This is a recorded class/discourse on Bhakti pedagogy and practice. The speaker stresses the need for a strong foundation in Srila Prabhupada's books (Gita, Bhagavatam, Chaitanya-charitamrita) and formal Bhakti training (Bhakti Shastri/Bhakti Vedanta/Bhakti Sarva) before studying or debating other philosophies. Under guru guidance advanced students may learn opponents' views to identify strengths and weaknesses, but casual or speculative listening can confuse. The talk includes devotional anecdotes (Makhana Das’s longing for Lord Chaitanya, mercy and hope, mention of saint Yasa Premadasa) to illustrate sincerity, misuse of mercy, and the need for bona fide acharyas for proper understanding.
Prabhupada established Bhakti Shastri, Bhakti Bhaibha Bhakti Vedanta, Bhakti Sarva Boma. Different degrees for those who are studying his books. After you if Bhakti Vedanta then you basically study the whole Bhagavatam and Bhakti Saharba Bhavan at that level then you do inter study of other philosophies. So manner they are allowed to study other philosophies from that point of view to to see what is the plus and minus points of each Vasudha. Where they are right, where they are wrong. But if we don't have our own foundation very strong then we may get things kind of mixed up. So it's important we thoroughly read Prabhupada's books. Study Gita, study Bhagavad, study Chaitanya Chaya Veda. Get a very strong understanding of what is Ka consciousness, what is pure Ka Bhakti. When we thoroughly understood all these things then for preaching to other groups under the guidance of the Guru someone can study some other philosophy to know the critical analysis of it. So the Prabhupada said, even amongst the Lordies they can debate. One can take the position of an impersonalist and one can take the position of a Vaishnava scholar Pandit. And they can debate with each other so that their skill on how to defeat these other arguments will become strong. So it's not that we don't know what other groups are saying. We should learn eventually how to defeat anything which is against pure Bhakti principles. We should know how to dispel other people's doubts about these things. So under a controlled way there's some scope for studying but not just to draw a distinction. Anybody speaking something and then in their classes they may start to speak speculations or something. Sometimes the senior devotees, they have to go and listen to what the Bhakti Vishal leader is and what the different leaders are speaking other preachers see. Even Prabhupada, he would listen to us preach. Sometime he asked me to give lecture. He was sitting there, high tension. You know, Prabhupada is sitting and you have to give lectures. He's listening to see how you're presenting the philosophy. So we also have to hear that sometimes how people are presenting. So the principle we shouldn't speculate, we should hear properly. And from Gita Bhagavad, from Guru, that we should repeat if we have a good understanding. We can use some contemporary examples. But it should be done properly to illustrate what their point is, not to cover the point. So somehow Makhanda Tati he didn't follow this principle that he was listening. So he was bent. For months and months he was not allowed to know everyone. Lord Chitting he never seen again. Never. So then he was really worried never going to see Lord Chitten again. He couldn't even live a minute without Lord Jit. And now he stands for life forever, eternity. He was really going crazy. One time after. I don't know, after a long time he was not allowed to come. He asked the Lord Shikam, your secretary, all they were afraid. Look, don't come to me. Mukunda. What can I do? The Lord has made a decision. It's not my fault. I can't talk to you about it. If I even mention your name, he gets angry. Still somebody just please ask him one thing. When can I see him again? Little secretary. This time he mentioned Mukunda Dantas again. Lord, why are you bringing your name up? He just wanted to know when can he see you again? So the secretary went out and told them, you can see Chaitanya Madhubu. He said, you can see him after 10 million births. But Makhana Dasheda, he said, you can never see him. So then he is thinking, at least after 10 million birth, I can see him. One day I can see him. She became very happy. Haribo, Haribo. One day I'm going to see Lord Chaitanya again. I want to see him again. Haribo. Haribol. Haribol. Because he was so depressed that never, never, never, never never think how can I live and never sing. So when he was told, after 10 million births you can see me, he thought, okay, eventually sometime I can see me jumping and dancing. The Lord Shaitan said, what all the noise. The second train went out. He came back reported. You see. When you saw that he cannot see you for 10 million birth, he was so hopeless that he'll never see you again. When he heard he can see you after one coral birth, he got hope that okay, at least after 1/4 I can see him. He's jumping for joy. Then Lord she convinced. Okay, wait a minute. Lord is independent. If he wants, he can give mercy one second. Or we once see them withhold our mercy. So we cannot take, should not take it for granted. And this is a misuse of mercy. We should try our little best to be sincere followers. So my prayer is a bona fide Acharya. So the Dora was very eager. I want to hear from you about Krishna's pastimes, avatar past times to find a bona fide speaker. There's no harm to listen whether somebody is Mayavadi or Sunyawadi or something that we don't want to hear from them about Krishna or about philosophy because they are going to put in their own twists and make a very different kind of presentation. Mayavati is a writing expert and word juggler. They can say everything is God, Door is God, window is God. People get bewildered. We know in Vaishnava philosophy that Bhagavad Gita Krishna says that everything is his energy. Energy is not different from him. For this simultaneously there is difference and non difference that Krishna is not different from anything. But at the same time he is also independent and different. Simon came and said what are different? Achintya Veda Vive Satwa. For those who are going Tavadis they say everything is one to know about Bhagavan. Don't hear from Ayurvedis, don't hear from Sakade or hear from Bonafide devotees who have learned this science in the discipline succession. And then he'll also get a proper understanding. Krishna says except for my devotee no one else can know me. So imagine someone has a pure devotee of Ka that they won't understand Ka properly. So what is the use of hearing from someone if they don't have the proper understanding? The navy put dockers many very good speakers. That's another thing we can listen to that oration, public dictation or something. It's not the purpose of spiritual better you hearing in your simple devotee. But their realization will be useful for us. Then hearing a very good speaker who's read a PJ's speculation and give us ideas which will confuse our understanding about Ka. So that's why when someone reaches a certain level of commitment for understanding from our Guru Parampara they don't like to go and listen to so many speakers. Very rational. When somebody is very learning they can go and they can challenge us to this. Why they are saying so much nonsense. But to do that then we have to be very well grounded in the philosophy. Eventually we need such kind of creatures. Sometimes people are offending Ka. Someone should be able to defend Ka from any offensive statement. Any person. It I'm glad that when the saint Yasa Premadasa was here in gulp and he was spreading around Kirtans and Krishna consciousness he's a festival in himself. So he also he was with me. I took him to Mathura days for the Rath Yashras in February. Pap. It's that and it. To the skills. Thank you for watching our videos. Be sure to subscribe to our channel. We publish new videos every day. And don't forget to like and share our channel.
