Dear to Everyone

A devotee of the Lord is dear to everyone because everyone is dear to him. It is natural that if someone truly loves us that we will be also be inclined to love them in reciprocation. This is how the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) was started single-handedly in 1966 by our most beloved Founder-Acharya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Those who received the loving kindness of Srila Prabhupada were so inspired that they wanted to serve him in any way they could. And when, in this way, they gave their love to Srila Prabhupada, he would give them even more love and they would become even more inspired to serve him even more. And then on his order the followers of Srila Prabhupada spread out all over the world giving that love to as many people as possible, thus laying the ground work for this ever-expanding ocean of loving kindness known as the Hare Krishna Movement. This ever-increasing ocean of love just keeps on expanding more and more and more. One day it will become so much expanded that it will engulf the entire universe.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Is Scripture Our Guru?

Can someone consider sastra (the scriptures) as their guru ?

Thank you,

Hare Krishna

Jayprakash

Answer: Scripture Not a Guru Substitute

Our first birth is from our mother and father. Our second birth is from the guru, who is our second father, and from the Vedic scriptures, which are our second mother.

In conceiving a child both the father and mother play distinct non-interchangeable roles. Similarly on the pathway of self-realization the spiritual master and the scriptures both play distinct non-interchangeable roles.

The scriptures are like a mega pharmacy which contains hundreds and thousands of different kinds of medicines. The spiritual master is like the skilled physician who has realized the essence of the Vedic scriptures and can specifically prescribe for each individual disciple a customized program which is the most suitable for that individual disciple.

When we do to the pharmacy we come with the prescription we have received from our doctor. Similarly when we approach the Vedic wisdom we do so under their guidance of our spiritual master. This is how we are able to come to a proper understanding of the scriptural knowledge.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

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