358
on)
has tried to introduce the goods, then he’s bona fide. He’s bona fide.
Similarly, we have to simply carry the message of Krsna and try to convince
skc
people. If one is convinced, it is good, if not, doesn’t matter. I am not going
I
to... Then you are recognized by Krsna. RECOGNITION MEANS YOU
BECOME THE DEAREST SERVANT OF KRSNA. THEN WHAT DO
of
YOU WANT MORE? IF KRSNA RECOGNIZES THAT ‘YOU ARE MY
ice
MOST DEAR SERVANT,’ THEN WHAT DO YOU WANT MORE? Yare
dekha tare kaha krsna-upadesa.‛ (Conversation, Paris 8/2/76)
erv
S
‚Our mission is that especially those who have taken their birth in India that
he
it is their responsibility to become perfect in the science of Krsna
nt
Consciousness and to deliver everyone in the world. In this way everyone is
expected to become guru. But how to be a guru? It is said that one simply has
(I
to repeat the instructions that Krsna has given. IF HE REPEATS
WITHOUT ADDING OR SUBTRACTING ANYTHING, THEN HE IS
aid
QUALIFIED AS GURU. Actually there is only one guru–Krsna, the

Supreme Personality of Godhead. So THOSE WHO SIMPLY REPEAT HIS
S
WORDS, THEY ALSO BECOME GURU. But of course a guru never thinks
ada
himself as being God. He only thinks himself as the servant of the servant of
the servant: gopi bhartur pada-kamalayor das dasanudasa.‛
hup
(Letter to H.J. Bhatia, 11/23/75)

rab
‚Evam parampara-praptam.We have to take knowledge by the disciplic

P
succession. ...Krsnas tu bhagavan svayam. Yare dekha tare kaha krsna upadesa.
Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s, this Krsna consciousness movement propaganda,
hat
what is this propaganda? HE SAYS THAT ‘EVERY ONE OF YOU

W
BECOME GURU.’ He wants not rascal imitation guru but real guru. That
He wants.
and
‚Because people are in darkness, WE REQUIRE MANY MILLIONS OF

uru
GURUS to enlighten them. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission is,

He said, that ‘Every one of you become guru.’ Amara ajnaya guru haya tara ei
G
desa. You haven’t got to go foreign countries. Wherever you are, you teach;
become guru. It doesn’t matter. Ei desa. He says, ei desa. If you have got
he
power, you can go other country but it doesn’t require. In whichever village,
T
359
on)
whichever country or town you are, you become a guru. This is Caitanya
Mahaprabhu’s mission. Amara ajnaya guru haya tara ei desa.’ This country,
skc
this place.’
I
‚So ‘but I have no qualification. how can I become guru?’ THERE IS NO
NEED OF QUALIFICATION. ‘Still, I can become guru?’ Yes. ‘How?’ Yare
of
dekha tare kaha krsna upadesa:’ Whomever you meet, you simply instruct
ice
what Krsna has said.’ That’s all. You become guru. Everyone is very anxious
erv
to become guru, but rascal does not know how to become guru, a simple thing.
‚So many gurus come from India in this country, all rascal, but they will not
S
speak what Krsna has instructed. Maybe for the first time this has begun in
he
Krsna consciousness. Otherwise all rascals, they instructed something else,
nt
some meditation, this, that, all cheating. REAL GURU IS HE WHO
INSTRUCTS WHAT KRSNA HAS SAID. It is not that you maufacture
(I
your teaching. No. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu. There is no need of
manufacturing. The instruction is already there. You have simply to say,
aid
‘This is this.’ That’s all. Is it very difficult task?

S
‚Father said, ‘This is microphone.’ A child can say that ‘Father said this is
microphone.’ He becomes guru. Where is the difficulty? The authority,
ada
father, has said, ‘This is microphone.’ A child only can say, ‘This is
microphone.’ So similarly, Krsna says that ‘I am the Supreme.’ So if I say,
hup
‘Krsna is the Supreme,’ where is my difficulty, unless I cheat others to become

the Krsna or the Supreme? That is cheating. But if I say the simple truth, that
rab
‘Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is the proprietor of

P
everything. He is to be worshiped,’ then where is my difficulty?

‚So that is our mission. ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE COME TO KRSNA
hat
CONSCIOUSNESS MOVEMENT, THAT IS OUR REQUEST, THAT

YOU, ALL OF YOU, BECOME GURU but don’t speak nonsense. That our
W
is request. Simply speak what Krsna has said. Then you become brahmana.
You’ll be guru, and everything. Thank you very much.‛
and

uru
‚So Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission is para upakara. And He advises

everyone, especially Indians, to become guru. He said, amara ajnaya guru
G
hana tara ei desa. 'Every one of you, you become a guru, and try to deliver the
persons where you are living.’ So how can I become guru? Yes, it is very easy.
he
What is that? Yare dekha tare kaha ‘krsna’ upadesa. Then you become guru.
T
You simply repeat what Krsna has said in the Bhagavad-gita, you become
360
on)
guru. To become guru is not... But if you want to be a bluffer, cheater, then
you can talk all nonsense. But IF YOU ACTUALLY TALK ONLY
skc
KRSNA’S WORDS, THEN YOU BECOME A GURU. IT’S NOT VERY
I
DIFFICULT." (Lecture, Toronto 6/20/76)
of
‚Make sure that they are well aware of the four rules and regulations and that
ice
they are fixed in chanting the prescribed number of 16 rounds daily on the
erv
beads. Without these two principles no one can make advancement on the
path of regulated bhakti. Teach them the science of the Bhagavad gita and
S
train them to be first class representatives of Krsna. IT IS NOT VERY
he
DIFFICULT, simply one has to hear from the perfect authority who is in
nt
disciplic succession from Krsna Himself, and then repeat the same message
without any change. IF ONE DOES THIS THEN HE IS QUALIFIED TO
(I
BECOME GURU.‛ (Letter to Jayadharma, 8/20/76)
aid
‚Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, amara ajnaya guru hana tara ei desa.
S
HE ASKED EVERYONE, ‘JUST BECOME GURU.’ Follow His instruction.

You become guru. Amara ajnaya.’What I say, you do. You become a guru.’
ada
Where is the difficulty? ‘And what is Your ajna?’ Yare dekha tare kaha krsna
upadesa. Bas. Everything is there in the Bhagavad-gita. You simply repeat.
hup
That’s all. YOU BECOME GURU. TO BECOME A GURU IS NOT

rab
DIFFICULT JOB. FOLLOW CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU AND SPEAK

WHAT KRSNA HAS SAID. BAS. YOU BECOME GURU.‛
P

hat
‚S.PRABHUPADA:...Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that ‘You become guru.’

W
Amara ajnaya guru hana...You understand Bengali?

D: Just smattering of it.
and
S.PRABHUPADA: Yes. Amara ajnaya guru hana tara ei desa. Suppose you
uru
are living in that village. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, ‘You become a guru
G
here.’ Here. You haven’t got to go out. Ei desa,’where you are living.’’ Just see
how nice it is. Amara ajnaya: 'By My order, you become a guru and deliver
he
the people of this place.’ This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s... ‘So I am not a guru.
T
361
on)
I do not know. How I shall become?’ NO, YOU HAVEN’T GOT TO
BOTHER. Yare dekha tare kaha krsna upadesa: 'SIMPLY YOU REPEAT
skc
WHAT KRSNA HAS SAID.’ YOU BECOME GURU. THAT’S ALL.
I
Everyone can do that. Gita is there. You sit down in your place and preach
Bhagavad-gita and try to induce them to take it. YOU BECOME GURU.‛
of
ice
erv
S
BECOME GURU,’ as I was telling, ‘AND TEACH, DELIVER PERSONS
WHERE YOU ARE.’ If you say, ‘How can I become guru?’ There is no
he
difficulty. SIMPLY REPEAT THE WORDS OF BHAGAVAD-GITA.
nt
THAT’S ALL. YOU BECOME GURU. SO OUR MISSION IS TO
CREATE REAL GURU, NOT THESE JUGGLERS. AND REAL GURU
(I
IS HE WHO SPEAKS ON BEHALF OF KRSNA. And that is wan[ted] ... IT
IS VERY SIMPLE.
aid
‚...This is our mission. Everything is there. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, yare

S
dekha tare kaha krsna upade...’YOU SIMPLY MAKE YOUR LIFE

SUCCESSFUL BY UNDERSTANDING BHAGAVAD-GITA AND
ada
PREACH THIS. YOU BECOME GURU.’ So where is the difficulty? WHY

DON’T YOU DO THAT?‛ (Conversation, Bombay 4/24/77)
hup
rab
‚We repeat. We don’t manufacture. What is the use of manufacturing? I am

imperfect. Whatever I manufacture, that is imperfect. So better to repeat the
P
words of the perfect. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission. HE SAID,

‘EVERY ONE OF YOU BECOME GURU AND DELIVER YOUR
hat
SURROUNDING PERSONS, EITHER YOU ARE IN FAMILY OR IN

W
NEIGHBORHOOD OR IN SOCIETY OR IN NATION, AS MUCH AS

YOU CAN.’ Amara ajnaya guru hana tara ei desa. So whatever limited circle,
and
YOU JUST BECOME GURU AND DELIVER THEM.

‚Deliver means deliver from the ignorance. Everyone is in ignorance,
uru
dehatma-buddhih. Yasyatma-buddhih kunape tri-dhatuke, sa eva go-kharah. So

we have to teach them that ‘You are not this body. You are pure soul. Your
G
business is different. And that is enlightenment. THAT IS THE BUSINESS

OF GURU.
he
T
362
on)
‚So we can do that business. And how to do it? That is... Caitanya
Mahaprabhu says, yare dekha tare keha krsna upadesa. You haven’t got to
skc
manufacture anything. What Krsna has already said, you repeat. Finish.
I
DON’T MAKE ADDITION, ALTERATION. THEN YOU BECOME
GURU. VERY SIMPLE THING. If I say that ‚My father said, ‘This is a bell,’‛
of
I am correct because I have learned it from my father, authority. I may be
ice
fool, rascal. It doesn’t matter. But because I have learned it from the
authority and presenting it that ‘This is a bell,’ this is perfect.
erv
S
‚Similarly, I cannot become guru because I am imperfect. My senses are
imperfect. I cannot see even what is beyond this wall, although I am very
he
much proud of my eyes. I want to see. What you can see? Imperfect, all senses.
nt
But if some authority says that ‘Beyond this wall this is the.., like this,’ it is all
right. SO WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THIS PATH, THAT YOU BECOME
(I
GURU, DELIVER YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD MEN, ASSOCIATES, BUT
SPEAK THE AUTHORITATIVE WORDS OF KRSNA. Then it will act.
aid
So our, this Krsna consciousness movement is like that. We do not

S
manufacture ideas. That has spoiled the whole world.‛

(Conversation, Hrisikesa 5/11/77)
ada
hup
‚This is very easy. So I am not a scholar. I am simply... Whatever is said there,

I am trying to distribute in a palatable way. That’s all. It is not my
rab
manufacture. And that is Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s... Amara ajnaya guru hana

tara ei desa.YOU ALL BECOME GURU. ‘How can I become guru? I have no
P
education. I have no knowledge.’’ No, you haven’t got to acquire all these
things. That is already... Yare dekha tare keha. Finished. So I never tried to
hat
become a scholar. But I tried. Whatever is spoken by Krsna, deliver. That’s

W
all. And that is guru.‛ (Conversation, Vrndavana 6/26/77)

and
‚We simply repeat. That is our business. We are not learned scholars. But our
mission is to repeat the words of Krsna. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s
uru
order. He says, amara ajnaya guru haya tara ei desa: 'You become guru.’
‘Now, how shall I become guru? I am neither learned nor Vedantist, neither
G
sannyasi. How can I become guru?’ ‘NO, NO, YOU HAVE NO

DIFFICULTY. YOU, ON MY ORDER, BECOME GURU SIMPLY...’ Yare
he
dekha tare kaha krsna upadesa. Bas. ‘YOU BECOME GURU. WHOMEVER
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363
on)
YOU MEET, YOU SIMPLY TRY TO CONVINCE HIM WHAT KRSNA
HAS SPOKEN. THEN YOU BECOME GURU.’ SO WE REQUEST
skc
EVERYONE THE SAME THING. AND BECOME GURU. IT IS VERY
I
URGENTLY NECESSARY. People are becoming godless, atheist,
nonbelievers, and they are suffering. So every village, every home, every
of
neighborhood, they require guru. But who will be guru? One who repeats the
ice
instruction of Krsna. Yare dekha tare kaha. IT IS VERY EASY.‛
(Conversation, Hrishikesh 5/12/77)
erv
S
‚Interviewer: What is your hierarchy in Krsna conscious? That is, do you
he
have anything comparable to bishops and the hierarchy of the Christian
nt
faith and of other major faiths? That is, you are the spiritual preceptor, and
who are all those below you, between you and the congregation, the
(I
members?
aid
‚Prabhupäda: It is not exactly the hierarchy, but in the Christian method,

S
Roman Catholic method, the process of the Pope, Archbishop, and..., that is
very nice. There is no objection of us. But our point is that Krsna
ada
consciousness is lacking. In spite of all arrangement, if people lost faith in

God, so simply by hierarchy, what is the benefit there? There is no benefit.
hup
You see? Bambarambhe laghu-kriya, in the Sanskrit word, that you can make
rab
a very high-grade arrangement, but the result is zero. So that hierarchical

arrangement is exactly not in Krsna consciousness. But OUR METHOD IS
P
VERY SIMPLE. IF ONE IS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO MEET A BONA

FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER AND IF HE ACTS STRICTLY UNDER HIS
hat
DISCIPLINE, HE ALSO BECOMES WITHIN A VERY SHORT TIME

ANOTHER SPIRITUAL MASTER.‛ (Interview, Seattle 9/24/68)
W
and
uru
G
he
T
364
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
365
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
366
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
on)
skc
I
of
ice
erv
S
he
nt
‚There is no difference between the shelter-giving Supreme Lord and the
(I
initiating [diksa] and instructing [siksa] spiritual
masters. IF ONE FOOLISHLY DISCRIMINATES
BETWEEN THEM, HE COMMITS AN OFFENSE IN
aid
THE DISCHARGE OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE.‛

S

ada
‚Guru krsna krapaya paya bhakti lata bija. We have to

acquire this energy through the mercy of guru and
hup
Krsna. So Krsna is within as caitya-guru, and when we

rab
are serious He comes out as the spiritual master. Siksa-guru, diksa-guru. So

THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SIKSA-GURU AND
P
DIKSA-GURU AND KRSNA. Krsna manifests Himself externally as

siksa-guru and diksa-guru.‛ (NOD Vrndavana 10/29/72)
hat
‚ACCORDING TO SASTRIC INJUNCTIONS, THERE IS NO

