Why the ISKCON gurus are bogus

March 5, 2023 in Articles

“… So Kṛṣṇa is advising Arjuna, “Don’t excuse this rascal brahma-bandhu. Don’t excuse.” This is Kṛṣṇa’s advice. But it does not mean that we can do anything and everything under the pretext of Kṛṣṇa’s advice. You must be first of all a confidential friend or servant of Kṛṣṇa. You must receive direct order from Kṛṣṇa. Then you can do it. Otherwise not. Otherwise not. Under the pretext that “Kṛṣṇa said,” “My spiritual master has said,” “Prabhupāda has said,” we manufacture something. Don’t do that. Unless you are directly ordered, you cannot do at least such things as to chastise a brahma-bandhu. This should not be done. Here is direct order”
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.7.34-35 Vrndāvana, September 28

Srila Prabhupada explained that His Guru Maharaja never appointed anybody as acarya.

Read the rest of this entry →

ONLY MAHA-BHAGAVATA IS DIKSA GURU- Reply to Rocana das

May 16, 2014 in Articles, Mahesh Raja, other Prabhupada anugas

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disciplic-succession

ONLY MAHA-BHAGAVATA IS DIKSA GURU: Srila Prabhupada is OUR Diksa Guru For As Long as His Books Are On The Planet

Reply to Rocana’s article “A Ritvik Smokescreen

By Mahesh Raja and Prabhupadanugas

A) If you are NOT on Transcendental platform you CAN NOT give TRANSCENDENTAL Knowledge.

B) Madhyama means MIDDLE stage he is the RECEPIENT of Diksa whereas the Mahabhagavata is the Spiritual Master who TRANSFERS  Krsna in the heart of Madhyama Adhikari thus Diksa is described GRAPHICALLY SB10.2.18. And  Antya lila 4.192 – 4.194.

C) Madhyama can NOT be a Diksa Guru as that would be OFFENSIVE chanting – means his spiritual life is FINISHED!

Purport, Nectar of Instruction 5

One should NOT become a spiritual master UNLESS he has attained the platform of uttama-adhikari.

The 3rd Offence in chanting is to disobey the Spiritual Master so  if one becomes a spiritual master without being on Uttama Adhikari he will be committing offense 

 

NoD 8 Offenses to Be Avoided

The offenses against the chanting of the holy name are as follows: (3) To disobey the orders of the spiritual master.

Lectures: BG 7.1 – Ahmedabad, December 13, 1972 : 721213BG.AHM :  The madhyama-adhikārī should not touch the demons. Because maybe, he may turn again, be demon. Therefore one should be very careful to associate with the demons.

D) Kanistha is a MATERIALLY CONTAMINATED hence he is unfit to give Diksa

So how can we establish that Kanistha does NOT give diksa?

Kanistha is a QUALIFIED Brahmana. But even such a QUALIFIED Brahmana is in MATERIAL CONTAMINATION. And because he has MATERIAL CONTAMINATION he does NOT have Transcendental Knowledge. What you do NOT have you can NOT give. And it is Transcendental Knowledge that frees one from ALL MATERIAL CONTAMINATION.

Definition of Diksa:

Madhya 15.108 The Lord Accepts Prasada at the House of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya

Srila Jiva Gosvami explains diksa in his Bhakti-sandarbha (283):

divyam jnanam yato dadyat kuryat papasya sanksayam tasmad dikseti sa prokta desikais tattva-kovidaih

“Diksa is the process by which one can awaken his transcendental knowledge and vanquish all reactions caused by sinful activity. A person expert in the study of the revealed scriptures knows this process as diksa.”

Madhya 4.111 Sri Madhavendra Puri’ s Devotional Service Diksa actually means initiating a disciple with transcendental knowledge by which he becomes freed from all material contamination.

So here we see from above definition of Diksa quotes:

D1) Transcendental Knowledge awakened, initiated

D2) becomes freed from all material contamination; vanquish all reactions caused by sinful activity

Now ask a simple question HOW can a Brahmana(Kanistha) who is NOT freed from MATERIAL CONTAMINATION GIVE DIKSA -BY WHICH- ONE BECOMES FREED FROM **ALL** MATERIAL CONTAMINATION?

Just take a look at how contradictory and stupid this looks:

Q1) HOW can a Brahmana (Kanistha) who is HIMSELF material contaminated free another person from **ALL** MATERIAL CONTAMINATION?

SB 9.19.25 P King Yayati Achieves Liberation The word vidhuta, meaning “cleansed,” is very significant. Everyone in this material world is contaminated (karanam guna-sango ‘sya). Because we are in a material condition, we are contaminated either by sattva-guna, by rajo-guna or by tamo-guna. Even if one becomes a qualified brahmana in the mode of goodness (sattva-guna), he is still materially contaminated. One must come to the platform of suddha-sattva, transcending the sattva-guna. Then one is vidhuta-trilinga, cleansed of the contamination caused by the three modes of material nature.

