Special instruction

Expressions researched:
"special instruction" |"special instructions"

SB Canto 4

A spiritual master is expert in giving special instructions to each of his disciples, and if the disciple executes the order of the spiritual master, that is the way of his perfection.

SB 4.8.71, Purport:

The significance of this particular verse is that Dhruva Mahārāja acted exactly according to the advice of his spiritual master, the great sage Nārada. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī also advises that if we want to be successful in our attempt to go back to Godhead, we must very seriously act according to the instruction of the spiritual master. That is the way of perfection. There need be no anxiety over attaining perfection because if one follows the instruction given by the spiritual master he is sure to attain perfection. Our only concern should be how to execute the order of the spiritual master. A spiritual master is expert in giving special instructions to each of his disciples, and if the disciple executes the order of the spiritual master, that is the way of his perfection.

Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

For the devotees, Kṛṣṇa gives special instruction from within. This is the special advantage of a devotee.

Lecture on SB 1.2.21 -- Vrndavana, November 1, 1972:

This is another advantage of the devotee. Because Kṛṣṇa shows a special favor to the devotee. Although He's equal to everyone, He's specially, I mean, inclined favorable to the devotees. Teṣām eva anukampārtham aham ajñāna-jaṁ tamaḥ. There... He takes special care. He says, samo 'haṁ sarva-bhūteṣu (BG 9.29). Although He's equal to everyone, still He's specially inclined to the devotees. For the devotees, he gives special instruction from within. Yena mām upayānti te. This is the special advantage of a devotee.

General Lectures

Kṛṣṇa's special instruction is, the most confidential instruction is, He said to Arjuna, "Because you are My friend, therefore I am giving you this most confidential instruction."

Pandal Lecture -- November 14, 1971, Delhi:

There is no difficulty to become a guru if you simply carry out without any adulteration the order of Caitanya Mahāprabhu. What is that order? That is not very difficult. Because He says yāre dekha, tāre kaha 'kṛṣṇa'-upadeśa (CC Madhya 7.128). Anyone you meet, you simply repeat what Kṛṣṇa has said. That is Bhāgavata-dharma. What Kṛṣṇa has said. Sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja (BG 18.66). Mad-yājī, mad-bhakta. So Kṛṣṇa says... This is kṛṣṇa-upadeśa. He has given upadeśa in the Bhagavad-gītā in many ways—karma-yoga, jñāna-yoga, dhyāna-yoga. But His special instruction is, the most confidential instruction is, He said to Arjuna, "Because you are My friend, therefore I am giving you this most confidential instruction." What is that? Man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru (BG 18.65). Sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja. This is the confidential instruction of the Bhagavad-gītā.

1968 Correspondence

My special instruction to you all is that you practice Sankirtana very rhythmically and in a responsive way.

Letter to Syamasundara -- Montreal 15 July, 1968:

First of all we have to accommodate ourselves in a nice place. And I am so glad you have already written to Anapurna's father, and as soon as some plan is fixed up, we start immediately. It may be that we may not wait even up to the end of August. My special instruction to you all is that you practice Sankirtana very rhythmically and in a responsive way. That means one should chant first, and others should follow him. That is a very nice system. I understand from Gurudasa that you had some meeting amongst yourselves to chalk out the plan and I shall be glad to know what plan you have made, as he has mentioned this meeting in his letter, which I am replying herewith.

1970 Correspondence

I am sending herewith the sanctified Gayatri Mantra Tape and papers for holding the ceremony, as well as a sacred thread and special instructions for the devotees with the Gayatri Mantra.

Letter to Gurudasa -- Los Angeles 6 May, 1970:

I am so glad to learn that things are going on nicely in our London Temple. The most important point in this letter is second time initiation of some of the devotees, specifically Jaya Hari Das Brahmacari, Jyotirmayidevi Dasi, and Mandakinidevi Dasi. So I am sending herewith the sanctified Gayatri Mantra Tape and papers for holding the ceremony, as well as a sacred thread and special instructions for the devotees with the Gayatri Mantra.

