View source for Never think of the arca-murti as wood or stone - never think of the spiritual master as ordinary human being - never think of a Vaisnava as belonging to a certain caste or nation

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{{terms|"Never think of the arcā-mūrti as wood or stone—never think of the spiritual master as ordinary human being—never think of a Vaiṣṇava as belonging to a certain caste or nation"}}
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{{compiler|Soham}}
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[[Category:Never Thinks]]
[[Category:Arca-murti]]
[[Category:Wood]]
[[Category:Stone]]
[[Category:Spiritual Master]]
[[Category:Ordinary Human Being]]
[[Category:Vaisnava - Devotees of God]]
[[Category:Belong To]]
[[Category:Certain]]
[[Category:Caste]]
[[Category:Nation]]
[[Category:Pages Needing Audio - SOHAM]]
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<h2>Lectures</h2>
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<h3>Arrival Addresses and Talks</h3>
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Arcye śilā-dhīr guruṣu nara-matiḥ vaiṣṇave jāti-buddhiḥ (Padma Purāṇa), these are forbidden. Never think of the arcā-mūrti as wood or stone—never think of the spiritual master as ordinary human being—never think of a Vaiṣṇava as belonging to a certain caste or nation.
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[[Vanisource:730212 - Lecture Arrival - Sydney|730212 - Lecture Arrival - Sydney]]
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Don't be carried away by the nonsense philosophy that "These people are worshiping idol." It is not idol. It is same example: He is Kṛṣṇa Himself. Always same. He is Kṛṣṇa Himself. He has come to you for . . . just you can see Him. That's all. Otherwise Kṛṣṇa, ataḥśrī-kṛṣṇa-nāmādi na bhaved grāhyam indriyaiḥ ([[Vanisource:CC Madhya 17.136|CC Madhya 17.136]])—with these blunt eyes, material eyes, you cannot see Kṛṣṇa at the present moment. So whatever you can see, Kṛṣṇa has conveniently has taken His form in that way. So you should always think that Kṛṣṇa is present here—not that wood or stone. Then you are . . .

(aside) Go on.

Directly, arcye śilā-dhīr guruṣu nara-matiḥ vaiṣṇave jāti-buddhiḥ (Padma Purāṇa), these are forbidden. Never think of the arcā-mūrti as wood or stone—never think of the spiritual master as ordinary human being—never think of a Vaiṣṇava as belonging to a certain caste or nation. These are things . . .

So all the Vaiṣṇavas here, it is not that, "Here is an American Vaiṣṇava, here is an African Vaiṣṇava, an Indian Vaiṣṇava." Vaiṣṇava is Vaiṣṇava. Vaiṣṇava is transcendental. Although he may be appearing in different dress, but he is servant of Kṛṣṇa. This vision should be enlightened. Then he will remain fixed up in devotional service, and certainly he shall remain successful of life in this very life. That should be our aim, that in this very life we shall make our devotional service so perfect, and we shall try to know Kṛṣṇa as far as possible
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