Why A Spiritual Master Is Not An Ordinary Man
To view the spiritual master through the lens of material calculation is a fatal error on the path of devotional service. Because the guru appears in a human form, neophytes and envious persons often mistakenly consider him to be an ordinary man subject to mundane laws. However, the Vedic scriptures strictly forbid this hellish mentality. Śrīla Prabhupāda strongly warns that one who commits this severe offense immediately loses all the benefits of their spiritual practices and blocks their advancement in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
The Severe Warning of the Scriptures
The Vedic injunctions are absolute and must be followed without deviation. According to the śāstras, one must never consider the Deity in the temple to be mere wood or stone, nor should one ever consider the spiritual master to be an ordinary human being. Neglecting this instruction constitutes a grave offense. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the guru is the direct representative of the Lord, and viewing him materially invites severe spiritual repercussions.
- As enjoined in the sastras, arcye visnau sila-dhir gurusu nara-matih: "No one should treat the Deity in the temple as stone or metal, nor should one think that the spiritual master is an ordinary human being."
- No one should consider the Deity in the temple to be made of stone or wood, nor should one consider the spiritual master an ordinary human being.
- In the Vedic literature it is said, acaryam mam vijaniyan navamanyeta karhicit (SB 11.17.27): the spiritual master should not be regarded as an ordinary human being. Similarly, a king or president is also not treated like an ordinary human being.
- It is enjoined, gurusu nara-matih: one should stop thinking of the spiritual master as an ordinary human being with a material body.
- One should strictly follow this sastric injunction and worship the Deity, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, without offenses. The spiritual master is the direct representative of the Lord, and no one should consider him an ordinary human being.
The Path of Hellish Intelligence
The mindset that reduces the sacred to the mundane is defined by the scriptures as nārakī, or hellish intelligence. Just as viewing a Vaiṣṇava according to their birth caste is a severe offense, seeing the guru as a common mortal condemns one to a hellish existence. This contaminated vision proves that the individual is deeply covered by the modes of material nature and completely disconnected from spiritual reality.
- One who considers the arca-murti, the worshipable Deity of Lord Visnu, to be stone, the spiritual master to be an ordinary human being, and a Vaisnava to belong to a particular caste or creed is possessed of hellish intelligence.
- That person is a resident of hell who considers the spiritual master an ordinary man, and who thinks that the body of a Vaisnava fully dedicated to the service of the Lord belongs to the material modes of nature.
- The sastra warns, arcye visnau sila-dhir gurusu nara-matih. One who thinks that the worshipable Deity in the temple is made of wood or stone, one who sees a Vaisnava guru as an ordinary human being is naraki, a resident of hell.
- If anyone thinks, the Deity in the temple, siladhih, stone and wood, if anyone considers a Vaisnava under certain particular race or caste, if one considers guru as ordinary human being, then he is hellish.
- A contaminated brahmana considers the guru to be an ordinary human being, and he objects when a Vaisnava is created by the Krsna consciousness movement.
The Futility of Material Conceptions
If a disciple commits the offense of thinking of the guru as an ordinary man, all their spiritual endeavors are instantly ruined. Fasting, chanting, and studying the Vedas become entirely useless, compared by the authorities to the bathing of an elephant, who immediately throws dirt on itself after getting clean. Without the mercy of the spiritual master, which is lost through disrespect, advancement is impossible.
- If one considers the spiritual master an ordinary human being, one is doomed. His study of the Vedas and his austerities and penances for enlightenment are all useless, like the bathing of an elephant.
- For one who maintains the material conception that the spiritual master is an ordinary human being, everything is frustrated. His enlightenment and his Vedic studies and knowledge are like the bathing of an elephant.
- If the spiritual master is considered an ordinary man, the disciple surely loses his chance to advance further.
- The Supreme Lord and His representative always want to give protection, but a person must take advantage of their personal contact. If one thinks that the Supreme Personality of Godhead or His representative is an ordinary man, he will certainly fall down.
