Sri Guru Pranali — Siddha Pranali
A
conversation between Srila Bhakti Pramoda Puri Gosvami Maharaja and a sannyasa
disciple, held on Durga Puja,
Gurudeva: Gopinatha (Gopinatha
Dasa Brahmacari)! Please give me my Sabda-sara. And my copy of Gaudiya-kantha-hara,
and Sriman Mahaprabhur Siksa. Look at me, I am completely bedridden.
Well at least I can sit up... so I am only half-bedridden. Well, half-bedridden
or completely bedridden. I can stretch my legs a little, that's all. That's how
my time goes by...
Devotee: Your posture may be unusual, but it is still very
beautiful, in a different sort of way.
Gurudeva: (laughs) Sit down, baba. Let's talk. Om Visnu, om
Visnu, om Visnu... (pause) I am looking into the meaning of the word sampradayika.
Someone was saying that Guru-pranali...
Devotee: siddha-pranali...
Gurudeva: They were saying that there are many Babajis in
Vrndavana who criticize us in various ways. They do not accept our disciplic
line. I wanted to say something about that.
Devotee: Please go on, Maharaja.
Gurudeva: My position is the following:
sampradaya-vihina ye mantras te nisphala matah
atah kalau bhavisyanti catvarah sampradayinah
sri-brahma-rudra-sanaka vaisnavah ksiti-pavanah
catvaras te kalau bhavya hy utkale purusottamat
'The mantra
that is not received in disciplic succession does not produce results.
Therefore in the Age of Kali there are four such disciplic successions. They
are the Sri, Brahma, Rudra and Sanaka sampradayas. In the Age of Kali,
these four disciplic lines will appear out of Purusottama in Orissa.' (Padma
Purana quoted in Prameya-ratnavali)
All of the
disciplic successions had their beginnings here in Purusottama-dham, or Puri.
That is why it is said, hy-utkale purusottamat. Is it not so? So there
are four lines of disciplic succession. Ramanujam srih svicakre—the
goddess Laksmi chose Ramanujacarya as her representative. That is the Sri sampradaya.
Madhvacaryam caturmukhah—Brahma selected Madhvacarya as the founder of
his line. Sri-visnu-svaminam rudro—Rudra, who is considered the foremost
of Vaisnavas (vaisnavanam yatha sambhuh), accepted Visnuswami as the
founder of his line, while nimbadityam catuhsanah—the four Kumaras chose
Nimbarka as their representative. Nimbarka's commentary on the Vedanta is
called Parijata-bhasya. Ramanuja of course wrote the Sri-bhasya.
Madhvacharya's exegesis is called the Anubhasya, or sometimes the Sutra-bhasya
or Anubhasya. Visnusvami wrote the Sarvajna-sukti.
Now what is the
meaning of the word 'sampradaya'? A sampradaya is the instruction
received through a disciplic succession of legitimate teachers. Find the
definition in the Sabda-sara,1 will you? This copy of Sabda-sara
is very old; it used to belong to my father.
Devotee: I have found it, Guru Maharaja. The definition is
given as 'the instruction specific to a particular line of teachers.' Synonyms
given are samaja ('a community'), dala ('a sect') and sajatiya
('brotherhood').
Gurudeva: 'The instruction received in a particular line of
teachers.' So what do we do? Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Prabhupada said the
same thing. We accept the authorities or Mahajanas—mahajano yena gatah sa
pantha. Something that just springs up out of nowhere cannot be accepted as
authoritative. The conditioned soul has four defects: (1) bhrama ('the
tendency to error'), (2) pramada ('inattention'), (3) karanapatava ('the
inadequacy of the senses') and (4) vipralipsa ('the desire to deceive').
Any conditioned soul has these defects.
Bhrama means the tendency to think something that is true
to be false and vice versa. Whatever I perceive directly (pratyaksa) or
whatever deductions I make on the basis of those perceptions will be full of
error. The sun is more than a million times bigger than the earth. But when we
look at the rising sun, our eyes tell us that it is about the size of a saucer.
In fact, it is 1,400,000 times bigger than the earth.
The word pramada
means 'inattention.' Even when the senses do their job, the mind is not
entirely attentive and so makes further errors. Karanapatava means the
incapacity of the senses to properly perceive anything. And the last fault is
quite devastating; it is vipralipsa, 'the desire to deceive.' Even though
we don't really know what the truth is, we say, 'I have seen.' Generally, I
give the example of
So these are
the conditioned souls' four defects. The words of those who are free of such
faults are considered authoritative or pramana. The word prama means
'knowledge.' So it is said, 'Authoritative evidence is that which leads to real
knowledge' (pramano prama-jnana-janakam). Thus, the word prama means
knowledge and pramana means that which leads to such knowledge. Why are
the statements of the Mahajanas accepted as authoritative? It is because they
have truly attained direct perception into the truth.
There are also
many sampradayas or schools of thought that are based on misconceptions
of the truth. These cannot be considered as genuine sampradayas, or
credible schools of thought. Those who follow the teachings of such disciplic
successions will not engage in genuine sadhana or bhajana. True bhajana
or worship of the Lord, and sadhana, or exercising the means of
attaining the Lord, begins when one follows in the footsteps of the previous acaryas.
