So the process of hearing is very important. So our this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is to propagate that “You hear from the authority, Kṛṣṇa.” Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is accepted in the present age and in the past age. In the past age, great sages like Nārada, Vyāsa, Asita, Devala, very, very great stalwart scholars and sages, they accepted. In the Middle Age, say 1,500 years ago, all the ācāryas like Śaṅkarācārya, Rāmānujācārya, Madhvācārya, Nimbārka… Practically, Indian Vedic civilization, it is still existing on the authority of these ācāryas. And it is recommended in the Bhagavad-gītā: ācāryopāsanam. If you want to learn factually things, then you should approach ācārya. Ācāryavān puruṣo veda, “One who has accepted ācārya, he knows things as they are.” Ācāryavān puruṣo veda. So we are receiving knowledge through the ācāryas.Kṛṣṇa spoke to Arjuna, Arjuna spoke to Vyāsadeva. Arjuna actually did not speak to Vyāsadeva, but Vyāsadeva heard it, Kṛṣṇa speaking, and he noted down in his book Mahābhārata. This Bhagavad-gītā is found in Mahābhārata. So we accept the authorities of Vyāsa. And from Vyāsa, Madhvācārya; from Madhvācārya, so many disciplic succession, up to MādhavendraPurī. Then MādhavendraPurī to Īśvara Purī; from Īśvara Purī to Lord Caitanyadeva; from Lord Caitanyadeva to six Gosvāmīs; from six Gosvāmīs to KṛṣṇadāsaKavirāja; from him, Śrīnivāsa Ācārya; from him, Viśvanātha Cakravartī; from him, Jagannāthadāsa Bābājī; then Gaura Kiśora dāsa Bābājī; Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura; my spiritual master. The same thing, we are preaching. That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. It is nothing new. It is coming down from the original speaker, Kṛṣṇa, by disciplic succession. So we are reading this Bhagavad-gītā. Not that I have manufactured some book and I am preaching. No. I am preaching Bhagavad-gītā. The same Bhagavad-gītā as it was first spoken forty millions of years ago to the sun-god and again it was repeated five thousand years ago to Arjuna. The same thing is coming down by disciplic succession, and the same thing is presented before you. There is no change. Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/classes/bg/2/13/pittsburgh/september/08/1972 So it is very difficult with these rascals. Very, very difficult. Therefore my Guru Mahārāja’s GuruMahārāja, Gaura Kiśora dāsa Bābājī Mahārāja, they were not preaching. They were disgusted that “I have no power to reform these rascals. Better don’t bother. Let them go to hell. At least… Let them.” But still, my GuruMahārāja preached. He was so kind. And he asked us also to do the same thing. But it is very, very difficult job. People are so rascal, so condemned, so sinful. It is very, very difficult to raise them. Very difficult. Mandāḥ sumanda-matayo manda–bhāgyā hy upadrutāḥ [SB 1.1.10]. So only those who are very fortunate, they will understand that “I am eternal,” avināśi, “I am imperishable. I am put into this condition of perishable condition due to this my material body.” So how to get out of it? They have no ambition. Just like dogs and cats. Simply sense gratification. Kṛṣṇa is so kind, how, very clearly explains. You try to understand what is the soul.So who does not understand there is consciousness all over the body? Tad viddhi. Yena sarvam idaṁ tatam. They’ll jump over, “Yes, I am the Supreme God.” God’s consciousness is also spread all over. That’s all right. But is your consciousness spread all over the universe? Both of us, we are conscious. But He is supreme consciousness. Therefore, His consciousness is spread all over the universe, all over the creation. In the Thirteenth Chapter, you’ll find Kṛṣṇa says, kṣetra–jñaṁ cāpi māṁ viddhi sarva–kṣetreṣu bhārata: [Bg.13.3] “I am also kṣetra–jñam.” Supersoul. What is the difference between Supersoul and soul? Soul, consciousness, is spread all over this body. You are soul, your consciousness spread all over your body. I am soul, my consciousness spread all over the body. But my consciousness not spread all over your body, neither your consciousness spread all over my body. But God’s, Kṛṣṇa’s, consciousness is spread over your body and my body, His body and everyone. Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/classes/bg/2/17/london/august/23/1973 So actually it is happening. We are not wonderful men. But our only business is that we are speaking only the same thing as Kṛṣṇa has spoken. That’s all. There is no magic. This is the magic. If you adulterate nonsensically like a rascal, then you cannot become a spiritual master. If you simply follow what Kṛṣṇa has spoken, then you become spiritual master. Very simple thing. It doesn’t require education. You can hear from your spiritual master what has Kṛṣṇa said.It doesn’t require even literacy. There are many great personalities, saintly persons. My Guru Mahārāja’s GuruMahārāja, he was illiterate, Gaura Kiśora dāsa Bābājī Mahārāja. He could not sign even his name. But my Guru Mahārāja was the best scholar of his time. He accepted him as guru. So this is the process, that yei kṛṣṇa–tattva–vettā sei guru haya [Cc. Madhya8.128]. That is the business of every Indian. And CaitanyaMahāprabhu therefore asking,Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/classes/bg/4/15/bombay/april/04/1974 It is a great science. It is not a bluff, that anybody can manufacture something spiritual. No. It is a great science. One has to study the science from bona fide spiritual master. Study means… It does not mean that one has to be very highly qualified in academic education. Spiritual science does not depend on one’s academic education. You’ll be surprised to know that my grand-spiritual master, my spiritual master’s spiritual master, he was illiterate. And my spiritual master was the learned, greatest learned scholar of his age. Now, how he became the disciple of an illiterate man? So, but that GauraKiśoradāsa Bābājī Mahārāja… His name was Gaura Kiśora dāsa Bābājī Mahārāja, my spiritual master’s spiritual master, my grand-spiritual master. So he was illiterate, but when you asked him some question, some intricate question of spiritual significance, he’ll answer you immediately very nicely. That is realization. Now, how this realization takes place? Not by academic education, but by sincerity. If one is very sincere, that he wants to know what is spiritual science, what is God, what is self, what is Superself, what is this world, what is spiritual world—there are so many questions. Unfortunately, we are not inquisitive. And one who is not inquisitive, for him there is no need of accepting a spiritual master. In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam it is directed, tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta: [SB 11.3.21] “One should surrender to a spiritual master.” Tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta jijñāsuḥ. Who will surrender? Who has become very inquisitive, “What is God?” Take for example, “What is God? What I am?” Now, unless one is very seriously inquisitive about this subject matter, there is no need of spiritual master. Tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta jijñāsuḥ. Jijñāsuḥ means very inquisitive. And what sort of jijñāsuḥ, inquisitive? There must be some subject matter of inquiry. Just in the market place the businessmen, their inquiry, “What is the rate? What is the price of this thing?” He’s interested in purchasing and selling. The Bhāgavata says, “Not that kind of inquisitiveness. Not for any material inquiry.” There is no need of asking about any material things which are hackneyed. Jijñāsuḥ śreya. “What is my ultimate goal of life?” That inquiry. Now, everyone knows that “My ultimate goal of life is to accumulate a big bank balance.” Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/classes/sb/1/5/4/los_angeles/january/12/1968 So that attitude should be maintained because here it is said, tvām akiñcana–gocaram [SB 1.8.26]. And CaitanyaMahāprabhu also, he said that niṣkiñcanasya. Here it is called akiñcana. And the same thing in different way, niṣkiñcana. Akiñcana.”A” means negation, and “na” means negation. Niṣkiñcana. So CaitanyaMahāprabhu said that niṣkiñcanasya bhagavad-bhajanonmukhasya. Bhagavad-bhajana, to advance in spiritual life, to be engaged in Kṛṣṇa’s devotional service, that is the aim of life. That is the purpose of human form of life. So for him, he should always remain niṣkiñcana. Niṣkiñcanasya bhagavad-bhajanonmukhasya. So therefore Gaura–kiśora dāsa Bābājī, he remained niṣkiñcana. And his disciple, Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī, he also remained niṣkiñcana although he possessed so many temples, because nothing was for his personal…, but for Kṛṣṇa.So one may question that “Your GuruMahārāja was sitting on the ground in a municipal lavatory…” Because he did not like that “Anybody should disturb me,” he was sitting by the side of municipal lavatory. Because so many people will come for darśana and āśīrvāda, he did not like it. He did not like to be disturbed by these āśīrvāda. You see? They will not take any spiritual instruction. They are thinking that “Here is a saintly person, and he’ll bless me. So I have got now one thousand. I’ll take ten thousand.” That’s all. Therefore, they come. They do not come to take any