Before the Guru-Disciple relationship, they must examine each other
Guru-sisya sambandhera purvei parasparera pariksa
A Guru who accepts an unqualified disciple is punished. The disciple who worships an unqualified Guru has no hope[1].
As long as they are both qualified, their relationship should never be dissolved.
After examining the pure Guru, one must accept them
Suddha-Guru pariksa kariya varana karibe
One who disrespects the Sadguru is the worst miscreant and offender in the entire world.
Therefore, in the beginning one should be very careful in seeking a suddha-bhakta to be one’s Guru.
One should worry that he will never have to suffer the misery of having to reject his Guru and fall into such a calamity.
Just as the Guru could be devoid of bhakti, so too can the disciple be. Therefore, the pure Guru must examine the disciple.
Disrespecting the Sadguru is a terrible offense. When such an offense is committed, the Devas and humans are lost.
Ways of serving the Guru
Guru sevara prakriya
There should be no disrespect to the bed, the seat, the shoes, the vehicle, the footstool, the bath water and the shadow of the Guru.
One should not worship anyone else before the Guru, considering him secondary. One should not give diksa or lessons[2] or try to master the Guru[3].
Whenever one sees the Guru, he should offer dandavats, falling to the ground and offering respect.
One should pronounce the name of one’s Guru with devotion. One should never ever disrespect the Guru.
Prasada must be honored[4]. One should never say unpleasant words to the Guru.
One must humbly surrender at the feet of the Guru. One should always behave in such a way that one becomes dear to the Guru.
One who behaves in this way and practices Krishna-nama-sankirtana attains all perfections. O Lord, this has been declared by the Srutis[5].
If one associates with evil people or takes refuge in the philosophies found in evil books, then one is disobeying the nama-guru[6].
In this case one should abandon that association or throw that book far away and, lamenting, should grasp the Guru’s feet.
Being kind in nature, the Guru will bestow his mercy. Being full of compassion, that Vaishnava will give him nama-prema.
He who considers himself less than a blade of grass, who has faith in the dust of Hari Dasa’s feet, chants this Hari-nama-cintamani.
iti sri-hari-nama-cintamanau gurv-avajna-vicar
nama sasthaḥ paricchedaḥ
Thus ends the sixth chapter of Sri Hari-nama Cintamani entitled
“Discussions about disrespect towards the Guru”.
[1] To advance in spiritual life.
[2] A disciple should not give initiations or classes in front of the Guru unless he asks him to do so.
[3] Sometimes the disciple, seeing the Guru as old and with little strength, tries to use him by making him say things that are to his advantage.
[4] The remains of the Guru’s prasadam.
[5] The Srutis are the original Vedic texts: Rik, Sama, Atharva, Yajur Veda.
[6] The Master who teaches the importance of the Name of Krishna or who initiates those Mantras.
This is a section of the book “Harinama Cintamani (English)”.
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