Srila
Prabhupada called our disciplic succession the Bhagavata-parampara. Why
did he give it this name? Normally, people give a list of Gosvamis' names—all
those who belonged to that particular family of gurus. Sometimes these include
women. Was every one of these people a perfected soul or siddha? What do
we mean by siddha? There are sadhakas or aspirants for perfection
and siddhas, or those who have attained perfection. The name is there, siddha-pranali,
but it is not enough just to have a name. Have they all attained perfection on
the path of devotion? Devotion begins with practices that we call sadhana.
But when one becomes perfected in these practices, he is called siddha.
The characteristics of someone who is on the platform of perfection are
described in the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu. Amongst other things, the siddha
is omniscient.
avijnatakhila-klesah sada krsnasrita-kriyah
siddhah syuh santata-prema-saukhyasvada-parayanah
'The siddhas
have no awareness of any material suffering. All their actions are consecrated
to Krsna and they are only engaged in constantly relishing the joys of love for
Krsna.'
(Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 2.1.280)
So our
spiritual master has given directions according to the way that he worshiped.
Bhaktivinoda Thakura also... Now take out my copy of Mahaprabhura Siksa. Tell
me what is written here.
Devotee: It says, [Reads] ''A discussion of authoritative
statements (apta-vakya).' Something special needs to be said about the
concept of apta-vakya. Everything spoken by someone who has attained
spiritual authority (apta) is considered reliable. There is no need to
look for hidden meanings in their words. The meaning that arises immediately
upon hearing a series of words is the direct meaning or abhidha vrtti.
Take for example, ayam saci-nandanah saksan nanda-nandanah —'This son of
Sachi is the same person as the son of Nanda.'
Gurudeva: Bhaktivinoda Thakura is here making the
distinction between direct (abhidha vrtti) and inferred (laksana)
meaning. Every word functions in both these ways. Sambandha, abhidheya and
prayojana. With whom do we have an eternal relationship (sambandha)?
Our existence comes from Krsna, so we have an eternal relationship with him.
And as we advance in spiritual life, this relationship will develop into
something substantial, like that between a father and son or whatever. These
transcendental relationships are revealed to us in proportion to the intensity
of our spiritual practice.
Devotee: Here it is said that the words that come down
through authoritative channels are reliable sources of knowledge. Then,
Bhaktivinoda Thakura goes on to explain the concept of guru parampara.
Gurudeva: Very good. Read on.
Devotee: [reading] 'What is an 'authoritative channel' (amnaya)?'
And he answers...
Gurudeva:
amnayah srutayah saksad brahma-vidyeti visrutah
guru-parampara-praptah visva-kartur hi brahmanah
Devotee: That is exactly what is given here.
Gurudeva: visva-kartur hi brahmanah, 'beginning with
Brahma, the creator.'
Devotee: [goes on reading, starting with the translation:]
'Ämnaya or the authorized and sacred tradition is defined as the
transcendental knowledge that is embodied in the sruti and received
through the system of parampara beginning with Brahma, the creator.' (Mahajana-karika,
quoted in Gaudiya-kantha-hara, 1.62).
This statement
is further supported by the Mundaka Upanisad (1.1.1):
brahma devanam prathamah sambabhuva visvasya karta bhuvanasya gopta
sa brahma-vidyam sarva-vidya-pratistham atharvaya jyestha-putraya praha
'Lord Brahma is
the foremost of the demigods. He is the creator of the universe and its
guardian. He instructed his eldest son, Atharva, in the science of
transcendental knowledge (brahma-vidya) and thus became the first
teacher within the universe. All other knowledge is based on this
transcendental knowledge.'
yenaksaram purusam veda satyam provaca tam tattvato brahma-vidyam
'He spoke the
transcendental knowledge by which one can truly know the imperishable Supreme
Person.'(Mundaka Upanisad 1.1.13)
Gurudeva: [repeats the verses] Bhaktivinoda Thakura is
discussing the ten basic teachings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the dasa-mula.
These ten basic teachings include the sources of knowledge or pramana;
the nine others are the prameya or elements demonstrated by these
sources. So Bhaktivinoda Thakura is here explaining the first of the ten basic
teachings or pramana.
amnayah
praha tattvam harim iha paramam sarva-saktim rasabdhim
tad-bhinnamsams ca jivan prakrti-kavalitan tad-vimuktams ca bhavat
bhedabheda-prakasam sakalam api hareh sadhanam suddha-bhaktim
sadhyam tat pritim evety upadisati janan gauracandrah svayam sah
'Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu instructed everyone in these ten basic teachings. The first is that
the source of knowledge is the amnaya or sacred tradition arising from
the Upanishads. This tradition teaches that the Supreme Truth is Hari, who
possesses all potencies and is the ocean of divine relationship. The living
beings are His separated parts and parcels, which have been swallowed up by the
material energy but can be liberated through spiritual feeling. Everything that
exists is simultaneously both one and different from the Lord. The means of
attaining Him is pure devotion and the goal of devotional practice is to
develop love for Him.'(Dasa-mula-siksa, 1)
Now read on.
What does it say about the disciplic succession?
Devotee: About the parampara, Bhaktivinoda Thakura
writes: 'From this statement [in the Mundaka Upanisad], it is clear that
a process of transmission of transcendental knowledge exists from the time of
creation. This chain of transmission has preserved the purity of the teachings
of the Bhagavata-dharma. This message is called amnaya. The
Brahma sampradaya has been established in the scriptures by such
passages as:
paravyomesvarasyasic chisyo brahma jagat-patih
'Brahma, the
lord of the world, was the disciple of the Lord of Vaikuntha Himself.'(Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika)
'Anyone who
refuses to accept such statements is a promoter of heresy. Those who accept the
authority of Sri Krsna Caitanya but secretly do not accept this disciplic
succession of spiritual masters are nothing but Kali's spies. Can there be any
doubt of this?