W
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SIKSA-GURU AND DIKSA-GURU, and

generally the siksa-guru later on becomes the diksa-guru.‛ (SB 4.12.32)
and
‚Bilvamangala Thakura actually entered into the transcendental pastimes of

uru
Lord Krsna. He has recorded his transcendental experiences and

appreciation in the book known as Krsna-karnamrta. In the beginning of
G
that book he has offered his obeisances to his different gurus, and IT IS TO
he
BE NOTED THAT HE HAS ADORED THEM ALL EQUALLY. The first

spiritual master mentioned is Cintamani, who was his instructing spiritual
T
367
on)
master because she first showed him the spiritual path. Cintamani was a
prostitute with whom Bilvamaggala was intimate earlier in his life. She gave
skc
him the inspiration to begin on the path of devotional service, and because
I
she convinced him to give up material existence to try for perfection by
loving Krsna, he has first offered his respects to her. Next he offers his
of
respects to his initiating spiritual master, Somagiri, and then to the Supreme
ice
Personality of Godhead, who was also his instructing spiritual master.‛
(Cc Adi 1.57)
erv
S
‚...SOMETIMES A CASTE GURU says that ye krsna-tattva-vetta, sei guru
haya means that one who is not a brahmana may become a siksa-guru or a
he
vartma-pradarsaka-guru but not an initiator guru. [...] THE WORD GURU
nt
IS EQUALLY APPLICABLE TO THE VARTMA PRADARSAKA
(I
GURU, SIKSA-GURU AND DIKSA-GURU. Unless we accept the
principle enunciated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, this Krsna consciousness
movement cannot spread all over the world. According to Sri Caitanya
aid
Mahaprabhu’s intentions: prthivite ache yata nagaradi-grama sarvatra pracara

S
haibe mora nama. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s cult must be preached all over
the world.
ada
hup
[...]‚SRILA BHAKTISIDDHANTA SARASVATI THAKURA ALSO

STATES THAT although one is situated as a brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya,
rab
sudra, brahmacari, vanaprastha, grhastha or sannyasi, IF HE IS

CONVERSANT IN THE SCIENCE OF KRSNA HE CAN BECOME A
P
SPIRITUAL MASTER AS VARTMA-PRADARSAKA-GURU,

DIKSA-GURU OR SIKSA-GURU.‛ (C.c. M.8.128 purp. ppt.)
hat
W
‚A devotee must have only one initiating spiritual master because in the
scriptures acceptance of more than one is always forbidden. There is no limit,
however, to the number of instructing spiritual masters one may accept.
and
GENERALLY A SPIRITUAL MASTER WHO CONSTANTLY

INSTRUCTS A DISCIPLE IN SPIRITUAL SCIENCE BECOMES HIS
uru
INITIATING SPIRITUAL MASTER LATER ON.‛ (C.c. Adi 1.35 ppt.)

G
‚Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami states that the instructing spiritual

he
master is a bona fide representative of Sri Krsna. [...] THERE ARE TWO
KINDS OF INSTRUCTING SPIRITUAL MASTERS. One is the liberated
T
368
on)
person fully absorbed in meditation in devotional service, and the other is he
who invokes the disciple’s spiritual consciousness by means of relevant
skc
instructions.‛ (C.c. Adi 1.47 ppt.)
I
‚Cleansing oneself as well as teaching others to be clean; these two things
of
must be there simultaneously. None of us have perfect desires but we are
ice
trying to be perfect and teach others to be perfect as far as possible. THEY
CANNOT BE SEPARATED BUT MUST GO TOGETHER AS
erv
PARALLEL LINES. SIKSHA AND DIKSHA. Siksha means learning.
S
Diksha, or initiation, means the beginning of spiritual realization. So every
disciple must take his own spiritual progress positively and help others to do
he
so.‛ (Letter to Nayan Abhiram, 2/4/71)
nt
(I
aid
S
ada
hup
rab
P
hat
W
and
uru
G
he
T
369
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
370
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
on)
skc
I
of
ice
erv
S
‚SO FAR AS INITIATING DISCIPLES IS CONCERNED, ANYONE
WHO IS QUALIFIED CAN DO THIS. For example, Srila Bhaktivinode
he
Thakur was householder and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati was staunch
nt
brahmachary, yet they both were qualified for initiating
disciples.‛ (Letter to Krishna Devi, 11/2/69)
(I
‚What is the wrong to become grhastha? I was grhastha,
pakka caliber grhastha. My Guru Maharaja was
aid
brahmacari. Just see his character. Caitanya Mahaprabhu

S
was grhastha, but when He took sannyasa: "Oh, I am

now..." For sober person. That is wanted. That is ideal. He
ada
married twice. Bhaktivinoda Thakura married twice.

Caitanya Mahaprabhu married twice. What is the wrong
hup
there? One has to become pure devotee, that's all. Other things, of course, are
rab
circumstantially favorable, either a grhastha, brahmacari or vanaprastha or

sannyasa. Kiba vipra kiba sudra nyasi kene naya, yei krsna-tattva-vetta sei
P
'guru' haya [Cc. Madhya 8.128]. YOU MUST KNOW THE SCIENCE OF
KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS. THAT MAKES YOU GURU, NOT THIS
hat
DRESS.‛ (Conversation -- January 7, 1977, Bombay)

W
‚So Bhaktivinoda Thakura is an ideal guru. He was not a sannyasi; he was

grhastha, householder, living with family, wife, children. Still, he was guru. So
anyone can become guru. Not that a sannyasi can become guru. A
and
HOUSEHOLDER ALSO CAN BECOME GURU, PROVIDED HE

KNOWS THE SCIENCE.
uru
‚Caitanya Mahaprabhu, when He was talking with Ramananda Raya...

G
Caitanya Mahaprabhu was a sannyasi, very highly born in brahmana family,

very learned scholar. So He was talking with Ramananda Raya, a grhastha ,
he
governor of Madras. And He was questioning, and Ramananda Raya was

T
answering. That means he was taking the part of guru, and Caitanya
371
on)
Mahaprabhu was taking the part of a disciple. So he was hesitating,
Ramananda Raya. He thought himself that ‘I am a grhastha ; I’m not even a
skc
brahmana. Besides that, I am dealing in material affairs. I am governor,
I
politics. And Caitanya Mahaprabhu is a sannyasi, born of a high-class
brahmana family. So it does not look well that I shall teach Him.’ So he was
of
hesitating.
ice
‚Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, ‘Oh, why you are hesitating?’ He said, kiba
erv
vipra, kiba sudra, nyasi kene naya, yei krsna-tattva-vetta, sei ‘guru’ haya. He
S
said, ‘Don’t hesitate. Either one may become a brahmana or one may become
a sudra...’ Kiba vipra, kiba sudra. Vipra means brahmana, and sudra... Sudra is
he
the fourth grade human being. Brahmana is the first grade. So kiba vipra,
nt
kiba sudra. He may be a first grade human being or the lowest grade human
(I
being, or he may become a sannyasi or a grhastha . It does not matter. Anyone
who knows the science of Krsna, he can become a guru. This is the verdict.
Because spiritual science does not belong to the bodily platform. It is on the
aid
spiritual platform. It is very nice.

S
‚Just like when you go to a lawyer or to an engineer or to a physician. You do

ada
not inquire whether he’s a brahmana or sudra. Simply you have to know
hup
whether he’s a lawyer. That’s all. Whether he’s a physician actually. If he

knows the medical science, he may be a brahmana, he may be a sudra, he may
rab
be a sannyasi, he may be a householder. It doesn’t matter. Your business is

with a physician, with a lawyer. Similarly, your business is to understand
P
Krsna. So anyone who knows Krsna perfectly, you have to go there.

Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet. It is... VEDIC INJUNCTION IS
hat
NOT THAT YOU HAVE TO APPROACH A SANNYASI OR A

W
GRHASTHA OR AN INDIAN OR AMERICAN, NO. GURUM. And

guru means who knows the science of Krsna. So, this Bhaktivinoda Thakura
was grhastha , very responsible officer, magistrate.
and
‚...So he [Bhaktivinoda Thakura] was busy, acarya. So one has to adjust

uru
things. NOT THAT ‘BECAUSE I AM GRHASTHA , HOUSEHOLDER, I

G
CANNOT BECOME A PREACHER. It is the business... It is the business of

the sannyasi or brahmacari.’ No. IT IS THE BUSINESS OF EVERYONE.
he
The whole world is suffering for want of knowledge. The present civilization
is animal civilization. They do not know anything beyond eating, sleeping,
T
372
on)
mating, and defending. That’s all. This is animal civilization. Animal does
not know beyond these four principles of life: eating, sleeping, mating, and
skc
defending. That’s all. No. Human life is meant for something else. ‘What I
I
am? What is God? What is my relation with God? What is this material
world? Why I am here? Where I have to go next?’ So many things one has to
of
learn. Athato brahma-jijnasa. This is human life. Not that eat and sleep and
ice
have sex life and die some day like cats and dogs. Therefore, THERE IS
NEED OF ACARYAS, TEACHERS, FOR PROPAGATING SPIRITUAL
erv
KNOWLEDGE, KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS. BHAKTIVINODA
S
THAKURA WAS... ALTHOUGH HE WAS A GRHASTHA ,
HOUSEHOLDER, A GOVERNMENT OFFICER, MAGISTRATE, BUT
he
HE WAS ACARYA. So from his dealings, from his life, we should learn how
nt
one can become a preacher in any stage of life. It doesn’t matter what he is.‛
(I
‚Anyone who follows strictly the footprints of Shri Arjuna is certainly a

aid
Mahatma. It does not mean that a red-dressed man is a Mahatma and a noble
S
householder like your goodself is otherwise. We can find out Mahatmas like
Arjuna in the householder life also, and IN THIS AGE OF KALI WE
ada
SHOULD FIND OUT MORE MAHATMAS IN THE HOUSEHOLDERS

hup
LIFE THAN IN THE OTHER CAMP.‛

(Letter to Shri Jugalkishore Birla, 8/26/58)
rab
‚...ONE WHO ACTS STRICTLY IN THE LINE OF SRI CAITANYA

P
MAHAPRABHU IS COMPETENT TO OFFER BLESSINGS TO

SANNYASIS, EVEN THOUGH HE BE A GRHASTHA
hat
HOUSEHOLDER. Although he is in an exalted position, a sannyasi yet must

W
elevate himself to the transcendental platform by rendering service to the

Lord. By His actual behavior, Caitanya Mahaprabhu begged the blessings of
Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya a householder. He set the example of how one
and
should expect blessings from a Vaisnava, regardless of his social position.‛

(C.c. M.7.69 ppt)
uru
‚To spread Krsna consciousness, one need only be cognizant of the science of
G
the spirit soul. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHETHER ONE IS A brahmana,

he
ksatriya, vaisya, sudra, sannyasi, GRHASTHA or whatever. If one simply

understands this science, he can become a spiritual master.
T
373
on)
[...]‚Factually the qualifications of a spiritual master depend on his knowledge
of the science of Krsna. It does not matter whether he is a brahmana, ksatriya,
skc
sannyasi or sudra.‛ (C.c. M.8.128 purp. ppt.)
I
‚[...] Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura comments that Advaita
Acarya took initiation from Madhavendra Puri, who was a sannyasi in the
of
disciplic succession of the Madhva-sampradaya. According to Sri Caitanya
ice
Mahaprabhu:
kiba vipra kiba nyasi sudra kene naya,
erv
yei krsna-tattva-vetta, sei ‚guru’ haya
S
(Cc. Madhya 8.128)
‘A person may be a brahmana, sannyasi, a sudra or whatever, but if he is well
he
conversant in the science of Krsna, he can become a guru.’
nt
(I
"This statement is supported by Sri Madhavendra Puri. ACCORDING TO
THE PANCARATRA INJUNCTION, ONLY A HOUSEHOLDER
BRAHMANA CAN INITIATE. OTHERS CANNOT. [...]Actually, people
aid
beg to be initiated by these householder brahmanas just to become successful

S
in the varnasrama institution or to become free from material desires. IT IS

THEREFORE NECESSARY FOR A SPIRITUAL MASTER IN THE
ada
GRHASTHA -ASRAMA TO BE A STRICT VAISNAVA. A spiritual

hup
master from the sannyasa order has very little opportunity to perform arcana,
[...] but when one accepts a spiritual master from the transcendental
rab
sannyasis, the principle of Deity worship is not at all neglected. To

implement this conclusion, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave us His opinion in
P
the verse kiba vipra kiba nyasi, etc. This indicates that the Lord understood
the weakness of society in its maintaining that only a grhastha -brahmana
hat
should be a spiritual master. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu indicated that IT

W
DOES NOT MATTER WHETHER THE SPIRITUAL MASTER IS A

GRHASTHA (HOUSEHOLDER), a sannyasi or even a sudra. A
SPIRITUAL MASTER SIMPLY MUST BE CONVERSANT IN THE
and
ESSENCE OF THE SASTRA; HE MUST UNDERSTAND THE

SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD. ONLY THEN CAN ONE
uru
BECOME A SPIRITUAL MASTER. Diksa actually means initiating a

disciple with transcendental knowledge by which he becomes freed from all
G
material contamination.‛ (C.c. Madhya 4.111 purp.)

he
T
374
on)
‚FORMERLY THE ACARYAS WERE GENERALLY ALL SANNYASIS,
but Lord Chaitanya, in His instruction to Roy Ramananda, who was a
skc
confidential devotee of Lord Caitanya, but a householder and responsible
I
government official, Governor of Madras, has given open instruction that IT
DOES NOT MATTER WHAT IS THE SOCIAL OR ECCLESIASTICAL
of
ORDER, IF ONE IS FULLY IN KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS, HE CAN
ice
ACT AS ACARYA.‛ (Letter to Suridas, 3/17/70)
erv
"Suppose one is in household life. Question may be whether a mahatma can
S
be in the household life or not. That is being described: Yes. In household life
also there can be mahatma. Just like Advaita Mahaprabhu. Caitanya
he
Mahaprabhu even, Nityananda Mahaprabhu. They were all householders.
nt
Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He was a householder. He married twice. His first
(I
wife died -- He married for the second time. Regular householder, although
He left household life very early. He was only twenty-four years old;
therefore He had no children. But Nityananda Prabhu had one child,
aid
Virabhadra, and Advaita Prabhu had two, three children, of which buddhi
S
was very highly elevated. Similarly, Srivasa Thakura, he had children. So

Caitanya Mahaprabhu does not say that one has to become in the renounced
ada
order or sannyasi, then he becomes a mahatma. No. We also do not propagate

hup
such idea. At least, I am not doing that. I am creating householder, ideal

householder. And my ideas are being fruitful. Here in London I sent six
rab
householders, and they are doing nice, sincerely they are working. Therefore
I am very much proud of them.
P
"So here is also the statement that even... It's not required that sannyasi is
hat
only mahatma, but a grhastha can be, is also mahatma. So grhastha

W
-mahatma, his symptoms are described: ye va mayise krta-sauhrdarthah.

