Essence of Bhagavad-GitaQualifications of an Ideal Disciple

“Now I am confused about my duty and have lost all composure because of miserly weakness. In this condition I am asking You to tell me for certain what is best for me. Now I am Your disciple, and a soul surrendered unto You. Please instruct me.” BG 2.7

““By nature's own way the complete system of material activities is By nature's own way the complete system of material activities is a source of perplexity for everyone. In every step there is a source of perplexity for everyone. In every step there is perplexity, and therefore it behooves one to approach a bona fide perplexity, and therefore it behooves one to approach a bona fide spiritual master who can give one proper guidance for executing spiritual master who can give one proper guidance for executing the purpose of life. All Vedic literatures advise us to approach a the purpose of life. All Vedic literatures advise us to approach a bona fide spiritual master to get free from the perplexities of life, bona fide spiritual master to get free from the perplexities of life, which happen without our desire. They are like a forest fire that which happen without our desire. They are like a forest fire that somehow blazes without being set by anyone. Similarly, the world somehow blazes without being set by anyone. Similarly, the world situation is such' that perplexities of life automatically appear, situation is such' that perplexities of life automatically appear, without our wanting such confusion. No one wants fire, and yet it without our wanting such confusion. No one wants fire, and yet it takes place, and we become perplexed. The Vedic wisdom takes place, and we become perplexed. The Vedic wisdom therefore advises that in order to solve the perplexities of life and therefore advises that in order to solve the perplexities of life and to understand the science of the solution, one must approach a to understand the science of the solution, one must approach a spiritual master who is in the disciplic succession. A person with a spiritual master who is in the disciplic succession. A person with a bona fide spiritual master is supposed to know everything. One bona fide spiritual master is supposed to know everything. One should not, therefore, remain in material perplexities but should should not, therefore, remain in material perplexities but should approach a spiritual master. This is the purport of this verse.”approach a spiritual master. This is the purport of this verse.”

Sincerity of Purpose: The KeySincerity of Purpose: The Key JournalistJournalist: I think an awful lot of our readers, and an awful lot of people in the : I think an awful lot of our readers, and an awful lot of people in the

United States, are terribly confused with the many people who claim to be United States, are terribly confused with the many people who claim to be gurus and gods and who pop up in this country, one after the other after the gurus and gods and who pop up in this country, one after the other after the other, and they say that—other, and they say that—

Çréla PrabhupädaÇréla Prabhupäda: I can declare that they are all nonsense.: I can declare that they are all nonsense. JournalistJournalist: I wonder if you could elaborate on that a little bit.: I wonder if you could elaborate on that a little bit. Çréla PrabhupädaÇréla Prabhupäda: I can say, furthermore, they're all rascals.: I can say, furthermore, they're all rascals. JournalistJournalist: For example, the famous one who sells meditation mantras?: For example, the famous one who sells meditation mantras? Çréla PrabhupädaÇréla Prabhupäda: He is rascal number one. I say it publicly.: He is rascal number one. I say it publicly. JournalisJournalist: Could you explain, give me a little background on that, and why, t: Could you explain, give me a little background on that, and why,

because our readers—because our readers— Çréla PrabhupädaÇréla Prabhupäda: From his behavior I can understand he is rascal number : From his behavior I can understand he is rascal number

one. I do not want to know about him, but what he has done makes it obvious. one. I do not want to know about him, but what he has done makes it obvious. But the wonderful thing is that people in the Western countries are supposed to But the wonderful thing is that people in the Western countries are supposed to be so advanced—how are they befooled by these rascals?be so advanced—how are they befooled by these rascals?

