Inquiries into the Absolute, Digest 10

[Guest guest]

Digest 10, June 22, 2001

************************

 

Answers by His Holiness Romapada Swami Maharaja

***********************************************

 

Please email your questions to mail (AT) iskcondc (DOT) org. Questions of general interest

will be posted in the digest for the benefit of others. Specific questions will

be answered individually.

 

Spiritual Master

****************

Q.1) How to recognize a self-realized spiritual master and how to approach for

spiritual initiation?

Q.2) It is said in Baghavad-gita that we must approach a bonafide spiritual

master who has seen the truth. Now how is it possible for a candidate to

identify the person who has seen the truth?

 

Ans.

One of the primary characteristics of a bona fide spiritual master is that such

a guru himself belongs to a bona fide disciplic succession, beginning from the

Supreme Lord Himself, and is authorized to perform the service of a spiritual

master.

 

The intelligence of a conditioned living entity is subject to defects. A bona

fide guru would never present any invented, self-made defective teachings, but

will always simply repeat what the scriptures and Supreme Lord say, without any

modification or distortion. Only these teaching can be considered flawless, and

they constitute the teachings of a bona fide spiritual master.

 

When asked how to recognize which of the various translations of Bhagavad-gita

was best to read, Srila Prabhupada replied, 'Who do you think will represent

the Bhagavad-gita better - one who is cent percent devoted to Krishna, and who

is always speaking about and glorifying Krishna, or one who lectures on

Bhagavad-gita for two hours and never mentions the name of Krishna?' Thus, one

who knows the science of Krishna and is devoted to Krishna is the topmost

guru.

 

Most importantly, they never claim to be God themselves. Also they themselves

are strict followers of sastra and guide their followers on the path of

liberation from material attachment.

 

Your specific question addresses the symptoms of a self-realized soul. This is

addressed directly in both Bhagavad-gita and in Srimad Bhagavatam. For some

sample references see BG 2.54-58, 14.21-26, and 7.28, and SB. 4.22.20-14, and

27-28. There are many such references is Srimad Bhagavatam.

 

You also asked how to approach a spiritual master for initiation. Bhagavad-gita

(4.34) describes the process of approaching the spiritual master very clearly.

One should surrender to him with submission, render humble service to him, and

inquire about spiritual topics. Through the medium of submissive inquiry and

service, one can develop a meaningful relationship with a particular spiritual

master, and by this same process one can also become gradually eligible to

receive spiritual initiation. (For further references on this topic, there is

a book published by BBT, "The Spiritual Master and The Disciple" which

describes in great detail about the qualities and duties of a spiritual master

and disciple.)

 

One has to directly request the spiritual master to accept one as a disciple.

This direct request is best done after some mutual understanding and confidence

are established in the relationship.

 

Q.3) Can somebody act like a guru without actually initiating somebody. In the

sense I accept somebody as my guru and follow his instructions. And when I am

able to fully follow all his instructions take initiation?

 

Ans:

This is called siksa guru, and it is most certainly a very real consideration

in making spiritual advancement. Most likely there are persons who are guiding

you at present, and those persons are a type of spiritual guide or leader in

your life. To accept someone in the role of guru, however, means that their

guidance is accepted in an absolute manner by you. That is to say, even if your

present practices are not yet so mature that you are eligible for diksa, you

can still take shelter of someone whose instructions you accept in an absolute

manner. This is of course a very `heavy' kind of submission to present unto

another person, and therefore should not be taken in any light manner by you.

But to answer your question directly, most certainly one can fully follow the

instructions of someone, prior to being an initiated devotee.

 

Q.4) Spiritual Masters are self realized then can we say all self realized

persons can be a spiritual masters?

 

Ans:

Yes, if they are authorized by their spiritual master to perform this service,

and if they are receiving knowledge in disciplic succession.

 

 

Q.5) "Spiritual Masters are representatives of God". I think this statement

applies to person who is an acharya and not anyone and everyone who preaches

Krishna consciousness. Am I right? Can you expand a little bit and explain.

 

Ans:

In practical terms, is it not a fact that members of the public receive

knowledge of God through all types of preachers/sankirtan devotees? E.g. book

distributors, those who are asked questions by the public, lecturers, etc. all

'represent' God's message. This category is sometimes called 'one who shows the

path', or a vartma-pradarsaka guru.

 

 

Devotional service

******************

Q.6) What is praying? Why do we have to pray? When should we pray? How should

we pray?

 

Ans.

Prayer is an address to a superior in supplication. Of all those who are

worshipable, the Personality of Godhead is the most worthy object of one's

prayers, and so are His pure devotees who are His direct and confidential

representatives.

 

There is certainly a need for us to pray to the Supreme Lord because, by

constitution we are tiny and in need of the mercy of the Supreme Lord in every

breath of our life. When one realizes one's own dependent position and

acknowledges the greatness as well as the mercy of God, naturally one offers

prayers in praise and implores the Lord for shelter.

 

Different people pray according to their different level of faith, with

different motivations and for different ends. The best prayer is to beg the

Supreme Personality of Godhead to engage us in His service. Within that all of

one's material and spiritual needs are taken care of.

 

The import of chanting the mahamantra, "Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna

Krishna Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare" is exactly this:

addressing God (Krishna, Rama) and His internal energy (Hare) to kindly engage

us in His service. The scriptures describe the chanting of God's Holy Names,

such as the mantra above, as the best form of prayer.

 

We can pray from the core of our hearts at any time, place or circumstances,

indeed every moment, 24 hours a day! Especially in chanting the Holy Names of

God there are no rules or regulations as in other formal forms of worship.

 

There are some further nice descriptions about prayers found in the Nectar of

Devotion, Chapter 9 under the headings Submission and Offering Notable Prayers.

 

Q.7) What qualifies one for devotional service and what are the practical means

by which perfection in devotion may be achieved?

 

Ans.

Nectar of Devotion describes that even if one is not in a perfectly purified

condition, contact with a pure devotee, and an unflinching attraction for

Krishna are preliminary qualifications that make one eligible for devotional

service.

 

Thereafter, by engaging in the nine processes of devotional service, beginning

with hearing and chanting about Krishna under the guidance of a bona fide

spiritual master, in the association of devotees, one can gradually achieve the

highest perfection in devotion.

 

 

Hare Krishna!!

 

 

 

----- Festivals over the next week ------

*** Note all times are for Washington D.C, USA, EST ***

Jun 26 2001, Tuesday Disappearance Sri Vakresvara Pandita

-

---------------

A brief biography of His Holiness Romapada Swami available at :

http://www.iskcondc.org/biography/romapada_swami.html

 

-

---------------

This Email has been sent to you by the ISKCON temple of Washington D.C.

Our contacts are:

Email : mail (AT) iskcondc (DOT) org

Web Address : http://www.iskcondc.org

Postal: 10310 Oaklyn Drive, Potomac, MD 20854

 

In order to be removed from this mailing list please reply with the word REMOVE

in the Subject.

-

----------------