Bhavan's Journal, Answers to a Questionnaire 2 – June 30, 1976, New Vrindavan

Pusta Krsna: ...for answers to these questions.

Prabhupada: What they will answer? What do they know? All rascals.

Dhrstadyumna: Srila Prabhupada, you speak perfectly.

Prabhupada: The scientist agrees? [laughter]

Dhrstadyumna: Srila Prabhupada, I have spoken to Tamala Krsna Maharaja today about the... [break]

Pusta Krsna: This is question number eight for this Bhavan's Journal, Bombay. We've covered the first seven questions. The eighth question, Srila Prabhupada, is "In the Kali-yuga, bhakti has been described as the most suitable and easiest of paths for God realization. Yet how is it that Vedantic teachings, with their accent on jnana, are being given the pride of place by noted savants, or knowers?"

Prabhupada: The so-called Vedantists are bluffer. They do not know what is Vedanta. But the things are going on that people want to be bluffed, and the bluffers take advantage of it, and therefore... Veda means knowledge, and anta means end of knowledge. That is the combination of Vedanta. So in the Vedanta the beginning is, Vedanta-sūtra, athato brahma-jijnasaḥ: "Now, in the human form of life, they should inquire about the Absolute Truth." That is the Vedanta philosophy. And what is that Absolute Truth? Sūtra means in aphorism, in small words, a big philosophy is given. That is called sūtra. A little link. So Vedanta-sūtra begins when one is inquisitive to understand the Absolute Truth. That is called Vedanta-sūtra. And it is answered, first question is now about brahma-jijnasa, inquisitive, inquiry about Brahman. So Brahman is, in nutshell, described: "Brahman means the origin of everything." Janmady asya yataḥ [SB 1.1.1]. And in the Bhagavad-gita it is said, vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyam [Bg 15.15].

All the Vedas, all the book of knowledge, their business is how to search out God. Vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyaḥ. So the whole Vedanta is description of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. But because in this Kali-yuga people will not be able to study Vedanta nicely on account of lack of education, therefore Vyasadeva personally wrote a commentary on the Vedanta. That commentary is Srimad-Bhagavatam. Bhasyam brahma-sūtranam. The Srimad-Bhagavatam is the real commentary on the Vedanta-sūtra written by the author himself. The Vedanta-sūtra is also given by Vyasadeva, and under the instruction of Narada, his spiritual master... [aside: Get this light on.] ...he wrote commentary on the Vedanta-sūtra. That is Srimad-Bhagavatam. And Srimad-Bhagavatam also begins with the same aphorism, janmady asya yataḥ anvayad itaratas ca arthesu abhijnah sva-rat [SB 1.1.1]. So actually, Vedanta-sūtra is explained by the author of the Vedanta in Srimad-Bhagavatam. So some rascals, without understanding Vedanta, without reading the commentary, natural commentary of the Vedanta-sūtra they are posing themselves as Vedantist. That means they are misguiding people. And because people are not educated, they're accepting these rascals as Vedantists. Actually, the so-called Vedantists, they are bluffers. They are not Vedantists. They do not know anything of the Vedanta. That is the difficulty. Otherwise, what is stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, that is real Vedanta. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam it is said, jivasya tattva-jijnasa. That is Vedanta-sutra-bhasya. Find out this verse.

Pusta Krsna: Kamasya nendriya pritir labho jiveta yavata jivasya tattva [SB 1.2.10].

Prabhupada: Find out. Don't talk…

Hari-sauri: You know the number?

Pusta Krsna: That's in Srimad-Bhagavatam?

Prabhupada: Yes. Srimad-Bhagavatam, First Canto. Jivasya tattva-jijnasa nartho yas ceha karmabhiḥ. Like that. So actually Vedanta-sūtra is explained in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, and if we take Srimad-Bhagavatam as the real explanation of Vedanta-sūtra, then we understand what is Vedanta. And if we take the shelter of the so-called bluffers, then that is not Vedanta. People do not know anything, and they can be bluffed and cheated by anyone. That is the... And now they should learn from this Krsna consciousness movement what is Vedanta and what is the explanation of Vedanta. Then they will be benefited. If we take Srimad-Bhagavatam as the real commentary on Vedanta-sūtra, then we'll find that in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, kaler dosa-nidhe rajann asti hy eko mahan gunaḥ. In this Kali-yuga, which is the ocean of all faults, there is one benediction, opportunity. What is that? Kirtanad eva krsnasya mukta-sahgaḥ param vrajet [SB 12.3.51].

One can become liberated simply by chanting Hare Krsna mantra. This is real Vedanta. And actually it is happening. So they want to be misguided. And there are so many bluffers, they misguide them. What can be done? Otherwise Vyasadeva has given already what is Vedanta-sūtra explanation. This is Srimad-Bhagavatam. Let them read the Srimad-Bhagavatam. They will understand what is Vedanta. [break]

Pusta Krsna: Is that to say that the conclusion of the Vedanta-sutra and the conclusion of Srimad-Bhagavatam is one and the same-bhakti?

Prabhupada: Yes. Yes. Bhasyam brahma-sūtranam. This is the real commentary on the Vedanta-sūtra. And it begins with Vedanta-sutra. Janmady asya yataḥ anvayad itaratas ca [SB 1.1.1]. Find out this.

"Life's desires should never be aimed at gratifying the senses. One should desire to live only because human life enables one to inquire about the Absolute Truth."

Prabhupada: But that is the Vedanta-sūtra, athato brahma-jijnasa. Here it is same thing explained, that don't be entrapped with these temporary bodily necessities of life, sense gratification. You must inquire about the Absolute Truth. In the next verse it is explained, vadanti tat tattva-vidas tattvam yaj jnanam . Tattva. Tattva means truth. The truth is explained by the tattva-vit, one who knows the truth. How? Brahmeti paramatmeti bhagavan iti sabdyate. He is explained as Brahman, as Paramatma, and as Bhagavan. This is Vedanta-sūtra. Now one should learn what is Bhagavan, what is Brahman, what is Paramatma. In this way one should make advancement of his spiritual consciousness. That is the purpose of Vedanta-sūtra.

Pusta Krsna: Can I ask another question, Srila Prabhupada?

Prabhupada: Hmm. Yes. The Vedantists, they have come from the impersonal explanation of Sahkaracarya, Sariraka-bhasya. But they simply give stress on the Sariraka-bhasya, but there are other bhasyas. Bhasyas means commentary. And the Srimad-Bhagavatam is the natural commentary by the author himself. Besides that, there are Vedanta-bhasyas written by the Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya, Visnu Svami and all the Vaisnava acaryas. Unfortunately, they do not care to read all these Vedanta-bhasyas. They simply take Sariraka-bhasya and become impersonalist and call themselves as Vedantist.

Pusta Krsna: What is the reason for that?

Prabhupada: Reason means people do not know. They cheat. Suppose I present something, a misconception, and if there are others also who can speak something on the... There are two lawyers: one is speaking one point of law, another lawyer is speaking. So if you take one side only, then how you will understand? So they are simply reading this Sariraka-bhasya. They are not reading other bhasyas, just like the Srimad-Bhagavatam, which is natural. And they are cheating people. That's all. Why there are two lawyers? Two opposite parties, there are two lawyers. One lawyer says "This law is like this," and the other party says, "No, it is this." And the judge is there; he will take what is the real meaning. But this interpretation is required when things are not clear.

Now, the Vedanta-sūtra says, janmady asya yataḥ , clearly, that "I am the origin of everything, and everything comes from Me." So why don't you take it? Why simply you remain theoretically understood that Absolute Truth is that from which everything emanates? But when the Absolute Truth comes before you and says that "I am the origin of everything. Everything comes from Me," why don't you accept Krsna as Absolute Truth? Why do you take the so-called impersonalist view only, that God has no form? Here is God speaking, person. Why don't you take it? If you want to be cheated, then who can stop you? Here Krsna says, sarvasya caham hrdi sannivisto [Bg 15.15]. Find out this verse. Sarvasya caham hrdi sannivisto mattaḥ smrtir jnanam apohanam ca...

