Envious of the acarya

Expressions researched:
"envious of the acarya" |"envy such an acarya" |"envy the acarya"

SB Canto 6

The ācārya should always be offered respectful obeisances; one should never envy the ācārya, considering him an ordinary human being.

SB 6.7.21, Translation and Purport:

Lord Brahmā said: O best of the demigods, unfortunately, because of madness resulting from your material opulence, you failed to receive Bṛhaspati properly when he came to your assembly. Because he is aware of the Supreme Brahman and fully in control of his senses, he is the best of the brāhmaṇas. Therefore it is very astonishing that you have acted impudently toward him.

Lord Brahmā recognized the brahminical qualifications of Bṛhaspati, who was the spiritual master of the demigods because of his awareness of the Supreme Brahman. Bṛhaspati was very much in control of his senses and mind, and therefore he was a most qualified brāhmaṇa. Lord Brahmā chastised the demigods for not properly respecting this brāhmaṇa, who was their guru. Lord Brahmā wanted to impress upon the demigods that one's guru should not be disrespected under any circumstances. When Bṛhaspati entered the assembly of the demigods, they and their king, Indra, took him for granted. Since he came every day, they thought, they did not need to show him special respect. As it is said, familiarity breeds contempt. Being very much displeased, Bṛhaspati immediately left Indra's palace. Thus all the demigods, headed by Indra, became offenders at the lotus feet of Bṛhaspati, and Lord Brahmā, being aware of this, condemned their neglect. In a song we sing every day, Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura says, cakṣu-dāna dila yei, janme janme prabhu sei: the guru gives spiritual insight to the disciple, and therefore the guru should be considered his master, life after life. Under no circumstances should the guru be disrespected, but the demigods, being puffed up by their material possessions, were disrespectful to their guru. Therefore Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.17.27) advises, ācāryaṁ māṁ vijānīyān nāvamanyeta karhicit/ na martya-buddhyāsūyeta: the ācārya should always be offered respectful obeisances; one should never envy the ācārya, considering him an ordinary human being.

CC Adi-lila

A bona fide ācārya is nondifferent from the Personality of Godhead, and therefore to envy such an ācārya is to envy the Personality of Godhead Himself.

CC Adi 1.46, Purport:

If one poses himself as an ācārya but does not have an attitude of servitorship to the Lord, he must be considered an offender, and this offensive attitude disqualifies him from being an ācārya. The bona fide spiritual master always engages in unalloyed devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. By this test he is known to be a direct manifestation of the Lord and a genuine representative of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu. Such a spiritual master is known as ācāryadeva. Influenced by an envious temperament and dissatisfied because of an attitude of sense gratification, mundaners criticize a real ācārya. In fact, however, a bona fide ācārya is nondifferent from the Personality of Godhead, and therefore to envy such an ācārya is to envy the Personality of Godhead Himself. This will produce an effect subversive of transcendental realization.

CC Madhya-lila

Nonetheless, in India there are some people who say that they belong to this cult but who are actually very envious of the ācārya.

CC Madhya 25.283, Purport:

The author of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami, has condemned all his enemies by comparing them to envious hogs and pigs. The Krsna consciousness movement, which is spreading throughout the world, is being appreciated by sincere people, although they have never previously heard of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Krsna's pastimes. Now even the higher, priestly circles are appreciating this movement. They have concluded that this movement is very nice and that they have something to learn from it. Nonetheless, in India there are some people who say that they belong to this cult but who are actually very envious of the acarya. They have tried to suppress our activities in many ways, but as far as we are concerned, we follow in the footsteps of Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami and take them as envious pigs and hogs. We simply wish to present the pastimes of Lord Krsna and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to the best of our ability so that those who are really honest can cleanse their hearts. We hope that they enjoy this literature and bestow their blessings upon us. It appears that even such a great personality as Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami met with some envious obstacles; what, then, to speak of us, who are only insignificant creatures in this universe. We are simply trying to execute the orders of our spiritual master to the best of our ability.

Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

As soon as we become envious of the ācārya, there is falldown, immediately.

Lecture on SB 1.7.45-46 -- Vrndavana, October 5, 1976:

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.

Never be envious of the ācārya, considering him to be an ordinary person.

Lecture on SB 6.3.16-17 -- Gorakhpur, February 10, 1971:

Just like Krsna had talks with Arjuna, which is known as Arjuna-gita, similarly, He had talks with Uddhava, another devotee. That is known as Uddhava-gita. So in that Uddhava-gita these statements are there, that acaryam mam vijaniyat navamanyeta karhicit: "Acarya should be known as good as God." That is confirmed in Visvanatha Cakravarti... Saksad dharitvena samasta-sastraih. He also refers to the sastra, not that he is opining by his own intellect. No. That is the speciality of learned scholars and devotees. They should immediately give evidence from the sastra. Visvanatha Cakravarti said that "Guru is as good as God by the verdict of the sastra." Saksad dharitvena samasta-sastraih. And Krsna says, acaryam mam vijaniyat: "Acarya should be known as good as Myself." Navamanyeta karhicit: "Never become disobedient to acarya." Na martya buddhyasuyeta: "Never be envious of the acarya, considering him to be an ordinary person." Navamanyeta karhicit. Sarva-deva-mayo. By worshiping acarya... And Bhagavad-gita it is said, acaryopasanam. Tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya (BG 4.34). These things are there.

1972 Conversations and Morning Walks

Never be envious of the ācārya, thinking him as anything of this material world.

Room Conversation with John Griesser (later initiated as Yadubara Dasa) -- March 10, 1972, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: As Krsna is free from all reaction, similarly Krsna's devotee who wants to satisfy Krsna only, he is also free from all reaction. Therefore Krsna says, acaryam mam vijaniyan nava-manyeta karhicit (SB 11.17.27). "The acarya is as good as I am," Krsna says. Nava-manyeta karhicit, "Never neglect him." Na martya-buddhyasuyeta, "Never be envious of the acarya, thinking him as anything of this material world." Acaryam mam vijaniyan (SB 11.17.27). Therefore, acarya's position is as good as Krsna. Saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair **. Acarya is always cautious that he may not be subject to criticism. But who criticizes acarya, he becomes immediately offender. Because he is playing the part of acarya, he plays as far as possible. But sometimes for preaching work, he might have to do something which is not consistent. But if he is criticized, then that man who criticizes, he becomes... Of course, he must be acarya, not a bogus. Ordinary man cannot transgress the laws, but Krsna and His representative, acarya, might be sometimes seen that he has transgressed.