View source for Bona fide spiritual master (Conversations)

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[[Category:Bona Fide Spiritual Master|1]]
[[Category:Compilations from Conversations]]
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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="1968_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="1" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1968 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1968 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
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<div id="MorningWalkatStowLakeMarch271968SanFrancisco_0" class="quote" parent="1968_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="8" link="Morning Walk at Stow Lake -- March 27, 1968, San Francisco" link_text="Morning Walk at Stow Lake -- March 27, 1968, San Francisco">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Morning Walk at Stow Lake -- March 27, 1968, San Francisco|Morning Walk at Stow Lake -- March 27, 1968, San Francisco]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: Svanuṣṭhitasya dharmasya, everyone has got a specific duty. So one has to see that by his specific duty, entrusted with or discharging that duty, whether Kṛṣṇa is being satisfied. That's all. Therefore one has to accept a bona fide spiritual master to know whether Kṛṣṇa is being satisfied by his work. Who will certify? You cannot concoct, "Oh, I am doing for satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa." No, that is not possible. It must be accepted by the representative of Kṛṣṇa, "Yes, by your work, Kṛṣṇa is satisfied." Then it is all right. So... (break) Svanuṣṭhitasya dharmasya. In everything, Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavata, just stick to these two books very nicely. Svanuṣṭhitasya dharmasya, saṁsiddhir hari-toṣaṇam ([[Vanisource:SB 1.2.13|SB 1.2.13]]). It is a great science and very intricate also. But one has to learn also very diligently. Kṛṣṇa consciousness is not for the fools. It is not for the fools. Highly intelligent class of man, he can understand the philosophical aspect of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. But the thing is so attractive that even a child, even a fool is attracted. Yes. That is the beauty. Although it is very difficult to understand this philosophy, Caitanya Mahāprabhu has introduced the system that anyone can take it. Hare Kṛṣṇa.</p>
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<div id="InterviewSeptember241968Seattle_1" class="quote" parent="1968_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="17" link="Interview -- September 24, 1968, Seattle" link_text="Interview -- September 24, 1968, Seattle">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Interview -- September 24, 1968, Seattle|Interview -- September 24, 1968, Seattle]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: It is not exactly the hierarchy, but in the Christian method, Roman Catholic method, the process of the Pope, Archbishop, and..., that is very nice. There is no objection of us. But our point is that Kṛṣṇa consciousness is lacking. In spite of all arrangement, if people lost faith in God, so simply by hierarchy, what is the benefit there? There is no benefit. You see? Bambarambhe laghu-kriya, in the Sanskrit word, that you can make a very high-grade arrangement, but the result is zero. So that hierarchical arrangement is exactly not in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. But our method is very simple. If one is fortunate enough to meet a bona fide spiritual master and if he acts strictly under his discipline, he also becomes within a very short time another spiritual master.</p>
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<div id="1970_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="3" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1970 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1970 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
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<div id="RoomConversationDecember121970Indore_0" class="quote" parent="1970_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="3" link="Room Conversation -- December 12, 1970, Indore" link_text="Room Conversation -- December 12, 1970, Indore">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation -- December 12, 1970, Indore|Room Conversation -- December 12, 1970, Indore]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: Śāstra-vākya-pramāṇa. And it should be known through the spiritual master. Just like nowadays Bhagavad-gītā is being interpreted in so many foolish ways because they do not accept explanation from the authority. They become themselves authorities. Therefore misused. That is not explanation. Somebody is explaining that Kurukṣetra means this body, pañca-pāṇḍava means the senses. These are all nonsense. You have to accept Bhagavad-gītā as it is. When you cannot understand, you should get it explained by your spiritual master. Therefore one has to accept a spiritual master to understand. Tad-vijnanārtham. In order to understand that transcendental science one must approach a bona fide spiritual master. That is injunction. So here it is said that kānyakubje dvijaḥ.</p>
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<div id="RoomConversationDecember121970Indore_1" class="quote" parent="1970_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="3" link="Room Conversation -- December 12, 1970, Indore" link_text="Room Conversation -- December 12, 1970, Indore">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation -- December 12, 1970, Indore|Room Conversation -- December 12, 1970, Indore]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: Yes. That is the test, whether he has understood. In the Seventh Chapter,</p>
:mayy āsakta-manāḥ pārtha
:yogaṁ yuñjan mad-āśrayaḥ
:asaṁśayaṁ samagraṁ māṁ
:yathā jñāsyasi tac chṛṇu
:([[Vanisource:BG 7.1 (1972)|BG 7.1]])
