Evil consequenses of Guru-Guru-Guru

[Guest guest]

On 06 Jul 1999, Srila Dasa wrote:

 

> On 03 Jul 1999, Janesvara Dasa wrote:

> > > It's interesting to notice that in that time (11/24/734) Srila

Prabhupada

> didn't complete all his present books. So I guess even BG is enough to

> understand Krsna Consciousness fully, if read it attentively and under

> guidance of true follower of Srila Prabhupada.

> >

> > Yes. You will find that fact stated by Srila Prabhupada in the last few

> > paragraphs of the Introduction to the gita.

 

 

 

> Then what did Srila Prabhupada mean when he said that Srimad Bhagavatam is

the

> "graduate" study (an "M.A") and Caitanya-caritamrta is the "post-graduate"

> ("Ph.D") study of the Absolute Truth?

 

 

Well, I am pretty sure he wasn't telling us a lie when he states this.

One can go back home back to Godhead, in love with Krsna, by simply reading

the Bhagavad-gita As It Is. No further qualification was stated by the pure

devotee, Srila Prabhupada. The reasoning is also given:

 

"In the present age, people in general are engaged by so many things that they

have no time to devote their energy to other topics. However, one who simply

reads Bhagavad-gita need not read any other Vedic literature. Bhagavad-gita is

the essence of all Vedic knowledge. ...one who studies Bhagavad-gita has no

need of any other literature whatever."

 

 

I find no reason to interpret this.

 

 

 

> I guess being realized in Bhagavad-gita (ie, a "baccalaureate" or "B.A.") is

> sufficient to certify someone as "literate" in the Absolute Truth. You can

at

> least be credentialed to teach at an elementary level with such a "B.A."

> degree. But such a BA (Bg) certainly does not constitute the end or the

full

> breadth of transcendental knowledge.

 

 

One will NEVER understand "the full breadth of transcendental knowledge". No

degree of any sort is necessary nor can it be used as a "bribe" to win the

love of the Lord. He is obtained only through the causeless mercy of His pure

devotee. A sincere person who reads only the Bhagavad-gita as recommended by

the pure devotee can obtain this mercy.

 

A person who desires to search and search and search all kinds of books of

knowledge in hopes of obtaining a degree in transcendental knowledge is no

closer to God than the simple sweeper in the street without the causeless

mercy of the pure devotee and neither is more or less qualified than the

other.

 

Daiva varnasrama-dharma guarantees the delivery of all classes of human

beings, the learned scholar type, as well as the simple worker, to the lotus

feet of the Lord. Its what's in the heart, not the brain.

 

 

 

 

> Therefore I don't see how you can say that "even BG is enough to understand

> Krsna Consciousness FULLY."

 

 

I didn't say it; Srila Prabhupada did. I am only trying to repeat what Srila

Prabhupada said in the last paragraph of the Introduction to Bhagavad-gita As

It Is. If I did not previously quote it from memory exactly I apologize and

have now presented the exact quote above. I believe the meanings are still the

same?

 

 

"...one who studies Bhagavad-gita has no need of any other literature

whatever."

 

This seems pretty simple to understand. Why complicate matters? If you or

anyone DESIRES to read other Vedic literatures there is no harm, but one

should not ever impose upon anyone else a demand or pressure that they seek

more than what the pure devotee advised here.

 

 

 

(emphasis mine) It is only the beginning or ABC's

> of spiritual (Vaisnava) truth.

 

 

That MAY be, but obviously even the "beginning" of Vaisnava truth is enough to

obtain the goal for most people according to the pure devotee. Some brahmanas

may need to broaden their studies for more thorough varna training, but that

will never be the majority.

 

 

If Srila Prabhupada has given us so much, then

> why stop there with B.G.?

 

 

YOU don't have to stop there but others can and feel secure that they will

obtain the perfection. They should be encouraged if this is their program. It

is perfect. This is why we must divide the society into four varnas and four

asramas; there are specific programs for each and the brahmanas who are the

spiritual masters of the other classes should learn to teach appropriately.

 

"One must approach a particular type of guru to execute a particular type of

duty." SB 6.7.32

 

 

If we want to "look" advanced as well as "feel" advanced, then, like the pure

devotee said - no one really has the time to study so many books - we should

take the advice of the pure devotee:"

 

 

"A civilization in which the people do not know how the representative of

Narada and Krsna should be respected, how society should be formed and how one

should advance in Krsna consciousness...is not a human civilization. A human

civilization is advanced when its people follow the catur-varnya system, the

system of four orders of life. There must be ideal, first-class men to act as

advisors, second-class men to act as administrators, third-class men to

produce food and protect cows, and fourth-class men who obey the three higher

classes of society. One who does not follow the standard system of society

should be considered a fifth-class man." SB 6.7.13