Sad-Guru Nama-hatta or "Guru-hatta" Hati-mata?

By Vikramasingha das

In the market for a new guru? Recently in Russia devotees organized a Hare Krishna sankirtana festival, with many devotees from all over the country attending. To their surprise, 25 “iskcon-gurus” from around the world flew in uninvited and began canvassing for new initiates among the devotees, many of whom had already been initiated once or more by other “iskcon-gurus” (iskurus). Vishnu-murti, who was attending the event, reported, "Each elected iskuru is a vote of 'no confidence' for all other gbc-elected-gurus. Each is competing with all the others." He overhead a few iskurus talking: "This is great. We should do these festivals ourselves -- have our guys set them up. We'll call them 'guru-hattas'." From this report is appears that some iskcon leaders may be interested in promoting marketplaces for iskurus instead of true nama-hattas – marketplaces for the holy name.

"One should not try to be an artificially advanced devotee, thinking, 'I am a first-class devotee.' Such thinking should be avoided. It best not to accept any disciples." (Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 7.130, Purport.) "If everyone just initiates, there will only be a contradictory result. As long as it goes on, there will only be failure." (From the Palguna Krishna Pancami, a poem by Srila Prabhupada, 1961.) "In all the Vedas it is seen that to cross the ocean of material existence, there is no alternative to the chanting of the holy name." (Caitanya-caritamrta Adi 7.76, Purport.)

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), once powerfully united for cooperatively preaching the mission of the holy name, with Srila Prabhupada as Acarya, the Sad-Guru for all, has thus degenerated into dozens of camps of sentimentalists who have strayed from the strict path Krishna consciousness. New devotees in these camps are not trained to hear from Srila Prabhupada carefully, worship Him exclusively, or study His books with rapt attention. In fact, in most iskcon temples, if a second-generation disciple claims that Srila Prabhupada is his diksa-guru, he will be banned from the temple.

The genuine ISKCON is a place meant primarily for devotees serious about the path of full surrender to Lord Krishna and renunciation of ambitions based on the bodily concept of life. Specifically, it is meant for Srila Prabhupada's own disciples. In spite of misguided leadership throughout much of iskcon, a few sincere devotees may remain in iskcon trying to achieve pure devotional service. Everyone is an individual in unique circumstances. This is article is not meant to judge any iskcon or non-iskcon devotee or camp but to inspire those who are serious about going back to Godhead quickly and easily. Srila Prabhupada has assured us of that "Krishna consciousness is simple for the simple" and that it can be perfected in this lifetime. But we must know the path precisely.

In 1972 I read an Indian aerogram from His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada to His Holiness Vishnujana Swami. I never forgot it. Surprisingly, even then, Srila Prabhupada was advising leading preachers not to constantly canvass for converts. Instead, He was asking Vishnujana Swami (and other leading preachers) to carefully train the existing Hare Krishna devotees in the science of Krishna consciousness. He warned, "When the waves of maya attack, your little sentiment for Krishna may not save you. All my disciples must be thoroughly trained in the philosophy of Krishna consciousness." (Letter, Visnujana Swami, 1972.) In a letter to another leading preacher of the day, He wrote, "What is the use of so many devotees if none of them are knowledgeable?" (Letter, 1972.)

Throughout Srila Prabhupada's books we find repeated recommendations urging sincere students of Krishna consciousness to accept only the topmost pure devotee as spiritual master. Unfortunately, however, neophytes, laity, women, sentimentalists and others who are ignorant or misled often prefer instead to find a guru who has a material body. The false doctrine that disciples must have a physically embodied guru to receive initiation in Krishna consciousness has ruined the reputation of iskcon and has led to deviations from the philosophy and practices of Krishna consciousness. It has thrust upon beginning students of Krishna consciousness the terrible task of having to choose a “guru” from among dozens of eccentric preachers and pretenders. The gbc's bogus policy of posting multiple upstarts to replace Srila Prabhupada as diksa-guru has severely fragmented the institutions Srila Prabhupada created. This misguided gbc policy has driven away many sincere souls from Srila Prabhupada's worldwide mission of transcendental mercy. The gbc's unauthorized policy of creating diksa-gurus artificially has greatly diminished iskcon's reputation while greatly boosting the business non-iskcon cults and pretenders.

