Skip to main content

Viies värss

Text Five

Tekst

Text

kṛṣṇeti yasya giri taṁ manasādriyeta
dīkṣāsti cet praṇatibhiś ca bhajantam īśam
śuśrūṣayā bhajana-vijñam ananyam anya-
nindādi-śūnya-hṛdam īpsita-saṅga-labdhyā
kṛṣṇeti yasya giri taṁ manasādriyeta
dīkṣāsti cet praṇatibhiś ca bhajantam īśam
śuśrūṣayā bhajana-vijñam ananyam anya-
nindādi-śūnya-hṛdam īpsita-saṅga-labdhyā

Synonyms

Synonyms

kṛṣṇa — Jumal Kṛṣṇa püha nimi; iti — sedasi; yasya — kelle; giri — sõnades või kõnes; tam — teda; manasā — mõistuses; ādriyeta — peab austama; dīkṣā — pühitsus; asti — on; cet — kui; praṇatibhiḥ — austusavaldustega; ca — samuti; bhajantam — pühendunud teenimisega tegelev; īśam — Jumala Kõrgeima Isiksuse; śuśrūṣayā — praktilise teenimisega; bhajana-vijñam — see, kes on jõudnud pühendunud teenimises kõrgele tasandile; ananyam — kõrvalekaldumatult; anya-nindā-ādi — teiste teotamisest jms; śūnya — täiesti puhas; hṛdaṁ — kelle süda; īpsita — soovitava; saṅga — suhtlemise; labdhyā — saavutamisega.

kṛṣṇa — the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa; iti — thus; yasya — of whom; giri — in the words or speech; tam — him; manasā — by the mind; ādriyeta — one must honor; dīkṣā — initiation; asti — there is; cet — if; praṇatibhiḥ — by obeisances; ca — also; bhajantam — engaged in devotional service; īśam — unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; śuśrūṣayā — by practical service; bhajana-vijñam — one who is advanced in devotional service; ananyam — without deviation; anya-nindā-ādi — of blasphemy of others, etc; śūnya — completely devoid; hṛdam — whose heart; īpsita — desirable; saṅga — association; labdhyā — by gaining.

Translation

Translation

Jumal Kṛṣṇa püha nime kordavat pühendunut tuleb mõistuses austada, vaimse pühitsuse [dīkṣā] läbi teinud ja jumalust teeniva pühendunu ees tuleb alandlikult kummardada ning pidevas pühendunud teenimises arengu saavutanud puhast pühendunut, kelle südames puudub vähimgi kalduvus teisi kritiseerida, peab ustavalt teenima ja tunnistama isiksuseks, kellega suhelda.

One should mentally honor the devotee who chants the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa, one should offer humble obeisances to the devotee who has undergone spiritual initiation [dīkṣā] and is engaged in worshiping the Deity, and one should associate with and faithfully serve that pure devotee who is advanced in undeviated devotional service and whose heart is completely devoid of the propensity to criticize others.

Purport

Purport

Selleks, et arukalt rakendada eelmises värsis nimetatud kuut vastastikuste armastuslike suhete põhimõtet, peame me hoolikalt valima, kellega suhelda. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī soovitab meile käesolevas värsis rajada oma suhted vaiṣṇavatega vastavalt nende arenguastmele. Ta selgitab siinkohal, kuidas suhelda kolme laadi pühendunutega – kaniṣṭha- adhikārī, madhyama-adhikārī ja uttama-adhikārīga. Kaniṣṭha-adhikārī on algaja pühendunu, kes on saanud hari-nāma pühitsuse vaimselt õpetajalt ning kes üritab korrata Kṛṣṇa püha nime. Sellist pühendunut tuleb austada oma mõistuses kui kaniṣṭha-vaiṣṇavat. Madhyama-adhikārī on saanud vaimse pühitsuse vaimselt õpetajalt, kes on hõivanud ta täielikult Jumala transtsendentaalse armastusliku teenimisega. Madhyama- adhikārīt tuleb pidada pühendunud teenimises keskmisele tasemele jõudnuks. Uttama-adhikārī on aga täiuslik pühendunu, kes on saavutanud pühendunud teenimises äärmiselt kõrge tasandi. Uttama-adhikārī on vaba soovist teisi teotada ning tema süda on laitmatult puhas. Ta on teadvustanud puhta Kṛṣṇa teadvuse olemuse. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī kinnitab, et sellise mahā-bhāgavata ehk täiusliku vaiṣṇava teenimine ja temaga suhtlemine on pühendunule äärmiselt kasulik.