Hari-sauri: Vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyo...

Prabhupada: Vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyo vedanta-krd veda-vid eva caham. Read it.

Prabhupada: Vedanta-krd: "I am the compiler of Vedanta." Why these rascals do not take who compiled Vedanta? Vyasadeva is the incarnation of God. He compiled Vedanta. Why he does not take the original Vedantist? Here it is clearly stated, vedanta-krd. Read the purport.

Hari-sauri: Translation: "I am seated in everyone's heart, and from Me comes remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness. By all the Vedas am I to be known. Indeed, I am the compiler of Vedanta and I am the knower of the Vedas."

Prabhupada: So they do not go to the compiler of Vedanta. They go to a rascal. So how they will understand Vedanta? Suppose I have written this book. If you cannot understand something, if you come directly to me, that is real. Why do you go to a rascal who has nothing to do with this book? If some rascal claims that "I am Vedanti," so your discretion should... Why shall I not go to the real compiler of Vedanta? Why shall I go to a rascal? That means they are rascals. They are being cheated. Let them take to Bhagavad-gita and let them take to Srimad-Bhagavatam-they will understand Vedanta. They're real Vedantist. But these rascals, they're avoiding Bhagavad-gita and avoiding Srimad-Bhagavatam and claiming themselves as Vedantist. So if you go to a cheater you'll be cheated. That is your business. Read the purport.

Hari-sauri: "The Supreme Lord is situated as Paramatma in everyone's heart, and it is from Him that all activities are initiated. The living entity forgets everything of his past life, but he has to work according to the direction of the Supreme Lord, who is witness to all his work. Therefore he begins his work according to his past deeds. Required knowledge is supplied to him and remembrance is given to him, and he forgets also about his past life. Thus the Lord is not only all-pervading, He is also localized in every individual heart. He awards the different fruitive results. He is not only worshipable as the impersonal Brahman, the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the localized Paramatma, but as the form of the incarnation of the Vedas as well. The Vedas give the right direction to the people so that they can properly mold their lives and come back to Godhead, back to home. The Vedas offer knowledge of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Krsna, and Krsna in His incarnation as Vyasadeva is the compiler of the Vedanta-sūtra. The commentation of the Vedanta-sutra by Vyasadeva in the Srimad-Bhagavatam gives the real understanding of the Vedanta-sūtra. The Supreme Lord is so full that for the deliverance of the conditioned soul, He is the supplier and the digester of foodstuff, the witness of his activity, the giver of knowledge in the form of Vedas, and as the Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krsna, the teacher of the Bhagavad-gita, He is worshipable by the conditioned soul. Thus God is all-good, God is all-merciful. Anantaḥ pravistaḥ sasta jananam. The living entity forgets as soon as he quits his present body, but he begins his work again initiated by the Supreme Lord. Although he forgets, the Lord gives him the intelligence to renew his work where he ended his last life.

So not only does a living entity enjoy or suffer in this world according to the dictation from the Supreme Lord situated locally in the heart, but he receives the opportunity to understand Vedas from Him. If one is serious to understand the Vedic knowledge, then Krsna gives the required intelligence. Why does he present the Vedic knowledge for understanding? Because a living entity individually needs to understand Krsna. Vedic literature confirms this. Yo'sau sarvair vedair giyate. In all Vedic literature, beginning from the four Vedas, Vedanta-sūtra and the Upanisads and Puranas, the glories of the Supreme Lord are celebrated. By performing Vedic rituals, discussing the Vedic philosophy and worshiping the Lord in devotional service, He is attained. Therefore the purpose of the Vedas is to understand Krsna. The Vedas give us direction to understand Krsna and the process of understanding. The ultimate goal is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Vedanta-sūtra confirms this in the following words: tat tu samanvayat [Vedanta-sūtra 1.1.4]. One can attain perfection by understanding Vedic literature, and one can understand his relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead by performing the different processes. Thus one can approach Him and at the end attain the supreme goal, who is no other than the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In this verse, however, the purpose of the Vedas, the understanding of the Vedas and the goal of the Vedas are clearly defined."