Their only business is to please Krsna. That is the first qualification. They
have no other business. Ye va mayise krta-sauhrdarthah. Then how they deal
and
with others? A grhastha has to live... A sannyasi may live alone in forest or
in Himalaya or in a secluded place in Vrndavana or somewhere, but a
uru
grhastha , he has to deal with ordinary persons, so many others, businessmen

or ordinary people. So that is stated here, that a grhastha -mahatma, his first
G
symptom is that he has no other business than to please Krsna. That is his
he
first business.
T
375
on)
[...]A householder mahatma has only one aim: how to attain the perfectional
stage of love of God. That is the aim. Generally, a householder in the modern
skc
civilization, they are simply trying to accumulate money, increase the bank
I
balance and make the society, friendship and love as the aim and object of
life, and they have no other business. But a person who is mahatma, his aim is
of
different. His aim is "How to make my life perfect in Krsna consciousness.
ice
How to please Krsna, how to make friendship with Krsna."
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.5.2 -- London, September 17, 1969)
erv
"So these mahatmas, tyagis. Generally, they are sannyasis. And so far other
S
mahatmas also, it does not mean only the sannyasi can be mahatma. No.
he
Grhastha s also can be mahatma. How grhastha s can be mahatmas, that is
nt
explained in the next verse: ye va mayise krta-sauhrdartha. His only business
is to satisfy Krsna. That is... Otherwise, here it is said, jayatmaja-ratimatsu
(I
grhesu. He has no interest in so-called family life, wife, children, friends, and
nationality. No. Ye va mayise krta-sauhrdartha. Only interest is how to
aid
please Krsna. Such person, he is also mahatma. Not that only the mahatmas
who are renounced order. There are grhastha s also. Just like Advaita Acarya,
S
He was grhastha . He became very, very sorry that people are so much
ada
suffering. "It is not in My power to elevate them. Unless Krsna personally

comes, it is not possible." Therefore He offered to Lord Visnu Ganga-jal,
hup
tulasi, praying, "Please come. People are very much suffering. So if You
come..." And on His request Krsna came in the form of Caitanya
rab
Mahaprabhu. So it is not that a grhastha cannot be mahatma. There are

P
many mahatmas.
hat
sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu nityananda

sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda
W
[I offer my obeisances to Sri Krsna Caitanya, Prabhu Nityananda, Sri

and
Advaita, Gadadhara, Srivasa and all others in the line of devotion.]

All gaura-bhakta-vrndas, they were grhastha s. Even Caitanya Mahaprabhu
uru
was also grhastha . But their only business was to satisfy Krsna: ye va mayise
krta-sauhrdartha janesu dehambhara-vartikesu grhesu jayatmaja-ratimatsu na
G
priti. And the ordinary grhastha s, they are called grhamedhi, they are simply
interested with family life, not for the people in general. So a grhastha can
he
T
376
on)
be a mahatma also if he is broad-minded, how to do benefit to the mass of
people by introducing Krsna consciousness.
skc
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.5.3 -- Vrndavana, October 25, 1976}
I
‚Regarding the wife of the Spiritual Master being considered as mother,
of
THIS APPLIES WHEN THE SPIRITUAL MASTER IS NOT SANNYAS
ice
AND HE HAS A WIFE.‛ (Letter to Upendra, 1/24/69)
erv
"TRANSLATION
S
If THE WIFE OF THE SPIRITUAL MASTER is young, a young brahmacari
should not allow her to care for his hair, massage his body with oil, or bathe
he
him with affection like a mother.
nt
PURPORT (I
‚The relationship between the student or disciple and the wife of the
spiritual master or teacher is like that between son and mother. A mother
sometimes cares for her son by combing his hair, massaging his body with oil,
aid
or bathing him. Similarly, the wife of the teacher is also a mother

S
(guru-patni), and therefore she may also care for the disciple in a motherly
way. If the wife of the teacher is a young woman, however, a young
ada
brahmacari should not allow such a mother to touch him. This is strictly
hup
prohibited. There are seven kinds of mothers:

rab
atma-mata guroh patni

brahmani raja-patnika
P
dhenur dhatri tatha prthvi

saptaita matarah smrtah
hat
W
These mothers are the original mother, THE WIFE OF THE TEACHER OR
SPIRITUAL MASTER, the wife of a brahmana, the king’s wife, the cow, the
nurse and the earth. Unnecessary association with women, even with one’s
and
mother, sister or daughter, is strictly prohibited. This is human civilization. A

civilization that allows men to mix unrestrictedly with women is an animal
uru
civilization. In Kali-yuga, people are extremely liberal, but mixing with

women and talking with them as equals actually constitutes an uncivilized
G
way of life.‛ (SB 7.12.8 ppt.)

he
T
377
on)
‚The Krsna Consciousness society was based on renunciation, said
Prabhupada, and therefore ALL SINCERE DEVOTEES WERE AS GOOD
skc
AS SANNYASIS. The actual dress didn’t matter, whether white or saffron,
I
although an ideal grhastha should eventually come to the stage of formal
sannyasa.‛ (Lilamrta VI, pg.167)
of
ice
‚IN OUR SOCIETY EVERYONE, either a brahmachary or sannyasi or
grihastha, who has dedicated his life and soul for this movement, THEY ARE
erv
ALL ON THE SAME LEVEL OF SANNYASI.‛
S
(Letter to Brahmananda Swami, 8/30/69)
he
‚ACTUALLY ALL MY DISCIPLES ARE SANNYASIS because they have
nt
surrendered everything in the service of Krsna.‛
(I
(Letter to Nalinikanta, 11/21/75)
‚Again Srila Prabhupada quoted the verse that had become a theme for the
aid
festival: kiba vipra,kiba nyasi,sudra kene naya. ‘EITHER HE IS A

S
GRHASTHA OR A SANNYASI, IT DOESN’T MATTER. HE MUST

BECOME A GURU. How? Yei krsna-tattva-vetta. One who knows the
ada
principles of Krsna consciousness, one who understands Krsna, he can

hup
become a guru.’‛ (Lilamrta VI, pg.180)

rab
‚Sri Ramananda Raya. He was a grhastha. He was a responsible government

officer. Still, he was the best disciple of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Ramananda
P
Raya, while talking with Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he was feeling little

shamefulness because Caitanya Mahaprabhu was a great sannyasi and
hat
coming from a very respectable brahmana family, and Ramananda Raya, he

W
belonged to the karana caste of Orissa, and he was grhastha, at the same time
in government service. So he was feeling little shameful like that, that "I am
teaching Caitanya Mahaprabhu." So when he was feeling like that, Caitanya
and
Mahaprabhu encouraged him,

kiba vipra kiba sudra nyasi kene naya
uru

[Cc. Madhya 8.128]
G
"You become a sannyasi or you become a grhastha or you are a brahmana or a

he
sudra, the Krsna consciousness has nothing to do with these material things.
T
378
on)
If you know actually what is Krsna, then you can become guru." Another
place also, Krsna, er, Caitanya Mahaprabhu has said that,
skc
yei bhaje sei bada abhakta hina chara
I
krsna-bhajane te nahi jati-kuladi-vicara
[Cc. Antya 4.67]
of
"Anyone who is a devotee, he is great. And who is not devotee, he may
ice
declare himself as great, but he is the most fallen." In the devotional service
there is no such distinction as jati and kula. So if you follow -- the example is
erv
there in your country, Ramananda Raya -- then wherever you are, you are
S
exalted. Narottama dasa Thakura, he has also said -- he is acarya -- grhe va
vanete thake ha gauranga bale dake narottama mage tara sanga: "It doesn't
he
matter whether he is a grhastha or he's a sannyasi." Vanete means vanaprastha,
nt
sannyasi. "Wherever he may be, if he's actually a perfect devotee of Sri
(I
Caitanya Mahaprabhu, I want his association. Never mind." Grhe va vanete
thake ha gauranga bale dake narottama mage tara sanga.
‚So Krsna bhajana is so magnanimous, so exalted, in any position YOU CAN
aid
BECOME THE GREATEST GURU, PROVIDED YOU FOLLOW THE

S
FOOTSTEPS OF SRI CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU.‛

ada
hup
‚SO THERE IS NO BAR AGAINST ANYONE; ANYONE CAN

BECOME A SPIRITUAL MASTER PROVIDED HE KNOWS THE
rab
SCIENCE OF KRSNA. This is the only qualification, and this science in

essence is contained in Bhagavad-gita. AT THE PRESENT MOMENT,
P
THOUSANDS OF SPIRITUAL MASTERS ARE NEEDED TO SPREAD

THIS GREAT SCIENCE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.‛
hat
(Raja-vidya, pg.88)
W
‚Because people are in darkness, WE REQUIRE MANY MILLIONS OF

GURUS to enlighten them. THEREFORE CAITANYA
and
MAHAPRABHU’S MISSION IS, He said, that ‘EVERY ONE OF YOU

BECOME GURU.’ Amara ajnaya guru haya tara ei desa."
uru

G
he
T
379
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
380
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
on)
skc
I
of
ice
erv
‚YOU HAVE ASKED IF IT IS TRUE THAT THE SPIRITUAL MASTER
S
REMAINS IN THE MATERIAL UNIVERSE UNTIL
ALL OF HIS DISCIPLES ARE TRANSFERRED TO
he
THE SPIRITUAL SKY. THE ANSWER IS YES, THIS
nt
IS THE RULE. Therefore, every student should be very
(I
much careful not to commit any offense which will be
detrimental to this promotion to the Spiritual Kingdom,
and thereby the Spiritual Master has to incarnate again
aid
to deliver him. This sort of mentality will be a kind of

S
offense to the Spiritual Master. Out of the ten kinds of

offenses, the number one offense is to disobey the orders of the Spiritual
ada
Master.
hup
‚The instructions given to the disciple by the Spiritual Master at the time of
initiation should be strictly followed. That will make one advance to the
rab
spiritual path. But if one deliberately defies such instructions, then his
advancement is hampered from the very beginning. THIS DEFYING
P
MEANS TO DISCONNECT THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE

SPIRITUAL MASTER. AND ANYONE WHO DEFIES AND
hat
THEREFORE DISCONNECTS THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE

W
SPIRITUAL MASTER CAN HARDLY EXPECT THE ASSISTANCE OF

THE SPIRITUAL MASTER LIFE AFTER LIFE. I hope this will clear up
and
this question sufficiently for you.‛ (Letter to Jayapataka, 7/11/69)

uru
‚...IF SOMEBODY DOES NOT GO [TO THE SPIRITUAL SKY], THEN I

SHALL HAVE TO COME BACK TO TAKE HIM THERE. One should
G
remember this and every one of my disciples should act in such a way that
they may go with me and I may not have to come back to take another birth.‛
he

T
381
on)
‚The Supreme personality of Godhead says:
sarva-dharman parityajya
skc
mam ekam saranam vraja
I
of
‘Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver
ice
you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear.’ (Bg. 18.66) The Supreme
Personality of Godhead can accept the reactions of anyone’s sinful deeds and
erv
neutralize them because He is pavitra, pure, like the sun, which is never
S
contaminated by any worldly infection. Tejiyasam na dosaya vahneh
sama-bhujo yatha (Bhag. 10.33.29). One who is very powerful is not affected
he
by any sinful activity. But here we see that mother Ganges fears being
nt
burdened with the sins of the people in general who would bathe in her
(I
waters. This indicates that no one but the Supreme Personality of Godhead is
able to neutralize the reactions of sinful deeds, whether one’s own or those of
others. SOMETIMES THE SPIRITUAL MASTER, AFTER ACCEPTING
aid
A DISCIPLE, MUST TAKE CHARGE OF THAT DISCIPLE’S PAST

S
SINFUL ACTIVITIES AND, BEING OVERLOADED, MUST

SOMETIMES SUFFER –IF NOT FULLY, THEN PARTIALLY– FOR THE
ada
SINFUL ACTS OF THE DISCIPLE. Every disciple, therefore, must be very

careful not to commit sinful activities after initiation. The poor spiritual
hup
master is kind and merciful enough to accept a disciple and partially suffer
rab
for that disciple’s sinful activities, but Krsna, being merciful to His servant,
neutralizes the reactions of sinful deeds for the servant who engages in
P
preaching His glories. Even mother Ganges feared the sinful reactions of the
people in general and was anxious about how she would counteract the
hat
burden of these sins.‛ (SB 9.9.5)

W
‚As Krsna takes away all the sinful reactions of a person immediately upon
his surrender unto Him, similarly the external manifestation of Krsna, the
representative of Krsna who acts as the mercy of the Supreme Personality of
and
Godhead, takes all the resultant actions of the sinful life of the disciple
immediately after the disciple’s initiation. Thus if the disciple follows the
uru
principles instructed by the spiritual master, he remains purified and is not

G
contaminated by the material infection.