'Whatever the
case may be, those who are fortunate accept the authoritative testimony of the
disciplic succession and consider the knowledge received in this way to be
superior to that from all other sources. This is Mahaprabhu's first teaching.
'In the Tattva-sandarbha,
Jiva Gosvami has written: athaiva sucitanam
sri-krsna-vacya-vacakata-laksana-sambandha-tad-bhajana-laksana-vidheya-tat-prema-laksana-prayojanakhyanam
arthanam nirnayaya pramanam tavad vinirniyate | tatra purusasya bhramadi...'
Gurudeva: Bhaktivinoda Thakura is saying the following about
the guru parampara, that all these people have accepted the disciplic
succession...
Devotee:
Bhaktivinoda goes on: 'Jiva Gosvami establishes the validity of the testimony
of authorized persons (apta), the authority of the Puranas and
that of the Srimad Bhagavatam in particular as the most authoritative
source of knowledge. So, in the same way that he establishes the Srimad
Bhagavatam's glorious position as an authority, he also underlines the same
for the scriptures composed by Brahma, Narada, Vyasa, Sukadeva, and then
Vijayadhvaja, Brahma Tirtha, Vyasa Tirtha and the other Tattvavadis following
Madhvacarya. From such statements, it is clear that the spiritual line of the
servants of Lord Caitanya is the one that has come through Brahma. Kavi
Karnapura confirmed this in his Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika where he wrote
out the entire guru-pranali.'
Gurudeva: This is what I was about to say.
Devotee: Yes. [continues reading] 'Baladeva Vidyabhusana,
the author of the Govinda-bhasya commentary on the Vedanta Sutras, also
confirms the same disciplic succession. Is there any doubt that those who
reject this connection are the greatest enemies of Sri Krsna Caitanya's
followers?'
Gurudeva: This is the principal thing. It is written here.
Gopinath: [goes on reading] 'Sri Kavi Karnapura accepted
Baladeva Vidyabhusana's disciplic succession.'
Gurudeva: Now read this. Kavi Karnapura has listed everyone
in the disciplic succession and now Baladeva Vidyabhusana gives the same one. And
Bhaktivinoda Thakura goes so far as to say that those who don't accept this
disciplic succession are Mahaprabhu's enemies.
Devotee: Quite so. And he goes on to write here: 'The same
Caitanya who revealed the eternal message of the Vedas in the heart of Brahma,
the original philosopher (adi-kavi), appeared again in the Age of Kali
in order to purify the auspicious Vedic doctrine and free it from the
contaminations that had entered into it over the course of time. The four
flaws, i.e., the desire to deceive, inattentiveness, the inadequacy of the
senses, and the tendency to error, affect the judgment of every human being.
Even the greatest scholars cannot free themselves of these defects when it
comes to assessing transcedence. In these matters, the words of the Veda, which
are not the product of human beings, are the only source of sure knowledge. The
other sources of knowledge such as direct perception (pratyaksa),
deduction (anumana), analogy (upamana), tradition (aitihya),
etc., are all incapable of providing sure knowledge independent of sabda,
or the divine sound vibration of the Veda.'
Then
Bhaktivinoda Thakura goes on to write about Krsna as the supreme truth in the
next chapter. 'Here Sri Krsna... '
Gurudeva: No, read further about the disciplic succession.
Read here...
Devotee: 'A discussion of authoritative statements (apta-vakya).
Something special needs to be said about the concept of apta-vakya.
Everything spoken by someone who has attained spiritual authority (apta)
is considered reliable. There is no need to look for hidden meanings in their
words. The meaning that arises immediately upon hearing a series of words is
the direct meaning or abhidha vrtti. Take for example, ayam
sacinandanah saksan nandanandanah—'This son of Saci is the same person as
the son of Nanda.' From this statement, it is quite clear that what is being
said is that Gauracandra is one and the same as Krsnacandra. In the expression,
'The village on the Ganges,' however, the direct meaning cannot be accepted,
[because no one builds a village on the water]... '
Gurudeva: In this case we have to go to the implied meaning
or laksana vrtti.
Devotee: [continues reading] 'We understand the implied
meaning that the village is on the banks of the Ganges. In the words of the
Vedas, however, interpretation on the basis of such indirect meanings is not
necessary. In the Chandogya Upanisad (8.13.1)... '
Gurudeva: That is syamac chabalam prapadye sabalac
chyamam prapadye.
Devotee: [continues reading] 'syamac chabalam prapadye
sabalac chyamam prapadye. Krsna's personal energy or svarupa-sakti is
called sabala. So the meaning of this line is, 'I take shelter of Krsna
through the essence of His personal energy and I take shelter of Krsna's
personal energy through Him.' When the direct meaning of the Vedic scriptures
is logical and easily understood.' This part is underlined then why should we
follow Sankara's interpretation and say that syama means 'Brahman within
the heart'? Liberated souls have a natural tendency to worship the Divine
Couple—Radha and Syamasundara. This is the real meaning of this statement from
the Vedic literature.
'Therefore the Caitanya-caritamrita
(1.7.132) says,
laksana
haite svatah pramanata-hani
'If one takes
the indirect meaning of the Vedic texts, then the self-evident nature of the
scriptures is lost.' There are many different categories of indirect meaning...
