Srila Gour Govinda

Swami Maharaja
Guru
Tattva
uuru
1attva

Srila uour uovinda
Swami Maharaja
TATTVA VICARA PUBLICATIONS
Conicnis
Preface III
The AbsoIufe Necessify for Accepfing
a Bona Fide SpirifuaI Masfer 1
QuaIifies of a True SpirifuaI Masfer 3
Definifion of an carya 6
Sympfoms of fhe Uffama-Adhikar 8
When fhe SpirifuaI Masfer can be Re|ecfed 12
ConcIuding Insfrucfions 1+
Pray fo fhe Supreme Lord 18
Appcndiccs
How fo Find a ReaI Sadhu: 19
One Who has Compassion Can Never Sfop Preaching 21
Abouf fhe Aufhor 26
Taffva-vicara PubIicafions 30
Ofher PubIicafions 31
All quoics liom ilc bools ol
Sila A.C. llaliivcdanila Swami Piablupada
aic copyiiglicd ilc llaliivcdanila lool Tiusi.
III
lretace
Tlc inloimaiion in ilis boollci was compilcd by His Divinc Giacc Sila
Goui Govinda Swami Malaiaja, a swan-lilc pcisonaliiy, wlosc only aim
in lilc was io inculcaic and spicad ilc icaclings ol Siman Malapiablu
io cvciyonc. Alici many ol lis Godbioilcis lcll liom ilcii posiiions
as sannyass and gurus, Siila Goui Govinda Malaiaja picscnicd ilis
papci io ilc GlC mcmbcis (ol ISKCON) in 19S9 loi ilc solc puiposc
ol csiablisling ilc absoluic conccpiion ol (sa-) guru and io consolc
Sila Piablupada's giand-disciplcs so ilai ilcy would noi losc laiil in
dcvoiional scivicc and Kisna consciousncss.
Tlis samc inloimaiion was piinicd in Ausiialia as a boollci in laic 1990
and picscnicd io His Divinc Giacc in India in caily 1991 piioi io ilc
opcning ol ilc Si Si Kisna lalaiama Tcmplc in llubancswai, Odisla.
Iiom ilcic ilc boollci was widcly disiiibuicd, as many dcvoiccs wcic
ai ilc iimc conluscd and cxpciicncing dilliculiy in ilcii spiiiiual livcs
alici bcing abandoncd by ilosc wlom ilcy considcicd ilcii gurus and
wcll-wislcis.
In ilc Sri Catanya-cartamrta, Antya-IiIa 5.131, ii is siaicd, yana
bnagavata paa vasnavcra stnanc, il you wani io undcisiand Srima-
Pnagavatam you musi appioacl a scll-icaliscd Vaisnava and lcai liom
lim submissivcly. Scll-icaliscd Vaisnavas, oi bnahta-bnagavatas, aic iaic
agcnis ol ilc Loid's mcicy in ilis woild. Sucl bnahta-bnagavatas aic
puic dcvoiccs wlo aic absoibcd in bnaht-rasa, ilc mcllows ol loving
dcvoiion and aic ilcmsclvcs ilc cpiiomc ol lumiliiy.
Tlis boollci, wlcicin His Divinc Giacc cxpciily cxplains ilc absoluic
ncccssiiy ol acccpiing a bona lidc spiiiiual masici (sa-guru), is bcing
icpiinicd and madc liccly availablc wiil ilc spccilic inicni ol assisiing
and cncouiaging ilosc sinccic dcvoiccs scaicling loi sa-guru as wcll as
ilosc wlosc gurus may lavc lallcn liom giacc.
Wc lavc ialcn ilc libciiy ol adding iwo appcndiccs, wlicl wcic ialcn
liom arsanas wiil Sila Goui Govinda Swami Malaiaja. Wc lopc ilai
all wlo icad ilis boollci will gicaily bcnclii liom ii by ilc mcicy ol Si
Guiu and Gauianga.
Youi lowly scivanis,
Tlc Publislcis

1
1he absolute Necessity
tor accepting
a 8ona lide Spiritual Master
In ilc Sri Catanya-cartamrta, ii is said:
branmana bnramtc hona bnagyavan jiva
guru-hrsna-prasac paya bnaht-Iata-bija
Accoiding io ilcii harma, all living cniiiics aic wandciing iliougloui
ilc cniiic univcisc. Somc ol ilcm aic bcing clcvaicd io ilc uppci planciaiy
sysicms, and somc aic going down inio ilc lowci planciaiy sysicms. Oui
ol many millions ol wandciing living cniiiics, onc wlo is vciy loiiunaic
gcis an oppoiiuniiy io associaic wiil a bona lidc spiiiiual masici by ilc
giacc ol Kisna. ly ilc mcicy ol boil Kisna and ilc spiiiiual masici,
sucl a pcison icccivcs ilc sccd ol ilc ciccpci ol dcvoiional scivicc. ,Sri
Catanya-cartamrta Manya-IiIa 19.151)
ly ialing slclici ai ilc loius lcci ol a spiiiiual masici, an oilciwisc
iiny insignilicani living cniiiy can bc liccd liom all linds ol dangci.
Tlcicloic, ilc cicinal wcll-wislcis ol all living cniiiics advisc us io ialc
slclici ol sucl a spiiiiual masici. In ilc Shana Purana ii is said:
gu` saba sty annaharasya
ru` sabas tan nronahan
2
annahara-nronatva
guru ty abnniyatc
Tlc woid gu` mcans dailncss and ilc woid ru` mcans ilai wlicl dispcls
ilc dailncss. Ioigciiing ilcii own idcniiiics, sincc iimc immcmoiial,
ilc living cniiiics aic wandciing in ilc dailncss ol ilc illusoiy cncigy,
maya. Tlus bcing cllccicd by illusoiy aiiaclmcni bascd on ignoiancc,
ilcy acccpi icmpoiaiy, unical, maiciial ilings as ilciis and wiil lalsc
lcclings ol 'I' and 'minc' considci ilcmsclvcs io bc ilc posscssoi ol ilosc:
janasya mono yam anam mamct ,Srima-Pnagavatam 5.5.S)
Oui ol dccp illusion ilc living cniiiy ilus dcvclops ilc idca and lcclings
ol 'I' and 'minc'. Tlis is callcd mona oi dclusion. To icmovc ilcsc illusoiy
aiiaclmcnis wlicl giow oui ol ignoiancc, onc musi ialc slclici ai ilc
loius lcci ol Sila Guiudcva, wlcicby lcai ol illusion will bc icmovcd
loicvci. ly ialing slclici ai ilc loius lcci ol a bona lidc spiiiiual masici,
ilc jiva succcsslully icvivcs lis oilciwisc losi puic lnowlcdgc. Tlus
lc can cngagc limscll in ilc scivicc ol lis woislipablc Supicmc Loid,
Kisna, wlo is ilc only objcci io bc scivcd cicinally. Il onc icndcis loving
dcvoiional scivicc undci ilc bcncvolcni guidancc ol a bona lidc spiiiiual
masici, lc will succccd in aiiaining supicmc iiansccndcnial plcasuic and
bliss. Tlcicloic ii is absoluicly csscniial io ialc slclici ai ilc loius lcci ol
a bona lidc spiiiiual masici. In ilc Catanya-cartamrta ii is said:
sarva-csa-haIa-asaya jancra hartavya
guru-pasc sc bnaht prastavya, srotavya
Ii is ilcicloic ilc duiy ol cvciy man-in cvciy couniiy, in cvciy
ciicumsiancc and ai all iimcs-io appioacl a bona lidc spiiiiual masici,
qucsiion lim aboui dcvoiional scivicc and lisicn io lim cxplain ilc
pioccss.` (Sri Catanya-cartamrta, Manya-IiIa 25.122)
In ilc Munaha Lpansa ii is said:
ta-vjnanartnam sa gurum cvabngaccnct
samt-pann srotryam branma-nstnam
3
To lcain iiansccndcnial subjcci maiici, onc musi appioacl ilc spiiiiual
masici. In doing so, onc slould caiiy lucl io buin in saciilicc. Tlc
sympiom ol sucl a spiiiiual masici is ilai lc is cxpcii in undcisianding
ilc Vcdic conclusion, and ilcicloic lc consianily cngagcs in ilc scivicc
ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad.` ,Munaha Lpansa 1.2.12,
quoicd Srima-Pnagavatam +.2S.65)
In ilis way many sastrc injunciions can bc ciicd aboui wly onc slould
acccpi a bona lidc spiiiiual masici. Howcvci insicad ol going inio ilc dc-
iail, I am sccling ilc lind pcimission ol ilc asscmblcd dcvoiccs and my
dcai Godbioilcis and Godsisicis io picscni a biicl iniioducioiy bacl-
giound io ilc ncccssiiy ol acccpiing a bona lidc spiiiiual masici sa-
guru].
