Sri Guru: Constant Worship

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj
20 September 2019, Kolkata, part 4

Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur also told that if you practise jnana, yoga, etc., as a result of all the desires for bhukti (enjoyment), mukti (liberation), siddhi (perfections) you end up rejecting your Guru. However, proper pure devotees worship their Guru constantly. We also studied at university, and when we see our school teacher, we say, "Pranam" and go away. For example, when I was at university, I once saw my primary school teacher—I folded my hands and said, "Pranam," but I do not worship him as my guru. However, pure devotees always worship their Divine Master (Guru).

The subject of knowledge (jnana) came up in the conversation between Sri Ramananda Ray and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Ramananda Ray said, "Jnana-misra bhakti is the highest." What is said in Srimad Bhagavad-gita (18.54)?

ব্রহ্মভূতঃ প্রসন্নাত্মা ন শোচতি ন কাঙ্ক্ষতি ।
সমঃ সর্ব্বেষু ভূতেষু মদ্ভক্তিং লভতে পরাম্ ॥৫৪॥

brahma-bhutah prasannatma, na sochati na kanksati
samah sarvesu bhutesu, mad-bhaktim labhate param

"The joyful-hearted, enlightened soul who has attained his divine nature neither sorrows nor desires. Seeing all beings equally, he comes to attain transcendental loving devotion for Me."

Conditioned souls practise jnana-misra bhakti (devotion mixed with pursuit of knowledge)—they are bound by Maya and pray for knowledge for themselves or their family, however Mahaprabhu said, "This is external, go further." Then Ramananda Ray spoke about jnana-sunya bhakti (devotion devoid of pursuit of knowledge), and Mahaprabhu accepted it. It is said in Srimad Bhagavatam (10.14.3),

জ্ঞানে প্রয়াসমুদপাস্য নমন্ত এব
জীবন্তি সন্মুখরিতাং ভবদীয়বার্ত্তাম্ ।
স্থানে স্থিতাঃ শ্রুতিগতাং তনুবাঙ্মনোভি-
র্যে প্রায়শোঽজিত জিতোঽপ্যসি তৈস্ত্রিলোক্যাম্ ॥

jnane prayasam udapasya namanta eva
jivanti sanmukharitam bhavadiya vartam
sthane sthitah srutigatam tanuvanmanobhir
ye prayaso 'jita jito 'py asi tais trilokyam

"Lord Brahma said, 'My dear Lord, those devotees who have thrown away the impersonal conception of the Absolute Truth and have therefore abandoned discussing empiric philosophical truths should hear from the self-realised devotees about Your Holy Name, form, pastimes and qualities. They should follow all principles of devotional service and surrender themselves fully with their body, words and mind. Thus such persons can conquer You who is known as unconquerable.'"

When Mahaprabhu said, "This is superficial, go further," Ramananda Ray explained this, and Mahaprabhu accepted this as worthy.

Those who attain divine love by their devotional practice always remain in strict adherence to their Guru (Guru-anugatya)—even if a disciple becomes a siddha-maha-purush (a great liberated soul), he always remembers his Guru, he always serves under the guidance of his Guru and never disconnects from his Guru. Such is the result of devotion, and it is attained neither through fruitive activities (karma), nor through knowledge (jnana) or mystic practices (yoga).

Srila Jiva Goswamipad also explained about the perfection of devotion and divine love. Those who become fixed in the aural knowledge of scriptures received from the holy mouth of Sri Guru, experience the Supreme Lord and become expert in Vedic scriptures (sabda-brahma)—as a result of Sri Gurudev's association and mercy, practitioners of devotion attain faith in the scriptures. Gurudev always serves Krishna with all his senses, and he has no other job except for service of Krishna. He is always anxious to make Sri Sri Radha-Govinda happy—he is always ready for the service of his Guru, service of his Lord. A real, bona fide Guru always gives his real, bona fide disciple the right, or a chance, to serve Srimati Radharani and Radha-Govinda. Therefore, it is impossible to get the service of Vrajendra-nandan Sri Krishna without the mercy of Sri Guru.

The worship of the Guru is not same as the ordinary worship done by common people. Gurudev is an embodiment of the Lord's mercy (Bhagavaner kripa-murti). The Lord never comes Himself to bestow His direct mercy onto others, but the Lord's mercy comes through a guru-parampara, through the medium of the Lord's closest associate, Sri Gurupadpadma.

All scriptures stipulate the rules regarding the worship of the Guru. If you worship Gurudev for one day when his appearance day comes, this is wrong. The scriptures say that Gurudev must be served at all times, wherever one may be. The worship of Gurudev is not some one-day worship—Guru must be worshipped constantly.

Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay.

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