JournalistJournalist: Well, I think that people are looking for something, and he comes : Well, I think that people are looking for something, and he comes along—along—

Çréla PrabhupädaÇréla Prabhupäda: Yes, but they want something very cheap—that is their : Yes, but they want something very cheap—that is their fault. Now, for our disciples, we don't give anything cheap. Our first condition is fault. Now, for our disciples, we don't give anything cheap. Our first condition is character—moral character. You see? Unless one is strictly following moral character—moral character. You see? Unless one is strictly following moral principles, we don't initiate him, we don't allow him in this institution. And this principles, we don't initiate him, we don't allow him in this institution. And this so-called guru has been telling people, "Just do whatever you like. You simply so-called guru has been telling people, "Just do whatever you like. You simply pay me thirty-five dollars, and I'll give you a mantra." You see? So people want pay me thirty-five dollars, and I'll give you a mantra." You see? So people want to be cheated, and so many cheaters come. People do not wish to undergo any to be cheated, and so many cheaters come. People do not wish to undergo any discipline. They have got money, so they think, "We shall pay, and immediately discipline. They have got money, so they think, "We shall pay, and immediately we'll get whatever we want."we'll get whatever we want."

JournalistJournalist: Instant heaven.: Instant heaven. Çréla PrabhupädaÇréla Prabhupäda: Yes. That is their foolishness: Yes. That is their foolishness..

““Besides that, the so-called religious leaders are not following Besides that, the so-called religious leaders are not following even the most basic religious principles. For instance, in the Old even the most basic religious principles. For instance, in the Old Testament there are the Ten Commandments, and one Testament there are the Ten Commandments, and one commandment is "Thou shalt not kill." But killing is very prominent commandment is "Thou shalt not kill." But killing is very prominent in the Christian world. The religious leaders are sanctioning in the Christian world. The religious leaders are sanctioning slaughterhouses, and they have manufactured a theory that slaughterhouses, and they have manufactured a theory that animals have no soul. "Give the dog a bad name and hang it."animals have no soul. "Give the dog a bad name and hang it."

So when we ask, "Why are you committing this sinful act of So when we ask, "Why are you committing this sinful act of killing?" the priests refuse to discuss the matter. Everyone is killing?" the priests refuse to discuss the matter. Everyone is silent. That means they are deliberately disobeying the Ten silent. That means they are deliberately disobeying the Ten Commandments. So where are the religious principles? It is plainly Commandments. So where are the religious principles? It is plainly stated, "Thou shalt not kill." Why are they killing? How do you stated, "Thou shalt not kill." Why are they killing? How do you answer?answer?

JournalistJournalist: Are you asking me?: Are you asking me? Çréla PrabhupädaÇréla Prabhupäda: Yes.: Yes. JournalistJournalist: Well, "Thou shalt not kill" is obviously an ethic... and : Well, "Thou shalt not kill" is obviously an ethic... and

it's timeless, and it's valid. But man is not really interested—it's timeless, and it's valid. But man is not really interested— Çréla PrabhupädaÇréla Prabhupäda: Yes, that's right. They are not really : Yes, that's right. They are not really

interested in religion. It is simply show-bottle. If you do not follow interested in religion. It is simply show-bottle. If you do not follow the regulative principles, then where is your religion?the regulative principles, then where is your religion?

JournalistJournalist: I'm not arguing with you. I couldn't agree with you : I'm not arguing with you. I couldn't agree with you more. I'm in total agreement. It doesn't make any sense. "Thou more. I'm in total agreement. It doesn't make any sense. "Thou shalt not kill." "Thou shalt worship no other gods before Me." shalt not kill." "Thou shalt worship no other gods before Me." "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods." "Thou shalt honor thy "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods." "Thou shalt honor thy father and thy mother."... Those are beautiful—father and thy mother."... Those are beautiful—

Çréla PrabhupädaÇréla Prabhupäda: "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife"—: "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife"—but who is following this?but who is following this?

JournalistJournalist: Very few.: Very few.

Material Qualifications:Material Qualifications:Useless in Solving the Problem of LifeUseless in Solving the Problem of Life

Although Arjuna was Although Arjuna was most qualified in material most qualified in material opulence, knowledge, opulence, knowledge, even the association of even the association of Krishna, that was not Krishna, that was not sufficient to quell his sufficient to quell his lamentation on the lamentation on the battlefield.battlefield.