‚Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu therefore stated that the spiritual master who
he
plays the part of Krsna’s representative has to consume all the sinful
T
382
on)
reactions of his disciple. SOMETIMES A SPIRITUAL MASTER TAKES
THE RISK OF BEING OVERWHELMED BY THE SINFUL REACTIONS
skc
OF THE DISCIPLES AND UNDERGOES A SORT OF TRIBULATION
I
DUE TO THEIR ACCEPTANCE. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu therefore
advised that one not accept many disciples.‛ (SB 4.21.31)
of
‚I have seen what you have written about your protection by my humble self,
ice
but that is inevitable when a Spiritual Master accepts somebody as disciple.
erv
Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita that He takes charge of a surrendered soul; so
much so that Lord Krishna protects His devotee from all his sinful activities
S
in the past. Similarly, THE SPIRITUAL MASTER, WHEN HE ACCEPTS
A DISCIPLE AND THE DISCIPLE SURRENDERS UNTO HIM, HE HAS
he
GOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ABSORBING THE SINFUL
REACTION OF HIS DISCIPLE’S LIFE. THIS IS A GREAT
nt
(I
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SPIRITUAL MASTER. We should therefore
be very careful not to overburden our Spiritual Master by further repetition
aid
of sinful activities.
‚I was not very much interested in these matters because my Guru Maharaj
S
liked very much publication of books than constructing big, big temples and
ada
creating some neophyte disciples. As soon as he saw that His neophyte

disciples were increasing in number, He immediately decided to leave this
hup
world. TO ACCEPT DISCIPLES MEANS TO TAKE UP THE

RESPONSIBILITY OF ABSORBING THE SINFUL REACTION OF LIFE
rab
OF THE DISCIPLE.‛ (Letter to Satsvarupa and Uddhava, 7/27/70)

P
‚Accepting an unlimited number of devotees or disciples IS VERY RISKY

for one who is not a preacher. ACCORDING TO SRILA JIVA GOSVAMI,
hat
A PREACHER HAS TO ACCEPT MANY DISCIPLES TO EXPAND THE

CULT OF SRI CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU. THIS IS RISKY because
W
when a spiritual master accepts a disciple, he naturally accepts the disciple’s

sinful activities and their reactions. Unless he is very powerful, he cannot
and
assimilate all the sinful reactions of his disciples. Thus if he is not powerful,
he has to suffer the consequences, for one is forbidden to accept many
uru
disciples.‛ (Cc Madhya 22.118)

‚Because of sinful activities, at night we have bad dreams, which are very
G
troublesome. Indeed, Maharaja Yudhisthira was obliged to see hell because of

a slight deviation from devotional service to the Lord. Therefore, duhsvapna
he
–bad dreams– occur because of sinful activities. A DEVOTEE SOMETIMES

T
383
on)
ACCEPTS A SINFUL PERSON AS HIS DISCIPLE, AND TO
COUNTERACT THE SINFUL REACTIONS HE ACCEPTS FROM THE
skc
DISCIPLE, HE HAS TO SEE A BAD DREAM. Nonetheless, the spiritual
I
master is so kind that in spite of having bad dreams due to the sinful disciple,
he accepts this troublesome business for the deliverance of the victims of
of
Kali-yuga. After initiation, therefore, a disciple should be extremely careful
ice
not to commit again any sinful act that might cause difficulties for himself
and the spiritual master. Before the Deity, before the fire, before the spiritual
erv
master and before the Vaisnavas, the honest disciple promises to refrain from
S
all sinful activity. Therefore he must not again commit sinful acts and thus
create a troublesome situation.‛ (SB 8.4.15)
he
nt
‚In the bhakti-yoga process, the role of the spiritual master is most important
(I
and essential. Although THE SPIRITUAL MASTER WILL ALWAYS
COME BACK UNTIL HIS DEVOTEES HAVE ACHIEVED GOD
aid
REALIZATION, one should not try to take advantage of this. We should not
trouble our spiritual master but should complete the bhakti-yoga process in
S
this life. The disciple should be serious in his service to the spiritual master,
ada
and if the devotee is intelligent, he should think, ‘Why should I act in such a
way that my spiritual master has to take the trouble to reclaim me again? Let
hup
me realize Krsna in this life.’ That is the proper way of thinking. We should
not think, ‘Oh, I am sure that my spiritual master will come and save me.
rab
Therefore I will do as I please.’ IF WE HAVE ANY AFFECTION FOR OUR

SPIRITUAL MASTER, WE SHOULD COMPLETE THE PROCESS IN
P
THIS LIFE, SO THAT HE DOES NOT HAVE TO RETURN TO

hat
RECLAIM US.
W
‚In this regard, there is the example of Bilvamangala Thakura, who, in his
previous life, was elevated almost to prema-bhakti, the highest platform of
and
devotional service. However, since there is always a chance for a falldown,

somehow or other he fell down. In his next life, he was born in a very rich
uru
brahmana family, in accordance with the principle enunciated in the Sixth

Chapter of Bhagavad-gita (6.41): sucinam srimatam gehe. Unfortunately, as is
G
often the case with rich boys, he became a prostitute hunter. Yet it is said
he
that his spiritual master instructed him through his prostitute, saying, ‘Oh,
you are so attached to this mere flesh and bones. If you were this much
T
384
on)
attached to Krsna, how much good you might achieve!’ Immediately
Bilvamangala Thakura resumed his devotional service.
skc
I
‚Although THE SPIRITUAL MASTER ASSUMES RESPONSIBILITY
of
FOR HIS DISCIPLE, we should not take advantage of this. Rather, we
should try to please the spiritual master (yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah).
ice
We should not put our spiritual master in such a position that he has to
erv
reclaim us from a house of prostitution. But even if he has to do so, he will do
it, because he assumes this responsibility when he accepts his disciple.‛
S
(POP, Ch.8, pgs.118-9)
he
nt
‚Regarding your question about sufferings of master, YOU CAN SIMPLY
(I
PONDER OVER LORD CHRIST’S CRUCIFICATION.‛
(Letter to Rebatinandan, 12/31/72)
aid
S
"Tamala Krsna: [...A]ccepting initiation is a serious matter.

Prabhupada: Initiation means seriously take up the...
ada
Tamala Krsna: Vow.

Prabhupada: And if you make it a fun business, then I become implicated,
hup
you become implicated.

Tamala Krsna: In what way does the spiritual master become...?
rab
Prabhupada: Well, this is then something.(?)

P
Tamala Krsna: He has to work very hard on behalf of the disciple...

Prabhupada: No. To accept his sinful reaction.
hat
Tamala Krsna: He does that?

Prabhupada: It is not easy job to become a spiritual master. Yes. Then when it
W
is overloaded, you'll suffer.

Tamala Krsna: Krsna transfers the sinful reaction unto the spiritual master
and
from the disciple.

Prabhupada: Yes.
uru
Tamala Krsna: Why? Is it because there will be such a heavy...?

Prabhupada: Krsna says... That is the principle. This is, aham tvam
G
sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami [Bg. 18.66]. "You have to take all the sinful
reactions." This is the principle, that Krsna is God. He can nullify
he
everything. But I am not God. When it is overloaded, I have to suffer. This is

T
385
on)
the principle that the Christian idea that Christ takes.
Tamala Krsna: The trouble with the Christians is that they never relieved
skc
Christ. They go on sinning. That's not love.
I
Prabhupada: Yes. The principle is that the spiritual master takes all the
resultant sinful action, but the disciple also says that "Now, stop it. Otherwise
of
my spiritual master..." That is gentleman. And "Now use that thing, go on
ice
taking our sinful reaction. We will go on with our own business."
Tamala Krsna: That's not loving at all. That is taking advantage.
erv
Prabhupada: That is cheating.
S
Tamala Krsna: Cheating.
Prabhupada: The same cheating. And he is not liberated because he
he
continues cheating.
nt
Tamala Krsna: Frankly, though, we can see by Christianity that some defect
(I
is there. Either it's probably not there on the part of Jesus. He could have
given them a way to purify themself, but they...
Prabhupada: One chance, that "You have accepted me, I take your all sinful
aid
reactions." But these rascals continue.

S
(Room Conversation -- April 16, 1977, Bombay)

ada
SYAMASUNDARA: One time you said that sometimes you feel sickness or
hup
pain due to the sinful activities of your devotees. Can sometimes disease be
due to that? Caused by that?
rab
P
S.PRABHUPADA: You see, Krsna says:

hat

W
and
‘I will deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear.’ So Krsna is so
powerful that He can immediately take up all the sins of others and
uru
immediately make them right. But when a living entity plays the part on
G
behalf of Krsna, he also takes the responsibility for the sinful activities of his
devotees. Therefore to become a guru is not an easy task. You see? He has to
he
take all the poisons and absorb them. So sometimes –because he is not
T
Krsna– sometimes there is some trouble. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu

386
on)
has forbidden, ‘Don’t make many sisyas, many disciples.’ But for preaching
work we have to accept many disciples –for expanding preaching– even if we
skc
suffer. That’s a fact. THE SPIRITUAL MASTER HAS TO TAKE THE
I
RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL THE SINFUL ACTIVITIES OF HIS
DISCIPLES. Therefore to make many disciples is a risky job unless one is
of
able to assimilate all the sins.
ice
erv
vancha-kalpa-tarubhyas ca
S
krpa-sindhubhya eva ca
patitanam pavanebhyo
he
vaisnavebhyo namo namah
nt
(I
[‘I offer my respectful obeisances unto all the Vaisnava devotees of the Lord.
They are just like desire trees who can fulfill the desires of everyone, and
aid
they are full of compassion for the fallen conditioned souls.’] He takes
S
responsibility for all the fallen souls. That idea is also in the Bible. Jesus
Christ took all the sinful reactions of the people and sacrificed his life. That
ada
is the responsibility of a spiritual master. Because Krsna is Krsna, He is

apapa-viddha–He cannot be attacked by sinful reactions. But a living entity
hup
is sometimes subjected to their influence because he is so small. Big fire, small

fire. If you put some big thing in a small fire, the fire itself may be
rab
extinguished. But in a big fire, whatever you put in is all right. The big fire
P
can consume anything.

hat
BOB: Christ’s suffering was of that nature?

W
S.PRABHUPADA: Mm-m?
and
BOB: Was Christ’s suffering–

uru
G
S.PRABHUPADA: That I have already explained. He took the sinful

reactions of all the people. Therefore he suffered.
he
T
387
on)
BOB: I see.
skc
S.PRABHUPADA: He said –that is in the Bible– that he took all the sinful
I
reactions of the people and sacrificed his life. But these Christian people
of
have made it a law for Christ to suffer while they do all nonsense. [Bob gives a
short laugh.] Such great fools they are! They have let Jesus Christ make a
ice
contract for taking all their sinful reactions so they can go on with all
erv
nonsense. That is their religion. Christ was so magnanimous that he took all
their sins and suffered, but that does not induce them to stop all these sins.
S
They have not come to that sense. They have taken it very easily. ‘Let Lord
he
Jesus Christ suffer, and we’ll do all nonsense.’ Is it not?
nt
(I
BOB: It is so.
aid
S.PRABHUPADA: They should have been ashamed: ‘Lord Jesus Christ

suffered for us, but we are continuing the sinful activities.’ He told everyone,
S
‘Thou shalt not kill,’ but they are indulging in killing, thinking, ‘Lord Jesus
ada
Christ will excuse us and take all the sinful reactions.’ This is going on. We
should be very much cautious: ‘For my sinful actions my spiritual master will
hup
suffer, so I’ll not commit even a pinch of sinful activities.’ That is the duty of
the disciple. After initiation, all sinful reaction is finished. Now if he again
rab
commits sinful activities, his spiritual master has to suffer. A disciple should
be sympathetic and consider this. ‘For my sinful activities, my spiritual
P
master will suffer.’ IF THE SPIRITUAL MASTER IS ATTACKED BY

SOME DISEASE, IT IS DUE TO THE SINFUL ACTIVITIES OF
hat
OTHERS. ‘Don’t make many disciples.’ But we do it because we are

W
preaching. Never mind –let us suffer– still we shall accept them. Therefore
your question was – when I suffer is it due to my past misdeeds? Was it not?
and
That is my misdeed –that I accepted some disciples who are nonsense. That is
my misdeed.
uru
BOB: This happens on occasions?

G
he
S.PRABHUPADA: Yes. This is sure to happen because we are accepting so

T
many men. It is the duty of the disciples to be cautious. ‘My spiritual master
388
on)
has saved me. I should not put him again into suffering.’ When the spiritual
master is in suffering, Krsna saves him. Krsna thinks, ‘Oh, he has taken so
skc
much responsibility for delivering a fallen person.’ So Krsna is there.
I
of
kaunteya pratijanihi
na me bhaktah pranasyati
ice
erv
[‘O son of Kunti, declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes.’] Because
S
the spiritual master takes the risk on account of Krsna.
he
nt
BOB: Your suffering is not the same kind of pain...
(I
S.PRABHUPADA: No, it is not due to karma. The pain is there sometimes,
aid
so that the disciples may know, ‘Due to our sinful activities, our spiritual
master is suffering.’
S
ada
BOB: You look very well now.

hup
S.PRABHUPADA: I am always well... in the sense that even if there is

rab
suffering, I know Krsna will protect me. But this suffering is not due to my
sinful activities.‛
P
(PQPA, Ch.6, pgs.54-60)

hat
‚The spiritual master accepts the sinful activities of his disciples from the
W
first initiation. I MAY GIVE INITIATION VERY EASILY, BUT WHAT

CAN I DO? I AM PREPARED TO GO TO HELL FOR THE SERVICE OF
and
LORD CHAITANYA.‛
(Letter to Jadurani, 9/4/72)
uru
G
‚You get the seed of devotion, and the Hare Krishna mantra through the
mercy of the spiritual master and Krishna. Similarly, UPON YOUR
he
SURRENDER, THE SPIRITUAL MASTER AND KRISHNA TAKE

T
389
on)
RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR SINS. SO IF YOU COMMIT SIN AGAIN,
THE SPIRITUAL MASTER BECOMES RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR
skc
SINFUL REACTION. Therefore, it is the disciple’s duty not to commit sin
I
again. Not only Gayatri mantra, but all mantras cleanse one from sinful
reactions, but we should not chant these mantras and then commit sin
of
again.‛ (Letter to Batua Gopal, 8/22/72)
ice
erv
‚Instruct them fully in the qualifications for becoming brahmin, and HENCE
FORTH THEY MUST BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL NOT TO COMMIT
S
ANY SINFUL ACTS OR OTHERWISE I SHALL HAVE TO SUFFER AS
he
THEIR SPIRITUAL MASTER.‛ (Letter to Sri Govinda, 12/27/72)
nt
(I
aid
S
ada
hup
rab
P
hat
W
and
uru
G
he
T
390
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
391
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
392
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
on)
skc
I
of
ice
erv
S
‚V: What are the reasons why one should not hear from one who has got
he
sufficient knowledge on Lord Krsna if he is not outwardly a Vaisnava. That
nt
means he’s not having sikha or kanti, like that.
S.PRABHUPADA: What is that?
(I
D: He says, ‘What’s wrong with hearing from someone if
he has some knowledge of Krsna even if he doesn’t have a
aid
sikha and tilaka and what have you?’

S
S.PRABHUPADA: That is the injunction of authority.

