The Words of the Spiritual Master

Ananda dd, UK:
“Believing in the words of His Spiritual Master, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu introduced the Sankirtana movement, just as the present Krishna Consciousness movement was started with belief in the words of our Spiritual Master. He wanted to preach, we believed in his words and tried somehow or other to fulfill them, and now this movement has become successful all over the world. Therefore faith in the words of the Spiritual Master and the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the secret of success. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu never disobeyed the orders of His Spiritual Master and stopped propagating the Sankirtana movement.
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami, at the time of his passing away, ordered all his disciples to work conjointly to preach the message of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu all over the world. Later, however, some self-interested, foolish disciples disobeyed his orders. Each one wanted to become head of the mission, and they fought in the courts, neglecting the orders of their Spiritual Master, and the entire mission was defeated. We are not proud of this, however the truth must be explained. We believed in the words of our Spiritual Master and started in a humble way-in a helpless way – but due to the spiritual force of the Supreme Authority, this movement has become successful.”
Cc Adi 7.95-96 (Adi-lila 2.77)

From the Chaitanya Charitamrita written and presented by Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, Srila Prabhupada.

When Srila Prabhupada was physically present (vapuh) he was able to write these transcendental books for the purpose of propagating the Sankirtana movement of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Srila Prabhupada’s success was based on his faith of the words of his Spiritual Master. He points out clearly that his Spiritual Master’s mission was defeated by the disciples who did not carry out the orders of the Spiritual Master and more over, Srila Prabhupada clearly explains that he is not proud of this but the truth must be explained.
When a faithful disciple of the Spiritual Master explains these problems in a spiritual movement they are for our consideration.These activities of self-interested, foolish disciples can be repeated and we must be aware of these problems and Srila Prabhupada gives us ideas on how to circumvent these problems.
In Iskcon, Srila Prabhupada’s mission, we have mirrored the same problems, perhaps even more grossly than before, and the Iskcon mission has been defeated by these type of disciples.
“Instruct everyone to follow the orders of Lord Krishna as they are given in Bhagavad-Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam. In this way become a spiritual master and try to liberate everyone in this land.”
Cc Madhya Lila 7.128.
Srila Prabhupada writes thus, “Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhus advised His followers to increase the numbers of Vaisnavas..It is Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s wish that everyone should become a Vaisnava and guru.

Following the instructions of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and His disciplic succession, one can become a spiritual master, for the process is very easy.One can go anywhere and everywhere to preach the instructions of Krishna. Bhagavad-Gita is the instructions of Krishna; therefore the duty of every Vaisnava is to travel and preach Bhagavad-Gita, either in this country or a foreign country.”
Cc Madya 24.277.
“A devotee must carry out the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said, “yare dekha, tare kaha ‘krsna-upadesa.” Every devotee, therefore, should spread Krishna Consciousness by preaching……..”
S.Bhag 9.11.25.
The instruction here concerning everyone becoming a spiritual master is clear. The instruction refers plainly to everyone.

Everyone should become a guru and spread the mission by preaching. This is not an instruction for everyone or anyone to be a Diksa Guru, there is no mention of initiating to spread the mission but by preaching.
“Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura said that the position of a Vaisnava can be tested by seeing how good a touchstone he is – that is by seeing how many Vaisnavas he has made during his life. A Vaisnava should be a touchstone so that he can convert others to Vaisnavaism by his preaching, even though people may be fallen like the hunter. There are many so called advanced devotees who sit in a secluded place for their personal benefit.

