Hearing from the Pure Devotee

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"COM: Samba (das) SDG (Mauritius)" wrote:

 

> [Text 2339866 from COM]

>

> ...How many times do I have to repeat this. Bhaktisiddhanta's point is that

> 'no

> honest man can miss the message of Bhaktivinoda'. He grants that by empiric

> study, no one can misunderstand, that one needs to HEAR from the LIPS of the

> pure devotee, the writings of Bhaktivinoda. That is the entire point of the

> article.

 

Janesvara maintains that only an uttama adhikari can deliver his disciple,

therefore, everyone must take diksa initiation from Srila Prabhupada. That is

the rtvik philosophy. It sidesteps the issue that someone can derive the same

benefit by sincerely taking Srila Prabhupada as their siksa guru.

 

But I think that this perspective suffers from being too narrow. The problem

is

that the interpretation is too literal -- that someone must physically hear

from

the lips of another person to be delivered. I have read accounts of deaf

devotees who became very enthusiastic in Krsna consciousness. Does this mean

that their spiritual progress is all an illusion.

 

And, as much as I have shown impatience with Janesvara prabhu, I think his

logic, that Srila Prabhupada himself *initiated* devotees without ever actually

physically speaking to them, shows that Srila Prabhupada himself had a much

broader understanding of "hearing from the lips." It is meant to be a

figurative statement, not a literal one. We are hearing from Srila

Prabhupada's

lips when we read his "Bhaktivedanta Purports." That is hearing from Srila

Prabhupada. That is receiving knowledge about the science of Krsna

consciousness which has been specially packaged for our contemporary

understanding by Srila Prabhuapada.

 

I am also not in favor of waiting forever to find that "pure devotee" to

initiate one.

 

The ISKCON GBC, if it is serious about its mission of providing spiritual

guidance, and I believe it is, should at least prepare a booklet which would

give actual practical and sastric guidance on how to select a spiritual master.

Then, the devotee with all his heart and soul should chant Hare Krsna and pray

to Krsna and Srila Prabhupada to send him a spiritual master. When he feels

reasonably sure that this person is bona fide, he should take initiation. All

the while, he should be developing and increasing his siksa relationship with

Srila Prabhupada. With that relationship, if he is humble and sincere, he will

be saved -- no matter what else happens.

 

I think we make a mistake when we opt for a very narrow, literal interpretation

of "hearing from the lips" since this is not in agreement with the example that

Srila Prabhupada himself consistently presented in dealing with his own diksa

disciples. By dwelling on this problem, I think we create obstacles,

complexities and impediments to spiritual life, which are actually not there.

 

your servant,

 

Hare Krsna dasi