Hare Krishna
Please Accept my Humble Obeisances, All Glories to Srila Prabhupad
I was getting attracted to Premanandji Maharaj, gradually I started listening to Rajendra Das Ji Maharaj.
I am an initiated disciple of HH Bhakti Ashray Vaishnav Swami Maharaj.
I listen to my Shiksha Guru HG Amal Krishna Das (GKG Disciple)
I attend daily class of another Shiksha Guru of mine HG Shri Krishna Hari Das (GKG Disciple)
However whenever I am getting time, I am listening to
Malook Peeth Shri Rajendra Das ji Maharaj
Please guide me or instruct me if I am on a right path or what is your opinion or ISKCON opinion on this.
YS
Varuni Prannath Das
Replies
Respecting and learning from various saintly devotees can be spiritually enriching, but your primary guidance and commitment should remain with your initiating guru and authorized shiksha gurus. The ultimate test is whether the association increases humility, sincere chanting, service attitude, Sprunki and faith in the spiritual path.
Jai.. Thank you so much Prabhuji..
Just like a chaste wife is surrendered to her husband, a disciple should be surrendered to his spiritual master.
Even if the master is accomplished or not accomplished, but the surrender to the spiritual master will lead to the ultimate shreya that which should be known and attained.
Hare Krishna \o/
All Glories To Srila Prabhupad
Hare Krsna
Please guide me
It is duty of a disciple to ask questions to the Spiritual master. It is duty of spiritual master to answer those questions.
Since you are already initiated , please ask this question to your spiritual master.
It is NOT incorrect to have another Shiksha guru, but there has to be strong reasons for it and approval from initiating spiritual master is also recommended.
Strong reason ror example could be, you want to learn a particular scripture, which your spiritual master is not very expert in, in that case your spiritual master might guide you from whom to learn that scripture.
The initiating spiritual master takes responsibility of a disciple. If a disciple goes to another person who is of a different Sampradaya and different teachings, and receives incorrect guidance / instructions, even then the initiating spiritual master has to take responsibility of the disciple.
I was getting attracted to Premanandji Maharaj
This doesn't seem like a very bonafide reason for approaching another Shiksha Guru.
Hare Krsna
Hare Krishna, PAMHO
No Prabhu you are getting me wrong.
Premanandji Maharaj's lectures are good, but I was suggested by a senior devotee to maintain distance as he preaches Mayavad too.
However when I listened to 'Malook Peeth Shri Rajendra Das ji Maharaj', I was just listening and listening and listening. He is a gem of a devotee.
I have the general instruction from my Shiksha Guru HG Amal Krishna Prabhu that try to listen from ISKCON Gurus, rest, can have association but don't get so close association that you tend to leave ISKCON.
Even HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj had instructed to never leave ISKCON. He told us that if you feel something is less in ISKCON, then you take the responsibility to learn it and preach that yourself.
Hare Krishna,
Varuni Prannath Das
Hare Krsna
I was suggested by a senior devotee to maintain distance as he preaches Mayavad too.I have the general instruction from my Shiksha Guru HG Amal Krishna Prabhu that try to listen from ISKCON Gurus
These guidelines are very clear and appropriate.
Hare Krsna
Thank you Prabhu. Discussion makes it clearer.
Jai Srila Prabhupad..
Hare Krishna,
It is okay to listen to other devotees pravachan. You may in life can any number of siksha gurus' but you will have only one diksha guru, which you already have.
These days youth are getting attracted to Premananda Maharaj ji a lot because of his sweet words and simple language. I also appreciate him I too watch the person's videos and Shree Malook Peeth Shri Rajendra Das ji Maharaj is also a great saint. I too watch and listen to his lectures sometimes. Not too much because sometimes the videos are too long and they start of with long long bhajans and it is becomes a big distraction in between of the kathas. But, otherwise Shree Rajendra Das ji Maharaj ji is very very highly knowledgeable and well read and has much knowledge of many books.
The good thing about these saints is they are propagating bhakti and impressing youth very much and making many people come back to bhakti and take up chanting holy name.
Whoever is glorifying Lord's name are all respectable. Take Seekh from them they become you Siksha guru.
Lord Dattatreya had many guru's in his life time. We can take siksha from anyone. But our DIKSHA GURU ALWAYS SHOULD BE ONLY ONE.
Just like once you married to a person you should remain faithful to that person. You cannot be jumping to other gurus' and taking diksha from them also.
You can get influenced by many in our life time and take siksha from whatever sources we get.
So, no problem you can take inspiration, motivation from any source but remain attached to you bolster.
Never compare or Underestimate your own diksha guru. In the process of admiring other guru's you may internally feel critical towards your own guru at one point. SO BE AWARE OF DOING SUCH APARADH. If you are able to handle this properly then and respect your own guru maharaj as well then only go and watch other guru's glorifying Lord.
Not a big deal all are doing is glorifying harinama.
Hare Krishna
Hare Krishna Gayatri Mataji
Thank you for your perfect response. I have the Bhava Box of HH Bhakti Ashray Vaishnav Swami Maharaj. It has the memory card of a lot of his lectures.
Furthermore, Maharaj's ZOOM class links are available in his WhatsApp channel.
And yes, Maharaj is authorized as Deeksha Guru by none other than HH GKG Maharaj so he is a bonafide representative. There is no comparison Mataji.
And being a disciple it is a responsibility to take up the services whatever I can take up from ISKCON online or offline as I can.
Thing is Rajendra Das ji Maharaj shares varied experiences that is so pleasing to listen to.
Thanks again Mataji
YS
Varuni Prannath Das