Sri Radha Krishna-chandra Temple

ISKCON Bangalore

Srila Prabhupada Harinam Diksha Initiation

Training Program

Course Duration: 6 months

Lesson Plan I

Objective: Read, memorize, understand the complete

“samsara davanala…” prayer including its translation and
word to word meaning as also comprehend the importance of
spiritual master.

Page 1 of 14
 HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness

Srila Prabhupada Pranama Mantra

"I offer my humble obeisances unto His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupada, who is very dear to Lord Krsna on this Earth, having taken shelter at His lotus
feet. Taking the order of his guru on his head, he became empowered by Nityananda
Prabhu to act as a saktyavesa avatara. He distributed the Hare Krsna mantra all over the
Eastern and Western world, delivering and uplifting all fallen souls. He is the best of
millions of jagat-gurus, because he is the personification of divine mercy. He has
distributed the sweet nectar of Srimad-Bhagavatam and the transcendental knowledge of
Bhagavad-gita all over the world. He is constantly engaged in exclusive devotional service
to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur, Srila Rupa Gosvami, and Sri Gauranga
Mahaprabhu. I offer my humble obeisances unto Srila Prabhupada, who is like a bumblebee
always tasting the nectar of the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha and Govinda."

om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
cakshur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah
Word for Word
om--address; ajnana--(of) ignorance; timira--(by) the darkness; amavasya--of one who was
blinded; jnana-anjana--(by) the ointment of spiritual knowledge; salakaya--by a medical
instrument called a salaka, which is used to apply medical ointment to eyes afflicted with
cataracts: caksuh--eyes; unmilitam--were opened; yena--by whom; tasmai--unto him; sri-
gurave--unto my spiritual master; namah--obeisances.

Translation
I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, who has opened my eyes, which
were blinded by the darkness of ignorance, with the torchlight of knowledge.

Page 2 of 14
 nama om vishnu-padaya krishna-preshthaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine
Word for Word
namah--obeisances; om--address;visnu-padaya--unto him who is at the feet of Lord
Visnu;krsna-presthaya--who is very dear to Lord Krsna;bhu-tale--on the earth;srimate--all
beautiful;bhaktivedanta-svamin--A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami;iti--thus;namine--who is
named

Translation
I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupada, who is very dear to Lord Krishna, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.

namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine

nirvisesha-sunyavadi-pascatya-desa-tarine
Word for Word
namah--obeisances;te--unto you; sarasvate deve-servant of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati
Gosvami; gaura-vani--the message of Lord Caitanya; pracarine--who are
preaching;nirvisesa--impersonalism;sunyavadi--voidism;pascatya--Western;desa--countries;
tarine--who are delivering

Translation
Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spirit kindly preaching the message of Lord
Caitanyadeva and delivering the Western countries, which are filled with impersonalism
and voidism.

***************************************************************************************************************

SAṀSĀRA-DĀVĀNALA-LĪḌHA-LOKA
“How the Guru extinguishes the soul’s suffering in saṁsāra”

Song Name: Samsara Davanala Lidha

Official Name: Sri Śrī Gurv-aṣṭaka – The Eight Prayers Glorifying Our Spiritual Master
Composed by: Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura
Book Name: Stavamrta Lahari

Purport
Author: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

This song is offering obeisances particularly to the spiritual master, and the symptoms of
the spiritual master are described in this prayer. The spiritual master has two kind of
symptoms in his activities. One kind is called constant, and other kind is called temporary.
So the first verse says that the constant symptom of the spiritual master is that he can
deliver his disciples from the blazing fire of this material existence. That is the eternal
qualification of spiritual master.

Trāṇāya means for deliverance, and kāruṇya means compassionate, very merciful. The
spiritual master comes to the deliverance of the fallen souls out of his causeless mercy.

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Nobody has any business for the sufferings of others. The best example is Lord Jesus Christ
that he suffered for others. And it is the principle in the Bible that he accepted all the sins
of others.