Prabhupada: He clearly says, vedanta-krd: "I am the compiler." So why one should go to learn Vedanta from others?

Pusta Krsna: How does bhakti tie into the Vedantic..., the conclusion of Vedantic knowledge, or wisdom? He says here that bhakti is the most suitable and easiest path for God realization. This is proclaimed. But the Vedantic teachings... He says in the Vedantic teaching the stress is on jnana. Is that a fact?

Prabhupada: Jnana, what is jnana? Jnana means... That is explained in the Bhagavad-gita: bahūnam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate [Bg 7.19]. So unless one surrenders to Krsna, there is no jnana. This is all nonsense. And they're passing as jnana. There is no knowledge at all. Vedanta means the ultimate knowledge. So ultimate knowledge, the subject matter of ultimate knowledge is Krsna, God. So if one does not know who is God, who is Krsna, then where is knowledge? This is fact, the knowledge. But if a rascal claims that "I am man of knowledge," then what can be done? Knowledge is explained, that when one understands that Krsna is everything-vasudevaḥ sarvam iti sa mahatma su-durlabhaḥ [Bg 7.19]-when one understands that Vasudeva, Krsna, is everything, then that is knowledge. Before that, there is no knowledge. It is simply misunderstanding. Brahmeti paramatmeti bhagavan iti sabdyate .

One may begin with impersonal Brahman by the speculative method, or one can realize the, what is called, Paramatma, localized aspect. That is the secondary stage. The final stage is understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead Krsna. Vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyam [Bg 15.15]. That is. That is the final knowledge.

But if you do not understand Krsna, then where is your knowledge? Knowledge, half-way knowledge, is not knowledge. Complete knowledge. That complete knowledge is possible, as it is said in the Bhagavad-gita, bahūnam janmanam ante. Those who are striving to acquire knowledge, such persons, after many, many births, when actually, by the grace of God and by the grace of His devotee, he comes to the knowledge, then he agrees, "Oh, vasudevaḥ sarvam iti [Bg 7.19], everything is Krsna."

Sa mahatma, that mahatma, great soul, is very rare to be found. Sudurlabhaḥ. Durlabhaḥ means very rare to be seen, but the word is used sudurlabhaḥ, "very, very rare." So you cannot find such a mahatma who understands clearly Krsna. Manusyanam sahasresu kascid yatati siddhaye, yatatam api siddhanam kascin... [Bg 7.3]. Siddha means liberated. So one may become liberated even, that... But from that liberated position again he falls down unless he understands the Supreme Person, Krsna. Aruhya krcchrena param padam tataḥ patanty adho 'nadrta-yusmad-ahghrayaḥ [SB 10.2.32]. Unless he comes to the final understanding of the Absolute Truth, Krsna, he'll fall down.

Therefore so many Vedantists, they first of all, they give up this world, brahma satyam jagan mithya: this world is false. But again they come down and they become busy in doing some philanthropic work, opening hospitals... Why? If the world is false, why you are coming down again on this platform? That means they could not get any substance by their so-called renouncement of this world. Aruhya krcchrena, for going to that platform of siddhi, liberation, they had to undergo so much difficulties and austerities, but still, even going there... Just like these people are going to the moon planet and... Actually whether they have gone or not, that is a doubtful thing. But the thing is, why they are coming down again? That is our challenge. If you have gone to the moon planet, then colonize there. But why you have come down again and do not talk anything about? What do you think?

Brahmatirtha: Well, I couldn't say. They've been there, they say. They go there, they bring back rocks…

Prabhupada: They say; you believe. But we are common man, layman, we say that if you have gone there, why you do not live there?

Brahmatirtha: Yes, they just bring back rocks to show us, "We have rocks here."

Prabhupada: If there is rock, if there is sand, then why don't you colonize there? What is their answer? If there is same sand, same rock there, then why not... [break] ...some money and can bring some sand and bluff people that "We have gone to moon planet." And people are satisfied. They're paying for another excursion, to the Mars. This is going on. If you have gone there, there is land. If you fly in the sky and if you get a land, then you can stay there. And because you cannot stay there, you come back again. So their... The Mayavadi's position is there, aruhya krcchrena param: they merge into the impersonal Brahman, but there is no place to stay; they come down again to this material world. You may go many thousands and millions of miles in the sky, but you want to stay somewhere. But if you cannot get any place to stay, then again you come to this Moscow and New York. So our enquiry is that "If you have gone there, then why don't you stay there?" What is the answer? Hmm? Kirtanananda Maharaja?

Kirtanananda: They say the atmosphere is not suitable.

Prabhupada: Then why, rascal, you go there? [laughter] And spend so much money, rascal? You could not understand the atmosphere is not good for us, go there and spend so much money?

Brahmatirtha: They impress the people.

Prabhupada: That means they are bluffer, and they bluffing the all fools and rascals. That's all. He could not understand before going there, before spending so much money, the atmosphere is not good?

Hari-sauri: But without personal, direct experience, they...

Prabhupada: For your direct whims you have to spend so much money? The people are so befooled they do not challenge them. Yes. Everyone knows, suppose one is coming to the Western country, Europe and America, we knew it, that it is cold country, we must take proper dress. And we have come and we are staying. So this is knowledge. So if you do not know what is the atmosphere there, why do you spend so much money? And again you are going to the Mars. Are you fixed up what is the position there? Then you'll again bring something, some dust and rock. [laughter] And this business will go on at the expense of the... You can do. You have got money. You can do that. But we are Indians; we are coming from poor country. If you spend so much money for nothing, that is very..., not very palatable for us. If one tenth of the expenditure you would have given to us for spreading this Krsna consciousness movement... No. Not a single paisa they will give. And they'll spoil money for going to the moon planet and bring some dust. That's all. Kirtanananda Maharaja is struggling to construct a small residential quarter here, and he has to beg, he has to collect, he has done. Why the government does not pay? "Here so many people are living. Let them live comfortably." But they'll spend this money, millions of dollars, and to bring some dust. Is that very sane government? And people are so fool that they do not challenge the government, "Why you are spending for nothing?" They can do that. They brought back Nixon. Why not stop this unnecessary expenditure? Hmm? Kirtanananda Maharaja?

Kirtanananda: It makes perfect sense, Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: Yes. For nothing. And it is sure certainly, you can write down, their Mars going also will be failure. Let it, you take in writing. I may die. I am old man. Take it down: It will be failure. I told ten years before that "It is childish." One press reporter inquired in San Francisco, "What is your..." "No, this is childish, wasting money." The reporter came to see me in Los Angeles. He remembered that. If you want to spend for nothing like that, you can do that. You have got money.

Brahmatirtha: If you say to a politician, "Give Srila Prabhupada money..." Like I said to one man running for governor of this state, I said, "Why can't you help the community in New Vrindavan?"

Prabhupada: Oh, you said?

Brahmatirtha: He cited to me so many rules and regulations. They're not interested. They're interested in pleasing themselves. A man runs for government, his whole position to run for governor is to please himself so that he can become rich.

Prabhupada: That's it. Here, you are right. Sense gratification. Nobody wants to do anything. Nixon captured the presidential post for his own satisfaction. And when the people found that "Here is a trick," they agitated and got him down. So this is the difficulty, that andha yathandhair upaniyamanas te 'pisa-tantryam uru-damni baddhaḥ [SB 7.5.31]. We are blind, and we are being guided by blind men. So the result is catastrophe.

Pusta Krsna: Can I ask another question, Srila Prabhupada? Question number nine: "Is a guru essential to one to enter the spiritual path and attain the goal? And how does one recognize one's guru?"

Prabhupada: Yes. That is explained, that guru is necessary. In the Bhagavad-gita, when Krsna and Arjuna were talking as friend, there was no conclusion. The talking was going on, but no conclusion was made. Therefore Arjuna decided to accept Krsna as his guru. Find out this verse: karpanya-dosopahata-svabhavaḥ.

