"The Acharya as Myself"
How are we to properly understand the relationship between the spiritual master and the Supreme Lord? How are we to properly honor and respect the spiritual master? Should he be seen as an ordinary man, or should he be given special respect?
Instead of speculating with our conditioned consciousness, these questions are best answered by the supreme authority, Lord Sri Krishna Himself, as He describes to Sri Uddhava in the 11th Canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam:
acaryam mam vijaniyan
navamanyeta karhicit
na martya-buddhyasuyeta
sarva-deva-mayo guruh
"One should know the acarya as Myself and never disrespect him in any way. One should not envy him, thinking him an ordinary man, for he is the representative of all the demigods."
---Srimad Bhagavatam 11.17.27
Of course is not that the guru, the acharya, is Krishna, the lifter of Govardhan Hill. He is instead the most confidential servitor of the Supreme Lord. Therefore he is empowered by the Lord with His shakti, His divine energy, for spreading Krishna consciousness all over the world. And He should, on the Lord's order, be given the same honor and respect that is given to the Lord. This is in may ways similar to a tax collector collecting taxes from the citizens for turning into the government. The spiritual master collects the loving devotional service of his disciples on behalf of the predecessor acharyas and on behalf of Lord Krishna.
Krishna considers our surrendered service to the spiritual master to be so essential that He says, "If you want to be My devotee directly, I will not accept your service. I will only accept your service if it is offered via the transparent medium of the bona fide spiritual master."
We must be very careful to find the bona fide spiritual master. In the age of Kali mostly the gurus are charlatans. It is very difficult to find one who is bona fide. For someone to actually be an acharya, they must be engaged 24 hours daily in the Lord's service under the guidance of their acharya. It's not that anyone can become an acharya simply by a slick advertising campaign, as is nowadays the fashion.
However, once having found the bona fide spiritual we should fully surrender ourselves at his lotus feet by accepting his instructions as our very life and soul. This will make our lives perfect.
With all my humble respect to you,
Hasmukh Shah
tad viddhi pranipatena
pariprasnena sevaya
upadeksyanti te jnanam
jnaninas tattva-darsinah
"Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth." ----Bhagavad-gita 4.34
Then under his expert guidance, one should carefully these following injunctions:
satatam kirtayanto mam
yatantas ca drdha-vratah
namasyantas ca mam bhaktya
nitya-yukta upasate
"Always chanting My glories, endeavoring with great determination, bowing down before Me, these great souls perpetually worship Me with devotion."
--Bhagavad-gita 9.14
yat karosi yad asnasi
yaj juhosi dadasi yat
yat tapasyasi kaunteya
tat kurusva mad-arpanam
"Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give away, and whatever austerities you perform -- do that, O son of Kunti, as an offering to Me."---Bhagavad-gita 9.27
man-mana bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yaji mam namaskuru
mam evaisyasi yuktvaivam
atmanam mat-parayanah
"Engage your mind always in thinking of Me, become My devotee, offer obeisances to Me and worship Me. Being completely absorbed in Me, surely you will come to Me." ---Bhagavad-gita 9.34
If you can sincerely follow the above four verses from the Bhagavad-gita, you will become a perfect devotee 100% absorbed in Krishna consciousness 24 hours daily. And at the all crucial time of passing out of your body, by such a dedicated life, you will be guaranteed entrance into the Spiritual World.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Instead of speculating with our conditioned consciousness, these questions are best answered by the supreme authority, Lord Sri Krishna Himself, as He describes to Sri Uddhava in the 11th Canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam:
acaryam mam vijaniyan
navamanyeta karhicit
na martya-buddhyasuyeta
sarva-deva-mayo guruh
"One should know the acarya as Myself and never disrespect him in any way. One should not envy him, thinking him an ordinary man, for he is the representative of all the demigods."
---Srimad Bhagavatam 11.17.27
Of course is not that the guru, the acharya, is Krishna, the lifter of Govardhan Hill. He is instead the most confidential servitor of the Supreme Lord. Therefore he is empowered by the Lord with His shakti, His divine energy, for spreading Krishna consciousness all over the world. And He should, on the Lord's order, be given the same honor and respect that is given to the Lord. This is in may ways similar to a tax collector collecting taxes from the citizens for turning into the government. The spiritual master collects the loving devotional service of his disciples on behalf of the predecessor acharyas and on behalf of Lord Krishna.
Krishna considers our surrendered service to the spiritual master to be so essential that He says, "If you want to be My devotee directly, I will not accept your service. I will only accept your service if it is offered via the transparent medium of the bona fide spiritual master."
We must be very careful to find the bona fide spiritual master. In the age of Kali mostly the gurus are charlatans. It is very difficult to find one who is bona fide. For someone to actually be an acharya, they must be engaged 24 hours daily in the Lord's service under the guidance of their acharya. It's not that anyone can become an acharya simply by a slick advertising campaign, as is nowadays the fashion.
However, once having found the bona fide spiritual we should fully surrender ourselves at his lotus feet by accepting his instructions as our very life and soul. This will make our lives perfect.
Answers According to the Vedic Version
Question: How to Remain Always in Devotion?...
Chanting the Hare Krishna Mahamantra and eating prasadam, the remnants of foodstuff offered to Krishna, can be understood easily. But my humble request is to explain how to remain always engaged in devotional service to Lord.With all my humble respect to you,
Hasmukh Shah
Answer: Follow these Four Verses...
Krishna explains clearly in the Bhagavad-gita how to always be engaged in devotional service. Kindly note the following verses:tad viddhi pranipatena
pariprasnena sevaya
upadeksyanti te jnanam
jnaninas tattva-darsinah
"Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth." ----Bhagavad-gita 4.34
Then under his expert guidance, one should carefully these following injunctions:
satatam kirtayanto mam
yatantas ca drdha-vratah
namasyantas ca mam bhaktya
nitya-yukta upasate
"Always chanting My glories, endeavoring with great determination, bowing down before Me, these great souls perpetually worship Me with devotion."
--Bhagavad-gita 9.14
yat karosi yad asnasi
yaj juhosi dadasi yat
yat tapasyasi kaunteya
tat kurusva mad-arpanam
"Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give away, and whatever austerities you perform -- do that, O son of Kunti, as an offering to Me."---Bhagavad-gita 9.27
man-mana bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yaji mam namaskuru
mam evaisyasi yuktvaivam
atmanam mat-parayanah
"Engage your mind always in thinking of Me, become My devotee, offer obeisances to Me and worship Me. Being completely absorbed in Me, surely you will come to Me." ---Bhagavad-gita 9.34
If you can sincerely follow the above four verses from the Bhagavad-gita, you will become a perfect devotee 100% absorbed in Krishna consciousness 24 hours daily. And at the all crucial time of passing out of your body, by such a dedicated life, you will be guaranteed entrance into the Spiritual World.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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