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Three sources

Bhagavad-gita As It Is

BG Chapters 7 - 12

The spiritual master, saintly persons and scriptures direct in the same way. There is no contradiction in these three sources. All actions done under such direction are free from the reactions of pious or impious activities of this material world.
BG 10.3, Purport: Anything done under the direction of Kṛṣṇa is transcendental. It cannot be contaminated by material reactions, which may be auspicious or inauspicious. The conception that there are things auspicious and inauspicious in the material world is more or less a mental concoction because there is nothing auspicious in the material world. Everything is inauspicious because the very material nature is inauspicious. We simply imagine it to be auspicious. Real auspiciousness depends on activities in Kṛṣṇa consciousness in full devotion and service. Therefore if we at all want our activities to be auspicious, then we should work under the directions of the Supreme Lord. Such directions are given in authoritative scriptures such as Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and Bhagavad-gītā, or from a bona fide spiritual master. Because the spiritual master is the representative of the Supreme Lord, his direction is directly the direction of the Supreme Lord. The spiritual master, saintly persons and scriptures direct in the same way. There is no contradiction in these three sources. All actions done under such direction are free from the reactions of pious or impious activities of this material world.

Srimad-Bhagavatam

SB Canto 3

All spiritual activities should be understood from three sources, namely saintly persons, standard scriptures and the spiritual master.
SB 3.28.4, Purport: Even if one is not Kṛṣṇa conscious and is practicing the yoga system, he must read standard Vedic literatures in order to understand. Performance of yoga alone is not sufficient. Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura, a great devotee and ācārya in the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava-sampradāya, says that all spiritual activities should be understood from three sources, namely saintly persons, standard scriptures and the spiritual master. These three guides are very important for progress in spiritual life. The spiritual master prescribes standard literature for the prosecution of the yoga of devotional service, and he himself speaks only from scriptural reference. Therefore reading standard scriptures is necessary for executing yoga. Practicing yoga without reading the standard literatures is simply a waste of time.

Lectures

Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures

The Vedic śāstra also says the birth of human being are from three sources: one from the cow, the other from the lion, and the other from the monkey.
Lecture on BG 9.3 -- Melbourne, April 21, 1976: Everyone is in ignorance because the evolution is coming from the lower species of life, and in Western countries the Darwin's theory of evolution is very prominent, and they believe that man is coming from monkey. Of course, the Vedic śāstra also says the birth of human being are from three sources: one from the cow, the other from the lion, and the other from the monkey. The "monkey" word is there. Those who are coming in the sattva-guṇa, modes of goodness, their last birth is as cow. And those who are coming through the rajo-guṇa, their last birth is lion. And those who are coming through the tamo-guṇa, their last birth is monkey.

Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

As far as possible, we can understand from the śāstras-sādhu, śāstra, guru, three sources—we can understand and make our conclusion that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme.
Lecture on SB 1.16.13-15 -- Los Angeles, January 10, 1974: One cannot understand Kṛṣṇa perfectly. It is not possible. Even Kṛṣṇa Himself cannot understand Himself, He is so great. That is greatness, "God is great," that the God who is great, He cannot also understand how great He is. That is God. Nobody can understand. But as far as possible, we can understand from the śāstras-sādhu, śāstra, guru, three sources—we can understand and make our conclusion that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme.

Conversations and Morning Walks

1972 Conversations and Morning Walks

Any avatāra, he must be confirmed by these three sources: sādhu, śāstra, guru.
Room Conversation -- June 29, 1972, San Diego:

Prabhupāda: Acceptance of Caitanya Mahāprabhu as Kṛṣṇa, that is there in the śāstra, in the Upaniṣads, in Mahābhārata, in Bhāgavata.

Ātreya Ṛṣi: How are the references made?

Prabhupāda: Hm?

Ātreya Ṛṣi: What references are given, Śrīla Prabhupāda?

Prabhupāda: You will find all this in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta, references from Upaniṣads, from Bhāgavata. Caitanya Mahāprabhu never said that I am Kṛṣṇa. But the devotees, you know Sanātana Gosvāmī, corroborated. You know that? You have read that?

Ātreya Ṛṣi: Yes, I have.