<p>"Anyone... How one simply by concentrating his mind upon Me," mayy āsakta, "with āsakti..." Āsakti means attachment, love. Mayy āsakta-manāḥ. Mind attached to Kṛṣṇa in love. Yogaṁ yuñjan mad-āśrayaḥ. And performing the bhakti-yoga, mad-āśrayaḥ, under the disciplinary action by a bona fide spiritual master, mad-āśrayaḥ. Asaṁśayaṁ samagraṁ māṁ: "Then he can understand without any doubt and fully what I am." That means one who has not understood Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he has not found the yoga properly. And why? That is mad-āśrayaḥ, he does not follow the disciplic succession. Mad āśrayaḥ. And in the beginning, in Fourth Chapter it is said, evaṁ paramparā-prāptam ([[Vanisource:BG 4.2 (1972)|BG 4.2]]).</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;">Prabhupāda: ...a bona fide spiritual master. Bona fide spiritual master means who carries out the order of higher authorities. Otherwise he is not spiritual master. Anyone who manufactures his own process of religion, that is rascaldom. dharmāṁ tu sakṣād bhagavat-praṇitam ([[Vanisource:SB 6.3.19|SB 6.3.19]]). Just like lawyer, representative of the law, means who carries the order of the supreme executive. He is lawyer. Similarly, a spiritual master means who carries the order of superior authority. We are carrying the order of Caitanya Mahāprabhu or Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa taught this Bhagavad-gītā, and He has said that "Anyone who will preach this confidential message of Bhagavad-gītā, he is very dear to Me."</p>
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<div id="RoomConversationFebruary171971Gorakhpur_1" class="quote" parent="1971_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="5" link="Room Conversation -- February 17, 1971, Gorakhpur" link_text="Room Conversation -- February 17, 1971, Gorakhpur">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation -- February 17, 1971, Gorakhpur|Room Conversation -- February 17, 1971, Gorakhpur]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: Yes. Kṛṣṇa says, kuruṣva mad-arpaṇam, yat karoṣi. "Whatever you do, the result should be given to Me." Do for it. "Do for for Me." Yat karoṣi yaj juhoṣi yad aśnāsi yat tapasyasi dadāsi yat ([[Vanisource:BG 9.27 (1972)|BG 9.27]]). So this requires training, how everything can be molded for Kṛṣṇa. Therefore guidance required, bona fide spiritual master required. Under his guidance, one has to do. Ādau gurvāśrayam. In order to execute Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one has to first of all accept a bona fide spiritual master. Then everything will be done. He is representative of Kṛṣṇa, and to act under his direction means acting under Kṛṣṇa. He knows how to utilize your energy for service of Kṛṣṇa. Ādau gurvāśrayam sad-dharma-pṛcchat sādhu-mārgānugāmanam. Just like Rūpa Gosvāmī, he was prime minister. He had no information of Kṛṣṇa, but since he saw...</p>
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<div id="RoomConversationFebruary171971Gorakhpur_2" class="quote" parent="1971_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="5" link="Room Conversation -- February 17, 1971, Gorakhpur" link_text="Room Conversation -- February 17, 1971, Gorakhpur">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation -- February 17, 1971, Gorakhpur|Room Conversation -- February 17, 1971, Gorakhpur]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: No. He'll not judge. His spiritual master will judge. Kṛṣṇa's representative. He'll not judge. He will make mistake. Therefore, if one has accepted a bona fide spiritual master, that means he is in direct touch with Kṛṣṇa. Transparent media. He has to see Kṛṣṇa through the transparent medium of spiritual master. Therefore it is imperative, one has to accept a... Tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta jijñāsuḥ śreyaḥ uttamam ([[Vanisource:SB 11.3.21|SB 11.3.21]]). And what kind of guru? Śabde pare ca niṣṇataṁ brahmaṇy upāśamāśrayam. So this is a big science. One has to study. One has to understand. The things are there. There is no difficulty.</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;">Prabhupāda: Yes, yes. A devotee must work under the direction of a bona fide spiritual master. Not imitate the best devotee.</p>
<p>Bob: Excuse me?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Not imitate the best devotee.</p>
<p>Bob: Not, what is that word?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Imitate.</p>
<p>Devotees: Imitate, imitate.</p>
<p>Bob: Oh, ācchā, ācchā, I see. Imitate. (pause) (break)</p>
<p>Śyāmasundara: ...you said that sometimes you feel pain, some sickness, due to the sinful activities of your devotees. Is that... Couldn't sometimes disease be that, due to that? Caused by that?</p>
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<div id="RoomConversationwithJohnGriesserlaterinitiatedasYadubaraDasaMarch101972Vrndavana_1" class="quote" parent="1972_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="6" link="Room Conversation with John Griesser (later initiated as Yadubara Dasa) -- March 10, 1972, Vrndavana" link_text="Room Conversation with John Griesser (later initiated as Yadubara Dasa) -- March 10, 1972, Vrndavana">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation with John Griesser (later initiated as Yadubara Dasa) -- March 10, 1972, Vrndavana|Room Conversation with John Griesser (later initiated as Yadubara Dasa) -- March 10, 1972, Vrndavana]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: It says, "Any activities sanctioned in the revealed scriptures and aiming at the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are accepted by saintly teachers as the regulative principles of devotional service. If somebody regularly executes such service unto the Personality of Godhead under the direction of a bona fide spiritual master, then gradually he rises to the platform of serving in pure love of God."</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: That nonviolence. Kṛṣṇa is number one violent. (chuckles) Number one. There is no limit of His violence. Just see.</p>