'
Gurudeva: Alright, you can stop here. We needn't go any
further into the indirect meanings. Now look in the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika;
there is something there. I cannot read it myself.
Devotee: All right, Maharaja. Let's stop here.
Gurudeva: Now what is being said, here too... Whatever Srila
Prabhupada has taught us about the disciplic succession is based on what is
found here. Prabhupada has given a disciplic succession that is based on this
Mahajana parampara. Look here, Prabhupada has given:
sri-krsna-devarsi-badarayana-samjnakan
sri-madhva-sri-padmanabha-sri-narahari-madhavan
aksobhya-jayatirtha-sri-jnana-sindhu-dayanidhin
sri-vidyanidhi-rajendra-jayadharman kramad vayam
purusottama-brahmanya-vyasatirthams ca samstumah
tato laksmipatim sriman-madhavendram ca bhaktitah
tac-chisyan srisvaradvaita-nityanandan jagad-gurun
devam isvara-sisyam sri-caitanyam ca bhajamahe
sri-krsna-prema-danena yena nistaritam jagat
kali-kalusa-santaptam karuna-sindhuna svayam
mahaprabhoh svarupa-sri-damodarah priyaìkarah
rupa-sanatanau dvau ca gosvami-pravarau prabhu
sri-jivo raghunathas ca rupa-priyo mahamatih
tat-priyah kaviraja-sri-krsna-dasa-prabhur matah
tasya priyatamah srilah seva-paro narottamah
tad-anugata-bhaktah sri-visvanathah sad-uttamah
tad-asaktas ca gaudiya-vedantacarya-bhusanam
vidya-bhusana-pada-sri-baladevah sad-asrayah
vaisnava-sarvabhaumah sri-jagannatha-prabhus tatha
sri-mayapura-dhamnas tu nirdesta sajjana-piryah
'I praise
Krsna, Brahma, Devarsi Narada and Vyasa, one after the other. I praise Sri
Madhva, Padmanabha, Narahari, Madhava, Aksobhya, Jayatirtha, Jnanasindhu,
Dayanidhi, Vidyanidhi, Rajendra, Jayadharma, Purusottama, Brahmanya, and Vyasa
Tirtha. We devotedly praise Laksmipati and Madhavendra Puri whose disciples
were Isvara Puri, Advaita Acarya and Nityananda Prabhu, the spiritual masters
of the universe. I worship the ocean of mercy, Lord Sri Caitanya who accepted
Isvara Puri as his guru and then personally saved the world, suffering in the
Kali-yuga.
'Svarupa
Damodara was Mahaprabhu's dear servant as were the two best of the Gosvamis,
Rupa and Sanatana. Dear to Rupa were Sri Jiva and the wise Raghunatha. Very
dear to him was Sri Krsnadasa Kaviraja, and most dear to him was Srila
Narottama Dasa Thakura, so devoted in service. The great saint Visvanatha was
devoted to him, and the great acarya of the Gaudiya Vaisnavas, Baladeva
Vidyabhusana, was attached to Visvanatha. The emperor of the Vaisnavas,
Jagannatha Prabhu followed him; he pointed out the birthplace of the Lord in
Mayapura and thus became dear to all the saintly people.'
This is the
disciplic succession up to Jagannatha Dasa Babaji. Then afterwards comes our
Srila Prabhupada. Some people in Vrndavana said that Jagannatha Dasa lived 150
years, others 130 years. No matter, everyone accepts that he was a great
saintly Vaisnava. He is three generations back. Bhagavata Dasa Babaji took diksa
from Jagannatha Dasa Babaji and Gaura Kishor Dasa was his disciple, that is, he
took bhek2 from him. Prabhupada took initiation from
Gaura-kisora Dasa Babaji.
Gaura-kisora
treated Bhaktivinoda Thakura as a guru and would go to hear the Bhagavatam
from him. It was there that Srila Prabhupada first saw Gaura-kisora and his
extraordinary demeanor. Srila Prabhupada used to say that Gaura-kisora was just
like Raghunatha Dasa, whose renunciation was as firm as a line engraved in
stone. He saw him madly singing a song in which he kept repeating, 'Where is my
Radha, so full of divine love? Where is my Radha, so full of divine love?'
Prabhupada liked the song so much that he wrote it down. Babaji Maharaja was
singing, 'Where is my Radha, so full of divine love?' and the tears were flowing
down his face and onto his chest. Maharaja was so unaware of the world around
him that he did not even see whether he was dressed or not. His cloth had come
off and he was wandering around, completely naked, singing this song to Radha.
When Prabhupada
saw this level of renunciation, he went to Bhaktivinoda Thakura and asked his
permission to take initiation from Gaura-kisora Dasa Babaji. So Bhaktivinoda
Thakura gave him permission. This is the way the disciplic succession comes
down to us. First, Jagannatha Dasa Babaji. Then Bhaktivinoda Thakura took daur-kaupina
from him. And he was Gaura-kisora Dasa Babaji Maharaja's guru and Srila
Prabhupada took initiation from him. So our disciplic succession is coming down
in this way.
Now all these
people in Vrndavana say that the Gaudiya Matha has no parampara. But we
don't accept what they say. Out of their ignorance they say that we have no
disciplic succession. They say that what we have is something entirely new.
