The Vaisnava cult conclusion should be taken. Otherwise we cannot preach. Without becoming Vaisnava, one cannot become guru. Without becoming guru, how one can preach? These are the formulas

Expressions researched:
"The Vaiṣṇava cult conclusion should be taken. Otherwise we cannot preach. Without becoming Vaiṣṇava, one cannot become guru. Without becoming guru, how one can preach? These are the formulas"

Nectar of Devotion Lectures

If you have got the sense of prasāda, then there should be no distinction. It should, it can be... "Prasādam, I am taking prasādam, which is nirguṇa." So these are the conclusions. So unless we come to the conclusion of Vaiṣṇava cult, it is very difficult. The Vaiṣṇava cult conclusion should be taken. Otherwise we cannot preach. Without becoming Vaiṣṇava, one cannot become guru. Without becoming guru, how one can preach? These are the formulas. And anxiety-less, when one takes to the shelter of the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, he must be anxiety-less.

The Nectar of Devotion -- Calcutta, January 28, 1973:

So ṣaṭ-karma-nipuṇo vipro (Padma Purāṇa). Such strict brāhmin, very expert in his business, paṭhana pāṭhana yajana yājana dāna pratigraha. Ṣaṭ-karma-nipuṇo vipro mantra-tantra-viśāradaḥ . . . and very well expert in his studies, mantra, Vedic mantra, tantra. Ṣaṭ-karma-nipuṇo vipro mantra-tantra-viśāradaḥ, avaiṣṇava guru na sa syād. If he is avaiṣṇava, then he cannot be guru. Cannot be guru. Sad-vaiṣṇava śva-paca guru. But a śva-paca, a dog-eaters' family, caṇḍāla . . . just the brāhmin is considered to be the highest in the society, similarly caṇḍāla is considered to be the lowest, dog-eaters. So the śāstra says the highest, the topmost man in the society, brāhmin, if he's avaiṣṇava, he cannot be guru, but the . . . a person coming out from the lowest grade of human society, śva-paca, caṇḍāla, if he's a Vaiṣṇava, he can become guru. This is the verdict of the śāstra.

ṣaṭ-karma-nipuṇo vipro

mantra-tantra-viśāradaḥ

avaiṣṇava guru na sa syād

sad vaiṣṇava śva-pacaḥ guru

(Padma Purāṇa)

Therefore one . . . one who, even coming from low-grade family, if he has become Vaiṣṇava, then he's no longer in the worldly society. He's transcendental. Brahmā-bhūyāya kalpate (BG 14.26). One who is engaged in pure devotional service, he's in the Brahman platform. He should not be neglected. Vaiṣṇave jāti-buddhiḥ, arcye śilā-dhīr, guruṣu nara-mati, vaiṣṇave jāti-buddhiḥ (Padma Purāṇa). These are warned. One should not consider the Deity as made of stone, arcye śilā-dhīr. Śālagrāma-śilā. If somebody says: "What is this, a stone chip, or stone ball?" No. These are warned in the śāstra. Vaiṣṇave ja . . .

Similarly, to consider a Vaiṣṇava as belonging to certain caste is as abominable as to think that the Deity is made of stone. Everyone knows it is made of stone. But are we worshiping the stone? We are spending so much money for decorating stone? No. Because we have no eyes to see, we see stone. Kṛṣṇa is not stone. Kṛṣṇa is Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is absolute. He can appear in any way, any form, as He likes. That is His mercy. Because we cannot see except stone, similarly, therefore He appears as stone. But He's not stone. If we think that it is stone, then we are gone to hell. You see. No. Arcye śilā-dhīr.

Similarly Vaiṣṇava. A Vaiṣṇava should not be considered that, "Here is American Vaiṣṇava" or "Brahmin Vaiṣṇava" and "Sūdra Vaiṣṇava." No. Vaiṣṇava is Vaiṣṇava. There is no more distinction. Just like Ganges water. So many sewage ditches, water coming, mixing, in Calcutta. Everyone knows. But nobody says, "Oh, it is Chhitergar Paper Mill's sewage water." No. That is Ganges water. That is Ganges water. Everyone takes bath, without any objection. Everyone is taking water and giving, bringing to the Deity room.