In order to intelligently apply the sixfold loving reciprocations mentioned in the previous verse, one must select proper persons with careful discrimination. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī therefore advises that we should meet with the Vaiṣṇavas in an appropriate way, according to their particular status. In this verse he tells us how to deal with three types of devotees – the kaniṣṭha-adhikārī, madhyama-adhikārī and uttama-adhikārī. The kaniṣṭha-adhikārī is a neophyte who has received the hari-nāma initiation from the spiritual master and is trying to chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. One should respect such a person within his mind as a kaniṣṭha Vaiṣṇava. A madhyama-adhikārī has received spiritual initiation from the spiritual master and has been fully engaged by him in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. The madhyama-adhikārī should be considered to be situated midway in devotional service. The uttama-adhikārī, or highest devotee, is one who is very advanced in devotional service. An uttama-adhikārī is not interested in blaspheming others, his heart is completely clean, and he has attained the realized state of unalloyed Kṛṣṇa consciousness. According to Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, the association and service of such a mahā-bhāgavata, or perfect Vaiṣṇava, are most desirable.

Pühendunu ei tohi jääda pidama kaniṣṭha-adhikārī ehk pühendunud teenimise madalaimale tasandile, kus ta on huvitatud üksnes templis asuva jumaluse teenimisest. Sellist pühendunut kirjeldatakse „Śrīmad- Bhāgavatami" üheteistkümnendas laulus (11.2.47):

One should not remain a kaniṣṭha-adhikārī, one who is situated on the lowest platform of devotional service and is interested only in worshiping the Deity in the temple. Such a devotee is described in the Eleventh Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.2.47):

arcāyām eva haraye
pūjāṁ yaḥ śraddhayehate
na tad-bhakteṣu cānyeṣu
sa bhaktaḥ prākṛtaḥ smṛtaḥ
arcāyām eva haraye
pūjāṁ yaḥ śraddhayehate
na tad-bhakteṣu cānyeṣu
sa bhaktaḥ prākṛtaḥ smṛtaḥ

„Inimest, kes teenib ustavalt templis asuvat jumalust, kuid kes ei tea, kuidas käituda pühendunute ja teiste inimestega, nimetatakse prākṛta- bhaktaks ehk kaniṣṭha-adhikārīks."

“A person who is very faithfully engaged in the worship of the Deity in the temple, but who does not know how to behave toward devotees or people in general is called a prākṛta-bhakta, or kaniṣṭha-adhikāri.”

Seepärast peab pühendunu tõusma kõrgemale kaniṣṭha-adhikārī tasandilt ja saama madhyama-adhikārīks. Madhyama-adhikārīt kirjeldatakse „Śrīmad-Bhāgavatamis" (11.2.46) järgmiselt:

One therefore has to raise himself from the position of kaniṣṭha-adhikārī to the platform of madhyama-adhikārī. The madhyama-adhikārī is described in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.2.46) in this way:

īśvare tad-adhīneṣu
bāliśeṣu dviṣatsu ca
prema-maitrī-kṛpopekṣā
yaḥ karoti sa madhyamaḥ
īśvare tad-adhīneṣu
bāliśeṣu dviṣatsu ca
prema-maitrī-kṛpopekṣā
yaḥ karoti sa madhyamaḥ

Madhyama-adhikārī on pühendunu, kes kummardab Jumala Kõrgeimat Isiksust kui kõrgeimat armastuse objekti, sõbrustab Jumala pühendunutega, on armulik teadmatuses asuvate elusolendite vastu ning väldib suhtlemist nendega, kes on loomult kadedad."

“The madhyama-adhikārī is a devotee who worships the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the highest object of love, makes friends with the Lord’s devotees, is merciful to the ignorant and avoids those who are envious by nature.”

Selline on õige lähenemine pühendunud teenimise praktikale ning siinkohal annab Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī meile nõu, kuidas suhelda erinevate pühendunutega. Me võime praktilise kogemuse põhjal veenduda, et eksisteerib erinevaid kategooriaid vaiṣṇavaid. Enamik prākṛta-sahajiyāid kordavad Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantrat, kuid on samas ometigi kiindunud naistesse, rahasse ja uimastavatesse ainetesse. Ehkki sellised isikud võivad korrata Jumala püha nime, ei ole nad veel piisavalt puhastunud. Selliseid inimesi peab mõttes austama, kuid nendega suhtlemist tuleb vältida. Nende süütude hingede vastu, kes on halva suhtluskonna tõttu valele teele sattunud, tuleb ilmutada armulikkust, kui nad avaldavad soovi saada tõeseid juhendusi puhastelt pühendunutelt. Algajale pühendunule, kes on juba saanud pühitsuse tõeliselt vaimselt õpetajalt ning püüab täie tõsidusega täita tema korraldusi, tuleb aga avaldada lugupidamist.

