who is more merciful?

Dear readers,

By the mercy of Śrī Guru and Śrī Gaurāṅga, we are discussing different spiritual topics for our purification. In this article the focus will be on the mercy one can receive from the caitya-guru, who is also known as the Supersoul, and the mahānta-guru, who is also known as the pure devotee. The merciful Lord Himself descends as the Holy Name to help the conditioned souls. For this purpose, the Lord Himself descends as the nama-kirtankarī guru, to teach us how to chant and how to serve the Holy Name. He distributes the transcendental mellows of the Holy Name by helping us in two ways. Firstly, as the dīkṣā-guru and secondly, as the śikṣā-guru. In the Caitanya-Caritāmṛta Ādi-līlā 1.47, Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī has mentioned, ‘‘One should know the instructing spiritual master to be the Personality of Kṛṣṇa. Lord Kṛṣṇa manifests Himself as the Supersoul and as the greatest devotee of the Lord.’’

Guru-tattva manifests in two ways, as the caitya-guru and as the Greatest Devotee. The śikṣā-guru resides internally as the Supersoul, who is also known as the caitya-guru while he performs līlās externally as the mahānta-guru, the Greatest Devotee. Lord Kṛṣṇa who resides as the Supersoul in the hearts of all living entities, controls one’s nature or tendency from the inside. While on the outside He helps one as the dīkṣā and the śikṣā-guru to develop a transcendental vision. The śikṣā-guru imparts the teachings of sadhana-tattva, and since the caitya-guru who resides in our hearts provides us with pure intelligence, he is therefore our śikṣā-guru as well. In Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 11.29.6, Śrī Uddhava prays to the Lord as follows, ‘‘O my Lord! Transcendental poets and experts in spiritual science could not fully express their indebtedness to You, even if they were endowed with the prolonged lifetime of Brahmā, for You appear in two features — externally as the ācārya and internally as the Supersoul — to deliver the embodied living being by directing him how to come to You.’’

No one can recognize a pure devotee without receiving mercy and proper direction or guidance from the caitya-guru. Even after studying all the different literatures and strictly following the etiquettes prescribed by the Vedas, no one can attain the eligibility to understand the glories of sadhu-sāṅga. It is not possible only by this. Even when we are blessed with the opportunity to associate with a pure devotee, still we are hesitant to take shelter at his lotus feet. Therefore, unless we obtain mercy from the caitya-guru, everything in our spiritual life will be topsy-turvy. Having said so, the caitya-guru has polarized his mercy into two types: mercy with duplicity, which is also called as vañcana and mercy without duplicity, which is also known as kṛpa. What does this cheating mean? When someone has desires other than pure devotion or a desire to cultivate jñāna, karma or yoga, then the Supersoul, who knows his intention, gives him inspiration to accept a karmi, jñānī or a yogi or a person with material desires as his guru. Such a person develops envy and an offensive mentality towards a pure devotee. This becomes his recurrent tendency due to which he is unable to see any good qualities in a pure devotee. Rather, he starts finding faults in a pure devotee.

The Supersoul who knows everyone’s inner mood gives faith to a person who has other desires than to achieve pure devotion or who is a jñānī, karmī or a yogī. Hence, if we after coming to this beautiful path of bhakti maintain other desires than to please Guru and Kṛṣṇa, the Supersoul arranges such association and facilities for us accordingly, so that we can fulfil our material desires. As devotees of Lord Kṛṣṇa, we cannot blame others for this. Sometimes devotees start blaming the paramparā, the ācāryas or vaiṣṇava procedures due to their lack of maturity. But the fact is that we are blaming others only to pacify our minds, “I am perfect!” However, we forget that the Supersoul knows our mentality very well, and that by His desire all arrangements come into our lives. Thus, a sober, genuine and a perfect devotee of the Lord always blames himself and not others. On the other hand, the true mercy of the Supersoul is that a fortunate soul gets inspiration and develops unflinching faith to surrender completely at the lotus feet of the pure devotee. His mind is constantly reeling and rambling as a bumblebee. Just like a bumblebee, who is mad to taste honey by which he even forgets the painful thorns of the flowers. Similarly, the real mercy of the Supersoul makes that fortunate soul mad, whereby he stops paying any heed to the flickering material happiness and distresses. He just wants to serve the lotus feet of a pure devotee and wants to surrender unto them at any cost.

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura has mentioned, ‘‘unless we get mercy from the caitya-guru, we do not have any qualification to serve. Without it, it is impossible on our part to serve ātma pradarśaka-guru, the dīkṣā-guru or the śikṣā-guru.’’ When a person’s dharma, artha, kāmā and mokṣa desires are deeply rooted, at that time the caitya-guru provides him with material results, material opulence and material intelligence. But, if a fortunate soul desires pure devotion then the caitya-guru, without any duplicity blesses him with unalloyed faith at the lotus feet of both the śikṣā and dīkṣā-guru. We have to purify our desires. Real association or sadhu-sāṅga means to purify our desires. That is the key to please guru and Kṛṣṇa in every condition. At other places Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura  has also said, ‘‘by the mercy of caitya-guru one can find a mahānta-guru. By the two types of mercy coming through them, one either becomes a servant of adhokṣaja or becomes ādhyāhika.’’ We have to know that wherever a mahānta-guru is not worshipped with true devotion, there caitya-guru’s mercy is not manifested to its fullest. Then a question may arise: without caitya-guru’s mercy, how can we recognize and serve a mahānta-guru? Because on the other hand we say that if we don’t have a mahānta-guru, it means caitya-guru’s mercy is not manifested in its full potency, and therefore both statements appear to contradict one another. We have to remind ourselves that They are both non-different and that the caitya-guru helps us according to our desires. He is merciful but neutral at the same time. To get transcendental knowledge from Him is not at all possible for a conditioned soul, but a mahānta-guru can dissipate the unlimited doubts and problems of a conditioned soul.

