Guru-tattva and Parampara

Lesson Topics

• Guru-tattva
• Types of Gurus
• Guru-parampara System
• Refuting the Posthumous Ritvik Theory

Guru-tattva

Briefly explain, in your own words, the position of guru.

Guru-Tattva

The Spiritual Master is Nondifferent from Krsna

According to the deliberate opinion of all revealed scriptures, the spiritual master is nondifferent from Krsna. Lord Krsna in the form of the spiritual master delivers His devotees. The relationship of a disciple with his spiritual master is as good as his relationship with the Supreme Lord.

Sri Caitanya-caritāmṛta Adi-līlā 1.45

Śrimad-Bhagavatam 11.17.27

If One Considers the Spiritual Master an Ordinary Human Being, One is Doomed

It is recommended that one honor the spiritual master as being on an equal status with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Sākṣād dharitvena samasta-śāstraih. This is enjoined in every scripture. Ācāryam māṁ vijāniyāt (SB 11.17.27). One should consider the ācārya to be as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In spite of all these instructions, if one considers the spiritual master an ordinary human being, one is doomed.

Purport, Śrimad-Bhagavatam 7.15.26

When He Does His Business Perfectly, He is Perfect

A postman may deliver us a hundred dollars, but we do not consider that the postman is giving us a hundred dollars. The money is sent by a friend, and it is simply the postman's business to hand it over as it is, without taking anything or adding anything to it. His perfection is that he delivers the hundred dollars as it is sent by one's friend. That is his perfection. The postman may be imperfect in so many ways, but when he does his business perfectly, he is perfect.....

Prabhupāda's Vyāsa-Pūjā Day Address, New Vrndāvana, Sept. 2, 1972

Persons Who Are Less Qualified or Not Liberated... Still Can Act as Guru

The statements of Thakura Bhaktivinoda are as good as scriptures because he is a liberated person. Generally the spiritual master comes from the group of such eternal associates of the Lord; but anyone who follows the principles of such ever liberated persons is as good as one in the above mentioned group..... A person who is liberated ācārya and guru cannot commit any mistake, but there are persons who are less qualified or not liberated, but still can act as guru and ācārya by strictly following the disciplic succession.

Letter to: Janardana — New York 26 April, 1968

If You Follow Pure Devotee, Then You Are Also Pure Devotee

So if you follow pure devotee, then you are also pure devotee. It may not be one is cent percent pure. Because we are trying to raise ourself from the conditional life, But if we strictly follow the pure devotee, then we are also pure devotee. So far we do, that is pure. So pure devotee does not mean one has to become immediately cent percent pure. But if he sticks to the principle that "We'll follow a pure devotee," then his actions are... He is as good as a pure devotee.

Bhagavad-gītā 2.1-10 Los Angeles, November 25, 1968

Types of Guru

Dikṣā-guru (One)

• Gives instruction
• Initiates & officiates connection to Paramparā
• Gives spiritual name
• Gives mantra (mantra-guru)
• Accepts disciples vows (∫igya)
• Removes disciples sinful reactions (at initiation)

Śikṣā-guru (Many)

• Gives instruction (caitanya guru)
• Connects to Paramparā (informal)

"No limit to the number of instructing spiritual masters..."

mantra-guru are yata śikṣā-guru-gaṇa tārihāra carana iġe kariye vandana

I first offer my respectful obeisances at the lotus feet of my initiating spiritual master and all my instructing spiritual masters.

PURPORT: A devotee must have only one initiating spiritual master because in the scriptures there is no more than one spiritual master for him. However, the total number of instructing spiritual masters one may accept. Generally a spiritual master who voluntarily instructs a disciple in spiritual science becomes his initiating spiritual master later on.

Srī Caitanya-caritāmṛta Ādi 1.35

The initiating and instructing spiritual masters are equal

The guru who first initiates one with the mahā-mantra is to be known as the initiator, and the guru who gives instruction in the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra is called the instructing guru. Both are called instructing spiritual masters. The initiating and instructing spiritual masters are equally identical manifestations of Kṛṣṇa, although they have different dealings.

