Appearance of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura - Friday, August 31

[Guest guest]

Friday, August 31 is the appearance day of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura.

 

Here is a lecture given by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedant Swami

Prabhupada on the appearance day of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura.

 

 

His Divine Grace Srila Sac-cid-ananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura's Appearance Day,

Lecture

--

London, September 23, 1969

690923BA.LON

 

Prabhupada: Bring water, water. Water? So today is a very auspicious

day, Thakura Bhaktivinoda's birthday. Here is the picture of Thakura

Sac-cid-ananda Bhaktivinoda. He was one of the acaryas of this disciplic

succession from Krsna. We have got a succession table from Krsna,

genealogical table. There are two kinds of genealogical tables, one by the

semina -- father, his son, his son, like that. That is material genealogical

table. And there is one spiritual genealogical table, disciplic succession.

Just like Krsna. Krsna, the original father, Supreme Personality of Godhead,

He spoke the Vedic knowledge to Brahma, Lord Brahma. He spoke to Narada.

Narada spoke to Vyasa. Vyasa spoke to Madhvacarya. So in this disciplic

succession, Lord Caitanya, from Lord Caitanya, the six Gosvamis, and

similarly, coming down, down, Bhaktivinoda Thakura, then Gaurakisora dasa

Babaji Maharaja, then my spiritual master, then we are next generation, my

disciples.

So there is a disciplic succession. And the acaryas, they're

authorities. Our process of knowledge is very simple. We take it from the

authority. We don't speculate. Speculation will not help us to come to the

real knowledge. Just like when we are in difficulty, in legal implication,

we go to some authority, lawyer. When we are diseased we go to a physician,

the authority. There is no use, speculation. Suppose I am in difficulty in

some legal implication. I simply speculate, "I shall be free in this way and

that way." That will not help. We have to go to the lawyer who knows things,

and he gives us instruction that "You do not do this; then you'll be free."

Similarly, when we are diseased, if I speculate at home that "My disease

will be cured in this way and that way," no. That is useless. You go to an

authorized physician, and he will give you a nice prescription, and you'll

be cured. That is the process of knowledge. But in the modern age people

think that "I am free, I am independent, and I can make my own solution."

That is rascaldom. That's not good. So Arjuna, when he was talking with

Krsna as friend, but when he saw that there was no solution talking like

this, he surrendered to Krsna. He said, sisyas te 'ham, aham: [bg. 2.7]

"Myself, I surrender unto You as Your disciple." Sisyas te 'ham sadhi mam

prapannam. Prapannam means surrender. So that is the Vedic injunction, that

if you want to know transcendental knowledge or science... "Transcendental"

means beyond the scope of your direct perception.

So spiritual knowledge is beyond the scope of our sense speculation.

Beyond the scope. Just like when a soul, a spiritual spark only, leaves this

body, you cannot see. Therefore, atheistic class of men, they speculate,

"There may be a soul; there may not be soul." Or, "The bodily function was

going like this; now it stopped. The blood corpuscles now cease. It is no

more red; it is white; therefore life..." These are speculation. This is not

actual knowledge. Actual knowledge you get from the authority, Krsna. He

says, tatha dehantara-praptir dhiras tatra na muhyati. Just like the soul is

passing through different stages. Dehino 'smin yatha dehe [bg. 2.13]. Deha,

deha means this body. Asmin dehe, in this body, there is dehi. Dehi means

who is the owner of this body. That is soul. That is passing through

childhood, boyhood, babyhood, youthhood, old age. Everyone, you can perceive

that you were a child, you were a baby, you were a boy. Now you are young or

old man. So you are there. So as you are passing through different types of

bodies, similarly, when you give up this body you accept another body. What

is the difficulty? Tatha dehantara-praptir dhiras tatra na muhyati [bg.

2.13]. There is no question of becoming astonished, how transmigration of

the self, soul, takes place. The vivid example is there. Simply you require

little intelligence. That intelligence is developed through the instruction

of acarya. Therefore, Vedic injunction is not to acquire knowledge by

speculation. That is useless. Athapi te deva padambuja-dvayam janati tattvam

prasada-lesanugrhita eva hi, na canya eko 'pi ciram vicinvan [sB 10.14.29].

Ciram vicinvan. Ciram means for thousands of years you can speculate; you

cannot understand what is God. That is not possible. But if you receive

knowledge from the devotee, he can deliver you. Therefore Vedic injunction

is that tad-vijnana... [break] ...in order to understand tad-vijnana...