<p>Yadubara: Don't you have... In the material world, sometimes you have to stand up for what you think is right and sometimes use violence?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Only satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa is right. All wrong. If Kṛṣṇa is satisfied, that is right. Otherwise everything wrong.</p>
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<div id="MorningWalksOctober131972LosAngeles_2" class="quote" parent="1972_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="41" link="Morning Walks -- October 1-3, 1972, Los Angeles" link_text="Morning Walks -- October 1-3, 1972, Los Angeles">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Morning Walks -- October 1-3, 1972, Los Angeles|Morning Walks -- October 1-3, 1972, Los Angeles]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: That's it.</p>
<p>Svarūpa Dāmodara: (indistinct) by the mercy of Kṛṣṇa one gets this bona fide spiritual master.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Kṛṣṇa is always merciful. He comes Himself also and demands surrender, but we do not do that. That we cannot do.</p>
<p>Jayatīrtha: As you were saying last night, if we had no independence, then there wouldn't be any question of... We'd be just like dull matter. There'd be no difference. So we have that independence.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: By our misuse of independence, we do not surrender. Otherwise Kṛṣṇa says, "You surrender!"</p>
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<div id="1973_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="6" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1973 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1973 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
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<div id="ConversationwithMrWadellJuly101973London_0" class="quote" parent="1973_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="36" link="Conversation with Mr. Wadell -- July 10, 1973, London" link_text="Conversation with Mr. Wadell -- July 10, 1973, London">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Conversation with Mr. Wadell -- July 10, 1973, London|Conversation with Mr. Wadell -- July 10, 1973, London]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: Therefore our Vedic injunction is tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet (MU 1.2.12). Tad-vijñānārtham, in order to clear the doubt, to be in perfect knowledge, one must approach the authorized bona fide spiritual master.</p>
<p>Mr. Wadell: Can we go back to the physician. It is possible for a physician to be wrong.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes, we are always in wrong because we are born ignorant. Everything is wrong because ignorant, foolish. Madman's conception. This is all wrong, childish. Therefore we send our boys, children, to school, to correct the wrong ideas.</p>
<p>Mr. Wadell: But some of the teachers may not be correct.</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="MorningWalkJanuary51974LosAngeles_0" class="quote" parent="1974_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="2" link="Morning Walk -- January 5, 1974, Los Angeles" link_text="Morning Walk -- January 5, 1974, Los Angeles">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Morning Walk -- January 5, 1974, Los Angeles|Morning Walk -- January 5, 1974, Los Angeles]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: ...less dangerous than the active foolish. (devotees chant japa) (break)</p>
<p>Prajāpati: In the Bhagavad-gītā it is indicated by Śrī Kṛṣṇa that when we approach a bona fide spiritual master our relationship is twofold. We render service and then we also make inquiry.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yeah.</p>
<p>Prajāpati: Now, you have answered all our inquiries so thoroughly in our books that to make inquiry at this point seems like..., you've already answered all the questions. So how may we... What is the proper relationship at that point to make inquiry?</p>
<p>Devotee (4): Read the books.</p>
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<div id="QuestionsandAnswersJanuary171974Hawaii_1" class="quote" parent="1974_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="11" link="Questions and Answers -- January 17, 1974, Hawaii" link_text="Questions and Answers -- January 17, 1974, Hawaii">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Questions and Answers -- January 17, 1974, Hawaii|Questions and Answers -- January 17, 1974, Hawaii]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: That is not our life, to become an impostor. It must be real person. By training, yaḥ śāstra-vidhiṁ siddhiḥ, by training under the teaching of a bona fide spiritual master, the śāstra, and then you'll automatically, the more you become a sincere, I mean to say, servitor of the spiritual master, the more you become qualified to become a teacher in the future. Otherwise where is your qualification? You may cheat others that you are teacher, but you are not actually teacher. You have no lesson, no education. A cheating is another thing. But practically to become a teacher... Just like in a school, teacher... A teacher is appointed. When the certificate is there that he has passed M.A. examination, and he has undergone the training, B.T., Bachelor training, then he's appointed: "Yes, you can be a teacher."</p>
