**Mahabhagavata (uttama-adhikari) First-class devotee does NOT fall down----SAYS SRILA PRABHUPADA!**

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**Mahabhagavata (uttama-adhikari) First-class devotee does NOT fall down----SAYS

SRILA PRABHUPADA!**Madhya 22.71 It should be understood that a

madhyama-adhikari, a second-classdevotee, is fully convinced of Krsna

consciousness but cannot support his convictions with sastric reference. A

neophyte may fall down by associating with nondevotees because he is not firmly

convinced and strongly situated. The second-class devotee, even though he cannot

support his position with sastric reference, can gradually become a first-class

devotee by studying the sastras and associating with a first-class devotee.

However, if the second-class devotee does not advance himself by associating

with a first-class devotee, he makes no progress. THERE IS NO POSSIBILITY THAT

A FIRST-CLASS DEVOTEE WILL FALL DOWN, EVEN THOUGH HE MAY MIX WITH NONDEVOTEES

TO PREACH. Conviction and faith gradually increase to make one an

uttama-adhikari, a first-class devotee.Bg 9.3 There are three divisions of

Krsna conscious men. In the third class are those who have no faith. If they

are engaged in devotional serviceofficially, for some ulterior purpose, they

cannot achieve the highestperfectional stage. Most probably they will slip,

after some time. They may become engaged, but because they haven't complete

conviction and faith, it is very difficult for them to continue in Krsna

consciousness. WE HAVE PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE IN DISCHARGING OUR MISSIONARY

ACTIVITY THAT SOME PEOPLE COME AND APPLY THEMSELVES TO KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS WITH

SOME HIDDEN MOTIVE, AND AS SOON AS THEY ARE ECONOMICALLY A LITTLE WELL SITUATED

THEY GIVE UP THIS PROCESS AND TAKE TO THEIR OLD WAYS AGAIN. It is only by faith

that one can advance in Krsna consciousness. As far as the development of faith

is concerned, one who is well versed in the literatures of devotional service

and has attained the stage of firm faith is called a first-class person in

Krsna consciousness. And in the second-class are those who arenot very advanced

in understanding the devotional scriptures but whoautomatically have firm faith

that krsna-bhakti or service to Krsna is the best course and so in good faith

have taken it up. Thus they are superior to the third-class who have neither

perfect knowledge of the scriptures nor good faith but by association and

simplicity are trying to follow. THE THIRD-CLASS PERSON IN KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS

MAY FALL DOWN, BUT WHEN ONE IS IN THE SECOND-CLASS OR FIRST-CLASS HE DOES NOT

FALL DOWN. One in the first-class will surely make progress and achieve the

result at the end. As far as the third-class person in Krsna consciousness is

concerned, although he has faith in the conviction that devotional service to

Krsna is very good, he has no knowledge of Krsna through the scriptures like

Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita. Sometimes these third-class persons in

Krsna consciousness have some tendency toward karma-yoga and jnana-yoga, and

sometimes they are disturbed, but as soon as the infection of karma-yoga or

jnana-yoga is vanquished, they become second-class or first-class persons in

Krsna consciousness. FAITH IN KRSNA IS ALSO DIVIDED INTO THREE STAGES AND

DESCRIBED IN SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM. FIRST-CLASS ATTACHMENT, SECOND-CLASS

ATTACHMENT, AND THIRD-CLASS ATTACHMENT ARE ALSO EXPLAINED IN SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM

IN THE ELEVENTH CANTO. Those who have no faith even after hearing about Krsna

and the excellence of devotional service, who think that it is simply eulogy,

find the path very difficult, even if they are supposedly engaged in devotional

service. For them there is very little hope in gaining perfection. Thus faith is

very important inthe discharge of devotional service.TLC 11 There are three

classes of devotees according to the degree ofconviction. The first-class

devotee is conversant with all kinds of Vedic literature and at the same time

has the firm conviction mentioned above. He can deliver all others from the

pangs of material miseries. The second-class devotee is firmly convinced and

has strong faith, but he has no power to cite evidence from revealed

scriptures. The third-class devotee is one whose faith is not very strong, but,

by the gradual cultivation of devotional service, he will eventually be eligible

for promotion to the second or first-class position. It is said in

Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.2.45-47) that the first class devotee always sees the

Supreme Lord as the soul of all living entities. Thus in seeing all living

entities, he sees Krsna and nothing but Krsna. The second-class devotee places

his full faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead, makes friends with the

pure devotees, favors innocent persons and avoids those who are atheistic or

opposed to devotional service. The third-class devotee engages in devotional

service according to the directions of the spiritual master, or engages out of

family tradition, and worships the Deity of the Lord, but he is not cultivated

in knowledge of devotional service, and he does not knowa devotee from a

nondevotee. SUCH A THIRD-CLASS DEVOTEE CANNOT ACTUALLY BE CONSIDERED A PURE

DEVOTEE; HE IS ALMOST IN THE DEVOTIONAL LINE, BUT HIS POSITION IS NOT VERY

SECURE.Madhya 16.74 Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura says that if an

observerimmediately remembers the holy name of Krsna upon seeing a Vaisnava,

that Vaisnava should be considered a maha-bhagavata, a first-class devotee.

Such a Vaisnava is always aware of his Krsna conscious duty, and he is

enlightened in self-realization. He is always in love with the Supreme

Personality of Godhead, Krsna, and this love is without adulteration.

Because of this love, he is always awake to transcendental realization.Because

he knows that Krsna consciousness is the basis of knowledge andaction, he sees

everything connected with Krsna. Such a person is able to chant the holy name

of Krsna perfectly. Such a maha-bhagavata Vaisnava has the transcendental eyes

to see who is sleeping under the spell of maya, and he engages himself in

awakening sleeping conditioned beings by spreading the knowledge of Krsna

consciousness. He opens eyes that are closed by forgetfulness of Krsna. Thus

the living entity is liberated from the dullness of material energy and is

engaged fully in the service of the Lord. The madhyama-adhikari Vaisnava can

awaken others to Krsna consciousness and engage them in duties whereby they can

advance. It is therefore said in Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya-lila, Chapter Six,

verse279):lohake yavat sparsi' hema nahi karetavat sparsa-mani keha cinite na

pare"One cannot understand the value of touchstone until it turns iron

intogold." One should judge by action, not by promises. A MAHA-BHAGAVATA CAN

TURN A LIVING ENTITY FROM ABOMINABLE MATERIAL LIFE TO THE LORD'S SERVICE. THIS

IS THE TEST OF A MAHA-BHAGAVATA. Although preaching is not meant for a

maha-bhagavata, a maha-bhagavata can descend to the platform of

madhyama-bhagavata just to convert others to Vaisnavism. ACTUALLY A

MAHA-BHAGAVATA IS FIT TO SPREAD KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS, but he does not

distinguish where Krsna consciousness should be spread from where it should

not. He thinks that everyone is competent to accept Krsna consciousness if the

chance is provided. A neophyte and intermediate devotee should always be

anxious to hear the maha-bhagavata and serve him in every respect. The neophyte

and intermediate devotees can gradually rise to the platform of uttama-adhikari

and become first-class devotees. Symptoms of a first-classdevotee are given in

Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.2.45):sarva-bhutesu yah pasyedbhagavad-bhavam

atmanahbhutani bhagavaty atmanyesa bhagavatottamahWhen teaching Sanatana

Gosvami, the Lord further said:sastra-yuktye sunipuna, drdha-sraddha

yanra'UTTAMA-ADHIKARI' SE TARAYE SAMSARA"If one is expert in Vedic literature

and has full faith in the SupremeLord, then he is AN UTTAMA-ADHIKARI, A

FIRST-CLASS VAISNAVA, A TOPMOSTVAISNAVA WHO CAN DELIVER THE WHOLE WORLD AND

TURN EVERYONE TO KRSNACONSCIOUSNESS." (Cc. Madhya 22.65) With great love and

affection, themaha-bhagavata observes the Supreme Personality of Godhead,

devotionalservice and the devotee. He observes nothing beyond Krsna,

Krsnaconsciousness and Krsna's devotees. The maha-bhagavata knows that everyone

is engaged in the Lord's service in different ways. He therefore descends to the

middle platform to elevate everyone to the Krsna conscious position.NOTE:

UTTAMA-ADHIKARI is on the topmost level PREMA (love of Godhead)stage. Now just

see the extremely high level of Bhava which considered just a PRELIMINARY STAGE

OF LOVE OF GODHEAD.Adi 7.83 In this verse it is explained that one who chants

the Hare Krsna mantradevelops BHAVA, ECSTASY, WHICH IS THE POINT AT WHICH

REVELATION BEGINS. It is the PRELIMINARY STAGE in developing one's original

love for God. Lord Krsna mentions this bhava stage in the Bhagavad-gita

(10.8):aham sarvasya prabhavomattah sarvam pravartateiti matva bhajante

mambudha bhava-samanvitah"I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds.

Everything emanates from Me. The wise who know this perfectly engage in My

devotional service and worship Me with all their hearts."NoI 7 ALTHOUGH MAYA

MAY BE PRESENT, IT CANNOT DISTURB A DEVOTEE ONCE HEATTAINS THE BHAVA STAGE.

This is because the devotee can see the realposition of maya. Maya means

forgetfulness of Krsna, and forgetfulness of Krsna and Krsna consciousness

stand side by side like light and shadow. If one remains in shadow, he cannot

enjoy the facilities offered by light, and if one remains in light, he cannot

be disturbed by the darkness of shadow.SB 3.27.6 Bhavena, or bhava, is a very

important factor in the practice of yoga or in any spiritual process. Bhava is

explained in Bhagavad-gita (10.8). Budha bhava-samanvitah: one should be

absorbed in the thought of love of Krsna.When one knows that Krsna, the Supreme

Personality of Godhead, is thesource of everything and that everything emanates

from Him (aham sarvasya prabhavah), then one understands the Vedanta aphorism

janmady asya yatah ("the original source of everything"), AND THEN HE CAN

BECOME ABSORBED IN BHAVA, OR THE PRELIMINARY STAGE OF LOVE OF GODHEAD.Note:

BEFORE reaching the stage of BHAVA one is considered as NEOPHYTE. Bs 5.38 The

Syamasundara form of Krsna is His inconceivable simultaneouspersonal and

impersonal self-contradictory form. True devotees see thatform in their

purified hearts under the influence of devotional trance. The form Syama is not

the blue color visible in the mundane world but is the transcendental variegated

color affording eternal bliss, and is not visible to the mortal eye. On a

consideration of the trance of Vyasadeva as in the sloka, bhakti-yogena manasi

etc., it will be clear that the form of Sri Krsna is the full Personality of

Godhead and can only be visible in the heart of a true devotee, which is the

only true seat in the state of trance under the influence of devotion. When

Krsna manifested Himself in Vraja, both the devotees and nondevotees saw Him

with this very eye; but only the devotees cherished Him, eternally present in

Vraja, as the priceless jewel of their heart. Nowadays also the devotees see

Him in Vraja in their hearts, saturated with devotion although they do not see

Him with their eyes. The eye of devotion is nothing but the eye of the pure

unalloyed spiritual self of the jiva. The form of Krsna is visible to that eye

in proportion to its purification by the practice of devotion. WHEN THE

DEVOTION OF THE NEOPHYTE REACHES THE STAGE OF BHAVA-BHAKTI THE PURE EYE OFTHAT

DEVOTEE IS TINGED WITH THE SALVE OF LOVE BY THE GRACE OF KRSNA, WHICH ENABLES

HIM TO SEE KRSNA FACE TO FACE. The phrase "in their hearts" means Krsna is

visible in proportion as their hearts are purified by the practice of devotion.

The sum and substance of this sloka is that the form of Krsna, who is

Syamasundara, Natavara (Best Dancer), Muralidhara (Holder of the Flute) and

Tribhanga (Triple-bending), is not a mental concoction but is transcendental,

and is visible with the eye of the soul of the devotee under trance.Note: this

is why Srila Prabhupada is warning these lusty devotees not to go power crazy

pretending to give diksa(transcendental knowledge which the Uttama adhikari

gives that enables one to realize his svarupa with Krishna).AND this is why

Srila Prabhupada wanted the RITVIK system---to SAVE them from going to

hell.ACARYA receives VYASA-PUJA not neophyte

(kanistha-adhikari).NeophytesPhotos are NOT put on alters either. 74-04-28

Letter: RupanugaYou are right about Sridhara Maharaja's genuineness. But in my

opinionhe is the best of the lot. He is my old friend, at least he executes the

regulative principles of devotional service. I do not wish to discuss about

activities of my Godbrothers but it is a fact they have no life for preaching

work. ALL ARE SATISFIED WITH A PLACE FOR RESIDENCE IN THE NAME OF A TEMPLE,

THEY ENGAGE DISCIPLES TO GET FOODSTUFF BY TRANSCENDENTAL DEVICES AND EAT AND

SLEEP. They have no idea or brain how to broacast the cult of Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu. My Guru Maharaja used to lament many times for this reason and he

