We Accept The Author as Our Bonafide Spiritual Master

By: 

 Hasti Gopala Dasa

This article is in response to the article – Hearing: The real tradition written by Vidura Das.

 

This is a most intricate and clear presentation dealing with the subject of "accepting a physically manifest guru". Very nicely done and very informative. 

 

Srila Prabhupada never recommended en masse that his disciples seek anyone else to link to and serve other than himself after his physical departure. He reinforces his position as the pure devotee to serve and take shelter of throughout his books. It is more than obvious that by being the commentator on the Chaitanya Charitamrita for example, the qualified person to seek out as a bona fide guru is himself. Otherwise how could he compose his commentaries? No one else in ISKCON has written independent commentaries on the Chaitanya Charitamrita, so who is the most qualified? Srila Prabhupada. And because he is the most qualified to imagine that not being physically present would have any effect on his books is illogical and ludicrous. 

 

Therefore by reading and following the teachings throughout his books is the same as having his association, you get his association through his books and you get Srila Prabhupada.  Once someone makes that preliminary contact with Srila Prabhupada and accepts him as their prime teacher progress begins, not that the acceptance is the end of the affair. One must constantly read Srila Prabhupada’s books and follow as sincerely as possible all of his instructions and that is where the fun begins because this Krishna consciousness is the most joyful of all states of being. Some of what Srila says about the necessity of accepting a bona fide spiritual master is presented below in the Adi-lila of the Chaitanya Charitamrita,  courtesy: causelessmercy

 

Adi 8.17  TRANSLATION

 

“By cultivating philosophical knowledge one can understand his spiritual position and thus be liberated, and by performing sacrifices and pious activities one can achieve sense gratification in a higher planetary system, but the devotional service of the Lord is so rare that even by executing hundreds and thousands of such sacrifices one cannot obtain it.”

 

PURPORT

 

Prahlada Maharaja instructs:

 

matir na krsne paratah svato va

mitho ’bhipadyeta grha-vratanam

 

(Bhag. 7.5.30)

 

naisam matis tavad urukramanghrim

sprsaty anarthapagamo yad-arthah

mahiyasam pada-rajo-’bhisekam

niskincananam na vrnita yavat

 

(Bhag. 7.5.32)

 

These slokas are to be discussed. Their purport is that one cannot obtain Krishna-bhakti, or the devotional service of the Lord, by official execution of the Vedic rituals.

 

** One has to approach a pure devotee. Narottama dasa Thakura sings, chadiya vaisnava-seva nistara payeche keba: 

 

“Who has been elevated without rendering service to a pure Vaishnava?” It is the statement of Prahlada Maharaja that unless one is able to accept the dust from the lotus feet of a pure Vaishnava there is no possibility of achieving the platform of devotional service. That is the secret. **

 

The above-mentioned tantra-vacana, quoted from the Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu (1.1.36), is our perfect guidance in this connection.

 

                                                                               ********

 

Now in the final selected section of Adi-lila for this comment, Srila Prabhupada refers to a pure devotee being necessary to take shelter of and to serve. Is he not automatically including himself in that qualified position? Yes he is, again, because if he were not then he would not have written his commentaries on the Chaitanya Charitamrita. Association of Srila Prabhupada takes place while reading his original pre 1978 books and the reader becomes eligible to go back home, back to Godhead. Supreme association, supreme destination. Association means destination.

 

Adi-lila Chapter 8 Text 20 page 174

 

The two brothers Jagai and Madhai epitomize the sinful population of this Age of Kali. They were most disturbing elements in society because they were meat-eaters, drunkards, woman-hunters, rogues and thieves. Yet Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu delivered them, to say nothing of others who were sober, pious, devoted and conscientious. The Bhagavad-gita confirms that to say nothing of the brahminically qualified devotees and rajarsis (kim punar brahmanah punya bhakta rajarsayas tatha),

 

*** anyone who by the association of a pure devotee comes to Krishna consciousness becomes eligible to go back home, back to Godhead.***

 

In the Bhagavad-gita (9.32) the Lord thus declares:

 

mam hi partha vyapasritya

ye ’pi syuh papa-yonayah

striyo vaisyas tatha sudras

te ’pi yanti param gatim

 

“O son of Prtha, those who take shelter in Me, though they be of lower birth - women, vaishyas [merchants], as well as shudras [workers] - can approach the supreme destination.”