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<div id="MorningWalkMarch61974Mayapura_2" class="quote" parent="1974_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="31" link="Morning Walk -- March 6, 1974, Mayapura" link_text="Morning Walk -- March 6, 1974, Mayapura">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Morning Walk -- March 6, 1974, Mayapura|Morning Walk -- March 6, 1974, Mayapura]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Jayapatākā: Human life is no special advantage. Only if you come, the spiritual master comes, then it can be some advantage.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes. Therefore Vedic injunction is gurum eva abhigacchet: "You must go to a bona fide spiritual master if you want to make your life perfect." There is no question whether I shall go or not. "You must!" That is the beginning of human life. Otherwise animal life. He has no spiritual master. He's not going to obey anyone. He's working in his own whims. That is animal life. Real life here begins.</p>
:tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum eva abhigacchet
:samit-pāṇiḥ śrotriyaṁ brahma-niṣṭham
:(MU 1.2.12)
<p>This is the Vedic injunction. You cannot do anything without abiding the orders of spiritual master. That is surrender. How nice water it is. (break) And there are many thousands, you'll find.</p>
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<div id="RoomConversationwithIrishPoetDesmondOGradyMay231974Rome_3" 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 class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: Yes. Our Vedic process is... There are so many questions, as you have already explained. Somebody thinks, "Why I have come here? And what is the purpose? What you are?" So many questions. Questions should be answered by the perfect. Therefore the Vedic injunction is tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum eva abhigacchet: (MU 1.2.12) "In order to take answers of all these questions one must approach the bona fide spiritual master."</p>
<p>O'Grady: One must...?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Approach the bona fide spiritual master.</p>
<p>Atreya Ṛṣi: Approach.</p>
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<div id="RoomConversationwithIrishPoetDesmondOGradyMay231974Rome_4" 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 class="text"><p style="display: inline;">O'Grady: The bona fide spiritual master. If you have none, what do you do?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: No, there is.</p>
<p>O'Grady: If you are told that Mr. Nixon is the bona fide spiritual master, what do you do?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: No, we have got standard. Who is bona fide spiritual master? Just like... The one line, you have heard only one line, that bona fide spiritual master, "You must approach the bona fide spiritual master." But who is bona fide spiritual master? Then that next question. That is also answered, that bona fide spiritual master means tad-vijñānārtham sa gurum eva abhigacchet, śrotriyaṁ brahma-niṣṭham (MU 1.2.12). This is the qualification of bona fide spiritual master. What is that? Śrotriyam. Śrotriyam means who has heard from the bona fide spiritual master. A bona fide spiritual master is he who has taken the message from bona fide spiritual master. This is the... Just like a medical man is he who has taken the knowledge of medical science from another medical man.</p>
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<div id="RoomConversationwithIrishPoetDesmondOGradyMay231974Rome_5" 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 class="text"><p style="display: inline;">O'Grady: Just like Christ took this knowledge from the Holy Ghost.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes. And anyone. Yes. Similarly, bona fide spiritual master means who is in the line of successive spiritual master. The original spiritual master is God. So then one who has heard from God and he has explained the same message to his disciple, then the disciple is bona fide spiritual master—if he does not change. That is our process. We take lessons. We hear from Kṛṣṇa who is the perfect, God. And that is explained in the Bhagavad-gita. Evaṁ paramparā-prāptam imaṁ rājarṣayo viduḥ ([[Vanisource:BG 4.2 (1972)|BG 4.2]]).</p>
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<div id="MorningWalkJune61974Geneva_6" class="quote" parent="1974_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="101" link="Morning Walk -- June 6, 1974, Geneva" link_text="Morning Walk -- June 6, 1974, Geneva">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Morning Walk -- June 6, 1974, Geneva|Morning Walk -- June 6, 1974, Geneva]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Satsvarūpa: Yesterday you said when one becomes initiated by a bona fide spiritual master, his body changes.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes.</p>
<p>Satsvarūpa: Even if he was mleccha, he can become brāhmaṇa.</p>
<p>Yogeśvara: Actually, the chemists also say that there are four types of blood, A, AB, O, and something like that. They give it four names.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: And according to Hindu system, the marriage was taking place finding, examining the girl's constitution and the boy's constitution so that there may not be disruption. Everything was there.</p>
<p>Yogeśvara: The Vedic system is so scientific.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Oh yes. That is human civilization. That is Āryan civilization. Vedic civilization means Āryan.</p>
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<div id="RoomConversationwithChristianPriestJune91974Paris_7" class="quote" parent="1974_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="104" link="Room Conversation with Christian Priest -- June 9, 1974, Paris" link_text="Room Conversation with Christian Priest -- June 9, 1974, Paris">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation with Christian Priest -- June 9, 1974, Paris|Room Conversation with Christian Priest -- June 9, 1974, Paris]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: Purport.</p>