They ask us whether we have a guru-pranali. But we ask them to study
this matter carefully and then come back and tell us whether we have a guru-pranali
or not. Then I said to him,
sampradaya-vihina ye mantras te nisphala matah
atah kalau bhavisyanti catvarah sampradayinah
The point is
that if you worship without following the instructions that come in a disciplic
succession of bona fide spiritual masters, then it will not bear fruit. That's
why we repeat this verse,
sampradaya-vihina ye mantras te nisphala matah
atah kalau bhavisyanti catvarah sampradayinah
So what are the
four sampradayas? They are the Sri, Brahma, Rudra and Sanaka
sampradayas. These four will appear in the Age of Kali out of the Purusottama
in Orissa. So there are four lines of disciplic succession. Ramanujam srih
svicakre—the goddess Sri chose Ramanujacarya as her representative. That is
the Sri sampradaya. Madhvacaryam caturmukhah—Brahma selected
Madhvacarya as the founder of his line. Sri-visnu-svaminam rudro—Rudra,
who is considered the foremost of Vaisnavas (vaisnavanam yatha sambhuh),
accepted Visnusvami as the founder of his line, while nimbadityam catuhsanah—the
four Kumaras chose Nimbarka as their representative. So from each of these
founders, preceptorial lines were begun. We do not accept the disciplic
successions of anyone who is against these four Vaisnava sampradayas.
Devotee: They haven't been so influenced. But I have a
question about this.
Gurudeva: All these Babajis want to boycott Srila
Prabhupada.
Devotee: A most unfortunate matter.
Gurudeva: Prabhupada was such a powerful personality. He
spoke with such force that they would just sit in silence. Let them say
whatever they want. Prabhupada's philosophical conclusions are the highest. We
must engage in worship according to these conclusions. Then they will
understand. Everyone is trying to deviate from the truth in different ways.
They try to deviate others and make them fall down from the path of spiritual
life. The people on the other side of the river, in the current Navadvipa town,
used to say, 'Where are you going? To Mayapura? That's so far away from here.'
They would try all kinds of things. Bhaktivinoda Thakura tried so hard to find
the birthplace, but no one could tell him where it was. They only said maybe
here, maybe there.
Devotee: How much compassion he had for the world that led
him to search so vigorously!
Gurudeva: Bhaktivinoda Thakura saw it directly. He saw a
building...
Devotee: He saw a building in Godrumadvipa.
Gurudeva: Prabhupada told us that about Bhaktivinoda
Thakura, and this is absolute and no one should doubt it. Tell him that. I am a
great fool, but two or three days before Srila Prabhupada left this world, I
had the chance to hold his lotus feet on my chest, completely. Prabhupada was
sitting on a chair and I held his feet on my chest. I have no other
qualification. Prabhupada gave me his blessings. And Sridhara Maharaja and many
of Prabhupada's other dear disciples were also very affectionate to me.
Everyone knows these things.
Devotee: This is very true. You have no qualifications,
that is, you are nirguna. You are free of all material qualities!
Gurudeva: No, no. The venerable Sridhara Maharaja...
Whenever I had any kind of doubt, I would go running over to see Sridhara
Maharaja. Some people do not know what kind of relationship existed between us
and so they say many things. So explain to Rama Dasa Baba, that the sampradaya
Prabhupada has given us is called the Bhagavata-parampara. You have to
memorize it.
Baba, explain
one other thing to him. Who is a siddha? If we engage in the practice in
the way we should, then perfection is inevitable. What is the practice?
Devotion. Bhakti is both the means and the end. But it is said,
nitya-siddha krsna-prema sadhya kabhu naya
sravanadi suddha-citte karaye udaya
'Ecstatic love
for Krsna is eternally perfect and cannot be achieved through any effort;
however, it manifests in the heart that has been purified by the acts of
devotion such as hearing and chanting.'(Caitanya-caritamrta 2.22.104)
Hearing and
chanting are activities that purify the consciousness. Of all the devotional
activities, chanting of the Holy Names is the best. Love for God appears to us
when our consciousness has been purified by chanting the Holy Name. Rupa
Gosvami described the process of devotional practice that leads to the
development of prema. Mahaprabhu explained this to Sanatana Gosvami:
kona bhagye kona jivera sraddha jadi haya tabe sei jiva sadhu-saìga je
karaya
sadhu-saìga haite haya sravana-kirtana sadhana-bhaktye haya
sarvanartha-nivartana
anartha-nivrtti haile bhaktye nistha haya nistha haite sravanadye ruci upajaya
ruci haite bhaktye haya asakti pracura asakti haite citte janme krsne
prity-aìkura
sei bhava gadha haile dhare prema-nama sei prema prayojana sarvananda-dhama
'If by some
great good fortune, a certain living entity develops faith in Krsna, he begins
to associate with devotees. As a result of associating with devotees, he takes
up practical devotional service beginning with hearing and chanting. Such
spiritual practice frees him from all unwanted material contamination and that
leads to constancy. When one has nistha or firmness in one's practice,
then a taste for hearing and chanting and other practices arises. The next step
is the awakening of a deep attachment and from that attachment the first manifestations
of love finally appear in the heart like a tree's seedling. These first
ecstatic manifestations are called bhava, which intensify to become love
of Godhead or prema, the ultimate goal of life and the reservoir of all
pleasure.' (Caitanya-caritamrta 2.23.9-13)
When loving
feelings first start to manifest, the devotee starts to experience ecstasy. As
these loving feelings intensify, one attains prema. Prema, or
divine ecstatic love, is the ultimate goal of human life and 'the reservoir of
all pleasure.' When one attains love, then,
premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santah sadaiva hrdayesu
vilokayanti
yam syamasundaram acintya-svarupam govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
'I worship
Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is Syamasundara, Krsna himself with
inconceivable innumerable attributes, whom the pure devotees see in their heart
of hearts with the eye of devotion tinged with the salve of love.' (Brahma-samhita
5.38)
This is what
happens. So anyone who wants to experience love of God must start with chanting
the Holy Name. And that must be done properly. But we cannot understand why our
minds are still being distracted and wandering away from the Name. This is our
own fault. This is why the sign of firmness in practice is given as aviksepena
satatyam, or constancy without distraction. In this way, I may chant five
million Names without experiencing even a drop of ecstatic love.
