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1/11/08
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Acharyamam purusha veda The basis of association with the Acharyadeva is threefold. Pranipat, pariprashna, and seva. Pranipat means serious, submissive and sincere inquiry. Devotional knowledge will never be attained by a challenging spirit. The ideal of proper inquiry can be found in the example of questions posed by Maharaja Pariksit to Sri Sukadeva. Pariksit Maharaja inquired of Sri Sukadeva with humility, sincerity and respect. One other element may be added here-urgency. Pariksit Maharaja could see the immanence of his death and he wisely abandoned all other interests and engagements to concentrate his total attention on his ultimate welfare and the welfare of his kingdom. Without urgency we will not be able to concentrate our energy sufficiently to take full advantage of the Acharya’s instruction. Pariprashna (submission) describes the proper method of approach to any inquiry or service. Pariprashna is the negative irresistibly attracting force on the positive Absolute which draws Him to us. The soul may be thought of as an infinitesimal atom of consciousness, in Sanskrit called atma. Krishna, the super soul, is the infinite all attractive, all pervading super consciousness, known as Paramatma (the super atma). When the soul is negatively charged with the wholesale submissive spirit to the Absolute, he will be drawn into the positive region of the absolute good-the spiritual kingdom of God. The embassy of the spiritual world is found in the region of the person, personality, paraphernalia and associates of the Acharya. The Acharya himself is the ambassador of the spiritual kingdom of God. Submission to the Acharya allows entrance to this embassy and all associated benefits. Just as an embassy is, in essence, a country within a country, so this spiritual embassy is the domain of the spiritual world within the mundane plane of existence. As such, all the benefits of the spiritual world may be found within the boundaries of the Acharya’s sphere of influence. Krishna says “Acharyam mam vijaniyam”- “I am the Acharya, never disrespect him or think of him as your equal for he is greater than the sum total of all the demigods.” Krishna is telling us there is no difference between the Acharya and Himself. Therefore, submission to the will of the Acharya is non-different to submission to Krishna, and will bring the same benefit. But this is not all Krishna has to say on the subject. When speaking to Uddhava, Krishna told him, “You are more dear to Me than My own self, My own life.” Krishna told the gopis that he felt unable to adequately respond to their exalted service. God Himself is feeling inadequate in His ability to reciprocate the loving dealings of his devotees, who never accept any service from Him. It is this feeling of inadequacy on His part that gives the jiva’s their greatest opportunity. By serving the devotee of Krishna we get the opportunity to do what Krishna Himself is unable to do. In the Bhagavatam Krishna states, “bhaktair bhakta jana priya.” He who is the devotee of my devotee is the most dear to me, no one is more dear to Me than he. In the Chaitanya Charitamrta this verse appears “sadhunam hrdayam mayam, sadhunam hrdayam tva ham, mad anyet te na janati naham tebhyo manag api”, “My devotees are My heart and I am the heart of My devotees. My devotees do not know anyone but Me. Similarly I do not know anyone but My devotees. This brings us to the final point of the triumvirate precepts - seva. Seva performed with full submissive spirit to the Acharya is the greatest means of attracting his benevolent will. It is this benevolence which brings our ultimate benefit, not study of the Vedas. The impersonal school of the mayavadis has brought forth some of the greatest scholars of the Vedas, yet, they never rise above the stage of offenders to the absolute. Srila Sridhara Maharaja once said their chanting of the holy name of Krishna is like thunder striking His body. Tad viddhi pranipatena pariprashnena sevaya, upadekshanti te jnanam jnaninas tattva darshanam. In the Bhagavad Gita Krishna says “Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth." The method of discovering the Acharya, however, is very mystical. Although the scriptures describe the qualities of a bonafide guru, there is some ambiguity, between what the shastras describe and what we are able to see in the Acharya. For proper vision of the Acharya one must have real faith and genuineness. Na hi kalyana krt kaschit durgatim tattva gacchati. “If we are sincere no one will be able to deceive