Guru's responsibilites

gHari · July 5, 2003

Your reasoning is proven faulty, yet you ignore it. What kind of man is this? About the Madhvas, I cannot believe a word any of you say anymore, after all the half-truths and contrivances and venom I've witnessed over the years by these axe-grinders.

When logical evidence is given to defeat the concoction, you just ignore it and come back with meaningless noble words. But the puffed-up ridicule of great vaishnavas that must attend adoption of this concoction tells me the evil nature of ritvik, that they are being cast far from Krsna. With the exception of one in five years, I would be hard-pressed to even recognize any one of them as a vaisnava in a crowd.

Now it's a 'doctrine'? I guess some research and study and writing has been done. Odd that Srila Prabhupada did not already take care of that. But I imagine we can concoct some sort of conspiracy to explain why he didn't bother. It'd be a good opportunity to vent some of that gnawing hatred toward the GBC at al.

July 5, 2003

Thank you for your articulate response. These ritviks are full of hateful venom and spiteful envy and use big contivances (lies) to cover it up.

July 5, 2003

gHari, you are doing the same thing you are criticizing your opponent for.

You are not going to end the debate here. It has been going on for years and argued with good evidence from both sides.

This thread was started with the comment of another falldown. To accept institutionalized conditioned gurus reveals one to be inexperienced. To say there will never be "pure devotees" is another type of blind faith.

Obviously, rtvik and parampara arguments can be logically made as they have been for years by practically all the authorities. Your commitment on the matter is not conclusive evidence.

The tendency is to slander and compromise one's character in order to dismiss evidence from an opponent when our own idea of acceptance is compromised. It is the oldest tactic in the world. But it is dangerous when directed at devotees.

Better we just acknowledge one's subjective free will than offend others in the name of righteousness.

Guess Guest

gHari · July 5, 2003

I thought Krsna got rid of you. Seems He will have to get a little more persuasive.

gHari · July 5, 2003

July 5, 2003

We offer our humble obeisances at His Lotus Feet.

July 5, 2003

Devotee: What if someone tries to serve his guru in this way and then later on the guru falls down?

Gaura Govinda Swami: That's a bogus guru, nor a bona fide guru.

Devotee: In that case one's surrender and service count for nothing?

Gaura Govinda Swami: Nothing, zero! They are of no value, because that guru was not bona fide, he was a hypocrite, a follower of Kali, only outwardly posing as a Vaisnava guru.

You should be careful before accepting a guru. That's your responsibility. Don't be superfluous. You should be very serious and don't follow gaddalika-srota-nyaya. "Gaddalika" means a flock of sheep. Sheep move in a flock and one is at the head, leading. If that sheep jumps into a ditch the whole flock will jump into a ditch. They never think, "Why should we jump into a ditch?" If the leader jumps, they think, "That is a nice path. We should also go that way." You should use your intelligence. Don't follow this sheep logic. That is your responsibility. You should desire to get Krsna. That is the perfection of human life.

theist · July 5, 2003

I am suffering from an overdose of this ritivk topic.

We know the disciple is to have a submissive attitude towards the guru. The guru, who should be fixed in eternity, must be experiencing some responsibity of an eternal nature towards the disciple. But does that carry on after guru moves on past this world or is he just so absorbed in Krsna-lila that he never looks back trusting in the effects of what he taught to deliver the disciple. Knowing also th Supersoul is still present with his students.

Know what I am trying to ask?

stonehearted · July 5, 2003

theist: We know the disciple is to have a submissive attitude towards the guru. The guru, who should be fixed in eternity, must be experiencing some responsibility of an eternal nature towards the disciple. But does that carry on after guru moves on past this world or is he just so absorbed in Krsna-lila that he never looks back trusting in the effects of what he taught to deliver the disciple. Knowing also the Supersoul is still present with his students.

Once the spiritual master accepts a disciple, he never leaves him. Srila Prabhupada was immersed in Krishna-lila while he was among us visibly, but he was never too busy to help us. He cleared his morning schedule one morining in December of 1973 to help even a nobody like me in a private meeting that ran almost two hours. Srila Prabhupada said many times that he always felt the guidance of his spiritual master in his service. Even slugs like me have experienced this over the last 26 years. Srila Prabhupada's presence is a daily reality, which manifests in a great variety of ways. I hae no doubt my godbrothers and godsisters have a similar experience. And those immersed in preaching Krishna consciousness with no other business must feel his presence even more profoundly.

Am I close?

July 5, 2003

108

Srila Prabhupada Quotes

On the Importance of Having the Association of Pure

Devotees

“Only a pure devotee of the Lord can show one the

right way of progressive life”

“Only in the association of such devotees are the

transcendental glories of Lord Krsnaproperly

discussed”

“Only one who is fortunate can have the opportunity to

hear Srimad-Bhagavatam in theassociation of pure

devotees of the Lord”

“There are many societies and associations of pure

devotees, and if someone with just alittle faith

begins to associate with such societies, his

advancement to pure devotionalservice is rapid.”

_____________________

Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the great preacher of

the principles of Srimad-Bhagavatam, has stressed the

importance of association with sadhus, pure devotees

ofthe Lord. He said that even by a moments association

with a pure devotee, one canachieve all perfection. We

are not ashamed to admit that this fact was

experienced in ourpractical life. Were we not favored

by His Divine Grace Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta

SarasvatiGosvami Maharaja, by our first meeting for a

few minutes only, it would have beenimpossible for us

to accept this mighty task of describing

Srimad-Bhagavatam in English.Without seeing him at

that opportune moment, we could have become a very

greatbusiness magnate, but never would we have been

able to walk the path of liberation andbe engaged in

the factual service of the Lord under instructions of

His Divine Grace.

SB 1.13.29 P Dhrtarastra Quits Home

--

Dedication

May we all receive Srila Prabhupada’s mercy

And work together to spread Krishna Consciouness

Compiled by this insignificant aspiring servant of the

Vaisnavas

And offered to

His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

Srila Prabhupada

On His Appearance Celebration

September 1, 2002

In the Brahma-samhita it is said that the Lord is

never to be found by becoming agreat scholar of the

Vedic literatures, but He is very easily approachable

throughHis pure devotee. In Vrndavana all the pure

devotees pray for the mercy of SrimatiRadharani, the

pleasure potency of Lord Krsna. Srimati Radharani is

atenderhearted feminine counterpart of the supreme

whole, resembling theperfectional stage of the worldly

feminine nature. Therefore, the mercy ofRadharani is

available very readily to the sincere devotees, and

once Sherecommends such a devotee to Lord Krsna, the

Lord at once accepts thedevotee's admittance into His

association. The conclusion is, therefore, that

oneshould be more serious about seeking the mercy of

the devotee than that of theLord directly, and by

one's doing so (by the good will of the devotee) the

naturalattraction for the service of the Lord will be

revived.

Srila Prabhupada

--

Preface

Simply by associating with a pure devotee, one becomes

wonderfully advanced inKrsna consciousness.

Sadhu-sanga, or association with a devotee, means

always engaging inKrsna consciousness by chanting the

Hare Krsna mantra... but he whose heart iscontaminated

sees things differently. Therefore by sat-sanga, or

association with devotees,one becomes perfectly pure

in heart.

SB 4.24.59 P Chanting the Song Sung by Lord Siva

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has repeatedly

said:'sadhu-sanga', 'sadhu-sanga'----sarva-sastre

kayalava-matra sadhu-sange sarva-siddhi haya

The summary is that one has to, first of all, seek the

association of pure devotees who notonly are learned

in the Vedanta but are self-realized souls and

unalloyed devotees of LordSri Krsna, the Personality

of Godhead. In that association, the neophyte devotees

mustrender loving service physically and mentally

without reservation. This service attitude willinduce

the great souls to be more favorable in bestowing

their mercy, which injects theneophyte with all the

transcendental qualities of the pure devotees.

Gradually this isdeveloped into a strong attachment to

hearing the transcendental pastimes of the Lord,

whichmakes him able to catch up the constitutional

position of the gross and subtle bodies and beyondthem

the knowledge of pure soul and his eternal relation

with the Supreme Soul, the Personalityof Godhead.

After the relation is ascertained by establishment of

the eternal relation, puredevotional service to the

Lord begins gradually developing into perfect

knowledge of thePersonality of Godhead beyond the

purview of impersonal Brahman and localized

Paramatma.By such purusottama-yoga, as it is stated in

the Bhagavad-gita, one is made perfect even duringthe

present corporeal existence, and one exhibits all the

good qualities of the Lord to the highestpercentage.

Such is the gradual development by association of pure

devotees.

SB 1.5.34 P Narada' s Instructions on

Srimad-Bhagavatam for Vyasadeva

Pure devotion is as much infectious, in a good sense,

as infectious diseases. A pure devotee iscleared from

all kinds of sins. The Personality of Godhead is the

purest entity, and unless one isequally pure from the

infection of material qualities, one cannot become a

pure devotee of theLord. The bhakti-vedantas as above

mentioned were pure devotees, and the boy

becameinfected with their qualities of purity by their

association and by eating once the remnantsof the

foodstuff taken by them. Such remnants may be taken

even without permission of thepure devotees. There are

sometimes pseudodevotees, and one should be very much

cautiousabout them. There are many things which hinder

one from entering devotional service. But bythe

association of pure devotees all these obstacles are

removed. The neophyte devoteebecomes practically

enriched with the transcendental qualities of the pure

devotee, which meansattraction for the Personality of

Godhead's name, fame, quality, pastimes, etc.

Infection of thequalities of the pure devotee means to

imbibe the taste of pure devotion always in

thetranscendental activities of the Personality of

Godhead. This transcendental taste at once makesall

material things distasteful. Therefore a pure devotee

is not at all attracted by material activities.After

the elimination of all sins or obstacles on the path

of devotional service, one can becomeattracted, one

can have steadiness, one can have perfect taste, one

can have transcendentalemotions, and at last one can

be situated on the plane of loving service of the

Lord. All thesestages develop by the association of

pure devotees, and that is the purport of this stanza.

SB 1.5.25 P Narada' s Instructions on

Srimad-Bhagavatam for Vyasadeva

“In the last stage of the spiritual master's life, the

devotees of the spiritual master should takepreaching

activities into their own hands. In this way the

spiritual master can sit down in a solitaryplace and

render nirjana-bhajana.”

SB 4.28.33 P

“Every one of my disciples must have the flag& marks

of tilak on forehead.”

Srila Prabhupada

Letter to: Damodara Calcutta 13 October, 1967

If one is infested with the ten offenses in the

chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, despite

hisendeavor to chant the holy name for many births, he

will not get the love of Godhead that is theultimate

goal of this chanting.

Adi Lila 8.16

The second-class devotee, even though he cannot

support his position with sastric reference,

cangradually become a first-class devotee by studying

the sastras and associating with a first-classdevotee.

However, if the second-class devotee does not advance

himself by associatingwith a first-class devotee, he

makes no progress.

Madhya Lila 22.71

"The root cause of devotional service to Lord Krsna is

association with advanceddevotees. Even when one's

dormant love for Krsna awakens, association with

devotees isstill most essential.

Madhya Lila 22.83

Srila Prabhupada:

In our conditional stage, we cannot worship

Radha-Krsna. Radha-Krsna-seva is for themwho has

developed spontaneous love for God.

The Principle

“So the principle is that whatever you are instructed

by the Caitya Guru internally may beconfirmed by the

instructor or initiator externally.”

Letter to: Sivananda-New Vrindaban 21 May, 1969

“A pure devotee under the guidance of another

experienced devotee can obtain all theresults, even at

present.”

SB 1.10.27 P Departure of Lord Krsna for Dvaraka

“... If one thinks that he is above consulting anyone

else, including a spiritual master, he isat once an

offender”

Adi 1.35 The Spiritual Masters (Siksa and Diksa Guru)

The Paramatma is always the caitya-guru, the spiritual

master within, and He comes before oneexternally as

the instructor and initiator (Siksa and Diksa Guru)

SB 4.28.52 P Puranjana Becomes a Woman in the Next

Life

... in the science of Krsna he can become a spiritual

master as vartma-pradarsaka-guru, diksaguruor

siksa-guru. The spiritual master who first gives

information about spiritual life is called

thevartma-pradarsaka-guru, the spiritual master who

initiates according to the regulations of thesastras

is called the diksa-guru, and the spiritual master who

gives instructions for elevation iscalled the

siksa-guru.

Madhya 8.128 Talks Between Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and

Ramananda Raya

A gosvami must be free from all these vices before he

can dare sit on the vyasasana. Noone should be allowed

to sit on the vyasasana who is not spotless in

character.

SB 1.1.6 Questions by the Sages

Therefore, for a neophyte, simply by consulting

scriptures, he will not be able to reach tothe

absolute goal.

690425LE.BOS Lectures

The Goal

Srila Prabhupada: Thus there is no limit to the glory

of Sri Radha-kunda. By servingRadha-kunda, one can get

an opportunity to become an assistant of Srimati

Radharaniunder the eternal guidance of the gopis.

... one should place himself under the direct guidance

of a particular associate of Krsnaand should follow in

his footsteps

NoI 8

“Narottama dasa Thakura states that one has to

ascertain the right path for his activities

byfollowing in the footsteps of great saintly persons

and books of knowledge under the guidance ofa

spiritual master (sadhu-sastra-guru-vakya).”

“There are many societies and associations of pure

devotees, and if someone with just a littlefaith

begins to associate with such societies, his

advancement to pure devotional service israpid.”

“Only the most fortunate persons can achieve such

success in life. Those who are simplyacademic students

of the Vedic scriptures cannot appreciate how such a

development takesplace.”

NoD 19 Devotional Service in Pure Love of God

“The more progress is made in devotional service under

the guidance of the Bhagavatas,the more one becomes

fixed in the transcendental loving service of the

Lord… Themessages of the book Bhagavata, therefore,

have to be received from the devotee Bhagavata,and the

combination of these two Bhagavatas will help the

neophyte devotee to makeprogress on and on."

SB 1.2.18 P Divinity and Divine Service

This transcendental bliss is experienced even in the

stage of devotional practice (sadhanaavastha),if

properly undertaken under the guidance of a bona fide

spiritual master. And in themature stage the developed

transcendental feeling culminates in realization of

the particularrelationship with the Lord by which a

living entity is originally constituted (up to the

relationshipof conjugal love with the Lord, which is

estimated to be the highest transcendental bliss).

SB 2.3.12 P Pure Devotional Service: The Change in

Heart

The Personality of Godhead may not be present before

one's eyes, but if one is sincere inwanting such

guidance the Lord will send a bona fide person who can

guide one properlyback home, back to Godhead.