This is the sign of spiritual master, that he voluntarily accepts the sinful activities of
others and delivers them. That is the qualification of spiritual master. How it is? Just like
ghanāghanatvam. Ghanāghanatvam means dense cloud in the sky. The first example has
been said, that this material existence is just like forest blazing fire. Now, to extinguish
the forest blazing fire, there is no use of sending fire brigade. The fire brigade cannot
approach the forest fire; neither any man can go there to extinguish the fire. One has to
depend completely on the mercy of nature.

That means one has to completely depend on the cloud in the sky. Otherwise, there is no
question of pouring water on that blazing fire. So the example is very appropriate. As
man-made engine or fire brigade is unable to extinguish the forest blazing fire, similarly,
the material existentional blazing fire cannot be extinguished by any man-made method.

They are planning to be very comfortable in this material existence, but they are still
more being confused and failure. That peace movement, that United Nation movement,
everything is failure. Why? These miseries of this material existence cannot be stopped by
any material means. One has to take shelter of spiritual means. Just like the blazing fire in
the forest has to wait for the cloud in the sky, similarly, one has to wait for the merciful
cloud as the spiritual master. That is described. Trāṇāya kāruṇya-ghanāghanatvam,
prāptasya kalyāṇa-guṇārṇavasya.

So the spiritual master is not self-made. It is not that if anyone comes before you and
bluffs you that "I have attained spiritual perfection, and I have realized something by some
method.'' No. The spiritual master, bona fide spiritual, means he has to receive the power
from authority. Otherwise it is useless. No It is not that one can become spiritual master
overnight. He has to take the power from his spiritual master. Therefore it is called
prāptasya. Prāptasya means one who has obtained, one who has got the merciful blessings
of his spiritual master.

We should always remember that the spiritual master is in the disciplic succession. The
original spiritual master is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He blesses his next
disciple, just like Brahmā. Brahmā blesses his next disciple, just like Nārada. Nārada
blesses his next disciple, just like Vyāsa. Vyāsa blesses his next disciple, Mādhvācārya.
Similarly, the blessing is coming. Just like royal succession—the throne is inherited by
disciplic or hereditary succession—similarly, this power from the Supreme Personality of
Godhead has to receive. Nobody can preach, nobody can become a spiritual master,
without obtaining power from the right source.

Therefore the very word, it is stated here, prāptasya. Prāptasya means "one who has
obtained." Prāptasya kalyāṇa. What he has obtained? Kalyāṇa. Kalyāṇa means auspicity. He
has received something which is auspicious for all the human kind. Prāptasya kalyāṇa-
guṇārṇavasya. Here is another example. Guṇārnava. Arṇava means ocean, and guṇa means
spiritual qualities. Just like the same example is going on. It is very nice poetry. There is
nice rhethorics and metaphor. The example is set, blazing fire, and it is to be extinguished
with the cloud. And wherefrom the cloud comes? Similarly, wherefrom the spiritual master
receives the mercy? The cloud receives his potency from the ocean.

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Therefore the spiritual master also receives his power from the ocean of spiritual quality,
that is, from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So prāptasya kalyāṇa-guṇārṇavasya.
Such kind of spiritual master, one has to accept, and vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam, and
one has to offer his respectful obeisances to such authorized spiritual master.

-1-

saṁsāra-dāvānala-līḍha-loka
trāṇāya kāruṇya-ghanāghanatvam
prāptasya kalyāṇa-guṇārṇavasya
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
Word for Word

samsara—(of) material existence; dava-anala—(by) the forest fire; lidha—afflicted; loka—

the people; tranaya—to deliver; karunya—of mercy; ghanaghana-tvam—the quality of a
cloud; praptasya—who has obtained; kalyana—auspicious; guna—(of) qualities; arnavasya—
who is an ocean; vande—I offer obeisances; guroh—of my spiritual master; Sri—auspicious;
carana-aravindam—unto the lotus feet.

Translation

The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as a cloud
pours
water on a forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master delivers the materially
afflicted
world by extinguishing the blazing fire of material existence. I offer my respectful
obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is an ocean of auspicious
qualities.
-2-

mahāprabhoḥ kīrtana-nṛtya-gīta
vāditra-mādyan-manaso rasena
romāñca -kampāśru-taraṅga-bhājo
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
Word for Word

mahaprabhoh--of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kirtana--(by) chanting; nrtya--dancing; gita--

singing; vaditra--playing musical instruments, madyat--gladdened; manasah--whose mind;
rasena--due to the mellows of pure devotion; roma-anca-- standing of the hair; kampa--
quivering of the body; asru- taranga--torrents of tears; bhajah--who feels; vande--I offer
my obeisances; guroh--of my spiritual master; sri-carana-aravindam--unto the lotus feet.

Translation
Chanting the holy name, dancing in ecstasy, singing, and playing musical instruments, the
spiritual master is always gladdened by the sańkīrtana movement of Lord Caitanya
Mahāprabhu. Because he is relishing the mellows of pure devotion within his mind,
sometimes his hair stands on end, he feels quivering in his body, and tears flow from his
eyes like waves. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual
master.

Page 5 of 14
 -3-
śrī-vigrahārādhana-nitya-nānā
śṛṅgāra-tan-mandira-mārjanādau
yuktasya bhaktāṁś ca niyuñjato ‘pi
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
Word for Word

sri-vigraha--(of) the arca-vigraha (Deities); aradhana--the worship; nitya--daily; nana--

(with) various; srngara--clothing and ornaments; tat--of the Lord; mandira--(of) the
temple, marjana-adau--in the cleaning, etc.; yuktasya--who is engaged; bhaktan-- his
disciples; ca--and; niyunjatah--who engages; api--also; vande--I offer my obeisances;
guroh--of my spiritual master, sri-carana-aravindam--unto the lotus feet.

Translation

The spiritual master is always engaged in the temple worship of Srī Srī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.
He also engages his disciples in such worship. They dress the Deities in beautiful clothes
and ornaments, clean Their temple, and perform other similar worship of the Lord. I offer
my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
-4-

catur-vidha-śrī-bhagavat-prasāda
svādvanna-tṛptān hari-bhakta-saṅghān
kṛtvaiva tṛptiṁ bhajataḥ sadaiva
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam

Word for Word

catuḥ—four; vidha—kinds; śrī—holy, bhagavat-prasāda—which have been offered to Kṛṣṇa;

svādu—palatable; anna—(by) foods; tṛptān—spiritually satisfied; hari—(of) Kṛṣṇa; bhakta-
sańghān—the devotees; kṛtvā—having made; eva—thus; tṛptim—satisfaction; bhajataḥ—who
feels; sada—always; eva—certainly; vande—I offer obeisances; guroḥ—of my spiritual
master; śrī—auspicious; carana-aravindam—unto the lotus feet.

Translation

The spiritual master is always offering Kṛṣṇa four kinds of delicious food [analyzed as that
which is licked, chewed, drunk, and sucked]. When the spiritual master sees that the
devotees are satisfied by eating bhagavat-prasādo, he is satisfied. I offer my respectful
obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.

-5-
śrī-rādhikā-mādhavayor apāra
mādhurya-līlā guṇa-rūpa-nāmnām
prati-kṣaṇāsvādana-lolupasya

Page 6 of 14
 vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
Word for Word

śrī-rādhikā—(of) Srimati Rādhārāṇī mādhavayoḥ—of Lord Mādhava (Kṛṣṇa); apāra—

unlimited; mādhurya—conjugal; līlā—pastimes; guṇa—qualities; rūpa—forms; nāmnām—of
the holy names; prati-kṣaṇa—at every moment; āsvādana—relishing; lolupasya—who aspires
after; vande—I offer obeisances; guroḥ—of my spiritual master; śrī—auspicious; caraṇa-
aravindam—unto the lotus feet.

Translation

The spiritual master is always eager to hear and chant about the unlimited conjugal
pastimes of Rādhikā and Mādhava, and Their qualities, names, and forms. The spiritual
master aspires to relish these at every moment. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the
lotus feet of such a spiritual master.

-6-

nikuñja-yūno rati-keli-siddhyai
yā yālibhir yuktir apekṣaṇīyā
tatrāti-dākṣyād ati-vallabhasya
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam

Word for Word

nikuñja-yūnaḥ—of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa; rati—(of) conjugal love; keli—(of) pastimes; siddhyai—
for the perfection; yā yā— whatever; ālibhiḥ—by the gopīs; yuktiḥ—arrangements;
apekṣaṇīyā—desirable; tatra—in that connection; ati-dākṣyāt—because of being very
expert; ati-vallabhasya—who is very dear; vande—I offer obeisances; guroḥ—of my spiritual
master; śrī—auspicious; caraṇa-aravindam—unto the lotus feet.

Translation

The spiritual master is very dear, because he is expert in assisting the gopīs, who at
different times make different tasteful arrangements for the perfection of Rādhā and
Kṛṣṇa's conjugal loving affairs within the groves of Vṛndāvana. I offer my most humble
obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
-7-

sākṣād-dharitvena samasta-śāstrair
uktas tathā bhāvyata eva sadbhiḥ
kintu prabhor yaḥ priya eva tasya
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
Word for Word

sākṣāt—directly; hari-tvena—with the quality of Hari; samasta— all; śāstraiḥ—by scriptures;

uktaḥ—acknowledged; tathā—thus bhāvyate—is considered; eva—also; sadbhiḥ—by great
saintly persons; kintu—however; prabhoḥ—to the Lord; yaḥ—who; priyaḥ—dear; eva—
certainly; tasya—of him (the guru); vande—I offer obeisances; guroḥ—of my spiritual
master; śrī—auspicious; caraṇa-aravindam—unto the lotus feet.

Page 7 of 14
Translation

The spiritual master is to be honored as much as the Supreme Lord, because he is the most
confidential servitor of the Lord. This is acknowledged in all revealed scriptures and
followed by all authorities. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet
of such a spiritual master, who is a bona fide representative of Srī Hari [Kṛṣṇa].

-8-
yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo
yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto ‘pi
dhyāyan stuvaṁs tasya yaśas tri-sandhyaṁ
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
Word for Word

yasya—of whom (the spiritual master); prasādāt—by the grace; bhagavat—(of) Kṛṣṇa;
prasādaḥ—the mercy; yasya—of whom; aprasādāt—without the grace; na—not; gatiḥ—
means of advancement; kutaḥ api—from anywhere; dhyāyan—meditating upon; stuvan—
praising; tasya—of him (the spiritual master); yaśaḥ—the glory; tri-sandhyam—three times
a day (sunrise, noon, and sunset); vande—I offer obeisances; guroḥ—of my spiritual master;
śrī—auspicious; caraṇa-aravindam—unto the lotus feet

Translation

By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Kṛṣṇa. Without the
grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement. Therefore, I should
always remember and praise the spiritual master. At least three times a day I should offer
my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master.

The Importance of a Spiritual Master

“SOMETIMES LESS INTELLIGENT MEN ASK WHETHER ONE HAS TO APPROACH A GURU TO BE
INSTRUCTED IN DEVOTIONAL SERVICE FOR SPIRITUAL ADVANCEMENT. The answer is given
here --indeed, not only here, but also in Bhagavad-gita, where Arjuna accepted Krsna as
his guru (sisyas te’ham sadhi mam tvam prapannam). The Vedas also instruct, tad-
vijvanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet: one must accept a guru for proper direction if one
is seriously inclined toward advancement in spiritual life. The Lord says that one must
worship the acarya, who is the representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
(acaryam mam vijaniyat). One should definitely understand this. In Caitanya-caritamrta it
is said that the guru is the manifestation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Therefore, according to all the evidence given by the sastra and by the practical 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 consciousness, devotional service, by
worshiping the Supreme Lord.”

(SB 8.16.23 ppt.)

Page 8 of 14
“THERE ARE MANY INEXPERIENCED PERSONS WHO ADVOCATE SELF-REALIZATION WITHOUT
THE HELP OF A SPIRITUAL MASTER. They decry the necessity of the spiritual master and try
themselves to take his place by propagating the theory that a spiritual master is not
necessary. Srimad-Bhagavatam, however, does not approve this viewpoint. Even the great
transcendental scholar Vyasadeva had need of a spiritual master, and under the
instruction of his spiritual master, Narada, he prepared this sublime literature, Srimad-
Bhagavatam. Even Lord Caitanya, although He is Krsna Himself, accepted a spiritual
master; even Lord Krsna accepted a spiritual master, Sandipani Muni, in order to be
enlightened; and all the acaryas and saints of the world had spiritual masters. In
Bhagavad-gita Arjuna accepted Krsna as his spiritual master, although there was no
question about the necessity of accepting a spiritual master. The only stipulation is that
the spiritual master be bona fide, i.e., the spiritual master must be in the proper chain of
disciplic succession, called the parampara system.”

