Guru Seva Booklet Web

-
is
v
E7 e r y t h i n g !
sri srimad
gour govinda swami maharaja
Tattva vicara publications

-
guru-seva
is
r
Eve7 y t h i n g !
Guru-sev is everything
The information in this booklet is a lecture on rmad-Bhgavatam 1.2.10, delivered by r rmad
Gour Govinda Swami Mahrja on 24 June 1994, Towaco, New Jersey, USA. This lecture is from
the book r Guru Makes Ka Appear in Your Heart.
Quotes from the books of rla A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupda are copyrighted The
Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.
First Edition 200 copies.

ISBN: 978-0-9943759-3-3
2017 Tattva Vicara Publications

some rights reserved. except where otherwise noted,
content on this book is licensed under the creative
commons Attribution-No Derivatives 4.0 International
license.
To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/
Permissions beyond the scope of this license write to info@tvpbooks.com.
Front cover images Ananta-vndvana dsa. Used with permission.

Back cover image Anupama dsa and Madanlas dev ds. Used with permission.
-
guru-seva
is
r
Eve7 y t h i n g !
sri srimad
gour govinda swami maharaja
TAT T VA V I C A R A P U B L I C AT I O N S
Table of Contents
Glorification of the rmad-Bhgavatam i
Only Non-Envious Devotees Can Understand Dharma-Tattva i
Hear rmad-Bhgavatam from the Right Source ii
The Essence of All Vedic Literature ii
Ka Appears in Four Forms iii
No Scripture Is As Good As rmad-Bhgavatam iii
The rmad-Bhgavatam Is Filled with Ecstatic Love iv
Grantha-Bhgavata & Bhakta-Bhgavata iv
Nitya Bhgavata-Sevay v
Guru-sev is Everything 1
What Is Proper Enquiry? 1
Who Knows the Perfect Answers? 2
Depend Completely on Ka 3
Be Restless and Cry in Your Heart 4
Saubhgya or Durbhgya Good Fortune or Bad Fortune 5
Serve Ka Without Duplicity 6
Ka Assumes a Body and Appears as Guru 7
Bhagavat-My Sends a Guru 8
How Can You Get Spiritual Strength? 8
Surrender Serve & Enquire 10
Complete Surrender & Unflinching Faith 11
To Disobey the Order of the Spiritual Master 12
Who Can Save Us from this Precarious Situation? 14
What Does Sannysa Mean? 14
The Proper Use of Our Minute Independence 15
Follow the Order As It Is 16
Run Behind Him with Leech-Like Tenacity 18
You Must Approach Guru 18
Distress & Hardship Are My Supreme Asset 20
Ka and Sudm Set an Example 20
Serve Guru with a Loving Heart 22
G l ori f i c a
of
t i o
the n

Srimad-bhagavatam
'ka-bhakti-rasa-svarpa r-bhgavata
tte veda-stra haite parama mahattva
(r Caitanya-caritmta, Madhya-ll 25.150)
The rmad-Bhgavatam is ka-bhakti-rasa, the mellow of

ka-bhakti, the essence of all Vedas, Upaniads. It is the natural
commentary on Brahm-stra, Vednta-stra. The Vednta-stra
is compiled by rla Vysadeva and Vysadeva Himself gave the
commentary.
yasy vai ryamy

ke parama-prue
bhaktir utpadyate pusa
oka-moha-bhaypah
(rmad-Bhgavatam 1.7.7)
Only by hearing rmad-Bhgavatam from the right source, one

can very easily develop ka-bhakti. As a result: fear, lamentation,
and delusion will be completely destroyed.
Only Non-Envious Devotees

Can Understand Dharma-Tattva
dharma projjhita-kaitavo tra paramo nirmatsar sat

vedya vstavam atra vastu ivada tpa-trayonmlanam
rmad-bhgavate mah-muni-kte kim v parair vara
sadyo hdy avarudhyate tra ktibhi urubhis tat-ksat
i
Glorification of the Srimad-Bhagavatam
The rmad-Bhgavatam speaks about bhgavate-dharma, not
kaitava-dharma, cheating dharma. Kaitava means cheating. Kaitava
catuaya, there are four types of cheating dharma: dharma, artha,
kma and moka. But the rmad-Bhgavatam speaks of pure ka-
prema-dharma, prema-pumartha. Who can understand this? Paramo
nirmatsar sat vedya, only those devotees who are not
envious at all can understand this dharma-tattva.
Hear rmad-Bhgavatam from the Right Source
Hearing rmad-Bhgavatam from the right source is so effective that

you will very easily develop ka-bhakti. Not only that, but sadyo hdy
avarudhyate tra ktibhi urubhis tat-ksat if someone develops the
desire to go and hear rmad-Bhgavatam, just by the development of
that desire, the Supreme Lord who resides in their heart becomes im-
mediately awakened. When you hear from the right source and develop
prema-bhakti, the Supreme Lord becomes bound by that love. This is the
effect of hearing rmad-Bhgavatam.
The Essence of All Vedic Literature
artho yam brahma-strm

bhratrtha-viniraya
gyatr-bhya-rpo sau
vedrtha-paribhita
(Garua Pura)
The following four topics are present in the rmad-Bhgavatam:

