Host:
Greetings, dear viewers. Paying my respects to the divine in Shantikunja, I begin today's episode. A warm welcome to those new to the "Gupta Sadhak Shyamakapa" YouTube channel, and a sincere thank you to our long-time friends as we start this discussion.
Host:
Greetings, Gurudev. Today, I'd like to delve into a very important topic with you. Throughout history, many great souls and religious founders have graced this earth. For instance, Lord Krishna—born in Mathura and raised in Gopinath and Vrindavan—ruled Dwaraka and established truth and righteousness by destroying unrighteousness in Kurukshetra. Lord Buddha—born in Lumbini and raised in Kapilavastu—achieved Nirvana in Gaya and preached messages of equality and brotherhood. Jesus Christ—born in Bethlehem and raised in Nazareth—spread the ideals of high moral teachings in Judea, Samaria, Galilee, and Jerusalem. In our own India, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was born and distributed the message of love. Prophet Muhammad established a new religion and preached moral teachings.
Host:
Gurudev, my question is: Why are we unable to properly evaluate the moral teachings of these great souls?
Gurudev:
We have evaluated them; it's not that we haven't. But look at the state of people today—they are divided into so many groups. Some follow Ramakrishna; some follow Buddha. People of various faiths come to us, saying they are initiated by this or that guru. I observe that followers of different religions do maintain their practices, but some people have no faith at all. Their only refrain is that there is no such thing as God.
Gurudev:
Now, for those of us who call upon God, sometimes a doubt arises: does God truly exist? NASA once placed a satellite over Mount Kailash. You might know about this. They were awestruck by what they saw there—the presence of Lord Shiva. NASA essentially admitted that Mahadev exists in Kailash. Belief often follows vision; I could tell you many stories, but true conviction comes when you see for yourself. NASA saw it and declared it out of awe—that such a figure as Lord Mahadev exists on this earth.
Gurudev:
Many people have come and preached various religions, and sects have formed. Consider Balak Brahmachari; suddenly, three hundred thousand people took initiation. He eventually passed away, and many things happened, but those three hundred thousand were his disciples. Swami Pranavananda Maharaj also has a vast following. I have a close relationship with the Bharat Sevashram Sangha because of the work they do. I know several of their Maharajes personally and have a great rapport with them.
Gurudev:
There are many people, but not all have taken initiation. Some take it in the name of Ramakrishna. In the past, saints and great souls didn't give initiation to many people directly—perhaps to ten or twelve. Then those disciples would initiate others. But today, it's hard to maintain the essence. Especially in times of crisis like now, people's wisdom and their faith in God are diminishing.
Gurudev:
Parents might have taken initiation from a reputable place, but their children are straying. They come to me saying they took initiation from the Ramakrishna Mission or elsewhere, but their children have gone astray. I hear many such stories. I tell them that their children are born under different astrological influences than they were. We might love and respect our gurus and follow their path, yet we still face suffering. All these things have created a lot of confusion.
Gurudev:
People are losing their way. Many think that getting initiated by someone will solve their problems. Take my case: I'm still here, and I have to give initiation to five to seven people every day. This, too, will fade with time. When people are in trouble, they don't think much about gurus. It's not that people aren't taking initiation; the previous generation was more conscious, emphasizing that initiation purifies the body and mind. Today's youth often don't want it, yet I also see many educated young people coming for initiation. They are desperate, asking for it immediately. This surge in interest is a phenomenon.
Host:
Gurudev, I wanted to ask: these great souls provided moral teachings, but after they left, did those who held power lead us onto a different path?
Gurudev:
Yes, you could certainly say that. That's a significant point. Our current state is primarily due to a lack of faith. There is no such thing as true belief or patience in people anymore. People are restless and fickle. That's why this is happening.
Host:
By saying "settle," Gurudev, do you mean that Sanatan Dharma will fade away?
Gurudev:
No, Sanatan Dharma is actually awakening, not fading. You cannot hide the truth forever. Muslims once committed atrocities, destroying our temples to build mosques. Now they are reaping the results; everywhere they look, they see Shiva. The world is becoming full of Shiva. Even they are beginning to recognize the essence of Lord Shiva in Hindu Sanatan. There's turmoil in Benares and other places. Sanatan is spreading everywhere. Even in Arab countries, a magnificent Vishnu temple was built by Muslims.
Host:
Gurudev, two of your disciples from Arambagh—Subhashish and Snahashish—sent this question. They are very talented young men. Your answer that both the times and the leaders are responsible is insightful. Is there anything else?
Gurudev:
What else could there be? Everyone has preached religion. People follow different faiths and take initiation, hoping for a better life. In my case, my influence is growing, and more people are becoming my disciples every day. But there's no real benefit in just numbers. In the future, even our disciples might face such confusion. It's a cycle. Even in the Ramakrishna Mission and Belur Math, there is some internal unrest. There's no peace anywhere. People go there for peace, to talk to someone, but they are often just told to sit and chant the mantra. They don't find the peace they seek. They come to me with these complaints.
Gurudev:
The leaders are indeed somewhat responsible. Those who give initiation often become inaccessible. People take initiation to be close to their guru and learn, but that doesn't always happen. I try to be accessible and talk to people, which is perhaps why I have a good reputation. But I am often surprised by what I see. Initiation is sometimes given just for the sake of it. No matter where they take it from, people aren't getting the true essence.
Host:
Dear viewers, if you have any questions like this, please send them to us in the comments. We might discuss them with Gurudev in future episodes. I hope you enjoyed today's discussion. Greetings, Gurudev.
Gurudev:
Greetings.
Spiritual Insight
In this profound discussion on Dharma, Gurudev addresses why the moral teachings of great souls like Krishna, Buddha, Jesus Christ, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and Prophet Muhammad fail to take root in modern society. The primary obstacle is the lack of true faith and patience—people have become restless and fickle, running from one guru to another without finding peace. Gurudev cites NASA's satellite imagery of Mount Kailash as scientific proof that "belief often follows vision." While Sanatan Dharma is actually awakening worldwide—even Vishnu temples are being built in Arab countries—the quality of spiritual leadership has declined. Modern gurus often become inaccessible after giving initiation, and the true essence of the teachings is lost. The cycle continues: desperate people take initiation seeking solutions, but without proper guidance and personal transformation, confusion persists. The path forward requires not just taking initiation, but finding teachers who remain accessible and embody the living truth of their teachings.