SB 2.7.46 P Scheduled Incarnations with Specific

Functions

One should not, however, think himself on the level of

Brahma to be initiated directly bythe Lord from inside

because in the present age no one can be accepted to

be as pure asBrahma.

SB 2.9.7 P Answers by Citing the Lord' s Version

Introduction

BG Ch 9 TEXT 13 P

The mahatma does not divert his attention to anything

outside Krsna because he knows perfectlywell that

Krsna is the original Supreme Person, the cause of all

causes. There is no doubt aboutit. Such a mahatma, or

great soul, develops through association with other

mahatmas, puredevotees. Pure devotees are not even

attracted by Krsna's other features, such as the

fourarmedMaha-Visnu. They are simply attracted by the

two-armed form of Krsna.

Bg 11.54 P The Universal Form

One who has unflinching devotion for the Supreme Lord

and is directed by the spiritual master,can see the

Supreme Personality of Godhead by revelation. For one

who does not take personaltraining under the guidance

of a bona fide spiritual master, it is impossible to

even begin tounderstand Krsna. The word tu is

specifically used here to indicate that no other

process can beused, can be recommended, or can be

successful in understanding Krsna.

Bg 18.57 P Conclusion--The Perfection of Renunciation

One should, however, note that after doing something

whimsically he should not offer the result tothe

Supreme Lord. That sort of duty is not in the

devotional service of Krsna consciousness.

1.

Real meaning of going to a sacred place--to find out

some intelligent scholar in spiritualknowledge. They

are living there. To make association with them, to

take knowledge from them--that is the purpose of going

to pilgrimage. Because in pilgrimage, holy places...

Just like I, myresidence is at Vrndavana. So at

Vrndavana there are many great scholars and saintly

personsliving. So one should go to such holy places

not simply to take bath in the water, but hemust be

intelligent enough to find out some spiritually

advanced man living there and takeinstruction from him

and (be) benefited by that.

In our conditional stage, we cannot worship

Radha-Krsna. Radha-Krsna-seva is for them who

hasdeveloped spontaneous love for God.

Krsna can, however, be known as such by the causeless

mercy of the pure devotee and byno other way.

2.

SB 4.30.34 P

A pure devotee considers a moment's association with

another pure devotee to be farsuperior to residing in

a heavenly planet or merging in the Brahman

effulgence. Thetopmost benediction for those who are

living in this material world and are subjected to

therepetition of birth and death (transmigration) is

association with pure devotees. One shouldsearch out

such pure devotees and remain with them. That will

make one completely happy, eventhough living within

the material world. This Krsna consciousness movement

is started for thatpurpose.

3.

721018SB.VRN Lectures

You cannot become a pure, perfect devotee unless you

are directed by another pure,unadulterated devotee.

Evam parampara-praptam. So therefore Rupa Gosvami

hasmentioned in his Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, adau

gurvasrayam. You have to find out, you have totake

shelter, not find out. You have to take shelter of a

bona fide spiritual master.When we arefurther

advanced, we do not see only Krsna, but we see His

devotees also. We can recognize,"Here is a pure

devotee of Krsna." But in the lower stage, a, the

devotee's concerned with theDeity worship, but he does

not take much care of the devotees. But when one is

advancedfurther, he can see Krsna and His devotees

also. Isvara tad-adhina. Tad-adhina means

devotees.Devotees are always under the service of

Krsna. So anyone who is giving service to Krsna,

weshould take care of them also. We should offer our

respect in... You'll find in Bhakti-rasamrtasindhu,it

is stated somewhere, that if, if a devotee is coming,

then another devotee who isengaged in worship of the

Deity may stop Deity worship for the time being and

should goimmediately to receive the devotee. So Krsna

also says, mad-bhakta-puja abhyadhika. Krsna

issatisfied more when a devotee worships His devotee.

Krsna says, "If one is worshiping Me andone is

worshiping My devotee, then the person who is

worshiping the devotee, he's moreimportant than the

person who is worshiping Krsna." So it is not the aim

of human life, to becomea tiger. It is, the aim of

human life is to become a devotee of Visnu, Vaisnava.

That is perfectionof life. So we are, this movement,

we are giving the highest benediction to the human

society.They are becoming Vaisnava. There is great

necessity of Vaisnava at the present momentbecause

everyone has become sudras. Kalau sudra sambhava. And

because it is, everywherethe sudras are there, how

there can be peace? They do not know. They have no

brain how tomake the society peaceful and prosperous.

They are sudras. They have no intelligence. There

isnecessity of creating brahmanas and Vaisnava. This

movement is meant for that purpose. So becareful.

Don't be turned again to sudra and mlecchas. Go on

making progress to become pureVaisnava. Then your life

is successful and you'll give the best service to the

human society.

4.

TEXT 17 P

tesam jnani nitya-yukta

So by association with pure devotees, the inquisitive,

the distressed, the seeker aftermaterial amelioration

and the man in knowledge all become themselves pure.

5.

Bg 8.28 P Attaining the Supreme

One should try to understand the Seventh and Eighth

Chapters of the Gita not by scholarship ormental

speculation, but by hearing them in association with

pure devotees. Chapters Seventhrough Twelve are the

essence of Gita, if one is fortunate to understand the

Gita--especiallythese middle six chapters--in the

association of devotees, then his life at once becomes

glorifiedbeyond all penances, sacrifices, charities,

speculations, etc. One should hear the Gita from

thedevotee because at the beginning of the Fourth

Chapter it is stated that the Gita can only

beperfectly understood by devotees. Hearing the Gita

from devotees, not from mental speculators,is called

faith. Through association of devotees, one is placed

in devotional service, and by thisservice Krsna's

activities, form, pastimes, name, etc., become clear,

and all misgivings aredispelled. Then once doubts are

removed, the study of the Gita becomes extremely

pleasurable,and one develops a taste and feeling for

Krsna consciousness. In the advanced stage, one

fallscompletely in love with Krsna, and that is the

beginning of the highest perfectional stage of

lifewhich prepares the devotee's transferal to Krsna's

abode in the spiritual sky, Goloka Vrndavana,where the

devotee enters into eternal happiness.

6.

SB 1.18.13 P Maharaja Pariksit Cursed by a Brahmana

Boy

One cannot compare the association of a pure devotee

to anything material… Suchassociation is always

desirable; it is worshipable, it is praiseworthy,

7.

SB 2.10.32 P Bhagavatam Is the Answer to All Questions

The intelligent person, therefore, can attain

salvation from the illusion of material existence

byproper use of intelligence. An intelligent person

can detect the awkward position of materialexistence

and thus begin to inquire as to what he is, why he is

subjected to different kinds ofmiseries, and how to

get rid of all miseries, and thus, by good

association, an advanced intelligentperson can turn

towards the better life of self-realization. It is

advised, therefore, that anintelligent person

associate with the great sages and saints who are on

the path ofsalvation. By such association, one can

receive instructions which are able to slacken

theconditioned soul's attachment for matter, and thus

the intelligent man gradually gets rid ofthe illusion

of matter and false ego and is promoted to the real

life of eternity, knowledgeand bliss.

8.

SB 3.23.54 P Devahuti' s Lamentation

... Association with a great personality is most

important. In Caitanya-caritamrta LordCaitanya says

that sadhu-sanga, the association of a great saintly

person, is very important,because even if one is not

advanced in knowledge, simply by association with a

great saintlyperson one can immediately make

considerable advancement in spiritual life.

9.

SB 3.25.25 The Glories of Devotional Service

TRANSLATION

In the association of pure devotees, discussion of the

pastimes and activities of theSupreme Personality of

Godhead is very pleasing and satisfying to the ear and

the heart.By cultivating such knowledge one gradually

becomes advanced on the path of liberation,

andthereafter he is freed, and his attraction becomes

fixed. Then real devotion and devotional servicebegin.

PURPORT

The process of advancing in Krsna consciousness and

devotional service is described here.The first point

is that one must seek the association of persons who

are Krsna consciousand who engage in devotional

service. Without such association one cannot

makeadvancement. Simply by theoretical knowledge or

study one cannot make any appreciableadvancement. One

must give up the association of materialistic persons

and seek the associationof devotees because without

the association of devotees one cannot understand the

activities ofthe Lord. Generally, people are convinced

of the impersonal feature of the Absolute

Truth.Because they do not associate with devotees,

they cannot understand that the Absolute Truthcan be a

person and have personal activities. This is a very

difficult subject matter, and unlessone has personal

understanding of the Absolute Truth, there is no

meaning to devotion. Serviceor devotion cannot be

offered to anything impersonal. Service must be

offered to a person.Nondevotees cannot appreciate

Krsna consciousness by reading the Srimad-Bhagavatam

or anyother Vedic literature wherein the activities of

the Lord are described; they think that

theseactivities are fictional, manufactured stories

because spiritual life is not explained to them in

theproper mood. To understand the personal activities

of the Lord, one has to seek theassociation of

devotees, and by such association, when one

contemplates and tries tounderstand the transcendental

activities of the Lord, the path to liberation is

open, and heis freed. One who has firm faith in the

Supreme Personality of Godhead becomes fixed, and

hisattraction for association with the Lord and the

devotees increases. Association with devoteesmeans

association with the Lord. The devotee who makes this

association develops theconsciousness for rendering

service to the Lord, and then, being situated in the

transcendentalposition of devotional service, he

gradually becomes perfect.

10.

SB 4.9.12 P Dhruva Maharaja Returns Home

... a devotee searches out a pure devotee and simply

by his association becomes moreadvanced in spiritual

consciousness than any yogi.

11.

SB 4.9.11 P

Only in the association of pure devotees can the words

of Lord Krsna be fully potent andrelishable to the

heart and ear. Dhruva Maharaja explicitly wanted the

association of devotees.That association in devotional

activities is just like the waves of an incessantly

flowing river.

12.

SB 4.21.35 P Instructions by Maharaja Prthu

... A human being is therefore advised to associate

with spiritually advanced personalities.The Vedas

(Mundaka Upanisad 1.2.12) give the direction

tad-vijnanartham sa gurum ... is notoptional. It is

imperative that one approach the spiritual master, for

by such associationone proportionately develops his

consciousness toward the Supreme Personality

ofGodhead.

13.

SB 4.24.59 P Chanting the Song Sung by Lord Siva

Simply by associating with a pure devotee, one becomes

wonderfully advanced in Krsnaconsciousness.

Sadhu-sanga, or association with a devotee, means

always engaging in Krsnaconsciousness by chanting the

Hare Krsna mantra... but he whose heart is

contaminated seesthings differently. Therefore by

sat-sanga, or association with devotees, one

becomesperfectly pure in heart.

14.

As stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.25.25):

satam prasangan mama virya-samvido

bhavanti hrt-karna-rasayanah kathah

taj-josanad asv apavarga-vartmani

sraddha ratir bhaktir anukramisyati

Simply by the association of pure devotees one can

understand the transcendentalname, fame, quality and

activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Sri

CaitanyaMahaprabhu has repeatedly said:

'sadhu-sanga', 'sadhu-sanga'----sarva-sastre kaya

lava-matra sadhu-sange sarva-siddhi haya

(Cc. Madhya 22.54)

Simply by associating with a pure devotee, one becomes

wonderfully advanced in Krsnaconsciousness.

Sadhu-sanga, or association with a devotee, means

always engaging in Krsnaconsciousness by chanting the

Hare Krsna mantra and by acting for Krsna.

Specifically, chantingthe Hare Krsna mantra purifies

one, and this chanting is therefore recommended by Sri

CaitanyaMahaprabhu. Ceto-darpana-marjanam: by chanting

the names of Krsna, the mirror of the heart

iscleansed, and the devotee loses interest in

everything external. When one is influenced by

theexternal energy of the Lord, his heart is impure.

When one's heart is not pure, he cannot see howthings

are related to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Idam hi visvam bhagavan ivetarah(Bhag. 1.5.20). He

whose heart is purified can see that the whole cosmic

manifestation is but theSupreme Personality of

Godhead, but he whose heart is contaminated sees

things differently.Therefore by sat-sanga, or

association with devotees, one becomes perfectly pure

in heart.

15.

SB 4.29.39-40 P Talks Between Narada and King

Pracinabarhi

"In the association of pure devotees, discussion of

the pastimes and activities of theSupreme Personality

of Godhead ...are satisfying to the ear and to the

heart. By cultivatingsuch knowledge one gradually

becomes advanced on the path of liberation, and

thereafter he isfreed, and his attraction becomes

fixed. Then real devotion and devotional service

begin." (Bhag.3.25.25) In the association of pure

devotees, one becomes attached to hearing and chanting

theglories of the Lord. In this way one can cultivate

Krsna consciousness, and as soon as thiscultivation is

advanced, one can become faithful to the Lord, devoted

to the Lord...

16.

TEXTS 39-40

TEXT

yatra bhagavata rajan

sadhavo visadasayah

bhagavad-gunanukathana-

sravana-vyagra-cetasah

tasmin mahan-mukharita madhubhic-caritra-

piyusa-sesa-saritah paritah sravanti

ta ye pibanty avitrso nrpa gadha-karnais

tan na sprsanty asana-trd-bhaya-soka-mohah

TRANSLATION

My dear King, in the place where pure devotees live,

following the rules and regulations andthus purely

conscious and engaged with great eagerness in hearing

and chanting the glories ofthe Supreme Personality of

Godhead, in that place if one gets a chance to hear

their constantflow of nectar, which is exactly like

the waves of a river, one will forget the necessities

of life--namely hunger and thirst--and become immune

to all kinds of fear, lamentation and illusion.

PURPORT

The cultivation of Krsna consciousness is possible

where great devotees live togetherand constantly

engage in hearing and chanting the glories of the

Lord. In a holy place likeVrndavana, there are many

devotees constantly engaged in chanting and hearing

the glories ofthe Lord. If one gets the chance to hear

from pure devotees in such a place, allowing the

constantflow of the river of nectar to come from the

mouths of pure devotees, then the cultivation of

Krsnaconsciousness becomes very easy. When one is

engaged in constantly hearing the glories of theLord,

he certainly rises above the bodily conception. When

one is in the bodily conception, hefeels the pangs of

hunger and thirst, fear, lamentation and illusion. But

when one is engaged inhearing and chanting the glories

of the Lord, he transcends the bodily conception.The

word bhagavad-gunanukathana-sravana-vyagra-cetasah,

meaning "always eager to findthe place where the

glories of the Lord are being heard and chanted," is

significant in this verse.A businessman is always very

eager to go to a place where business is transacted.

Similarly, adevotee is very eager to hear from the

lips of liberated devotees. As soon as one hears

theglories of the Lord from the liberated devotees, he

immediately becomes impregnated withKrsna

consciousness. This is also confirmed in another

verse:

satam prasangan mama virya-samvido

bhavanti hrt-karna-rasayanah kathah

taj-josanad asv apavarga-vartmani

sraddha ratir bhaktir anukramisyati

"In the association of pure devotees, discussion of

the pastimes and activities of the SupremePersonality

of Godhead is very pleasing and satisfying to the ear

and to the heart. By cultivatingsuch knowledge one

gradually becomes advanced on the path of liberation,

and thereafter he isfreed, and his attraction becomes

fixed. Then real devotion and devotional service

begin." (Bhag.3.25.25) In the association of pure

devotees, one becomes attached to hearing and chanting

theglories of the Lord. In this way one can cultivate

Krsna consciousness, and as soon as thiscultivation is

advanced, one can become faithful to the Lord, devoted

to the Lord and attached tothe Lord, and thus one can

very quickly attain full Krsna consciousness. The

secret of success inthe cultivation of Krsna

consciousness is hearing from the right person. A

Krsna consciousperson is never disturbed by the bodily

necessities--namely eating, sleeping, mating

anddefending.

17.

TEXT 2

TEXT

mahat-sevam dvaram ahur vimuktes

tamo-dvaram yositam sangi-sangam

mahantas te sama-cittah prasanta

vimanyavah suhrdah sadhavo ye

TRANSLATION

One can attain the path of liberation from material

bondage only by rendering service tohighly advanced

spiritual personalities. These personalities are

impersonalists and devotees.Whether one wants to merge

into the Lord's existence or wants to associate with

the Personalityof Godhead, one should render service

to the mahatmas. For those who are not interested

insuch activities, who associate with people fond of

women and sex, the path to hell is wide open.The

mahatmas are equipoised. They do not see any

difference between one living entity andanother. They

are very peaceful and are fully engaged in devotional

service. They are devoid ofanger, and they work for

the benefit of everyone. They do not behave in any

abominable way.Such people are known as mahatmas.

18.

SB 5.13.17 Further Talks Between King Rahugana and

Jada Bharata

... a living entity in the forest of the material

world tries to give up the association of these

socalledyogis, svamis and incarnations and come to the

association of real devotees, but due tomisfortune he

cannot follow the instructions of the spiritual master

or advanced devotees;therefore he gives up their

company and again returns to the association of

monkeys who aresimply interested in sense

gratification and women.

19.

SB 6.15.18-19 P The Saints Narada and Angira Instruct

King Citraketu

A devotee should always aspire to engage in the

service of advanced devotees. As SrilaNarottama dasa

Thakura has sung:

tandera carana sevi bhakta-sane vasa

janame janame haya, ei abhilasa

A devotee should always aspire to live in the

association of advanced devotees andengage in the

service of the Lord through the parampara system. One

should serve themission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu

through the instructions of the great Gosvamis

ofVrndavana. This is called tandera carana sevi. While

serving the lotus feet of the Gosvamis, oneshould live

in the association of devotees (bhakta-sane vasa).

20.

The human life is meant for composing an association

where devotees may take part,sadhu-sanga. In the

Srimad-Bhagavatam it is said, mahat-sevam dvaram ahur

vimuktes. Mahatseva.Mahat means whose mind has been

broadened, not crippled. Cripple-minded man thinks

interms of personal interest or society's interest or

community's interest, nation's interest,

orinternational interest. Even international interest

is cripple-minded, because there are manyplanets. If

we expand ourself from self-interest to family

interest, from family interest tocommunity interest,

similarly, even you expand to the international

interest, it is imperfect unlessyour interest is

expanded up to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

That is the Vedic injunctionin the Rg Veda, om tad

visnoh paramam padam sada pasyanti surayah. Those who

areadvanced in knowledge, their aim is, their interest

is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, LordVisnu.The

easiest process for understanding the subject matter

of self, however, is to accept thestatements of the

Bhagavad-gita spoken by the greatest authority, Lord

Krsna, without beingdeviated by other theories. But it

also requires a great deal of penance and sacrifice,

either in thislife or in the previous ones, before one

is able to accept Krsna as the Supreme Personality

ofGodhead. Krsna can, however, be known as such by the

causeless mercy of the pure devoteeand by no other

way.

21.

Bg 3.9 P Karma-yoga

... and in the beginning this process requires very

expert guidance. One should therefore actvery

diligently, under the expert guidance of a devotee of

Lord Krsna, or under the directinstruction of Lord

Krsna Himself (under whom Arjuna had the opportunity

to work). Nothingshould be performed for sense

gratification.

22.

Bg 3.19 P Karma-yoga

... A person, therefore, acting for Krsna, or in Krsna

consciousness, under properguidance and without

attachment to the result of the work, is certainly

making progress

23.

Bg 4.10 P Transcendental Knowledge

In the next stage one becomes initiated by an elevated

spiritual master, and under his instructionthe

neophyte devotee begins the process of devotional

service. By execution of devotionalservice under the

guidance of the spiritual master, one becomes free

from all materialattachment, ... the transcendental

loving service of the Lord. So, by the slow process

ofdevotional service, under the guidance of the bona

fide spiritual master, one can attain thehighest stage

24.

Bg 9.4 P The Most Confidential Knowledge

... Only to one who is engaged in pure devotional

service under proper guidance is Herevealed.

25.

Bg 18.55 P Conclusion--The Perfection of Renunciation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, and His

plenary portions cannot be understood bymental

speculation nor by the nondevotees. If anyone wants to

understand the SupremePersonality of Godhead, he has

to take to pure devotional service under the guidance

of apure devotee. Otherwise, the truth of the Supreme

Personality of Godhead will always behidden. It is

already stated in Bhagavad-gita (7.25), naham prakasah

sarvasya: He is notrevealed to everyone. No one can

understand God simply by erudite scholarship or

mentalspeculation. Only one who is actually engaged in

Krsna consciousness and devotional servicecan

understand what Krsna is. University degrees are not

helpful.

26.

Bg 18.57 P Conclusion--The Perfection of Renunciation

TRANSLATION

In all activities just depend upon Me and work always

under My protection. In such devotionalservice, be

fully conscious of Me.

PURPORT

When one acts in Krsna consciousness, he does not act

as the master of the world. Just like aservant, one

should act fully under the direction of the Supreme

Lord. A servant has no individualindependence. He acts

only on the order of the master. A servant acting on

behalf of the suprememaster has no affection for

profit and loss. He simply discharges his duty

faithfully in terms of theorder of the Lord. Now, one

may argue that Arjuna was acting under the personal

direction ofKrsna, but, when Krsna is not present, how

should one act? If one acts according to the

directionof Krsna in this book, as well as under the

guidance of the representative of Krsna, then the

resultwill be the same. The Sanskrit word mat-parah is

very important in this verse. It indicates that onehas

no goal in life save and except acting in Krsna

consciousness just to satisfy Krsna. And, whileworking

in that way, one should think of Krsna only: "I have

been appointed to discharge thisparticular duty by

Krsna." While acting in such a way, one naturally has

to think of Krsna. This isperfect Krsna consciousness.

One should, however, note that after doing something

whimsicallyhe should not offer the result to the

Supreme Lord. That sort of duty is not in the

devotionalservice of Krsna consciousness. One should

act according to the order of Krsna. This is a

veryimportant point. That order of Krsna comes through

disciplic succession from the bona fidespiritual

master. Therefore the spiritual master's order should

be taken as the prime duty oflife. If one gets a bona

fide spiritual master and acts according to his

direction, then his'sperfection of life in Krsna

consciousness is guaranteed.

27.

SB 1.1.6 Questions by the Sages

TRANSLATION

The sages said: Respected Suta Gosvami, you are

completely free from all vice. You are wellversed in

all the scriptures famous for religious life, and in

the Puranas and the histories as well,for you have

gone through them under proper guidance and have also

explained them.

PURPORT

A gosvami, or the bona fide representative of Sri

Vyasadeva, must be free from all kinds ofvices. The

four major vices of Kali-yuga are (1) illicit

connection with women, (2) animal slaughter,(3)

intoxication, (4) speculative gambling of all sorts. A

gosvami must be free from all these vicesbefore he can

dare sit on the vyasasana. No one should be allowed to

sit on the vyasasanawho is not spotless in character

and who is not freed from the above-mentioned vices.

Henot only should be freed from all such vices, but

must also be well versed in all revealedscriptures or

in the Vedas. The Puranas are also parts of the Vedas.

And histories like theMahabharata or Ramayana are also

parts of the Vedas. The acarya or the gosvami must be

wellacquainted with all these literatures. To hear and

explain them is more important thanreading them. One

can assimilate the knowledge of the revealed

scriptures only byhearing and explaining. Hearing is

called sravana, and explaining is called kirtana. The

twoprocesses of sravana and kirtana are of primary

importance to progressive spiritual life. Only onewho

has properly grasped the transcendental knowledge from

the right source by submissivehearing can properly

explain the subject.

28.

SB 1.2.18 P Divinity and Divine Service

So by pleasing the devotee Bhagavata one can receive

the benefit of the book Bhagavata.Human reason fails

to understand how by serving the devotee Bhagavata or

the bookBhagavata one gets gradual promotion on the

path of devotion. But actually these are

factsexplained by Srila Naradadeva, who happened to be

a maidservant's son in his previous life.

Themaidservant was engaged in the menial service of

the sages, and thus he also came into contactwith

them. And simply by associating with them and

accepting the remnants of foodstuff left bythe sages,

the son of the maidservant got the chance to become

the great devotee andpersonality Srila Naradadeva.

These are the miraculous effects of the association of

Bhagavatas.And to understand these effects

practically, it should be noted that by such sincere

association ofthe Bhagavatas one is sure to receive

transcendental knowledge very easily, with the result

thathe becomes fixed in the devotional service of the

Lord. The more progress is made in devotionalservice

under the guidance of the Bhagavatas, the more one

becomes fixed in the transcendentalloving service of

the Lord. The messages of the book Bhagavata,

therefore, have to be receivedfrom the devotee

Bhagavata, and the combination of these two Bhagavatas

will help theneophyte devotee to make progress on and

on.

29.

SB 1.5.36 P Narada' s Instructions on

Srimad-Bhagavatam for Vyasadeva

...the only condition for successfully executing such

spiritual activities is that they mustbe conducted

under the guidance of a pure devotee who is completely

free from allmundane desires

30.

SB 1.9.43 P The Passing Away of Bhismadeva in the

Presence of Lord Krsna

TRANSLATION

Suta Gosvami said: Thus Bhismadeva merged himself in

the Supersoul, Lord Sri Krsna, theSupreme Personality

of Godhead, with his mind, speech, sight and actions,

and thus he becamesilent, and his breathing stopped.

PURPORT

The stage attained by Bhismadeva while quitting his

material body is called nirvikalpa-samadhibecause he

merged his self into thinking of the Lord and his mind

into remembering His differentactivities. He chanted

the glories of the Lord, and by his sight he began to

see the Lord personallypresent before him, and thus

all his activities became concentrated upon the Lord

withoutdeviation. This is the highest stage of

perfection, and it is possible for everyone to attain

thisstage by practice of devotional service. The

devotional service of the Lord consists of

nineprinciples of service activities, and they are (1)

hearing, (2) chanting, (3) remembering, (4) servingthe

lotus feet, (5) worshiping, (6) praying, (7) executing

the orders, (8) fraternizing, and (9)

fullysurrendering. Any one of them or all of them are

equally competent to award the desired result,but they

require to be practiced persistently under the

guidance of an expert devotee ofthe Lord. The first

item, hearing, is the most important item of all, and

therefore hearing of theBhagavad-gita and, later on,

Srimad-Bhagavatam is essential for the serious

candidate whowants to attain the stage of Bhismadeva

at the end.

31.

SB 1.10.27 P Departure of Lord Krsna for Dvaraka

Any person engaged in the devotional service of the

Lord is recommended to live in one of

theabove-mentioned three places, namely Dvaraka,

Mathura or Vrndavana. Because devotionalservice in

these three places is magnified, those who go there to

follow the principles in terms ofinstructions imparted

in the revealed scriptures surely achieve the same

result as obtained duringthe presence of Lord Sri

Krsna. His abode and He Himself are identical, and a

pure devoteeunder the guidance of another experienced

devotee can obtain all the results, even atpresent.

32.

SB 2.3.12 P Pure Devotional Service: The Change in

Heart

TRANSLATION

Transcendental knowledge in relation with the Supreme

Lord Hari is knowledge resulting in thecomplete

suspension of the waves and whirlpools of the material

modes. Such knowledge is selfsatisfyingdue to its

being free from material attachment, and being

transcendental it is approvedby authorities. Who could

fail to be attracted?

PURPORT

According to Bhagavad-gita (10.9) the characteristics

of pure devotees are wonderful. Thecomplete functional

activities of a pure devotee are always engaged in the

service of theLord, and thus the pure devotees

exchange feelings of ecstasy between themselves

andrelish transcendental bliss. This transcendental

bliss is experienced even in the stage ofdevotional

practice (sadhana-avastha), if properly undertaken

under the guidance of a bona fidespiritual master. And

in the mature stage the developed transcendental

feeling culminates inrealization of the particular

relationship with the Lord by which a living entity is

originallyconstituted (up to the relationship of

conjugal love with the Lord, which is estimated to be

thehighest transcendental bliss). Thus bhakti-yoga,

being the only means of God realization, iscalled

kaivalya. Srila Jiva Gosvami quotes the Vedic version

(eko narayano devah, paravaranamparama aste

kaivalya-samjnitah) in this connection and establishes

that Narayana, thePersonality of Godhead, is known as

kaivalya, and the means which enables one to approach

theLord is called the kaivalya-pantha, or the only

means of attainment of Godhead. This

kaivalyapanthabegins from sravana, or hearing those

topics that relate to the Personality of Godhead,and

the natural consequence of hearing such hari-katha is

attainment of transcendentalknowledge, which causes

detachment from all mundane topics, for which a

devotee has no tasteat all. For a devotee, all mundane

activities, social and political, become unattractive,

and in themature state such a devotee becomes

uninterested even in his own body, and what to speak

ofbodily relatives. In such a state of affairs one is

not agitated by the waves of the material modes.There

are different modes of material nature, and all

mundane functions in which a common manis very much

interested or in which he takes part become

unattractive for the devotee. This stateof affairs is

described herein as pratinivrtta-gunormi, and it is

possible by atma-prasada, orcomplete self-satisfaction

without any material connection. The first-class

devotee of the Lordattains this stage by devotional

service, but despite his loftiness, for the Lord's

satisfaction hemay play the voluntary part of a

preacher of the Lord's glory and dovetail all into

devotionalservice, even mundane interest, just to give

the neophytes a chance to transform mundaneinterest

into transcendental bliss. Srila Rupa Gosvami has

described this action of a pure devoteeas nirbandhah

krsna-sambandhe yuktam vairagyam ucyate. Even mundane

activities dovetailedwith service to the Lord are also

calculated to be transcendental or approved kaivalya

affairs.

