# Lecture, "What is a Guru?"

*Lecture, "What is a Guru?" Type: Lectures and Addresses Dated: August 22nd 1973 Location: London Audio file: 730822LE.LON.mp3*

Prabhupāda: [leads *prema-dvani* prayers; devotees offer obeisances]

Speaker: Ladies and gentlemen, I know for most of you this is your first appearance here at Bhaktivedanta Manor. I'd like to extend this welcome to you. Thank you for coming, and please, the door is always open, and our service is about seven o'clock every evening. Thank you very much.

Prabhupāda: [indistinct comment aside about microphone?]

> oṁ ajñāna-timirāndhasya
> jñānāñjana-śalākayā
> cakṣur unmīlitaṁ yena
> tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ

> śrī-caitanya-mano-'bhīṣṭaṁ
> sthāpitaṁ yena bhū-tale
> svayaṁ rupaḥ kadā mahyaṁ
> dadāti sva-padāntikam

> śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu-nityānanda
> śrī-advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda

> Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare
> Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare

Thank you very much. So, tonight's subject matter for speaking is "What is *Guru?*"

Haṁsadūta: Yes.

Prabhupāda: So, *guru,* there are many description. Subject matter is the same, but different way, *guru* has been described by different *ācāryas.* Their aim is the same, but language or presentation may be little different.

So generally *guru* means,

> ajñāna-timirāndhasya
> jñānāñjana-śalākaya
> cakṣur unmīlitaṁ yena
> tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ

[Gautamīya-tantra]

Just like in darkness, *ajñāna-timirāndhasya. Ajñāna* means ignorance, "without knowledge." That is called *ajñāna.* So *ajñāna* is compared..., ignorance, stupidity, is compared with darkness. Just like if you are..., if this room, immediately all lights are off, then it becomes dark. We cannot see where I am sitting, where others sitting. It becomes a confusion. Similarly, in this material world we are all in the darkness. This material world is called darkness. It is called *tamaḥ. Tamaḥ* means darkness. Or *timir. Timir* means darkness. And actually, it is darkness. Because, because this material world is dark, there is need of sunlight, there is need of moonlight, there is need of electricity.

[aside:] This child disturbing.

But there is another world. We get description from the Vedic literature, *na yatra bhāsayate sūryo na śaśaṅko na pāvakaḥ* Bg. 15.6. There is another world, spiritual world, where there is no darkness, and therefore there is no need of sunlight, there is no need of moonlight, there is no need of electricity.

So *guru's* business is to bring out the disciples from darkness to light. That is *guru's* business. That is *guru.* First business is that because he is suf... Everyone is suffering on account of ignorance. Just like you contaminate some disease out of ignorance. You do not know hygienic principle; you do not know that "This thing will contaminate me. This association will contaminate me. This kind of food will contaminate me." Because we do not know, therefore we contact infection, sometimes suffer from disease. It is very simple to understand. Everyone's... Suppose one commits something criminal due to ignorance. Due to ignorance. But in the court, when a man is criminal, in the court, if he says, the criminal, if he says that "I did not know the law," he'll not be excused. Ignorance is no excuse. Similarly, even a child, he does not know---he catches on fire, the fire will burn. No excuse. The fire will not consider that "Here is a child. He does not know. Excuse." No. No excuse.

So as there are stringent laws of nature or laws of the state, that because you do not know something, you have committed some wrong, you'll be excused---no. That is no..., there is no possibility. You have committed something wrong out of ignorance, you must suffer. This is the law, nature's law. You cannot... I have [given] many examples. Suppose you cannot eat more. Out of ignorance if you eat more, then you have to fast two days, three days, suffering, or you'll have some disease. You cannot violate any laws of the nature or any laws of the state anywhere. Wherever there is law, if you break it, then you'll suffer. This is ignorance.

