Seekers Beware of Bogus Gurus

Nowadays on this planet the spiritual seeker is bombarded by an overwhelming profusion of spiritual masters to choose from to guide him on his spiritual enlightenment path. Unfortunately almost all of them are bogus because they do not guide their students to the highest truth, which has been so clearly been elucidated in the sublime Vedic wisdom. Instead of teaching their disciples how to become servants of God, they teach them that they are in fact God, which is a complete delusion. To teach that every individual living being is God is a round about way of teaching atheism, because if everyone is God, there is no Supreme God. Therefore the spiritual seeker is advised to only accept as his spiritual master that guru who is teaching him how to become a pure devotee of God.

Diving Deep into the Nectarean Mellows of Kirtan
Flaq, Mauritius--11 December 2011

Sankarshan Das Diving Deep into the Nectarean Mellows of Kirtan Flaq, Mauritius

Answers by Citing the Vedic Version

Question: Chanting Extra Rounds for the Dear Ones?

Thank you for guiding us through this difficult path of material ocean.

Question: Many times within our devotees we request each other to pray for us, especially if any crucial event is happening in our life. And I have heard that prayers for others works faster then prayers for our own self. How true is this ? Is it that when parents pray for their children it is more effective compared to their karma in material world? I normally chant one or more rounds with intention of welfare for my dear ones, i.e. 17th or more rounds. I would like to know, is it right ?

Aspiring to serve,

R.V.

Answer: Chant All Rounds for the Dear Ones

Why only the 17th round and beyond? You should chant all of your rounds for the benefit of the dear ones. And who are the dear ones? They are your family members. And who are your family members? Because we are all God's children, our family members are all the living beings scattered throughout the entire universe. And what is beneficial for the living beings? There is only thing that is truly beneficial for them, and that is to awaken their dormant Krishna consciousness. So if you want to chant rounds to benefit your dear ones, you should chant all of your rounds to awaken the dormant Krishna consciousness in the hearts of all living beings. The propriety of this desire is confirmed by Sri Prahlada Maharaja in this prayer:

svasty astu viśvasya khalaḥ prasīdatāṁ
dhyāyantu bhūtāni śivaṁ mitho dhiyā
manaś ca bhadraṁ bhajatād adhokṣaje
āveśyatāṁ no matir apy ahaitukī

"May there be good fortune throughout the universe, and may all envious persons be pacified. May all living entities become calm by practicing bhakti-yoga, for by accepting devotional service they will think of each other's welfare. Therefore let us all engage in the service of the supreme transcendence, Lord Sri Krishna, and always remain absorbed in thought of Him."--Srimad Bhagavatam 5.18.9

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

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