They do not go out to preach and convert others into Vaisnavas, and therefore they cannot be called sparsa-mani, advanced devotees. Kanistha-adhikari devotees cannot turn others into Vaisnavas, but a Madhyama-adhikari Vaisnava can do so by preaching.”
Cc Madhya 24.277.
“One should not become a Spiritual Master unless he has attained the platform of Uttama-Adhikari. A neophyte (Kanistha) or a Vaisnava situated on the intermediate platform (Madhyama) can also accept disciples, but such disciples must be on the same platform, and it should be understood that they cannot advance very well toward the ultimate goal of life under his insufficient guidance.Therefore a disciple should be careful to accept an Uttama-Adhikari as a Spiritual Master.”
Nectar of Instruction, Text 5 purport,P 58.
It becomes self-evident in the conclusive analysis where the leaders and devotees of Iskcon have not followed the orders of Srila Prabhupada, our Spiritual Master, otherwise Iskcon would be even more successful than in 1977. Srila Prabhupada said the proof of success is in following the orders of the Spiritual Master, his words.
The downhill trend of Iskcon can be traced from 1977, when Srila Prabhupada passed away.There is no debate on this matter. All outside and inside commentators on Iskcon independantly point to the same time of 1977. The scene was already set by those devotees intent on not following the Spiritual Master’s orders by setting up their own system of initiation, continuing the disciplic succession and dividing the Spiritual Master’s assets for themselves.
Clearly in the previous evidence the Spiritual Master is of Uttama-Adhikari status and qualification. The Kanistha-Adhikaris are unable to make Vaisnava what to speak of transsmission of the process of Diksa, as defined by Srila Jiva Goswami and reproduced by Srila Prabhupada in CC Madhya 4.111 and at 15.108. The Madhyama-Adhikari can accept other Madhyama-Adhikari disciples by his ability to preach and convert them to Vaisnavas. But there is no indication that Madhyama-Adhikaris are qualified to initiate disciples and be able to transmit the process of Diksa. The words used in NOI, Text 5 are, that the Madhyama-Adhikari Vaisnavas can accept disciple not initiate disciple.
Which takes us to the words of instruction concerning the platform that disciples can accept the Spiritual Master on, this is Uttama-Adhikari only.
“The guru, Spiritual Master must be situated on the topmost platform of devotional service. There are three classes of devotees (Kanistha, Madhyama and Uttama.), and the guru, Spiritual Master must be accepted from the topmost class.”
CC Madhya-lila 24.330.
“The result is now everyone is claiming to be acharya even though they may be Kanishta adhikari with no ability to preach. In some camps the acharya is being changed three times a year.

Therefore we may not commit the same mistake in our Iskcon. Actually amongst my godbrothers no-one is qualified to become acharya.”
Letter to Rupanuga Prabhu, 74-4-52.
The same practice of Kanistha-adhikaris is simply recognised by Srila Prabhupada in the Gaudiya Matha. This is the nature of Kanistha. The devotees in Iskcon that also practiced being Acharya within Iskcon were also just Kanistha-Adhikari behaviour. This behaviour is self-evident. But for our recognition Srila Prabhupada pointed this out in a letter to Rupanuga Prabhu. History and hindsight has proved this to be accurate and truthful.The original 11 that usurped Iskcon and changed the path that Srila Prabhupada had put Iskcon on have all behaved and qualified themselves in the category of Kanishta. The illusion that any of these 11 had converted people to Vaisnavas was through Srila Prabhupada’s Books and not directly their own work.
This dual tiered system continues today in a similar fashion. The
GBC have voted in many Vaisnavas as Diksa Gurus but their quality is also Kanistha with no ability to convert. What continues to prevail is Srila Prabhupada’s Books preaching to convert Vaisnavas. The actual Gurus only confuse us with their continual contradictions, rhetoric, and extreme behaviour.
Therefore the faith in the words of our Spiritual Master is minimal and this is the evidence that Iskcon is diminished today. The secret of success is in the words of the Spiritual Master as exemplified by Srila Prabhupada. The words is where it begins and the following of the words is where it ends for the disciple.