Q2) If a Brahmana(Kanistha) had Transcendental Knowledge then why is contaminated by goodness(sattva-guna)?

Diksa is the process by which one can awaken his transcendental knowledge and vanquish all reactions caused by sinful activity.

Diksa actually means initiating a disciple with transcendental knowledge by which he becomes freed from all material contamination

Q3) So HOW can a Kanistha(Brahmana) who HIMSELF is material contaminated does NOT have Transcendental Knowledge give another person Transcendental Knowledge to free him?

Common-sense: What you do NOT have you CAN NOT give to others.

770214r2.may Conversations Prabhupada: Vaisnava is not so easy. The varnasrama-dharma should be established to become a Vaisnava. It is not so easy to become Vaisnava. Hari-sauri: No, it’s not a cheap thing. Prabhupada: Yes. Therefore this should be made. Vaisnava, to become Vaisnava, is not so easy. If Vaisnava, to become Vaisnava is so easy, why so many fall down, fall down? It is not easy. The sannyasa is for the highest qualified brahmana. And simply by dressing like a Vaisnava, that is… fall down. Hari-sauri: So the varnasrama system is like for the kanisthas, Kanistha-adhikari. Prabhupada: Kanistha? Hari-sauri: When one is only on the platform of neophyte. Prabhupada: Yes. Yes. Kanistha-adhikari, yes. Hari-sauri: Varnasrama system is beneficial. Prabhupada: Kanistha-adhikari means he must be a brahmana. That is kanistha-adhikari. The spiritual life, kanistha-adhikari, means he must be a qualified brahmana. That is kanistha. What is esteemed as very high position in the material world, brahmana, that is kanistha-adhikari. arcayam eva haraye pujam yah sraddhayehate na tad-bhaktesu canyesu sa bhaktah prakrtah smrtah The brahmana means from the material stage gradually he is elevated to the spiritual stage. And below the brahmana there is no question of Vaisnava. Hari-sauri: No question of? Prabhupada: Vaisnavism.

760206mw.may Conversations Dayananda: But what about the persons who may be a little bit devoted but who have not achieved that unalloyed devotion? Prabhupada: Kanistha-adhikari. They are not devotees, but they are called bhaktabhasa. There is some signs of bhakti. Actually they are not bhakta. Bhaktabhasa. Abhasa. Abhasa means a simple, a little light. Hrdayananda: So devotee really means one who has love for Krsna. Prabhupada: Yes, unalloyed, without any condition. Anyabhilasita-sunyam, zero, all other, that “I am this, I am that, I am jnani, I am yogi, I am karmi, I am minister, I am king”–all these are thinking like that, they’re all nonsense. “I am servant of Krsna”–that is greatness. Jivera svarupa haya nitya-krsna-dasa. That is self-realization, atma-tattvam.

Madhya 20.59 Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Instructs Sanatana Gosvami in the Science PURPORT This verse is spoken by Prahlada Maharaja in Srimad-Bhagavatam (7.9.10). A brahmana is supposed to be qualified with twelve qualities. As stated in the Mahabharata:

dharmas ca satyam ca damas tapas ca amatsaryam hris titiksanasuya yajnas ca danam ca dhrtih srutam ca vratani vai dvadasa brahmanasya

“A brahmana must be perfectly religious. He must be truthful, and he must be able to control his senses. He must execute severe austerities, and he must be detached, humble and tolerant. He must not envy anyone, and he must be expert in performing sacrifices and giving whatever he has in charity. He must be fixed in devotional service and expert in the knowledge of the Vedas. These are the twelve qualifications for a brahmana.”

Bhagavad-gita describes the brahminical qualities in this way:

samo damas tapah saucam ksantir arjavam eva ca jnanam vijnanam astikyam brahma-karma svabhava-jam

“Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, wisdom, knowledge, and religiousness–these are the qualities by which the brahmanas work.” (Bg. 18.42)

In the Muktaphala-tika, it is said:

samo damas tapah saucam ksanty-arjava-virakta yah jnana-vijnana-santosah satyastikye dvisad gunah

“Mental equilibrium, sense control, austerity, cleanliness, tolerance, simplicity, detachment, theoretical and practical knowledge, satisfaction, truthfulness and firm faith in the Vedas are the twelve qualities of a brahmana.”

