Close to Sri Guru

Close to Sri Guru Devotee: Is there any spiritual difference when the disciple is in the physical presence of his Guru and when he is many miles apart? Srila Sridhar Maharaj: We can get benefit only through sraddha (sublime faith). The position of Guru should not be considered as mundane, it should not be ident ified with his mundane appearance. Only through sraddha are we able to approach him, from any distance. Still of course, by physical vicinity we can get the cha nce of hearing from him, and of witnessing many practical dealings that may help us on our path with the knowledge of Vaisnava-sadhachar, what should be the con duct of a Vaisnava. In this way we can have some sort of conception about these things, but sraddha must be there. Sraddha, or respectable faith must be there in either case – physic al closeness or distance is not the question. In the lower stage, physical nearn ess has more efficacy. By his movements, his talks, and his instructions we are to learn the spiritual etiquette, and many spiritual ideals which may also becom e clear in his company. So physical vicinity will be useful in the lower stage, but sraddha must be there otherwise we may commit offence. Physical nearness devoid of faith may be the cause of offences against Gurudev. Sometimes the senior Godbrothers may be very helpful in our dealings with Gurude v when we are beginners. Sri Gurudev’s conduct may not always be very clear or hel pful for us, so in that case some senior Godbrother may come to help us and expl ain his movements and do away with any difference we may see in him. isvaranam vachah satyam tathaivacharitam kvachit tesam yat svavacho yuktam buddhimams tat samacharet (Bhagavatam: 10.33.31) “The instructions of the great personages are always true, but their conduct and their practices may not always be useful to the beginners. So the sober person will accept those practices that are backed by his words, u nderstanding that in his higher stage he may do something which may not be usefu l to those of a lower stage. He has such spiritual power that what may be seen as a defect in the beginner, c annot harm him in any way. Therefore the fair minded beginners will accept those practices which are in consonance with his instructions, as being useful to the ir progress.” We should not imitate but rather we should. Not anukaran (imitation) but anusaran (to follow in the footsteps). We must understand the difference. So faith or sraddha is the first thing necessary for us; then whether we are nea r or far from our spiritual guide, we can have his connection. Connection in the proper line, that is the vital point; the proper plane which is independent of gross or subtle animation. The energizing plane that stimulates our enquiry abou t our won inner welfare, that is part and parcel of the quest. Brahma-jijnasa – th e quest for the plane of understanding. This has been given in Vedanta, and when it has come to Sriman Mahaprabhu in the line of Srimad-Bhagavatam, it is developed to krsnanusandhan, the search for Sr i Krsna. Vedanta is the fower, and Srimad-Bhagavatam is the ripe fruit of spirit ual knowledge. That which is somewhat mixed with activity, yajna, etc, in this p lane, is found in the Veda. When that flowers in Vedanta it becomes purely consc ious enquiry; “who am I, where am I, what am I?” When the fruit is ripe that develops into utility; that is krsnanusandhan. In Ve danta the enquiry is about the infinite environment, where I am a part only , an d in Srimad-Bhagavatam, the nature of enquiry is more developed – krsnanusandhan – “Wh

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Transcript of Close to Sri Guru

8/3/2019 Close to Sri Guru

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pradaya - all are leading towards that. In support of that we find the vatsalya-rasa, dasya-rasa, etc., but the direct lead is towards madhura-rasa.

They are leading us to the full Rasa. All others are partial, subordinate and subservient – supplemental to the main Rasa, madhura-rasa. But that supplemental service is also necessary. Madhura-rasa does not stand alone. It must have its paraphernalia; the friends, the parents, etc., must be around this Rasa. And so fort

unate are those who have inner liking for such Rasa. Vasudev Datta has said,

yadi gaura na ha’ta, tabe ki haita kemane dharitam deradhara mahima, prema-rasa-sima, jagate janata ke?

“If Mahaprabhu had not appeared then how could we sustain our lives? How could welive? What type of ecstatic Rasa has He imbibed that we have been able to have alittle taste? Without this our lives would be impossible. Who else could take u

s to the acme of realisation of the position of Srimati Radharani.

She holds the highest position. She is the greatest victim to the consuming capacity of Sri Krsna. She stands as the greatest sacrifice before Krsna’s infinite co

nsuming power. Rasaraj-Mahabhav – the Rasa is there, and She is the drawer of thatRasa from the storehouse. She has such negative capacity that she can draw outthe Rasa from the storehouse. She has such negative capacity that she can draw out the Rasa to the highest degree both in quality and quantity.

Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj said, “My Guru is Radharani. She will be very gracious to You Krsna if You help me in discharging the order of my Gurudev – if You help me in my propaganda work.”

krsna taba punya habe bhai, e-punya koribe jaberadharani khusi habe dhruva ati boli toma tai

“If You seek anything, if You are in want of anything Krsna, then that is the good

will of Radharani. And She will be pleased with You if You help me, because I am attempting to carry out the order of who is none but Srimati Radharani personified. So You must help me.” Krsna had no other alternative but to come down to himand help in his propaganda work. He had to come.

Devotee: Sometimes we feel like a stone. You speak such wonderful things but wecan only sit like stone, like a rock.

Srila Sridhar Maharaj: Who?

Devotee: Myself especially.

Srila Sridhar Maharaj: You are like a rock?

Devotee: Yes.

Srila Sridhar Maharaj: Why?

Devotee: I don’t know. You speak so many wonderful things that perhaps we cannot dare to venture into that area.

Srila Sridhar Maharaj (laughing): My words could not soften you but rather theypetrify you? (everyone laughs) Hare Krsna, Gaura Haribol, Nitai-Gaura Haribol.