Bhagavad-gita 7.1 Prabhupada: sri bhagavan uvaca mayy asakta-manah partha yogam yunjan mad-asrayah asamsayam samagram mam yatha jnasyasi tac chrnu [Bg. 7.1] So by the end of the Sixth Chapter, Krsna has explained the astanga, astanga-yoga-siddhi. Astanga-yoga-siddhi, that yoginam api sarvesam mad-gatenantar-atmana [Bg. 6.47], always who is thinking of Krsna within himself, sraddhavan, with faith and knowledge, he’s first-class yogi. So how this first-class yoga system helps me? Because the other yoga systems, they will disagree that simply by thinking of Krsna within one’s heart, how one becomes perfect? That is explained from the Seventh Chapter of Bhagavad-gita, how simply by understanding Krsna you become well aware of everything. This yoga system. In the Vedas also it is stated: kasmin tu bhagavo vijnate sarvam idam vijnatam bhavati. If you, if you simply understand Krsna, then you know everything. Krsna is the root of everything. Therefore Krsna says sri bhagavan uvaca. We should always remember that this Bhagavad-gita is being spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So no more better authority. And the God is speaking about Himself. Otherwise, by speculation, you cannot understand God. That is not possible. You have to hear from God Himself about God. athapi te deva padambuja-dvaya-prasada-lesanugrhita eva hi janati tattvam bhagavan-mahimno na canya eko ’pi ciram vicinvan “A person who has got little favor,” athapi te deva padambuja, “little favor from the lotus feet of Your Lordship, he,” janati tattvam, “he knows what is tattva, what is the Absolute Truth.” Athapi te deva padambuja-dvaya-prasada-lesa. Prasada-lesa, little favor, not all. Prasada-lesanugrhita eva hi janati tattvam na ca anya ciram vicinvan. Others may go on speculating for years and years. It is not possible to understand. So similarly in the Brahma-samhita, another Vedic literature, it is said: panthas tu koti-sata-vatsara-sampragamyo vayor athapi manaso muni-pungavanam [Bs 5.34]. Muni-pungavanam, great saintly persons, sages, if they travel for millions of years, panthas tu koti-sata-vatsara. Koti, again multiplied by hundreds and hundreds, vayor athapi, on the airplane of air. Not this metal airplane. Actually air airplane, or by the airplane of mind. Mind speed we know. Mind can run, within a second, many thousands of miles. Immediately. Suppose I am sitting here. So I have got my apartment in Los Angeles, the thousand miles away, I can immediately… This is called mind speed. So with the mind’s speed, with the velocity of air, if one runs on to find out the Krsna planet, or Krsna, he still avicintya-tattve, still it is inconceivable tattva. panthas tu koti-sata-vatsara-sampragamyo vayor athapi manaso muni-pungavanam so ’py asti yat prapada-simny avicintya-tattve govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami [Bs 5.34] Govinda is very, very difficult to understand by mental speculation, philosophical theses. Philosophical theses, speculation, without religion, simply waste of time. And religion without philosophical basis is sentiment. They must be combined together. So Bhagavad-gita is that, religion, combined with philosophy. If you simply take philosophy, it is dry speculation, no juice. Carvita-carvananam, chewing the chewed. There is no benefit. And f you simply take religion without basis of philosophy, then it is fanaticism, that’s all. So both should be combined, religion, based on philosophy and logic. That is religion. So that combination is Bhagavad-gita. So here, in the Seventh Chapter beginning, opening chapter, it is said: bhagavan uvaca. You are searching after God. Now here is God Himself speaking. So recognized God by all sages, Vyasadeva, Narada, Asita, and, later on, by Ramanujacarya, by Sankaracarya, by Madhvacarya, by Visnusvami, by Caitanya Maha…, Mahaprabhu, and then our Guru Maharaja. So our method is very simple. Evam parampara-praptam imam rajarsayo viduh [Bg. 4.2] So we accept this parampara system. I may not know what is God, but because my predecessors, acaryas, confirm it that “Here is Bhagavan,” we accept it. That’s all. We save so much trouble by mental speculation. We accept the parampara system. Therefore… And you get the result. So that is the way. Now here, not only the parampara system… The parampara system