"Now I am confused about my duty and have lost all composure because of weakness. In this condition I am asking You to tell me clearly what is best for me. Now I am Your disciple and a soul surrendered unto You. Please instruct me."

Prabhupada: Yes. So therefore guru is necessary. Everyone is perplexed. Nobody can decide himself. Even a physician, a medical man, when he is sick, he does not make his own treatment. He calls for another physician because he is sick; his brain is not in order. How he can prescribe the real medicine for himself? That is natural. So similarly, when we are perplexed, bewildered, we cannot make any solution, at that time the right person, guru, is required. It is essential. You cannot avoid it. So in our present existence we are all perplexed. Arjuna is representating the perplexed position of the materialistic person. And we are actually all perplexed. So under the circumstances, to give us real direction a guru is required. Now, here is the example that Arjuna decided Krsna as guru. He did not go to anyone else to accept as guru. The explanation is there.

Hari-sauri: Purport? You want the purport?

Prabhupada: Find out: na hi prapasyami, "Without you I don't find anybody..."

"I can find no means to drive away this grief which is drying up my senses. I will not be able to destroy it even if I win an unrivalled kingdom on the earth..."

Prabhupada: No. There is another verse that "Without You I do not find anyone else who can give me real..."

Hari-sauri: [aside:] You know that one?

Pusta Krsna: No.

Pusta Krsna: The doubt when... The fallen yogi. "Who else can...?" I think so.

Hari-sauri: I'll look it up in the...

Prabhupada: In the, is the... There is... What are you finding?

Hari-sauri: I'll look it up in the Sanskrit index.

Prabhupada: What is the sloka? The sloka I do not remember exactly, but there is continuation. You read the whole thing. What is that chapter?

Hari-sauri: This is Chapter Two.

Prabhupada: Begin it.

Hari-sauri: Start at the beginning of the chapter?

Prabhupada: Um, hmm.

Hari-sauri: "Seeing Arjuna full of compassion and very sorrowful, his eyes brimming with tears, Madhusūdana, Krsna, spoke the following words."

Prabhupada: One translation of every verse, go on, read it.

Hari-sauri: "The Supreme Person Bhagavan said: My dear Arjuna, how have these impurities come upon you? They are not at all befitting a man who knows the progressive values of life. They do not lead to higher planets, but to infamy. O son of Prtha, do not yield to this degrading impotence. It does not become you. Give up such petty weakness of heart and arise, O chastiser of the enemy. Arjuna said: O killer of Madhu, Krsna, how can I counteract with arrows in battle men like Bhisma and Drona, who are worthy of my worship? It is better to live in this world by begging than to live at the cost of the lives of great souls who are my teachers. Even though they are avaricious, they are nonetheless superiors. If they are killed, our spoils will be tainted with blood. Nor do we know which is better: conquering them or being conquered by them. The sons of Dhrtarastra, whom if we killed we should not care to live, are now standing before us on this battlefield. Now I am confused about my duty and have lost all composure because of weakness. In this condition I am asking You to tell me clearly what is best for me. Now I am Your disciple and a soul surrendered unto You. Please instruct me. I can find no means to drive away this grief which is drying up my senses. I will not be able to destroy it even if I win an unrivalled kingdom on the earth with sovereignty like the demigods in heaven. Sanjaya said: Having thus spoken, Arjuna the chastiser of the enemies told Krsna, Govinda, I shall not fight, and fell silent. O descendant of Bharata, at that time, Krsna, smiling in the midst of both the armies, spoke the following words to the griefstricken Arjuna."

Prabhupada: That's all. So he has said already that "I do not find any other means to pacify me, and You are the only..." The purport is that Arjuna is accepting Krsna as guru to instruct him how to get relief from the perplexed position. So in this sense the real guru is Krsna. Krsna is guru-not only for Arjuna, for everyone. So if we take instruction from Krsna and abide by that order, instruction, then our life is successful. That is our mission. Krsna consciousness movement means accept Krsna as guru. We don't say...

[to devotees still looking up verse:]

Don't divert your attention. We don't say that "I am Krsna." We never say that. We simply ask people that "You abide by the order of Krsna." Krsna says, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg 18.66], and we say that "You surrender to Krsna. Give up all other ideas of so-called dharma or religiosity." The same thing. But we don't say that you hear me, "I am the authority." No, we don't say that. We say, "Krsna is the authority, and you try to understand Krsna." This is Krsna consciousness movement. Therefore the question is guru.

So here, from the behavior of Arjuna, we see that guru is necessary. Arjuna was talking with Krsna as friend, but Arjuna saw that "This is..., there is no good talking like this. We can continue talking... Because we are equal status. Krsna is my friend. I am also His friend. So He's answering; I am giving something. If this talking will go on, there will be no fruit." Therefore he said, "Now, Krsna, I am become Your disciple." Disciple means there is no argument. Whatever the guru will say, you have to accept. That is disciple. That is final. There is no argument. So Arjuna put him into that position, that "I cease to talk with You on equal level of friends. Now I accept You as guru." Therefore the guru is necessary, undoubtedly, because every one of us in perplexed position. But who is guru? Guru means Krsna or Krsna's representative. And all others are bogus. If one does not say on the standard of Krsna, then he's not guru; he's a bogus. In that way everyone can become guru. I have got some opinion, I can say. But unless... Just like a lawyer is he who follows the standard law. If a lawyer says that "I have manufactured own my laws," so who will hear him? And what will be the use of becoming lawyer? No. You have to follow the standard law. Then you are a lawyer. And a big lawyer means who knows the standard law very well. Similarly, guru is Krsna, and guru is necessary. But one must surrender to Krsna or Krsna's representative. Then he will be successful.

So, so far... Now, one can say that Krsna is not present. But Krsna is not present, how you can say? Krsna's instruction is there, Bhagavad-gita. How you can say that Krsna... Absolute means the Supreme Lord is not different from His words also. The words of Krsna and the Krsna, they are the same. That is Absolute Truth. In the relative world the words "water" and the substance water are different. If I am thirsty, if I simply chant "water, water, water," my thirst will not be satisfied. I require the real water. That is relative world. But in the spiritual world... Just like we are chanting Krsna, Hare Krsna. If Krsna is different from Hare Krsna, then how we are satisfied chanting whole day and night? This is the proof. The ordinary thing, if you chant "Mr. John, Mr. John," after chanting three times you'll cease. But this Hare Krsna maha-mantra, if you go on chanting twenty-four hours, you'll never be tired. This is the spiritual, Absolute Truth. That is practical. Anyone can perceive.

So Krsna's present by His words, by His representative. Why don't you take? You have to take guru. Why do you go to the pseudo guru who will mislead you? Why don't you take to the real guru? That is your mistake. Therefore you are now disappointed. Now you are in doubt whether guru is needed. Yes, guru is needed, but you go to the real guru. That is instruction in the Bhagavad-gita. Just find out this verse:

Pusta Krsna: "Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth."

Prabhupada: So this is guru. What is that? One who has seen the truth.

Pusta Krsna: Yes. Jnaninas tattva-darsinaḥ.

Prabhupada: So one who has seen... Just like Arjuna has seen Krsna. That's a fact. He was talking. Now that if you take instruction of Arjuna, then you understand. So what is the instruction of Arjuna? Find out in the Tenth Chapter.

"Arjuna said: You are the Supreme Brahman, the ultimate, the supreme abode and purifier."