Avaisnava-mukhodgirnam putam hari-ka..., sravanam na
ada
kartavyam. We have to abide by the orders of the

hup
superiors. ‘Why?’ –there is no question. Authority says;

you have to accept. You cannot say, ‘Why?’ Vedic injunction... Therefore
rab
Krsna was accepted as guru by Arjuna. Sisyas te ‘ham sadhi mam prapannam.
Because as friend and friend the reply and argument will go on, to stop this
P
argument Krsna is accepted as guru, not as friend. Similarly, when you accept
a guru, you must accept guru according to the Vedic principle. So here guru,
hat
Sanatana Gosvami, he is giving the injunction that avaisnava-mukhodgirnam

W
putam hari-kathamrtam, sravanam na kartavyam. Exceptional case is

different. The paramahamsa stage. But a guru, although he is paramahamsa,
because he is teaching, he comes down as madhyama-adhikari.
and
uru
‚There are three kinds of Vaisnava: kanistha adhikari, madhyama adhikari

and uttama adhikari. Uttama adhikari may be without kanti, without sikha,
G
without Vaisnava symptoms. He’s paramahamsa. But when he comes to the

preaching platform he must become a madhyama adhikari, not to imitate
he
uttama adhikari, because he has to teach. HE CANNOT DEVIATE FROM

T
393
on)
THE TEACHING PRINCIPLES. SO WHAT YOU ARE SPEAKING,
THAT ‘WITHOUT SIKHA, WITHOUT KANTI, ONE CAN BECOME
skc
GURU,’ THAT IS FACT FOR THE PARAMAHAMSA, NOT FOR THE
I
PREACHER. PREACHER MUST BEHAVE VERY NICELY.‛
(Lecture, Bhuvanesvara 1/24/77)
of
ice
‚[...I] f you want to manufacture something of your own concoction, that will
erv
not act. That will not... That will be gramaphone. No ...actually penetrating.
Apane acari prabhu jiveri siksaya. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that you have to
S
act accordingly as it is instructed, then you can teach others. IF YOU DO
he
NOT ACT YOURSELF, YOUR WORDS WILL HAVE NO VALUE
nt
...CUT. (I (Lecture, Los Angeles 12/6/73)
‚Whatever action a great man performs, common men follow. And

WHATEVER STANDARDS HE SETS BY EXEMPLARY ACTS, ALL
aid
THE WORLD PURSUES.

S
ada
PURPORT
‚People in general always require a leader who can teach the public by
hup
practical behavior. A leader cannot teach the public to stop smoking if he

himself smokes. Lord Caitanya said that a teacher should behave properly
rab
before he begins teaching. One who teaches in that way is called acarya, or
P
the ideal teacher.‛ (BG 3.21)

‚Our guru, out of the Six Gosvamis, one of them, he has given his direction
hat
in the Bhakti... What is that? Hari-bhakti-vilasa, that avaisnava

W
mukhodgirnam putam hari-kathamrtam sravanam na kartavyam [Padma

Purana]. A person who is not Vaisnava... Vaisnava means krsna tattva vetta. If
he's not well versed in the science of Krsna, if his behavior is not Vaisnava...
and
Sadacara-sampanna. VAISNAVA MUST HAVE DVADASA-TILAKA,

SIKHA, SUTRA, KANTI, and there are many things, description,
uru
sadacara-sampranna, Vaisnava. If he's not that, simply by education if he

G
speaks about Krsna, one should not hear. One should not hear. These are
professional men. If you pay him something, he'll speak for some time, but his
he
behavior is not Vaisnava. So from such person it is forbidden to hear about

T
Srimad-Bhagavatam or anything about Krsna. Avaisnava-mukhodgirnam

394
on)
putam hari-kathamrtam, sravanam na kartavyam. So one may say that "He's
speaking about Krsna, so what is the wrong there? He may be misbehaved,
skc
but he's speaking about Krsna." So that Sanatana Gosvami says, putam
I
hari-kathamrtam. Hari-kathamrtam is always pure. That's all right. But
avaisnava-mukhodgirnam putam hari-kathamrta, sravanam... Why?
of
Sarpocchistam payo yatha. Everyone knows milk is very nice and nutritious
ice
food, but if it is touched by the lips of a serpent, it is spoiled, no more to be...
So it is forbidden, that we should not try to understand about Krsna from a
erv
person who is not Vaisnava.‛
S
(Lecture on Cc Madhya 8.128-- January 24, 1977, Bhuvanesvara)
he
nt
(I
aid
S
ada
hup
rab
P
hat
W
and
uru
G
he
T
395
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
396
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
on)
skc
I
of
ice
erv
S
he
nt
‚...ONE WHO TEACHES CAN BE TREATED AS (I
SPIRITUAL MASTER. It is not that after we become
initiated we become perfect. No. It requires teaching. So
IF WE TAKE INSTRUCTION FROM THEM, ALL
aid
SENIOR GODBROTHERS MAY BE TREATED AS

S
GURU, THERE IS NO HARM. Actually you have only

one spiritual master who initiates you, just as you have
ada
only one father. But every Vaisnava should be treated as

prabhu, master, higher than me, and in this sense, IF I
hup
LEARN FROM HIM, HE MAY BE REGARDED AS

rab
GURU. It is not that I disobey my real Spiritual Master and call someone else
Spiritual Master. That is wrong. It is only that I can call Spiritual Master
P
someone who is teaching me purely what my initiating Spiritual Master has

taught. Do you get the sense?‛ (Letter to Galim, 11/20/71)
hat
W
‚[...] ANYONE WHO CAN GIVE INSTRUCTION IN SPIRITUAL LIFE

IS TREATED AS SPIRITUAL MASTER. There are two kinds of Spiritual
and
Master, initiator and instructor.‛ (Letter to Himavati, 1/24/69)

uru
‚There is no difference between the shelter-giving Supreme Lord and the

initiating [diksa] and instructing [siksa] spiritual masters. IF ONE
G
FOOLISHLY DISCRIMINATES BETWEEN THEM, HE COMMITS AN

OFFENSE IN THE DISCHARGE OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE.‛
he
T

397
on)
‚One must be prepared to offer the necessary respect and honor to the
spiritual master. He should not be unnecessarily envious of his Godbrothers.
skc
Rather, IF A GODBROTHER IS MORE ENLIGHTENED AND
I
ADVANCED IN KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS, ONE SHOULD ACCEPT
HIM AS ALMOST EQUAL TO THE SPIRITUAL MASTER, and one
of
should be happy to see such Godbrothers advance in Krsna consciousness. A
ice
devotee should always be very kind to the general public in instructing Krsna
consciousness because that is the only solution for getting out of the clutches
erv
of maya. That is really humanitarian work, for it is the way to show mercy to
S
other people who need it very badly. The word susrusabhirataya indicates a
person who faithfully engages in serving the spiritual master. One should
he
give personal service and all kinds of comforts to the spiritual master. A
nt
devotee who does so is also a bona fide candidate for taking this instruction.‛
(I
(SB 3.32.42 ppt.)
aid
‚Regarding serving your godbrothers, this is a very good practice. The

S
Spiritual Master is never without His followers, so TO SERVE THE

SPIRITUAL MASTER ALSO MEANS TO BE THE SERVANT OF HIS
ada
DISCIPLES. When you want to serve the king, you must also serve his
minister, secretary, and everyone who serves him. And to serve his servants
hup
may please him more than to serve the king personally. So the Spiritual
Master is not alone. He is always with His entourage. We are not
rab
impersonalists. We take care of every part of the whole, as much as one

P
should take care of his hat as well as his shoes. Both are equally important for
the upkeep of the body. I hope that you will understand this rightly.‛
hat

W
‚Our Krishna Consciousness movement is based on complete fellow feeling

and love, but there is a word, maryada, which means RESPECT WHICH
and
SHOULD ALWAYS BE OFFERED TO THE SPIRITUAL MASTER AND

ELDERLY MEMBERS.‛ (Letter to Jayapataka, 4/17/70)
uru
G
he
T
398
on)
‚ 20th February, 1970
skc
My Dear Jagannatham Prabhu,
I
Please accept my humble obeisances. I am so glad to receive your letter dated
10 February, 1970, redirected from my New York center.
of
Perhaps you are the eldest amongst us now living as disciples of Srila
ice
Prabhupada. You are now eighty-one years old, and I am only seventy-four.
erv
THEREFORE I AM YOUR YOUNGER BROTHER AND I SHALL
ALWAYS EXPECT BLESSINGS FROM YOU.
S
[...]You are so kind upon me, and AS YOUR YOUNGER BROTHER I
he
SHALL ALWAYS BE READY FOR YOUR SERVICE. So please treat me as
nt
your humble servant. Thanking you in anticipation.
(I
aid
S
ada
hup
rab
P
hat
W
and
uru
G
he
T
399
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
400
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
on)
skc
I
of
ice
erv
S
he
‚[...Q] uotation and counter-quotation cannot solve the problem. In a court
nt
both the learned lawyers quote from law books, but that is not the solution to
the case. THE DETERMINATION OF THE CASE IS THE JUDGMENT
(I
OF THE PRESIDING JUDGE. So argument cannot
bring us to a conclusion.
aid
‚THE SCRIPTURAL QUOTATIONS ARE

S
SOMETIMES CONTRADICTORY, and every

philosopher has a different opinion, because without
ada
putting forward a different thesis, no one can become a

famous philosopher. It is therefore difficult to arrive at
hup
the right conclusion. THE CONCLUSION IS, AS

rab
ABOVE MENTIONED, TO ACCEPT THE

JUDGMENT OF AUTHORITY. We follow the authority of Lord Caitanya
P
Mahaprabhu, who is nondifferent from Krsna....

‚Other quotations will not act very appreciably at this time. In a drugstore
hat
there may be many medicines, and all may be genuine, but WHAT IS
W
REQUIRED IS THAT AN EXPERIENCED PHYSICIAN PRESCRIBE

MEDICINE FOR A PARTICULAR PATIENT. We cannot say in this case,
‚This is also medicine, and this is also medicine.‛ No. The medicine which is
and
effective for a particular person is the medicine for him –phalena pariciyate [a
thing is judged by its results].‛ (SSR 4th.Edition, pg.116)
uru
‚To support this statement there are many authoritative assertions by the
G
learned scholars of bygone ages. According to their general opinion, a person

may become governed by certain convictions derived by his own arguments
he
and decisions. Then another person, who may be a greater logician, will
T
401
on)
nullify these conclusions and establish another thesis. In this way THE
PATH OF ARGUMENT WILL NEVER BE SAFE OR CONCLUSIVE.
skc
SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM RECOMMENDS, THEREFORE, THAT ONE
I
FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE AUTHORITIES.‛
(NoD 2: The First Stages of Devotion)
of
‚LOGIC WE USE TO CONVINCE SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T
ice
ACCEPT THE AUTHORITY. THE BASIC PRINCIPLE IS
erv
AUTHORITY.‛
S
(Letter to: Satsvarupa -- Johannesburg 21 October, 1975)
he
‚Mahäjano yena gataù sa panthäù [Cc. Madhya 17.186]. WE HAVE TO
nt
FOLLOW THE FOOTPRINTS OF PURE DEVOTEES. It is said that tarkaù
apratiñöhaù. IF YOU WANT TO BECOME PURE BY YOUR
(I
ARGUMENTS AND LOGIC, THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE. I MAY BE
DEFEATED BY ANOTHER STRONG MAN WHO IS STRONGER IN
aid
ARGUMENT THAN ME, so this is not the way of becoming purified, tarka,
S
simply arguing. Tarkaù apratiñöhaù småtayo vibhinnäù [Cc. Madhya 17.186].

Çrutayaù, scriptures. Suppose somebody sticks to the scriptures. SO
ada
SCRIPTURES, THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF SCRIPTURE. SO

THEY ARE VIBHINNA. VIBHINNA MEANS DIFFERENT TYPES. SO
hup
HOW WE CAN BECOME PURIFIED BY, EVEN BY FOLLOWING THE

SCRIPTURES? Tarko 'pratiñöhaù småtayo vibhinnä na cäsäv åñir yasya mataà
rab
na bhinnam. Muni means thoughtful, philosophers. If we follow a particular

P
type of philosopher, that is also not perfect because I may be under the care of
a philosopher, frog philosopher. So that is also not sure. Tarko 'pratiñöhaù
hat
småtayo vibhinnä na cäsäv åñir yasya mataà na bhinnam, dharmasya tattvaà

nihitaà guhäyäm.
W
‚THEREFORE TO BECOME PURE OR TO UNDERSTAND THE

ESSENCE OF PURITY IS VERY CONFIDENTIAL. IT IS NOT TO BE
and
ACQUIRED BY OUR OWN EFFORTS, BY ARGUMENT OR BY BEING

EXPERT IN SCRIPTURE OR BY BECOMING A PHILOSOPHER or a
uru
similar way. It is very confidential. Then how? Mahäjano yena gataù sa

G
panthäù [Cc. Madhya 17.186]. YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW A PURE

DEVOTEE, ACKNOWLEDGED DEVOTEE.‛
he
(Lecture on Bg & Talk, Los Angeles 11/25/68)

T
402
on)
«[T]HERE ARE THINGS WHICH ARE BEYOND OUR EXPERIENCE,
beyond our reasoning, beyond our, I mean to say, conception. Those things
skc
are called acintya. Acintya means inconceivable. Inconceivable.
I
«Now, HOW TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHICH IS BEYOND OUR
CONCEPTION? The scriptures says like this, acintyah khalu ye bhava na
of
tams tarkena yojayet: "Anything which is beyond our conception, beyond our
ice
reasoning power, beyond our approach of the material senses, such things
erv
WE SHOULD NOT TRY TO HAVE CONCEPTION SIMPLY BY
ARGUMENTS." So in the Vedic injunction it is said that tarkah apratistha:
S
"By... What should be the... What should be our real understanding, that WE
CANNOT ESTABLISH SIMPLY BY ARGUMENT."
he
nt
«Tarkah apratisthah smrtayo vibhinnah: [Cc. Madhya 17.186] "If we consult
different scriptures, then we'll find that one scripture is speaking something,
(I
another scripture is speaking something else." […] So therefore it is said that
smrtayo vibhinnah. IF YOU CONSULT DIFFERENT SCRIPTURES,
aid
YOU'LL FIND DIFFERENT CONTRADICTORY STATEMENTS. Your

S
scripture may be different from my scripture. And nasau munir yasya matam
na bhinnam. IF YOU CONSULT PHILOSOPHERS, YOU'LL FIND ONE
ada
PHILOSOPHER IS DIFFERING FROM ANOTHER PHILOSOPHER. A

big philosopher means who has cut down other philosophers and put up his
hup
own theory, "This is true." This is going on.

rab
«So tarko 'pratisthah smrtayo vibhinna nasau munir yasya matam na bhinnam.
THEN HOW TO CONCLUDE WHAT IS THE RIGHT PATH? I cannot
P
establish it by my imperfect arguments. I cannot consult even the scriptures.

