By:
Mahesh Raja (UK)
MAHA-BHAGAVATA-srestho
brahmano vai gurur nrnam
sarvesam eva lokanam
asau pujyo yatha harih
maha-kula-prasuto ‘pi
sarva-yajnesu diksitah
sahasra-sakhadhyayi ca
na guruh syad avaisnavah
(The guru MUST be situated on the topmost platform of devotional
service. There are three classes of devotees, and the guru MUST be
accepted from the topmost class. The first-class devotee is the
spiritual master for all kinds of people. ….When one has attained the
topmost position of maha-bhagavata, he is to be accepted as a guru and
worshiped exactly like Hari, the Personality of Godhead. ONLY SUCH A
PERSON IS ELIGIBLE TO OCCUPY THE POST OF A GURU.)
Diksha Process:
13) Note: OR HIS REPRESENTATIVE is the Ritvik Representative as per July 9th 1977 Order.
Madhya 24.330 The Sixty-One Explanations of the Atmarama Verse
Similarly, a disciple’s qualifications must be observed by the
spiritual master before he is accepted as a disciple. IN OUR KRISHNA
CONSCIOUSNESS MOVEMENT, THE REQUIREMENT IS THAT ONE MUST BE PREPARED TO
GIVE UP THE FOUR PILLARS OF SINFUL LIFE - ILLICIT SEX, MEAT-EATING,
INTOXICATION AND GAMBLING. IN WESTERN COUNTRIES ESPECIALLY, WE FIRST
OBSERVE WHETHER A POTENTIAL DISCIPLE IS PREPARED TO FOLLOW THE
REGULATIVE PRINCIPLES. THEN HE IS GIVEN THE NAME OF A VAISHNAVA SERVANT
AND INITIATED TO CHANT THE HARE KRISHNA MAHA-MANTRA, AT LEAST SIXTEEN
ROUNDS DAILY. In this way the disciple renders devotional service under
the guidance of the spiritual master OR HIS REPRESENTATIVE FOR AT LEAST
SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR. HE IS THEN RECOMMENDED FOR A SECOND INITIATION,
DURING WHICH A SACRED THREAD IS OFFERED AND THE DISCIPLE IS ACCEPTED AS A
BONA FIDE BRAHMANA.
Note: Ritvik can be replaced if he has a fall down:
14) Conversations, May 28, 1977, Vrindavan
Tamala Krishna: Of course, IF SOMEONE HAS A FALLDOWN, just like in the past some GBC men have fallen down…
Prabhupada: HE SHOULD BE REPLACED.
Tamala Krishna: Then he should be replaced. But that’s a serious fall down, not some minor discrepancy.
Prabhupada: THEY MUST BE ALL IDEAL ACHARYA-LIKE. IN
THE BEGINNING WE HAVE DONE FOR WORKING. Now we should be very cautious.
ANYONE WHO IS DEVIATING, HE CAN BE REPLACED.
15) Note: The FORMALITY INITIATION of giving Holy Name
on behalf of Srila Prabhupada and fire sacrifice are just SYSTEM OF
MANAGEMENT issues: That is not very important thing.
Conversations, October 16, 1976, Chandigarh
Interviewer: What is the procedure of the movement? Do you initiate yourself all the disciples or do your other disciples also do that?
Prabhupada: Well, initiation or no initiation, first
thing is knowledge. (break) …knowledge. Initiation is formality. Just
like you go to a school for knowledge, and admission is formality. That
is not very important thing.
16) Srila Prabhupada gives Divya-jnana (DIKSHA). Divya means TRANSCENDENTAL and Jnana means KNOWLEDGE Hrde means heart and prokasito means revealed just as in prakasa – manifested Krishna becomes manifest in the heart of the Pure Devotee.
Lectures, July 11, 1976, New York
Prabhupada: Divya-jnana hrde prokasito. What
is that divya-jnana? Divya-jnana is that we are all servant of Krishna,
and our only business is to serve Krishna. Divya-jnana. This is
divya-jnana. It is not difficult at all. Simply we have… We have become
servant of so many things -- servant of society, servant of community,
servant of country, servant of wife, servant of children, servant of dog
and so many. “Now let me become servant of Krishna.” This is
divya-jnana. Diksha means from this divya-jnana. That is di. And ksa
means ksapayati, expands.
When at the stage of Madhyama Adhikari one is RECEPIENT of THAT Diksha
in the HEART from SRILA PRABHUPADA he becomes a SERVANT OF KRISHNA. He
relishes a particular mellow (Rasa) of his relationship with Krishna.
This point HE SEES KRISHNA and HIS RELATIONSHIP (svarupa) is
established. So it is not so CHEAP to be Diksha guru.