Vijnana means science. If you want to know the transcendental science, then

you must approach a guru. Tad-vijnanartham, in order to... If you are at all

interested to understand the spiritual science. Tad- vijnanartham (sa) gurum

eva abhigacchet [MU 1.2.12]. You must approach guru. Guru means this

disciplic succession, as I have explained.

So Bhaktivinoda Thakura is an ideal guru. He was not a sannyasi; he

was grhastha, householder, living with family, wife, children. Still, he was

guru. So anyone can become guru. Not that a sannyasi can become guru. A

householder also can become guru, provided he knows the science. Caitanya

Mahaprabhu, when He was talking with Ramananda Raya... Caitanya Mahaprabhu

was a sannyasi, very highly born in brahmana family, very learned scholar.

So He was talking with Ramananda Raya, a grhastha, governor of Madras. And

He was questioning, and Ramananda Raya was answering. That means he was

taking the part of guru, and Caitanya Mahaprabhu was taking the part of a

disciple. So he was hesitating, Ramananda Raya. He thought himself that "I

am a grhastha; I'm not even a brahmana. Besides that, I am dealing in

material affairs. I am governor, politics. And Caitanya Mahaprabhu is a

sannyasi, born of a high-class brahmana family. So it does not look well

that I shall teach Him." So he was hesitating. Caitanya Mahaprabhu said,

"Oh, why you are hesitating?" He said,

kiba vipra, kiba sudra, nyasi kene naya

yei krsna-tattva-vetta, sei 'guru' haya

[Cc. Madhya 8.128]

He said, "Don't hesitate. Either one may become a brahmana or one may become

a sudra..." Kiba vipra, kiba sudra. Vipra means brahmana, and sudra. Sudra

is the fourth-grade human being. Brahmana is the first grade. So kiba vipra,

kiba sudra. He may be a first-grade human being or the lowest grade human

being, or he may become a sannyasi or a grhastha. It does not matter. Anyone

who knows the science of Krsna, he can become a guru. This is the verdict.

Because spiritual science does not belong to the bodily platform. It is on

the spiritual platform. It is very nice. Just like when you go to a lawyer

or to an engineer or to a physician. You do not inquire whether he's a

brahmana or sudra. Simply you have to know whether he's a lawyer. That's

all. Whether he's a physician actually. If he knows the medical science, he

may be a brahmana, he may be a sudra, he may be a sannyasi, he may be a

householder. It doesn't matter. Your business is with a physician, with a

lawyer. Similarly, your business is to understand Krsna. So anyone who knows

Krsna perfectly, you have to go there. Tad- vijnanartham sa gurum

evabhigacchet [MU 1.2.12]. It is... Vedic injunction is not that you have to

approach a sannyasi or a grhastha or an Indian or American. No. Gurum. And

guru means who knows the science of Krsna.

So, this Bhaktivinoda Thakura was grhastha, very responsible

officer, magistrate. And he was so exalted that he would come from his

office generally at five o'clock, then take his supper and immediately go to

bed. Immediately. Say at seven o'clock in the evening he goes to bed, and he

wakes up at twelve o'clock. So suppose he goes to bed at seven o'clock in

the evening and wakes up at twelve o'clock at night; it is sufficient sleep,

five hours. One should not sleep more than five to six hours. Minimize as

far as possible. The Gosvamis used to sleep not more than one and a half

hour, or two hours. Sleeping is not very important thing. Even big

politicians, they used to sleep for two hours. So especially in spiritual

line, they should minimize as far as possible eating, sleeping, mating,

defending. Minimize. Gradually it comes to nil. Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, he

was eating only a little piece of butter every alternate days, not daily. So

this Bhaktivinoda Thakura, regularly he was coming from his office, and

after taking his supper immediately he goes to bed, and wake up at twelve

o'clock, and he used to write books. He wrote, he left behind him about one

hundred books. And he excavated the birthplace of Lord Caitanya, organized

how to develop that birth site, Mayapur. He had so many business. He used to

go to preach about Caitanya's philosophy. He used to sell books to foreign

countries. In 1896 he attempted to sell Life and Precepts of Caitanya in the

MacGill University in Montreal. So he was busy, acarya. So one has to adjust

things. Not that "Because I am grhastha, householder, I cannot become a

preacher. It is the business..." (aside:) Give me water. "It is the business

of the sannyasi or brahmacari." No. It is the business of everyone. The

whole world is suffering for want of knowledge. The present civilization is

animal civilization. They do not know anything beyond eating, sleeping,

mating and defending. That's all. This is animal civilization. Animal does

not know beyond these four principles of life: eating, sleeping, mating and

defending. That's all. No. Human life is meant for something else: "What I

am? What is God? What is my relation with God? What is this material world?

