FRIENDS OF LORD KRISHNA

FOLK 2

Importance of Disciplic Succession

LESSON NOTES

1. Definition of Disciplic Succession

1.1. The principle is that Vaiñëava teachings should be passed on, unchanged, from guru to
disciple and the Vedic truth reaches the student by the descending process from the
Vedas and through the guru. This chain of transmission is called guru-paramparä,
the disciplic succession. The most prominent devotees in this lineage are accepted as
äcäryas: those who teach by example, who carry the line forward.
1.2. In order for a spiritual master to be bona fide, he must be in disciplic succession: his
line of authority must come from Lord Kåñëa. Sometimes pseudo spiritual masters
create a line of philosophy after envisioning or dreaming or imagining that they have
been empowered by God or that they are God. But this is never accepted by the true
followers of the Vaiñëava tradition.
1.3. All transcendental messages are received properly in the chain of disciplic succession.
This disciplic succession is called paramparä. Unless therefore Bhägavatam or any
other Vedic literatures are received through the paramparä system, the reception of
knowledge is not bonafide.
(Purport, Çrémad-Bhägavatam 1.3.42)

2. Quotes of Çréla Prabhupäda

2.1. Understanding Kåñëa is Easy

Kåñëa is absolute, and there is no difference between Kåñëa's name, Kåñëa's form,
Kåñëa's qualities, Kåñëa's pastimes, etc. This absolute position of Kåñëa is difficult to
understand for any person who is not a devotee of Kåñëa in the system of paramparä
(disciplic succession).
(Preface, Bhagavad-gétä)
Vedic knowledge is not a question of research. Our research work is imperfect
because we are researching things with imperfect senses. We have to accept perfect
knowledge which comes down, as is stated in Bhagavad-gétä, by the paramparä
(disciplic succession). We have to receive knowledge from the proper source in
disciplic succession beginning with the supreme spiritual master, the Lord Himself, and
handed down to a succession of spiritual masters.
(Introduction, Bhagavad-gétä)

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 The path of spiritual realization is undoubtedly difficult. The Lord therefore advises us
to approach a bona fide spiritual master in the line of disciplic succession from the
Lord Himself. No one can be a bona fide spiritual master without following this
principle of disciplic succession. The Lord is the original spiritual master, and a person
in the disciplic succession can convey the message of the Lord as it is to his disciple.
(Purport, Bhagavad-gétä 4.34)
2.2. The Four Sampradäyas
We have to accept Kåñëa through the disciplic succession. There are four
sampradäyas, disciplic successions. One comes from Lord Brahmä (the Brahma-
sampradäya), and another comes from Lakñmé, the goddess of fortune (the Çré-
sampradäya). There are also the Kumära-sampradäya and the Rudra-sampradäya. At
the present moment, the Brahma-sampradäya is represented by the Madhva-
sampradäya, and we belong to the Madhva-Gauòéya-sampradäya. Our original
sampradäya stems from Madhväcärya. In that sampradäya there was Mädhavendra
Puré, and Mädhavendra Puré's disciple was Çré Éçvara Puré. Çré Éçvara Puré's disciple was
Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu. Thus we are coming in the disciplic succession from Çré
Caitanya Mahäprabhu, and therefore our sampradäya is called the Madhva-Gauòéya-
sampradäya. It is not that we have manufactured a sampradäya; rather, our
sampradäya stems from Lord Brahmä.
(Chapter 14, Bhakti as Ultimate Liberation, Teachings of Lord Kapila, the son of
Devahüti)