Madhya 8.83 Talks Between Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Ramananda Raya
The purport in presenting this verse necessitates explaining the
comparative positions of the transcendental mellows known as santa,
dasya, sakhya, vatsalya and madhurya. All these rasas, or mellows, are
situated on the transcendental platform. Pure devotees take shelter of
one of them and thus progress in spiritual life. Actually one can take
shelter of such spiritual mellows only when one is completely
uncontaminated by material attachment. When one is completely free from
material attachment, the feelings of the transcendental mellows are
awakened in the heart of the devotee. That is svarupa-siddhi, the
perfection of one’s eternal relationship with the Supreme Lord.
Svarupa-siddhi, the eternal relationship with the Supreme Lord, may be
situated in one of the transcendental mellows.
Note:
When Krishna is TRANSFERRED FROM Pure devotee’s HEART to another pure
devotee then there is DIKSHA. Divya jnana revelation of one’s
CONSTITUTIONAL position, svarupa is UNDERSTOOD. This may take many many
many births — NOT so cheap. This is why in Guru Puja to Srila Prabhupada
we sing Janme janme prabhu sei:
Lectures, August 5, 1976, Paris
Prabhupada: Yes, that arrangement will be done, you go on with your business. We are singing this song daily. Why do you forget? Cakhu-dan dilo jei janme janme prabhu sei. ONE WHO HAS OPENED THE EYES, HE’LL REMAIN MY MASTER LIFE AFTER LIFE.
Note: Srila Prabhupada is WITH US TO GUIDE US through
difficult journey of transmigration cycle to attaining Back to Godhead
IF we follow him. Bilvamangala Thakura’s spiritual master came through a
prostitute to deliver him so Srila Prabhupada is also SO POWERFUL to
help us:
Srimad Bhagavatam 3.15.24 Description of the Kingdom of God
IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO GO BACK TO GODHEAD IN ONE LIFE, but in the human
form one should at least understand the goal of life and begin Krishna
consciousness.
Srimad Bhagavatam 10.2.18 Prayers by the Demigods for Lord Krishna in the Womb
As indicated here by the word manastah, the Supreme Personality of
Godhead was transferred from the core of Vasudeva’s mind or heart to the
core of the heart of Devaki. We should note carefully that the Lord was
transferred to Devaki not by the ordinary way for a human being, but by
diksha, initiation. Thus the importance of initiation is mentioned
here. UNLESS ONE IS INITIATED BY THE RIGHT PERSON, WHO ALWAYS
CARRIES WITHIN HIS HEART THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, ONE CANNOT
ACQUIRE THE POWER TO CARRY THE SUPREME GODHEAD WITHIN THE CORE OF ONE’S
OWN HEART.
Adi 1.100 The Spiritual Masters
Through the actions of THESE TWO BHAGAVATAS THE LORD INSTILLS THE
MELLOWS OF TRANSCENDENTAL LOVING SERVICE INTO THE HEART OF A LIVING
BEING, and thus the Lord, in the heart of His devotee, comes under the
control of the devotee’s love.
Note: Does it say VAPU is the requirement – NO! Vapuvadis have CONCOCTED you need VAPU for transmission of DIKSHA.
Srimad Bhagavatam 1.7.22 The Son of Drona Punished
The spiritual master, BY HIS WORDS, CAN PENETRATE INTO THE HEART OF THE
SUFFERING PERSON AND INJECT KNOWLEDGE TRANSCENDENTAL, which alone can
extinguish the fire of material existence.
Adi 1.35 The Spiritual Masters
THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SPIRITUAL MASTER’S
INSTRUCTIONS AND THE SPIRITUAL MASTER HIMSELF. In his absence,
therefore, his words of direction should be the pride of the disciple.
Lectures, January 13, 1969, Los Angeles
Similarly, arcye sila-dhir gurusu na… Gurusu means those who are
acharyas, to accept their body as ordinary man’s body, this is denied in
the shastras. 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.
Note: It is FACTUALLY Srila Prabhupada who CONSTANTLY
INSTRUCTS us through his books, tapes, CDs, “becomes his initiating
spiritual master later on.” indicates the position of Srila Prabhupada
as the INITIATOR.
Adi 1.35 The Spiritual Masters
Generally a spiritual master who CONSTANTLY INSTRUCTS a disciple in
spiritual science becomes his INITIATING SPIRITUAL MASTER LATER ON.
Note: Srila Prabhupada initiates at Madhyama Adhikari
(spiritual initiation see Nectar of Instruction 5) stage your svarupa
(constitutional position) is understood and karma is burned off:
Bhagavad-gita 4.37 Transcendental Knowledge
Perfect knowledge of self and Super self and of their relationship is
compared herein to fire. This fire not only burns up all reactions to
impious activities, but also all reactions to pious activities, turning
them to ashes. There are many stages of reaction: reaction in the
making, reaction fructifying, reaction already achieved, and reaction a
priori. BUT KNOWLEDGE OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL POSITION OF THE LIVING
ENTITY BURNS EVERYTHING TO ASHES. When one is in complete knowledge, all
reactions, both a priori and a posteriori, are consumed. In the Vedas
it is stated, ubhe uhaivaisa ete taraty amrtah sadhv-asadhuni: “One
overcomes both the pious and impious interactions of work.”
Note: Transcendental knowledge your (constitutional position) svarupa is known reactions of karma burned off:
Madhya 15.108 The Lord Accepts Prasada at the House of Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya
“DIKSHA IS THE PROCESS BY WHICH ONE CAN AWAKEN HIS
TRANSCENDENTAL KNOWLEDGE AND VANQUISH ALL REACTIONS CAUSED BY SINFUL
ACTIVITY. A person expert in the study of the revealed scriptures knows
this process as diksha.”
Antya 4.192 Sanatana Gosvami Visits the Lord at Jagannatha Puri
DIKSA-KALE bhakta kare atma-samarpana
sei-kale krsna tare kare atma-sama
“At the time of initiation, when a devotee fully surrenders unto the
service of the Lord, Krishna accepts him to be as good as Himself.
“When the devotee’s body is thus transformed into spiritual existence,
the devotee, in that transcendental body, renders service to the lotus
feet of the Lord.
Antya 4.194 Sanatana Gosvami Visits the Lord at Jagannatha Puri
‘The
living entity who is subjected to birth and death, when he gives up all
material activities dedicating his life to Me for executing My order,
and thus acts according to My direction, at that time he reaches the
platform of immortality, and becomes fit to enjoy the spiritual bliss of
exchange of loving mellows with Me.’
This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.29.34). At the time of
initiation, a devotee gives up all his material conceptions. Therefore,
being in touch with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he is situated
on the transcendental platform. Thus having attained knowledge and the
spiritual platform, he always engages in the service of the spiritual
body of Krishna.
Nectar of Instruction 5
A madhyama-adhikari has received spiritual initiation from the
spiritual master and has been fully engaged by him in the transcendental
loving service of the Lord. The madhyama-adhikari should be considered
to be situated midway in devotional service.
“We request you to chant HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA, KRISHNA KRISHNA
HARE HARE, HARE RAMA HARE RAMA, RAMA RAMA HARE HARE, and your life will
be sublime.”
“In
Dvapara-yuga, devotees of Lord Vishnu and Krishna rendered devotional
service according to the principles of Pancharatrika. In this Age of
Kali, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is worshiped simply by the
chanting of His holy names. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura then
comments: “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 THE SPIRITUAL MASTER OF
THE WHOLE WORLD. He certainly cannot succeed by mental concoction, which is not meant for devotees or religious people. 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.
Regarding parampara
system: THERE IS NOTHING TO WONDER FOR BIG GAPS. Just like we belong to
the Brahma Sampradaya, so we accept it from Krishna to Brahma, Brahma
to Narada, Narada to Vyasadeva, Vyasadeva to Madhva, and between
Vyasadeva and Madhva there is a big gap. But it is sometimes said that
Vyasadeva is still living, and Madhva was fortunate enough to meet him
directly. In a similar way, we find in the Bhagavad-gita that the Gita
was taught to the sun god, some millions of years ago, but Krishna has
mentioned only three names in this parampara system --namely, Vivasvan, Manu, and Ikshvaku; and SO THESE GAPS DO NOT HAMPER FROM UNDERSTANDING THE PARAMPARA SYSTEM. WE HAVE TO PICK UP THE PROMINENT ACHARYAS, AND FOLLOW FROM HIM. There are many branches also from the parampara
system, and it is not possible to record all the branches and
sub-branches in the disciplic succession. WE HAVE TO PICK UP FROM THE
AUTHORITY OF THE ACHARYA IN WHATEVER SAMPRADAYA WE BELONG TO.
REGARDING
ACCEPTING INITIATION from the spiritual master, in the Eleventh Canto
of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Seventeenth Chapter, verse 27, it is stated by
Lord Krishna, “My dear Uddhava, the spiritual master must be
accepted not only as My representative, but as My very self. He must
never be considered on the same level with an ordinary human being. One
should never be envious of the spiritual master, as one may be envious
of an ordinary man. The spiritual master should always be seen as the
representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and by serving the
spiritual master one is able to serve all the demigods.”