Qualities of Disciple That Guru Looks For

2017-07-19 Srimad Bhagavatam 11.03.24(B) - Qualities of Disciple That Guru Looks For (download mp3) by Braja Mohan Prabhu at ISKCON Chowpatty www.iskcondesiretree.com SB 11.3.24saucam tapas titiksam ca maunam svadhyayam arjavambrahmacaryam ahimsam ca samatvam dvandva-samjñayoh Translation: To serve the spiritual master the disciple should learn cleanliness, austerity, tolerance, silence, study of Vedic knowledge, simplicity, celibacy, nonviolence, and equanimity in the face of material dualities such as heat and cold, happiness and distress. Purport: Saucam, or “cleanliness,” refers to both internal and external purity. One should remain externally clean by bathing with soap and water at least once and, if possible, three times daily. One is considered internally pure when he is free from the pollution of false pride and egotism. Tapah, or “austerity,” means that despite the irrational impulses of the mind one should remain fixed in executing his proper duty in life. Specifically, one must control burning anger and the urge for wanton sex life. If a human being does not control the impulses of lust, anger and greed, he loses his power to understand his actual situation. Human life is a golden opportunity to solve the overwhelming problems of birth, death, old age and disease. According to the Visnu Purana (3.8.9): varnasramacara-vata purusena parah pumanvisnur aradhyate pantha nanyat tat-tosa-karanam Every human being can achieve spiritual perfection by dedicating the fruits of his prescribed work to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Visnu. Similarly, in Bhagavad-gita (18.45) Lord Krsna clearly states, sve sve karmany abhiratah samsiddhim labhate narah. One does not have to adopt a monastic life or live in the forest as a yogi; one can achieve perfection by dedicating his occupational duties to the Supreme Lord. Similarly, Bhaktivinoda Thakura has said, namasraya kari’ yatane tumi, thakaha apana kaje. If one sincerely takes shelter of the holy names of Krsna by chanting Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, he will achieve spiritual perfection within the compass of his normal daily activities. Unfortunately, if a human being neglects the regulative principles of civilized life that prohibit illicit sex, meat-eating, intoxication and gambling, he will surely be overwhelmed by the waves of lust and anger, which completely cover one’s consciousness of the reality of spiritual life and draw one to engage in the phantasmagoria of the temporary material body. As Lord Krsna has stated in Bhagavad-gita (3.39): avrtam jñanam etena jñanino nitya-vairinakama-rupena kaunteya duspurenanalena ca “Thus a man’s pure consciousness is covered by his eternal enemy in the form of lust, which is never satisfied and which burns like fire.” Therefore, the word tapah, or “austerity,” in this verse indicates that one must remain in his prescribed duty and not become impatient or unregulated due to the waves of lust, anger and greed. The word titiksam, or “tolerance,” indicates that a transcendentalist must be forgiving. The material world is full of embarrassing and irritating situations, and unless one is inclined to be very much forgiving he will become infected by a vindictive mentality, which spoils one’s spiritual consciousness. Maunam, or “silence,” means that one should not speak on worthless or frivolous topics, but should discuss the actual issues of human life such as going back home, back to Godhead. Remaining completely silent is a symptom of ignorance; a stone is silent due to a lack of consciousness. Since every material thing has its spiritual counterpart, the Vedic sastras contain negative and positive injunctions. Corresponding to the negative injunction against speech is the positive injunction that one should always speak about Krsna. Satatam kirtayanto mam. One should always speak about the Supreme Personality of Godhead, glorifying His holy name, fame, pastimes, ent