Krsna is saying in Bhagavad-gita that He is sitting in everyone's heart and especially to His devotees who are constantly engaged in His Transcendental Loving Service He gives special instruction so that the devotee may make easy progress of the path of back to home, back to Godhead.

Letter to Bali-mardana -- Tokyo August 21, 1970:

You are now elected as one of the Commissioners of the GBC, so you have got great responsibility. So far we are concerned in the disciplic succession of Lord Caitanya, if we simply abide by the order of the Acarya in disciplic succession, then things are made very easy. As Krsna is saying in Bhagavad-gita that He is sitting in everyone's heart and especially to His devotees who are constantly engaged in His Transcendental Loving Service He gives special instruction so that the devotee may make easy progress of the path of back to home, back to Godhead.

1971 Correspondence

I have no special instructions concerning Dai Nippon at this time.

Letter to Sudama -- Delhi 20 November, 1971:

The plant which you sent me is not Tulsi devi. I have no special instructions concerning Dai Nippon at this time. I shall probably be coming there to Tokyo on my return to Los Angeles by late Spring, I will let you know the date as soon as possible.

1972 Correspondence

I like this idea of distributing books and preaching, that is Lord Caitanya's plan, and because you are doing it so nicely you are already making the greatest contribution, so what need there is for some special instruction from me?

Letter to Sukadeva -- Ahmedabad 13 December, 1972:

I am so glad to receive your report after such long time, and it appears that everything is improving more and more, by Krishna's grace. I like this idea of distributing books and preaching, that is Lord Caitanya's plan, and because you are doing it so nicely you are already making the greatest contribution, so what need there is for some special instruction from me? But if you want, I must give, because you are serving Krishna so nicely, so in that case my request to you is that you enter into the universities and colleges wherever possible and preach there with a view to recruiting some first-class devotees for helping me manage and push on this movement all over the world. Overall there is shortage of first-class, experienced men to manage things just to the highest standard, as you are doing. Therefore I am calling upon you the big leaders to push this idea forward, namely, to attract some educated men to join us.

1974 Correspondence

Please transfer to your New Delhi, India correspondent Punjab National Bank with special instructions to transfer the amount to their Vrindaban Branch.

Letter to Manager of Bank of America -- Vrindaban 16 September, 1974:

On receipt of this amount please transfer to your New Delhi, India correspondent Punjab National Bank with special instructions to transfer the amount to their Vrindaban Branch, Punjab National Bank, account #668 ISKCON Mayapur-Vrindaban Trust.

I have advised Bank of America to transfer the amount via telegraphic transfer to Punjab National Bank New Delhi with special instructions to transfer to their Vrindaban Branch.

Letter to Jayatirtha -- Vrindaban 20 September, 1974:

Regarding the Dollars 40,000.00 in Hawaii, Dollars 5,000.00 has been lent to Sudama das Goswami, and I have called for Dollars 35,000.00 for purchasing land here in Vrindaban. I have advised Liberty Bank to transfer the amount to Bank of America Branch No. 600, and I have advised Bank of America to transfer the amount via telegraphic transfer to Punjab National Bank New Delhi with special instructions to transfer to their Vrindaban Branch account 668. So kindly see that this is properly done.

I have also written Bank of America to transfer the amount to Punjab National Bank, New Delhi with special instructions to transfer the amount to Punjab National Bank, Vrindaban Branch.

Letter to Jayatirtha, Sudama -- Mayapur 24 October, 1974:

Please accept my blessings. I am writing you because I have not received any letter from either of you regarding the banking business with Liberty Bank, Honolulu. I am very much anxious to know about this banking affair, so why are you not informing me anything? I have sent them my passbook and a withdrawal slip to pay Dollars 35,000.00 to Bank of America Branch 600, Los Angeles. I have also written Bank of America to transfer the amount to Punjab National Bank, New Delhi with special instructions to transfer the amount to Punjab National Bank, Vrindaban Branch, Account No. 668.