śikṣā-guru-brahma kṛpa koriye apar sādhake śikṣan sadhaner anga-sar

But I consider the numerous instructing spiritual masters (śikṣā-gurus) to be very important, for they show unlimitedly more mercy by training the neophyte devotees in all the essential aspects of devotional service (bhāgavata-bhakti).

Śrī Śrī Caitanya Kalpaka-taru Śrila Bhaktivinoda Thakur First Branch: Spiritual Advice (Upadeśa) Introduction: Śikṣā and Dikṣā Gurus

"Dīkṣā means the initiation to begin transcendental activities."

The very word "initiation" suggests: "This is beginning." Dīkṣā, Dī... Divya. There are two words: divya-jñāna means transcendental, spiritual knowledge, and dī and jñānam, sapāyati, explaining, that is kṣā, dīkṣā. This called kṣā, explains, the beginning. So dīkṣā means the initiation to begin transcendental activities. That is called initiation. Therefore, to take prompt from the disciple that "You chant so many times," "Yes, you observe these rules and regulations, "Yes, sir," that is initiation. You have to observe; he has to chant. Then everything comes automatically.

Lecture, Śrīmad-bhāgavatam 6.1.15, Auckland, February 22, 1973

The Sanskrit term is called dīkṣā. Dīkṣā means... Dī, divya-jñānam, transcendental knowledge, and kṣā, kṣā, kṣa means sapāyati, to see, sapāyati, explain. That is called dīkṣā.

Lecture, Initiation of Bali-mardana Dāsa—Montreal, July 29, 1968

Unless one is initiated ... all his devotional activities are useless

adiksitasya vāmore kṛpam sarvam nirarthakam pasu-yorim avapnoti diksā-vihiito janah

"Unless one is initiated by a bona fide spiritual master, all his devotional activities are useless. A person who is not properly initiated can descend again into the animal species."

Harinekī-nilīya (2.6), quoted in Purport Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya 15.108

Connection between Kṛṣṇa and a person cultivating Kṛṣṇa consciousness is established.

The connection between the spiritual master and Kṛṣṇa consciousness is established. From the date of initiation by the spiritual master, the connection between Kṛṣṇa and a person cultivating Kṛṣṇa consciousness is established, without initiation by a bona fide spiritual master, the actual connection with Kṛṣṇa consciousness is never performed.

Nectar of Devotion Introduction

Guru-paramparā System

This supreme science was thus received through the chain of disciplic succession — Bhagavad-gītā As It Is 4.2

Why do we have to accept living dīkṣā gurus? (Notes BTW)

• Through chanting the holy name and rendering devotional service, one has to be free from all material contaminations, so this initiation makes us eligible to perform devotional service.
• Kṛṣṇa accepts service via our dīkṣā-guru.
• It connects us to the paramparā system (formally).

Śikṣā Guru:

• Through them, one comes to know about what is ātmā and Paramātmā, and how we can serve Kṛṣṇa.
• One gets learning experience.

"The Paramparā System.."

The guru does not accept respect from his disciple for his personal self but conveys this respect to Kṛṣṇa.... it is stated in Bhagavad-gītā that knowledge of Kṛṣṇa is received through the paramparā, the disciplic succession. Evaṁ paramparā-prāptam [Bg. 4.2]. The guru offers the same respects to his guru, and his guru offers respects to his, and so it goes all the way to Kṛṣṇa. Thus the mercy of Kṛṣṇa comes down through the paramparā system, and the respect offered to Kṛṣṇa is offered up through the paramparā system. One has to learn to approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead in this way...

— Teachings of Lord Kapila, Chapter 13 Perfect Knowledge Through Surrender

One should approach the current link

...the message of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is coming down by disciplic succession, and in order to receive the real message of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam one should approach the current link, or spiritual master, in the chain of disciplic succession.

— Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.9.7

Guru-Paramparā System

"You cannot jump over to the superior guru..."

