guru - Blog - ISKCON Desire Tree | IDT2024-03-28T08:42:14Zhttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/guruWho Is a Guru ?https://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/who-is-a-guru-and-why-we-need-one2024-02-03T08:30:00.000Z2024-02-03T08:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><img class="align-center" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Cb3es0bSID8/VhEUkdYPSpI/AAAAAAAAUrc/SQjEzaCnvjo/s0/2015-10-04_13-59-08.jpg?profile=RESIZE_584x" alt="2015-10-04_13-59-08.jpg?profile=RESIZE_584x" width="450" /></p>
<p>“One who is inquisitive to understand the ultimate goal of life must approach a proper guru,” says Srila Prabhupada in this lecture given in Mumbai, India, in November of 1974. Then he explains what that ultimate goal is, how that approach must be made, and who is the proper guru.</p>
<p>suta uvaca<br /> dvaipayana-sakhas tv evam maitreyo bhagavams tatha<br /> prahedam viduram prita anviksikyam pracoditah</p>
<p>“Sri Suta Gosvami said: ‘The most powerful sage Maitreya was a friend of Vyasadeva’s. Being encouraged and pleased by Vidura’s inquiry about transcendental knowledge, Maitreya spoke as follows” [Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.25.4].</p>
<p>This is the process for getting transcendental knowledge: to approach the proper person, the guru, and submissively hear from him. Tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya [Bg. 4.34]. Although the process is very easy, one must know the process and follow it. For example, suppose your typewriter is not working. Then you have to go to the proper person, someone who knows how to fix it. He will immediately tighten a screw or fix something else, and it works. But if you go to a vegetable seller for repairing the machine, that will not be good. He does not know the process. He may know how to sell vegetables, but that doesn’t matter: he does not know how to repair a typewriter.</p>
<p>Therefore the Vedic injunction is tad-vijñanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet [MU</p>
<p>The body is a machine made by nature (yantrarudhani mayaya [Bg. 18.61]). For those who are very much attached to this machine, the meditative yoga system is recommended. In this system one learns to perform some gymnastics and concentrate the mind, so that eventually the mind may be focused on Lord Visnu. The real purpose is to understand Visnu, the Supreme Lord. So the yoga system is more or less a mechanical arrangement. But the bhakti system is above this mechanical arrangement. Therefore bhakti begins with the search for tad-vijñana, spiritual knowledge.</p>
<p>So, if you want to understand spiritual knowledge, you have to approach a guru. One meaning of the word guru is “weighty.” Therefore the guru is one who is “heavy” with knowledge. And what is that knowledge? That is explained in the Kathopanisad: srotriyam brahma-nistham [MU</p>
<p>One must hear from those who are in the line of preceptorial succession, or disciplic succession. As Lord Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita, evam parampara-praptam [Bg. 4.2]. If one wants standard transcendental knowledge, not upstart knowledge, one must received it from the parampara system, the disciplic succession. Another meaning of the word srotriyam mentioned above is “one who has heard from a guru in the disciplic succession.” And the result of this hearing will be brahma-nistham, “He is firmly fixed in the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” He has no other business. These are the two main qualifications of a bona fide guru. He does not need to be a very learned scholar with an M.A., B.A., or Ph.D. No. He simply needs to have heard from the authority in disciplic succession and be fixed in devotional service. This is our system.</p>
<p>In the verse under discussion we see that Vidura was hearing from Maitreya Rsi and that Maitreya was very much pleased (viduram pritah). Unless you satisfy your guru very nicely, you cannot get the right knowledge. That is natural. If you receive your guru properly and give him a very nice place where he can sit comfortably, and if he is pleased with your behavior, then he will speak very frankly and very freely, which will be beneficial for you. This is the case with Vidura and Maitreya: Maitreya Rsi was very much pleased with Vidura, and thus Maitreya imparted instructions to him.</p>
<p>Lord Krsna recommends the same procedure in the Bhagavad-gita: tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya [Bg. 4.34]. “One must offer obeisances to the guru, inquire from him, and serve him.” If you simply go and ask the spiritual master questions in a challenging spirit but do not accept his instructions and do not render service, then you’re wasting your time. The word used here is pranipatena, “offering obeisances with no reservation.” So reception of transcendental knowledge is based on this pranipata. That is why Krsna says later, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja: [Bg. 18.66] “Give up everything else and just surrender unto Me.” Just as we have to surrender to Krsna, we have to surrender to Krsna’s representative, the spiritual master.</p>
<p>The guru is the external representative of Krsna. The internal guru is Krsna Himself (isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese ‘rjuna tisthati [Bg. 18.61]). It is not that Krsna is only in Goloka Vrndavana, the spiritual world. He is everywhere, within every atom and within everyone’s heart (goloka eva nivasaty akhilatma-bhutah [Bs. 5.37]). The manifestation of Krsna in the heart is the Paramatma, or Supersoul. I am an atma, an individual soul, you are an atma. We are both situated locally—you are situated within your body, and I am situated within my body. But the Paramatma is situated everywhere. That is the difference between the atma and the Paramatma. Some people think there is no difference between the atma and the Paramatma, but there is a difference. They are one in the sense that both of them are cognizant living entities, but they are different in that the Paramatma is all-pervading and the atma is localized. Krsna confirms this in the Bhagavad-gita: ksetra-jñam capi mam viddhi sarva-ksetresu bharata [Bg. 13.3]. “Besides the individual soul in each body, I am also present as the Supersoul.” The word ksetra-jña means “the knower of the ksetra, or body.” So I am the knower or occupier of my body. The body is just like a house, with a tenant and a landlord. The tenant may occupy the house, but the landlord is the proprietor. Similarly, we atmas are simply tenants of our bodies; we are not the proprietor. The proprietor is the Paramatma. And when the proprietor says, “Get out of this house, get out of this body” you have to leave your body, and that is called death. This is Vedic knowledge.</p>
<p>So, one who is inquisitive to understand the ultimate goal of life must approach a proper guru. An ordinary man interested in the bodily comforts of life doesn’t require a guru. Today, however, a guru is generally taken to mean someone who can give you some bodily remedy. People will approach some so-called saintly person and ask, “Mahatmaji, I am suffering from this disease.” “Yes, I have a mantra that will cure you.” That sort of guru is accepted—to cure some disease or give some wealth. No. Lord Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita [4.34],</p>
<p>tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya<br /> upadeksyanti te jñanam jñaninas tattva-darsinah</p>
<p>One should approach a guru to learn about tattva, the Absolute Truth, not to acquire some material benefit. One should not search out a guru to cure some material disease. For that there is a medical practitioner. Why should you search out a guru for that purpose? A guru is one who knows the Vedic sastras, or scriptures, and who can teach us to understand Krsna.</p>
<p>Of course, we cannot understand Krsna fully. That is not possible. We have no such capacity, because Krsna is so great and we are so limited. Krsna is so great that even He does not understand Himself. He does not know why He is so attractive. Therefore, to understand what makes Him so attractive He came as Lord Caitanya, adopting the ecstatic emotions of Srimati Radharani. So to understand Krsna fully is not possible, but if we try to understand Him as far as our limited capacity allows, that is our perfection. That is why Krsna says,</p>
<p>janma karma ca me divyam evam yo vetti tattvatah<br /> tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti so ‘rjuna</p>
<p>“One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna” [Bhagavad-gita 4.9].</p>
<p>If we think that Krsna is a human being like us, then we are mudhas, fools and rascals. We will be mistaken if we think, “Since my body is made of material elements, Krsna’s body is also made of material elements.” In the Bhagavad-gita Krsna says that the material energy belongs to Him: daivi hy esa gunamayi mama maya [Bg. 7.14]. This material world is Krsna’s. We cannot say mama maya, “This material energy is mine.” No. We are under the control of the material nature. But Krsna is the controller of the material nature: mayadhyaksena prakrtih suyate sa-caracaram [Bg. 9.10]. That is the difference between Krsna and us. Understanding that this material nature is working under the direction of Krsna is real knowledge.</p>
<p>It is not possible to understand in detail how things are going on, but we can understand the summary: janmady asya yatah [SB 1.1.1]. “Everything has emanated from the Supreme Absolute Truth, Krsna.” That much knowledge is sufficient. Then you can increase your knowledge—how the material nature is working under the direction of Krsna, how Krsna’s energies are interacting, and so on. That is advanced knowledge. But if we simply understand Krsna’s statement in the Bhagavad-gita—mayadhyaksena prakrtih suyate sa-caracaram: [Bg. 9.10] “This material energy is working under my direction”—that is perfect knowledge.</p>
<p>The modern scientists think that matter is working independently, that everything has evolved due to chemical evolution. No. Chemical evolution cannot produce life. Life comes from life. As Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita, aham sarvasya prabhavo mattah sarvam pravartate: [Bg. 10.8] “Everything emanates from Me.” This is the reply to the scientists. And the Vedanta-sutra confirms, athato brahma jijñasa, janmady asya yatah: [SB 1.1.1] “Now one should inquire into the Supreme Brahman, which is that from whom everything emanates.” The Supreme Brahman is Krsna.</p>
<p>The whole world is a combination of two things: jada and cetana, dull matter and living entities. Both come from Krsna. As He says in the Bhagavad-gita,</p>
<p>apareyam itas tv anyam prakrtim viddhi me param<br /> jiva-bhutam maha-baho yayedam dharyate jagat</p>
<p>“Besides the inferior, material energy, there is My superior, spiritual energy, the living entities who are exploiting the material nature” [Bhagavad-gita 7.5]. Why is the spiritual energy superior? Because the living entities are utilizing the material nature. For example, we advanced living entities, human beings, have created the modern civilization by utilizing matter. That is our superiority. In this way we have to acquire tattva-jñana, understanding of the Absolute Truth.</p>
<p>The Vedanta-sutra confirms that human life is meant for understanding the Absolute Truth: athato brahma jijñasa. And the explanation of the Vedanta-sutra is the Srimad-Bhagavatam. The Vedanta-sutra states that the Absolute Truth is janmady asya [SB 1.1.1], that from whom, or from which, everything has emanated. Now, what is the nature of that source? This question is answered in the Srimad-Bhagavatam: janmady asya yatah anvayad itaratas ca arthesu abhijñah. That source is abhijñah, cognizant. Now, matter is not cognizant, so that source must be life. Therefore the modern scientific theory that life comes from matter is wrong. Life comes from life. And the Srimad-Bhagavatam continues, tene brahma hrda ya adi-kavaye. “He imparted the Vedic knowledge unto Lord Brahma.” So unless one is a living entity, how can he impart knowledge?</p>
<p>The Srimad-Bhagavatam is the natural explanation of the Vedanta-sutra by the same author, Vyasadeva. In the verse under discussion it is said Vidura was dvaipayana-sakha, a friend of Dvaipayana. Dvaipayana means Vyasadeva. Vyasadeva compiled the Vedanta-sutra and then explained it in the Srimad-Bhagavatam (artho ‘yam brahma-sutranam). If we read some artificial commentary on the Vedanta-sutra, we’ll misunderstand. Generally, the Mayavadis [impersonalists] give prominence to the commentary by Sankaracarya, called the Sariraka-bhasya. But that commentary is unnatural. The natural commentary is by the author himself, Vyasadeva.</p>
<p>According to our Vedic system, the acarya [spiritual master] must understand the Vedanta-sutra and explain it. Then he’ll be accepted as an acarya. Therefore both of the main sampradayas [spiritual communities], the Mayavadi sampradaya and the Vaisnava sampradaya, have explained the Vedanta-sutra. Otherwise, they would not have been recognized as authoritative. Without understanding the Vedanta-sutra, nobody can understand what is Brahman, the Absolute Truth. Similarly, here it is said that Vidura understood transcendental knowledge (anviksikyam) from Maitreya. Who is Maitreya? Dvaipayana-sakha, the friend of Vyasadeva. One friend knows the other friend—what his position is, what his knowledge is. So since Maitreya was the friend of Vyasadeva, that means he knows what Vyasadeva knows.</p>
<p>So we have to approach a spiritual master who is in the disciplic succession of Vyasadeva. Many people claim, “Oh, we are also following Vyasadeva.” But that following cannot be superficial. One has to actually follow Vyasadeva. For example, Vyasadeva accepted Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, in the section where Arjuna says to Krsna, param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan: [Bg. 10.12] “O Krsna, you are Para-brahman, the Supreme Person.” But one may say it was because Arjuna was the friend of Krsna that he accepted Him as the Supreme. No. Arjuna gave evidence: “Vyasadeva also accepts You as the Supreme Lord.” Similarly, Vyasadeva begins the Srimad-Bhagavatam, his commentary on the Vedanta-sutra, by saying om namo bhagavate vasudevaya: “I offer my obeisances unto Vasudeva, Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”</p>
<p>So if we actually are interested in understanding spiritual knowledge, we must approach an acarya, and an acarya is one who follows Vyasadeva. In the verse under discussion, Maitreya, the friend of Vyasadeva, is the acarya. He is so exalted that he has been described as Bhagavan. In general, the word bhagavan indicates Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead (krsnas tu bhagavan svayam [SB 1.3.28]). But sometimes other powerful persons, such as Lord Brahma, Lord Siva, Narada, Vyasadeva, or Maitreya, are also addressed as Bhagavan. Although the actual Bhagavan is Krsna, such persons are sometimes called Bhagavan because they have attained as much knowledge of Krsna as possible. It is not possible to have cent percent knowledge of Krsna. Nobody can do that. Even Brahma and Siva cannot do that. But those who follow Krsna’s instructions fully are also sometimes called Bhagavan. However, that Bhagavan is not an artificial Bhagavan. A real Bhagavan must know what Krsna has taught and follow His instructions.</p>
<p>So, here it is said, viduram prita, “Vidura pleased Maitreya.” Their conversation wasn’t simply talking between friends. No. Vidura was eager to receive transcendental knowledge, and Maitreya was pleased with him. How can one please the spiritual master? That we have mentioned before: pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya. You can please the guru simply by surrendering to him, inquiring from him, and by rendering him service: “Sir, I am your most obedient servant. Please accept me and give me instruction.” Arjuna also followed this process. At the beginning of the Bhagavad-gita He said to Krsna, sisyas te ‘ham sadhi mam tvam prapannam: [Bg. 2.7] “I am Your disciple and a soul surrendered unto You. Please instruct me.” Even though Arjuna was a very intimate friend of Krsna, still, while learning the Bhagavad-gita from Him he surrendered to Krsna and said, “I am no longer your friend; I am your disciple. Now I am under Your full control. Please instruct me.”</p>
<p>So this is the process of approaching a guru. You must be very inquisitive and ask questions, but not to challenge the spiritual master. It is said, jijñasuh sreya uttamam: You should approach the spiritual master to understand the spiritual science. You shouldn’t try to defeat him. One should not say, “I know better than you. Let us talk.” No. That is not the proper way to approach a guru. You must find a guru to whom you can surrender (pranipatena). If you cannot surrender to the guru, then don’t waste your time and his time. First of all surrender to the bona fide guru. This is the process of understanding transcendental knowledge.</p>
<p>Thank you very much. Hare Krsna.<br /> The Shelter from All Dangers</p>
<p>In this talk Srila Prabhupada declares, “Everyone has to understand the goal of life, why there is a struggle for existence, and whether there is any remedy, a process whereby we can live very peacefully, without any disturbances. These are the things to be learned in human life, and one should approach a bona fide spiritual master to learn them.” (July 1976, Washington, D.C)</p>