730828BG.LON Lectures So first of all, we have to become brahmana. Then Vaisnava. Brahmana simply knows that “I am spirit soul,” aham brahmasmi. Brahma janati iti brahmana. Brahma-bhutah prasannatma. By such knowledge one becomes prasannatma. Means relieved. As you feel relief… When there is burden on your head, and the burden is taken away you feel relieved, similarly, this ignorance that “I am this body” is a great burden, a burden upon us. So when you get out of this burden, then you feel relieved. Brahma-bhutah prasannatma. Means when actually one understands that “I am not this body; I am soul,” then he has to work so hard for maintaining this body, so he gets relief that “Why I am working so hard for this lump of material things? Let me execute my real necessity of life, spiritual life.” That is great relief. That is great relief. Brahma-bhutah prasannatma na socati na kanksati. The relief means there is hankering, no more lamentation. These are the brahma-bhutah.

SB 1.2.20 P Divinity and Divine Service The very same thing is confirmed herein in the above words. No ordinary man, or even one who has attained success in human life, can know scientifically or perfectly the Personality of Godhead. Perfection of human life is attained when one can understand that he is not the product of matter but is in fact spirit. And as soon as one understands that he has nothing to do with matter, he at once ceases his material hankerings and becomes enlivened as a spiritual being. This attainment of success is possible when one is above the modes of passion and ignorance, or, in other words, when one is actually a brahmana by qualification. A BRAHMANA IS THE SYMBOL OF SATTVA-GUNA, OR THE MODE OF GOODNESS. AND OTHERS, WHO ARE NOT IN THE MODE OF GOODNESS, ARE EITHER KSATRIYAS, VAISYAS, SUDRAS OR LESS THAN THE SUDRAS. THE BRAHMINICAL STAGE IS THE HIGHEST STAGE OF HUMAN LIFE BECAUSE OF ITS GOOD QUALITIES. SO ONE CANNOT BE A DEVOTEE UNLESS ONE AT LEAST QUALIFIES AS A BRAHMANA. The devotee is already a brahmana by action. But that is not the end of it. AS REFERRED TO ABOVE, SUCH A BRAHMANA HAS TO BECOME A VAISNAVA IN FACT TO BE ACTUALLY IN THE TRANSCENDENTAL STAGE. A PURE VAISNAVA IS A LIBERATED SOUL AND IS TRANSCENDENTAL EVEN TO THE POSITION OF A BRAHMANA. IN THE MATERIAL STAGE EVEN A BRAHMANA IS ALSO A CONDITIONED SOUL BECAUSE ALTHOUGH IN THE BRAHMINICAL STAGE THE CONCEPTION OF BRAHMAN OR TRANSCENDENCE IS REALIZED, SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE OF THE SUPREME LORD IS LACKING. ONE HAS TO SURPASS THE BRAHMINICAL STAGE AND REACH THE VASUDEVA STAGE TO UNDERSTAND THE PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD KRSNA.

Rocana: Mahesh does not make a distinction between the issue of the qualifications of a bona fide spiritual master, and the fact that sastra acknowledges that there also exist kanishta and madhyam gurus. He does not distinguish between the qualifications of the uttama diksa, and the range of possibility the candidate has for the sorts of guru he might choose for himself, which includes not only uttama-diksa.

Mahesh: The “range of possibility” is non-existent.  By definition ONLY Mahabhagavata is Diksa guru as discribed in CC Madhya 24.330

MAHĀ-BHĀGAVATA-śreṣṭho brāhmaṇo vai gurur nṛṇām sarveṣām eva lokānām asau pūjyo yathā hariḥ

ahā-kula-prasūto ‘pi sarva-yajñeṣu DĪKṢITAḤ sahasra-śākhādhyāyī ca na guruḥ syād avaiṣṇavaḥ

“The guru must be situated on the topmost platform of devotional service. There are three classes of devotees, and the guru MUST be accepted from the topmost class.”

The first-class devotee is the spiritual master for all kinds of people. ….When one has attained the topmost position of MAHA-BHAGAVATA, he is to be accepted as a guru and worshiped exactly like Hari, the Personality of Godhead. ONLY SUCH A PERSON IS ELIGIBLE TO OCCUPY THE POST OF A GURU.

Rocana das is trying to juggle OUT of this in the hope that Kanistha is also some sort of Diksa guru.

Note: When Krsna comes into the heart of sincere soul AT THE STAGE OF MADHYAMA ADHIKARI BY DIKSA FROM MAHABHAGAVATA he SEES Krsna and his  SVARUPA is revealed in the heart. Kanistha can NOT transfer Krsna into your heart. Madhyama is A RECEPIENT.