So we have to
chant the Holy Name, and we must do it properly. If we do so, then we will make
advancement and develop a little affection for the Lord. It is often seen that
as we chant, we may get feelings of extreme humility and perhaps tears will
even come to our eyes. But this should not make us think that we have become
great Vaisnavas. Watch out for that kind of egoism. We are presently only in
the beginning stages of devotional life. There are three degrees of
advancement—beginning, intermediate and advanced. In the beginning stage, our
principal objective is to become free of defects, or anarthas. When we
can rid ourselves of all these anarthas, then we will become fixed in
our devotion. That is the stage known as nistha.
Now what is
going on, Baba, is that these people have not yet given up their sinful
activities, their defects, and they are discussing all of these elevated
aspects of spiritual life, thinking that they are quite advanced. Studying the
lives of these Babajis is just creating a disturbance. It is not our concern
whether someone is good or whatever. We don't want to make any enemies. Why do
you think I keep repeating these Bhagavata verses about fault-finding?
The Bhagavata says that whether you go looking for the qualities or the
faults, it all comes down to the same fault-finding spirit. It has condemned
the practice:
para-svabhava-karmani na prasamsen na garhayet
visvam ekatmakam pasyan prakrtya purusena ca
para-svabhava-karmani yah prasamsati nindati
sa asu bhrasyate svarthad asatyabhinivesatah
'Knowing that
this entire universe is the product of the one indwelling Supersoul and the
combination of matter and spirit, one should not criticize or praise the
activities of others, which are going on as a result of their nature. Anyone
who either praises or criticizes the natural activities of others will quickly
lose his position on the spiritual path because of his absorption in untruth.'
(SB 11.28.1-2)
Ramacandra Puri
had this particular tendency. It is natural for ants to wander everywhere, but
when Ramacandra saw ants near the Gambhira, he said:
ratrav atra
aiksavam asit, tena pipilikah sancaranti aho!
viraktanam sannyasinam iyam indriya-lalaseti bruvann utthaya gatah.
''Last night
there was sugar candy here and so today there are ants all about. How dreadful
to see a renounced sannyasi attached to sense gratification in this
way!' After speaking in this way, he got up and left.' (Caitanya-caritamrta
3.8.48)
When you give
up this faultfinding tendency, you actually become a human being.
Devotee: The Bhagavata clearly says in the very
beginning that this scripture is for the non-envious and the saintly—nirmatsaranam
satam.
Gurudeva: That is so. In the very beginning. What is
religion? dharmah projjhita-kaitavo'tra paramo nirmatsaranam satam... We
cannot accept someone who is envious to be a true sadhu. The question
is, who pleases the Lord? Look at the end of the twelfth chapter of the Bhagavad-gita.
Krsna says,
yasman nodvijate loko lokan nodvijate ca yah
harsamarsa-bhayodvegair mukto yah sa ca me priyah
'I love the
devotee who is neither disturbed by anyone nor causes disturbance to any
person, and who is free from the pulls of euphoria, anger and fear.' (Gita
12.15)
anapeksah sucir daksa udasino gata-vyathah
sarvarambha-parityagi yo mad-bhaktah sa me priyah
'I love the
devotee who has no expectation, is pure and skilled, indifferent, who has no
worries and gives up all sense of self-centered activity.' (Gita 12.16)
yo na hrsyati na dvesti na socati na kaìksati
subhasubha-parityagi bhaktiman yah sa me priyah
'I love the
devoted person who is free from elation, anger, sorrow and craving, who neither
seeks the pleasant nor shuns the unpleasant.' (Gita 12.17)
samah satrau ca mitre ca tatha manapamanayoh
sitosna-sukha-duhkhesu samah saìga-vivarjitah
tulya-ninda-stutir mauni santusto yena kenacit
aniketah sthira-matir bhaktiman me priyo narah
'I love the
devotee who is the same to friend and foe, unchanged by honor or insult, heat
and cold, in pleasure as in pain, who is unmoved by praise or blame, silent,
contented by whatever comes his way, unattached to home, and is steady in
mind.' (Gita 12.18-19)
Krsna Himself
tells us what kind of devotee is dear to Him. So we don't want to create a
relation of undying enmity with any man. Prahlada Maharaja prays for the
happiness of even the envious person—svasty astu visvasya khalah prasidatam (SB
5.18.9). A devotee like Prahlada desires the welfare of everyone in the world.
Devotee: The Vaisnavas are so merciful! Just look at their
compassionate nature. They even seek the welfare and happiness of the evil and
envious.
