Principle One

HEAR from a liberated pure devotee of Krishna.

To hear the glories of the Lord from his liberated pure devotee is the first and most important principle if we want to become happy. This is very important to understand. Failure to do this will result in us experiencing a sense of unhappiness. If we are prone to depression, anxiety or hopelessness then we need to rectify the quality of our sadhu sanga, and ensure we are daily serving the uttama bhakta by hearing from him.

“The topmost benediction for those who are living in this material world and are subjected to the repetition of birth and death is association with pure devotees. One should search out such pure devotees and remain with them. That will make one completely happy, even though living within the material world.” SB 4.30.34 purport

There are two types of pure devotees:

You may have heard of the analogy of an ‘unripe mango’ and ‘ripe mango’ to describe the different types of pure devotees. A pure devotee who is compared to an unripe mango has a pure intention to love Krishna, but does not yet love Him. Such a pure devotee is still contaminated by the influence of the three modes of material nature. The ‘ripe mango’ pure devotee refers those whose dormant love of Krishna has awoken, and they have no trace of material contamination.

In order to be happy, we need the association of the ripe mango pure devotee whose love for
Krishna has awoken and who has no material contamination.

“The summary is that one has to first of all seek the association of pure devotees who not only are learned in the Vedanta but are self-realized souls and unalloyed devotees of Lord Sri Krishna, the Personality of Godhead.” S.B. 1.5.34 purport So far we have understood that to become happy we need to seek out the association of a self-realized pure devotee. Such devotees are technically known as uttama bhaktas, or the topmost devotees. Having achieved such a pure devotee’s association we must serve them by hearing from them.

“One should take shelter of a pure devotee, who has nothing to do with this material world but is simply engaged in devotional service. By serving him only, one can transcend the qualitative
material condition. In this verse it is recommended (yogesvara-upasanaya) that one serve the lotus feet of the topmost yogi, or the devotee. To serve the topmost devotee means to hear from him about the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” SB 4.22.22

Questions / My lights:

Question 1: How can I find such an uttama bhakta? And even if I find him, how can I always hear from him, since I have many worldly commitments?

Question 2: I have my own diksha guru whose books I read or whose lectures I listen to. Does this not fulfil the principle of hearing from an uttama bhakta?

Question 3: Is there any sastric evidence that a madhyama bhakta can give initiation, and that they should encourage their disciples to hear from the uttama bhakta?

Question 4: Am I suggesting that the current diksha and siksha gurus in ISKCON are not uttama
bhaktas?

Question 1: How can I find such an uttama bhakta? And even if I find him, how can I always hear from him, since I have many worldly commitments?

My light 1: Srila Prabhupada is a universally recognized uttama bhakta. His own god-brothers have lauded him as being a shaktyavesa avatara, a teacher who is empowered by Krishna. His association is always available to us in the form of his vani, his lectures and his purports. He especially wanted us to continue to associate with him via his purports. What is my evidence?
“Therefore our method is to accept the perfect guru to understand the subject matter. But still, if one reads the books as it is from authorities, there is chance of understanding.” Room conversation
– April 22, 1976, Melbourne

In Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.18 purport, Srila Prabhupada again reassures us that by associating with the book form of the Bhagavata we can derive the same benefit as associating with the Bhagavata in person:

“There are two types of Bhagavatas, namely the book Bhagavata and the devotee Bhagavata. Both the Bhagavatas are competent remedies, and both of them or either of them can be good enough to eliminate the obstacles.”

In a press interview, Srila Prabhupada makes it clear that as the book Bhagavata he will continue to be available to us and he wants us to take his association:

“Reporter (2): What will happen to the movement in the United States when you die? Prabhupada: I will never die. I shall live forever in my books, and you will utilize.” Press conference – July 16, 1975, San Francisco

Srila Prabhupada makes this same point in several places. Here’s an excerpt from a lecture on
Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.1 – New York, July 6, 1972:
“So you European, American students, you take full advantage of this Vedic culture. I am therefore so much laboring hard that we, before my leaving this body, I may give you some books you can enjoy after my death. So utilize it. Utilize it. Read every sloka nicely, try to understand the meaning, discuss amongst yourselves. Nityam bhagavata-sevaya. That is our mission. Nasta-prayesv abhadresu nityam bhagavata-sevaya [SB 1.2.18]. Abhadra, we have got so many dirty things within our heart. So these dirty things can be cleansed simply by Krishna consciousness.”