Why a disciple should accept Guru’s Order, not act on his own?
Part-2 of the Series “DUTIES OF A DISCIPLE TO HIS GURU”
Why a disciple should not act on his own ideas?
Srila Prabhupada’s comments about those who violate the Guru’s orders are very important and they are also a warning to us.
Srila Prabhupada sternly says that one who violates the Guru’s word is not only not a devotee, he is not even a gentleman in the first place.
Srila Prabhupada says in Srimad-Bhagavatam (8-17-1) that when a disciple thinks arbitrarily and acts according to his own opinion without obeying the Guru’s command, then that disciple has failed in his spiritual life.
So what does that mean?
A disciple should always be in agreement with the Guru, i.e. be able to accept what the Guru says as it is.
Even while preaching we should not produce and preach our own ideas. We should tell others what our Guru told us. We can give our extra explanations without changing the basic philosophy.
This is how wisdom should be passed on without change of the concepts and contents in the guru-disciple lineage.
When any disciple imposes his own ideas on people, it means that he violates the rules of guru-disciple lineage.
Devotees also need to be knowledgeable enough to identify the fake preachers and fake devotees.
We must be wise enough to recognize and ignore any propagandist who tries to impose his new ideas.
Don’t blindly follow someone just because they say something interesting. It leads to our downfall in spiritual life.
That is why, HH Banu Swami Maharaj beautifully said in a lecture:
“A devotee who practices bhakti yoga can become a better devotee when he also practices Gnana yoga.”
What does this mean?
A devotee can become a great devotee if he has wisdom and intelligence.
How?
Although Bhakti is not bound by anything, it is good to have the wisdom to know “what is right and what is wrong” and save oneself from falling from the spiritual life.
So we should only follow a preacher who gives the same opinion as his Guru.
In spiritual life we are not free to say whatever we like.
One can be a very interesting speaker. Thousands of people can follow him for that. He might have worn rings on all ten fingers and crawl in a foreign car. That doesn’t mean he’s a great propagandist.
One who carries forward the words of his Guru as it is, is called the best disciple and preacher.
If we are not very careful in our spiritual life in this Kali Yuga, there is a danger that we will fall into the clutches of wrong people and commit sins and return to animal life.
Why a disciple should accept Guru’s Order?
Let us read what Srila Prabhupada said about this and my explanation followed by that:
“After being initiated and receiving the orders of the spiritual master, the disciple should unhesitatingly think about the instructions or orders of the spiritual master and should not allow himself to be disturbed by anything else. This is also the verdict of Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, who, while explaining the verse of Bhagavad-gītā beginning vyavasāyātmikā buddhir ekeha kuru-nandana (Bg. 2.41), points out that the order of the spiritual master is the life substance of the disciple. The disciple should not consider whether he is going back home, back to Godhead; his first business should be to execute the order of his spiritual master. Thus a disciple should always meditate on the order of the spiritual master, and that is perfectional meditation. Not only should he meditate upon that order, but he should find out the means by which he can perfectly worship and execute it. (Srimad Bhagavatam 4.24.15)
(TYPES OF GURUS (SPIRITUAL MASTERS) FROM THE SCRIPTURES! READ HERE!)
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“Disciple” is associated with the word “discipline”!
To accept a spiritual master is to voluntarily agree to behave in accordance with the rules and regulations imposed by a sanctorum.
‘Disciple’ means voluntary acceptance. “Okay sir. I accept whatever you say”.
The Sanskrit word disciple means one who follows the rules. In English, ‘Sishya’
The word is related to the word order. So a disciple is ordained by the Guru.
“I don’t care about the inconvenience. I have to act according to orders”.
(Lecture 5.5.1 Titna Hurst, London Sep.)
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Now, a question arises:
Well, you have done wrong against Guru. How to get rid of that mistake?
Surrendering at the Guru’s feet and confessing the mistake to Him and seeking forgiveness in the same way from other Vaishnavas whom we have harmed can free you from this offense.
(Is Brahmana Diksha (Second Initiation) Compulsory for all? READ HERE!)
Srila Prabhupada says about this in the Foreword of Srimad Bhagavatam (that have been summerized here from memory):
“Lord Caitanya accepts all types of sinners on this one condition. Nityalanda Prabhu pleaded with Bagawan to forgive the two brothers (Jagai and Madhai ) when the Lord summoned his Sudarsana Chakra. At that time the two brothers fell at the Lord’s feet and prayed for His forgiveness.
But the Lord made it a condition that they should give up all sinful activities. The brothers also agreed and vowed to renounce their sinful activities. The merciful Lord also accepted them and did not point out their past sinful deeds again.
This is Lord Caitanya’s greatest mercy. No one can claim to be free from sin in this age. But after being initiated by a qualified spiritual master, they must vow not to engage in any sinful activity. All types of sinners are accepted by Bhagawan Caitanya on this one condition. All Kaliyuga people have the qualities of Jagai and Madhai. If they want to be freed from the effects of sin, they should take shelter of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. And after receiving initiation, one should abstain from things prohibited by the Shastras.”
(ISKCON Disciples Course (IDC) – The Purpose & Contents! READ HERE!)
Let’s remember well:
All the reactions of our sins before we took initiation affected us only.
When we receive initiation from a guru, our guru takes responsibility for all our actions including sins.
