Obstacles Bhakti - Kunjeshwari Home

Obstacles in Bhakti
Meaning – “The Guru who orders his disciple to act improperly, unlawfully or
unjustly and the disciple who obeys such an order – both rot in hell forever
and ever.”
Vivek das – I have one serious doubt. You quoted, “Guru Krishna-rup hon
shâstrer pramâne” and “mohimây guru-krishna ek kori jâno.” Suppose I
select someone as my Guru. How will he suddenly become Krishna? All right,
I’ll explain more in detail. Suppose I give Ishta-Mantra to someone. Then
how did I become Bhagavân? How is it possible that I will gain the same
excellent qualities as Sri Krishna? After all, I am a slave to sense
gratification. I know it.
Gour Kripa – I’ll try to explain logically. Suppose a king sends an
ambassador to a king of another country. That ambassador does not possess
any good quality of the king. He is only an obedient servant of the king. Yet
he will receive all respect from the other king. His own king too will be
pleased to know how they have honored him. He will think the king of the
other country has honored him. Whereas, if the people of that country
disregard the ambassador, his king will take it as a personal insult and will
declare war on that country. In addition, the ambassador signs contracts on
behalf of the king. Both the kings uphold the conditions of the contract.
Similarly, our Sri Gurudev is the Lord’s ambassador. Shâstras call him
‘vyâshti-guru’. Sri Bhagavân is the Supreme Guru – ‘samashti-guru’.
However we must remember one very important point – if we take Mantra
from any Guru, it is not necessary that Sri Bhagavân will accept him as His
ambassador. That Guru must be in bona fide Sampradây and the Mantra he
gives must be handed down in Paramparâ. Only the Mantras that travel down
in Paramparâ come directly from Sri Bhagavân. Then He will accept such a
guru as his ambassador. Otherwise, we may learn Mantras just by reading a
text. Why is it necessary to have a Guru at all? Mantras that do not travel
through Sampradây and Paramparâ are fruitless.
“If you chant Mantras that do not travel through Sampradây and Paramparâ,
even for crores of kalpas - they will not yield any result.” – (Goutamiya
Tantra)
In truth, there is no difference between Sri Gurudev and Sri Krishna.
“If Sri Krishna bestows kripâ on some fortunate soul, then Sri Gurudev, who
reposes in the devotee’s heart, teaches him on his own.” – (C.C.)
When Sri Gurudev is pleased with us, Sri Krishna too is pleased. As soon as
Sri Gurudev blesses us, Sri Krishna too bestows His mercy. When Sri
Gurudev is displeased, Sri Krishna too is displeased. Since Sri Gurudev is Sri
Krishna’s ambassador, His excellent qualities act through him. This is why we
sing “mohimây guru-krishna ek kori jâno”.
“Although my Guru is the servant of Sri Chaitanya Mahâprabhu, I know him
to be His expansion. Shâstras declare that Sri Gurudev is non-different from
Sri Krishna. Sri Krishna bestows kripâ on the devotees in the form of Sri
Gurudev.”
- (C.C.)
30