becoming

Satam prasahgan. In the association of devotees the discussion on the matter of the Absolute Truth becomes very palatable. We have to hear about the Absolute Truth through the association of persons who are endeavoring to make progress towards eternal life, sat-patham. Yogasya laksanam. What are the symptoms of yoga? Kapiladeva, Kapiladeva is son of Devahūti. Devahūti is the mother of Kapiladeva. The mother is taking instruction from son. So it doesn't matter. One should not think, "Oh, he is my son. What instruction I shall take from him? I know better than him." No. Son or anyone, anyone, if he knows the science of Krsna, he becomes guru. This is the Vedic system. It doesn't matter. Caitanya Mahaprabhu approved this. Caitanya Mahaprabhu was born in a very respectable brahmana family. He was very advanced learned scholar, and after all He took sannyasa. So when He was discussing with Ramananda Raya... Ramananda Raya was a grhastha, householder, and governor of Madras, means politician. A householder, politician, and he was born not in brahmana family; in karana, kayastha family. They are considered as sūdras. So he had no position to instruct Caitanya Mahaprabhu. But Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave him the place of instructor, and He took the position of a listener. Just see Caitanya Mahaprabhu's pastimes. He gave him the position of instructor, and He took the position of student, listener.    (More...)

"There is no more superior authority than Me." And if you take it as it is, and if you speak to the people that "There is no more superior authority than Krsna," then you become guru. You become guru. You don't change, then you become guru. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has instructed this. Amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa [Cc Madhya 7.128]. His..., He was preaching. So He was preaching everyone, from country to country. Of course, He did not go outside India. Within India. And He was instructing that "You learn from Me and teach your people within this village, within this country." Amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa. Ei desa means "this country, or this place where you are living." Then? Amara ajnaya guru hana. You become guru. So one may think that "I am illiterate. I have no education. I am not born in very high family. How I can become guru?" So Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that "It is not very difficult." Yare dekha tare kaha krsna-upadesa [Cc Madhya 7.128]. Bas. You become guru. You simply speak whatever Krsna speaks. Then you become guru. So anyone who does not speak what Krsna has spoken, he's not guru; he's a rascal. He cannot be guru. He is guru who speaks only what Krsna has spoken. This is the sastric injunction.    (More...)

And I think you should take seriously. I am old man. If you, some of you at least, understand this science and take up this science, you become future hope of the..., this country or the world. That is my request to you, that you should take this chance and become a spiritual master for all the people.    (More...)

The Lord says, amara ajnaya. Because He came with this mission, to preach Krsna consciousness, so He says, "Just take My order, and all of you, you become the spiritual master." Guru hana. Anyone who teaches people Krsna consciousness, never mind what, what he is and where he is, he should be understood the spiritual master.    (More...)

It doesn't matter whether one is a brahmana, kiba vipra; kiba sūdra, or one is sūdra; kiba vipra, kiba nyasi, kene naya, or whether he is a sannyasi. Yei krsna-tattva-vetta: one must know the science of Krsna. The science of Krsna is being explained by Krsna Himself. So in whatever position you are, you try to understand the science of Krsna. Then you become guru. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission.    (More...)

A... It doesn't matter what he is, whether he's a sannyasi or a grhastha or a brahmana or a su..., born in brahmana family or... It doesn't matter. Yei krsna-tattva. Anyone who knows Krsna, he can become guru, not others. So that is the statement of the sastras. Avaisnava cannot become guru.    (More...)

So Bhagavad-gita is meant for the rajarsi, very rich, opulent, at the same time saintly person. Formerly all the kings were rajarsi-raja and rsi combined together. So the Bhagavad-gita is not meant for the loafer class. It is to be understood by the heads of the society: yad yad acarati sresthas tat tad evetaro janaḥ [Bg 3.21]. So those who are claiming to be the leaders of the society, they must learn Bhagavad-gita, how to become practical and actual leader, then the society will be benefited. And if we follow the instruction of Bhagavad-gita and Krsna, then all problems will be solved. It is not a sectarian religious sentiment or fanaticism. It is not that. It is a science-social science, political science, cultural science. Everything is there. So our request is that every one of you become a guru. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's order. He wants that everyone must become a guru. How? That He says:    (More...)

This is guru. Suppose you are family member. So many living entities, your sons, your daughters, your daughter-in-law or children, you can become their guru. Exactly like this you can sit down in the evening and talk about the Bhagavad-gita, yare dekha tare kaha krsna-upadesa [Cc Madhya 7.128]. You haven't got to manufacture something. The instruction is there; you simply repeat and let them hear-you become guru. It is not difficult at all. So that is our preaching. We do not want to become alone guru, but we want to preach in such a way that every..., the chief man, or any man, he can become guru in his surrounding. Anyone can do that. Even a coolie, he can also. He has got family, he has got friends, so even though he is illiterate, he can hear the instruction of Krsna, and he can preach the same. This we want. And we invite all respectable gentlemen, leaders, to learn this. It is very simple: man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg 18.65], and by executing this order of Krsna, He assures, mam evaisyasi, "You come to Me." [Bg 9.34] Yad gatva na nivartante tad dhama paramam mama [Bg 15.6]. Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti kaunteya [Bg 4.9]. Very easy thing.    (More...)