Anything else is just a compromise. And thats exactly what we see all the time in Iskcon. When we try to “understand” and question the authority of the Spiritual Master then it all comes crashing down around us. When we get Kanisthas trying to imitate and lead us, the mission becomes spoilt. Our mentality is, we know better than the Spiritual Master so we interprete what he means. The words become lost, twisted and changed and the potency is reduced.
“The members of Iskcon must always remember that if they stick to the regulative principles (4) and preach sincerely according to the instructions of the acharyas, surely they will have the profound blessings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and their preaching work will be successful everywhere throughout the world.”
Cc Adi 7.171.
“Unless one is empowered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, one cannot spread the Holy Names of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra throughout the world. Persons who do so are empowered. Therefore they are sometimes called Avesha-avatars or incarnations, for they are endowed with the power of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.”
Cc Antya 2.13-14.
“The symptoms of a Sadhu are that he is tolerant, merciful and friendly to all living entities. He has no enemies, he is peaceful, he abides by the scripture, and all his characteristics are sublime.”
S.Bhagavatam, 3.25.21.Please read Srila Prabhupadas purport. Here we have the real qualities of the Sadhu, saintly person, not the ones espoused by the Gbc/Gurus of Iskcon. There is no abuse in a Sadhu.  No exploitation,  no contradictions, no changing the philosophy to suit themselves, no sexual abuse of women, children and men.The Spiritual Master, the Guru, are exemplary in nature and behaviour and Srila Prabhupada describes the real qualities in this purport so we can recognise positively the real Sadhus and the real Spiritual Master, his characteristics are sublime.
Srila Prabhupada wins hands down every time. The sincere followers in Iskcon just have to read Srila Prabhupadas Books constantly for us to be reminded of the real nature and characteristics of the Sadhu and Spiritual Master. Srila Prabhupada brings together the Spiritual Master, the Sadhu and the scriptures for us to make appropriate evaluations. For us neophyte devotees coming from such low-class backgrounds in a capitalistic, exploitative animal slaughtering background our sensitivities become minimised at best. We are de-sensitized souls. All we have to raise our consciousness are the words emanating from the mouth of our merciful Spiritual Master, Srila Prabhupada, what else is there?

Comments

  1. Mahesh Raja says:

    Ananda dd, UK: GBC have voted in many Vaisnavas as Diksa Gurus but their quality is also Kanistha with no ability to convert.

    Mahesh: they are NOT Vaisnavas. Neither are they even on Kanistha level. They are JUST A GANG OF MANIPULATIVE SLAVERY MAKING MONEY SCREWING UNHOLY BUNCH OF CROOKS.
    Kanistha is actually a Brahmana and the Brahmana QUALIFICATION is TRUTHFUL. They are DISHONEST DEMONS(ASURAS) – they are NOT EVEN on Kanistha stage. Please read below:

    Brahmana (Kanistha Adhikari)

    SB 1.2.17 T Divinity and Divine Service

    srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah
    punya-sravana-kirtanah
    hrdy antah stho hy abhadrani
    vidhunoti suhrt satam

    Sri Krsna, the Personality of Godhead, who is the Paramatma [Supersoul] in everyone’s heart and the benefactor of the TRUTHFUL devotee, cleanses desire for material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who has developed the urge to hear His messages, which are in themselves virtuous when properly heard and chanted.

    Nectar of Instruction 5:

    The kanistha-adhikari is a neophyte who has received the hari-nama initiation from the spiritual master and is trying to chant the holy name of Krsna. One should respect such a person within his mind as a kanistha-vaisnava. A madhyama-adhikari has received spiritual initiation from the spiritual master and has been fully engaged by him in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.

    Note: Kanistha adhikari is QUALIFIED BRAHMANA. Even such a person is TRYING to chant so when we speak of actually chanting and Krishna dancing on our tongues is on the Vaisnava platform. This means first we have to ACQUIRE brahminical QUALITIES then advance to Madhyama adhikari stage – OFFENSELESS chanting.

    770214r2.may Conversations

    Prabhupada: Kanistha-adhikari means he must be a brahmana. That is kanistha-adhikari. The spiritual life, kanistha-adhikari, means he must be a QUALIFIED brahmana. That is kanistha. What is esteemed as very high position in the material world, brahmana, that is kanistha-adhikari.

    arcayam eva haraye
    pujam yah sraddhayehate
    na tad-bhaktesu canyesu
    sa bhaktah prakrtah smrtah

    The brahmana means from the material stage gradually he is elevated to the spiritual stage. AND BELOW THE BRAHMANA THERE IS NO QUESTION OF VAISNAVA.

    760206mw.may Conversations

    Dayananda: Even the jnanis and yogis become…
    Prabhupada: What is these jnanis? They are also another rascal, another edition of rascals. Bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate. Therefore so-called jnanis, after many, many births’ practical realization, they surrender to Krsna. Vasudevah sarvam iti sa mahatma. Then he understands that Krsna is everything. But such great person is very, very rare. Sa mahatma sudurlabhah, very, very rare.
    Dayananda: But what about the persons who may be a little bit devoted but who have not achieved that unalloyed devotion?
    Prabhupada: Kanistha-adhikari. They are not devotees, but they are called bhaktabhasa. There is some signs of bhakti. Actually they are not bhakta. Bhaktabhasa. Abhasa. Abhasa means a simple, a little light.
    Hrdayananda: So devotee really means one who has love for Krsna.
    Prabhupada: Yes, unalloyed, without any condition. Anyabhilasita-sunyam, zero, all other, that “I am this, I am that, I am jnani, I am yogi, I am karmi, I am minister, I am king”–all these are thinking like that, they’re all nonsense. “I am servant of Krsna”–that is greatness. Jivera svarupa haya nitya-krsna-dasa. That is self-realization, atma-tattvam.

