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One who is engaged in devotional service has not the least fear in material existence. This is because the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the Supersoul and friend of everyone. One who knows this secret is actually educated, and one thus educated can become the spiritual master of the world. One who is an actually bona fide spiritual master, representative of Krsna, is not different from Krsna.
(More...) Bhagavata-dharma and krsna-katha are identical. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted everyone to become a guru and preach the instructions of Krsna everywhere from Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, the Puranas, Vedanta-sutra and similar Vedic literatures. Aryans, who are advanced in civilization, follow bhagavata-dharma. Prahlada Maharaja, although merely a child of five years, recommended:
(More...) The Lord says in Bhagavad-gita (18.55), bhaktya mam abhijanati yavan yas casmi tattvatah: "One can understand the Supreme Personality as He is only by devotional service." Prahlada Maharaja ultimately instructed his class friends, the sons of the demons, to accept the process of devotional service by preaching the science of Krsna consciousness to everyone. Preaching is the best service to the Lord. The Lord will immediately be extremely satisfied with one who engages in this service of preaching Krsna consciousness. This is confirmed by the Lord Himself in Bhagavad-gita (18.69). Na ca tasman manusyesu kascin me priya-krttamah: "There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear." If one sincerely tries his best to spread Krsna consciousness by preaching the glories of the Lord and His supremacy, even if he is imperfectly educated, he becomes the dearmost servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is bhakti. As one performs this service for humanity, without discrimination between friends and enemies, the Lord becomes satisfied, and the mission of one's life is fulfiled. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu therefore advised everyone to become a guru-devotee and preach Krsna consciousness (yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa). That is the easiest way to realize the Supreme Personality of Godhead. By such preaching, the preacher becomes satisfied, and those to whom he preaches are also satisfied. This is the process of bringing peace and tranquility to the entire world.
(More...) If one becomes a guru, he is automatically a brahmana. Sometimes a caste guru says that ye krsna-tattva-vetta, sei guru haya means that one who is not a brahmana may become a siksa-guru or a vartma-pradarsaka-guru but not an initiator guru. According to such caste gurus, birth and family ties are considered foremost. However, the hereditary consideration is not acceptable to Vaisnavas. The word guru is equally applicable to the vartma-pradarsaka-guru, siksa-guru and diksa-guru. Unless we accept the principle enunciated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, this Krsna consciousness movement cannot spread all over the world. According to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's intentions: prthivite ache yata nagaradi-grama sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's cult must be preached all over the world. This does not mean that people should take to His teachings and remain sudras or candalas. As soon as one is trained as a pure Vaisnava, he must be accepted as a bona fide brahmana. This is the essence of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's instructions in this verse.
(More...) There are different kinds of men, beginning with the brahmana and going down to the lowest platform known as candala. Whatever one's position, everyone in this age of Kali needs to be enlightened in Krsna consciousness. That is the greatest need of the day. Everyone is acutely feeling the pangs of material existence. Even in the ranks and files of the American Senate, the pinpricks of material existence are felt, so much so that April 30, 1974, was actually set aside as Prayer Day. Thus everyone is feeling the resultant pinpricks of Kali-yuga brought about by human society's indulging in illicit sex, meat-eating, gambling and intoxication. Now is the time for the members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness to distribute krsna-bhakti all over the world and thus follow the orders of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The Lord has ordered everyone to become a guru (Cc. Madhya 7.128): amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa. Everyone in every town and village should be enlightened by the instructions of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Krsna consciousness should be distributed to everyone indiscriminately. In this way, the entire world will be peaceful and happy, and everyone will glorify Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, as He desires.
(More...) It is Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's wish that everyone should become a Vaisnava and guru. Following the instructions of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His disciplic succession, one can become a spiritual master, for the process is very easy. One can go everywhere and anywhere to preach the instructions of Krsna. Bhagavad-gita is Krsna's instructions; therefore the duty of every Vaisnava is to travel and preach Bhagavad-gita, either in his country or a foreign country. This is the test of sparsa-mani, following in the footsteps of Narada Muni.
