Playing the part of an acarya

Expressions researched:
"playing the part of an acarya"

CC Madhya-lila

However, because He was playing the part of an ācārya, the Lord considered Himself an ordinary human being. He also wanted to give instructions to ordinary human beings

CC Madhya 12.127, Purport: There are many offenses one can commit while serving the Lord, and these are described in the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, Hari-bhakti-vilasa and other books. According to the rules and regulations, no one should accept obeisances in the temple of the Lord before the Deity. Nor is it proper for a devotee to offer obeisances and touch the feet of the spiritual master before the Deity. This is considered an offense. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself was personally the Supreme Personality of Godhead; therefore it was not actually offensive to wash His lotus feet in the temple. However, because He was playing the part of an acarya, the Lord considered Himself an ordinary human being. He also wanted to give instructions to ordinary human beings. The point is that even though one plays the part of a spiritual master, he should not accept obeisances or permit a disciple to wash his feet before the Deity. This is a matter of etiquette.

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Lectures

We have to follow the footprints of great ācāryas. Lord Caitanya is playing the part of an ācārya; so His conclusion should be taken

Lecture on CC CC Madhya-lila 20.144-146 -- New York, December 1, 1966: So Lord Caitanya making an analytical study of the Vedic literature, and He is giving His conclusion. This is called mahajano yena gatah sa panthah [Cc. Madhya 17.186]. We have to follow the footprints of great acaryas. Lord Caitanya is playing the part of an acarya; so His conclusion should be taken. Lord Krsna said also that kamais tais tair hrta-jnanah yajanti anya-devatah: [Bg. 7.20] "Those who are worshipers of other demigods, they are mad after sense gratification." Oh, that means they are third-class men. Those who are mad after sense gratification, they are not considered first-class men because they are not transcendentalists; they are materialists, just like animals. They do not know anything. Simply sense gratification -- ahara-nidra-bhaya-maithuna: eating, sleeping, mating and defending -- that is their business.

Sri Brahma-samhita Lectures

So Caitanya Mahāprabhu, of course He was very much pleased that Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya understood, but because He was playing the part of an ācārya, He, externally He became, "What you have written all these things?" He immediately torn out and throw it away

Lectures on Brahma Samhita, New York, July 31, 1971: Just like Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya. You know, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya was a great scholar, and Mayavadi scholar, but Caitanya Mahaprabhu made him surrender unto Him. He became Caitanya Mahaprabhu's admirer, follower after being defeated in Vedanta-sutra, understanding. That story is there in the Teachings of Lord Caitanya. So Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya became convinced that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Krsna. He wrote hundred verses about Caitanya Mahaprabhu, out of two verses are available in the Caitanya-caritamrta. He composed -- he was a very learned scholar -- he composed one hundred verses about Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and handed it over. But in all those verses he admitted that "You are Krsna." So Caitanya Mahaprabhu, of course He was very much pleased that Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya understood, but because He was playing the part of an acarya, He, externally He became, "What you have written all these things?" He immediately torn out and throw it away. But the devotees saved only two.