Sri Guru comes in many forms , we should note Prabhupada says in the Caitanya Caratamrita , Diksa Siksa no difference . Sometimes the Diksa is also the Siksa , meaning they can take a particular disciple where they are qualified to go , but generally in Gaudia Vaisnava history a Siksa Guru completes the task ..What is the task , from beginning to end ? It’s clearly laid out by Srila Rupa Goswami beginning with faith , association to hearing , chanting.

These stages are:
1. Shraddha — faith
2. Sadhu-sanga — association with devotees
3. Bhajana-kriya — trying to seriously take up the process of devotional service
4. Anartha-nivrtti — becoming free of all unwanted things
5. Nistha — steadiness in Krishna consciousness
6. Ruchi — a deep taste for Krishna consciousness
7. Asakti — attachment for Krishna
8. Bhava — ecstasy, the first rays of the sun of love for Krishna
9. Prema — pure love for Krishna

Included in the spiritual calculations in terms of further  advancements are .

Deep smaranam,  ( slight seeking )

Dharana ( holding Radha Krishna forms and lila in the mind )

Dhyana ( deeper meditations and details of lilas and aspirations of services)

Dhruvanasmrti (uninterrupted recollection and inner services)

These proccess bringing stages of Bhava and in some cases prema .

Further description are given on the deeper inner esoteric levels

Sneha , mana , pranaya , Raga, anuraga . Means , Lit heart,  familiarity of sulking , oneness of emotions , trancendental criticism and blame , newer and newer feelings of attraction.

So the point being , as to why there are Diksa and Siksa Gurus because there are many aspects to complete pure Krishna consciousness , obviously there is a vast range of spiritual consciousness developments,  and Krishna makes arrangements for the devotees as they qualify themselves,  and Sri Guru in their many forms will automatically appear , if you really want Krishna, He appears as specific Gurus.

No question of your Guru my Guru male Guru female Guru,  Guru is one , the external representative of Krishna and and also an intimate servant of Srimati Radharani in one way or another , some of the cowherd boys are also serving indirectly Srimati Radharani.

We should know of course the following verse applies,  there is no sentimentality involved but rather realised knowledge and application of Sastra.

tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta
jijñāsuḥ śreya uttamam
śābde pare ca niṣṇātaṁ
brahmaṇy upaśamāśrayam

Translation

Therefore, any person who seriously desires real happiness must seek a bona fide spiritual master and take shelter of him by initiation. The qualification of the bona fide guru is that he has realized the conclusions of the scriptures by deliberation and is able to convince others of these conclusions. Such great personalities, who have taken shelter of the Supreme Godhead, leaving aside all material considerations, should be understood to be bona fide spiritual masters.

More ..

How should institutions deal with a service of being Guru..
The best policy is to explain clearly and decisively what Gaudia Vaisnava Guru tattva is and leave it to individuals .
I think the reason for appointments in ISKCON are twofold
That many Gurus have appointed successors in traditional Vedic settings , but that was in the cases of a small localised villages and geographical areas .
I think when Prabhupada left the GBC thought it wise to protect devotees, because any Tom dick or Harry or even Gladys could have declared themselves Guru , it could have seriously broken ISKCON, but they went too extreme and became political and mundane in their calculations.
Srila BR Sridha Swami told them to ease off and allow a more educated spirit to develop and if a person found attraction spiritually in another person and they were somewhat qualified to allow more Gurus …Unfortunately the GBC at that time made BR Sridhar Swami their enemy for saying those things .
But eventually, through his advice through many discussions, the Guru reform movement came about .
Things are moving in the right direction, but more work needed , no need to legislate anymore , rather educate .about Diksa Siksa tattva ….let individuals make their own decisions, but if someone is a sentimentalist or does not know tattva , ISKCON could not really approve them as Guru .so some systems are needed for a large institutional spiritual organisations , and careful consideration is needed. No rubber stamping , but a general protection against clearly unqualified persons who are unable to understand the meanings of Sri Guru ..
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The trancendental humours of loving exchanges of open pure spiritual hearts that have their exclusive focus on Divinity and His family and friends is a goal set by all bone fide theological cultures , and systematic goals are given in progressive steps for that goal to be achieved. “Don’t be an owl like person keeping yourself in in the dark ” says Srila Gour Govinda Swami.
The Western libertines pervert the idea of freedom and so called” love ” , their freedoms are based on sensual self centred sense gratification and is soley focused on the material body , and a selfish consciousness of I , me and mine , in complete ignorance of the need to culture and refine the inner consciousness and centre it on the super subjective plane of the trancendental realm ….

The space time continuum that Einstein speaks of can be thought of in Vedic terms, in the sense that your past , present and future are interlinked and active within the responsive universe, the subtle energies are at play along with future arrangements for atoms ,elements and compounds , along with the specific parents the living being will take birth in . The living beings shares in not only the Dna of the parents but also a portion of their subtle energies, ie the way their minds and intelligence functions, although the living beings also carry from previous lives a portion of the last mental and intellectual state .
Einstein was wrong to suggest we can wind ourselves into the past or future , we can only exist in the present , but with connections to the past and the future coming .
The trancendental activities of Krishna, however, are eternal. Thus, the pure devotees can join them and experience them in full at any time . Krishna’s activities are not subjected to a past , present, or future . What Krishna did 5000 years ago are not in the past , by pure meditation, one can join any of the pastimes and experience and be part of them .Why should a spiritual superior energy have the same restrictions and limitations of the atomic realms and dream like mental energies.
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Much more on this soon
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Progressive steps and the bone fide paths .

The Srimad Bhagavatam reinforces the importance of recognizing bone fide theological texts from all religious cultures that  distinguish reality from illusion for the welfare of all beings . This recognition is based on the need for spiritual and philisophical consciousness development and not on the unnecessary extravagance of satisfying an unbridled mind and senses promoted by those atheistic speculators who teach scientific materialism and Darwinian hypothesis as fact based sciences. Every theological text places an  emphasis on a regulated and disciplined life , humans are not supposed to be sophisticated animals, and ultra liberalism is condemned . Unbridled senses lead to greater anxiety and entanglements , and so the Vedas  recognize  every theological text that pursues and teaches these types of controls and regulations  . This type of guidance and their methods are explained in the Vedas as  karma yoga , jnana yoga , and astanga yoga . In other words, consciousness development through  1, good works linked to recognised pious activities , 2 . Seeking knowledge through science and understanding of mind , matter and consciousness , and  3 , deep inward  religious or spiritual meditations  on God . The Bhagavatam seeks to link these processes to Bhakti or direct  devotion to Divinity . These systematic processes, when followed properly, bring  progressive  forward steps that  benefit the individual, and pure knowledge of dualism is revived, leading to knowledge and love of God . These truths of the Bhagavatam are specifically taught by Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu, whose hidden appearance is predicted in the 11th canto of the Bhagavatam as the incarnation for  this age . He taught that one should study the Bhagavatam following its  prescribed methods and chant the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra , or the names of God , which can quickly bestow all the truths of the Vedas upon  persons who can chant without offence  to others and in great humility . It is said in many theological texts sound can bind one or liberate one , if one speaks in anger and envy one is bound in ignorance , if one speaks in peace and knowledge and compassion one can become liberated . In this way, there are incalculable  benefits when one vibrates  trancendental sound vibrations and they have effects on the inner workings of consciousness . When one has become purified by trancendental sound , one’s  community , one’s society , one’s country , and ultimately the universal order and its originator Divinity Himself are all  immensely pleased . By such purified actions of speaking truth and vibrating Gods names in sacrifice with the aim of serving Gods interests , and by  studying and hearing the trancendental sounds of the  Srimad Bhagavatam life becomes perfected . HIGHLIGHTED IN 1.1.2 THE CULTURE OF PURE DEVTION AS OPPOSED TO MIXED MOTIVATED OR CHEATING DECEITFUL SO CALLED DEVOTION .  RSABDEVA TAUGHT NOT TO BECOME TEACHER. PARENT HUSBAND FATHER , UNLESS YOU CAN DELIVER DEPENDENTS BACK TO GÒDHEAD.

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Beyond Dualities to the absolute realm .

Curious it is that the word libertine has a relative and an absolute meaning.
In the absolute realm, all things that are relatively good can be bad, and things that are relatively bad can be good .
How this is so can be only understood by one who has escaped the dualities of this world, where the self-centred reckonings of conditioned consciousness are making calculations to serve self-centred purposes , be it even religious and good .

The great writers of trancendental rasa of the highest orders  , and they have  calculated there is perfect , more perfect , and most perfect trancendental lilas categories . Our Gaudia Vaisnava acaryas tell us , these lila pastimes in the ” trancendental playground of spontaneously felt love “are forever exhibited in the “eternal time frames ” of Goloka Vrndavana . This is where the carefree inhabitants are free to express and feel their individual and spontaneous love  for Krishna and his family and friends,  in their trancendental beautiful forms , forms that  have no karmic connections or any  dualites of the mundane forms  made of atoms , elements and compounds,  that are caught up in such things as like ,dislikes , love, hate, honour, dishonour ,etc . Great Gaudia acaryas like Srila Rupa Goswami,  Srila Ragganatha das Goswami and later Srila Visvanatha Cakravati Thakur , to name but a few ,  explain in detail the absolute realms that are forever beyond the dualism of this relative realm . They explain how the supreme enjoyer of pleasure, who is known as Rasaraja Sri Krishna, is enjoying ever increasing trancendental bliss with His family friends and lovers . It is said the Supreme Goddess of Fortune Srimati Radharani Herself,  who is the Queen of Vrndavana, ultimately directs everything and how all the rasa ultimately support each other but that the Madhurya rasa contains  all other rasa , thus it is the sweetest of sweet .

Srila Jayadeva Goswami has a particular benediction to offer in Kali yuga to the most degraded of all persons.

His benedictions are related to verses in the Srimad Bhagavatam , specifically.

Srimad Bhagavatam 10.33.39

vikrīḍitaṁ vraja-vadhūbhir idaṁ ca viṣṇoḥ
śraddhānvito ’nuśṛṇuyād atha varṇayed yaḥ
bhaktiṁ parāṁ bhagavati pratilabhya kāmaṁ
hṛd-rogam āśv apahinoty acireṇa dhīraḥ

Translation

Anyone who faithfully hears or describes the Lord’s playful affairs with the young gopīs of Vṛndāvana will attain the Lord’s pure devotional service. Thus, he will quickly become sober and conquer lust, the disease of the heart.

Thus, the mysterious Srimad Bhagavatam unfolds, and its meaning must be heard from the pure devotees.

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“The universe’s puzzlingly fast expansion may defy explanation, cosmologists fret

The controversial “Hubble tension” promises deep insight but, like dark matter and dark energy, could remain just another mystery…”

The Srimad Bhagavatam 3rd Canto, entitled the fundermental principles of material nature, gives indications of the innumerable transformation of the energies of Visnu . He also  devolves power and delegates   the Demigods to see to universal affairs, and they have the  Upadevas , higher beings but not Demigods , to help them , The Vedic terms are   Adi atmika ,the living being ,  Adi devika ,  the Demigods,  and Adi bautika ,the material energies. The source of all three is the energetic Maha Visnu, who is an expansion of an expansion of Krishna.

So , the living beings are  controlled by the universal forms of Divinity within the universal powers of Divinity.

Such is the incalculably complex activity in the super subjective realm of Divinities intelligence, which is far-reaching, extending across  multidimensional universes and throughout the whole of the expanse of time . When time is added to the Maha Tattva , the material energies combined , and the living beings are injected within the womb of the material energies , the whole and complete entity begins to expand . It is consciousness and their  independent desires and  activities that are the cause of universal expansion. The third Canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam describes Krishna within every atom, and yet also He emanates countless universes,  that come and go like bubbles on an ocean.

Within the material universes the Lord has a personalised automated administrative system,  following the desires and activities of an individual,   the many possibilities in the world of quantum mechanics springs to mind .  Conscious desires and the following consequences of the actions of uncountable living beings cause a universe to expand and contract.

First comes consciousness , matter is a result of the independent desires of the living beings . The Darwinian and the belief of those following scientific materialism think matter comes first , then consciousness . They are far from the truth . Matter is manifested from Divinity and is non different from Him .  Karmic synchronicity is at play of the individual beings , along with an inconceivable responsive universe engineered and supervised by Maha Visnu and His assistants . Recently A.I. is giving a hint of the capability and phenomenal administrative powers of such systems,  and the algorithmic processes follow us online . A fraction of a fraction of the power of Divinity . Sir Fred Hoyle, the great physicist , said that clearly someone has monkeyed with the universe.

The third and fifth canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam bring attention to these universal affairs.

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It was Albert Einstein who discovered some aspects of spacetime continuum. His thinking parallels some aspects of the Vedic sciences. Looking into a future or understanding a past is somewhat calculated in approximate ways through astrological calculations,  although in current times the readers have lost the potency they used to have due to their consciousness and the lack of accuracy of planets movements,  according to Srila Bhaktisiddanta Sarasvati Goswami,  he studied and was a master of Vedic cosmological affairs and the connections with astrological calculations.

Another aspect of spacetime continuum can be thought of through quantum physics which describes the many possibilities and an observer effect,  this can be thought of as the free will acting within the atoms , elements and compounds as well as the ethereal subtle energies,  ie mental and intellectual pools of which everyone is accessing.