begins from Krsna. As Krsna says in the Fourth Chapter, imam vivasvate yogam proktavan aham avyayam: [Bg. 4.1] “I spoke first to the sun-god.” It is not said “first.” Many times He has said to many predominating deities. But in this era… This is called the age of Vaivasvata Manu. There are fourteen Manus in one day of Brahma. So Vaivasvata Manu is the eighth Manu. That means we have passing through the midday of this era, manvantara. There are fourteen Manus in one day of Brahma, and this era is called Vaivasvata Manu, because he is the son of Vivasvan. And that Vivasvan is given reference in the Fourth Chapter: imam vivasvate yogam proktavan aham avyayam [Bg. 4.1]. So if you simply calculate the age of Manu, it becomes forty millions of years. So Bhagavad-gita is not a new thesis. It is coming from time immemorial. So Krsna is the original preceptor. So here Krsna again, personally speaking. The authority. Personally. Out of compassion, and friendship, love to Arjuna, He’s speaking directly to Arjuna, and Arjuna understood Him the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan purusam [Bg. 10.12]. Purusam. Purusam means person. He’s not imperson. Imperson is the, another feature of the person. Brahmano ’ham pratistha. Krsna says that the brahmajyoti, impersonal Brahman, “That is situated upon Me.” Aham pratistha. Just like we are sitting on this platform. This is pratistha. Similarly the brahmajyoti is situated on the person of Krsna. The person is the ultimate understanding of the Absolute Truth, not the impersonal feature. That is preliminary understanding, or imperfect understanding. There is brahmajyoti. Just like we, we are experiencing the sunshine. The sunshine is also experience of the sun-god, but it is imperfect understanding. It is not perfect understanding. If you want to understand the sun-god, then you have to penetrate through the sunshine and reach the sun planet, and then you, if you are able to see the predominating deity of the sun planet, whose name is Vivasvan. Similarly, the whole material creation is a part of the brahmajyoti. Sarvam idam khalu brahma. So you have to penetrate… In the Isopanisad it is said, that, requested, it is requesting the, that “You kindly wind up Your brahmajyoti so that I can see Your face rightly.” So ultimately there is person. Tattva-vastu… vadanti tat tattva-vidas tattvam yaj jnanam advayam brahmeti paramatmeti bhagavan iti sabdyate [Bhag. 1.2.11] This is the version of Srimad-Bhagavatam. So Brahman realization is for the persons who are trying to understand the Absolute Truth by philosophical speculation. That is the understanding. Similarly, the localized paramatma feature is realized by the yogis. Dhyanavasthita-tad-gatena manasa pasyanti yam yoginah [SB 12.13.1] And the devotees, they realize directly the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Bhagavan. Sad-aisvarya-bhagavan. With full richness, full reputation, full strength, full knowledge, full renunciation. This is the meaning of Bhagavan. I have already explained. So that Bhagavan is speaking. So mayy asakta-manah partha. “Those who have developed attachment for Me,” mayy asakta, only attached to Krsna… That is Krsna consciousness, always thinking of Krsna. Mayy asakta-manah partha yogam yunjan mad-asrayah. This is yoga. It is already explained by the end of the Sixth Chapter. Yoginam api sarvesam mad-gatenantar-atmana [Bg. 6.47]. One who has developed attachment for Krsna, he has come to perfection, simply by developing. And this development of attachment is possible by this arcana-vidhi. Just like our rising early in the morning, offering mangala-aratrika, the changing the dress, garlanding, dressing. So many things. From morning, four, to up to night at ten o’clock, there is program. That is real temple worship. Not that the temple is closed whole day and night, and the pujari goes for five minutes and bells the… Again close. No. There is system. Sri-vigraharadhana-nitya-nana-srngara-tan-mandira-mar janadau **. So many activities in temple worship. So for the kanistha-adhikari, neophytes, those who are serious to become, to awaken his attachment for Krsna, they must take to this arcana-marga. This is called arcana-marga, temple worship. Everyone can establish a small temple in his house, and he can begin, family-wise, himself, his