1. artho yam brahma-strm the natural commentary on Brahm-
stra.
2. Bhratrtha-viniraya the purports of the Mahbhrata.
3. Gyatr-bhya a commentary on the gyatr-mantra.
4. Vedrtha-vistra the elaborate explanation of all Vedic teaching.
ii
You will find that rmad-Bhgavatam begins with gyatr artha.
gyatrra arthe ei grantha-rambhana

satya para sambandha, dhmahi sdhana prayojana
(Caitanya-caritmta, Madhya-ll 25.147)
The Caitanya-caritmta states gyatrra arthe ei grantha-

rambhana. The grantha bhgavata pan begins with the gyatr
artha, which is an explanation of the gyatr-mantra: satya
para dhmahi. So it contains gyatr-bhya and everything
else: it is the essence of all Vedic literature.
Ka Appears in Four Forms
bhgavata, tulas, gagya, bhakta-jane

caturdh vigraha ka ei cri sane
Ka appears in this material world in four forms: rmad-

Bhgavatam, tulas, Gag, and the bhakta-bhgavata.
(Caitanya-bhgavata, Madhya-khaa 21.081)
No Scripture Is As Good As rmad-Bhgavatam
bhgavata-stre se bhaktira tattva kahe

tei bhgavata-sama kona stra nahe
(Caitanya-bhgavata, Antya-khaa 3.509)
Prema-bhakti-tattva is described in Bhgavata, therefore no

scripture is as good as rmad-Bhgavatam.
Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvat Gosvm Prabhupda said that if all the

books from the library of the world would be destroyed there will be no
harm if only rmad-Bhgavatam remains because it contains everything.
iii
The rmad-Bhgavatam Is Filled with Ecstatic Love
prema-maya bhgavatar-kera aga

thte kahena yata gopya ka-raga
The rmad-Bhgavatam is filled with ecstatic love. It is the body

of Lord Ka. All confidential pastimes of Ka are described in it.
(Caitanya-bhgavata, Antya-khaa 3.516)
rmad-Bhgavatam is non-different from Ka, it is the body of

Ka, kera r-aga. Ka is prema-maya, sat-cid-nanda, nanda-
maya, so Bhgavata is also prema-maya. Thte kahena yata gopya ka-
raga, all confidential nectarean pastimes are described in the rmad-
Bhgavatam.
Grantha-Bhgavata & Bhakta-Bhgavata
Dui sthne bhgavata-nma uni-mtra, eko grantha-bhgavata, ra eko

bhakta-bhgavata in two places we hear the name bhgavata. One is
grantha-bhgavata, the book bhgavata and another is bhakta-bhgavata,
the devotee bhgavata.
dui bhgavata dvr diy bhakti-rasa

thra hdaye tra preme haya vaa
(Caitanya-caritmta, di-ll 1.100)
Through these two bhgavatas, grantha-bhgavata and bhakta-

bhgavata, Ka gives bhakti-rasa, the mellow of bhakti, which is
prema-bhakti. He becomes bound by that prema-bhakti. These are all
glorifications of the rmad-Bhgavatam.
iv
Nitya Bhgavata-Sevay
bhgavata ye n mne, seyavana-sama

tra st che janme-janme prabhu yama
One who does not accept rmad-Bhgavatam is no better than

a mleccha or yavana, and he will be punished by Yamarja life after
life. (Caitanya-bhgavata, di-khaa 1.39)
Therefore, nitya bhgavata-sevay, as a daily activity one should go

and approach a bhakta-bhgavata to hear and study Bhgavata from him.
This should be done: sthne sthit ruti-gat tanu-v-manobhir, ye
pryao jita jito py asi tais tri-lokym*, in whatever position one may be,
there is no need of changing that position. The only thing you should
do every day is to approach a bhakta-bhgavata to hear and study Bhga-
vata from him. Thereby you will develop prema-bhakti, uddha-bhakti,
pure bhakti, and you will be able to conquer the unconquerable, ajita jita.
Although Ajita, Ka is unconquerable in the three worlds; in so doing
you can conquer Him. By hearing rmad-Bhgavatam from the right
source you will develop such ka-bhakti. That is the effect of hearing
rmad-Bhgavatam. This is all glorification of the rmad-Bhgavatam.
Before studying or speaking the Bhgavatam we glorify Bhgavata as we
glorify the Supreme Lord, because the Bhgavatam is non-different from
the Supreme Lord Ka.
1. rmad-Bhgavatam 10.14.3, Brahms prayers to Lord Ka.
v
O Viupda Paramahasa Parivrjakcrya Aottara-ata
r rmad Gour Govinda Swami Mahrja

Guru-sev8
is Everything
What Is Proper Enquiry?
In the rmad-Bhgavatam it is said:
kmasya nendriya-prtir
lbho jveta yvat
jvasya tattva-jijs
nrtho ya ceha karmabhi
Lifes desires should never be directed toward sense

gratification. One should desire only a healthy life, or self-
preservation, since a human being is meant for enquiry about
the Absolute Truth. Nothing else should be the goal of ones
works. (rmad-Bhgavatam 1.2.10)
W hat is proper enquiry and what subject should one en-

quire about? Jvasya tattva-jijs nrtho ya ceha karm-
abhi one should not enquire about the comforts and
pleasures of the body. How can I fulfill my material desires?
How can I enjoy? These are not tattva-jijs, enquiries about
tattva. Do not enquire about these things: kmasya nendriya-prtir
lbho jveta yvat.
1
Guru-sev is Everything
What is the purpose of my survival? What is the goal of my
life? What is the purpose of this rarely achieved human birth?
What is the supreme attainment? That is proper enquiry. All of
your activities should centre on tattva-jijs: enquiry about tattva.
rla Santana Gosvm is a mahjana. Mahjano yena gata
sa panth the mahjanas have shown us the path, so we follow
in their footprints. When rla Santana Gosvm met rmn
Mahprabhu, what did he enquire about?
He asked, Who am I? What is my real identification? Why
have I been afflicted with the three tpas, dhytmika, dhibhautika,
and dhidaivika? What shall I do so that I will achieve all auspi-
ciousness? What is the goal of my life, and what shall I do to
achieve that goal? What is my duty? What is my necessity? These
are all enquiries about tattva: tattva-jijs.
Who Knows the Perfect Answers?
tad viddhi praiptena

paripranena sevay
upadekyanti te jna
jninas tattva-darina
Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master.