This is the way to cultivate devotional service properly; therefore in this verse Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī has advised us how to treat various devotees. We can see from practical experience that there are different types of Vaiṣṇavas. The prākṛta-sahajiyās generally chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, yet they are attached to women, money and intoxication. Although such persons may chant the holy name of the Lord, they are not yet properly purified. Such people should be respected within one’s mind, but their association should be avoided. Those who are innocent but simply carried away by bad association should be shown favor if they are eager to receive proper instructions from pure devotees, but those neophyte devotees who are actually initiated by the bona fide spiritual master and are seriously engaged in carrying out the orders of the spiritual master should be offered respectful obeisances.

Kṛṣṇa teadvuse liikumine on avatud kõigile, olenemata inimese kastikuuluvusest, usutunnistusest või nahavärvist. Me kutsume kõiki üles ühinema selle liikumisega, istuma meie keskel, sööma prasādamit ja kuulama Kṛṣṇast. Kui me näeme, et inimene on tõepoolest huvitatud Kṛṣṇa teadvusest ja soovib saada pühitsust, siis me võtame ta vastu õpilaseks Jumala püha nime kordamises. Kui algaja pühendunu on juba saanud pühitsuse ja tegeleb pühendunud teenimisega vastavalt vaimse õpetaja korraldustele, tuleb ta otsekohe tunnistada tõeliseks vaiṣṇavaks ning talle tuleb avaldada lugupidamist. Paljude selliste vaiṣṇavate hulgas võib leiduda ehk üks, kes tegeleb väga tõsiselt Jumala teenimisega ning järgib rangelt kõiki reguleerivaid printsiipe, korrates japa helmestel ettenähtud arv ringe mahā-mantrat ja mõeldes pidevalt Kṛṣṇa teadvuse liikumise laiendamise võimalustest. Selline vaiṣṇava tuleb tunnistada uttama-adhikārīks, väga kõrgele tasemele jõudnud pühendunuks, ning temaga suhtlemise poole tuleb alati püüelda.

In this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement a chance is given to everyone without discrimination of caste, creed or color. Everyone is invited to join this movement, sit with us, take prasāda and hear about Kṛṣṇa. When we see that someone is actually interested in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and wants to be initiated, we accept him as a disciple for the chanting of the holy name of the Lord. When a neophyte devotee is actually initiated and engaged in devotional service by the orders of the spiritual master, he should be accepted immediately as a bona fide Vaiṣṇava, and obeisances should be offered unto him. Out of many such Vaiṣṇavas, one may be found to be very seriously engaged in the service of the Lord and strictly following all the regulative principles, chanting the prescribed number of rounds on japa beads and always thinking of how to expand the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Such a Vaiṣṇava should be accepted as an uttama-adhikārī, a highly advanced devotee, and his association should always be sought.

"Caitanya-caritāmṛtas" (Antya 4.192) kirjeldatakse meetodit, mille abil pühendunus areneb kiindumus Kṛṣṇasse.

The process by which a devotee becomes attached to Kṛṣṇa is described in Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Antya 4.192):

dīkṣā-kāle bhakta kare ātma-samarpaṇa
sei-kāle kṛṣṇa tāre kare ātma-sama
dīkṣā-kāle bhakta kare ātma-samarpaṇa
sei-kāle kṛṣṇa tāre kare ātma-sama

„Kui pühendunu alistub pühitsuse saamise hetkest alates täielikult Jumala teenimisele, hakkab Kṛṣṇa temasse suhtuma kui Endaga samaväärsesse."

“At the time of initiation, when a devotee fully surrenders to the service of the Lord, Kṛṣṇa accepts him to be as good as He Himself.”

Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī selgitab dīkṣā ehk vaimse pühitsuse tähendust oma raamatus „Bhakti-sandarbha" (868):

Dīkṣā, or spiritual initiation, is explained in the Bhakti-sandarbha (283) by Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī:

divyaṁ jñānaṁ yato dadyāt
kuryāt pāpasya saṅkṣayam
tasmād dīkṣeti sā proktā
deśikais tattva-kovidaiḥ
divyaṁ jñānaṁ yato dadyāt
kuryāt pāpasya saṅkṣayam
tasmād dīkṣeti sā proktā
deśikais tattva-kovidaiḥ

„Tänu dīkṣāle kaob inimeses vähehaaval huvi materiaalsete naudingute vastu ning ta huvitub järk-järgult vaimsest elust."

“By dīkṣā one gradually becomes disinterested in material enjoyment and gradually becomes interested in spiritual life.”