So this Krsna consciousness movement is giving chance to everyone to hear from the authoritative sources, from the sastra. Sadhu sastra guru. These are authorities. So instead of hearing from the unauthorized persons, means... 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. Just like 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 hana tara' ei desa [Cc Madhya 7.128].    (More...)

So my request is that you people of Orissa, you are ordinarily Vaisnava, so take this seriously. Don't be misguided by rascals who is not guru. There is no difficulty. Suppose, as Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, yare dekha tare kaha krsna-upadesa [Cc Madhya 7.128]: you become guru. Whomever you meet, you simply speak what Krsna has spoken. That's all. It is already there. You have to repeat only, and you become guru. Our request is that you all respectable gentlemen, you develop this center of ISKCON. We have published so many important books. They are being appreciated all over the world by scholars, by universities. You also study them, learn Krsna science, Krsna consciousness, and preach in your country. That is my request. Our books, mostly they are published in English, and we are getting them translated in other languages of the world, especially in Europe, French language, German language, in Japanese language, Chinese language. So those who are very upright, they may come, translate these books into Oriya, and we shall publish them for mass distribution.    (More...)

So our this Krsna consciousness movement is trying to enlighten people so that they can accept these principles of Bhagavad-gita. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission is para-upakara. And He advises everyone, especially Indian, to become guru. He said, amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa [Cc Madhya 7.128]: "Every one of you, you become a guru and try to deliver the persons where you are living." "So how can I become guru?" "Yes, it is very easy." "What is that?" Yare dekha tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa [Cc Madhya 7.128], then you become guru. You simply repeat what Krsna has said in the Bhagavad-gita, you become guru. To become guru is not... But if you want to be a bluffer, cheater, then you can talk all nonsense. But if you actually talk only Krsna's words, then you become a guru. It is not very difficult.    (More...)

Krsna-upadesa. He says, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, that "On My order, every one of My devotee become a spiritual master." Amara ajnaya guru hana tara' sarva desa. "You become a spiritual master and deliver all the people." By krsna-upadesa, you can deliver. People are suffering. Here also, the same thing is said: jeyam yat tat pravaksyami yaj jnatva 'mrtam asnute. Amrtam. People are suffering. They do not know what is amrtatva. So 'mrtatvaya kalpate. This is the aim of life, to become immortal. That is wanted. One has to come to that platform of knowledge when one can achieve the perfection of life, amrtatva, immortality.    (More...)

First of all make yourself perfect. You can make yourself perfect because in the Bharata-varsa there are this Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Vedic literature. Just study them. And therefore we are publishing so many books on the basis of Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam, and people are appreciating very much all over the world. So it is the duty of every Indian to make his life perfect by understanding Bhagavad-gita at least, and spread the message. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission. Yare dekha tare kaha krsna-upadesa [Cc Madhya 7.128]. Every one of you can become a guru. He says that. Amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa. Wherever you are, you can deliver the persons, surrounding person in your neighborhood. "How can I become guru? I have no qualification." No. There is no need of qualification. Simply repeat. Yare dekha tare kaha krsna-upadesa [Cc Madhya 7.128]. Very simple thing. Anyone you meet: "My dear friend, just hear little." "What is that?" "Now, Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. You kindly think of Krsna. Just offer your obeisances to Krsna, just become a bhakta and chant His holy name." Bas. Your gurugiri is finished. So it is not very difficult task. Anyone can do this. And then everyone will be benefited. And that is Krsna consciousness movement.    (More...)

And how one becomes guru? That is also very easy. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, yare dekha tare kaha krsna upadesa [Cc Madhya 7.128]. You haven't got to manufacture anything. Simply you try to repeat the instruction of Bhagavad-gita, krsna upadesa. Not only Bhagavad-gita; there are many other instructions. Especially Bhagavad-gita. So if you simply carry the message of Bhagavad-gita, then you become guru. Don't manufacture anything. Then it will be spoiled. Simply stick primarily... Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg 18.65]. You can..., everyone can say this. Krsna says that "You always think of Me." So you can repeat only. You can say to others, "My dear sir, please think of Krsna." It doesn't require very much education. Simply just like a peon carry the message: "Sir, you always think of Krsna." Man-mana. Then you become guru.    (More...)

"My dear Arjuna, there is no more superior authority than Me." You accept it, that's all. You haven't got to interpret foolishly. No, then you are gone. Then you become condemned. Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission is that. Yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa. He says, amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa [Cc Madhya 7.128]. Ei desa. Just like Surendra is here. So I'll request... Dr. Sukla is here. It doesn't matter that you have to go out. You are in Aligarh, you become a guru. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's... "How shall I become guru? I am grhastha, I'm engaged this..." No. You haven't got to learn very much, to be puffed-up. Yare dekha tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa [Cc Madhya 7.128]. That's all. You simply recite what Krsna has spoken. Then you become guru. If you want to manufacture something and show some magic, then you do not become guru. If you simply repeat what Krsna has said... Krsna says, man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg 18.65], mam evaisyasi asamsayam. What is the difficulty? You can say all the same thing: "Sir, you always think of Krsna." Krsna says, man-mana bhava mad-bhakto. You don't say that "You think of me." That is rascaldom. You say that "You think of Krsna." Krsna says man-mana, but you don't say man-mana; you say Krsna: Krsna said. "You always think of Krsna." Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto. "You just become a devotee of Krsna. You just worship Krsna," mad-yaji, "and just offer little obeisances to the Lord." These four things. Even a child can do. And you can preach. You can become guru. What is the difficulty? Everyone.    (More...)

It is very easy. So take it very seriously. That is our propaganda. We don't manufacture anything, any jugglery of words, any magic or any new ideas of God. These nonsense things we do not do. We simply carry out the order of Caitanya Mahaprabhu and we simply repeat 'krsna'-upadesa. That's all. This is Krsna consciousness movement. You can take it and also you can do it. You can also become guru. That we want.    (More...)

If you have bona fide spiritual master, representative of Krsna, it is also not very difficult. Everyone can become representative of Krsna. How? If you simply carry the message of Krsna without any adulteration. That's all. Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, amara ajnaya guru hana [Cc Madhya 7.128], "You become a spiritual master under My order." So if you carry out the order of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Krsna, then you become guru. Amara ajnaya guru hana.    (More...)

So everyone should be prepared. Everyone should understand Bhagavad-gita. Of course, it is not possible for everyone to go. Still, if one understands... That is also Caitanya Mahaprabhu's order: amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa [Cc Madhya 7.128]. He says, "Every one of you become a guru." "How can I become guru? I am not very learned scholar. I have no education." So Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, "No. Even though you are not very much educated or not born of a very high family, you simply yare dekha tare kaha krsna-upadesa. That's all. You become a guru." Krsna-upadesa. Don't adulterate it, but as Krsna says, you say. You become guru. This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission.    (More...)

So mana tumi kisera vaisnava. He says, "What kind of Vaisnava, rascal, you are?" Nirjanera ghare pratisthara tare: "Simply for cheap adoration you are living in a secluded place." Tava hari-nama kevala kaitava: "Your chanting of so-called Hare Krsna mantra is simply cheating." He has said that. One must be ready very vigorously. And that is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's also order. Caitanya Mahaprabhu never said that "You chant." He has given certainly the chanting, but so far His mission is concerned, He said that "Every one of you become guru." Amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa [Cc Madhya 7.128]. And deliver, preach, that people understand what is Krsna.    (More...)

We understand from Bhagavad-gita, na jayate na mriyate, that "This living entity is never born, never dies." This information we get, very simple information. We are taking information from whom? Krsna, jagad-guru, the supreme guru, the original guru. Guru means Krsna's representative. A guru cannot be manufactured. Guru means... Krsna is jagad-guru, and one who speaks on behalf of Krsna or one who speaks as Krsna says, he is guru. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, amara ajnaya guru hana [Cc Madhya 7.128]:    (More...)

Who can become guru? Anyone who knows the science of Krsna, he can become guru. That is the injunction. Yei... It doesn't matter. Kiba vipra kiba sūdra, nyasi kene naya. He may be a brahmana, he may be a sūdra, he may be a sannyasi, he may be a grhastha. It doesn't matter. He may be European, he may be American, he may be Indian. It doesn't matter. If he knows the science, yei krsna-tattva-vetta sei guru haya [Cc Madhya 8.128].    (More...)

So it is not limited under certain country, certain atmosphere or certain population. Krsna consciousness is open for everyone. So therefore our request is that these Europeans and Americans who have taken to Krsna consciousness just become perfect in the understanding of this science and become guru and deliver the whole world.    (More...)

So if we surrender to Krsna as Krsna says, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg 18.66], "Give up all other occupation, duties. Simply just surrender unto Me." Aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami ma sucaḥ. "Don't hesitate. Do it." Krsna is personally canvassing. He's so kind, He comes personally. He speaks the whole truth in the Bhagavad-gita. He's canvassing, "Please do it." He again comes as a devotee, Lord Caitanya.    (More...)

"Under My order, you become spiritual master and deliver the people of your country." And what is that order? That yare dekha tare kaha krsna-upadesa [Cc Madhya 7.128]: "Whomever you meet, you simply speak what Krsna has said, or what is spoken about Krsna." That is Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam.    (More...)

Caitanya Mahaprabhu stressed, ye krsna-tattva-vetta, sei 'guru' haya [Cc Madhya 8.128]. He never said that the sannyasis should be guru and not the grhasthas. He says, ye krsna-tattva-vetta, sei 'guru' haya. Anyone who knows the science of Krsna, he can become guru. And that guru... Caitanya Mahaprabhu says everything very simplified:    (More...)

Sarva desa, or ei desa, wherever you are living, it doesn't matter. Just like our Atreya Rsi, he's grhastha, he's living in Iran, Tehran, but it doesn't matter. If he speaks krsna-katha, then he's guru. It is very simple thing. We should not speak beyond what is spoken by Krsna. Take Bhagavad-gita and try to preach the principles, speak whatever is spoken in the Bhagavad-gita. Then it doesn't matter whether you are a grhastha or sannyasi or brahmacari. You become guru.    (More...)