Enquire from him submissively and render service unto him.
The self-realised soul can impart knowledge unto you because
he has seen the truth. (Bhagavad-gt 4.34)
This verse from the Bhagavad-gt describes who it is that

knows the perfect, correct answers to your questions: a tattva-dari
he who is a seer of the truth. What is the truth? Advaya-j-
na-tattva vraje vrajendra-nandana the Absolute Truth is Vrajen-
dra-kumra, the son of Nanda Mahrja in Vrajabhmi. He is
2
the Absolute Truth. Who is the seer of the truth? One who is the
knower of the truth. Only that person who is a seer of the truth,
a knower of the truth, can answer these questions perfectly. Oth-
erwise, no one can answer these questions. One should meet such
a guru who is the seer of the Absolute Truth Nanda-nandana
Ka.
Depend Completely on Ka
Where is such a person available? Do you know him? If you do

not know him, then how can you get him? Do you have knowl-
edge about him? The conditioned soul has no knowledge about
such a person. The conditioned soul has four defects: bhrama
the tendency to make mistakes; pramda the tendency to be
illusioned; vipralips the tendency to cheat; and karapava
imperfect or defective senses. If you think that you will accept
something as true if you can see it with your eyes, then you will be
cheated. What you see is not correct. You have defective senses.
When you are sitting in a fast-moving train and look at the trees
outside, what do you see? The trees seem to be swiftly running
backwards, dont they? But is that correct? You are moving and
the trees are standing still, but you see something different. So
how can you think I will see? You have defective senses, so how
can you see? How can you understand and recognise who is guru?
Devotee: Ka will send him to us.

r rmad Gour Govinda Swami: Yes, that is a fact. Pray to
Ka, Ka knows. O Ka, I am Your servant. You are my
eternal master. I want to serve You. How can I serve You? Where
are You and where am I? I am rotting in this whirlpool of my,
here in the material world. It is impossible on my part to serve
3
You. Who is there to help me and take me to You? That is guru,
Your dear devotee, Your pure devotee. You know him. I do not
know him. You know who is dear to You. You know Your own
men. I do not know them. Please help me. I need such a person
as Your dear devotee. If I meet him, surrender unto him, render
service to him, and if he is pleased, then he will introduce me to
You. Otherwise, how can I be introduced to You?
This is the only process: depend completely on Ka. Ka-
karu-maya, Ka is very merciful. Ka is the supreme father.
We are His children. We have forgotten Him. We have been
placed here in this dreadful ocean of material existence, but He
always thinks of His children, and how we can come to Him. He
is always very merciful.
Be Restless and Cry in Your Heart
You have to cry and cry before Him: Ka please help me!
Please send one of Your own very dear men who will help me and
take me to You! Then Ka will make that arrangement. Kas
arrangement is the perfect arrangement. If you make your own
arrangement, it will be defective. You should depend completely
on the mercy of Ka and you should cry for it in your heart. Not
that you will sleep soundly, thinking; Oh, Ka will send him to
me. No, you should feel restless; How can I get it? When will I get
the mercy of Ka and meet His dear devotee, a sdhu-guru? You
should always be feeling restless and cry in your heart. If your head
has caught on fire, can you sit still? No. You will run! Looking for
water you will not be able to sit still. You are actually in a similar
condition, so you should cry: O Ka, O Ka! Please, please
shower Your mercy on me. Send Your dear devotee to me. I am
burning. I am burning here in a frying pan.
4
The material world is sasra-dvnala, a blazing forest fire.
There is a verse in the Fifth Canto of the rmad-Bhgavatam
wherein Jaa Bharata says to Rja Rahgaa that this material
world is a forest, bhavav. You are inside that forest and do not
know your way. Is it this way or is it that way? Which way is it?
In the jungle there are so many trees, thorns, pebbles, fero-
cious animals, mountains so many obstacles. I am bewildered
Where to go? Where to go? Sometimes the friction of two pieces
of wood generates a fire there. Oh, I am burning now in the forest
fire. Your head is on fire. How can you sit still? Where is water?
Where is water? Where is water? You quickly run! Similarly you
have to cry, then Ka can understand Yes, now he is crying for
Me. And then Ka will make an arrangement.
Saubhgya or Durbhgya
Good Fortune or Bad Fortune
brahma bhramite kona bhgyavn jva

guru-ka-prasde pya bhakti-lat bja
According to their karma, all living entities are wandering

throughout the entire universe. Out of many millions of
wandering living entities, one who is very fortunate gets an
opportunity to associate with a bona fide spiritual master by
the grace of Ka. By the mercy of both Ka and the spiritual
master, such a person receives the seed of the creeper of
devotional service. (Caitanya-caritmta, Madhya-ll 19.151)
The word bhgyavn is very significant. After wandering

through many, many universes, a jva who is bhgyavn fortu-
nate, by the mercy of Ka, gets guru. Then by the mercy of guru,
5
he gets Ka. Guru-ka-kp by the mercy of Ka and the
mercy of guru, the seed of the bhakti creeper will be available. So
according to ones bhgya, good fortune, guru is available. One
may have good fortune or bad fortune, saubhgya or durbhgya.
One who has good fortune gets Kas mercy and gets a guru sent
by Ka. But, if one has bad fortune, how can he obtain r-guru?
Ka is the all-knowing person, sarvaja. He knows that dif-
ferent persons have different tastes and temperaments. They are
not all equal. Your taste is not the same as his or hers. All individ-
uals differ. Ka knows all this. So accordingly, an arrangement
is made. This devotee needs a different type of guru. That type of
guru will be made available. Yes, you want to marry a nice lady?
That is what you desire? All right, marry her. But that is not
the business of guru. That is Mys business. So Ka says, All
right, My, you send a guru to him. He needs that kind of guru.
Serve Ka Without Duplicity
Simplicity is Vaiavism saralat hi vaiavat. Those who

are simple have no other desire in their heart. Oh no, Ka, I
only want to serve You. I do not want anything from You. This is
nikapaa-sevta, to serve Ka without duplicity.
na dhana na jana na sundar

kavit v jagad, a kmaye
mama janmani janmanvare
bhavatd bhaktir ahaituk tvayi
(r ikaka 4)
O Ka, I do not want material wealth from You. I do not

want material followers janam from You. Na sundar kavit
I do not want a beautiful woman from You. I do not want lib-
6
eration from You. Janmani janmanvare bhavatd bhaktir ahaituk
tvayi life after life, I only want to render loving service unto You,
giving You all pleasure and happiness. I do not want anything else
from You.
This is nikapaa-sevta service without duplicity. He, who is

completely dependent on the Supreme Lord Ka, is bhgyavn
a fortunate soul. He is simple-hearted, without duplicity. He does
not want anything for himself from Lord Ka. He only wants to
give all pleasure and happiness to Ka. Ka becomes pleased
with him. He is a really fortunate soul, bhgyavn jva. Ka Him-
self appears before him as guru. And when he speaks it is very
sweet, pleasing to hear: kara-rasyana.
Ka Assumes a Body and Appears as Guru
The Kaha Upaniad (1.2.23) states:
nyam tm pravacanena labhyo

na medhay na bahun rutena
yam evaia vute tena labhyas
tasyaia tm vivute tanu svm
You cannot understand tma-tattva, paramtm-tattva by dint

of material scholarship, learning, merit, or intelligence. Na ba-
hun rutena you cannot understand it by hearing from many
orators, karms, jns, yogs and pandits.
One may then wonder, how can I understand You, Ka? How
can I get Ka? How can I serve Ka? For one who only has this
desire and nothing else, Ka manifests before him as guru yam
evaia vute tena labhyas, tasyaia tm vivute tanu svm. Ka
7
is there in the heart as Paramtm. He understands he is crying
for Me. So He assumes a body, tanu, and appears as guru.
Bhagavat-My Sends a Guru
Ka knows those who are not simple-hearted, who are crook-

ed, and who have some other desires. Ka knows all this very
well. So Ka directs My to send a guru to them send a guru
to her, send a guru to him. My then makes an arrangement,
and instead of obtaining a real teacher they get a cheater. Bhaga-
vat-my sends a guru to them, but for those who are without du-
plicity, simple-hearted, who have no other desire, who are crying
in their heart how to get Ka, how to understand Him and serve
Him, Ka Himself appears before them as guru. This is how you
can get guru.
How Can You Get Spiritual Strength?
How can you get strength? I am not talking about physical

strength, but spiritual strength.
Devotee: Is it by the combined mercy of guru and Ka?
r rmad Gour Govinda Swami: If you serve guru with love
and affection, you will get immense strength. Guru-sev and n-
ma-sev service to guru and service to the holy name. If you can
do that then you will get immense strength.
To whom does Ka listen? One who prays O Ka, I do

not want anything from You, na dhana na jana na sundar
kavit. I do not want anything for my pleasure and happiness
8
from You. I am completely dependent on Your will. Whatever
You want from me, even if it is very, very difficult on my part to
fulfill Your will, still I want that. It is my happiness to fulfill Your
will. Ka listens only to his prayers.
Ka is all-auspicious. There is nothing inauspicious in His

arrangements, but we cannot understand them. We are on the
bodily platform. We always want bodily comforts and enjoyment.
If there is anything uncomfortable for the body we do not want it.
Ka will never listen to such a person. Ka listens to one who
with a pure, open heart says, O Ka! I don't want anything from
You. Bhaktivinoda hkura sings about this in Gtval (4.1):
prabhu tava pada-yuge mora nivedan

nhi mgi deha-sukha, vidy, dhana, jana
O Lord, this is my prayer at Your lotus feet. I do not want

deha-sukha. I do not ask You for my bodily comfort, happiness
or enjoyment. Vidy, dhana, jana I do not ask You for material
education, material wealth or material followers.
This is the same prayer Mahprabhu gave us, na dhana na jana.