<p>Pradyumna: "The path of spiritual realization is undoubtedly difficult. The Lord therefore advises us to approach a bona fide spiritual master in the line of disciplic succession from the Lord Himself. No one can be a bona fide spiritual master without following this principle of disciplic succession. The Lord is the original spiritual master, and a person in the disciplic succession can convey the message of the Lord as it is to his disciple. No one can be spiritually realized by manufacturing his own process, as is the fashion of the foolish pretenders. The Bhāgavatam says: dharmaṁ hi sākṣād-bhagavat-praṇītam—the path of religion is directly enunciated by the Lord. Therefore, mental speculation or dry arguments cannot help one progress in spiritual life. One has to approach a bona fide spiritual master to receive the knowledge.</p>
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<div id="ReportersInterviewJune291974Melbourne_8" class="quote" parent="1974_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="132" link="Reporters Interview -- June 29, 1974, Melbourne" link_text="Reporters Interview -- June 29, 1974, Melbourne">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Reporters Interview -- June 29, 1974, Melbourne|Reporters Interview -- June 29, 1974, Melbourne]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Guest (4): What is the test of a true guru?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: He will describe about Kṛṣṇa. He will ask you to become devotee of Kṛṣṇa. His business is to propagate Kṛṣṇa. That is the symptom of guru.</p>
<p>Devotee: Śrīla Prabhupāda, if we don't know what Kṛṣṇa is and we still get a bona fide spiritual master, then how do we call that? Our good fortune?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes. That is stated in Caitanya... Ei rūpe brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva. Kona, some fortunate person, not all.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="1975_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="8" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1975 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1975 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
</div>
<div id="RoomConversationwithSanskritProfessorotherGuestsandDisciplesFebruary121975Mexico_0" class="quote" parent="1975_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="5" link="Room Conversation with Sanskrit Professor, other Guests and Disciples -- February 12, 1975, Mexico" link_text="Room Conversation with Sanskrit Professor, other Guests and Disciples -- February 12, 1975, Mexico">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation with Sanskrit Professor, other Guests and Disciples -- February 12, 1975, Mexico|Room Conversation with Sanskrit Professor, other Guests and Disciples -- February 12, 1975, Mexico]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: Well, if one is weak, he may be infected by some disease. It requires some resisting power. Therefore Caitanya Mahāprabhu said that, your answer, that "Only the fortunate person, they can get the shelter of bona fide spiritual master." Kona bhāgyavān jīva. Not all, kona. Kona means some.</p>
<p>Devotee (1):. Some, yes. Kona bhāgyavān...</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Jīva. So as there are bhagavān—somebody is rich, somebody is poor; this is also due to fortune or misfortune—similarly, if one is spiritually fortunate he gets a bona fide spiritual master.</p>
<p>Guest (2): Do you have any opinions about some of the other Indian masters who have been...</p>
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</div>
<div id="MorningWalkApril81975Mayapur_1" class="quote" parent="1975_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="49" link="Morning Walk -- April 8, 1975, Mayapur" link_text="Morning Walk -- April 8, 1975, Mayapur">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Morning Walk -- April 8, 1975, Mayapur|Morning Walk -- April 8, 1975, Mayapur]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: No.</p>
<p>Satsvarūpa: Prabhupāda, in one purport in the Bhagavad-gītā, you write that a disciple of a bona fide spiritual master is supposed to know everything.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes, if he follows the spiritual master.</p>
<p>Satsvarūpa: But how could he know...? What does that mean, "everything"?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Everything means whatever his guru knows, he should know, that much. Not like God, everything. Within his limit, that's all. If he tries to understand whatever his guru has said, that much is "everything." Otherwise, "everything" does not mean that we know everything, like God, like Kṛṣṇa. That is not possible. If he regularly chants and follow the regulative principles, follows the orders of guru, then he knows everything. That's all. Not very much... Knows everything, then what is the use of reading books when he knows everything? (break) ...everything—except Kṛṣṇa. Aham... Sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi sanniviṣṭo ([[Vanisource:BG 15.15 (1972)|BG 15.15]]). He knows past, present, future, everything. You cannot expect anyone to know like Kṛṣṇa, everything.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="MorningWalkMay221975Melbourne_2" class="quote" parent="1975_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="87" link="Morning Walk -- May 22, 1975, Melbourne" link_text="Morning Walk -- May 22, 1975, Melbourne">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Morning Walk -- May 22, 1975, Melbourne|Morning Walk -- May 22, 1975, Melbourne]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: No, there is no more init... Initiation here required when the living entity is in darkness. Just like uneducated person requires to go to school. One who is educated, in his full knowledge, he doesn't go.</p>
