Transcendental Bliss
There are four kinds of happiness: happiness in the mode of ignorance, happiness in the mode of passion, happiness in the mode of goodness, and transcendental bliss (happiness in pure goodness). Happiness in the mode of ignorance is poison in the beginning and poison in the end. Happiness in the mode of passion is nectar in the beginning and poison at the end. Happiness in goodness is poison in the beginning and nectar in the end. And transcendental bliss, happiness in pure goodness, is nectar in the beginning and nectar in the end.
The neophyte devotee who has not yet come to the platform of pure goodness must sometimes undergo austerities in his practice of Krishna consciousness because his practice is still being conducted in the mode of goodness. If he perseveres in his practice without giving it up, gradually the goodness will become pure goodness and he will taste unlimited nectar at every minute on the transcendental platform of pure goodness.
The key for advancement is to not give in to the urge for instant gratification which is experienced in the mode of passion. For example, one should shun the pleasures of illicit sexual connection, meat eating, intoxication, and gambling. The easy way to avoid this temptation is to immediately taste transcendental bliss by engaging in the process of sankirtan, the congregational chanting of the holy names of the Lord. This sankirtan immediately gives one a taste of transcendental bliss on the platform of pure goodness. It allows one to immediately dive into a reservoir of unlimited nectar.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Ecstatic Sankirtan Transports You
Devotees Below Chant in Bliss in Boston
AKA
"The bona fide spiritual master never considers himself great. He simply considers himself to be the humble servant of his spiritual master, and thus he dedicates his entire life to carrying out the orders of his spiritual master. Sometimes envious persons who do not possess the spiritual potency to preach like the spiritual master preaches try to minimize and/or find fault with him. They even go so far as to make aggressive false, propaganda against him that he is not bona fide, that he lacks the authority to be master."
tasmad gurum prapadyeta
jijnasuh sreya uttamam
sabde pare ca nisnatam
brahmany upasamasrayam
"Therefore any person who seriously desires real happiness must seek a bona fide spiritual master and take shelter of him by initiation. The qualification of the bona fide guru is that he has realized the conclusions of the scriptures by deliberation and is able to convince others of these conclusions. Such great personalities, who have taken shelter of the Supreme Godhead, leaving aside all material considerations, should be understood to be bona fide spiritual masters."
--Srimad Bhagavatam 11.3.21
Regarding your 2nd and 3rd questions, the bona fide spiritual master does not advertise himself as such. Therefore you have to personally study the prospective spiritual master in light of the above verse to see whether or not he is a bona fide spiritual master.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
The neophyte devotee who has not yet come to the platform of pure goodness must sometimes undergo austerities in his practice of Krishna consciousness because his practice is still being conducted in the mode of goodness. If he perseveres in his practice without giving it up, gradually the goodness will become pure goodness and he will taste unlimited nectar at every minute on the transcendental platform of pure goodness.
The key for advancement is to not give in to the urge for instant gratification which is experienced in the mode of passion. For example, one should shun the pleasures of illicit sexual connection, meat eating, intoxication, and gambling. The easy way to avoid this temptation is to immediately taste transcendental bliss by engaging in the process of sankirtan, the congregational chanting of the holy names of the Lord. This sankirtan immediately gives one a taste of transcendental bliss on the platform of pure goodness. It allows one to immediately dive into a reservoir of unlimited nectar.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Ecstatic Sankirtan Transports You
Immediately into Transcendental Bliss
Devotees Below Chant in Bliss in Boston
in the Early Days of ISKCON
Answers According to the Vedic Version:
Question: Who is the Bona Fide Guru?
My question in regard to your statement below is, "Who is the bona fide guru? Are you? If so, how do I know?AKA
"The bona fide spiritual master never considers himself great. He simply considers himself to be the humble servant of his spiritual master, and thus he dedicates his entire life to carrying out the orders of his spiritual master. Sometimes envious persons who do not possess the spiritual potency to preach like the spiritual master preaches try to minimize and/or find fault with him. They even go so far as to make aggressive false, propaganda against him that he is not bona fide, that he lacks the authority to be master."
Answer: He Who is Realized and Empowered
Thank you very much for your sincere inquiry. The answer to your first question is given in the Srimad Bhagavatam as follows:tasmad gurum prapadyeta
jijnasuh sreya uttamam
sabde pare ca nisnatam
brahmany upasamasrayam
"Therefore any person who seriously desires real happiness must seek a bona fide spiritual master and take shelter of him by initiation. The qualification of the bona fide guru is that he has realized the conclusions of the scriptures by deliberation and is able to convince others of these conclusions. Such great personalities, who have taken shelter of the Supreme Godhead, leaving aside all material considerations, should be understood to be bona fide spiritual masters."
--Srimad Bhagavatam 11.3.21
Regarding your 2nd and 3rd questions, the bona fide spiritual master does not advertise himself as such. Therefore you have to personally study the prospective spiritual master in light of the above verse to see whether or not he is a bona fide spiritual master.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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