Volume 7 - Prabhupada

334 Sri Caitanya-caritamrta [Madhya-lila, Ch. 19the sravaf)a-kirtana process without worshiping the Deity, but the execution ofsravaf)a-kirtana is meant for highly developed devotees like Haridasa Thakura,who engaged in the sravaf)a-kirtana process without worshiping the Deity.However, one should not falsely imitate Haridasa Thakura and abandon Deityworship just to try to engage in sravaQa-kirtana. This is not possible for neophytedevotees.The word guru-prasada indicates that the spiritual master is very merciful inbestowing the boon of devotional service upon the disciple. That is the bestpossible gift the spiritual master has to offer. Those with a background of pious lifeare eligible to receive life's supreme benefit, and to bestow this benefit, theSupreme Personality of Godhead sends His representative to impart His mercy.Endowed with the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the spiritualmaster distributes the mercy to those who are elevated and pious. Thus thespiritual master trains his disciples to render devotional service unto the SupremePersonality of Godhead. This is called guru-krpa. It is kr?Qa-prasada, Kra's mercy,that He sends a bona fide spiritual master to the deserving disciple. By the mercyof Kra, one meets the bona fide spiritual master, and by the mercy of thespiritual master, the disciple is fully trained in the devotional service of the Lord.Bhakti-lata-bija means "the seed of devotional service." Everything has anoriginal cause, or seed. For any idea, program, plan or device, there is first of all thecontemplation of the plan, and that is called bija, or the seed. The methods, rulesand regulations by which one is perfectly trained in devotional service constitutethe bhakti-lata-bija, or seed of devotional service. This bhakti-lata-bija is receivedfrom the spiritual master by the grace of Kra. Other seeds are called anyabhila?a-bija,karma-bija and jfiana-bija. If one is not fortunate enough to receivethe bhakti-lata-bija from the spiritual master, he instead cultivates the seeds ofkarma-bija, jfiana-bija, or political and social or philanthropic bija. However, bhakti-lata-bijais different from these other bijas. Bhakti-lata-bija can be received onlythrough the mercy of the spiritual master. Therefore one has to satisfy the spiritualmaster to get bhakti-lata-bija (yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasada/:1). Bhakti-latabijais the origin of devotional service. Unless one satisfies the spiritual master, hegets the bija, or root cause, of karma, jfiana and yoga without the benefit of devotionalservice. However, one who is faithful to his spiritual master gets the bhaktilata-bija.This bhakti-lata-bija is received when one is initiated by the bona fidespiritual master. After receiving the spiritual master's mercy, one must repeat hisinstructions, and this is called sravaQa-kirtana -hearing and chanting. One whohas not properly heard from the spiritual master or who does not follow theregulative principles is not fit for chanting (kirtana). This is explained in Bhagavadgita(2.41): vyavasayatmika buddhir ekeha kuru-nandana. One who has notlistened carefully to the instructions of the spiritual master is unfit to chant orpreach the cult of devotional service. One has to water the bhakti-lata-bija afterreceiving instructions from the spiritual master.