All the scriptures proclaim that the body of Sad-Guru is eternal or purely transcendental, as are all of His instructions. Srila Prabhupada, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, Srila Gaura Kirsora Das Babaji, and Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura are empowered personalities who must be worshiped by all but never imitated. Such great personalities are extremely rare and are nothing like elected or self-appointed "gurus". They are omnipotent nitya-siddhas who descend from Goloka Dhama for the deliverance of all conditioned souls in the universe.

"A nitya-siddha devotee comes from Vaikuntha upon the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and shows by his example how to become a pure devotee... A pure devotee, therefore, is a practical example for all living entities, including Lord Brahma." (Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.10.3, Purport.)

The iskcon gbc and its indoctrinated clerics claims that Srila Prabhupada is dead (“posthumous”) and thus no longer available to initiate or guide devotees, who therefore need a "living guru”. Srila Prabhupada was asked specifically about the necessity of accepting a so-called "living guru”. He replied in similar ways to various questions in this regard. For example:

The spiritual master is not a question of ['living']... The spiritual master is eternal; the spiritual master is eternal..." (Lecture, Seattle, Oct. 2,1968.)

"The spiritual master is in the disciplic succession since time eternal, and he does not deviate at all from the instructions of the Supreme Lord." (Bhagavad-gita As It IS 4.42, Purport.)

"Regarding the disciplic succession, there is nothing to wonder for big gaps. We have to pick up from the prominent acarya and follow from him." (Letter, April 12, 1968.)

"...one has to associate with the liberated persons not directly, physically, but by understanding, through philosophy and logic..." (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.31, Purport.)

"Although the physical body in not present, the vibration should be accepted as the presence of the spiritual master. Vibration -- what we have heard from the spiritual master -- that is 'living'." (Lecture, January 13, 1969, LA, CA.)

Those who are not very serious about solid, quick advancement in Krishna consciousness -- in other words, those who have more interest in the social aspect of the Hare Krishna movement -- often prefer a “guru” who lives on the same mundane plane as they do. They feel more comfortable with an easygoing, fun-loving guru. This phenomenon is what Srila Prabhupada called the fad of "accepting guru like pet." Sentimental or frivolous persons sometimes accept a guru as "pet", "buddy", "fellow dude in devotion", "rock star", or as an ordinary man who can be sometimes ignored or rejected. This is not the way to accept the genuine spiritual master.

"When one has attained the topmost position of maha-bhagavata, he is to be accepted as guru and worshiped exactly like Hari, the Personality of Godhead. Only such a person is eligible to occupy the post of guru." (Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya, 24.330, Purport, citing Padma Purana.)

Guru Buyers Beware!

There are many disadvantages for a student who accepts an elected iskuru or similar discount "diksa-guru" from another camp. For instance, one may not go back to Godhead for many lifetimes by this process, even while supposedly chanting "Hare Krishna". Srila Prabhupada and Srila Siddhanta Sarasvati Thakura have warned that it is quite possible to go on chanting for many lifetimes but remain in the material world due to material desires and offenses. A neophyte in Krishna consciousness who is jealous of a maha-bhagavata acarya and eager to occupy his post may not be qualified to deliver himself or his followers from the miseries of birth and death. Srila Prabhupada comments, "The whole world is in the blaze of material pangs, the threefold miseries, and a person who is authorized to deliver people from those material pangs -- he is called a spiritual master." (Lecture, August 17, 1968, Montreal.)

The iskcon gbc claims that anyone in iskcon except Srila Prabhupada can occupy the post of diksa-guru in the Krishna consciousness movement. Simply by volunteering, any devotee with a physical body, even a dependent woman, can become diksa-guru, as long as the gbc approves. This idea contradicts the specific sadhana Srila Prabhupada established for initiations. Furthermore, such an idea contradicts the siddhanta of all Vaisnava sastras.

Here are a few examples illustrating the actual Vaisnava siddhanta on guru-tattva: "Vallabha Bhatta wanted to be initiated by Gadadhara Pandita, but Gadadhara Pandita refused, saying, 'The work of acting as a spiritual master is not possible for me. I am completely dependent. My Lord is Gaurasundara, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. I cannot do anything independently, without His order.'" (Caitanya-caritamrta Antya 150, 151.) "A guru can become guru when he is ordered by his guru. Otherwise nobody can become guru." (Conversation, October 28, 1975, Nairobi.) "The bona fide spiritual master is in the disciplic succession since time eternal, and he does not deviate at all from the instructions of the Supreme Lord." (Bhagavad-gita As It Is, 4.42, Purport.) “Therefore a disciple should be careful to accept an uttama-adhikari as spiritual master." (Nectar of Instruction, Text 5, Purport.) "...help can be given only by a spiritual master like Krishna. Therefore the conclusion is that a spiritual master who is one hundred percent Krishna conscious is the bona fide spiritual master, for he can solve the problems of life." (Bhagavad-gita As It Is, 2.8, Purport.) “He reasons ill who says that Vaisnavas die, when Thou art living still in sound.” (From a poem by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura.) "One should not try to be an artificially advanced devotee, thinking, 'I am a first-class devotee.' Such thinking should be avoided. It best not to accept any disciples." (Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 7.130, Purport.) "I shall recommend some of you to act as officiating acaryas." (Conversation, May 28, 1977, Vrindaban.) "These initiations. I have deputed my disciples. Is it clear or not?" (Conversation, Oct. 18, 1977, Vrindaban.)