Why I am here? Where I have to go next?" So many things one has to learn.

Athato brahma jijnasa. This is human life. Not that eat and sleep and have

sex life and die someday like cats and dogs. Therefore, there is need of

acaryas, teachers, for propagating spiritual knowledge, Krsna consciousness.

Bhaktivinoda Thakura was... Although he was a grhastha, householder, a

government officer, magistrate, but he was acarya. So from his dealings,

from his life, we should learn how one can become a preacher in any stage of

life. It doesn't matter what he is.

There was one incidence, very interesting. When he was magistrate in

Jagannatha Puri... The system is... Jagannatha temple is a very big

establishment. In the temple fifty-six times daily, bhoga is offered. And

you'll find in the temple always at least five hundred to one thousand

people gathered. And they come from outside, and prasada is ready. If you go

and ask in the Jagannatha temple that "We are one hundred men come from

outside. We want prasada," yes, immediately ready. So it is a huge temple.

This is one temple, but there are many other thousands of temple in India

where prasada is distributed. Now it is minimized by our present government.

They think that it is unnecessary expenditure. They are minimizing. But not

unnecessary expenditure. They do not understand. Formerly, in India there

was no necessity of hotel. Anyone goes anywhere, even in a village, he goes

to a temple -- prasada is ready. There is no need of going to a hotel. You

pay or don't pay. If you say that "I want little prasada,Yes, take it."

That is the system still. There is the Nathadvara temple in Rajasthan. You

pay two annas only. Two annas means one cent. You get sumptuous prasada for

two mens, all very nice prasada, still. So prasada distribution in temple is

longstanding usage. So Bhaktivinoda Thakura... The Jagannatha temple is

managed by a body, and it is the custom that the local magistrate of the

district, he becomes the president, or manager. So Bhaktivinoda Thakura was

manager in that sense, because he was magistrate. The managing committee was

being presided by him. So there was a complaint. In Orissa, this Jagannatha

temple is situated in Orissa. Utkala. Utkala, this state, was originally

belonging to Dhruva Maharaja. His son's name was Utkala, Maharaja Utkala.

Anyway, so this Utkala, there was a pseudo yogi. He declared himself that...

Just like you'll find nowadays also, there are so many rascals declaring

that "I am incarnation of God." And they know some mystic power, play some

jugglery, and foolish people take them: "Oh, he's God." So there appeared

one like such pseudo God, Visnu, in a village of Orissa. And he was dancing

rasa dance, and foolish people were sending their daughters and wife to

dance with him. You see? There were so many. Not only that. People are so

foolish, they do not know... They want to be cheated, and these cheaters

come. He declared that "I am God. I am Visnu." So there were sane men also.

They took objection, "What is this nonsense? This man is dancing with ladies

and gentlemen, er, girls." So they filed a complaint. At that time it was

British rule. They complained to the governor or the commissioner, very high

officer. The commissioner knew that Bhaktivinoda Thakura... His name was

Kedaranatha Datta. Datta. Kedaranatha Datta, his household name. So the

commissioner of the division, he knew that Kedaranatha Datta is a religious

man, and he's magistrate in charge. So he handed over the case for inquiry,

"What is this complaint? You please inquire and do the needful." So he was a

pure devotee, and he understood that "This rascal is a bogus man, cheating

people. I must inquire." So he went to the village in plain dress with some

constables, police constables. They were also in plain dress. And as soon as

he approached that rascal yogi, he said, "Oh, you are Kedaranatha Datta. So,

very nice. You are... I shall make you king of India. Please don't try to

bother me." Because he could know that "He has come to inquire about my

rasa-lila." So Bhaktivinoda Thakura first of all said, "Sir, you are such a

great yogi. Why you are in the village? Why don't you go to Jagannatha Puri?

There is temple and Lord Jagannatha is there. Better you go there and see

the Lord and be happy. Why you are in this village?Oh, Jagannatha? Ah,

that is made of wood. I am personally the Supreme Lord. That is made of

wood." Oh, then Bhaktivinoda Thakura -- he was a devotee -- he became fire.

