Dec 02, 2017 — CANADA (SUN) —
DKS: Yes, this is another point. Knowing that he was doing that, making them regular gurus, he did not say, "You need vyasasana, you need this kind of worship," he didn't make any special arrangements. Everything went on, there wasn't any special fanfare at that time.
BCS: Now he is questioning that although Srila Prabhupada appointed them as acaryas, Srila Prabhupada did not say that now you need… now that you have become acarya, you need vyasasana, you need the guru… this all this fanfare for the guru, Srila Prabhupada did not say anything of that sort.
SM: The vyasasana question, that is on the question of protocol that should be changed and adjusted according to the policy. For the time being it should be adjusted amongst them… anyhow. Guru… it is very difficult… It is easy for those who have that has already come to adjust things within the mind [their minds]. But the newcomers should be given the highest attraction, the chance of attraction physically… I am not clear?
BCS: Yes, it is clear. The neophyte, the newcomers you know, they should be…
SM: Adjust things mentally.
DKS: What happens when the godbrothers do not have faith in their guru-godbrothers as a bona fide spiritual master?
SM: That respect should come voluntarily from the acaryas. The acarya sabha, they must prepare rules and regulations to guide themselves so that the newcomers may not be disturbed. They…
DKS: See, even some newcomers have recognized what they feel are deviations in the instructions of these gurus.
BCS: So he is saying that even the newcomers, they notice some deviation in their guru.
SM: Of their guru… in respect of the behavior of the other acaryas.
DKS: Or in their own guru, disciples they see what they feel are philosophical discrepancies with Srila Prabhupada and the predecessor acaryas.
BCS: Even the disciples, they notice some discrepancies in the philosophy of Srila Prabhupada and…
DKS: And in the Adi lila of Caitanya-caritamrta when there is discussion of Advaita Acarya and his sons, when they had a difference of opinion with Advaita Acarya they became asara, or useless, and Srila Prabhupada says that is the beginning of schism. You can mention Advaita Acarya?
BCS: (explains) Srila Prabhupada says that this is the beginning of a schism, this is the beginning of a separation. That when there is difference of opinion, that when they are not following…
SM: One thing… sons and disciples are not of equal status. The son of Visnu-ballabha (?) Narakasura. Became asura, son of Visnu? So what should be the main point of consideration. The cultural descents and the physical descents, if we call it such.
BCS: But how about the disciples, those who are deviating from their spiritual master's instructions?
DKS: What is their… Srila Prabhupada says they have no standing in Krsna consciousness.
SM: That is a very…
DKS: He says that if you have an opinion different than the opinion of your guru then you are not guru, you are rascal.
SM: It is a very risky thing, two or three vaisnavas together living and disciples of every person should give the maximum respect to his own guru. But if he sees that guru one, he seems to be higher, hmm and his guru is lower, his regard will decrease, hmm. But it is a very perplexing and a very difficult thing. The criterion will be of such nature. Suppose one guru is more educated. Another guru is less educated. But the disciple who appreciates education much, he'll see my guru is not educated, his guru is educated, so he disregards his own guru. But education and the physical beauty and the other things should not be taken into consideration. The question of faith, faith and service, only that point should be considered. Sraddha, bhakti, prema, that thing is to be considered and if in that case, if sraddha is real, then by education, or by figure, or by delivering lecture, or any other acts – that should not be considered at all. The question of faith… in regard. [-->]
An even if a siksa guru is allowed, diksa guru should not be dismissed very easily. But one may take siksa guru and he may have respect for siksa guru, but diksa guru should not be dismissed if he is in faith. ___Normal___ faith in the guru-parampara, in Krsna, in Gauranga, in Gurudeva. The faith should be considered first thing, sraddha, and not other garments like education, like good physical body, like deliver lectures, like social temperament – all these things are immaterial. The main thing is sraddha. Haridas Thakur was not much educated; Rupa, Sanatana, highly educated. So a disciple of Haridas Thakur, they will run to Rupa, Sanatana? They may take, demand education, but the guru may not be removed. This sort of adjustment should be done. The guru without education, or without external grandeur, but if he has got strong faith, perhaps greater than that educated man and he will _______, he will be doomed disciple?
DKS: That is when that faith is there. But we were saying before, if there is deviation, how can you say there is faith? Deviation comes as a result of lack of faith.
SM: Deviation is a very difficult word. Deviation, in what standpoint? And who is to judge deviation?
BCS: If it becomes obvious…
SM: Just as we say that this order, that 16 times counting, that may not be the highest criterion for discharging a guru.
BCS: Not that, but Maharaja, if it is seen… that a guru or whoever he is…
SM: Because that varies… the first thing is whether he is deviated in sraddha, sraddha in his guru, in Mahaprabhu, and in Krsna. And what are the signs to show, to prove that his sraddha has been, has dwindled? We have to prove that his sraddha has been dwindled. Higher proof is necessary. Not only formal habit or this or that.
BCS: If it is seen that he is more attached to matter than the spiritual endeavor, if he is directly manifesting his attachment to matter more than spirit, then what? I mean this is a direct sign of deviation.
SM: Then the disciples may wait for some time to study very closely and very steadily and if he finds that it is real attachment, real attachment and deviation and he is losing his attraction on the other side, of course then he may be aloof for some time, wait, and then not that he will do anything abruptly, ___and when___ he will be quite confident, he will pray to the Lord, "Please save me from such a disaster," and then he will perhaps get light and conscience. Not very hurriedly or rapidly, will he do anything, but patiently he will see and study and when he is quite confident that his guru was ______ that he has deviated, his sraddha dwindled, and he's more attached to the worldly life than to the spiritual, then of course he will be indifferent for some time and pray to the Lord fervently, "Save me from such disastrous teacher and show me the right way," and he must be sincere to his own conscience and consult with the vaisnava whom he can regard, and with their help, he will try to get from that clutches and to enter into some other place. But it should not be a very hurried thing, inconsidered thing. In Hari Nama Cintamani you will find like that.