Is this a normal liability for a guru?
See how big a risk our guru is taking trusting that we will follow his instructions!
After initiation, the reactions of our every good deed and sin reach our Guru.
“Well, our sins are not going to affect us, they are going to affect our Guru only, it doesn’t matter”
If we keep committing sins even after promising to guru thereby affecting his health, can there be more selfish people than us in this world?
Should we deceive the Guru who trusted us and initiated us? Should we be the cause of his illness?
(Why ISKCON follows Siksha Guru Parampara? READ HERE!)
If we regularly chant the Hari Nam, follow the rules of restraint, follow the Guru’s orders and serve the temple of the Lord with which we are associated, it benefits our Guru and keeps him healthy
On the contrary, if we do not chant properly and live a life full of offenses and sins like average people, it greatly affects the health of our Guru.
If our health goes down, we need not feel guilty. We can take it as our karma.
But if we harm our Guru? Is it not our selfishness to harm the health of our guru?
Is it not the violation of trust?
Don’t we have more responsibility after initiation?
Let us just think it over!
(Why Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati took diksha from the Picture of his guru Gaur Kishore Babaji? READ HERE!)
In some cases, as soon as one enters the spiritual life, he starts preaching half-learned knowledge or his own ideas.
Therefore, in our spiritual life, we need to hear different opinions from many people.
This can be confusing. Sometimes it can lead to downfall.
Who to follow in such situations?
Guru is a gift given to us by God. Therefore, only our Guru will be our guide.
So, when you are confused by various opinions, don’t wander here and there; Go straight to your Guru and politely ask him to clear your doubts.
He can clear your doubts directly, or can direct you to ask someone.
By doing as the Guru says, we can be secure in spiritual life forever.
So in brief, I would like to say:
“Close your eyes and follow what the Guru says. Do not act contrary to his opinion. If you follow your guru’s instructions, you will grow safely in spiritual life and surely reach the kingdom of God.”
(WHAT IF A DISCIPLE IS UNABLE TO SURRENDER TO GURU? READ HERE!)
Well, let’s continue to see what Srila Prabhupada had to say about this matter:
(1)
Hṛdayānanda: (translating) He wants to know if the greatest offense is to disobey the guru.
Srila Prabhupāda: Yes, that is the first offense. Guror avajñā, śruti-śāstra-nindanam. Śruti-śāstra-nindanaṁ guror avajñā. If you accept guru and again disobey him, then what is your position? You are not a gentleman. You promise before guru, before Kṛṣṇa, before fire, that “I shall obey your order; I shall execute this,” and again you do not do this. Then you are not even a gentleman, what to speak about devotee. This is common sense.
(2)
You cannot disobey guru. But if you become a servant, you want to please the disciple by flattering him to get his money, then you are not guru, you are servant. Just like a servant pleases the master. He’s not guru. He’s servant. So, our position should be servant, yes, but servant of the Supreme. So, guru means heavy. You cannot utilize him for satisfying your whims. That is not guru. (pause) Now? What other question? (Answers to a Questionnaire from Bhavan’s Journal — June 28, 1976, Vrndavana)
(3)
After receiving the spiritual master’s mercy, one must repeat his instructions, and this is called śravaṇa-kīrtana-hearing and chanting. (Sri Caitanya-Caritamrta (1975 edition). Madhya-Lila. 19.152)
(4)
Divya jñāna hṛde prokāśito. Divya-jñāna means “Transcendental knowledge.” So, to play tricks with guru, to become diplomat and intriguer, these rascaldom will not help bhagavad-bhakti-yoga. You can get some other things, some material profit, but spiritual life will be spoiled. (Srimad-Bhagavatam Lecture [Sb. 1.2.20], New York, NY, USA. July 24, 1974)
(Should a disciple consult his Spiritual master after getting Krishna? READ HERE!)
(5)
“One cannot attain perfection without smearing the dust from the lotus feet of an exalted devotee on his head. If one always follows the orders of the spiritual master, there is no question of falling down. As soon as a foolish disciple tries to overtake his spiritual master and becomes ambitious to occupy his post, he immediately falls down.”
(6)
“Eternal bond between disciple and Spiritual Master begins from the day he hears.” (Letter to Jadurani, 4/9/72)
(7)
Every acarya has a specific means of propagating his spiritual movement with the aim of bringing men to Krsna consciousness. (C.c., 7:37, purport)
(8)
Prabhupada:”My disciples are my agents, my representatives, so by hearing it from them, you are receiving it from me.” (Srila Prabhupada Letter, March 6th, 1968)
(9)
“The order of the spiritual master is the active principle in spiritual life. Anyone who disobeys the order of the spiritual master immediately becomes useless.” (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 12.8-10)
(10)
“When disciples do not stick to the principle of accepting the order of their spiritual master, immediately there are two opinions. Any opinion different from the opinion of the spiritual master is useless. One cannot infiltrate materially concocted ideas into spiritual advancement. That is deviation.” (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 12.8-10, purport)
(11)
“The instructions received from the spiritual master must be followed immediately. One should not deviate from or surpass the instructions of the spiritual master.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.5.14, purport)
(12)
To honor the spiritual master means to carry out his instructions word for word. (SB 3.24.12 Purport).
Therefore, follow as said by your Guru like Arjuna who acted as said by Krishna whom he surrendered as a disciple.