Therefore *guru's* business is... Every human being is suffering in this material world. Nobody can say that "I am not suffering." It is not possible. There must be suffering. There are three kinds of sufferings. That out of ignorance also, a rascal is suffering, he's saying that "I am very happy." That is also another ignorance. There are three kinds of sufferings in this material world = *ādhyātmika, ādhibautika, ādhidaivika.* Suffering on account of my own body and mind---this suffering is not imposed by anyone else. I do it. The same thing, that I cannot digest but I eat more, so there must be dysentery. You must suffer. This is due to mind, body and mind. That is another one kind of suffering. Another suffering is imposed by other living entities. Just like your enemy or an animal---or there are ants, mosquitoes, flies, they are all causing suffering. You are killing them, and they are trying to give you suffering. This is called struggle. This is called *ādhibautika,* suffering given by other living entities. Suffering caused by myself, this is called *ādhyātmika.* And suffering caused by other living... And there are other sufferings, caused by the nature, superior power, *ādhidaivika.* All of a sudden, there is no rain, no rainfall, and now for want of rainfall there is no food grain. Excessive heat, excessive chilly cold, earthquake, famine... So many, by natures, imposed by the natures. Flood.

So there are three kinds of sufferings in the material world, and everyone is suffering either by one, two or three or..., but nobody can say that "I am completely free from suffering." That is not possible. And why this suffering? Due to ignorance. I do not know. I am committing sinful life, I am committing mistakes; therefore I am suffering. Therefore *guru's* business is first to rescue his disciple from ignorance. Ignorance. *Ajñāna-timirāndhasya.* Everyone is suffering out of ignorance; therefore *guru's* business is to... Just like we go to school. We go to school, we send our children to school. Why? To save him from suffering; to get education = "If my son does not get education, he'll suffer in the future." The same process = to get him out of ignorance, to get him relieved from the suffering. Therefore, *guru's* business is *ajñāna-timirāndhasya jñānāñjana-śalākaya.* So sufferings is due to ignorance. Ignorance is compared with darkness. So in the darkness, how you can save one? By some light. So *guru's* business is to take the torchlight of knowledge and present before the ignorant or the disciple in darkness, and that gives him..., relieves him from the sufferings of darkness or ignorance. This is *guru's* business.

Then another verse is,

> tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet
> samit-pāṇiḥ śrotriyaṁ brahma-niṣṭham

[MU 1.2.12]

So it is Vedic injunction. Somebody was asking whether that *guru* is absolutely necessary. Yes, absolutely necessary. That is the Vedic injunction. The *Vedas* say, *tad-vijñānārtham. Tad-vijñāna* means spiritual knowledge. Spiritual knowledge. For acquiring spiritual knowledge. *Tad-vijñānārtham. Sa*---one; *gurum eva---eva* means must; *gurum*---to a *guru.* Must go to *guru.* Not "a *guru*"; "the *guru.*" *Guru* is one. Because as it is explained by our Revatīnandana Mahārāja, *guru* is coming from the disciplic succession. What five thousand years ago Vyāsadeva instructed or Kṛṣṇa instructed, the same thing we are also instructing. Therefore there is no difference between instruction. Therefore *guru* is one. Although hundreds and thousands of *ācāryas* have come and gone, but the message is one. Therefore *guru* cannot be two.

Real *guru* would not talk differently. Some *guru* says that "In my opinion, you should like this," and some *guru* will say, "In my opinion you'll do this"---they are not *guru;* they are all rascals. *Guru* has no "own opinion." *Guru* has got only one opinion, the same opinion which was expressed by Kṛṣṇa, Vyāsadeva or Nārada or Arjuna or Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu or the Gosvāmīs. You'll find the same thing. Five thousand years ago, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa spoke *Bhagavad-gītā* and Vyāsadeva wrote it, recorded it. Vyāsadeva does not say that "It is my opinion." Vyāsadeva writes, *śrī bhagavān uvāca:* "Whatever writing, it is spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead." He's not giving his own opinion. *Śrī bhagavān uvāca.* Therefore he is *guru.* He is not misinterpreting the words of Kṛṣṇa. He's giving as it is. Just like a bearer, peon. Somebody has written you letter, the peon has got the letter. It does not mean he has to correct it or edit it or addition or... No. He'll present it. That is his duty. Then he is *guru.* He's honest. Similarly, *guru* cannot be two. Mind that. The person may be different, but the message is the same. Therefore *guru* is one.

The Vedic instruction is, *tad vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet* [MU 1.2.12]. *Gurum eva,* "one must." *Eva* means "must." *Abhigacchet,* this verb is used when there is the sense of "must." It never says "Go to a *guru,*" but he says "Must approach the *guru*." *Guru* is one. *Guru* cannot be two. *Gurum evābhigacchet.* And we see also, practically, in the disciplic succession of *guru,* the same thing is spoken by the *guru.* Same thing. Repetition of the same subject matter, no other. Kṛṣṇa said that *man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru* Bg. 18.65 = "Just think of Me," *man-manā.* "Just become devotee of Me," *man-manā bhava mad-bhakto.* "Just worship Me and just offer your obeisances unto Me." *Sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja* Bg. 18.66. "Just surrender unto Me." You'll find this instruction in the *Bhagavad-gītā.* The same thing was spoken by all the *ācāryas.* Rāmanujācārya also says the same thing, Madhvācārya says the same thing, Caitanya Mahāprabhu says same thing, the Gosvāmīs say the same thing, and we are also speaking the same thing. There is no difference.

We do not interpret the words of Kṛṣṇa, that "In my opinion, *Kurukṣetra* means this body." This is rascaldom. The whole situation has been spoiled by these so-called rascal *gurus* who gives his own opinion. This is our plain declaration = Let any rascal *guru* come; we can convince him that he is not *guru,* because he is speaking differently. We can challenge any rascal. Just like somebody came here, he says that he's God, every one of us God.

[aside:] Stop this.

So I asked that "Just find out in the dictionary what is meaning of *God.* Let us see whether he is God." The dictionary, as soon as dictionary was consulted, the meaning of *God* is "the supreme being," meaning of *God.* So I asked him, "Are you supreme? If you cannot understand, then find out the meaning of *supreme.*" Then when he consulted dictionary, the *supreme,* it is said "the greatest authority." So I asked him, "Are you the greatest authority?" The rascal could not answer. [laughter] He does not know even the dictionary meaning, and he's claiming that he's God.

This rascaldom is going on, whole world. Big, big rascal *svāmīs,* they say, "Why you are finding out God anywhere? You do not see so many rascal Gods are loitering in the street?" This is going on. If you simply consult dictionary, you can understand what is the meaning of God. God is so cheap thing, huh? Supreme Being. Are you Supreme Being? Supreme means the highest authority. Highest authority means nobody is equal to him, nobody is greater than him. That is supreme. So these rascals who are claiming to become God, is it a fact that nobody is equal to him, nobody is greater than him? There are so many. So this kind of *guru,* this kind of rascal, will not help you. *Guru* must come from the *paramparā* system by disciplic succession. Five thousand years or five millions of years, what was spoken by the supreme God or *guru,* the present *guru* also will say the same thing. That is *guru.* That is bona fide *guru.* Otherwise, he's not *guru.* Simple definition. *Guru* cannot change any word of the predecessor.

There is one instance in Caitanya Mahāprabhu's life. One gentleman, [he] is Vallabha Ācārya. He was very much devotee of Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He wrote one comment on *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Subodhinī-ṭīkā,* it is called. That is recognized, nice *ṭīkā,* comment. But he approached Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He was very great devotee of Caitanya Mahāprabhu. So he simply said that "Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Lord Caitanya, if You hear my comment on the *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam,* You'll find it is far better than Śrīdhara Svāmī's." Śrīdhara Svāmī is the very old commentator. So Caitanya Mahāprabhu immediately rejected = "Oh, you are claiming that you have written something better than Śrīdhara Svāmī? Oh." He chastised him. *Svāmī* means another... He sarcastically remarked, the word *svāmī,* Śrīdhara Svāmī, *svāmī,* another *svāmī* means "husband." So He said, *svāmī jīva nahi mane besa bali guni[?]:* "I think one who does not recognize *svāmī,* he's a prostitute." He immediately said. "You do not recognize Śrīdhara Svāmī, then you are a prostitute. How can I hear from a prostitute?" He refused. Only word, that "I have written better than Svāmī."

So this is the process of *guru.* You cannot disobey the previous *ācārya* or *guru.* No. You have to repeat the same thing. Not research. Sometimes rascals come, that "You are speaking the same thing. Why don't you speak something new by research work?" [chuckles] We say that we have no intelligence; we cannot make any research. We are... *Guru more mūrkha dekhi koriyā vicāra* Cc. Ādi 7.71. Caitanya Mahāprabhu said that "My Guru Mahārāja saw Me a great fool number one." So one who remains a great fool number one before his *guru,* he is *guru.* And one who says that "I'm advanced so much that I can speak better than my *guru,*" then he's rascal. This is the process.

> evaṁ paramparā-prāptam
> imaṁ rājarṣayo viduḥ
> sa kāleneha [mahatā]
> yogo naṣṭaḥ parantapa

Bg. 4.2

Kṛṣṇa said in the Fourth Chapter.