(laughter) He was insulting. Arcye sila-dhir gurusu nara-matih. According to

sastra, if somebody thinks... Just like here is Deity. If somebody thinks,

"Oh, it is made of stone..." It is stone to the eyes of the nondevotee, but

it is personally Supreme Personality of Godhead to the devotees. It requires

the eyes to see. So devotee sees in a different angle of vision. Just like

Caitanya Mahaprabhu, when He entered Jagannatha temple immediately He

fainted: "Oh, here is My Lord." And the nondevotee is seeing: "It is wood, a

lump of wood." Therefore, to the nondevotee, He remains always as wood, but

to the devotee He speaks. That is the difference.

Premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena [bs. 5.38]. If God is everything, why

wood, through wood and stone, God cannot manifest? If God is everything?

According to Mayavada philosophy... That's a fact. God, omnipotent. He can

express Himself even through wood and stone. That is God's omnipotency. That

is called omnipotency. Not that God is unable to express Himself through

wood and stone. Then how He's omnipotent? Omnipotent means His potency can

be expressed through anything. Because anything, everything is the expansion

of God's energy. Parasya brahmanah saktis tathedam akhilam jagat. The whole

world is manifestation of different energies of God. Therefore... Just like

through the energy of electricity the electric powerhouse, although far, far

away from this place, was expressing. There is electricity. Through this

glass, through these wires, the power can be expressed. There is a process.

So Bhaktivinoda Thakura became very much... Because a devotee cannot

tolerate blaspheming another devotee or God. So as soon as he said that "Why

shall I go to Jagannatha Puri to see the wooden Jagannatha? I am personally

Visnu," Bhaktivinoda Thakura immediately ordered his constables, "Arrest

him. Arrest this rascal." So he was arrested. And when he was arrested... He

had some yogic mystic power. All the constables, Bhaktivinoda Thakura, and

his family members became affected with high fever, 105 degrees fever. So

when he came back, his wife became very much disturbed that "You arrested

Visnu, and we are all going to die. We have now high fever." Bhaktivinoda

Thakura replied, "Yes, let us all die, but this rascal must be punished."

This is the view of pure devotee. So he was put into the custody. And there

was a date fixed for his trial, and all these days Bhaktivinoda Thakura

himself and his family especially, they were suffering from high fever.

Maybe that yogi was planning to kill the whole family. But it was going on

as fever. So on the trial day, Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Kedaranatha Datta, when

he came to the bench the man was presented, the so-called yogi, and he had

big, big hairs. So Bhaktivinoda Thakura ordered that "Bring one barber and

cut his hair." So no barber dared. The barbers thought, "Oh, he's a Lord

Visnu. If I offend, as he's suffering from fever, so I shall also die." So

Bhaktivinoda Thakura ordered that "Give me the scissor. I'll cut." So he cut

his hairs and ordered him to be put into jail for six months, and in the

jail that Visnu incarnation managed to take some poison, and he died.

So this is one of the incidents. There are many incidences. He was

very strong man. He punished many pandas in the tirthas who exploit

visitors. So, this is the position of devotee. In spite of his becoming a

responsible magistrate, a householder, still, he was acarya. So we have to

follow the acaryas. If we at all, if we are at all interested in spiritual

science, then we must follow the Vedic instruction, tad-vijnanartham sa

gurum evabhigacchet [MU 1.2.12]. We must approach. You cannot have spiritual

knowledge simply by speculating. Impossible. Simply waste of time. Srama eva

hi kevalam. You must go to the... In the Bhagavad-gita, therefore, it is

recommended, acaryopasanam. Acarya-upasana. Not only worshiping the Lord,

but also the acarya. Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, guru-krsna-krpaya paya

