HOW WE CAN FIND A SAT GURU IN INDIA TO GET INITIATED (DIKSHA) IN PARAMPARA - AS IT IS BETTER FOR A DEVOTION
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HOW WE CAN FIND A SAT GURU IN INDIA TO GET INITIATED (DIKSHA) IN PARAMPARA - AS IT IS BETTER FOR A DEVOTION
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In ISKCON the standard process is to get in touch with local devotees in your area and they will give you more information on how to proceed. The best would be if you could spend some time in our temples where you can meet different gurus personally. You can listen to different gurus' taped classes and chose to contact one who inspires you most and establish a relationship with him. But you have to be sure that you are ready to give up your independence and surrender your life to the mission of your guru - which is to preach the message of Caitanya Mahaprabhu all over the world.
There is no haste. Simply take your time and apply very careful deliberation. To choose a guru is the most important choice of your life. If you accept one there is no other try. You want to be absolutely certain that this is the person who will take charge of you and take you back to Godhead.
17th century Vaishnava saint Raghavendra Swami, in his last speech before departing from the mortal world, warned about the dangers of fraudulent gurus:
"The search for knowledge is never easy. As the Upanishads say it is like walking on the razor's edge. But for those who have strong faith and put in sustained effort and have the blessings of Shi Hari and guru this is not difficult. Always keep away from people who merely perform miracles without following the shastras and yet call themselves God or guru. I have performed miracles, and so have great persons like Shrimadacharya [Madhvacarya]. These are based on yoga siddhi and the shastras. There is no fraud or trickery at all. These miracles were performed only to show the greatness of God and the wonderful powers that one can attain with His grace. Right knowledge (jnana) is greater than any miracle. Without this no real miracle can take place. Any miracle performed without this right knowledge is only witchcraft. No good will come to those who perform such miracles and also those who believe in them."
Hare Krsna Prabhu.
"Regarding your question of Paramatma: you are fortunate enough for your 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 in two ways. He helps us from within as Caitya Guru and He expands Himself externally as Siksa Guru (as instructor) and diksa Guru (initiator). So the principle is that whatever you are instructed by the Caitya Guru internally may be confirmed by the instructor or initiator externally. Then your progress will be complete."
Srila Prabhupada Letter to Sivananda, 05-21-69
"Well initiation or no initiation, first thing is knowledge... knowledge. Initiation is formality. Just like you go to a school for knowledge, and admission is formality. That is not very important thing."
Srila Prabhupada Press Interview, 10-16-76, Chandigarh
"The initiating spiritual master (diksa-guru) shows his cause-less mercy by giving his disciples instructions in chanting the mantra. By so doing, he points the disciples in the direction of the truths pertaining to the Supreme Lord, Sri Krsna. I consider the numerous instructing spiritual masters (siksa-gurus) to be more important, for they show more mercy by training the sadhakas in all the essential aspects of sadhana-bhakti."
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur, Kalyana-kalpataru
"Prabhupada: "Then so siksa and diksa-guru... A siksa-guru who instructs against the instruction of spiritual, he is not a siksa guru. He is a demon. Siksa-guru, diksa-guru means... Sometimes a diksa-guru is not present always. Therefore one can take learning, instruction, from an advanced devotee. That is called the siksa-guru. Siksa-guru does not mean he is speaking something against the teachings of the diksa-guru/Acarya. He is not a siksa-guru. He is a rascal."
Srila Prabhupada Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 17:1-3, 07-04-74, Honolulu
"If one develops love for Krsna by Krsna conscious activities, one can know the Supreme Absolute Truth, but he who tries to understand God simply by logical arguments will not succeed, nor will he get a taste for unalloyed devotion. The secret is that one must submissively listen to those who know perfectly the science of God, and one must begin the mode of service regulated by the preceptor. A devotee already attracted by the name, form, qualities, etc., of the Supreme Lord may be directed to his specific manner of devotional service; he need not waste time in approaching the Lord through logic. The expert spiritual master knows well how to engage his disciple's energy in the transcendental loving service of the Lord, and thus he engages a devotee in a specific devotional service according to his special tendency. 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. Generally a spiritual master who constantly instructs a disciple in spiritual science becomes his initiating spiritual master later on.
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 favor of the Lord. The service of the spiritual master is essential. If there is no chance to serve the spiritual master directly, a devotee should serve him by remembering his instructions. There is no difference between the spiritual master's instructions and the spiritual master himself. In his absence, therefore, his words of direction should be the pride of the disciple. 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."
Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi lila 1:35
"One should not become a spiritual master unless he has attained the platform of Uttama-Adhikari. A neophyte Vaisnava, or a Vaisnava situated on the intermediate platform, can also accept disciples, but such disciples must be on the same platform and it should be understood that they cannot advance very well toward the ultimate goal of life under his insufficient guidance. Therefore, a disciple should be careful to accept an Uttama-Adhikari as a spiritual master."
Nectar of Instruction, Chapter 5
Hare Krsna Prabhu.
"Srila Rupa Gosvami therefore recommends, sri-guru-padasrayah: one must seek shelter at the lotus feet of a pure devotee who can be one's guru. Caitanya Mahaprabhu advises that a guru is one who strictly follows the instructions of Bhagavad-gita... A juggler, a magician or one who speaks nonsense as an academic career is not a guru. Rather, a guru is one who presents Bhagavad-gita, Krsna's instructions, as it is. Sravana is very important; one must hear from the Vaisnava sadhu, guru and sastra."
