Learning to Love Srila Prabhupada our Spiritual Master

LEARNING TO LOVE SRILA PRABHUPADA OUR SPIRITUAL MASTER

Hare Krsna–
It has become fashionable of late for some devotees to think they are liberated souls and they exhibit some “ecstatic” symptoms artificially to show their so called advancement. However as Srila Prabhupada explains below the bona fide ecstatic symptoms are coming  from the spiritual plane and are not shown or given  to others by some sort of “practice” or “exercises of the mind”. This  form of  pretending is nothing new among devotees of the Lord as all sorts of cheaters like this have existed since long long ago. Unfortunately  they are much too  prominent today due to lack of knowledge and the all pervasive ignorance due to the age of Kali.

SB 3.2.5-TRANSLATION

It was so observed by Vidura that Uddhava had all the transcendental bodily changes due to total ecstasy, and he was trying to wipe away tears of separation from his eyes. Thus Vidura could understand that Uddhava had completely assimilated extensive love for the Lord.

PURPORT-The symptoms of the highest order of devotional life were observed by Vidura, an experienced devotee of the Lord, and he confirmed Uddhava’s perfectional stage of love of Godhead. Ecstatic bodily changes are manifested from the spiritual plane and are not artificial expressions developed by practice. There are three different stages of development in devotional service. The first stage is that of following the regulative principles prescribed in the codes of devotional service, the second stage is that of assimilation and realization of the steady condition of devotional service, and the last stage is that of ecstasy symptomized by transcendental bodily expression. The nine different modes of devotional service, such as hearing, chanting and remembering, are the beginning of the process. By regular hearing of the glories and pastimes of the Lord, the impurities in the student’s heart begin to be washed off. The more one is cleansed of impurities, the more one becomes fixed in devotional service. Gradually the activities take the forms of steadiness, firm faith, taste, realization and assimilation, one after another. These different stages of gradual development increase love of God to the highest stage, and in the highest stage there are still more symptoms, such as affection, anger and attachment, gradually rising in exceptional cases to the mahā-bhāva stage, which is generally not possible for the living entities. All these were manifested by Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the personification of love of God.

SB 8.3.10-–I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the self-effulgent Supersoul, who is the witness in everyone’s heart, who enlightens the individual soul and who cannot be reached by exercises of the mind, words or consciousness.

PURPORT-The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, cannot be understood by the individual soul through mental, physical or intellectual exercises. It is by the grace of the Supreme Personality of Godhead that the individual soul is enlightened. Therefore, the Lord is described here as ātma-pradīpa. The Lord is like the sun, which illuminates everything and cannot be illuminated by anyone. Therefore, if one is serious about understanding the Supreme, one must receive enlightenment from Him, as instructed in Bhagavad-gītā. One cannot understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead by one’s mental, physical or intellectual powers.

So we can understand by the above two verses and purports, that God or Krsna is not understandable by any material contrivance including our mind, intelligence or words. Since there is so much word jugglery today it is relatively easy to fool others into believing that someone has reached a “state of consciousness” that is  way  above  all the others and that one should listen to that person.

And that may be true, but we have to carefully listen to what that person or devotee is saying. If he is saying he has reached levels of ecstasy, which is explained  all over Prabhupadas books, especially NOD, then how to understand this is true?

First of all that state of consciousness is never reached without  knowledge and  renunciation. Generally what we see (if you are fortunate to see behind the scenes or thru intelligence) is that people who preach about these “higher states” are mostly  sense enjoyers,  are very  fond of keeping women around them, take intoxication of some sort, and are also expert at word jugglery. And when  carefully questioned about their personal knowledge, they always fall far short. It is called vairagya viddhi–by knowledge and detachment we achieve the favor of God-Krsna and then He blesses us with transcendental gifts.

One may even have  some personal powers or shakti to explain about these things, but one key point is- has this person obeyed  or disobeyed his spiritual master anywhere down the line or over time?

One  very good example that comes to mind is one NM (Narayan Maharaj) who after Prabhupada left this mortal plane began to take Prabhupadas disciples, re name and re initiate them and then tell them they were such and such in Krsna lila, something that “only he” could discover. I was told by one of the two devotees who went to visit this person before Prabhupada left us, that this person’s (NM’s) guru, told him NOT to ever initiate new disciples. And this is what NM told these two devotees when they came to visit him. His guru said to him- Dont initiate anybody. So from the very beginning NM’s  guru knew something about this person that prompted him to give this disciple this order-not to initiate. And we now see the result of that disobedience. And then so many were fooled by his word jugglery and highly offensive speech against our Srila Prabhupada afterwards. This is just one example of so many….

Now what about  some devotees who may preach we should develop a loving relationship with Srila Prabhupada? They dont talk ever of developing all these ecstatic symptoms for Krsna, or bhava etc etc, but —just to develop some feeling for our spiritual master Srila Prabhupada-thats all. How many devotees will be able to hear this kind of talk in the recent climate of so much sahajiyas we have seen all over?

When we have had so much bad experience over time of so many cheaters, it is natural to reject any  talk like this. But for those who  have something upstairs besides cow dung,  if they listen to such speech they will find a wealth of information that is important for all Bhaktas to move forward towards Krsna, but first that wont happen until and unless we learn how to love His representative-Srila Prabhupada.

Even the Christians preach that one must have a loving relationship with Jesus. This is their and our philosophy as well.

“There are many things which hinder one from entering devotional service. But by the association of pure devotees all these obstacles are removed. The neophyte devotee becomes practically enriched with the transcendental qualities of the pure devotee, which means attraction for the Personality of Godhead’s name, fame, quality, pastimes, etc. Infection of the qualities of the pure devotee means to imbibe the taste of pure devotion always in the transcendental activities of the Personality of Godhead.  This transcendental taste at once makes all material things distasteful. Therefore a pure devotee is not at all attracted by material activities”. (SB 1.5.25)”

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura writes:

I offer you all respects,
for thus I may have the energy
to know you correctly.
Then by chanting the holy name in great ecstasy,
all my offenses will cease.

BG 4.10 purport…By execution of devotional service under the guidance of the spiritual master, one becomes free from all material attachment, attains steadiness in self-realization, and acquires a taste for hearing about the Absolute Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa. This taste leads one further forward to attachment for Kṛṣṇa consciousness, which is matured in bhāva, or the preliminary stage of transcendental love of God. Real love for God is called premā, the highest perfectional stage of life.” In the premā stage there is constant engagement in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. So, by the slow process of devotional service, under the guidance of the bona fide spiritual master, one can attain the highest stage, being freed from all material attachment, from the fearfulness of one’s individual spiritual personality, and from the frustrations resulting from void philosophy. Then one can ultimately attain to the abode of the Supreme Lord.

BG 10.10 purport…When a person knows the goal of life but is addicted to the fruits of activities, he is acting in karma-yoga. When he knows that the goal is Kṛṣṇa, but he takes pleasure in mental speculations to understand Kṛṣṇa, he is acting in jnāna-yoga. And when he knows the goal and seeks Kṛṣṇa completely in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and devotional service, he is acting in bhakti-yoga, or buddhi-yoga, which is the complete yoga. This complete yoga is the highest perfectional stage of life.

A person may have a bona fide spiritual master and may be attached to a spiritual organization, but still, if he is not intelligent enough to make progress, then Kṛṣṇa from within gives him instructions so that he may ultimately come to Him without difficulty. The qualification is that a person always engage himself in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and with love and devotion render all kinds of services. He should perform some sort of work for Kṛṣṇa, and that work should be with love. If a devotee is intelligent enough, he will make progress on the path of self-realization. If one is sincere and devoted to the activities of devotional service, the Lord gives him a chance to make progress and ultimately attain to Him.

BG12.9 purport... In this material existence, I may be engaged in some service to some master, but I don’t really lovingly serve my master. I simply serve to get some money. And the master also is not in love; he takes service from me and pays me. So there is no question of love. But for spiritual life, one must be elevated to the pure stage of love. That stage of love can be achieved by practice of devotional service, performed with the present senses.

This love of God is now in a dormant state in everyone’s heart. And, there, love of God is manifested in different ways, but it is contaminated by the material association. Now the material association has to be purified, and that dormant, natural love for Kṛṣṇa has to be revived. That is the whole process.

To practice the regulative principles of bhakti-yoga one should, under the guidance of an expert spiritual master, follow certain principles: one should rise early in the morning, take bath, enter the temple and offer prayers and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, then collect flowers to offer to the Deity, cook foodstuffs to offer to the Deity, take prasādam, and so on. There are various rules and regulations which one should follow. And one should constantly hear Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from pure devotees. This practice can help anyone to rise to the level of love of God, and then he is sure of his progress into the spiritual kingdom of God. This practice of bhakti-yoga, under the rules and regulations, with the direction of a spiritual master, will surely bring one to the stage of love of God.

BG 17.8…Remnants of food may be eaten only when they are part of a meal that was first offered to the Supreme Lord or first eaten by saintly persons, especially the spiritual master.

Adi 1.60 purport…As one advances in devotional activities, the process becomes progressively clearer and more encouraging. Unless one gets this spiritual encouragement by following the instructions of the spiritual master, it is not possible to make advancement. Therefore, one’s development of a taste for executing these instructions is the test of one’s devotional service. Initially, a person must develop confidence by hearing the science of devotion from a qualified spiritual master. Then, as he associates with devotees and tries to adopt the means instructed by the spiritual master in his own life, his misgivings and other obstacles are vanquished by his execution of devotional service. Strong attachment for the transcendental service of the Lord develops as he continues listening to the messages of Godhead, and if he steadfastly proceeds in this way, he is certainly elevated to spontaneous love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Adi 7.73 purport...The holy name and the Lord are identical. One who is completely free from the clutches of māyā can understand this fact. This knowledge, which is achieved by the mercy of the spiritual master, places one on the supreme transcendental platform. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu presented Himself as a fool because prior to accepting the shelter of a spiritual master He could not understand that simply by chanting one can be relieved from all material conditions. But as soon as He became a faithful servant of His spiritual master and followed his instructions, He very easily saw the path of liberation.