bhakti- lata-bija [Cc. Madhya 19.151]. Guru, acarya, and Krsna. One should

seek favor of both of them. Not that "I am now seeking favor of Krsna. What

is the use of guru or acarya?" No. You cannot overlap acarya and go to

Krsna. That is not possible. Krsna will not accept you. Just like if you

want to see a big man you should go through his secretary, through his

orderly, doorkeeper; similarly, our process is acaryopasanam, go through the

acarya. That is the injunction of the Vedas. Tarko 'pratisthah. If you want

to enter into the spiritual world, you cannot get through simply by

arguments. Because there is no limit of argument. I place my argument in one

way. Another man, who is better arguer, he places his argument in a

different way. So if you simply go on arguing, it is not possible. Tarko

'pratisthah. It will never help you. Argument. Srutayo vibhinnah. If you

think that "I shall read scriptures and I shall understand God," no, that is

also not possible. Srutayo vibhinnah. Scriptures are also different. Because

scriptures are made according to time, circumstances, people. Just like

Bible. Bible Lord Jesus Christ preached in the desert, Jerusalem. Or where

it is? People who were not so advanced. Therefore his first instruction is

"Thou shall not kill." That means they were very much engaged in killing

affairs; otherwise, why is this instruction? And actually, it so happened

that they killed Jesus Christ. So that society was not very enlightened

society. So a scripture for a society which is not very enlightened and a

scripture for a society which is very enlightened must be different. Just

like a dictionary. For the schoolboy, a pocket dictionary. And for a college

student, international, big dictionary. Both of them are dictionaries. But

the small pocket dictionary is not equal to the big dictionary. Because it

is different made for different classes of men. So scriptures are made

according to different classes of men. There are three classes of men:

first-class, second-class, and third-class. The third-class man cannot

understand the philosophy and scriptural injunctions of the first-class man.

That is not possible. Higher mathematics cannot be understood by the small

schoolboys who are simply trying to understand "Two plus two equal to four."

But "Two plus two equal to four" is equally good to the higher mathematics

student. But still, higher mathematics and lower math is different.

Therefore it is said, srutayo vibhinnah: the scriptures are different. So if

you simply try to understand what is God by reading scriptures, you cannot

achieve. You must approach a guru. Just like a medical book. It can be

available in the market. If you purchase one medical book and study and you

become doctor, that is not possible. You must hear the medical book from a

medical man in the college, medical college. Then you will be qualified. And

if you say, "Sir, I have read all the medical books. Recognize me as a

medical practitioner," no, that will be not.

So srutayo vibhinnah. Scriptures are different. Arguments, that is

also not helpful. One man may argue better than me. Then philosophy. The

philosophy, it is said, nasau munir yasya matam na bhinnam. One philosopher

is differing from another philosopher. Just now today Syamasundara has

purchased one book about different philosophers. So that you also cannot

ascertain what is truth. Therefore sastra says, dharmasya tattvam nihitam

guhayam. The truth is very confidential. So if you want to know that truth,

mahajano yena gatah sa panthah [Cc. Madhya 17.186], you should have to

follow the great acaryas. Then you will understand. Therefore acarya-upasana

is essential. Acarya-upasana is very essential. In all the Vedic sastras the

injunction is that. Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet, srotriyam

brahma- nistham [MU 1.2.12]. Tasmad gurum prapadyeta jijnasuh sreya uttamam

[sB 11.3.21]. Anyone who is inquisitive to understand higher truths, he must

surrender to guru. Tasmad gurum prapadyeta, jijnasuh sreya uttamam. One who

is inquisitive, who is now inquiring about transcendental subject matter.

Tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya [bg. 4.34]. So all the sastras

says, in our Vaisnava sastra also, Rupa Gosvami says, adau gurv-asrayam: "In

the first beginning, you must take shelter of a bona fide guru."

So this Bhaktivinoda Thakura's birthday, we should adore, we should

worship, because in the modern age he reintroduced the disciplic succession.

>From Caitanya Mahaprabhu... Five hundred years ago, Caitanya Mahaprabhu

taught this philosophy, but within two hundred years... Because this

material world is so made that whatever you introduce, in due course of time

it will deteriorate. You make a nice house, but after one hundred years, two

hundred years, or nowadays, even after fifty years, it becomes dilapidated.

That is the nature's law, kala. Time will destroy everything. Now, British

empire, such a big, vast empire, now it is finished. The kala, the time,

will make everything finished. That is material. Anything material, it has

birth, it has growth, it has got some opulence, then dwindling, then

finished. That is the way of material... So we are interested in spiritual

subject matter. Therefore the process is adau gurv-asrayam. One has to

accept a bona fide spiritual master. That is our process. Without accepting

a bona fide spiritual master, we cannot make any progress. It is impossible.