wife, his children. That is wanted. This Krsna consciousness movement wants to see that every house has become a temple of Krsna. That is our program. Mayy asakta… Just to increase the attachment for Krsna. That is needed, especially for the grhasthas. For the householders, still, in India, there are many respectable families, they are maintaining small temple. Therefore Krsna says: sucinam srimatam gehe yoga-bhrasto ’bhijayate. Yoga-bhrastah. This yogam yunjan mad-asrayah, this bhakti-yoga, one who could not finish the cent percent bhakti-yoga in one life, at least he’s guaranteed to have next life as a human being. Because Krsna says, sucinam srimatam gehe yoga-bhrasto ’bhijayate. Sucinam. Sucinam means first-class brahmana, Vaisnava. They are called suci. The suci, the just the opposite word is muci. Muci means most nasty habit, and suci means most clean habit. So one poet says: suci haya muci haya yadi krsna tyaje muci haya suci haya yadi krsna bhaje If one becomes Krsna conscious, even though he’s born in the family of muci, he becomes suci. And even though one is born in the family of suci, brahmana, if he rejects Krsna he becomes muci. So suci haya muci haya yadi krsna bhaje, suci haya muci haya yadi krsna tyaje. This is the… So the highest perfection of life is to awaken our dormant Krsna consciousness. That is the highest perfection of life. Everyone has got Krsna consciousness dormant. It is covered by the influence of maya. By the influence of maya. That is also stated in the Caitanya-caritamrta: nitya-siddha krsna-prema ‘sadhya’ kabhu naya sravanadi-suddha-citte karaye udaya [Cc. madhya 22.107] Nitya-siddha. Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and we are all part and parcel of Krsna. So therefore our relationship with Krsna is natural. It is natural. Just like my part and parcel of the finger. So without finger, my body’s imperfect. Finger must be… So the existence of finger with this body, it is natural. Similarly, to remain with Krsna, that is our natural position, constitutional position, remain with Krsna as cowherd boy, as gopi, as Krsna’s father, Krsna’s mother, Krsna’s servant, Krsna’s trees, Krsna’s Yamuna, Krsna’s flower, Krsna’s Vrndavana land. Remain with Krsna, in any form you like. Santa dasya sakhya vatsalya madhurya. In any mellow, humor, you can remain with Krsna. That is our natural position. But when we try to imitate Krsna, to become a imitation Krsna… Just like there are so many persons. They say, “I am Krsna.” This is maya. Immediately… Because he’s trying to forget Krsna, our relationship with Krsna, immediately maya captures. krsna-bahirmukha hana bhoga vancha kare nikata-stha maya tare japatiya dhare As soon as we desire to forget Krsna, or to rebel against Krsna, “Why I shall serve Krsna? I am Krsna,” immediately maya is there, side by side. Krsna is there. Apasyat purusam purnam mayam ca tad-apasrayam. When Vyasadeva, after getting instruction from Narada, he wanted to write Srimad-Bhagavatam, so he first of all meditated. bhakti-yogena manasi samyak pranihite ’male apasyat purusam purnam mayam ca tad-apasrayam He saw both Krsna and His illusory energy. Apasrayam, on the back side. So Krsna is never influenced by the illusory energy, maya. We become influenced by the maya. Krsna… Just like the cloud. Cloud cannot cover the sun. It is our eyes which are covered by the cloud. We see, we say that “Now the sun is covered by the cloud.” No, that is not the fact. Sun is very, very big. Sun cannot be covered by cloud. It is our eyes which are covered by the cloud. Similarly maya… We are teeny, part and parcel of Krsna; therefore we are covered by maya. Sometimes, not always. Krsna, when we forget Krsna, krsna-bahirmukha hana bhoga vancha kare nikata-stha maya tare japatiya dhare As soon as we try to forget Krsna, immediately maya is there. Therefore the reversing process, reversing process… If we want to go back again to Krsna, then daivi hy esa gunamayi mama maya duratyaya [Bg. 7.14] You cannot go back to home, back to Godhead, by your own speculation. That is not possible. Ciram vicinvan. You can go on speculating to become one with God—that is another thing—but if you actually want to know God and see God, then, as Krsna says, mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti te [Bg. 7.14]. Simply surrender to Krsna, and maya will give you no more trouble. You can see Krsna. This is the process. Therefore Krsna says, mayy asakta-manah partha yogam, to… This is yoga system. This is called bhakti-yoga. Bhakti-yoga system. A neophyte devotee should be engaged in temple worship. But if he does not make further improvement, if he sticks to the simply temple worship, then he remains a kanistha-adhikari, lower standard devotee, lower standard devotee. But one has to become first standard devotee. At least one must… A first standard devotee is very high position, spiritual position. But at least we must come to the second standard. The lower standard is arcayam eva haraye pujam yah sraddhayehate na tad-bhaktesu canyesu sa bhaktah prakrtah smrtah Arca. This arca-vigraha, Deity, Krsna, arcayam eva haraye, the Deity of Krsna, yah pujam sraddhaya ihate, with great devotion and according to the rules and regulations, if one performs, that is very nice. But if he does not improve, na tad-bhaktesu canyesu, he does not become knowable to the devotees and other persons, then he remains a kanistha-adhikari, sa bhaktah prakrtah. Prakrta means in the material platform. He does not actually promote to the spiritual platform if he simply remains. Therefore along with the worship of Krsna, in the temple, these hearing should be… Sravanam kirtanam. Just like we are doing. We do not engage only the devotees to the temple worship, but there must be program for hearing Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, the science of God. Otherwise, after some time, simply if you ring the bell, after sing you’ll be disgusted, and the whole thing will be lost—as it is has become now in India. There was no instruction about Krsna consciousness. They simply attached to the temple and belling, and now it is lost, zero. Devotion is zero. So two things must go on, parallel. Then if the two things must go, then you are promoted to the second platform, madhyama-adhikari. Madhyama-adhikari means at that time he sees four things. isvare tad-adhinesu balisesu dvisatsu ca prema-maitri-krpopeksa yah karoti sa madhyamah Madhyama. Isvare. By arcana-vidhi, he understands Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, by this process, by the regulative process, by the instruction of the spiritual master, by the regulative principle set up in the bhakti-sastras. Just like Narada-pancaratra, Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu. There are many… So, at that time, if one comes from the lower platform to the… Of course, we must know that any devotee, either in the lower platform or in the second platform or in the first platform, they are to be considered as devotees. Not that because one is in the material platform, he’s not devotee. He’s also devotee. But he has to improve. The improvement means he must know what is Krsna. Simply if he remains attached to the temple worship and does not try to understand who is a Krsna devotee and how he has to deal with others… Na tad-bhaktesu canyesu. We have got some duty to others. This is preaching work. One should not be satisfied simply by worshiping in the temple. Then he’ll remain a neophyte. He must become a preacher, Krsna consciousness. Then he comes to the second platform. So when he becomes a preacher he sees four things. He sees God, Krsna, Isvara. Tad-adhina, and the devotees. Tad-adhina means those who have accepted Krsna as the parama-purusa. There is another verse in the Srimad-Bhagavatam: ittham satam brahma-sukhanubhutya dasyam gatanam para-daivatena. Dasyam gatanam. For the bhaktas, Krsna is the Supreme Lord, para-deva. ittham satam brahma-sukhanubhutya dasyam gatanam para-daivatena mayasritanam nara-darakena sakam vijahruh krta-punya-punjah [Bhag. 10.12.11] When Sukadeva Gosvami described the cowherd boys playing with Krsna, so he’s remarking that these boys who are playing with Krsna… Who is this Krsna? Ittham brahma-sukhanubhutya. Those who are impersonalists, those who are attached to the impersonal brahmajyoti, for them, He is the target, He is the target. From Him, the brahmajyoti comes. Ittham brahma-sukhanubhutya and dasyam gatanam para-daivatena. And those who are devotees, for them, here is the Supreme Lord. Dasyam gatanam para-daivatena. And mayasritanam nara-darakena. And those