There are many disadvantages for devotees who believe in the gbc's "anyone can be the acarya" mythology. As many devotees have learned firsthand, your "learn-on-the-job guru" who has "put on the dress", hoping "the dress will show him what to do", may experience sudden severe difficulties in his own life. He may get put on probation by the gbc after getting caught in some illicit activity, or he may leave the mission of Krishna consciousness entirely. You might need to find a replacement guru again and again. Iskcon's elected or self-appointed iskuru club members have been repeatedly punished by severe mishaps, weird misadventures, gross fall downs, violent attacks, violent accidents, madness, heart attacks, comas, sudden death, severe legal problems, constant ridicule by Vaisnavas, constant migraines, insanity, and public exposure for moral deviations that shock even gross materialists. If nothing more sensational happens to him, your iskuru may simply stop chanting Hare Krishna and leave the movement, or ignore you, unable to remember your name, face, service, or loving words of praise. Lord Krishna's maya-shakti has arranged quick punishment and exposure for many pretenders posing as Gaudiya Vaisnava acaryas, just to warn all upstarts.

Yet many uneducated neophytes remain eager to follow pretenders, or become pretenders, who gamble the spiritual lives of others and invite their own ruination. Some devotees have been initiated repeatedly by two, three, or four gbc-approved iskurus who have later grossly deviated and left the mission of Krishna consciousness. The scriptures clearly warn that one who imitates an uttama-adhikari will fall from the path of bhakti-yoga.

"However, one should not imitate the behavior of an advanced devotee or mahā-bhāgavata without being self-realized, for by such imitation one will eventually become degraded." (Nectar of Instruction, Text 5, Purport.)

"Srila Jiva Goswami advised that one not accept a spiritual master in terms of hereditary or customary social and ecclesiastical conventions. One should simply try to find a genuinely qualified spiritual master for actual advancement in spiritual understanding." (Caitanya-caritamrta Adi 1.35, Purport)

Guru Sellers Beware!

Besides the disadvantages to the individual student that the "mass wannabe-guru philosophy" creates, there are numerous disadvantages to the worldwide preaching mission, It creates schisms and numerous sastric deviations. It ignores Srila Prabhupada's specific instructions for initiations in the Krishna consciousness movement. It changes the focus of the mission and specific sadhana Srila Prabhupada established. It burdens the new student with the useless task of wading through iskcon politics to choose a “guru” from a crowd of unknown and unproven persons. It creates needless obstacles, doubts and distractions on the path of surrender to Srila Prabhupada.

Another big disadvantage caused by the gbc's guru policy: disunity. Instead of practicing to become humble messengers and servants of Lord Chaitanya's mission, like Sriman Jayananda Prabhu, preachers learn to compete for followers and separate facilities for their own missions and disciples. The mood of pure service in the mission of the Sampradaya Acarya gets polluted with motives for personal prestige and profit, and Srila Prabhupada's loyal disciples are driven away. Nowadays in iskcon, even a dependent woman in the institution aspires to become a diksa-guru with her own disciples. Even neophytes whose iskuru is still alive are applying to the gbc to become initiating spiritual masters. Instead of learning to become humble servants of Srila Prabhupada and humble servants in the common mission of Lord Chaitanya, preachers are infected with the disease of ambition for followers, prestige and money. Srila Prabhupada has explained that such offenses are due to "envy of the exalted status of the spiritual master."

The gbc's mass iskuru successor system creates mundane politics in the spiritual mission and often divides followers of one iskuru against followers of another. There are innumerable disadvantages to the gbc's bogus ideas on guru succession. As mentioned above, the gbc policies regarding initiations are in direct opposition to Srila Prabhupada's specific instructions, established sadhana in ISKCON, and the Gaudiya Vaisnava siddhanta on guru-tattva.

Srila Prabhupada: “... So we follow that 'No Change Policy'. Not that because I think I have become now advanced, I change this to that. That mean I am not advanced. My knowledge is imperfect. Therefore I am changing.”

The gbc's mistaken ideas were, of course, derived from the vitiated gaudiya math. In defiance of Srila Prabhuapada's direct orders, leading gbc men began consulting with gaudiya math leaders immediately after Srila Prabhupada's disappearance. These men were obviously dissatisfied with Srila Prabhupada's instructions and directives officially establishing the continuance of ritvik initiations in the movement. They wanted to be acaryas without authorization, but they needed some inspiration from gaudiya matha leaders whom they tried, at first, to prop up as “higher authorities.” Later, when their main gaudya matha senior authority realized his mistake and sided with Srila Prabhupada, the gbc turned on him viciously. Since that that time, the gbc has several times modified or changed their official stance on various issues, particularly the issue of gurus and initiations in ISKCON.

"Why did this Gaudiya Matha fail? They wanted to create artificially someone as acarya, and everything failed... They declared some unfit person to become acarya. Then another man came. And then another--'acarya!' Then another --'acarya!' ...” (Conversation, August 16, 1976, Bombay.)

“Srila Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, He said that 'When our men will be sahajiyā, oh, they'll be more dangerous.' So our men are becoming, some of them, sahajiyās. This very word He said, that 'When our men will be sahajiyās he'll be more dangerous'.” (Conversation)

Once I visited a "gaudiya matha" temple in the San Francisco Bay area. Staying there at the time were three initiating "gurus" and two disciples. Srila Prabhupada Himself mused at the irony of such discount diksa-gurus: "One temple and two disciples, and he is acarya?" The concept of accepting as "guru" a rubber-stamped, self-appointed upstart is risky business. Even more risky is the position of those eager to occupy the post of Vaisnava acarya without authorization, or by hook and crook voting.

"As soon as a foolish disciple tries to overtake his spiritual master and becomes ambitious to occupy his post, he immediately falls down." (Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.12.14, Purport.)

"And as soon as he learns that Guru Maharaja is dead, 'Now I am so advanced that I can kill my guru and I become guru'... then he is finished." (Conversation, August 16, 1976, Bombay)

"Mundane votes have no jurisdiction to elect a Vaisnava acarya. A Vaisnava acarya is self-effulgent, and there is no need of any court judgment." (Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 2.218.)

A statistical analysis will show that the job of iskuru is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world, right up there with rodeo bull rider, motorcycle stuntman, and front-line, war-time Marine.

Sri Guru for the Golden Age

Srila Prabhupada left immense instructions in His numerous books, taped lectures, formal classes, morning walks, room conversations, bhajanas with purports, and videos. He left trained representatives in positions of authority to help guide the mission and train new devotees. He also established the sadhana for accepting Him as diksa-guru and approaching Him directly through physical service to His divine murti. Thus, today, for the serious student of Krishna consciousness, Srila Prabhupada is as much available as before His divine disappearance day in 1977. Simply by walking into a genuine ISKCON temple, everyone gets the immediate opportunity to bow down, offer obeisances, serve, and accept as one's personal guide and savior the most exalted, infallible and lovable Srila Prabhupada, the Supreme Personality of Servitor Godhead, Who is empowered by the disciplic succession, Lord Nityananda and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Intelligent students of Krishna consciousness should never accept an upstart as a substitute for Srila Prabhupada.

Srila Prabhupada replied in similar ways to related questions such as "who will be the next acarya?" and "who will be your successor?" For instance: "Only Lord Chaitanya can take my place. He will take care of the movement." (November 2, 1977, Vrindaban) "After me, there will be no more acarya." (Conversation, New York, 1968) "I will never die. I will live forever from my books, and you will utilize." (Interview, July 16, 1975, Berkeley.) "I will always be the spiritual master for the entire Krishna consciousness movement; for anyone in this age willing to follow the principles I have given for the benefit of everyone." (Conversation 1975, Ookala, Hawaii.) "My success is always there. Yes. Just like the sun is there always. It may come before your vision or not -- the sun is there. But if you are fortunate, you come before the sun... The sun is open to everyone." (Conversation, February 12, 1975, Mexico City.)

Srila Prabhupada's activities and symptoms prove that He is the predicted shakya-avesha-avatara who spreads the Hare Krishna maha-mantra all over the world. He was predicted by Lord Nityananda, the Supreme Lord. He was predicted by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, the incarnation of Lord Chaitanya's energy. Srila Prabhupada was directly or indirectly indicated by other great acaryas like Srila Vyasadeva and Srila Visvanatha Cakravati Thakura and by Lord Chaitanya Himself. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, Himself a shakya-avesha-avatara, concisely predicted Srila Prabhupada with these words:

"Without being empowered by the direct potency of Lord Krishna to fulfill His desire, and without being specifically favored by the Lord, no human being can become spiritual master for the whole word... Only an empowered personality can distribute the holy name of the Lord and enjoin all fallen souls to worship Krishna. By distributing the holy name of the Lord, He cleanses the hearts of the most fallen people; therefore He extinguishes the blazing fire of the material world. Not only that, He broadcasts the shining brightness of Krishna's effulgence throughout the world... Such a person is... guru or spiritual master for the entire world, a devotee of the topmost platform, the maha-bhagavata stage." (Cited in Cc., Madhya 25.9, Purport.)

Lord Chaitanya sent several great devotees in a short span of time to revive the mission and teachings of the Hare Krishna movement and to expand this knowledge worldwide. Such great personalities are extremely rare in any age. Srila Prabhupada said, "You can imitate but it will not be effective." These great teachers will always remain the true spiritual masters for the entire Krishna consciousness movement and the entire world. Tandera carana sevi bhakta-sane vasa, janame janame hoy ei abhilasa. Specifically, Srila Prabhupada Himself will always remain the spiritual master for those who accept His transcendental mission and instructions. The disciplic succession is continued not by pretenders or by ecclesiastical arrangements but by genuine disciples of the Sampradaya Acarya.

"I will never die. I will live from my books and you will utilize." (Interview, July 16, 1975, Berkeley.)

"Srila Jiva Goswami advised that one not accept a spiritual master in terms of hereditary or customary social and ecclesiastical conventions. One should simply try to find a genuinely qualified spiritual master for actual advancement in spiritual understanding." (Caitanya-caritamrta Adi 1.35, Purport)

"I wish that each and every branch keep their independent identity and cooperate, keeping the Acarya in the center. On this principle we can open any number of branches all over the world." (Letter, February 11, 1967.)

"My success is always there. Yes. Just like the sun is there always. It may come before your vision or not -- the sun is there. But if you are fortunate, you come before the sun... The sun is open to everyone." -- (Srila Prabhuapada in Mexico City, 1975.)

The GBC's "Guru-hatta" Hati-mata Philosophy

The iskcon gbc is directly responsible for numerous offenses against Srila Prabhupada and His disciples, particularly His second-generation disciples, who have been repeatedly told they cannot accept Srila Prabhupada as their primary spiritual master or diksa-guru. Srila Prabhupada and His position as Founder-Acarya are minimized by leading gbc smartas who write political papers that shape gbc policy on major issues while deliberately ignoring Srila Prabhupada's direct orders. These smarta pundits claim that Srila Prabhupada is dead and gone, and they imply that Srila Prabhupada neglected to offer clear instructions regarding initiations in ISKCON. These toxic smartas claim that Srila Prabhupada made omissions and mistakes in guiding the mission and that His disciples who want to keep Him as the diksa-guru in the Krishna consciousness movement are deviants, or worse. Meanwhile, under the gbc's watch, Krishna's cows have been sent for slaughter, Krishna's children sent to molesters, Krishna's farms and temple sold, Prabhupada's books changed, and Prabhupada's disciples abused or driven out.

Although Srla Prabhupada several times ordered that nothing be changed in ISKCON's sadhana or system of management, some leading gbcybergs decided it would be better to change the books, change the philosophy, change the Deity worship, change the guru-puja, change the devotees, change the focus, and replace Srila Prabhupada as diksa-guru.

Under the circumstances, the gbc body has become polluted by Vaisnava aparadha and guru -aparadha. The gbc has apparently become what Queen Srimati Kuntidevi described as a "vicious assembly." Anyone remaining complicit with the gbc today will likely be affected or infected by these offenses. Such infected persons may become ambitious to artificially gain the status of Vaisnava acarya, even if that means offending hundreds of devotees, ignoring Srila Prabhupada's orders, dividing the mission, changing established sadhana, and twisting the Gaudiya Vaisnava siddhanta on guru-tattva.

Srila Prabhupada: “Real law means there is no change. Just like day and night, it is coming. The fortnight, the dark period and the light period, it is coming for millions and millions and time immemorial. The same law is going...going on. You cannot change. So as soon as you change, that means it is imperfect.”