Me võime leida sellest hulgaliselt näiteid, eriti Euroopas ja Ameerikas. Paljud meie liikumise õpilased, kes on pärit rikastest ja lugupeetud perekondadest, kaotavad kiiresti igasuguse huvi materiaalsete naudingute vastu ning ilmutavad soovi astuda vaimsesse ellu. Ehkki nad on pärit väga rikastest peredest, nõustuvad paljud neist elama tingimustes, mis ei võimalda suuri mugavusi. Õigupoolest on nad Kṛṣṇa nimel valmis nõustuma igasuguste elamistingimustega – nende ainus soov on elada templis ja suhelda vaiṣṇavatega. Kui inimene muutub sedavõrd ükskõikseks materiaalsete naudingute suhtes, on ta vääriline kandidaat vaimselt õpetajalt pühitsuse saamiseks. „Śrīmad-Bhāgavatamis" (6.1.13) antakse vaimses elus edasi arenemiseks ettekirjutus: tapasā brahmacaryeṇa śamena ca damena ca. Kui inimene tõepoolest soovib saada dīkṣāt, peab ta olema valmis sooritama askeese, järgima tsölibaati ning kontrollima mõistust ja keha. Kui inimene on selleks valmis ja soovib vaimselt valgustuda (divyaṁ jñānam), siis väärib ta pühitsust. Divyaṁ jñānam kohta kasutatakse terminit tad-vijñāna, mis tähendab „teadmised Kõigekõrgemast". Tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet – kui inimene tunneb huvi Absoluutse Tõe transtsendentaalse teema vastu, tuleb talle anda pühitsus. Selline inimene peab dīkṣā saamiseks pöörduma vaimse õpetaja poole. Ka „Śrīmad-Bhāgavatamist" (11.3.21) leiame korralduse: tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta jijñāsuḥ śreya uttamam. „Kui inimene tunneb tõsist huvi Absoluutse Tõe transtsendentaalse teaduse vastu, peab ta pöörduma vaimse õpetaja poole."

We have seen many practical examples of this, especially in Europe and America. Many students who come to us from rich and respectable families quickly lose all interest in material enjoyment and become very eager to enter into spiritual life. Although they come from very wealthy families, many of them accept living conditions that are not very comfortable. Indeed, for Kṛṣṇa’s sake they are prepared to accept any living condition as long as they can live in the temple and associate with the Vaiṣṇavas. When one becomes so disinterested in material enjoyment, he becomes fit for initiation by the spiritual master. For the advancement of spiritual life Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (6.1.13) prescribes: tapasā brahmacaryeṇa śamena ca damena ca. When a person is serious about accepting dīkṣā, he must be prepared to practice austerity, celibacy and control of the mind and body. If one is so prepared and is desirous of receiving spiritual enlightenment (divyaṁ jñānam), he is fit for being initiated. Divyaṁ jñānam is technically called tad-vijñāna, or knowledge about the Supreme. Tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet: when one is interested in the transcendental subject matter of the Absolute Truth, he should be initiated. Such a person should approach a spiritual master in order to take dīkṣā. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.3.21) also prescribes: tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta jijñāsuḥ śreya uttamam. “When one is actually interested in the transcendental science of the Absolute Truth, he should approach a spiritual master.”

Vaimset õpetajat tohib vastu võtta ainult juhul, kui soovitakse järgida tema juhendusi. Vaimset õpetajat ei tohi vastu võtta lihtsalt moe pärast, et näidata end vaimses elus edasijõudnud inimesena. Inimene, kes tahab vastu võtta vaimset õpetajat, peab olema jijñāsu. See tähendab, et ta peab omama väga tugevat soovi saada tõeliselt vaimselt õpetajalt teadmisi. Küsimused, mida õpilane esitab, peavad käsitlema üksnes transtsendentaalset teadust (jijñāsuḥ śreya uttamam). Sõna uttamam viitab sellele, mis asub väljaspool materiaalseid teadmisi. Tama tähendab „selle materiaalse maailma pimedus" ja ut tähendab „transtsendentaalne". Tavaliselt pakuvad inimestele huvi ilmalikud teemad, ent kui inimeses on selline huvi kadunud ja ta huvitub üksnes transtsendentaalsetest teemadest, on ta valmis pühitsust saama. Kui pühendunu saab tõeliselt vaimselt õpetajalt tõelise pühitsuse ning kui ta rakendab end täie tõsidusega Jumala teenimisse, siis tuleb teda pidada madhyama-adhikārīks.

One should not accept a spiritual master without following his instructions. Nor should one accept a spiritual master just to make a fashionable show of spiritual life. One must be jijñāsu, very much inquisitive to learn from the bona fide spiritual master. The inquiries one makes should strictly pertain to transcendental science (jijñāsuḥ śreya uttamam). The word uttamam refers to that which is above material knowledge. Tama means “the darkness of this material world,” and ut means “transcendental.” Generally people are very interested in inquiring about mundane subject matters, but when one has lost such interest and is simply interested in transcendental subject matters, he is quite fit for being initiated. When one is actually initiated by the bona fide spiritual master and when he seriously engages in the service of the Lord, he should be accepted as a madhyama-adhikārī.