33.

SB 2.7.46 P Scheduled Incarnations with Specific

Functions

The Personality of Godhead may not be present before

one's eyes, but if one is sincere inwanting such

guidance the Lord will send a bona fide person who can

guide one properlyback home, back to Godhead.

34.

SB 2.9.7 P Answers by Citing the Lord' s Version

TRANSLATION

When he heard the sound, he tried to find the speaker,

searching on all sides. But when he wasunable to find

anyone besides himself, he thought it wise to sit down

on his lotus seat firmly andgive his attention to the

execution of penance, as he was instructed.

PURPORT

To achieve success in life, one should follow the

example of Lord Brahma, the first livingcreature in

the beginning of creation. After being initiated by

the Supreme Lord to executetapasya, he was fixed in

his determination to do it, and although he could not

find anyone besideshimself, he could rightly

understand that the sound was transmitted by the Lord

Himself. Brahmawas the only living being at that time

because there was no other creation and none could

befound there except himself. In the beginning of the

First Canto, in the First Chapter, first verse, ofthe

Srimad-Bhagavatam, it has already been mentioned that

Brahma was initiated by the Lordfrom within. The Lord

is within every living entity as the Supersoul, and He

initiated Brahmabecause Brahma was willing to receive

the initiation. The Lord can similarly initiate

everyone whois inclined to have it.

As already stated, Brahma is the original spiritual

master for the universe, and since he wasinitiated by

the Lord Himself, the message of Srimad-Bhagavatam is

coming down by disciplicsuccession, and in order to

receive the real message of Srimad-Bhagavatam one

shouldapproach the current link, or spiritual master,

in the chain of disciplic succession. After

beinginitiated by the proper spiritual master in that

chain of succession, one should engage himself inthe

discharge of tapasya in the execution of devotional

service. One should not, however, thinkhimself on the

level of Brahma to be initiated directly by the Lord

from inside because inthe present age no one can be

accepted to be as pure as Brahma.

35.

TEXT 18

TRANSLATION

A devotee should always try to hear about spiritual

matters and should always utilize histime in chanting

the holy name of the Lord. His behavior should always

be straightforward andsimple, and although he is not

envious but friendly to everyone, he should avoid the

company ofpersons who are not spiritually advanced.

PURPORT

In order to advance in spiritual understanding, one

has to hear from authentic sources aboutspiritual

knowledge. One can understand the reality of spiritual

life by following strict regulativeprinciples and by

controlling the senses. To have control it is

necessary that one be nonviolentand truthful, refrain

from stealing, abstain from sex life and possess only

that which is absolutelynecessary for keeping the body

and soul together. One should not eat more than

necessary, heshould not collect more paraphernalia

than necessary, he should not talk unnecessarily

withcommon men, and he should not follow the rules and

regulations without purpose. He shouldfollow the rules

and regulations so that he may actually make

advancement.

There are eighteen qualifications mentioned in

Bhagavad-gita, among which is simplicity. Oneshould be

without pride; one should not demand unnecessary

respect from others, and oneshould be nonviolent.

Amanitvam adambhitvam ahimsa. One should be very

tolerant and simple,one should accept the spiritual

master, and one should control the senses. These are

mentionedhere and in Bhagavad-gita as well. One should

hear from authentic sources how to advance inspiritual

life; such instructions should be taken from the

acarya and should be assimilated.

It is especially mentioned here, nama-sankirtanac ca:

one should chant the holy names of theLord--Hare

Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama,

Hare Rama, Rama Rama,Hare Hare--either individually or

with others. Lord Caitanya has given special stress to

chanting ofthese holy names of the Lord as the basic

principle of spiritual advancement. Another word

usedhere is arjavena, meaning "without diplomacy." A

devotee should not make plans out of selfinterest.Of

course, preachers sometimes have to make some plan to

execute the mission of theLord under proper guidance,

but regarding personal self-interest, a devotee should

always bewithout diplomacy, and he should avoid the

company of persons who are not advancing inspiritual

life. Another word is arya. Aryans are persons who are

advancing in knowledge of Krsnaconsciousness as well

as in material prosperity. The difference between the

Aryan and non-Aryan, the sura and asura, is in their

standards of spiritual advancement. Association

withpersons who are not spiritually advanced is

forbidden. Lord Caitanya advised, asat-sanga-tyaga:one

should avoid persons who are attached to the

temporary. Asat is one who is too materiallyattached,

who is not a devotee of the Lord and who is too

attached to women or enjoyablematerial things. Such a

person, according to Vaisnava philosophy, is a persona

non grata.

A devotee should not be proud of his acquisitions. The

symptoms of a devotee aremeekness and humility.

Although spiritually very advanced, he will always

remain meekand humble, as Kaviraja Gosvami and all the

other Vaisnavas have taught us by personalexample.

Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught that one should be humbler

than the grass on thestreet and more tolerant than the

tree. One should not be proud or falsely puffed up. In

thisway one will surely advance in spiritual life.

36.

SB 4.28.33 P Puranjana Becomes a Woman in the Next

Life

... Thus Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura advocated

that every devotee, under theguidance of an expert

spiritual master, preach the bhakti cult, Krsna

consciousness, allover the world....

37.

SB 7.12.11 P The Perfect Society: Four Spiritual

Classes

In spiritual life, one must conduct one's whole life

under the guidance of the guru. Only onewho executes

his spiritual life under the direction of the

spiritual master can achieve the mercy ofKrsna. Yasya

prasadad bhagavat-.

38.

SB 9.4.18-20 P Ambarisa Maharaja Offended by Durvasa

Muni

... manah partha yogam yunjan mad-asrayah. This

indicates that one must execute devotionalservice

under the guidance of a devotee or directly under the

guidance of the SupremePersonality of Godhead. It is

not possible, however, to train oneself without

guidance fromthe spiritual master.

39.

SB 10.3.15-17 P The Birth of Lord Krsna

... Only to one who is engaged in pure devotional

service under proper guidance is Herevealed.

40.

Adi 5.22 The Glories of Lord Nityananda Balarama

... Only under superior guidance can one practice such

yoga in his life without changing hissocial position.

41.

TLC 17 Lord Caitanya, the Original Personality of

Godhead

... When shall I be eager to accept the six Gosvamis

as my prime guidance? And when will I beable to

understand the conjugal love of Krsna?" No one should

be eager to understand theconjugal love of Krsna

without undergoing disciplinary training underthe six

Gosvamis of Vrndavana.

42.

Thus a Vaisnava automatically becomes a brahmana. This

idea is also supported by SanatanaGosvami in his book

Hari-bhakti-vilasa, which is the Vaisnava guide.

Therein he has clearlystated that any person who is

properly initiated into the Vaisnava cult certainly

becomes abrahmana, as much as the metal known as kamsa

(bell metal) is turned into gold by the mixtureof

mercury. A bona fide spiritual master, under the

guidance of authorities, can turn anyoneto the

Vaisnava cult so that naturally he may come to the

topmost position of a brahmana.Srila Rupa Gosvami

warns, however, that if a person is properly initiated

by a bona fide spiritualmaster, he should not think

that simply by the acceptance of such initiation his

business is thenfinished. One still has to follow the

rules and regulations very carefully. If after

accepting thespiritual master and being initiated one

does not follow the rules and regulations ofdevotional

service, then he is again fallen. One must be very

vigilant to remember that he isthe part and parcel of

the transcendental body of Krsna, and that it is his

duty as part and parcelto give service to the whole,

or Krsna. If we do not render service to Krsna then

again we falldown. In other words, simply becoming

initiated does not elevate one to the position of

ahigh-class brahmana. One also has to discharge the

duties and follow the regulative principlesvery

rigidly.

Sri Rupa Gosvami also says that if one is regularly

discharging devotional service, there will beno

question of a falldown. But even if circumstantially

there is some falldown, the Vaisnava needhave nothing

to do with the prayascitta, the ritualistic ceremony

for purification. If someone fallsdown from the

principles of devotional service, he need not take to

the prayascitta performancesfor reformation. He simply

has to execute the rules and regulations for

discharging devotionalservice, and this is sufficient

for his reinstatement. This is the mystery of the

Vaisnava(devotional) cult.

Practically there are three processes for elevating

one to the platform of spiritualconsciousness. These

processes are called karma, jnana and bhakti.

Ritualistic performancesare in the field of karma.

Speculative processes are in the field of jnana. One

who has taken tobhakti, the devotional service of the

Lord, need have nothing to do with karma or jnana. It

hasbeen already explained that pure devotional service

is without any tinge of karma or jnana.Bhakti should

have no tinge of philosophical speculation or

ritualistic performances.

43.

A devotee who is actually advanced in Krsna

consciousness, who is constantly engaged indevotional

service, should not manifest himself, even though he

has attained perfection. The ideais that he should

always continue to act as a neophyte devotee as long

as his material body isthere. Activities in devotional

service under regulative principles must be followed

even by thepure devotee. But when he realizes his

actual position in relationship with the Lord, he can,

alongwith the discharging of regulative service, think

within himself of the Lord, under the guidance ofa

particular associate of the Lord, and develop his

transcendental sentiments in following thatassociate

July 5, 2003

44.

NoD 19 Devotional Service in Pure Love of God

Although many different processes for developing love

of Godhead have been explained so far,Srila Rupa

Gosvami now gives us a general description of how one

can best achieve such a highposition. The beginning of

ecstatic love of Godhead is basically faith. There are

many societiesand associations of pure devotees, and

if someone with just a little faith begins toassociate

with such societies, his advancement to pure

devotional service is rapid. Theinfluence of a pure

devotee is such that if someone comes to associate

with him with alittle faith, one gets the chance of

hearing about the Lord from authoritative scriptures

likeBhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam. Thus, by the

mercy of the Lord, who is situated ineveryone's heart,

one gradually develops his faith in the descriptions

of such authoritativescriptures. This is the first

stage of association with pure devotees. In the second

stage, after onebecomes a little advanced and mature,

he automatically offers to follow the principles

ofdevotional service under the guidance of the pure

devotee and accepts him as the spiritualmaster. In the

next stage, under the guidance of the spiritual

master, the devotee executesregulative devotional

service, and as a result of such activities, he

becomes freed from allunwanted occupations. When he is

freed from unwanted occupations, his faith becomes

steadilyfixed, and he develops a transcendental taste

for devotional service, then attachment,

thenecstasies, and in the last stage there is pure

love of Godhead. These are the different stages ofthe

development of pure love.

Only the most fortunate persons can achieve such

success in life. Those who are simplyacademic students

of the Vedic scriptures cannot appreciate how such a

development takesplace.

45.

NoI 5

In this verse Srila Rupa Gosvami advises the devotee

to be intelligent enough todistinguish between the

kanistha-adhikari, madhyama-adhikari and

uttama-adhikari. Thedevotee should also know his own

position and should not try to imitate a devotee

situated on ahigher platform. Srila Bhaktivinoda

Thakura has given some practical hints to the effect

that anuttama-adhikari Vaisnava can be recognized by

his ability to convert many fallen souls toVaisnavism.

One should not become a spiritual master unless he has

attained the platform ofuttama-adhikari. A neophyte

Vaisnava or a Vaisnava situated on the intermediate

platform canalso accept disciples, but such disciples

must be on the same platform, and it should

beunderstood that they cannot advance very well toward

the ultimate goal of life under hisinsufficient

guidance. Therefore a disciple should be careful to

accept an uttama-adhikari asa spiritual master.

46.

NoI 8

... In this way one should reside in Vraja [Goloka

Vrndavana dhama] and serve Krsna under theguidance of

devotees. One should follow in the footsteps of the

Lord's beloved devotees

47.

NoI 8

... His beloved associates. By following in the

footsteps of such associates and by enteringunder

their eternal guidance, one can acquire an intense

desire to serve the SupremePersonality of Godhead.

48.

NoI 8

... one should place himself under the direct guidance

of a particular associate of Krsnaand should follow in

his footsteps

49.

KB 82 Lord Krsna and Balarama Meet the Inhabitants of

Vrndavana

... One has to follow the rules and regulations

prescribed by the acaryas, and thus, undersuperior

guidance, Krsna-realization is fully possible, even in

this material existence.

50.

KB 87 Prayers by the Personified Vedas

... this constant engagement in devotional service can

be performed only when one is workingunder the

direction of a bona fide spiritual master. The Vedic

injunction is that no one canhave full knowledge

without being under the guidance of an acarya.

51.

OWK 5 Steering Toward the Supreme

... if one comes into contact with Krsna consciousness

and executes the process under theguidance of a bona

fide guide, he is sure to go back to Godhead

52.

MM 4 P Mukunda-mala-stotra

A pure devotee is neither a needy man, a man fallen

into difficulty, nor an empiric philosopherwho tries

to approach the Divinity on the strength his own

imperfect knowledge. A pure devoteereceives knowledge

of the Divinity from the right source--the disciplic

succession ofrealized souls who have followed strictly

the disciplinary method of devotional serviceunder the

guidance of bona fide spiritual masters. It is not

possible to know thetranscendental nature of the

Divinity by dint of one's imperfect sense perception,

but the Divinityreveals Himself to a pure devotee in

proportion to the transcendental service renderedunto

Him.

53.

LON 1 God and The Law of Karma

... But if you read Vedic scriptures like the

Isopanisad and Bhagavad-gita under superiorguidance

and follow the rules and regulations, eventually God

will be revealed to you

54.

Prabhupada: So our principle should be not to

disassociate ourself from the devotees. Narottamadasa

Thakura therefore sings, tandera

carana-sebi-bhakta-sane bas, janame janame hoy

eiabhilas: "I desire birth after birth to serve the

acaryas and to live with devotees." So our

thisassociation, society's is giving these two

opportunity: you serve the purpose or the orders of

theacaryas and live with devotees. Then you will be

secure in devotional service. Tandera

caranasebi-bhakta-sane bas. Bhakta-sane bas is very

important thing. Even there is little

inconvenience,still we should stick to live with the

devotees. Then we shall be profited. Go on.Pradyumna:

"...with the result that he becomes fixed in the

devotional service of the Lord. Themore progress is

made in devotional service under the guidance of the

Bhagavatas, themore one becomes fixed in the

transcendental loving service of the Lord. The

messages ofthe book Bhagavata, therefore, have to be

received from the devotee Bhagavata, and

thecombination of these two Bhagavatas will help the

neophyte devotee to make progress onand on." (end)

55.