us.” In the Upadeshamrta Srila Rupa Goswami describes some of the characteristics by which a bonafide guru can be identified. Vacho vegam, manasa kroddha vegam jiva vegam udharapasta vegam, etc. One who can control the urges of the tongue, anger, sex desire, etc. is qualified to initiate disciples. However, we would be mistaken to think the Acharya doesn’t get angry, doesn’t eat, etc. He may, as a householder, even engage in procreation as did Vyasadeva. In the verse krishneti yasya giri tam manasadriyeta Rupa goswami tells us that the pure devotee is completely devoid of the propensity to criticize others, yet there are innumerable examples of the greatest Acharyas engaged in the criticism of others. While compiling the Srimad Bhagavatam, Srila Vyasadeva criticized all forms of religion that did not promote exclusive devotion to Krishna. In the same vein Srila Bahkti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur declared “totalitarian war against maya and even all other existing conceptions of religion”. Finally, the pure devotee subdues any outward appearance of the symptoms of devotional sentiment such as tears, ecstasy, etc. and criticizes such exhibitions in others as indications of sahajiyaism (cheap or imitation devotion). Are we then helpless in finding a true Acharya? Not at all. But most of the responsibility rests in a true evaluation of ourselves and our eagerness for devotional life. As mentioned before na hi kalyana krt kaschit, if we are sincere to ourselves no one can deceive us. We must make a sincere attempt to find a preceptor who will guide us in our spiritual development and we must be very cautious not to accept a guide on any basis other than we find him to be the most qualified servant of the absolute. We will always be tempted to accept an easy path from a guide whom we find agreeable. But, this mode of searching will almost certainly mislead us. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur described the best religion as the one which gives the purest and highest ideal of God. The Acharya is the purest and highest representative of that ideal. Once again, we are anticipating the blessings of such an Acharya. He is none other than His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Sundara Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaja. He has already embarked on his fifth world tour and enlivened, encouraged and inspired thousands of devotees in Brazil, Venezuela, Ecuador, Mexico and California. In a few days he will travel to Detroit, and then here to our Math in New Jersey with additional programs in New York City. Afterwards he will go on to England, Germany, and Hungary. Over the centuries the continent of India has been the home of many great gurus. However, even in India, whether in the past or the present, it is extremely rare that one would get the opportunity to associate with and serve such a pure devotee. Now by the grace of our guru varga we may find more benefit for ourselves in our own country than any gain we might achieve by traveling to the holy places of India. In Chaitanya Charitamrta it is said “brahmanda brahmite con bhagyavan jiva, guru krishna prasade pai bhakti lata bija” The living entity is traveling throughout the entire universe in one body after another, birth after birth. However, if he is very fortunate he may one day get the mercy of Krishna, and by the mercy of Krishna he will get connection with a Vaishnava guru. By the grace of such a guru he will get the seed of devotion to Krishna and his spiritual life will begin”. In another verse we find this expression “sadhu sanga sadhu sanga sarva siddhi haya, lava matra sadhu sanga sei guru haya (Associate with the sadhu, associate with the sadhu, associate with the sadhu. For even a fraction of a moment’s association with a genuine guru will enable one to achieve the highest perfection)". Now by the mercy of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga such an opportunity rests at our doorstep. How unfortunate we would be to miss it. The mortal world is the repository of all kinds of miseries, disappointments and heartaches. We have all exerted extraordinary effort to avoid, alleviate, or mitigate these sufferings. Yet, we are unable to do so. We must admit our frailties, but we must never give up hope. We will remain ever vigilant to nurture our hope and rightful expectation of a future which shall prove too wonderful for the greatest imaginations to conceive. Our Acharyadeva is the via medium to that hope and nourishment. We humbly and sincerely invite one and all to join with us in our celebration of the joyous occasion of his visit. |
