Why Do We Need a Guru?

At first I tried to become Krishna conscious without accepting initiation from the bona fide spiritual master. But then I realized one morning that the devotees who had accepted initiation were experiencing an inconceivably nectarean feeling of pure love that was completely beyond my reach. I was futilely trying the taste the honey by licking the outside of the jar while they were fully relishing the honey by sticking their tongues inside the jar. Once I realized this I immediately asked to get initiation.

I was accepted by Srila Prabhupada as his disciple on 12 August 1971 via a letter he wrote to me and two other boys from London.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

P.S. Here's that most wonderful letter:
London 12 August, 1971 71

My Dear Sons,

Please accept my blessings.

Upon the recommendation of His Grace Visnujana Maharaja I have gladly consented to accept you three as my duly initiated disciples. Your beads are duly chanted on by me and are enclosed herewith.

I have given the spiritual names as follows:
Sankarsana Das (Stephen Bridge): Sankarsana is another name for Visnu. Parasara Das (Ron): Parasara was the father of Vyasadeva. Pulasta Das (Chris Pinkard): Pulasta means name of a great sage.

Visnujana Maharaja tells me that in his absence, while he is opening one center in San Antonio, you three boys are maintaining nicely there in Austin. So you are all very qualified and you have been trained up under the expert guidance of Visnujana Swami. So you should all work cooperatively to push on this movement there in Texas and make our Austin center a grand success. That is my request to you all. Always be engaged in Krishna's business and stay fit in spiritual life by strictly following the regulative principle, by chanting at least 16 rounds of beads daily and without fail, by studying all our books and by regularly going for street Sankirtana. These make for our very strength in spiritual life and if you will follow them faithfully then your going back to home back to Godhead will be certain.

Hoping this will meet you all in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami.

Answers According to the Vedic Wisdom

Question: Such a Thing as Nothingness?

How do I know there's such a thing as nothingness? How do I know that this realization is simply something that gurus use for making money by fooling people with contradictory incomprehensible stuff?

Prakhar Rastogi

Answer: Nothingness Does Not Exist

There is no such a thing as nothingness. Even nothingness itself is something. It is a concept. Any so-called guru who teaches nothingness is simply a charlatan, a despicable, cheating, rascal. The bona fide spiritual master does not charge money for teaching us what is the underlying substance of all reality.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari


Sankarshan Das Adhikari is one of the spiritual masters of the worldwide Hare Krishna Movement. He has dedicated the last 50 years of his life for bringing a spiritual revolution to planet earth by spreading the teachings of Lord Sri Krishna all over the world. He is based in Austin, Texas and when there is no pandemic he regularly travels all over the world teaching his audiences how to attain Krishna consciousness, the highest stage of spiritual awakening. He is available for media interviews and to speak to groups and organizations either in person or via the internet.