To understand all this one has to associate with

authorities in Krsna consciousness andlearn the secret

from them; this is as good as learning from the Lord

directly.

56.

Such confidential knowledge is entrusted, as confirmed

in Bhagavad-gita only to pure devoteeslike Uddhava and

Arjuna, and one has to learn the mystery through them,

and not otherwise.One cannot understand Bhagavad-gita

or Srimad-Bhagavatam without the help of

suchconfidential devotees of the Lord.

57.

The disciples also know that they have to learn about

the eternal relationship between Godand the living

entity from a self-realized soul.

58.

Consultation with the Supersoul seated within

everyone's heart is possible only when oneis

completely free from the contamination of material

attachment. One who is sincere andpure gets an

opportunity to consult with the Supreme Personality of

Godhead in His Paramatmafeature sitting within

everyone's heart. The Paramatma is always the

caitya-guru, the spiritualmaster within, and He comes

before one externally as the instructor and initiator

spiritual master.The Lord can reside within the heart,

and He can also come out before a person and give

himinstructions. Thus the spiritual master is not

different from the Supersoul sitting within the

heart.An uncontaminated soul or living entity can get

a chance to meet the Paramatma face to face.Just as

one gets a chance to consult with the Paramatma within

his heart, one also gets a chanceto see Him actually

situated before him. Then one can take instructions

from the Supersouldirectly. This is the duty of the

pure devotee: to see the bona fide spiritual master

andconsult with the Supersoul within the heart.

59.

SB 4.28.52 P Puranjana Becomes a Woman in the Next

Life

The Paramatma is always the caitya-guru, the spiritual

master within, and He comes before oneexternally as

the instructor and initiator

60.

TEXT 58

jive saksat nahi tate guru caittya-rupe

siksa-guru haya krsna-mahanta-svarupe

TRANSLATION

Since one cannot visually experience the presence of

the Supersoul, He appears beforeus as a liberated

devotee. Such a spiritual master is none other than

Krsna Himself.

PURPORT

It is not possible for a conditioned soul to directly

meet Krsna, the Supreme Personality ofGodhead, but if

one becomes a sincere devotee and seriously engages in

devotional service,Lord Krsna sends an instructing

spiritual master to show him favor and invoke his

dormantpropensity for serving the Supreme. The

preceptor appears before the external senses of

thefortunate conditioned soul, and at the same time

the devotee is guided from within by the

caittyaguru,Krsna, who is seated as the spiritual

master within the heart of the living entity.

61.

sadhu means who speaks on the basis of sastra. Guru

means who speaks on the basis of sastra.They're sadhu

guru sastra. And sastra means the statement of

authorities. That is sastra. Justlike Bhagavad-gita.

It is sastra because it is spoken by the supreme guru,

Krsna. So who is guru?At the present moment so many

unauthorized persons are presenting themselves as

guru.But you should be very careful. Guru, Caitanya

Mahaprabhu has said, amara ajnaya guru hanatara' ei

desa. He says that "I order you that you become guru.

And your business is to deliver thiscountry.This

country" means wherever you are living, you can become

guru and deliverthem.

62.

Adi Lila Ch 8 TEXT 16

TEXT

bahu janma kare yadi sravana, kirtana

tabu ta' na paya krsna-pade prema-dhana

SYNONYMS

bahu--many; janma--births; kare--does; yadi--if;

sravana--hearing; kirtana--chanting;

tabu--still;ta'--in spite of; na--does not; paya--get;

krsna-pade--unto the lotus feet of Krsna;

prema-dhana--love of Godhead.

TRANSLATION

If one is infested with the ten offenses in the

chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, despitehis

endeavor to chant the holy name for many births, he

will not get the love of Godhead that isthe ultimate

goal of this chanting.

PURPORT

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura says in this

connection that unless one accepts SriCaitanya

Mahaprabhu, although one goes on chanting the Hare

Krsna mantra for many, manyyears, there is no

possibility of his attaining the platform of

devotional service. One must followstrictly the

instruction of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu given in the

Siksastaka (3):

trnad api sunicena

taror iva sahisnuna

amanina manadena

kirtaniyah sada harih

"One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a

humble state of mind, thinking oneself lowerthan the

straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than

a tree, devoid of all sense of falseprestige, and

should be ready to offer all respect to others. In

such a state of mind one can chantthe holy name of the

Lord constantly." One who follows this direction,

being freed from the tenkinds of offenses, becomes

successful in Krsna consciousness and ultimately

reaches theplatform of loving service to the

Personality of Godhead.

One must come to the understanding that the holy name

of the Lord and the SupremePersonality of Godhead

Himself are identical. One cannot reach this

conclusion unless one isoffenseless in chanting the

holy name. By our material calculation we see a

difference betweenthe name and the substance, but in

the spiritual world the Absolute is always absolute;

the name,form, quality and pastimes of the Absolute

are all as good as the Absolute Himself. As such,

oneis understood to be an eternal servant of the

Supreme Personality of Godhead if he considershimself

an eternal servant of the holy name and in this spirit

distributes the holy name to theworld. One who chants

in that spirit, without offenses, is certainly

elevated to the platform ofunderstanding that the holy

name and the Personality of Godhead are identical. To

associatewith the holy name and chant the holy name is

to associate with the Personality ofGodhead directly.

In Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu it is clearly said:

sevonmukhe hi jihvadau svayameva sphuraty adah. The

holy name becomes manifest when one engages in the

service of theholy name. This service in a submissive

attitude begins with one's tongue. Sevonmukhe

hijihvadau: One must engage his tongue in the service

of the holy name. Our Krsna consciousnessmovement is

based on this principle. We try to engage all the

members of the Krsnaconsciousness movement in the

service of the holy name. Since the holy name and

Krsna arenondifferent, the members of the Krsna

consciousness movement not only chant the holy nameof

the Lord offenselessly, but also do not allow their

tongues to eat anything that is not firstoffered to

the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Supreme Lord

declares:

patram puspam phalam toyam

yo me bhaktya prayacchati

tad aham bhakty-upahrtam

asnami prayatatmanah

"If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a

flower, a fruit or water, I will accept it." (Bg.9.26)

Therefore the International Society for Krishna

Consciousness has many temples all overthe world, and

in each and every temple the Lord is offered these

foods. On the basis of Hisdemands, the devotees chant

the holy name of the Lord offenselessly and never eat

anything thatis not first offered to the Lord. The

functions of the tongue in devotional service are to

chant theHare Krsna maha-mantra and eat prasada that

is offered to the Lord.

63.

Madhya Lila 22 TEXT 71

TEXT

rati-prema-taratamye bhakta----tara-tama

ekadasa skandhe tara kariyache laksana

SYNONYMS

rati--of attachment; prema--and love; taratamye--by

comparison; bhakta--devotee; tara-tama--superior and

superlative; ekadasa skandhe--in the Eleventh Canto of

Srimad-Bhagavatam; tara--of him; kariyache--has made;

laksana--symptoms.

TRANSLATION

"A devotee is considered superlative and superior

according to his attachment and love.In the Eleventh

Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, the following symptoms

have been ascertained.

PURPORT

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has stated that if one has

developed faith in Krsna consciousness,he is to be

considered an eligible candidate for further

advancement in Krsna consciousness.Those who have

faith are divided into three categories--uttama,

madhyama and kanistha (firstclass,second-class and

neophyte). A first-class devotee has firm conviction

in the revealedscriptures and is expert in arguing

according to the sastras. He is firmly convinced of

the scienceof Krsna consciousness. The

madhyama-adhikari, or second-class devotee, has firm

conviction inKrsna consciousness, but he cannot

support his conviction by citing sastric references.

Theneophyte devotee does not yet have firm faith. In

this way the devotees are typed.The standard of

devotion is also categorized in the same way. A

neophyte believes that onlylove of Krsna or Krsna

consciousness is very good, but he may not know the

basis of pure Krsnaconsciousness or how one can become

a perfect devotee. Sometimes in the heart of a

neophytethere is attraction for karma, jnana or yoga.

When he is free and transcendental to mixeddevotional

activity, he becomes a second-class devotee. When he

becomes expert in logic andcan refer to the sastras,

he becomes a first-class devotee. The devotees are

also described aspositive, comparative and

superlative, in terms of their love and attachment for

Krsna.It should be understood that a

madhyama-adhikari, a second-class devotee, is fully

convincedof Krsna consciousness but cannot support his

convictions with sastric reference. A neophytemay fall

down by associating with nondevotees because he is not

firmly convinced and stronglysituated. The

second-class devotee, even though he cannot support

his position with sastricreference, can gradually

become a first-class devotee by studying the sastras

and associatingwith a first-class devotee. However, if

the second-class devotee does not advance himselfby

associating with a first-class devotee, he makes no

progress. There is no possibility thata first-class

devotee will fall down, even though he may mix with

nondevotees to preach.Conviction and faith gradually

increase to make one an uttama-adhikari, a first-class

devotee.

63.

Madhya Lila Ch 22 TEXT 83

TEXT

krsna-bhakti-janma-mula haya 'sadhu-sanga'

krsna-prema janme, tenho punah mukhya anga

SYNONYMS

krsna-bhakti--of devotional service to Krsna;

janma-mula--the root cause; haya--is;

sadhusanga--association with advanced devotees;

krsna-prema--love of Krsna; janme--awakens;tenho--that

same association with devotees; punah--again; mukhya

anga--the chief principle.

TRANSLATION

"The root cause of devotional service to Lord Krsna is

association with advanceddevotees. Even when one's

dormant love for Krsna awakens, association with

devotees isstill most essential."

Antya 14.53 Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu' s Feelings

of Separation from Krsna

When Uddhava returned to Mathura after visiting

Vrndavana, Lord Krsna inquired from himabout Radharani

and Visakha. Uddhava replied as follows: "Consider the

condition of the gopis!Srimati Radharani especially is

in a very painful condition because of separation from

You. Shehas grown ... gone. Her heart is immersed in

pain, and because She has given up eating, Herbreast

has become black, as if diseased. Because of

separation from You, all the gopis,especially

Radharani, appear like dried-up water holes under the

scorching heat of the sun."

64.

Bhagavad-gita (14.26) confirms this as follows:

mam ca yo 'vyabhicarena

bhakti-yogena sevate

sa gunan samatityaitan

brahma-bhuyaya kalpate

So the science of bhakti-yoga, of worshiping the Lord,

glorifying the Lord, hearing the Srimad-Bhagavatam

from the right sources (not from the professional man

but from a person who isBhagavatam in life) and being

always in the association of pure devotees, should be

adopted inearnestness.

65.

Bg 7.17 P Knowledge of the Absolute

Free from all contaminations of material desires, the

distressed, the inquisitive, the penniless,and the

seeker after supreme knowledge can all become pure

devotees. But out of them, hewho is in knowledge of

the Absolute Truth and free from all material desires

becomes areally pure devotee of the Lord. And of the

four orders, the devotee who is in full knowledgeand

is at the same ... is different from his material

body, and when further advanced he comes tothe

knowledge of impersonal Brahman and Paramatma. When

one is fully purified, he realizesthat his

constitutional position is to be the eternal servant

of God. So by association with puredevotees, the

inquisitive, the distressed, the seeker after material

amelioration and the man inknowledge all become

themselves pure. But in the preparatory stage, the man

who is in fullknowledge of the Supreme Lord and is at

the same time executing devotional service is very

dearto the Lord. He who is situated in pure knowledge

of the transcendence of the SupremePersonality of God

is so protected in devotional service that material

contamination cannot touch him.

66.

Bg 7.28 P Knowledge of the Absolute

... Only those who have passed their lives in

practicing the regulative principles of religion,

whohave acted piously and who have conquered sinful

reactions can accept devotional service andgradually

rise to the pure knowledge of the Supreme Personality

of Godhead. Then, gradually,they can meditate in

trance on the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is

the process of beingsituated on the spiritual

platform. This elevation is possible in Krsna

consciousness in theassociation of pure devotees who

can deliver one from delusion.

67.

Bg 8.28 P Attaining the Supreme

One should try to understand the Seventh and Eighth

Chapters of the Gita not byscholarship or mental

speculation, but by hearing them in association with

pure devotees.Chapters Seven through Twelve are the

essence of Gita, if one is fortunate to understand

theGita--especially these middle six chapters--in the

association of devotees, then his life at oncebecomes

glorified beyond all penances, sacrifices, charities,

speculations, etc. One should hearthe Gita from the

devotee because at the beginning of the Fourth Chapter

it is stated that the Gitacan only be perfectly

understood by devotees. Hearing the Gita from

devotees, not from mentalspeculators, is called faith.

Through association of devotees, one is placed in

devotional service,and by this service Krsna's

activities, form, pastimes,... etc., become clear, and

all misgivings aredispelled. Then once doubts are

removed, the study of the Gita becomes extremely

pleasurable,and one develops a taste and feeling for

Krsna consciousness.... the advanced stage, one

fallscompletely in love with Krsna, and that is the

beginning of the highest perfectional stage of

lifewhich prepares the devotee's transferral to

Krsna's abode in the spiritual sky,... the

devoteeenters into eternal happiness.

68.

Bg 9.13 P The Most Confidential Knowledge

... because he knows perfectly well that Krsna is the

original Supreme Person, the cause of allcauses. There

is no doubt about it. Such a mahatma, or great soul,

develops throughassociation with other mahatmas, pure

devotees. Pure devotees are not even attracted

byKrsna's other features, such as the four-armed

Maha-Visnu. They are simply attracted by the

twoarmedform of Krsna. Since they are not attracted to

other features of Krsna (what to speak of

thedemigods), they are mot concerned with any form of

a demigod or of a human being. They onlymeditate upon

Krsna in Krsna consciousness. They are always engaging

in the unswervingservice of the Lord in Krsna

consciousness.

69.

Bg 15.20 P The Yoga of the Supreme Person

While performing devotional service in the association

of pure devotees in full Krsnaconsciousness, there are

certain things which require to be vanquished

altogether. Themost important thing one has to

surmount is weakness of the heart. The first falldown

is causedby the desire to lord it over material

nature. Thus one gives up the transcendental loving

serviceof the Supreme Lord. The second weakness of the

heart is that as one increases the propensityof

lording it over material nature, he becomes attached

to matter and the possession of matter.The problems of

material existence are due to these weaknesses of the

heart.