So if you want to understand Bhagavad-gītā, then we must understand in the same way as the person who directly heard from. This is called paramparā system. Suppose I have heard something from my spiritual master, so I speak to you the same thing. So this is paramparā system. You cannot imagine what my spiritual master said. Or even if you read some books, you cannot understand unless you understand it from me. This is called paramparā system. You cannot jump over to the superior guru, neglecting the next ācārya, immediate next ācārya. — Lecture Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.15.30 -- Los Angeles, December 8, 1973

Don't try to approach Kṛṣṇa directly, jump over. That is useless.

First of all, your spiritual master, then his spiritual master, then his spiritual master, his spiritual master-ultimately Kṛṣṇa. This is the process. Don't try to approach Kṛṣṇa directly, jump over. That is useless. As you receive knowledge through the steps, paramparā system, similarly, we should approach Kṛṣṇa through these steps. — Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.4 -- Rome, May 28, 1974

One must accept a Vaiṣṇava guru ... Not simply by reading books..

One should not proudly think that one can understand the transcendental loving service of the Lord simply by reading books... One must accept a Vaiṣṇava guru (ādau gurv-āśrayam), and then by questions and answers one should gradually learn what pure devotional service to Kṛṣṇa is. That is called the paramparā system. — Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 7.53, purp.

All these disciples which I am initiating... become future spiritual masters

These students, who are initiated from me, all of them will act as I am doing. Just like I have got many Godbrothers, they are all acting. Similarly, all these disciples which I am making, initiating, they are being trained to become future spiritual masters. — Room Conversation Detroit, July 18, 1971

I want to see my disciples become bona fide Spiritual Master

I want to see my disciples become bona fide Spiritual Master and spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness very widely, that will make me and Kṛṣṇa very happy... Keep trained up very rigidly and then you are bonafide Guru, and you can accept disciples on the same principle. But as a matter of etiquette it is the custom that during the lifetime of your Spiritual master you bring the prospective disciples to him, and in his absence or disappearance you can accept disciples without any limitation. This is the law of disciplic succession. — Letter to Tuṣṭa Kṛṣṇa, December 2, 1975

I wish that in my absence all my disciples become the bona fide spiritual master

Anyone following the order of Lord Caitanya under the guidance of His bona fide representative can become a spiritual master and I wish that in my absence all my disciples become the bona fide spiritual master to spread Kṛṣṇa Consciousness throughout the whole world. — Letter to: Madhusūdana - Navadvīpa 2 November, 1967

"The more you become in the lower position- then more you are advanced."

This is called paramparā system. You have to learn how to become servant of the servant of Kṛṣṇa. The more you become in the lower position—servant, servant, servant, servant, servant, hundreds times servant, servant—then more you are advanced. — Lecture Bhagavad-gītā 2.2 -- London, August 3, 1973

Arguments Refuting the Posthumous Ritvik Theory

The Posthumous Ritvik Theory is a fallacious theory by which a spiritual master allegedly acts as dīkṣā-guru after his departure, through the agency of ritviks or officiating priests.

• There is no example of one taking dīkṣā from one's param-guru in any of the bona-fide Vaiṣṇava sampradāyas.
• There is no śāstric evidence indicating that one may take dīkṣā from one's param-guru.
• Vīrabhadra Gosvāmī, the son of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu, in a letter to Śrīnivāsa Ācārya ostracized one Jaya-gopāla from Vaiṣṇava society for claiming himself as a disciple of his Param-guru. Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava Abhidhāna, khaṇḍa 3
• The argument that there are no qualified dīkṣā-gurus amongst Prabhupāda's disciples indicates that Prabhupāda's teachings have not proven effective. So what would be the use of becoming Prabhupāda's dīkṣā disciple through the ritvik priest anyway?
• Ritvik theory implies that only exceptionally empowered ācāryas can become guru which is not supported in śāstra nor Vaiṣṇava tradition.
• Ritvik theory implies that ācāryas can act contrary to śāstra.
• Ritvik theory functions by undermining the natural development of faith in living Vaiṣṇavas, which is an essential aspect of bhakti.
• A ritvik guru gives advice however he does not formally accept the responsibility of delivering the disciple as a bona-fide dīkṣā-guru does.