thought if one man at least had understood the principle of preaching then his

mission would achieve success. In the latter days of my Guru Maharaja he was

very disgusted. Actually, he left this world earlier, otherwise he would have

continued to live for more years. Still he requested his disciples to form a

strong Governing body for preaching the cult of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He never

recommended anyone to be acarya ofthe Gaudiya Math. BUT SRIDHARA MAHARAJA IS

RESPONSIBLE FOR DISOBEYING THIS ORDER OF GURU MAHARAJA, AND HE AND OTHERS WHO

ARE ALREADY DEADUNNECESSARILY THOUGHT THAT THERE MUST BE ONE ACARYA. IF GURU

MAHARAJA COULD HAVE SEEN SOMEONE WHO WAS QUALIFIED AT THAT TIME TO BE ACARYA HE

WOULD HAVE MENTIONED. Because on the night before he passed away he talked of so

many things, but never mentioned an acarya. HIS IDEA WAS ACARYA WAS NOT TO BE

NOMINATED AMONGST THE GOVERNING BODY. He said openly you make a GBC and conduct

the mission. So his idea was amongst the members of GBC who would come out

successful and self effulgent acarya would be automatically selected. So

Sridhara Maharaja and his two associate gentlemen unauthorizedly selected one

acarya and later it proved a failure. The result is now everyone is claiming to

be acarya even though they may be kanistha adhikari with no ability to preach.

In some of the camps the acarya is being changed three times a year. THEREFORE

WE MAY NOT COMMIT THE SAME MISTAKE IN OUR ISKCON CAMP. ACTUALLY AMONGST MY

GODBROTHERS NO ONE IS QUALIFIED TO BECOME ACARYA. SO IT IS BETTER NOT TO MIX

WITH MY GODBROTHERS VERY INTIMATELY BECAUSE INSTEAD OF INSPIRING OUR STUDENTS

AND DISCIPLES,THEY MAY SOMETIMES POLLUTE THEM. This attempt was made previously

by them, especially Madhava Maharaja and Tirtha Maharaja and Bon Maharaja but

somehow or other I saved the situation. This is going on. We shall be

verycareful about them and not mix with them. This is my instruction to youall.

They cannot help us in our movement, but they are very competent to harm our

natural progress. So we must be very careful about them.761102SB.VRN

Lectures

So in order to know that science, one has to APPROACH A PERFECT TEACHER.

Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet. Here also it is said, gurau hamsa.

Hamse gurau mayi. The mayi is also significant. That means, PARAMAHAMSA GURU

MEANS, HE'S AS GOOD AS THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD. BECAUSE HE DOES NOT

DEVIATE from the instructions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is

the symptom of guru. GURU DOES NOT DEVIATE FROM THE INSTRUCTION OF THE SUPREME

PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD.

 

Bg 4.42 P Transcendental Knowledge

A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER IS IN THE DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION FROM TIME ETERNAL,

AND HE DOES NOT DEVIATE AT ALL from the instructions of the Supreme Lord as

they were imparted millions of years ago to the sun-god, from whom the

instructions of Bhagavad-gita have come down to the earthly kingdom. One

should, therefore, follow the path of Bhagavad-gita as it is expressed in the

Gita itself and BEWARE OF SELF-INTERESTED PEOPLE AFTER PERSONAL AGGRANDIZEMENT

WHO DEVIATE OTHERS FROM THE ACTUAL PATH.

 

SB 10.4.20 P

"A person acting in the service of Krsna with his body, mind and words IS A

LIBERATED PERSON, EVEN WITHIN THE MATERIAL WORLD." (Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu

1.2.187) Therefore, one is forbidden to regard the guru as an ordinary human

being (gurusu nara-matir. .. naraki sah). THE SPIRITUAL MASTER, OR ACARYA, IS

ALWAYS SITUATED IN THE SPIRITUAL STATUS OF LIFE.

 

69-06-10. Letter: Mukunda

Your next question, whether the Spiritual Master was formerly a conditioned

soul, ACTUALLY A BONAFIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER IS NEVER A CONDITIONED SOUL.

 

69-06-10. Letter: Mukunda

You are correct when you say that when the Spiritual Master speaks it should

be taken that Krishna is speaking. That is a fact. A SPIRITUAL MASTER MUST BE

LIBERATED.