Neither I can take real instruction from different philosophers. Then what,
hat
WHAT IS THE WAY OF HAVING THE REAL THING? So it says that

W
dharmasya tattvam nihitam guhayam: "THE TRUTH OF RELIGIOSITY IS

VERY CONFIDENTIAL, VERY SECRET." SO HOW TO KNOW IT?
Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah: [Cc. Madhya 17.186] " WE HAVE SIMPLY
and
TO SEE THAT GREAT PERSONALITIES, AS THEY HAVE TAKEN

UP, WE HAVE TO FOLLOW. THAT'S ALL."
uru
«Just like in your Christian religion you may not understand all the Biblical
G
injunctions or you may not have the time, but you'll simply, if you follow the
ideal life of Lord Jesus Christ, then you get the same result. Similarly, the
he
Muhammadans, if they follow the ideal life of Muhammad, Hazrat

T
403
on)
Muhammad, so they get the result. Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah [Cc.
Madhya 17.186].
skc
«Just like in a unknown path, in a village, especially when there is a field
I
[…]in the country, everything, every, every place is of the same similar
of
nature, the same jungle, the same field, the same grass. We do not know
where I am going. Or in the sea. Or in the sea. I have got experience. Have
ice
you ever traveled in the sea? No. But when I was coming from India, so
erv
everywhere I see a round only, round of water. I do not know which way the
ship is proceeding. You see? But they have got a chart. They have got a chart.
S
[…W]hat are these charts? The charts are that experienced sailors, they have
he
made the charts. The captain was also consulting that chart because it was
nt
made by experienced sailors. That is nothing. So SIMILARLY IN
CALCULATING IN WHICH WAY WE HAVE TO FIND OUT OUR
(I
SALVATION IS TO FOLLOW SUCH LIBERATED SOULS.‛»
(Lecture Bg 2.12 -- New York, March 7, 1966)
aid
‚Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah [Cc. Madhya 17.186]. You cannot come to
S
the conclusion what is sraddha and sadhana by simply argument. Tarko

apratistha. BY ARGUMENT, WE CANNOT ESTABLISH. Srutayo
ada
vibhinna. THE SCRIPTURES ARE MANY VARIETIES. Srutayor vibhinna

nasau munir yasya matam na bhinnam. AND EVERY PHILOSOPHER
hup
MUST DIFFER WITH ANOTHER PHILOSOPHER. THEREFORE,

rab
MAHAJANO YENA GATAH SA PANTHAH: WE HAVE TO FOLLOW

THE FOOTPRINTS OF GREAT AUTHORITIES.‛
P
(Lecture NOD-- Vrndavana, November 12, 1972)

hat
W
and
uru
G
he
T
404
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
405
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
406
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
on)
skc
I
of
ice
erv
S
‚S.PRABHUPADA: NOTHING CAN SATISFY EVERYONE. That is not
he
possible. There is no such thing within this material world which can satisfy
nt
everyone. There is no such thing.
I: Because we...
(I
S.PRABHUPADA: No, no, because... There may be so
many ‘because.’ But THE FACT IS THAT THERE IS
aid
NOTHING IN THIS MATERIAL WORLD WHICH

S
CAN SATISFY EVERYONE.

I: There can be a method which can...
ada
S.PRABHUPADA: Maybe, but we do not know.

hup
I: Therefore beyond that, you see, I came...

S.PRABHUPADA: Just like Krsna. We accept Krsna the supreme authority.
rab
Krsna says, mam ekam saranam vraja. Who is accepting this? We have
P
accepted. Some others may have accepted but you have not accepted. So
therefore even Krsna’s injunction is not accepted by everyone, what to speak
hat
of others? So therefore YOU CANNOT FIND OUT WITHIN THIS

MATERIAL WORLD ANYTHING WHICH CAN SATISFY EVERYONE.
W
THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE.

I: We have not found that.
and
S.PRABHUPADA: You may think, but WE HAVE CONCLUDED THAT

THERE IS NOTHING, SUCH THING, WHICH CAN SATISFY
uru
EVERYONE. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE.

G
I: Until we hear all, we may do that...

S.PRABHUPADA: That may be an ideal, but we take Krsna as the highest
he
authority. Even Krsna’s words are not accepted. That’s a fact. Krsna says,
T
407
on)
‘You surrender unto Me.’ So a few persons might have surrendered to Him.
Even Krsna was present, only the Pandavas and the inhabitants of the
skc
Vrndavana and Dvaraka, some of them understood that Krsna is the
I
Supreme. But many did not accept Him. Many insulted Him. Just like
Sisupala insulted Him. So EVEN KRSNA COULD NOT BE ACCEPTED.‛
of
(Conversation, Allahabad 1/17/71)
ice
erv
S
he
nt
(I
aid
S
ada
hup
rab
P
hat
W
and
uru
G
he
T
408
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
409
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
410
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
on)
skc
I
of
ice
erv
S
he
nt
(I
aid
S
‚IN A COURT OF JUSTICE two lawyers put forward their respective

ada
relevant arguments taken from the authorized law books to decide a point,
but it is up to the judge to decide the case in favor of one of the litigants.
hup
WHEN THE OPPOSING LAWYERS PUT

FORWARD THEIR ARGUMENTS, BOTH OF
rab
THEM ARE LEGAL AND BONA FIDE, BUT THE

P
JUDGMENT IS GIVEN AS TO WHICH

ARGUMENT IS APPLICABLE TO THE
hat
PARTICULAR CASE.
W
‚...We have to accept everything favorable to the

circumstances. Rejection of other methods in a
and
particular circumstance does not mean that the rejected ones are not bona
fide. But for the time being, taking into consideration the age, time, and
uru
object, methods are sometimes rejected even though bona fide. WE HAVE
G
TO TEST EVERYTHING BY ITS PRACTICAL RESULT.‛

(SSR, III, ‚The Scriptural Basis of K.C.‛, 4th. Printing, pg. 116)
he
T
411
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
412
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
on)
skc
I
of
ice
erv
S
OUR CONCLUSION IS that the International Society for Krsna
Consciousness (ISKCON) has to satisfy its final judge and authority, His
he
Divine Grace Om Visnupada Paramahamsa Parivrajakacarya Astottara-sata
nt
Sri Srimad A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
(I
It has been proven even to the common eye that he executed an astounding
task, establishing in record time a triumphant, worldwide movement for the
aid
propagation of Krsna consciousness. It has been proven to the devotees’ eyes

S
that Srila Prabhupada fulfilled the desires of the predecessor acaryas and the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, by
ada
creating in –and from– the midst of sinful humankind a society of pure,

Krsna conscious devotees who have dedicated their lives for the propagation
hup
of the Holy Names of the Lord. This success was brought about specially by
his unique presentation of the Krsna conscious philosophy in the form of his
rab
writings, and the success was such, that in describing it Srila Prabhupada said
P
it was beyond his expectations.

hat
‚The secret of success in advancement in spiritual life is the firm faith of

the disciple in the orders of his spiritual master. The Vedas confirm this:
W
yasya deve para bhaktir

and
yatha deve tatha gurau

tasyaite kathita hy arthah
uru
prakasante mahatmanah
G
‘To one who has staunch faith in the words of the spiritual master and
he
the words of the Supreme Personality of Godhead the secret of success in

T
413
on)
Vedic knowledge is revealed.’ The Krsna consciousness movement is
being propagated according to this principle, and therefore our
skc
preaching work is going on successfully, in spite of the many
I
impediments offered by antagonistic demons, because we are getting
positive help from our previous acaryas. One must judge every action by
of
its result. [...T]he success of the ISKCON party, the International
ice
Society for Krishna Consciousness, which strictly follows guru and
Gauranga, is increasing daily all over the world. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta
erv
Sarasvati Thakura wanted to print as many books as possible and
S
distribute them all over the world. We have tried our best in this
connection, and we are getting results beyond our expectations.
he
(Cc Adi 12.8)
nt
(I
It is now the duty of Srila Prabhupada’s followers to perpetuate this success,
which is something that can only be accomplished by means of the same
formula –firm faith in the orders of the spiritual master. Otherwise, in that
aid
same portion of Caitanya-caritamrta he warns about the impending danger:

S
TRANSLATION
ada
Some of the disciples strictly accepted the orders of the acarya, and
hup
others deviated, independently concocting their own opinions under the

spell of daivi maya.
rab
PURPORT
P
This verse describes the beginning of a schism. When disciples do not

stick to the principle of accepting the order of their spiritual master,
hat
immediately there are two opinions. Any opinion different from the
W
opinion of the spiritual master is useless. One cannot infiltrate

materially concocted ideas into spiritual advancement. That is
deviation. There is no scope for adjusting spiritual advancement to
and
material ideas.
uru
TRANSLATION
G
The order of the spiritual master is the active principle in spiritual life.
Anyone who disobeys the order of the spiritual master immediately
he
becomes useless.
T
414
on)
PURPORT
skc
Here is the opinion of Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami. Persons who
strictly follow the orders of the spiritual master are useful in executing
I
the will of the Supreme, whereas persons who deviate from the strict
of
order of the spiritual master are useless.‛ (Cc Adi 12.9-10)
ice
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu sent Srila Prabhupada with a mission, and Srila
Prabhupada fulfilled it. That mission was to institute the system of disciplic
erv
succession all over the world. Srila Prabhupada did not come to be the last
S
link of the chain, but to assure its perpetual continuation. And he did his
part. By leaving, Srila Prabhupada indicated that the system was established
he
and that his disciples would now be the bona fide spiritual master. Prepared
nt
or unprepared as they were, by leaving he was forcing them to take up the
(I
responsibility.
Srila Prabhupada’s instructions and desires are no secret. They are expressed
aid
throughout all of his teachings. He always presented his movement as a

S
solidly established organization, not as an experimental society. Everything

had been provided for in his ISKCON.
ada
As a most important provision, he openly entrusted his mission to his

hup
disciples. If they strictly follow his orders they will succeed in going back
home, back to Godhead, and their followers will go with them –after having
rab
been themselves the bona fide spiritual master for the next generation. ‚This
is the law of disciplic succession‛ –he said.
P
Therefore, we shouldn’t become perplexed in the face of this law. It is

hat
enacted by time, and time is Krsna. Now we should tell the world that the
W
disciplic succession has been perpetuated. Now we should reassume again our
original enthusiasm in the service of Srila Prabhupada, and take up once
again our original mission –the spiritual conquest of the world. There is
and
nothing to lose or to fear. We are fully protected by what PRABHUPADA

SAID.
uru
G
‚[...]I am very much confident that you will be able to render more and
more the best service to Krsna and to your spiritual master. That means
he
that you will simply introduce our Krsna Consciousness program

T
anywhere and everywhere, without any compromise or deviation from

415
on)
the highest standard of devotional practice, as chalked out for us by our
great predecessors. If you yourself remain always pure, then your
skc
preaching will have effect. As soon as there is little impurity, the whole
I
thing will deteriorate and go to hell. So we shall not like to take the credit
in that case.
of
‚Therefore I am praying simply that all of you, my advanced disciples,
ice
GBC men, sannyasis, temple officers, like that, that all of you will
erv
become sober-minded and feeling always very much responsible how the
things will go on as I have given them. If you simply do as I am doing, not
S
avoiding anything which may have to be done for pushing on Krsna’s
he
movement, remaining always stuck up very tightly to the footsteps of
nt
Rupa Gosvami, then without any doubt you will remain always fresh
and enthusiastic for working very energetically on Krsna’s behalf,
(I
without any falldown.‛
–Srila Prabhupada in a letter, 12/29/72
aid
S
ada
hup
rab
P
hat
W
and
uru
G
he
T
416
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
417
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
Srila Prabhupada Ki Jaya!

erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
418
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
on)
skc
I
of
ice
erv
S
The following are an essay and a Vyasa-Puja lecture by our parama-guru, His
he
Divine Grace Om Visnupada Paramahamsa Parivrajakacarya Astottara-sata
nt
Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada. The articles
(I
appeared originally in his English newspaper, the Sree Sajjana-Toshani, also
known as ‚The Harmonist.‛ Note that the second article is his response to the last
Vyasa-Puja he was offered in person. To preserve their authenticity, the articles
aid
have been retyped unedited, except for appearance.

S
ada
I
hup
Sree Sajjana-Toshani,
rab
VOL. XXVI, NO.7,

P
DECEMBER 1928, 442 Chaitanya-Era.

hat
W
EDITORIAL
Initiation into Spiritual Life.
and
THE CEREMONY OF DIKSA or initiation is that by which the spiritual

uru
Preceptor admits one to the status of a neophyte on the path of spiritual

endeavour. The ceremony tends to confer spiritual enlightenment by
G
abrogating sinfulness. Its actual effect depends on the degree of willing

he
co-operation on the part of the disciple and is, therefore, not the same in all
cases. It does not preclude the possibility of reversion of the novice to the
T
419
on)
non-spiritual state, if he slackens in his effort or misbehaves. Initiation puts a
person on the true track and also imparts an initial impulse to go ahead. It
skc
cannot, however, keep one going for good unless one
I
chooses to put forth his own voluntary effort. The nature
of the initial impulse also varies in accordance with the
of
condition of the recipient. But although the mercy of the
ice
good preceptor enables us to have a glimpse of the Absolute
and of the path of His attainment, the seed that is thus
erv
sown requires very careful tending under the direction of
S
the preceptor, if it is to germinate and grow into the
fruit-and-shade-giving tree. Unless our soul of his own accord chooses to
he
serve Krishna after obtaining a working idea of his real nature, he cannot
nt
long retain the Spiritual Vision. The soul is never compelled by Krishna to
(I
serve Him.
But initiation is never altogether futile. It changes the outlook of the disciple
aid
on life. If he sins after initiation, he may fall into greater depths of

degradation than the uninitiated. But although even after initiation
S
temporary set-backs may occur, they do not ordinarily prevent the final
deliverance. The faintest glimmering of the real knowledge of the Absolute
ada
has sufficient power to change radically and for good the whole of our mental
hup
and physical constitution and this glimmering is incapable of being totally

extinguished except in extraordinarily unfortunate cases.
rab
It is undoubtedly practicable for the initiated, if only he is willing, to follow

P
the directions of the preceptor that lead by slow degrees to the Absolute. The
good preceptor is verily the savior of fallen souls. It is, however, very rarely
hat
that a person with modern culture feels inclined to submit to the guidance of
another specially in spiritual matters. But the very person submits readily
W
enough to the direction of a physician for being cured of his bodily ailments.
Because these latter cannot be ignored without consequences that are patent
and
to everybody. The evil that results from our neglect of the ailments of the
soul is of a nature that paralyses and deludes our understanding and prevents
uru
the recognitions of itself. Its gravity is not recognised as it does not

apparently stand in the way of our worldly activities with the same directness
G
as the other. The average cultured man is, therefore, at liberty to ask
he
questions without realising any pressing necessity of submitting to the

treatment of spiritual maladies at the hands of a really competent physician.
T
420
on)
The questions that are frequently asked are as these:-’Why should it be at all
necessary to submit to any particular person or to subscribe to any particular
skc
ceremony for the purpose of realising the Absolute Who by His nature is
I
unconditioned? Why should Krishna require our
formal declaration of submission to Himself?
of
Would it not be more generous and logical to
ice
permit us to live a life of freedom in accordance
with the principles of our perverted nature
erv
which is also His creation? Admitting that it is
S
our duty to serve Krishna, why should we have
to be introduced to Him by a third party? Why is
he
it impossible for one to serve Sri Krishna
nt
directly? It would no doubt be highly convenient
(I
and helpful to be instructed by a good preceptor who is well-versed in the
Scriptures in understanding the same. But one should never submit to
another to an extent that may furnish a rascal with an opportunity of really
aid
doing harm. The bad preceptor is a familiar character. It is inexplicable how