Kṛṣṇa pühade nimede kordamine on sedavõrd ülendav, et kui inimene kordab Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantrat solvanguteta – vältides hoolikalt kümne solvangu sooritamist – jõuab ta järkhaaval kindlasti tasandile, millel mõistab, et Jumala püha nime ja Jumala Enda vahel ei ole mitte mingit erinevust. Sellisele tasemele jõudnud pühendunu väärib algajate pühendunute sügavaimat lugupidamist. Pühendunu peab kindlalt teadma, et kordamata Jumala püha nime solvanguteta, ei ole Kṛṣṇa teadvuses arenemine võimalik. „Caitanya-caritāmṛtas" (Madhya 22.69) öeldakse:

The chanting of the holy names of Kṛṣṇa is so sublime that if one chants the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra offenselessly, carefully avoiding the ten offenses, he can certainly be gradually elevated to the point of understanding that there is no difference between the holy name of the Lord and the Lord Himself. One who has reached such an understanding should be very much respected by neophyte devotees. One should know for certain that without chanting the holy name of the Lord offenselessly, one cannot be a proper candidate for advancement in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. In Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Madhya 22.69) it is said:

yāhāra komala śraddhā, se ‘kaniṣṭha’ jana
krame krame teṅho bhakta ha-ibe ‘uttama’
yāhāra komala śraddhā, se ‘kaniṣṭha’ jana
krame krame teṅho bhakta ha-ibe ‘uttama’

„Seda, kelle usk on nõrk ja kergesti murtav, nimetatakse algajaks pühendunuks, kuid järgides Kṛṣṇa teadvuse protsessi, tõuseb ta aja jooksul esmaklassilise pühendunu tasemele." Kõik alustavad oma pühendumuslikku elu algaja positsioonist, ent kui pühendunu kordab korralikult ettekirjutatud arv ringe hari-nāmat, jõuab ta järk-järgult arenedes lõpuks kõrgeimale, uttama-adhikārī tasandile. Selles Kṛṣṇa teadvuse liikumises kohustame me oma õpilasi kordama iga päev kuusteist ringi, sest Lääneriikide inimesed ei suuda palvehelmestel mahā-mantrat korrates pikaajaliselt keskenduda. Seepärast ongi meie ettenähtud normiks miinimum arv ringe. Ometigi tavatses Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura öelda, et igaüht, kes ei korda päevas vähemalt kuuskümmend neli ringi japat (sada tuhat nime), tuleb pidada langenuks (patita). Tema hinnangu kohaselt oleme me kõik praktiliselt langenud, ent kuna me püüame teenida Kõigekõrgemat Jumalat kogu tõsidusega ja kahemõtteliste eesmärkideta, võime me loota Jumal Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu armulikkuse peale, sest Jumal Caitanya on tuntud kui patita-pāvana – langenute päästja.

“One whose faith is soft and pliable is called a neophyte, but by gradually following the process, he will rise to the platform of a first-class devotee.” Everyone begins his devotional life from the neophyte stage, but if one properly finishes chanting the prescribed number of rounds of hari-nāma, he is elevated step by step to the highest platform, uttama-adhikārī. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement prescribes sixteen rounds daily because people in the Western countries cannot concentrate for long periods while chanting on beads. Therefore the minimum number of rounds is prescribed. However, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura used to say that unless one chants at least sixty-four rounds of japa (one hundred thousand names), he is considered fallen (patita). According to his calculation, practically every one of us is fallen, but because we are trying to serve the Supreme Lord with all seriousness and without duplicity, we can expect the mercy of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who is famous as patita-pāvana, the deliverer of the fallen.

Kui Śrīla Satyarāja Khān, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu väljapaistev pühendunu küsis Jumalalt, kuidas vaiṣṇavat ära tunda, andis Jumal Caitanya vastuse:

When Śrīla Satyarāja Khān, a great devotee of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, asked the Lord how a Vaiṣṇava could be recognized, the Lord replied:

prabhu kahe, – “yāṅra mukhe śuni eka-bāra
kṛṣṇa-nāma, sei pūjya, – śreṣṭha sabākāra
prabhu kahe, – “yāṅra mukhe śuni eka-bāra
kṛṣṇa-nāma, sei pūjya, – śreṣṭha sabākāra

„Kui te kuulete kedagi kasvõi korra lausumas „Kṛṣṇa", tuleb teda otsekohe tunnistada parimaks tavaliste inimeste seas." (Cc. Madhya 15.106) Jumal Caitanya Mahāprabhu jätkas:

