# Following the Acaryas *On following the footsteps of the great authorities* --- ### Mahajano Yena Gatah Sa Panthah > So everything is there for our knowledge, provided we follow. So there is no difficulty. Therefore our process is *mahājana yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ. Dharmasya tattvaṁ nihitaṁ guhāyām.* We cannot manufacture our ways. We must follow the footsteps of predecessors. That is our business. *Mahājana yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ. Dharmasya tattvaṁ nihitaṁ guhāyām.* By argument, by scholarship or by becoming philosopher, one cannot make any progress, unless he follows the great *ācāryas,* predecessors, strictly. Otherwise it is not possible. — [[spoken/1973/730128nd.cal|The Nectar of Devotion, Calcutta, January 28, 1973]] --- ### Not to Be Opened Immediately > Malinterpretation will not help you to understand what is *Bhagavad-gītā.* As Śrīmān Haṁsadūta has said, just to understand *Bhagavad-gītā,* one has to become a devotee of Kṛṣṇa; otherwise there is no scope of understanding. Because in the beginning the Lord says that "This system of disciplic chain of succession is now broken. Therefore I am speaking the same *yoga* system, *Bhagavad-gītā,* unto you, Arjuna." — [[spoken/1971/710130l3.all|Lecture at Māgha-melā, Allahabad, January 30, 1971]] --- ### Do Not Go to a Rascal > To know about Kṛṣṇa. It is not also difficult. Science of Kṛṣṇa is there, *Bhagavad-gītā.* Kṛṣṇa speaks Himself. So to know the science of Kṛṣṇa is also not difficult. But because we are unfortunate, we go to rascal, and they interpret *Bhagavad-gītā* in a rascaldom way, and you are misled. So you should be very careful not to go to a rascal. Then your mission will be successful. If you want to purchase gold, you must go to a shop where actually gold is purchased, gold. If you do not know, then you'll be cheated. That is not also very difficult. That I have repeatedly said. Those who are interpreting in their own way *Bhagavad-gītā,* he's a rascal; he's not *guru.* As soon as he says an interpretation, "I think like this," you reject that. Why should we think like that? You should preach what Kṛṣṇa says. Then you are right. Why should you say something which Kṛṣṇa does not say? Then you are misguided. — [[spoken/1977/770131r1.bhu|Room Conversation, Bhuvanesvara, January 31, 1977]] --- ### He Does Not Know Krishna > He does not know Kṛṣṇa. He's not *kṛṣṇa-tattva-vettā.* So he's cheating. That is going on. Kṛṣṇa says, *sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja*, and these rascals say, "It is not to Kṛṣṇa person." So he's a rascal. He's taking Kṛṣṇa's book and preaching against Kṛṣṇa. So what will be benefit if you go to such a rascal? Therefore there is no difference between *śikṣā-guru* and *dīkṣā-guru,* because if he's actually *guru,* he'll not say anything which Kṛṣṇa has not spoken. — [[spoken/1977/770131r1.bhu|Room Conversation, Bhuvanesvara, January 31, 1977]] --- ### Learn Systematically > That has spoiled the whole spiritual life of the present humanity. Everyone manufactures his own way. There is no... If you learn to typewriting, you have to learn systematically: this finger here, this finger... Not that this finger there, this finger there. That is nonsense. You cannot do anything whimsically. This is nonsense. You have to learn systematically, scientifically. Then you are actually learned in that subject matter. And that is the Vedic injunction: *tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet samit-pāṇiḥ.* — [[spoken/1974/740130r1.tok|Room Conversation, Tokyo, January 30, 1974]] --- ### Follow the System > So it is useless to say that modern time, modern ways, modern things. There is nothing modern. The old thing is going on. So if we follow systematically the previous *ācāryas,* previous system, as Kṛṣṇa is advising. Kṛṣṇa does not advise, "Modern." Five thousand years ago He instructed *Bhagavad-gītā.* Still, He was saying *pūrva pūrvataraiḥ, pūrvatamaiḥ. Evaṁ paramparā-prāptam imaṁ rājarṣayo viduḥ*. This is intelligence. We have to accept the real truth and follow it. It does not mean modern age or previous age, past age. That is not Vedic system. The old system is going on, everything. — [[spoken/1974/740404bg.bom|Bhagavad-gītā 4.15, Bombay, April 4, 1974]] --- ### How to Become Ācārya > So Advaita Ācārya is the typical example how to become *ācārya.* All are our *ācāryas: śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu-nityānanda, śrī-advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda.* All of them are *ācāryas* because they are following the *ācārya,* supreme *ācārya,* Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Therefore they are *ācārya. Evaṁ paramparā-prāptam imaṁ rājarṣayo viduḥ*. So we have to follow the *ācārya.* Then, when we are completely, cent percent follower of *ācārya,* then you can also act as *ācārya.* This is the process. Don't become premature *ācārya.* First of all follow the orders of *ācārya,* and you become mature. Then it is better to become *ācārya.* Because we are interested in preparing *ācārya,* but the etiquette is, at least for the period the *guru* is present, one should not become *ācārya.* Even if he is complete he should not, because the etiquette is, if somebody comes for becoming initiated, it is the duty of such person to bring that prospective candidate to his *ācārya.* Not that "Now people are coming to me, so I can become *ācārya.*" That is *avamanya. Nāvamanyeta karhicit.* Don't transgress this etiquette. *Nāvamanyeta.* That will be falldown. — [[spoken/1975/750406cc.may|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 1.13, Māyāpur, April 6, 1975]] --- ### Great Science from Time Immemorial > It is very, very old—thousands and thousands and millions of years old, and this great science was passed down throughout time to the saintly kings, as a saint like this, from *guru* to *guru.* We are giving this great science, delivering this great science, and like this it is coming to us from time immemorial. So for thousands of years, holy man in India, they have attained the real, most super consciousness, or the real transcendence, by following the footsteps of these great saints, which are giving us this great science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, or God., conscious of God. — [[spoken/1972/720406le.mel|Lecture at Tarrawarra Abbey, Melbourne, April 6, 1972]] --- ### Disciple Means Who Accepts Discipline > This is the beginning. If that thing is lacking, there is no beginning even, what to speak of advancement. That is discussed already. *Na siddhim sa avāpnoti na sukhaṁ na parāṁ gatih.* This is the beginning of spiritual life. The word is called *disciple.* Disciple means who accept discipline. If there is no discipline, where is disciple? And "disciplic succession." We have used this word. Not that discipline is finished by one man. No. It will continue to go by succession. That is perfect. — [[spoken/1974/740701r1.mel|Room Conversation with Bhūrijana and Other Devotees, Melbourne, July 1, 1974]] --- ### Following Nārada Muni > So Nārada Muni is *mahājana,* and he became *mahājana* on account of his austerity and following the principles. So anyone who follows Nārada, he also becomes *mahājana.* This is the disciplic succession. — [[spoken/1974/740805sb.vrn|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.5.24, Vṛndāvana, August 5, 1974]] --- *10 verified verbatim quotes from Śrīla Prabhupāda on following the ācāryas*