Question: Why Gita As It Is Emphasizes Guru?I have read the Bhagavad-gita many times but have yet to read the Bhagavad-gita As It Is. What is the difference? And how come it seems to stress having a spiritual master so much in the "As It Is" edition when I don't believe I have ever read it in the many translations that I own.Hare KrishnaAnswer: Because Krishna Emphasizes GuruThere is only version of the Bhagavad-gita, and that is the Bhagavad-gita spoken by Krishna. Lord Krishna clearly states in Bhagavad-gita 13.8-12: ācāryopāsanaṁ, that approaching in spiritual master is one of the items of knowledge and that not approaching a guru is ignorance.Therefore any Gita translation which accurately translates the Sanskrit must bring forward the necessity of having a bona fide spiritual master. If they do not do so, that edition, according to Sri Krishna, is in ignorance.If other authors are using the popularity of the Bhagavad-gita to present their own philosophy that a guru is not required, we are not interested in such so-called Bhagavad-gitas. Instead we are interested in what was actually spoken by Krishna to Arjuna because it is this pure, accurate presentation of the Bhagavad-gita that will deliver us from the cycle of birth and death, not other editions which change the words of Krishna.Hare Krishna Hare Krishna …For more discussions visithttp://harekrishnaharekrishna.ning.com/forum/
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Your question is really nice. This the most important point in spiritual life. Actually everything is based on this.
We cannot make progress, not a single step, without guru. Why?
Because we are conditioned souls bound to be on the mental or intellectual plane which both are material.
The transcendental reality cannot be grasped or esperienced by anything material. Therefore we need someone who comes to us from the spiritual plane, Someone who sees and have fully realized the truth. By asking question to him with humility, offering obeisances to him and serving him, he will reveal the absolute truth to us.
Tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya
upadeksyanti te jnanam jnaninas tattva darsinah
Bhagavad Gita 4,34
This is what Krsna says.
However It is imperative that the guru must be bonafide. We must know the symptoms of bonefide guru.
But that is an other issue.
Haribol !
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We cannot make progress, not a single step, without guru. Why?
Because we are conditioned souls bound to be on the mental or intellectual plane which both are material.
The transcendental reality cannot be grasped or esperienced by anything material. Therefore we need someone who comes to us from the spiritual plane, Someone who sees and have fully realized the truth. By asking question to him with humility, offering obeisances to him and serving him, he will reveal the absolute truth to us.
Tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya
upadeksyanti te jnanam jnaninas tattva darsinah
Bhagavad Gita 4,34
This is what Krsna says.
However It is imperative that the guru must be bonafide. We must know the symptoms of bonefide guru.
But that is an other issue.
Haribol !