Why is there a disciplic succession???

[krsna]

Our worshipable predecessor, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, also wrote on this subject in Jaiva Dharma (Chapter 13). There, in response to the question,

 

'Why is there a disciplic succession?'

 

he writes:

 

'In this world, many people are contaminated by the impersonalist doctrine and thus fall into a life of sin. If there were no disciplic succession, or institution of devotees free of this contamination, then it would be very difficult for ordinary people to find saintly association. This is why the Padma Purana tells us, 'Any mantra that does not come in disciplic succession is considered to be fruitless. Therefore, four divine individuals will appear in the age of Kali to establish disciplic schools.' Of these four schools, the oldest is the Brahma sampradaya. This disciplic succession has existed since the time of Lord Brahma and is still strong. Whatever scriptures—whether Veda, Vedanta or other—are taught in a particular school maintain their original form; no interpolations are possible in these texts. Thus there can be no doubt about the mantras that are found in the books of these ancient schools. Thus a disciplic succession of saintly persons is an absolute necessity for human society and that is why the institution has existed since the earliest times.'

 

 

[krsna]

Bhaktivinoda Thakura continues his discussion of the subject by asking the question,

 

'Is the list of names of spiritual masters in the disciplic succession given without any breaks?'

 

His answer:

 

'From time to time, only the more important spiritual masters' names are included in these lists.

'Every disciple has the duty to remember the names of the spiritual masters in his disciplic succession as a part of his daily meditation.

 

This is confirmed by Baladeva Vidyabhusana in his Prameya-ratnavali (1.4):

 

bhavati vicintya vidusam niravakara guru-parampara nityam

ekantitvam siddhyati yayodayati yena hari-tosah

 

'The learned disciple should daily remember the entire flawless disciplic succession. From them comes single-minded devotion, and from such devotion, the pleasure of Lord Hari.'

 

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada comments:

 

'The disciple purifies his own character by hearing and discussing the exemplary lives of the previous spiritual masters. As his character is purified, he identifies himself as a servant of the pure devotees. He thus receives the blessings of the Lord to engage in bhajana without distractions'

[krsna]

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada comments:

 

'The disciple purifies his own character by hearing and discussing the exemplary lives of the previous spiritual masters. As his character is purified, he identifies himself as a servant of the pure devotees. He thus receives the blessings of the Lord to engage in bhajana without distractions'