Contents


Pure devotee cannot be polluted (NOI, 6)
Resident of hell (Padma Purana)
Spiritual master is not an ordinary human being (SB 8.3.2 p)
Bhakti dissolves the subtle body (SB 3.25.33)
Unflinching devotion to the Lord and to the spiritual master ( Svetasvatara Upanisad 6.23)
Relationship between the disciple and the spiritual master is eternal (SB 2.9.43 p)
One who rejects his own spiritual master (Brahma-vaivarta Purana)
One who superficially or whimsically accepts and rejects a spiritual master (SB 11.3.48 p)
Spiritual Madness (Caitanya Bhagavata, madhya, 2)
Extraordinary behavior of great personalities (SB 3.12.28-29)
Great offence (Krsna-book, 85)
Ramacandra Puri & Isvara Puri (C-C, Antya, 8)
Bhagavad-gita 4.34



russian version
index



Pure devotee cannot be polluted

 drstaih svabhava-janitair vapusas ca dosair 
 na prakrtatvam iha bhakta janasya pasyet 
 gangambhasam na khalu budbuda-phena-pankair 
 brahma-dravatvam apagacchati nira-dharmah 

TRANSLATION 
"Being situated in his original Krsna conscious position, a pure devotee 
does not identify with the body. Such a devotee should not be seen 
from a materialistic point of view. Indeed, one should overlook 
a devotee-s having a body born in a low family, a body with a bad 
complexion, a deformed body, or a diseased or infirm body. 
According to ordinary vision, such imperfections may seem prominent 
in the body of a pure devotee, but despite such seeming defects, 
the BODY of a PURE DEVOTEE cannot be POLLUTED. It is exactly like 
the waters of the Ganges, which sometimes during the rainy season 
are full of bubbles, foam and mud. The Ganges waters do not become 
polluted. Those who are advanced in spiritual understanding will 
bathe in the Ganges without considering the condition of the water." 
   (The Nectar of Instraction,6) 
 

go to Contents


Resident of hell (Padma Purana)

 arcye visnau sila-dhir gurusu nara-matir vaisnave jati-buddhir 
 visnor va vaisnavanam kali-mala-mathane pada-tirthe 'mbu-buddhih 
 sri-visnor namni mantre sakala-kalusa-he sabda-samanya-buddhir 
 visnau sarvesvarese tad-itara-sama-dhir yasya va naraki sah 

TRANSLATION 
"One who thinks the Deity in the temple to be made of wood or stone, 
who thinks of the spiritual master in the disciplic succession as an ordinary man, 
who thinks the Vaisnava in the Acyuta-gotra to belong to a certain caste 
or creed or who thinks of caranamrta or Ganges water as ordinary water 
is taken to be a resident of hell." 
   (Padma Purana) 

go to Contents


Spiritual master is not an ordinary human being

"...The material body certainly consists only of material elements, 
but when one awakens to Krsna conscious understanding, the body 
is no longer material but spiritual. The material body is meant 
for sense enjoyment, whereas the spiritual body engages in the 
transcendental loving service of the Lord. Therefore, a devotee 
who engages in the service of the Supreme Lord and who constantly 
thinks of Him should never be considered to have a material body. 
It is therefore enjoined, gurunu nara-matiu: ONE SHOULD STOP THINKING 
of the SPIRITUAL MEASTER as an ORDINARY HUMAN BEING with a material body. 
Arcye visnau sila-dhiih: everyone knows that the Deity in the temple is 
made of stone, but to think that the Deity is merely stone is an offense. 
Similarly, to think that the body of the spiritual master consists 
of material ingredients is offensive. Atheists think that devotees 
foolishly worship a stone statue as God and an ordinary man as the guru. 
The fact is, however, that by the grace of Krsna's omnipotence, 
the so-called stone statue of the Deity is directly the Supreme Personality 
of Godhead, and the body of the spiritual master is directly spiritual. 
A pure devotee who is engaged in unalloyed devotional service should 
be understood to be situated on the transcendental platform 
(sa gunan samatityaitan brahma-bhuyaya kalpate). Let us therefore offer 
our obeisances unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, by whose mercy 
so-called material things also become spiritual when they are engaged 
in spiritual activity." 
  Srimad Bhagavatam, 8.3.2, purport by Srila Prabhupada 
  

