{"id":6233,"date":"2022-09-16T10:11:57","date_gmt":"2022-09-16T04:41:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/?p=6233"},"modified":"2023-03-19T20:43:10","modified_gmt":"2023-03-19T15:13:10","slug":"chapter-12-disappearance-of-the-guru","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/writings\/books-pdfs\/prakrta-rasa-aranya-chedini\/chapter-12-disappearance-of-the-guru\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 12 – Disappearance of the Guru"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pr\u0101k\u1e5bta-rasa \u0100ra\u1e47ya Chedin\u012b \u2013 Cutting the Jungle of Misconception<\/h1><\/div>

Chapter 12 – Disappearance of the Guru<\/h2><\/div>

by \u015ar\u012bla Bhakti Gaurava Narasi\u1e45gha Mah\u0101r\u0101ja<\/a><\/h3><\/div>\n
\n

This chapter, \u2018Disappearance of the Guru\u2019 was adapted from a lecture by \u015ar\u012bla Narasi\u1e45gha Mah\u0101r\u0101ja on \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da\u2019s Disappearance Day on October 31st 2000, at R\u0101dh\u0101-D\u0101modara Temple, V\u1e5bnd\u0101vana. Mah\u0101r\u0101ja discusses the three types of devotee (kani\u1e63\u1e6dha, madhyama and uttama) in relation to the disappearance of \u015ar\u012b Guru.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Devotee:<\/strong> What are the types of disciples who become manifest after the disappearance of the guru?<\/em><\/p>\n

Narasi\u1e45gha Mah\u0101r\u0101ja:<\/strong> There are gradations and sub-gradations of all things, but basically the disciples of the guru<\/em> manifest in three main categories: kani\u1e63\u1e6dha, madhyama, and uttama. <\/em>The gradation in the development of \u015braddh\u0101<\/em> (faith) may be taken as the basic differentiating factor in these three types of disciples.<\/p>\n

The kani\u1e63\u1e6dha-adhik\u0101ri<\/em> disciple has very little \u015braddh\u0101<\/em>\u2014 his faith in the instruction and spiritual teachings of the guru<\/em> is very meager and he has no faith in the Vai\u1e63\u1e47avas.<\/p>\n

mah\u0101-pras\u0101de govinde n\u0101ma-brahma\u1e47i vai\u1e63\u1e47ave
\n<\/em>svalpa-pu\u1e47ya-vat\u0101\u1e41 r\u0101jan vi\u015bv\u0101so naiva j\u0101yate<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cFor those who have amassed very few pious activities, their faith in mah\u0101-pras\u0101da,<\/em> in \u015ar\u012b Govinda, in the Holy Name and in the Vai\u1e63\u1e47avas is never born.\u201d (Mah\u0101bh\u0101rata)<\/p>\n

The kani\u1e63\u1e6dha-adhik\u0101ri <\/em>disciple worships the physical form of his gurudeva<\/em> and may shout \u201cJaya Prabhup\u0101da!\u201d at the top of his lungs, but such glorification of the guru<\/em> is lip-deep only, because the kani\u1e63\u1e6dha-adhik\u0101ri <\/em>disciple has no proper service attitude, faith, or surrender.<\/p>\n

The kani\u1e63\u1e6dha-adhik\u0101ri <\/em>disciple proclaims his gurudeva<\/em> to be the only bona-fide guru.<\/em> Having rejected the ontological position of \u015ar\u012bla R\u016bpa Gosv\u0101m\u012b as the \u0101c\u0101rya<\/em> of the followers of \u015ar\u012b Caitanya Mah\u0101prabhu the kani\u1e63\u1e6dha-adhik\u0101ri <\/em>disciple thinks, \u201cBecause my gurudeva<\/em> is the \u201cFounder-\u0101c\u0101rya<\/em>,\u201d the efficacy of the guru-parampar\u0101 <\/em>is no longer applicable. All other branches and sub-branches of the guru-parampar\u0101 <\/em>are all rendered useless.\u201d<\/p>\n