Prabhupada: And that Vedanta-sūtra says, athato brahma jijnasaḥ. Now here Arjuna is experienced, "You are the Supreme Brahman." So he has seen the Supreme Brahman. So you make Arjuna guru, Krsna guru. Arjuna is representative of Krsna, friend of Krsna. So why do you go to a bogus guru? You must be cheated. Guru is essential. It is necessary. But take the real guru. But if you go to the bogus guru, you must be disappointed. For your treatment you need to go to a physician. That's all. When you are diseased you cannot say, "No, no, I don't want to..." It is necessary. But go to the real physician. Don't go to a cheater. He has no knowledge in the medical science, and he places himself as "I am physician, M.D," then you'll be cheated. The guru is necessary, that's a fact. But go to the real guru. Who is real guru? Real guru is Krsna or one who has seen Krsna, Arjuna. Take them. Then you'll be benefitted. And if you go to a bogus man who does not know Krsna, who does not know what is Krsna's instruction, then you must be cheated. So the answer is guru is absolutely necessary. Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet [Munḍaka Upanisad 1.2.12].

This is Vedic injunction, that one must go. But he must go to the real guru. And who is real guru? Who knows Krsna. Take, for example, Arjuna, how he studied Krsna. And he says, param brahma param dhama [Bg 10.12]. Read the translation.

Pusta Krsna: "Arjuna said: You are the Supreme Brahman, the ultimate, the supreme abode and purifier, the Absolute Truth and the eternal divine person. You are the primal God, transcendental and original, and You are the unborn and all-pervading beauty. All the great sages such as Narada, Asita, Devala and Vyasa proclaim this of You, and now You Yourself are declaring it to me."

Prabhupada: Arjuna is rectifying this because people may say, "Arjuna was Krsna's friend, he is accepting Him as guru." No, Arjuna says, "Not only I, but other authorities, they also accept." So it is..., everything is clear, that Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and He should be accepted as guru or His representative should be accepted guru. Then it will be... So our this Krsna consciousness movement is that we are presenting Krsna as the supreme guru. You take instruction from Him and be benefited. But one who is carrying this message, he is also authorized. Just like one money order, it is coming through the post office, but an ordinary peon is handing over the money order. But he is representative of post office. Actually, the money order is being delivered by the post office, general post office. But it is coming through an ordinary peon. But because he is authorized to deliver you, he is also a representative. He's as good as the post office. Just you have got a letter box, a small box, but if you put your letter there, your letter will surely go ten thousand miles away. Therefore, although it is a small box, you don't think it is small box; it is whole post office. Similarly, anyone who is carrying the message of Krsna, don't think that he's ordinary man. If you imitate one box like that post box and put your letter, for thousand years it will lie down there, because it is not authorized. So if somebody says this small box, red box, is as good as the post office, one may say, "Huh, this is small box. How it can be as good as the post office?" But you see. You post your letter, it will go. Therefore, saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair uktas tatha bhavyata eva sadbhiḥ. [Sri Gurvastaka 7] Guru is directly the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Why? Because he is presenting the words of Supreme Personality of Godhead without any deterioration. Therefore he is so honored. So therefore the conclusion is guru is necessary, and guru is he who is representative of Krsna. Otherwise he's bogus.

Pusta Krsna: What about these so-called gurus that take a little bit here and a little bit there?

Prabhupada: So-called gurus. They are so-called gurus. They are not gurus. That is already explained. If one does not speak what Krsna speaks, he is not guru. If you accept so-called guru, that is your misfortune. What can be done?

Pusta Krsna: Some of them will say some things that Krsna says, but they'll take from other places also. What is the position of such persons?

Prabhupada: He's most dangerous. He's most dangerous. He is opportunist. He's finding out customer, something here... According to the customer he is giving something, as the customers will be pleased. So he is not guru; he's a servant. He wants to serve the so-called disciples so that he may be satisfied and pay him something. He's servant. He's not guru. Guru is the master. You cannot disobey guru. But if you become a servant, you want to please the disciple by flattering him to get his money, then you are not guru, you are servant. Just like a servant pleases the master. He's not guru; he's servant. So our position should be servant, yes, but servant of the Supreme. So guru means heavy. You cannot utilize him for satisfying your whims. That is not guru.

[pause]

Prabhupada: So? What other question?

Pusta Krsna: It's about eight o'clock, Srila Prabhupada. Should we go on?

Prabhupada: No. Tomorrow.

Pusta Krsna: Tomorrow evening. [devotees offer obeisances] [break]