69-01-22. Letter: Vilasavigraha

In regard to your next question, self realization means God realization, and God realization means self realization. JUST LIKE TO SEE THE SUN MEANS TO SEE ONESELF, AND TO SEE ONESELF MEANS TO SEE THE SUN. SELF REALIZATION DEPENDS COMPLETELY UPON GOD REALIZATION, OR ELSE IT IS NOT COMPLETE. ONE MUST KNOW HIS RELATIONSHIP TO THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH TO FULLY KNOW HIS POSITION.

Note: Srila Prabhupada gives Divya-jnana(DIKSA). Divya means TRANSCENDENTAL and Jnana means KNOWLEDGE Hrde means heart and Prokasito means revealed just as in prakasa – manifested Krsna becomes manifest in the heart of the Pure Devotee.

760711CC.NY Lectures Prabhupada: Divya-jnana hrde prokasito. What is that divya-jnana? Divya-jnana is that we are all servant of Krsna, and our only business is to serve Krsna. Divya-jnana. This is divya-jnana. It is not difficult at all. Simply we have… We have become servant of so many things–servant of society, servant of community, servant of country, servant of wife, servant of children, servant of dog and so many. “Now let me become servant of Krsna.” This is divya-jnana. Diksa. Diksa means from this divya-jnana. That is di. And ksa means ksapayati, expands.

When at the stage of Madhyama Adhikari one is RECEPIENT of THAT Diksa in the HEART from SRILA PRABHUPADA he becomes a SERVANT OF KRSNA. He relishes a particular mellow (Rasa) of his relationship with Krsna. This point HE SEES KRSNA and HIS RELATIONSHIP (svarupa) is established. So it is not so CHEAP to be Diksa guru.

Madhya 8.83 Talks Between Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Ramananda Raya The purport in presenting this verse necessitates explaining the comparative positions of the transcendental mellows known as santa, dasya, sakhya, vatsalya and madhurya. All these rasas, or mellows, are situated on the transcendental platform. Pure devotees take shelter of one of them and thus progress in spiritual life. Actually one can take shelter of such spiritual mellows only when one is completely uncontaminated by material attachment. When one is completely free from material attachment, the feelings of the transcendental mellows are awakened in the heart of the devotee. That is svarupa-siddhi, the perfection of one’s eternal relationship with the Supreme Lord. Svarupa-siddhi, the eternal relationship with the Supreme Lord, may be situated in one of the transcendental mellows.

Note: When Krsna is TRANSFERRED FROM Pure devotees HEART to another Pure devotee then there is DIKSA. Divya jnana revealtion of ones CONSTITUTIONAL positon Svarupa is UNDERSTOOD. This may take many many many births — NOT so cheap. This is why In Guru Puja to Srila Prabhupada we sing Janme janme prabhu sei:

760805BG.PAR Lectures Prabhupada: Yes, that arrangement will be done, you go on with your business. We are singing this song daily. Why do you forget? Cakhu-dan dilo jei **janme janme prabhu sei**. ONE WHO HAS OPENED THE EYES, **HE’LL REMAIN MY MASTER LIFE AFTER LIFE**.

Note: Srila Prabhupada is WITH US TO GUIDE US through difficult journey of transmigration cycle to attaining Back to Godhead IF we follow him. Bilvamangal Thakura’s Spiritual master came thru a prostitute to deliver him so Srila Prabhupada is also SO POWERFUL to help us:

SB 3.15.24 P Description of the Kingdom of God IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO GO BACK TO GODHEAD IN ONE LIFE, but in the human form one should at least understand the goal of life and begin Krsna consciousness.

Note: A MADHYAMA-ADHIKARI HAS RECEIVED SPIRITUAL INITIATION FROM THE SPIRITUAL MASTER AND HAS BEEN FULLY ENGAGED BY HIM IN THE TRANSCENDENTAL LOVING SERVICE OF THE LORD.** THIS IS DIKSA**.

Antya 4.192 T Sanatana Gosvami Visits the Lord at Jagannatha Puri:

DĪKṢĀ-KĀLE bhakta kare ātma-samarpaṇa sei-kāle kṛṣṇa tāre kare ātma-sama

“At the time of initiation, when a devotee fully surrenders unto the service of the Lord, Kṛṣṇa accepts him to be as good as Himself.

Antya 4.193 Sanatana Gosvami Visits the Lord at Jagannatha Puri: “When the devotee’s body is thus transformed into spiritual existence, the devotee, in that transcendental body, renders SERVICE to the lotus feet of the Lord.

Antya 4.194 Sanatana Gosvami Visits the Lord at Jagannatha Puri: “‘The living entity who is subjected to birth and death, when he gives up all material activities dedicating his life to Me for executing My order, and thus acts according to My direction, AT THAT TIME HE REACHES THE PLATFORM OF IMMORTALITY, AND BECOMES FIT TO ENJOY THE SPIRITUAL BLISS OF EXCHANGE OF LOVING MELLOWS WITH ME.’

