Dreaming of a Global Spiritual Renaissance
As I travel through so many major population centers around the world I am saddened to see how much the human society in lost in the mire of delusion. They have strayed so far away from human existence that it is downright shocking to see their grossly ignorant mentality. I want to reach out and help them, but they do not understand. It is only an extremely rare soul who can actually comprehend the merciful and enlightening message of the Bhagavad-gita. One has to be very fortunate to understand this transcendental message.
On the order of my spiritual master I am trying to do whatever I can, along with his other followers, to bring about a global spiritual renaissance, even though it seems from the material point of view that the odds are hopelessly against such a thing ever happening. Such a life, of living for the welfare of all on the order of the Lord and his pure devotee, is most exciting and fulfilling. But I will never be fully satisfied until I see this entire planet fully embracing the process of Krishna consciousness. Until then my heart bleeds to see the unnecessary misfortune of those who are completely captivated by illusion. I am praying for their deliverance.
Guru Nanak after testing many of his disciples selected Guru Angad as his successor and announced it before everyone by placing his hands on him and declaring Guru Angad as his representative and successor.
Did Srila Prabhupada also select a person who represents him and is his successor, or is it that any of his disciples who are following the regulative principles could be a Guru and initiate disciples? Even in the disciplic succession from Lord Krishna to Srila Prabhupada (mentioned in Bhagvad-gita) only one guru is mentioned at each step. Or is there a chain of gurus at any of the steps?
Your Student
"So we got this information from His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, and that knowledge is still going on. You are receiving through his servant. And in future the same knowledge will go to your students. This is called parampara system. Evam parampara praptam. It is not that you have become a student and you'll remain student. No. One day you shall become also guru and make more students, more students, more. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission, not that perpetually... Yes, one should remain perpetually a student, but he has to act as guru. That is the mission of Caitanya Mahaprabhu."
--Lecture -- Hyderabad, December 10, 1976
Apparently you have not read the Guru Parampara list very carefully. There are many instances in our Guru Parampara when there was more than one present acharya listed. The Guru Parampara is like a tree. From the trunk comes many branches, and from each branch comes many sub-branch each with many sub-branches.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
On the order of my spiritual master I am trying to do whatever I can, along with his other followers, to bring about a global spiritual renaissance, even though it seems from the material point of view that the odds are hopelessly against such a thing ever happening. Such a life, of living for the welfare of all on the order of the Lord and his pure devotee, is most exciting and fulfilling. But I will never be fully satisfied until I see this entire planet fully embracing the process of Krishna consciousness. Until then my heart bleeds to see the unnecessary misfortune of those who are completely captivated by illusion. I am praying for their deliverance.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari Plants the Seeds of Spiritual Renaissance in Sillamae, Estonia
Answers According to the Vedic Version
Question: Who Succeeds Srila Prabhupada?...
I have a question related to the discussion below ...Guru Nanak after testing many of his disciples selected Guru Angad as his successor and announced it before everyone by placing his hands on him and declaring Guru Angad as his representative and successor.
Did Srila Prabhupada also select a person who represents him and is his successor, or is it that any of his disciples who are following the regulative principles could be a Guru and initiate disciples? Even in the disciplic succession from Lord Krishna to Srila Prabhupada (mentioned in Bhagvad-gita) only one guru is mentioned at each step. Or is there a chain of gurus at any of the steps?
Your Student
Answer: Those Who Strictly Follow Him...
Srila Prabhupada instructed that all of his disciples who are strictly follow him would become gurus. He gave this instruction to us many, many times. For example, here is one such instance from a lecture he gave in Hyderabad:"So we got this information from His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, and that knowledge is still going on. You are receiving through his servant. And in future the same knowledge will go to your students. This is called parampara system. Evam parampara praptam. It is not that you have become a student and you'll remain student. No. One day you shall become also guru and make more students, more students, more. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission, not that perpetually... Yes, one should remain perpetually a student, but he has to act as guru. That is the mission of Caitanya Mahaprabhu."
--Lecture -- Hyderabad, December 10, 1976
Apparently you have not read the Guru Parampara list very carefully. There are many instances in our Guru Parampara when there was more than one present acharya listed. The Guru Parampara is like a tree. From the trunk comes many branches, and from each branch comes many sub-branch each with many sub-branches.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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