(More...) Whatever he may be, whatever position He may have, if a person is fully conversant with the science of Krishna, Krishna Consciousness, he can become a bona fide Spiritual Master, initiator, or teacher of the science. In other words, the capability of becoming a bona fide Spiritual Master depends on his sufficient knowledge of the science of Krishna, Krishna Consciousness; it does not depend on a particular position in society or of birth. This conclusion of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is not against the Vedic injunction. On the strength of this conclusion, Lord Chaitanya, previously known as Viswambhar, accepted a Spiritual Master, Iswara Puri, who was a sannyasi. Similarly, Lord Nityananda Prabhu also accepted as his Spiritual Master Madavendra Puri, another sannyasi. This Madhavendra Puri is also known as Laksmipati Tirtha. Sri Adwaita Acharya also accepted this Madhavendra Puri as his Spiritual Master. Similarly, another great Acharya, Sri Rasikananda, accepted as his Spiritual Master Sri Shymananda, who was not born of a Brahmin family. So also Ganganarayana-chakravarty accepted as his Spiritual Master Das Gadadhar. In ancient days there was a hunter whose name was Dharma. He also became the Spiritual Master of many persons. There are plain instructions in Mahabharata and Srimad Bhagwatam (Seventh Canto, 11th Chapter [32]) in which it is stated that a person should be accepted-either a Brahmin or a Kshatriya or a Vaishya or a Sudra-by his personal qualification, and not by birth.
(More...) This whole confused world is just like a blazing forest fire. In a forest fire all the animals are confused. They do not know where to go to save their lives. In the blazing fire of the material world, everyone is confused. How can that blazing forest fire be extinguished? It is not possible to utilize your man-made fire brigade, nor is it possible to simply pour buckets of water. The solution comes when rain from the clouds falls on the forest fire. Only then can the fire be extinguished. That ability is not in your hands, but is in the mercy of God. So, human society is in a confused state, and it cannot find a solution. The spiritual master is one who has received the mercy of God, and he can deliver the solution to the confused man. One who has received the mercy of God can become a spiritual master and deliver that mercy to others.
(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...) It doesn't matter whether one is a brahmana, kiba vipra; kiba sudra, or one is sudra; 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 janah [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 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...) 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...) "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...) Unfortunately, we do not wish to carry out order of the acaryas. We manufacture our own ways. We have got practical experience how a great institution was lost by whimsical ways. Without carrying out the order of the spiritual master they manufactured something, and the whole thing was lost. Therefore Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura stresses very much on the words of the spiritual master. Vyavasayatmika buddhir ekeha kuru-nandana [Bg 2.41]. If you stick to the order of spiritual master, then, without caring for your own convenience or inconvenience, then you become perfect.
(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...) 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 sudra, nyasi kene naya. He may be a brahmana, he may be a sudra, 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...) "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 sudra 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 sudra. 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 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-bhumite 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...) "You become guru simply by advising everyone the instruction which Krsna has given." That's all. You become guru. It is not at all difficult thing. But if you want to cheat others that you are Bhagavan, you are this and that, you are yogi, you are very powerful, and "I am God," then you will cheat, because you are neither God; you are less than a dog. You are falsely claiming that you are God. That is not your position. You are servant of God, that is your position. That is real jnana. Therefore Krsna..., er, Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that don't talk all nonsense thing. Simply say the real thing.
(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-suddhih. 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 prakasah sarvasya yoga-maya [Bg 7.25]. You will be simply covered by yoga-maya. This is not possible. Bhakti means surrender.
(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 viprah. 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...) Yei krsna-tattva-vetta: "Anyone who knows the science of Krsna, he becomes a guru." So every one of you can become guru, provided you understand the science of Krsna. The science of Krsna... [aside:] Who is spreading leg like that? He can sit back side. This is not the way. Science of Krsna..., first of all one must know what is Krsna. That is being explained by Krsna Himself in the Bhagavad-gita, and when he understands what is Krsna, then he can hear further about Krsna. The books are there, Srimad-Bhagavatam and Nectar of Devotion, Teachings of Lord Caitanya-all we are teaching the science of Krsna. So here also Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, yei krsna-tattva-vetta, sei 'guru' haya [Cc Madhya 8.128]: "Anyone who knows the science of Krsna, he can become guru." That is our mission. That is not my mission; that is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission. So it doesn't matter you Europeans, Americans, although not born in brahmana family. It doesn't matter. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's approval. If you try to understand the science of Krsna, then, and if you behave properly, you can teach about Krsna all over your country, all over the world. That is my mission. And that is approved by Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Try to understand the science of Krsna. Then you will be able to preach nicely, and people will be benefited.