S
those gurus who live in open sin contrive nevertheless to retain the
unquestioning allegiance of the cultured portion of their disciples.
ada
hup
Such being the case, can we blame any person who hesitates to submit
unconditionally to a preceptor, whether he is good or bad? It is of course
rab
necessary to be quite sure of the bonafide of a person before we accept him

even tentatively as our spiritual guide. A preceptor should be a person who
P
appears likely to possess those qualities that will enable him to improve our
hat
spiritual condition.
W
Those and similar thoughts are likely to occur to most persons who have
received an English education, when they are asked to accept the help of any
and
particular person as his spiritual preceptor. The literature, science and art of
the West, body forth the principle of the liberty of the individual and
uru
denounce the mentality that leads one to surrender to however superior a

person his right of choosing his own course. They inculcate the necessity and
G
high value of having faith in oneself.

he
T
421
on)
But the good preceptor claims our sincere and complete allegiance. The good
disciple makes a complete surrender of himself at the feet of the preceptor.
skc
But the submission of the disciple is neither irrational nor blind. It is
I
complete on condition that the preceptor himself
continues to be altogether good. The disciple retains
of
the right of renouncing his allegiance to the
ice
preceptor the moment he is satisfied that the
preceptor is a fallible creature like himself. Nor does a
erv
good preceptor accept any one as his disciple unless
S
the later is prepared to submit to him freely. A good
preceptor is in duty bound to renounce a disciple who
he
is not sincerely willing to follow his instructions fully.
nt
If a preceptor accepts as his disciple one who refuses to be wholly guided by
(I
him, or if a disciple submits to a preceptor who is not wholly good, such
preceptor and such disciple are, both of them, doomed to fall from their
spiritual state.
aid
S
ada
No one is a good preceptor who has not realised the Absolute. One who has
realised the Absolute is saved from the necessity of walking on the worldly
hup
path. The good preceptor who lives the spiritual life is, therefore, bound to be
wholly good. He should be wholly free from any desire for anything of this
rab
world whether good or bad. The categories of good and bad do not exist in the
P
Absolute. In the Absolute everything is good. We can have no idea in our

present state of this absolute goodness. Submission to the Absolute is not real
hat
unless it is also itself absolute. It is on the plane of the Absolute that the
disciple is required to submit completely to the good preceptor. On the
W
material plane there can be no such thing as complete submission. The

pretence of complete submission to the bad preceptor is responsible for the
and
corruptions that are found in the relationship of the ordinary worldly guru
and his equally worldly-minded disciples.
uru
G
All honest thinkers will realise the logical propriety of the position set forth
he
above. But most persons will be disposed to believe that a good preceptor in
T
422
on)
the above sense may not be found in this world. This is really so. Both the
good preceptor and his disciple belong to the spiritual realm. But spiritual
skc
discipleship is nevertheless capable of being realised by persons who belong
I
to this world. Otherwise there would be no religion at all in the world. But
because the spiritual life happens to be realisable in
of
this world it does not follow that it is the worldly
ice
existence which is capable of being improved into
the spiritual. As a matter of fact the one is
erv
perfectly incompatible with the other. They are
S
categorically different from one another. The good
preceptor although he appears to belong to this
he
world is not really of this world. No one who
nt
belongs to this world can deliver us from
(I
worldliness. The good preceptor is a denizen of the
spiritual world who has been enabled by the will of
God to appear in this world in order to enable us to realise the spiritual
aid
existence.
S
ada
hup
The much vaunted individual liberty is a figment of the diseased

imagination. We are bound willingly or unwillingly to submit to the laws of
rab
God in the material as well as in the spiritual world. The hankering for
P
freedom in defiance of His laws is the cause of all our miseries. The total
abjuration of all hankering for such freedom is the condition of admission to
hat
the spiritual realm. In this world we desire this freedom but are compelled
against our will to submit to the inexorable laws of physical nature. This is
W
the unnatural state. Such unwilling for forced submission does not admit us
into the spiritual realm. In this world the moral principle, indeed claims our
and
willing submission. But even morality also is a curtailment of freedom

necessitated by the peculiar circumstances of this world. The soul who does
uru
not belong to this world is in a state of open or court rebellion against

submission to an alien domination. It is by his very constitution capable of
G
submitting willingly only to the Absolute.

he
T
423
on)
The good preceptor asks the struggling soul to submit not to the laws of this
world which will only rivet its chains but to the higher law of the spiritual
skc
realm. The pretence of submission to the laws of the spiritual realm without
I
the intention of really carrying them out into practice is often mistaken for
genuine submission by reason of the absence of fullness of conviction. In this
of
world the fully convinced state is non-existent. We
ice
are, therefore, compelled in all cases to act on
make-believes viz. the so-called working hypotheses.
erv
The good preceptor tells us to change this method of
S
activity which we have learnt from our experience of
this world. He invites us first of all to be really and
he
fully informed of the nature and laws of the other
nt
world which happens to be eternally and categorically
(I
different from this phenomenal world. If we do not
sincerely submit to be instructed in the alphabets of the life eternal but go on
perversely asserting however unconsciously our present processes and
aid
so-called convictions against the instructions of the preceptor in the period

S
of novitiate we are bound to remain where we are. This also will amount to
the practical rejection of all advice because the two worlds have nothing in
ada
common though at the same time we naturally fail to understand this

believing all the time in accordance with our accustomed methods that we
hup
are at any rate partially following the preceptor. But as a matter of fact when
rab
we reserve the right of choice we really follow ourselves, because even when
we seem to agree to follow the preceptor it is because he appears to be in
P
agreement with ourselves. But as the two worlds have absolutely nothing in
common we are only under a delusion when we suppose that we really
hat
understand the method or the object of the preceptor or in other words

reserve the right of assertion of the apparent self. Faith in the scriptures can
W
alone help us in this otherwise unpracticable endeavour. We believe in the

preceptor with the help of the shastras when we understand neither. As soon
and
as we are fully convinced of the necessity of submitting unambiguously to the

good preceptor it is then and only then that he is enabled to show us the way
uru
into the spiritual world in accordance with the method laid down in the
shastras of that purpose which he can apply properly and without
G
perpetrating fatal blunder in as much as he himself happens to belong to the

he
realm of the spirit.

T
424
on)
The crux of the matter lies not in the external nature of the ceremony of
initiation as it appears to us because that is bound to be unintelligible to us
skc
being an affair of the other world, but in the conviction of the necessity and
I
the successful choice of a really good preceptor. We can
attain to the conviction of the necessity of the help of a
of
good preceptor by the exercise of our unbiased reason in
ice
the light of our ordinary experience. When once this
conviction has been truly formed Sri Krishna Himself
erv
helps us in finding the really good preceptor in two ways.
S
In the first place he instructs us as regards the character
and functions of a good preceptor through the revealed
he
Shastras. In the second place He Himself sends to us the
nt
good preceptor himself at the moment when we are at all
(I
likely to benefit by his instructions. The good preceptor also comes to us
when we reject him. In such cases also it is certainly Krishna Who sends him
to us for no reason what-so-ever. Krishna has revealed from eternity the
aid
tidings of the spiritual realm in the form of transcendental sounds that have
S
been handed down in the records of the spiritual Scriptures all over the
world. The spiritual Scriptures help all those who are prepared to exercise
ada
this reason for the purpose of finding not the relative but the Absolute Truth
to find out the proper instructor in accordance with their directions. The
hup
only good preceptor is he who can make us really understand the spiritual
rab
scriptures and they enable us realise the necessity and the nature of
submission to the processes laid down in them. But there is still every chance
P
of foul play. A very clever man or a magician may pass himself off as a person
who can properly explain the Scriptures by means of his greater knowledge or
hat
deceptive arts. It is very important, therefore, that we should be on our guard

against such tricks. The Scholar as well as the magician pretend to explain
W
the Scriptures only in terms of the object or happenings of this world. But the
Scriptures themselves declare that they do not tell us at all of the thing of
and
this world. Those who are liable to be deluded by the arts of pervert yogis who
persuade themselves into believing that the spiritual is identical with the
uru
perversion, distortion or defiance of the laws of physical nature. The laws of

physical nature are not unreal. They govern the relation of all relative
G
existences(.) In our present state it is therefore, always possible for another

he
who possesses the power or the knowledge to demonstrate the merely

tentative character of what we choose to regard as our deepest convictions by
T
425
on)
exposing their insufficiency or inapplicability. But such surprises as they
belong to the realm of the phenomenal, have nothing to do with the
skc
Absolute. Those who have an unspiritual partiality for scholarship or for
I
magic fall into the clutches of the pseudo-religionists. The serious plight of
these victims of their own perversity will be realised from the fact that no
of
one can be delivered from the state of ignorance by the method of
ice
compulsion. It is not possible to save the man who refuses on principle to
listen to the voice of reason. The empiric pedants are no exception to this
erv
rule.
S
The plain meaning of the Shastras should, therefore, be our only guide in the
he
search of the good preceptor when we actually feel the need of his guidance.
nt
The Scriptures have defined the good preceptor as one who himself leads the
spiritual life. It is not any worldly qualifications that make the good
(I
preceptor. It is by unreserved submission to such a preceptor that we can be
helped to re-enter into the realm that is our real home but which
aid
unfortunately is veritable terra incognita to almost all of us at present and

S
also impossible of access to one body and mind alike which is the result of the
disease of abuse of our faculty of free reason and the consequent
ada
accumulation of a killing load of worldly experiences which we have learnt to

regard as the very stuff of our existence.
hup
rab
P
hat
W
and
uru
G
he
T
426
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
427
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
II
on)
Sree Sajjanatoshani,
skc
VOL. XXXII, No.14,
I
of
MARCH 19, 1936
ice
erv
Editor’s Response to Sree Vyas-Puja Addresses
S
(Translated from the original Bengali)
he
IN TODAY’S GREAT GATHERING of such a large number of enlightened
nt
persons, a good deal has already been said by more than one speaker. The
(I
audience have been listening to their addresses for a long time. I have not
much to say of my own. Previous speakers have
aid
elucidated what I have to say. Many of them

have spoken in the English language. For this
S
reason it has become necessary for me to

address you in Bengali. The Bengali language,
ada
such as I can command, is not easy. I do not

hup
know whether it will be intelligible to all.

rab
Before I proceed to say anything of my own, I

have to offer an explanation for myself as to
P
why I have been listening to all these words of

praise without the least hesitation.
hat
W
I do not possess much knowledge of any

language. I have, however, been able to gather from the words of praise, that
have been so abundantly and so kindly addressed to me by my masters, that
and
those words demonstrate my ineligibilities. On behalf of myself the only

explanation I have to offer is this that if I had said anything about myself I
uru
should have been responsible for the same. But I am relieved of all
G
responsibility as the words of the order of my masters have been spoken by

other mouths.
he
As regards my part of the conduct, to which I have also alluded, it might have
T
been open to the criticism of other persons if it had proceeded from myself.
428
on)
But it is not so. It is the doing of my Master. And it is
for this simple reason that I have been under the
skc
obligation to display such behaviour without
I
stopping to consider whether it might be disliked by
other persons.
of
ice
We have heard it said that the plant comes out of
erv
the seed, and that it cannot grow otherwise. The
seed is born from the tree and the tree grow from the seed, turn by turn. If we
S
adopt the view that no seed should grow from the tree, the forward
he
movement of growth is stopped and its continuous flow is destroyed. I have,
nt
therefore, to practise to sit at these assemblies in the garb of a wise person
and to listen to the words of praise relying on the dictum that the command
(I
of the Master is above all questioning. If, however, I am thereby led to
suppose that it is a good thing to listen to one’s own praise, my worthlessness
aid
is published to all the world in a glaring manner by such silly thinking.

S
I am obliged to accept this honour in order that the current of the Word of
ada
God may not be obstructed and its perennial flow may not cease. Our
judgment in this matter is different from that of persons who listen to their
hup
praises for pampering their arrogance by such audiencing.

rab
We should listen to nothing else but the praises of the Divine Master. I have
P
to conduct myself, with all humility, in any manner that the order of my
masters may at any moment consider it to be needful for me. I am not
hat
prepared to take the responsibility upon myself for any inconveniences that
W
may result from such conduct.

and
I have heard from my Divine Master that one should audience the Word of
God by being infinitely humbler than a blade of grass. Whoever chants the
uru
Word is no other than the Lotus Feet of the Divine Master. Audiencing the
chanted Word is the disciplic function. The Word is mirrored in the heart by
G
the only method of audiencing the chant of the Divine Master. Therefore, I
am eligible to listen to these words of praise by the disciplic method. There is
he
a great necessity to learn by the method of listening how one should

