Description of Initiating Guru as taught in NOD Chapter 7

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Description of Initiating Guru as taught in NOD Chapter 7

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In the first two paragraphs of the Seventh Chapter of Nectar Of Devotion,

the qualification of a bona fide spiritual master from whom one should take

initiation (in other words, a diksa-guru) is stated.

 

I am going to use the terms "type 1" and "type 2" uttama-adhikaris to refer

to uttama-adhikaris who are classfied according to faith (sraddha) and

attachment and love (rati-prema) respectively. See our paper "Qualifications

of the guru as taught in Madhya-lila 24.330 purport" for details.

 

QUOTE

 

Accepting the Shelter of a Bona Fide Spiritual Master

 

In the Eleventh Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Third Chapter, verse 21,

Prabuddha tells Maharaja Nimi, "My dear King, please know for certain that

in the material world there is no happiness. It is simply a mistake to

think that there is happiness here, because this place is full of nothing

but miserable conditions. Any person who is seriously desirous of

achieving real happiness must seek out a bona fide spiritual master and

take shelter of him by initiation. The qualification of a spiritual master

is that he must have realized the conclusion of the scriptures by

deliberation and arguments and thus be able to convince others of these

conclusions. Such great personalities who have taken shelter of the

Supreme Godhead, leaving aside all material considerations, are to be

understood as bona fide spiritual masters. Everyone should try to find

such a bona fide spiritual master in order to fulfill his mission of life,

which is to transfer himself to the plane of spiritual bliss."

 

ANALYSIS

 

Now, a rtvikist may focus on the following expression in the above

paragraph: "...must have REALIZED the conclusion of the scriptures by

deliberation and arguments..." and argue that this reveals that the

diksa-guru is to be the fully self-realized uttama-adhikari (type 2

uttama-adhikari) and not the one who is classified as an "uttama-adhikari"

based on faith (type 1 uttama-adhikari).

 

True, the guru "must have realized the conclusion of the scriptures". But he

must have done so "BY DELIBERATION AND ARGUMENTS". And the same sentence

also states that he must "thus be able to convince others of these

conclusions." This shows that he is the type 1 uttama-adhikari who is expert

in logic and sastra (sastra-yuktye sunipuna).

 

But, one may argue, "But the next sentence says that such great

personalities who take shelter of Krsna, '...leaving aside ALL material

considerations...', are bona fide gurus. This shows that the diksa-guru who

is referred to here is 100% free from all material contamination. Therefore

this is certainly the type 2 uttama-adhikari."

 

Since Srila Prabhupada himself has given the purport of the above quotation

from the Bhagavatam in the next paragraph, let us analyze it to find out

what "leaving aside ALL material considerations" mean.

 

QUOTE

 

The purport is that one should not accept as a spiritual master someone

who is fool number one, who has no direction according to the scriptural

injunctions, whose character is doubtful, who does not follow the

principles of devotional service, or who has not conquered the influence

of the six sense-gratifying agents. The six agents of sense gratification

are the tongue, the genitals, the belly, anger, the mind and words. Anyone

who has practiced controlling these six is permitted to make disciples all

over the world. To accept such a spiritual master is the crucial point for

advancement in spiritual life. One who is fortunate enough to come under

the shelter of a bona fide spiritual master is sure to traverse the path

of spiritual salvation without any doubt.

 

ANALYSIS

 

Srila Prabhupada begins by describing who should not be accepted as a guru.

Then he states in very clear and UNAMBIGUOUS terms who should be accepted as

a guru:

 

The six agents of sense gratification are the tongue, the genitals, the

belly, anger, the mind and words. ANYONE WHO HAS PRACTICED CONTROLLING

THESE SIX IS PERMITTED TO MAKE DISCIPLES ALL OVER THE WORLD.

 

This is obviously a reference to NOI verse one and this is the same as type

1 uttama-adhikari. Then Srila Prabhupada states:

 

To accept SUCH A SPIRITUAL MASTER is the crucial point for advancement in

spiritual life.

 

The simple conclusion is, therefore, that we must accept "such a spiritual

master", one who has practiced controlling the six agents of sense

gratification.

 

This question was actually posed to me verbally by a rtvikist: "But it seems to

me that the person who should NOT be accepted as a guru should not have a

doubtful character. This indicates to me that a type 1 uttama-adhikari, who is

susceptible to a fall-down in the future, whose spiritual future is at doubt,

is not to be accepted as a guru."

 

No, there are other meanings of the term "doubtful". The meanings of

"doubtful" according to the Random House Dictionary are:

 

doubt-ful (dout'fuhl) adj.

1. of uncertain outcome.

2. admitting of or causing doubt; uncertain.

3. unsettled in opinion or belief;

undecided; hesitant.

4. of dubious character or value: doubtful

tactics.

5. unlikely; not probable.

 

You are taking the first meaning, "of uncertain outcome" for "doubtful". But

is this justified? Let us examine the context.

 

Srila Prabhupada, just after writing who should NOT be accepted as a guru,

states who is a guru and he does so in UNAMBIGUOUS terms:

 

The six agents of sense gratification are the tongue, the genitals, the

belly, anger, the mind and words. ANYONE WHO HAS PRACTICED CONTROLLING

THESE SIX IS PERMITTED TO MAKE DISCIPLES ALL OVER THE WORLD.

 

And it is a fact that such a controlled guru CAN have difficulties since he

does not necessarily have to be in the platform of love of Godhead (See our

paper "Qualifications of the guru as taught in Madhya-lila 24.330 purport"

for details.)

 

So your interpretation of the word "doubtful" contradicts Srila Prabhupada's

definition of a guru and therefore must be rejected as invalid.

 

But the fourth dictionary meaning is applicable here. And anyone who is a

guru who is a controller of "the six agents of sense gratification" must

certainly NOT be "of dubious character or value". This is what is meant by

the statement that the guru's character should not be doubtful.