QuaIifies of a True SpirifuaI Masfer
Loid Si Caiianya Malapiablu las givcn a vciy simplc dcliniiion ol
guru:
hba vpra, hba nyasi, sura hcnc naya
yc hrsna-tattva-vctta, sc guru` naya
Wlcilci onc is a branmana, a sannyasi oi a sura-icgaidlcss ol
wlai lc is-lc can bccomc a spiiiiual masici il lc lnows ilc scicncc ol
Kisna.` (Sri Catanya-cartamrta, Manya-IiIa S.12S)
In Srima-Pnagavatam ii is siaicd:
tasma gurum prapaycta
jjnasun srcya uttamam
sabc parc ca nsnatam
branmany upasamasrayam
Tlcicloic any pcison wlo sciiously dcsiics ical lappincss musi sccl
a bona lidc spiiiiual masici and ialc slclici ol lim by iniiiaiion. Tlc
qualilicaiion ol ilc bona lidc guru is ilai lc las icaliscd ilc conclusions
ol ilc sciipiuics by dclibciaiion and is ablc io convincc oilcis ol ilcsc
conclusions. Sucl gicai pcisonaliiics, wlo lavc ialcn slclici ol ilc
4
Supicmc Godlcad, lcaving asidc all maiciial considciaiions, slould
bc undcisiood io bc bona lidc spiiiiual masicis.` (Srima-Pnagavatam
11.3.21)
Onc cannoi bccomc a guru bascd on lis mundanc sclolaislip. In ilis
conicxi Srima-Pnagavatam siaics:
saba-branman nsnato
na nsnayat parc ya
sramas tasya srama-pnaIo
ny ancnum va rahsatan
Il iliougl mciiculous siudy onc bccomcs cxpcii in icading Vcdic
liiciaiuic bui malcs no cndcavoui io lix onc's mind on ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, ilcn onc's cndcavoui is cciiainly lilc ilai ol onc
wlo woils vciy laid ialing caic ol a cow ilai givcs no mill. In oilci
woids, ilc liuii ol onc's laboiious siudy ol Vcdic lnowlcdgc will simply
bc ilc laboui iiscll. Tlcic will bc no oilci iangiblc icsuli.` (Srima-
Pnagavatam 11.11.1S)

Sila Rupa Gosvam las siaicd in lis Sri Lpacsamrta:
vaco vcgam manasan hrona-vcgam
jnva-vcgam uaropastna-vcgam
ctan vcgan yo vsancta niran
sarvam apimam prtnvim sa ssyat
A sobci pcison wlo can iolciaic ilc uigc io spcal, ilc mind's dcmands,
ilc aciions ol angci and ilc uigcs ol ilc ionguc, bclly and gcniials is
qualilicd io malc disciplcs all ovci ilc woild`. (Sri Lpacsamrta vcisc 1)
Sila Visvanaila Caliavaii Tlaluia las siaicd, upasamasrayam hrona-
Iobnay-avasi-bnutam: a bona lidc spiiiiual masici cannoi bc undci ilc
coniiol ol oidinaiy angci, giccd and lusi.
A spiiiiual masici siiicily lollows ilc piinciplcs ol disciplic succcssion
and ol ilc sciipiuics. Tlc lnowlcdgc icccivcd liom guru dcsccnds liom
ilc Loid Himscll iliougl disciplic succcssion.
In ilis icgaid oui icvcicd spiiiiual masici Sila Piablupada las
5
said, Tlc iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc ol ilc Vcdas was liisi uiicicd by
God io lialma, ilc cicaioi ol ilis paiiiculai univcisc. Iiom lialma
ilc lnowlcdgc dcsccndcd io Naiada, liom Naiada io Vyasadcva, liom
Vyasadcva io Madlva, and in ilis pioccss ol disciplic succcssion ilc
iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc was iiansmiiicd by onc disciplc io anoilci
uniil ii icaclcd Loid Gauianga, Si Kisna Caiianya, wlo poscd as ilc
disciplc and succcssoi ol Si svaia Pui. Tlc picscni caiyadcva is
ilc icnil disciplic icpicscniaiivc liom Si Rupa Gosvam, ilc oiiginal
icpicscniaiivc ol Loid Caiianya wlo picaclcd ilis iiansccndcnial
iiadiiion in iis lullncss. Tlc lnowlcdgc ilai wc icccivc liom oui Guiudcva
is noi dillcicni liom ilai impaiicd by God Himscll and ilc succcssion
ol ilc acaryas in ilc picccpioiial linc ol lialma.` (Tlc Scicncc ol Scll
Rcalisaiion)
Il onc lollows ilc sysicm ol disciplic succcssion onc can bccomc ilc
guru loi ilc wlolc woild. In ilis agc ol Kali ilcic aic loui bona lidc
sampraayas i.c. Si, lialma, Rudia and Sanala:
Si-sampiadaya - Si Ramanujacaiya
Rudia-sampiadaya - Si Visnu Svam
lialma-sampiadaya - Si Madlvacaiya
Sanala-sampiadaya - Si Nimbailacaiya
Siman Malapiablu acccpicd a guru liom ilc lialma-Madlva-
Sampiadaya i.c. Hc acccpicd Si svaia Pui as His guru. Iiom ilai iimc,
ilc iiilc Gaudya las bccn addcd io ilai sampraaya wlicl bccamc ilc
lialma-Madlva-Gaudya-sampiadaya. Loid Si Caiianya Malapiablu
camc in ilc 15il ccniuiy. Piioi io ilai ilc loui acaryas lad comc, namcly
Visnu Svam, Nimbailacaiya, Ramanujacaiya, and Madlvacaiya.
Tlcic aic somc subilc dillcicnccs in ilc plilosoplics ol ilcsc loui
acaryas icgaiding vata and avata-vaa. Tlc plilosoplics ol Visnu
Svam, Nimbailacaiya and Ramanujacaiya cxplain sunavata pu-
iilicd monism]; vatavata monism and dualism]; and vsstavata
spccilic monism] icspcciivcly, wlcicas ilc plilosoply ol Madlvacaiya
siicsscs suna-vata-vaa puiilicd dualism]. Inicgiaiing ilc pliloso-
plics ol ilcsc loui acaryas, Siman Malapiablu, iool ilc csscncc ol
ilcsc loui plilosoplics and iniioduccd acntya-bncabnca-tattva. Tlus
ilc disciplic succcssion bcginning liom Gauianga Malapiablu is con-
6
sidcicd ilc only bona lidc puic Vaisnava parampara in Kali-yuga. Tlcic-
loic, ilc bona lidc spiiiiual masici slould comc in ilc disciplic succcs-
sion ilai bcgins liom Siman Malapiablu. In oilci woids, lc slould bc
a gaura-prya-jana, a bclovcd dcvoicc ol Siman Gauianga Malapiablu.
Dcliniiion ol an caiya
Tlc Vayu Purana givcs ilc lollowing dcliniiion ol an acarya,
acnot yan sastrartnam
acarc stnapayaty ap
svayam acaratc yasma
acaryas tcna hirttan
Tlc acarya is onc wlo lnows ilc impoii ol all ilc Vcdic liiciaiuics,
abidcs by ilcii iulcs and icgulaiions, and icaclcs lis disciplcs io aci in
ilc samc way.`
To bc acccpicd as an acarya onc musi undcisiand Vcanta-sutra.
As siaicd by oui bclovcd Guiudcva Sila Piablupada, To sii on ilc
vyasasana onc musi bc convcisani wiil all sysicms ol plilosoply.`
lcsidcs Vyasadcva, ilcic aic oilci sagcs wlo aic ilc loundcis ol ilc six
Vcdic plilosoplical sysicms, namcly Gauiama, Kanada, Kapila, Paianjali,
Jaimini and Asiavalia. Tlcism is cxplaincd complcicly in ilc Vcanta-
sutra, wlcicas in ilcsc oilci sysicms, piaciically no mcniion is givcn io
ilc uliimaic causc ol all causcs. Onc wlo siis on ilc vyasasana musi bc
convcisani in all ilcsc plilosoplics so ilai lc can csiablisl ilc ilcisiic
conclusion ol Srima-Pnagavatam ovci oilci sclools ol ilougli. Tlc
spiiiiual masici musi bc a puic dcvoicc ol Loid Kisna, suna-bnahtc
Iabcna guru-rupc barc.
Tlc spiiiiual masici's qualilicaiion is ilai lc is branma-nstnam, lc las
givcn up all oilci aciiviiics and las dcdicaicd lis lilc io woiling only
loi ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Kisna. Tlc spiiiiual masici
musi bc a puic dcvoicc, mana-bnagavata and uttama-anhari. Sila
Piablupada las said, Onc cannoi bccomc a spiiiiual masici unlcss lc is
a puic dcvoicc ol ilc Loid.` Sucl a pcison is a iiuc guru. In ilc Pama
Purana ii is said:
7
sat-harma-npuno vpro
mantra-tantra-vsaraan
avasnavo gurur na sya
vasnavan sva-paco guru
Lvcn il a branmana is vciy lcaincd in ilc Vcdic Sciipiuics and lnows
ilc six occupaiional duiics ol a branmana, lc cannoi bccomc guru unlcss
lc is a dcvoicc ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Howcvci, il onc
is boin in ilc lamily ol dog-caicis bui is a puic dcvoicc ol ilc Loid, lc
can bccomc a spiiiiual masici.` (Pama Purana)
Sila Piablupada wiiics in ilis icgaid, Tlc conclusion is ilai onc
cannoi bccomc a spiiiiual masici unlcss lc is a puic dcvoicc ol ilc Loid.