spiritual instruction. Therefore, it is botheration. It is botheration. So Gaura–kiśoradāsa Bābājī Mahārāja did not like this botheration. He was sitting by the side of a municipal lavatory so that “These rascals will not come out of the bad smell and will not disturb me.” You see? So Mahārāja Mahīndrānandī, he was one of the… He had organized one saṅkīrtana festival. So he came to Gaura–kiśoradāsa Bābājī Mahārāja and to invite him. So after many requests, Gaura–kiśoradāsa Bābājī Mahārāja said, “Mahārāja, you have got many tenants. You are Mahārāja. Why you are trying to make me your tenant? Because you are rich man, you also want… As your tenants carries your order, so you also want me. So why you are…?” “No, sir, no. You are my lord. Whatever you say, I shall carry out.” “Will you carry out?” “Why not?” So, he said that “Don’t go home. Sit down here. Chant HareKṛṣṇa.” He fled away. (laughter) You see. So he was very humorous also, Gaura–kiśoradāsa Bābājī, that “If you are so obedient, then I ask you, ‘Don’t go home. Better give up your dress and chant HareKṛṣṇa here.’ ” So, he was akiñcana. So similarly, … Just like RāmānandaRāya. He was gṛhastha, very opulent, governor. He is also akiñcana because nothing was possessed by personal; everything for Jagannātha. This is distinction. On one side, Rūpa Gosvāmī, and one side, RāmānandaRāya. And RāmānandaRāya is the most confidential devotee of CaitanyaMahāprabhu, although he’s a gṛhastha, because he is akiñcana, as akiñcana as Rūpa Gosvāmī. So we have to become akiñcana. Akiñcana. Then we shall realize Kṛṣṇa. Therefore, it is said, akiñcana–gocaram: “You are understandable only by a person who does not possess so-called material opulence.” So we should always remember that whatever we are trying for material…, it is all for Kṛṣṇa, nothing for us. So that people may… Big, gorgeous temple means people will be attracted to come here, and we’ll distribute Kṛṣṇa’s prasādam. The aim is some way or other to turn them to convert them into Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Then you remain akiñcana. And if we think that “We have got now very big house. We shall live comfortably and sleep comfortably,” then na gocaram, then Kṛṣṇa will not be realized. Then that comfort will be realized only, not Kṛṣṇa. Akiñcana–gocaram. We should always remember this. This is… Kuntīdevī is saying, tvām akiñcana–gocaram [SB 1.8.26]. And CaitanyaMahāprabhu said also, niṣkiñcanasya bhagavad-bhajanonmukhasya. Bhagavad-bhajana, devotional service to Kṛṣṇa, if one is interested, he should not desire anything material possession. Material… Anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyam [Brs. 1.1.11]. Niṣkiñcanasya bhagavad-bhajano… And Bhagavad-bhajana, why required? Now, pāraṁ paraṁ jigamiṣor bhava–sāgarasya. We are rotting in this material world. We have to cross over the nescience ocean, and go to Vaikuṇṭha. That is bhagavad-bhajana. Bhagavad-bhajana does not mean to increase our material possessions. That is dharmārtha-kāma–mokṣa [SB 4.8.41]. These are material things. People become religious to increase their economic condition better, dharma artha, generally. They want to… Just like there are so many so-called saintly persons. They advertise that “If you give me one, I shall give you ten.” Magic, gold manufacturing, or some cloth and they get more… People are after them. But akiñcana. We have nothing to give. So they do not come to us.So Kṛṣṇa is akiñcana–gocaram. We should always remember that, that if we desire to be materially happy, and if we think, “Some material possession and prestige in the society and becoming a learned scholar… I shall be getting more and more adoration from the society. I’ll be a big man,” then Kṛṣṇa will be finished. Kṛṣṇa will be finished. Kṛṣṇa is akiñcana–gocara. That is the instruction of this verse. Naivārhaty abhidhātum. These persons, janmaiśvarya-śruta-śrībhir edhamāna [SB 1.8.26], increasing material opulence, they does not, they do not deserve approaching Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa will be approached by Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura when he says, tomā bine ke āche āmāra: “I have no other alternative than to take shelter at the lotus feet of Your Lordship. Please give me…” We should always remember this. Then we shall be able to make progress in spiritual life.Thank you very much. (end)Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/classes/sb/1/8/26/mayapura/october/06/1974 So Śrī CaitanyaMahāprabhu was a great scholar. There is no doubt of it. But in spite of His becoming a great scholar, He is presenting Himself as a great fool. He says, “My GuruMahārāja saw Me a