 

Finally for all those reading this web site and Srila Prabhupada’s books:

 

 Adi 8.15 TEXT 15

 

sri-krsna-caitanya-daya karaha vicara

vicara karite citte pabe camatkara

 

If you are indeed interested in logic and argument, kindly apply it to the mercy of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. If you do so, you will find it to be strikingly wonderful.

 

Hearing: The Real Tradition

By Vidura Das

          In the article by Vraja Vilasa Dasa from the Sampradaya Sun Two Wrongs Don’t Make a Right, the author writes: “Real surrender to Srila Prabhupada means we should follow Srila Prabhupada’s instructions on accepting a physically manifest guru…” I would like focus this article especially on this statement because this seems to be the central point from which the author makes his assertions. First and foremost, Srila Prabhupada has never instructed anywhere that we should approach a “physically manifest guru”. Sure there are places where Srila Prabhupada says we must approach a spiritual master, hear from him, render service under him, and inquire from him – submissively. These are the general aspects of the guru-disciple relationship. However, these aspects do not necessitate the guru from whom one takes initiation being present in his physically manifest [spiritual] body. All of the above aspects of approaching a spiritual master can be done through Srila Prabhupada’s transcendental books, as the following quotes by Srila Prabhupada prove:
 

HEARING FROM SRILA PRABHUPADA:

“The method by which the transcendental message is received is the method of submissive hearing.”

(Teachings of Lord Caitanya – 23, Why Study the Vedanta-sutra?)

“These are not ordinary books. It is recorded chanting. Anyone who reads, he is hearing.“

(Letter to: Rupanuga: — Mayapur 19 October, 1974)

RENDERING SERVICE:

“As long as the Spiritual Master is physically present, the disciple should serve the physical body of the Spiritual Master, and when the Spiritual Master is no longer physically existing, the disciple should serve the instructions of the Spiritual Master.” (S.B. 4:28:47, purport)

“As far as my blessing is concerned, it does not require my physical presence. If you are chanting Hare Krishna there, and following my instructions, reading the books, taking only Krishna prasadam etc., then there is no question of your not receiving the blessings of Lord Caitanya, whose mission I am humbly trying to push on.” (Letter to Bala Krishna, 30/6/74

“Just like I am working, so my Guru Maharaja is there, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati. Physically he may not be, but in every action he is there. To serve master’s word is more important than to serve physically.” (Room Conversation, Vrindavan, 2/5/77)

Devotee: …so sometimes the Spiritual Master is far away. He may be in Los Angeles. Somebody is coming to Hamburg Temple. He thinks “How will the Spiritual Master be pleased?”

Srila Prabhupada: Just follow his order, Spiritual Master is along with you by his words. Just like my Spiritual Master is not physically present, but I am associating with him by his words. (Lecture – 18/08/71)

“If there is no chance to serve the spiritual master directly, a devotee should serve him by remembering his instructions. There is no difference between the spiritual masters instructions and the spiritual master himself. In the absence therefore, his words of direction should be pride of the disciple.” (C.c. Adi 1.35, purport)

INQUIRY/RECIPROCATION:

Paramahaṁsa: Śrīla Prabhupāda, when you are not present with us, how is it possible to receive instructions, for example, on questions that may arise?

Prabhupāda: Well, the questions… Answers are there in my books.

(Morning Walk, Los Angeles, CA 13/5/73)

“Every one of you must regularly read our books at least twice, in the morning and evening, and automatically all questions will be answered.” (Letter to Randhira, 24/01/70)

“So utilise whatever time you find to make a thorough study of my books. Then all your questions will be answered.”

(Letter to Upendra, 7/1/76)

Reporter: Who will succeed you when you die?

Srila Prabhupada: I will never die!

Devotees: Jaya! Haribol!

Srila Prabhupada: I will live forever from my books and you will utilize.

(Interview, Berkley, 17/7/75)

Satsvarūpa: Śrīla Prabhupāda, there’s also a question of reciprocation. You have so many disciples, thousands, and one devotee was asking me yesterday, “How does… I want to please Śrīla Prabhupāda. How does he know my progress and my service because I’m…, when I’m so far away from him and if I don’t write him?”

Prabhupāda: So his representatives are there, the president, the GBC. They will see.

Mādhavānanda: The representatives.

