The Role of the Siksha Guru (Instructing Spiritual Master)
In Krishna consciousness each initiated disciple has his or her initiating guru who has accepted the responsibility to deliver them back to home, back to Godhead. The commitment of the the spiritual master is described as follows by Srila Prabhupada in a letter to Jayapataka Swami:
"You have asked if it is true that the Spiritual Master remains in the material universe until all of His disciples are transferred to the Spiritual Sky. The answer is yes, this is the rule. Therefore, every student should be very much careful not to commit any offense which will be detrimental to this promotion to the Spiritual Kingdom, and thereby the Spiritual Master has to incarnate again to deliver him." (Letter to: Jayapataka -- Los Angeles 11 July, 1969)
We also have other devotees who inspire us in our to service to our initiating spiritual master (diksha guru). These devotes are known as instructing spiritual masters, siksha gurus. For example, my wife, who is affectionately called "Gurumataji" by many of my disciples, serves them as a siksha guru to help them in their surrender and service to my humble self, who is their diksha guru, initiating spiritual master. And throughout ISKCON we have many great preachers who serve us as siksha gurus to inspire us in our surrender to our spiritual masters.
In this connection it should carefully noted, however, that someone can only be siksha guru if they help you surrender to your diksa guru. If they instruct you differently, they cannot be your siksha guru. This is confirmed in letter that Srila Prabhupada wrote to Sri Galim Das in 1971 in which Srila Prabhupada states:
"To answer your last point, one who teaches can be treated as Spiritual Master. It is not that after we become initiated we become perfect. No. It requires teaching. So if we take instruction from them, all senior godbrothers may be treated as guru, there is no harm. Actually, you have only one Spiritual Master, who initiates you, just as you have only one father. But every Vaisnava should be treated as prabhu, master, higher than me, and in this sense, if I learn from him, he may be regarded as guru. It is not that I disobey my real Spiritual Master and call someone else as Spiritual Master. That is wrong. It is only that I can call Spiritual Master someone who is teaching me purely what my initiating Spiritual Master has taught. Do you get the sense? "(Letter to: Sri Galim -- Delhi 20 November, 1971)
A powerful siksha guru in the beginning of my spiritual life was His Holiness Vishnujana Swami who came to Austin in 1971 and convinced me to become a disciple of Srila Prabhupada. I am eternlly indebted to him. Here is what Srila Prabhupada wrote me about him in my initiation letter:
"..you have been trained up under the expert guidance of Visnujana Swami." (Letter to: Sankarsana, Parasara. and Pulastya -- London 12 August, 1971)
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
One of My First Siksha Gurus:
The first day I met him I was with him in Austin's Pease Park in the spring of 1971. He led us in an inspiring, uplifting kirtan, a congregational call and response chanting of the Hare Krishna mahamantra. I was impressed with the swami’s spiritual knowledge when he explained, “Avatar means one who descends.” Then he served us a wonderful, but simple, feast that he personally cooked. The menu was very simple, but incredibly delicious: potatoes with sour cream and turmeric, apple chutney (a spicy apple sauce), and sweet rice (a super scrumptious pudding made with rice, sugar, and milk).
What if a person did 1 per cent bhakti in his previous birth and then died? What will happen in his next birth?
Arya Sarita
Please accept my blessings.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
That 1% is then his eternal asset. In his next life instead of starting at zero he will begin with 1% already accomplished. In his next lifetime or after many lifetimes when he finally reaches 100% he will go back to home, back to Godhead, back to his original home in the spiritual world.
I hope this meets you in the best of health and eager to reach 100% as soon as possible.
Your ever well-wisher,
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.
"You have asked if it is true that the Spiritual Master remains in the material universe until all of His disciples are transferred to the Spiritual Sky. The answer is yes, this is the rule. Therefore, every student should be very much careful not to commit any offense which will be detrimental to this promotion to the Spiritual Kingdom, and thereby the Spiritual Master has to incarnate again to deliver him." (Letter to: Jayapataka -- Los Angeles 11 July, 1969)
We also have other devotees who inspire us in our to service to our initiating spiritual master (diksha guru). These devotes are known as instructing spiritual masters, siksha gurus. For example, my wife, who is affectionately called "Gurumataji" by many of my disciples, serves them as a siksha guru to help them in their surrender and service to my humble self, who is their diksha guru, initiating spiritual master. And throughout ISKCON we have many great preachers who serve us as siksha gurus to inspire us in our surrender to our spiritual masters.
In this connection it should carefully noted, however, that someone can only be siksha guru if they help you surrender to your diksa guru. If they instruct you differently, they cannot be your siksha guru. This is confirmed in letter that Srila Prabhupada wrote to Sri Galim Das in 1971 in which Srila Prabhupada states:
"To answer your last point, one who teaches can be treated as Spiritual Master. It is not that after we become initiated we become perfect. No. It requires teaching. So if we take instruction from them, all senior godbrothers may be treated as guru, there is no harm. Actually, you have only one Spiritual Master, who initiates you, just as you have only one father. But every Vaisnava should be treated as prabhu, master, higher than me, and in this sense, if I learn from him, he may be regarded as guru. It is not that I disobey my real Spiritual Master and call someone else as Spiritual Master. That is wrong. It is only that I can call Spiritual Master someone who is teaching me purely what my initiating Spiritual Master has taught. Do you get the sense? "(Letter to: Sri Galim -- Delhi 20 November, 1971)
A powerful siksha guru in the beginning of my spiritual life was His Holiness Vishnujana Swami who came to Austin in 1971 and convinced me to become a disciple of Srila Prabhupada. I am eternlly indebted to him. Here is what Srila Prabhupada wrote me about him in my initiation letter:
"..you have been trained up under the expert guidance of Visnujana Swami." (Letter to: Sankarsana, Parasara. and Pulastya -- London 12 August, 1971)
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
One of My First Siksha Gurus:
His Holiness Vishnujana Maharaja
The first day I met him I was with him in Austin's Pease Park in the spring of 1971. He led us in an inspiring, uplifting kirtan, a congregational call and response chanting of the Hare Krishna mahamantra. I was impressed with the swami’s spiritual knowledge when he explained, “Avatar means one who descends.” Then he served us a wonderful, but simple, feast that he personally cooked. The menu was very simple, but incredibly delicious: potatoes with sour cream and turmeric, apple chutney (a spicy apple sauce), and sweet rice (a super scrumptious pudding made with rice, sugar, and milk).Answers According to the Vedic Wisdom
Question: One Per Cent Bhakti?
Hare Krishna, Prabhu,What if a person did 1 per cent bhakti in his previous birth and then died? What will happen in his next birth?
Arya Sarita
Answer: He Picks Up Where He Left Off
My Dear Arya,Please accept my blessings.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
That 1% is then his eternal asset. In his next life instead of starting at zero he will begin with 1% already accomplished. In his next lifetime or after many lifetimes when he finally reaches 100% he will go back to home, back to Godhead, back to his original home in the spiritual world.
I hope this meets you in the best of health and eager to reach 100% as soon as possible.
Your ever well-wisher,
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.
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