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Can you tell us what the program is for Hindu priests or Hindu holy man, swami?

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Expressions researched:
"can you tell us what the program is for Hindu priests or Hindu holy man, swami"

Lectures

Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

It is not the question of Hindu. I say the description of great souls. It is applicable to everyone.
Lecture on SB 5.5.3 -- Boston, May 4, 1968:

Guest (1): Can you tell us what the program is for Hindu priests or Hindu holy man, swami.

Prabhupāda: It is not the question of Hindu. I say the description of great souls. Either he may be Hindu or Christian. It doesn't matter. Great soul, the description or the symptom of great souls... (break) ...one has to become Muhammadan, one has to become Christian. Just like if I say that "You speak truth. Don't speak lie." It is not that it is applicable to the Hindus or to the Christians. It is applicable to everyone.

Guest (1): But in the Hindu religion do they have a certain title for the holy man? Do they call the holy man swami?

Prabhupāda: Yes. Yes. Swami means, I have described, that who has conquered over the demands of the senses. That is swami. Swami means who has attained the perfection of not being dictated by the senses. He is called swami.

Guest (1): Is that the equivalent of a Hindu priest?

Prabhupāda: Not Hindu priest. Hindu priest... There are many so-called priests. They are dictated by so many sense gratification. And there are many others also in other parts of the world who are restrained. So as you inquire what is swami, swami means master. And master, what does it mean? Master of the senses. Generally people are driven by the dictation of the senses. So if you can control your senses, then you become a swami.

Guest (1): Do they have a period of training or a program for the training of the swamis?

Prabhupāda: Oh, yes. Certainly.

Guest (1): Can you tell me how long the program takes?

Prabhupāda: That depends on the student. Yes. If you can quickly can control... There are processes. Just like we are training here. They're American boys, but we are training them in that process. We don't allow our students to have illicit sex life. We don't allow our students to indulge in nonvegetarian diet. We don't allow our students for intoxication. And we don't allow our students for gambling. So these four principles they are practicing, they are chanting, and they are restraining. In this way, when one is trained as brahmacārī, then he can become a swami later on. Yes. The training is there.

Page Title:Can you tell us what the program is for Hindu priests or Hindu holy man, swami?
Compiler:Labangalatika, Rishab
Created:08 of Feb, 2009
Totals by Section:BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=1, Con=0, Let=0
No. of Quotes:1