In this world we find that lots of swamis, gurus and yogis.on telivision channels we find lots of spiritual leaders preaching on various things. i found that none of them teaching about devotional service they just teach how to become successful and different types of dhyan kriyas as we are very fortunate that we got sheltor of sril prabhupad but how to know that who is real spiritual master???
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It is also Kali Yuga, everyone here is both a devotee and a demon together. Only the chanting of the holy names of the Lord can rid oneself of this demon Kali!
It's just so hard to tell. Prabhupada made it simple for us to identify that he is a true guru, but others make it so difficult.
It is true Siddhartha prabhuji.
hare krishna
Krsna within our hearts is our companion, guide, friend, and well wisher. He will guide us to him in the most correct manner if that is what we seek. However, many people display two emotions - an external and an internal. Externally i may wish devotion, but internally I seek material good, thus Krsna will guide us like such.
But this is just the surface, there are many things to look out for. Here is an interesting site that lists a few things. It's by no means perfect, but an excellent starting resource:
http://www.wakingtimes.com/2013/05/21/10-signs-of-a-fake-guru-weedi...
Let's compare that list to Srila Prabhupada:
1. money
Prabhupada came to the USA with a few rupees (less than a dollar in conversion rates i would assume) and a Srimad Bhagavatam.. He never was rich and he never will be rich... he immediately put all the money in donations into building ISKCON and ensuring ISKCON survives. He never kept a penny for himself.
2. Psychic powers
We read and hear about these everyday. I believe that Sai Baba fellow (not from Shirdi but the recent "Satya" Sai Baba) is a classic example. Bhaktivinoda Thakur took down a fool who claimed to be God "Phalgu Bhagavan" -- watch it hear in the Abhay Charan series (multiple parts)- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RRjDJZZ7QE
This is just showing off one's yogic powers, Prabhupada never did any such things.
3. Hypocrite "Words not actions"
This is a big one. Every guru preaches, but few follow what they preach. Prabhupada was a great example of one who always did what he preached... he was very strict when it came to following KC
4. Real gurus never claim it’s their way or the highway
This is a tricky one. Many people (like Amazon reviewers) claim that Prabhupada always asserts its his KC way or no way. The classic example is that those who don't follow KC is called a fool. Prabhupada however just called it how it was... a scientist is fool because he tries to deny the existence of God when everything is right there, etc. Prabhupada further always supported other religions, he always praised Lord Jesus Christ too. He never said anything negative about other religions
5. They don’t use disinformation to convince you to follow their path (for example the Indulgences of the Catholic church)...
Prabhupada was very straight forward is everything, he always thought that it is all Krsna's mercy and we must pay for our actions, there was no easy way out! even the most easiest way - bhakti yoga - was a tough process
6. Pure Mind / A true guru, or master of this world will have few desires
This was addressed in the first one, greed and lust are very powerful materially, but Srila Prabhupada was only greedy for serving Krsna, and lusting for association with his dear beloved lord :)
7. Any guru who offers a magic pill, book, session, etc. for instant enlightenment is a charlatan
Prabhupada never offered anything, except his translation, and even those required intense studying to understand
8. A real guru will dismantle much that you’ve intellectualized in order to install true wisdom
Prabhupada also did this. He simply thought the true wisdom - love of God!
9. full enlightenment
This is a combination of the past topics. It's very difficult to be fully enlightened in the material world, but only a perfect devotee of Shri Krsna can achieve this. Srila Prabhupada was a pure devotee of Krsna who only wanted to serve Krsna and make him happy :)
There is one item on the list on that site that didn't seem to "fit" Prabhupada, but in my opinion it doesn't fit a "true guru"
7. You will always be allowed to read holy books from whatever tradition suits your fancy
Prabhupada always said to read his books, and no one elses. And while this may seem to defy the other topics, the entire point is to differentiate between authentic v. fake. If Prabhupada allowed his disciples to read the books of others, the disciples may get confused and thus not be able to properly follow the path of Bhakti...
Prabhupada was an excellent spiritual teacher and we are most certainly fortunate to have gained his shelter and blessings. Beyond everything though, Prabhupada's heart constantly beat for Krsna. Our material hearts go lub-dub, lub-dub... Prabhupada's went Luv-Krsna, Luv-Krsna, Luv-Krsna :)
Haribol!!!
thank you prabhuji for such a nice explanation.
and one more thing is in order to understand who is who we should have clear intelligence.
Intelligence has power to discriminate.
And Krishna says that He only will give intelligence using which one will understand Him in truth.
And Krishna does that if one starts to serve to Him with devotion.
In this age devotion is expressed not by pranayama yoga, not by austerity, not by other things but simple crying as like a child for his mother by calling her names: "Mummy! Mummy!"
So word "Mummy" is not official word. Official one is "mother" But child is so intimate to a mother that he calls her with that intimate name.
In this way "Krishna" "Hare" are the most intimate Names of God. And They are the most powerful washing "powder" to our mind and intelligence.
When we wash dirt out we will see things clear. So please chant the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra!
Your servant,
that's true mataji. chanting is the best way for us to keep association with lord krishna.
hare krishna.