<p>‘sadhya’-‘sadhana’-tattva puchite na jani<br /> krpa kari’ saba tattva kaha ta’ apani”</p>
<p>[Sanatana Gosvami said to Lord Caitanya:] “Actually, I do not know how to inquire about the goal of life and the process for obtaining it. Please be merciful to me and explain all these truths” (Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 20.103).</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Human life is meant for understanding tattva, the Absolute Truth. That is the special advantage of human life. But if a human being is not trained to inquire about the Absolute Truth, he is at a great disadvantage.</p>
<p>In human life there is a chance to make a solution to the whole problem—the struggle for existence, for the survival of the fittest. This struggle is going on life after life. But now, in human life, one can end that struggle by understanding the goal of life and being trained in how to achieve it. If that opportunity is refused to human society by the guardians, by the government, it is a great disservice.</p>
<p>Human beings should not be kept in the darkness of animal propensities. How many plants and creepers there are! How many animals! How many aquatics! We have come through all these species after many thousands and millions of years of evolution. And now we have a chance to escape from this painful process. Therefore the human being is advised to try to understand the goal of life: tamasi ma jyotir gama. “Don’t stay in darkness. Go to the light.” That is the Vedic injunction.</p>
<p>So, from the very beginning of life, children should be trained to inquire about the goal of life. But if they are kept in darkness, simply taught to eat, drink, be merry, and enjoy—that is not civilization. They must be given the opportunity to inquire more and more about the goal of life. What is the goal of life? To revive our intimate relationship with God.</p>
<p>As Caitanya Mahaprabhu explains, we are intimately related to God, but somehow we have fallen into this material world, and we are mistakenly accepting this body as our self. We are being trained only to see to our bodily interests, just like cats and dogs. The animals are interested in the body only. They have no other interest. But if a human being is kept in the same darkness, simply concerned with his body, that is a great disadvantage.</p>
<p>Sanatana Gosvami understood that, and therefore he asked Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu,</p>
<p>‘ke ami’, ‘kene amaya jare tapa-traya’<br /> iha nahi jani—’kemane hita haya’</p>
<p>“Who am I? Why should there be such a struggle for existence? Why not an easy life, a peaceful life? Why do some elements give us opposition? I want to be happy, but there is opposition. Why?”</p>
<p>Even with a fly we have to fight. I am sitting, not doing any harm to the fly, but it attacks me and bothers me. Or you may be walking on the street, committing no offense, but from a house a dog begins to bark, “Why are you coming here? Why are you coming here?” There is no cause for his barking, but because he is a dog his business is to bark, “Why are you coming? Why are you coming?”</p>
<p>Similarly, the immigration department restricts our freedom to go from one place to another. The immigration official barks, “Why are you coming? Why are you coming?” In many places we have been refused entry—”No, you cannot enter. Go back.”—and I had to go back.</p>
<p>So, in this material world you cannot live peacefully. Not at all. There are so many impediments. The scripture says, padam padam yad vipadam: [SB 10.14.58] “At every step there is danger.” Danger not only from the lower animals but also from human society. No, our life is not very happy in this material world.</p>
<p>Therefore we should be advanced in inquiring, Why are there so many impediments? How can I become happy? What is the goal of my life? Asking these questions is human life, and Sanatana Gosvami is representing us in asking these questions of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.</p>
<p>By the mercy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, or by the mercy of His servants, one can be enlightened as to what is the goal of life, why there is a struggle for existence, why there is death, why there is birth. I do not want to die, I do not want to enter into a mother’s womb and remain in a packed-up condition for so many days, I do not want to become an old man—but these things are forced upon me. Why? Our real business is to answer this question, not to arrange for economic development.</p>
<p>Whatever economic development we are destined to get, we shall get it. Whatever happiness or distress we are destined to get, we shall get it. We don’t try for distress, but it comes; it is forced upon us. Similarly, although you don’t try for it, the little happiness you are destined to obtain will also come. Therefore the scripture advises, “Instead of wasting your time bothering about so-called happiness and distress, better to engage your valuable time in understanding what is the goal of life, why there are so many problems, why you have to struggle for existence. This is your business.”</p>
<p>In this Krsna consciousness movement we are giving people a chance to understand the problems of life and how to solve them. It is not a sectarian movement or a so-called religious movement. It is not a religion. It is an educational and cultural movement. Everyone has to understand the goal of life, why there is a struggle for existence, and whether there is any remedy, a process whereby we can live very peacefully, without any disturbances. These are the things to be learned in human life, and one should approach a bona fide spiritual master to learn them.</p>
<p>This is what Sanatana Gosvami did. He was a government minister, very educated and well placed, but he approached Caitanya Mahaprabhu and humbly surrendered. So we should also approach Lord Caitanya or His representative and surrender (tad viddhi pranipatena [Bg. 4.34]). One shouldn’t challenge, “Can you show me God?” No, this is not the way to approach the spiritual master. God is everywhere, but now you do not have the eyes to see Him. So this challenging attitude will not help us. We must be submissive. As Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita, tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya: “To understand the transcendental science, approach a spiritual master and humbly surrender to him, inquire from him, and serve him.” Sanatana Gosvami is a perfect example. He is submitting himself very humbly before Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.</p>
<p>So, first of all surrender (pranipatena); then ask questions (pariprasnena). Don’t waste your time questioning the spiritual master unless you are surrendered. You must be ready to accept the answers he gives. Then you may make an inquiry. If you think, “I have to test his answers because I am more learned and more advanced then he,” then don’t go to the spiritual master. First of all settle up in your mind that whatever answers the spiritual master gives, you’ll accept. Then you can make an inquiry.</p>
<p>Sanatana Gosvami completely surrendered to Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Sanatana said, “Actually, I do not know how to inquire from You. So kindly tell me what the subject matter of inquiry should be and what the answers to such inquiry are. I am a completely blank slate; I am simply submitting myself to You.” Sanatana was inquisitive about sadhya, the goal of life, and sadhana, the process by which one can attain the goal. But he said, “I do not know anything about these things, so I am simply depending on Your mercy.” That is surrender.</p>
<p>In this way we can make advancement in our spiritual education. But we must also carry out the orders of the spiritual master. As Narottama Dasa Thakura says, guru-mukha-padma-vakya cittete kariya aikya: “Make the orders of the spiritual master your life and soul.” And then, ara na kariha mane asa: “Do not think otherwise.” Simply accept what he says. **</p>
<p>Of course, first of all you must select who will be your spiritual master. You must know his qualifications. If you want to purchase gold, you must at least know where gold is available. If you are so foolish that you go to a butcher shop to buy diamonds or gold, then you’ll be cheated. Similarly, if out of ignorance you approach the wrong person for spiritual guidance, you’ll be cheated.</p>
<p>So, finding a bona fide guru requires intelligence and sincerity. If you are serious about understanding the goal of life, spiritual knowledge, then Krsna will help you. He is situated in everyone’s heart, and he understands when you are sincerely seeking the Absolute Truth. Then He gives direction: “Go to this person.” Krsna is already giving direction in every respect. We want to do so many things, and Krsna is giving us the facility. As He says in the Bhagavad-gita [18.61], isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese ‘rjuna tisthati bhramayan sarva-bhutani. As the Supersoul in the heart, Krsna is giving facilities to all living entities in their wanderings throughout the various species. But when one becomes very eager to understand Krsna, or God, He is glad to give instruction: “Go to such-and-such person and submissively inquire from him. You’ll be enlightened.” Guru-krsna-prasade paya bhakti-lata-bija: [Cc. Madhya 19.151] By the mercy of the spiritual master and Krsna one can make spiritual advancement. One must simply be sincere.</p>
<p>Thank you very much. Hare Krsna.<br /> <br /> <strong>Source: </strong><a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20202">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20202</a></p></div>Sri Updeshamrit (Shloka-1) - Picture Story Book in Hindihttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/sri-updeshamrit-picture-story-book-in-hindi2023-12-15T01:16:29.000Z2023-12-15T01:16:29.000ZSANATAN MISRA DAShttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/SANJAYCHOWDHARY<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12326197269,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12326197269,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12326197269?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="710" /></a></p></div>The Guru of the Whole Worldhttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/the-guru-of-the-whole-world2023-07-03T04:40:00.000Z2023-07-03T04:40:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9306248274,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9306248274?profile=RESIZE_400x" width="233" /></p>
<p>Radhanath Swami: “I was in Vrindavan in 1971, and I was among five or six other people sitting around Srila Prabhupada. He wasn’t my guru then; he was just one of the saints I was coming to visit. And Srila Prabhupada was in Vrindavan for a few days. Somebody asked him, ‘Are you the guru for the whole world?’ He didn’t say anything. I was really very excited with anticipation—what is he going to say? Most people would say, ‘Yes.’ And after he paused for a few minutes, he looked down to the ground. With tears of humility in his eyes, he said, ‘No, I am the servant of everyone. That’s all.’ And I was thinking, ‘He is really the guru of the whole world!’</p>
<p>“A true guru is not one who claims to be God. A true guru is one who claims to be a humble messenger of God.”</p>
<p>All glories to Srila Prabhupada.</p>
<p>Hare Krishna.</p>
<p>Yours in service,<br /> Giriraj Swami</p>
<p><strong>Source: </strong><a href="https://girirajswami.com/blog/?p=17304">https://girirajswami.com/blog/?p=17304</a></p></div>Touching on 'Guru' by Bhaktimarga Swamihttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/touching-on-guru-by-bhaktimarga-swami2023-03-21T12:00:14.000Z2023-03-21T12:00:14.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}11000861483,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="450" alt="11000861483?profile=RESIZE_584x" /></p>
<p id="viewer-7v5fs">A Blizzard confined me to the indoors for the day. In such circumstances, I find that I can at least do some pacing within our sizable temple room period no, I will not surrender to a clunky treadmill. No space for such devices but I will wait until the storm clears an accept some snowy uneven terrain. ‘Natural’ comes first in my books period I feel very much the same about cars. Walk if you can. Avoid those deathtraps when possible.</p>
<p id="viewer-b001t">Prabhupada Priya, visiting us from Florida, began teaching the ISKCON Disciple</p>
<p id="viewer-3cm27">Course, and this is indeed helpful for clearing issues on the topic of ‘guru.’ There is definitely an amount of confusion surrounding guru. ‘Guru’ simply means ‘teacher’, although those who coach or mentor others in the science of the self and self with a capital ‘S’, are doing something unique.</p>
<p id="viewer-akn1u">In the Bhagavatam class I delivered this morning, we touched on guru also. “Guru is a human being with his/her feet on the ground. Guru is not God, but a representative.” I went on to say that we all will be gurus someday. “At least, some of you will, because the wisdom must be transferred to the next generation by example as well as by word.”</p>
<p>Teachers are indeed in society, and that's the way it will always be. We cannot say that ‘the buck stops here,’ meaning that a succession of gurus ends with Jesus, Guru Govind Singh, or Prabhupada. The practice of transferring wisdom is perennial.<br /> <br /> <strong>Source: </strong><a href="https://www.thewalkingmonk.net/post/touching-on-guru">https://www.thewalkingmonk.net/post/touching-on-guru</a></p></div>Not so rigid by Kadamba Kanana Swamihttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/not-so-rigid-by-kadamba-kanana-swami2023-01-09T08:04:55.000Z2023-01-09T08:04:55.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10927790284,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="500" alt="10927790284?profile=RESIZE_584x" /></p>
<p>I was reading some writings of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur and he was speaking about diksha guru and siksha guru and he was saying that the diksha guru is basically giving the name and explaining the meaning of the name and the siksha guru gives so much relevant instruction about spiritual life and how to practice devotional service. Now, it seems that in our movement, this separation about diksha guru and siksha guru is not so rigid. This is because when Srila Prabhupada was in Mayapur, one of his disciples who had met a Gaudiya-math sanyasi had been told by that sanyasi that Srila Prabhupada was his diksha guru and he was his siksha guru. And he said that to Prabhupada, who then told the disciple to go back to that Gaudiya-math sanyasi and tell him that Prabhupada is both his diksha guru and also his siksha guru.</p>
<p>You can watch the full program on our YouTube channel or by clicking below:</p>
<div style="text-align:center;"> <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8qNQlj2Hp3M" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong>Source:</strong> <a href="https://www.kksblog.com/2023/01/not-so-rigid/">https://www.kksblog.com/2023/01/not-so-rigid/</a></div>
</div>I think I have acquired a spiritual guru… by Aurigahttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/i-think-i-have-acquired-a-spiritual-guru-12022-12-06T09:30:00.000Z2022-12-06T09:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><h1 class="page-title" style="text-align:center;">I think I have acquired a spiritual guru…</h1>
<center><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xY5EqZ-bMqo/VaDkIPqjkXI/AAAAAAAAQ9A/7Vd9tIOdh30/s0/2015-07-11_11-38-38.jpg" alt="" /></center>
<p> </p>
<p>Actually, I think it might be more accurate to say that he has acquired me.</p>
<p>I’m a scientist (astrophysicist to be precise) and I’ve been agnostic for as long as I can remember, so I’ve always struggled with the idea of God and the purpose of religion. But a few months ago, I had a spiritual experience, and since then, I’ve been on a quest to understand the being known as God. To learn more, I’ve studied and participated in various religious systems, and for the past month I’ve been exploring the group commonly known as Hare Krishnas.</p>
<p>This weekend, I participated in a festival organised by the local bhakti-yoga community (bhakti-yoga or Krishna Consciousness is the lifestyle practised by the Hare Krishnas). On the Friday, I attended a lecture. I’ve been attending lectures with the Hare Krishnas every week for a few weeks now, and I often enjoy their talks and find them insightful. As usual, the lecture started with some chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra. It’s a very simple mantra, but I find it incredibly uplifting; the bhakti-yogis tell me the words themselves are powerful: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare; Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. The chanting normally ends with the arrival of the speaker, and Friday’s speaker was an oldish (just over sixty maybe) monk-looking guy in the standard orange robes.</p>