Nobody distinguishes that this, with this water, so many mill water has been mixed up; therefore it is rejected. No. Similarly, when one becomes Vaiṣṇava, never mind from which family's he's came. Māṁ hi pārtha vyapāśritya ye 'pi syuḥ pāpa-yonayaḥ (BG 9.32). One should not distinguish, "Oh, here is American Vaiṣṇava. Here is a European Vaiṣṇava. How can I eat with them?" This is not . . . Vaiṣṇava should be respected. Sad vaiṣṇavaḥ śvapaco guru.

Caitanya Mahāprabhu confirms, kibā vipra . . . Haridāsa Ṭhākura, he came from Muhammadan family. Caitanya Mahāprabhu gave him the title nāmācārya, ācārya. He became . . . he became the teacher of the science of chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. Nāmācārya. We, every day, we glorify Haridāsa Ṭhākura: nāmācārya Haridāsa Ṭhākura ki jaya. Why? Because . . . if you can say: "Oh, he was born in Muhammadan family . . ." No. So all Caitanya Mahāprabhu's big assistants . . . Sanātana Gosvāmī, he, Sanātana, Rūpa Gosvāmī, they were practically Muhammadan, because the brahmin society rejected them.

They changed their name. Dabira Khāsa, Sākara Mallika. But Caitanya, by association of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, they became Gosvāmī, Sanātana Gosvāmī . . . ei chaya gosāi yāra tāra mui dāsa (Nāma-saṅkīrtana 6), Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura says. That it is not to be considered, "Oh, these people . . ." This is the defect. So many people converted to Muslim, and we did not take care. Therefore the whole country is spoiled. Kṛṣṇa says, māṁ hi pārtha vyapāśritya ye 'pi syuḥ pāpa-yonayaḥ.

So we should take care of everyone. That is the verdict of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, verdict of Kṛṣṇa. Now we are doing that in our Māyāpur. All the Muhammadans and Hindus, they are taking prasādam together. This has become a unique thing. People are very much appreciating. But some of . . . some envious persons are there, they are taking otherwise. Why? In Jagannātha Purī, still the regulation is that anyone can come and take together jagannātha-prasādam. It doesn't matter whether he's a baṅghi, camara or brāhmin. They take actually. Prasāda. Prasāda is transcendental, nirguṇa. So prasāda should be taken together. If you have got really sense of prasāda . . . if we think it is ḍāl vat, cāpāṭi, then it is another thing. Otherwise, if you have got the sense of prasāda, then there should be no distinction. It should . . . it can be . . . "Prasādam. I am taking prasādam, which is nirguṇa."

So these are the conclusion. So unless we come to the conclusion of Vaiṣṇava cult, it is very difficult. The Vaiṣṇava cult conclusion should be taken. Otherwise we cannot preach. Without becoming Vaiṣṇava, one cannot become guru. Without becoming guru, how one can preach? These are the formulas. And anxiety-less. When one takes to the shelter of the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, he must be anxiety-less. Because Kṛṣṇa says, gives assurance, ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi (BG 18.66). Then where is anxiety? Kṛṣṇa says: "I take charge of giving you relief from all sinful reaction." Ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi. So as soon as, mokṣayiṣya, as soon as you surrender to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa immediately takes charge of you and makes you immune from all sinful reaction. Then where is anxiety?

That is also recommended by Prahlāda Mahārāja: vanaṁ gato yad dharim āśrayeta.

tad sādhu manye 'sura-varya dehināṁ

sadā samudvigna-dhiyām asad-grahāt

hitvātma-pātaṁ gṛham andha-kūpaṁ

vanaṁ gato yad dharim āśrayeta

(SB 7.5.5)

If we become . . . if we want to become anxiety-less, then we have to take shelter of Hari and go to the forest. Prahlāda Mahārāja recommended, vanaṁ gato yad dharim āśrayeta. Hitvā ātma-pātaṁ gṛham andha-kūpam. Gṛha is compared as andha-kūpa, blind well. And ātma-pātam. If one falls down within blind well . . .