Only a Pure Devotee Can Save Himself and Others
It is stated in Srimad Bhagavatam 5.5.18:
gurur na sa syāt sva-jano na sa syāt
pitā na sa syāj jananī na sā syāt
daivaṁ na tat syān na patiś ca sa syān
na mocayed yaḥ samupeta-mṛtyum
"One who cannot deliver his dependents from the path of repeated birth and death should never become a spiritual master, a father, a husband, a mother or a worshipable demigod."
And in the purport to this verse Srila Prabhupada explains, "Unless one is a pure devotee of Krishna, he cannot save himself from the path of repeated birth and death." Unless one can deliver himself from birth and death, how can he deliver others? Therefore unless one is a pure devotee one should not become a guru, a father, a mother, a husband, or any kind of leader. Where are the pure devotees today occupying these positions in society? They are nonexistent. Therefore the entire world is in chaos progressing quickly towards complete ruination.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
The Topmost Pure Devotee, Who Can Deliver the Entire World
How can you prove that you are true spiritual master? I was following you for about year, but now I am very disappointed with ISKCON. I feel like I am being cheated. More and more proof has come that ISCKON is nonsense. Maybe you have something like mystical powers. You look energetic and have clear thinking. You talk nice things. But this does not convince me that you are a sincere spiritual master.
Have a good day,
Algirdas
Thank you very much for so honestly revealing your heart to me regarding the doubts you have about me and about ISKCON. I can understand your doubtfulness because at one time I was also doubtful. You have raised two issues. One issue being me, and the issue being ISKCON.
First I will address the issue of ISKCON. ISKCON is a society based on Lord Sri Krishna's perfectly pure and powerful teachings found in the Bhagavad-gita, as well as the perfect instructions and example of our Founder-Acharya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, a spotlessly pure devotee of Lord Krishna who was sent by Krishna from the spiritual world to deliver the suffering souls of this world. ISKCON is like a hospital for curing the sick, materially contaminated people of this age. Because it is a hospital for the spiritually sick those of its members who have still not fully recovered from the contamination of the material world may sometimes act in ways that are not perfect. But just as the presence of sick people in a hospital does not meant that the hospital is bad, imperfect persons within ISKCON does not mean that ISKCON is bad. Therefore we kindly request you to tolerate whatever difficulties you may have experienced with some of the members of ISKCON and continue to take advantage of this greatest institution for delivering the fallen souls of this age back to home, back to Godhead.
Regarding my lowly self. I am nothing but the tiny, insignificant servant of my spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, a bona fide spiritual master in the disciplic succession coming from Lord Krishna as follows:
1. Krishna
2. Brahmā
3. Nārada
4. Vyāsa
5. Madhva
6. Padmanābha
7. Nṛhari
8. Mādhava
9. Akṣobhya
10. Jaya Tīrtha
11. Jñānasindhu
12. Dayānidhi
13. Vidyānidhi
14. Rājendra
15. Jayadharma
16. Puruṣottama
17. Brahmaṇya Tīrtha
18. Vyāsa Tīrtha
19. Lakṣmīpati
20. Mādhavendra Purī
21. Īśvara Purī, (Nityānanda, Advaita)
22. Lord Caitanya
23. Rūpa, (Svarūpa, Sanātana)
24. Raghunātha, Jīva
25. Kṛṣṇadāsa
26. Narottama
27. Viśvanātha
28. (Baladeva) Jagannātha
29. Bhaktivinoda
30. Gaurakiśora
31. Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī
32. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Since he ordered me to become a spiritual master, it is my duty to do so regardless of whether I consider myself qualified or not. This is the duty of the disciple to humbly carry out to the best of his ability whatever instructions he has received from his spiritual master.
Mystical powers are not the qualification for becoming a bona fide spiritual master. The spiritual master's two qualifications are that he is a strict follower of the teachings of the Bhagavad-gita and that he purely presents the teachings of Lord Sri Krishna as given in the Bhagavad-gita without any adulteration. On the basis of these criteria you can decide whether or not I am a sincere, bona fide spiritual master. To make this judgment properly you must carefully study the Bhagavad-gita as it is. In this way you will have the proper intelligence to judge whether or not I am a bona fide spiritual master.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
gurur na sa syāt sva-jano na sa syāt
pitā na sa syāj jananī na sā syāt
daivaṁ na tat syān na patiś ca sa syān
na mocayed yaḥ samupeta-mṛtyum
"One who cannot deliver his dependents from the path of repeated birth and death should never become a spiritual master, a father, a husband, a mother or a worshipable demigod."