Jayādvaita: The representative may be there, but what is my personal relationship?

Prabhupāda: Hm? To obey your spiritual master. Whatever he has said, you follow strictly. Follow the regulative principles. Chant sixteen rounds. That’s all.

(Morning Walk — April 8, 1975, Mayapur)

          Clearly, there is no difficulty in approaching Srila Prabhupada today since all of the above aspects can be satisfied with Srila Prabhupada’s books. We can hear from Him through His books, we can serve Him through the orders that He gives to us in His books, and we can reciprocate with Him through His books. We simply have to be determined in this approach:

“My touch is simply a formality. It is your determination, that is initiation.”

(“The Search for the Divine”, Back To Godhead #49)

          Srila Prabhupada’s books are His sound representation. It is Srila Prabhupada manifested through vibration – His vani. It is certainly possible to approach this manifestation of Srila Prabhupada. All of the aspects of the guru-disciple relationship can be present in this kind of approach, as shown above. It is this spiritual connection that we should be concerned with:

“So although a physical body is 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.”

(Letter, 13/01/69, Los Angeles)

“We are not separated actually. There are two – Vani or Vapuh – so Vapu is physical presence and Vani is presence by the vibration, but they are all the same.” (Letter to Hamsadutta, 22/6/70)

“Krishna and his representative are the same. Similarly, the spiritual master can be present wherever the disciple wants. A spiritual master is the principle, not the body. (Letter to Malati, 28/5/68)

“So we should give more stress on the sound vibration, either of Krishna or Spiritual Master. Never think that I am absent from you, presence by message (or hearing) is the real touch.” (Letter to students, 2/8/67)

“Although physically we are not together, we are not separated spiritually. So we should be concerned only with this spiritual connection.” (Letter to Gaurasundara, 13/11/69)

          What has been the general pattern in our sampradaya does not in itself become a law. Whatever rules we abide by are strictly instructed to us by Srila Prabhupada. We cannot just independently look over Srila Prabhupada and into our history, observing apparent patterns in on lineage, and then whimsically derive a spiritual law based on our own observation. Srila Prabhupada never stated anywhere that tradition is automatically law. It is the acharyas who set new precedents and thereby new traditions to begin with. Why is there all of a sudden a problem with Srila Prabhupada establishing a new precedent? In fact Srila Prabhupada says:

“Tradition is just temporary. You make your tradition; he makes your tradition. That is another thing. But the, fact is fact. That is not dependent on tradition.” (Room Conversation — February 13, 1975, Mexico)

(It is a fact that Srila Prabhupada ordered ritviks to act as His representatives in performing formal initiations from the time of His order onwards – new initiates being disciples of Srila Prabhupada.)

“That is called tradition. But that is not parampara. Parampara is different.” (Lectures – Philosophy Discussions with Syamasundara dasa and Carl Gustav Jung)

“Our only tradition is how to satisfy Viṣṇu.” (Lecture: Bhagavad-gita 1.43 — London, July 30, 1973)

“Vaisnava who is preaching, it may be in a different way, according to time and place and the party–they have to change something, desa-kala-patra–but we have to see the essence. “ (S.B. Lecture 10/18/74)

          Srila prabhupada’s ritvik system does not change anything. Many of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples were not formally initiated by him, nor had they even seen Him in person. But was there any question as to whose disciples they were? Of course not. So how come there is suddenly a problem with Srila Prabhupada remaining the current link in the disciplic succession today? Srila Prabhupada says that “The potency of transcendental sound is never minimized because the vibrator is apparently absent.” (SB 2.9.8 : Purport) and “Reception of spiritual knowledge is never checked by any material condition.” (SB 7.7.1 : Purport) Why, then, is there controversy over whether Srila Prabhupada can become one’s Diksa guru today? Srila Prabhupada says“Diksa actually means initiating a disciple with transcendental knowledge by which he becomes freed from all material contamination.” (C.c. Madhya, 4.111, Purport) It is very clear: Srila Prabhupada becoming one’s Diksa guru can never be checked just because He is apparently absent. Srila Prabhupada says:

“To become disciple means to surrender, voluntarily accepting the instruction, the advice, the order of the spiritual master.” (Lecture: Bhagavad-gita 2.10 — London, August 16, 1973)

“Who is my disciple? First of all let him follow strictly the disciplined rules. (Morning walk, June 13, 1976, Detroit)