The Direct Representative of Kṛṣṇa
The reason the spiritual master must never be viewed materially is because he operates entirely on the spiritual platform as Kṛṣṇa's representative. He does not spread false or concocted knowledge; he transmits the perfect, infallible message of the Supreme Lord. Because he acts strictly on behalf of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, his position is exalted and completely transcendental.
- It is stated by Lord Krsna, "My dear Uddhava, the spiritual master must be accepted not only as My representative but as My very self. He must never be considered on the same level with an ordinary human being."
- A person may appear to be an ordinary human being, but because he acts on behalf of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the supreme spiritual master, he is not to be neglected as ordinary.
- Krsna says, "One should know the acarya as Myself and never disrespect him in any way. One should not envy him, thinking him an ordinary man, for he is the representative of all the demigods."
- The Lord's representative spiritual master should not be considered an ordinary human being. The representative spiritual master never gives any false knowledge to his disciple, but only perfect knowledge. Thus he is the representative of Krsna.
- One should treat the spiritual master as the Supreme Personality of Godhead and never be envious of him or consider him to be an ordinary human being.
Beyond Birth, Death, and Illusion
A bona fide spiritual master is a liberated soul who is untouched by the dictates of material nature. The mundane miseries of birth, death, old age, and disease do not actually affect him, even if superficially it appears so to a conditioned observer. Because he engages his body, mind, and words entirely in the service of Kṛṣṇa, he is situated in the eternal spiritual status.
- One is forbidden to regard the guru as an ordinary human being (gurusu nara-matir... naraki sah). The spiritual master, or acarya, is always situated in the spiritual status of life. Birth, death, old age and disease do not affect him.
- Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.2.187, "A person acting in the service of Krsna with his body, mind and words is a liberated person, even within the material world." Therefore, one is forbidden to regard the guru as an ordinary human being.
- Narada Muni, Haridasa Thakura and similar acaryas especially empowered to broadcast the glories of the Lord cannot be brought down to the material platform. Therefore one is strictly forbidden to think that the acarya is an ordinary human being.
- It is the injunction of the Vedas that the Spiritual Master should not be treated as ordinary man even if sometimes the Spiritual Master behaves like ordinary man.
The Folly of the Envious
Those who lack spiritual depth, such as the prākṛta-sahajiyās, often commit the offense of viewing the guru through envious eyes. They judge the spiritual master based on his bodily appearance, his family background, or the opinions of his mundane neighbors. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains this envious vision immediately blocks them from receiving actual spiritual benefit and guarantees their fall down.
- They (prakrta-sahajiyas) are envious of a bona fide spiritual master who is addressed as Prabhupada, and they commit offenses by considering a bona fide spiritual master an ordinary human being or a member of a certain caste.
- Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura describes such sahajiyas (who consider a bona fide spiritual master an ordinary human being or a member of a certain caste) as most unfortunate. Because of their misconceptions, they fall into a hellish condition.
- One may argue by saying that since the spiritual master's relatives and the men of his neighborhood consider him an ordinary human being, what is the fault on the part of the disciple who considers the spiritual master an ordinary human being?
- Guru is not ordinary human being. Ordinary human being cannot preach Krsna consciousness. That is not possible. Krsna-sakti vina nahe krsna nama pracara (CC Antya 7.11). So anyone who is preaching, he cannot be considered as ordinary human being.
Conclusion
To consider the spiritual master an ordinary human being is one of the most dangerous pitfalls in spiritual life. It is an offense born of hellish intelligence that nullifies all spiritual advancement. Because the guru is empowered by Kṛṣṇa to broadcast His glories and save conditioned souls, he must be viewed with absolute reverence. Śrīla Prabhupāda strictly reinforced this Vedic injunction, ensuring that his followers maintain the pure, transcendental vision required to successfully return back to Godhead.
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