great…” Even one is very great scholar, he has to abide by the decision of his spiritual master. Even one is very great scholar, and if his spiritual master says that “You are a great fool,” he should accept it. This is called full surrender. For example, I’ll give you a practical… My Guru Mahārāja was very great scholar, and his Guru Mahārāja, from literary point of view, he could not even sign his name, Gaura–kiśora dāsa Bābājī Mahārāja. And Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura asked Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura to accept Gaura–kiśora dāsa Bābājī Mahārāja as his, as his spiritual master, that “You go and take your initiation from Gaura–kiśora dāsa Bābājī Mahārāja.” So, he thought that “I am a great scholar, and I am son of a magistrate, Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, and great Vaiṣṇava. He’ll be very much pleased to accept me.” Of course, he was very much pleased. But in the beginning, he refused. He refused. Because… Of course, that is only show. He was not proud. Just to teach us. Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī explained that “I was little proud. So, I was thrice refused by GuruMahārāja,” although he was the only disciple. So, the scholarship is not a qualification of becoming devotee. That is Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s teaching. Scholarship may help, but it is not necessary. Real necessary is that one should be humble and meek and follow the instruction of the spiritual master. This is real qualification.tṛṇād api sunīcena
taror api sahiṣṇunā
amāninā mānadena
kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ
[Cc. Ādi 17.31]Because bhakti does not depend on any material qualification. Bhakti is different subject matter. Aprakṛta. Adhokṣaja. Sa vai puṁsāṁ paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhokṣaje [SB 1.2.6].So that is being taught, that… Śrī CaitanyaMahāprabhu explained His position to PrakāśānandaSarasvatī that “My GuruMahārāja, studying My character, he found Me a great fool. Therefore he advised Me to chant HareKṛṣṇamahā–mantra.” The idea is that by studying Vedānta–sūtra, by becoming a very great scholar, to achieve transcendental position of devotional service is very, very difficult nowadays. That is Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s gift. But whatever you may be, if you chant HareKṛṣṇamahā–mantra offenselessly, then everything is achieved, without any difficulty. CaitanyaMahāprabhu said, ihā haite sarva–siddhi haibe tomāra. Sarva–siddhi. Siddhi means perfection. Siddhi means perfection. So CaitanyaMahāprabhu advised… That is His propaganda. Ceto-darpaṇa–mārjanaṁ bhava–māha–dāvāgni–nirvāpaṇaṁ sarvātmanaṁ paraṁ vijāyate śrī–kṛṣṇa–saṅkīrtanam [Cc. Antya20.12]. That is Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s… So His GuruMahārāja advised Him… He presented Himself like that to PrakāśānandaSarasvatī. Presenting Himself as fool means that the general mass of people, they are not fit for becoming very great Sanskrit scholar or very good philosopher or student of Vedānta philo… That is not possible in this age, in Kali–yuga. Mass of people, they are almost śūdra. Śūdra-sambhava. Scholarship, to study Sanskrit, to study Vedas, Purāṇas, they are meant for the brāhmaṇas. Not even for the kṣatriyas, or what to speak of vaiśya. Vaiśya, śūdra and woman, they have been classified in the Bhagavad-gītā as less intelligent. Striyo vaiśyās tathā śūdras te ‘pi yānti parāṁ gatim. But Kṛṣṇa is so merciful. If you take the shelter of Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet, whatever you may be… You may be scholar or not scholar. You may be rich or poor; women, śūdra, vaiśya, or pāpa–yoni. It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter. In Bhāgavata also, Śukadeva Gosvāmī says, kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā ābhīra-śumbha yavanāḥ khasādayaḥ ye ‘nye ca pāpā [SB 2.4.18]. Pāpā means born in low-grade family. They are called pāpā. Śuddhyanti: they become purified. This is the verdict of the śāstras, that bhagavad-bhakti does not depend on any kind of material qualification. Simply you have to become very sincere and serious. That is the only price. Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/classes/cc/adi/7/91-2/vrndavana/march/13/1974 Regarding your questions, the swami order is certainly introduced by Sankaracarya, because almost all sannyasis of impersonal philosophy take this name, Swami. But the Swami title offered to me is equivalent to Goswami. Swami and Goswami are actually the same, synonomous. Swami means the master, and master means the master of the senses. Goswami directly explains master of senses. Go means senses. So, this name, Goswami, is not the Sankaracarya’s order. So far as your second question, Thakura Bhaktivinode was not official Spiritual Master of GauraKisoradasa Babaji Maharaja. GauraKisoradasa Babaji Maharaja was already renounced order, Paramahamsa, but Thakura Bhaktivinode, while He was even playing the part of a householder, was treated by Gaura Kisora dasa 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, siksa guru and diksa guru. So officially Bhaktivinode Thakura was like siksa guru of Gaura Kisora das Babaji Maharaja.I shall be glad to receive your letters at least once in a week. I hope this will find you in good health.Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/letters/allston/may/01/1969/dayananda Srila Prabhupada glorifies Srila Gaura Kisora dasa babajicompiled byYasoda nandana dasa
So this movement, Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, that you already know, that this is a most essential, most important movement to the human society. Last night the Ambassador of India, His Excellency Rasagotra, he was present here. He also appreciated that this movement is very important movement, and he was very pleased that I have done so much. So this movement will go on. Nobody can stop. So this Vyāsa–pūjā ceremony means to offer our thanks to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, because He is is the original guru. As we receive this message through paramparā system from Kṛṣṇa to Brahmā, Brahmā to Nārada, Nārada to Vyāsadeva, Vyāsadeva to Madhvācārya, in this way, MādhavendraPurī, then Īśvara Purī, then CaitanyaMahāprabhu, then six Gosvāmīs, then others, Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, Jagannāthadāsa Bābājī, Gaura Kiśora dāsa Bābājī Mahārāja, Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī. Then we have taken. So this, as we come to this Kṛṣṇa consciousness understanding through this long paramparā, similarly, in the Vyāsa–pūjā ceremony, whatever respect, honor, and presentation you give, that goes to Kṛṣṇa through that paramparā system, from down. As it is received through the paramparā system, so similarly, your offerings also goes through this paramparā system to the Supreme. The connection. Our system is gopī-bhārtur pāda-kamalayor dāsa-dāsānudāsaḥ [Cc. Madhya13.80]. It is sometimes called bureaucracy. If you apply something, at least in India, to the President, you’ll have to submit to the local collector. The collector will submit to somebody else, somebody else, then secretary, you go. Then to the President. So our system is that. So it is not that I am training my disciples to worship me, man-worship, I’m getting some honor from them for nothing. No. It is not that. Whatever honor, whatever respect, whatever presentation you are giving to your spiritual master, it will go to Kṛṣṇa by paramparā system. This is Vyāsa–pūjā. Therefore, it is called Vyāsa–pūjā. Vyāsa–pūjā means Vyāsadeva is the original guru. After Brahma, Nārada, then Vyāsa. And Vyāsa is original guru, because from his literature we understand spiritual knowledge. All these literatures whatever we have produced, they are actually originally from Vyāsadeva. The four Vedas, Brahma–sūtra, Upaniṣads, Purāṇas, they are called Vedic literature. And whatever is written with the conclusion of this Vedic literature, that is also Vedic literature. Just like our books. All our books, they are not mental speculation. Whatever I have learned from my GuruMahārāja, I am presenting. That’s all. It is not mental speculation—this philosophy, that philosophy. We kick out all these things. Unless we get the knowledge from the authorized source, we don’t accept. Because how we can accept? A so-called philosopher, scientist, according to… Why according? Everyone can understand that however great philosopher, scientist one may be, he is imperfect. He’s imperfect. Every man. I have several times recited this example that in our country Gandhi was very big politician. You know MahatmaGandhi. He committed so many mistakes. At last he committed such a great mistake that he was killed. That’s a long history. So even a great person like MahatmaGandhi, he commits mistake. Therefore, the śāstra says any conditioned soul, he must commit mistake. However great he may be in the estimation of fools and rascals. Sva-viḍ-varāhostra. He must commit mistake, he must be illusioned, his propensity is to cheat, and at the end, all the senses are imperfect. We have several times described. So, so much imperfectness, how he can give perfect knowledge? Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/classes/festival/sri_vyasa-puja/london/august/22/1973