Onc slould ilcicloic ialc slclici ol sucl a bona lidc spiiiiual masici.
Succcss in lilc mcans acccpiing a spiiiiual masici wlo lnows Kisna as
ilc only supicmc bclovcd pcisonaliiy.` (Srima-Pnagavatam +.29.51
puipoii)
Tlc spiiiiual masici musi icacl by cxamplc. Onc wlosc aciions in lilc
do noi coiicspond wiil sastra-tattva cannoi bc acccpicd as an acarya. In
ilc Pranma-vavarta Purana ii is siaicd:
aparihsyopastam yat
Ioha-nasanam ta bnavct
Wiiloui liisi puiiing inio piaciicc ilc piinciplcs ol sanana-bnaht in
onc's own lilc, onc slould noi advisc oilcis as ii will only cicaic claos
in ilc sociciy.
Sila Piablupada las siaicd, Only an uttama-anhari can bccomc ilc
spiiiiual masici. Ii is bciici loi a disciplc io acccpi an uttama-anhari
ilan a hanstna-anhari oi manyama-anhari as a spiiiiual masici.`
. Onc slould noi bccomc a spiiiiual masici unlcss lc las aiiaincd
ilc plailoim ol uttama-anhari. A ncoplyic Vaisnava oi a Vaisnava
siiuaicd on ilc inicimcdiaic plailoim can also acccpi disciplcs, bui sucl
disciplcs musi bc on ilc samc plailoim, and ii slould bc undcisiood ilai
ilcy cannoi advancc vciy wcll iowaid ilc uliimaic goal ol lilc undci lis
8
insullicicni guidancc. Tlcicloic a disciplc slould bc caiclul io acccpi an
uttama-anhari as a spiiiiual masici .` (Sri Lpacsamrta 5 puipoii)
Sympioms ol ilc Uiiama-Adlilai
In Catanya-cartamrta ii is siaicd,
sastra-yuhtyc sunpuna, rna-srana yanra
`uttama-anhari` sc tarayc samsara
Onc wlo is wcll convcisani and an cxpcii in sastrc picscniaiion ol
lacis and analysis, laving unllincling laiil in sastrc injunciions, is io
bc considcicd as an uttama-anhari, wlo can dclivci ilc woild`. (Sri
Catanya-cartamrta Manya-IiIa 22.65)
sri-navr uvaca
sarva-bnutcsu yan pasyc
bnagava-bnavam atmanan
bnutan bnagavaty atmany
csa bnagavatottaman
Si Havii said: Tlc mosi advanccd dcvoicc sccs wiilin cvciyiling
ilc soul ol all souls, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Si Kisna.
Conscqucnily lc sccs sysicmaiically cvciyiling in iclaiion io ilc
Supicmc Loid and undcisiands ilai cvciyiling ilai cxisis is cicinally
siiuaicd wiilin ilc Loid.` (Srima-Pnagavatam 11.2.+5)
stnavara-jangama chnc, na chnc tara murt
sarvatra naya nja sta-cva-spnurt
Tlc mana-bnagavata, ilc advanccd dcvoicc, cciiainly sccs cvciyiling
mobilc and immobilc, bui lc docs noi cxacily scc ilcii loims. Railci,
cvciywlcic lc immcdiaicly sccs manilcsi ilc loim ol ilc Supicmc Loid.`
(Sri Catanya-cartamrta Manya-IiIa S.27+)
Also in ilc Srima-Pnagavatam ii is wiiiicn:
9
vsrjat nrayam na yasya sahsa
narr avasabnnto py agnaugna-nasan
pranaya-rasanaya nrtangnr-paman
sa bnavat bnagavata-pranana uhtan
Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is so lind io ilc condiiioncd
souls ilai il ilcy call upon Him by spcaling His loly namc, cvcn
uninicniionally oi unwillingly, ilc Loid is inclincd io dcsiioy
innumciablc sinlul icaciions in ilcii lcaiis. Tlcicloic, wlcn a dcvoicc
wlo las ialcn slclici ol ilc Loid's loius lcci clanis ilc loly namc ol
Kisna wiil gcnuinc lovc, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad can ncvci
givc up ilc lcaii ol sucl a dcvoicc. Onc wlo las ilus capiuicd ilc
Supicmc Loid wiilin lis lcaii is io bc lnown as bnagavata-pranana,
ilc mosi cxalicd dcvoicc ol ilc Loid.` (Srima-Pnagavatam 11.2.55)
Rcgaiding ilc sympioms ol ilc uttama-anhari, oui icvcicd spiiiiual
masici Sila Piablupada las wiiiicn in lis commcniaiy on Siila Rupa
Goswami's Sri Lpacsamrta (Ncciai ol Insiiuciion):
. Tlc uttama-anhari, oi liglcsi dcvoicc, is onc wlo is vciy
advanccd in dcvoiional scivicc. An uttama-anhari is noi inicicsicd in
blasplcming oilcis. His lcaii is complcicly clcan as lc las aiiaincd ilc
icaliscd siaic ol unalloycd Kisna consciousncss. Accoiding io Sila Rupa
Gosvam, ilc associaiion and scivicc ol sucl a mana-bnagavata, oi pcilcci
Vaisnava, aic mosi dcsiiablc . (Sri Lpacsamrta vcisc 5, puipoii)
. Oui ol many sucl Vaisnavas, onc may bc lound io bc vciy sciiously
cngagcd in ilc scivicc ol ilc Loid and siiicily lollowing all ilc icgulaiivc
piinciplcs, claniing ilc picsciibcd numbci ol iounds on japa bcads and
always ilinling ol low io cxpand ilc Kisna consciousncss movcmcni.
Sucl a Vaisnava slould bc acccpicd as an uttama-anhari, a liglly
advanccd dcvoicc, and lis associaiion slould always bc sougli ..` (Sri
Lpacsamrta vcisc 5, puipoii)
Wlcn a pcison icaliscs limscll io bc hrsna-asa, an cicinal sciviioi
ol Kisna, lc loscs inicicsi in cvciyiling bui Kisna's scivicc. Always
ilinling ol Kisna, dcvising mcans by wlicl io spicad ilc loly namc
ol Kisna, lc undcisiands ilai lis only busincss is in spicading ilc
10
Kisna consciousncss movcmcni all ovci ilc woild. Sucl a pcison is
io bc iccogniscd as an uttama-anhari, and lis associaiion slould bc
immcdiaicly acccpicd accoiding io ilc six pioccsscs (aat pratgrnnat,
cic.). Indccd, ilc advanccd uttama-anhari Vaisnava dcvoicc slould bc
acccpicd as a spiiiiual masici.` (Sri Lpacsamrta vcisc 5, puipoii.)
Sila llaliivinoda Tlaluia las givcn somc piaciical linis io ilc
cllcci ilai an uttama-anhari Vaisnava can bc iccogniscd by lis abiliiy
io convcii many lallcn souls io Vaisnavism.` (Sri Lpacsamrta vcisc 5,
puipoii.)
All Vaisnava acaryas and sastra lavc said ilai boil shsa-guru and
ihsa-guru aic icquiicd. Onc wlo icaclcs low io scivc Haii is ilc shsa-
guru. Tlc spiiiiual masici wlo iniiiaics accoiding io ilc icgulaiions ol
sastra is callcd ilc ihsa-guru.
Tlc spiiiiual masici wlo givcs insiiuciions io clcvaic onc in ilcii
spiiiiual lilc is ilc shsa-guru. loil ilc shsa-guru and ihsa-guru aic
cqual in siaius. Il onc ilinls ciilci ol ilcm as supciioi oi inlciioi lc
commiis an ollcncc. Tlc iniiiaiing spiiiiual masici, i.c. ihsa-guru, is
a pcisonal manilcsiaiion ol Sila Madana-Molana vgrana and ilc
insiiuciing spiiiiual masici, shsa-guru, is a pcisonal icpicscniaiivc ol
Sila Govindadcva vgrana.
Sila Piablupada wiiics in ilis icspcci, Si Govindaj acis cxacily lilc
ilc shsa-guru by icacling Pnagava-gita io Aijuna. Hc is ilc oiiginal
picccpioi, loi lc givcs insiiuciions and an oppoiiuniiy io scivc Him.