          Srila Prabhupada is available for everyone to approach in the form of His books. The system of initiations goes on with the ritviks performing the simple formalities, and Srila Prabhupada giving the real initiation: the transcendental knowledge, which has been recorded in and is being vibrated through His transcendental books. The disciplic succession goes on perfectly just as it always has: with the disciple hearing from His spiritual master and acting according to that instruction. Srila Prabhupada says:

“…disciplic succession does not always mean that one has to be initiated officially. Disciplic succession means to accept the disciplic conclusion.” (Letter – 1/10/69)

          This is what the real tradition is in our disciplic succession, and this is the essence of Srila Prabhupada’s representative system that we should all see.

He reasons ill who tells that Vaisnavas die

When thou art living still in sound!

The Vaisnavas die to live, and living try

To spread the holy name around!

(Poem by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura)

Hearing from the lips of a Pure devotee-Ramananda Raya's conversation with Lord Caitanya

Ramananda Raya's conversation with Lord Caitanya

TLC 32                        Conclusion                

 Lord Caitanya next asked Ramananda Raya, "What is the most valuable

thing in the world?"

 Ramananda Raya replied that he who has love for

Radha-Krsna possesses the most valuable jewel and the greatest riches.

One who is addicted to material sense gratification or material wealth

is not really considered to be wealthy. When one comes to the

spiritual platform of Krsna consciousness, he can understand that

there are no riches more valuable than love of Radha-Krsna. It is

recorded in Srimad-Bhagavatam that Maharaja Dhruva sought out the

Supreme Lord because he wanted to get some land, but when he finally

saw Krsna, he said, "I am so pleased, I don't want anything." In

Bhagavad-gita it is also stated that if one takes shelter of the

Supreme Personality of Godhead or is elevated to the supreme state of

love of Godhead, he has nothing more to aspire to. Although such

devotees can attain whatever they desire from the Lord, they do not

ask anything from Him.

 When Lord Caitanya asked Ramananda Raya what is considered to be

the most painful existence,

 Ramananda Raya replied that separation

from a pure devotee constitutes the most painful existence. In other

words, when there is no devotee of the Lord present, there is great

suffering in society, and association with other people becomes

painful. In ▼Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.30.7) it is stated that if one who

is bereft of the association of a pure devotee tries to become happy

through society, friendship and love devoid of Krsna consciousness, he

is to be considered in the most distressed condition. In the Fifth

Canto of Brhad-bhagavatamrta (5.44) it is stated that the association

of a pure devotee is more desirable than life itself and that in

separation from him one cannot even pass a second happily.

 

 Lord Caitanya then asked Ramananda Raya, "Out of many so-called

liberated souls, who is actually liberated?"

Ramananda replied that he who is actually completely saturated with the devotional love for Radha and Krsna is to be considered to be the best of all liberated

persons. It is stated in ▼Srimad-Bhagavatam (6.14.4) that a devotee of

Narayana is so rare that one can only find him out of millions and

millions of people.

   "And out of all songs, what song do you think is the best of all?"

Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked.

And Ramananda replied that any song which

describes the pastimes of Radha and Krsna is the best song. In

conditional life, the soul is captivated by sex. All fictions--dramas

and novels--and material songs describe love between men and women.

Since people are so attracted to this kind of literature, Krsna

appeared in this material world and displayed His transcendental

loving affairs with the gopis. There is an immense literature dealing

with the transactions between the gopis and Krsna, and anyone who

takes shelter of this literature or of the stories about Radha and

Krsna can enjoy actual happiness. In Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.33.36) it

is said that the Lord displayed His pastimes in Vrndavana in order to

reveal His actual life. Any intelligent person who tries to understand

the pastimes of Radha and Krsna is most fortunate. The songs that tell

of those pastimes are the greatest songs in the world.

   Lord Caitanya then inquired: "What is the most profitable thing in

the world, the essence of all auspicious events?"

Ramananda Raya replied that there is nothing as profitable as the association of pure

devotees.

   "And what do you recommend a person to think of?" Lord Caitanya

asked.

Ramananda replied that one should always think of the pastimes

of Krsna. This is Krsna consciousness. Krsna has multiple activities,

and they are described in many Vedic scriptures. One should always

think of those pastimes; that is the best meditation and the highest

ecstasy. In ▼Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.2.36) Sukadeva Gosvami confirms that

one should always think of the Supreme Personality of Godhead--not

only think of Him, but one should also hear and chant His name, fame

and glories.