<p>The title of the speaker’s talk was “Too busy to be happy,” and he ran a very informal session, with plenty of audience participation, much to the discomfort of some of the audience members! He began by asking several members of the audience (who were mostly students) what they were aiming for in life. Their answers consisted of the common material goals, such as a good job with lots of money, a nice house, nice car, nice partner. Next, the speaker asked, “Will these material things make you happy?” Apparently not. It’s the emotional high, which comes with achieving these things, that we actually crave, and this high is inevitably short lived. The affable orator then explained the central idea to bhakti-yoga: we are not our bodies; we are in fact the spirit soul (or atma in Sanskrit). The idea is that the soul lives inside the body, and since it is distinct from the material body, material things inevitably cannot satisfy it. Hence, material things are not what we should seek to attain true happiness.</p>
<p>I kept my mouth shut through most of the talk and the questions at the end, because my questions tend to generate time-consuming discussion, and I figured everyone else in the room deserved to have the time to get their questions answered first without having to endure all that. So after most of the students had left, I stuck around for further discussion and took the opportunity to be a generally cheeky pain with my questioning. Fortunately, the speaker was very good humoured and carried an unconventionally serene manner, so we had a nice chat.opportunity to be a generally cheeky pain with my questioning. Fortunately, the speaker was very good humoured and carried an unconventionally serene manner, so we had a nice chat.</p>
<p>The next day I was at the Hare Krishna temple for the festival and who should be hosting a Q&A session but my new friend. I’d done my homework; I’d read the bits in the books that describe the basis for the arguments he was making; if he was going to talk about how futile and limited the pursuit of science is, then I was going to be prepared. Whilst not allowing myself to hog the discussion, I did my best to challenge his assertions and rout out the logic behind his arguments, to see how firm a foundation they were based upon.</p>
<p>The speaker brought up a point about all the bad stuff that happens in the world and how people want to love, care, and help fix the world’s problems. This guy said that generally people are unqualified to help. He gave an example, “Suppose you are ill and need surgery to get better, and I offer to do the surgery. You would say to me, “No thanks, you’re not qualified to do that, you’re not a surgeon.” The debate meandered until the speaker made the point, “If you care so much, go and get someone who is qualified to do the surgery.” He then shared the insights provided in the Krishna texts and explained how people need to read them to progress spiritually and to be able to express their love in a productive way. Since this guy is pretty senior in bhakti-yoga, my question after that was, “So how are you going to enact this world-saving plan?” To which he answered, “I think I’ll start with you.”</p>
<p>Oh my! For my petulance and cheek I had been singled out for saving.</p>
<p>[Aside: Later on Saturday, when the same erudite Vedic master gave the lecture, a temple leader introduced him as “His Holiness.” Apparently there are less than a hundred men of his station in the world. It’s like I was being cheeky to the pope. Well, maybe not quite the pope.]</p>
<p>Finally, on Sunday I got my chance for a one-to-one chat. The topics got a bit lengthy, ranging from the ideal spiritual path in bhakti-yoga to the limitations of a materialistic-based scientific study of the universe. A person like me has much to understand about religious structures. Historical events have made me see no need for them. Besides, I think it is possible to be spiritual and have a relationship with God without using a religion or man-made structure to do it. On the other hand, we have a human need to know that what we are doing is “right” or correct. If you act just on your own intuition, then you will interpret events based on the idea of God that you have in your head; by acting without guidance it is very easy to doubt your own thought process or, conversely, to end up feeling spiritually alone or even deluded.</p>
<p>Bhakti-yoga claims not to be a religion but, rather, a spiritual science. It’s not science in the way that physical science works, but it does have a very reasonable method. The practice emphasises exploring the ideas yourself and experimenting in the “spiritual laboratory” (genuine wisdom from my guru there). The founding leader of the Krishna Consciousness movement said, “Religion without a rational basis is just sentiment.” They are very much into combining science and religion and always recommend that you test the ideas you are presented with before accepting them. After all, the guru addressed the “whys” and “what fors” in my discussion, and when I told him I still needed to examine several other religions before I could think about accepting one, he responded, “By all means, I’ll be interested to see what you find.”</p>
<p>I’m optimistic about my new collaboration in spiritual science.</p>
<p>—–<br /> About the Author Auriga<br /> Former life-long agnostic, Auriga, Ph.D., is an astrophysicist seeking spiritual answers after a brush with the divine. Perpetually grappling with the inconsistencies between science and spirituality, Auriga’s eventual, hopefully not too lofty aim is to find understanding and reconciliation between the two.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://www.enoughmagazine.org/the-guru-and-the-geek/">http://www.enoughmagazine.org/the-guru-and-the-geek/</a></p></div>Blessings of the entire parampara by Kadamba Kanana Swamihttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/blessings-of-the-entire-parampara-by-kadamba-kanana-swami2022-06-17T10:00:00.000Z2022-06-17T10:00:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}8924794669,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="8924794669?profile=RESIZE_584x" width="450" /></p>
<p>With the Mangalacarana prayers, we have invoked the blessings of the entire parampara, coming down from Lord Krsna and all the acaryas. That is how an initiation takes place. It is by the grace of all these personalities. We are all here simply as representatives of the mercy flowing from this parampara. Somehow or other, we have received mercy and because of that mercy, we are able to be here in some role. And the roles we play simply depends on whatever the vaisnavas have bestowed upon us. Because, that is the nature of spiritual life. Spiritual life is a gift. It is a gift of the vaisnavas and a gift of the pure devotees of the Lord.</p>
<p>brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva<br /> guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja<br /> (Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya-Lila 19.151)</p>
<p>So we are receiving the gift of spiritual life, of the bhakti lata bija (the seed of devotional service), by the mercy of guru and Krsna. In his initiations in early days, Srila Prabhupada would always make sure that at the corners of the yajna, there were 4 brahmanas reading from 4 books – the Bhagavad-gita, the Srimad Bhagavatam, the Nectar of Devotion and the Caitanya-Caritamrta. So, I am just invoking, mentally, these 4 reading brahmanas. They are muted, so you do not hear them but they are reading everything! In this way, you need not worry, the completeness is there. The essence is described in the exchange between Vasudeva and Devaki. It is said that from the heart of Vasudeva, the consciousness of pure goodness manifested in him. Then, he transferred that pure goodness to Devaki. Then, the Lord is manifested in her heart and so on.<br /> <br /> <strong>Source: </strong><a href="https://www.kksblog.com/2021/05/blessings-of-the-entire-parampara/">https://www.kksblog.com/2021/05/blessings-of-the-entire-parampara/</a></p></div>Following my Bhakti Pathhttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/following-my-bhakti-path2022-01-27T10:03:35.000Z2022-01-27T10:03:35.000ZVraja Vilasinihttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/VrajaVilasini<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10049957473,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10049957473,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10049957473?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="710" /></a></p><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _78FBa _3_La3 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr"> </p><p id="viewer-8evp8" class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _78FBa _3_La3 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr">When first joining the Bhakti Centre I had so many devotees offering to help with my spiritual journey, that I did not know which direction to take. I was quite bewildered until I met Rasarani, a most advanced devotee who would come to be my Siska Guru. She told me I could follow a progressive path in Bhakti, and she would be my guide.</span> </p><p id="viewer-3550h" class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _78FBa _3_La3 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr"> My first and possibly most difficult challenge was to try to control the mind and senses, or Sraddha. Rasarani explained that she used small tokens to help her to remember Krishna’s names, forms, qualities and pastimes. Using her japa beads was a good example, as we repeat the mantra on each bead. To speak only of Krishna and to use the five austerities of speech was life her motto. I was directed to only accept that which was favorable and reject that which hindered my path of Bhakti. </span></p><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _78FBa _3_La3 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr">I was encouraged at each step, as I made progress. Along with controlling my mind and senses, I now included practicing patience and hearing and chanting the holy names with enthusiasm. The more I practiced, the more confident I became. The more I chanted, the more I wanted to associate with these loving devotees, serving the Lord together and becoming more like those who modeled themselves on previous Acaryas or teachers.</span></p><p id="viewer-3os30" class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _78FBa _3_La3 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr"> But there were some things I noticed that other devotees did not favor, such as having too much money, too many attachments and spending their time with non-devotees. I soon realized that these only hindered their time spent with Krishna. I could see that their reasoning was true. All it did was distract from spending time chanting the holy names of Lord Krishna.</span></p><div>An important part of sradha-sangah is the association with devotees, which Rasarani encouraged me to develop. This is something that cannot be compared to the material relationships that I have experienced before or since. Jana-sangha I was told, is association with those who do not have an interest in Krishna consciousness and I honestly felt that the deeper my love and devotion became for Krishna, the less I wanted this type of connection.</div><div> </div><div><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr">I started to reject offers to material pastimes and instead participated in activities that revolved around our local preaching centre. It was during this time that I learned that devotees exchange their love in six ways. They offer and accept gifts in charity, putting lots of love and thought put into these gifts and appreciating the thought involved. They reveal their mind and inquire in confidence; trusting that we can listen and be heard without judgement. We honor each other by giving and sharing space. But possibly the most recognized gift that is shared is prasadam, or spiritualized foods. This becomes a social time as we can share stories, sing kirtans or listen to lectures as we prepare the food and spend time together. </span></div><div> </div><p id="viewer-6c8iq" class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _78FBa _3_La3 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr"> Never in my life have I felt friendship and love like I have with devotees. Everyone was senior to me, but all were very welcoming and shared just enough, allowing me time to take this in, before I was taught the next lesson. My taste strengthening as I progressed. I understood that I was just a beginner, but what did that mean and how did I get to a level such as Rasarani? Upon my enquiry, I was taught about the levels of bhakti. When I was blessed to take harinama initiation from my Guru Maharaj and while trying to chant, I was a neophyte or kanistha-vaisnava. I was currently working towards madhyama-adhikari, being one who has taken spiritual initiation and is fully engaged in transcendental loving service.</span></p><p id="viewer-837dh" class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _78FBa _3_La3 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr">Where then, was Rasarani in these levels of Bhakti? Rasarani was very modest, nevertheless I learned that she is at the level of uttama-adhikari and is of our most senior devotees. She is advanced in devotional service, her heart is pure and she is a devotee that many in our temple, aspire to be like. The way that Rasarani chants the holy names, speaks about Krishna and described the sweet taste of loving service, while allowing all bad habits and association to melt away, is inspiring.</span></p><p id="viewer-avc84" class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _78FBa _3_La3 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr"> Following Rasarani’s example, trying my best to spend every moment in remembering, chanting the Lord’s names and feeling myself becoming attached to Krishna. I already had learned a lot, but now I wanted to explore on my own. Lastly Rasarani recommended I learn about the best of the best of people and places. I discovered that while many spiritual travellers search for Vrindavan and Govardhana, Radha Kunda is the most supreme place. </span> </p><p id="viewer-eptoo" class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _78FBa _3_La3 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr">Many seekers feel that the spiritual world is superior to anything we can find in the material world. However, places that Krishna spent his pastimes are even more supreme. </span></p><p id="viewer-3vmef" class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _78FBa _3_La3 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr">Radha Kunda is where Krishna’s love overflows from Govardhana, down into the kunda or lake at its base, where Radha bathed and is the best of the best of all places. This led me to search for the best of people, which is Radha. Better than karmis, bhakta’s and even the Gopis. Radha’s devotional service excels all others. Radha is the most beloved of Krishna and she is the most beloved of all Gopis. It should be our desire to serve Radha in her Radha Kunda throughout our life.To do so will bring us prema, pure love of Krishna and deliver us back to Godhead. </span></p><p> </p></div>Increasing Our Taste In Spiritual Lifehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/increasing-our-taste-in-spiritual-life2022-01-27T09:58:11.000Z2022-01-27T09:58:11.000ZVraja Vilasinihttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/VrajaVilasini<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10049953700,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10049953700,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="710" alt="10049953700?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _78FBa _3_La3 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr"> </p><p id="viewer-8evp8" class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _78FBa _3_La3 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr">When first joining the Bhakti Centre I had so many devotees offering to help with my spiritual journey, that I did not know which direction to take. I was quite bewildered until I met Rasarani, a most advanced devotee who would come to be my Siska Guru. She told me I could follow a progressive path in Bhakti, and she would be my guide.</span> </p><p id="viewer-3550h" class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _78FBa _3_La3 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr"> My first and possibly most difficult challenge was to try to control the mind and senses, or Sraddha. Rasarani explained that she used small tokens to help her to remember Krishna’s names, forms, qualities and pastimes. Using her japa beads was a good example, as we repeat the mantra on each bead. To speak only of Krishna and to use the five austerities of speech was life her motto. I was directed to only accept that which was favorable and reject that which hindered my path of Bhakti. </span></p><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _78FBa _3_La3 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr">I was encouraged at each step, as I made progress. Along with controlling my mind and senses, I now included practicing patience and hearing and chanting the holy names with enthusiasm. The more I practiced, the more confident I became. The more I chanted, the more I wanted to associate with these loving devotees, serving the Lord together and becoming more like those who modeled themselves on previous Acaryas or teachers.