“If one hears a person say even once the word ‘Kṛṣṇa,’ that person should be accepted as the best man out of the common group.” (Cc. Madhya 15.106) Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued:

“ataeva yāṅra mukhe eka kṛṣṇa-nāma
sei ta ’vaiṣṇava, kariha tāṅhāra sammāna
“ataeva yāṅra mukhe eka kṛṣṇa-nāma
sei ta ’vaiṣṇava, kariha tāṅhāra sammāna

„Inimest, kes ilmutab huvi Kṛṣṇa püha nime kordamise vastu või kellele meeldib korrata Kṛṣṇa nimesid, tuleb pidada vaiṣṇavaks ning austada vähemalt mõistuses." (Cc. Madhya 15.111) Ühele meie sõpradest, kuulsale inglise muusikule, hakkas meeldima Kṛṣṇa pühade nimede kordamine ja isegi oma plaatidel mainib ta Kṛṣṇa püha nime korduvalt. Ta avaldab oma kodus lugupidamist Kṛṣṇa piltidele ja võtab austavalt vastu Kṛṣṇa teadvuse jutlustajaid. Ta on Kṛṣṇa nimest ja Tema tegevustest igas mõttes väga heal arvamusel ning nähes, kuidas see härrasmees järk- järgult Kṛṣṇa teadvuses edasi areneb, avaldame me talle täielikku lugupidamist. Sellisele inimesele tuleb alati lugupidamist avaldada. Järelikult peab vaiṣṇava austama igaühte, kes püüab Kṛṣṇa teadvuses edasi areneda, korrates regulaarselt püha nime. Teisest küljest oleme me olnud tunnistajaiks sellele, kuidas mitmed meie kaasaegsed, kes olid väidetavalt väljapaistvad jutlustajad, on tasahaaval langenud materiaalse elukäsitluse tasandile, kuna nad olid hooletud Jumala püha nime kordamise suhtes.

“One who is interested in chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa or who by practice likes to chant Kṛṣṇa’s names should be accepted as a Vaiṣṇava and offered respects as such, at least within one’s mind.” (Cc. Madhya 15.111) One of our friends, a famous English musician, has become attracted to chanting the holy names of Kṛṣṇa, and even in his records he has several times mentioned the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. At his home he offers respect to pictures of Kṛṣṇa and also to the preachers of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. In all regards, he has a very high estimation for Kṛṣṇa’s name and Kṛṣṇa’s activities; therefore we offer respects to him without reservation, for we are actually seeing that this gentleman is advancing gradually in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Such a person should always be shown respect. The conclusion is that anyone who is trying to advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness by regularly chanting the holy name should always be respected by Vaiṣṇavas. On the other hand, we have witnessed that some of our contemporaries who are supposed to be great preachers have gradually fallen into the material conception of life because they have failed to chant the holy name of the Lord.

Sanātana Gosvāmīle juhendusi andes jagas Jumal Caitanya pühendunud teenimise kolme kategooriasse.

While giving instructions to Sanātana Gosvāmī, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu divided devotional service into three categories.

śāstra-yukti nāhi jāne dṛḍha, śraddhāvān
‘madhyama-adhikārī’ sei mahā-bhāgyavān
śāstra-yukti nāhi jāne dṛḍha, śraddhāvān
‘madhyama-adhikārī’ sei mahā-bhāgyavān

„Inimest, kes ei ole vääramatu śāstrates antud teadmiste tundmises, kuid kes on arendanud endas välja tugeva usu Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra kordamisse ning kes samal ajal tegeleb kõigutamatult ettekirjutustega kooskõlas oleva pühendunud teenimisega, tuleb pidada madhyama- adhikārīks. Sellisele isiksusele on osaks langenud äärmiselt suur õnn." (Cc. Madhya 22.67) Madhyama-adhikārī on śraddhāvān, kõigutamatut usku omav inimene, kes omab kõiki eeldusi pühendunud teenimises edasi arenemiseks. Seepärast öeldakse „Caitanya-caritāmṛtas" (Madhya 22.64):

“A person whose conclusive knowledge of the śāstras is not very strong but who has developed firm faith in chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra and who is also undeterred in the execution of his prescribed devotional service should be considered a madhyama-adhikārī. Such a person is very fortunate.” (Cc. Madhya 22.67) A madhyama-adhikārī is a śraddhāvān, a staunchly faithful person, and he is actually a candidate for further advancement in devotional service. Therefore in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Madhya 22.64) it is said:

śraddhāvān jana haya bhakti-adhikārī
‘uttama’, ‘madhyama’, ‘kaniṣṭha’ – śraddhā-anusārī
śraddhāvān jana haya bhakti-adhikārī
‘uttama’, ‘madhyama’, ‘kaniṣṭha’ – śraddhā-anusārī