Prabhupāda: So sādhu śāstra guru vākya. So we have to accept the authority of śāstra, guru, and sādhu. So those who are sādhu, they accept Caitanya Mahāprabhu. The guru in the..., they accept. And śāstra, there is acceptance. So, therefore, it is confirmed. Not only He, any avatāra, he must be confirmed by these three sources: sādhu, śāstra, guru. I accept Caitanya Mahāprabhu because my Guru Mahārāja accepted. He accepted Caitanya Mahāprabhu as Kṛṣṇa; his Guru Mahārāja accepted. And the śāstra is there. When guru says that Caitanya Mahāprabhu is Kṛṣṇa, he quotes śāstra. The śāstra, guru, and those who are actually devotees, sādhu, they also accept. This is the evidence.

1974 Conversations and Morning Walks

There are three sources of understanding; personal, from others or by conference.
Morning Walk -- April 4, 1974, Bombay:

Girirāja: Kṛṣṇa is an ordinary human being.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Yaśomatīnandana: They think that "Kṛṣṇa's body is just like mine."

Prabhupāda: This is Māyāvāda. This has been explained in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, that matir na kṛṣṇe parataḥ svato vā.

Dr. Patel: That's right. It was in me. Any of your ideas, it is, other than Kṛṣṇa, is māyā.

Prabhupāda: Please let me explain. Matir na kṛṣṇe. No, just explain. Matir na kṛṣṇe parataḥ svato vā. Parataḥ means "from other sources." Just like I am explaining. That is parataḥ. And svato means...

Dr. Patel: Means Kṛṣṇa.

Prabhupāda: I will explain everything. Svato means personally, sva. Matir na kṛṣṇe parataḥ svato vā mitho 'bhipadyeta gṛha-vratānām. Or mithaḥ. There are three sources of understanding.

Dr. Patel: What is that mithaḥ?

Prabhupāda: Mithaḥ means just like we are studying altogether. Mithaḥ means in congregation. Abhipadyeta gṛha-vratānām.

Dr. Patel: Of the embodied people.

Prabhupāda: No, no. Gṛha-vratānām means those who are attracted to this... Gṛha means this worldly family life. Gṛha-vrata. Gṛha. Gṛha-vrata. So those who have decided that "We shall remain in this gṛha, for them, either personally or from others or by conference, the matir na kṛṣṇe."

Dr. Patel: They do not have that mind fixed on Kṛṣṇa.

Prabhupāda: Yes, they cannot.

1975 Conversations and Morning Walks

There are three sources: cow, monkey, and lion. This is the last animal life.
Morning Walk -- June 10, 1975, Honolulu:

Ambarīṣa: I heard once that human beings in the modes of goodness were coming from the cow family or from the cows mostly? If there are so many cows being killed, why aren't there more people in the modes of goodness?

Prabhupāda: Hmm? Now, after the... There are three sources: cow, monkey, and lion. This is the last animal life.

Siddha-svarūpa: Okay, now park here.

Prabhupāda: Why not go a little...

Siddha-svarūpa: There's a beach park right up there.

Prabhupāda: Yes, beach park. Oh, you have to stop.

Siddha-svarūpa: The... [break]

Prabhupāda: ...cow which is killed, that does not get immediately human life because he is untimely killed.

Ambarīṣa: Oh. So he takes birth as a cow again?

Prabhupāda: Yes. [break] ...finish his birth as cow, and who is killing, he becomes... He is stopping his progress, therefore he is punishable. Just like you have leased one apartment to live for so many years, and if somebody, by force, kicks out, then he is punishable.

Correspondence

1969 Correspondence

There may be three sources for printing my books. One source is the MacMillan Company. Another source is Dai Nippon. The next step would be to start our own press at New Vrindaban. Ultimately, if nothing is done, I shall be obliged to return to India for getting them published there.
Letter to Brahmananda -- Los Angeles 9 January, 1969: Whatever is done is done. I am now very much serious about printing my books. There may be three sources for their printing. One source is that if the MacMillan Company is interested to publish my books that will be a great relief. I do not mind for the profit concerned. But I want to see them published. Another source is if MacMillan isn't interested, we can get them printed from Dai Nippon, but the delaying procedure of this company in Japan is not very encouraging. Therefore the next step would be to start our own press at New Vrindaban, because Hayagriva is ready to start a press there immediately, taking responsibility for the investment. He has told me that he could take a loan from his friend, Dr. Henderson. In this connection of purchasing a press I sent a list to be filled by the press men of New York telling of the prices of printing machines but there is no response. So I ask you what to do in this connection. Ultimately, if nothing is done, I shall be obliged to return to India for getting them published there.
Page Title:Three sources
Compiler:Serene, MadhuGopaldas
Created:26 of Nov, 2008
Totals by Section:BG=1, SB=1, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=2, Con=3, Let=1
No. of Quotes:8