who are under the influence of maya, for them, He’s ordinary human child. The same person. Different vision. One is seeing that the ultimate target of brahmajyoti, and somebody’s seeing that he’s the Supreme Lord, and somebody’s seeing that He’s ordinary boy. So Krsna is visioned under different position. Under different position. But He’s the Supreme Lord. So this yoga system, attachment for Krsna, begins from the temple worship, and ends into maha-bhagavata. Maha-bhagavata means who simply sees Krsna. Nothing… Sarvatra haya nija ista-deva-sphurti. Sthavara-jangama dekhe na dekhe tara murti. Similarly in the Bhagavad-gita also: vidya-vinaya-sampanne brahmane gavi hastini suni caiva sva-pake ca panditah sama-darsinah [Bg. 5.18] He does not see anything but Krsna. A maha-bhagavata, when a tree, when he sees a tree, he does not see the form of the tree, but he sees Krsna. That is maha-bhagavata. That we should not imitate. That is the highest stage, perfectional stage. But at least we come to the middle stage. What is that middle stage? To… We must understand what is God, what is Krsna. Perfect understanding. And tad-adhina, and His devotees. Isvare tad-adhinesu balisesu. Balisa means innocent persons. They are un…, I mean to say, they do not know, actually, what is God. And dvisat. Dvisat means envious. The four classes of men, God, His devotee, innocent persons, and envious persons, demons. So the person who is promoted to the second stage, he’ll deal with these four classes of divisions differently. Isvare prema. One should try to learn how to love Krsna. Yato bhaktir adhoksaje. That is first class. And isvare tad-adhinesu balisesu dvisatsu. Prema, love, for Krsna, and maitri, and how to make friendship with the devotees. Prema-maitri. And krpa. Those who are innocent, one should be merciful. Devotees should be merciful, just to awaken their Krsna consciousness. And dvisatsu ca upeksah. And those who are envious, they should be rejected. These four classes. To try to love Krsna, to make friendship with devotees, and to give some service to the innocent public who does not know what is God. And those who are envious asuras, they should rejected. The madhyama-adhikari should not touch the demons. Because maybe he may turn against, the demon. Therefore one should be very careful to associate with the demons. But when one becomes uttama-adhikari, maha-bhagavata, he does not see anyone as demon. He sees “Everyone is worshiping Krsna; I am not worshiping.” This is maha-bhagavata. Just like Radharani. Radharani always feels that “I do not know how to love Krsna. Oh, here is a gopi. How she loves Krsna.” That is Her… This is called maha-bhava. So we should not imitate Radharani. Caitanya Mahaprabhu… Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He’s the symbol of Radharani’s maha-bhava. He says that “I do not love Krsna. I do not know how to love Krsna.” Then if you, some, somebody says that “Why you are crying?” “Well, that is a show. I am making a show. I am crying.” Then what is the symptom? “Now the symptom is that if I would have loved Krsna, then without Him I have died long, long ago. I should have died. I am living still without Krsna. That means I do not love Krsna.” This is maha-bhagavata. Separation. aslisya va pada-ratam pinastu mam adarsanan marma-hatam karotu va yatha tatha va vidadhatu lampato mat-prana-nathas tu sa eva naparah This is maha-bhagavata. The maha-bhagavata you should not imitate. But we should not remain also as kanistha-adhikari. We must come to the madhyama-adhikari, middle stage. So these stages will be manifest gradually if we simply try to develop our attachment for Krsna. So this is the beginning. Arca. Arcanam. Sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam pada-sevanam, arcanam [SB 7.5.23]. Arcanam. Therefore for every grhastha… Because grhasthas are busy in so many ways, they have no opportunity to preach, but they must take to arcana. Every house, every householder, they must… What is the difficulty? Just like we have got in this platform Deity of Radha-Krsna. Everyone can install Radha-Krsna Deity at home and under the instruction of spiritual master and shastric regulations. Then if we engage ourself in arcana-vidhi, then automatically all the anomalies of life will stop. Adau sraddha tatah sadhu-sango ’tha bhajana-kriya. This arcana-vidhi is one of the items of bhajana. Bhajana-kriya. So anartha-nivrttih syat. If every house engages in this arcana-vidhi, so many unwanted things will vanish. You’ll have no more interest for seeing cinema or going to the restaurant or smoking bidis and wasting time by unnecessary talks. So many things. Then your life will be perfect. So many nonsense things will go automatically. Anartha-nivrttih syat. So therefore to become Krsna conscious every house, everywhere, every person, every human being should adopt this arcana-vidhi. Then at least he’ll save so many unnecessary… Anartha-nivrttih syat. Adau sraddha tatah sadhu-sangah. So Krsna says that mayy asakta-manah partha: “My dear Arjuna…” Arjuna is addressed here as Partha, very familiar. Because Partha… Krsna, Arjuna’s mother’s name was Prtha, Kunti’s name. So, and Prtha, Kunti, happened to be the aunt of Krsna. So He’s very feelingly, in a familial way, He’s addressing “Partha, My dear Arjuna, Partha,” mayy asakta-manah partha, “Simply by increasing attachment for Me,” mayy asakta, mayy asakta-manah partha yogam… This is yogam. This is perfect yoga. Yoginam api sarve. Mad-asrayah. “This yoga system should be executed directly under My direction or under the direction of a representative of Mine.” The spiritual master is the representative of Krsna. How he becomes the representative? What is the test? The test is… Just like anyone can understand representative. Suppose a business firm’s representative is going to canvass for business. What is his business? He will take the interest of the firm, not his personal interest. He will try to secure business for the firm he’s working, not for his personal… That is perfect representative. And if he goes in the name of the firm’s representative and he does his own business, then he’s a liar. Similarly Krsna’s representative means one who speaks about Krsna as Krsna speaks. And if he adulterates, he’s a liar. He’s not a representative. He’s not representative. Krsna says, man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg. 18.65] And if the representative says, “Just become a devotee of Krsna. Just worship Krsna. Just offer your obeisances to Krsna,” he is representative. Krsna says, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. And the representative will say that you give up all other process; you simply surrender to Krsna. He’ll never say that “I am Krsna.” He’ll never say. He’s not representative of Krsna. He’s a liar. He’s not representative. So to become representative of Krsna is not very difficult. Simply one has to become very sincere. That’s all. That whatever Krsna says, he will say. Just like Arjuna accepted: sarvam etad rtam manye yad vadasi kesava [Bg. 10.14]. That is representative. “My dear Kesava, Krsna, whatever you are speaking, I accept that all in total, without any reformation.” That is representative of Krsna. Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, yare dekha tare kaha ‘krsna’-upadesa amara ajnaya guru hana tara’ ei desa [Cc. Madhya 7.128] Amara ajnaya. One has to carry out the order of God. He’s representative. Otherwise liar, misnomer. So therefore Krsna says mad-asraya. Mad-asraya. “Either under My direction, the direction is there, or My representative,” mat. Mad-asraya means “Either under My direction or one who has taken…” …we have discussed. But gayatri-mantra is the beginning of brahminical culture because without attaining the brahminical qualification, nobody can understand Vedic literature. Therefore a brahmana, initiated, he’s given the gayatri-mantra. So that is required. [break] Indian: Hare Krsna. Your Divine Grace, in order to understand Sri Bhagavan Krsna, we have to take your help, as you said you have explained what are the words of Krsna. And in order to understand yourself we have, or we had to take the help of so many other persons. You speak in English and Sanskrit or Hindi, and at college, and at school, so many teachers taught us Sanskrit, Hindi, and history, geography, because there are so many illustrations in your speech also. Then guru has been defined like this: om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave-namah Ajnana-timirandhasya. About jnana, nothing has been said whether it is spiritual jnana or material jnana. So in order