go to Contents


Bhakti dissolves the subtle body

 jarayaty asu ya kosam 
 nigirnam analo yatha 

TRANSLATION 
"Bhakti, devotional service, dissolves the subtle body of the living entity 
without separate effort, just as fire in the stomach digests all that 
we eat." 
   Srimad Bhagavatam, 3.25.33 
 

go to Contents


Unflinching devotion to the Lord and to the spiritual master

 yasya deve para bhaktir 
 yatha deve tatha gurau 
 tasyaite kathita hy arthah 
 prakasante mahatmanah 
"Only unto one who has unflinching devotion to the Lord and to the 
spiritual master does transcendental knowledge become automatically 
revealed." 
   Svetasvatara Upanisad 6.23 

go to Contents


Relationship between the disciple and the spiritual master is eternal

"SUCH RELATIONSHIP between the DISCIPLE and the SPIRITUAL MASTER is ETERNAL. 
One who is now the disciple is the next spiritual master. 
And one cannot be a bona fide and authorized spiritual master unless 
one has been strictly obedient to his spiritual master." 
   Srimad Bhagavatam, 2.9.43, purport 
 

go to Contents


One who rejects his own spiritual master

In the Brahma-vaivarta Purana it is stated, 
 bodhah kalusitas tena 
 dauratmyam prakati-krtam 
 gurur yena parityaktas 
 tena tyaktah pura harih 
"One pollutes his own intelligence and exhibits severe weakness of 
character when he rejects his own spiritual master. Indeed, such a person 
has already rejected the Supreme Lord, Hari." 

go to Contents


One who superficially or whimsically accepts and rejects a spiritual master

 "The bona fide disciple should always remember that his entire 
understanding of Vedic knowledge is coming through the mercy of his 
bona fide spiritual master. If one superficially or whimsically accepts 
and rejects a bona fide Vaisnava spiritual master, sometimes becoming 
attracted to another spiritual master, one commits a vaisnava-aparadha, 
a great offense against the devotees of the Lord. Sometimes a foolish 
neophyte mistakenly thinks that the relationship with the spiritual master 
is meant for the sense gratification of the disciple, and therefore in 
the name of spiritual aspirations such a fool gives up a bona fide 
Vaisnava guru. One should understand oneself to be the ETERNAL SERVANT 
of the guru." 
   Srimad Bhagavatam, 11.3.48, purport 
 