Bhaktivinoda sings: nhi mgi svarga, ra moka nhi magi*, I do
not ask you for heavenly enjoyment, svarga-sukha. The demigods
are having an abundance of enjoyment in the heavenly planets. I
do not want it. I am not asking for that. I also do not want moka,
liberation. I am not asking for that.
nija-karma-guna-doe je je janma pi
janme janme jeno tava nma-guna gi
(Gtval, Jhphi-Loph 4.2)
*Gtval, Jhphi-Loph 4.2
9
Bhaktivinoda hkura says, I am not asking You to destroy
my karma-phala, the reactions to my karma. If according to my
gua and karma I deserve to take birth as a worm, let me have it,
but, in that birth I also want to serve You. Janme janme jeno tava
nma-guna gi, whatever birth I deserve according to my karma,
in that birth I want to sing Your holy name. I want to serve You.
Ka listens only to his prayer. Otherwise, Ka will not listen.
Ka, give me a good wife. Ka give me this, give me that.
Jumping from one branch to another branch. He will not listen to
you. How can one understand the Supreme Lord?
Devotee 2: By bhakti, devotional service.

r rmad Gour Govinda Swami: Do you know what devotional
service is? You have to hear, ravaa. You have to hear bhaga-
vat-kath with strong, unflinching faith from the lips of sad-guru,
r-guru. You have to surrender yourself completely at the lotus
feet of guru and listen. There is no other way to understand Ka.
Surrender - Serve & Enquire
Devotee 2: Does such a guru have to be physically present?

r rmad Gour Govinda Swami: Oh yes. He is a person. He is
not impersonal.
Devotee 2: One may say, I will read books and ...

r rmad Gour Govinda Swami: The books say, stra says:
accept guru. You have to accept. You have to go there and do
praipta, pariprana and sev surrender, serve, and enquire.
From whom will you enquire, the book?
10
Devotee 2: If the guru leaves the planet before you have attained
prema
r rmad Gour Govinda Swami: Are bb! Guru makes all
these arrangements. Do not worry about it. His arrangements are
perfect arrangements. He has taken that responsibility; he has ac-
cepted you as a disciple. He has not rejected you. Guru means
heavy, not laghu, light. The opposite of guru is laghu. Gurus re-
sponsibility is very heavy. He has accepted the heavy responsibil-
ity to take you out of the fort of My. You are imprisoned in the
fort of Durg-dev or My. Guru has accepted that responsibil-
ity to take you out. He knows his responsibility. It is up to him.
Do not worry about it. You just serve guru. You just completely
surrender. You should have firm, unflinching faith in guru and
completely surrender. Listen to what he says and follow it as it is.
Do not twist it. Do not add any of your deliberation to it. Do not
concoct anything. Then everything is assured.
Complete Surrender & Unflinching Faith
Devotee 1: Prabhupda initiated about 10,000 disciples, and per-

haps 95% have gone. What is their destination?
r rmad Gour Govinda Swami: Why did they go?
Devotee 2: No faith?
r rmad Gour Govinda Swami: Yes, they had no faith.
Devotee 1: So is Prabhupda still responsible for them?

r rmad Gour Govinda Swami: Why? If you have no faith in
guru, why will he be responsible for you? They have no faith in
guru and are not surrendered. They were great pretenders. They
11
pretended that they were surrendered, but they were not surren-
dered. Otherwise why did they go away?
Devotee 1: So even though we get initiation, unless we actually
surrender, the guru will not take responsibility for us?
r rmad Gour Govinda Swami: No. Why will he not surren-
der? He has no faith in guru. It was only a formality. You have
no faith. You are not really surrendered. You have only pretend-
ed that you were surrendered. As Ka knows everything, guru
knows everything. As you sow so you reap.
Devotee 1: If Prabhupda knew that this would happen, why did

he initiate them?
r rmad Gour Govinda Swami: Are bb, the devotee wanted
that. All right, take it.
I want it, father! I want it!
Thats fire.
No, I want it!
The father says, Hey! That is fire! Dont touch it!
But the child cries and says, No, nooooo! I want it!
All right, take it. What to do? Let him be burnt. Then hell
learn. Then hell cry for help.
Complete surrender is needed not partial, not conditional,
and not artificial at the lotus feet of guru, to hear bhgavata-kath
from him with firm, unflinching faith. Then you will understand
Bhagavn, otherwise not.
To Disobey the Order of the Spiritual Master
What is the most severe nma-apardha? Disobeying the order

of the spiritual master. Who commits that apardha? Ka has
said:
12
crya m vijnyn
nvamanyeta karhicit
na martya-buddhysyeta
sarva-deva-mayo guru
One should know the crya as Myself and never disrespect

him in any way. One should not envy him, thinking him an
ordinary man, for he is the representative of all the demigods.
Ka says, Guru, crya, is as good as Myself, m vijnyn.

Do not think of him as an ordinary mortal being, na martya-bud-
dhysyeta. He is as good as Me. All the demigods are manifest
in him. Ka says that this is guru. But if one thinks how is it
that he is not a mortal being, that he is as good as Ka? I cannot
see this. He feels hungry. He eats, as I eat. He feels tired, as I feel.
He passes stool and urine, as I do. Sometimes he falls sick, as I do.
How is it that he is not a mortal being, na martya-buddhysyeta?
I cannot see it. I cannot accept it. This is the most severe n-
ma-apardha. This type of person disobeys the gurus order.
That devotee was remarking that Prabhupda initiated thou-

sands of people, but now they have gone. Why did they go? They
committed this apardha. They did not follow Prabhupdas order.
They did not understand Prabhupda. They did not understand
him at all. Prabhupda instructed them to chant sixteen rounds of
the pure name, and to follow the regulative principles very strict-
ly. Are they doing this? They are all breaking the regulative prin-
ciples, and they are not chanting sixteen rounds. Because they are
not surrendered, they have not accepted guru like that. They are
thinking that he is like us. So we may break his order.
13
Who Can Save Us from this Precarious Situation?
Here in the material world, pada pada yad vipadm*, at every