</span></p><p id="viewer-3os30" class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _78FBa _3_La3 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr"> But there were some things I noticed that other devotees did not favor, such as having too much money, too many attachments and spending their time with non-devotees. I soon realized that these only hindered their time spent with Krishna. I could see that their reasoning was true. All it did was distract from spending time chanting the holy names of Lord Krishna.</span></p><div>An important part of sradha-sangah is the association with devotees, which Rasarani encouraged me to develop. This is something that cannot be compared to the material relationships that I have experienced before or since. Jana-sangha I was told, is association with those who do not have an interest in Krishna consciousness and I honestly felt that the deeper my love and devotion became for Krishna, the less I wanted this type of connection.</div><div> </div><div><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr">I started to reject offers to material pastimes and instead participated in activities that revolved around our local preaching centre. It was during this time that I learned that devotees exchange their love in six ways. They offer and accept gifts in charity, putting lots of love and thought put into these gifts and appreciating the thought involved. They reveal their mind and inquire in confidence; trusting that we can listen and be heard without judgement. We honor each other by giving and sharing space. But possibly the most recognized gift that is shared is prasadam, or spiritualized foods. This becomes a social time as we can share stories, sing kirtans or listen to lectures as we prepare the food and spend time together. </span></div><div> </div><p id="viewer-6c8iq" class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _78FBa _3_La3 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr"> Never in my life have I felt friendship and love like I have with devotees. Everyone was senior to me, but all were very welcoming and shared just enough, allowing me time to take this in, before I was taught the next lesson. My taste strengthening as I progressed. I understood that I was just a beginner, but what did that mean and how did I get to a level such as Rasarani? Upon my enquiry, I was taught about the levels of bhakti. When I was blessed to take harinama initiation from my Guru Maharaj and while trying to chant, I was a neophyte or kanistha-vaisnava. I was currently working towards madhyama-adhikari, being one who has taken spiritual initiation and is fully engaged in transcendental loving service.</span></p><p id="viewer-837dh" class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _78FBa _3_La3 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr">Where then, was Rasarani in these levels of Bhakti? Rasarani was very modest, nevertheless I learned that she is at the level of uttama-adhikari and is of our most senior devotees. She is advanced in devotional service, her heart is pure and she is a devotee that many in our temple, aspire to be like. The way that Rasarani chants the holy names, speaks about Krishna and described the sweet taste of loving service, while allowing all bad habits and association to melt away, is inspiring.</span></p><p id="viewer-avc84" class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _78FBa _3_La3 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr"> Following Rasarani’s example, trying my best to spend every moment in remembering, chanting the Lord’s names and feeling myself becoming attached to Krishna. I already had learned a lot, but now I wanted to explore on my own. Lastly Rasarani recommended I learn about the best of the best of people and places. I discovered that while many spiritual travellers search for Vrindavan and Govardhana, Radha Kunda is the most supreme place. </span> </p><p id="viewer-eptoo" class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _78FBa _3_La3 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr">Many seekers feel that the spiritual world is superior to anything we can find in the material world. However, places that Krishna spent his pastimes are even more supreme. </span></p><p id="viewer-3vmef" class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _78FBa _3_La3 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr">Radha Kunda is where Krishna’s love overflows from Govardhana, down into the kunda or lake at its base, where Radha bathed and is the best of the best of all places. This led me to search for the best of people, which is Radha. Better than karmis, bhakta’s and even the Gopis. Radha’s devotional service excels all others. Radha is the most beloved of Krishna and she is the most beloved of all Gopis. It should be our desire to serve Radha in her Radha Kunda throughout our life.To do so will bring us prema, pure love of Krishna and deliver us back to Godhead. </span></p><p> </p></div>First Ever Online Diksa Guru Conference: The Challenges of Being a Guru in ISKCONhttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/first-ever-online-diksa-guru-conference-the-challenges-of-being-a2021-07-06T11:08:25.000Z2021-07-06T11:08:25.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><strong><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9208123255,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="550" alt="9208123255?profile=RESIZE_584x" /></strong></p>
<p><strong>By Krishna Premarupa Das</strong></p>
<p>What is the most difficult service in the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)? Most probably, it’s to serve as a diksa guru, or initiating spiritual master. </p>
<p>On Saturday, 5th of June, the GSC hosted a three-hour online conference for ISKCON diksa gurus. This was the first of its kind as a virtual event. The event was titled the "Challenges of Being a Guru in ISKCON". </p>
<p>The Guru Services Committee (GSC), a standing committee of the Governing Body Commission, the global leadership of ISKCON, has the mandate to assist and support ISKCON gurus in their service to Srila Prabhupada and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. To achieve this end, face-to-face retreats for gurus have been organized by the GSC in the past to facilitate association and exchange amongst these illustrious Vaishnavas. However, it’s been several years since such an event was organized. The pandemic made in-person meetings even more difficult.</p>
<p>But many are taking advantage of the online opportunities now available, as seen by the encouraging response of the conference; where more than 40 ISKCON diksa gurus participated.</p>
<p><strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://iskconnews.org/first-ever-online-diksa-guru-conference-the-challenges-of-being-a-guru-in-iskcon,7896/">https://iskconnews.org/first-ever-online-diksa-guru-conference-the-challenges-of-being-a-guru-in-iskcon,7896/</a></p></div>Stick to the Order of the Guru and Become Perfect by Giriraj Swamihttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/stick-to-the-order-of-the-guru-and-become-perfect2020-12-06T11:02:19.000Z2020-12-06T11:02:19.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}8253800666,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="400" alt="8253800666?profile=RESIZE_400x" />If you can draw a little attention of Krishna, yat karunya-kataksa-vaibhavavatam [Caitanya-candramrta 5]. Kataksa-vaibhavavatam, Prabodhananda Sarasvati says. If somehow or other you can draw a little attention of Krishna, your life is successful. Immediately. And how can you draw? Bhaktya mam abhijanati [Gita 18.55]: simply by serving Krishna. Take to the service of Krishna, as it is ordered by the spiritual master—because the spiritual master is the representative of Krishna. We cannot approach Krishna directly. Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah. If you have a bona fide spiritual master, representative of Krishna, it is not very difficult.</p>
<p>Everyone can become representative of Krishna. How? If you simply carry the message of Krishna without any adulteration. That’s all. Just like Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said, amara ajnaya guru hana [Cc Madhya 7.128]: “You become a spiritual master under My order.” So if you carry out the order of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Krishna, then you become guru. Amara ajnaya guru hana.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, we do not wish to carry out order of the acharyas. We manufacture our own ways. We have got practical experience how a great institution [his guru-maharaja’s Gaudiya Matha] was lost by whimsical ways. Without carrying out the order of the spiritual master they manufactured something, and the whole thing was lost. Therefore Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura stresses very much on the words of the spiritual master. Vyavasayatmika buddhir ekeha kuru-nandana [Gita 2.41]. If you stick to the order of spiritual master, without caring for your own convenience or inconvenience, then you become perfect.</p>
<p>yasya deve para bhaktir<br /> yatha deve tatha gurau<br /> tasyaite kathita hy arthah<br /> prakasante mahatmanah<br /> [Svetasvatara Upanishad 6.23]</p>
<p>[“Unto those great souls who have implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master, all the imports of Vedic knowledge are automatically revealed.”]</p>
<p>This is the confirmation of all authorities. We have to carry out very faithfully the order of the bona fide representative of Krishna. Then our life is successful. Then we can understand Krishna in truth. Vadanti tat tattva-vidas tattvam [SB 1.2.11]. We have to hear from the tattva-vit, not from the so-called scholars and politicians. No. One who knows the truth, you have to hear from him. And if you stick to that principle, then you understand everything very clearly.</p>
<p>Thank you very much.</p>
<p>—Srila Prabhupada, talk on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.11, October 22, 1972, Vrindavan<br /> <br /> <strong>Source: </strong><a href="https://girirajswami.com/blog/?p=16704">https://girirajswami.com/blog/?p=16704</a></p></div>The Guru Is Not Ordinary, and His Disciples Are Not Ordinaryhttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/the-guru-is-not-ordinary-and-his-disciples-are-not-ordinary2020-07-27T09:58:01.000Z2020-07-27T09:58:01.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}7143027080,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="400" alt="7143027080?profile=RESIZE_400x" />Speaking on Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.41, on June 7, 1976, in Los Angeles, Srila Prabhupada explained the following verse from the Padma Purana:</p>
<p>arcye visnau sila-dhir gurusu nara-matir vaisnave jati-buddhir<br /> visnor va vaisnavanam kali-mala-mathane pada-tirthe ’mbu-buddhih<br /> sri-visnor namni mantre sakala-kalusa-he sabda-samanya-buddhir<br /> visnau sarvesvarese tad-itara-sama-dhir yasya va naraki sah</p>
<p>“One who thinks the Deity in the temple to be made of wood or stone, who thinks of the spiritual master in the disciplic succession as an ordinary man, who thinks the Vaisnava in the Acyuta-gotra to belong to a certain caste or creed, or who thinks of caranamrta or Ganges water as ordinary water is taken to be a resident of hell.”</p>
<p>These were his comments:</p>
<p> Arcye visnau sila-dhir gurusu nara-matir vaisnave jati-buddhih naraki. Forbidden—never think of the vigrahah, the form of the Lord, as stone or wood; gurusu nara-matir, or the spiritual master as ordinary human being; vaisnave jati-buddhih, or the Vaishnava, who has become a devotee, as belonging to some caste or nation. No. He doesn’t belong to anything. Never think that he’s American Vaishnava, he’s Indian Vaishnava, he’s brahman Vaishnava, he’s kshatriya. No. This is jati-buddhih, classification. A Vaishnava does not belong to any jati. He belongs to Krishna, krsna dasa. Jivera svarupa haya nitya krsna dasa. [“The living entity’s constitutional position is to be an eternal servant of Krishna.”] (Cc Madhya 20.108)</p>
<p>Therefore practically you can see the members of Krishna consciousness: some of them are Indians, some of them are Europeans, some of them are Englishmen, some of them are black, some of them are white, some of them are brahmans, some of them are Hindus—but they do not think anymore that “I belong to this category.” No. Otherwise they could not work together. Every one of them is completely aware that “We are all Krishna’s servants.”</p>
<p>Similarly, the guru is not an ordinary human being. Gurusu nara-matir. Guru is not ordinary human being. Ordinary human being cannot preach Krishna consciousness. That is not possible. Krsna-sakti vina nahe krsna nama pracara. [“The fundamental religious system in the Age of Kali is the chanting of the holy name of Krsna. Unless empowered by Krsna, one cannot propagate the sankirtana movement.”] (Cc Antya 7.11) So anyone who is preaching, he cannot be considered an ordinary human being. Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura has explained, Why not ordinary being? Even though his son is calling him “father,” or his relatives are taking him as ordinary, Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura says that still he is not an ordinary human being. Why? Because he is preaching Krishna consciousness. So, vaisnave jati-buddhih, gurusu nara-matir.<br /> <br /> <strong>Source:</strong> <a href="http://www.girirajswami.com/?p=16150">http://www.girirajswami.com/?p=16150</a></p></div>Senior GBC / Gurus Support Vaishnavi Diksa-Gurus in New Videohttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/senior-gbc-gurus-support-vaishnavi-diksa-gurus-in-new-video2020-06-14T05:59:29.000Z2020-06-14T05:59:29.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><div id="article_image" style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://iskconnews.org/media/img_versions/2020/06-Jun/vdg1_slideshow.png" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://iskconnews.org/media/img_versions/2020/06-Jun/vdg1_slideshow.png?profile=RESIZE_584x" width="550" alt="vdg1_slideshow.png?profile=RESIZE_584x" /></a></div>
<div id="article_body">
<p>In a video released today featuring Gopal Krishna Goswami, Bhakti Charu Swami, and Jayapataka Swami, these three initiating gurus and senior members of ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission (GBC) explain why they support the GBC resolution empowering women to serve as initiating spiritual masters in ISKCON. </p>
<p>Watch the video here:</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"> <iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-yXOU3clZ0s" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p>
<p>The resolution included under “701.6: ISKCON spiritual masters,” and entitled “Vaisnavi Diksa-gurus — 2019” was passed by the GBC at the Midterm General Meeting in October 2019. It was confirmed at the Annual General Meeting at ISKCON’s world headquarters in Mayapur, West Bengal, India in February 2020. </p>
<p>The resolution states that: “Whereas in 2009 the GBC Resolved:</p>
<p>1. The GBC accepts the philosophical conclusion presented in the SAC’s [Sastric Advisory Committee’s] Female Diksa Guru Paper that a mature, qualified, female devotee may accept the role of an initiating spiritual master. </p>
<p>2. The GBC Body authorizes local area committees to put forward for approval as initiating guru any devotee in their area, male or female, who is qualified according to existing GBC Law. </p>
<p>Whereas, since then, the GBC has worked to achieve consensus and implementation of this resolution; </p>
<p>Whereas after much study, dialogue, and research, the GBC has come to the following conclusion.</p>
<p>1. Vaisnavis are eligible to give diksa in ISKCON provided that they: a) Meet all the qualifications listed for ISKCON diksa-guru applicants; b) Are at least 55 years of age and in a stable family situation, living under the protection of a husband, elder son or son-in-law, qualified householder couple or senior Vaisnava or Vaisnavi sanga; c) Receive written permission from the appropriate regional body or its equivalent, or national council, to give diksa in that particular part of the world.</p>
<p>2. After five years the GBC shall review this resolution to determine if the number of Vaisnavis initiating in any region or as a total for the world is in keeping with Srila Prabhupada’s indication of ‘…not so many’.”</p>
<p>Dissenting voices among the GBC called for the resolution to be voted down, tabled, or amended at the 2020 AGM. The GBC decided not to amend the decision, but agreed to continue dialogue with other leaders – especially within India, where some had voiced opposition to the Vaishnavi diksa-guru decision – before any amendments are adopted.<br /> <br /> <strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://iskconnews.org/senior-gbc-gurus-support-vaishnavi-diksa-gurus-in-new-video,7394/">https://iskconnews.org/senior-gbc-gurus-support-vaishnavi-diksa-gurus-in-new-video,7394/</a></p>
