Fully Aware of Krsna - The Qualification of a Guru
The qualification to lead others in spiritual life is not based on academic degrees or social standing, but on one's awareness of Kṛṣṇa. Śrīla Prabhupāda consistently states that anyone who knows the science of Kṛṣṇa—His form, His mission, and His instructions—is a bona fide spiritual master. This deep, realized awareness allows a devotee to represent the Supreme Lord perfectly and guide others out of the darkness of material existence.
The Definition of a Guru
Who is a guru? Śrīla Prabhupāda simplifies this complex question: a guru is one who speaks on behalf of Kṛṣṇa and is fully aware of Him. Whether one is a brāhmaṇa, a sannyāsī, or a householder like Prahlāda Mahārāja, the essential criterion is their knowledge of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Without this awareness, no one can claim to represent the Lord.
- Anyone completely aware of the science of Krsna, regardless of his status in life, is a guru. Thus Prahlada Maharaja is a guru in all circumstances.
- One who represents someone else must fully know that person's mission. The devotees in the Krsna consciousness movement must therefore be fully aware of the mission of Krsna and Lord Caitanya; otherwise they will be considered foolish.
- One who speaks on behalf of Krsna, he is guru. That is guru. This is the test: whether he is aware of Krsna. Then he is guru. Otherwise he's not guru.
- Unless one is fully aware of Krsna, one cannot become spiritual master. The subject matter itself is difficult. Therefore you don't find many spiritual masters.
The Method of Awareness
Becoming aware of Kṛṣṇa is not achieved by mental speculation. It requires a practical process: bhakti-yoga. Śrīla Prabhupāda recommends chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra and studying the Vedic literatures like Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and the teachings to Sanātana Gosvāmī. Through these activities, the devotee's consciousness is purified, and the reality of Kṛṣṇa is revealed.
- If you take to the process of this krsna-yoga, or bhakti-yoga, then you can become aware of Krsna very easily.
- One should either chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra or read Srimad-Bhagavatam and thereby try to understand the characteristics and instructions of the Supreme Lord, in this way one can become fully aware of the transcendental nature of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- By reading these instructions to Sanatana Gosvami, one will become fully aware of Lord Krsna's various expansions and the process of devotional service according to the regulative principles and spontaneous love. Thus everything can be fully known.
- Those who are actually engaged in the service of the Lord, he can get instruction from Krsna. Tato mam tattvato jnatva. And when he gets instruction fully, and he is fully aware of Krsna, visate tad anantaram, then merging question comes.
Transcendent Perception
When one is aware of Kṛṣṇa, they see Him everywhere. The advanced devotee perceives the Lord's presence in the Deity, in the Bhagavad-gītā, and even in natural phenomena like sunshine and water. This clears away the confusion caused by false incarnations who display cheap magic. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that people accept imposters simply because they are unaware of Kṛṣṇa's true opulence.
- The stage of awareness of Krsna can be attained when one is advanced in Krsna consciousness. Then one can understand that Krsna is present in the Deity, in Bhagavad-gita, in the taste of water, in the sunshine, in the moonshine and in all sound.
- Sai Baba. He is showing little yogic aisvarya. But people are, because they do not know, they are not aware of Krsna, they are taking him as God. You see?
- The less intelligent men, who are unaware of His (Krsna's) transcendental form, describe Him as impersonal Brahman. But Brahman is simply the rays of His transcendental body.
- Srimati Kuntidevi was quite aware that Krsna is the original Personality of Godhead, although He was playing the part of her nephew.
Perfection of Human Life
The ultimate benefit of being aware of Kṛṣṇa is liberation from the cycle of birth and death. Śrīla Prabhupāda affirms that Kṛṣṇa consciousness is the "excellent medicine" that cures our attachment to the material world. One who leaves their body while fully aware of Kṛṣṇa returns home, back to Godhead.
- All the recommended activities for spiritual realization end in Krsna consciousness, in thinking always of Krsna. The actual perfection of human life lies, being always Krsna conscious and always being aware of Krsna while performing all types of activities.
- Krsna consciousness is an excellent medicine. Unless one comes to awareness of Krsna, the habits he forms in association with the three modes of material nature will continue, and he will not be able to change them.
- We have to give up this body, any circumstances. That's a fact. Then such person who has become fully aware of Krsna, tyaktva deham, giving up this body, tyaktva deham punar janma naiti (Bhagavad-Gita 4.9), he does not take any more birth with another material body.
- When the members of a temple go into the streets, they do not do so for their own sake but to distribute Krsna conscious literatures in order to make people aware of Krsna's presence.
Conclusion
Awareness of Kṛṣṇa is the defining feature of a successful life. Whether one desires to become a guru, a pure devotee, or simply free from suffering, the path is the same: one must become fully aware of the Supreme Lord. By distributing this awareness to others, the devotees of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement perform the highest welfare work for humanity.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Aware of Krsna. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.