(S.B. 3.7.39 ppt.)

“ONE SHOULD ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT A PERSON WHO IS RELUCTANT TO ACCEPT A

SPIRITUAL MASTER AND BE INITIATED IS SURE TO BE BAFFLED IN HIS ENDEAVOR TO GO
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 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 helpless person is compared to a ship without a rudder,
for such a ship can never reach its destination. IT IS IMPERATIVE, THEREFORE, THAT ONE
ACCEPT A SPIRITUAL MASTER if he at all desires to gain the favour of the Lord. The service
of the spiritual master is essential.

“...IF ONE THINKS THAT HE IS ABOVE CONSULTING ANYONE ELSE, INCLUDING A SPIRITUAL
MASTER, HE IS AT ONCE AN OFFENDER AT THE LOTUS FEET OF THE LORD. Such an offender
can never go back to Godhead. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT A SERIOUS PERSON ACCEPT A BONA
FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER IN TERMS OF THE SASTRIC INJUNCTIONS. Sri Jiva Gosvami advises
that one not accept a spiritual master in terms of hereditary or customary social and
ecclesiastical conventions. One should simply try to find a genuinely qualified spiritual
master for actual advancement in spiritual understanding.”

(C.c. Adi 1.35)

“[...]We can offer many services with our bodily activities. But all such activities must be
in relationship with Krsna. This relationship is established by connecting oneself with the
bona fide spiritual master, who is the direct representative of Krsna in disciplic
succession. Therefore, the execution of Krsna conscious activities with the body should be
directed by the spiritual master and then performed with faith. The connection with the
spiritual master is called initiation. From the date of initiation by the spiritual master, the
connection between Krsna and a person cultivating Krsna consciousness is established.
WITHOUT INITIATION BY A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER, THE ACTUAL CONNECTION WITH
KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS IS NEVER PERFORMED.”

Page 9 of 14
(NOD Introduction, Second Edition, pg. XXII)

“In the Caitanya-caritamrta, by Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami, Lord 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 SERIOUS ABOUT SPIRITUAL LIFE IS GIVEN BY KRSNA THE INTELLIGENCE
TO COME IN CONTACT WITH A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER, and then by the grace of the
spiritual master one becomes advanced in Krsna consciousness. In this way the whole
jurisdiction of Krsna consciousness is directly under the spiritual energy --Krsna and the
spiritual master. This has nothing to do with the material world.”

(NOD Introduction, Second Edition, pgs. XXII-XXIII)

“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 the bona fide disciplic
succession. This is required. Of course, for anyone to hear the message of Srimad-
Bhagavatam will produce a favourable result but FORMALLY ONE SHOULD RECEIVE THIS
KNOWLEDGE FROM THE DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION. FOR EXAMPLE, ARJUNA AND KRISHNA WERE
FRIENDS BUT STILL ARJUNA SUBMITTED HIMSELF FORMALLY AS KRISHNA’S DISCIPLE. THIS IS
ESSENTIAL. We should take example from these great Personalities. Arjuna was hearing
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 hope this will clear up your
question sufficiently.”

(Letter to John Darsinos, 11/23/68)

“Although Balarama and Krsna are both transcendental personalities, They strictly
followed the regulative principles. Both were initiated by Their family priest, Gargacarya,
usually known as Gargamuni, the acarya of the Yadu dynasty. ACCORDING TO VEDIC
CULTURE, EVERY RESPECTABLE FAMILY HAS AN ACARYA, OR SPIRITUAL MASTER. ONE IS
NOT CONSIDERED A PERFECTLY CULTURED MAN WITHOUT BEING INITIATED AND TRAINED
BY AN ACARYA. It is said, therefore, that one who has approached an acarya is actually in
perfect knowledge. Lord Krsna and Balarama are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the
master of all education and knowledge. THERE WAS NO NEED FOR THEM TO ACCEPT A
SPIRITUAL MASTER OR ACARYA, YET FOR THE INSTRUCTION OF ORDINARY MEN, THEY ALSO
ACCEPTED A SPIRITUAL MASTER FOR ADVANCEMENT IN SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE.”

(KB, Ch.44, New Ed., pg.357)

“So to approach a bona fide Spiritual Master and to understand the science of God from
him is the Vedic way of understanding. Even Lord Krishna, Lord Caitanya, and what to
speak of other acharyas, ALL OF THEM ACCEPTED 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 one’s own effort, and
avaroha means to understand God by disciplic succession. THEREFORE WE FIND IN VEDIC
INSTRUCTION THAT ONE MUST APPROACH A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER TO LEARN THAT
TRANSCENDENTAL SUBJECT.”

Page 10 of 14
(Letter to Gopal Krishna das, 9/3/69)

“Acaryopasanam. Here it is said. You have to worship acarya. Acaryavan 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 have to take shelter. Evam parampara
praptam imam rajarsayo viduh. And Arjuna also said, sisyas te ‘ham sadhi mam
prapannam. Sisyas te... Acarya, acaryopasanam. Krsna and Arjuna, two friends. There was
no need of 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 master. Please
teach me.’ So THIS IS ESSENTIAL. Acaryopasanam.

“Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum eva abhigacchet. This is Vedic instruction. If you at all

interested in the understanding of spiritual subject matter, then you must approach a
bona fide spiritual master. Tad vijnanartham sa gurum 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 MUST. Abhigacchet. Samit-pani srotriyam brahma. Tasmad gurum 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 --tasmad gurum prapadyeta--
then you have to accept a guru. This is called acaryopasanam. EVEN KRSNA, THE SUPREME
PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, HE ACCEPTED SANDIPANI MUNI AS TEACHER, MASTER.
CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU, HE IS ALSO INCARNATION OF KRSNA, BUT HE ACCEPTED ISVARA
PURI AS HIS GURU. They do not require guru, but JUST TO KEEP PACE WITH THE OFFICIAL
PROGRAM, EVEN GOD PERSONALLY, HE ACCEPTED SPIRITUAL MASTER. SO THIS IS
ESSENTIAL. Acaryopasanam.”

(Lecture, Bombay 10/2/73)

“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 eva abhigacchet. MUST FIND OUT. IT IS
NOT AN OPTION. IT IS A MUST. MUST --YOU CANNOT AVOID IT. WITHOUT BONA FIDE
SPIRITUAL MASTER, YOU CANNOT GO A STEP FORWARD.”

(NOD Lecture, Vrndavana 11/13/72)

“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 going on, then simply electrical (sic:)
feeting will not help you. Similarly, INITIATION IS ESSENTIAL. Adau gurvasrayam. Srila Rupa
Gosvami recommends in his Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu FOR EXECUTING PROPER SPIRITUAL
LIFE, ONE MUST TAKE SHELTER OF THE BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER. Tasmad gurum
prapadyeta jijnasuh sreyah uttamam. [...I]f we establish our bona fide relationship with
the spiritual master, representative of Krsna, immediately our connection with Krsna
becomes established. “

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(NOD Lecture, Vrndavana 10/29/72)

Who is a Bona fide Spiritual Master?

The sastras behoove one to approach a spiritual master to gain transcendental knowledge
and thus make his life successful. But how does one identify the right person to approach?
The world today is full of “gurus” proclaiming themselves to be realized souls and
promising to make their followers advanced with little or no endeavour. Each one of them
propounds a different and seemingly promising philosophy, seems to possess special
powers and has his own following. How does one decide who amongst them is bona fide
and who is not? The answer to this question must be sought in the sastras itself. The
qualifications of an authorized guru are clearly delineated in the scriptures. The scriptures
say that a guru or an äcärya is one who knows the import of all the Vedic literatures,
abides by their rules and regulations and teaches his disciples to act in the same way.
Since the import of all Vedic literatures and purpose of scriptural rules and regulations is
to know Kåñëa, one can conclude that a real spiritual master is one who is hundred
percent Kåñëa conscious.