step there is danger, vipada. We have unlimited material desires
that are pulling us down, and keeping us in this dreadful ocean of
material existence. We have been drowning, drowning, drown-
ing! Who is there to save us and to protect us in this dangerous
situation? No one except guru-pda-padma the lotus feet of guru
can save us from this precarious situation. If you think of guru
as an ordinary human being then you commit the most severe
nma-apardha. Then you cannot have faith in his words. You
cannot surrender unto him. You will only be a pretender. That is
the reason why these devotees left nothing else.
What Does Sannysa Mean?
What is sannysa? To be constantly engaged day and night,

twenty-four-hours, in hari-bhajana. For those who are pretender
devotees, their sannysa is for bhukti and mukti, material enjoy-
ment and material liberation. But sannysa means no material
desires, no material enjoyment and no material liberation. Bha-
vatd bhaktir ahaituk tvayi life after life I only want unalloyed
*samrit ye pada-pallava-plava
mahat-pada puya-yao murre
bhavmbudhir vatsa-pada para pada
pada pada yad vipad na tem
For those who have accepted the boat of the lotus feet of the Lord, who is the shel-
ter of the cosmic manifestation and is famous as Murri, the enemy of the Mura demon,
the ocean of the material world is like the water contained in a calfs hoof-print. Their
goal is para padam, Vaikuha, the place where there are no material miseries, not the
place where there is danger at every step. (rmad-Bhgavatam 10.14.58)
14
devotion. Nothing else. That is sannysa. These persons receive
the mercy of Bhakti-dev.
The Proper Use of Our Minute Independence
What sort of consideration, vicra, should we have so that eve-

rything will be auspicious for us? Guru gives the understanding
that whatever you find here is all paraphernalia for Kas en-
joyment, not for your enjoyment. One who has this understand-
ing gets all-auspiciousness. He uses everything in Kas service.
There is no suffering for him. He has no more independence at
all. Once you surrender completely, your independence is gone. If
you retain your independence then you are not surrendered. You
are a pretender. Minute independence has been granted to you
for this purpose: to surrender to Guru and Gaurga. That is the
proper use of independence. Once you surrender completely, your
independence is gone. Then you are in the hands of guru.
One who completely surrenders gives up all his crookedness
and duplicity. With a simple heart and mind, he serves guru and
Gaurga and engages himself in hari-bhajana. It is guaranteed
that in this life he will get Ka. But how many are doing that?
All are pretenders. Guru knows that they are pretenders. They are
retaining their independence. They do as they like. They do not
listen to guru. They only say, Yes, yes, yes, Guru Mahrja. Yes,
I understand. Oh, all right, all right. Ill do it. Ill do it, but right
now I am in a dangerous situation. There is a problem. There are
monetary difficulties. There are family difficulties. I am trying to
solve them and then Ill do it. If you behave like that, then how
can you get mercy? Guru dea nirvicrare grahaya whatever
the guru orders, immediately do it. Do not add any of your delib-
eration to it.*
*Rmyaa, ayodhy-ka 22.9
15
Follow the Order As It Is
We cite the example of Lord Rma. He is the Supreme Lord

Bhagavn, not an ordinary human being. It was declared in Ayo-
dhy that Lord Rma would become king the next morning, but
in the night, everything changed completely. When the day
dawned, instead of the order that He would sit on the throne,
the order came: Bharata will be king and Rma will go to the
forest for fourteen years. Without any deliberation, Lord Rma
accepted it. He did not ask why shall I go to the forest? It is My
birthright to sit on the throne. Immediately He accepted it and
started out without delay. He did not add any deliberation to the
order, but executed it straight away.
When Bharata returned to Ayodhy, he asked how this had
happened? He understood that it was the conspiracy, politics, of
his mother Kaikey, and he became angry with her. Bharata is the
ideal brother.
He said, No! Ayodhy belongs to Rma. Rma is the king.
Only He can sit on the throne. I am Rmas servant. How can I
sit on the seat of my master?
He went to Rma, who was staying in a nearby forest, to
bring Him back, but Rma would not return. He said to Bharata,
Whatever the order is of your gurujanas, just follow that as it is.
Do not add any of your deliberation to it. That is good for you
and good for Me. For fourteen years I must live in the forest. I am
banished. This is gurus order. However difficult it may be, I must
carry it out, and for fourteen years you have to rule. Just follow as
it is. Then there was nothing to say.
Bharata replied, I am Your servant. Ayodhy belongs to You.
Only You can sit on the throne. I will rule. I will carry out that
order, but I will not sit on the throne. I will rule as Your servant.
16
You are my Lord and master and You order me. For fourteen years
I will rule on Your behalf, as Your servant.
He took Rmas wooden sandals, put them on his head, and
then put them on the throne and declared, Rma is the king. I
am ruling in His absence for fourteen years as His representative
or servant. I am carrying out His order. This is the process. He
did not deliberate. This is how to execute the order of the guru.
[Speaking to a devotee in the class:] You are thinking, Oh, I

