HEARING FROM A SADHU
“The Purpose of the Krsna Consciousness Movement”
A collection of statements from this centuries
foremost exponent of Krsna consciousness:
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Founder-acarya of the International Society for Krsna Consciousness
“A devotees transcendental position within this material world is maintained in the association of pure devotees... The Krsna consciousness movement is based on this principle.”
(Krsna Book Prayers by the Personified Vedas)
“A Pure devotee becomes attached to Krsna by hearing the Lord’s glories. The Lord’s glories and the Lord are identical. One has to be qualified to understand this absolute truth; therefore one should be given a chance to associate with a pure devotee. Our Krsna consciousness movement is meant for this purpose. We want to create pure devotees so that other people will benefit from their association. In this way the number of pure devotees increases, professional preachers cannot create pure devotees. There are many professional preachers of Srimad-Bhagavatam who read this work to earn their livelihood. Whoever, they cannot convert materialistic people to devotional service. Only a pure devotee can convert others to pure devotional service. It is therefore important for all the preachers in our Krsna consciousness movement to first become pure devotees and follow the regulative principles, refraining from illicit sex, meat-eating, gambling and intoxication. They should regularly chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra on their beads, follow the devotional process, rise early in the morning, attend mangala-arati and recite Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita regularly. In this way, one can become purified and free from all material contamination.
sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam
tat-paratvena nirmalam
hrsikena hrsikesa-
sevanam bhaktir ucyate
(Narada-pancaratra)
To make a show of devotional service will not help one. One must be a pure devotee following the devotional process; then one can convert others to devotional service. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu practised devotional service and preached (apani acari’ bhakti karila pracara). If a preacher behaves properly in devotional service, he will be able to convert others. Otherwise, his preaching will have no effect.”
(Cc. Madhya 24. 98 purport)
“One should try to understand Srimad-Bhagavatam from the spiritual master. The Vedic injunction states: bhaktya bhagavatam grahyam na buddhya na ca tikaya. One has to understand Srimad-Bhagavatam through the process of devotional service and by hearing the recitation of a pure devotee. These are the injunctions of Vedic literature--sruti and smrti. Those who are not in the disciplic succession and who are not pure devotees cannot understand the real mysterious objective of Srimad-Bhagavatam and Srimad Bhagavad-gita.”
(CC. Madhya 22.131 purport)
“The beginning is hearing. Hearing, just you all ladies, gentlemen, you have come here to hear. Then hearing, if your hearing is perfect, then kirtanam, means
describing or preaching. So our, this movement, Krsna consciousness movement, we are first giving chance to the people in general for hearing. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, when He was talking with Ramananda Raya, he specially gave stress on this point of hearing. If you hear, then the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is never conquered by anyone, but a devotee who is hearing about Him, he can conquer over Him. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, of course, He quoted from Bhagavatam. Any devotee or bona fide preacher, he does not manufacture anything. He simply follows the previous mahajana. He said, jnane prayasam udapasya. One should not try to speculate to understand the Supreme Truth. So we should give up this habit of speculating to understand God. One should become submissive, jnane prayasam udapasya namanta eva, that very submissive to hear from the right person. So hearing is so important. Therefore our all Vedic literature is called sruti. So the subject matter which is beyond our sense perception, avan manasa gocara, that cannot be understood by using our imperfect senses. Now the question is: from whom to hear? So in the sastra it is said, san-mukharitam: "You have to hear from realised saintly