Cannot be acarya

Expressions researched:
"cannot be an acarya" |"cannot be acarya" |"cannot become an acarya" |"cannot become acarya" |"should not become acarya"

CC Adi-lila

All the Vaiṣṇava ācāryas were vastly learned scholars who understood Vedānta philosophy fully, for unless one knows Vedānta philosophy he cannot be an ācārya

CC Adi 7.102, Purport: The Vaisnavas are by far the greatest philosophers in the world, and the greatest among them was Srila Jiva Gosvami Prabhu, whose philosophy was again presented less than four hundred years later by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Maharaja. Therefore one must know very well that Vaisnava philosophers are not sentimentalists or cheap devotees like the sahajiyas. All the Vaisnava acaryas were vastly learned scholars who understood Vedanta philosophy fully, for unless one knows Vedanta philosophy he cannot be an acarya. To be accepted as an acarya among Indian transcendentalists who follow the Vedic principles, one must become a vastly learned scholar in Vedanta philosophy, either by studying it or hearing it.

CC Madhya-lila

A disciple of Kali cannot become an ācārya by the decision of some high-court

CC Madhya 1.220, Purport: Unfortunately, in this Age of Kali there are many mundane persons in the dress of Vaisnavas, and Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has described them as disciples of Kali. He says, kali-cela. He indicates that there is another Vaisnava, a pseudo Vaisnava with tilaka on his nose and kanthi beads around his neck. Such a pseudo Vaisnava associates with money and women and is jealous of successful Vaisnavas. Although passing for a Vaisnava, his only business is earning money in the dress of a Vaisnava. Bhaktivinoda Thakura therefore says that such a pseudo Vaisnava is not a Vaisnava at all but a disciple of Kali-yuga. A disciple of Kali cannot become an acarya by the decision of some high-court. Mundane votes have no jurisdiction to elect a Vaisnava acarya. A Vaisnava acarya is self-effulgent, and there is no need for any court judgment. A false acarya may try to override a Vaisnava by a high-court decision, but Bhaktivinoda Thakura says that he is nothing but a disciple of Kali-yuga.

One cannot be an ācārya (spiritual master) without following strictly in the disciplic succession of the ācāryas

CC Madhya 19.156, Purport: One's devotional attitude increases in the association of a Vaisnava:

tandera carana sevi bhakta-sane vasa

janame janame haya, ei abhilasa

By his personal example, Narottama dasa Thakura stresses that a devotee must always remember to please his predecessor acarya. The Gosvamis are represented by one's spiritual master. One cannot be an acarya (spiritual master) without following strictly in the disciplic succession of the acaryas. One who is actually serious about advancing in devotional service should desire only to satisfy the previous acaryas. Ei chaya gosani yara, mui tara dasa. One should always think of oneself as a servant of the servant of the acaryas, and thinking this, one should live in the society of Vaisnavas [Cc. Madhya 13.80].

CC Antya-lila

One cannot become an ācārya simply by mental speculation. The true ācārya presents Kṛṣṇa to everyone by preaching the holy name of the Lord throughout the world

CC Antya 7.12, Purport: Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura explains that unless one is directly empowered by the causeless mercy of Krsna, one cannot become the spiritual master of the entire world (jagad-guru). One cannot become an acarya simply by mental speculation. The true acarya presents Krsna to everyone by preaching the holy name of the Lord throughout the world. Thus the conditioned souls, purified by chanting the holy name, are liberated from the blazing fire of material existence. In this way, spiritual benefit grows increasingly full, like the waxing moon in the sky. The true acarya, the spiritual master of the entire world, must be considered an incarnation of Krsna's mercy. Indeed, he is personally embracing Krsna. He is therefore the spiritual master of all the varnas (brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya and sudra) and all the asramas (brahmacarya, grhastha, vanaprastha and sannyasa). Since he is understood to be the most advanced devotee, he is called paramahamsa-thakura. Thakura is a title of honor offered to the paramahamsa. Therefore one who acts as an acarya, directly presenting Lord Krsna by spreading His name and fame, is also to be called paramahamsa-thakura.

Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures

Practically you have to behave; then you can preach. Otherwise you cannot become ācārya

Introduction to Gitopanisad: Therefore it is said, na saucam napi ca acarah. Acarya, you have heard the name acarya. Acarya means he teaches by personal behavior. Just like I teach you, "no intoxication." So if I am addicted to intoxication and if I say that "You don't take any intoxication," then who will care for me? This is therefore acara. Acarati. Practically you have to behave; then you can preach. Otherwise you cannot become acarya. Acarya means one who practices the acara and then teaches. He is acarya. So acara. Na saucam napi cacaro na satyam. Satyam means truthfulness. He is preaching something and doing something. That is not truthfulness. Truthfulness means what you preach, you must do. So these things are lacking in the asuric life, so we have to be careful that we must be very neat and clean. We must behave according to injunction of the sastra and guru. Then we can get out of the jurisdiction of asuras. Then we can come to the platform of sura, or devata.