Additional points:

Additional Quotes

GURU-TATTVA

Ācārya should be respected just like God. Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura also said, sākṣād-dharitvena samasta-śāstrair uktas tathā bhāvyata eva sadbhiḥ. Ācārya, guru, is as good as God. Sākṣād-dharitvena. Ācārya should be respected as Kṛṣṇa. Therefore ācāryaṁ māṁ vijānīyān nāvamanyeta karhicit [SB 11.17.27]. If somebody foolishly thinks that "They are worshiping a man. He's like me, and he has taken the seat, and he's taking worship, respect, from disciples." Sometimes they question like that. But they do not know that how ācārya should be respected. Ācārya should be respected sākṣād-dharitvena, just like God. It is not exaggeration. It is according to the śāstra. And ācārya also accepts all these respectful obeisances to carry to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.7.45-46 -- Vṛndāvana, October 5, 1976

Associate of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī & representation of Nityānanda Prabhu The real Vedic philosophy is acintya-bhedābheda-tattva, which establishes everything to be simultaneously one with and different from the Personality of Godhead. Śrīla Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī confirms that this is the real position of a bona fide spiritual master and says that one should always think of the spiritual master in terms of his intimate relationship with Mukunda (Śrī Kṛṣṇa). Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, in his Bhakti-sandarbha (213), has clearly explained that a pure devotee's observation of the spiritual master and Lord Śiva as being one with the Personality of Godhead exists in terms of their being very dear to the Lord, not identical with Him in all respects. Following in the footsteps of Śrīla Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī and Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, later ācāryas like Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura have confirmed the same truths. In his prayers to the spiritual master, Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura confirms that all the revealed scriptures accept the spiritual master to be identical with the Personality of Godhead because he is a very dear and confidential servant of the Lord. Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas therefore worship Śrīla Gurudeva (the spiritual master) in the light of his being the servitor of the Personality of Godhead. In all the ancient literatures of devotional service and in the more recent songs of Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura, Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura and other unalloyed Vaiṣṇavas, the spiritual master is always considered either one of the confidential associates of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī or a manifested representation of Śrīla Nityānanda Prabhu. Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta Ādi-līlā 1.46

The spiritual master is the external manifestation of the caitya-guru... The supreme spiritual master is Kṛṣṇa, who is therefore known as caitya-guru. This refers to the Supersoul, who is sitting in everyone's heart. He helps from within as stated in Bhagavad-gītā, and He sends the spiritual master, who helps from without. The spiritual master is the external manifestation of the caitya-guru, or the spiritual master sitting in everyone's heart. Purport, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.8.44

If you follow pure devotee, then you are also pure devotee. "We may not be cent percent perfect, but as far as possible, if we follow the instruction as it is, that much perfect. In this way one will get perfection. So one has to follow. The same example, try to understand, that a perfect, expert technologist or technician or mechanic is working, and somebody is working under his instruction. So this somebody, because he is strictly working under the instruction of the expert, he's also expert. He may not be cent percent expert, but his

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Guru-Tattva

Additional Quotes

"Acyarya should be respected just like God."

Gītā-gambhīra-artha, Vol. 1, page 140

"Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's representative is Acyārya. Acyārya, guru, is God. [But] Although He is an Acyārya, Acyārya is not God. [But] His representative is Acyārya. Śrī Caitanya Mahaprabhu has said, 'acāryaṁ māṁ vijānīyāt.' He says that His representative is Acyārya. So Acyārya should be respected just like God. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu says, 'acāryaṁ māṁ vijānīyāt.' That means, 'The ācārya should be understood as Myself.' Therefore, when Mādhavendra Purī began his prayer, he said, 'Sākṣād-dharitvena samāsta-śāstraiḥ.' He said that the ācārya is directly the Personality of Godhead. Sākṣād-dharitvena samasta-śāstraiḥ. All the śāstras say that the ācārya is directly God. For example, when a King sends his representative, then you have to respect him just like the King. His representative is not the King, but he has the power of the King. Similarly, the ācārya is the representative of God, so he should be respected like God.

But when we become God-realized, when we become perfect, then we can understand that the ācārya is acting with God. For example, if you see a teacher and his student, the teacher instructs the student. The student is learning. But the teacher is not the student. So the ācārya is the spiritual master. He is the representative of God. He is not God Himself. He is acting as the representative of God. So we should respect him just like God. 'ācāryaṁ māṁ vijānīyāt' means 'accept the ācārya as Myself.' This means that he has the power of God. He can deliver you. He can give you spiritual realization. So he is God. Sākṣād-dharitvena samasta-śāstraiḥ. This is confirmed by all the śāstras. For example, in the Bhagavad-gītā [text 11.32], Kṛṣṇa says, 'kālo 'smi lokakṣayakṛt pravṛddhaḥ.' (I am time, the great destroyer of the worlds.) Time is God. The representative of time is ācārya. So ācārya should be respected just like God.

But when we become God-realized, we should not think that the ācārya is God. Then it will be an offense. The ācārya is not God. He is God's representative. He is acting on behalf of God. So we should respect him, but we should not worship him as God. 'ācāryaṁ māṁ vijānīyāt.' This means that he is acting as God. So we should respect him. But if we think that he is God, then it is an offense.

So, Acyārya is the representative of God, and he should be respected just like God. Śrīmad Bhāgavatam says that the ācārya is the representative of God and he should be respected just like God. Acyārya, guru, is God. Therefore, when Mādhavendra Puri prayed, he said, 'Sākṣād-dharitvena samasta-śāstraiḥ.' This means that the ācārya is directly the Personality of Godhead. 'Mādhavendra Purī did not want to accept anyone as guru or spiritual master except the Personality of Godhead. But there was one instance, and that was that his spiritual master, who was a Vaiṣṇava, was initiated by Prahlāda Mahārāja. He accepted his spiritual master just like he accepted God. He accepted him as God. Because he was a pure devotee, he could see God in his spiritual master.

Srila Prabhupada: Yes. "Sākṣād-dharitvena samasta-śāstraiḥ." He says that the ācārya is directly God, "samasta-śāstraiḥ" - all śāstras confirm this. They do not say that ācārya is God. They say that ācārya is the representative of God. And when the representative of God acts as God, then he should be taken as God. The representative of God has got the same power as God to deliver the conditioned souls. So in that way he is God. "Therefore, one should never disrespect ācārya. Therefore, one should always honor the spiritual master. One should not think him an ordinary man."

"Acyārya should be respected just like God." Acyārya, guru, is God. Therefore, Mādhavendra Purī said, "Sākṣād-dharitvena samasta-śāstraiḥ." He said that the ācārya is directly the Personality of Godhead, as confirmed by all the śāstras. "Therefore, Mādhavendra Purī has accepted the spiritual master as God." Yes. Because the ācārya is the representative of God. He acts on behalf of God. So he is God.

But they are not God. They are God's representatives. "Therefore, one should try to find out the spiritual master, the representative of God, and render service unto him." Yes. "My guru Mahārāja, Kṛṣṇadāsa Gosvāmī, is the spiritual master of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He is God, and he is preaching Kṛṣṇa consciousness." Yes.

Srila Prabhupada: "Therefore, one should never disrespect ācārya. Therefore, one should always honor the spiritual master. One should not think him an ordinary man."

"Acyārya, guru, is God." This is a very strong statement. "Therefore, one should try to find out the spiritual master, the representative of God, and render service unto him." Yes. "When one serves the spiritual master, it is as good as serving God." Yes.

"Sākṣād-dharitvena samasta-śāstraiḥ" is a phrase meaning "directly the Personality of Godhead, as confirmed by all the scriptures." So, the ācārya is directly the Personality of Godhead, as confirmed by all the scriptures. "Therefore, one should offer respect to the ācārya." Yes.

"Acyārya, guru, is God." Why? Because the ācārya is the representative of God. He acts on behalf of God. Sākṣād-dharitvena means "directly." Samasta-śāstraiḥ means "all the scriptures." So, the ācārya is directly the Personality of Godhead, as confirmed by all the scriptures.