Tlc iniiiaiing spiiiiual masici oi ihsa-guru is a pcisonal manilcsiaiion
ol Si Madana-Molana vgrana. loil ol ilcsc dciiics aic woislippcd
in Vindavana. Dihsa-guru givcs ilc liisi icquisiic sambanna-jnana ilc
oilci namc ol wlicl is vya-jnana oi ihsa.` (Sri Catanya-cartamrta,
A-IiIa 1.+7, puipoii)
In ilc Har-bnaht-vIasa ii is siaicd:
vyam jnanam yato ayat
huryat papasya sanhsayam
tasmat ihsct sa prohta
cshas tattva-hovan
11
Dihsa is ilc pioccss by wlicl onc can awalcn lis iiansccndcnial
lnowlcdgc and vanquisl all icaciions io sinlul aciiviiics pciloimcd in
ilc pasi. A pcison wlo is cxpcii in ilc siudy ol ilc icvcalcd sciipiuics
lnows ilis pioccss as ihsa.` (Har-bnaht-vIasa 2.9, quoicd liom Vsnu-
yamaIa)
Sincc ii givcs vya-jnana oi sambanna-jnana and ioois oui all ilc
sins and ilcii sccds, ilcicloic, ilc spiiiiually advanccd, wisc and lcaincd
sainis namc ilis insiiiuiional iniiiaiion as ihsa. Dihsa is noi mcicly
ilc insiiuciion io icciic a sacicd mantra, iailci ii is ilc pioccss wlicl
cnablcs ilc disciplc io dcvclop sambanna-jnana.
A pcison may icad lundicds ol sciipiuics by limscll bui il lc docs noi
do nar-bnajan lc will ncvci obiain ilc uliimaic goal ol ilc sciipiuics,
wlicl is lovc ol God. Tlc wisdom ilai icsulis oui ol ilc icciiaiion ol ilc
loly mantras lclps ilc disciplc io piopcily undcisiand ilc innci mcanings
and puipoiis ol ilc sastra. Tlus shsa and ihsa aic complimcniaiy in
spiiiiual lilc and boil aic cqually impoiiani.
Picviously ii las bccn siaicd ilai ilc ihsa-guru is ilc pcisonal
icpicscniaiion ol Sila Madana-molana. In oilci woids, lc is ilc onc
wlo cnablcs ilc disciplcs io csiablisl ilcii iclaiionslip wiil ilc loius
lcci ol Sila Madana-molana, bccausc ilcy lavc loigoiicn ilcii own
ical idcniiiics, ilcii consiiiuiional posiiion and ilc Supicmc Loid, ilc
condiiioncd souls aic unablc io movc in ilc loly nama ol Vindavana.
Tlc ihsa-guru, oui ol lis causclcss mcicy, lixcs ilc lcci ol ilosc
condiiioncd souls, disciplcs, in ilc loly Vindavana nama, and ilus
givcs ilcm ilc oppoiiuniiy io ic-csiablisl ilcii iclaiionslip wiil ilc
Supicmc Loid, and io movc in ilc loly abodc ol Viajablumi.
Also, ilc shsa-guru oui ol lis causclcss mcicy iliougl insiiuciions
cnablcs ilc disciplcs, ilc oilci-wisc condiiioncd souls io cllcciivcly
iiavcl in ilc loly land ol Viajablumi and givcs ilcm ilc lnowlcdgc io
cicinally and pcilccily scivc ilc loius lcci ol Sila Govindadcva.
Oui, icvcicd Guiudcva Sila Piablupada las siaicd:
. ilc guru wlo liisi iniiiaics onc wiil ilc mana-mantra is io bc lnown
as ilc iniiiaioi, and ilc sainis wlo givc insiiuciions loi piogicssivc
advanccmcni in Kisna consciousncss aic callcd insiiuciing spiiiiual
masicis. Tlc iniiiaiing and insiiuciing spiiiiual masicis aic cqual and
idcniical manilcsiaiions ol Kisna, alilougl ilcy lavc dillcicni dcalings.
12
Tlcii lunciion is io guidc ilc condiiioncd souls bacl lomc, bacl io
Godlcad ...` (Sri Catanya-cartamrta, A-IiIa 1.3+, puipoii)
A dcvoicc can lavc only onc iniiiaiing spiiiiual masici bui can lavc
unlimiicd insiiuciing spiiiiual masicis. In ilis icspcci Sila Piablupada
luiilci siaics:
A dcvoicc musi lavc only onc iniiiaiing spiiiiual masici bccausc in ilc
sciipiuics acccpiancc ol moic ilan onc is always loibiddcn. Tlcic is no
limii, lowcvci, io ilc numbci ol insiiuciing spiiiiual masicis onc may
acccpi. Gcncially a spiiiiual masici wlo consianily insiiucis a disciplc
in spiiiiual scicncc bccomcs lis iniiiaiing spiiiiual masici laici on.` (Sri
Catanya-cartamrta, A-IiIa 1.35, puipoii)
Also, Sila Piablupada, in lis puipoii on Srima-Pnagavatam siaics:
. Aciually, Dliuva Malaiaja's moilci, Sunii, was lis patna-
praarsaha-guru. Patna-praarsaha-guru mcans ilc guru, oi ilc spiiiiual
masici, wlo slows ilc way.` Sucl a guru is somciimcs callcd shsa-guru.
Alilougl Naiada Muni was lis ihsa-guru (iniiiaiing spiiiiual masici),
Sunii, lis moilci, was ilc liisi wlo gavc lim insiiuciion on low io
aclicvc ilc lavoui ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Ii is ilc
duiy ol ilc shsa-guru oi ihsa-guru io insiiuci ilc disciplc in ilc iigli
way, and ii dcpcnds on ilc disciplc io cxccuic ilc pioccss. Accoiding io
sastrc injunciions, ilcic is no dillcicncc bciwccn shsa-guru and ihsa-
guru, and gcncially ilc shsa-guru laici on bccomcs ilc ihsa-guru .`
(Srima-Pnagavatam +.12.32 Dliuva vahyana, puipoii)
Wlcn ilc Spiiiiual Masici can bc Rcjccicd
In ilis conicxi I may quoic ilc opinion ol Simad Saiasvai Gosvam
Piablupada Malaiaja, aboui wlo is noi cligiblc io bc guru. In lis
opinion a pcison wlo poscs io bc a guru bui by naiuic and claiacici
icmains as moncy-mindcd, dcsiious ol scnsc cnjoymcni, aiiaclcd io
womcn, picicniious, a scivani ol ilc iuling clicl ol ilc govcinmcni,
aiiaclcd io lamily, posing as a icligious lcadci, dcsiious ol namc, lamc
and adoiaiion, and malcs a busincss oui ol sclling mantram, slould noi
bc acccpicd as a Vaisnava. Rcjcciing sucl a bogus guru onc slould ialc
13
slclici ai ilc loius lcci ol a dcvoicc. A bona lidc guru is lc wlo is always
lixcd ai ilc loius lcci ol Kisna and wcll vciscd in ilc scicncc ol Kisna
consciousncss - hrsna-tattva-vctta.
As siaicd in ilc Lyoga-parva ol ilc Manabnarata:
guror apy avaIptasya
haryaharyam ajanatan
utpatna-pratpannasya
partyago vniyatc
Onc wlo is maiciially vciy mucl aiiaclcd io scnsc giaiilicaiion
lacls ilc conscicncc and consciousncss io dciciminc ilc iigli duiy,
and bcing dcvoid ol puic dcvoiion lollows ilc lowci pail (oilci ilan
bnaht), sucl a pcison slould bc icjccicd, cvcn il in namc only lc is
guru`. (Manabnarata, Lyoga-parva 179.25, quoicd Srima-Pnagavatam
S.20.1 puipoii)
Similaily Sila Jva Gosvam in lis Pnaht-sanarbna las said:
paramartno-gurv-asrayo
vyavanarha-gurv-a-partyagcnap hartavyan
Rcjcciing ilc so-callcd woildly mindcd, usclcss guru, lamily piicsi, onc
slould ialc slclici ai ilc loius lcci ol a bona lidc spiiiiual masici wlo
can lclp onc advancc iowaids ilc uliimaic goal ol lilc, hrsna-prcma.`
(Pnaht-sanarbna, anuccnca 210)
On icjcciing an unlii spiiiiual masici, oui icvcicd Guiudcva Sila
Piablupada las commcnicd:
Sila Visvanaila Caliavaii Tlaluia icmails ilai lali Malaiaja
icmaincd silcni ai a ciiiical poini. How could lc disobcy ilc insiiuciion
ol Suliacaiya, lis spiiiiual masici' Ii is ilc duiy ol sucl a sobci
pcisonaliiy as lali Malaiaja io abidc by ilc oidcis ol lis spiiiiual masici
immcdiaicly, as lis spiiiiual masici lad adviscd. Howcvci, lali Malaiaja
also considcicd ilai Suliacaiya was no longci io bc acccpicd as a spiiiiual
masici, loi lc lad dcviaicd liom ilc duiy ol a spiiiiual masici.
Accoiding io sastra, ilc duiy ol ilc guru is io ialc ilc disciplc bacl
14
lomc, bacl io Godlcad. Il lc is unablc io do so, and insicad lindcis
ilc disciplc in going bacl io Godlcad, lc slould noi bc a guru. Gurur
na sa syat Srima-Pnagavatam 5.5.1S], onc slould noi bccomc a guru il
lc cannoi lclp lis disciplc io advancc in Kisna consciousncss. Tlc goal
ol lilc is io bccomc a dcvoicc ol Loid Kisna so ilai onc may bc liccd
liom ilc bondagc ol maiciial cxisicncc-tyahtva cnam punar janma
nat mam ct so rjuna Pnagava-gita +.9]. Tlc disciplc aiiains ilis siagc
by dcvcloping Kisna consciousncss undci ilc guidancc and disciplinc
inllicicd by ilc spiiiiual masici.
Now Suliacaiya las adviscd lali Malaiaja io dcny ilc piomisc io
Vamanadcva. Undci ilc ciicumsianccs, ilcicloic, lali Malaiaja ilougli
ilai ilcic would bc no lauli il lc disobcycd ilc oidci ol lis spiiiiual
masici. Hc dclibciaicd on ilis poini-slould lc iclusc io acccpi ilc
advicc ol lis spiiiiual masici, oi slould lc indcpcndcnily do cvciyiling
io plcasc ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad' Hc iool somc iimc.
Tlcicloic ii is said, tusnim bnutva hsanam rajann uvacavanto gurum.
Alici dclibciaiing on ilis poini, lc dccidcd ilai Loid Visnu slould bc
plcascd in all ciicumsianccs, cvcn ai ilc iisl ol ignoiing ilc guru`s advicc
io ilc coniiaiy.
Anyonc wlo is supposcd io bc a guru bui wlo gocs againsi ilc piinciplc
ol vsnu-bnaht cannoi bc acccpicd as guru. Il onc las lalscly acccpicd
sucl a guru, onc slould icjcci lim .` (Srima-Pnagavatam S.20.1
puipoii lali Malaiaja upahnyana)
Similaily, in lis puipoii io Srima Pnagava-gita clapici 2, vcisc 5,
Sila Piablupada las said, Accoiding io sciipiuial codcs, a icaclci wlo
cngagcs in an abominablc aciion and las losi ilc scnsc ol disciiminaiion
is lii io bc abandoncd.`
Concluding Insiiuciions
Now ai ilc concluding paii ol my biicl picscniaiion on guru-tattva, I
would lilc io quoic ilcsc pciiincni vciscs liom Sri Kisna Pnajanamrta,
by Sila Naialaii Saialaia Tlaluia:
sahaIa vasnava cva guravan
tara ihsa-guravan
15
shsa-gurava cva vscsatan sant
ctayor cva hm acaraniyam
All ilc puic Vaisnavas aic gurus bccausc all ol ilcm, iliougl
insiiuciions and puic claiacici, gcnciaic dcvoiional cncigy in ilc lcaii
ol ilc living cniiiics. Among ilcm ilc puic Vaisnava, liom wlom ilc
piopci iniiiaiion is ialcn, is ilc ihsa-guru, and liom wlom ilc scicncc
ol dcvoiion is lcaincd is ilc shsa-guru. Wlai lind ol conduci slould bc
slown iowaids ilc ihsa-guru and shsa-guru'` (Sri Krsna Pnajanamrta,
vciscs +2-++)
ajna paIanam tu tayor cva haryam
ya tav aIpa-baIau tatnapy anyatra
manatam muhnat, shsa-vscsam jnatvap guravc cyam
ta cva gurusu patnaniyam na tu gurau ncIa yatna bnajana-putro
rtnoparjanam hrtva ptar attva prartnytva bnunjita
ya svayam aniya hnaat tatan huputran papi syat
Ii is ilc duiy ol ilc disciplc io bc obcdicni io boil ilc ihsa-guru and
shsa-guru. Il ilc iniiiaiing guru appcais io bc lacling in spiiiiual poicncy
ilcn ilc disciplc may appioacl a moic advanccd Vaisnava loi spiiiiual
insiiuciion. Tlc disciplc slould icspcci ilc insiiuciing guru, bui wlilc
iccciving insiiuciion, lc slould noi ncglcci lis ihsa-guru; jusi as a good
son duiilully biings lis cainings io lis lailci and is allocaicd a cciiain
amouni io spcnd liccly, similaily ilc good disciplc picscnis all lc las
lcaincd io lis ihsa-guru, wlo may ilcn conliim wlai lc las undcisiood
and insiiuci lim luiilci on cciiain poinis. Tlc bad son wlo lccps lis
cainings loi limscll is considcicd usclcss. Similaily, ilc bad disciplc,
wlo docs noi conliim wiil lis spiiiiual masici ilc insiiuciions lc las
icccivcd liom anoilci, is sinlul.` (Sri Krsna Pnajanamrta, vciscs +5-+9)
hntu ga-gurur asamanjasam
harot tarn yuhtsnyan
snantas tasya ranas anan
haraniyo na tu tyajyan
Il ilc spiiiiual masici commiis a wionglul aci bicaling ilc Vaisnava
icgulaiivc piinciplcs oi givcs insiiuciions wlicl do noi coiicspond io
16
ilc sastrc injunciions, ilcn in ilai casc onc slould in a soliiaiy placc,
clasiisc lim loi lis icciilicaiion by quoiing liom sanu, guru and sastra.
Il by ilai ilc guru acccpis ilis punislmcni by plcasuic and icciilics
limscll accoidingly, lc is noi io bc abandoncd.` (Sri Krsna Pnajanamrta,
vcisc 59)
guror apy avaIstasya
haryaharyam ajanatan
utpatna-pratpannasya
tasya ano vniyatc
ancna sarvam susobnanam t
Onc slould noi bc lcailul bccausc onc is conlioniing oi clallcnging lis
spiiiiual masici, loi ii las bccn picsciibcd ilai onc musi appiopiiaicly
disciplinc cvcn a spiiiiual masici, wlo is incxpciicnccd oi ignoiani, wlo
las dcviaicd liom ilc Kisna conscious pail oi il lc is bcwildcicd by lalsc
piidc.`
Tlcsc siaicmcnis ol ilc icvcalcd sciipiuics aic applicablc ai all iimc
undci all ciicumsianccs. Tlis docs laiily good io boil spiiiiual masicis
as wcll as io ilc disciplcs.` (Sri Krsna Pnajanamrta, vcisc 60)
svabnava cva vasnavanam
hrsnasraya cva muIam
atra ta-guna-gana
yaso-varnana vIasa vnoan
pratyahscna jivanam
sarvc taartnam cva guru
muhna va svabunya va
vyavanarantit hraman
Tlc naiuial bclavioui ol ilc Vaisnava dcvoicc is io ialc complcic
iclugc ol Loid Si Kisna, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Tlc
vciy lilc ol ilc dcvoiccs, Vaisnavas, is singing ilc gloiics ol Loid Kisna,
dcsciibing and cxpanding ilc lamc ol Loid Si Kisna and discussing ilc
ncciai ol His iiansccndcnial pasiimcs. Onc may ialc guidancc iliougl
ilc insiiuciions liom ilc Vaisnavas as all Vaisnavas aic considcicd gurus
oi onc may usc onc's own iniclligcncc duly considciing ilc iclcvani
17
insiiuciions liom sanu, sastra and guru. In all cascs onc slould coniinuc
onc's dcvoiional scivicc.` ,Sri Krsna Pnajanamrta, vciscs 62-63)
tatra ya guru-vsa-rusaharisvarc
bnrantan hrsna-yaso
vIasa vnoam nangiharat
svayam va urabnmani Ioha-stavan
hrsnatvam prapnot
tarn tyajya cva
Howcvci, il ilc spiiiiual masici acis cnviously iowaids ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, is avcisc io cxpanding ilc lamc ol Loid Kisna oi
il lc pcisonally icluscs io acccpi lcaiing oi claniing aboui ilc gloiious
pasiimcs ol Loid Kisna oi il ilc spiiiiual masici, las bccomc ioially
bcwildcicd, lisicning io ilc lalsc piaiscs ol ignoiani pcisons and day by
day is moic maiciially coniaminaicd and lallcn ilcn ilc spiiiiual masici
is io bc abandoncd.` ,Sri Krsna Pnajanamrta, vcisc 6+)
hatnam cva gurus tyajya t na
hrsna-bnava-Iobnat hrsna-praptayc
guror asrayanam hrtam ta-anantaram
ya tasmnn cva gurau asura-bnavas tarn
hm hartavyam
asura gurum tyahtva sri-hrsna-bnahtmantam
gurum anyam bnajct
Undci ilosc ciicumsianccs onc slould noi doubi, 'How can I givc
up my spiiiiual masici'' Wiil a siiong dcsiic loi aclicving sponiancous
dcvoiional scivicc and aiiaining ilc loius lcci ol Loid Kisna, ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, a dcvoicc acccpis ilc slclici ol a spiiiiual
masici as ilc via mcdia io Loid Si Kisna. Howcvci, alici acccpiing ilc
icsponsibiliiy ol sciving ilc spiiiiual masici, il ilai spiiiiual masici
ialcs on asurc qualiiics oi a dcmoniac mcnialiiy ilcn ii is onc's duiy io
icjcci sucl a dcmon asura-guru and in lis placc acccpi a Kisna conscious
spiiiiual masici and woislip lim.` (Sri Krsna Pnajanamrta, vcisc 65)
tasya hrsna baIa asarasya
guror baIam marniyam t
18
sri sri vasnavanam bnajana
vcara ya cva tu rsta banavan
sri-hrsna-catanyavatarc
guru-nrupano snantan
ly ialing slclici ol ilc siicngil ol a puic Kisna conscious spiiiiual
masici's dcvoiional scivicc, ilc ill cllccis oi coniaminaiion ol ilc
picvious dcmoniac spiiiiual masici is couniciacicd and dcsiioycd. Tlcsc
aciiviiics aic iccommcndcd by all Vaisnava auiloiiiics as ilc auiloiiscd
conclusion ol ilc sastra. Duiing ilc pasiimcs ol Loid Si Kisna Caiianya
Malapiablu ilcic lavc bccn many piaciical cxamplcs ol ilc abovc.`
Tlis concludcs ilc dclibciaiion by sanu-sastra-guru on ilc spiiiiual
masici and iclaicd maiicis.` ,Sri Krsna Pnajanamrta, vcisc 66)
Wiil ilc lind pcimission ol my Godbioilcis and Godsisicis, I would
lilc io malc ilis lcaiiy appcal io ilc giand-disciplcs ol oui bclovcd
spiiiiual masici Sila Piablupada. ly acccpiing ilc pioccss ol ilc
giacious and compassionaic Picma-Puiusoiiama Siman Gauianga
Malapiablu, ilcic is no icason loi ilc dcvoiccs io lccl liusiiaicd oi
lopclcss sccing ilai ilcii guru las dcviaicd liom sastrc injunciions ol
guiuslip and ilc minimum spiiiiual siandaid icquiicd ol onc wlo las
cnicicd ilc sannyasa-asrama.
