what is the importance of guru..? Can anyone without guru can achieve krishna grace.?
You need to be a member of ISKCON Desire Tree | IDT to add comments!
This reply was deleted.
what is the importance of guru..? Can anyone without guru can achieve krishna grace.?
You need to be a member of ISKCON Desire Tree | IDT to add comments!
Replies
Hare Krsna
In addition to the above link this link also addresses similar query.
Can anyone without guru can achieve krishna grace.?
We have to understand that Guru it self is vital form of Krsna's grace. Srila Vishvanath Chakravarthi thakur (great acarya) has written the following about spiritual master
yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado
yasya aprasadan na gatih kuto 'pi
vande guroh sri-caranaravindam
By attaining whose grace we get Krsna's grace. Without the grace of whom, one does not know where one is going. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master.
Above it is clearly said that without guidance of spiritual master, one cannot be sure where one is going. Srila Prabhupada also writes about how spiritual master takes the responsibility of connecting the misdirected conditioned souls with Krsna
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 bonafide 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. (Introduction to Nectar of Devotion)
We can understand from the above that it is through spiritual master only we can approach Krsna. There are different types of spiritual masters
(i) Path pradarshak guru - Anyone who shows us the path to self realization,
(ii) Shiksha guru - who gives correct knowledge from scriptures about tattva, process of devotion etc
(iii) Diksha guru - who takes on the responsibility to deliver the soul, to take the soul back to godhead.
(iv) chaitya guru - the paramatma residing in each jiva's heart.
It is not accidental that one gets a guru and goes back home back to godhead. Srila Prabhupada writes
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.(Introduction Nectar of devotion)
The general process of attaining our constitutional position back in spiritual world is by adhering to the instructions of a spiritual master in disciplic succession and performing devotional practice of hearing, chanting etc. This process is exemplified by all the acaryas even Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, great gosvamis of vrindavan, Ramanujacarya, Narada muni, Sukadev gosvami etc all of them have demonstrated by their lives that by following guidance of spiritual master one can easily attain Krsna's grace.
Hare Krsna