So Bhaktivinoda Thakura happens to be acaryas, one of the acaryas. And he

has left behind him many books. Caitanya-siksamrta, Jaiva Dharma. These are

very important books. They're in Bengali, in Sanskrit. And many songs. He

has prepared many books of song. The song, Ei nam gaya gauracand madhura

svare, that is Bhaktivinoda Thakura's song. So we are trying to present

Bhaktivinoda Thakura's books also in English translation. Gradually you will

get it. So our adoration, our worship to Bhaktivinoda Thakura today because

he may bless us to make peacefully progress in Krsna consciousness.

Acarya-upasana, simply by the blessings of the acaryas we can make very

rapid progress. Vedesu durlabham adurlabham atma- bhaktau [bs. 5.33]. If

we... Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah... **. We sing every day. By the

mercy of the spiritual master, acarya, we immediately get the blessings of

Lord. Immediately. Yasya prasadat. Yasya means "whose"; prasadat,

"benediction." By the benediction of the spiritual master. Yasya prasadad

bhagavat-prasadah **. If spiritual master, acarya, is pleased, then you

should know that Krsna is also pleased. You should know through. This is not

very difficult. Just like you are working in office. If your immediate

officer, boss, is pleased, that means the proprietor of the firm, he's also

pleased. Although you do not see him. This is fact. Your immediate boss, if

he's pleased. So similarly, we, our business, this spiritual line, is

guru-krsna- krpa. We have to first receive the merciful benediction from the

acarya, and then Krsna will be pleased and He'll also give His blessings.

Mad-bhakta. There is a version in the Srimad- Bhagavatam, mad-bhakta

pujyabhyadhika. He says, Krsna says, that "If anyone worships Me directly

and if anyone worships Me through the acarya, he's better devotee who is

coming to Me through acarya." Mad-bhakta pujyabhyadhika.

So our, this Vaisnava philosophy, process, is to go through the

acarya. Servant of the servant of the servant. We should try to become

servant of the servant. Gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayor dasa-dasanudasah [Cc.

Madhya 13.80]. Dasa-dasanudasah. We should not approach the Supreme

Personality of Godhead directly. That is not good. That will not be... In

the Vedic injunction also it is said, yasya deve para bhaktir yatha deve

tatha gurau [sU 6.23]. If one has got unflinching faith in the Supreme

Personality of Godhead, yatha deve, and similar faith in guru... Of course,

we must make guru bona fide. Then it is disciplic succession. And that is

also not very difficult to select, who is bona fide guru. Bona fide guru

means he presents himself as servant of God. He does not pose himself

falsely that "I am God." This is bona fide. It is not difficult to find out

bona fide. But this is the test. If anyone says that "I am guru," er, "I am

God," then he cannot be guru. Because he has no knowledge. How he is God?

But he can cheat some people. That is different thing. You can cheat all

people for some time and some people for all time, but not all people for

all time. That is not possible. So these kinds of guru, who poses themself

that "I am God," he's a false guru. The bona fide guru will say that "I am

servant of the servant of the servant of Krsna," or God. Servant of [Cc.

Madhya 13.80]. That is the business of guru. He serves Krsna as Krsna

desires; that is his business. That is also not very difficult. Krsna says,

Krsna desires, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [bg. 18.66],

that "You give up all other engagement; just surrender unto Me, and I'll

give you protection." Krsna says. So guru's business is that "You simply

surrender to Krsna." What is the difficulty? Simply repeat the same thing.

Not for himself, but for Krsna. He's bona fide guru.

So our this Krsna consciousness movement is very bona fide because

we say the same thing as Krsna says. We don't make any addition, alteration.

Not like big scholars like, "It is not to Krsna..." Krsna says, man-mana

bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [bg. 18.65], and the scholar

interprets, "It is not to Krsna." Just see (the) foolishness. Krsna directly

says, "unto Me." He says, "Not to Krsna." Misleading. Such misleading guru

will not help you. So therefore to find out a bona fide guru means that he

does not change the words of Krsna. That is his position. He places

everything as it is, and he has understood thoroughly the science. Jijnasuh

sreya uttamam. Guru, what is the symptom of guru? Tasmad gurum prapadyeta

jijnasuh sreya uttamam [sB 11.3.21]. Those who are inquisitive to understand

higher scientific knowledge, uttamam. Uttama means higher. Uttama, madhyama,

adhama. There are three words. First-class, second-class, third-class. So

spiritual knowledge is uttamam. Anyone who is inquisitive to understand

first-class knowledge, he requires to go to a guru. Those who are interested

in third-class knowledge, they do not require any guru. Third-class

knowledge means animal knowledge: how to eat, how to sleep. How to make

arrangement for eating, how to make arrangement for sleeping, that is

third-class knowledge. Because the animals also try for this kind of

knowledge, how to eat, how to sleep. Therefore this kind of knowledge is

third-class knowledge. And second-class knowledge is "What I am?" Athato

brahma jijnasa. The Vedanta. That is second-class knowledge. And first-class

knowledge, when he actually understands what he is, he is eternal servant of

Krsna, and engages himself in the service of the Lord, that is first-class

knowledge. And therefore, as soon as he comes to the first-class knowledge

platform, he becomes happy.