And in the purport to this verse Srila Prabhupada explains, "Unless one is a pure devotee of Krishna, he cannot save himself from the path of repeated birth and death." Unless one can deliver himself from birth and death, how can he deliver others? Therefore unless one is a pure devotee one should not become a guru, a father, a mother, a husband, or any kind of leader. Where are the pure devotees today occupying these positions in society? They are nonexistent. Therefore the entire world is in chaos progressing quickly towards complete ruination.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
The Topmost Pure Devotee, Who Can Deliver the Entire World
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Answers by Citing the Vedic Version:
Question: Proof That You Are a True Spiritual Master?
Hello Sir,How can you prove that you are true spiritual master? I was following you for about year, but now I am very disappointed with ISKCON. I feel like I am being cheated. More and more proof has come that ISCKON is nonsense. Maybe you have something like mystical powers. You look energetic and have clear thinking. You talk nice things. But this does not convince me that you are a sincere spiritual master.
Have a good day,
Algirdas
Answer: I'm Simply the Surrendered Servant of My Spiritual Master
My Dear Algirdas,Thank you very much for so honestly revealing your heart to me regarding the doubts you have about me and about ISKCON. I can understand your doubtfulness because at one time I was also doubtful. You have raised two issues. One issue being me, and the issue being ISKCON.
First I will address the issue of ISKCON. ISKCON is a society based on Lord Sri Krishna's perfectly pure and powerful teachings found in the Bhagavad-gita, as well as the perfect instructions and example of our Founder-Acharya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, a spotlessly pure devotee of Lord Krishna who was sent by Krishna from the spiritual world to deliver the suffering souls of this world. ISKCON is like a hospital for curing the sick, materially contaminated people of this age. Because it is a hospital for the spiritually sick those of its members who have still not fully recovered from the contamination of the material world may sometimes act in ways that are not perfect. But just as the presence of sick people in a hospital does not meant that the hospital is bad, imperfect persons within ISKCON does not mean that ISKCON is bad. Therefore we kindly request you to tolerate whatever difficulties you may have experienced with some of the members of ISKCON and continue to take advantage of this greatest institution for delivering the fallen souls of this age back to home, back to Godhead.
Regarding my lowly self. I am nothing but the tiny, insignificant servant of my spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, a bona fide spiritual master in the disciplic succession coming from Lord Krishna as follows:
1. Krishna
2. Brahmā
3. Nārada
4. Vyāsa
5. Madhva
6. Padmanābha
7. Nṛhari
8. Mādhava
9. Akṣobhya
10. Jaya Tīrtha
11. Jñānasindhu
12. Dayānidhi
13. Vidyānidhi
14. Rājendra
15. Jayadharma
16. Puruṣottama
17. Brahmaṇya Tīrtha
18. Vyāsa Tīrtha
19. Lakṣmīpati
20. Mādhavendra Purī
21. Īśvara Purī, (Nityānanda, Advaita)
22. Lord Caitanya
23. Rūpa, (Svarūpa, Sanātana)
24. Raghunātha, Jīva
25. Kṛṣṇadāsa
26. Narottama
27. Viśvanātha
28. (Baladeva) Jagannātha
29. Bhaktivinoda
30. Gaurakiśora
31. Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī
32. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Since he ordered me to become a spiritual master, it is my duty to do so regardless of whether I consider myself qualified or not. This is the duty of the disciple to humbly carry out to the best of his ability whatever instructions he has received from his spiritual master.
Mystical powers are not the qualification for becoming a bona fide spiritual master. The spiritual master's two qualifications are that he is a strict follower of the teachings of the Bhagavad-gita and that he purely presents the teachings of Lord Sri Krishna as given in the Bhagavad-gita without any adulteration. On the basis of these criteria you can decide whether or not I am a sincere, bona fide spiritual master. To make this judgment properly you must carefully study the Bhagavad-gita as it is. In this way you will have the proper intelligence to judge whether or not I am a bona fide spiritual master.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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