The Uttama-adhikari as taught in Purport to NOI 5

[Guest guest]

Dear Maharaja,

 

Please accept my humble obeisances.

 

 

I have read your coment with delight, having no so often oportunity

to hear from our most senior devotees speaking on this topic, in

public forums.

 

There have been some essential dissagriment here.

 

You wrote:

 

>

> I agree with Janesvara point here. We do a disservice to Srila Prabhupada,

> ourselves, and our disciples, if we present ourselves, or allow our

> disciples and well wishers to present us as "uttama-adhikaris" or

> "maha-bhagavatas".

 

According to different devotees none else but an infallible

uttama-adhikari is to be accepted as a bona fide guru in the

line of our disciplic succession. The base for this are Srila

Prabhupada's statements. Now, the question is, in the light of

such rather a stressful and demanding situation, how a disciple

can go on in his conviction that his guru is a bona fide one

at al, if his guru is not seen as an uttama-adhikari?

 

Or, to be more direct. The dilemma that is hitting the heads of

many is -- May a Vaisnava of a lesser staus than an uttama-adhikari

also be accepted as a bona fide guru, able to connect disciples to

the Guru-parampara and Krsna?

 

 

> We should have learned by now that if we don't present the actual facts of

> the situation, (for the benefit of everyone), for the supposed advantage

> of "furthering the preaching", we simple create chaos.

>

 

 

ys

Mahanidhi das.

[Guest guest]

>

> According to different devotees none else but an infallible

> uttama-adhikari is to be accepted as a bona fide guru in the

> line of our disciplic succession. The base for this are Srila

> Prabhupada's statements. Now, the question is, in the light of

> such rather a stressful and demanding situation, how a disciple

> can go on in his conviction that his guru is a bona fide one

> at al, if his guru is not seen as an uttama-adhikari?

>

> Or, to be more direct. The dilemma that is hitting the heads of

> many is -- May a Vaisnava of a lesser staus than an uttama-adhikari

> also be accepted as a bona fide guru, able to connect disciples to

> the Guru-parampara and Krsna?

 

So Caitanya Mahaprabhu recommends that yare dekha tare kaha krsna-upadesa: [Cc.

Madhya 7.128] "You simply deliver the instruction of Krsna, and you become a

spiritual master."

So you haven't got to make yourself very learned scholar or... Just like a

postal peon. He's not necessarily very learned scholar or even a very literary

man. His only business is to take the envelope and put it in the right place.

That's all. Similarly, to spread this Krsna consciousness, you haven't got to

become a very learned scholar or literary man. You have simply to understand...

Sravanam kirtanam. You hear and spread this. People will be happy.

Akhila-bandha-muktaye. They will be liberated from all problems. It is so nice

thing.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.13 -- New Vrindaban, June 16, 1969

 

 

 

The important thing is the sampradaya.

 

We all have access to an uttama adhikari through the siksa of Srila prabhupada.

 

Why should we be so puffed up to think - none one can help me advance in Krsna

consciousness except an uttama? I am so advanced I will accept only from an

uttama.

 

I coached soccer for under 12 year old boys last spring. It is a subtle joy

to

hear karmis cheering for boys named Tilok, Tulasi, and Rupa(devotee boys I

bring to the local soccer club with me), and encouraging those boys to succeed

along side their own children.

 

I am not a very good coach. Coach to a soccer player is like guru. I am only

on the level of kanistha when it comes to coaching. However, because I am

the

authorised representative of the local club, the sampradaya so to speak, I am

able to connect the players with the goal of being able to play in a game.

That

I am limited in my ability to coach them, is going to have a limiting effect

on

their ability to play, no doubt. Fortunately, they are not totally restrained

by my limits. They can read books by great coaches and players, see videos of

great games, and benefit by those examples. In this way they can access the

great uttama coaches. They can go to soccer clinics and learn hands on from

better coaches then me.

 

Still, without me, even with my limited abilities, they won't be able to put

that knowledge into practice, or should I say, into play. They should seek

the higher knowledge, but they can also benefit from me, even if I am not the

highest level of coach. If they don't seek that, then they will be limited

by

my ability to coach them.

 

Of course, as a coach, I have a responsibity to my players to become the best

coach I can possibly be. Thus I am also studying the books, learning from

other coaches etc. I have even taken up playing the sport, so I can

experience

the game from the perspective of the player so I can better understand how they

are thinking on the field. I am not thinking, oh now I am the coach, I am on

the highest level , therefore I can be complacent.

 

Yes, seek an uttama, but don't snub the kanisthas and madhyamas. They are

still devotees.