Krishna Help Me

Have you ever had one of those days when the pressure was more than you could handle, but you were forced to cope with it anyway? What to do in such a situation? The first thing to understand is that every cloud has a silver lining, that such situations are a not a curse but are instead blessings in disguise. Such trying circumstances give us the opportunity to call out to Lord Krishna to help us remain in Krishna consciousness in spite of all the difficulties. They give us the chance to intensify our feelings of dependence on the Lord and advance ourselves further along the path of bhakti. So instead of being bewildered when the material energy becomes overwhelming, we simply have to beg for Krishna's special mercy. And then according to the degree of our feelings of dependence upon Him, He will mercifully reciprocate with us.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Can't I Get By Without Having a Living Guru?

I am very pleased to be Krishna conscious, but at the same time I am so confused with so many things. Please help and guide me so that I may become a good devotee of Krishna. I am asking all those questions because you are initiated by Srila Prabhupada, who is a pure devotee of Krishna, and I am his follower.

Why are there so many doubts that keep popping up in my mind saying that I need to have a living guru?

Prabhu, I am from Bangalore and I visit Mayapur for the annual Gaura Purnima festival and also Vrindavan for the annual Damodar festival. I have read Srila Prabhupada's book about his amazing achievements, and I am very impressed by his unalloyed devotional way to reach Krishna. But my sub-conscious is so much programmed to think that Srila Prabhupada is my both siksha (instructing) and diksha (initiating) guru.

Prabhu, my question is that if I do not have a living guru and just follow Srila Prabhupada's instructions (vani) is that not enough to become properly situated in Krishna consciousness? Is it mandatory to have living guru?

Regarding devotees who have Srila Prabhupada as their initiating guru, now that he is physically departed do they have to look for a living guru?

Which is important vapuh (physical presence) or vani teachings)?

Regards

Manjunath R.

Answer: If You Don't Need a Living Guru, Why are You Inquiring from Me?

The idea that keeps popping up in your mind that you need to have a living guru is a fact. This is exactly what Srila Prabhupada taught us. He taught us that we need to take our diksha (initiation) from a guru who is physically manifested on this planet. The guru must be present to acknowledge whether or not he accepts the candidate as his disciple. Unless the guru is physically present to confirm accepting someone as his disciple, we cannot ascribe to him that he has accepted a particular individual as his disciple. Only he has authority to accept someone as his disciple. No one else has the authority to do it on his behalf.

I am very happy to hear that you are Srila Prabhupada's follower. So now as a dutiful follower of His Divine Grace you should follow his instruction to become the initiated disciple of his disciple. Initiation from a disciple of Srila Prabhupada will solidly establish your relationship with Srila Prabhupada as a member of his disciplic succession.

Once you are initiated, if you will faithfully follow your spiritual master's orders you will remain always connected with him and Srila Prabhupada, even if both of them are departed. But you cannot begin a formal guru/disciple initiation relationship with a departed spiritual master. Such a posthumous initiation violates the Vedic principle of disciplic succession as taught to us by Srila Prabhupada.

In conclusion, both the guru's physical presence (vapuh) and his teachings (vani) are important. Of the two vani is more important because through vani one can eternally be associated with one's spiritual master by serving his orders. His vapuh or physical presence will only be available sometimes. While vapuh is necessary to begin the initiation contract, it is vani that sustains the disciples on an eternal ongoing basis. The spiritual master lives forever by his divine instructions and the disciple lives with him.

The fact that you are confused and are approaching a spiritual master who is physically present demonstrates the need for a living guru. If you don't need one, why are you approaching me?

Sankarshan Das Adhikari