70.

Bg 17.28 P The Divisions of Faith

... The mode of goodness is better than the modes of

passion and ignorance, but one who takesdirectly to

Krsna consciousness is transcendental to all three

modes of material nature. Althoughthere is a process

of gradual elevation, if one, by the association of

pure devotees, takesdirectly to Krsna consciousness,

that is the best way.

71.

SB Introduction " Creation"

It was further suggested by Raya that attainment of

spiritual realization freed from the

materialconception of life is the topmost achievement

for a living being. The Lord rejected this

suggestionalso because on the plea of such spiritual

realization much havoc has been wrought byunscrupulous

persons; therefore all of a sudden this is not

possible. The Raya then suggestedsincere association

of self-realized souls and hearing submissively the

transcendental messageof the pastimes of the

Personality of Godhead. This suggestion was welcomed

by the Lord. Thissuggestion was made following in the

footsteps of Brahmaji, who said that the Personality

ofGodhead is known as ajita, or the one who cannot be

conquered or approached by anyone. Butsuch ajita also

becomes jita (conquered) by one method, which is very

simple and easy. Thesimple method is that one has to

give up the arrogant attitude of declaring oneself to

be GodHimself. One must be very meek and submissive

and try to live peacefully by lending the ear tothe

speeches of the transcendentally self-realized soul

who speaks on the message ofBhagavata-dharma, or the

religion of glorifying the Supreme Lord and His

devotees.

72.

Peace and friendship are impossible for a society

detached from the association of God and Hisdevotees.

It is imperative, therefore, that one sincerely seek

the association of puredevotees and hear them

patiently and submissively from any position of life.

The position ofa person in the higher or lower status

of life does not hamper one in the path of

self-realization.The only thing one has to do is to

hear from a self-... program. The teacher may also

deliverlectures from the Vedic literatures, following

in the footsteps of the bygone acaryas who realizedthe

Absolute Truth. Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu

recommended this simple method of

selfrealizationgenerally known as Bhagavata-dharma.

HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

73.

SB 1.5.25 P Narada' s Instructions on

Srimad-Bhagavatam for Vyasadeva

Pure devotion is as much infectious, in a good sense,

as infectious diseases. A pure devotee iscleared from

all kinds of sins. The Personality of Godhead is the

purest entity, and unless one isequally pure from the

infection of material qualities, one cannot become a

pure devotee of theLord. The bhakti-vedantas as above

mentioned were pure devotees, and the boy

becameinfected with their qualities of purity by their

association and by eating once the remnantsof the

foodstuff taken by them. Such remnants may be taken

even without permission of thepure devotees. There are

sometimes pseudodevotees, and one should be very much

cautiousabout them. There are many things which hinder

one from entering devotional service. But bythe

association of pure devotees all these obstacles are

removed. The neophyte devoteebecomes practically

enriched with the transcendental qualities of the pure

devotee, which meansattraction for the Personality of

Godhead's name, fame, quality, pastimes, etc.

Infection of thequalities of the pure devotee means to

imbibe the taste of pure devotion always in

thetranscendental activities of the Personality of

Godhead. This transcendental taste at once makesall

material things distasteful. Therefore a pure devotee

is not at all attracted by material activities.After

the elimination of all sins or obstacles on the path

of devotional service, one can becomeattracted, one

can have steadiness, one can have perfect taste, one

can have transcendentalemotions, and at last one can

be situated on the plane of loving service of the

Lord. All thesestages develop by the association of

pure devotees, and that is the purport of this stanza.

74.

SB 1.5.28 P Narada' s Instructions on

Srimad-Bhagavatam for Vyasadeva

Transcendental loving service for the Supreme Lord is

the natural inclination of every livingbeing. The

instinct is dormant in everyone, but due to the

association of material nature themodes of passion and

ignorance cover this from time immemorial. If, by the

grace of the Lordand the great-souled devotees of the

Lord, a living being becomes fortunate enough

toassociate with the unadulterated devotees of the

Lord and gets a chance to hear theunadulterated

glories of the Lord, certainly the flow of devotional

service takes place likethe flow of a river. As the

river flows on till she reaches the sea, similarly

pure devotional serviceflows by the association of

pure devotees till it reaches the ultimate goal,

namely, transcendentallove of God. Such a flow of

devotional service cannot stop. On the contrary, it

increases moreand more without limitation. The flow of

devotional service is so potent that any onlookeralso

becomes liberated from the influence of the modes of

passion and ignorance.

75.

SB 1.10.11-12 Departure of Lord Krsna for Dvaraka

TRANSLATION

The intelligent, who have understood the Supreme Lord

in association with puredevotees and have become freed

from bad materialistic association, can never

avoidhearing the glories of the Lord, even though they

have heard them only once. How, then,could the

Pandavas tolerate His separation, for they had been

intimately associated with Hisperson, seeing Him face

to face, touching Him, conversing with Him, and

sleeping, sitting anddining with Him?

PURPORT

The living being's constitutional position is one of

serving a superior. He is obliged to serve byforce the

dictates of illusory material energy in different

phases of sense gratification. And inserving the

senses he is never tired. Even though he may be tired,

the illusory energy perpetuallyforces him to do so

without being satisfied. There is no end to such sense

gratificatory business,and the conditioned soul

becomes entangled in such servitude without hope of

release. Therelease is only effected by association

with pure devotees. By such association one

isgradually promoted to his transcendental

consciousness. Thus he can know that his

eternalposition is to render service unto the Lord and

not to the perverted senses in the capacity of

lust,anger, desire to lord it over, etc. Material

society, friendship and love are all different phases

oflust. Home, country, family, society, wealth and all

sorts of corollaries are all causes of bondagein the

material world, where the threefold miseries of life

are concomitant factors. By associatingwith pure

devotees and by hearing them submissively, attachment

for material enjoymentbecomes slackened, and

attraction for hearing about the transcendental

activities of theLord becomes prominent. Once they

are, they will go on progressively without stoppage,

likefire in gunpowder. It is said that Hari, the

Personality of Godhead, is so transcendentally

attractivethat even those who are self-satisfied by

self-realization and are factually liberated from

allmaterial bondage also become devotees of the Lord.

Under the circumstances it is easilyunderstood what

must have been the position of the Pandavas, who were

constant companionsof the Lord. They could not even

think of separation from Sri Krsna, since the

attraction was moreintense for them because of

continuous personal contact. His remembrance by His

form, quality,name, fame, pastimes, etc., is also

attractive for the pure devotee, so much so that he

forgets allforms, quality, name, fame and activities

of the mundane world, and due to his matureassociation

with pure devotees he is not out of contact with the

Lord for a moment.

76.

SB 1.13.26 P Dhrtarastra Quits Home

Narottama dasa Thakura, a great devotee and acarya of

the Gaudiya Vaisnava sect, has sung:"My Lord, I have

simply wasted my life. Having ... willingly drunk

poison." In other words, thehuman body is especially

meant for cultivating knowledge of devotional service

to the Lord,without which life becomes full of

anxieties and miserable conditions. Therefore, one who

hasspoiled his life without such cultural activities

is advised to leave home without knowledge offriends

and relatives and, being thus freed from all

obligations of family, society, country, etc.,give up

the body at some unknown destination so that others

... forget such a relation, he is calledundisturbed,

or dhira. This is, however, the path of renunciation

based on a frustrated life, butstabilization of such

renunciation is possible only by association with bona

fide saints andself-realized souls by which one can be

engaged in the loving devotional service of theLord.

Sincere surrender unto the lotus feet of the Lord is

possible by awakening thetranscendental sense of

service. This is made possible by association with

pure devotees ofthe Lord. Dhrtarastra was lucky enough

to have a brother whose very association was a

sourceof liberation for his frustrated life.

77.

SB 1.18.18 P Maharaja Pariksit Cursed by a Brahmana

Boy

Such is the power of pure devotees of the Lord. The

Ganges water is accepted as pure, andone can become

purified after taking a bath in the waters of the

Ganges. But as far as the greatdevotees of the Lord

are concerned, they can purify a degraded soul even by

being seenby the lowborn, and what to speak of

association. Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted

topurify the whole atmosphere of the polluted world by

sending qualified preachers all over theworld, and it

remains with the Indians to take up this task

scientifically and thus do the best kindof

humanitarian work

78.

SB 2.1.6 P The First Step in God Realization

Narayana is the transcendental Personality of Godhead

beyond the material creation.Everything that is

created, sustained, and at the end annihilated is

within the compass of themahat-tattva (material

principle) and is known as the material world. The

existence of Narayana,or the Personality of Godhead,

is not within the jurisdiction of this mahat-tattva,

and as such, thename, form, attributes, etc. of

Narayana are beyond the jurisdiction of the material

world. By thespeculation of empiric philosophy, which

discerns matter from spirit, or by cultivation of

mysticpowers, which ultimately helps the performer to

reach any planet of the universe or beyond

theuniverse, or by discharge of religious duties, one

can achieve the highest perfection, providedone is

able to reach the stage of narayana-smrti, or constant

remembrance of the Personality ofGodhead. This is

possible only by the association of a pure devotee,

who can give afinishing touch to the transcendental

activities of all jnanis, yogis, or karmis, in terms

ofprescribed duties defined in the scriptures.

79.

SB 2.3.11 P Pure Devotional Service: The Change in

Heart

Therefore unless the gross materialists or the

worshipers of the temporary demigods come incontact

with a transcendentalist like the pure devotee of the

Lord, their attempts are simply awaste of energy. Only

by the grace of the divine personalities, the pure

devotees of the Lord, canone achieve pure devotion,

which is the highest perfection of human life. Only a

pure devotee ofthe Lord can show one the right way of

progressive life. Otherwise both the materialistic

wayof life, without any information of God or the

demigods, and the life engaged in the worship

ofdemigods, in pursuit of temporary material

enjoyments, are different phases of

phantasmagoria.They are nicely explained in the

Bhagavad-gita also, but the Bhagavad-gita can be

understood inthe association of pure devotees only,

and not by the interpretations ofpoliticians or dry

philosophical speculators.

80.

SB 2.3.16 P Pure Devotional Service: The Change in

Heart

The word satam is very important in this verse. Satam

means the pure devotees, who have noother desire than

to serve the Lord. Only in the association of such

devotees are thetranscendental glories of Lord Krsna

properly discussed. It is said by the Lord that His

topicsare all full of spiritual significance, and once

one properly hears about Him in the association ofthe

satam, certainly one senses the great potency and so

automatically attains to the devotionalstage of life.

81.

SB 2.3.17 P Pure Devotional Service: The Change in

Heart

This verse indirectly confirms the greater importance

of utilizing the human form of life to realizeour lost

relationship with the Supreme Lord by acceleration of

devotional service. Time and tidewait for no man. So

the time indicated by the ... sunset will be uselessly

wasted if such time is notproperly utilized for

realizing identification of spiritual values. Even a

fraction of the duration of lifewasted cannot be

compensated by any amount of gold. Human life is

simply awarded to a livingentity (jiva) so that he can

realize his spiritual identity and his permanent

source of happiness. Aliving being, especially the

human being, is seeking happiness because happiness is

the naturalsituation of the living entity. But he is

vainly seeking happiness in the material atmosphere.

Aliving being is constitutionally a spiritual spark of

the complete whole, and his happiness can beperfectly

perceived in spiritual activities. The Lord ...

personality are all identical with Him. Once aperson

comes into contact with any one of the above-mentioned

energies of the Lord through theproper channel of

devotional service, the door to perfection is

immediately opened. In theBhagavad-gita (2.... words:

"Endeavors in devotional service are never baffled.

Nor is therefailure. A slight beginning of such

activities is sufficient even to deliver a person from

the greatocean of material fears." As a highly potent

drug injected intravenously acts at once on thewhole

body, the transcendental topics of the Lord injected

through the ear of the puredevotee of the Lord can act

very efficiently. Aural realization of the

transcendentalmessages implies total realization, just

as fructification of one part of a tree

impliesfructification of all other parts. This

realization for a moment in the association of

puredevotees like Sukadeva Gosvami prepares one's

complete life for eternity. And thus the sunfails to

rob the pure devotee of his duration of life, inasmuch

as he is constantly busy in thedevotional service of

the Lord, purifying his existence. Death is a symptom

of the materialinfection of the eternal living being;

only due to material infection is the eternal living

entitysubjected to the law of birth, death, old age

and disease.

82.

SB 2.3.23 P Pure Devotional Service: The Change in

Heart

In other words, Lord Sri Krsna is the property of His

pure unconditional devotees, and assuch only the

devotees can deliver Krsna to another devotee; Krsna

is never obtainabledirectly. Lord Caitanya therefore

designated Himself as gopi-bhartuh .-kamalayor

dasadasanudasah,or "the most obedient servant of the

servants of the Lord, who maintains the gopidamsels at

Vrndavana." A pure devotee therefore never approaches

the Lord directly, but tries toplease the servant of

the Lord's servants, and thus the Lord becomes

pleased, and only then canthe devotee relish the taste

of the tulasi leaves stuck to His lotus feet. In the

Brahma-samhita itis said that the Lord is never to be

found by becoming a great scholar of the

Vedicliteratures, but He is very easily approachable

through His pure devotee. In Vrndavana allthe pure

devotees pray for the mercy of Srimati Radharani, the

pleasure potency of LordKrsna. Srimati Radharani is a

tenderhearted feminine counterpart of the supreme

whole,resembling the perfectional stage of the worldly

feminine nature. Therefore, the mercy ofRadharani is

available very readily to the sincere devotees, and

once She recommendssuch a devotee to Lord Krsna, the

Lord at once accepts the devotee's admittance into

Hisassociation. The conclusion is, therefore, that one

should be more serious about seekingthe mercy of the

devotee than that of the Lord directly, and by one's

doing so (by the goodwill of the devotee) the natural

attraction for the service of the Lord will be

revived.

83.