The kani\u1e63\u1e6dha-adhik\u0101ri <\/em>disciple thinks that his gurudeva<\/em> is absolute in all circumstances. He is thus unable to understand and properly harmonize the relative and absolute statements of the guru.<\/em><\/p>\n

The kani\u1e63\u1e6dha-adhik\u0101ri <\/em>disciple has no subjective realization of his gurudeva<\/em> and he does not know anything of the ontological position of his gurudeva<\/em> in terms of guru-varga<\/em> and apr\u0101k\u1e5bta-l\u012bl\u0101.<\/em> He is materially attached to the formal institution of his gurudeva<\/em>, but he is lacking in siddh\u0101nta<\/em> or philosophical understanding of the truths (tattvas) <\/em>concerning the Absolute Truth. For all his endeavors the kani\u1e63\u1e6dha-adhik\u0101ri <\/em>disciple simply becomes absorbed in society consciousness, but not God consciousness.<\/p>\n

The kani\u1e63\u1e6dha-adhik\u0101ri <\/em>disciple lacks proper discrimination and he is thus offensive to pure Vai\u1e63\u1e47avas. He considers his gurudeva<\/em> as non-different from the formal institution, non-different from his m\u016brti,<\/em> and non-different from his books, but he cannot recognize his guru<\/em> on an internal plane. The kani\u1e63\u1e6dha-adhik\u0101ri <\/em>disciple knows that, \u201cEverything is in Prabhup\u0101da\u2019s books\u201d but he does not know what that \u2018thing\u2019 really is.<\/p>\n

On certain holy days the kani\u1e63\u1e6dha-adhik\u0101ri<\/em> disciple expresses his sentiments of how his gurudeva<\/em> saved him from material life, but the kani\u1e63\u1e6dha-adhik\u0101ri<\/em> disciple cannot even follow the four regulative principles. Sometimes however the kani\u1e63\u1e6dha-adhik\u0101ri <\/em>disciple does rigidly follow the four regulative principles, but he does not follow the internal principles of pure devotional service, nor does he have any capacity to recognize the flow of divinity.<\/p>\n

The kani\u1e63\u1e6dha-adhik\u0101ri <\/em>disciple measures everything from the external or relative point of view. The kani\u1e63\u1e6dha-adhik\u0101ri <\/em>disciple prides himself in external achievements of acquiring land, constructing buildings, amassing money and gathering many followers, but he has no concern for or understanding of inner spiritual life. The kani\u1e63\u1e6dha-adhik\u0101ri<\/em> disciple is a bahira\u1e45ga-bhakta,<\/em> an external devotee.<\/p>\n

The kani\u1e63\u1e6dha-adhik\u0101ri<\/em> disciple sometimes thinks that he has become a rasika-bhakta <\/em>and tries to relish the mellow of the higher l\u012bl\u0101s<\/em> of the Supreme Lord. But due to his lack of genuine qualifications, the kani\u1e63\u1e6dha-adhik\u0101ri <\/em>disciple displeases his spiritual master and creates a disturbance in the eternal l\u012bl\u0101s<\/em> of the Lord.<\/p>\n

Due to management propensities, expertise in business, or often by default (time spent in the mission) the kani\u1e63\u1e6dha-adhik\u0101ri <\/em>disciple rises to a position of prominence and authority within the institution of his gurudeva.<\/em> He then creates havoc and great disruption by turning the spiritual mission of his gurudeva<\/em> into a mundane institution for profit, adoration, and distinction.<\/p>\n

The kani\u1e63\u1e6dha-adhik\u0101ri<\/em> disciple sometimes occupies the living quarters of his gurudeva<\/em> as his own. He strives for more and more control over the institution. He despises the spiritual advancement of his godbrothers and he uses the money collected for devotional service to lodge court cases against his godbrothers simply to further his own selfish ends.<\/p>\n

The kani\u1e63\u1e6dha-adhik\u0101ri<\/em> disciple who is attached to women and attached to the association of women sometimes becomes guru<\/em> in the institution of the spiritual master \u2014he then cheats his disciples by collecting donations from them simply for maintaining his material attachments.<\/p>\n