NoI 5: In order to intelligently apply the sixfold loving reciprocations mentioned in the previous verse, one must select proper persons with careful discrimination. Srila Rupa Gosvami therefore advises that we should meet with the Vaisnavas in an appropriate way, according to their particular status. In this verse he tells us how to deal with three types of devotees–the kanistha-adhikari, madhyama-adhikari and uttama-adhikari.

The kanistha-adhikari is a neophyte who has received the hari-nama initiation from the spiritual master and is trying to chant the holy name of Krsna. One should respect such a person within his mind as a kanistha-vaisnava.

A MADHYAMA-ADHIKARI HAS RECEIVED SPIRITUAL INITIATION FROM THE SPIRITUAL MASTER AND HAS BEEN FULLY ENGAGED BY HIM IN THE TRANSCENDENTAL LOVING SERVICE OF THE LORD. The madhyama-adhikari should be considered to be situated MIDWAY in devotional service.

The uttama-adhikari, or highest devotee, is one who is very advanced in devotional service. An uttama-adhikari is not interested in blaspheming others, his heart is completely clean, and he has attained the realized state of unalloyed Krsna consciousness. According to Srila Rupa Gosvami, the association and service of such a maha-bhagavata, or perfect Vaisnava, are most desirable.s to act for everyone’s welfare.

Note: in this Srila Prabhupada makes a point of Initiation as a formality this is different from Madhyama Adhikaris receiving Diksa

761016iv.cha Conversation Interviewer:  Interviewer: What is the procedure of the movement? Do you initiate yourself all the disciples or do your other disciples also do that?  PrabhupadaWell, initiation or no initiation, first thing is knowledge. (break) …knowledge. Initiation is formality. Just like you go to a school for knowledge, and admission is formality. That is not very important thing. Read the rest of this entry →

Bogus gurus-all you wanted to know-SP

August 18, 2013 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa

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Hare Krsna to all
Pranams
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
 
Below we have two separate articles I compiled over time. And they both go  together
very well. The first one Srila Prabhupada explains a few,  very important points”
 
1.accept a guru who is infallible
2.if you dont get a qualified guru, then everything is bogus.
3.if you dont find such a guru, that means Krsna is not pleased with  you
or you are not serious enough.
4. guru must be accepted from highest order-paramahamsa order
5. who has been cheated by bogus gurus? He says “practically  everyone”
 
The second section deals with these points:
1. if one receives a mantra from a bogus guru-it has no effect
2.not only is this mantra useless, but your deity worship is the same
3.series of quotes which explain how the bogus guru AND his disciples go to  hell
 
Hare Krsna
Damaghosa das
——————————
■761003SB.VRN                    Lectures                   214022/530501 guru… Sisyas te ‘ham sadhi mam prapannam: “Now, Krsna, I  accept You as my guru. Not as friend.” Because friendly talking is useless  waste of time. He accepted Him as guru. When guru speaks, you cannot  argue. That is not the process. You should accept a guru who is  infallible. Otherwise it is useless. He accepted guru Krsna because Krsna  is infallible. If we accept guru, a bogus guru, then it is no  benefit. Guru means Krsna’s representative. Not that  everyone can be guru.  

 
720911rc.arl                 Conversations                 332063/530501 Prabhupada: Just like Dhruva Maharaja.He was advised by  his mother that “If you go to the forest you can see God.” So he went there. But  when he was very serious, then Krsna sent him Narada Muni. So if you are  actually serious about Krsna, then Krsna will send you some of His  representative and he will take charge of you. That is the process. If you  do not find a guru, that means Krsna is not yet pleased, either you are not  serious.
 
720629rc.sd                  Conversations                 331324/530501 Devotee: What determines, Srila Prabhupada, if one is  serious or one is not serious? What makes one… Prabhupada: Well,  this seriousness comes after many, many births. It is also not so easy. Rupa  Gosvami says, tatra laulyam api mulyam ekalam janma-koti-sukrtair na  labhyate. He wrote a verse, krsna-bhakti-rasa-bhavita matih kriyatam yadi  kuto ‘pi labhyate: “The krsna-bhakti, Krsna consciousness, this thing, if you  can purchase somewhere, just immediately purchase it.”  Krsna-bhakti-rasa-bhavita matih kriyatam: “Just purchase.” Yadi kuto ‘pi  labhyate. First of all, if you want to purchase, the things must be  available. Yadi kuto. Therefore kuto ‘pi, “If it is available, immediately  purchase.” Then next question is, “What is the value? What is the price I  have to pay?” Then he said, tatra laulyam ekalam mulyam, “Simply your  serious eagerness to have it. That is the price.” “Oh, that I can have  very easily.” “No.” Janma-koti-sukrtair na labhyate: “That laulyam,  that seriousness, is not obtained after thousands of years’  pious activities.” It is so difficult. Janma-koti-sukrtair na  labhyate. People are acting piously, but that kind of seriousness is  not available even after executing pious activities for thousands  of lives. So that seriousness is also very difficult, to become  very
serious that “In this life I shall finish my business and go  home, back to home, back to Godhead.” Bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan  mam prapadyate. Krsna says, “After many, many births, when actually  one becomes in knowledge, he surrenders unto Me.”