As such it is said in previous ages, a mystic with specific powers in ethereal readings could somehow see the future events and the make up of a next life that connected the past , the present and a  future,  so the kind of space time continuum that Einstein spoke of . How one could change  a destiny is also described in the Vedas , and actually in every theological text .The neuroscientist Michael Egnore calls it free will or free won’t .

This means our bodies and minds are running almost pre  programmed from our previous activities from other lives . The body mind and senses are set in motion , and Lord Krishna virtually says so in the Bhagavad Gita . He says we are forced to act according to the body we have by the gross and subtle modes of nature that we acquired from our previous life .

Michael Egnore describes the religious thinker or yogi who wishes to overcome his mind, body, and senses . As such , if the senses are dragging us somewhere or our mind is , we develop the strength to say No .

So free will and free wont .Those who dont develop this power , and ultimately its Divinity who gives such power if they want it , are predominantly thrown around helplessly in matter , within the many possibilities and as such a future is already forming within the responsive universe , a new spell of Karmic synchronicities are underway . The many possibilities and the observer effect and the living being subjected to it have made some minor choices that everyone has within free will . Or other persons who may have begun to break the cycle by applying free wont to a degree , learning of the dualism as well as a process of purification of consciousness .So, as such, taking  control of a mind instead of it controlling them  and sending the living being into an inevitable fate .

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The instant communication in quantum physics that Einstein calls spooky action at a distance is explained by Srila Jiva Goswami in his Bhagavat Sandarbha, when he refers to Krishna marrying 16,108 wives. It wasn’t a separate expansion of Krishna, but it was the same Krishna , whose hands and legs are everywhere , as confirmed in the Bhagavad Gita verse . Because a person in a body instantaneously knows what’s going on in his body , similarly Krishna is within every atom and within the heart of all beings . it’s the same Krishna who is everywhere . So not a blade of grass moves without him knowing even if the grass is countless of billions of miles away , thus, the mysterious of Krishna’s form and consciousness should be considered. ..
The key to understanding all things is consciousness and particularly the original unlimited source namely God , consciousness always means a particular person , we can compare the original consciousness or person to the Sun and the countless photons or expansions of light to be the living beings , The Original light the same light is everywhere, similarly God ,although the same person is also everywhere, His personality is in everything and everyone, but our personality is not ..
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The Bhajans of the Gaudia Vaisnava acaryas are not just songs but rather deep meditations, realisations, and prayers, and it behoves us all to regularly enter into the spirit of these hymns on a regular daily basis as well as  discuss and meditate on their meanings , as much as we do with our acaryas writings. Srila AC Bhavtivedanta Swami Prabhupada was an excellent musician and composer of melodies and regularly sang the songs of our acaryas so beautifully and the sounds of the Sabdha Brahman emanating from his lotus mouth are still being heard all over the world on a daily basis .

At Bhaktivedanta Manor, every first Ekadasi of the month , starting in March , devotees are to assemble in Srila Prabhupada’s rooms and together learn , sing, and discuss systematically all the Bhajanas Srila Prabhupada was so fond of singing and that immediately took everyone in his presence to the spiritual planes of Vraj. So kindly join in and together , let’s all  understand the meanings and the real spirit of Bhajan .Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur and Srila Narottam das Thakur are but  some of the writers of these wondrous trancendental masterpieces .

Ananta Gopal prabhu ,who oversees Srila Prabhupadas’ rooms, has discussed with the Temple Council, and they like the idea of such gatherings in His Divine Grace’s presence.

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Srila AC Bhavtivedanta Swami Prabhupada would say Hare Krishna means an exchange of love .

Ultimately, central to the highest exchanges of love is the love  which is forever expanding in trancendental bliss and attractions and with curious uncertainties between The Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Krishna and the Supreme Goddess of Fortune Srimati Radharani.

A love of absolute dependency, which is interrupted by separations and united by unions , both serve as expansion elements to the love , for union and separation expand the ecstacy of love .

This verse brings explains the mystery of Radha Krishna.

This text is from the diary of Śrīla Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī. It appears as the fifth of the first fourteen verses of Śrī Caitanya–caritāmṛta.

rādhā kṛṣṇa-praṇaya-vikṛtir hlādinī śaktir asmād

ekātmānāv api bhuvi purā deha-bhedaṁ gatau tau

caitanyākhyaṁ prakaṭam adhunā tad-dvayaṁ caikyam āptaṁ

rādhā-bhāva-dyuti-suvalitaṁ naumi kṛṣṇa-svarūpam

TRANSLATION

“The loving affairs of Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa are transcendental manifestations of the Lord’s internal pleasure-giving potency. Although Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa are one in Their identity, They separated Themselves eternally. Now these two transcendental identities have again united, in the form of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya. I bow down to Him, who has manifested Himself with the sentiment and complexion of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī although He is Kṛṣṇa Himself.”