Srimad-Bhagavatam 10:2:37
"We must take instruction from the spiritual master. Adau gurvasrayam, sad-dharma-prcchat. Who requires a spiritual master? One who is inquisitive of sad-dharma, not asad-dharma. ...A man requires a spiritual master when he's inquisitive to know about the transcendental subject matter. ...To accept a spiritual master is not a fashion. Just like we keep a dog, pet, similarly, if we keep a spiritual master, pet spiritual master, to get sanction of all my sinful activities, that is not accepting spiritual master. Spiritual master means tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya. You should accept a spiritual master where you think that you can surrender yourself fully, and offer ...your service. That is spiritual master."
Srila Prabhupada Lecture, 11-13-72, Vrindaban
A guru is a bona fide spiritual master who follows sadhu and sastra. Guru means abiding by the injunction of the sastra. Guru is in the disciplic succession, one who is strictly following the footsteps of the sad-gosvamis and is speaking strictly on the basis of sastra.
So many unauthorized persons are presenting themselves as guru, but one must be very careful. Guru does not manufacture any rules and regulation. He refers to the sastra. In order to know who is a qualified spiritual master, corraborate with sadhu and sastra. Sadhu confirms the scriptures and guru accepts the scripture; they are never in disagreement.
Hare Krsna Prabhu.
"Sadhu-sastra-guru: one has to test all spiritual matters according to the instructions of saintly persons, scriptures and the spiritual master. The spiritual master is one who follows the instructions of his predecessors, namely the sadhus, or saintly persons. A bona fide spiritual master does not mention anything not mentioned in the authorized scriptures. Ordinary people have to follow the instructions of sadhu, sastra and guru. Those statements made in the sastras and those made by the bona fide sadhu or guru cannot differ from one another."
Srimad-Bhagavatam 4:16:1 Purport
"If you accept somebody as guru, then you have to corroborate it whether sastra says that he is guru or any saintly person says that he is guru. This is the way. Similarly, when you take a scripture, you have to know it from the spiritual master, whether that is actually scripture, whether it is accepted by the saintly person. Sadhu. Similarly sadhu also, whether guru says, "Yes, he is sadhu." Whether sastra says, "Yes, he is sadhu." There are three things, sadhu-sastra-guru. So to accept one, you have to take the opinion of the other two. Then you'll get the right way."
Srila Prabhupada Room Conversation, 07-18-73, London
"What is spoken in the scripture is accepted by saintly person, and what is spoken in the scripture, the spiritual master explains only that thing. That's all. So via media is the scripture. ... Saintly person means who confirms the Vedic injunction, who accepts. And scripture means what is accepted by the saintly person. And spiritual master means who follows the scriptures. So things equal to the same thing are equal to one another. This is axiomatic truth."
Srila Prabhupada Lecture, 10-18-68, Seattle
"Sadhu sastra, guru vakya, tinete kariya aikya. Spiritual realization can be perfected by three parallel process. Sadhu. Sadhu means saintly persons, who are realized souls, sadhu. And sastra. Sastra means scriptures, authoritative scriptures, Vedic scriptures, sastra. Sadhu, sastra, and guru, a spiritual master. Three parallel line. And if you place your car or vehicle on these three parallel line, your car will go direct to Krsna. Tinete kariya aikya. Just like in the railway line you see two parallel lines. If they are in order, the railway carriages are carried very smoothly to the destination. Here also, there are three parallel lines--sadhu, sastra, guru: saintly person, association of saintly person, acceptance of bona fide spiritual master, and faith in the scriptures. That's all. Then your carriage will be going nicely, without any disturbance."
Srila Prabhupada Lecture, 10-18-68, Seattle
Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada.
Hare krishna Jitender prabhu,
If you have truely surrendered unto Krishna then He will surely lead you. He will surely let you reach to true Guru. As I wanted a Guru ,he showed the way himself. Mujhe pata bhi ni chala. Srila prabhupada ji said that the person who want to be cheated gets fake Gurus but the one serious in Krishna-Bhakti gets True Guru.
As I earlier said to you listen to HH Radha Govind Swamiji's lectures and other Gurus on http://audio.iskcondesiretree.info/index.php?q=f&f=%2F02_-_ISKC...
The fact is that only you can find your True Guru ,all others can do is that we can help you in that but choice is yours...
This may help you. If you further want any help ,then I would be glad to help you.
your servant
Ashish Sharma,Dehradun
Unless you listen to different Gurus' lectures you cannot know who is perfect for you. There are many true Vaishnavas in the lineage of Srila Prabhupada. Once a reporter asked Srila Prabhupada that in this world there are so many fake Gurus so how can we find the True guru. Srila Prabhupad ji replied "Just find out the one who is most addicted to Krishna. He is genuine.Yes. The genuine guru is God's representative, and he speaks about God and nothing else. The genuine guru is he who has no interest in materialistic life."
Previously I was also confused like you but when I listened Lectures of HH Radha Govind Swami Maharaj in
http://audio.iskcondesiretree.info/index.php?q=f&f=%2F02_-_ISKC...
So I prefer you to listen to these Swami ji and find the one who satisfies you. HH Radha Govind Swami , HH Bhakti Rasamrit Swami and many others speak in Hindi also .........Hope this help you
jai Srila Prabhupad ki...........Nitai-Gaur haribol
your servant
Ashish Sharma
" Those people who have full knowledge of Krishna and preaches about Krishna, being Krishna Conciousness, is certainly a bonafide master"
You very well know that devotion is got by worshipping Gurus. Sri Thakur said" Yasya Prasadad Bhagvad Prasado" Whose worship is worship of Krishna Himself.
Sastras and saints say that finding a guru is indeed difficult, but if you find one(As mentioned by Caintanya Mahaprabhu) one must surrender and consider him his Guru.
HARE KRISHNA!!! :)