Līlānātha dāsa: Yesterday I was reading a book by Śrīla Gaura Govinda Mahārāja, which stated that guru is nitya-siddha (an eternally perfect associate of the Lord).
My question is this: How does a guru who is not a nitya-siddha, meaning that he was not naturally inclined from birth to serve Śrī Gaurāṅga and Nityānanda, compare with a guru who is nitya-siddha?
Vrajanātha dāsa: Prabhu is saying that there are spiritual masters who have been practicing Kṛṣṇa consciousness since birth, without any inclination towards anything other than kṛṣṇa-bhajana. And there are others, who were born in Western countries and who were addicted since birth to eating meat and engaging in other sinful activities. What is their position as gurus?
Śrīla Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja: The nitya-siddha guru comes from the transcendental world, and therefore he cannot help us unless he plays the role of a madhyama-adhikārī. The madhyama-adhikārī Vaiṣṇava can help us:
īśvare tad-adhīneṣu
bāliśeṣu dviṣatsu ca
prema-maitrī-kṛpopekṣā
yaḥ karoti sa madhyamaḥ
(Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.2.46)
An intermediate or second-class devotee, called madhyama-adhikārī, offers his love to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is a sincere friend to all the devotees of the Lord, shows mercy to ignorant people who are innocent, and disregards those who are envious of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Madhyama-adhikārīs know how to differentiate between all types of persons. They understand everyone’s qualification and disqualification.
On the other hand nitya-siddhas, having come from the transcendental world, cannot know who is happy and who is suffering. Rather, with their topmost vision, they consider that everyone is already serving Kṛṣṇa.
Śrīpāda Mādhava Mahārāja: What about Śrī Nārada Ṛṣi and Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī?
Śrīla Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja: Nārada Ṛṣi is nitya-siddha, but he came to this world in the role of a madhyama-adhikārī, and in that way he initiated many disciples. Devotees like Śukadeva Gosvāmī, Nārada Ṛṣi, and Vyāsadeva are very rare.
Walking with a Saint – Morning Walks and Conversations 2008
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