to understanding you and, through yourself, also Krsna, all these so-called gurus, or, I may say, teachers, they have contributed towards understanding or developing Krsna consciousness. Now, leaving aside these material teachers I am taking the, taking one spiritual guru who gave me Krsna consciousness first and who taught me to worship God, Krsna, and to maintain a temple at my own house and to learn the slokas from Gita or the Srimad-Bhagavata. And I have learned by rote the grandness of adhyayas of Bhagavatam and the Gita. But you see I could not understand anything. Now, after going through your literatures, complete literatures, now the whole light has come to me, and I have began to understand even that the guru who gave me such Krsna consciousness. I don’t challenge or question the other findings of their(?) gurus. Just like a boy who absent from class, not attending his class, there is no fault of the guru. Guru has been attending his lectures. But I am truant. I am not attending class. So you see I can’t blame that guru. But now I have understood everything from your grace, and now that ajnana has been removed. I have now become more Krsna conscious than before. So should I give credit to all those gurus who have helped me to understand? Or should I now select, or should I exercise any choice that I should accept this guru or that guru only? So that doubt should be cleared. Prabhupada: Hmmm. Guru is only one. Guru means, as you explained, om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave-namah One who eradicates the ajnana, andhakara, darkness. In the darkness, if somebody brings lamp, ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya… The jnana-rupa, torchlight, he’s guru. So maybe of different degrees, but anyone who opens the spiritual eyes, he’s guru. So… But in the sastra it is said, gurur api karyakaryakam ajanatah. If I accept some guru, but if later on it appears that he did not know what is to be done, what is to be not to be done, then Srila Jiva Gosvami says that such guru, parityago vidhiyate, such guru should be rejected. But it doesn’t matter that degree. Actually, if the guru teaches Krsna consciousness, then he may be in lesser degree, but he’s accepted as guru. There is no question of rejection. Because Krsna is actually jnana. One who teaches Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, “One has to know Krsna, one has to surrender to Krsna,” this kind of teaching is required. And if the guru says that “I am Krsna. Everyone is Krsna,” then, “daridra-krsna, daridra-narayana,” he is not a guru. He’s not a guru. He’s misguiding. Misguiding. Avaisnavo gurur na syat. This is the shastric injunction. Sat-karma-nipuno vipro mantra-tantra-visaradah. A… Generally, a qualified brahmana becomes guru. That is natural. Brahmana is the head of the society. So he is… And without becoming brahmana, nobody can become guru. That is also fact. Because brahmana means brahma janatiti brahmanah. One who knows Brahman, Brahman. So guru must be a brahmana, mean a qualified brahmana, not born-brahmana, so-called brahmana. Qualified brahmana. So still, brahmana’s qualification, sat-karma, pathana pathana yajana yajana dana pratigraha. So sastra says that sat-karma-nipuno viprah. If one vipra is quite expert in executing the six kinds of business, and mantra-tantra-visaradah, and very well known in the Vedic mantras and hymns and everything complete, but if he is avaisnava, if he is not Vaisnava, he does not know visnu-tattva, or krsna-tattva, then he cannot become spiritual master. Avaisnavo gurur na syad vaisnavah sva-paco guruh. But if a Vaisnava, one who knows visnu-tattva, krsna-tattva, even if he’s born in the family of sva-paca, the dog-eaters, candala, he can be accepted as guru. So the real test is whether the guru is a Vaisnava, whether he know the science of Krsna. That is also confirmed by Caitanya Mahaprabhu: kiba vipra kiba nyasi sudra kene naya yei krsna-tattva-vetta sei guru haya [Cc. Madhya 8.128] 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. Indian man: In your presence I may declare also attending I have found your system of Krsna consciousness the best and very practical. Because I, I am a… Prabhupada: Hare Krsna. (end)
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Ahmedabad, December 4, 1970