Gurudeva: Why not? They are all spirit souls. They are
covered over because they have been in bondage since time immemorial. But
Mahaprabhu revealed the nature of the spirit soul when he is free from these
material coverings.
naham vipro na ca narapatir napi vaisyo na sudro
naham varni na ca grhapatir no vanastho yatir va
kintu prodyan-nikhila-paramananda-purnamrtabdher
gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayor dasa-dasanudasah
'I am not a brahmana,
nor a ksatriya, nor a vaisya, nor a sudra. Neither am I a brahmacari,
a householder, a retired man or a renunciate. My real identity is that I am the
most insignificant servant of the servant of the servant of the lotus feet of
Krsna, the lover of the Gopis and overflowing ocean of supreme and immortal
joy.'
This is our
identity when we are in our pure state. This is true for every single jiva,
whether coming from Europe or America. The soul is the same for everyone. There
is only one Supreme Lord, Krsna. He is the father of the universe:
aham sarvasya prabhavo mattah sarvam pravartate
iti matva bhajante mam budha bhava-samanvitah
'I am the
source of all things. Everything proceeds from Me. Believing this, the wise
worship Me with great feeling.' (Gita 10.7)
All the moving
and non-moving creatures—all the universes have come forth from Him. Europe,
America, Africa—all these places have the same source. They are not different.
Even so, the spiritual or mystical tendency is stronger in India. Ever since
Vyasadeva, religious practices have always been stronger here. That is why we
call our land, 'spiritual India' (paramarthika bharata). This is why
Mahaprabhu never left India, even though He said,
prthivite ache jata nagaradi grama
sarvatra pracara haibeka mora nama
'My name will
be heard in every single town and village in the world.' (Caitanya-bhagavat
3.14.126)
And where were
Bhaktivinoda Thakura's books found? In a library. Svami Maharaja found
Bhaktivinoda Thakura's book in a library. Svami Maharaja went throughout the
world— Europe, America, everywhere. Vivekananda also went, but he acted
improperly, spreading incorrect doctrines. Only the Gaudiya Matha teaches the
truth as given by Mahaprabhu.
Vivekananda
taught the equality of all religions, sarva-dharma-samanvaya. Somebody
considers karma to be the best path, someone else jnana, someone else
yoga. But Mahaprabhu pointed out that bhakti was the only way and that
these others were ultimately ineffective. All these things—karma, jnana,
yoga—have been explained in the Bhagavad-gita. But in the end, Krsna
says,
man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru
mam evaisyasi satyam te pratijane priyo'si me
'Always think
of Me, worship Me by engaging in devotional service of hearing and chanting,
serve Me in My Deity form, offer your very being unto Me, and you will surely
reach Me. This is My sincere promise to you because you are My dear friend.'(Gita
18.65)
And then He
follows that by saying, sarva-dharman parityajya—abandon all these other
paths. In particular, sarva-dharman means the practices related to varnasrama-dharma.
This is stated in the commentary by Visvanatha Cakravarti. Varnasrama-dharma
implies the worshiping of various gods and goddesses.
So, Baba,
memorize the disciplic succession that was given by Srila Prabhupada. Repeat it
each day when you are performing your daily (ahnika) rituals after
bathing. You will achieve everything by simply doing this. We are not without a
proper disciplic succession. We worship according to the standards of the
disciplic succession. For it is stated, mahajano yena gatah sa panthah.
tarko'pratisthah srutayo vibhinna nasau rsir yasya matam na bhinnam
dharmasya tattvam nihitam guhayam mahajano yena gatah sa panthah
'Argument alone
has no solid foundation. The scriptures contradict each other. No one is
considered a sage without having expressed an individual opinion. The truths
about religious duty are concealed in the heart. Thus, the only true path is
the one that has been followed by great authorities.' (Mahabharata)
This verse was
spoken by Yudhisthira. Arguments alone cannot bring one to any firm conclusion.
Argument depends on the use of deduction and so on, but these are insufficient
to give a firm basis. The scriptures give varying opinions. There is a Bengali
saying, nana muni nana mata—'Many philosophers, many opinions.' No one
can establish himself as a philosopher unless he presents an original opinion.
So which way should I go? He goes on, dharmasya tattvam nihitam guhayam—'The
truth of religions is concealed in the heart of a pure devotee.' Therefore, in
the story of Ajamila in the Bhagavatam, twelve great authorities are
mentioned by name. The Yamadutas went to Yamaraja to complain about the
Visnudutas. Yamaraja explained to them:
dharmas tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam na vai vidur rsayo napi devah
na siddha-mukhya asura manusyah kuto nu vidyadhara-caranadayah
'Religious
duties have been established by God Himself. Thus no one really knows them in
full—not the rsis, demigods, perfected beings, demons or humans, what to speak
of the Vidyadharas or the Caranas.'
svayambhur naradah sambhuh kumarah kapilo manuh
prahlado janako bhismo balir vaiyasakir vayam
dvadasaite vijanimo dharmam bhagavatam bhatah
guhyam visuddham durbodham yam jnatvamrtam asnute
'There are
twelve of us who do know the religious duties prescribed by the Lord, the Bhagavata-dharma.
We are Brahma, Narada, Siva, the four Kumaras, Kapila, Manu, Prahlada, Janaka,
Bhisma, Bali, Suka and myself. Anyone who understands this secret, pure and
mysterious teaching will attain immortality.' (Srimad Bhagavatam
6.3.19-21)
We are
following the same path that was established by these great authorities.
Prabhupada taught us all this. There are so many brahmanas' names in the
guru parampara lists. Prabhupada knew all this, but what was his vision?