person." It is said in the Bhagavad-gita, tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya, upadeksyanti tad jnanam jnaninas tattva-darsinah. You have to hear from a person who has seen or who has understood the Absolute Truth and who is tat, sad-guru. He must be a devotee of the Lord. So it is stated in the sastra that sat-karma-nipuno vipro mantra-tantra-visaradah, avaisnavo guru na sa syad sat svapaco guruh. It is said that "A brahmana who is very well expert in the brahminical activities and mantra-tantra-visaradah, knows all the Vedic mantras, but if he is not a Vaisnava, he cannot become guru. But a person born in a family of dog-eaters, svapaca, he can become guru if he has become Vaisnava." Sanatana Gosvami, one of the big acaryas of Gaudiya sampradaya, he has also said that aVaisnava gurur na sa syat. Sa. He says that... I forget that verse, that "A person..." Putam-harikathamrtam sravanam na kartavyam. aVaisnava-mukhodgirna-puta-hari-kathamrtam sravanam na kartavyam. He says that "You do not try to hear from a person who is aVaisnava hari-kathamrtam. The hari-katha, the message of Krsna like Bhagavad-gita and other, Bhagavata, Srimad-Bhagavatam, you should not hear from a person who is not a Vaisnava. In the Bhagavata also it is said, satam prasangat mama virya- samvido bhavanti hrt-karna-rasayana-kathah. When we hear from sad-vekti(?), or Vaisnava, then we get real effect. So if one argues that "Hari-katha is pure. Even an aVaisnava speaks, what is the harm there?" so Sanatana Gosvami said in connection with this that sravanam na kartavyam sarpocchista-payoh yatha. Just like milk. It is vry nice food, but if it is touched with the lips of a snake it becomes poisonous. Therefore it is concluded that we have to hear the transcendental message of Krsna from a realized soul, a devotee. So this hearing process is recommended that you should hear from a realized person who is sadacara-sampanna-Vaisnava. So who is a bhakta? Because you have to learn from a bhakta, so who is a bhakta? That is also described. So it is stated in the sastras and the Gosvamis as sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam tat- paratvena nirmalam: "anyone who has no more designation and he is pure from material contamination."
- Srila Prabhupada Lecture Nelore 8 January 1976
“...Sanatana Gosvami has forbidden strictly that aVaisnava mukhodgrinam puta-harikathamrtam, sravanam na kartavyam: “Don’t hear from the professional men who are not situated in the Vaisnava behavior.” Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti µhakura has warned that, “Don’t mix with a Vaisnava who is not well trained up, well behaved.” You can offer him respect. A Vaisnava offers respect even to the ant. That is another thing. But he has warned, “Don’t mix with them, these professional, so-called Vaisnava, sahajiyas.” This is warned aVaisnava-mukhodgirnam puta-hari-kathamrtam, sravanam na kartavyam: “You should not hear.”
“Eh? Huh? What is wrong there? The Krsna-katha is there.” No, Krsna-katha is there, just like milk is there but if it is touched by the lips of a serpent, it is no more to be taken. It has become poison. Unless one is situated as a pure Vaisnava in his dealing, in his behavior, inside and outside, he should not become a preacher because it will not be effective, neither one should hear from such a person.
...We should strictly follow. Then prthivim sa sisyat. Then you’ll be able to preach and make devotees all over the world. This is the injunction. That is called Gosvami. Don’t be cheap preacher, cheap guru. No, no. that is not good. It is not possible.
Srila Prabhupada Lecture Mayapur 16 March 1976
When the mantra is chanted by a pure devotee of the Lord in love, it has the greatest efficacy on hearers, and as such this chanting should be heard from the lips of a pure devotee of the Lord, so that immediate effects can be achieved. As far as possible, chanting from the lips of nondevotees should be avoided. Milk touched by the lips of a serpent has poisonous effects.
Science of Self Realization: Chapter Five: Practicing Yoga in the Modern Age
TEXT
caitanyera bhakta-ganera nitya kara `sanga'
tabeta janiba siddhanta-samudra-taranga
svarupa Damodara continued, "Associate regularly with the devotees
of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, for then only will you understand the waves
of the ocean of devotional service.
PURPORT
It is clearly to be understood in this connection that the followers of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's way of devotional service are eternally associates of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and perfect knowers of the Absolute Truth. If one immediately follows the principles of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu by associating with His devotees, lusty desires for material enjoyment will vanish from one's heart. Then one will be able to understand the meaning of Srimad-Bhagavatam and the purpose of listening to it. Otherwise such understanding is impossible
(Cc Antya 5.132)
Gurukrpa dasa: “What if sometimes a disciple, he may go to preach, but he’s not preaching in the exact same spirit as his spiritual master?”
Srila Prabhupada: “Therefore he is not to preach, Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, janma sarthaka kari’ kara para-upakara: ‘Go to do good to others. But first of all you do good to yourself.’ First of all you become really preacher. Then go to preach. Caitanya Mahaprabhu never sent a neophyte to go to preach. For neophyte the preaching is not their business. For neophyte, one should stick to the worship of the Deity in the temple.
And those who have understood the philosophy, applied the philosophy in his life, he should go for preaching. Otherwise he’ll preach wrongly. ...So if you are actually perfectly, carrying out the orders of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, then you are preaching. Otherwise you will do wrongly, mislead. Don’t do that. Andha yathandhair upaniyamanah. If you remain blind, don’t try to lead other blind men. That is misleading. First of all open your eyes. Everything is there. Nobody should do anything whimsically, concoctedly, that will be a failure. It will not be effective. Simply to achieve a large following is not a sign of success. There are many who claim a following, but their followers do not abide by any philosophy.
...The real thing is quality not quantity. My Guru Maharaja used to say like that. ‘If I get at least one quality, disciple then all my labor will be successful.’ From the very beginning my strictures are there, that you have to follow this quality. If I were to say, ‘No you can do like Vivekananda. Yes you can do, whatever you like.’ Then I think the quantity would have been very very big. But I don’t say. I make him promise before the fire, before the Deity, before guru. One moon is taken into acount. Who takes account of millions of stars? Ekas candras toamo hanti na ca tara sahasrasah quality. So we should be quality devotee, not quantity devotee.”
Room Conversation w/Srila Prabhupada 2 May 1976
A collection of statements from this centuries
foremost exponent of Krsna consciousness:
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Founder-acarya of the International Society for Krsna Consciousness
“A devotees transcendental position within this material world is maintained in the association of pure devotees... The Krsna consciousness movement is based on this principle.”
(Krsna Book Prayers by the Personified Vedas)
“A Pure devotee becomes attached to Krsna by hearing the Lord’s glories. The Lord’s glories and the Lord are identical. One has to be qualified to understand this absolute truth; therefore one should be given a chance to associate with a pure devotee. Our Krsna consciousness movement is meant for this purpose. We want to create pure devotees so that other people will benefit from their association. In this way the number of pure devotees increases, professional preachers cannot create pure devotees. There are many professional preachers of Srimad-Bhagavatam who read this work to earn their livelihood. Whoever, they cannot convert materialistic people to devotional service. Only a pure devotee can convert others to pure devotional service. It is therefore important for all the preachers in our Krsna consciousness movement to first become pure devotees and follow the regulative principles, refraining from illicit sex, meat-eating, gambling and intoxication. They should regularly chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra on their beads, follow the devotional process, rise early in the morning, attend mangala-arati and recite Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita regularly. In this way, one can become purified and free from all material contamination.
sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam
tat-paratvena nirmalam
hrsikena hrsikesa-
sevanam bhaktir ucyate
(Narada-pancaratra)
To make a show of devotional service will not help one. One must be a pure devotee following the devotional process; then one can convert others to devotional service. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu practised devotional service and preached (apani acari’ bhakti karila pracara). If a preacher behaves properly in devotional service, he will be able to convert others. Otherwise, his preaching will have no effect.”