"Don't hesitate. Why you are hesitating because you are a grhastha or you are in politics or you are a..., born a sūdra family? Why you are...? I am learning from you." This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's preaching. He did not think anyone negligible. Anyone who is qualified with Krsna consciousness, he can become guru. It doesn't matter where he is born, what is his family and identification. It doesn't matter. He must know the science. It is very practical. Just like when you go to consult an engineer or a medical man or some lawyer, you do not ask him whether he's a brahmana or a sūdra. If he's qualified, if he can help you in the particular subject matter, you consult with him, you take his help. That is practical. So similarly, in the spiritual matter it doesn't matter what he is. If he knows Krsna, then he can become guru. It doesn't matter.    (More...)

So this is Vedic system. Not that one is lower in the estimation of the society by birth or so on. But he must be qualified. So here also it doesn't matter. This is going on. That is Vedic system. Devahūti does not deny to take instruction from her son. It is the system. [indistinct] It doesn't matter whether he's inferior. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's... Yei krsna-tattva-vetta sei guru haya [Cc Madhya 8.128]:    (More...)

There is a parampara system, as it is described in the Bhagavad-gita, Fourth Chapter: evam parampara-praptam imam rajarsayo viduḥ [Bg 4.2]. So our business, Krsna conscious people, our business is very easy, because we don't manufacture ideas. We take the idea and the words delivered by the Supreme Person, Krsna, or His incarnation or His representative. His representative does not say anything which the master does not say. Representative is very easy. You can become representative of Krsna if you do not interpret Krsna's words in your whimsical way. Krsna says, mattaḥ parataram nanyat kincid asti dhananjaya [Bg 7.7]:    (More...)

So if we simply take the words of Bhagavan and preach, then it is very easy for us to become, each and every one, to become guru. Not to exploit. No. But to give knowledge. And what is that knowledge? What Krsna has spoken. That's all. So even one is not very learned scholar, Sanskrit scholar, everyone has got this ear. He can hear from Krsna and Krsna's representative and assimilate what is spoken by Krsna, and he can repeat the same. Then he becomes guru. That is the mission of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He said,    (More...)

To become guru means para-upakara. People are in the darkness, so they have to be enlightened. That is the Vedic injunction. Uttisthata jagrata prapya varan nibodhata [Katha Upanisad 1.3.14]. Now, people..., from animal kingdom we are getting this human body. So up to animal body we are sleeping, kota nidra jao maya-pisacira kole, in the lap of this material nature. Now this human form of body is meant for getting out. So the mission is to awaken people to Krsna consciousness. To awaken people to Krsna consciousness. Jiv jago jiv jago, gauracanda bole. Gauracanda, means Caitanya Mahaprabhu, is speaking to everyone, "Oh, the living entity, get up! Get up!" Kota nidra jao maya-pisacira kole: "How long you shall sleep?"    (More...)

This Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mercy, krsna-prema distribution, is the best, topmost para-upakara, welfare activity. Therefore every Indian should take up this job, bharata-bhūmite manusya-janma haila yara. So every Indian should understand the philosophy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu or the philosophy of Krsna, Krsna consciousness, the same philosophy. Krsna says His philosophy is sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg 18.66]: "Just surrender to Me. I will give you protection." And Caitanya Mahaprabhu's philosophy is the same. He is Krsna, but as He has appeared as devotee, He says, yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa [Cc Madhya 7.128]: "Whomever you meet, you Indian, bharata-vasi, you just try to understand this Krsna philosophy, Bhagavad-gita, and make your life successful and go door to door and say this 'krsna'-upadesa." What is 'krsna'-upadesa? Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja. Bas. You become guru. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission.    (More...)

Caitanya Mahaprabhu has said who is guru. He asked everyone to become guru. His mission is that people are suffering all over the world for want of this Krsna consciousness, or God consciousness. That's a fact. So He is advising everyone, especially those who are born in India,    (More...)

That is His mission. He is requesting every Indian, every Indian, because they have got the facility for understanding what is Bhagavad-gita, what is Srimad-Bhagavatam, what is Vedas. They have got this opportunity. Therefore He says, janma sarthaka kari': "You have taken your birth in India. You make your life successful by taking advantage of these scriptures, and then assimilate the knowledge and preach all over the world." They are in darkness. That is being repeatedly said. But we are not taking advantage of. We are so misfortunate. We are misguided by the so-called leaders that we are neglecting this valuable literature which is spoken by Bhagavan. We are talking of some nonsense. That is our misfortune. So we have to take knowledge from Bhagavan and spread it all over the world. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's... So He says that "You become guru." He says, amara ajnaya guru hana [Cc Madhya 7.128]: "By My order." Don't become a so-called guru, manufactured guru. "You become guru by following My instruction." Amara ajnaya guru hana.    (More...)

