View source for If you think that you know better than Krsna or Krsna's representative, the guru, there is no necessity of accepting guru. Do not keep a guru as a pet dog

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{{terms|"If you think that you know better than Krsna or Krsna's representative, the guru, there is no necessity of accepting guru"}}
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[[Category:You]]
[[Category:Think]]
[[Category:That]]
[[Category:You]]
[[Category:Know]]
[[Category:Better]]
[[Category:Than]]
[[Category:Krsna]]
[[Category:Krsna's Representative]]
[[Category:Guru]]
[[Category:There Is No]]
[[Category:Necessity]]
[[Category:Accept Me (Prabhupada)]]
[[Category:Accept]]
[[Category:Do Not]]
[[Category:Keep]]
[[Category:Pet]]
[[Category:Dog]]
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<div id="Lectures" class="section" sec_index="4" parent="compilation" text="Lectures"><h2>Lectures</h2>
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<div id="General_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="11" parent="Lectures" text="General Lectures"><h3>General Lectures</h3>
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<div id="AddresstoRotaryClubChandigarhOctober171976_0" class="quote" parent="General_Lectures" book="Lec" index="176" link="Address to Rotary Club -- Chandigarh, October 17, 1976" link_text="Address to Rotary Club -- Chandigarh, October 17, 1976">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Address to Rotary Club -- Chandigarh, October 17, 1976|Address to Rotary Club -- Chandigarh, October 17, 1976]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So under the circumstances, it is out of Kṛṣṇa's kindness that making Arjuna as a target of His instruction, Bhagavad-gītā, He has given us this valuable instruction. We should accept it as it is. Therefore we are presenting Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, without any malinterpretation. Take Bhagavad-gītā As It Is. You'll be benefited. And so far as brahma-jijñāsā, the Kṛṣṇa begins with this aphorism of brahma-jijñāsā. When Arjuna submitted to Kṛṣṇa that "I am Your now disciple. There is no need of friendly talks. You can give me instruction seriously because I am surrendered to You, and You give me the real instruction," so the first instruction was, as soon as Arjuna submitted... Because unless you submit, it is useless to talk because you'll not hear. Therefore to accept an authority is submission. First thing is, tad viddhi praṇipātena paripraśnena sevayā ([[Vanisource:BG 4.34|BG 4.34]]). Unless you submit, if you think yourself that you are a very big scholar, very learned scholar and very good philosopher—you don't require any instruction from guru—then there is no possibility. The first thing is Kṛṣṇa instructs in the Bhagavad-gītā, tad viddhi praṇipātena paripraśnena sevayā. If you want to know the substance, then the first thing is that you must be submissive, praṇipāta. Prakṛṣṭa-rūpeṇa nipāta. You fall down. Therefore the system is: the disciple falls flat before the spiritual master. That is the etiquette, praṇipātena. And if you think that you know better than Kṛṣṇa or Kṛṣṇa's representative, the guru, there is no necessity of accepting guru. Do not keep a guru as a pet dog. No. You must be submissive. Tad viddhi praṇipātena paripraśnena sevayā ([[Vanisource:BG 4.34|BG 4.34]]). This is wanted. That Kṛṣṇa... That is the example given by Arjuna. Śiṣyas te 'haṁ śādhi māṁ prapannam ([[Vanisource:BG 2.7|BG 2.7]]). This prapannam is required.</p>
<p>So when Arjuna submitted, then Kṛṣṇa spoke. The first speaking was that,</p>
:aśocyān anvaśocas tvaṁ
:prajñā-vādāṁś ca bhāṣase
:gatāsūn agatāsūṁś ca
:nānuśocanti paṇḍitāḥ
:([[Vanisource:BG 2.11|BG 2.11]])
<p>"Arjuna, you are talking with Me—of course, you are My friend—on equal level. You are talking just like a very learned man." You have read in the Bhagavad-gītā. He submitted his proposition, that "How can I kill my..., the other side? They are my brothers, and if the brothers are dead, my sister-in-laws will be widow and they will be polluted, and there will be varṇa-saṅkara. And so..." These things are facts, but Kṛṣṇa says that "You are simply taking calculation of the body. Body. You have no spiritual calculation. The life is meant for spiritual understanding, athāto brahma jijñāsā. But you have no such understanding. You have no such knowledge, and still you are speaking." Aśocyān anvaśocas tvaṁ prajñā-vādāṁś ca bhāṣase: ([[Vanisource:BG 2.11|BG 2.11]]) "You are talking like a very learned man, but My dear friend, you are not learned." He said in a different way. Agatāsūn. Gatāsūn agatāsūṁś ca nānuśocanti paṇḍitāḥ. "Because this body... You are thinking in terms of bodily relationship, but a paṇḍita, a learned scholar... Actually he is learned scholar when he does not lament for this body, either alive or dead." This is the first instruction.</p>
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<div id="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="section" sec_index="5" parent="compilation" text="Conversations and Morning Walks"><h2>Conversations and Morning Walks</h2>
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<div id="1969_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="2" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1969 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1969 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