T
429
on)
approach God and His devotees with humility, in what manner one must sing
their praises and honour them.
skc
I
Today I have found much that everyone should
note most carefully. There has been an
of
opportunity of learning how one should honour
ice
other persons being himself unhonoured, how
erv
one should sing the praises of God and His
devotees by silencing the hostile clamours of all
S
kinds of indolence.
he
nt
Singing the praises of the devotees of God is,
(I
indeed, the one thing needful. My revered
masters have taught us to praise God and His
devotees by their praises directed to myself. By praising the non-devotees
aid
both the offerers and the recipients of such praise are put to difficulties. My
S
reverend masters are endeavouring to purify my heart by teaching me to be

humble. They are saying to me, ‘We possess the priceless quality of honouring
ada
other persons. We are offering you all this honour that you may, by similarly
honouring all persons of this world, be enabled to be constantly engaged in
hup
the service of God and His devotees who can be perfectly served only by
those who are inspired with such burning love’.
rab
P
God and His devotees are worshipped by chanting their praises. It enables us
to learn the language of Bandana or worship by the method of praise. We
hat
have also heard the following words which were spoken by our former
W
masters, ‘I am incomparably more vile than insects bred in odure and

infinitely more wicked than Jagai and Madhai’.
and
It is only when we have occasion to listen to the praises of the Supreme

uru
Object of all praise from the Master and they react on our hearts, that we
may learn about our utter worthlessness. Their profound humility and
G
obedience teach us that it is never possible to approach God and His devotees
except by such humble submission.
he
T
430
on)
If we learn to be arrogant, we would surely be deprived of the service of God
and His devotees for good.
skc
I
‚There are persons who do not worship His
of
devotees while worshipping God. Verily they are
arrogant persons and not worshipers of God‛.
ice
erv
If the same devotion with which we worship God
S
is not aroused in our hearts to the feet of His
devotees, we are rendered perfectly worthless, and
he
will have lived in vain.
nt
(I
I am extremely unfit and encompassed with all the evils. But an immense
number of God’s devotees have mercifully appeared for my good who am so
aid
completely engulfed in evil. Many of them have gathered at this place for
subduing my irrepressible arrogance. All of them are instructing me about
S
the highest service of God. May we be ever ready to brush away from our
ada
hearts, by the rough application of hundreds of thousands of pointed

broomsticks, the wicked design of being honoured above other persons by the
hup
devotees of God. God will be merciful to us and we shall be blessed with the
gift of devotion to His Divine Feet the very day that we are delivered from
rab
the evil desire of seeking advantages and honours from others. A person is
relieved from all ineligibilities by being imparted fitness for the service of
P
God. Women, Shudras and the rest are condemnable and contemptible in
the eyes of the world for their evil deeds. Even such persons are able to attain
hat
the eternal good by noting the model disposition of the devotees of God, who
W
honour all persons without being honoured, and by following their conduct
and teaching. Let us remember the text already quoted,
and
‚There are those who worship God but do not worship His devotees. Verily
uru
such persons are arrogant sinners. They are not worshipers of God‛.
G
If we become arrogant after having adopted the path of devotion, if we

he
worship only God and disregard the worship of His devotees, we would be put
T
431
on)
to manifold difficulties for our offence at the feet of the servants of God: we
would be overtaken by the greatest of all misfortunes by being afflicted with
skc
apathy for the principle of devotion itself.
I
Human life is not intended for gathering evil. It is meant solely for the
of
attainment of the supreme good. Why do I forget it?
ice
Why do I forget that I am the meanest and least of all
erv
entities? The ambition to lord it over others, to be great,
to be elevationist or salvationist, is brought about when
S
we allow ourselves to fall a victim to the temptations of
he
the deluding energy of God. Such ambition is petty and
useless. If there is any use in curbing one’s hankering for
nt
becoming great in the eyes of the world, if there is any
(I
use in gaining one’s real health, it is imperative to accept
the line of thought of the Vaishnavas.
aid
Those who are fit possess abundant power of devotion. They are strong. I
S
have not gained so much strength. Being puffed up with the false idea of the
ada
same, I should not apply myself to find out the shortcomings of the
Vaishnavas, or to condemn the service of Lord Vishnu or to seek to establish
hup
my own point of view by neglecting the method by which I may be enabled to

serve the Lord and His devotees. No language can describe the havoc that is
rab
wrought in human life by such arrogance. I make this submission with all
humility, taking hold of your feet, ‘May you kindly refrain from imitating the
P
conduct of the Vaishnavas. May you always follow their line of thought’.
There is no relationship for us other than with the devotees of Vishnu.
hat
Relationship with other persons can only aggravate the desire for sensuous
W
gratification.
Many a year have now passed over me one by one. I at last realise that there is
and
no other help for me than the mercy of the holy feet of the Vaishnavas. Every
one of my acts is fit to be attacked. I pray to those, who look down upon me,
uru
that if they consider that it is allowable for me to follow the conduct and the
teachings of the Vaishnavas, they would no longer maintain that attitude.
G
They will kindly impart to me the needful strength and fitness to

he
communicate their power to those who are stupid and ignorant and devoid of
all strength.
T
432
on)
One who serves Lord Hari counts himself as the least of all entities. One is
lifted to the highest order of the Vaishnavas when one can feel himself the
skc
least of all. One can then speak the message of the highest devotion of Lord
I
Hari.
‚The best of all persons deems himself to be less than all others‛.
of
ice
It is necessary for the best to scrutinise one’s
erv
ineligibility. Why should a person be anxious to
S
pry into the defects of others when he does not
seek to scrutinise his own conduct? Is this the
he
disposition of the Vaishnava? On the other
nt
hand, even those, who are low in the scale of
service, may attain the higher level. Let us
(I
remember the texts:
aid
‚Not to speak of persons who listen to and

S
remember with care the instructions of the scriptures, even those who live by
sin, viz., women, Shudras, Hunas, Savaras and the birds of the air, can know
ada
God and prevail over His deluding power if they follow the conduct of the
hup
devoted servants of the Lord who covers the worlds by His wonderful
strides‛.
rab
‚The acts and expressions of the Vaishnavas cannot be understood even by

P
the wise.‛
hat
The devotees are attached to the Lord Who pervades the worlds with His
wonderful strides. Let us not be misled by the apparent sight. Many a person
W
have been liable to mistake the pebble for the pearl, the snake for the rope,
evil for good, by falling a victim to delusion by their reliance on apparent
and
sight. It is only when a person allows himself to fall into the clutches of
self-delusion that one’s senses show their eagerness for supplying the wants
uru
incidental to the phenomenal world by supposing himself to be an inhabitant

of the same. We should consider well how we are to be delivered from being
G
thus exploited by the deluding energy. It will never bring us relief if we adopt
the lordly mentality for supplying our present inadequacies and for avoiding
he
what certain hasty observers have been pleased to dub as ‘the slave mentality’
T
433
on)
of the devotees of God. Such modes of
thinking accelerate our march towards the
skc
Inferno by plunging us into the course of
I
sensuous indulgences.
of
If we disregard or ignore the devotees of
ice
God for elevating ourselves, we would
erv
thereby be cast into the prison of three
dimensions and spin towards inflation
S
instead of contraction. ‘I will be good; I will
he
be cured of my disease; I will have real
well-being’: this is the proper kind of judgment. But it is not at all laudable to
nt
entertain the contrary thoughts,-’I will be great, I will gratify my malice by
(I
stopping the course of the whole world.’ It is by no means proper to set up
one’s superiority against the worshipfulness of God’s devotees. The path of
aid
audiencing the Transcendental Word has been rendered devious by the

malinterpretation of the text ‘Aham Brahmashmi.’ I have listened to the true
S
interpretation of the text at the lotus feet of my Divine Master. It is to this

ada
effect, ‚It is our eternal duty to chant constantly the Name of Hari by being
infinitely more truly humble than the smallest blade of grass, more truly
hup
forbearing than even the proverbially patient tree, by honouring others

without being honoured.‛
rab
P
We find assembled here today many really great souls. What persuasive
courtesy, what humility do they possess! How great is the benefit, how great
hat
the good that we may have by listening to their words! We have it from the
Talavakar Upanisad that those who aspire to be masters of the devotees, who
W
are the masters of God Himself, are, indeed, most culpably arrogant. Srimad
Bhagabat significantly declares, ‘Let those who profess to know God brag of
and
their knowledge, but let me have nothing to do with such fellows. This is all I
have got to say in this matter.’
uru
G
Not one among the paths of this material world is a path of the service of the
Divinity. The idea that one should be master of God’s devotees leads to
he
inferno. It is harmful to follow any worldly path. To follow the devotees of

T
God is the only path that leads to one’s real good. Whatever method is
434
on)
followed by the devotees is worthy of being cherished with the utmost love
and reverence.
skc
I
Holding the blade of straw between my teeth I pray time and again for this
of
only boon that I may be a particle of dust at the lotus feet of the most revered
Sree Rupa Goswami Prabhu. Let there be birth after
ice
birth for us that we may walk in the path of the
erv
followers of Sree Rupa by being the particles of dust at
the lotus feet of the devotees of God. The root of it all
S
is humility or the due realisation of one’s own
he
ineligibility. If this conviction of our unfit-ness for the
nt
service of God is to us either automatically or by the
instruction of other persons, we are only then in a
(I
position to behold the beauty of the lotus feet of God’s
devotees. In all the talks of the average people of this
aid
world the idea that is uppermost is how to promote the

gratification of one’s senses. If we happen to be obsessed with the idea that it
S
is the path of religion, we would be prevented for good from becoming truly
ada
religious.
hup
All persons are accustomed to worship the Beautiful Feet of God. But the
rab
conception that God is to supply our comforts and conveniences in lieu of

worship is worthy of a shopkeeper. That we are to receive some other things
P
in exchange of our worship is not the trend of thought of the devotees of

God. If one seeks to follow such a course, one will never understand the
hat
nature of the service of Krishna. God is full of the highest well-being. It is no

proof of one’s goodness of judgment to pray to God for the gratification of
W
one’s senses instead of the highest good. It should be the duty of all persons to
follow the line of thought that seeks to find out how Krishna is to be served.
and
uru
‚I have not spared any method for carrying out the bad dictates of the lusts of
the flesh. But they have had no pity upon me, nor have they produced in me
G
any compunction or satiety. Wherefore, Lord of the Yadus, having only now
gained the balance of my judgment, after finally giving up the abject
he
thralldom of the sensuous appetites, I have come to Thee, Who art the
T
435
on)
Refuge from all fear. May Thou be pleased to employ me in Thy service.‛ Oh
my Lord, I pray to Thee for employing me in Thy service. I will no more serve
skc
dogs and horses, iron and gold, men and gods. I have courted my own
I
destruction by engaging in their service. Thy service, O Lord, is the only
means of being delivered from this dire misfortune. But it is a far cry to seek
of
to obtain Thy service without serving those who have dedicated themselves
ice
to Thy service. The service of Thy devotees is productive of greater good
than any other method.
erv
S
We do not find God in this world. The devotees, who serve God, out of their
he
mercy show themselves to us. We should follow their conduct and teaching.
It is the only path to our well-being. Due to our meagre education and small
nt
experiences, to most of us the ideas and ways of thinking of the devotees of
(I
God appear to be unedifying ‘slave mentality’. Let us not indulge in such
profane ravings under the urge of mental aberration. On the contrary, our
aid
line of thought should be, ‘Let the censorious people calumniate us to their
heart’s content. We will not mind them. Let us roll in the dust and forget
S
everything in the ecstasy of intoxication by excessive drinking of the strong

ada
wine of the tasty liquid mellow of Lord Hari.’

hup
We will roll in the dust sanctified by the tread of the feet of God’s devotees.
We will not make any disciples. We have not made any disciples, nor will we
rab
make any. Because unless we cease to do so, we shall be misled along the
P
wrong tracks by the sinister insinuations of those who are constitutionally

averse to the service of God. All of you are the order of my masters. May you
hat
have mercy upon me, remembering that I am your disciple.

W
and
uru
G
he
T
436
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
437
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
T
he
G
uru
and
W
hat
P
rab
hup
438
ada
S
aid
(I
nt
he
S
erv
ice
of
I
skc
on)
on)
skc
I
of
ice
BORN IN CALCUTTA on September 1, 1896, in a family of pure devotees
erv
of Krsna, His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
S
dedicated his whole life to the practice and propagation of spiritual
knowledge as presented in ancient Vedic and Vaisnava tradition.
he
nt
In 1922, after completing his university education, Srila Prabhupada met his
(I
spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Maharaja
(1874-1937), the most prominent and erudite Krsna conscious master of the
time, the founder of the Gaudiya Matha (a Vedic institution with 64 centers
aid
in India).
S
Entrusted by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta with the mission of disseminating Vedic

ada
knowledge in the English language, Srila Prabhupada began to prepare by

studying and preaching, and especially by publishing his own writings on the
hup
Krsna conscious philosophy. At the time of his passing away on November 14,
rab
1977, in Vrndavana, India, he had brought to light over seventy volumes of

translations, commentaries and studies on the classic works of India’s
P
spiritual civilization. By then, more than 100,000,000 copies of his literatures

had been distributed all over the world in over forty languages.
hat
In 1965, at the advanced age of sixty-nine and to crown the fulfillment of his
W
spiritual master’s request, Srila Prabhupada journeyed from India to the West
in his historic voyage in the Jaladuta freighter, establishing in New York the
and
International Society for Krsna consciousness (ISKCON).

uru
For twelve years he conducted this worldwide confederation, which under

his direct guidance grew into over one-hundred asramas, schools, temples
G
and farm communities. At his earnest request, his mission is now being
he
carried forward by his disciples.

T
439

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on)

‚One who is now the disciple is the next spiritual master.‛

(SB 2.9.43, Ppt)

A Compilation and Analysis of Relevant Quotes about

the Spiritual Master, from the Teachings of His Divine Grace

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada,

Cover Design: Govinda-Damodara Dasa (Mendoza, Argentina)

Printed at Krishna-Balarama Printery, WCD, Guyana

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada are copyrighted by The

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or

photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission

To my departed dear Godbrothers Tamal Krsna Goswami,

Srinath Prabhu, Kusakratha Prabhu, Radhanatha Prabhu and Aindra

Prabhu, and to all of my Godbrothers and Godsisters, I offer this book

of what Prabhupada Said. May they be pleased by this attempt to do so

and tell of it to His Divine Grace.

A Personal Note to the Reader xix -- List of Abbreviations -- xxii

Is The Servant That Prabhupada Spoke Of

CHAPTER ONE – Disciplic Succession: Unbroken, Still ? 3

A worthy disciple ………………………………………………………………….4

The opening key is with the devotee ………….…………………………………7

The living bhagavata ……………………………………………………………...8

Not by concoctions ………………………………………………………………10

The next spiritual master ………………………………………………………..13

A matter of etiquette …………………………………………………………….15

What we have not heard of ……………………………………………………..18

The Zonal Acarya ………….…………………………………………………….18

Is anyone in ISKCON qualified? ……………………………………………….20

‚My dear Uncle Prabhupada‛ ………….……………………………………….37

‚He has entered Krsna’s abode‛ ………….……………………………………..38

CHAPTER THREE – “You Cannot Jump Over !” 41

It’s like telling them to look somewhere else ………….……………………….42

The absolute necessity of guru ………….………………………………………42

Even Krsna accepted a spiritual master ………….…………………………….44

Prabhupada’s success ………….…………………………………………………45

The future spiritual masters ………….…………………………………………47

‚You shall continue...‛ ………….……………………………………………….48

‚Make me and Krishna very happy‛ ………….………………………………..49

‚Your immediate boss‛ ………….……………………………………………….52

‚Even if you read some books‛ ………….………………………………………54

He said she would take from someone else ………….……………………..….69

The graduate and undergraduate acaryas ………….………………………….70

‚I am not perfect‛ ………….…………………………………………………….74

CHAPTER FOUR – “At All Risk” 77

The continuation of the parampara ………….………………………………...78

Uncertain recognition ………….……………………………………………….78

The natural guru………………………......................................................…….90

‚For all spiritual masters‛ ………….……………………………………………92

He forgot his duty……….………….…………………………………………….92

‚The guru may be in a lesser degree‛……..……………………………………106

Only one qualification………………………………………………………….109

The guru of your neighborhood………………………………………………..112

How many times should he say it?!…………..…………………………………112

Uttama-adhikari, that’s all!……………………...………………………………113

CHAPTER SIX – “My Disciples” 115

A totally representative quote………………………………………………….116