Externally, people may say so many things, but what is going on internally?
Therefore he did not accept any of it. I mean Bhaktivinoda Thakura's spiritual
master... Srila Prabhupada was an extremely spirited and vigorous preacher, you
know.
Devotee: He refused to accept any deception in the name of
religion.
Gurudeva: Falsity, deception. He gave no quarter to any of
these things. All these so-called siddhas! They are siddha
('boiled') like boiled potatoes or boiled vegetables. Just saying someone is a
perfected being does not make it so. Perfect in devotion! How many people are
actually engaged in cultivating devotional service? Simply carrying a fat
string of japa beads does not mean that I am engaged in the proper
practice of devotional service. This is all phony devotion, mere imitation.
Devotee: Guru Maharaja, what about Vipina Vihari Gosvami?
The way that Bhaktivinoda Thakura writes about him, it seems that he was very
respectful toward him.
Gurudeva: Bhaktivinoda Thakura accepted him as his guru. For
this reason we should never disrespect him. We must be silent about this
matter. But we can say that Prabhupada did not agree to follow in his
footsteps. So it is not necessary for us to do so either.
Devotee: Nowadays, all the Western devotees are coming
along and trying to find out everything they can about the past history of the matha.
They want to know who had what kinds of relations with whom and so on.
Gurudeva: Yes, I know about that. When I went to Vrndavana,
the Babajis would say that the Gaudiya Matha has no guru parampara. This
or that is missing from the Gaudiya Matha's tradition. But Srila Prabhupada was
an extremely spirited and strong individual, you know. He never bothered with
any of their criticisms.
Devotee: He just blew them off like puffs of smoke.
Gurudeva: Prabhupada used to say to me when I was taking
notes, 'Note this down carefully. These are things that you won't hear again.'
I could say more, but I have been sick for the past five years. But don't allow
doubts to trouble you. Everything that I am saying I heard from Srila
Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada was jagat-guru. Whatever the Vrndavana
Babajis say about us is completely unjust. Baba, just explain one thing to
them: Firm devotion only comes after sinful contamination is removed from the
heart.
adau sraddha tatah sadhu-sago'tha bhajana-kriyah
tato'nartha-nivrttih syat tato nistha rucis tatah
'First, one has
faith. Then he can associate with devotees. This leads to the practice of
devotional activities like hearing and chanting. The result of such practices
is firm commitment to devotion.'
That is also
explained in the Bhagavatam:
tada rajas-tamo-bhavah kama-lobhadayas ca ye
ceta etair anaviddham sthitam sattve prasidati
'When this
state of naisthiki bhakti is reached, the effects of nature's modes of
passion and ignorance, such as lust, desire and hankering, disappear from the
devotee's heart. Thus established in goodness, the devotee becomes completely
happy.' (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.19)
No one is
hoodwinking you here. First rid yourself of your anarthas, then you will
come to the stage of nistha.
Devotee: And we get rid of our anarthas by
determined practice of bhajana.
Gurudeva: That's correct. We must engage in the practices of
devotion, bhajana. There is nothing to worry about. Everything that I am
saying I heard from Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada was jagat-guru.
No one can add to what Prabhupada said. His word is final. Prabhupada used to
sing about being his spiritual master's dog. I am like that. You know,
Bhaktivinoda Thakura's song?
sarvasva tomara carana sampiya parechi tomara ghare
tumi ta thakura tomara kukura baliya janaha more
baìdhiya nikate amare palibe rahiba tomara dvare
pratipa janere asite na diba rakhiba garera pare
tava nija-jana prasada seviya ucchista rakhibe jaha
amara bhojana parama anande prati dine habe taha
basiya suiya tomara carana cintiba satata ami
nacite nacite nikate jaiba jakhana dakibe tumi
nijere posana kabhu na bhaviba rahiba bhavera bhare
bhakativinoda tomare palaka baliya varana kare
'I have
surrendered everything to your lotus feet and have fallen at your door. I ask
you to recognize that I am your dog and you are my master.
'You will tie
me up nearby and take care of me. I will remain near your doorway and chase away
thieves and other dangerous people, keeping them on the other side of the moat.
'Every day, I
will joyfully eat only the leftovers of the devotees who have eaten your prasada.
'Whether
sitting or lying down, I will only think of your lotus feet. Whenever you call,
I will go dancing toward you.
'I will never
think of my own needs or maintenance, but will remain blissfully in the joy of
my feelings for you. Bhaktivinoda officially accepts you as his protector.' (Saranagati,
19)
I go running to
the Lord when He calls me, 'Hey you!'
Devotee: Please be merciful to us that we may also become
pet dogs like that. May we become your dog!
Gurudeva: Let me give you some advice. Buy a copy of Mahaprabhura
Siksa. Just see how Bhaktivinoda Thakura has written about the disciplic
succession. I will not be able to give you this copy...
Devotee: I will try to get hold of a copy.
Gurudeva: You can get it at the Bagh Bazaar Matha.
FOOTNOTES
1 Sabda-sara, a Sanskrit-Bengali dictionary
by Girish Chandra Vidyaratna, professor Sanskrit College, Calcutta, 3rd
edition, revised and enlarged. Calcutta: The Girish Vidyaratna Press, 1880.
2 Bhek is the sannyasa initiation of the babajis.
3 The loincloth that is characteristic of the Babaji
stage of life, i.e., he was his sannyasa guru.
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