Therefore, one should try to find out the spiritual master, the representative of God, and render service unto him... Therefore, one should try to find out the spiritual master, the representative of God, and render service unto him.

"My guru Mahārāja, Kṛṣṇadāsa Gosvāmī, is the spiritual master of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He is God, and he is preaching Kṛṣṇa consciousness." Yes.

The ācārya is the representative of God. He acts on behalf of God. Sākṣād-dharitvena means "directly." Samasta-śāstraiḥ means "all the scriptures." So, the ācārya is directly the Personality of Godhead, as confirmed by all the scriptures.

"Acyārya should be respected just like God." Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.7.45-46 — Vrndāvana, October 5, 1976

Associate of Śrīmati Rādhārāṇī & representation of Nityānanda Prabhu

The very Vedic philosophy is ācārya-bhagavad-tattva, which establishes everything to be simultaneously one with and different from the Personality of Godhead. Śrīmatically Rādhā Govinda confirms that this is the real position of a bona fide spiritual master, and one that one should always think of the spiritual master in terms of his intimate relationship with Mahaprabhu and Srila Svaami Goswami, in his Bhagavad-gītā (2.3), has clearly explained that a pure devotee's observation of the spiritual master and Lord Śiva as being one with the Peraonality of Godhead except in terms of their being very dear to the Lord, has been confirmed with His own disciples. Following in the footsteps of Śrī Rādhā Govinda Gosvāmī and Śrī Śiva Gosvāmī, in his later works, Śrī Śiva Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura have confirmed the same idea. In his praise to the spiritual master, Śrī Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura confirms that all the revealed scriptures accept the spiritual master to be identical with the Personality of Godhead because he has every right and confidential service of the Lord. Gaudiya Vaiṣṇavism therefore worship Śrī Gurudeva (the spiritual master) in the light of his being the servitor of the Lord. He is devoted. In all the ancient literatures of devotional service, and in the more recent series of Śrī Narottam dāsa Ṭhākura, Śrī Uddhavācārya, Śrī Nārāyaṇa and other unalloyed Vaiṣṇavas, the spiritual master is always considered either one of the confidential associates of Śrīmad Rādha or a manifested representation of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu. Śrī Caitanya-caritămṛta Ādi-līlā 1.46

The spiritual master is the external manifestation of the caitya-guru...

The supreme spiritual master is Kṛṣṇa, who is therefore known as caitya-guru. This refers to the Supersoul, who is sitting in everyone's heart. He helps from within as stated in Bhagavad-gītā, and He sends the spiritual master, who helps from without. The spiritual master is the external manifestation of the caitya-guru, or the spiritual master sitting in everyone's heart. Purport, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.8.44

If you follow pure devotee, then you are also pure devotee. "We may not be cent percent perfect, but as far as possible, we follow the instruction as it is, that much perfect this way one will get perfection. So one has to follow. The same example, try to understand, that is a perfect, expert technologist or technician or mechanic or works, and nobody is working under the instruction. So somebody, because he is strictly working, and under the instruction of the expert, he's also expert. He may not be cent percent expert, but his work is expert. Is that clear? Because he is working under the expert. Do you follow? So if you follow pure devotee, then you are also pure devotee. It may not be one is cent percent pure. Because we are trying to raise ourselves from the conditional life. But if we strictly follow the pure devotee, then we are also pure devotee. So far we do, that is. Pure devotee follows the instructions of Kṛṣṇa and has to become immediately cent percent pure. But if the disciple, the principle that "We'll follow a pure devotee," then his actions are-- He is as good as a pure devotee. Bhagavad-gītā 2.11, Los Angeles, November 25, 1968

TYPES OF GURUS

"They are not many, they are one, guru-tattva..."