When a person becomes attached to karma, jñāna or to any other process it means it is sanctioned by the Supersoul. This means the Supersoul is cheating that person indirectly. But the mercy of a mahānta-guru is matchless. He always showers His mercy on the conditioned souls, just like the sun is never covered by a shadow because it doesn’t have the power to cover the sun. Similarly, if a person closes his doors and windows due to his envy, he gets covered by a shadow in the form of envy and is unable to receive mercy in the form of sunlight, where the sun is not at fault. Similarly, a conditioned soul from time immemorial has dwelled with his false ego as the enjoyer. When he desires to enjoy, the caitya-guru gives him intelligence accordingly. But, to a fortunate soul the caitya-guru gives inspiration and attachment for sādhu-sāṅga. Not only this, He also blesses him with eagerness to surrender at the lotus feet of a mahānta-guru for achieving His causeless mercy. When we surrender at the lotus feet of a pure devotee without duplicity, that symbolizes the complete mercy of the Supersoul.

When we after accepting a pure devotee, by the mercy of the supersoul, commit offense at his lotus feet, we will gradually develop an envious mentality towards Him. Even though we pretend to worship and offer respect to Him externally, we actually don’t feel any importance for Him internally. In such a case the Supersoul is unable to help such an ill-fated person. According to the direction and inspiration from the caitya-guru, one accepts a Guru. ‘‘I am an eternal disciple of my Guru.’’ Although this is the unpalatable truth, but actually, if we search and study thoroughly through the vision of sādhu and śāstra, each one of us has a sweet inner desire to become Guru. By this a dangerous mentality arises within our hearts. Even though we are not fit to become a true disciple, still we aspire to have such a superior position. That means still we are being cheated by caitya-guru. If we have the propensity to commit offenses towards a pure devotee, then caitya-guru cheats us and gives us intelligence by which we will develop an envious mentality towards sādhu, guru, and vaiṣṇavas. That becomes the vow of our lives. In other words, we don’t have any qualification to accept mercy from the caitya-guru. Generally, we think that this idea comes from the Supersoul. Everyone says that the Supersoul is giving them inspiration and direction to act. A sādhu, thief, rogue and a characterless person, everyone thinks like that. But they can’t distinguish whether this is mercy or cheating? Only those who are following the footsteps of the mahānta-guru can understand it. If the Supersoul is responsible for giving such intelligence and inspiration to all these persons, he will be held responsible for all the karmas being performed by these persons. But the bitter truth is that we are bewildered by the cheating coming to us from the caitya-guru due to our subtle desires. As a result of this we progress on the path of inauspiciousness. Knowing this, the mahānta-guru imparts śabda-brahma to save us from the cruel hands of unlimited subtle desires and to clarify our doubts.

If some fortunate soul hears śabda-brahma from a mahānta-guru with a simple heart, he immediately develops faith towards sādhu-saṅga. Then the caitya-guru showers His mercy upon that soul without duplicity. Therefore, the mahānta-guru is more merciful than the caitya-guru because He is not neutral like Him. He never deprives a soul of his mercy unless that soul severely commits offenses towards sādhu and guru. Although, Kṛṣṇa is present inside as the Supersoul and appears as śāstra as well, still the mahānta-guru’s presence is absolutely required. Kṛṣṇa knows this and therefore He sends His own men who can guide the conditioned souls on the transcendental path of bhakti. Unless the mahānta-guru establishes His supremacy as an ācārya, a jīva cannot approach him. If we only associate with the caitya-guru, then we will continue to commit offenses due to our inabilities, even after getting His association. Although the mahānta-guru is naturally humble, still He shows his supremacy in order to save us by showing how near and dear he is to the Lord. This is not His pride, His trick to extort money or to receive worship from us, rather this is His causeless mercy.

One may put up a question, ‘‘Why is Kṛṣṇa not helping the conditioned souls, by giving them pure intelligence?’’ Actually, Kṛṣṇa is showering his mercy equally on everyone. He wants to help us, but we are unable to accept it due to the misuse of our independence. To understand the mercy or intelligence given by Kṛṣṇa, we must have some sukriti. And how can we achieve such sukriti? Kṛṣṇa arranges it through the mahānta-guru. Kṛṣṇa has made a trick, to earn sukriti, knowingly or unknowingly; He descends as śabda-brahma, as the Deity and as the Guru. If we get the golden opportunity to serve Them, we can earn sukriti. Then pure desires will arise in our hearts. Accordingly, the caitya-guru gives us intelligence and as a result of this we can recognize a mahānta-guru, hear from him, serve him and obtain mercy from him, which will ultimately make our lives successful. So, in conclusion, although the mahānta-guru and the caitya-guru are both expansions of Kṛṣṇa, still the mahānta-guru is more merciful than the caitya-guru!

Dāsānudāsaḥ,

Haladhara Swami