sampradäya-vihénä ye manträs te nisphaläù mataù

çré-brahma-rudra-sanaka vaiñëaväù kñiti-pävanäù
catvaras te kalau bhävya hy utkale puruñottama
rämänujam-çréù-svicakre madhväcäryam-caturmuhañ
çré viñëusvämino-rudro nimbädityam catuhsanaù
There are four Vaiñëava sampradäyas (systems) of disciplic succession. One
sampradäya comes from Lord Brahmä, one from the goddess of fortune (Lakñmé), one
from the Kumäras, headed by Sanat-kumära, and one from Lord Çiva. These four
systems of disciplic succession are still going on. One who is serious about receiving
transcendental Vedic knowledge must accept a guru, or spiritual master, in one of
these four disciplic successions. It is said that unless one accepts a mantra from one of
these sampradäyas, the so-called mantra will not act in Kali-yuga. Many sampradäyas
have sprung up without authority, and they are misleading the people by giving
unauthorized mantras. The rascals of these so-called sampradäyas do not observe the
Vedic rules and regulations. Although they are addicted to all kinds of sinful activities,
they still offer the people mantras and thus mislead them. Intelligent persons, however,
know that such mantras will never be successful, and as such they never patronize
such upstart spiritual groups. People should be very careful of these nonsensical
sampradäyas. To get some facility for sense gratification, unfortunate people in this
age receive mantras from these so-called sampradäyas. Therefore one should receive
knowledge from a bona fide sampradäya.

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 2.3. Long Gap Between Vyäsadeva and Madhväcärya
Regarding paramparä system: there is nothing to wonder for big gaps. Just like we
belong to the Brahmä Sampradäya, so we accept it from Kåñëa to Brahmä, Brahmä to
Närada, Närada to Vyäsadeva, Vyäsadeva to Madhvä, and between Vyäsadeva and
Madhvä there is a big gap. But it is sometimes said that Vyäsadeva is still living, and
Madhvä was fortunate enough to meet him directly. In a similar way, we find in the
Bhagavad-gétä that the Gétä was taught to the sun-god, some millions of years ago,
but Kåñëa has mentioned only three names in this paramparä system—namely,
Vivasvän, Manu, and Ikñväku; and so these gaps do not hamper from understanding
the paramparä system. We have to pick up the prominent äcäryas, and follow from
him. There are many branches also from the paramparä system, and it is not possible
to record all the branches and sub-branches in the disciplic succession. We have to
pick up from the authority of the äcärya in whatever sampradäya we belong to.
(Letter to Dayänanda, 12th April, 1968, San Francisco)
2.4. Arjuna in Disciplic Succession
Disciplic succession does not always mean that one has to be initiated officially.
Disciplic succession means to accept the disciplic conclusion. Arjuna was a disciple of
Kåñëa and Brahmä was also a disciple of Kåñëa. Thus there is no disagreement between
the conclusions of Brahmä and Arjuna. Vyäsadeva is in the disciplic succession of
Brahma. Vyäsadeva verbatim recorded the teachings to Arjuna. So according to the
axiomatic truth, things equal to one another are equal to each other. We are not
exactly directly from Vyäsadeva, but our Gurudeva is a representative of Vyäsadeva.
Because Vyäsadeva and Arjuna are of equal status, being students of Kåñëa, therefore
we are in the disciplic succession of Arjuna. Things equal to the same thing are equal
to one another.
(Letter to Dinesh, 31st October, 1969, Tittenhurst)