Guru means who follows the predecessor, authorized predecessor. He is guru. Not that everyone is guru. So therefore we have to follow the superior order. Then we become guru, not that by cheating others we become guru. No. That is cheater. That is not teacher. Guru means who is following the superior order. The superior order is Krsna or His representative. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Krsna. He is ordering, amara ajnaya, "By My order," guru hana, "you become guru." "Sir, it is very difficult to become guru. I have no education. I have no culture. I am not born in a very high family. I am very low." A devotee always thinks like that. He never thinks that "I have become very great man." Just like Caitanya-caritamrta, author of, he says, purisera kita haite muni se laghistha . Purisa, purisa means stool, and there are worms in the stool. So Caitanya-caritamrta author is saying that "I am lower than the worms in the stool." That is Vaisnava conception. Trnad api sunicena. He is very humble. He never says, "Oh, I am the Supreme. I have become God." A most rascal, foolish. So that is not... Therefore we have to follow. If we actually want to become guru, there is necessity of many thousands of gurus to teach this cheated public. But how to become guru? That is... Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, amara ajnaya: "By My order." "What is Your order, Sir?" Now, yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa [Cc Madhya 7.128]. Then you become guru. You simply advise people to follow Krsna's instruction. Then you become guru.    (More...)

So that is our mission. This Krsna consciousness movement is that we are simply trying to convince people what Krsna has said, that's all. We are not manufacturing anything. So that is our business. Krsna says, man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg 18.65]. We are training our disciples, "Just always think of Krsna, chant Hare Krsna and become Krsna's devotee, offer Him prasadam, dress Him nicely." Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji: "Worship Me." Worship Krsna, the same thing. Krsna says, "Worship Me"; we are saying, "Worship Krsna." Krsna says, "Surrender unto Me"; we are saying, "Surrender to Krsna." So we have no difficulty. To become a guru there is no difficulty, provided we repeat the same thing as Krsna says. And if you say something more or less, then you are not a guru. Very simple thing. Very simple thing.    (More...)

This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's advice. Yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa. It is not very difficult. You haven't got to become very learned scholar to become guru. Guru's business is to give the right information. That is guru. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, amara ajnaya guru hana: "Every one of you become guru." "Oh, I am not a learned man," or "I am this, I am that. How can I become guru?" Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "No, it is very easy thing." Yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa.    (More...)

And what is the real thing? That is explained by Krsna: sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg 18.66]. You take this mission, "My dear sir, you give up everything nonsense. You simply surrender to Krsna." Then you become guru. Is it very difficult to become guru? No. But we shall not take this business. We shall talk all nonsense and become guru and incarnation and God and so on, so on, and cheat others and cheat oneself. This is going on. Otherwise, to become guru is not at all difficult. Simply you surrender yourself to Krsna. You become abhayam sattva-suddhiḥ. You become fearless: "Yes, I am now under the protection of Krsna. I have no more fear. I don't care for anyone. I simply take to Krsna." Akuto-bhayam. Akuto-bhayam. This is said by Kapiladeva also. All sastra says like that, and Krsna also says the same thing in the Bhagavad-gita, bhaktya mam abhijanati [Bg 18.55]: "If you want to know Me, then it is through bhakti, not your so-called jnana and karma and yoga." You will never be able to understand. You will never be able to understand. Naham prakasaḥ sarvasya yoga-maya [Bg 7.25]. You will be simply covered by yoga-maya. This is not possible. Bhakti means surrender.    (More...)

Prabhupada: [Transl. There must be. Nature will not spare you, no matter how big wrestler you are.] prakrteḥ kriyamanani gunaiḥ karmani sarvasaḥ [Bg 3.27]. That is nature's arrangement. ahahkara-vimūḍhatma kartaham iti manyate. He is a rascal who is thinking, "I am independent." Rascal number one. Everyone is thinking, "Ah! I am independent." What is their independence? Hmm? [Transl. This is the foolishness. They will not hear. If we give good advice…. upadeso hi mūrkhanam prakopaya na santaye. [Canakya Panḍit] By giving instructions to foolish men, they simply become angry. What to do? Now we have started this mission. It is here. Hear with attention what the Supreme Lord is saying. And tell others about it. This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission that all of you become guru. This is the order of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. You are a Bihari, a neighbor of West Bengal. Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission is, He is saying; amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa [Cc. Madhya 7.128]. ...In whichever country, whichever village, whichever family, whichever community people have taken birth, deliver them and thus become a guru. This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu. amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa... You don't have to travel all over the world. Those who have capacity they…..wherever you live, preach there only and deliver them. You become a guru. This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission. That you become a guru and wherever you live, you deliver them. So one may argue "how can I become a guru? I don't know anything. I don't know what do I have to do? How can I become a guru?" He says "no, no. Don't be afraid. To become a guru is very simple." "How?" He says "yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa" ….. Whatever instructions Krsna has given, you preach that to others. That's all. Then you will be a Guru." Not that you produce gold, show magic, swindle or cheat people. That is not a guru. Those fellows are all cheaters. yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa... What Krsna said, you tell to others. You are a guru. Is it very difficult for us to repeat what Krsna has spoken? It's all written in Bhagavad-gita. We just have to repeat it. Then we become guru. What do I speak? All these foreigners have come here, did I bribe them, or produced gold or showed some magic? I simply told them, "look, krsnas tu bhagavan svayam [SB 1.3.28] or Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead", and they have accepted it. "Worship Him. Build His temple." And they worship Him in the temple. Krsna says; manmana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg. 18.65] ["Always think of Me and become My devotee. Worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend."]... Someone may argue "these people are Mlecchas and Yavanas. How they can serve the Supreme Lord?" The Lord says, "mam hi partha vyapasritya ye 'pi syuḥ papa-yonayaḥ [Bg 9.32]    (More...)

So our this Krsna consciousness movement is giving, educating people how to become Krsna conscious, how to know the science of Krsna. Krsna-tattva-vetta. And anyone who knows Krsna perfectly well... That is... Caitanya Mahaprabhu approves that it doesn't matter what he is, a scientist. Yei krsna-tattva-vetta, sei 'guru' haya [Cc Madhya 8.128]: "Anyone who knows perfectly well the science of Krsna," krsna-tattva-vetta, "in truth, he is guru." Nobody can become guru unless he knows the science of Krsna. Therefore it is said in the sastra that sat-karma-nipuno vipraḥ. Vipra means brahmana.    (More...)

So this Krsna consciousness movement means that training the people who come to us to make him far, far above than the siddhas. Far, far above than the siddhas. And it is very easily one can become. One can hold this position of guru, who is... Guru means who is above the siddhas. Krsna-tattva-vetta. Yei krsna-tattva-vetta, sei guru haya. One cannot become guru unless he knows krsna-tattva. Not ordinary man. The yogis, the karmis, the jnanis, they cannot become guru. That is not sanctioned. Because even one is jnani, he has to learn Krsna after many, many births; not in one life, but many, many life. If he persists to understand what is the Absolute Truth by his jnana method, by his speculative method, then still he will have to change many, many births. Then one day he may be fortunate. If he comes in contact with a devotee, then it may be possible for him to understand Krsna.    (More...)

Anyway, Ramananda Raya, he was very learned, although he was not born in a brahmana family. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu was taking lessons from him. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, kiba vipra, kiba sūdra, nyasi kene naya, yei krsna-tattva-vetta, sei 'guru' haya [Cc Madhya 8.128].    (More...)

Sei guru. Who can become guru? Generally a brahmana, a sannyasi, that is, that is..., they are forced. Brahmana is the guru of other varnas, and sannyasi is the guru for all varnasrama. This is... But Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that is social system. If there is a brahmana, if there is a sannyasi, one should accept..., give preference to him, to accept guru. But Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, "That is not the criterion. One must be well expert, experienced, well aware of the science of Krsna. He shall be guru." Not that particularly because one is born in a brahmana family or one has taken sannyasa, he is immediately by the dress or by birth one can become guru. No. That is going on. Now it is diminishing. Formerly, in India it was the practice.    (More...)

Real guru is he who instructs what Krsna has said. It is not that you maufacture your teaching. No. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's... There is no need of manufacturing. The instruction is already there. You have simply to say, "This is this." That's all. Is it very difficult task? Father said, "This is microphone." A child can say that "Father said this is microphone." He becomes guru. Where is the difficulty? The authority, father, has said, "This is microphone." A child only can say, "This is microphone." So similarly, Krsna says that "I am the Supreme." So if I say, "Krsna is the Supreme," where is my difficulty, unless I cheat others to become the Krsna or the Supreme? That is cheating. But if I say the simple truth, that "Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is the proprietor of everything. He is to be worshiped," then where is my difficulty? So that is our mission. All of you who have come to Krsna consciousness movement, that is our request, that you, all of you, become guru but don't speak nonsense. That is request. Simply speak what Krsna has said. Then you become brahmana, you'll be guru, and everything.    (More...)

And sad-vaisnava svapaco guruḥ. If a person is born in the low-grade family and has become a Vaisnava, he becomes guru. This is sastric injunction, and that is the order of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, that "You become a guru." He does not say, "Because you are brahmana or a ksatriya, you become guru." No. "Every one of you, become a guru." How? Yare dekha tare kaha krsna-upadesa [Cc Madhya 7.128]: You simply learn the science of Krsna and teach it; then you become guru.    (More...)

So if you don't go through Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, it will be very difficult to understand Krsna. That is practical. Just like you young boys and girls from Western countries. You have taken up Krsna so seriously. Why? Because we are trying to understand Krsna through Caitanya Mahaprabhu. So we should follow this principle. There will be no difficulty to understand Krsna. And as soon as you understand Krsna, your life is successful. Of course, we cannot understand Krsna fully. As far as possible, at least if we understand that Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, this much is sufficient. This much is sufficient. Krsnas tu bhagavan svayam [SB 1.3.28]. Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita, mattaḥ parataram nanyat kincid asti dhananjaya [Bg 7.7]. Aham sarvasya prabhavaḥ [Bg 10.8]. Aham adir hi devanam [Bg 10.2]. These things are there, already stated, but the so-called scholars and politicians, they misinterpret in a different way and mislead the people. That is going on. Therefore, in spite of Bhagavad-gita being read all over the world for the last two hundred years, not a single person became a devotee of Krsna. This is the defect. So let us try to understand Krsna through Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and as we have repeatedly said, that through Caitanya Mahaprabhu you understand Krsna and spread this cult all over the world. People are suffering for want of knowledge of Krsna.    (More...)

Bas. Simply as messenger, as peon, you simply carry the messages of Bhagavad-gita, krsna-upadesa. Then you become guru. Then you become guru. It is not difficult. So it is the duty of every Indian not to forget their culture, but bring that culture, here, wherever you are living, and behave yourself to that culture and teach others. That is Indian mission.    (More...)