have this difficulty. I have this problem now. I am in this condi-
tion. I cannot follow gurus order. But at every moment there are
problems in the material world. It is beset with problems. How
can you say, no problem? This material platform is such a nas-
ty platform. In the words of Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvat Gosvm
Prabhupda Mahrja; it is not a fit place for any gentleman to
live. There are always problems. The body gives problems. The
situation gives problems. The environment gives problems. The
so-called bodily relations give problems. There are so many prob-
lems.
Execute the order of guru as it is. Do not add any of your delib-
eration. That is what you should understand. Then you will get
the mercy of Guru and Gaurga. Give up your independence.
Completely surrender unto the tattva-dar-guru, who has seen
the Absolute Truth, and render service to him without duplicity,
nikapaa-sev. I say that if you do so, in one life it is guaranteed
that you will go back home, back to Godhead, and get Ka. It
is guaranteed. If you can engage yourself in the service of such a
personality day and night, twenty-four-hours, without duplicity,
and hear bhagavn-kath from him, then you will definitely get
Ka. This is the only consideration. There is no other consid-
eration, vicra.
17
Run Behind Him with Leech-Like Tenacity
Such a prem-bhakti has bound up Ka in his heart with the

rope of love. Bhaktivinoda hkura, in aragati (7.7.4) sings,
ka se tomra, ka dite pra

tomra akati che
mi ta kgla, ka ka bali
dhi tava pche pche
O Vaiava hkura! Ka belongs to you. You have

bound Ka. Only you can give me Ka. I am kgla, a
pauper, since I am bereft of Ka. Give me Ka, give me
Ka.
A poor man runs behind a wealthy man, Oh Sir, please give

me one penny. Please give me one penny. Similarly, you should
approach a Vaiava sdhu and beg from him, running behind him
with leech-like tenacity; not leaving him that is needed. Then
sdhu-guru will shower his mercy on you, because ymasundara is
there in his heart. If you can serve such a guru and get his mercy,
then he can transfer Ka from his heart to your heart. He has
the akti to do so. He can make Ka appear in your heart. Ka
listens to him. Otherwise, how can you get Ka?
You Must Approach Guru
Devotee 3: What if someone says that they did not receive any
specific instruction from Prabhupda?
r rmad Gour Govinda Swami: The guru gives general in-
structions to everyone, but there are specific instructions to in-
18
dividuals. You must ask for it. How can I serve you? My Guru
Mahrja asked rla Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvat Prabhupda,
How can I serve you? rla Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvat told him,
You must go to the Western world and preach the science of
Ka consciousness in English. That is a specific order.
Devotee 3: What if you have never received a specific order from

Prabhupda?
r rmad Gour Govinda Swami: That means you have been
cheated. You wanted to be cheated, and you are cheated. You
should have asked Please instruct me. How can I serve you?
What do you want from me? If you enquire in this way then the
guru will give specific instructions. General instructions are for
one and all, for the whole world, even those who are not disciples.
Devotee 3: The movement was so big at that time. Unless you

were a big leader, you could not get a personal instruction.
r rmad Gour Govinda Swami: When you are a disciple, you
have a right. You must approach guru. Offer millions of daa-
vat-pramas to him, and say, Please, what do you want from me?
How can I serve you? What will please you? Please tell me. You
must do that. If you dont, it means that you want to be cheated.
You are an easy-going person. You are thinking; why shall I go
and bring such danger for myself? If I go near him then some hard-
ship will come on my head. You keep yourself away from guru.
You think, Oh, his instruction is in the books. It is all right. I will
get whatever instruction I need from whoever gives the lecture.
This is the mentality of an easy-going person who is not prepared
to undergo hardship for the service of Guru and Gaurga. How
will such a person advance?
19
Distress & Hardship Are My Supreme Asset
tomra sevya dukha hoya jato

seo to parama sukha
sev-sukha-dukha parama sampada
naye avidy-dukha
(aragati 8.4)
All the troubles encountered in Your service shall be the

cause of great happiness, for in Your devotional service joy
and sorrow are equally great riches. Both destroy the misery
of ignorance.
rla Bhaktivinoda hkura gives us instructions, O Lord, O

Guru and Gaurga! Whatever distress comes, whatever hardship
comes in Your service, those hardships are my greatest pleasure.
That distress and hardship are parama sampada, my supreme as-
set. Naye avidy-dukha all of your ignorance will be dispelled
and your eyes will be opened. There will be enlightenment, no
darkness. You will be able to see clearly. Whereas, one who keeps
himself away from guru thinking If I go near him then some
hardship will come on my head, better to stay away. Oh yes, books
are there, all the instructions are there in the books that describe
this deep nectar. I will get it from there he does not take his
service to guru seriously.
Ka and Sudm Set an Example
When Ka and Sudm were students in Sndpani Munis

rama, they set an example. Once there was no firewood for
cooking. So Sndpani Munis wife, guru-mt, said to the boys,
20
There is no firewood. How can I cook? Go and fetch wood in
the forest. Both Ka and Sudm took an axe in their hand
and went out. Why? This is service, guru-seva. He is the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. His will is supreme. By the will of the
Supreme Lord the creation and the annihilation takes place; by
His mere willing. If He had wanted, immediately truckloads of
firewood would have come there. What is the necessity of going
to the forest with an axe in His hand on the part of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead? This is guru-seva. We have to do it. This
fire is needed. The order came. There was no fuel, no dry wood.
Therefore, they went to the forest.
Then this wonderful incident took place; black clouds ap-

peared in the sky, a very heavy storm came blowing torrential
rain. The whole land became inundated. It was a very dark night
with roaring thunder and lightning. The two boys were in the for-
est and could not go back to the rama. The Supreme Personality
of Godhead could not come back to the rama. Sndpani Muni
could not sleep that night Oh, these two boys went out, and it is
such a bad night with torrential rain, such a heavy storm. No one
can go out of the house or even open the door. The whole land
is inundated. What has happened to them? He was just thinking,
and thinking in this way, and had a sleepless night.
As soon as day dawned and the rain stopped, Sndpani Muni