"My dear King, if a person, after hearing blasphemous propaganda against the Lord and His devotees, does not go away from that place, he becomes bereft of the effect of all pious activities." (Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.74.40) [Cited by Srila Prabhupada in Nector of Devotion, Chapter Nine, first paragraph.]

In Nector of Devotion, Chapter Nine under the heading "Blasphemy," Srila Prabhupada describes three ways to deal with insults to Lord Krishna, the spiritual master, or pure devotees. First option is to defeat the offenders by expert argument. Second option is to give up one's life. The third option, for those unable to follow either of the first two options, is to leave the place and go away. Srila Prabhupada comments, "If a devotee does not follow any of the above-mentioned three processes, he falls down from his position of devotion." Unfortunately, many senior devotees in iskcon have risked or ruined their spiritual lives by supporting the offensive statements, offensive actions and ever-morphing defiant policies of the maya-gbc. In so doing, they have helped disrupt the spiritual progress of thousands of innocent devotees.

Neophytes on the path of self-realization should not become forlorn due to seeing profusions of proliferating pretenders posing as preachers. In one sense, the proliferation of counterfeit bills indicates real currency of great value. For example, if there was no real gold, there would be no market for selling fake gold. As an aspiring poet once wrote:

“...Battle lines, saw the signs, knew which way to go,

Have you heard? Prabhupada lives! Nothing more to know...”

To avoid the “mad elephant” offenses generated out of “guru-hatta” chaos, sincere devotees should try to help revive the original Krishna consciousness movement, the true Sri Guru Nama-hatta, where Srila Prabhupada, the Acarya, sits firmly and forever at the center of the mission, distributing the mercy of the holy names to all conditioned souls in the universe.

"I wish that each and every branch keep their independent identity and cooperate, keeping the Acarya in the center. On this principle we can open any number of branches all over the world." (Letter, February 11, 1967.)

References:

"Srila Jiva Goswami advised that one not accept a spiritual master in terms of hereditary or customary social and ecclesiastical conventions. One should simply try to find a genuinely qualified spiritual master for actual advancement in spiritual understanding." (Caitanya-caritamrta Adi 1.35, Purport)

"If everyone just initiates, there will only be a contradictory result. As long as it goes on, there will only be failure." (From the Palguna Krishna Pancami, a poem by Srila Prabhupada, 1961)

"But if everyone simply imitates your exalted status, there will be only a contradictory result. As long as this pretense continues, there will only be utter failure." (From Vaisistya-Astaka, a peom by Srila Prabhupada, 1961)

"Oh, shame! shame! my dear Godbrothers--aren't we embarrassed by what we are doing? In the manner of mundane businessmen we deceptively increase the numbers of our own disciples." (Vaisistya-Astaka, 1961)

“If one tries to mingle the worship of yogamaya with mahamaya, considering them one and the same, he does really show high intelligence.” (Cc. Madhya 8.90, Purport)

“Intermingling the spiritual with the material causes one to look on transcendence as material and the mundane as spiritual. This is all due to a poor fund of knowledge.” (Cc. Madhya 16.72, Purport)

"Presently people are so fallen they cannot distinguish between a liberated soul and a conditioned soul." (Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.18.5, Purport)

"One who considers the spiritual master an ordinary human being... is considered a naraki, a candidate for hellish life." (Caitanya-caritamrta Antya 6.294, Purport)

"As soon as a foolish disciple tries to overtake his spiritual master and becomes ambitious to occupy his post, he immediately falls down." (Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.12.14, Purport)

"Why did this Gaudiya Matha fail? ... They wanted to create artificially someone as acarya, and everything failed... They declared some unfit person to become acarya. Then another man came. And then another--'acarya!' Then another--'acarya!' So better to remain a foolish [simple] person perpetually, to be directed by Guru Maharaja. That is perfection. And as soon as he learns that Guru Maharaja is dead, 'Now I am so advanced that I can kill my guru and I become guru.' Then he is finished." (Conversation, August 16, 1976, Bombay.)

"A guru can become guru when he is ordered by his guru. Otherwise nobody can become guru." (Conversation, October 28, 1975, Nairobi.)

"Vallabha Bhatta wanted to be initiated by Gadadhara Pandita, but Gadadhara Pandita refused, saying, 'The work of acting as a spiritual master is not possible for me. I am completely dependent. My Lord is Gaurasundara, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. I cannot do anything independently, without His order.' " (Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya 150, 151.)