Unfailingly Dedicated in All Circumstances

The key to conquering over the modes of material nature and being solidly situated on the transcendental platform of Bhagavan realization, pure Krishna consciousness, is to always be engaged 24 hours daily in all places and circumstances in devotional service. In other words, we can easily attain the topmost perfection simply by always being vigilant without deviation that we are thinking, speaking, and acting in a way that is pleasing to Krishna. In this way if we remain unfailingly dedicated in all circumstances, we will quickly be elevated to the topmost platform of spiritual perfection and thus be blessed with always relishing the sweetest transcendental bliss, which far exceeds the happiness of the demigods in the heavenly planets. The key for quickly attaining this is to not ever give in to the desire of the senses for the cheap, quick thrills of material sense gratification. We must keep always the senses under control by constantly absorbing them engaged in Krishna's service. In this way we will taste millions of time more happiness than the fleeting so-called pleasure of the senses. 

Dedicated Russian Hare Krishna Devotee Spreads
the Sublime Krishna Consciousness Science

Answers According to the Vedic Version

Question: How Can I Choose My Guru?

Hare Krishna!

All glories to Guru and Gauranga!

Thank you very much for this nice and elaborated article in lesson C24. Because of your answers and the email conversations between us, I am satisfied and have accepted the guru parampara and have started searching a sincere disciple of Prabhupada to accept as my spiritual master. But is my standard of devotional attitude and knowledge enough to judge the devotees who are already in Krishna Consciousness for a much longer time than me? My judgment may be wrong because I am still not very much serious in Krishna Consciousness, and I still have an incomplete idea how to find out the criteria to choose and filter a sincere disciple among so many sincere disciples. So how can I choose my guru ? What are the criteria? Please guide me.

H.M.

Answer: Who is Opening Your Eyes with the Torchlight of Knowledge?

This is wonderful news. Because of your sincerity Srila Prabhupada has blessed you to be able to understand properly what is his desire for the continuance of the disciplic succession.

The answer to your very nice question is that you need to spend time carefully reading and following the sublime teachings given in Srila Prabhupada's books. In this way, by his mercy, you will gradually develop a maturity of consciousness which will enable you to confidently seek out and take shelter of a spiritual master who is a living embodiment of the teachings of Srila Prabhupada.

As per your request, I will be happy to steer you in the right direction how you can properly discern who should be your spiritual master. The best criterion for selecting your spiritual master is to see who is that that guru who is opening your eyes and delivering you from ignorance. We pray to that guru with the following mantra:

oṁ ajñāna-timirāndhasya
jñānāñjana-śalākayā
cakṣur unmīlitaṁ yena
tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ

"I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him."

So you should simply see who is that guru who is opening your eyes with the torchlight of knowledge. He is the guru you should surrender to, the guru from whom you should accept initiation.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari