Siksa as most important guru

[Guest guest]

On 01 Jul 1999, Srila Dasa wrote:

 

 

> Without proper association, guidance and confirmation from more advanced

> devotees, what is to keep anyone of us from developing perverted and

selfishly

> motivated interpretations of SP's books?

 

 

We are looking for TOO MANY answers for unnecessary questions and end up

looking in TOO MANY places for these "answers". Prabhupada said everything is

there in his books. This makes it very simple program. If its not in his books

it is probably not a very important consideration for us to dwell upon in the

interests of high philosophical debates or

arguments. For a select few brahmanas this might be useful, but quite a

diversion for most human beings.

 

 

 

> You seem to say that simply by reading Prabhupada's books, this obviates the

> need to seek out any other guru or sadhu for guidance and accepting them as

> genuine spiritual authority.

 

 

What is it one needs more than the siska association of Srila Prabhupada in

his books? We can all associate with one another everyday and that is nice and

favorable. But enough answers for spiritual life have been given by Srila

Prabhupada; now we need to implement the instructions practicably by

implementing varnasrama-dharma and chanting the holy names of God at the same

time.

 

I think too many are searching for that "golden secret philosophical anecdote

in the sky" which will propel them to the front of the class. Its not there.

The instructions for success have been given in the books. If you can't find

them there you looking for the wrong thing.

 

Its not that we CAN'T read other books or seek other association from

Vaisnavas of different lands to fulfill some natural "thirst" for Krsna katha

(I love reading Mahabharata and Ramayana everyday), but we do not need to ever

imply that we MUST because there isn't enough there in Srila Prabhupada's

books. That is wrong.

 

 

 

> If you recall, however, this idea of "only accepting Prabhupada" was a bogus

> philosophy even during Srila Prabhupada's physical presence, what to speak

of

> when he is no longer available as the ultimate authority to answer our

> inquiries and resolve our quandaries.

 

 

Certainly. I am indebted to all of my godbrothers who have shared Krsna katha

with me and explained many fundamentals to me through the years. This is

always nice. Krsna-friends.

 

 

> Are you telling us that all the understanding you need or want to know is

that

> which is filtered through your own imperfect subjective power -- reading

> comprehension?

 

 

No. That is the whole point. Many personally approached Srila Prabhupada and

received personal, direct instructions and philosophical answers to their

questions but walked away with very little realization in the end (Ramesvara,

etc.) due to contaminated hearts to one degree or another. Love of God cannot

be obtained or "purchased" by anyone no matter what their so-called endeavor

entails; it is given only through the causeless mercy of the Lord.

 

We can on asking Narayana Maharaja and other sadhus a million questions but

until we realize that all the "answers" in the universe cannot deliver Krsna

to our hearts, we will return to this material world in order to fulfill our

inquiring desires.

 

Prabhupada gave us the program: varnasrama-dharma and Harinama. When we choose

to follow this program, as all civilized humans did in the past yugas for

perfection of life, we will also begin the path of auspiciousness.

 

Simple living. High Thinking.

 

Divide the society into four divisions; one person intelligent class, one

person administrative class, one person productive class and one person

assistant class. Every other "answer" we seek is only medicine to treat the

symptoms, not the disease.