    SB 1.2.20 P Divinity and Divine Service

    The very same thing is confirmed herein in the above words. No ordinary man, or even one who has attained success in human life, can know scientifically or perfectly the Personality of Godhead. Perfection of human life is attained when one can understand that he is not the product of matter but is in fact spirit. And as soon as one understands that he has nothing to do with matter, he at once ceases his material hankerings and becomes enlivened as a spiritual being. This attainment of success is possible when one is above the modes of passion and ignorance, or, in other words, when one is actually a brahmana by qualification. A BRAHMANA IS THE SYMBOL OF SATTVA-GUNA , OR THE MODE OF GOODNESS. AND OTHERS, WHO ARE NOT IN THE MODE OF GOODNESS, ARE EITHER KSATRIYAS, VAISYAS, SUDRAS OR LESS THAN THE SUDRAS. THE BRAHMINICAL STAGE IS THE HIGHEST STAGE OF HUMAN LIFE BECAUSE OF ITS GOOD QUALITIES. SO ONE CANNOT BE A DEVOTEE UNLESS ONE AT LEAST QUALIFIES AS A BRAHMANA. The devotee is already a brahmana by action. But that is not the end of it. AS REFERRED TO ABOVE, SUCH A BRAHMANA HAS TO BECOME A VAISNAVA IN FACT TO BE ACTUALLY IN THE TRANSCENDENTAL STAGE. A PURE VAISNAVA IS A LIBERATED SOUL AND IS TRANSCENDENTAL EVEN TO THE POSITION OF A BRAHMANA. IN THE MATERIAL STAGE EVEN A BRAHMANA IS ALSO A CONDITIONED SOUL BECAUSE ALTHOUGH IN THE BRAHMINICAL STAGE THE CONCEPTION OF BRAHMAN OR TRANSCENDENCE IS REALIZED, SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE OF THE SUPREME LORD IS LACKING. ONE HAS TO SURPASS THE BRAHMINICAL STAGE AND REACH THE VASUDEVA STAGE TO UNDERSTAND THE PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD KRSNA.

    Madhya 20.59 Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Instructs Sanatana Gosvami in the Science

    PURPORT
    This verse is spoken by Prahlada Maharaja in Srimad-Bhagavatam (7.9.10). A brahmana is supposed to be qualified with twelve qualities. As stated in the Mahabharata:

    dharmas ca satyam ca damas tapas ca
    amatsaryam hris titiksanasuya
    yajnas ca danam ca dhrtih srutam ca
    vratani vai dvadasa brahmanasya

    “A brahmana must be perfectly religious. He MUST be TRUTHFUL, and he must be able to control his senses. He must execute severe austerities, and he must be detached, humble and tolerant. He must not envy anyone, and he must be expert in performing sacrifices and giving whatever he has in charity. He must be fixed in devotional service and expert in the knowledge of the Vedas. These are the twelve qualifications for a brahmana.”

    Bhagavad-gita describes the brahminical qualities in this way:

    samo damas tapah saucam
    ksantir arjavam eva ca
    jnanam vijnanam astikyam
    brahma-karma svabhava-jam

    “Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, wisdom, knowledge, and religiousness–these are the qualities by which the brahmanas work.” (Bg. 18.42)

    In the Muktaphala-tika, it is said:

    samo damas tapah saucam
    ksanty-arjava-virakta yah
    jnana-vijnana-santosah
    satyastikye dvisad gunah

    “Mental equilibrium, sense control, austerity, cleanliness, tolerance, simplicity, detachment, theoretical and practical knowledge, satisfaction, TRUTHFULNESS and firm faith in the Vedas are the twelve qualities of a brahmana.