go to Contents


Spiritual Madness


From Caitanya Bhagavata, madhya, 2 
The Lord was feeling extremely joyful, but as He began to 
contemplate the words of the devotees and the suffering they were 
experiencing, He felt anger rising within Him and a desire to 
punish the atheistic society.  He roared angrily, repeating, "I 
shall destroy them!  I shall destroy them! I am Him, I am Him!" 
Conflicting emotions took hold of the Lord, sometimes He laughed, 
sometimes He cried, sometimes He fell unconscious, and sometimes 
He felt like beating and destroying.  The Lord thus manifested 
His terrible mood of destroying the miscreants. 
     Mother Saci could not understand her son; everything seemed 
very perplexing.  She thought that some disease had attacked the 
Lord.  Mother Saci felt nothing but affection for her son, so she 
was deeply affected by this peculiar transformation in Him. She 
discussed it with everyone she met, "The Lord has already taken 
away my husband and my son, and all that I have left is this 
young boy.  Now His actions perplex me, I do not know how to 
think of Him.  Sometimes He laughs, sometimes He cries, and at 
other times He falls down unconscious.  Often He speaks to 
Himself, and sometimes He yells out loud saying, 'Break the heads 
of those atheists!'  Sometimes He runs to a tree and climbs into 
its branches, then suddenly with closed eyes He falls down to the 
ground.  Sometimes His grinding teeth make a grating noise. 
Sometimes He claps His hands on His body, then falling down, He 
rolls on the ground, not saying a word." 
     The ordinary, ignorant people could not see the symptoms of 
love of Godhead in the Lord and thought it to be some disease, a 
sort of wind disorder. They suggested that He should remain bound 
up.  Mother Saci's description of the Lord's condition attracted 
many people to come and see Him.  When the Lord saw the people He 
charged at them.  These ignorant fools simply laughed and ran 
away, thinking that the Lord was suffering from some wind 
disorder. 
     Mother Saci became flustered and ran after the people to 
pacify them.  Some of the people told her, "He is definitely 
suffering from some wind disorder."  While others said, "You are 
just an ignorant brahmana's wife, what is there to ask about 
this?  It is apparent that He is suffering from some wind 
disorder.  Give Him coconut water to drink and tie His feet in 
case He gets violent when madness overcomes Him."  Some others 
suggested, "He is not to be cured with some simple medicine, you 
must give Him nothing less than 'siva ghee' to relieve Him from 
this attack of wind disorder.  Apply the ghee on His head and 
then give Him a bath." 
One day Srivasa Pandita came to visit the Lord, and 
Visvambhara immediately got up and greeted Him with respect. Upon 
seeing a pure devotee of the Lord, Visvambhara's ecstatic 
emotions increased.  As Srivasa Pandita was circumambulating 
tulasi devi, the Lord manifested ecstatic symptoms: crying, 
shaking, shivering, horripilating, and then falling down 
unconscious on the ground.  After a while, when external 
consciousness returned to the Lord, He began crying profusely and 
shaking uncontrollably.  To Srivasa Pandita all these 
manifestations of the Lord were wonderful.  He thought to 
himself, "These are the symptoms of the highest spiritual ecstasy 
of love of Godhead.  Foolish persons misunderstand and think this 
is due to a wind disorder." 
     When the Lord could speak, He said to Srivasa Pandita, "Oh, 
it is you Pandita!  What do you make of My condition?  Some 
people are suggesting that I should be kept bound up because I 
suffer from some terrible wind disease.  What is your opinion?" 
     Smiling, Srivasa Pandita replied, "Good wind, I also want to 
be attacked by the same wind that is causing this disorder in 
You.  Actually, I see signs of great spiritual ecstasy of love of 
Godhead in You.  You have been favored by Krishna's mercy." 
     The Lord was very happy to hear this from Srivasa Pandita 
and He embraced him affectionately.  He said, "Everyone is saying 
that this is a wind disorder, but now you have given Me great 
hope. For this I am grateful and forever indebted to you.  If you 
had also said that I was suffering from some wind disorder then 
certainly I would have jumped into the Ganga." 
 Srivasa replied, "Your love for the Supreme Lord Krsna has 
reached such ecstatic heights that it is even desirable by Lord 
Brahma, Lord Siva, and sages such as Saunaka.  Let us all come 
together and glorify Krsna's holy name without caring about the 
criticisms of the atheists and sinners." 
 Srivasa Pandita said to Mother Saci, "Cast your sorrows 
away, your son does not suffer from wind disorder.  I tell you 
positively that these symptoms are due to the highest love of 
Krishna.  Even though you may see some wonderful and ecstatic 
pastimes of Lord Krishna, such activities and topics are far beyond 
the intellectual capacity of ignorant and materialistic 
nondevotees, so such subjects should not be discussed in their 
presence. 
go to Contents


Extraordinary behavior of great personalities

Bhag. 3.12.28
"O Vidura, we have heard that Brahma had a daughter named Vak who was born
from his body and who attracted his mind toward sex, although she was not
sexually inclined towards him."

Bhag. 3.12.29
"Thus, finding their father so deluded in an act of immorality, the sages
headed by Marici, all sons of Brahma, spoke as follows with great respect."
PURPORT
"The sages like Marici were not in the wrong in submitting their protests
against the acts of their great father. They knew very well that even though
their father committed a mistake, there must have been some great purpose
behind the show, otherwise such a great personality could not have committed
such a mistake. It might be that Brahma wanted to warn his subordinates
about human frailties in their dealings with women. This is always very
dangerous for persons who are on the path of self-realization. Therefore,
great personalities like Brahma, even when in the wrong, should not be
neglected, nor could the great sages headed by Marici show any disrespect
because of his extraordinary behavior."

go to Contents


Great offence

This is reference from Krsna-book,
Chapter 85 - "Spiritual Instruction for  Vasudeva, and the return of the Six Dead Sons of Devaki by Lord Krsna."