  "And what is the best type of meditation?" Lord Caitanya inquired.

   "He who always meditates on the lotus feet of Radha and Krsna is

the best meditator," Ramananda Raya answered. This is also confirmed

in ▼Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.2.14): "It is the Supreme Personality of

Godhead alone who is the master of all devotees, whose name one should

always chant and who should always be meditated upon and worshiped

regularly."

   "Where should a person live, giving up all other pleasures?" Lord

Caitanya next inquired.

Ramananda replied that one should give up all

other pleasures and should live in Vrndavana where Lord Krsna had so

many pastimes. In Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.47.61) Uddhava says that it is

best to live in Vrndavana even if one has to live as a plant or

creeper. It was in Vrndavana that the Supreme Lord lived and it was

there that the gopis worshiped the Supreme Lord, the ultimate goal of

all Vedic knowledge.

   "And what is the best subject to hear of?" Caitanya Mahaprabhu next

asked.

   "The pastimes of Radha and Krsna," Ramananda replied. Actually when

the pastimes of Radha and Krsna are heard from the right source, one

at once attains liberation. Unfortunately it sometimes happens that

people do not hear of these pastimes from a person who is a realized

soul. Thus people are sometimes misguided. It is stated in

Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.33.40) that one who hears of the pastimes of

Krsna with the gopis will attain the highest platform of devotional

service and will be freed from the material lust which overwhelms

everyone's heart in the material world. In other words, by hearing the

pastimes of Radha and Krsna, one can get rid of all material lust. If

one does not become freed from material lust in this way, then he

should not indulge in hearing of the pastimes of Radha and Krsna.

Unless one hears from the right source, he will misinterpret the

pastimes of Radha and Krsna, considering them to be ordinary affairs

between a man and woman. In this way one may be misguided.

   "And who is the most worshipable Deity?" Caitanya Mahaprabhu next

inquired.

Ramananda Raya immediately replied that the transcendental

couple, Sri Radha and Krsna, is the ultimate object of worship. There

are many worshipable objects--the impersonalists worship the

brahmajyoti, for instance--but by worshiping objects other than Radha

and Krsna, one becomes bereft of life's symptoms and becomes just like

a tree or other nonmoving entity. Those who worship the so-called void

also attain such results. Those who are after material enjoyment

(bhukti) worship the demigods and achieve their planets and thus enjoy

material happiness.

Lord Caitanya next inquired about those who are

after material happiness and liberation from material bondage. "Where

do they ultimately go?" He asked.

Ramananda Raya replied that ultimately some turn into trees and others attain the heavenly planets where they enjoy material happiness.

   Ramananda Raya went on to say that those who have no taste for

Krsna consciousness or spiritual life are just like crows who take

pleasure in eating the bitter nimba fruit. It is the poetic cuckoo

that eats the seeds of the mango. The unfortunate transcendentalists

simply speculate on dry philosophy, whereas the transcendentalists who

are in love with Radha and Krsna enjoy fruit just like the cuckoo.

Thus those who are devotees of Radha and Krsna are most fortunate. The

bitter nimba fruit is not at all eatable; it is simply full of dry

speculation and is only fit for crowlike philosophers. Mango seeds,

however, are very relishable, and those in the devotional service of

Radha and Krsna enjoy them.

   Thus Ramananda Raya and Caitanya Mahaprabhu talked for the entire

night. Sometimes they danced, sometimes sang and sometimes cried.

After passing the night in this way, at dawn Ramananda Raya returned

to his place. The next evening he returned to see Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

After discussing Krsna for some time, Ramananda Raya fell at the feet

of the Lord and said, "My dear Lord, You are so kind to me that You

have told me about the science of Krsna and Radharani and Their loving

affairs, the affairs of the rasa dance and Their pastimes. I never

thought that I should be able to speak on this subject matter. You

have taught me as You formerly taught the Vedas to Brahma."