Need for a Bona fide Spiritual Master

“I don’t need a spiritual master. I am a grown up person and I have all the power and
knowledge to complete my spiritual journey alone.” Justify or refute this argument. There
are many inexperienced people who advocate self-realization without the help of a
spiritual master. They decry the necessity of a spiritual master and try to take his place
themselves by propagating the theory that a spiritual master is not necessary. The sastras,
however, do not approve this viewpoint.

The Mukunda Upanishad (1.2.12) states:

tad-vijïänärthaà sa gurum eväbhigacchet

samit-päëiù çrotriyaà brahma-niñöham

“In order to learn the transcendental science, one must approach a bona fide spiritual
master in disciplic succession, who is fixed in the Absolute Truth.“ Srimad-Bhagavatam
also says that at every step of life there is perplexity, and therefore one must approach a
bona fide spiritual master who can give proper guidance for executing the purpose of life.
The spiritual master is described in every scripture as the representative of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead: säkñäddhari-tvena samasta-çästrair uktas tathä bhävyata eva
sadbhiù. The spiritual master is accepted as identical with the Supreme Personality of
Godhead because he is the most confidential servant of the Lord (kintu prabhor yaù priya
eva tasya). Consulting a bona fide spiritual master means consulting the Supreme
Personality of Godhead personally. One should therefore take shelter of such a bona fide
spiritual master.

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The Exalted Äcärya

Srila Prabhupäda exhibited all the qualities of a bona fide spiritual master. Recall and
discuss the pastimes of Srila Prabhupäda that you may know of where he reveals his
exalted position of a bona fide spiritual master.

A Note on Unauthorized Gurus

The qualifications of a bona fide spiritual master are clear from the previous section.
Anyone who does not meet these requisite criteria is to be considered bogus.
Unfortunately, in the age of Kali, there is no dearth of such charlatans, as a result of
which the general mass of people are being led spiritually astray.

This epidemic of bogus gurus, swamis, priests and so forth has been explicitly described in
the Srimad Bhagavatam. The Bhägavatam predicts that in this age, uncultured men will
accept charity on behalf of the Lord and will earn their livelihood by making a show of
austerity and wearing a mendicant's dress. Those who know nothing about religion will
mount a high seat and presume to speak on religious principles, leading innocent people
away from the real path of self-realization.

4.1. Nature of people who accept unauthorized gurus: One may naturally wonder: why
are people inclined to accept bogus gurus even though the qualifications of a guru are
clearly enumerated in the sastras for everyone to see? The answer lies in understanding
two important things about conditioned souls, especially in this age: one, most people
today are enwrapped in ignorance and have no clue either about the real aim of life or the
qualifications of a guru who can help them achieve it; and two, most people do not want
to tread the path of self-realization. Being in the modes of ignorance and passion, their
sole aim is to always be engaged in unrestricted sense gratification. So they are naturally
attracted to someone who allures them with mundane and compromising offers to fulfil
the demands of their senses. Such blind and foolish men who have no inclination for
genuine spiritual life therefore desire to be cheated in the name of spirituality, and are
hence led to accept “gurus” who cheat them in the name of spirituality. Both such useless
leaders and their followers ultimately derive no benefit.

4.2. Fate of people who accept unauthorized gurus : Just like a blind man who
ignorantly follows another blind man is doomed, the fate of blind followers of
unauthorized gurus is also wrecked. The real intent of such bogus leaders is only to keep
their so-called followers under their control for their own personal gain. The unfortunate
followers of such leaders therefore end up being exploited by them. They derive neither
material nor spiritual profit from their association. Most importantly, they never get a clue
about the real aim of life. The sastras render such attempts as completely useless.

4.3. Fate of a genuine seeker: One may ask: what if one is a genuine seeker, but has
been somehow misled into accepting a bogus guru? Will he also end up with no real chance

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for self-realization just like the other followers of the “guru” who have little or no
interest in real spiritual life? The answer to this is no. The Lord, as the Supersoul, is
seated in everyone’s heart and eventually guides the genuine seeker to a real spiritual
master, by which he can fulfil all his spiritual endeavours.

***
End of Lesson Plan I

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