Acarya guru

Expressions researched:
"acarya, guru" |"guru, acarya" |"gurus acarya" |"gurus, acaryas" |"acarya guru"

Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures

So ācārya, guru, representative, it is not difficult. Simply one has to become very, very sincere

Lecture on BG 7.9 -- Vrndavana, August 15, 1974: So ācārya, guru, representative, it is not difficult. Simply one has to become very, very sincere. One must undergo the simple tapasyas as prescribed in the sastras. Caitanya Maha... Yes. Haridasa Thakura. Apani acari prabhu jivere sikhaya. He was preaching also the glorification of chanting Hare Krsna by personal example; therefore he is accepted as guru. All the Vaisnavas, all the acaryas, Gosvamis, they acted accordingly and preached. Therefore they are acaryas. And Krsna says, acaryam mam vijaniyan nava-manyeta karhicit [SB 11.17.27]. These are the instructions.

Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

So guru, ācārya, being representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he should be worshiped

Lecture on SB 1.7.45-46 -- Vrndavana, October 5, 1976: Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura also said, saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair uktas tatha bhavyata eva sadbhih **. Acarya, guru, is as good as God. Saksad-dharitvena. Acarya should be respected as Krsna. Therefore acaryam mam vijaniyan navamanyeta karhicit [SB 11.17.27]. If somebody foolishly thinks that "They are worshiping a man. He's like me, and he has taken the seat, and he's taking worship, respect, from disciples." Sometimes they question like that. But they do not know that how acarya should be respected. Acarya should be respected saksad-dharitvena, just like God. It is not exaggeration. It is according to the sastra. And acarya also accepts all these respectful obeisances to carry to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is the process. As we receive knowledge from the acarya, similarly, our activities, the result of activities, is carried by the acarya to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Acarya does not accept anything on his own account. Acarya accepts everything on Krsna's account. That is the principle. And because he is representative of Krsna, he is dealing on behalf of Krsna. We have got in practical experience. Formerly, in British government, there was viceroy. Vice means in place of and roy means royal king. Viceroy. So this viceroy was respected as the king, as the emperor. That is the process. When he's no longer a viceroy, then he's not respected. But so long he is acting as viceroy... And the rule was that whatever presentation was given to the viceroy he did not accept it personally. It was kept in the state. So these are the process. So guru, acarya, being representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he should be worshiped. Navamanyeta... Na martya-buddhyasuyeta. Never think of envying. As soon as we become envious of the acarya, there is falldown, immediately. Yasyaprasadan na gatih kuto 'pi. Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah **. This is the teaching of Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura. He's also acarya. Acarya-parampara.

That to be engaged in the service of the ācārya guru, and in the association of devotees. This is perfection

Lecture on SB 1.15.29 -- Los Angeles, December 7, 1973: Narottama dasa Thakura says,

tandera carana-sevi-bhakta-sane vasa

janame janame haya ei abhilasa

He is praying, "My dear Lord, this is my ambition, birth after birth." What is that? "That to be engaged in the service of the acarya guru, and in the association of devotees. This is perfection." Janame janame haya ei: "This is my desire. I don't want to stop my birth, but simply I want that I may take birth -- it doesn't matter -- but bhakta-sane vasa, let me live with the devotees."

Similarly, these Vedic principles, the Vedic rituals, they should be performed under the direction of ācārya, guru, not whimsically

Lecture on SB 1.16.3 -- Los Angeles, December 31, 1973: So everything should be done according to sastra. And the sastra should be guided by acarya, guru. Acarya means one who knows what is there in the sastra. He practices in his life and teaches the disciple. He is called acarya. Acarya is not a whimsical thing. He must know. Therefore Pariksit Maharaja appointed acarya, saradvatam. He is the brother of Dronacarya. Dronacarya was also acarya, but he was military acarya. And here he was acarya for Vedic rituals, acarya. Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum eva [MU 1.2.12]. Gurum krtva. In order to do things very rightly, you must appoint... Just like if you are going to the court to file some suit, do it very nicely. You have to appoint a very good lawyer. Similarly, these Vedic principles, the Vedic rituals, they should be performed under the direction of acarya, guru, not whimsically. So therefore this kind of sacrifices are forbidden in this age, in this age.

