Hearing from the Bona Fide Spiritual Master

If you want to become perfect in Krishna consciousness and escape the cycle of birth and death, you must on an ongoing basis hear the teachings of Lord Sri Krishna from the lotus mouth of the bona fide spiritual master in complete submission along with whatever inquiries are necessary to clarify your understanding. By this sincere hearing and inquiring all the material dirt that has accumulated in your heart over millions of births will be removed, and you will gain entrance to the direct association of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Srila Prabhupada Leads His Disciples in Kirtan

Answers by Citing the Vedic Version

Question: In Spiritual Life Is Everything the Same?

Srila Gurudeva, by the mercy of your disciples many of us were able to get the link telecasting your current Srimad Bhagavatam lecture live on www.lalive.com

I had the following doubt:

It was mentioned that books are the primary basis and lectures the secondary. How in this material world or even among devotees can primary and secondary be explained? Primary always indicates better than secondary, whereas anything spiritual is non different.

So how is it, Srila Gurudeva? The fact I would love to properly understand and also how to present it to others properly.

Your servant,

Shreyas

Answer: There Are Wonderful Varieties in Spiritual Life

What comes first is not always better. Sometimes what comes second is better. This idea that everything in spiritual life is the same is the conception of the monists. From the Vaisnava point of view we see that there are so many interesting and exciting varieties within the Lord's creation.

Srila Prabhupada has many times said that books are the basis of our Krishna consciousness movement. So who are we to argue with him? If we analyze it carefully with a cool brain, we will see that this understanding is simply a matter of common sense. It is not that Srila Prabhupada has written books to give commentaries of his spoken lectures. It is just the opposite. In his lectures the usual format is that first there is a reading from his books, and then he gives a lecture to further explain what was just read aloud from his book. Of course it is not that what he speaks is any less important than what is in his books. It is just that what he speaks is based on what he has written, not vice-a-versa. I hope this makes it clear for you.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari