Nov 26, 2017 CANADA (SUN)
BCS: Now, Maharaja, there is a doubt in many devotees that a… whether Prabhupada really appointed them as acaryas. Because… should I read this? These are the final instructions of Srila Prabhupada. In this he said… When asked who would succeed him as the leader of the Krsna consciousness movement, Srila Prabhupada replied, "All my disciples will take the legacy. If you want, you can also take it. Sacrifice everything. I one may soon pass away but they are hundreds and this movement will increase. It is not that I'll give an order, 'Here is the next leader.' Anyone who follows the previous leadership is a leader. I don't make any distinction between Indian and European. All my disciples are leaders as much as they follow purely. If you want to follow you can also lead…"
SM: History will stand witness to it.
Bengali: In other words, in the material form the history will prove. (laughing) From the material standpoint they will see itihas saki, who is right, who is wrong.
BCS: Bengali
English: You want to show that other thing also, Prabhupada's discussion with Satsvarupa Maharaja? This is also…
SM: Bengali: I would like you to refer to Bhaktivinoda Thakur's Hari Nama Cintamani In that book the tattva on guru, acarya, has been dealt very extensively with. In Caitanya-caritamrta we find Caitanya Mahaprabhu asking questions to Ramananda Raya and Ramananda Raya answering. But here in this book we find Caitanya Mahaprabhu asks Haridasa Thakur about the efficacy and the transcendental position of the holy name of the Lord. He has dealt with the question of acarya very scrutinizingly in this particular book. So the point of accepting a guru under what conditions. Once you have accepted a guru there is no question of rejecting. This point has been discussed very subtly. And also the point where a disciple accepts a guru and under very peculiar conditions is forced to ultimately reject him has also been discussed in this book. It is actually a misfortune for that disciple to have to reject his guru once he has accepted him. [-->]
One must be very careful and judge everything according to sastra before he accepts a guru. Precaution should be taken before one actually accepts a guru. After considering who the actual guru is, then one places his head (symbolically speaking) at his lotus feet. And once he has placed it at his lotus feet it is very difficult to take it away again. All the symptoms of a bona fide guru should be scrutinizingly judged before accepting as a guru. Here in India before the marriage, before the negotiations, everybody can judge the qualities of the bride. But once the marriage has been completed then it is a point of no return.
BCS: Maharaja is telling that Bhaktivinoda Thakur in a book called the Hari Nama Cintamani has explained everything about acarya…
SM: Nirbhajan and regular relationship, is very elaborately you'll find there.. Hari Nama Cintamani.
BCS: When you get married, before getting married those people will look at the bridegroom and select and make negotiations. At that time all kinds of testing can go on, but once you are married then it is done.
SM: In that spirit, none should be easily accepted and dismissed. That should never be in the spiritual life. It is a great disturbance. So before we go to take initiation we should try our utmost and we shall invoke divine mercy to guide me. In all ways I shall try to see that I am not giving my head to any place and every place.
DKS: But a newcomer, due to inexperience and lack of knowledge, may be erroneous in his choice.
SM: Ignorance is no excuse.
BCS: Sometimes devotees are forced to take initiation also. Like Dhira Krsna Maharaja was telling me just this morning that…
SM: Then that is got… that must have reaction. It will pay its own coin.