"...After Lord Krsna heard the prayers of Bali Maharaja, He spoke as
follows: "My dear King of the demons, in the millennium of Svayambhuva Manu,
the Prajapati known as Marici begot six sons, all demigods, in the womb of
his wife, Urna. Once upon a time, Lord Brahma became captivated by the
beauty of his daughter and was following her, impelled by sex desire. At
that time, these six demigods looked at the action of Lord Brahma with
abhorrence. THIS CRITICISM OF BRAHMA'S ACTION BY THE DEMIGODS CONSTITUTED A
GREAT OFFENCE ON THEIR PART, AND FOR THIS REASON THEY WERE CONDEMNED TO TAKE
BIRTH AS THE SONS OF THE DEMON HIRANYAKASIPU. These sons of Hiranyakasipu
were thereafter put in the womb of mother Devake, and as soon as they took
their birth Kamsa killed them one after another. My dear King of the demons,
mother Devake is very anxious to see these six dead sons again, and she is
very much aggrieved on account of their early death at the hand of Kamsa. I
know that all of them are living with you. I have decided to take them with
Me to pacify My mother, Devake. After seeing My mother, all six of these
conditioned souls will be liberated, and thus in great pleasure they will be
transferred to their original planet..."

go to Contents


Ramacandra Puri & Isvara Puri


Ramacandra Puri


 TEXT 18 
 TRANSLATION 
 Formerly, when Madhavendra Puri was at the last stage of his life, 
Ramacandra Puri came to where he was staying. 
 TRANSLATION 
 Madhavendra Puri was chanting the holy name of Krisna, and sometimes he 
would cry, "O my Lord, I did not get shelter at Mathura." 
 TRANSLATION 
 Then Ramacandra Pure was so foolish that he fearlessly dared to instruct 
his spiritual master. 
 TRANSLATION 
 "If you are in full transcendental bliss," he said, "you should now 
remember only Brahman. Why are you crying?" 
 PURPORT 
 As stated in Bhagavad-geta, brahma-bhutau prasannatma: a Brahman realized 
person is always happy. Na socati na kanksati: he neither laments nor 
aspires for anything. Not knowing why Madhavendra Puri was crying, 
Ramacandra Puri tried to become his advisor. Thus he committed a great 
offense, for a disciple should never try to instruct his spiritual master. 
 TRANSLATION 
 Hearing this instruction, Madhavendra Puri, greatly angry, rebuked him by 
saying, "Get out, you sinful rascal! 
 PURPORT 
 Ramacandra Puri could not understand that his spiritual master, Madhavendra 
 Puri, was feeling transcendental separation. His lamentation was not 
material. Rather, it proceeded from the highest stage of ecstatic love of 
Krisna. When he was crying in separation, "I could not achieve Krisna! I 
could not reach Mathura!" this was not ordinary material lamentation. 
Ramacandra Puri was not sufficiently expert to understand the feelings of 
Madhavendra Puri, but nevertheless he thought himself very advanced. 
Therefore, regarding Madhavendra Pure's expressions as ordinary material 
lamentation, he advised him to remember Brahman because he was latently an 
impersonalist. Madhavendra Puri understood Ramacandra Puri's position as a 
great fool and therefore immediately rebuked him. Such a reprimand from the 
spiritual master is certainly for the betterment of the disciple. 
 TRANSLATION 
 "O my Lord Krisna, I could not reach You, nor could I reach Your abode, 
Mathura. I am dying in my unhappiness, and now this rascal has come to give 
me more pain. 
 TRANSLATION 
 "Don't show your face to me! Go anywhere else you like. If I die seeing 
your face, I shall not achieve the destination of my life. 
 TRANSLATION 
 "I am dying without achieving the shelter of Krisna, and therefore I am 
greatly unhappy. Now this condemned foolish rascal has come to instruct me 
about Brahman." 
 TRANSLATION 
 Ramacandra Puri was thus renounced by Madhavendra Puri. Due to his offense, 
  gradually material desire appeared within him. 
 PURPORT 
 The word vasana ("material desires") refers to dry speculative knowledge. 
Such speculative knowledge is only material. As confirmed in 
Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.14.4), a person without devotional service who simply 
  wants to know things (kevala-bodha-labdhaye) gains only dry speculative 
knowledge but no spiritual profit. This is also confirmed in the 
Bhakti-sandarbha (111), wherein it is said: 
"Even though one is liberated in this life, if one offends the Supreme 
Personality of Godhead he falls down in the midst of material desires, of 
which dry speculation about spiritual realization is one." 
 In his Laghu-tosani commentary on Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.2.32), Jiva Gosvami 
  says; 