Nectar of Devotion Lectures

If the ācārya, guru, is satisfied, then we must know certainly that Kṛṣṇa is satisfied

The Nectar of Devotion -- Vrndavana, November 13, 1972: We should live together as devotee and follow the footprints of the acaryas. Don't manufacture concoction. Then it will be spoiled. Simply try to follow. They'll protect. They'll give protection. Because Krsna says, aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami [Bg. 18.66]. So if we take shelter of the acaryas, that means we take shelter of Krsna. Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah **. If the acarya, guru, is satisfied, then we must know certainly that Krsna is satisfied. Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah **. Acaryam mam vijaniyat [SB 11.17.27]. So this is the principle, and the acaryas give us direction. It is not very difficult. Simply we have to be, become very serious and sincere. Then everything is all right.

Festival Lectures

Guru, ācārya, and Kṛṣṇa. One should seek favor of both of them

His Divine Grace Srila Sac-cid-ananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura's Appearance Day, Lecture -- London, September 3, 1971:: You cannot have spiritual knowledge simply by speculating. Impossible. Simply waste of time. Srama eva hi kevalam [SB 1.2.8]. You must go to the... In the Bhagavad-gita, therefore, it is recommended, acaryopasanam. Acarya-upasana. Not only worshiping the Lord, but also the acarya. Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, guru-krsna-krpaya paya bhakti-lata-bija [Cc. Madhya 19.151]. Guru, acarya, and Krsna. One should seek favor of both of them. Not that "I am now seeking favor of Krsna. What is the use of guru or acarya?" No. You cannot overlap acarya and go to Krsna. That is not possible. Krsna will not accept you. Just like if you want to see a big man you should go through his secretary, through his orderly, doorkeeper; similarly, our process is acaryopasanam, go through the acarya. That is the injunction of the Vedas.

1972 Conversations and Morning Walks

Ācārya, guru, he is completely surrendered to Kṛṣṇa. He has taken the shelter of Kṛṣṇa, being completely freed from all material affection

Room Conversation with John Griesser (later initiated as Yadubara Dasa) -- March 10, 1972, Vrndavana: Prabhupada: Therefore Krsna says, acaryam mam vijaniyan [SB 11.17.27]. Vaisnavera kriya, mudra vijneha na bujhaya. In the Caitanya-caritamrta, Vaisnava acarya, his activities is not understood even by the wisest man. Vaisnavera kriya, mudra vijneha na bujhaya. Brahmany upasamasrayam. Acarya, guru, he is completely surrendered to Krsna. He has taken the shelter of Krsna, being completely freed from all material affection. Brahmany upasamasrayam. Everything... Everyone has got some material desire to fulfill, but a guru or acarya has no such business. That is the symptom of acarya. He has no more any material business. Brahmany upasamasrayam. He has finished all business of material satisfaction. That is the symptom of acarya.

1976 Conversations and Morning Walks

Brahmā, then Nārada, then Vyāsadeva-like that. So all of them are gurus, ācāryas

Morning Walk -- September 2, 1976, New Delhi: Prabhupada: No. Just like Lord Brahma. We belong to the Brahma-sampradaya. Brahma is the original spiritual master after Krsna. Brahma, then Narada, then Vyasadeva-like that. So all of them are gurus, acaryas. So why spiritual master is honored as good as the Supreme Lord? Saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastraih. Why? That should be his question: Why spiritual master is given the supreme post than all others? Saksad-dharitvena -- as good as God. Why? Is it not? It is clear, his question. First of all, is this his question?