Poklon svim posjetiteljima portala povodom dana odlaska HH Gour Govinda swamija - prijevod razgovora s njim na temu duhovnog vodstva.

Pitanje: Što se događa kada nečiji Guru ode?

Gour Govinda Swami: Guru znači čisti bhatka, vaishnava, vrlo, vrlo intiman s Gospodinom Krsnom. U Aprakata-lili, kada on nestane, ne bismo trebali misliti da nije tu, on je uvijek tu. Krsna je uvijek tu. Ako imaš oči, možeš vidjeti Krsnu. Brahma-samhita (5.38) izjavljuje: "Obožavam Govindu, prvobitnog gospodina, koji je sam Krsna, s neshavtljivim i mnogbrojnim odlikama, kojeg čisti bhakte vide u svojim srcima s očima premazanima ćistom ljubavlju".

Ako imas bhakti-chakshu, oko devocije, ako si razvio krsna-premu, onda, yantha yantha netra pade tantha krishna sphure, onda možeš vidjeti Krsnu svugdje. (CC. adi. 4.85).

Kako je Prahalada Maharaya mogao vidjeti Krsnu u stupu od kamena, a njegov otac ne? Krsna kaže u Bhagavat-Giti (6.30), tasyaham na pranasyami, sa ca me na pransyati, "Moji bhakte Me uvijek vide i Ja vidim njih". Krsna je uvijek tu. Krsna uvijek govori. Krsna uvijek podučava. No, neko može pitati, kako je On tu? Kako govori? Kako podučava?

Mahaprabhu podučava Sanatanu Goswamija (CC. madhya. 20.123):

sastra-guru-atma - rupe apanare janana
krsna mora prabhu, trata - jivera haya jnana

Krsna govori kroz sastre, Vedske spise. Vede dolaze od Krsne. On je izvor Veda. No, što On kaze u Vedama vrlo je teško razumijeti. To treba shvatiti sa tattva-vicara apsulotnim razumjevanjem, a ne sa apara-vichara, naizgled razumjevanjem. Mayavadiji vidi samo naizgledno razumjevanje.

U tvome srcu

Onda dolazi pitanje Gurua. Guru, duhovni učitelj, predstavnik je Krsne. On je vrlo dragi bhakta Krsne, Krsne koji je caitya-guru, nalazi se u srcu kao Nad-duša. Duhovni učitelj uvijek je tu. Nemojte misliti, ako nije fizički prisutan, da ga nema. On je uvijek tu. Ako ste razvili ljubav prema duhovnom učitelju, onda ga možete vidjeti, možete razgovarati s njim. On je također prisutan u obliku knjiga. Vani-rupa, njegove instrukcije su tu. Katha-upanishada (1.2.23) izjavljuje:

nayam atma pravacanenea labhyo
na medhaya na bahudha srutena
yam evaisa vrnute tena labhyas
tasyaisa atma vivrnute tanum svam

Ne možeš shvatiti apsolutnu istinu kroz svoje vlastito svjetovno obrazovanje, svoju svjetovnu inteligenciju. Medhaya, niti je možeš shvatiti slušajući mnoge lekcije od karmija, ynanija ili yogija. Oni koji nisu bhakte, koji nikad ne dolaze pod učenićko nasljeđe, oni je ne mogu shvatiti. Onda kako je možeš shvatiti? Katha-upanishada kaže:

yam evaisa vrnute tena labhyas tasyaisa atma vivrnute tanum svam

Atma ovdje znaći paramatma, Nad-duša koja se nalazi u svačijem srcu. Prihvaćajući tijelo, Krsna osobno dolazi kao duhovni ućitelj da poučava -paramatma-tatva. On je caitya-guru. Osim ako On ne govori, ne možemo shvatiti. Gdje se pojavljuje? Tko ga susreće? To je drugo pitanje. Kada je osoba vrlo, vrlo znatiželjna, vrlo željna shvatiti sve te stvari paramatma zna: "Oh, ova osoba je vrlo željna da Me shvati, stoga joj moram pomoći." Stoga, On dolazi, prihvaćajući tijelo gurua. Caitanya-Caritamrta (madhya 19.151) izjavljuje:

brahmanda bramite kona bhagyavan jiva
guru-krsna-prasade paya bhakti lata bija

Nakon lutanja kroz mnogo planetarnih sustava, kroz mnogo vrsta života, takva osoba koja sretne gurua je nasretnija - bhagyavan. To je Krsnina milost krsna krpate guru mile guru krpate krsna mile. Kroz Krsninu milost dobivamo gurua, a kroz guruovu milost dobijamo Krsnu. Paramatma uređuje taj susret. Stoga moramo biti vrlo željni, vrlo radoznali, kao što je bio Dhruva Maharaja, da dobije Gospodina. Paramatma je uredila da se Narada Muni pojavi pred njim: "U redu, on je vrlo željan, sad odi i pokaži mu put, pomozi mu."