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<div id="ConversationIncludingSrimadBhagavatam12134RecitationExplanationApril11969SanFrancisco_0" class="quote" parent="1969_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="4" link="Conversation Including Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.1-34 Recitation &amp; Explanation -- April 1, 1969, San Francisco" link_text="Conversation Including Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.1-34 Recitation &amp; Explanation -- April 1, 1969, San Francisco">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Conversation Including Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.1-34 Recitation &amp; Explanation -- April 1, 1969, San Francisco|Conversation Including Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.1-34 Recitation &amp; Explanation -- April 1, 1969, San Francisco]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So spiritual master is necessary and his direction is necessary. That is the system of disciple succession. In the Bhagavad-gītā also, Arjuna is surrendering. He was Kṛṣṇa's friend. Why he surrendered himself, "I am your disciple." You see in the Bhagavad-gītā. He had no necessity. He was personal friend, talking, sitting, eating together. Still, he accepted Kṛṣṇa as spiritual master. So that is the way. There is a system to understand. It is specifically mentioned, śiṣyas te 'ham. "I am your disciple now." Śiṣyas te 'haṁ śādhi māṁ prapannam ([[Vanisource:BG 2.7|BG 2.7]]). "You kindly instruct me." And then He began teaching Bhagavad-gītā. Unless one becomes a śiṣya, or disciple, it is prohibited, not to instruct. Not to inst... That instruction is useless. That is the system. We are instructing in the class because there are few disciples who have taken vow to learn from me. Otherwise, I have no business to teach the public. The public may come. But actual interest is to teach my disciples. But that is secondary. For the public, secondary. But real business is to teach the disciples. Just like Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam was meant for Parīkṣit Mahārāja, Śukadeva Gosvāmī's disciple. But there were many others present. They also heard.</p>
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<div id="1971_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="4" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1971 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1971 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
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<div id="DiscussionwithIndiansJanuary181971Allahabad_0" class="quote" parent="1971_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="3" link="Discussion with Indians -- January 18, 1971, Allahabad" link_text="Discussion with Indians -- January 18, 1971, Allahabad">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Discussion with Indians -- January 18, 1971, Allahabad|Discussion with Indians -- January 18, 1971, Allahabad]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Haṁsadūta: Kṛṣṇa says, "Give up all forms of religiousness and just surrender unto Me."</p>
<p>Guest (2): You are taking one śloka...</p>
<p>Haṁsadūta: Any śloka, any śloka.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Neither you can give up this śloka. You cannot give up this śloka. Yes. So first of all you answer. See practical example. When Arjuna became confused, he said, śiṣyas te 'haṁ śādhi māṁ prapannam: ([[Vanisource:BG 2.7|BG 2.7]]) "Now I am surrendered unto You. Please teach me." Unless you come to that point, there will be no teaching and there is no use of teaching.</p>
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<div id="RoomConversationwithDrKaranSinghNovember251971Delhi_1" class="quote" parent="1971_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="29" link="Room Conversation with Dr. Karan Singh, -- November 25, 1971, Delhi" link_text="Room Conversation with Dr. Karan Singh, -- November 25, 1971, Delhi">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation with Dr. Karan Singh, -- November 25, 1971, Delhi|Room Conversation with Dr. Karan Singh, -- November 25, 1971, Delhi]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: Everyone has got particular duty to perform. Saṁsiddhir hari-toṣaṇam ([[Vanisource:SB 1.2.13|SB 1.2.13]]). You remain kṣatriya, you remain brāhmaṇa, you remain śūdra, it doesn't matter. But try to satisfy Kṛṣṇa by your activities. That is wanted. Just like Arjuna. He remained a kṣatriya. He was a fighter, he was declining to fight, and Kṛṣṇa said, "What is this nonsense, you decline to fight?" "No, I do not wish to kill my kinsmen." Then he was..., he accepted Kṛṣṇa's discipleship, śiṣyas te 'ham ([[Vanisource:BG 2.7|BG 2.7]]), "Now I am puzzled, I do not..., I am..." Yes. Kārpaṇya-doṣopahata-svabhāvaḥ.</p>
<p>Dr. Singh: Pṛcchāmi tvāṁ dharma-sammūḍha-cetāḥ.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Then Kṛṣṇa taught him Bhagavad-gītā. So he remained a kṣatriya. But Kṛṣṇa certified, bhakto 'si priyo 'si ([[Vanisource:BG 4.3|BG 4.3]]). So business is how to satisfy Kṛṣṇa. It doesn't matter whether you are kṣatriya, brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya. It doesn't matter.</p>