Prabhupada: Yes, that I'm already explaining, that amara ajnaya guru hana tara [Cc Madhya 7.128]: wherever you are, you deliver them. That is service. That is service. Wherever you are. Either you are in the family or in the community or in the country or anywhere, you simply give them service, deliver them. Without service, how you can deliver them? And you haven't got to discover anything or make research. What is already there, krsna-upadesa, you teach them, that's all. He'll be delivered. You'll be delivered, he'll be delivered. It is not at all difficult. Not that I have to manufacture some transcendental means. No. The already instruction is there, krsna's upadesa. Yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa [Cc Madhya 7.128]. Then you deliver yourself, you deliver others also. That is the mission.    (More...)

This is the sum and substance of Caitanya Mahaprabhu's instruction. And the details are there, but this is the platform. You must be ready to become a guru simply by repeating the instruction of Krsna, Bhagavad-gita. Therefore we have taken Bhagavad-gita as it is, and following the instruction of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, we are preaching to our best capacity. This is required, that you must be ready, you must be serious. Then Caitanya Mahaprabhu will give you proper instruction, and then you'll be very nice preacher for the benefit of the whole world.    (More...)

So how he can make everyone fortunate? That is... Caitanya Mahaprabhu advises that amara ajnaya guru hana. You follow the principles of Caitanya Mahaprabhu's instruction first of all. Sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu-nityananda, sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda. You just take their mercy. Then you become guru. And then what is your business? His business is yare dekha tare kaha krsna upadesa [Cc Madhya 7.128]. So guru-krsna. Guru makes the people fortunate, and then the people become Krsna conscious, and then he becomes fortunate. This is the process of Krsna consciousness movement. Everyone is advised to become guru, especially those who are born in India. They can easily take the Krsna consciousness movement, because in the blood there is Krsna consciousness on account of taking birth in this holy land of Bharata-varsa. Caitanya Mahaprabhu therefore says,    (More...)

Sri-gauḍa-manḍala-bhūmi. Gauḍa means West Bengal. Lord Caitanya appeared in West Bengal, Navadvipa, and He especially flooded that part of the country with the sahkirtana movement. That part of the country has special significance for it is non-different from Vrndavana. It is as good as Vrndavana. Living in Vrndavana and living in Navadvipa are the same. Narottama dasa Thakura says, sri-gauḍa-manḍala-bhūmi, jeba jane cintamani. Cintamani means the transcendental abode. ta'ra haya braja-bhūme bas. If one simply understands that this land of Navadvipa is not different from Vrndavana, then he actually lives in Vrndavana. One should not think that he is living in Bengal or any material country; the places where Lord Caitanya had His pastimes are as good as Vrndavana.

Lord Caitanya's distribution of this love of God is compared with an ocean (rasarnava). What kind of ocean? Not the salty ocean that one cannot taste. The water of this ocean is so nice that if one drinks even one drop, he will like it more and more. It is not ordinary ocean water, of which one cannot taste even a drop. Therefore it is called rasarnava. In this ocean there are different waves; an ocean does not stand still, for it is not impersonal or void. And as the ocean is always dancing with waves, similarly the ocean of transcendental love of Krsna as introduced by Lord Caitanya has constant waves, constant sound. One has to dive deep into that ocean. If one knows the secret and says, "Let me dive deep into the ocean of the transcendental loving movement introduced by Lord Caitanya," he immediately becomes one of the confidential devotees of Radha and Krsna.

Therefore Narottama dasa Thakura concludes this song by saying, grhe va vanete thake, 'ha gaurahga' bale ḍake. It is not necessary that one become a mendicant or give up his family life and society. One can remain wherever he finds it suitable, whether as a householder, as a brahmacari, as a vanaprastha, or as a sannyasi. Vanaprasthas and sannyasis are supposed to live outside of the city. Vanete means "forest." Formerly, those who were in spiritual consciousness used to live in the forest to become free of the turmoil of city life. But that is not possible now. In this age no one can go into the forest. That requires practice, and no one is practised to that line. Therefore, generally one is recommended to live with his friends, wife, and children. That doesn't matter, but he must take to the process of Krsna consciousness as introduced by Lord Caitanya. It is not difficult. The real thing is that one has to accept the movement of Lord Caitanya-chanting, dancing, and eating krsna-prasada. Even if one is in family life, there is no difficulty. He can just sit down, chant Hare Krsna, dance nicely, and then take krsna-prasada. Everyone can do this. Those who have renounced this world, sannyasis, also can do it; there is no difficulty. Therefore, Narottama dasa Thakura says that it doesn't matter whether one is a brahmacari, grhastha, or sannyasi. He says, "If you have taken to these principles of life, I desire your company, because you are a devotee of Lord Caitanya." In this way, Narottama dasa Thakura finishes the song.Song by Narottama Dasa Thakura]    (More...)

Anywhere, either you are in this district or that district, it doesn't matter. Either you are at home or outside home, it doesn't matter-you become a guru, everyone. "How shall I become guru? I have no qualification." Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "You don't require any qualification. You simply require one qualification: that you repeat the instruction of Bhagavad-gita. That's all." Yare dekha tare kaha krsna-upadesa [Cc Madhya 7.128]. That's all. You become a guru. Don't adulterate krsna-upadesa like a rascal or nonsense. Present it as it is, Bhagavad-gita. Then you become a guru. You can become a guru in your family. You can guru your society, your nation, wherever you are. And if it is possible, you go outside and preach this mission of Bhagavad-gita. Therefore our movement's name is Krsna consciousness. Whatever Krsna says, you accept and preach, you become guru.    (More...)