SB 2.4.15 P The Process of Creation

The devotees need not be disappointed in the physical

absence of the Lord, though they maythink of not being

associated with Him. The devotional process of

chanting, hearing,remembering, etc., (either all or

some of them, or even one of them) can give us the

desiredresult of associating with the Lord by

discharging the transcendental loving service of the

Lord inthe above manner. Even the very sound of the

holy name of Lord Krsna or Rama can at oncesurcharge

the atmosphere spiritually. We must know definitely

that the Lord is present whereversuch pure

transcendental service is performed, and thus the

performer of offenseless kirtanamhas positive

association with the Lord. Similarly, remembrance and

prayers also can give usthe desired result if they are

properly done under expert guidance. One should not

concoctforms of devotional service. One may worship

the form of the Lord in a temple, or one

mayimpersonally offer the Lord devotional prayers in a

mosque or a church. One is sure to get freefrom the

reactions of sins provided one is very careful about

not committing sins willingly inexpectation of getting

free from the reactions of sins by worshiping in the

temple or by offeringprayers in the church. This

mentality of committing sins willfully on the strength

of devotionalservice is called namno balad yasya hi

papa-buddhih, and it is the greatest offense in

thedischarge of devotional service. Hearing,

therefore, is essential in order to keep oneself

strictly onguard against such pitfalls of sins. And in

order to give special stress to the hearing process,

84.

SB 2.6.28 P Purusa-sukta Confirmed

"The karma-yogis know that the Supreme Lord is the

factual enjoyer and maintainer of allsacrifices and of

the austere life. They also know that the Lord is the

ultimate proprietor of all theplanets and is the

factual friend of all living entities. Such knowledge

gradually converts thekarma-yogis into pure devotees

of the Lord through the association of

unalloyeddevotees, and thus they are able to be

liberated from material bondage."

85.

SB 2.10.41 P Bhagavatam Is the Answer to All Questions

The living entities individually are being conducted

by a particular mode of nature, but at thesame time

there is every chance of their being influenced by the

other two. Generally, allconditioned souls in the

material encagement are influenced by the mode of

passion becauseevery one of them is trying to lord it

over the material nature to fulfill his individual

desire. But inspite of the individual mode of passion,

there is always the chance of being influenced by

theother modes of nature by association. If one is in

good association he can develop the modeof goodness,

and if in bad association he may develop the mode of

darkness or ignorance.Nothing is stereotyped. One can

change his habit by good or bad association, and one

has tobecome intelligent enough to discriminate

between good and bad. The best association is

theservice of the devotees of the Lord, and by that

association one can become the highest qualifiedman by

the grace of the Lord's pure devotees. As we have

already seen in the life of Srila NaradaMuni, he

became the topmost devotee of the Lord simply by the

association of pure devotees ofthe Lord. By birth he

was the son of a maidservant and had no knowledge of

his father and noacademic education, even of the

lowest status. But simply by associating with the

devoteesand by eating the remnants of their foodstuff,

he gradually developed the transcendentalqualities of

the devotees. By such association, his taste for

chanting and hearing thetranscendental glories of the

Lord became prominent, and because the glories of the

Lordare nondifferent from the Lord, he got direct

association with the Lord by means of

soundrepresentation. Similarly, there is the life of

Ajamila (Sixth Canto), who was the son of abrahmana

and was educated and trained properly in the discharge

of the duties of a brahmana,but who in spite of all

this, because he contacted the bad association of a

prostitute, was put intothe path of the lowest quality

of candala, or the last position for a human being.

Therefore theBhagavatam always recommends the

association of the mahat, or the great soul, for

opening thegate of salvation. To associate with

persons engaged in lording it over the material world

meansto enter into the darkest region of hell. One

should try to raise himself by the association of

thegreat soul. That is the way of the perfection of

life.

87.

SB 3.1.17 P Questions by Vidura

Persons who are sinful asuras like Kamsa and

Jarasandha cannot think of Lord Krsna as theSupreme

Personality of Godhead, the Absolute Truth. Only those

who are pure devotees,those who follow the regulative

principles of religious life as prescribed in the

scriptures,are able to engage themselves in karma-yoga

and then jnana-yoga and thereafter, by puremeditation,

can understand pure consciousness. When God

consciousness is developed,one can take advantage of

the association of pure devotees. Syan mahat-sevaya

viprahpunya-tirtha-nisevanat: one is able to associate

with the Lord even during the existence ofthis life.

88.

SB 3.2.20 P Remembrance of Lord Krsna

This love of God is awakened by the association of

pure devotees of the Lord.

89.

SB 3.5.3 P Vidura' s Talks with Maitreya

O my lord, great philanthropic souls travel on the

earth on behalf of the SupremePersonality of Godhead

to show compassion to the fallen souls who are averse

to thesense of subordination to the Lord.

PURPORT

To be obedient to the wishes of the Supreme Lord is

the natural position of every living entity.But due

only to past misdeeds, a living being becomes averse

to the sense of subordination tothe Lord and suffers

all the miseries of material existence. No one has

anything to do but renderdevotional service to the

Supreme Lord, Sri Krsna. Therefore any activity other

thantranscendental loving service to the Lord is more

or less a rebellious action against the supremewill.

All fruitive activity, empirical philosophy and

mysticism are more or less against the sense

ofsubordination to the Lord, and any living entity

engaged in such rebellious activity is more or

lesscondemned by the laws of material nature, which

work under the subordination of the Lord.

Greatunalloyed devotees of the Lord are compassionate

towards the fallen, and therefore theytravel all over

the world with the mission of bringing souls back to

Godhead, back tohome. Such pure devotees of the Lord

carry the message of Godhead in order to deliverthe

fallen souls, and therefore the common man who is

bewildered by the influence of theexternal energy of

the Lord should avail himself of their association.

90.

3.7.12 P Further Inquires by Vidura

The quivering quality of material existence, which

comes from identification with matter or fromthinking

oneself, under the material influence of philosophical

speculation, to be God, can beeradicated by devotional

service to the Lord, by the mercy of the Personality

of Godhead,Vasudeva. As discussed in the First Canto,

because the application of devotional service to

LordVasudeva invites pure knowledge, it quickly

detaches one from the material conception of life

andthus revives one's normal condition of spiritual

existence, even in this life, and frees one from

thematerial winds which cause one to quiver. Only

knowledge in devotional service can elevate onetowards

the path of liberation. The development of knowledge

for the purpose of knowingeverything, without

rendering devotional service, is considered fruitless

labor, and one cannot getthe desired result by such

labor of love. Lord Vasudeva is pleased by devotional

service only, andthus His mercy is realized by

association with pure devotees of the Lord. Pure

devotees of theLord are transcendental to all material

desires, including the desire for the results of

fruitiveactivities and philosophical speculation. If

one wants to acquire the mercy of the Lord, he hasto

associate with pure devotees. Such association alone

can, by degrees, release one fromthe quivering

elements.

91.

SB 3.7.20 P Further Inquires by Vidura

The path of liberation, as recommended by all

authorities, is to serve the

mahatmatranscendentalists. As far as Bhagavad-gita is

concerned, the mahatmas are the pure devoteeswho are

on the path to Vaikuntha, the kingdom of God, and who

always chant and hear theglories of the Lord rather

than talk of dry, profitless philosophy. This system

of association hasbeen recommended since time

immemorial, but in this age of quarrel and hypocrisy

it isespecially recommended by Lord Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu. Even if one has no assets offavorable

austerity, if he nevertheless takes shelter of the

mahatmas, who are engaged inchanting and hearing the

glories of the Lord, he is sure to make progress on

the path backhome, back to ..

92.

The sage Maitreya proposed to speak on

Srimad-Bhagavatam because it was especiallycompiled,

and traditionally comes down in the disciplic

succession, for the solution of all theproblems of

human society. Only one who is fortunate can have the

opportunity to hearSrimad-Bhagavatam in the

association of pure devotees of the Lord. Under the

spell ofmaterial energy, the living entities are

entrapped in the bondage of many difficulties simply

for thesake of a little bit of material happiness.

They engage in fruitive activities, not knowing

theimplications. Under the false impression that the

body is the self, the living entities foolishly

relateto so many false attachments. They think that

they can engage with materialistic

paraphernaliaforever. This gross misconception of life

is so strong that a person suffers continually, life

afterlife, under the external energy of the Lord. If

one comes in contact with the book Bhagavatamas well

as with the devotee bhagavata, who knows what the

Bhagavatam is, then such afortunate man gets out of

the material entanglement. Therefore Sri Maitreya

Muni, out ofcompassion for the suffering men in the

world, proposes to speak on the Srimad-Bhagavatam

93.

SB 3.8.26 P Manifestation of Brahma from

Garbhodakasayi Visnu

The Lord fulfills the desires of everyone just as one

desires. Pure devotees are interested inachieving the

transcendental service of the Lord, which is

nondifferent from Him.Therefore, the Lord is the only

desire of the pure devotees, and devotional service is

the onlyspotless process for achieving His favor.

Srila Rupa Gosvami says in his

Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu(1.1.11) that pure devotional

service is jnana-karmady-anavrtam: pure devotional

service iswithout any tinge of speculative knowledge

and fruitive activities. Such devotional service is

ableto award the pure devotee the highest result,

namely direct association with the SupremePersonality

of Godhead, Lord Krsna. According to the Gopala-tapani

Upanisad, the Lord showedone of the many thousands of

petals of His lotus feet. It is said: brahmano'sav

anavaratam medhyatah stutah parardhante so 'budhyata

gopa-veso me purastat avirbabhuva. After

penetratingfor millions of years, Lord Brahma could

understand the transcendental form of the Lordas Sri

Krsna, in the dress of a cowherd boy, and thus he

recorded his experience in theBrahma-samhita

94.

SB 3.15.48 P Description of the Kingdom of God

The transcendental bliss enjoyed by the devotees of

the Lord is completely different from thematerial

happiness enjoyed by less intelligent persons. The

less intelligent persons in the materialworld are

engaged by the four principles of benediction called

dharma, artha, kama and moksa.Generally they prefer to

take to religious life to achieve some material

benediction, the purpose ofwhich is to satisfy the

senses. When, by that process, they become confused or

frustrated infulfilling the maximum amount of sense

enjoyment, they try to become one with the

Supreme,which is, according to their conception,

mukti, or liberation. There are five kinds of

liberation, theleast important of which is called

sayujya, to become one with the Supreme. Devotees

don't carefor such liberation because they are

actually intelligent. Nor are they inclined to accept

any of theother four kinds of liberation, namely to

live on the same planet as the Lord, to live with Him

...bodily features. They are concerned only with

glorifying the Supreme Lord and His

auspiciousactivities. Pure devotional service is

sravanam kirtanam. Pure devotees, who

taketranscendental pleasure in hearing and chanting

the glories of the Lord, do not care forany kind of

liberation; even if they are offered the five

liberations, they refuse to acceptthem, as stated in

the Bhagavatam in the Third Canto. Materialistic

persons aspire for thesense enjoyment of heavenly

pleasure in the heavenly kingdom, but devotees reject

suchmaterial pleasure at once. The devotee does not

even care for the post of Indra. A devoteeknows that

any pleasurable material position is subject to be

annihilated at a certain point. Even ifone reaches the

post of Indra, Candra, or any other demigod, he must

be dissolved at a certainstage. A ... that sometimes

even Brahma and Indra fall down, but a devotee in the

transcendentalabode of the Lord never falls. This

transcendental stage of life, in which one feels

transcendentalpleasure in hearing the Lord's pastimes,

is also recommended by Lord Caitanya. When

LordCaitanya was talking with Ramananda Raya, there

were varieties ofsuggestions offered by Ramananda

regarding spiritual realization, but LordCaitanya

rejected all but one--that one should hear the glories

of the Lordin association with pure devotees. That is

acceptable for everyone,especially in this age. One

should engage himself in hearing from puredevotees

about the activities of the Lord. That is considered

the supremebenediction for mankind.

95.

Madhya-lila: Chapter Twenty-two

The Process of Devotional Service

A pure devotee is the supreme transcendentalist, and

one has to receive his mercy for one'sdormant Krsna

consciousness to be awakened. One has to associate

with pure devotees. Ifone has firm faith in the words

of a great soul, pure devotional service will awaken.

96.

Madhya-lila: Chapter Twenty-two, Text 52

"O son of Prtha, those who are not deluded, the great

souls, are under theprotection of the divine nature.

They are fully engaged in devotional servicebecause

they know Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead,

original andinexhaustible." (Bg. 9.13)

One also has to associate with such a mahatma who has

accepted Krsna asthe supreme source of the entire

creation. Without being a mahatma, one

cannotunderstand Krsna's absolute position. A mahatma

is rare and transcendental,and he is a pure devotee of

Lord Krsna.

97.

Madhya-lila: Chapter Twenty-two, Text 83

krsna-bhakti-janma-mula haya 'sadhu-sanga'

krsna-prema janme, tenho punah mukhya anga

TRANSLATION

"The root cause of devotional service to Lord Krsna is

association with advanced devotees.Even when one's

dormant love for Krsna awakens, association with

devotees is still mostessential."

98.

Madhya-lila: Chapter Twenty-two, Text 86 75221/173814

ata atyantikam ksemam

prcchamo bhavato'naghah

samsare'smin ksanardho'pi

sat-sangah sevadhir nrnam

TRANSLATION

" 'O devotees! O you who are free from all sins! Let

me inquire from youabout that which is supremely

auspicious for all living entities. Associationwith a

pure devotee for even half a moment in this material

world is thegreatest treasure for human society.'

PURPORT

This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.2.30).

Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 3: Chapter Twenty-five, Text

25

satam prasangan mama virya-samvido

bhavanti hrt-karna-rasayanah kathah

taj josanad asv apavarga-vartmani

sraddha ratir bhaktir anukramisyati

TRANSLATION

In the association of pure devotees, discussion of the

pastimes and activities of the SupremePersonality of

Godhead is very pleasing and satisfying to the ear and

the heart. By cultivatingsuch knowledge one gradually

becomes advanced on the path of liberation, and

thereafter he isfreed, and his attraction becomes

fixed. Then real devotion and devotional service

begin.

PURPORT

The process of advancing in Krsna consciousness and

devotional service isdescribed here. The first point

is that one must seek the association ofpersons who

are Krsna conscious and who engage in devotional

service. Withoutsuch association one cannot make

advancement. Simply by theoretical knowledgeor study

one cannot make any appreciable advancement. One must

give up theassociation of materialistic persons and

seek the association of devoteesbecause without the

association of devotees one cannot understand

theactivities of the Lord.

99.

Antya-lila:Chapter Sixteen, Text 60

bhakta-.-dhuli ara bhakta-.-jala

bhakta-bhukta-avasesa,--tina maha-bala

TRANSLATION

The dust of the feet of a devotee, the water that has

washed the feet ofa devotee, and the remnants of food

left by a devotee are three very powerfulsubstances.

100.

TEXT 61

ei tina-seva haite krsna-prema haya

punah punah sarva-sastre phukariya kaya

TRANSLATION

By rendering service to these three, one attains the

supreme goal ofecstatic love for Krsna. In all the

revealed scriptures this is loudlydeclared again and

again.

