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When one is trained as brahmacari, then he can become a svami later on

Expressions researched:
"when one is trained as brahmacārī, then he can become a svāmī later on"

Lectures

Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

We don't allow our student for intoxication. And we don't allow our student for gambling. So these four principles they are practicing, they are chanting, and they are restraining. In this way, when one is trained as brahmacārī, then he can become a svāmī later on. Yes. The training is there.

Prabhupāda: It is not the question of Hindu. I say the description of great soul. Either he may be Hindu or Christian; it doesn't matter. Great soul, the description or the symptom of great souls are given here. It does not say that one has to become Hindu or one has to become Muhammadan one has to become Christian. Just like if I say that "You speak truth. Don't speak lie," it is not that it is applicable to the Hindus or to the Christian. It is applicable to everyone.

Guest (1): But in the Hindu religion do they have a certain title for the holy man? Do they call the holy man svāmī?

Prabhupāda: Yes. Yes. Svāmī means, I have described, that who has conquered over the demands of the senses. That is svāmī. Svāmī means who has attained the perfection of not being dictated by the senses. He is called svāmī.

Guest (1): Would that be the equivalent of a Hindu priest?

Prabhupāda: Not Hindu priest. Hindu priest mean . . . there are many so-called priests, they are dictated by so many sense gratification. And there are many others also in other parts of the world who are restrained. So as you inquire what is svāmī, svāmī means master. And master, what does it mean? Master of the senses. Generally people are driven by the dictation of the senses. So if you can control your senses, then you become a svāmī.

Guest (1): Do they have a period of training or a program for the training of the svāmīs?

Prabhupāda: Oh, yes. Certainly.

Guest (1): Can you tell me how long the program takes?

Prabhupāda: That depends on the student. Yes. If you can quickly can control . . . there are processes. Just like we are training here. They're American boys, but we are training them in that process. We don't allow our student to have illicit sex life. We don't allow our student to indulge in nonvegetarian diets.

We don't allow our student for intoxication. And we don't allow our student for gambling. So these four principles they are practicing, they are chanting, and they are restraining. In this way, when one is trained as brahmacārī, then he can become a svāmī later on. Yes. The training is there.

Guest (1): Is there a process of training to become svāmī, a process of study?

Prabhupāda: Yes. The real aim is spiritual realization. But for realizing perfect spiritual life one has to undergo some training. Just like if one is serious of being cured of a certain type of disease, he has to undergo certain type of training or regulation as prescribed by the physician. Then he gets cured. Similarly, we are all materially diseased at the present time. So spiritual life means completely freed from material disease.

The material diseases are birth, death, old age and bodily diseases. They are material diseases. Because I am spirit soul, I am eternal. I have no death. I have no birth. But because I am contaminated with this material body, therefore with the birth and death of this body I am thinking that I am taking birth and dying. That is my material conditional life. Actually I am not subjected to birth and death. These things are very nicely described in the Bhagavad-gītā. Na jāyate na mriyate vā kadācin na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre (BG 2.20).

So the immortality of the soul, transmigration of the soul, everything is described there. So there are books of authority. If we learn, if we be trained, then our spiritual liberation is open. Therefore it is recommended here that one should associate with great soul. Without associating with great soul we don't get all this information.

Guest (1): Does the svāmī, once he has been installed in office, does he ever wear a white long coat with a white hat?

Prabhupāda: Of course, the real meaning of svāmī is that one who has got control over his senses. It does not mean that by wearing a different colored garments one becomes master of senses. Neither it does mean that one . . . a man in gentleman's dress with hat and coat, he cannot control his senses. Dress has nothing to do. But according to the Vedic system . . .

Just like there is a particular uniform that this class of men, who have renounced this world, his robe or garment should be like this. That is simply . . . just like policeman has got a particular type of uniform, but that does not mean that . . . that may be imitated even by a thief. So that is not very important thing, to dress. You can become a svāmī even with your this hats and coats. That doesn't matter.

Page Title:When one is trained as brahmacari, then he can become a svami later on
Compiler:SharmisthaK
Created:2022-11-05, 05:16:12
Totals by Section:BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=1, Con=0, Let=0
No. of Quotes:1