(Cc. Madhya 24. 98 purport)
“One should try to understand Srimad-Bhagavatam from the spiritual master. The Vedic injunction states: bhaktya bhagavatam grahyam na buddhya na ca tikaya. One has to understand Srimad-Bhagavatam through the process of devotional service and by hearing the recitation of a pure devotee. These are the injunctions of Vedic literature--sruti and smrti. Those who are not in the disciplic succession and who are not pure devotees cannot understand the real mysterious objective of Srimad-Bhagavatam and Srimad Bhagavad-gita.”
(CC. Madhya 22.131 purport)
“The beginning is hearing. Hearing, just you all ladies, gentlemen, you have come here to hear. Then hearing, if your hearing is perfect, then kirtanam, means
describing or preaching. So our, this movement, Krsna consciousness movement, we are first giving chance to the people in general for hearing. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, when He was talking with Ramananda Raya, he specially gave stress on this point of hearing. If you hear, then the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is never conquered by anyone, but a devotee who is hearing about Him, he can conquer over Him. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, of course, He quoted from Bhagavatam. Any devotee or bona fide preacher, he does not manufacture anything. He simply follows the previous mahajana. He said, jnane prayasam udapasya. One should not try to speculate to understand the Supreme Truth. So we should give up this habit of speculating to understand God. One should become submissive, jnane prayasam udapasya namanta eva, that very submissive to hear from the right person. So hearing is so important. Therefore our all Vedic literature is called sruti. So the subject matter which is beyond our sense perception, avan manasa gocara, that cannot be understood by using our imperfect senses. Now the question is: from whom to hear? So in the sastra it is said, san-mukharitam: "You have to hear from realised saintly person." It is said in the Bhagavad-gita, tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya, upadeksyanti tad jnanam jnaninas tattva-darsinah. You have to hear from a person who has seen or who has understood the Absolute Truth and who is tat, sad-guru. He must be a devotee of the Lord. So it is stated in the sastra that sat-karma-nipuno vipro mantra-tantra-visaradah, avaisnavo guru na sa syad sat svapaco guruh. It is said that "A brahmana who is very well expert in the brahminical activities and mantra-tantra-visaradah, knows all the Vedic mantras, but if he is not a Vaisnava, he cannot become guru. But a person born in a family of dog-eaters, svapaca, he can become guru if he has become Vaisnava." Sanatana Gosvami, one of the big acaryas of Gaudiya sampradaya, he has also said that aVaisnava gurur na sa syat. Sa. He says that... I forget that verse, that "A person..." Putam-harikathamrtam sravanam na kartavyam. aVaisnava-mukhodgirna-puta-hari-kathamrtam sravanam na kartavyam. He says that "You do not try to hear from a person who is aVaisnava hari-kathamrtam. The hari-katha, the message of Krsna like Bhagavad-gita and other, Bhagavata, Srimad-Bhagavatam, you should not hear from a person who is not a Vaisnava. In the Bhagavata also it is said, satam prasangat mama virya- samvido bhavanti hrt-karna-rasayana-kathah. When we hear from sad-vekti(?), or Vaisnava, then we get real effect. So if one argues that "Hari-katha is pure. Even an aVaisnava speaks, what is the harm there?" so Sanatana Gosvami said in connection with this that sravanam na kartavyam sarpocchista-payoh yatha. Just like milk. It is vry nice food, but if it is touched with the lips of a snake it becomes poisonous. Therefore it is concluded that we have to hear the transcendental message of Krsna from a realized soul, a devotee. So this hearing process is recommended that you should hear from a realized person who is sadacara-sampanna-Vaisnava. So who is a bhakta? Because you have to learn from a bhakta, so who is a bhakta? That is also described. So it is stated in the sastras and the Gosvamis as sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam tat- paratvena nirmalam: "anyone who has no more designation and he is pure from material contamination."
- Srila Prabhupada Lecture Nelore 8 January 1976
“...Sanatana Gosvami has forbidden strictly that aVaisnava mukhodgrinam puta-harikathamrtam, sravanam na kartavyam: “Don’t hear from the professional men who are not situated in the Vaisnava behavior.” Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti µhakura has warned that, “Don’t mix with a Vaisnava who is not well trained up, well behaved.” You can offer him respect. A Vaisnava offers respect even to the ant. That is another thing. But he has warned, “Don’t mix with them, these professional, so-called Vaisnava, sahajiyas.” This is warned aVaisnava-mukhodgirnam puta-hari-kathamrtam, sravanam na kartavyam: “You should not hear.”
“Eh? Huh? What is wrong there? The Krsna-katha is there.” No, Krsna-katha is there, just like milk is there but if it is touched by the lips of a serpent, it is no more to be taken. It has become poison. Unless one is situated as a pure Vaisnava in his dealing, in his behavior, inside and outside, he should not become a preacher because it will not be effective, neither one should hear from such a person.
...We should strictly follow. Then prthivim sa sisyat. Then you’ll be able to preach and make devotees all over the world. This is the injunction. That is called Gosvami. Don’t be cheap preacher, cheap guru. No, no. that is not good. It is not possible.
Srila Prabhupada Lecture Mayapur 16 March 1976
When the mantra is chanted by a pure devotee of the Lord in love, it has the greatest efficacy on hearers, and as such this chanting should be heard from the lips of a pure devotee of the Lord, so that immediate effects can be achieved. As far as possible, chanting from the lips of nondevotees should be avoided. Milk touched by the lips of a serpent has poisonous effects.
Science of Self Realization: Chapter Five: Practicing Yoga in the Modern Age
TEXT
caitanyera bhakta-ganera nitya kara `sanga'
tabeta janiba siddhanta-samudra-taranga
svarupa Damodara continued, "Associate regularly with the devotees
of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, for then only will you understand the waves
of the ocean of devotional service.
PURPORT
It is clearly to be understood in this connection that the followers of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's way of devotional service are eternally associates of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and perfect knowers of the Absolute Truth. If one immediately follows the principles of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu by associating with His devotees, lusty desires for material enjoyment will vanish from one's heart. Then one will be able to understand the meaning of Srimad-Bhagavatam and the purpose of listening to it. Otherwise such understanding is impossible
(Cc Antya 5.132)
Gurukrpa dasa: “What if sometimes a disciple, he may go to preach, but he’s not preaching in the exact same spirit as his spiritual master?”
Srila Prabhupada: “Therefore he is not to preach, Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, janma sarthaka kari’ kara para-upakara: ‘Go to do good to others. But first of all you do good to yourself.’ First of all you become really preacher. Then go to preach. Caitanya Mahaprabhu never sent a neophyte to go to preach. For neophyte the preaching is not their business. For neophyte, one should stick to the worship of the Deity in the temple.
And those who have understood the philosophy, applied the philosophy in his life, he should go for preaching. Otherwise he’ll preach wrongly. ...So if you are actually perfectly, carrying out the orders of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, then you are preaching. Otherwise you will do wrongly, mislead. Don’t do that. Andha yathandhair upaniyamanah. If you remain blind, don’t try to lead other blind men. That is misleading. First of all open your eyes. Everything is there. Nobody should do anything whimsically, concoctedly, that will be a failure. It will not be effective. Simply to achieve a large following is not a sign of success. There are many who claim a following, but their followers do not abide by any philosophy.
...The real thing is quality not quantity. My Guru Maharaja used to say like that. ‘If I get at least one quality, disciple then all my labor will be successful.’ From the very beginning my strictures are there, that you have to follow this quality. If I were to say, ‘No you can do like Vivekananda. Yes you can do, whatever you like.’ Then I think the quantity would have been very very big. But I don’t say. I make him promise before the fire, before the Deity, before guru. One moon is taken into acount. Who takes account of millions of stars? Ekas candras toamo hanti na ca tara sahasrasah quality. So we should be quality devotee, not quantity devotee.”
Room Conversation w/Srila Prabhupada 2 May 1976
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