Milost kroz instrukcije

Također za onog učenika koji plaće: "Oh moj duhovni učitelj je otišao. Kako mi se sad može pomoći? Tko će me podučiti? Kako mogu znati? Njegov vani je tu, instrukcije, knjige su tu. Ali ja ne mogu shvatiti smisao. Iako je vani tu, za mene je to vrlo teško shvatiti."

Kada postanemo vrlo, vrlo radoznali, sastra ima svoju milost. Kaviraj Goswami je rekao (CC. madhya 20.120):

Sadhu-sastra-krpaya yadi krsnanmukha haya
Sei jiva nistare, maya tahare chadaya

Ako, blagoslovima čistog bhakte i spisa, uvjetovana duša postane predana Krsni  maya odustaje od njega. Sastra je također jedan od oblika Gospodina. Caitanya-Caritamrta (madhya 24.318) izjavljuje:

krsna-tulya bhagavata vidhu sarvasraya, bhagavata grantha

Spisi, su kao Krsna. Krsna je vibhu, svemoćni Svevišnji Gospodin. Bhagavata je također svemoćna. Uzimamo utočište lotosovih stopala Gospodina Krsne, i također moramo uzeti utočište Bhagavata. Bhagavata grantha. Ako Krsna daje Svoju milost, i grantha i sadhu daju svoju milost: sadhu-sastra-krpa, onda ćemo biti privućeni Krsnom. Sei jiva nistare, maya tahare chadaya, onda čemo biti slobodni iz mayinih pandži. Tako, grantha, ima svoju krpu. To je jedan od oblika gospodina.

I guruova instrukcija je također guru. Dobit češ guru-krpa, kroz njegovu instrukciju, vani. Onaj tko je vrlo, vrlo željan i vrlo radoznao moli se svom duhovnom učitelju: "O moj duhovni učitelju, ti si otišao. Nisi više fizićki prisutan, stoga ne mogu shvatiti. Ja sam takva budala u neznanju. Nemam nikakvih kvalifikacija. Iako su tvoje instrukcije tu, ja ne mogu shvatiti što si rekao. Molim te pomozi mi."

U drugom obliku

Guru će doći, ali u drugom obliku. Može doći u obliku sadhua, vrlo dragog bhakte, koji je također drag i duhovnom učtelju. Kroz njega će se razotkriti. Sumnje ce biti raščišćene. Kroz njega čemo moći shvatiti tattvu, smisao.
Trebamo misliti: "Moj guru me podučava, govori meni u ovom obliku." Ne trebamo misliti: "Moj guru nije tu. On je otišao. Što da radim?" Molite se svom guruu. On vam mora pomoći. Imam osobno iskustvo. Pomogao mi je na takav naćin. Također, veliki mahajane, acaraye su to rekli. Ovo je vječni proces. Krsna je vjećan, i njegova učenja su vjećna. Ovaj proces je također vjećan. Uvijek se odvija. Trebali bismo biti vrlo radoznali. Radoznalost mora biti prisutna. Osoba se ne bi trebala osječati očajno. Nema ničega pesimističnog u ovom procesu. Sve je optimizam.

Održavanje želje

Pitanje: Bio sam željan dobiti gurua. Sada ga imam, no, kako održati tu stalnu želju?

Gour Govinda Swami: Moraš je održati razmišljajući: "Zbog Krsnine milosti sreo sam svog gurua. No, kako mogu uvijek imati njegovo društvo?" Trebaš uvijek biti vrlo željan imati njegovo društvo i slušati ga. Ukoliko ne slušaš svog gurua, tvoje sumnje ne mogu biti raspršene. Ukoliko ne možeš dobiti milost gurua, ne možeš dobiti Krsnu. Stoga trebaš biti vrlo, vrlo željan: "Kako mogu najbolje služiti svog gurua i zadovoljiti ga?"

yasya prasadad bhagavat prasado yasyaprasadan na gatih kuto pi

Ako je gurudeva zadovoljan, onda će i Krsna biti zadovoljan i ti češ dobiti Krsninu milost. Ako je gurudeva nezadovoljan, onda, koji je tvoj položaj, gdje je tvoje mijesto, gatih kuto pi?

Stoga, naša briga, naša dužnost je zadovoljiti duhovnog učitelja. Kako se to radi?