Within Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu we find both union and separation in one form .

Srimati Radharani also exhibited these features in Her union and separation. In pure trancendental loving attraction in union, Srimati Radharani felt at times separation and in separation , She felt union .These trancendental feelings of Srimati Radharani are written of by Srila Rupa and Ragganatha das Goswami’s and their followers.

Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and our param para acaryas have described these trancendental affairs by reference to the Goswami’s of Vrndavana who were personal associates of Srimati Radharani and were themselves experiencing pranaya oneness in love with Srimati Radharani in Her oneness of love for Krishna.

In the material world, everyone is chasing the thrills of the excitement of romantic love , endless books , theatre, and films are made . This hankering and searching is a natural quality of the deepest part of our existence and it is discovered in full when we become a servant of love not a master of it in self centred lust in the material world.

There is a vast difference between broken glass and the highest quality of diamonds,  although to some,they look similar.

Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Swami would say we enjoy our trancendental senses in pure service through Radha Krishna in satisfying Their , what Srila Bhaktisiddanta Sarasvati Goswami Maharaja described as Their emaculate senses .

In that state, we can join the dance of eternal love . The Goswami’s litratures are windows to the spiritual kingdom and services to Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Nityananda prabhu will bring us to such windows,  in this age we must understand Radha Krishna through Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Nityananda prabhu.

How to know ….

Sri Guru is self effulgent to the prospective disciple , Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Maharaj says , and the sastra say the jiva is wondering wondering wondering all over the universe and if they really want Krishna Krishna will send Sri Guru, Srila BR Sridhar Swami says Guru comes in many forms, Caitanya Caratamrita speaks of Diksa and Siksa our Gaudia Vaisnava line is predominantly made up of Siksa Gurus.
When Srila Prabhupada made his first offering to Srila Bhaktisiddanta Sarasvati Goswami Maharaja on the anniversary of his disappearance, Srila Prabhupada wrote no question of your Guru my Guru, Guru is one .
If you want to understand the most highest truths of Krishna Krishna will make arrangements, the litratures of the Gaudia Vaisnava acaryas are like Sastra sanga to one who has mercy of what Srila Prabhupada described as the “current link ” thus humility and respect and surrender to all the Vaisnavas carry one a long way .
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Religion is an aftermath….of life’s arrival…says Dawkins and Cronin

But this is ..
Foolish and based on scientific materialism.
Dualism is the real consciousness connection.
If consciousness is accepted as a phenomenon different from matter , which it is , it needs examining.
Thus theological cultures present the natural conclusion that any origin of consciousness , namely God , would have the responsibility to introduce an educational experience to all the ever wondering particles of consciousness who find themselves enclosed in matter and having to deal with all the consequences that brings , that logical
If Divinity did not do so , that would be cruel.
There is absolutely no evidence whatsoever molecules themselves move towards life , in fact, the chemistry behind molecules are so inconceivably complicated in their own right , ask a synthetic chemist .All evidence points to Dualism , ie matter and consciousness as two different substances, along with the superior engineering from top to bottom of the machine like body , which points logically to an engineer but beyond our comprehension, although the more we look the more we see more and more sophisticated engineering.
Those advocates who sing the glory of scientific materialism fool only themselves and try to take their brand to the true unthinking . Best to study objective sciences and bypass subjective guessing that claims to be objective science..

How to know who is who in religious circles..

…if we find violence and hatred …this means the theologians and their religious representatives have it wrong.
Actually theological cultures of every kind have the systematic processes of gradual development of knowledge of mind , matter and consciousness that leads to pure consciousness..in all religions there are 1st class, 2nd class and 3rd class followers.
If anything is presented fanatically with hatred and intolerance, it’s because it’s being presented by 3rd class followers…who has little realisation of God’s consciousness ?
One should seek 1st class followers who understand God consciousness and the varied plights of the conditioned souls , and who can give a particular path to free them accordingly, they are of varying kinds depending on an individuals circumstances.
Practical applications are well understood by the Ist class representatives .Heaven and Hell preaching is a sign of a third class devotee.
In any religion, 1st class representatives should be sought, and their scriptures will tell them clearly their symptoms .common sense is required .
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