<p>Madhudviṣa: The question was, Prabhupāda, is it possible for a person to return to the spiritual world without taking initiation from a bona fide spiritual master?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: No, that is not possible. Therefore Rūpa Gosvāmī said, ā dau gurv-āśrayam. First business is to accept spiritual master. Ā dau gurv-āśrayam. Who will train him? He is already fool, rascal. He must be trained up. So he must be trained up by the representative of Kṛṣṇa.</p>
<p>Devotee 9: Is second initiation necessary, Śrīla Prabhupāda?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Second or first only.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="RoomConversationwithTwoLawyersandGuestMay221975Melbourne_3" class="quote" parent="1975_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="88" link="Room Conversation with Two Lawyers and Guest -- May 22, 1975, Melbourne" link_text="Room Conversation with Two Lawyers and Guest -- May 22, 1975, Melbourne">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation with Two Lawyers and Guest -- May 22, 1975, Melbourne|Room Conversation with Two Lawyers and Guest -- May 22, 1975, Melbourne]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: I also like. (laughter) Yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto 'pi **. This is essential, to be anxious to be associated with the spiritual master. Guru-kṛṣṇa-kṛpāya pāya bhakti-latā-bīja ([[Vanisource:CC Madhya 19.151|CC Madhya 19.151]]). That is the statement of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. By the mercy of Kṛṣṇa one comes in touch with the bona fide spiritual master, and by the mercy of spiritual master, one gets Kṛṣṇa. So Kṛṣṇa is in everyone's heart. Īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānām ([[Vanisource:BG 18.61 (1972)|BG 18.61]]). Kṛṣṇa can understand what we want. So when we sincerely want Kṛṣṇa, then Kṛṣṇa sends His representative, guru. Guru is outside representative of Kṛṣṇa. So to the sincere student, Kṛṣṇa teaches from inside and outside. That is the way, so that he becomes quickly fit for going back to home, back to Godhead. So this behavior, to be attached to spiritual master, is a good qualification. Yasya prasādāt, by his mercy, Kṛṣṇa becomes merciful. By Kṛṣṇa's mercy, one gets spiritual master, and by the spiritual master's mercy, one gets the mercy of Kṛṣṇa.</p>
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<div id="RoomConversationwithwriterSandyNixonJuly131975Philadelphia_4" class="quote" parent="1975_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="141" link="Room Conversation with writer, Sandy Nixon -- July 13, 1975, Philadelphia" link_text="Room Conversation with writer, Sandy Nixon -- July 13, 1975, Philadelphia">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation with writer, Sandy Nixon -- July 13, 1975, Philadelphia|Room Conversation with writer, Sandy Nixon -- July 13, 1975, Philadelphia]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Sandy Nixon: How does one know a bona fide spiritual master, then, that can lead them?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Who teaches these things—how to know God and how to love Him—he is spiritual master. Otherwise bogus, rascal bogus. Sometimes they mislead that "I am God." Poor people, they do not know what is God, and a rascal proposes, "I am God," and they accept it. Just like in your country they elected Nixon president and again drag him. That means they did not know who is really bona fide president, elected somebody, and again they had to business of dragging out. Similarly, people are foolish. Any rascal comes. He says, "I am God." They accept.</p>
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<div id="RoomConversationsJuly261975LagunaBeach_5" class="quote" parent="1975_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="156" link="Room Conversations -- July 26, 1975, Laguna Beach" link_text="Room Conversations -- July 26, 1975, Laguna Beach">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversations -- July 26, 1975, Laguna Beach|Room Conversations -- July 26, 1975, Laguna Beach]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: This is knowledge. Etaj jñānam. The items prescribed by Kṛṣṇa, that is knowledge. And everything is no knowledge. Translation, you read.</p>
<p>Satsvarūpa: "Humility, pridelessness, nonviolence, tolerance, simplicity, approaching a bona fide spiritual master, cleanliness, steadiness and self-control; renunciation of the objects of sense gratification, absence of false ego, the perception of the evil of birth, death, old age and disease; nonattachment to children, wife, home and the rest, and evenmindedness amid pleasant and unpleasant events; constant and unalloyed devotion to Me, resorting to solitary places, detachment from the general mass of people, accepting the importance of self-realization, and philosophical search for the Absolute Truth—all these I thus declare to be knowledge,..."</p>
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<div id="MorningWalkDecember101975Vrndavana_6" class="quote" parent="1975_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="257" link="Morning Walk -- December 10, 1975, Vrndavana" link_text="Morning Walk -- December 10, 1975, Vrndavana">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Morning Walk -- December 10, 1975, Vrndavana|Morning Walk -- December 10, 1975, Vrndavana]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: Yes. You'll find in today's tape that Prahlāda Mahārāja recommending, that "Spiritual life begins by guru-śuśruṣaḥ, by serving guru." (break) ...Gosvāmi said, ādau gurvāśrayam: "The first beginning is to take shelter of the bona fide spiritual master." Sad-dharma-pracchāt: "Then inquire from him about the spiritual path." Sādhu-mārgānugamanam: "Follow the previous ācāryas." These are the steps. Bhagavad-gītā, Arjuna said, śiṣyas te 'ha śādhi mām: "Now I become Your disciple. Teach me." And these rascals are more than Arjuna—"There is no need of guru." Huh? He says, śiṣyas te 'ham ([[Vanisource:BG 2.7 (1972)|BG 2.7]]). Why? He was already friend. Why he should submit himself as disciple? That is the beginning of spiritual life.</p>
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<div id="1976_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="9" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1976 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1976 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
</div>
<div id="GardenConversationJune151976Detroit_0" class="quote" parent="1976_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="137" link="Garden Conversation -- June 15, 1976, Detroit" link_text="Garden Conversation -- June 15, 1976, Detroit">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Garden Conversation -- June 15, 1976, Detroit|Garden Conversation -- June 15, 1976, Detroit]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: Now you can discuss among yourselves whether you have approached such spiritual master. What is that? This purport?</p>
<p>Jayādvaita: Read again. "Therefore it behooves one to approach a bona fide spiritual master who can give one proper guidance for executing the purpose of life. All Vedic literatures advise us to approach a bona fide spiritual master to get free from the perplexities of life, which happen without our desire."</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: So, whether you have approached such spiritual master, that you can discuss. This is the necessity of approaching a spiritual master.</p>
<p>Jayādvaita: Necessity.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Hmm. It must. Tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet (MU 1.2.12).</p>
<p>Jayādvaita: Śrotriyaṁ brahma-niṣṭham.</p>
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<div id="GardenConversationJune151976Detroit_1" class="quote" parent="1976_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="137" link="Garden Conversation -- June 15, 1976, Detroit" link_text="Garden Conversation -- June 15, 1976, Detroit">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Garden Conversation -- June 15, 1976, Detroit|Garden Conversation -- June 15, 1976, Detroit]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Hari-śauri: Saṁsāra-dāvānala-līḍha-loka **. There's one tape, you describe the very first thing when one follows the instructions of a spiritual master is that he's freed from all different kinds of material difficulties. He immediately feels some relief from material existence. First sign of a bona fide spiritual master.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Go on reading.</p>
<p>Jayādvaita.: "Material perplexities are like a forest fire that somehow blazes without being set by anyone. Similarly, the world situation is such that perplexities of life automatically appear, without our wanting such confusion. No one wants fire, and yet it takes place and we become perplexed. The Vedic wisdom therefore advises that in order to solve the perplexities of life and to understand the science of the solution, one must approach a bona fide spiritual master who is in the disciplic succession. A person with a bona fide spiritual master is supposed to know everything. One should not therefore remain in material perplexities but should approach a spiritual master.</p>
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</div>
<div id="InterviewwithProfessorsOConnellMotilalandShivaramJune181976Toronto_2" class="quote" parent="1976_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="148" link="Interview with Professors O'Connell, Motilal and Shivaram -- June 18, 1976, Toronto" link_text="Interview with Professors O'Connell, Motilal and Shivaram -- June 18, 1976, Toronto">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Interview with Professors O'Connell, Motilal and Shivaram -- June 18, 1976, Toronto|Interview with Professors O'Connell, Motilal and Shivaram -- June 18, 1976, Toronto]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Jayādvaita: In the list of items of knowledge, "approaching a bona fide spiritual master." Ācāryopāsanam.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: This is ācārya.</p>
<p>Indian man (2): Swamiji, you think bhakti is the solution to the problem of the world today?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Oh, yes, yes. That is your natural position. You are protected, and God is protector. That's a fact. You cannot live even for a moment without protection of God. That is your position. That is explained by Caitanya Mahāprabhu: jīvera svarūpa haya nitya-kṛṣṇa-dāsa (Cc. Madhya 20.108-109). Perhaps you have read it in Caitanya-caritāmṛta. You have read Caitanya-caritāmṛta? Yes. So Caitanya Mahāprabhu says, He immediately gives the definition and position of the living entity: jīvera svarūpa haya nitya-kṛṣṇa-dāsa. Sanātana Gosvāmī asked Him, "People glorify me that I am very learned scholar." Grāmya-vyavahāre kahe paṇḍita satya kari' māni. You understand Bengali?</p>
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<div id="GardenConversationJune271976NewVrindaban_3" class="quote" parent="1976_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="166" link="Garden Conversation -- June 27, 1976, New Vrindaban" link_text="Garden Conversation -- June 27, 1976, New Vrindaban">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Garden Conversation -- June 27, 1976, New Vrindaban|Garden Conversation -- June 27, 1976, New Vrindaban]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: The same verse again in the Second Chapter."The compilers of the Upaniṣads speak very highly of the impersonal Brahman. The Upaniṣads, which are considered the most elevated portion of the Vedic literatures, are meant for persons who desire to get free from material association and who therefore approach a bona fide spiritual master for enlightenment. The prefix upa indicates that one must receive knowledge about the Absolute Truth from a spiritual master. One who has faith in his spiritual master actually receives transcendental instruction, and as his attachment for material life slackens, he is able to advance on the spiritual path. Knowledge of the transcendental science of the Upaniṣads..."</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Where is that boy? You are hearing?</p>
