Uddhavadāsa Adhikārī

484 of Caitanya Era, month of Hrsikesa

It becomes the activity of the materialistic person to follow the precepts of another person who he views to be more elevated in knowledge. However, we must consider: What is knowledge, and how can we recognize one who has knowledge? Many types of knowledge exist. There is knowledge of mechanics, letters, bodies, locations, sequences, positions, thoughts, activities, and countless other categories. But all this knowledge of various descriptions either collectively or individually, cannot solve one very important enigma: Death. All knowledge thus far discovered or invented by materialistic society has not been able to save one of its citizens from the clutches of inevitable death. Doctors have not been able to cut the death out of the liveliest of bodies. Politicians have had no success in spreading eternity in their minute domains. Philosophers, endlessly speculating, cannot think up the magic formula whereby this material body will endure. So the highest form of knowledge would be that which would save one from death. This is known as spiritual science. Obviously the entities of this world have no knowledge of spiritual science because the problem of death still remains. Therefore we may agree that these living entities are fallible. One who has perfect knowledge would know how to save himself and others from death. According to Lord Sri Krsna, such a person exists, and we should accept such a person as our beloved spiritual master. Lord Sri Krsna furthermore indicates how to recognize the bona fide spiritual master. Bahūnam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyante: When one is perfect in knowledge, he surrenders unto Krsna. So we can understand that one who has surrendered unto Krsna, that is, one who is constantly remembering Him, glorifying Him, serving Him, or teaching about Him, is a man of perfect knowledge-infallible. By the declarations of Krsna it is to be understood that one who is surrendered unto Him is not to be considered a material person, but completely spiritual, and we should accept his authority to become perfectly knowledgeable. If we desire to know who our father is, we must accept the authority of our mother, and if our mother is pure she can inform us properly. Likewise, if we desire to know Krsna we must accept the authority of a pure devotee of Krsna. The true servant of Krsna tries to engage every living entity he encounters in the service of Krsna either by will, by force, or by slight of tongue, and the true disciple accepts the engagements of the spiritual master as the only purport of his life. His prayer then becomes, "My dear beloved spiritual master, please force me, who am so unwilling, to forsake my pilgrimage to maya and to return home by your feet where I belong." I actually thought that I was worthy to serve you and that you would be pleased with my wonderful activities, and glorifying myself in this way I forgot the purpose of life, to glorify the spiritual master. You forced me to rectify this blunder and now my only hope is that you allow me to always glorify your sacred name.

The most worthless Uddhava dasa Adhikari, servant of the most qualified His Divine Loving Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

(ISKCON Boston)