Guru & Disciple

In a short time, there will only be one sampradāya of bhakti–tattva, and that will be called the Śrī Brahmā sampradāya, and all other sampradāyas will be amalgamated into this Brahmā sampradāya.

There are two types of gurus: antaraṅgā or internal, and bahiraṅgā or external. The living entity who is situated in samādhi is his own internal spiritual master. One who accepts argument as his spiritual master and who learns the process of worship from such a spiritual master is said to have accepted the shelter of a bogus spiritual master.

Can there be any doubt that those who do not accept this paramparā are the principle enemies of the followers of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya?

The souls of great thinkers of bygone ages, who now live spiritually, often approach an inquiring spirit and assist him in his development.

Brāhmaṇas who are proud of their high status in this caste conscious material world may prefer to accept a spiritual master who is also a brāhmaṇa, thus finding it easier to accept such a high caste guru as superior. However, the actual truth is that any properly qualified devotee of Śrī Kṛṣṇa is a bona fide guru.

One who gives hari-nāma to a faithless person with a desire to receive some dakṣiṇā is a seller or trader of hari-nāma. By exchanging an invaluable jewel for an insignificant object, a person falls down from the spiritual life of worshiping Hari.

When the disciple approaches the guru, the guru performs the pañca-saṁskāra and then abandons him. What can be the result from such a pañca-saṁskāra? Externally, the disciple may appear fine, but internally nothing is happening. The divine conch, discus, mace, lotus and hari-nāma mark the limbs. Hari-nāma is uttered from the mouth. At times, arcana of the śālagrāma-śilā and Deity is performed with the chanting of mantras. Yet that disciple is addicted to various kinds of sins! At night, he is under the influence of intoxicants and depravity. Alas! What benefit did Gurudeva provide for him? What was his state before initiation and what happened after initiation? No change has been observed. Rather, a particular type of degradation is seen. Previously, he used to commit sins and curse himself. He only worried about how he could get rid of his sins. Now that he has taken shelter of Gurudeva, that worry has gone! Now he is committing sins without worrying. What misfortune!! What is the cause of such misfortune? The cause is the improper relationship between the guru and the disciple itself.

Nowadays there is a disease that young people, who can’t even grow a moustache but can write a little ka, kha etc (ABCs). spontaneously give instructions as if they were gurus. They are what is called ‘ecaḍe pakka’ (unripe jackfruits)!