</div></div>The nature of this transcendental culture by Kadamba Kanana Swamihttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/the-nature-of-this-transcendental-culture2020-06-08T10:51:52.000Z2020-06-08T10:51:52.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}5720834075,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="5720834075?profile=RESIZE_584x" width="450" />The higher planetary systems have heavenly planets where one can enjoy, but above these celestial planets are planets of sages – the Maharloka and the Tapaloka, and ultimately the Brahmaloka. So, the Maharloka is the residence of the manus according to the Brhad-Bhagavatamrta. So the manus are basically prajapatis – they are forefathers of mankind. In the beginning, the universe is empty and only Brahma is there within the universe. Then from the mind of Brahma, various sages manifest and finally some of these personalities are to become prajapatis or those who generate praja. Praja means living beings, and so gradually the universe becomes populated. Not all prajapatis are manus but some of them are. So these manus are establishing the religious principles for the universe and up to 1959 in India, the Manu Samhita was the law book for society. It is interesting how it survived that long, even twelve years after the partition. Still, the Manu Samhita was followed and it had been followed for thousands of years. So during British rule in India, there was the British law applying for the British and then Manu Samhita applying for the Indian population. It was very interesting how they kept that intact and separate. And only in 1959 did India adopt British law, 12 years after the British left. The Manu Samhita has given so many instructions for civilised human beings.</p>
<p>However, the Manu Samhita, although it gives injunctions for how human society should behave, it is not completely transcendental and therefore Vaishnavas do not fully accept the Manu Samhita. For example, there is regulated meat-eating in the Manu Samhita that we will never accept. The Manu Samhita is simply mundane instruction on how to regulate society, but pure transcendental instructions are of another nature that is found in Srimad Bhagavatam. Therefore, Srimad Bhagavatam is the literature that one can accept one hundred percent. So, there are many Vedic literatures and there is a hierarchy within Vedic literatures and even if there are verses quoted from particular Vedic literatures, that does not make the entire book necessarily authorized.</p>
<p>There are many books from Manu Samhita, and also many books that our acaryas will quote from, because it is an authorised Vedic source, but that does not mean that we accept the whole Manu Samhita. So in this way we rely on acaryas – dharmasya tattvaṁ nihitaṁ guhāyāṁ (Caitanya Caritamrta, Madhya-lila, 17.186). The true purport of scriptures remains hidden in the hearts of great saintly personalities and it is only through their revelation that one can approach scripture. Therefore the guru principle is essential.</p>
<p> evaṁ paramparā-prāptam<br /> imaṁ rājarṣayo viduḥ<br /> sa kāleneha mahatā<br /> yogo naṣṭaḥ paran-tapa.</p>
<p>This transcendental knowledge is coming through a line of spiritual masters who take this transcendental knowledge, based on scriptures, realise this transcendental knowledge and then teach it. And they are carrying forward the proper conclusions from scriptures (Bhagavad-gita 4.2). If one tries to ascertain what is true, simply by studying books alone, one will get lost in the wilderness. We require the acaryas to establish what actually is to be accepted and what is not to be accepted. That is the nature of transcendental culture.</p>
<p><strong>Source: </strong><a href="https://www.kksblog.com/2020/06/the-nature-of-this-transcendental-culture/">https://www.kksblog.com/2020/06/the-nature-of-this-transcendental-culture/</a></p></div>ISKCON International Vaishnavi Ministry’s Statement on Vaishnavi Dikhsa Gurushttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/iskcon-international-vaishnavi-ministry-s-statement-on-vaishnavi-2019-12-23T10:17:43.000Z2019-12-23T10:17:43.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><div id="article_byline" style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://iskconnews.org/media/img_versions/2019/12-Dec/ppw_slideshow_slideshow.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://iskconnews.org/media/img_versions/2019/12-Dec/ppw_slideshow_slideshow.jpg" width="510" height="287" alt="ppw_slideshow_slideshow.jpg" /></a></div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong>By Radha Dasi<br /><br /></strong></div>
<div id="article_body">
<p> ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission (GBC) recently ended a lengthy, detailed consideration of the Vaishnavi diksa guru question that has been under consideration since 2003. The Vaishnavi Ministry welcomes the new resolution, which upholds important spiritual principles and Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition while accommodating concerns about local communities having different cultural standards. The resolution permits Vaishnavis to initiate disciples while allowing regional leaders to refrain from recommending devotees to such gurus.</p>
<p>The question of whether Vaishnavis should be allowed to initiate disciples has long divided our community. Despite years of debate, neither supporters nor opponents of Vaishnavi diksa gurus have shown much inclination to change their views. Some have feared that this issue might permanently divide ISKCON as each side believes the question goes to the spiritual foundations of our faith. However, the principle of unity in diversity allows us to reach compromise even on deeply help spiritual beliefs.</p>
<p>In adopting a policy that allows for Vaishnavis to initiate, the GBC relied on Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, which includes multiple examples of Vaishnavi diksa gurus, including Jahnava Thakurani and Gangamata Goswamini.[1] The GBC also gave weight to Srila Prabhupada’s own statements, including a 1969 letter in which he said: </p>
<blockquote>
<p>"I want that all of my spiritual sons and daughters will inherit this title of Bhaktivedanta, so that the family transcendental diploma will continue through the generations. Those possessing the title of Bhaktivedanta will be allowed to initiate disciples. Maybe by 1975, all of my disciples will be allowed to initiate and increase the numbers of the generations.” (Letter to Hamsaduta on January 3, 1969). </p>
</blockquote>
<p>In spite of accepting that both tradition and our founder’s instruction allow Vaishnavis to initiate, the GBC took into account the objections of opponents of the practice. The resolution allows regional ISKCON bodies to “opt out” of permitting Vaishnavis to initiate candidates in their areas.</p>
<p>Opponents of Vaishnavi diksa gurus have condemned this resolution, advocating for its repeal. Opposition to the resolution highlights a deep cultural divide between devotees from different parts of the world. ISKCON leaders in India, for example, have long imposed gender differences based on their understanding of appropriate gender roles. While Srila Prabhupada appointed female disciples as pujaris, going so far as to have them perform pujas in India and elsewhere and train male devotees in deity worship, ISKCON’s Indian leaders have largely prohibited Vaishnavis from acting as pujaris in India.</p>
<p>In addressing the Vaishnavi guru issue, the GBC has applied the principle of unity in diversity. Their resolution recognizes the need for different standards according to time, place and circumstance. The GBC resolution on Vaishnavi gurus accommodates cultural differences just as Srila Prabhupada did. Srila Prabhupada wrote: </p>
<blockquote>
<p>“To broadcast the cult of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one has to learn the possibility of renunciation in terms of country, time and candidate. A candidate for Kṛṣṇa consciousness in the Western countries should be taught about the renunciation of material existence, but one would teach candidates from a country like India in a different way. The teacher (ācārya) has to consider time, candidate and country. He must avoid the principle of niyamāgraha —that is, he should not try to perform the impossible. What is possible in one country may not be possible in another. The ācārya’s duty is to accept the essence of devotional service. There may be a little change here and there as far as yukta-vairāgya (proper renunciation) is concerned. Dry renunciation is forbidden by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and we have also learned this from our spiritual master, His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Gosvāmī Mahārāja. The essence of devotional service must be taken into consideration, and not the outward paraphernalia.…A Vaiṣṇava is immediately purified, provided he follows the rules and regulations of his bona fide spiritual master. It is not necessary that the rules and regulations followed in India be exactly the same as those in Europe, America and other Western countries. Simply imitating without effect is called niyamāgraha.” (Chaitanya Caritamrita Madhya Lila 23.105 purport).</p>
</blockquote>
<p>ISKCON is an international organization facing cultural variations in different regions of the world. If we are going to be an effective, unified society we have to be sensitive to cultural variations. It would be tragic if ISKCON is reduced to an ethnic Indian religion in western countries. And, while there is no philosophical bar to having Vaishnavis give initiation, some communities may not be ready to accommodate this practice.</p>
<p>Ultimately, however, the GBC has accepted both Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition and Srila Prabhupada’s explicitly expressed desires in endorsing Vaishnavi diksa gurus. Those who insist that their cultural values be imposed upon the entire ISKCON society should reconsider in light of Gaudiya Vaishnava history and Srila Prabhupada’s desire. Therefore, the VM strongly supports the GBC decision and calls upon the GBC to reject any calls for the resolution on Vaishnavi diksa gurus to be rescinded or minimized.</p>
<div>
<div>
<p>[1] Gangamata Goswamini gave diksa to the King of Puri. The two daughters of Srivas Acharya also gave diksa. Moreover, other Vaishnava groups, such as Sri Haridas Niwas, include many Vaishnavis in their parampara line of diksa gurus. The actions of other groups are not dispositive, but do reveal that Vaishnavis have given diksa in our tradition.</p>
<p><strong>Source:</strong> <a href="https://iskconnews.org/iskcon-international-vaishnavi-ministrys-statement-on-vaishnavi-dikhsa-gurus,7202/">https://iskconnews.org/iskcon-international-vaishnavi-ministrys-statement-on-vaishnavi-dikhsa-gurus,7202/</a> </p>
</div>
</div>
</div></div>Spiritual Connection: Understanding the Dynamics of Guru-disciple Relationshiphttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/spiritual-connection-understanding-the-dynamics-of-guru-disciple-2019-11-11T11:49:57.000Z2019-11-11T11:49:57.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><div id="article_byline" style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://iskconnews.org/media/img_versions/2019/11-Nov/bdd1_slideshow.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://iskconnews.org/media/img_versions/2019/11-Nov/bdd1_slideshow.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="600" alt="bdd1_slideshow.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align:justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align:justify;"><strong>By Madhusudana Visnu Das</strong></div>
<div style="text-align:justify;"> </div>
<div id="article_body">
<p style="text-align:justify;">A New Book by Bhakti Dhira Damodara Swami 'Spiritual Connection: Understanding the Dynamics of Guru-disciple Relationship' discusses the following important topics: </p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Who is a Guru?</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Why do I need a Living Guru?</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Why am I not satisfied in my relationship with my Guru?</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">How to internalize the sacred Guru-disciple relationship?</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">How to be a Progressive Disciple? </p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“Spiritual Connection” answers the above and many more questions with much depth and clarity. Presented in a very simple and lucid manner, this book is a collection of various case-studies taken from Vedic literatures such as Srimad-bhagavatam, Caitanya-caritamrita, Mahabharata and Ramayana. Herein, the subject of Guru-disciple relationship is explored, explained and churned into valuable lessons to help all the levels of spiritual seekers— from novice and seasoned—to have their spiritual connection established, enhanced or rejuvenated. </p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://iskconnews.org/media/images/2019/11-Nov/bdd2.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://iskconnews.org/media/images/2019/11-Nov/bdd2.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="400" alt="bdd2.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Some of the reviews for the book are: </p>
<blockquote>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“I recommend that every serious practitioner of bhakti must acquire and absorb the teachings of this book.” — Gopal Krishna Goswami</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“Bhakti Dhira Damodara Swami has covered a very important topic from many angles. Many will find inspiration and vision on how to deal with the Guru-disciple relationship.” — Kadamba Kanana Swami </p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“It is a book one would love to read and re-read again and again, because the essence of the practice of bhakti is beautifully described in the pages of this book.” — Srivas Das </p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“This book is rich with insights for anyone trying to walk the path of devotion. I recommend diving in it without delay.” — Bhakti Narasimha Swami </p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“It is a brilliant book. It has helped me understand my weaknesses and gave me considerable hope in reviving my relationship with my Gurus.” — Sanatana Caitanya Das</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“The author, a disciple of the legendary Bhakti Tirtha Swami Maharaja, has done a true miracle with this book and its topic of Guru-disciple relationship.” — Pulastya Muni Das </p>
</blockquote>
<p style="text-align:justify;">The book's author Bhakti Dhira Damodara Swami is an initiating guru and travelling sannyasi. He has been serving in ISKCON since 1982. He is a member of ISKCON SABHA, a teacher of various Shastric courses at VIHE (Vrindavan Institute for Higher Education) and MI (Mayapur Institute) and also he travels widely across the globe preaching the pure teachings of Krsna Consciousness in countries in Africa, in Brazil, India and Mauritius.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">To get a copy of the book (in India as well as Internationally), please write to: <a>sanga@bddswami.org</a>,</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">or contact through WhatsApp at +91 99873 18251.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>Source: </strong><a href="https://iskconnews.org/spiritual-connection-understanding-the-dynamics-of-guru-disciple-relationship,7151/">https://iskconnews.org/spiritual-connection-understanding-the-dynamics-of-guru-disciple-relationship,7151/</a></p>
</div></div>The sankirtana tree of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhuhttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/the-sankirtana-tree-of-caitanya-mahaprabhu2019-11-07T15:12:30.000Z2019-11-07T15:12:30.000ZCaitanya Chandra dasahttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/CaitanyaChandraDasa<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3701692592?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Lord Caitanya thought, <em>“My name is Visvambhara, ‘one who maintains the entire universe.’ Its meaning will be actualized if I can fill the whole universe with love of Godhead.” Thinking in this way, He accepted the duty of a planter and began to grow a garden in Navadvipa. Thus the Lord brought the desire tree of devotional service to this earth and became its gardener. He sowed the seed and sprinkled upon it the water of His will. (Cc. Adi 9.7-9)</em></p><p>Lord Caitanya thus addressed the multifarious varieties of branches and subbranches of the tree of devotional service: <em>"Since the tree of devotional service is transcendental, every one of its parts can perform the action of all the others. Although a tree is supposed to be immovable, this tree nevertheless moves. All the parts of this tree are spiritually cognizant, and thus as they grow they spread all over the world". (Cc. Adi 9.31-33)</em></p><p>In the Sri Caitanya Caritamrta (Adi-lila, chapter 9), it is described how the sankirtana movement descended from the spiritual realm. When manifested in this world, the sankirtana movement grows <a href="https://www.gettingthemercy.com/post/the-sankirtana-tree" target="_blank">like a tree</a> which emanates from Lord Caitanya personally. This tree has many branches connected to the main associates of the Lord, and from them grow various sub-branches that correspond to the main acaryas of our sampradaya. One of the biggest of such branches relates to Srila Prabhupada who created ISKCON and connected all of us in the form of numerous twigs and leaves.</p><p>There are four famous verses in the Caitanya Mangala (Sutra-khanda, song 12, verses 562-565) where Lord Caitanya says:</p><p style="text-align:center;">nama-guna-sankirtana vaisnavera shakti <br /> prakasa karibe ami nija prema-bhakti</p><p style="text-align:center;">ei mate kali-papa karibe sanhara<br /> sabe cala age pache na kara vichara</p><p>Chanting of the name and qualities of Krsna gives the energy to the Vaishnavas. I will reveal these activities, a pure devotional service unto Myself. In this way I will destroy all the sins in Kali Yuga. So all of you, My associates, go ahead and take birth on the earthly planet before My advent and don't remain behind.</p><p style="text-align:center;">ebe nama sankirtana tikshna khadga laiya <br /> antara asura jivera phelibe katiya</p><p style="text-align:center;">yadi papi chadi dharma dure dese yaya <br /> mora senapati-bhakta yaibe tathaya</p><p>Taking the sharp sword of nama-sankirtana, I will root out and destroy the demoniac mentality in the hearts of all the conditioned souls. And if some sinful people escape and giving up dharma go to far off countries, my Senapati Bhakta will go there to deliver them.</p><p>The expression “Senapati Bhakta” refers to a highly exalted devotee and preacher. Senapati is a military expression which means “commander-in-chief”. From recent history, we can understand that the chief commander is Srila Prabhupada. Not only did he start the western front of Sri Caitanya's movement, but he also brought it back to India, reestablishing the eternal principles of devotional service amongst the Indians themselves.</p><p>In the Caitanya-Caritamrta (Madhya 7.128) the Lord gives us another very famous verse:</p><p style="text-align:center;">yare dekha, tare kaha ‘krsna’-upadesa<br /> amara ajnaya guru hana tara’ ei desa</p><p>Yare dekha, tare kaha means: "Wherever you go and whoever you meet", krsna’-upadesa: “Instruct everyone to follow the orders of Lord Sri Krsna as they are given in the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam”. And then: amara ajnaya guru hana tara’ ei desa: “By my order become a spiritual master and try to liberate everyone in this land.”</p><p>There are different types of spiritual masters. The initiating spiritual master should be a liberated soul, a very elevated devotee that has not only firm faith and knowledge, but also realization, and is therefore capable of elevating his disciples up to the ultimate goal. As Srila Prabhupada teaches us in the Nectar of Instruction (purport to verse 5):</p><p><em>“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”.</em></p><p>The second type is the instructing spiritual master, who should also be a liberated soul, capable of further instructing one how to develop his relationship with Krsna. Both the initiating and instructing spiritual masters should be very elevated Vaishnavas. As Srila Prabhupada points out in the previous quote, a neophyte devotee may eventually assume these roles when other, more advanced Vaishnavas are not available, but this is not an ideal situation.</p><p>Finally, there is the connecting guru, who introduces one to Krsna consciousness. By giving a book or prasadam, inspiring him to start chanting and coming to the temple, or whatever it may be: the one who introduces a new person to Krsna consciousness. He is called vartma pradarsaka guru: the guru that makes the initial connection. Even if someone is not a very advanced devotee, still he knows something, and by repeating whatever he knows, he can connect others to Krsna.</p><p>HG Yasodanandana Prabhu: <em>Prabhupada's room at the Radha-Damodar temple, you can see behind, there were these little holes that let the wind come through and you can actually see behind in the courtyard. So Shyamasundara's daughter, Saraswati, was there, and she was pulling on the shirt of a little Bengali gentleman and she was telling the gentleman, "Who is Krsna? Do you know who is Krsna?" And the gentleman had this amused look on his face. Saraswati may have been 4 or 5 years old at the time, she was very young. Prabhupada was looking and we were looking, and the man was amused that this little girl would ask him that. Then she told him, "Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and you should surrender to Him." And Prabhupada said, "Just see, she is a guru. She is preaching about Krsna." (Following Srila Prabhupada - A Chronological Series)</em></p><p>This system is so perfect that if one of the gurus (be the connecting guru, instructing guru, diksa guru, or even the father or mother), can somehow direct his dependents to the right path, putting them on the way back to Godhead, he can also go by sharing the merits of the disciple or son/daughter, even if he himself is imperfect. The prime example is Dhruva Maharaja. His mother, Suniti, acted as his vartma pradarsaka guru by instructing him to go to the forest and worship Krsna. In due course of time, Dhruva Maharaja became a perfect devotee and went back home back to Godhead, taking his mother with him. As Srila Prabhupada humbly points out in his purport to Srimad Bhagavatam 4.12.33, if we can help a single soul to become perfect in Krsna consciousness, then, despite our imperfections, we can also go back to Godhead:</p><p><em>“This incident proves that the siksa- or diksa-guru who has a disciple who strongly executes devotional service like Dhruva Maharaja can be carried by the disciple even though the instructor is not as advanced. Although Suniti was an instructor to Dhruva Maharaja, she could not go to the forest because she was a woman, nor could she execute austerities and penances as Dhruva Maharaja did. Still, Dhruva Maharaja was able to take his mother with him. Similarly, Prahlada Maharaja also delivered his atheistic father, Hiranyakasipu. The conclusion is that a disciple or an offspring who is a very strong devotee can carry with him to Vaikunthaloka either his father, mother or siksa- or diksa-guru. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura used to say, “If I could perfectly deliver even one soul back home, back to Godhead, I would think my mission — propagating Krsna consciousness — to be successful.” The Krsna consciousness movement is spreading now all over the world, and sometimes I think that even though I am crippled in many ways, if one of my disciples becomes as strong as Dhruva Maharaja, then he will be able to carry me with him to Vaikunthaloka”.</em></p><p>Despite being a liberated soul, Srila Prabhupada wrote in such a way just to give us the example as to what our mentality should be. Instead of pursuing our own liberation, we should try to help others to become Krsna conscious.</p><p>Whatever our situation is, we can serve the mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu by spreading Krsna consciousness to others; and the main tools to spread the sankirtana mission are the books. There is a reason for that: in the past, people used to be more simple and open-minded. If you would come to their village chanting, they would immediately get curious and ask about it. After hearing the explanation that these are the names of God and so on, they would immediately join. Because they were simple-hearted, they would start to chant, and immediately the chanting would have effect: they would become devotees. After that, you could give them some simple instructions and they would follow. This still happens in some villages in India, but in most places nowadays, people are crooked and complicated. You go on chanting but they can't simply accept and also chant. They come with many misconceptions and prejudices: Is this paganism? Is this Hinduism? They want to understand, analyze, therefore it's difficult to convince these types of “sophisticated” people with the chanting alone. You would need to spend a long time with each person to get some result.</p><p>Therefore, we have spiritual books, which are an efficient way to affect modern people. If we can just convince them to read our books, they’ll find all the answers there. If a person is a little pious, by the time he finishes the book, he’ll be willing to chant and join. If not, we can give them another book, some prasadam, another book, more prasadam, etc. until they get convinced. This way, on each encounter a person receives something, becoming more purified, up to the point he is ready to become a devotee.</p><p><em>“Persons who had formerly criticized Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, calling Him a drunkard, also ate the fruit and began to dance, saying, “Very good! Very good!”</em></p><p><em>Purport: When Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu started the sankirtana movement, even He was unnecessarily criticized by Mayavadis, atheists and fools. Naturally we are also criticized by such men. They will always remain and will always criticize anything that is actually good for human society. But the preachers of the sankirtana movement should not be deterred by such criticism. Our method should be to convert such fools gradually by asking them to come and take prasadam and chant and dance with us. This should be our policy. Anyone who comes to join us, of course, must be sincere and serious regarding spiritual advancement in life; then such a person, simply by joining us, chanting with us, dancing with us and taking prasadam with us, will gradually also come to say that this movement is very good. But one who joins with an ulterior purpose, to get material benefit or personal gratification, will never be able to grasp the philosophy of this movement. (Cc. Adi 9.53)</em></p><p>Even if someone doesn't become a devotee in this life, our books will have some effect on his life -- they will make him rethink and change a few things. Nowadays, so many people are becoming vegetarians, starting to believe in karma and reincarnation, protesting against animal slaughter, desiring a less materialistic lifestyle, etc. We can be sure that the mass distribution of Srila Prabhupada's books in the last five decades is the main factor behind these changes in society. And the more we distribute, the more the world will change.</p><p><em>“The sankirtana movement has been introduced by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu just to dispel the illusion of maya, by which everyone in this material world thinks himself to be a product of matter and therefore to have many duties pertaining to the body. Actually, the living entity is not his material body: he is a spirit soul. He has a spiritual need to be eternally blissful and full of knowledge, but unfortunately he identifies himself with the body, sometimes as a human being, sometimes as an animal, sometimes a tree, sometimes an aquatic, sometimes a demigod, and so on. Thus with each change of body he develops a different type of consciousness with different types of activities and thus becomes increasingly entangled in material existence, transmigrating perpetually from one body to another. Under the spell of maya, or illusion, he does not consider the past or future but is simply satisfied with the short life span that he has gotten for the present. To eradicate this illusion, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has brought the sankirtana movement, and He requests everyone to accept and distribute it”. (Cc. Adi 9.36)</em></p><p>This is an excerpt of the book "Getting the Mercy", about book distribution. You can download the book or read more on: <br /> <a href="https://www.gettingthemercy.com" target="_blank">https://www.gettingthemercy.com</a></p></div>Srila Prabhupada’s Achievement and the Order of the Guruhttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/srila-prabhupada-s-achievement-and-the-order-of-the-guru2019-10-05T06:17:26.000Z2019-10-05T06:17:26.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}3646021881,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="300" alt="3646021881?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></strong></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>By Giriraj Swami</strong></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">I heard a beautiful talk by Srila Prabhupada in which he spoke of the order of the guru and his own achievement:</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“[Sanatana Gosvami] therefore said, krpa kari’ yadi more kariyacha uddhara: ‘I know that it is due to Your mercy that I have been able to give up my material position, as Your man. Now order me what is my duty.’ This is devotee, you see? Not that ‘Now I am free from family life, I have no responsibility. Now I shall take prasadam and sleep.’ No. You must be hundred times more active than in your family life. That is devotional service. Of course, it is not pride, but take the example of my life. I was retired in Vrindavan, and at seventy years old I thought that it was to be done: ‘Nobody did it. Let me try.’ So I came to your country. Today is the tenth anniversary. So at least from material calculation, if I would not have taken that risk . . . When I was coming, my friends and others said, ‘This man is going to die.’ ‘Never mind,’ I thought. ‘Death will come. Let me try.’ So this activity must be there. That is the begging of Sanatana Gosvami. He said, apana-krpate kaha ‘kartavya’ amara: ‘What shall I do?’ It doesn’t matter what is your age, young man or old man. You must execute the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, through parampara, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and your guru. That is the real life of devotional service, to take some responsibility for working and execute it to your best capacity.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“In this connection, Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura has explained in connection with the verse"</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><strong>vyavasayatmika buddhir<br /> ekeha kuru-nandana<br /> bahu-sakha hy anantas ca<br /> buddhayo ’vyavasayina<br />[Gita 2.41]</strong></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura said that ‘My only duty is to execute the order of my spiritual master. I do not mind whether I am going to hell or going back to home. No. My only life and soul is to execute the order of my spiritual master.’ He has explained like that. So devotional service is a great responsibility, to execute the order of the superior. Then our life is successful.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“Thank you very much.”</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">- Srila Prabhupada, talk on Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 20.101, July 6, 1976, Washington, DC</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>Source: </strong><a href="http://www.girirajswami.com/?p=14862">http://www.girirajswami.com/?p=14862</a></p></div>Guru or Krsna? by Kadamba Kanana Swamihttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/guru-or-krsna-by-kadamba-kanana-swami2019-09-26T07:20:02.000Z2019-09-26T07:20:02.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><blockquote>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}3628064842,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="500" alt="3628064842?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Question: Whose mercy is more important, Guru or Krsna?</p>
</blockquote>
<p style="text-align:justify;">There is no difference between the mercy of Guru and Krsna, no difference whatsoever. The Guru is the direct representative of Krsna in each of our lives. In the beginning, we naturally see that the Guru is more accessible because he is here in our world and he speaks to us directly. Sometimes he would chastise us, and sometimes he would encourage us. So the Guru has the power to correct us.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Krsna on the other hand is silent. Now, He may be speaking to us, but we cannot hear Him. So in the beginning, we need the mercy of the Guru so that we can eventually obtain the mercy of Krsna. Ultimately however, both their mercy is the same. The mercy of the Guru is the same mercy that flows from Krsna. If Guru has any mercy, where does he get it from? Dharmam tu sakshad bhagavad pranitam (Srimad Bhagavatam 6.3.19) – The origin of all religious principles is Krsna. So whatever spiritual mercy that the Guru has, he has got it from Krsna. That mercy from Krsna is all he can give us.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Therefore, in the beginning, the mercy of the Guru is more important because it is the Guru who holds our hand, takes us to Krsna and then leaves us with Krsna so that we can eternally serve Him.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>Source: </strong><a href="https://www.kksblog.com/2019/09/guru-or-krsna/">https://www.kksblog.com/2019/09/guru-or-krsna/</a></p></div>Guru in the Morning By Danavir Goswamihttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/guru-in-the-morning-by-danavir-goswami2019-01-25T01:00:00.000Z2019-01-25T01:00:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}2515194385,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}2515194385,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="400" alt="2515194385?profile=RESIZE_400x" /></a></p>
<p>Looking back to 1987, I remember trying my best to counsel several weeping ISKCON Vaisnavas when they learned that their guru had just defaulted his position. Their guru was previously a dynamic, conquering her who shone like fire through preaching, making disciples, and leading the sankirtan movement. Yet, those weeping Vaisnavas sitting in my office would have traded all the joy they shared with him during the victories just to have him remain their own spiritually-healthy guru. These devotees had surrendered their young and capable lives to Lord Krishna, but now they grieved because their guru was careless in following his own guru’s instructions.<br /> This paper suggests one major safeguard which will definitely help to avert future calamities.</p>
<h2>WHAT SHOULD A GURU DO IN THE MORNING?</h2>
<p> It is my contention that an ISKCON guru must fully participate in the temple morning program each day lest he disqualifies himself to be a guru. Of course there may be exceptions such as an emergency or a serious illness but if he can walk (or be carried), talk and honor prasadam, he should be shining like a beacon at the morning program. During his last visit to the West in September of 1977, Srila Prabhupada personally came to the morning program every day while he stayed at the Manor. If ever a guru had a valid excuse for not attending the morning program it was then, yet he underwent the inconvenience to set an example.</p>
<p> A synonym for the word guru is acarya which means one who teaches by example. Guru means preacher and preacher means acarya— äcära pracära. A devotee who executes sadhana bhakti carefully for many years may be allowed to accept disciples. A main qualification for one’s becoming a guru in the first place was his strict adherence to the practices defined by his spiritual master. After some time however if that devotee, now guiding disciples, relaxes his sadhana due to “being advanced,” or to “preaching,” or some other reason, is it not a fly in the ointment? Unable to maintain the standard after accepting disciples, he should either immediately rectify the situation or in our humble opinion, discontinue accepting more disciples until he is able to recover. Meticulous attendance at the morning program is required for devotees living in an ISKCON temple, and it is a prerequisite for receiving brahminical initiation, why then should it not apply for gurus?</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Äpani äcari prabhu jéveri çikñäya. That is Caitanya Mahäprabhu’s movement. He teaches others by behaving Himself. “Example is better than precept.” If you cannot rise early in the morning, then how can you ask others to rise early in the morning? What is the effect? There is no effect. We have got business early in the morning, to attend maìgala ärati. And if you sleep yourself and teach others, so who will take it? (Srila Prabhupada on a Morning Walk — April 23, 1974, Hyderabad)</p>
</blockquote>
<h2>GURU AS MADHYAMA ADHIKARI</h2>
<p> Why must an advanced teacher clock in, so to speak, for temple services and rudimentary classes?</p>
<p> Because our spiritual master has ordered us to attend the morning program. Because this is the standard spiritual practice since time immemorial. Because gurus, i.e. acaryas, teach by their personal example.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>yad yad äcarati çreñöhas<br /> tat tad evetaro janaù<br /> sa yat pramäëaà kurute<br /> lokas tad anuvartate</p>
<p>Whatever action a great man performs, common men follow. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues. (Bhagavad-gita 3.21)</p>
</blockquote>
<p> Because rising early to see the Lord, hear His glories and to dance and chant before Him are not mere rituals for neophytes—they are Goloka activities. Because due to so many guru falldowns, faith is low and needs to be improved. Seeing gurus at morning programs definitely enhances the faith of the devotees. Because we may not have yet attained the highest stage of a paramahamsa. Because even if one is a paramahamsa, he voluntarily acts on the level of madhyama adhikari for preaching purposes. Whatever action a guru performs…the disciples perform. Where gurus don’t attend, it should come as no surprise that disciples don’t either. One senior Godbrother recently confided in me that in his opinion the singlemost important way to improve ISKCON would be to make sure that all of the leaders were exemplary in their devotional practices especially in attending the morning program. A guru who does not attend morning temple programs is super-conspicuous by his absence. Conversely, when the guru is there, more of his sisyas will be there.</p>
<h2>WHEN THE CONCHSHELL BLOWS</h2>
<p> If gurus don’t attend mangala arati it sends out a signal as loud as the conchshell that there are other more important things to do at four thirty in the morning than attending mangala arati. Younger devotees will think that later when they mature, they too can do more important things at that time of the day. A guru must know that staying up late at night can be a mortal enemy of mangala arati.</p>
<p>Q: Is attending mangala arati optional for a guru?</p>
<p>A: It is indeed obligatory. </p>
<p>Q: But Srila Prabhupada didn’t attend.</p>
<p>A: That is correct. However he was fully awake every brahma muhurta at four thirty AM singing his melodious Bhaktivedanta purports for all to hear.</p>
<p>Q: But he did say “do as I am doing.”</p>
<p>A: His statement shouldn’t be taken out of context. He wanted to impress his sannyasis, in particular, with the importance of performing all types of services for Krishna. “Do as I am doing” means to do the needful and be expert in spreading Krishna consciousness like he was.<br /> There are many things Srila Prabhupada did which none of us are able to copy, such as sleeping only four hours a day and rising at 1 AM for translating Bhagavatam, etc. One modern devotee-poet wrote to Srila Prabhupada:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Sri Krishna lifted up Govardhana<br /> With His lotus left hand<br /> But you lifted up the whole wide world<br /> On your Guru Maharaja’s command</p>
</blockquote>
<p> As rasa dancing is exclusively for Krishna and drinking an ocean of poison is only for Lord Siva, let us concede His Divine Grace the unique privilege of not attending mangala arati by graciously not attempting to claim the right for ourselves. He clearly instructed his followers to attend and he did not authorize missing mangala arati.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>One time it was brought to his attention that a senior devotee was not attending mangala arati. “Do it to set the example for the other devotees,” Çréla Prabhupäda said. “You, yourself are very advanced. You do not need to attend mangala arati, but you should set the example for those that require it.” </p>
</blockquote>
<h2>LISTENING TO JUNIORS?</h2>
<p>Q: If a guru is not requested to give the morning temple Srimad Bhagavatam class, should he stay for the class or go elsewhere?</p>
<p>A: A guru should still sit in the temple room and hear the Bhägavata philosophy explained by the speaker just like the four Kumaras and the six Goswamis of Vrndavana listen to each other transmit their realizations. If the speaker is junior to the guru, it is no reason to abandon the class, since Narada Muni and Srila Vyäsadeva offered full attention to a junior speaker.</p>
<p>Q: Isn’t it a waste of a guru’s time to sit and listen to a neophyte devotee give a Bhagavatam class when the guru could be directly drinking the nectar from Srila Prabhupada’s books and purports?</p>
<p>A: The Srimad Bhagavatam class exclusively uses Srila Prabhupäda’s translations and purports, so even gurus can relish the verses and purports in association with other Vaisnavas. When a guru vacates Bhagavatam classes, it sets a precedent for others devotees to follow.</p>
<p>Q: What if the guru finds the class…well, just plain boring?</p>
<p>A: Uh oh. And may I ask what is more interesting…reading books by scholars or hearing lectures given by secular professors? As disheartening as it may be, if a guru cannot bring himself to sit and hear Srimad Bhagavatam classes given by other Vaisnavas in good standing, he has apparently lost some of his taste for Krishna katha.<br /> A few years ago, the devotees at a successful temple in Europe invited me to visit their center. After I gave the Srimad Bhagavatam class one morning, one devotee asked what I thought about seminars since he knew I was involved in Vaisnava education. I said that I thought seminars were great and so did Srila Prabhupada that is why he instituted two daily seminars in every ISKCON center. He asked what I meant. I said the morning Srimad Bhagavatam seminar and the evening Bhagavad-gita seminar. The person explained that he wasn’t referring to those seminars, he meant other types of seminars and workshops. I expressed that it seemed presumptuous to promote extra seminars while slighting the ones established by our spiritual master.</p>
<p>Q: Instead of attending Bhagavatam class, the guru could be writing books for the benefit of the whole world or organizing some type of preaching strategy. After all, the guru is a general in the sankirtan army so why must he be expected to obey all the routine regulations like a new recruit?</p>
<p>A: There is certainly a fine line between a) the privileges afforded to an experienced devotee-preacher, b) negligence of spiritual duty and c) hypocrisy. It is agreed that we do not want to foster an ISKCON where spiritual leaders’ creativity is stifled nor where spiritual leaders are suspect at every moment. On the other hand, we cannot overlook the weighty responsibilities of the guru.<br /> A guru must attend classes given by devotees on his level, (i.e. Godbrother colleagues), out of respect to the Vaisnava speaker as well as to the sacred Bhagavatam scripture itself. When a junior devotee speaks, the guru attends too, but it could be as a teacher observing the progress of a student. Like a teacher, he listens to how well the student has assimilated the subject matter and is able to convey it. A guru may offer comments and even discrete corrections if required and in this way, he adds value to the class. Such participation encourages the students and the audience while simultaneously fulfilling the guru’s own responsibility to attend the class as a parampara learner himself.</p>
<h2>ARJUNA DIDN’T CHANT 16 ROUNDS</h2>
<p> Srila Prabhupada once made a statement that Arjuna didn’t chant 16 rounds because of his fighting a war. There was a devotee acting as a guru in our movement who tried using this statement to exclude himself from chanting sixteen rounds. He reasoned that he, like Arjuna, was working very hard managing, preaching and fighting the forces of maya. Nevertheless, the devotee fell down. One difference is that Arjuna’s gurudeva, Sri Krishna, was constantly by his side sanctioning each of His disciple’s actions, whereas our gurudeva constantly wrote and spoke that his disciple(s) must always chant a minimum of sixteen rounds every day.</p>
<p> What may be allowed for Arjuna is not allowed for all. Remembering the story of a monkey who imitated a lumberman, we should perform our own duty without attempting to perform that of another. </p>
<h2>ROCK-BOTTOM</h2>
<p>Q: Does every guru in ISKCON have to chant sixteen rounds daily?</p>
<p>A: Yes, it is considered one of the qualifications of a guru.</p>
<p>Q: But, one might argue that Haridasa Thakura was allowed by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to reduce his number of rounds.</p>
<p>A: True, but that was only days before Haridasa departed from this world at a time when his body was barely functional. Haridasa’ daily number of rounds was 174 plus and as a matter of reference, he also declined Lord Caitanya’s offer to reduce.</p>
<p>Q: Why wouldn’t it be okay for a guru to chant less than sixteen rounds if circumstances warranted?</p>
<p>A: Because Srila Prabhupada, our beloved spiritual master and transparent via media, negotiated on our behalf with Lord Krishna and They came to a mutual concession: sixteen rounds. Sixteen rounds was, is and will be the minimum medicine to cure our disease. On the subject of chanting rounds, we strongly urge gurus to chant these within the vision of devotees to allay doubts and enthuse everybody.</p>
<h2>GREETINGS & PUJA</h2>
<p>Q: Is it necessary for a guru to be present each day to greet the deities? Isn’t this merely a formality or ritual required only by neophytes?</p>
<p>A: If this were not important why would Srila Prabhupada have done it himself every day? He was the only guru in ISKCON and because he set the proper example, the movement flourished. Now in order for our movement to flourish— all ISKCON gurus must combinedly greet the deities.<br /> There is an interesting incident connected to gurupuja. Once, a few of Srila Prabhupada’s leading disciples left the gurupuja ceremony where Srila Prabhupada was being worshiped in order to take care of some other service. It seemed innocent enough, however His Divine Grace took this as an indication of conspiracy against him.</p>
<h2>A GURU’S PRIORITIES</h2>
<p>We have discussed the need for gurus to attend all aspects of the morning temple program each day. Yet what if extenuating circumstances arise? For example, what if:</p>
<p>A guru regularly arrives at midnight or there abouts making it difficult for him to attend.<br /> A guru is so busy managing his duties that he hasn’t time to attend.<br /> A guru is too tired to attend.<br /> A guru has poor health and therefore has trouble attending.<br /> A guru worships his own deities privately and doesn’t attend.<br /> A guru studies or writes during that time and doesn’t attend.<br /> A guru prefers to sleep during that time.</p>
<p> A guru must prioritize his activities allocating the morning program NUMBER 1 TOP SPOT. Even if he cannot do anything else the rest of the day, he should attend the entire morning program if for no other reason than to honor the emphasis Srila Prabhupada placed on it. Gurus must show that the morning program is not a waste of time, rather there is simply nothing more important to be doing.</p>
<p> Recent history has shown that neglect of the morning program brings falldown for gurus.</p>
<p> Our society wants and needs spiritually healthy gurus.</p>
<h2>WHEN TO DEFER</h2>
<p> There are some ISKCON gurus today who do not place participating in the morning temple program as their number one priority. Such devotees may have capabilities as speakers, managers, etc. yet they should not take the position of initiating gurus because that requires one to act as an example for his sisyas. If the guru is unable to daily attend the morning program, it is probably a good time for him to defer from initiating more disciples until he recovers.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu therefore stated that the spiritual master who plays the part of Kåñëa’s representative has to consume all the sinful reactions of his disciple. Sometimes a spiritual master takes the risk of being overwhelmed by the sinful reactions of the disciples and undergoes a sort of tribulation due to their acceptance. Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu therefore advised that one not accept many disciples. (Srimad Bhagavatam 4.21.31 Purport)</p>
</blockquote>
<p> A guru who does not attend the morning program scrupulously, may already be exhibiting effects of being overwhelmed. He can defer from initiating for some time while he concentrates on his own sadhana and that of his already initiated disciples. We are not commenting here upon a devotee’s value, preaching ability, or spiritual advancement, instead we are suggesting that if one does not perform the functions of a guru either by choice or due to factors beyond his control, then he should not accept the post of taking formal disciples.</p>
<p>Thank you very much. Hare Krishna.</p>
<p>Endnotes:</p>
<ol>
<li>
<p>Sanatana Goswami said to Haridasa Thakura:</p>
</li>
</ol>
<p> äpane äcare keha, nä kare pracära<br /> pracära karena keha, nä karena äcära</p>
<p>“Some behave very well but do not preach the cult of Kåñëa consciousness, whereas others preach but do not behave properly.</p>
<p> ‘äcära’, ‘pracära’,——nämera karaha ‘dui’ kärya<br /> tumi——sarva-guru, tumi jagatera ärya</p>
<p>“You simultaneously perform both duties in relation to the holy name by your personal behavior and by your preaching. Therefore you are the spiritual master of the entire world, for you are the most advanced devotee in the world.”</p>
<p>PURPORT: Sanätana Gosvämé clearly defines herein the bona fide spiritual master of the world. The qualifications expressed in this connection are that one must act according to the scriptural injunctions and at the same time preach. One who does so is a bona fide spiritual master. Haridäsa Öhäkura was the ideal spiritual master because he regularly chanted on his beads a prescribed number of times. Indeed, he was chanting the holy name of the Lord 300,000 times a day. Similarly, the members of the Kåñëa consciousness movement chant a minimum of sixteen rounds a day, which can be done without difficulty, and at the same time they must preach the cult of Caitanya Mahäprabhu according to the gospel of Bhagavad-gétä As It Is. One who does so is quite fit to become a spiritual master for the entire world. (Caitanya-caritämåta Antya 4.102 Antya 4.103 with purport)</p>