(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 guruh. 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...) 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...) 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 we got this information from His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, and that knowledge is still going on. You are receiving through his servant. And in future the same knowledge will go to your students. This is called parampara system. Evam parampara prap... It is not that you have become a student and you'll remain student. No. One day you shall become also guru and make more students, more students, more. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission, not that perpetually... Yes, one should remain perpetually a student, but he has to act as guru. That is the mission of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. It is not that because I am acting as guru, I am no longer student. No, I am still student. Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught us this instruction that we shall always remain a foolish student before our Guru Maharaja. That is the Vedic culture. I may be very big man, but still, I should remain a foolish student to my guru. That is the qualification. Guru more murkha dekhi' karila sasana . We should be always prepared to be controlled by the guru. That is very good qualification. Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah. Ara na kariha mane asa. So we should become always a very obedient student to our guru. That is the qualification. That is the spiritual qualification.
(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...) Regarding the controversy that is going on there in Stockholm, what is the reason. This must be considered at a full meeting of the GBC. You may suggest a way to mitigate this difficulty and if it is not accepted, then both of them should resign. I know that Hansadutta is very expert in selling books but books are not only for selling but also for reading. Now has the GBC become more than Guru Maharaja? As if simply GBC is meant for looking after pounds, shilling, pence. The GBC does not look after spiritual life. That is a defect. All of our students will have to become guru, but they are not qualified. This is the difficulty. I hope this meets you in good health. Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 21 November, 1975. Every student is expected to become Acarya. Acarya means one who knows the scriptural injunctions and follows them practically in life, and teaches them to his disciples. I have given you sannyasa with the great hope that in my absence you will preach the cult thruout the world and thus become recognized by Krishna as the most sincere servant of the Lord. So I'm very pleased that you have not deviated from the principles I have taught, and thus with power of attorney go on preaching Krishna consciousness, that will make me very happy as it is confirmed in the Guru vastakam yasya prasadat bhagavata prasadah just by satisfying your Spiritual Master who is accepted as the bona fide representative of the Lord you satisfy Krishna immediately without any doubt.
(More...) Keep trained up very rigidly and then you are bona fide Guru, and you can accept disciples on the same principle. But as a matter of etiquette it is the custom that during the lifetime of your Spiritual master you bring the prospective disciples to him, and in his absence or disappearance you can accept disciples without any limitation. This is the law of disciplic succession. I want to see my disciples become bona fide Spiritual Master and spread Krishna consciousness very widely, that will make me and Krishna very happy. I hope this letter finds you well, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated December 7, 1975. I am very please to note your activities in Warsaw Poland. Yes if you can arrange for the translation of my books in Polish language that will please me very much. We do not have to manufacture anything new. We are getting perfect knowledge from krishna through the disciplic succession, so our position is very firm. Whatever we hear from the bona fide spiritual master should be practiced in life and the same message delivered to whomever we meet. In this way you become spiritual master.
(More...) Krsna says, mattah parataram nanyat kincid asti dhananjaya [Bg 7.7]: there is no more superior truth above. Truly speaking, that "Here is Bhagavan, Krsna. There is no more superior person or authority than Krsna." So what is our difficulty? We are exactly repeating the statement in the Bhagavad-gita. Krsna says, mattah parataram nanyat [Bg 7.7]. We are saying the same thing. Krsna said, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg 18.66]. We are asking these people, "Just surrender to Krsna."
(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-lidha-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...) "One who cannot deliver his dependents from the path of repeated birth and death should never become a spiritual master, a father, a husband, a mother or a worshipable demigod.
(More...) "Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion-at that time I descend Myself." (Bg. 4.7) The Lord is always ready to help the fallen souls, but because they are fools and rascals, they do not take to Krsna consciousness and abide by the instructions of Krsna. Therefore although Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is personally the Supreme Lord, Krsna, He comes as a devotee to preach the Krsna consciousness movement. Yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa. One must therefore become a sincere servant of Krsna. Amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa (Cc. Madhya 7.128). One should become a guru and spread Krsna consciousness all over the world, simply by preaching the teachings of Bhagavad-gita.
(More...) "Let me take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna, who has descended in the form of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu to teach us real knowledge, His devotional service, and detachment from whatever does not foster Krsna consciousness. He has descended because He is an ocean of transcendental mercy. Let me surrender unto His lotus feet." (Caitanya-candrodaya-nataka 6.74) In this age of Kali, people cannot follow the instructions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and therefore the Lord Himself takes the part of Sri Krsna Caitanya to teach personally how to become Krsna conscious. He asks everyone to follow Him and to become a guru to deliver the fallen souls of Kali-yuga.
(More...) "Whether one is a brahmana, a sannyasi or a sudra-regardless of what he is-he can become a spiritual master if he knows the science of Krsna." (Cc. Madhya 8.128) Anyone completely aware of the science of Krsna, regardless of his status in life, is a guru. Thus Prahlada Maharaja is a guru in all circumstances.
(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 saṅkirtana 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...) Anyone from any part of the world who becomes well conversant in the science of Krsna becomes a pure devotee and a spiritual master for the general mass of people and may reclaim them by purification of heart. According to the cult of devotion, generally known as the Vaisnava cult, there is no bar for anyone to advance in the matter of God realization. A Vaisnava is powerful enough to turn into a Vaisnava even the Kirata, etc., as above mentioned. In the Bhagavad-gita also it is said by the Lord (Bg. 9.32) that there is no bar to becoming a devotee of the Lord (even for those who are low-born, or women, sudras or vaisyas), and by becoming a devotee everyone is eligible to return home, back to Godhead. The only qualification is that one take shelter of a pure devotee of the Lord who has thorough knowledge in the transcendental science of Krsna (Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam). Anyone from any part of the world who becomes well conversant in the science of Krsna becomes a pure devotee and a spiritual master for the general mass of people and may reclaim them by purification of heart. A person, though he be even the most sinful man, can at once be purified by systematic contact with a pure Vaisnava. A Vaisnava, therefore, can accept a bona fide disciple from any part of the world without any consideration of caste and creed and promote him by regulative principles to the status of a pure Vaisnava who is transcendental to brahminical culture. The system of caste, or varnasrama-dharma, is no longer regular even amongst the so-called followers of the system. Nor is it now possible to reestablish the institutional function in the present context of social, political and economic revolution. Without any reference to the particular custom of a country, one can be accepted to the Vaisnava cult spiritually, and there is no hindrance in the transcendental process. So by the order of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the cult of Srimad-Bhagavatam or the Bhagavad-gita can be preached all over the world, reclaiming all persons willing to accept the transcendental cult. Such cultural propaganda by the devotees will certainly be accepted by all persons who are reasonable and inquisitive, without any particular bias for the custom of the country. The Vaisnava never accepts another Vaisnava on the basis of birthright, just as he never thinks of the Deity of the Lord in a temple as idol worship. And to remove all doubts in this connection, Srila Sukadeva Gosvami has invoked the blessings of the Lord, who is all-powerful (prabhavisnave namah). As the all-powerful Lord accepts the humble service of His devotee in devotional activities of the arcana, His form as the worshipable Deity in the temple, similarly the body of a pure Vaisnava changes transcendentally at once by giving himself up to the service of the Lord and training by a qualified Vaisnava. The injunction of Vaisnava regulation in this connection runs as follows: (arcye visnau siladhir gurusu nara-matir vaisnave jati-buddhih sri-visnor namni sabda-samanya-buddhih, etc) "One should not consider the Deity of the Lord as worshiped in the temple to be an idol, nor should one consider the authorized spiritual master as an ordinary man. Nor should one consider a pure Vaisnava to belong to a particular caste, etc."
(More...) One who is conversant with Vedic wisdom is a brahmana. And only a brahmana who is a pure Vaisnava and knows all the intricacies of the science of Krsna can become a spiritual master. A real brahmana is the natural teacher or spiritual master. Unless one has Vedic knowledge, one cannot become a spiritual master. The perfect knowledge of the Vedas is to know the Lord, the Personality of Godhead, and that is the end of Vedic knowledge, or Vedanta. One who is situated in the impersonal Brahman and has no information of the Supreme Personality of Godhead may become a brahmana, but he cannot become a spiritual master. It is said: sat-karma-nipuno vipro mantra-tantra-visaradah, avaisnava guru asat sat sva-paco vaisnava guruh. An impersonalist can become a qualified brahmana, but he cannot become a spiritual master unless and until he is promoted to the stage of a Vaisnava, or a devotee of the Personality of Godhead. Lord Caitanya, the great authority of Vedic wisdom in the modern age, stated:
(More...) A person may be a brahmana or a sudra or a sannyasi, but if he happens to be well versed in the science of Krsna, then he is fit to become a spiritual master. [Madhya 8.128] The qualification, then, of a spiritual master is not to be a qualified brahmana, but to be well versed in the science of Krsna.
(More...) One who is conversant with Vedic wisdom is a brahmana. And only a brahmana who is a pure Vaisnava and knows all the intricacies of the science of Krsna can become a spiritual master.
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