Have a bogus guru ? then bogus arcana seva as well

August 16, 2013 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa

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Hare Krsna to all
Pranams
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
 
Continuing along the way with exposing bogus gurus and their followers, we  here below have
 a very conclusive statement by Srila Prabhupada where he clearly  explains that if one has a bogus
guru, then that persons “deity worship” is also bogus.
 
Hare Krsna
 
Damaghosa das
——————————
 
 
701223SB.SUR                    Lectures                 
Devotee  (3): In regard to worshiping arca-vigraha form, you have explained that  if one receives a mantra from a spiritual master who is not bona  fide, that mantra has no effect. So I would like to ask  if one is worshiping a Deity and his spiritual master is not bona fide, so  that Deity cannot be considered the Supreme Lord? Prabhupada: Well, first  of all, thing is if the spiritual master is not bona fide, how his  mantra can be bona fide? Your statement is contradictory. If you  say the spiritual master is not bona fide, then how his mantra becomes bona  fide? If he is bona fide, then his mantra is bona fide. Devotee (3):  Then why is he giving instruction to worship the Deity? If the spiritual  master is not bona fide, then is the Deity also not bona fide? Prabhupada:  I do not follow. What does he say? Tamala Krsna: His idea is that if one  receives a mantra from a spiritual master, if the spiritual master is not  bona fide… Prabhupada: Then there is no question of mantra.  There is no question of worshiping Deity. These are all bogus  things. If you are not… Just like here is a young medical man.  If he has not received instruction from a bona fide medical college, so what  is the value of his medical, being… That is… What is called? What is the  technical name? Devotee (4): Quack. Prabhupada: Quack! (laughter)  (pronounces like “quark”) Devotees: Quack. Prabhupada: A quack is not a  medical man, however he may show all red bottles, white bottles. There is a  Bengali proverb, naj jal yac curi tini ei daktar.(?) One stethoscope, naj(?),  and some bottles, jala, and talking all nonsense, he becomes a doctor. That  means the quack doctor, not a… Qualified doctor, he knows what is what. So  naj jal yac curi tini ei daktar(?). In Bengali they say. And mostly  in villages they go on like that. But of course, they have got  some experience. I know in Allahabad there was a doctor, Kabhir, a  Dr. Kabhir. And because in my previous household life I was a chemist  and druggist, I was supplying medicine, so he was my customer. So he  had that… This Dr. Kabhir was a compounder. Later on he practiced. So  he had very, very big prac… He was my biggest customer. He  was purchasing medicine like anything. But he had experience. He  learned from an experienced doctor. He cannot be called a bogus,  because whatever he learned, he was… But generally, one who is not a  bona
fide doctor, he is called a quack. So anything, experience required, not  that you have to go to the medical college. If you are trained under a bona  fide doctor, then also you can get the quality of a doctor.  Similarly, the whole thing is tad-vijnanartham sa  gurum evabhigacchet. One should go to the bona fide spiritual master  to learn this transcendental science.
————————————

Follow bogus guru-you  go to hell

Read the rest of this entry →

Saturday Love feast

April 16, 2013 in Kanhaiya Dasa

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Hare Krsna all dear ones,
Please accept my humble obesiances with all glories to Srila Prabhupada!

We had a wonderful feast today – Devotees came from distant places to glorify Srila Prabhupada and Lord Ships. Program started with beautiful Kirtan, Narsimha Prayers, Jai Radha Madhava by HG Damaghosa Das and EXCELLENT Class fro Teaching of Lord Chaitanya…
Followed by nice poem and Gopinath Bhajan by Anu Prabhu…. and last but not least wonderful Feast…(Srikhand On Apple cobbler as desert)…
Here is the video on “Param Karuna Bhajan” – just love this Bhajan…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH-BdLVD_9w

Kirtan pics 031 Kirtan pics 030 Kirtan pics 028 Kirtan pics 027 Kirtan pics 026 Kirtan pics 025 Kirtan pics 022 Kirtan pics 020 Kirtan pics 019 Kirtan pics 017 Kirtan pics 015 Kirtan pics 014 Kirtan pics 013 Kirtan pics 012 Kirtan pics 011 Kirtan pics 009 Kirtan pics 008 Kirtan pics 003 DSC_0006 Kirtan pics 002

 

Devotees just left 1/2 hour ago and I have already started missing their association….Is something wrong with me???
Hari Bol

Your Humble Servant

-Kanhaiya DasAnudas

 

He reason ill who tells that Vaisnavas die, When thou art living still in sound!
The Vaisnavas die to live, and living try, To spread the Holy Name around !”