Piay io ilc Supicmc Loid
Tlc disciplcs ol sucl gurus slould lnow loi cciiain ilai il ilcy piay
vciy sinccicly wiil dcvoiion io ilc Supicmc Loid, wlo is in ilcii lcaii,
Hc will cciiainly icspond io ilc piayci ol ilcii lcaiis by lclping ilcm io
ialc slclici ol a gcnuinc, bonalidc and puic spiiiiual masici (sa-guru),
wlo can succcsslully lcad ilcm unio ilc loius lcci ol Si Kisna.
hrsna hrpatc guru mIc
guru hrpatc hrsna mIc
Onc gcis a bona lidc spiiiiual masici by ilc giacc ol Kisna and by ilc
giacc ol guru oi spiiiiual masici onc gcis Kisna.`
19
Appcndix I
How fo Find a ReaI Sadhu:
Qucsiions and answcis wiil Sila Goui Govinda Swami Malaiaja
May 1993 ai aHomc piogiam in Vancouvci, Canada.
(Liiilc oi no cdiiing las bccn donc)
Devofee: How docs onc iccognisc a sanu`
SrIa Gour Govinda Swami: Ciy bcloic Kisna. Only Hc can lclp you io
lind a sanu. You can'i iccognisc a sanu. You lavc no vision io scc ilc
sanu. If you iiy by youiscll io iccognise sanu, ilcn you will bc clcaicd.
Il you aic sciious, ilcn ciy bcloic Him. O Kisna! I am Youi scivani!`
ay nana-tanuja hnharam
pattam mam vsamc bnavambunau
hrpaya tava paa-panhaja-
stnta-nuIi-sarsam vcntaya
Malapiablu las iaugli us ilis. Tlis is ciying bcloic Krsna. O
nana-tanuja, son ol Nanda Malaiaja, I am Youi hnhara, Youi scivani.
Somclow oi oilci I am lallcn lcic in ilis dicadlul occan ol maiciial
cxisicncc and I lavc bccn diowning liom iimc immcmoiial, bui I wani
io scivc You. How can I scivc You' How can I bccomc a spccl ol dusi ai
Youi loius lcci' Plcasc lclp mc.` Jusi ciy. Wiiloui ilc lclp ol sanu you
cannoi appioacl Kisna. You can'i uiici Kisna's namc. Wlcn you ciy lilc
ilai, Kisna is ilcic in youi lcaii as Paiamaima. Hc will say, O, now lc
is ciying loi Mc.` Tlcn Hc malcs an aiiangcmcni.
Tlis is ilc piopci way. Il by youi own clloii you iiy io iccognisc a
sanu, you will bc clcaicd. You can'i scc a sanu. You lavc no vision
ai all. You scc only all ouiwaid, cxicinal ilings. You can'i scc ilc ical
iling. Tlcic aic many pcisons wlo aic only ouiwaidly sanus. You will
bc cnclanicd by ilcii cxicinal aciiviiics: O, lc is a gicai sanu! Ycs, lc
is pioducing gold!` You will bc clcaicd.
You can'i gci a ical sanu in ilis way]. A ical sanu is onc wlo is
compcicly absoibcd in Kisna, day and nigli, iwcniy-loui louis. Hc las
obiaincd Kisna. Hc is wiil Kisna. Hc can givc you Kisna. You can'i scc
lim. You lavc no vision. Only you can ciy loi Kisna liom ilc coic ol
youi lcaii. Tlis is noi an cxicinal ciy. Ii is inicinal. Tlcn Kisna, wlo is
20
in youi lcaii, will scc ilai you aic ciying and lc will lclp you. Hc will
malc aiiangcmcni loi you io mcci sucl a sanu. Tlai is ilc aiiangcmcni
ol Kisna. Wlcn you mcci sucl a pcison you will lccl somc sponiancous
aiiiaciion liom ilc coic ol youi lcaii. Tlai aiiiaciion is ilc piool.
Devofee: To mcci a sanu is so iaic. How can onc gci ilc oppoiiuniiy'
SrIa Gour Govinda Swami: Ii's a laci ilai ii is iaic, bui il you aic ically
ciying loi ii ilcn Kisna can malc an aiiangcmcni. Ii is impossiblc loi
you, bui noiling is impossiblc loi Kisna.
21
Appendix II
Onc Wlo las Compassion
Can Ncvci Siop
Picacling
Qucsiions & Answcis liom A Sociciy wiiloui Lnvy`.
A lcciuic on Srima-Pnagavatam +.S.3+ dclivcicd by
His Divinc Giacc Sila Goui Govinda Swami on 21 Icbiuaiy 1995 in Mayapui, India.
(Liiilc oi no cdiiing las bccn donc)
Devofee 1: I appicciaic vciy mucl ilai you cxplaincd io us low Sila
Piablupada's puiposc is io cicaic a sociciy wiiloui cnvy.
SrIa Gour Govinda Swami: Tlai I quoicd liom Sila Piablupada's
puipoiis liom Srima-Pnagavatam.
Devofee 1: Wc scc ilai amongsi dcvoiccs ilai aic mosi advanccd, ilc
piinciplc is trna ap suniccna taror va sansnuna. Ii's noi an aiiilicial
iling io aciually bclicvc...
SrIa Gour Govinda Swami: Noi aiiilicial, baba! How many days can you
aci lilc ilai bcloic youi ical svarupa is icvcalcd' How many days can ii
go on aiiilicially' Howcvci loi a Vaisnava ii is quiic naiuial.
Devofee 1: My qucsiion is, Sila Piablupada las said ilai cvcn il onc
docs noi lavc ilc piaciical vision ilai Kisna is bclind, in and connccicd
io cvciyiling, undcisiands ilis ilcoiciically lc is a dcvoicc wlo is
iiglily siiuaicd.
SrIa Gour Govinda Swami: Riglily siiuaicd' Onc wlo sccs ilcoiciically
is iiglily siiuaicd'
Devofee 1: lui il onc las ilcoiciical undcisianding ilai lc las goiicn
liom ilc woids ol ilc spiiiiual masici, ilcn onc is iiglily siiuaicd. So in
youi class you said ilai only ilc iopmosi dcvoicc can bc compassionaic.
SrIa Gour Govinda Swami: Ycs, only onc wlo sccs Kisna.
Devofee 1: Docs ilai mcan no onc clsc can bc compassionaic'
SrIa Gour Govinda Swami: Onc may bc compassionaic io lullill lis own
22
scllisl dcsiics. Hc may bc compassionaic io somc and noi compassionaic
io oilcis. Hc las raga and vcsa, liling and disliling. Hc is noi cqual
io onc and all. Hc cannoi bc. Unlcss onc sccs Kisna, low can lc bc
compassionaic' Hc will scc ilai ilis is Kisna's jiva sullciing. His lcaii
blccds. Hc cannoi sii iigli. Hc will go oui and picacl Kisna consciousncss.
And wlo picaclcs' Prana acnc yanra, sc nctu pracara - onc wlo las lilc
picaclcs! Wlai is lilc' jivanam sarva-bnutcsu - Kisna says, I am ilc lilc
in all living cniiiics.`Pnagava-gita 7.9] Onc wlo sccs Kisna cvciywlcic,
wlo sccs Kisna's jiva sullciing bccausc ol loigcilulncss ol Kisna, bccausc
ol a lacl ol Kisna consciousncss - lc las prana, lilc. Hc gocs oui and
picaclcs. Hc is complcicly suiicndcicd io Kisna. Tlcicloic Kisna camc
as Malapiablu, as a bnahta-a dcvoicc, io icacl dcvoiion and low io
suiicndci io Kisna. Shnaya saranagat bnahatcra prana, saranagat is ilc
lilc ol ilc dcvoicc wlo is complcicly suiicndcicd. ly sucl suiicndci,
Kisna acccpis lim - hrsna tarc horc atmasara. Prana acnc yara sc nctu
pracara-lc las lilc, ilcicloic lc gocs oui and picaclcs. Oilciwisc, wlo
can picacl il ilcic is no lilc' How can onc picacl unlcss onc sccs Kisna,
sccs Kisna's jiva sullciing' Hc docs noi wani anyonc io sullci. Lvciyonc
slould bc Kisna conscious. Tlcicloic, lcic Naiada Muni says ilai
cvciyonc slould aci lilc ilis. Tlis is ilc puiposc ol Sila Piablupada
loiming ilc sociciy loi Kisna consciousncss.
Devofee 2: Malaiaja, a manyama-anhari las siiong laiil in ilc pioccss
ol Kisna consciousncss bui lc docs noi lavc vciy cxicnsivc lnowlcdgc
ol ilc sciipiuics. How can lc picacl wiiloui ilai'
SrIa Gour Govinda Swami: Hc slould gci sucl lnowlcdgc by associaiing
wiil an uttama-anhari. Tlc manyama-anhari is vciy loiiunaic, mana-
bnagyavan, bccausc lc las siiong laiil in ilc woids ol sanu-sastra-guru
and in Kisna. Hc puis laiil in ilc woids ol Kisna and sanus, ilosc wlo
aic manajanas, spcal wlai Kisna las said. Aau srana - ilc liisi iling
is onc's laiil. Tlai is mosi impoiiani.
Devofee 3: Il an uttama-anhari wanis io picacl, gcncially lc comcs
down io ilc lcvcl ol manyama and acis lilc a manyama.
SrIa Gour Govinda Swami: Ycs. Oilciwisc lc cannoi picacl, bccausc
an uttama-anhari sccs moving and nonmoving living cniiiics, bui lc
ncvci sccs ilc ouiwaid loims. Hc always sccs Kisna.
23
stnavara-jangama chnc, na chnc tara murt
sarvatra naya nja sta-cva-spnurt
,Sri Catanya-cartamrta Manya-IiIa 8.27-)
Hc sccs only Kisna. Hc says, O, ilis living cniiiy is Kisna's dcvoicc,
lc is cngagcd in Kisna's scivicc.` Hc ncvci sccs ilc ouiwaid loim. His
vision is complcicly dillcicni. Tlcicloic lc sicps down io ilc manyama
plailoim, in oidci io spcal. How can lc scc ilai ilc jiva is sullciing liom
a lacl ol Kisna consciousncss, liom loigcilulncss ol Kisna' Tlcicloic,
onc wlo picaclcs, lc sicps down io manyama-anhari, bui lc's uttama-
anhari, oilciwisc lc cannoi picacl. Tlosc wlo aic uttama-bnagavatas,
cannoi picacl. Hc sccs only Kisna. Tlcicloic, onc wlo picaclcs sicps
down io ilc manyama-anhari, bui lc is noi a manyama as dcsciibcd
lcic, sastra-yuht nan janc-wlo docsn'i lnow sastra. Tlc uttama-
anhari lnows sastra. Sucl an uttama-anhari wlo acis as a manyama-
anhari is noi lilc ilc gcncial iypc ol manyama-anhari, manyama-
bnahta. Tlis manyama-anhari, lc is uttama-anhari, bui lc las
sicppcd down. Hc lnows sastra and lc is vciy cxpcii in picscniing
and quoiing sastrc cvidcnccs, bccausc, tasmac cnastram pramanam tc
haryaharya-vyavastntau Pnagava-gita 16.2+]. Tlis is sastra-pramana.
Wlai is io bc donc, harya, and wlai is noi io bc donc, aharya-low can
wc dccidc' Unlcss lc picscnis sastra-pramana, low can lc dccidc wlai
is io bc donc and wlai is noi io bc donc' Hc is noi a gcncial, oidinaiy
manyama-anhari. Hc is uttama in manyama.
Devofee 3: Onc wlo las Iauhha-srana las io aci undci ilc guidancc
ol onc wlo las sastriya-srana'
SrIa Gour Govinda Swami: Ycs. You slould lavc a bona lidc vasnava
guru. You slould do bnajana undci lis cxpcii guidancc. You slould noi
aci wlimsically. Unlcss lc las guru, low can lc picacl' Sravana hirtana.
Picacling mcans hirtana. Unlcss lc las lcaid liom a bona lidc guru,
wlai will lc picacl' Hc will say wlai lc las lcaid. I lavc lcaid ilis
liom auiloiiiics, liom my guru. Picacling is anoilci namc loi sravana,
anoilci namc loi lcaiing. Wlai I'vc lcaid I'm icpcaiing.` Tlcicloic,
only onc wlo las lcaid can picacl and do hirtana. Oilciwisc, wlo can
do hirtana` Onc wlo las noi lcaid, wlai will lc say' Wlo will caic io
lcai all ilosc nasiy ilings'
24
Devofee +: Guiu Malaiaja, you cxplaincd ilai il you can'i scc Kisna you
slould picacl undci ilc guidancc ol somconc wlo can.
SrIa Gour Govinda Swami: Ycs.
Devofee +: And jusi simply icpcai wlai you lavc lcaid.
SrIa Gour Govinda Swami: Wlai you lavc lcaid. In ilai way ilis will
dcvclop.
Devofee +: lccausc ilai is a loim ol sravanam.
SrIa Gour Govinda Swami: Ycs, onc slould lcai, liisi sravana. Il you
lcai prcmanjana will bc smcaicd, and ilcn you can scc. Srutchsta-
patnan, sruta - lcai, and ilcn scc.
Devofee 3: So mucl picacling is going on and Piablupada's bools aic
ilcic so I am lcaiing ilai and I am icpcaiing.
SrIa Gour Govinda Swami: Ycs, icpcai bui don'i icpcai lilc a paiioi. A
paiioi is also icpcaiing, ilcic is no cllcci. You slould gci lilc liisi, and
ilcn picacl. Tlcn ii will bc mosi cllcciivc.
Devofee 3: So Piablupada would say, you judgc a iling by ii's icsuli.`
SrIa Gour Govinda Swami: Ycs, by ilc icsuli
Devofee 3: So il wc'ic icpcaiing wlai wc lavc lcaid ilai mcans ilai il
somcbody asls us a qucsiion wlilc wc aic picacling and wc can'i answci
ii ilai is noi .
SrIa Gour Govinda Swami: Tlcn wlcn you can'i answci ilis qucsiion
ilcn ilcy will ncvci lcai again liom you, Hc cannoi answci my
qucsiion`.
Devofee +: A day wlcn wc lavc no bnagavata-hatna wc aic siaiving.
SrIa Gour Govinda Swami: Tlai is ilc lood loi ilc lungiy soul. Il you
cannoi givc lood, ilcn low will you gci lilc' Prana acnc yanra, sc nctu
pracara lc las prana, lc las lilc ilcicloic lc picaclcs. Il you cannoi gci
lood, low can you gci lilc' You will bccomc slinny, wcal, no lilc.
Devofee 3: Many disciplcs ol Sila Piablupada wcic picacling undci
ilc oidcis ol Sila Piablupada and, sccing ilc misciics ol ilc pcoplc,
wcic spicading Sila Piablupada's icaclings. Now many lavc sioppcd
25
picacling.
SrIa Gour Govinda Swami: Onc wlo las lilc and sccs Kisna can ncvci
siop picacling. Hc sccs Kisna's jiva is sullciing.` Hc will picacl in spiic
ol all obsiaclcs. Wlcn llaliivinoda Tlaluia bccamc vciy old, lc lad
io lili up lis cyclids io scc, bui cvcn ai ilai agc lc would say, I wani io
iidc on a loisc and go oui and picacl!` Onc wlosc lcaii blccds, wlo
las compassion, lc says sucl a iling. Ii is a qucsiion ol compassion.
Aic you picacling oui ol compassion' Il onc is noi picacling oui ol
compassion, lc may picacl loi somc days, bui ilcn lc siops. I losi all
my cnilusiasm.` O, wly did you losc ii' You losi Kisna'`
26
Abour rhe Aurhoi
His Divinc Giacc Sila Goui Govinda Swami appcaicd in ilis woild on
ilc 2nd ol Scpicmbci 1929, in ilc villagc ol Jagannaila Puia, in ilc siaic
ol Oiissa, India. loil lis moilci's and lailci's lamilics wcic Vaisnavas
loi many lundicds ol ycais daiing bacl io ilc iimc bcloic Syamananda
Piablu. His divinc appcaiancc in ilis woild is by no mcans ilc appcai-
ancc ol any oidinaiy bcing. Hc appcaicd in ilis woild only io lullill ilc
oidci ol Si Caiianya Malapiablu.
Taiiva-vicaia
Hc spcni lis wlolc lilc picacling ilc Absoluic considciaiion`-tat-
tva-vcara and uncompiomisingly spolc oui againsi apara-vcara-ilc
appaicni considciaiion. In lis own (uncdiicd) woids His Divinc Giacc
said: ...I am siicssing on tattva, in all my lcciuics I siicss on ii-tattva-
vcara. Do you lnow ilc ical tattva' You aic all alici ilis appaicni con-
sidciaiion-noi tattva-vcara-ilai misialc is ilcic. You do noi lnow
wlo you aic, wlo Kisna is, wlo is guru, wlo is a sanu, wlai is ilc
iclaiionslip, lilc ilis-tattvas-you do noi lnow....`
ly Kisna's Aiiangcmcni
His Divinc Giacc Goui Govinda Swami is a disciplc ol ilc Ioundci
caiya ol ilc Inicinaiional Sociciy loi Kisna Consciousncss, His Divinc
Giacc A.C. llaliivcdania Swami Piablupada (1S96-1977). ly Kisna's
aiiangcmcni, ilcy mci in ilc iiansccndcnial land ol Vindavana in 197+.
Tlis iiansccndcnial mcciing las bccn so niccly dcsciibcd by Gunanaiva
piablu in Lncouniciing Tlc Kisnalingiia-vigiala` 'Paii Onc' wlicl can
only bc dcsciibcd as a mcciing ol iwo Divinc Giaccs.
His Divinc Giacc A.C. llaliivcdania Swami Piablupada said ol lis dis-
ciplc Sila Goui Govinda Swami, ...Kisna las scni lim...`. ...Goui Go-
vinda Swami is a dcvoicc liom biiil...` And ilai,...O, Goui Govinda
Swami lc is so puic...`
27
Loid Jagannaila is in llubancswai
Sila Piablupada lad acccpicd many Wcsicin disciplcs and iaugli
ilcm ilc gloiics ol Puiusoiiama-lsciia Jagannaila Pui dlama wlcic
Malapiablu pciloimcd His pasiimcs. Howcvci, wlcn lis disciplcs wcni
io visii Jagannaila Pui ilcy wcic icluscd cniiancc io ilc lamous Loid
Jagannaila icmplc.
Sila Piablupada said io Goui Govinda Swami, I will build a icmplc
in llubancswai similai io ilc Jagannaila icmplc in Jagannaila Pui bc-
causc my Wcsicin disciplcs aic noi allowcd ilcic. Loid Jagannaila will
comc and siay in llubancswai. So all my disciplcs can go ilcic and lavc
His arsana`
Sila Piablupada, wlo lad bccn donaicd somc land in llubancswai,
insiiucicd Goui Govinda Swami io go ilcic and build ilc icmplc.
Wlcn Sila Piablupada wcni io llubancswai lc siaycd ilcic loi
scvcniccn days and laid ilc loundaiion sionc ol ilc ilcn icmplc-io-bc
on ilc auspicious occasion ol Loid Niiyananda's appcaiancc day. Tlis
was Sila Piablupada's lasi loundcd piojcci.
In 1991, alici sixiccn ycais ol dcicimincd cndcavoui undci ilc mosi
cxiicmc ausicic ciicumsianccs, Sila Goui Govinda Swami lullillcd ilc
insiiuciion ol lis mosi bclovcd spiiiiual masici wiil ilc opcning ol
ilc magniliccni Si Si Kisna-lalaiama Mandii. Loid Jagannaila camc
as Sila Piablupada pioplcsicd. Tlis icmplc now aiiiacis ilousands ol
pcoplc io Kisna consciousncss.
caiya-lla
His Divinc Giacc Goui Govinda Swami spcni many ycais iiavclling ilc
woild picacling (acarya-IiIa). His iiavcls iool lim io Luiopc, Amciica,
Canada, Aliica, Mauiiiius, Ausiialia, Asia Malaysia, Singapoic, Indonc-
sia and lali] and ol couisc lc picaclcd vigoiously in ilc sub-coniincni
ol India, cspccially in ilc siaic ol Oiissa, wlcic lc consiiucicd ilc gloii-
ous icmplcs ol Si Si Kisna-lalaiama, Si Si Radla-Gopnaila and Si
Si Radla-Gopal Ju, io namc bui a lcw.
His Divinc Giacc Goui Govinda Swami lcli many audicnccs spcllbound
by lis amazing picscniaiion ol ilc plilosoply ol Kisna consciousncss in
India and ilc wcsi. Hc would spcal up io loui louis ai a iimc on onc
28
subjcci, lcaving lis audicncc mcsmciiscd. Somciimcs lc would spcal on
onc vcisc ol ilc Srima-Pnagavatam loi scvcn coniinous moinings and
cvcnings. Tlcic was no qucsiion ilai lc could noi answci, and lisicning
io His Divinc Giacc on a icgulai basis would mcli cvcn ilc laidcsi lcaii.
His Divinc Giacc Goui Govinda Swami was an cxpcii in lnowlcdgc ol
ilc sastras and lc was ablc io dispcll all ilc doubis ol ilosc wlo camc
io lim loi slclici, spiiiiual guidancc and undcisianding. Hc would placc
gicai impoiiancc on claniing ilc loly namc ollcncclcssly, cncouiaging
and inspiiing all io aclicvc ilc puic siaic ol ilc claniing ol prcma-nama,
prcma-nama-sanhirtana. Hc would always say, clani wiiloui ollcncc,
clani ilc puic namc, gci hrsna-prcma and gci Kisna in ilis vciy lilc!`
Onc ol ilc main aspccis ol His Divinc Giacc's picacling was io icvcal
ilc innci mosi sccicis ol ilc Pui-llubancswai Dlama, ol Loid Jagan-
naila and ilc icason wly Si Caiianya Malapiablu siaycd in Pui. Hc
gavc ilc mosi subilc and lucid undcisianding ol ilc Loid's pasiimcs in
Jagannaila Pui.
Sioiclousc ol Knowlcdgc
His Divinc Giacc Goui Govinda Swami lcli ilis woild picmaiuicly (ol
lis own voliiion) on Icbiuaiy 9il 1996, in Mayapuia Dlama, on ilc
loly appcaiancc day ol Sila llaliisiddlania Saiasvai Tlaluia Piablu-
pada. Hc lcli bclind a vciiiablc sioiclousc ol lnowlcdgc ol ilc absoluic
iiuil. Many of his lectures and talks were recorded on audio iapc and
vidco, and aic now availablc on CD, DVD, MP3 and in bool loim.
29
Rcadcis inicicsicd in ilc subjcci maiici ol ilis bool aic inviicd io
coiicspond wiil ilc publislci:
1attva-vcara PubIcatons
Lmail: iaiiva-viclai100Sloimail.com
Wcb: www.ivpbools.com
Coiicspondcncc: P.O. lox 6S Namboui +560 Qld. Ausiialia.
Iax: 61 (7) 5++S 55S5
30
Taiiva-vicaia Publicaiions
Guru-1attva loollci (1991)
Nama-Aparana - jiva-1attva loollci (1993)
Suna-Nama Pnajana (1997)
'Claniing ilc Puic Namc'
1rna Ap Suniccna (1997)
'Lowci ilan ilc siiaw in ilc siicci'
Pnagavat-Darsana (1997)
Guiu Malcs Kisna Appcai in youi Hcaii (199S)
KrsnaIngta-Vgrana Volumc Onc
'Tlc Lilc ol His Divinc Giacc Siila Goui Govinda Swami' (1999)
Suna-Nama Pnajana (icpiinicd and ic-cdiicd) (2006)
'Claniing ilc Puic Namc'
Sri Guru Paa Pama (200S)
'Tlc Loius Icci ol oui Spiiiiual Masici'
Lncouniciing
Tlc Kisnalingiia-Vigiala paii 1 (2010)
Vcdic Dlaima and ilc Gilasila-asiama volumc 1 (2011)
1attva-vcara PubIcatons - Prouctons
Oiiya llajan CD (1999)
Gadai Giii Kiiana CD (2001)
31
Oilci Publicaiions by & loi His Divinc Giacc
Pnagavat-Darsana (Oiiya)
jnana-Vjnana (Oiiya)
Pnaht-Napunya
'Tlc Lasi Limii ol llalii'
Amrtcra-1arangni
'Tlc Ilow ol Ncciai'
Sri Guru-Vanana
'Tlc Woislip ol Si Guiu''
Tlc Lmbanlmcni ol Scpaiaiion
Sanu-sanga Tlc liiil Placc ol llalii
Krsna Prcma Pnaht
Parprasncna
'Tlc Pioccss ol Inquiiy'
Anana-samvaa
(Ncwslciici loi ilc disciplcs and lollowcis ol His Divinc Giacc)
Mailuia mccis Viindavan
My Rcvcicd Spiiiiual Masici
Gopal-Jiu
Tlc lclovcd Dciiy ol Si Simad Goui Govinda Malaiaja
www.tvpbooks.com
T A T T V A V I C A R
PUBLICATIONS
Guru Tattva
Srila Gour Govinda
Swami Maharaja