(The other 8 quotes are part of the introduction in

case you are wondering.)

July 5, 2003

Why the Feet of Sri Guru

Are Compared to a Lotus

By Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja

One should understand what is sri-guru-carana-padma. The words "sri-guru" are very significant. "Sri" means sobha, beauty; sampada, transcendental wealth, or asset; and srestha, the topmost. "Sri-guru" means that guru who is endowed with sri, with prema-bhakti. The word "sri" is used because there is no question of Sri Guru disappearing or not being manifest. It is only applicable to a guru who is eternally manifest. Otherwise such a word would not be used.

The Only Wealth

In this world, Sri Guru is the only beauty or asset, wealth. There is nothing else. Carana means feet. Sri-guru-carana-padma the feet of Sri Guru are compared to the lotus. This is also very significant. Why are his feet compared to the lotus and not to anything else? The lotus flower looks very nice and beautiful, and it also provides very sweet honey, madhu. The bumblebee collects honey from different flowers, but especially from the lotus flower. So what sort of special quality is there in the honey collected from the lotus flower that is not present in the honey collected from other flowers? It is a special type of honey known as padma-madhu. The disciple who is like a bumblebee, who is very hungry and greedy for that honey, relishes it.

Mellow of Bhakti

Although the lotus flower grows out of the water, it is not touched by it. One of the synonyms for water is rasa, mellow. The feet of Sri Guru are compared to a lotus, but this lotus grows in the transcendental water of bhakti-rasa, the mellow of bhakti. Such are the lotus feet of Sri Guru. His lotus feet are aprakrta, not material, but transcendental. They are bhakati-sadma, the abode of transcendental bhakti-rasa as well as all madhuri, beauty. The lotus looks beautiful to the eye and is very attractive to the heart.

<font color="blue"> </font color> His heart is afflicted with the three tapas, sufferings: adhyatmika, sufferings arising from one's own mind and body; adhidaivika, sufferings arising from nature; and adhibhautika, sufferings arising from other living entities. When the disciple meditates on the beautiful lotus feet of Sri Guru he feels a soothing effect and his affliction is cooled down. At the same time he also smells the nice scent that is coming from the lotus feet of Sri Guru, like the scent that comes from the lotus.

Cooling Shade

The bumblebee wanders everywhere, going to various types of flowers. One type of flower is the ketaki flower. That flower is found in India, but not in the West. The tree on which the ketaki flower grows, like the rose plant, has thousands of thorns. The ketaki flower has a nice scent, and a bumblebee that becomes attracted by the scent from the ketaki flower goes there. But because of the many thorns on the tree his wings become torn and he feels so much pain and affliction.

The bumblebee thinks, "Where to go now? Can I get shelter in a place where there is no pain and affliction? Where can I get peace?" After wandering hither and thither, at last he comes to the lotus flower and experiences the cooling, soothing effect there. He takes shelter inside the lotus flower, sucks the sweet honey there, and thus gets nourishment.

Similarly, the jiva who is wandering and wandering through the innumerable universes and through the innumerable species of life of this material world — brahmanda bhramite kona bhagyavan jiva* — gets only more and more suffering, misery, and torture. There is no cooling effect in the material world, which is like a blazing forest fire — samsara-davanala.

Nobody starts the forest fire, but automatically by the rubbing of two pieces of wood, the whole forest is burned and the animals that live in the forest are burned to ashes. They feel the burning heat, which is very painful. Similarly, the conditioned souls in this material world feel the burning sensation coming from the three tapas: adhyatmika, adhibhautika, and adhidaivika. After wandering through innumerable universes and innumerable species of life, <font color="red"> </font color> As the bumblebee sucks honey from the lotus flower, similarly, the guru-.-padma, the lotus feet of Sri Guru, allow that jiva, who is compared to the bumblebee, to suck the nice honey whereby he gets real nourishment and also premananda, loving happiness.

Special Type of Honey

Padma-madhu, the honey collected from the lotus flower, is a special type of honey. The Ayurveda-sastra says that it is a good medicine for the eye. If someone has some eye disease due to impurities in the eye the kaviraj, ayurvedic doctor, will advise him to rub some padma-madhu in his eyes. Because of these impurities one cannot see clearly and feels pain. Applying some padma-madhu on the eyes will clean out all the impurities and then one will be able to see clearly. Similarly, the guru-.-padma-madhu, the honey emanating from the lotus feet of Sri Guru, is so sweet and nectarean that if a fortunate disciple gets it and relishes it then the disciple's eyes will be cleansed of the material conception.

Eyes of Knowledge

om ajnana-timirandhasya

jnananjana-salakaya

caksur unmilitam yena

tasmai sri-gurave namah

I was born in the dense darkness of ignorance, blind, without real vision. Sri Guru, by his causeless mercy, has opened my eyes with the torchlight of knowledge.*

For a person who has some painful eye disease, who cannot see well, the kaviraj will advise him to apply some padma-madhu by which the drsti-sakti, the power to see clearly, will develop. Then not only will he get nice eyesight but also he will be able to see even very subtle things that he would otherwise never have been able to see. Similarly, when one takes shelter at the lotus feet of Sri Guru and gets the guru's mercy, the guru allows the surrendered disciple to taste that sweet honey emanating from the guru's lotus feet. That is the medicine whereby his material eyes will be cleansed of all material contamination. He develops transcendental vision.

He may have been blinded by the dense darkness of ignorance, ajnana-andhakara, but that will all be gone now. The darkness is dispelled and he receives the eyes of knowledge— divya-jnana-caksu. Sri Guru imparts tattva-jnana, and by his mercy the disciple develops transcendental vision. With that vision he will be able to see the beautiful form of the Supreme Lord, Syamasundar. This is the honey, or madhu, emanating from the lotus feet of Sri Guru; it acts in such a wonderful way. Therefore the phrase, "sri-guru-carana-padma" is very significant — the lotus feet of Sri Guru are compared to a lotus. Why is this comparison made and how to explain it?

Wonderful Characteristic

Padma-madhu cures eye disease and clears out all the impurities from the eye, but it cannot clear the impurities from the heart. However, the honey emanating from the lotus feet of Sri Guru, guru-.-padma-madhu, has such a special and wonderful characteristic that it cures both the eye and the heart. Sri-guru-carana-padma-madhu cleanses and purifies the heart so that it will become a suitable place for Govinda, Krishna, to reside.

tomara hrdoye sada govinda-visram

govinda kohena — mora vaisnava paran*

Narottam Das Thakur sings, "O Vaisnava-thakura! Govinda, Krishna, resides in your heart, which is like Vrindavan, the eternal abode of Govinda. He stays there very blissfully and peacefully. He never leaves your heart."

The guru makes the heart of his surrendered disciple a suitable place for Krishna to reside. Because the guru gives the disciple shelter at his lotus feet and allows him to suck that special type of honey that has that wonderful characteristic, the heart of the surrendered disciple is cleansed.

Wandering Hopelessly

The conditioned souls are like a diseased person suffering from various kinds of material ills — bhava-rogi. Their disease is very chronic. They have already taken many medicines — allopathic, homeopathic, and Ayurvedic — but the disease is still not cured. The disease is incurable and has become chronic. They have already lost their vitality, jivana-sakti, and cannot digest any food. They have taken so many medicines, and that has also produced a bad effect.

These days you will find so many strong drugs, but what is their effect? They simply result in chronic incurable disease. People lose their vitality, and they cannot even eat anything because their digestive fire is very low. How can they survive? They are dying. They cannot eat or digest anything.

The kaviraj will advise, "You should only eat one thing — madhu. And especially padma-madhu, the special type of honey from the lotus flower."

He prescribes padma-madhu, whereby they will regain their vitality. This honey will give them life. Any other type of food cannot be given; only padma-madhu is advised. Then they can regain their vitality. Such jivas, wandering through innumerable universes and experiencing the miseries of innumerable species of life, have become completely hopeless. They are only getting suffering, so many material ills — bhava-roga.

If such persons are fortunate, they will come to the lotus feet of Sri Guru. That guru is like a physician, sadhu-vaidya. He knows the perfect and unfailing medicine to cure the material disease, bhava-roga. He knows the cause of the jiva's suffering. There is only one medicine, the honey emanating from the lotus feet of Sri Guru — guru-.-padma-madhu. So, as the lotus allows the bumblebee whose wings are torn by the thorns of the ketaki flower to take shelter inside the flower, similarly, the guru allows the disciple to take shelter at his lotus feet.

The guru-.-padma, the lotus feet of Sri Guru, gives such hopeless wandering souls shelter and allows them to suck honey, whereby they regain their vitality. The suffering jiva gets nourishment and life there. That is why we say, "sri-guru-carana-padma." The lotus feet of Sri Guru are compared to a lotus, and not to anything else. This phrase has great significance.

the shining lotus feet of Sri Guru are very beautiful in the eyes of the disciple and very attractive to his heart.

theist · July 5, 2003

theist: We know the disciple is to have a submissive attitude towards the guru. The guru, who should be fixed in eternity, must be experiencing some responsibility of an eternal nature towards the disciple. But does that carry on after guru moves on past this world or is he just so absorbed in Krsna-lila that he never looks back trusting in the effects of what he taught to deliver the disciple. Knowing also the Supersoul is still present with his students.<<

B.Once the spiritual master accepts a disciple, he never leaves him. Srila Prabhupada was immersed in Krishna-lila while he was among us visibly, but he was never too busy to help us. He cleared his morning schedule one morining in December of 1973 to help even a nobody like me in a private meeting that ran almost two hours. Srila Prabhupada said many times that he always felt the guidance of his spiritual master in his service. Even slugs like me have experienced this over the last 26 years. Srila Prabhupada's presence is a daily reality, which manifests in a great variety of ways. I hae no doubt my godbrothers and godsisters have a similar experience. And those immersed in preaching Krishna consciousness with no other business must feel his presence even more profoundly.

Am I close?

The transcendental devotees of the Lord are not only free from material envy, but are well-wishers to everyone, and they strive to establish a competitionless society with God in the center.

Yes, this subject receives too little attention I think. Guru's mood towards his disciples and how that carries on beyond his disappearance.

Another question would be:

If a genuine disciple is incomplete in his practice does the same guru return for him or is it considered that guru is represented by another jiva on a similar level of realization?

July 5, 2003

prabhupada is exactly like you have said, and he is lovingly caring for everyone

the problem is that we, if we are not in the same trascendental plane, cannot communicate with prabhupada to make questions and have personal answers based on time, place and circumstance

see what it is happening here,, we are angrily discussing using the same shastras and having completely different ideas..... without the possibility to call anyone that we all consider a pure expert of krsna consciousness to give the us the right interpretation of the subject (adapting his explanations to our advancement, guna and karma)

if we read srimad b. or c.c. that was the main system to resolve controversial things in the past, not searching desperately some hidden quotes of previous acharya

some devotees have a discussion

at a certain moment, they call one more expert devotee that they judge an expert to clarify everything

how can we understand if we are picking the instruction that is perfectly fit for us only reading book?

maybe we are grihasta and we are searching to follow a way that could be good for sannyasi, or an instruction that was perfect in 1970 for jadhurani in L.A. and not for us in 2003 in paris

of course , for now, i am speaking of the principle

if there are or not pure devotees available to ask and receive answers..... this is another very controversial matter

July 6, 2003

Prabhupada's will deals with properties and assets. His will is about legal matters concering the temples and properties of ISKCON. The will was made to conform to inheritance laws and all the legal aspects of transferral of titles etc.

Prabhupada's legal will, that was drawn up in consultation with lawyers is not the document we should be looking at to find Prabhupada's declaration of spiritual succession. Prabhupada's declaration of spiritual succession was the

rtvik appointments of July 9 1977. This was Prabhupada's last and final word on how initiation would go on in ISKCON after his departure. He signed this document and a copy was sent out to all the temples in the movement. The will was just a legal document regarding the properties and has nothing to do with the spiritual side of Prabhupada's declaration of spiritual succession.

Here again we have the "smoke and mirrors" game to try and ignore or conceal Prabhupada's July 9 declaration of spiritual succession for ISKCON - the rtvik appointments!

-----

With all due respect, I disagree and find the Will to be the very document we should be looking at! The July 9th letter and so much else is confusing, can be debated, some say contradictory to other letters. Whereas his Will, legal properties or not, he would not mess around with that. This is the one place no disciple could mess with it, the one place he could make clear his wishes without anyone changing them. In that Will he very clearly refers to future disciples as HIS disciples? How much clearer does anyone want it? In addition, no one should view anything of Prabhupada's as "material" or merely "legal." It is ALL transcendental, and his instruction is within it.

Surrprised Guest

theist · July 6, 2003

His books and lifelong teachings are the documents that we should look at to see how the succession continues.

Guruvani · July 6, 2003

So, all of Prabhupada's efforts to build a society of devotees and all his instructions for the guidance of that society are not relevant?

Prabhupada refers to ISKCON many times in his books and thereofer we must look to ISKCON to see what he was indicating through such instruction.

ISKCON is very much a factor in the life and teachings of Srila Prabhupada and to say otherwise is pure denial.

theist · July 6, 2003

>>So, all of Prabhupada's efforts to build a society of devotees and all his instructions for the guidance of that society are not relevant?<<

Just need an argument or something Guruvani? I always thought his books contained his instructions for the guidance of society.

July 6, 2003

you use this word like a fashion brand..

i sell everything, from valuable furs, silk dresses, simple cheap cotton t-shirts, jevels, records, cases, plastic bags etc. ... but the quality is not important.. i put on ARMANI, VALENTINO, LEVI's, CALVIN KLEIN, ISKCON.. and everything is allright

a society cannot be more important than the associates......... no spiritual masters = no spiritual school

July 9, 2003

So, all of Prabhupada's efforts to build a society of devotees and all his instructions for the guidance of that society are not relevant?

Prabhupada refers to ISKCON many times in his books and thereofer we must look to ISKCON to see what he was indicating through such instruction.

ISKCON is very much a factor in the life and teachings of Srila Prabhupada and to say otherwise is pure denial.

-------

This isn't about the books. The books have been misused by those who now think they can use them to understand vedic principle and lineage and how to pick a guru, better than Prabhupada. They use them to defeat the July 9th letters and others. This is about the validity of his Will. It can help resolve this misuse.

July 9, 2003

god, shorter posts are more likely to be read by all. long ones, most scroll through the majority of it, and it goes unappreciated.

odd screen name, by the way.

Guru's responsibilites

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