brahma-bhutah prasannatma

na socati na kanksati

samah sarvesu bhutesu

mad-bhaktim labhate param

[bg. 18.54]

So after being liberated from the material concept of life by the blessings

of Krsna and guru, one comes to the platform of first-class knowledge, where

he engages himself directly in the service of the Lord. That is first-class

knowledge. First-class knowledge means beyond liberation. Second-class

knowledge is trying for liberation. Third-class knowledge means in bondage,

like animal. The animals, they are bound up by the particular type of body

and has no, I mean to say, possibility of becoming liberated. That is animal

life. But human life is better than animal life because he, if he likes, he

can make himself liberated from this bondage of material body. That is the

facility. He can understand himself what he is. He can understand what is

God. He can understand the relationship between God and himself. He can

understand what is this material world. Because there are thousands of books

of knowledge. Take it for Bhagavad- gita. Everything is there. And it is

meant for human being, not for the cats and dogs. Cats and dogs cannot

understand, but a human being can understand.

So our this Krsna consciousness movement is to enlighten people to

utilize his very nice life, human form of life, utilize it properly. To

utilize it properly means to revive his dormant Krsna consciousness. The

Krsna consciousness, or God consciousness, is there already. It is developed

in human form of life. But it is now covered because due to our association

with this material world for unlimited years background. We are coming

through different species of life. Millions and millions of years passed

away. Suppose I was a tree sometimes. I was standing up for ten thousand

years in one place. We have passed through. That's a fact. That is

evolution. Now we have the opportunity of light. If you don't use this

opportune moment and again go back to the cycle of evolutionary process,

jalaja nava-laksani sthavara... So these are great science. Unfortunately,

there is no opportunity for the people to study this science in school,

colleges, or universities. They are simply teaching people that "You work

hard and gratify your senses." That's all. Therefore a section, younger

section, they have been disgusted. They have refused to cooperate with this

society on account of this disappointing education. And it will increase.

Because this sort of education cannot give peace or prosperity to the

people. Problems are increasing. Therefore, our request is that if you want

to decrease or completely finish all the problems of life, take to Krsna

consciousness in the process of disciplic succession and you'll be all

happy.

Thank you very much. (devotees offer obeisances)

Syamasundara: Prabhupada, are you going to answer any questions?

Prabhupada: Yes.

Syamasundara: If anyone has any questions pertaining to the lecture, you can

ask them at this time. They should be pertaining to the lecture.

Devotee girl: Did Bhaktivinoda Thakura, he also took sannyasa in later

years? Is this right?

Syamasundara: Did Bhaktivinoda Thakura take sannyasa in later years?

Prabhupada: Yes. In very late years. In his retired life.

Syamasundara: Any other questions?

Devotee: Prabhupada, you say that an animal has no chance for liberation.

What would happen if an animal came in contact with a pure devotee?

Prabhupada: Yes, there is chance of deliverance. Yes. Even an animal.