So *guru* is one. *Guru* cannot be two. As soon as you find two opinions of *guru,* either both of them are rascals, or one is still at least a rascal. There cannot be two. This is *guru.* Another place it is said,

> tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta
> jijñāsuḥ śreya uttamam
> śābde pare ca niṣṇātaṁ
> brahmaṇy upaśamāśrayam

SB 11.3.21

Who needs a *guru?* A third-class, fourth-class man, ordinary man, doesn't require a *guru. Guru,* to keep a *guru* or to have a *guru,* is not a fashion. One who is very serious to understand spiritual life, he requires a *guru.* Otherwise, there is no need of *guru.* Just like you keep a dog as a fashion, don't keep a *guru. Guru* means..., is a question of necessity. One must be very serious to understand what is spiritual life, what is God, what is my relation with God, how to act. When we are very much serious on this subject matter, then we require a *guru.* Don't go to a *guru* as a matter of fashion. That is useless. That is useless. Therefore *śāstra* says, *tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta.* Because we have to go to *guru* and surrender there. Without surrendering, you cannot learn anything. If you want to challenge *guru,* it is not possible. Then you'll learn nothing. *Tasmad guruṁ prapadyeta. Praṇipātena.*

So just like Arjuna accepted Kṛṣṇa as *guru,* he said, *śiṣyas te 'haṁ śādhi māṁ tvāṁ prapannam* Bg. 2.7 = "I am now surrendered unto You." That is the process. *Tad viddhi praṇipātena paripraśnena sevayā* Bg. 4.34. To... *Guru* means Kṛṣṇa's representative, former *ācāryas'* representative. Kṛṣṇa's... All *ācāryas* are representative of Kṛṣṇa; therefore *guru* should be offered the same respect as you offer to God. *Tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta* SB 11.3.21. Therefore Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura says, *yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo.* Because *guru* is bona fide representative of Kṛṣṇa, or God, so if you surrender to *guru,* bona fide *guru,* that means you surrender to God. God is accepting your surrender through the *guru. Yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo.* If you surrender to *guru,* that means Kṛṣṇa is pleased. Kṛṣṇa says in the *Bhagavad-gītā, sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja* Bg. 18.66 = surrender. That somebody argues, "Where is Kṛṣṇa, I shall surrender?" No. You surrender to His representative, then you surrender to Kṛṣṇa. This is the process.

So *guru* is the representative of God. Therefore the *śāstra* says, the authority says, *sākṣād-dharitvena samasta-śāstrair* [Śrī Śrī Gurv-aṣṭaka 7]. *Guru* is as good as God. Here, in this Vyāsa-pūjā day, we are teaching, or they are doing, offering respect to *guru.* That means they are learning how to offer respect to God. It is not personal affair; it is required. Because they are trying to be God conscious, they must learn how to offer respect to God or God's representative. That is required. *Sākṣād-dharitvena samasta-śāstrair.* In all the *śāstra,* Vedic literature, *guru* is described as good as God. But *guru* will never say that "I am God." The disciple's duty is to offer respect to *guru* as he offers respect to God. But *guru* will never say that "I am... Because my disciples are offering me respect as God, therefore I have become God." As soon as he thinks so, he becomes dog. He is no more God.

Therefore Viśvanātha Cakravartī says... Why *guru* is offered respect like God? *Kintu prabhor yaḥ priya eva tasya. Guru* is offered the same respect as we offer respect to God. Just like in the morning = The other side, *ārātrika* was going on, offering to Kṛṣṇa, God, and this side was *ārātrika* was going on to offer respect to the spiritual master. The same respect. But *guru* will never say, and he's not that. *Guru* will never say, "Now I have become God." No. God does not become. God is always God. So God is God and *guru* is *guru.* But, as a matter of etiquette, God is the *sevya* God, worshipable God, and *guru* is the worshiper God. Just try to understand = worshipable God and worshiper God. This is. *Sevya bhagavān-sevaka bhagavān.* Just like *guru* is addressed "Prabhupāda." *Prabhu* means "the Lord" and *pāda* means "the position." "One who has taken the position of the Lord." The same thing = *sākṣād-dharitvena, prabhupāda.* These are the terms. One who is serious to study this science of God, they'll learn all these things.

So one who is very serious to understand the science of God, for him a *guru* is required. Don't try to keep a *guru* as a matter of fashion, that it has become a fashion to accept somebody, some rascal, as *guru,* and say that "I have got my *guru*." What kind of *guru* you have got? You are talking nonsense. *Ācāryavān puruṣa veda.* One who has accepted *guru,* he'll talk sense, where there is meaning. He'll never talk any nonsense. That is the sign that he has got *guru.* He has got the sacred thread. Yes, he's accepted by bona fide *guru.* That is the sign, sacred thread. So you are offering good respect to your spiritual master. That is very nice. You are very thankful. But at the same time we should remember that how to carry out the orders of the *guru* so that people may not think that you are talking nonsense. You must be very careful.

So in the *Bhagavad-gītā* also... I am reciting, citing various verses from various *śāstras---Kaṭhopaniṣad, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.* Now here is another verse. Kṛṣṇa says, *tad viddhi praṇipātena paripraśnena sevayā,* in the *Bhagavad-gītā.*

> tad viddhi praṇipātena
> paripraśnena sevayā
> upadekṣyanti te jñānaṁ
> jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ

Bg. 4.34

So you have to learn from *guru* by three process. What is that? First process is you must surrender. *Tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta* SB 11.3.21. Surrender. You have to find out such a exalted person where you can willingly surrender = "Yes." Therefore it is enjoined in the *śāstras,* before making a *guru,* try to study him, whether you can surrender there. Don't accept any *guru* all of a sudden, as fanatic. No, don't do that. That is the injunction. And *guru* also must study the disciple who wants to become a disciple; must study him, whether he's fit for becoming a disciple. This is the way of making relationship between *guru* and disciple. Everything is there, provided we take them seriously. Then we can train up how to become bona fide disciple, how to find out bona fide *guru,* how to establish our relationship with *guru* and act accordingly and make our life successful.

Because *guru's* business is *ajñāna-timirāndhasya jñānāñjana-śalākayā. Guru's* business is to enlighten the disciple, because he's in darkness. In another place in the *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* it is said that *parābhavas tāvad abodha-jāto yāvan na jijñāsata ātma-tattvam* SB 5.5.5. *Parābhavaḥ. Parābhavaḥ* means defeat. Defeat. So whose defeat? *Parābhavas tāvad abodha-jāto:* one who is born rascal and fool. Everyone is born rascal and fool. Nobody... Otherwise, if you are learned, if you are..., if you know things, then why do you go to school and college and pass university? It is a fact. Animals. If we do not cultivate knowledge, then we are as good as animals. Now another animal is saying that there is no need of books, and he has become *guru.* But how you can get knowledge without authoritative studies of books and science and philosophy? But they are trying to avoid this. So imagine what kind of *guru* and what kind of disciple.

So *śāstra* says, *parābhavas tāvad abodha-jāto. Abodha-jāto.* Everyone is born rascal, fool. He has to be enlightened, he has to be given knowledge, and he has to receive knowledge to make his life perfect. Therefore *parābhavaḥ* means one who does not make his life perfect, he's being defeated. What is the defeat? Struggle for existence. We are trying to get better life. Here also, in this life also, we are struggling hard for getting better position. So real better position we do not know. That is described in the *Bhagavad-gītā = saḥ amṛtatvāya kalpate.* Here in this material world there is no better position, because there is death. You may possess a very good better position, but you'll have to give it up. Either the better position will give up you, or ultimately you have to give up that better position. You cannot stay. Suppose you have earned millions of dollars, millions of pounds = "Now we have got good bank balance." You think, "Now I am in the better position." A little dysentery or cholera, dysentery---finished, better position. Or the bank fails---that better position gone.

So there is no better position in this material world. It is a false. Therefore those who are trying to get better position in this material world, they are simply becoming defeated, because there is no better position. He's a rascal. He's thinking this is better position. What is better position? Then *Bhagavad-gītā* says the better position is *amṛtatva. Saḥ amṛtatvāya kalpate:* "Don't die. Keep your position firm." That is better position. So is there any science to give knowledge how one becomes immortal? Yes, there is. You can become immortal. Not in this material science; not in the so-called universities. But there is knowledge in the Vedic scripture by which you can become immortal. That is better position. No more death, no more birth, no more old age, no more disease.

So *guru's* task is very great responsibility. He has to guide the disciple how to make him quite eligible candidate to get the perfect position, immortality, back to home, back to Godhead.

Thank you very much.

Devotees: *Jaya.* All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda. [end]