NOI 4... The devotee who is neither a neophyte nor a mahā-bhāgavata (a greatly advanced devotee) but is within the middle status of devotional service is expected to love the Supreme Personality of Godhead, (and his guru) make friends with the devotees, show favor to the ignorant and reject the jealous and demoniac.

KB 1.23….Women in general, being very simple in heart, can very easily take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and when they develop love of Kṛṣṇa they can easily get liberation from the clutches of māyā, which is very difficult for even so-called intelligent and learned men to surpass. According to Vedic injunction, women are not allowed to undergo the purificatory process of initiation by the sacred thread, nor are they allowed to live as brahmacāriṇī in the āśrama of the spiritual master; nor are they advised to undergo the strict disciplinary procedure; nor are they very much expert in discussing philosophy or self-realization. And by nature they are not very pure; nor are they very much attached to auspicious activities. “But how wonderful it is that they have developed transcendental love for Kṛṣṇa, the Lord of all mystic yogīs!” the brāhmaṇas exlaimed. “They have surpassed all of us in firm faith and devotion unto Kṛṣṇa. Being too attached to the materialistic way of life, although we are considered to be masters in all purificatory processes, we did not actually know what the goal is. Even though we were reminded of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma by the cowherd boys, we disregarded Them. We think now that it was simply a trick of mercy upon us by the Supreme Personality of Godhead that He sent His friends to beg foodstuff from us. Otherwise, He had no need to send them. He could have satisfied their hunger then and there just by willing to do so.”

Oct  18 1968 lecture...So if you think of Kṛṣṇa, that is the process, Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Then mayy āsakta-manāḥ pārtha yogaṁ yunjan mad-āśrayaḥ, if you practice this yoga system, Kṛṣṇa consciousness, how? Mad-āśrayaḥ. Mad-āśrayaḥ means “taking shelter of somebody who is in touch with Me.” Mad-āśrayaḥ. Mad-āśrayaḥ means directly in touch with Him. Directly you are in touch with Him as soon as you think of Him, His form. But unless you take shelter of a spiritual master who knows about Him, you cannot concentrate for a long time. It may be temporary. Therefore you have to hear from a person who knows about Kṛṣṇa. Then your concentration of mind on Kṛṣṇa will continue. You have to act according to his direction everything. Your life should be molded in such a way under the direction of the spiritual master. Then you can continue this yoga system perfectly.

July 5 1971 LA

Prabhupāda: …He was traveling in South India. He saw one brāhmaṇa reading Bhagavad-gītā. And persons who knew him, that “That man was illiterate,” it was not possible for him to read Bhagavad-gītā… But still, he was trying to read it, and crying also. So while others were criticizing, Caitanya Mahāprabhu came to him, “Brāhmaṇa, what you are reading?” So he could understand that “This person, He’s not come here to criticize me. He’s serious.” So he talked seriously, “Sir, I am reading Bhagavad-gītā. Unfortunately, I am illiterate.” Now see. He is illiterate and he is reading Bhagavad-gītā. Caitanya Mahāprabhu inquired that “How is that, you’re reading Bhagavad-gītā and you say you are illiterate?” He said, “Yes, actually I am illiterate, but my Guru Mahārāja asked me that ‘You should read every day eighteen chapters.’ So what can I do? (laughter) I have to carry out the order of my spiritual master. So I have simply taken this book. I am seeing it.” Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “Oh, you are not seeing it, simply. You are crying also.” “Yes, Sir, I am crying also.” “Then if you are not reading, how you are crying?” “Sir, I am not reading, but I’m feeling.” “What is that?” “As soon as I take this Bhagavad-gītā in my hand, immediately I feel Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna sitting on the same chariot, and Arjuna is ordering Kṛṣṇa that ‘You drive my chariot between the two soldiers,’ and Kṛṣṇa is driving. So I am simply feeling how Kṛṣṇa is nice, that He can work as a servant of His devotee. When I feel like that, I cry, how Kṛṣṇa is so kind.” Caitanya Mahāprabhu immediately embraced him, that “You are really studying Bhagavad-gītā.” So unless we develop our love for Kṛṣṇa, there is no meaning of reading. And if we can develop our love for Kṛṣṇa just like this brāhmaṇa, even without reading any book, that is wanted.

Note –– this is a wonderful story of Mahaprabhu explaining the melting of the heart of this illiterate fellow  and it was the real reading of BG-and if we read and dont feel “something”, then our hearts continue to remain “steel framed”. Similarly with the bona fide spiritual master, if we dont feel “something” every time we think of him then what does that tell us about our so called “bhakti”. This is NOT sahajiya mentality  this is real bhakti yoga and something we should aspire for.

Hare Krsna
Damaghosa das