„Inimest tuleb pidada algajaks, edasijõudnud või kõrgeima tasandi saavutanud pühendunuks vastavalt sellele, kuivõrd tugevaks on kasvanud tema śraddhā [usk]." Veel ühes „Caitanya-caritāmṛta" värsis (Madhya 22.62) öeldakse:

“One becomes qualified as a devotee on the elementary platform, the intermediate platform and the highest platform of devotional service according to the development of his śraddhā [faith].” Again in Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Madhya 22.62) it is said:

‘śraddhā’-śabde – viśvāsa kahe sudṛḍha niścaya
kṛṣṇe bhakti kaile sarva-karma kṛta haya
‘śraddhā’-śabde – viśvāsa kahe sudṛḍha niścaya
kṛṣṇe bhakti kaile sarva-karma kṛta haya

„Tegeledes Kṛṣṇa transtsendentaalse teenimisega, täidab inimene ka kõiki teisejärgulisi kohustusi. Seda tugevat ja sügavat usku, mis soodustab pühendunud teenimise sooritamist, nimetatakse śraddhāks." Kṛṣṇa teadvus algabki śraddhāst, usust Kṛṣṇasse. Usu all peame me silmas tugevat usku. „Bhagavad-gītā" sõnad kujutavad endast autoriteetseid juhendusi usku omavatele inimestele ja kõik Kṛṣṇa poolt „Bhagavad-gītās" kõneldav tuleb vastu võtta otseselt, ilma tõlgitsusteta. Just sedasi võttis „Bhagavad-gītāt" vastu Arjuna. Pärast „Bhagavad-gītā" ärakuulamist, ütles ta Kṛṣṇale: sarvam etad ṛtaṁ manye yan māṁ vadasi keśava. „Oo, Kṛṣṇa, ma tunnistan kõike, mida Sa oled mulle öelnud, kui täielikku tõde." (Bg. 10.14)

“‘By rendering transcendental service to Kṛṣṇa, one automatically performs all subsidiary activities.’ This confident, firm faith, favorable to the discharge of devotional service, is called śraddhā.” Śraddhā, faith in Kṛṣṇa, is the beginning of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Faith means strong faith. The words of Bhagavad-gītā are authoritative instructions for faithful men, and whatever Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā is to be accepted as it is, without interpretation. This was the way Arjuna accepted Bhagavad-gītā. After hearing Bhagavad-gītā, Arjuna told Kṛṣṇa: sarvam etad ṛtaṁ manye yan māṁ vadasi keśava. “O Kṛṣṇa, I totally accept as truth all that You have told me.” (Bg. 10.14)

Selline on tee „Bhagavad-gītā" õigele mõistmisele ja seda nimetatakse śraddhāks. Keelatud on vastu võtta üksnes mõnd „Bhagavad-gītā" osa, tõlgitsedes seda isiklikest huvidest lähtudes, ja heita ülejäänud osad kõrvale. See ei ole śraddhā. Śraddhā tähendab kõikide „Bhagavad-gītā" juhenduste vastuvõtmist. Eriti tähtis on seejuures „Bhagavad-gītā" viimane juhendus: sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja. „Hülga kõik religioonid ning alistu Minule." (Bg. 18.66) Kui inimene peab täpselt kinni sellest juhendusest, saab tema tugev usk aluseks tema arengule vaimses elus.

This is the correct way of understanding Bhagavad-gītā, and this is called śraddhā. It is not that one accepts a portion of Bhagavad-gītā according to his own whimsical interpretations and then rejects another portion. This is not śraddhā. Śraddhā means accepting the instructions of Bhagavad-gītā in their totality, especially the last instruction: sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja. “Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me.” (Bg. 18.66) When one becomes completely faithful in regard to this instruction, one’s strong faith becomes the basis for advancing in spiritual life.

Kui inimene pühendab end täielikult Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra kordamisele, teadvustab ta järk-järgult oma vaimset olemust. Sevonmukhe hi jihvādau svayam eva sphuraty adaḥ („Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu" 1.2.234) – Kṛṣṇa avab End üksnes inimesele, kes kordab järjekindlalt Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantrat. Jumala Kõrgeimat Isiksust pole võimalik teadvustada kunstlike meetoditega. Me peame Jumalat järjekindlalt teenima. Jumala teenimine algab keelest (sevonmukhe hi jihvādau), mis tähendab, et me peame alati kordama Jumala pühasid nimesid ja sööma kṛṣṇa-prasādamit. Me ei tohiks korrata või süüa midagi muud. Kui seda protsessi järjekindlalt järgida, avab Jumal End pühendunule.