   Being very satisfied, Lord Caitanya smiled and showed Ramananda His

real form as the combination of Sri Radha and Krsna. Thus Lord

Caitanya was Sri Krsna Himself with the external features of Srimati

Radharani. His transcendental ability to become two and then to become

one again was revealed to Ramananda Raya. Those who are fortunate

enough to understand Lord Caitanya as well as the Vrndavana pastimes

of Radha and Krsna can be able, by the mercy of Sri Rupa Gosvami, to

know about the real identity of Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

  Upon seeing this unique feature of Lord Caitanya, Ramananda Raya

fainted and fell on the floor. Lord Caitanya then touched him, and he

came to his senses. Ramananda Raya was then surprised to see Lord

Caitanya again in His mendicant dress. Lord Caitanya embraced and

pacified him and informed him that he was the only one to have seen

this form. "Because you have understood the purpose of My incarnation,

you are privileged to have seen this particular feature of My

personality," the Lord said. "My dear Ramananda, I am not a different

person with a fair complexion known as Gaurapurusa. I am the selfsame

Krsna the son of Maharaja Nanda, and due to contact with the body of

Srimati Radharani I have now assumed this form. Srimati Radharani does

not touch anyone but Krsna; therefore She has influenced Me with Her

complexion, mind and words. In this way I am just trying to understand

the transcendental flavor of Her relationship with Krsna."

  The fact is that both Krsna and Lord Caitanya are the original

Personality of Godhead. No one should try to eliminate Lord Caitanya

from Sri Krsna. In His form of Sri Krsna, He is the supreme enjoyer,

and in His form of Lord Caitanya, He is the supreme enjoyed. No one

can be more superexcellently attractive than Sri Krsna, and but for

Sri Krsna, no one can enjoy the supreme form of devotion, Srimati

Radharani. But for Sri Krsna, all Visnu forms are lacking this

ability. This is explained in the description of Govinda in

Caitanya-caritamrta. There it is said that Srimati Radharani is the

only personality who can infuse Sri Krsna with transcendental

pleasure. Thus Srimati Radharani is the chief damsel of Vraja in love

with Govinda, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna.

You can understand this yourself and keep it to yourself. From

a materialistic point of view, a devotee becomes mad in his ecstasy of

love for Krsna. Both you and I are just like madmen. So please don't

disclose these facts to ordinary men. If you do, they will surely

laugh at Me."

 

 Lord Caitanya then passed ten nights with Ramananda Raya, enjoyed

his company and discussed the pastimes of Krsna and Radha. The

discussions between them were on the highest level of love for Krsna.

Some of these talks are described, but most of them could not be

described.

In Caitanya-caritamrta this has been compared to

metallurgic examination. The metals compared are discussed in the

following sequence: first copper, then bronze, then silver, gold and

at last touchstone. The preliminary discussions between Lord Caitanya

and Ramananda Raya are considered to be like copper, and the higher

discussions are considered to be like gold. The fifth dimension of

their discussions, however, is considered to be like touchstone. If

one is eager to attain the highest understanding, he must begin with

an inquiry into the differences between copper and bronze, then silver

and gold and so on.

 

footnote--these last statements comparing different metals to sucessively higher understandings

refer to an earlier discussion between Ramananda Raya and Lord Caitanya where

5 basic ideas for Dharma were presented by Ramananda Raya beginning with- how one should

just perform his occupational duty;;next was give up all results to Krsna, then renunciation

without fruitive result; then brahman realization without fruitive work or mental speculation until finally he came to hearing from the lips of a pure devotee-which Lord Caitanya accepted as the 

correct process for this age of Kali, since none of the previous methods are feasible due the implications and impurity of the age and its inhabitants..

 

Hare Krsna

Damaghosa das

Hear from a pure devotee Srila Prabhupada

For a conditioned soul, therefore, it is very important to hear from the mouth of a pure devotee, who is fully surrendered to the lotus feet of the Lord without any material desire, speculative knowledge or contamination of the modes of material nature. Every one of us is kuyogi because we have engaged in the service of this material world, forgetting our eternal relationship with the Lord as His eternal loving servants.

It is our duty to rise from the kuyoga platform to become suyogis, perfect mystics.

The process of hearing from a pure devotee is recommended in all Vedic scriptures, especially by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. One may stay in his position of life—it does not matter what it is—but if one hears from the mouth of a pure devotee, he gradually comes to the understanding of his relationship with the Lord and thus engages in His loving service, and his life becomes completely perfect.

Therefore, this process of hearing from the mouth of a pure devotee is very important for making progress in the line of spiritual understanding.

SB 4.20.25 purport, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada