Srila Gurudeva Discusses Future Initiations by Admin on JANUARY 14, 2012 in GURU TATTVA, SRILA GURUDEVA In the following darsanas and morning walks, our most worshipful Srila Gurudeva, Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja, discusses a bit about guru-tattva, and in most of them he discusses with his sannyasis regarding their giving initiations. In these discussions he tells them: He is allowing all sannyasis (and senior devotees) who think themselves qualified. He is leaving it up to the personal discretion of each individual sannyasi as to whether or not that sannyasi thinks himself qualified to initiate. If the sannyasi thinks himself qualified but is actually a kanistha-adhikari, he will fall down. The minimum requirement to initiate is madhyama-adhikari, preferably madhyama-madhyama; still better is madhyama-uttama, and best is uttama (who is playing the role of madhyama). Uttama is very rare, whereas madhyama is more available. The disciple should see his guru as uttama-adhikari, otherwise he cannot advance, and therefore one should take the time to consider before accepting him. If the guru is not actually uttama, Krsna and Balarama and Nityananda Prabhu, as akhanda-guru-tattva, will accept the worship and fulfill the prayers of that sincere disciple. They will make arrangements for him to advance. They may arrange for him to connect with an uttama Vaisnava, or self-realized, sad-guru. Many more things. The darsanas and walk excerpts are presented in chronological order, and they are edited for grammatical clarity. 1. Badger Morning Walk Excerpts June 20, 2007 Baladeva dasa: We understand from scripture that sri guru is present everywhere. It is stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.2.2): “Tam sarva-bhuta-hrdayam munim anato ‘smi. [I offer my respectful obeisances unto that great sage Sukadeva Gosvami, who can enter the hearts of all.”] So, what is the difference between my asking in an internal prayer to gurudeva to remove all obstacles to my bhakti – like lust, anger, greed illusion, madness, and bewilderment – and asking him directly, face to face, to remove them? Srila Narayana Gosvami Maharaja: If the guru is on the level of Srila Sukadeva Gosvami, there is no need of asking face to face. Guru is a manifestation of Krsna, and therefore he is powerful enough that his response will inspire your heart. If the guru is not of Srila Sukadeva Gosvami’s caliber and is a madhyama-adhikari (an intermediate devotee), then Krsna will fulfill the disciple’s desire on behalf of that guru. Brajanath dasa: What if the disciple prays to the qualified guru, and he also wants to ask in person? Srila Narayana Gosvami Maharaja: That is also good; but if he is far away and cannot ask in person and he earnestly prays within his heart, the reply will come. Radha-kanta dasa: Srila Gurudeva, it is said that the guru gives the conception of sambandha-jnana (one’s eternal relationship with Krsna) when he gives diksa-mantras to the disciple. If the guru is only on the madhyama (intermediate) platform and the understanding of his own and his disciple’s svarupa, or eternal form, is not complete, then what conception can he give? Srila Narayana Gosvami Maharaja: First understand that at the time of diksa, all kinds of anarthas are eradicated and one’s relationship with Krsna is realized. Nowadays, however, diksa is not actual (vidvat-rudhi). *[see endnote 1] Rather, in the ordinary diksa of present days, gurudeva is giving only some qualification to the disciple to begin his diksa process. Later, when the disciple’s relationship is realized, at that time his diksa is actual. Sripad Madhava Maharaja: Radha-kanta prabhu’s question is this: If a madhyama-adhikari has no realization of his own relation with Krsna, then how can he give this? Srila Narayana Gosvami Maharaja: He can give something, even though he does not have that realization. Then, in this life, or in future lives, the disciple will find a perfect guru; and by surrendering to that perfect guru he will be able to realize his relationship with Krsna. Radha-kanta dasa: So ultimately we have to take siksa from an uttama-bhagavat (topmost devotee)? Srila Narayana Gosvami Maharaja: You cannot realize who is an uttama Vaisnava in your present stage. When you become a madhyama-uttama Vaisnava (the highest level of madhyama, just prior to the uttama Vaisnava stage), then you will be able to realize. Gokula dasa (from Australia): Can’t an uttama-adhikari make you realize? *[See endnote 2] Srila Narayana Gosvami Maharaja: Yes, he can. He knows a disciple’s level of qualification, and he gives his mercy accordingly. A father places weight upon his son’s head according to his son’s capacity; not more than that. Guru does this as well. —————————————————————— Sripad Nemi Maharaja: You were saying that nowadays one’s diksa is not vidvat-rudhi. It is merely giving some adhikari, or qualification for later advancement. So is the bona fide guru simply giving some adhikara, or is he giving full diksa? Srila Narayana Gosvami Maharaja: The guru gives an opportunity for the disciples to begin their diksa process. We see in Jaiva-dharma that when Vijaya Kumara and Vrajanatha took diksa, they at once realized and saw Gauracandra (Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu). Nowadays, the diksa initiations are not of that caliber. Sripad Sajjana Maharaja: Is it that the madhyama-guru gives instructions, thereby giving their disciples sukrti (spiritual merits); and then, when the disciple follows these instructions he will get the association of the topmost devotees? Srila Gurudeva: A disciple should always think, “My Gurudeva is an uttama-adhikari and an associate of Sri Krsna.” Sripad Madhava Maharaja: Otherwise he cannot advance. Srila Narayana Gosvami Maharaja: He should think like that. In the Bhagavad-gita there is a sloka which states that if anyone is worshipping the demigods, the fruit of that worship is given by Krsna, because the demigods have no power to give that fruit. Suppose you worship grass or straw, thinking, “I am worshipping Krsna.” That straw is not Krsna, but if you think, “Krsna is here, I am worshipping Him,” He will know this and sprinkle His mercy upon you at once. *Endnote 1: There are two kinds of disciples, and therefore there are two kinds of diksa initiation – anusthaniki and vidvat-rudhi. Anusthaniki refers to the external formality of a fire yajna and the giving of diksa (gayatri) mantras. If one thinks, “I have sacrificed so much, my head is shaven, and I have received my mantras; I am therefore initiated,” this is external. Of course, formal initiation is essential, but it is not complete without vidvat-rudhi. Vidvat-rudhi refers to an internal initiation wherein the disciple completely gives his heart at his guru’s lotus feet, knowing that his guru will make him qualified to serve Sri Sri Radha and Krsna. Gurudeva gives all kinds of divya-jnana, transcendental knowledge, about krsna-tattva, guru-tattva, vaisnava-tattva, and prema-tattva. (Pinnacle of Devotion, in the section called “The Glories of Sadhu-Sanga,” by Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja) *Endnote 2: Uttama-adhikari, uttama Vaisnava, and uttama-bhagavat are different terms for the topmost devotee. -ed