Shushruma Dhiranam: The Key to Transcendental Knowledge
November 30, 2023 in Articles by Narasimha das
“It is said that one result is achieved by worshiping the Supreme Cause of all causes, and that another is obtained by worshiping what is not supreme. All this was heard from the undisturbed authorities who clearly explained it.” (Sri Isopanisad, Mantra Thirteen) In his purport to this verse, Srila Prabhupada explains, “Unless one hears from the bona fide acarya, who is never disturbed by the changes of the material world, one cannot have the real key to transcendental knowledge.” Iti susruma dhiranam, ye nas tad vicacaksire.
Devotees who have traveled and preached in India can easily understand what Srila Prabhupada identified as the main problem with modern India: “In modern times the numbers of such pretenders has increased in considerable numbers, and it has become a problem for the pure devotees of the Lord to save the mass of people from the unholy propaganda of these pretenders and imitation incarnations of God.” (Sri Isopanisad, Mantra 13, Purport) Although people in India have natural devotion to the Supreme Lord and His great devotees, such as Lakshmi, Hanuman and Garuda, most are confused or ignorant about the conclusions of the scriptures and thus sometimes get misled into “worshiping what is not supreme.” This is because they hear from bogus preachers rather than the pure devotees of the Lord. For this defect, they are unable to distinguish between matter and spirit.
“Presently people are so fallen that they cannot distinguish between a conditioned soul and a liberated soul.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.18.5, Purport)
“If one tries to mingle the worship of yogamaya and mahamaya, considering them one and the same, he does not really show very high intelligence.” (Caitanya-Caritamrta, Madhya 8.90, Purport)
Monkey Worshipers and Hanuman Offenders