    Note: “I am not the body” is a very good slogan but when someone is sarcastic towards my body, mind, intelligence – then – I am the body. Then we dispatch our anger on the opponent. Contrast that with below:

    “730828BG.LON Lectures

    So first of all, we have to become brahmana. Then Vaisnava. Brahmana simply knows that “I am spirit soul,” aham brahmasmi. Brahma janati iti brahmana. Brahma-bhutah prasannatma. By such knowledge one becomes prasannatma. Means relieved. As you feel relief… When there is burden on your head, and the burden is taken away you feel relieved, similarly, this ignorance that “I am this body” is a great burden, a burden upon us. So when you get out of this burden, then you feel relieved. Brahma-bhutah prasannatma. Means when actually one understands that “I am not this body; I am soul,” then he has to work so hard for maintaining this body, so he gets relief that “Why I am working so hard for this lump of material things? Let me execute my real necessity of life, spiritual life.” That is great relief. That is great relief. Brahma-bhutah prasannatma na socati na kanksati.

    Note: “THE RESULT IS NOW EVERYONE IS CLAIMING TO BE ACARYA EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY BE KANISTHA ADHIKARI WITH NO ABILITY TO PREACH.” Srila Prabhupada KNEW that they were NOT EVEN on KANISTHA platform this is the significance of why he used “MAY BE”. Otherwise Srila Prabhupada would have used ARE instead. They were NOT truthful AND were disobedient to Guru – this is lack of Brahminical quality – how can they be EVEN Kanistha adhikari?

    74-04-28. Letter: Rupanuga

    You are right about Sridhara Maharaja’s genuineness. But in my opinion he is the best of the lot. He is my old friend, AT LEAST HE EXECUTES THE REGULATIVE PRINCIPLES OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE. I do not wish to discuss about activities of my Godbrothers but it is a fact they have no life for preaching work. All are satisfied with a place for residence in the name of a temple, they engage disciples to get foodstuff by transcendental devices and eat and sleep. They have no idea or brain how to broacast the cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. My Guru Maharaja used to lament many times for this reason and he thought if one man at least had understood the principle of preaching then his mission would achieve success. In the latter days of my Guru Maharaja he was very disgusted. Actually, he left this world earlier, otherwise he would have continued to live for more years. Still he requested his disciples to form a strong Governing body for preaching the cult of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. HE NEVER RECOMMENDED ANYONE TO BE ACARYA OF THE GAUDIYA MATH. BUT SRIDHARA MAHARAJA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DISOBEYING THIS ORDER OF GURU MAHARAJA, AND HE AND OTHERS WHO ARE ALREADY DEAD UNNECESSARILY THOUGHT THAT THERE MUST BE ONE ACARYA. If Guru Maharaja could have seen someone who was qualified at that time to be acarya he would have mentioned. Because on the night before he passed away he talked of so many things, but never mentioned an acarya. His idea was acarya was not to be nominated amongst the governing body. He said openly you make a GBC and conduct the mission. So his idea was amongst the members of GBC who would come out successful and self effulgent acarya would be automatically selected. So Sridhara Maharaja and his two associate gentlemen unauthorizedly selected one acarya and later it proved a failure. THE RESULT IS NOW EVERYONE IS CLAIMING TO BE ACARYA EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY BE KANISTHA ADHIKARI WITH NO ABILITY TO PREACH. IN SOME OF THE CAMPS THE ACARYA IS BEING CHANGED THREE TIMES A YEAR. THEREFORE WE MAY NOT COMMIT THE SAME MISTAKE IN OUR ISKCON CAMP. ACTUALLY AMONGST MY GODBROTHERS NO ONE IS QUALIFIED TO BECOME ACARYA. SO IT IS BETTER NOT TO MIX WITH MY GODBROTHERS VERY INTIMATELY BECAUSE INSTEAD OF INSPIRING OUR STUDENTS AND DISCIPLES THEY MAY SOMETIMES POLLUTE THEM. This attempt was made previously by them, especially Madhava Maharaja and Tirtha Maharaja and Bon Maharaja but somehow or other I saved the situation. This is going on. We shall be very careful about them and not mix with them. This is my instruction to you all. They cannot help us in our movement, but they are very competent to harm our natural progress. So we must be very careful about them.

    +++++++++++++++++++++

    further details on this:

    http://harekrsna.com/sun/editorials/03-09/editorials4258.htm

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