When one fully engages in chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, he gradually realizes his own spiritual identity. Unless one faithfully chants the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, Kṛṣṇa does not reveal Himself: sevonmukhe hi jihvādau svayam eva sphuraty adaḥ. (BRS. 1.2.234) We cannot realize the Supreme Personality of Godhead by any artificial means. We must engage faithfully in the service of the Lord. Such service begins with the tongue (sevonmukhe hi jihvādau), which means that we should always chant the holy names of the Lord and accept kṛṣṇa-prasāda. We should not chant or accept anything else. When this process is faithfully followed, the Supreme Lord reveals Himself to the devotee.

Kui inimene teadvustab, et ta on Kṛṣṇa igavene teener, kaotab ta huvi kõige muu vastu peale Kṛṣṇa teenimise. Mõeldes alati Kṛṣṇast ja otsides võimalusi Kṛṣṇa nime levitamiseks, mõistab ta, et tema ainsaks ülesandeks on levitada Kṛṣṇa teadvuse liikumist üle kogu maailma. Sellist inimest tuleb pidada uttama-adhikārīks ning võimalus temaga suhelda tuleb otsekohe vastu võtta vastavalt kuuele protsessile (dadāti pratigṛhṇāti jne). Selline edasijõudnud uttama-adhikārī vaiṣṇavast pühendunu on tõepoolest isiksus, keda tunnistada oma vaimse õpetajana. Tema käsutusse peab inimene andma kõik, mis tal on, sest pühakirjades kinnitatakse, et kõik, mida me omame, tuleb anda vaimsele õpetajale. Eriti oluline on see brahmacārī jaoks, kes peab käima teistelt inimestelt almuseid korjamas, et need seejärel oma vaimsele õpetajale tuua. Samas ei tohiks mitte keegi, kes ei ole veel oma vaimset olemust teadvustanud, edasijõudnud pühendunu ehk mahā-bhāgavata käitumist jäljendada, sest taolise jäljendamise tagajärjeks on lõppkokkuvõttes langemine.

When a person realizes himself to be an eternal servitor of Kṛṣṇa, he loses interest in everything but Kṛṣṇa’s service. Always thinking of Kṛṣṇa, devising means by which to spread the holy name of Kṛṣṇa, he understands that his only business is in spreading the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement all over the world. Such a person is to be recognized as an uttama-adhikārī, and his association should be immediately accepted according to the six processes (dadāti pratigṛhṇāti, etc.). Indeed, the advanced uttama-adhikārī Vaiṣṇava devotee should be accepted as a spiritual master. Everything one possesses should be offered to him, for it is enjoined that one should deliver whatever he has to the spiritual master. The brahmacārī in particular is supposed to beg alms from others and offer them to the spiritual master. However, one should not imitate the behavior of an advanced devotee or mahā-bhāgavata without being self-realized, for by such imitation one will eventually become degraded.

Antud värsis annab Rūpa Gosvāmī pühendunutele soovituse omada piisavalt arukust eristamaks üksteisest kaniṣṭha-adhikārīt, madhyama- adhikārīt ja uttama-adhikārīt. Pühendunu peab samuti olema teadlik iseenda positsioonist ja mitte püüdma jäljendada pühendunut, kes asub temast kõrgemal tasandil. Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura andis praktilise juhenduse, kuidas uttama-adhikārī vaiṣṇavat ära tunda, öeldes, et selline pühendunu paistab silma võime poolest teha paljudest langenud hingedest vaiṣṇavad. See, kes ei ole saavutanud uttama-adhikārī tasandit, ei tohiks astuda vaimse õpetaja positsiooni. Ka algaja või keskmisel arenguastmel asuv vaiṣṇava võib vastu võtta õpilasi, kuid viimased peavad asuma temaga samal tasandil ja seejuures ei ole õpilastel võimalik tema puuduliku juhendamise abil elu lõpliku eesmärgi poole väga kiiresti liikuda. Seepärast peab õpilane hoolikalt valima oma vaimseks õpetajaks just uttama-adhikārī tasandil asuva pühendunu.

In this verse Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī advises the devotee to be intelligent enough to distinguish between the kaniṣṭha-adhikārī, madhyama-adhikārī and uttama-adhikārī. The devotee should also know his own position and should not try to imitate a devotee situated on a higher platform. Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura has given some practical hints to the effect that an uttama-adhikārī Vaiṣṇava can be recognized by his ability to convert many fallen souls to Vaiṣṇavism. One should not become a spiritual master unless he has attained the platform of uttama-adhikārī. A neophyte Vaiṣṇava or a Vaiṣṇava situated on the intermediate platform can also accept disciples, but such disciples must be on the same platform, and it should be understood that they cannot advance very well toward the ultimate goal of life under his insufficient guidance. Therefore a disciple should be careful to accept an uttama-adhikārī as a spiritual master.