 (Poem by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura)

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Some qualificat​ions of a bona fide spiritual master

December 19, 2012 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa

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Hare Krsna to all

Pranams

All glories to Srila Prabhupada

 

Because it is Kali yuga, the age of quarrel and  hypocrisy, it is very very easy for one

who desires spiritual life to become cheated. He or she  will be cheated by practically

everyone who poses as a spiritualist. This is not my  opinion, but the words of

Srila Prabhupada, the Acarya or Guru for the worldwide  Hare Krsna Movement.

 

He often would tell us that if  you don’t know what gold looks like and someone offers you

pyrite (imitation gold)  and wants to sell it to you, then because you don’t actually know  what

real gold is, you will be  cheated. Therefore it is incumbent upon every aspiring spiritualist, to

make him or herself familiar with  the terms of “real gold”. That very valuable information is to follow.

 

This article is a follow up to the previous one I just  sent out yesterday, entitled “The process of accepting a bona fide  guru”.

 

Hare Krsna

Damaghosa das

——————–

 

A First class person wants to make his life spiritually  perfect.

A Second class person wants great riches by political or  business means

A Third class person wants riches by industry or  mercantile work

A Fourth class person wants only to fill the  belly.

 

Some Qualifications of bona fide guru

 

“UNLESS ONE IS UNDER THE SHELTER OF A REALIZED SPIRITUAL  MASTER, HIS UNDERSTANDING OF THE SUPREME IS SIMPLY FOOLISHNESS.”   TLC.

 

SOME OF THE QUALIFICATIONS OF A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL  MASTER.

 

1)      Above the 4 defects-mistakes, illusion, imperfect senses,  cheating.

2)      When a devotee is perfectly qualified in chanting the Transcendental  vibration of the Holy Names, he is quite fit to become  SM and deliver all the people of the  world. (TLC)

3)      The guru must be situated on the top most platform of devotional service.  There are 3 classes of devotees and the guru must be accepted from the top most  class. When one has attained the top most position of maha bhagavata, he is to  be accepted as a guru and worshipped exactly like Hari, the Personality of  Godhead. ONLY such a person is eligible to occupy the post of guru. CC  Mad24.330

4)      Since one cannot visually experience the presence of the supersoul, He  appears before us as a liberated devotee. Such a SM is none other that Krsna  Himself. CC Ant 5.171

5)      When a pure devotee speaks, he speaks perfectly. How is this? His speech  is managed by Krsna Himself within the heart.”

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GBC vs. Prabhupada: Heresies of the Governing Body Commission Rejected

May 18, 2012 in Articles, Vikramasingha Dasa

The Iskcon GBC philosophy on guru-tattva and initiations has evolved over the years. In the late 1970s and early 80s, they conceded, due to the insistence of a few leading members, that eleven individuals had been appointed and empowered by Srila Prabhupada to act as zonal acharyas in Iskcon. The GBC conceded that these eleven could create their own authority structure called “The Acharya Board”. The GBC agreed that only these eleven could be initiating spiritual masters in Iskcon and, in the future, only they could appoint other spiritual masters, or diksa-gurus, from among their disciples or Godbrother followers.

In the latter part of the 1980s, after few of the “chosen eleven” fell down and went insane, these contentions were overturned under mounting pressure from a so-called guru reform movement. GBC reformists decided that these eleven “Iskcon acharyas” could no longer be zonal autocrats above the authority of the GBC. The GBC resolved that only a majority vote of the GBC body would have authority to sanction and regulate initiating spiritual masters in Iskcon. They resolved that any devotee sanctioned by the GBC could initiate his own disciples in Srila Prabhupada’s mission, and they recommended that “diksa-gurus” no longer accept elaborate public worship in Iskcon temples and titles and prayers meant for maha-bhagavatas. They thus tried to reduce the power and ritual status of “Iskcon acharyas” while opening the door for all senior preachers “in good standing” to covet the post of “Iskcon guru”. In this way the GBC quelled the “guru reform movement” within Iskcon.