Prabhupada: That is attachment, of course, but not for any purpose. He's simply surrendered to Krsna, and whatever Krsna will do, that's all right. Personally he has no attachment. Suppose Krsna wants to do him something which he doesn't like to do; still he has to do. Just as Arjuna. He did not like to fight, but still, because he understood, "Krsna wants," then he fought. This is neither attachment nor detachment. Actually it is... It was not liked by him. But he did it because Krsna wanted. Therefore, personally he has no attachment or detachment. If Krsna is attached to something, then he becomes attached. If Krsna is detached to something, he becomes detached. That is bhakta's principle. Personally he is neutral. [break] ...the difference between karmi and bhakta. Karmi is attached and detached for his own purpose, and bhakta is attached and detached for Krsna's purpose. Personally he has no attachment or detachment. Krsna says that sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg 18.66]. There are two kinds of principles: attachment and detachment. So mam ekam saranam vraja. So this material attachment and detachment one should give up. He should surrender to Krsna. This is bhakta's principle. [pause] So there is no cloud in the sky, eh? Completely clear. [break] ...the sea-going is not dangerous. It is very calm and quiet?    (More...)

Prabhupada: He says that "By My order, you become a guru." "So what shall I do, sir? What is Your ajnaya, order?" That yare dekha tare kaha 'krsna-upadesa' [Cc Madhya 7.128]: "Whomever you meet, you just speak what Krsna has spoken." That's all. So what is the difficulty? If we speak what Krsna has spoken, exactly... Therefore we are presenting Bhagavad-gita as it is, without my interpretation, not nonsense. No.    (More...)

This whole world is confusion, just like a blazing fire in the forest. When there is forest fire, all the animals become confused, "Where to go? How to save life?" It is very good example. When there is fire in the forest, all the animals become confused. Similarly, this material world is just like a blazing fire in the forest. Everyone is confused. Now, how the blazing fire in the forest can be extinguished? You cannot take there your man-made fire brigade. That is not possible. Neither bucketful of water. So in this confused state of the human society you cannot manufacture the solution. The only solution is that when there is rain from the cloud on the forest fire, then it is extinguished. That is not in your hand; that is mercy of God. So spiritual master means who has received the mercy of God, and he can deliver to the confused man. Then the solution is there. This is very good verse, samsara-davanala-liḍha-loka-tranaya karunya-ghanaghanatvam, praptasya. One who has received mercy of God, he can become spiritual master. He can deliver the mercy of God.    (More...)

Prabhupada: Yes, that is the duty. Parampara system means the spiritual master shall not give anything which is not spoken by Krsna. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's... Yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa: "You become guru under My order." "But I do not know anything nicely. How can I become guru?" "No, you have no botheration. You simply take Krsna's word and say, and you become guru."    (More...)

If the child says to another man, "Father said, 'This is this,' " then he is perfect. He has learned from the father, and the father is perfect, then whatever he says, it is perfect. Why should he take so much botheration? So our process is that, that we become guru not like that rascal Guru-ji. No. We speak whatever Krsna has spoken. That's all. Of course, we try to impress upon you with your reason, logic, but we shall speak the same thing, not anything else. Krsna says, "I am supreme"; we say, "Krsna is supreme." That's all. Where is the botheration? I haven't got to find out by my logic and induction whether Krsna is supreme. That I have already done. So Krsna is supreme. There is no doubt about it. Now, whatever Krsna says, it is all right. That's all.    (More...)

Bas. Simply if you repeat what is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, then you become guru. And if you can convince a person, one person, then you deliver him. But no. They are creating their own manufactured knowledge, manufactured process, and exploiting Bhagavad-gita. What is said in the Bhagavad-gita, they'll never say. They'll take a Bhagavad-gita and pose himself that "I am a great scholar of Bhagavad-gita. I have got my own interpretation that I go to hell and you go to hell." That's all.    (More...)

Prabhupada: Refusal or not, people do not teach also, that "Here is Krsna, the Almighty, the Supreme. You surrender here." And the Almighty is canvassing, man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam [Bg 18.65]. But they'll not do that. And neither their so-called leaders will teach them to do that. So this is going on. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu said that "You become a guru." Amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa [Cc Madhya 7.128]:    (More...)

Brahmananda: "Your Excellency Srimati Indira Devi Gandhi. When I was in Toronto, Canada, Srimati Lalita Devi, who is just like my daughter, sent me one intimation that she approached you for a meeting with you for myself. And I have come here, postponing all my engagements. I am preaching this Krsna consciousness movement all over the world on the basis of Krsna's instructions in the Bhagavad-gita. Actually this Krsna consciousness movement is called the sahkirtana movement and sometimes called the Hare Krsna movement, which was inaugurated by Lord Caitanya in Bengal and throughout all India. His mission is that in India everyone should become a guru and preach all over the world."    (More...)