56 THE SCIENCE OF SELF-REALIZATION

The Vedas enjoin us to seek out a guru; actually, they say to seek out the
guru, not just a guru. The guru is one because he comes in disciplic suc-
cession. What Vydsadeva and Krsna taught five thousand years ago is
also being taught now. There is no difference between the two instruc-
tions. Although hundreds and thousands of dcdryas have come and gone,
the message is one. The real guru cannot be two, for the real guru does
not speak differently from his predecessors. Some spiritual teachers say,
“In my opinion you should do this,”’ but this is not a guru. Such so-called
gurus are simply rascals. The genuine guru has only one opinion, and
that is the opinion expressed by Krsna, Vydsadeva, Narada, Arjuna, Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and the Goswamis. Five thousand years ago Lord
Sti Krsna spoke the Bhagavad-gita, and Vyasadeva recorded it. Srila
Vyasadeva did not say, ‘‘This is my opinion.’’ Rather, he wrote, Sri-
bhagavan uvaca, that is, ‘‘The Supreme Personality of Godhead says.”’
Whatever Vydsadeva wrote was originally spoken by the Supreme Per-
sonality of Godhead. Srila Vydsadeva did not give his own opinion.

Consequently, Srila Vyasadeva is a guru. He does not misinterpret the
words of Krsna, but transmits them exactly as they were spoken. If we
send a telegram, the person who delivers the telegram does not have to
correct it, edit it, or add to it. He simply presents it. That is the guru’s
business. The guru may be this person or that, but the message is the
same; therefore it is said that guru is one.

In the disciplic succession we simply find repetition of the same sub-
ject. In the Bhagavad-gita [9.34] Sri Krsna says:

man-mana bhava mad-bhakto
mad-y@ji mam namaskuru

mam evaisyasi yuktvaivam
atmanam mat-parayanah

‘Engage your mind always in thinking of Me, become My devotee, offer
obeisances, and worship Me. Being completely absorbed in Me, surely
you will come to Me.” These very instructions were reiterated by all the
dcaryas, such as Ramanujacadrya, Madhvacarya, and Caitanya Maha-
prabhu. The six Goswamis also transmitted the same message, and we
are simply following in their footsteps. There is no difference. We do not
interpret the words of Krsna by saying, ‘‘In my opinion, the Battlefield of
Kuruksetra represents the human body.’’ Such interpretations are set
forth by rascals. In the world there are many rascal gurus who give their
own opinion, but we can challenge any rascal. A rascal guru may say, “‘I