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Lectures

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

Lecture on CC Adi-lila 1.13 -- Mayapur, April 6, 1975: So Advaita Acarya is the typical example how to become acarya. All are our acaryas, sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu-nityananda, sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda. All of them are acaryas because they are following the acarya, supreme acarya, Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Therefore they are acarya. Evam parampara-praptam imam rajarsayo viduh [Bg. 4.2]. So we have to follow the acarya. Then, when we are completely, cent per cent follower of acarya, then you can also act as acarya. This is the process. Don't become premature acarya. First of all follow the orders of acarya, and you become mature. Then it is better to become acarya. Because we are interested in preparing acarya, but the etiquette is, at least for the period the guru is present, one should not become acarya. 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 acarya. Not that "Now people are coming to me, so I can become acarya." That is avamanya. Navamanyeta karhicit. Don't transgress this etiquette.

He must know all the principles from authorities, and he should apply in his life those principles. Not that he knows but does not apply. He cannot be ācārya

Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 20.100-108 -- New York, November 22, 1966: In this way this disciplic succession is coming from Lord Caitanya. So as acarya... Acarya means one who knows the principles of scripture, properly being initiated by authority who knows things as they are, and they apply those things in their own life. They are called acarya. Acinoti sastrani: he must know all the principles from authorities, and he should apply in his life those principles. Not that he knows but does not apply. He cannot be acarya. Apani acari prabhu jiva disa (?). Lord Caitanya, He, although He is accepted as the, I mean to say, the personal, He's Krsna Himself, still, He behaved in such a way that others can follow. He also accepted Isvara Puri. Isvara, Isvara Puri was His spiritual master, Lord Caitanya's. This is the disciplic succession.

1972 Conversations and Morning Walks

It is not that woman cannot be ācārya. Generally, they do not become. In very special case. But Jāhnavā-devī was accepted as, but she did not declare

Conversations and Morning Walks, June 29, 1972, San Diego:

Prabhupada: If a woman is perfect in Krsna consciousness... Just like Jahnava-devi, Lord Nityananda's wife, she was acarya. She was acarya. She was controlling the whole Vaisnava community.

Atreya Rsi: Lord Nityananda?

Prabhupada: Wife. Jahnava-devi. She was controlling the whole Gaudiya Vaisnava community.

Atreya Rsi: Do you have references about that in any of your books, Srila Prabhupada?

Prabhupada: I don't think. But there are many acaryas. Maybe somewhere I might have mentioned. It is not that woman cannot be acarya. Generally, they do not become. In very special case. But Jahnava-devi was accepted as, but she did not declare.

Atreya Rsi: Women today..., there is a very popular topic amongst women. They speak of liberation. And their desire to be liberated is sane, but they do not understand. And they object very strongly... I've spoken to some of these so-called liberated women, and they object strongly to Krsna consciousness, because they think we discriminate against women. So I have been taking advantage of opportunities to describe to them that the only means to liberation for men and woman is through Krsna consciousness.

Prabhupada: Krsna does not make any discrimination. Krsna does not make. Whatever difference is there, it is bodily difference. But as soul, there is equality. So whatever difference we make, that is bodily difference. So when one is above the bodily concept of life, there is no difference. Why woman? Even cats and dogs. Woman is human being. Even cats and dogs, they have got the same spirit soul. So a learned scholar will see from the spiritual platform. Then there is equality.

1977 Conversations and Morning Walks

There is no difference between the ācāryas. Then how he becomes ācārya if there is difference of opinion? They cannot be ācārya

Conversations and Morning Walks, January 2, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupada: Nobody says, "Here is God." That is, perhaps... We Vaisnavas say; I am preaching. Perhaps I am the first preacher to the world, that "Here is God."

Dr. Patel: Some of these great Vaisnava acaryas were doing interpretation of Bhagavad-gita...

Prabhupada: The who is acarya except the Vaisnava acarya? All loafer class. All loafer class. They're not acaryas. Except these Vaisnava acaryas, who is acarya? They're not acaryas. Acaryam mam vijaniyan [SB 11.17.27].

Dr. Patel: I read your Bhagavad-gita, and after that, I read Ramanuja's. They more or less the same...

Prabhupada: Same thing. There is no difference between the acaryas. Then how he becomes acarya if there is difference of opinion? They cannot be acarya.