Mission of the Krsna Consciousness Movement
by
His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
One should not accept a guru unless one is inquisitive to know the ultimate goal of life. An ordinary man interested in bodily comforts does not need a guru. Unfortunately, at the present moment, the word guru refers to someone who can give bodily medicine. One approaches a Mahatmaji and says, "I am suffering from this disease. Please help me." And the Mahatmaji says, "Yes, I have a mantra that will heal you and give you success. Give me a little money and take it." This is not a real guru. One should approach a real guru to learn about tattva, the Absolute Truth. One should not search out a guru to cure some material disease; rather, one requires a doctor. Similarly, people think that if a person can make him successful in business, that person is a guru. The sastras do not confirm this either. A guru is one who knows the Vedas and the Vedic conclusions. The Vedic conclusion is the understanding of Krsna. Vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah: "By all the Vedas, I am to be known." (Bg. 15.15)
Our business is to become liberated from all conditioning. How is this possible? Sa eva sadhusu krto moksa-dvaram apavrtam (Bhag. 3.25.20). We have to turn our attachment from materail things to a sadhu. 'Sadhu-sanga', 'sadhu-sanga'—sarva-sastre kaya: this is the advice of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. All sastras advice to associate with a sadhu. Even Canakya Pandita, the great politician, recommended: tyaja durjana-samsargam. One Vaisnava householder asked Caitanya Mahaprabhu what the duty of a householder is, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu immediately replied, asat-sanga-tyaga,—ei Vaisnava-acara: "Don't associate with nondevotees, but search out a sadhu." (Cc. Madhya 22.87)
At the present moment it is very difficult to avoid the company of asadhus, those who are not sadhus. It is very difficult to find a sadhu for association. We have therefore started this Krsna consciousness movement to create an association of sadhus so that people may take advantage and become liberated. There is no other purpose for this society.
Krsna states in Bhagavad-gita (6.47) that the first-class sadhu is one who is always thinking of Him. This process is not very difficult. We should always think of Krsna, but how is this possible? We think of our business, our dog, our family, our lovable object and so many other things. We have to think of something; without thinking we cannot remain. We simply have to divert our thoughts to Krsna. It is the sadhu's business to teach this, and one can learn this in the association of a sadhu. Actually a sadhu will not teach anything else. ndau sraddha tatah sadhu-sanga. This is the way to make spiritual advancement. One has to associate with a sadhu. Often the sadhu's task is a thankless one, but he has to be tolerant. Despite all the trouble a sadhu may encounter, he is very merciful upon fallen conditioned souls. He sees that people are suffering due to a lack of Krsna consciousness, and because he is always thinking of the welfare of others, he is suhrt. Other people are always envious, but the sadhu is always thinking how to save others from the clutches of maya. A sadhu is kind not only to human beings but to cats, dogs, trees, plants and insects; he will hesitate even to kill one mosquito. He does not simply think, "I shall just take care of my brother." He looks on all living beings as his brothers because Krsna says that He is the father of all living entities.
Envious people create many impediments to the Krsna consciousness movement, but we have to tolerate them. There is no alternative. One must be peaceful and depend on Krsna in all circumstances. These are the ornaments of a sadhu. We should find a sadhu and associate with him. Then our path of liberation will be open.
Spiritual life begins with the association of a devotee, a sadhu. One cannot progress an inch without the mercy of a sadhu. Prahlada Maharaja has also indicated this:
naisam matis tavad urukramanghrim
sprsaty anarthapagamo yad-arthah
mahiyasam pada-rajo-'bhisekam
niskincananam na vrnita yavat
"Unless they smear upon their bodies the dust of the lotus feet of a Vaisnava completely freed from material contamination, persons very much inclined toward materialistic life cannot be attached to the lotus feet of the Lord, who is glorified for His uncommon activities. Only by becoming Krsna conscious and taking shelter at the lotus feet of the Lord in this way can one be freed from material contamination." (Bhag. 7.5.32)
We have described the symptoms of a sadhu, and we have stated that a sadhu should be accepted by his characteristics. It is not that we accept anyone who comes along and says, "I am a sadhu." Similarly, it is not that anyone is accepted who comes along and says, "I am an incarnation of God." There are characteristics of God given in the sastras. Sadhu-sanga, association with a sadhu, is very essential in Krsna consciousness. People are suffering due to contamination by tamo-guna and rajo-guna. The sadhu teaches one how to remain purely in sattva-guna, by truthfulness, cleanliness, mind control, sense control, simplicity, tolerance, and full faith and knowledge. These are some of the characteristics of sattva-guna.
Instead of thinking, "Unless I have a drink, I will go mad," one should think, "Unless I associate with a sadhu, I will go mad." When we can think in this way, we will become liberated. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has stated that He wants every village in the entire world to be a center for Krsna consciousness so that people can take advantage of sadhus and in turn become sadhus. This is the mission of this Krsna consciousness movement.
His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
One should not accept a guru unless one is inquisitive to know the ultimate goal of life. An ordinary man interested in bodily comforts does not need a guru. Unfortunately, at the present moment, the word guru refers to someone who can give bodily medicine. One approaches a Mahatmaji and says, "I am suffering from this disease. Please help me." And the Mahatmaji says, "Yes, I have a mantra that will heal you and give you success. Give me a little money and take it." This is not a real guru. One should approach a real guru to learn about tattva, the Absolute Truth. One should not search out a guru to cure some material disease; rather, one requires a doctor. Similarly, people think that if a person can make him successful in business, that person is a guru. The sastras do not confirm this either. A guru is one who knows the Vedas and the Vedic conclusions. The Vedic conclusion is the understanding of Krsna. Vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah: "By all the Vedas, I am to be known." (Bg. 15.15)
Our business is to become liberated from all conditioning. How is this possible? Sa eva sadhusu krto moksa-dvaram apavrtam (Bhag. 3.25.20). We have to turn our attachment from materail things to a sadhu. 'Sadhu-sanga', 'sadhu-sanga'—sarva-sastre kaya: this is the advice of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. All sastras advice to associate with a sadhu. Even Canakya Pandita, the great politician, recommended: tyaja durjana-samsargam. One Vaisnava householder asked Caitanya Mahaprabhu what the duty of a householder is, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu immediately replied, asat-sanga-tyaga,—ei Vaisnava-acara: "Don't associate with nondevotees, but search out a sadhu." (Cc. Madhya 22.87)
At the present moment it is very difficult to avoid the company of asadhus, those who are not sadhus. It is very difficult to find a sadhu for association. We have therefore started this Krsna consciousness movement to create an association of sadhus so that people may take advantage and become liberated. There is no other purpose for this society.
Krsna states in Bhagavad-gita (6.47) that the first-class sadhu is one who is always thinking of Him. This process is not very difficult. We should always think of Krsna, but how is this possible? We think of our business, our dog, our family, our lovable object and so many other things. We have to think of something; without thinking we cannot remain. We simply have to divert our thoughts to Krsna. It is the sadhu's business to teach this, and one can learn this in the association of a sadhu. Actually a sadhu will not teach anything else. ndau sraddha tatah sadhu-sanga. This is the way to make spiritual advancement. One has to associate with a sadhu. Often the sadhu's task is a thankless one, but he has to be tolerant. Despite all the trouble a sadhu may encounter, he is very merciful upon fallen conditioned souls. He sees that people are suffering due to a lack of Krsna consciousness, and because he is always thinking of the welfare of others, he is suhrt. Other people are always envious, but the sadhu is always thinking how to save others from the clutches of maya. A sadhu is kind not only to human beings but to cats, dogs, trees, plants and insects; he will hesitate even to kill one mosquito. He does not simply think, "I shall just take care of my brother." He looks on all living beings as his brothers because Krsna says that He is the father of all living entities.
Envious people create many impediments to the Krsna consciousness movement, but we have to tolerate them. There is no alternative. One must be peaceful and depend on Krsna in all circumstances. These are the ornaments of a sadhu. We should find a sadhu and associate with him. Then our path of liberation will be open.
Spiritual life begins with the association of a devotee, a sadhu. One cannot progress an inch without the mercy of a sadhu. Prahlada Maharaja has also indicated this:
naisam matis tavad urukramanghrim
sprsaty anarthapagamo yad-arthah
mahiyasam pada-rajo-'bhisekam
niskincananam na vrnita yavat
"Unless they smear upon their bodies the dust of the lotus feet of a Vaisnava completely freed from material contamination, persons very much inclined toward materialistic life cannot be attached to the lotus feet of the Lord, who is glorified for His uncommon activities. Only by becoming Krsna conscious and taking shelter at the lotus feet of the Lord in this way can one be freed from material contamination." (Bhag. 7.5.32)
We have described the symptoms of a sadhu, and we have stated that a sadhu should be accepted by his characteristics. It is not that we accept anyone who comes along and says, "I am a sadhu." Similarly, it is not that anyone is accepted who comes along and says, "I am an incarnation of God." There are characteristics of God given in the sastras. Sadhu-sanga, association with a sadhu, is very essential in Krsna consciousness. People are suffering due to contamination by tamo-guna and rajo-guna. The sadhu teaches one how to remain purely in sattva-guna, by truthfulness, cleanliness, mind control, sense control, simplicity, tolerance, and full faith and knowledge. These are some of the characteristics of sattva-guna.
Instead of thinking, "Unless I have a drink, I will go mad," one should think, "Unless I associate with a sadhu, I will go mad." When we can think in this way, we will become liberated. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has stated that He wants every village in the entire world to be a center for Krsna consciousness so that people can take advantage of sadhus and in turn become sadhus. This is the mission of this Krsna consciousness movement.
Comments