Because he'll hear Hare Krsna from the pure devotee. That will not go in

vain. He'll give prasadam. He does not know, but the devotee out of

compassion gives prasadam, chants Hare Krsna. He also gets the opportunity

of hearing. So he'll also be liberated. One dog, during Caitanya

Mahaprabhu's time, he also became liberated. There is a history. Sivananda

Sena's dog, he was liberated by the grace of Lord Caitanya. So by the

association of pure devotee... Therefore Bhaktivinoda Thakura's, there is

one song. He prays to the Lord that kita-janma hou jatha tuya dasa. Kita

means insect. "My Lord, if I have to take my birth again..." Because a

devotee does not pray to God for liberation. He simply prays that "Wherever

I may take my birth, I may not forget You." That's all. That is devotee's

prayer. A devotee does not say that "Elevate me to the heavenly planet or

Vaikuntha planet." No. "You can put me anywhere." Just like Bhaktivinoda

Thakura says, kita-janma hou: "My dear Lord, I have no objection if I have

to take my birth next as an insect." What to speak of human being or other

thing. "As an insect. But I must be in the house of a devotee." So that an

insect, by eating the remnants of foodstuff left by the devotee, he'll be

delivered. Kita-janma hou jatha tuya, bahir-mukha brahma-janma nahi mora

asa: "I don't want my next birth as Lord Brahma if I forget You. I don't

want." That is wanted. A devotee prays to the Lord that he would be able to

constantly remember the lotus feet of the Lord. Never mind whether as insect

or as king or as dog, never mind. That is devotee's, pure devotee.

Indian man: If one has accepted a bona fide spiritual master and he did not

receive much knowledge from him, can he change his spiritual master at

later...

Prabhupada: A bona fide spiritual master, where is the necessity of

changing?

Indian man: No, he has not got the knowledge from him, but can I change...?

Prabhupada: No, no. Bona fide spiritual means he must get knowledge. He must

get knowledge. He must inquire from the... The student must inquire from the

spiritual master. If he remains dumb, then what bona fide spiritual master

can do? Adau gurv- asrayam sad-dharma-prcchat, jijnasuh. He must be

jijnasuh. He must be jijnasuh. We get so many letters daily. So many

inquiries. The student must be very inquisitive. Otherwise how he shall make

progress? If he remains dumb, then what the bona fide spiritual master can

do? If you go to a very nice school but if you do not study, if you do not

inquire, then what is the use of going to the nice school? You must be also

very alert to inquire, to understand, to make progress. Then it will be all

right. If you do not utilize the benefit of having a bona fide spiritual

master, then that is your fault. You must utilize the opportunity. We are

publishing so many books, so many literatures, magazines. Why? Just to

enlighten more and more. But if you don't take advantage of this, then how

can you make progress? Change of spiritual master requires when the

spiritual master is not bona fide. Otherwise there is no necessity of

changing.

Indian lady: How does one contact the spiritual master? Through a book can

you contact the spiritual master?

Prabhupada: No, you have to associate.

Syamasundara: "Can you associate through a book?" she asked.

Prabhupada: Yes, through books, and also personal. Because when you make a

spiritual master you have got personal touch. Not that in air you make a

spiritual master. You make a spiritual master concrete. So as soon as you

make a spiritual master, you should be inquisitive.

English man: If the spiritual master, Prabhupada, worships God through a

demigod, is he bona fide?

Prabhupada: No. He does not know how to worship. How he can be bona fide?

Krsna says, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam [bg. 18.66]. Why he should go

to the demigods? That means he has no knowledge. Krsna says, mam ekam. Why

should you go to others? That means he's insufficiently qualified. Why

should you go to the demigods? What is the necessity? He's not bona fide.

Because he has insufficient knowledge. Bona fide spiritual must be

sufficiently knowledge. Krsna says, mam ekam; God says, mam ekam. Why he

should go to demigods? That is his proof that he's not bona fide.

Devotee: If one accepts initiation from a bona fide spiritual master but

continues to perform material activities, are they still bound by the karma?

Prabhupada: He has to do everything under the instruction of the spiritual

master. That is his duty. Sisya. Sisya means who voluntarily accepts

disciplinary measures from the spiritual master. He's ruled by the spiritual

master.

Indian lady: Can the death of a spiritual master take to us, or I can get...

Is that spiritual master still guiding after the death? (?)

Prabhupada: Yes, yes. Just like Krsna is guiding us, similarly, spiritual

master will guide. We are being guided by Krsna, by the Bhagavad-gita.

Although Krsna is not physically present, so- called... Krsna is present

always. But even if we say that Krsna is not physically present as He was

present before Arjuna, still, His book, Bhagavad-gita, is there. And that

Bhagavad-gita is nondifferent from Krsna. Krsna and Krsna's teaching, the

same, absolute. That is Absolute Truth. Krsna and Krsna's... Here form, the

same. It is not that we are making show of offering Krsna some food. No, we

are offering directly to Krsna and He's eating. Krsna being absolute, He can

perform through anything provided we are sincere and serious. All right.

(end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => His Divine Grace Srila Sac-cid-ananda Bhaktivinoda

Thakura's Appearance Day, Lecture -- London, September 23, 1969