““It is said that we are It is said that we are passing through the age of passing through the age of darkness, the Kali-yuga. darkness, the Kali-yuga. What is this darkness? The What is this darkness? The darkness cannot be due to darkness cannot be due to backwardness in material backwardness in material knowledge, because we knowledge, because we now have more of it than now have more of it than formerly…Therefore, we formerly…Therefore, we must conclude that the must conclude that the darkness of the present darkness of the present age is not due to a lack of age is not due to a lack of material advancement, but material advancement, but that we have lost the clue that we have lost the clue to our spiritual to our spiritual advancement, which is the advancement, which is the prime necessity of human prime necessity of human life and the criterion of the life and the criterion of the highest type of human highest type of human civilization.”civilization.”

““Throwing of bombs Throwing of bombs from airplanes is no from airplanes is no advancement of advancement of civilization from the civilization from the primitive, uncivilized primitive, uncivilized practice of dropping practice of dropping big stones on the big stones on the heads of enemies heads of enemies from the tops of from the tops of hills.”hills.”

““Improvement of the art of killing our Improvement of the art of killing our neighbors by means of machine guns neighbors by means of machine guns and poisonous gases is certainly no and poisonous gases is certainly no advancement from primitive barbarism, advancement from primitive barbarism, which prided itself on its art of killing by which prided itself on its art of killing by bows and arrows.”bows and arrows.”

““Nor does the development of a sense Nor does the development of a sense of pampered selfishness prove anything of pampered selfishness prove anything more than intellectual animalism.”more than intellectual animalism.”

“All plans for material enjoyment…by modernized advancement of scientific knowledge without the help of God…are illusory only, for despite all such plans for happiness, the conditioned living being within the compass of material creation can never solve the problems of life, namely birth, death, old age and disease. The history of the universe is full of such planmakers, and many kings and emperors come and go, leaving a planmaking story only. But the prime problems of life remain unsolved despite all endeavors by such planmakers.”

““The Vedic wisdom therefore advises The Vedic wisdom therefore advises that in order to solve the perplexities of that in order to solve the perplexities of life and to understand the science of the life and to understand the science of the solution, one must approach a spiritual solution, one must approach a spiritual master who is in the disciplic succession” master who is in the disciplic succession” BG 2.7 prpt.BG 2.7 prpt.

““As friends, both of As friends, both of them were on the them were on the same level, but one of same level, but one of them voluntarily them voluntarily became a student of became a student of the other. Krishna was the other. Krishna was smiling because a smiling because a friend had chosen to friend had chosen to become a disciple…become a disciple…when He was when He was accepted as the accepted as the master, He at once master, He at once assumed the role and assumed the role and talked with the talked with the disciple like the disciple like the master—with gravity, master—with gravity, as it is required.as it is required.

Three Qualities of the StudentThree Qualities of the Studenttad viddhi praëipätenatad viddhi praëipätena

paripraçnena sevayäparipraçnena sevayä

upadekñyanti te jïänaàupadekñyanti te jïänaà

jïäninas tattva-darçinaùjïäninas tattva-darçinaù

“ “Just try to learn the truth by approaching a Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth.” BG 4.34they have seen the truth.” BG 4.34

Praëipätena: Approach Spiritual Praëipätena: Approach Spiritual MasterMaster

• “The sage Çré Çukadeva Gosvämé sat perfectly pacified, intelligent and ready to answer any question without hesitation. The great devotee, Mahäräja Parékñit, approached him, offered his respects by bowing before him, and politely inquired with sweet words and folded hands.” SB 1.19.31

• “The gesture now adopted by Mahäräja Parékñit of questioning a master is quite befitting in terms of scriptural injunctions. The scriptural injunction is that one should humbly approach a spiritual master to understand the transcendental science. Mahäräja Parékñit was now prepared for meeting his death, and within the very short time of seven days he was to know the process of entering the kingdom of God. In such important cases, one is required to approach a spiritual master. There is no necessity of approaching a spiritual master unless one is in need of solving the problems of life.”