The kani\u1e63\u1e6dha-adhik\u0101ri <\/em>disciple also sometimes takes sanny\u0101sa<\/em> and becomes a guru<\/em> in the institution of his gurudeva<\/em>, but he later gives it up and marries one of his disciples or engages in numerous other non-devotional activities. The spiritual intelligence of the kani\u1e63\u1e6dha-adhik\u0101ri <\/em>disciple is always bewildered by m\u0101y\u0101<\/em>, but he is nonetheless very expert in making excuses why he has failed to live up to, or abandoned his duty to the spiritual master.<\/p>\n

The kani\u1e63\u1e6dha-adhik\u0101ri <\/em>disciple thinks that time and physical proximity with the guru<\/em> enables one to understand the purpose of the guru.<\/em> Such kani\u1e63\u1e6dha-adhik\u0101ri<\/em> disciples do not know that only faith and surrender to the guru<\/em> will enable one to know the real purpose of the spiritual master. Physical proximity alone never gains one the adhik\u0101ra<\/em> (qualification) to understand the Absolute Truth.<\/p>\n

yasya deve par\u0101 bhaktir yath\u0101-deve tath\u0101 gurau
\n<\/em>tasyaite kathit\u0101 hy-arthah, prak\u0101\u015bante mah\u0101tmana\u1e25<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cOnly unto those great souls who have implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master are all the imports of Vedic<\/em> knowledge automatically revealed.\u201d (Svet\u0101\u015bvatara Upani\u1e63ad<\/em> 6.38)<\/p>\n

Not understanding the true purpose of the spiritual master the kani\u1e63\u1e6dha-adhik\u0101ri <\/em>disciple sometimes returns to the university to obtain a degree. He says that if he has a Ph.D certificate then people will take him more seriously when he speaks about the teachings of his gurudeva. <\/em>The kani\u1e63\u1e6dha-adhik\u0101ri <\/em>disciple does not know that if he simply becomes a pure devotee of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, then the whole world will be attentive to what he has to say.<\/p>\n

Thus the kani\u1e63\u1e6dha-adhik\u0101ri<\/em> disciple is of no spiritual credit to the greatness of his gurudeva.<\/em> Unfortunately the kani\u1e63\u1e6dha-adhik\u0101ri<\/em> disciple is an embarrassment to his gurudeva<\/em> and thus he misses the opportunity of attaining love of God, prema-bhakti.<\/em><\/p>\n

The kani\u1e63\u1e6dha-adhik\u0101ri <\/em>disciple believes that despite his not pleasing the spiritual master, the spiritual master will take him back to Godhead anyway. However, due to his many offenses, the kani\u1e63\u1e6dha-adhik\u0101ri <\/em>disciple does not have the mercy of the spiritual master and thus the eligibility of his going back to home, back to Godhead is highly unlikely.<\/p>\n

We should sincerely pray at the lotus feet of gurudeva<\/em> and \u015ar\u012b Caitanya Mah\u0101prabhu so that they may be pleased to save us from the mentality of becoming a kani\u1e63\u1e6dha-adhik\u0101ri.<\/em><\/p>\n

The madhyama-adhik\u0101ri <\/em>disciple is greatly superior to the kani\u1e63\u1e6dha-adhik\u0101ri <\/em>as he shows us proper discrimination and places great emphasis on the v\u0101\u1e47\u012b<\/em>, or instruction and spiritual teachings of the spiritual master. The madhyama-adhik\u0101ri <\/em>disciple has guru-ni\u1e63\u1e6dh\u0101<\/em>, or firm faith in the guru<\/em> and this is confirmed by his engaging in a strong practicing life of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a consciousness.<\/p>\n

The madhyama-adhik\u0101ri <\/em>disciple gives preference to substance over form and thus he becomes more and more absorbed in God consciousness and free from the shackles of society consciousness and institutional considerations. Whenever it is necessary, the madhyama-adhik\u0101ri <\/em>disciple may sacrifice the relative consideration for the sake of the absolute consideration.<\/p>\n

In the beginning, the madhyama-adhik\u0101ri<\/em> disciple is interested to carry out the v\u0101\u1e47\u012b<\/em> of his gurudeva<\/em> \u2018to the letter of the law\u2019 but he often fails to understand the \u2018spirit of the law.\u2019 An advanced madhyama-adhik\u0101ri<\/em> disciple, however, understands the underlying spirit of the law and thus he does not follow the law simply for law\u2019s sake. An advanced madhyama-adhik\u0101ri<\/em> disciple can discriminate between relative and absolute instructions given by the spiritual master and he understands how such instructions are to be applied according to time, place and circumstances.<\/p>\n

The madhyama-adhik\u0101ri <\/em>disciple realizes the non-difference of the plurality of gurus<\/em> in the guru-tattva <\/em>principle and seeks the association of those higher thinking (uttama)<\/em> devotees of the Supreme Lord. Thus the madhyama-adhik\u0101ri <\/em>disciple makes spiritual advancement and he begins to manifest the personal character of one absorbed in pure devotional service.<\/p>\n

Superior to the madhyama-adhik\u0101ri <\/em>disciple is the uttama-adhik\u0101ri <\/em>disciple, who due to his advanced faith, has fully surrendered to his gurudeva. <\/em>The uttama-adhik\u0101ri <\/em>disciple realizes the subjective nature of the guru<\/em> principle and the ontological position of his beloved gurudeva. <\/em>Seeking the dust of the lotus feet of the followers of \u015ar\u012b R\u016bpa Gosv\u0101m\u012b as life\u2019s ultimate goal, the uttama-adhik\u0101ri<\/em> disciple fully pleases his spiritual master.<\/p>\n

\u015br\u012b-r\u016bp\u0101nug\u0101 janera p\u0101da-padma dhara
\n<\/em>ek\u0101nta bh\u0101vete t\u0101\u1e45dera \u0101nugatya kara<\/em><\/p>\n

Take hold of the feet of the followers of \u015ar\u012b R\u016bpa Gosv\u0101m\u012b and follow them with exclusive commitment.\u201d (\u015ar\u012b Siddh\u0101nta Sarasvat\u012b \u1e6ch\u0101kura)<\/p>\n

The uttama-adhik\u0101ri <\/em>disciple knows that his gurudeva<\/em> is present by his side at all times. The uttama-adhik\u0101ri<\/em> disciple experiences union in separation from his gurudeva<\/em>. The uttama-adhik\u0101ri <\/em>so much perceives the continuous presence of his gurudeva<\/em> that he sometime feels that his gurudeva<\/em> has taken possession of every atom of his existence.<\/p>\n

The uttama-adhik\u0101ri <\/em>disciple tactfully avoids the association of the kani\u1e63\u1e6dha-adhik\u0101ri <\/em>disciples because it pains his heart to see their systematic destruction of the mission that their gurudeva<\/em> labored so diligently to establish.<\/p>\n

The uttama-adhik\u0101ri <\/em>disciple can do great benefit to the whole world because he is the abode of all good qualities and the reservoir of love of God.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cPr\u0101k\u1e5bta-rasa \u0100ra\u1e47ya Chedin\u012b \u2013 Cutting the Jungle of Misconception\u201d is a compilation of twenty-one articles written in the later 90\u2019s and early 2000s by \u015ar\u012bla B.G. Narasi\u1e45gha Mah\u0101r\u0101ja. This book exposes various philosophical misconceptions that are prevalent within the Gau\u1e0d\u012bya Vai\u1e63\u1e47ava world at present, and establishes the proper understanding according to guru, s\u0101dhu and \u015b\u0101stra.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":6169,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[216],"tags":[206,217],"krishna_talk_article":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6233"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6233"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6233\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8718,"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6233\/revisions\/8718"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6169"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6233"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6233"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6233"},{"taxonomy":"krishna_talk_article","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/krishna_talk_article?post=6233"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}