went out to see where they were. After some time he saw Ka
and Sudm standing beneath a tree. They were soaked from the
rain and were shivering. Ka was acting as if He had a material
body. His body is not material, but He was teaching us. They were
shivering and shivering. They contracted such bodily pain and
distress in the service of guru. Sndpani Muni embraced them,
You are sat-iya. This body is very dear to everyone. No one
21
wants to give distress to the body, but you both took such bodily
distress and unhappiness for me.
Serve Guru with a Loving Heart
Ka has said,
nham ijy-prajtibhy
tapasopaamena v
tuyeya sarva-bhttm
guru-uray yath
I am not very pleased with a brahmacr, who is tapasopaama

very strict in following brahmacr life, or a sannys, who may
be very strict in following the sannysa order, or a very strict
ghastha, but I am pleased with persons who, not caring for
their own discomfort, serve guru with a loving heart.
Here Ka has said that He becomes very pleased with that

person who serves the guru with a loving and pure heart, offering
nikapaa-sev with love and affection, not caring for his own dis-
comfort, bodily pain, unhappiness or distress.
22
guru-seva
is
r
Eve7 y t h i n g !
0
"P ray to Ka, Ka knows. 'O Ka, I am Your servant.
You are my eternal master. I want to serve You. How can
I serve You? Where are You and where am I? I am rotting
in this whirlpool of my, here in the material world. It is impossible
on my part to serve You. Who is there to help me and take me to You?
That is guru, Your dear devotee, Your pure devotee. You know him. I
do not know him. You know who is dear to You. You know Your own
men. I do not know them. Please help me. I need such a person as Your
dear devotee. If I meet him, surrender unto him, render service to him,
and if he is pleased, then he will introduce me to You. Otherwise, how
can I be introduced to You?'"
TAT T VA V I C A R A P U B L I C AT I O N S
www.tvpbooks.com
www.gourgovindaswami.com

Guru Seva Booklet Web

Загружено:

Сведения о документе

Авторское право

Доступные форматы

Поделиться этим документом

Поделиться или встроить документ

Параметры публикации

Этот документ был вам полезен?

Это неприемлемый материал?

Авторское право:

Доступные форматы

Guru Seva Booklet Web

Загружено:

Авторское право:

Доступные форматы

-

Tattva vicara publications

First Edition 200 copies.

2017 Tattva Vicara Publications

Front cover images Ananta-vndvana dsa. Used with permission.

The rmad-Bhgavatam is ka-bhakti-rasa, the mellow of

yasy vai ryamy

Only by hearing rmad-Bhgavatam from the right source, one

Only Non-Envious Devotees

dharma projjhita-kaitavo tra paramo nirmatsar sat

Hear rmad-Bhgavatam from the Right Source

Hearing rmad-Bhgavatam from the right source is so effective that

The Essence of All Vedic Literature

artho yam brahma-strm

The following four topics are present in the rmad-Bhgavatam:

gyatrra arthe ei grantha-rambhana

The Caitanya-caritmta states gyatrra arthe ei grantha-

Ka Appears in Four Forms

bhgavata, tulas, gagya, bhakta-jane

Ka appears in this material world in four forms: rmad-

No Scripture Is As Good As rmad-Bhgavatam

bhgavata-stre se bhaktira tattva kahe

Prema-bhakti-tattva is described in Bhgavata, therefore no

Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvat Gosvm Prabhupda said that if all the

prema-maya bhgavatar-kera aga

The rmad-Bhgavatam is filled with ecstatic love. It is the body

rmad-Bhgavatam is non-different from Ka, it is the body of

Grantha-Bhgavata & Bhakta-Bhgavata

Dui sthne bhgavata-nma uni-mtra, eko grantha-bhgavata, ra eko

dui bhgavata dvr diy bhakti-rasa

Through these two bhgavatas, grantha-bhgavata and bhakta-

bhgavata ye n mne, seyavana-sama

One who does not accept rmad-Bhgavatam is no better than

Therefore, nitya bhgavata-sevay, as a daily activity one should go

1. rmad-Bhgavatam 10.14.3, Brahms prayers to Lord Ka.

In the rmad-Bhgavatam it is said:

Lifes desires should never be directed toward sense

W hat is proper enquiry and what subject should one en-

Who Knows the Perfect Answers?

tad viddhi praiptena

Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master.

This verse from the Bhagavad-gt describes who it is that

Where is such a person available? Do you know him? If you do

Devotee: Ka will send him to us.

Be Restless and Cry in Your Heart

brahma bhramite kona bhgyavn jva

According to their karma, all living entities are wandering

The word bhgyavn is very significant. After wandering

Serve Ka Without Duplicity

Simplicity is Vaiavism saralat hi vaiavat. Those who

na dhana na jana na sundar

O Ka, I do not want material wealth from You. I do not

This is nikapaa-sevta service without duplicity. He, who is

Ka Assumes a Body and Appears as Guru

The Kaha Upaniad (1.2.23) states:

nyam tm pravacanena labhyo

You cannot understand tma-tattva, paramtm-tattva by dint

Bhagavat-My Sends a Guru

Ka knows those who are not simple-hearted, who are crook-

How Can You Get Spiritual Strength?

How can you get strength? I am not talking about physical

To whom does Ka listen? One who prays O Ka, I do

Ka is all-auspicious. There is nothing inauspicious in His

prabhu tava pada-yuge mora nivedan