Don't Take Guru as a Buddy or a Pet
Don't take a guru as a buddy or as a pet. Guru means that person to whom you fully surrender yourself without argument. Such a person must be a pure representative of the original spiritual master, Lord Sri Krishna. If we put our lives in the hands of such a bona fide spiritual and always carefully try to follow his instructions, we will quickly and easily attain spiritual perfection. But if take him as a buddy or a pet without agreeing to follow his instructions, we are simply wasting his time and wasting our time.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Please accept my respectful obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Recently when I told a devotee from South India that I am a disciple of Sankarshan Das Adhikari he expressed his surprise and told me that a householder cannot be an initiating guru, that he can only be a instructing guru. I did not know what to say. What should I have told him?
Your servant,
Dvijamani Gaura das
śruti-smṛti-purāṇādi-
pañcaratra-vidhiṁ vinā
aikāntikī harer bhaktir
utpātāyaiva kalpate
"Devotional service performed without reference to the Vedas, Puranas, Pañcaratras, etc., must be considered sentimentalism, and it causes nothing but disturbance to society."
Bhakti-rasamrịta-sindhu 1.2.101
Therefore such foolish persons should be informed about what is the actual statement of the scriptures. In connection with what you have been told, Srila Prabhupada clearly states in his purport to Caitanya Caritamrita, Madhya Lila Chapter 7, verse 108 that a devotee in any order of life if he knows the science of Krishna, can be an initiating guru. It is also interesting to note in this connection that according to Srila Prabhupada's purport to Caitanya Caritamrita, Madhya Lila, Chapter 4, verse 111, previously the only devotees who could give initiation were grihastha brahmanas until Lord Caitanya introduced the system that anyone who knows the science of Krishna can be an initiating spiritual master. This point is further corroborated by Srila Prabhupada in a letter he wrote in November of 1969 to his disciple Krishna devi, in which he states:
"So far as initiating disciples is concerned, anyone who is qualified can do this. For example, Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura was householder and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati was staunch brahmacari, yet they both were qualified for initiating disciples."
In conclusion, do not hesitate to correct persons who are propagating misinformation. This is for their benefit and the benefit of the entire human society.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Answers According to the Vedic Version:
Question: Can A Married Man Be Initiating Guru?
Dear Srila Gurudeva,Please accept my respectful obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Recently when I told a devotee from South India that I am a disciple of Sankarshan Das Adhikari he expressed his surprise and told me that a householder cannot be an initiating guru, that he can only be a instructing guru. I did not know what to say. What should I have told him?
Your servant,
Dvijamani Gaura das
Answer: Anyone Who Knows Krishna Science Can Be a Guru
It is very problematic when persons pose themselves as authorities making statements that are not in accord with the scriptures. Such immature unauthorized behavior causes a great disturbance in the society of devotees. This is confirmed in the scriptures as follows:śruti-smṛti-purāṇādi-
pañcaratra-vidhiṁ vinā
aikāntikī harer bhaktir
utpātāyaiva kalpate
"Devotional service performed without reference to the Vedas, Puranas, Pañcaratras, etc., must be considered sentimentalism, and it causes nothing but disturbance to society."
Bhakti-rasamrịta-sindhu 1.2.101
Therefore such foolish persons should be informed about what is the actual statement of the scriptures. In connection with what you have been told, Srila Prabhupada clearly states in his purport to Caitanya Caritamrita, Madhya Lila Chapter 7, verse 108 that a devotee in any order of life if he knows the science of Krishna, can be an initiating guru. It is also interesting to note in this connection that according to Srila Prabhupada's purport to Caitanya Caritamrita, Madhya Lila, Chapter 4, verse 111, previously the only devotees who could give initiation were grihastha brahmanas until Lord Caitanya introduced the system that anyone who knows the science of Krishna can be an initiating spiritual master. This point is further corroborated by Srila Prabhupada in a letter he wrote in November of 1969 to his disciple Krishna devi, in which he states:
"So far as initiating disciples is concerned, anyone who is qualified can do this. For example, Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura was householder and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati was staunch brahmacari, yet they both were qualified for initiating disciples."
In conclusion, do not hesitate to correct persons who are propagating misinformation. This is for their benefit and the benefit of the entire human society.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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