"The guru is offered first the confidential prayers, vande gurūn. And gurūn, bahu-vacana, plural number, that many gurus. But they are not many; they are one, guru-tattva." Lecture, Śrī Caitanya-caritămṛta, Ādi-līlā 1.1 Māyāpur, March 25, 1975

Dīkṣā removes one previous sinfu reactions

Dīkṣā & śikṣāguru

The spiritual master accepts the sinful activities of his disciples

The spiritual master accepts the sinful activities of his disciples from the first initiation. I may be a pure devotee, but what can I do? I am prepared to go to hell for service. Lord Kṛṣṇa gives initiation very easily, but what can I do? I am prepared to go to hell for service. Letter to a Disciple, New Vrindaban, September 7, 1972

Eternal bond begins from the first day he hears

Regarding your questions, second initiation is real purification. First initiation the preliminary gives just to make him prepared, just like primary and secondary education. The first initiation gives him to become purified, and when he is actually purified then he is recognized as a brahmana and that means real purification. The eternal bond between the disciple and spiritual master begins from the first day he hears. Just like my spiritual master. In 1922 he said in our first meeting, you are educated boys, why don't you preach this cult. That was the beginning, now it is coming to fact. Therefore, the relation begins from the first day. Letter to a Disciple, New Vrindaban, September 7, 1972

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GURU-PARAMPARA SYSTEM

First of all you become devotee of My devotee.. dāsa-dāsa-dāsanudāsaḥ

We cannot jump over to Krsna. That is another nonsense. We must approach Krsna through guru. That is parampara system. Krsna is not jumping that you can jump over. Nobody says, "Oh, why shall I accept guru? I can approach Krsna directly." No. Krsna does not accept such... Mad-bhaktaḥ pūjāyām, Krsna says that "First of all you become devoted of My devotee." Gațaśya Mahārāṇī as a gopi—gopi-bhāvaṁ madhyamalāyor dāsa-dāsa-dāsanudāsaḥ. "I am the servant of the servant of the servant of Krsna." Lecture, Bhagavad-gītā 2.2, London, August 3, 1973

A bona fide spiritual master directly points out the foolishness of a disciple...

A person who is puffed up by so-called education and who does not require the spiritual master's protection or a bona fide spiritual master. He thinks that he does not require a spiritual master and that he can achieve the highest perfection by his own efforts. Such persons are not eligible for the study of Vedic sutras. Those who are under the spell of material energy do not follow the instructions of the disciplinee by the of Vedānta study, but a bona fide spiritual master must always and thereby step outside the sphere of Vedānta study. A bona fide spiritual master must directly point out the foolishness of a disciple, it should not be taken otherwise. The Conversations with Prakāśānanda

Thakura Bhaktivinoda was not official Spiritual Master of Gaura Kisora dāsa Babaji Maharaja.

Thakura Bhaktivinoda was not official Spiritual Master of Gaura Kisora dāsa Babaji Maharaja. Gaura Kisora dāsa Babaji Maharaja was already renounced order, Paramahaṁsa, but Thakura Bhaktivinoda, while He was playing the part of a householder, was treated by Gaura Kisora dāsa Babaji Maharaja as Preceptor, on account of His highly elevated spiritual understanding, and thus he was always treating him as His Spiritual Master. The Spiritual master is divided into two parts, namely, śikṣā-guru and dīkṣā-guru. So śikṣā-guru, dīkṣā-guru, and the spiritual master who gives instructions for elevation is called the sikṣā-guru. Letter to Dayananda, Allston, Mass 1 May, 1969

Disciple succession does not mean one has to be directly a disciple.

Another point is that disciple succession does not mean one has to be directly a disciple of a particular person. The conclusions which we have tried to explain in our Bhagavad-gītā As It Is is the same as those conclusions of Arjuna. Another example, that a tree has many branches, and you will find one branch and another leaf there. But if you take this leaf and the other leaf and you press them both, you will see that the taste is the same. The taste is the same. The taste is the same, conclusion, and from the taste you can understand that both leaves are from the same tree. Letter to Atulananda, Los Angeles, January 29, 1969

The Guru is One.

The guru is one because he comes in discipilic succession. What Vyāsadeva and Kṛṣṇa taught five thousand years ago is also being taught now. There is no difference between the two instructions. Although human beings and thousands of acāryas have come and gone, the message is one. The real guru cannot be two, for the real guru does not speak differently from his predecessors. Science of Self Realization 2a: Choosing a Spiritual Master What is a Guru?