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<div id="1972_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="5" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1972 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1972 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
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<div id="TalkwithBobCohenFebruary27291972Mayapura_0" class="quote" parent="1972_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="5" link="Talk with Bob Cohen -- February 27-29, 1972, Mayapura" link_text="Talk with Bob Cohen -- February 27-29, 1972, Mayapura">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Talk with Bob Cohen -- February 27-29, 1972, Mayapura|Talk with Bob Cohen -- February 27-29, 1972, Mayapura]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Śyāmasundara: Doesn't Kṛṣṇa say "I am the spiritual master"? In Bhagavad-gītā it says...</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes, He's the original spiritual master. Because He has accepted spiritual master of Arjuna. So what is the difficulty? Śiṣyas te 'haṁ śādhi māṁ tvāṁ prapannam ([[Vanisource:BG 2.7|BG 2.7]]). "I am your disciple." So unless He's spiritual master, how Arjuna becomes His disciple? He's the original guru. Tene brahma hṛdā ādi-kavaye, in the Bhāgavata. That He gave instruction about Vedas in the heart of Brahmā. So He's guru.</p>
<p>Bob: Kṛṣṇa.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes, He's the original guru. Then His disciple Brahmā is guru. Then his disciple Nārada is guru. Then his disciple Vyāsa is guru. In this way there is guru-paramparā. Evaṁ paramparā prāptam ([[Vanisource:BG 4.2|BG 4.2]]), the transcendental knowledge is received through the disciplic succession.</p>
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<div id="1974_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="7" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1974 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1974 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
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<div id="MorningWalkMarch231974Bombay_0" class="quote" parent="1974_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="43" link="Morning Walk -- March 23, 1974, Bombay" link_text="Morning Walk -- March 23, 1974, Bombay">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Morning Walk -- March 23, 1974, Bombay|Morning Walk -- March 23, 1974, Bombay]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: ...Arjuna. In the beginning he was arguing, but when he saw it is useless, he said, śādhi māṁ prapannam. Śiṣyas te 'haṁ śādhi māṁ prapannam ([[Vanisource:BG 2.7|BG 2.7]]). That is required.</p>
<p>Guest (3): Guru expects from you that thing... (break)</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Actually, it is a process, a guru should not instruct anybody who is not a disciple.</p>
<p>Dr. Patel: That's right.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Because he's not submissive, it is useless waste of time. That is... That is the... Guru should not speak to anyone...</p>
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<div id="RoomConversationwithIrishPoetDesmondOGradyMay231974Rome_1" class="quote" parent="1974_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="81" link="Room Conversation with Irish Poet, Desmond O'Grady -- May 23, 1974, Rome" link_text="Room Conversation with Irish Poet, Desmond O'Grady -- May 23, 1974, Rome">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation with Irish Poet, Desmond O'Grady -- May 23, 1974, Rome|Room Conversation with Irish Poet, Desmond O'Grady -- May 23, 1974, Rome]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">You have read Bhagavad-gītā. You will find Arjuna was talking with Kṛṣṇa. Then, when the things were not solved, perplexed, Arjuna surrendered himself, śiṣyas te 'haṁ śādhi māṁ prapannam. Find out this verse.</p>
<p>Nitāi: Text seven.</p>
:kārpaṇya-doṣopahata-svabhāvaḥ
:pṛcchāmi tvāṁ dharma-sammūḍha-cetāḥ
:yac chreyaḥ syān niścitaṁ brūhi tan me
:śiṣyas te 'haṁ śādhi māṁ tvāṁ prapannam
:([[Vanisource:BG 2.7|BG 2.7]])
<p>"Now I am confused about my duty and have lost all composure because of weakness."</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes. That... Here is the question, "confused."</p>
<p>O'Grady: I am the first statement. "I am confused about my duty," that what is the... Thank you.</p>
<p>Nitāi: "...and have lost all composure because of weakness. In this condition I am..."</p>
<p>O'Grady: This duty, this duty, is this duty to the self or duty to others or duty to the state?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: He is confused because he was a kṣatriya, soldier. A soldier's duty is to fight with the enemy. So Kṛṣṇa was advising him, "The opposite party is your enemy. You are a kṣatriya. Why you are trying to become non-violent? This is not good." Therefore he says, "Actually I am now confused. So in confusion I cannot take the right conclusion. I therefore accept You as my spiritual master. You just give me the proper lesson." This is the point. So they were friends. Still, he was confused. So in chaotic condition, in confusion status of life, we must approach the person who is in full knowledge of the things. Just like you go to a lawyer, you go to a physician; similarly, every one of us in the material world, we are confused. Therefore we must go to the spiritual master who can give us real knowledge.</p>
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