<p>2. In this Kåñëa consciousness movement we require everyone to rise early in the morning, by four A.M., and attend maìgala-ärati, or morning worship, then read Çrémad-Bhägavatam, perform kértana, and so forth. (Nectar of Instruction; Text 3; Purport)</p>
<p>3. When one is further advanced by chanting the Hare Kåñëa mantra sixteen rounds daily, following the regulative principles and attending classes, he receives the sacred thread (brahminical recognition) after the second six months. (Caitanya-caritämåta Madhya 15.108 Purport)</p>
<p>4. So you are the president there at Schloss Rettershof, it is your duty to see that the standards of Krishna Consciousness are always maintained, especially chanting 16 rounds daily, observing the four regulative principles, no meat, fish, eggs, no intoxication, no gambling, and no illicit sex life. The students must all attend morning and evening arati and classes. If we follow this simple program along with regular sankirtana, distributing the books and preaching, then there will be no fall down. Just like if one keeps himself clean and properly nourished by eating regularly, he will not infect disease, but if there is neglect, then there is room for infection, he becomes weak and fall prey to disease. So Krishna consciousness is the medicine for the material disease, and chanting Hare Krishna mantra sincerely is the basic ingredient of that medicine. (Letter to: Cakravarti — New Delhi 2 December, 1975)</p>
<p>5. Interviewer: Did you work out the spiritual disciplines for the group yourself? I mean about the morning chanting and the recital of the two thousand Hare Kåñëas a day and… Did you work those out yourself?…<br /> Prabhupäda: No, this is the disciplic process.<br /> Interviewer: Yes, who originated those steps?<br /> Prabhupäda: It is since time immemorial. Just like in the Bhagavad-gétä you’ll find, satataà kértayanto mäà yatantaç ca dåòha-vratäù [Bg. 9.14].</p>
<blockquote>
<p>satataà kértayanto mäà<br /> yatantaç ca dåòha-vratäù<br /> namasyantaç ca mäà bhaktyä<br /> nitya-yuktä upäsate<br /> <br /> “Always chanting My glories, endeavoring with great determination, bowing down before Me, these great souls perpetually worship Me with devotion.” [Bg. 9.14]</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Prabhupäda: So this was spoken five thousand years ago and we are doing the same thing. Now your answer is there, it is not that I invented something.<br /> Interviewer: Yes, you didn’t invent it, I get the point, that it derives from the Vedic scriptures.<br /> Prabhupäda: Whatever we are doing, it is authorized. That is the principle for spiritual understanding. (Interview with Religious Editor of the Associated Press — July 16, 1976, New York)</p>
<p>6. Äcärya means he must show by example. Äpani äcari bhakti çikhäimu sabäre. (Morning Walk — December 5, 1973, Los Angeles)</p>
<p>7. And for a devotee, one who is actually pure devotee of Kåñëa, he is sa guëän samatétyaitän [Bg. 14.26]. Not that a tiny devotee can claim that he has overcome the influence of this world. No. This is called paramahaàsa. Sa guëän samatétyaitän [Bg. 14.26]. Not that because you have taken to devotional…, you have become immediately. The process has begun immediately, curing process. But we should not think that we have become perfect. That is wrong. Yajïa-däna-tapaù-karma na tyäjyam. Therefore you must follow the regulative principles. As soon as you become a rascal—”Now I have become advanced. I don’t require to chant sixteen rounds. I can do whatever I like”—then he has gone to hell. Upstart, immediately he becomes paramahaàsa. He’s a rascal… Therefore amongst the devotees, there are three grades: kaniñöha-adhikäré, madhyama-adhikäré, and uttama-adhikäré. So if the kaniñöha-adhikäré thinks that “I have become uttama-adhikäré,” then he’s a rascal. He’s a rascal. If he wants to imitate the uttama-adhikäré, then he’s a rascal. (Morning Walk — February 4, 1976, Mäyäpura)</p>
<p>8. But a guru, although he is paramahaàsa, because he is teaching, he come down as madhyama-adhikäré. There are three kinds of Vaiñëava: kaniñöha adhikäré, madhyama adhikäré and uttama adhikäré. Uttama adhikäré may be without kunti, without çikhä, without Vaiñëava symptoms. He’s paramahaàsa. But when he comes to the preaching platform he must become a madhyama adhikäré, not to imitate uttama adhikäré, because he has to teach. He cannot deviate from the teaching principles. So what you are speaking, that “Without çikhä without kunti, one can become guru,” that is fact for the paramahaàsa, not for the preacher. Preacher must behave very nicely. (Lecture: Çré Caitanya-caritämåta, Madhya-lélä 8.128 — Bhubanesvara, January 24, 1977)</p>
<p>9. So the future of this Krishna Consciousness movement is very bright, so long the managers remain vigilant that 16 rounds are being chanted by everyone without fail, that they are all rising before four morning, attending mangal arati. (Letter to: Karandhara — Bombay 22 December, 1972)</p>
<p>10. You must rise early (before 4:00 AM), attend the mangala arati, attend the classes, chant at least 16 good rounds daily, and observe the four basic principles. These things you must do without fail otherwise, there is no question of spiritual life. (Letter to: Caranaravinda — Mayapur 2 April, 1975)</p>
<p>11. Everyone should attend the class, rise early in the morning, attend maìgala-ärati. (Çrémad-Bhägavatam 7.12.3 Lecture by Srila Prabhupada — Bombay, April 14, 1976)</p>
<p>12. That is the test. Yes. One who cannot rise early in the morning, he is not spiritually serious. (Room Conversation — December 13, 1970, Indore)</p>
<p>13. Sannyasi simply means to do as I am doing, and sometimes I have to manage, sometimes cook, sometimes go to the bank, keep the money, write books, chant, preach in the class, keep accounts–sannyasi should be expert in every department. (Letter to: Satsvarupa — Vrindaban 5 November, 1972)</p>
<p>14. So I am very much pleased upon you for your kindly guiding and training the new devotees in so many ways. Yes, if you simply instruct them as I have taught also you, being yourself always the perfect example and above suspicion, that will act with great force. I am doing that. And I wanted to make some sannyasis to do what I am doing, and if you keep the standard, always chanting Hare Krishna, then it will go on continuously without impediment. That is your duty as sannyasa, to keep yourself always above suspicion in Krishna Consciousness programme, and to teach others to become like you, that’s all. That is our perfect programme. (Letter to: Sudama — Bombay 23 December, 1972)</p>
<p>15. Jayadeva das (UK) from “I Never Knew You”</p>
<p>16. (Srila Prabhupada Uvaca; 62. By Srutikirti dasa Adhikari)</p>
<p>17. In the discussions held among the four brothers, one of them, namely Sanandana, was selected to speak, and the other brothers became the audience to hear him. (Krishna Book 87: Prayers by the Personified Vedas)</p>
<p>18. You must see that they strictly follow the regulative principles, the four prohibitions as well as the devotional practices of arising early, taking morning bath, putting on tilaka, attending mangal arati, chanting japa 16 rounds, and attending Srimad Bhagavatam class. This is the duty of all my initiated disciples, whether they are big or they are small. Actually in our movement there is no such thing as big or small. Everyone is a devotee. So everyone is expected to follow the devotional practices. Here in Vrindaban I am enjoying my disciples how they are speaking. So two times daily everyone must attend the classes. During the morning and evening times there should be no business, simply kirtana, chant, dance, and be purified. Do not be paramahamsa that now I haven’t got to hear Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita. Don’t be a better paramahamsa than your Guru Maharaja. I go and sit and I enjoy the lectures and how they are performing kirtana. So as I am doing, you must also do. (Letter to: Gopijanavallabha — Vrindaban 19 September, 1974)</p>
<p>19. In the great assembly of saintly personalities, there was Vyäsadeva the brahmarñi, Närada the devarñi, Paraçuräma the great ruler of the kñatriya kings, etc. Some of them were powerful incarnations of the Lord. Çukadeva Gosvämé [the speaker] was not known as brahmarñi, räjarñi or devarñi, nor was he an incarnation like Närada, Vyäsa or Paraçuräma. (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.19.30 Purport)</p>
<p>20. satäà prasaìgän mama vérya-saàvido<br /> bhavanti håt-karëa-rasäyanäù kathäù<br /> taj-joñaëäd äçv apavarga-vartmani<br /> çraddhä ratir bhaktir anukramiñyati</p>
<p>SYNONYMS: satäm—of pure devotees; prasaìgät—through the association; mama—My; vérya—wonderful activities; saàvidaù—by discussion of; bhavanti—become; håt—to the heart; karëa—to the ear; rasa-ayanäù—pleasing; kathäù—the stories; tat—of that; joñaëät—by cultivation; äçu—quickly; apavarga—of liberation; vartmani—on the path; çraddhä—firm faith; ratiù—attraction; bhaktiù—devotion; anukramiñyati—will follow in order.</p>
<p>TRANSLATION: In the association of pure devotees, discussion of the pastimes and activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is very pleasing and satisfying to the ear and the heart. By cultivating such knowledge one gradually becomes advanced on the path of liberation, and thereafter he is freed, and his attraction becomes fixed. Then real devotion and devotional service begin. (Srimad Bhagavatam 3.25.25 Spoken by Lord Kapiladeva)</p>
<p>21. You must see that they strictly follow the regulative principles, the four prohibitions as well as the devotional practices of arising early, taking morning bath, putting on tilaka, attending mangal arati, chanting japa 16 rounds, and attending Srimad Bhagavatam class. This is the duty of all my initiated disciples, whether they are big or they are small. Actually in our movement there is no such thing as big or small. Everyone is a devotee. So everyone is expected to follow the devotional practices. Here in Vrindaban I am enjoying my disciples how they are speaking. So two times daily everyone must attend the classes. During the morning and evening times there should be no business, simply kirtana, chant, dance, and be purified. Do not be paramahamsa that now I haven’t got to hear Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita. Don’t be a better paramahamsa than your Guru Maharaja. I go and sit and I enjoy the lectures and how they are performing kirtana. So as I am doing, you must also do. (Letter to: Gopijanavallabha — Vrindaban 19 September, 1974)</p>
<p>22. “Arjuna, when he was fighting the battle of Kuruksetra, he did not chant his 16 rounds. When you are fighting a battle, where is the time to chant your rounds?”(Srila Prabhupada speaking: Prabhupada Uvaca 49: Sruti Kirti dasa)</p>
<p>23. There is no question of your falldown. Chant 16 rounds regularly and no power in all three worlds will make you fall down. Krishna will save you always.( Letter to: Himavati — London 19 August, 1971)</p>
<p>24. When I had only been in the movement for a few weeks Srila Prabhupada personally drove home the point about chanting rounds like a thunderbolt. It was 1970 in the Los Angeles temple. His Divine Grace while seated on his vyasasana decided to do a spot check to see if all of his disciples present were chanting their prescribed number of rounds each day. One brahmacari confessed he wasn’t on account of his working very hard and sleeping only four hours nightly. Srila Prabhupada replied forcefully, “Then sleep two hours– but you must finish sixteen rounds every day!” (His Divine Grace, by Danavir Goswami)</p>
<p>25. Just like Arjuna, he was not a Vedantist, he was not a brähmaëa, he was not a sannyäsé. He was householder. He was military man. But he knew his business, how to do it nicely. So you do your business nicely. That is expert. And when it is dovetailed in Kåñëa, there is no gradation that this business is better and that business is lower because everything is for Kåñëa. So that business becomes Kåñëa. Do it nicely and Kåñëa is satisfied. And that is your success. Avyäpare suvyaparam yo naraù kartum icchati, sa-mulo hanyate ’khila pärthiva vänaraù.(?) Expert. There is a very nice story in Sanskrit. A monkey. A monkey… You might have some experience, that sawmen, who cut wood? Sawmen. So a sawman was cutting wood by the saw. So at the end of business it was half cut so he pulled down a, I mean to say, a plug so that next day he will come and he’ll again begin sawing. So went away. So one monkey came. So monkey sat down there and began to pull on the plug because monkey’s business is simply mischievous. So he did not know that some portion of his thigh was within the hole and when he took out this plug it was, (claps) I mean to say, clipped, and he could not get out and died. So the instruction is that… ’Khila pärthiva vänaraù, vyäpare suvyaparam. Avyäpara means a occupation, an occupation which is not fit for you. That is avyäpara. Avyäpara-suvyaparam. And one occupation which is not exactly fitting you, you do not know how to do it, so avyäpare suvyaparam yo kartu… If one wants to act in a business in which he is unable to do, then he is killed just like this fool monkey. Avyäpare suvyaparam yo naraù kartum icchati, sa-mulo hanyate. That foolish person is killed just like this monkey. The monkey’s business was not to imitate the sawman, but he wanted to imitate. The result was that he was killed. So that is not expertness. Expertness is you just try to do which is easily performed by you. You don’t accept anything heavy task because Kåñëa does not want that you have to do this heavy task. Whatever you know, you just apply it. (Room Conversation — July 16, 1968, Montreal)</p>
<p>26. Out of many such Vaiñëavas, one may be found to be very seriously engaged in the service of the Lord and strictly following all the regulative principles, chanting the prescribed number of rounds on japa beads and always thinking of how to expand the Kåñëa consciousness movement. Such a Vaiñëava should be accepted as an uttama-adhikäré, a highly advanced devotee, and his association should always be sought. (Nectar of Instruction 5)</p>
<p>27. So the future of this Krishna Consciousness movement is very bright, so long the managers remain vigilant that 16 rounds are being chanted by everyone without fail, that they are all rising before four morning, attending mangal arati–our leaders shall be careful not to kill the spirit of enthusiastic service, which is individual and spontaneous and voluntary.(Letter to: Karandhara — Bombay 22 December, 1972)</p>
<p>28. His spiritual master had said that anyone who didn’t chant sixty-four rounds a day was fallen. At first some of the boys thought that they would also have to chant sixty-four rounds, and they became perplexed: that would take all day! How could you go to a job if you had to chant sixty-four rounds? How could anyone chant sixty-four rounds? Then someone said Swamiji had told him that thirty-two rounds a day would be a sufficient minimum for the West. Wally said he had heard Swamiji say twenty-five—but even that seemed impossible. Then Prabhupäda offered the rock-bottom minimum: sixteen rounds a day, without fail. Whoever got initiated would have to promise. (Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta Volume 2. 19: Satsvarupa Goswami)</p>
<p>29. So we have to stick to these principles to keep ourselves on the transcendental platform, rising early in the morning, offer maìgala ärati, then gradually, one after another, attending class, guru-püjä, and so on, so on. (Lecture: Çrémad-Bhägavatam 6.1.61 — Våndävana, August 28, 1975)</p>
<p>30. Prabhupäda: So in every center they must rise early in the morning. They must follow the regulative principles. They must attend class. Otherwise let them go out. We don’t want. (Room Conversation — November 25, 1975, Delhi)</p>
<p>31. The man who cannot rise early in the morning and cannot take the brahminical principle, çüdra, kñatriya, vaiçya, he should be helped with the knowledge acquired by the brähmaëa. (Room Conversation with Banker — September 21, 1973, Bombay)</p>
<p>32. Äcärya, you have heard the name äcärya. Äcärya means he teaches by personal behavior. Just like I teach you, “no intoxication.” So if I am addicted to intoxication and if I say that “You don’t take any intoxication,” then who will care for me? This is therefore äcära. Äcärati. Practically you have to behave; then you can preach. Otherwise you cannot become äcärya. Äcärya means one who practices the äcära and then teaches. He is äcärya. So äcära. Na çaucaà näpi cäcäro na satyam. Satyam means truthfulness. He is preaching something and doing something. That is not truthfulness. (Lecture; Bhagavad-gétä 16.7 — Hyderabad, December 15, 1976)</p>
<p>33. So I do not think the leaders are themselves following, nor they are seeing the others are following strictly. That must be rectified at once. (Letter to: Karandhara — Bombay 22 December, 1972)</p>
<p><strong>Source: </strong><a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=48175">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=48175</a></p></div>