Paripraçnena: Submissive Inquiry

• “You are the spiritual master of great saints and devotees. I am therefore begging you to show the way of perfection for all persons, and especially for one who is about to die.” SB 1.19.37

• “Unless one is perfectly anxious to inquire about the way of perfection, there is no necessity of approaching a spiritual master. A spiritual master is not a kind of decoration for a householder. Generally a fashionable materialist engages a so-called spiritual master without any profit. The pseudo spiritual master flatters the so-called disciple, and thereby both the master and his ward go to hell without a doubt. Mahäräja Parékñit is the right type of disciple because he puts forward questions vital to the interest of all men, particularly for the dying men.

• “One who does not know how to put questions before the spiritual master has no business seeing him.” 1.19.31 prpt.

• Submission includes humility and gratitude:

• Humilty:– “The fortunate King Parékñit said: O

brähmaëa, by your mercy only, you have sanctified us, making us like unto places of pilgrimage, all by your presence here as my guest. By your mercy, we, who are but unworthy royalty, become eligible to serve the devotee.” SB 1.19.32

– “Mahäräja Parékñit, out of his devotional humility, felt himself an unworthy descendant of his great kñatriya forefathers, although he was as great as his predecessors.

• Gratitude:– “Simply by our remembering you, our houses become

instantly sanctified. And what to speak of seeing you, touching you, washing your holy feet and offering you a seat in our home?” 1.19.34

– “The importance of holy places of pilgrimage is due to the presence of great sages and saints. It is said that sinful persons go to the holy places and leave their sins there to accumulate. But the presence of the great saints disinfects the accumulated sins, and thus the holy places continue to remain sanctified by the grace of the devotees and saints present there…holy saints actually have no self-interest with the householders. The only aim of such saints is to sanctify the houses of the householders, and the householders therefore should feel grateful when such saints and sages appear at their doors. A householder who dishonors such holy orders is a great offender. It is enjoined, therefore, that a householder who does not bow down before a saint at once must undergo fasting for the day in order to neutralize the great offense.

• Gratitude b/c guru is the mercy of Krishna:

brahmäëòa bhramite kona bhägyavän jévaguru-kåñëa-prasäde päya bhakti-latä-béja

“According to their karma, all living entities are wandering throughout the entire universe. Some of them are being elevated to the upper planetary systems, and some are going down into the lower planetary systems. Out of many millions of wandering living entities, one who is very fortunate gets an opportunity to associate with a bona fide spiritual master by the grace of Kåñëa. By the mercy of both Kåñëa and the spiritual master, such a person receives the seed of the creeper of devotional service.” CC Madhya 19.151

““Krishna is prepared to bestow Krishna is prepared to bestow His mercy upon all living His mercy upon all living entities, and as soon as a living entities, and as soon as a living entity desires the Lord’s mercy, entity desires the Lord’s mercy, the Lord immediately gives him the Lord immediately gives him an opportunity to meet a bona an opportunity to meet a bona fide spiritual master. Such a fide spiritual master. Such a fortunate person is fortified by fortunate person is fortified by both Krishna and the spiritual both Krishna and the spiritual master. He is helped from within master. He is helped from within by Krishna and from without by by Krishna and from without by the spiritual master. Both are the spiritual master. Both are prepared to help the sincere prepared to help the sincere living being become free from living being become free from material bondage.”material bondage.”

Sevayä: Service to the GuruSevayä: Service to the Guru““When these Vaiñëavas When these Vaiñëavas were resting during the were resting during the Cäturmäsya period, the Cäturmäsya period, the boy Närada took the boy Närada took the opportunity to engage in opportunity to engage in their service. Taking their service. Taking compassion upon the compassion upon the boy, the Vaiñëavas boy, the Vaiñëavas offered him the offered him the remnants of their food. remnants of their food. By serving these By serving these Vaiñëavas and obeying Vaiñëavas and obeying their orders, the boy their orders, the boy became the object of became the object of their sympathy, and by their sympathy, and by the Vaiñëavas’ unknown the Vaiñëavas’ unknown mercy, he gradually mercy, he gradually became a pure devotee.”became a pure devotee.”

““In the next life In the next life he was Närada he was Närada Muni, the most Muni, the most exalted of exalted of Vaiñëavas and Vaiñëavas and the most the most important guru important guru and äcärya of and äcärya of Vaiñëavas.”Vaiñëavas.”