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<div id="AnswerstoaQuestionnairefromBhavansJournalJune281976Vrndavana_4" class="quote" parent="1976_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="169" link="Answers to a Questionnaire from Bhavan's Journal -- June 28, 1976, Vrndavana" link_text="Answers to a Questionnaire from Bhavan's Journal -- June 28, 1976, Vrndavana">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Answers to a Questionnaire from Bhavan's Journal -- June 28, 1976, Vrndavana|Answers to a Questionnaire from Bhavan's Journal -- June 28, 1976, Vrndavana]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">As by chemical process the bell metal can be turned into gold by adding with the mercury.... This is a chemical process. If you can add in the bell metal proportionately mercury, then it will turn into gold. Here is the process given in the śāstra. If you are able to do it, you can do it, turn gold some of these bell metals. So the example is given that as the bell metal, base metal, can be turned into gold by chemical process, similarly, by dīkṣā-vidhānena, by proper initiation by the bona fide spiritual master, everyone can be turned into dvija, twice-born. Dvijatvaṁ jāyate nṛṇam. Nṛṇam means all men. It is not there is no discrimination, that only the Hindus, only the Indians, or only the so-called brāhmaṇas can be turned. Everyone can be turned. That is the injunction. So this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is trying to do that, trying everyone to become a bona fide brāhmaṇa. Without becoming a brāhmaṇa you cannot become Vaiṣṇava. So this reformatory process is recommended in the śāstras. What is the question?</p>
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<div id="RoomConversationAugust21976NewMayapurFrenchfarm_5" class="quote" parent="1976_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="238" link="Room Conversation -- August 2, 1976, New Mayapur (French farm)" link_text="Room Conversation -- August 2, 1976, New Mayapur (French farm)">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation -- August 2, 1976, New Mayapur (French farm)|Room Conversation -- August 2, 1976, New Mayapur (French farm)]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Hari-śauri:</p>
:brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva
:guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja
<p>"According to their karma, all living entities are wandering throughout the entire universe. Some of them are being elevated to the upper planetary systems, and some are going down into the lower planetary systems. Out of many millions of wandering living entities, one who is very fortunate gets an opportunity to associate with a bona fide spiritual master by the grace of Kṛṣṇa. By the mercy of both Kṛṣṇa and the spiritual master, such a person receives the seed of the creeper of devotional service."</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: This is not for everyone.</p>
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<div id="1977_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="10" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1977 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1977 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
</div>
<div id="RoomConversationJanuary281977Bhuvanesvara_0" class="quote" parent="1977_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="61" link="Room Conversation -- January 28, 1977, Bhuvanesvara" link_text="Room Conversation -- January 28, 1977, Bhuvanesvara">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation -- January 28, 1977, Bhuvanesvara|Room Conversation -- January 28, 1977, Bhuvanesvara]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: ...and sometimes we mix together and we see golden mountain. So in dream we see like that. We have got hundreds and thousands of experiences in our this life and past life. They are all stocked there, and they can sometimes get like a bubbles. You have seen the bubbles come out? It is like that. We should not give much importance to these things. But it is a fact that bona fide spiritual master is bona fide representative of Kṛṣṇa. That's a fact. So there is no question of subtle or gross. It is a fact. That's all right.</p>
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<div id="RoomConversationJanuary281977Bhuvanesvara_1" class="quote" parent="1977_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="61" link="Room Conversation -- January 28, 1977, Bhuvanesvara" link_text="Room Conversation -- January 28, 1977, Bhuvanesvara">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation -- January 28, 1977, Bhuvanesvara|Room Conversation -- January 28, 1977, Bhuvanesvara]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: No, you say, but he is such a learned, overlearned, he's asking somebody blessing who is not bona fide to find out bona fide. Just see his position. If you are seeking a bona fide spiritual master, why you asking the blessing of non-bona fide? (laughs) I could simply laugh, that's all, that such a rascal... He was doing some tangible service, editing work. He left everything. Now he's going to find out bona fide spiritual..., for bhajanānanda. Therefore, asat-saṅga-tyāgī ei vaiṣṇava. The first thing is... It is enunciated by... Whether this man is attached to woman? Then finish, all bona fide finish. As soon as one is attached to woman, either legal or illegal, his all qualification finished. Asat eka strī-saṅgī. And these rascals have derived meaning that "One who has one strī only, he's asat. One who has more than one strī, he's sat." They have interpreted like that.</p>
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