 "Even if one is liberated in this life, he becomes addicted to material 
desires because of offenses to the Supreme Personality of Godhead." 
 A similar quotation from one of the Puranas also appears in the 
Visnu-bhakti-candrodaya: 

 "Even liberated souls sometimes fall down to material desires, but those 
  who fully engaged in devotional service to the Supreme Personality of 
Godhead are not affected by such desires." 
 These are references from authoritative revealed scriptures. If one becomes 
  an offender to his spiritual master or the Supreme Personality of Godhead, 
  he falls down to the material platform to merely speculate. 
 TRANSLATION 
 One who is attached to dry speculative knowledge has no relationship with 
Krisna. His occupation is criticizing Vaisnavas. Thus he is situated in 
criticism. 
 PURPORT 
 Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura has explained in his Anubhasya that 
  the word nirbandha indicates that Ramacandra Puri had a steady desire to 
criticize others. Impersonalist Mayavadis who have no relationship with 
Krisna, who cannot take to devotional service and who simply engage in 
material arguments to understand Brahman regard devotional service to 
Krisna as karma-kanda, or fruitive activities. According to them, 
devotional service to Krisna is but another means for attaining dharma, 
artha, kama and moksa. Therefore they criticize the devotees for engaging 
in material activities. They think that devotional service is maya and that 
Krisna or Visnu is also maya. Therefore they are called Mayavadis. Such a 
mentality awakens in a person who is an offender to Krisna and His 
devotees. 


Isvara Puri


TRANSLATION 
 Isvara Puri, the spiritual master of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, performed 
service to Madhavendra Puri, cleaning up his stool and urine with his own 
hand. 
 TRANSLATION 
 Isvara Puri was always chanting the holy name and pastimes of Lord Krisna 
for Madhavendra Puri to hear. In this way he helped Madhavendra Puri 
remember the holy name and pastimes of Lord Krisna at the time of death. 
 TRANSLATION 
 Pleased with Isvara Puri, Madhavendra Puri embraced him and gave him the 
benediction that he would be a great devotee and lover of Krisna. 
 TRANSLATION 
 Thus Isvara Puri became like an ocean of ecstatic love for Krisna, whereas 
Ramacandra Puri became a dry speculator and a critic of everyone else. 

Conclusion


TRANSLATION 
 Isvara Puri received the blessing of Madhavendra Puri, whereas Ramacandra 
Puri received a rebuke from him. Therefore these two persons, Isvara Puri 
and Ramacandra Puri, are examples of the objects of a great personality's 
benediction and punishment. Madhavendra Puri instructed the entire world by 
presenting these two examples.
        Caitanya Caritamrita, Antya, 8
go to Contents


Bhagavad-gita 4.34

BG 4.34
tad viddhi pranipatena
pariprasnena sevaya
upadeksyanti te jnanam
jnaninas tattva-darsinah

"Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth."

PURPORT
The path of spiritual realization is undoubtedly difficult. The Lord therefore advises us to approach a bona fide spiritual master in the line of disciplic succession from the Lord Himself. No one can be a bona fide spiritual master without following this principle of disciplic succession. The Lord is the original spiritual master, and a person in the disciplic succession can convey the message of the Lord as it is to his disciple. No one can be spiritually realized by manufacturing his own process, as is the fashion of the foolish pretenders. The Bhagavatam (6.3.19) says, dharmaa tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam: the path of religion is directly enunciated by the Lord. Therefore, mental speculation or dry arguments cannot help lead one to the right path. Nor by independent study of books of knowledge can one progress in spiritual life. One has to approach a bona fide spiritual master to receive the knowledge. Such a spiritual master should be accepted in full surrender, and one should serve the spiritual master like a menial servant, without false prestige. Satisfaction of the self-realized spiritual master is the secret of advancement in spiritual life. Inquiries and submission constitute the proper combination for spiritual understanding. Unless there is submission and service, inquiries from the learned spiritual master will not be effective. One must be able to pass the test of the spiritual master, and when he sees the genuine desire of the disciple, he automatically blesses the disciple with genuine spiritual understanding. In this verse, both blind following and absurd inquiries are condemned. Not only should one hear submissively from the spiritual master, but one must also get a clear understanding from him, in submission and service and inquiries. A bona fide spiritual master is by nature very kind toward the disciple. Therefore when the student is submissive and is always ready to render service, the reciprocation of knowledge and inquiries becomes perfect.

go to Contents


"text"
go to Contents