Dedicated to my most beloved and revered spiritual masters:
H.D.G. A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, and H.G. Gauranga Sundar Das
SRILA PRABHUPADA: A BONAFIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER
At one point in our lives, we all feels exhausted and question our existence. Out of many of us, a very few take to the path of spirituality and out of these few, one rarely opts for the “Bhakti Marg”.
Caitanya-caritāmṛta 19.151 says,
Brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva
Guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja
Translation:
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 Krsna. By the mercy of both Krsna and the spiritual master, such a person receives the seed of the creeper of devotional service.
Here the word "bonafide" Is very significant. Why only bonafide spiritual master can sow the seed of the devotional service into your heart? Why not any spiritual master?
“Unless one is initiated by a bona fide spiritual master, all his devotional activities are useless. A person who is not properly initiated can descend again into the animal species.”
Hari-bhakti-vilasa (2.10)”
Why it says “all his devotional activities are useless” even if you chant Hare Krishna ? Because it is like going to give exam without being affiliated or being admitted to any school or board. Another example to this is, you have got electricity at home. But now if the light wire is not connected, and even if the wire is connected but the tubelight is fused, you won’t get the light. Same way, when you are not properly initiated or initiated by the person who is not connected to the bonafide parampara will cause big harm to you than benefits. As non-bonafide person, himself is not having any “bhakti-Lata bij” to sow into your heart and you may again fall down into the “animal species”.
So accepting a Bonafide Guru is utmost necessary – and then initiation is. It’s like finding an authorised school affiliated to an authentic board and then taking admission in it. Only then what ever you study will bear fruits.
Now who is a bonafide Spiritual Master?
Srila Prabhupada: There are signs. What is that?
Śrotriyam. Śrotriyam means one who has perfectly heard the science of God from authoritative sources in disciplic succession. That is the qualification. Śrotriyam. And brahma-niṣṭham means not that simply he has heard, but the result is that he is firmly fixed up in God consciousness. These two qualifications.
You have to find out that whether this man is coming from disciplic succession, śrotriyam… Just like in the Bhagavad-gītā it is said, Evaṁ paramparā-prāptam
[Bg. 4.2]:
[This supreme science was thus received through the chain of disciplic succession, and the saintly kings understood it in that way. But in course of time the succession was broken, and therefore the science as it is appears to be lost.]
“By this disciplic succession, this science of Bhagavad-gītā was learned.” So we have to approach to a spiritual master who is coming down from that disciplic succession. Then he is bona fide.
Reference: Srila Prabhupada Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.6.1, March 3, 1967, in San Francisco
Sometime in the year 1922, when I was acting as manager of Dr. Bose’s Laboratory Ltd., I was fortunate enough to meet my Spiritual Master, His Divine Grace Om Visnupada Paramahamsa Parivrajakacarya 108 Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Prabhupada. On the very first meeting with His Divine Grace, He asked me to preach the message of Lord Caitanya in the Western world.
Srila Prabhupada’s Letter to Hanuman Prasad Poddar, February 5, 1970
“Thakura Bhaktivinoda… in 1896 he sent Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s message to McGill University. That book you have seen. The letter was there… Now, after so many years, a servant of that disciplic succession has come here again to preach.”
Srila Prabhupada’s lecture, March 18, 1967, San Francisco
SRILA PRABHUPADA- THE PERFECT DEVOTEE
Srila Prabhupada’s devotional life displayed all the classic characteristics of a self-realized soul, as elaborately described in the scriptures. His superhuman preaching work further proved his status as a great devotee. No one can imitate the perfect humility, knowledge and constant devotion shown by great devotees in the line of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
Conversations Nov. 2, 197
SRILA PRABHUPADA: TIRELESS SERVICE
All my disciples must be thoroughly trained in the philosophy of Krishna consciousness.” (Letter, May 1972). He urged his leading preachers to diligently train devotees rather than constantly canvass for converts: “What’s the use of so many devotees if none of them are knowledgeable.” (Letter, 1972). Thus, Srila Prabhupada worked tirelessly, night and day, to carefully translate, explain and publish the most important Vaisnava scriptures, such as Srimad-Bhagavatam, Caitanya-caritamrta, Srimad Bhagavad-gita, and Sri Bhaktirasamrita Sindhu (Nectar of Devotion).
SRILA PRABHUPADA: A BONAFIDE GURU
Personally I have no credit for myself, but I am trying to act as faithful servant of my predecessors and just presenting without any adulteration the message which I have received from my Spiritual Master. Similarly, if this message is presented by you all who have accepted me as the Spiritual Master, then all the people of the world may be benefited by receiving this transcendent message of Krishna Consciousness.
Srila Prabhupada’s Letter to Krishnadas, Dated, 1st June 1968
If you simply follow the simple program that I have initiated you will be happy in this life time and in the end you will go back to home, back to Godhead.
Srila Prabhupada’s Letter to Bhurijana and Jagattarini written from Los Angeles, Dated 07 June, 1976
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s activities and symptoms prove that he is the predicted great personality (shakty-avesa-avatar) who establishes the mission of God, or Krishna, worldwide. We recognize and accept that Srila Prabhupada is a pure representative of Lord Krishna and the current link in the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Sampradaya. Everyone can attain full perfection by following Srila Prabhupada.
-Radharani Devi Devi, servant of HDG AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada