guru, shastra, sadhu

yasodanandana · January 12, 2004

Hare krishna dear vaishnavas.. i would ask to you all to kindly find for me some citations by srila prabhupada saying that krsna consciousness has to be learned conjointly from guru, shastra and sadhu.

citations from other acharyas are also nice

(i am having a discussion with a friend)

many thanks

gHari · January 12, 2004

Adi 7.48:

tAGre zikhAilA saba vaiSNavera dharma

bhAgavata-Adi zAstrera yata gUDha marma

SYNONYMS

tAGre--unto him (SanAtana GosvAmI); zikhAilA--the Lord taught him; saba--all; vaiSNavera--of the devotees; dharma--regular activities; bhAgavata--SrImad-BhAgavatam; Adi--beginning with; zAstrera--of the revealed scriptures; yata--all; gUDha--confidential; marma--purpose.

TRANSLATION

On the basis of scriptures like SrImad-BhAgavatam, which reveal these confidential directions, SrI Caitanya MahAprabhu instructed SanAtana GosvAmI regarding all the regular activities of a devotee.

PURPORT

In the paramparA system, the instructions taken from the bona fide spiritual master must also be based on revealed Vedic scriptures. One who is in the line of disciplic succession cannot manufacture his own way of behavior. There are many so-called followers of the VaiSNava cult in the line of Caitanya MahAprabhu who do not scrupulously follow the conclusions of the zAstras, and therefore they are considered to be apa-sampradAya, which means "outside of the sampradAya." Some of these groups are known as Aula, bAula, kartAbhajA, neDA, daraveza, sAGi sahajiyA, sakhIbhekI, smArta, jAta-gosAJi, ativADI, cUDAdhArI and gaurAGga-nAgarI. In order to follow strictly the disciplic succession of Lord Caitanya MahAprabhu, one should not associate with these apasampradAya communities.

One who is not taught by a bona fide spiritual master cannot understand the Vedic literature. To emphasize this point, Lord KRSNa, while instructing Arjuna, clearly said that it was because Arjuna was His devotee and confidential friend that he could understand the mystery of the Bhagavad-gItA. It is to be concluded, therefore, that one who wants to understand the mystery of revealed scriptures must approach a bona fide spiritual master, hear from him very submissively and render service to him. Then the import of the scriptures will be revealed. It is stated in the Vedas (SvetAzvatara Up. 6.23):

yasya deve parA bhaktir yathA deve tathA gurau

tasyaite kathitA hy arthA prakAzante mahAtmanaH

[sU 6.23]

"The real import of the scriptures is revealed to one who has unflinching faith in both the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the spiritual master." SrIla Narottama dAsa ThAkura advises, sAdhu-zAstra-guru-vAkya, hRdaye kariyA aikya. The meaning of this instruction is that one must consider the instructions of the sAdhu, the revealed scriptures and the spiritual master in order to understand the real purpose of spiritual life. Neither a sAdhu (saintly person or VaiSNava) nor a bona fide spiritual master says anything that is beyond the scope of the sanction of the revealed scriptures. Thus the statements of the revealed scriptures correspond to those of the bona fide spiritual master and saintly persons. One must therefore act with reference to these three important sources of understanding.

Madhya 20.352:

prabhu kahe,----"anyAvatAra zAstra-dvAre jAni

kalite avatAra taiche zAstra-vAkye mAni

SYNONYMS

prabhu kahe--Lord SrI Caitanya MahAprabhu said; anya-avatAra--the incarnations in other yugas; zAstra-dvAre jAni--one has to accept by reference to the zAstras; kalite--in this Age of Kali; avatAra--incarnation; taiche--similarly; zAstra-vAkye mAni--one has to accept according to the description of revealed scriptures.

TRANSLATION

SrI Caitanya MahAprabhu replied, "As in other ages an incarnation is accepted according to the directions of the zAstras, in this Age of Kali an incarnation of God should be accepted in that way.

PURPORT

According to SrI Caitanya MahAprabhu, this is the way an incarnation should be accepted. SrIla Narottama dAsa ThAkura says, sAdhu-zAstra-guru-vAkya, cittete kariyA aikya. One should accept a thing as genuine by studying the words of saintly people, the spiritual master and the zAstra. The actual center is the zAstra, the revealed scripture. If a spiritual master does not speak according to the revealed scripture, he is not to be accepted. Similarly, if a saintly person does not speak according to the zAstra, he is not a saintly person. The zAstra is the center for all. Unfortunately, at the present moment, people do not refer to the zAstras; therefore they accept rascals as incarnations, and consequently they have made incarnations into a very cheap thing. Intelligent people who follow SrI Caitanya MahAprabhu's instructions and the instructions of the AcArya, the bona fide spiritual master, will not accept a pretender as an incarnation of God. In Kali-yuga, the only incarnation is SrI Caitanya MahAprabhu. Imitation incarnations take advantage of SrI Caitanya MahAprabhu. The Lord appeared within the past five hundred years, played as the son of a brAhmaNa from Nadia and introduced the saGkIrtana movement. Imitating SrI Caitanya MahAprabhu and ignoring the zAstra, rascals present themselves as incarnations and introduce their rascaldom as a religious process. As we have repeatedly said, religion can be given only by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. From the discussions in the Caitanya-caritAmRta, we can understand that in different ages the Supreme Lord introduces different systems and different religious duties. In this Age of Kali, the only incarnation of KRSNa is SrI Caitanya MahAprabhu, and He introduced the religious duty of Kali-yuga, the chanting of the Hare KRSNa mahA-mantra: Hare KRSNa, Hare KRSNa, KRSNa KRSNa, Hare Hare/ Hare RAma, Hare RAma, RAma RAma, Hare Hare.

Lecture:

So if this confidential knowledge, one who preaches without any compromise, he is the confidential servant of KRSNa. There is no compromise. This is real religion. The KRSNa says, na ca tasmAd manuSyeSu kazcid me priya-kRttamaH. So this is the person who has received the authority to draw mercy water from the ocean of mercy of KRSNa. SAkSAd-dharitvena samasta-zAstraiH. And what KRSNa said five thousand years ago, the same thing Caitanya MahAprabhu said, same thing. There was no change, as there was no change between the statement of VizvanAtha CakravartI ThAkura and Narottama dAsa ThAkura. SAdhu zAstra. As zAstra, there is no change. Not that "Modernize. The zAstra should be changed." No. That is nonsense. That is not zAstra. SAstra cannot be changed. "Circumstantially, it will be changed, seasonal changes." No. That is not zAstra. SAstra means it is perpetual. What KRSNa said five thousand years ago or KRSNa said some forty millions of years ago to the sun god... ImaM vivasvate yogaM proktavAn aham avyayam [bg. 4.1]. He says, "I am talking to you that purAtanaM yogam." Not that "Because it has passed millions of years and now it is a different time, so I will have to change." No. He said, "I am talking to you that very old system." Is it not? Just see. The zAstra cannot be changed. God's word cannot be changed. Then what will be the difference between God and ourself? He is always perfect. He is always perfect. What He said forty millions of years ago, what He said five thousand years ago, that is also correct up to date. That is zAstra. Not that "So many years have passed and it has become old. Now let us reform it and put it into new way." No. You can put the same thing in a new way, but you cannot change the principle. SAdhu zAstra guru-vAkya, tinete kariyA aikya. SAstra is never changed. And the sAdhu... SAdhu means who follows the zAstras. He is sAdhu. He also does not change. SAdhu, zAstra. And guru? Guru means who follows the zAstra and sAdhu. So there are three, the same. A guru will not change, that "It was spoken five thousand years ago. That is not applicable now. Now I am giving you something new, jugglery." He is useless. SAdhu zAstra guru-vAkya tinete kariyA aikya. YaH zAstra-vidhim utsRjya vartate kAma kArataH, na siddhim avApnoti. These things are there.

Bg 16.23

yaH zAstra-vidhim utsRjya

vartate kAma-kArataH

na sa siddhim avApnoti

na sukhaM na parAM gatim

SYNONYMS

yaH--anyone who; zAstra-vidhim--the regulations of the scriptures; utsRjya--giving up; vartate--remains; kAma-kArataH--acting whimsically in lust; na--never; saH--he; siddhim--perfection; avApnoti--achieves; na--never; sukham--happiness; na--never; parAm--the supreme; gatim--perfectional stage.

TRANSLATION

He who discards scriptural injunctions and acts according to his own whims attains neither perfection, nor happiness, nor the supreme destination.

PURPORT

As described before, the zAstra-vidhi, or the direction of the zAstra, is given to the different castes and orders of human society. Everyone is expected to follow these rules and regulations. If one does not follow them and acts whimsically according to his lust, greed and desire, then he never will be perfect in his life. In other words, a man may theoretically know all these things, but if he does not apply them in his own life, then he is to be known as the lowest of mankind. In the human form of life, a living entity is expected to be sane and to follow the regulations given for elevating his life to the highest platform, but if he does not follow them, then he degrades himself. But even if he follows the rules and regulations and moral principles and ultimately does not come to the stage of understanding the Supreme Lord, then all his knowledge becomes spoiled. And even if he accepts the existence of God, if he does not engage himself in the service of the Lord his attempts are spoiled. Therefore one should gradually raise himself to the platform of KRSNa consciousness and devotional service; it is then and there that he can attain the highest perfectional stage, not otherwise.

The word kAma-kArataH is very significant. A person who knowingly violates the rules acts in lust. He knows that this is forbidden, but still he acts. This is called acting whimsically. He knows that this should be done, but still he does not do it; therefore he is called whimsical. Such persons are destined to be condemned by the Supreme Lord. Such persons cannot have the perfection which is meant for the human life. The human life is especially meant for purifying one's existence, and one who does not follow the rules and regulations cannot purify himself, nor can he attain the real stage of happiness.

gHari · January 12, 2004

Madhya 17.185p:

Narottama dAsa ThAkura says, sAdhu-zAstra-guru-vAkya, cittete kariyA aikya: "One should accept as one's guide the words of the sAdhus, the zAstra and the guru." A sAdhu is a great personality like SrI Caitanya MahAprabhu, the zAstras are the injunctions of revealed scriptures, and the guru, or spiritual master, is one who confirms the scriptural injunctions. Accepting the guidance of these three is the actual way of following the great personalities (mahAjanas) for real advancement in life (mahAjano yena gataH sa panthAH). A man covered by illusion cannot understand the proper way; therefore SrI Caitanya MahAprabhu says, dharma-sthApana-hetu sAdhura vyavahAra: "The behavior of a devotee is the criterion for all other behavior."

Quest for Enlightenment:

We are worshiping Govinda, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the original person. And this song we were just singing--govindam Adi-puruSaM tam ahaM bhajAmi **--is reaching Him. He's hearing it. You cannot say He's not hearing it. Especially in this scientific age, when radio messages are broadcast thousands and thousands of miles so you can hear them, it is easy to understand how Govinda, KRSNa, can hear your sincere prayer.

Similarly, just as you can see a television picture transmitted from thousands and thousands of miles away, you can always see Govinda in your heart if you prepare yourself properly. This is stated in the Brahma-saMhitA [5.38]: premAJjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santaH sadaiva hRdayeSu vilokayanti [bs. 5.38]. There is a television within your heart; it is not that you have to purchase the television set--it is there in your heart. And God is also there. You can see Him, you can hear Him, you can talk with Him, provided you repair the machine. And this repairing process is KRSNa consciousness.

Now, to repair a television an expert technician is required. Similarly, you require the help of someone expert in the science of KRSNa consciousness. Then the machine in your heart will work and you will be able to see KRSNa. This is the perfection of yoga.

In the scriptures we hear how one can come to this perfection: sAdhu-zAstra-guru-vAkya, cittete kariyA aikya. Spiritual realization can be perfected by following three parallel lines: sAdhu (saintly persons who are realized souls), zAstra (authoritative Vedic scriptures), and guru (the spiritual master). In the railway yard you see two parallel tracks, and if they're in order the railway carriages go very smoothly to their destination. In KRSNa consciousness there are three parallel lines: association with saintly persons (sAdhus), faith in the scriptures (zAstra), and acceptance of a bona fide spiritual master (guru). If you place your vehicle on these three parallel lines, it will go directly to KRSNa, without any disturbance.

Now, here in the Bhagavad-gItA, KRSNa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is explaining Himself. But suppose you say, "How can I believe that KRSNa said these words? Somebody may have written them in the name of KRSNa." No. Because the Bhagavad-gItA is accepted by saintly persons, we should also accept it. Beginning from VyAsadeva and NArada, down to many AcAryas [spiritual exemplars] like RAmAnujAcArya, MadhvAcArya, ViSNu SvAmI, and Lord Caitanya, all have accepted the Bhagavad-gItA: "Yes, it is spoken by God, KRSNa." So this is the proof that the Bhagavad-gItA is authentic. Saintly persons, sAdhus, have accepted the Bhagavad-gItA as scripture; therefore it is scripture. That is the test.

This is a common-sense affair. If lawyers accept some book as a law book, then we should understand that it is an authoritative law book. You cannot say, "Why should I accept this law book?" The evidence is that the lawyers have accepted it. Similarly, if the medical practitioners accept a book as authoritative, then we should know that it is an authoritative medical book. In the same way, since saintly persons accept the Bhagavad-gItA as scripture, you cannot deny that it is scripture. So these are the two lines of sAdhu and zAstra, saintly persons and scripture.

And who is a guru, a spiritual master? He who follows and explains the scripture. The sAdhu confirms the scripture, and the spiritual master follows and explains the scripture. So sAdhu, zAstra, and guru are always in agreement. What is spoken in the scripture is accepted by saintly persons, and what is spoken in the scripture is followed and explained by the spiritual master, and he explains only that. The via media is the scripture, just as in the law court the via media is the law book. So the saintly persons, the scriptures, and the spiritual master: when you follow these three parallel lines your life is successful.

tad-vijJAnArthaM sa gurum evAbhigacchet

samit-pANiH zrotriyaM brahma-niSTham

"To understand these things properly, one must humbly approach, with firewood in hand, a spiritual master who is learned in the Vedas and firmly devoted to the Absolute Truth."

[MuNDaka UpaniSad 1.2.12]

Lecture:

Now, the ViSNudUta concludes that "This AjAmila, we know that throughout his whole life he has simply committed sinful activities. That's a fact. We know. But at the time of his death," mriyamANaH, yad asau bhagavan-nAma samagrahIt, "simply chanted the name of Hari, NArAyaNa," samagrahIt, "perfectly, without any offense." Just try to understand that simply by chanting one name only, NArAyaNa, samagrahIt, without any offense, he became immediately purified from all sinful activities. These are not exaggeration. This is the fact. Otherwise why Caitanya MahAprabhu should encourage,

harer nAma harer nAma harer nAmaiva kevalam

kalau nAsty eva nAsty eva nAsty eva gatir anyathA

[Adi 17.21]

You'll never find any disagreement with the zAstra, sAdhu, and guru. Therefore Narottama dAsa ThAkura says, sAdhu-zAstra-guru-vAkya. That is our guidance. SAdhu. If you say Caitanya MahAprabhu was a sAdhu or a devotee, so His words and the words of the scriptures are the same. The sAdhu will speak only on the authority of zAstra. And zAstra means the description given by the sAdhu. They are correlative. And guru means who follows the sAdhu and the zAstra. So these are very instructive. SAdhu who is always engaged in the service of the Lord, he is sAdhu, bhakta. And zAstra. SAstra means description of the activities of the sAdhu and BhagavAn. Just like SrImad-BhAgavatam. We are reading the story of AjAmila. He became a sAdhu; therefore his description of his life is imparted here. PrahlAda MahArAja is sAdhu, Dhruva MahArAja, a sAdhu, AmbarISa MahArAja, a sAdhu. Formerly the kings were all sAdhus, rAjarSi. Just like in the Bhagavad-gItA, you have heard, imaM rAjarSayo viduH. Formerly the kings were so exalted and they were so nice that they were, although they were sitting on the throne, they were dealing in politics, still, they were sAdhu, just like RSi. There are many instances.

So if there is one sAdhu, he can make many other sAdhus. SAdhu. SAdhu does not mean that he is alone enjoying the fruits of his spiritual life. SAdhu means who is trying to make others sAdhu. He is sAdhu. KRSNa likes such sAdhu, as He has described in the last portion of Bhagavad-gItA, na ca tasmAn manuSyeSu kazcin me priya-kRttamaH [bg. 18.69]. The sAdhu... And sAdhu means he should preach according to the scriptures, not outside the scriptures. SAdhu does not mean he malinterprets the zAstra. He should present the zAstra as it is. He should understand the zAstra as it is. And guru means who is following sAdhu and zAstra. He is guru. Therefore Narottama dAsa ThAkura says that sAdhu, zAstra, these things should be confirmed by the spiritual master, and if we should follow these principles, sAdhu-zAstra-guru-vAkya, cittete kariyA aikya... We should confirmed one thing by the other, the other by another. In this way we have to make our conclusion.

So yad asau bhagavan-nAma mriyamANaH samagrahIt. Because the YamadUta..., yes, ViSNudUta says that "We know that this person was addicted to sinful activities throughout his whole life, but at the time of his death he has remembered. He has uttered offenselessly once the name of NArAyaNa." But one should not think that "All right. Let us go on committing all sinful activities, and at the time of my death I shall think of NArAyaNa or KRSNa." That is not possible. That is explained in the Bhagavad-gItA. If you practice when you are alive, when you are strong for chanting the holy name of KRSNa or NArAyaNa, then there may be chance. Otherwise it is not possible. Not that a layman will all of a sudden will chant "NArAyaNa." He must have previous practice. Therefore Caitanya MahAprabhu has recommended, kIrtanIyaH sadA hariH [Cc. adi 17.31]. AmAninA mAnadena kIrtanIyaH sadA hariH. SadA tad-bhAva-bhAvitaH. In the Bhagavad-gItA SrI KRSNa says, sadA tad-bhAva-bhAvitaH [bg. 8.6]. If you practice in your life chanting the holy name of KRSNa... I remember one of our teachers in our school life. He instructed that "If you always think that ‘I shall pass my examination with distinction,' then you can pass in first division. If you think that ‘I shall pass my examination in the first division,' then you may pass in the third division. And if you think that ‘I shall some way pass my examination in the third division,' then you will fail." That means if you expect more than your capacity, then it may be possible that at the time of examination you get the right number and pass your examination.

So the chanting of Hare KRSNa mantra, Caitanya MahAprabhu has said, sadA, kIrtanIyaH sadA hariH, not that two hours or one hours, but one should practice. And that is the recommendation as it was followed by HaridAsa ThAkura. But because we cannot do that, therefore we have to engage always in the service of KRSNa. That will make me remembering KRSNa. Real fact is how to remember KRSNa. So this remembering of KRSNa by AjAmila was not accidental. He chanted. He served NArAyaNa in his previous life when he was young man, but by bad association he fell down. But the effect was there at the time of his death, so much effective that the ViSNudUta recommends that "Because he has chanted at the time of his death the holy name of Lord, he is now free from all sinful reaction."

Lecture:

KRSNa says in the Bhagavad-gItA,

tad viddhi praNipAtena

paripraznena sevayA

upadekSyanti tad-jJAnaM

jJAninas tattva-darzinaH

[bg. 4.34]

JJAni means tattva-darzI. Tattva means KRSNa, the Absolute Truth, paraM tattva. Vadanti tat tattva-vidas tattvam [sB 1.2.11]. Tattva. What is that tattva? The tattva is described in three phases: vadanti tat tattva-vidas tattvaM yaj jJAnam advayam [sB 1.2.11]. Tattva-jJAna is one. What is that? Brahmeti paramAtmeti bhagavAn iti zabdyate. So BhagavAn is KRSNa. KRSNas tu svayaM bhagavAn. So guru, according to the capacity of the student, he teaches first about Brahman, then ParamAtmA, then BhagavAn, KRSNa. So KRSNa is the ultimate knowledge of tattva-jJAna. And one who teaches this tattva-jJAna, he is guru. Otherwise he's a rascal. So therefore the first indication is that if you want to become a real human being, then you must approach a real guru and learn from him. Mold your life in that way. This is human civilization. Then, after guru... GurvaSTaka we chant daily. Guru. What is the duty of the guru?

saMsAra-dAvAnala-lIDha-loka-

trANAya kAruNya-ghanAghanatvam

prAptasya kalyANa-guNArNavasya

vande guroH zrI caraNAravindam **

We have Daily we understand what is guru. Guru-mukha-padma-vAkya, citette kariyA aikya, Ara nA kariya mane AzA **. This is that. This is wanted. If you have got real guru and if you follow him, then your life is successful. There is no doubt. But if you have a so-called bogus guru, and without any knowledge of the zAstra, then your life will be spoiled. Especially the MAyAvAdI guru, Caitanya MahAprabhu has warned, mAyAvAdI-bhASya zunile haya sarva-nAza. MAyAvAdI guru means one who thinks that everyone is God. That is MAyAvAdI guru. If you approach such guru, then your life is spoiled. MAyAvAdI-bhASya zunile haya sarva-nAza. Finished. Your spiritual progress finished. So in this way, guru, arka, these are the training. Where is that training? Where is that school? So why they will not learn from eight years, ten years of age, smoking bidi and cigarette? When I was in America first, I saw some little boys, not more than ten to twelve years, smoking cigarette. I was astonished that "What kind of education is there?" But they don't mind. Even in their classroom, the elderly young boys and girls, they smoke before the teacher. I have seen it in New York University. So this is not training. Training is he must be very controlled. And if you teach from the beginning, then he will be trained up. There is a Bengali proverb, gancai noale vas, mas korbe tans tas(?): "When the bamboo is green, you can bend it, but when it is yellow, dried, it will crack." So education begins from the very childhood. That is education. Therefore gurukula is required. It doesn't require how much he has learned ABCD and grammar. No. First of all character. That is gurukula living. Let him become dAnta, guru-gRhe. BrahmacArI guru-gRhe vasan dAntaH. How to become sense controller, that is first education.

So these rules and regulation, as it is prescribed, guru, arka, agni, and then BhagavAn... You cannot jump over directly to BhagavAn. Then you will never be able to be successful. You have to go through guru, agni, zAstra. SAdhu-zAstra-guru-vAkya, tinete kariyA aikya. This is the way. Then ubhe sandhye ca yata-vAk. You should not talk nonsense. MahAprabhu has very strictly forbidden, grAmya kathA nA karibe. We talk. That has become our training. As soon as we assemble, a few persons, immediately we talk all nonsense--politics, this politician, that politician, this is that, this is that--and waste our time. You talk something substantial. You talk about the zAstra. Talk about the aim of life, the problem of life. But they are described in the zAstra as the croaking of the toads, "Kakaka kakaka kakaka." Don't talk nonsense. Simply be engaged in talking about KRSNa. Sa vai manaH kRSNa-padAravindayor vacAMsi vaikuNTha-guNAnuvarNane. Our talking should be engaged about vaikuNTha-guNAnuvarNana. VaikuNTha means the Supreme Lord KRSNa, about Him. We can talk so many things about KRSNa. Therefore we require to read books. BhAgavatam means it is full of topics of KRSNa and His devotee. That is BhAgavatam. And Bhagavad-gItA is full of instruction given by KRSNa. Why don't you talk about that? Caitanya-caritAmRta... We have got so many books. This should be our principle; we should not talk any nonsense. That is called yata-vAk. Yata-vAk means gontrolling the talking power. Yata-vAk. SamAhitaH, very sober. Try to become sober, don't talk nonsense, and abide by the orders of guru and zAstra. In this way training begins. It does not mean that you have to learn very big grammatical rules and... No. That you shall see later on. First of all build up character. Then it will be helpful to make further progress in spiritual life.

Thank you very much. (end)

Conversation:

PrabhupAda: So we have to approach a person who has seen the truth. It is not difficult. Just like if you are suffering from some disease, you have to go to a doctor who knows how to treat. It is same thing, like that.

SyAmasundara: How do we know he's a good doctor or not? By his credential or...?

PrabhupAda: No. That also... Therefore it is called sAdhu-zAstra-guru-vAkya. Three things there are for knowledge. SAdhu, saintly person; zAstra, scripture; and guru. So one statement we have to corroborate with other statement. If you accept somebody as guru, then you have to corroborate it whether zAstra says that he is guru or any saintly person says that he is guru. This is the way. Similarly, when you take a scripture, you have to know it from the spiritual master, whether that is actually scripture, whether it is accepted by the saintly person. SAdhu. Similarly sAdhu also, whether guru says, "Yes, he is sAdhu." Whether zAstra says, "Yes, he is sAdhu." There are three things, sAdhu-zAstra-guru. So to accept one, you have to take the opinion of the other two. Then you'll get the right way. Just like who is a guru? That is stated in the zAstras. SrotriyaM brahma-niSTham. SAstra says, tad-vijJAnArthaM sa gurum evAbhigacchet: [MU 1.2.12] "One must approach a guru." Then the same question comes, "Who is guru?" That is also stated, zrotriyaM brahma-niSTham. "He's well-versed in Vedas, knowledge of Vedas, and fully KRSNa conscious." He is guru. Just like how do you know that here is a medical practitioner? Before going for treatment, you find out. How do you find out?

SyAmasundara: Some friend, perhaps.

PrabhupAda: Anyway, you have to take information. Similarly, guru, according to zAstra, who is guru, he must be confirmed by sAdhu, saintly person, by zAstra. Then he's guru. Sadhu-zAstra, guru-vAkya, tinete kariyA aikya.

HaMsadUta: What's the difference between a sAdhu and a guru? Sadhu means authorities like VyAsa?

PrabhupAda: Guru... He must be a sAdhu.

HaMsadUta: It means the previous AcAryas.

PrabhupAda: A sAdhu means titikSavaH kAruNikAH suhRdaH sarva-dehinAm, ajAta-zatravaH zAntAH sAdhavaH sAdhu-bhUSaNAH. Everything, there is definition, who is sAdhu, who is guru.

HaMsadUta: Yes.

PrabhupAda: ...what is zAstra. Everything is there. You have to know it. What is avatAra. That is my business, how to know. But there is, everything's there. What... Everyone can know it. SAdhavaH, sAdhu. Sum and substance of sAdhu means devotee. Just like in the Bhagavad-gItA, KRSNa says, api cet sudurAcAro bhajate mAm ananya-bhAk, sAdhur eva sa mantavyaH [bg. 9.30]. "He's sAdhu." Who? Ananya-bhAk: "Without any diversion of attention, he's completely engaged in My devotional service... Even if he has got some minor defects, still, because he is completely surrendered and engaged in My service, he's sAdhu." SAdhur eva sa mantavyaH [bg. 9.30]. So this is the test of sAdhu. SAdhu means he must be a devotee. SAdhu does not mean having saffron color and long beard and doing all nonsense. No. SAdhu means... First test is that he is unflinching, without any deviation. Api cet sudurA..., bhajate mAm ananya-bhAk. Ananya-bhAk means he does not know anything except the service of the Lord. That is the qualification of sAdhu. So similarly, in other places also, the definition of sAdhu is there. SAdhu means titikSavaH: he's very tolerant because a sAdhu has to face so many opposing elements and sometimes very offensive, but he has to tolerate. TitikSavaH. At the same time, kAruNikAH, very merciful. The same man who is torturing him, torturing him, he is trying to convince him about KRSNa. That means very merciful. He's not rejecting. Although he's torturing him, but he's trying to convince him, KRSNa. Therefore kAruNikAH. And he is not friend of any particular society or man. SuhRdaH sarva-dehinAm. He is well-wisher of all living entities. It doesn't matter whether he's Indian, American, or black and white. No, no conception. Or even human being or animal. He is kind to everyone, friend, well-wisher of everyone. AjAta-zatravaH. He does not create any enemies. Such... These are the qualifications of sAdhu. SAstra means the transcendental literature, not ordinary writings. That is zAstra. Just like Bhagavad-gItA is zAstra, Veda is zAstra, or Bible, zAstra. Scripture means given by God or His authorized representative. That is zAstra. So sAdhu-zAstra-guru. And guru means who is completely devotee of KRSNa without any material motives. This is sAdhu-zAstra-guru. AnyAbhilASitAzUnyaM jJAna-karmAdy-anAvRtam, AnukUlyena kRSNAnuzIlanam [Madhya 19.167].