Guru-mukha-padma-vakya  cittete kariya aikya
                   Ara na kariha mane asa

Osoba treba izvršiti naredbu duhovnog učitelja. Gurudeva ima mnogo instrukcija. Neke od njegovih instrukcija su generalne, a neke su specifične. Generalne instrukcije su za svakoga. Specifične instrukcije su one koje on govori pojedinim, individualnim učenicima. Osoba treba biti posebno željna slijediti individualne instrukcije koju mu je gurudeva dao. Osoba treba misliti: "Gurudeva mi je naredio da napravim ovo. Kako to mogu najbolje napraviti? Kako mogu najbolje zadovoljiti svog duhovnog učitelja? Kako ga mogu najbolje služiti i zadovoljiti ga? Ako napravim tako, dobit ću milost Krsne. Inače janama bhipala, moj život je bezuspješan."

"Nisam dobio"

Ako osoba uvijek misli tako, onda može održati konstatno tu želju. Vaisnava krpa taha sarva siddhi, Ako dobijes milost vaisnava, čistog bhakte, ili gurua, onda možeš imati sva savršenstva, sarva siddhi. Osoba traba misliti, "Ne mogu napraviti ništa. Ja sam takva bez veze, nekvalificirana, bezvrijedna osoba! Ne mogu pružiti nijednu službu mom guru. Ne mogu ga zadovoljiti. Nisam dobio ništa. Nisam dobio milost gurua. Nisam ga zadovoljio. Nisam iskoristio njegovo društvo. Što da radim? Nisam dobio milost gurua. Kako mogu dobiti njegovu milost?" Ako ste zadovoljni i mislite: "Oh, imam gurua. Zadovoljio sam ga. Imam njegovu milost", onda je sve gotovo! To znaći da je nemate. Tako možete održati želju. Inače nije moguće.

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Engleski original: Tekst je samo iskopiran iz PDF file-a, sanskrit nije iskorigiran

AFTER THE GURU LEAVES

Devotee: What happens after the departure of one’s guru?

Gour Govinda Swami: Guru means pure devotee, vaiava, a very, very intimate associ-ate of Lord Krishna. In aprakata līlā, when he disappears, at that time one should not think that guru is not there. He is always there.

Krishna is always there. If you have eyes, you can see Krishna. Brahma-sahitā (5.38) states:

I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is Syamasundar, Krishna Himself, with inconceiv-able innumerable attributes, whom the pure devotees see in their heart of hearts with the eye of devotion tinged with the salve of love.

If you have bhakti-caku, the eye of devotion, if you have developed ka-prema, then, yā hā yā hā netra pa e tā hā ka sphure — you can see Krishna everywhere. [Cc. ādi 4.85]. How could Prahlad Maharaja see Krishna in a stone pillar when his father couldn’t? Krishna says in Bhagavad-gītā (6.30), tasyāha na praaśyāmi, sa ca me na praaśyati — “My devotee always sees Me and I always see him.”

Krishna is always there. Krishna is always speaking. Krishna is always teaching. But one may ask, how He is there? How He is speak-ing? How is He teaching?

Mahaprabhu instructs Sanatan Goswami (Cc. madhya 20.123):

Krishna speaks through śāstra, Vedic scrip-ture. The Vedas come from Krishna. He is the source of Veda. But what He says in the Vedas is very difficult to understand. It should be un-derstood by tattva-vicāra, absolute consider-ation, not aparā-vicāra, apparent consideration. Māyāvādīs see only the apparent consideration.

Then comes the question of guru. Guru, the spiritual master, is the representative of Krishna. He is a very dear devotee of Krishna, who is caitya-guru, seated in the heart as Supersoul. The spiritual master is always there. Don’t think that he is not physically present, that he is not there. He is there. He is always there. If you have de-veloped love for the spiritual master, if you have developed that eye, then you can see him, you can talk to him, and he is also present in the form of books. Vāī–rupa, his instructions are there.

Kaha Upaniad (1.2.23) states:

You cannot understand the absolute truth through your own mundane scholarship, your own mundane intelligence. Medhayā — nor can you understand it by listening to many lectures by karmīs, jńānīs and yogīs. Those who are not devotees, who never come under a bona fide disciplic succession, cannot know it.

Then how can you know? Kaha Upaniad says, yam evaia vute tena labhyas tasyaia ātmā vivute tanu svām — ātmā here means paramātmā, the Supersoul who is seated in everyone’s heart. As-suming a body, He personally comes as spiritual master to teach paramātmā-tattva. He is caitya- guru. Unless He speaks, you cannot understand.

Where does he appear? Who meets him? That is another question. When an individual person is very, very inquisitive, very eager to understand all these things, the paramātmā knows, “Oh, now he is very eager to under-stand Me, so I must help him.” So He comes, assuming the body of guru. Caitanya- caritāmta (madhya 19.151) states:

After wandering through so many planetary systems, undergoing so many species of life, such a person who meets a bona fide spiritual master is most fortunate, bhāgyavān. It is Krishna’s mercy, ka kpāte guru mile guru kpāte ka mile — by Krishna’s mercy you get a bona fide spiritual master, and by the mercy of the spiritual master you get Krishna. Paramātmā arranges that meeting. So we must be very eager, very inquisitive, as Dhruva Ma-haraja was, to get the Lord. Paramātmā ar-ranged for Narada Muni to appear before him. “All right, he is very eager now. You go and show him the path, help him.”

Mercy Through Instructions

Similarly, for that disciple who is crying, “Oh, my spiritual master has disappeared. How can I be helped? Who will teach me? How I can know? His vāī is there, his instructions, books are there, but I cannot understand the pur-port. Although the vāī is there, it is very diffi-cult for me to understand it.” When you be-come very, very inquisitive. Śāstra has its mercy. Kaviraj Goswami has said (Cc. madhya 20.120):

If, by the blessings of a pure devotee and the scrip-ture, a conditioned soul becomes devoted to Krishna, he becomes liberated; māyā gives him up.

Śāstra is also one of the incarnations of the Lord. Caitanya-caritāmta (madhya 24.318) says, ka-tulya bhāgavata vibhu, sarvāśraya. Bhāgavata-grantha, the scripture, is like Krishna. Krishna is vibhu, the all-powerful Supreme Lord. Bhāgavata is also all-powerful. We take shelter of the lotus feet of Krishna, and we must also take shelter of bhāgavata-grantha. If Krishna showers His mercy, and grantha and sādhu shower their mercy — sādhu-śāstra-kpā — then we will be attracted to Krishna. sei jīva nistare māyā tāhāre chā aya — Then we will be free from the clutches of māyā. So, grantha, scripture, has its kpā. This is one of the forms of the lord.

And the instruction of guru is also guru. You’ll get guru-kpā through his instructions, vāī. One who is very, very eager and very, very inquisitive, prays to his spiritual master, “O my spiritual master, you have departed. You are not physically present, so I cannot understand. I am such an ignorant fool. I have no qualification. Though your instructions are there, I cannot understand what you have said. Please help me.”

In Another Form

So guru will also come, but not in the same form. He may come in the form of a sādhu, a very dear devotee, who is also very dear to your spiritual master. Through him this will be re-vealed. Doubts will be cleared. Through him you will be able to understand tattva, purport. You should think, “My guru is teaching me, he is speaking to me in this form.” Don’t think, “My guru is not here. He has departed. What shall I do?” Pray fervently to your spiritual master. He must help you. We have personal experience. We have been helped in this way. Also, the great mahājanas, ācāryas, they have also said this.

This is an eternal process. Krishna is eternal, and His teachings are eternal. The process is also eter-nal. It is always going on. But we should be very, very inquisitive. Inquisitiveness must be there. One should not feel desperate. There is nothing pessimistic in this process. It is all optimism.

Maintaining Eagerness

Question: I was eager to have guru. Now I have guru, but how do I maintain this con-stant eagerness?

Gour Govinda Swami: You must maintain it by thinking, “Out of Krishna’s mercy I met my guru. But how I can get always the association of my guru?” You should be very eager to always have the association of guru and listen to him. Unless you listen to your guru, your doubts can-not be dispelled. If you cannot get the mercy of guru, you cannot get Krishna. So you should be very, very eager, “How can I best serve my guru and please him?” yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo, yasyāprasādān na gati kuto ’pi — If gurudeva is pleased, then Krishna will be pleased and you will get Krishna’s mercy. If gurudeva is displeased, then where is your position, where is your place, gati
kuto ’pi? So, our concern, our duty, is to please the spiritual master. How is that done?

One should carry out the orders of the spiri-tual master. Gurudeva has many instructions. Some of his instructions are general, and some are specific. General instructions are for everyone. Specific instructions are what he tells specific, in-dividual disciples. One should be especially eager to follow the individual instructions that gurudeva gave to you. One should think, “Gurudeva has ordered me to do this. How can I best do it? How can I best please my spiritual master? How can I best serve him, and please him? Doing so I will get the mercy of Krishna. Otherwise janama biphala, my life is unsuccessful.”

“I Have Not Gotten!”

If one always thinks like that, then one can maintain that constant eagerness. vaiava kpā taha sarva siddhi — If you get the mercy of a vaiava, pure devotee, or guru, then you can have all perfection, sarva siddhi. One should think, “Oh, I can’t do anything. I’m such a wretched, unqualified, unworthy person! I can-not render any service to my guru. I cannot please him. I have not gotten anything. I have not got-ten the mercy of my guru. I have not pleased him. I have not taken advantage of meeting my guru. Oh, what shall I do? I have not done any-thing. I do not have the mercy of guru! How can I get his mercy?” You should always think like that. If you are satisfied and think, “Oh, I have guru. I have pleased him. I have gotten his mercy,” then everything is finished! It means you have not gotten it. This is how you can maintain eagerness. Otherwise, it is not possible. 

— Darśana, 18 July 1986, Paris, France.