GBC resolutions regarding initiations and guru-tattva have been inconsistent and contradictory. It is hard to find two “Iskcon gurus”, GBC members, or Iskcon devotees with the exact same views on these topics. New devotees often doubt whether the praises they sing to the spiritual master at mangala-arotika and guru-puja should be directed toward their so-called Iskcon guru or to Srila Prabhupada. Should they hear primarily from Srila Prabhupada, or more from their “living guru”? Should they offer prayers and worship to a picture of their “guru” on the altar before doing Deity worship or offering food? If so, would he even know? Are all prayers to the spiritual master just ritualistic hyperbole that can be applied to any so-called Iskcon (or gaudiya math) “guru”?

Below is summary of the stance of the GBC today and in the recent past, with samples of their clearly implied philosophical ideas that are against the teachings of Srila Prabhupada. Immediately after each GBC idea, we have provided the correct understanding of guru-tattva and diksa according the Srila Prabhupada’s books, conversations, letters, and classes. Authorized references are cited at the end.  Throughout Srila Prabhupada’s books there are many dozens of references similar to the few cited below.

GBC: The spiritual master may be a self-made guru who is nominated by his peers or followers and sanctioned by the GBC, an ecclesiastical board. There is no need for a direct, specific order from Srila Prabhupada to become a diksa-guru in Iskcon.

Srila Prabhupada’s siddhanta: “A guru can become guru when he is ordered by his guru. That’s all. Otherwise nobody can become guru.” (See below references 1, 2 and 10.)

GBC: Srila Prabhupada authorized the GBC to sanction and dismiss diksa-gurus in ISKCON.

SPS: “Mundane votes have no jurisdiction the elect a Vaisnava acharya. A Vaisnava acharya is self-effulgent, and there is no need of any court judgment. Prabhupada authorized the GBC to select (or dismiss) representatives (ritviks), who initiate on His behalf. No one can be guru without the direct order of Krishna or His perfect devotee. (See below references 1, 2, 10 and 15.)

 GBC: Lord Caitanya gave a blanket order for every devotee to initiate his own disciples.

SPS: Lord Caitanya ordered His followers to become “gurus” by asking everyone they meet to chant Hare Krishna. He never ordered all devotees to initiate their own disciples. Even Lord Caitanya’s eternal associates, like Sri Gadadhara Pandita, refused to initiate disciples without a direct order from Lord Caitanya. Many great devotees never initiated their own disciples. (References 2 and 3.)

GBC: Persons who are not self-realized souls or topmost Vaisnavas can be diksa-gurus if the GBC approves.

SPS: “Only a topmost devotee, a maha-bhagavata, is eligible to occupy the post of guru.” (See below reference 4.)

GBC: Spiritual masters must be sanctioned, overseen, regulated and, if necessary, disciplined by the GBC.

SPS: The genuine spiritual master is never to be regulated or disciplined by ecclesiastical boards. (See below reference 5.)

GBC: A spiritual master may sometimes fall down and become demoniac.

SPS: “There is no possibility that a first-class devotee will fall down…”“The bona fide spiritual master is in the disciplic succession since time immemorial.” (See below references 6 and 18.)

GBC: One may ignore, neglect, or reject his spiritual master who falls from grace with the GBC.

SPS: A genuine disciple never rejects his spiritual master. (See reference 7.)

GBC: A student of Krishna consciousness may select any spiritual master, according his or her personal tastes and the ecclesiastical conventions current in Iskcon.

SPS: “Srila Jiva Goswami advised that one not accept a spiritual master in terms of hereditary or customary social and ecclesiastical conventions. One should simply try to find a genuinely qualified spiritual master for actual advancement in spiritual understanding.” (See below reference 8.)

GBC: There are dozens of gurus in Iskcon and each is entitled to his or her own ideas and opinions.

SPS: “Guru is one. He has no independent ideas or opinions.” (See reference 9.)

GBC: Iskcon gurus who have fallen down, if rectified, may be reinstated by the GBC.

SPS: “A bona fide spiritual master is in the disciplic succession from time eternal, and he does not deviate at all from the instructions of the Supreme Lord.” (See below reference 10.)

GBC: There are various levels of spiritual masters, or diksa-gurus, and not all are uttama-adhikaris.

SPS: “The spiritual master is always considered either one of the confidential associates of Radharani or a manifested representation of Sri Nityananda.” Only such a Vaisnava can impart transcendental knowledge into the heart of a disciple. (See below references 4, 7 and 11.)

GBC: The bona fide spiritual master dies, like all mortal men, and thus becomes useless in the matter of initiating and guiding students of Krishna consciousness.

SPS: “The spiritual master is eternal…” — “He lives forever through his divine instructions, and his follower lives with him.” — “He reasons ill who tells that Vaisnavas die!” (See reference 12.)

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