3. Importance of Bonafide Disciplic Succession

3.1. The system of receiving Vedic knowledge is called avaroha-panthä, or the process
of receiving transcendental knowledge through bonafide disciplic succession. Any
knowledge, even material knowledge, if it is not received in bona fide disciplic
succession, that knowledge is not perfect.
3.2. Suppose if you want to be a lawyer, or if you want to be an engineer, or a medical
practitioner. You have to receive the knowledge from the authoritative lawyer,
authoritative engineer. Of course, I do not know what is the custom here. In India the
custom is that a new lawyer, he has to become an apprentice of an experienced
lawyer before he is given the license to practice. That is the Indian system. So any
knowledge, unless we receive it through the authoritative sources, it is not perfect. It is
not perfect.
There are two kinds of processes of acquiring knowledge. One process is
deductive, and the other process is inductive. Those who are student of logic, you
know that there are two processes: deductive knowledge and inductive knowledge.
Deductive knowledge is considered to be more perfect. And what is that? Just like
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 “Man is mortal.” This is a truth, accepted. How man is mortal, nobody's going to
enter into discussion. It is accepted that man is mortal. Now, Mr. Johnson is a man. So
he is mortal. This is the deductive conclusion. Because man is mortal and Johnson is a
man, therefore he's mortal. This is the process of deductive knowledge. Now, how
this man is mortal, this truth established? The other party, those who are inductive,
follower of inductive process, they want to see actually by experiment and
observation how man is mortal. They want to study, “This man dies. That man dies.
That man dies. That man dies.” Therefore they make a general conclusion, “Well, all
men are mortal.”
Now, in the inductive process you have got some defects. What is that? Now, your
experience is limited. Suppose if you have not seen a man who is not mortal, who is
not mortal. There may be. Because you are going on with your personal experience,
but your personal experience is always imperfect. That I have already discussed.
Because we have got our senses with limited power. And there are so many defects in
our conditioned stage. Therefore inductive process is not always perfect. The
deductive process, from the authority, the knowledge received, is always perfect. So
Vedic process is deductive process. Vedic process is deductive process.
(Lecture, Bhagavad-gétä 4.3 – 6, 18th July, 1966, New York)
3.3. A disciple in a bonafide disciplic succession receives from his guru not a sermon of
philosophical speculation but a potent recitation of standard knowledge, not different
from the Lord’s original instruction to His first disciple.

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4. Brahma-Madhva-Gauòéya-sampradäya

Brahmä is the direct recipient of Vedic knowledge from the Personality of Godhead,
and anyone discharging his entrusted duties in disciplic succession from Brahmä is sure
to gain fame in this life and salvation in the next. The disciplic succession from Brahmä
is called the Brahma-sampradäya, and it descends as follows:

1. Kåñëa
2. Brahmä
3. Närada
4. Vyäsa
5. Madhva
6. Padmanäbha
7. Nåhari
8. Mädhava
9. Akñobhya
10. Jaya Tértha
11. Jïänasindhu
12. Dayänidhi
13. Vidyänidhi
14. Räjendra
15. Jayadharma
16. Puruñottama
17. Brahmaëya Tértha
18. Vyäsa Tértha
19. Lakñmépati
20. Mädhavendra Puré
21. Éçvara Puré, (Nityänanda, Advaita)
22. Lord Caitanya
23. Rüpa, (Svarüpa, Sanätana)
24. Raghunätha, Jéva
25. Kåñëadäsa
26. Narottama
27. Viçvanätha
28. (Baladeva) Jagannätha
29. Bhaktivinoda
30. Gaurakiçora
31. Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté
32. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda
(Purport, Çrémad-Bhägavatam 3.13)

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 We belong to Madhväcärya. Our Gauòéya-sampradäya, Caitanya Mahäprabhu's
sampradäya, they belong to the Madhväcärya disciplic succession. Lord Caitanya's
spiritual master was Éçvara Puré, and he was disciple of Mädhavendra Puré, and this
Mädhavendra Puré was in the disciplic succession of Madhväcärya. Therefore we are in
the disciplic succession of Madhväcärya. And this Madhväcärya-sampradäya is coming
from Brahmä. Therefore this sampradäya, disciplic succession, is known as Brahma-
Madhva-Gauòéya-sampradäya.
(General Lecture, date & location unknown)
All the great saints and sages in our line of disciplic succession, the Brahma-Mädhva-
Gauòéya Sampradäya, beginning with Çré Kåñëa and including Brahmä, Närada, Vyäsa,
Lord Caitanya, Çréla Narottama Däsa Öhäkur, Çréla Bhaktivinode, Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta
Sarasvaté Gosvämé Mahäräja Prabhupäda, and finally His Divine Grace A.C.
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, have personally realized and taught Kåñëa
consciousness. If the result of a process is good, then the process itself must be good.
These great saints and äcäryas are unmatched in spiritual realization so the process of
God realization first spoken by Kåñëa and passed on through the disciplic succession is
also matchless.

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