Bona Fide Spiritual Master - an essential subject

It is only by the mercy of a bona-fide spiritual master one can make advancement in his practice of Krishna consciousness.The spiritual master is the link or passage for all the fallen conditioned souls to come to the platform of pure devotional service. By pleasing the spiritual master the Lord becomes pleased with us and showers His mercy upon us. It is therefore the duty of the disciple to take shelter of the bona fide spiritual master and render service to him, only then can he impact knowledge onto that disciple.

Srila Prabhupada's books, lectures, conversations and letters offer a comprehensive presentation of this essential subject as seen in the Vaniquotes Bona Fide Spiritual Master category. An introduction from his books is given below in the following 9 quotes.

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Quotes from Srila Prabhupada's books

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Sometimes even at a risk, a sannyāsī in the line of Caitanya Mahāprabhu may accept even a person who is not thoroughly fit to become a disciple. Later on, by the mercy of such a bona fide spiritual master, the disciple is gradually elevated. However, if one increases the number of disciples simply for some prestige or false honor, he will surely fall down in the matter of executing Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Similarly, a bona fide spiritual master has no business reading many books simply to show his proficiency or to get popularity by lecturing in different places. (Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 7)

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To approach a bona fide guru, or spiritual master, is essential. The bona fide spiritual master is he who has received the mercy of his guru, who in turn is bona fide because he has received the mercy of his guru. This is called the paramparā system. Unless one follows this paramparā system, the mantra one receives will be chanted for no purpose. Nowadays there are so many rascal gurus who manufacture their mantras as a process for material advancement, not spiritual advancement. Still, the mantra cannot be successful if it is manufactured. (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.16.24)

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The word dīyatām means that knowledge of Kṛṣṇa consciousness should be offered by the spiritual master. The spiritual master must not accept a disciple who is not qualified; he should not be professional and should not accept disciples for monetary gains. The bona fide spiritual master must see the bona fide qualities of a person whom he is going to initiate. An unworthy person should not be initiated. (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.32.42)

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Consulting a bona fide spiritual master means consulting the Supreme Personality of Godhead personally. One should therefore take shelter of such a bona fide spiritual master. Success in life means accepting a spiritual master who knows Kṛṣṇa as the only supreme beloved personality. One should worship such a confidential devotee of the Lord. (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.29.51)

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A devotee should see to the right discharge of devotional service under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master and should not stick only to the formalities. Under the direction of the bona fide spiritual master, one should see how much service is being executed, and not simply in the matter of rituals. A devotee should not hanker after anything, but he should be satisfied with things that may automatically come to him by the will of the Lord. (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.8.21)

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A person who is puffed up by so-called education has no humility and therefore does not seek the protection of a bona fide spiritual master. He thinks that he does not require a spiritual master and that he can achieve the highest perfection by his own efforts. Such persons are not eligible for studying the Vedānta-sūtra. Those who are under the spell of the material energy do not follow the instructions of the disciplic succession but try to manufacture something on their own. (Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Chapter 18)

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The secret of success is to receive the sound from the right source of a bona fide spiritual master. Mundane manufactured sound has no potency, and as such, seemingly transcendental sound received from an unauthorized person also has no potency. One should be qualified enough to discern such transcendental potency, and either by discriminating or by fortunate chance if one is able to receive the transcendental sound from the bona fide spiritual master, his path of liberation is guaranteed. (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.9.8)

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The devotees of Lord Caitanya must preach Kṛṣṇa consciousness in every village and town in the world. That will satisfy the Lord. It is not that one should act whimsically for his own personal satisfaction. This order comes down through the paramparā system, and the spiritual master presents these orders to the disciple so that he can spread the message of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. It is the duty of every disciple to carry out the order of the bona fide spiritual master and spread Lord Caitanya's message all over the world. (Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.64)

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The guru, or the bona fide spiritual master, is competent to teach the disciple in the right path with reference to the context of all authentic Vedic literature. He does not attempt to juggle words to bewilder the student. The bona fide spiritual master, by his personal activities, teaches the disciple the principles of devotional service. Without personal service, one would go on speculating like the impersonalists and dry speculators life after life and would be unable to reach the final conclusion. (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.9.37)

Bona Fide Spiritual Master - explore more within this category.

Vanipedia has now over 903 introductory articles compiled from Srila Prabhupada's books under the series titled Essential Subjects. All these articles can be seen in the Table of Content on the right side of this article and also here in this Umbrella Category. Browse through them to relish the breadth and depth of Srila Prabhupada's teachings - There is a subject for everyone.

	HOME Choose Another Essential Subject Ability Abode of Krishna Absolute Knowledge Absolute Truth Absorbed in Thought of Krishna Absorbing the Mind Absorption Acarya Accepting a Spiritual Master Accepting God Accepting Krishna Accepting the Body as the Self Accumulating Money Accumulating Wealth Acquiring Knowledge Acting in Krishna Consciousness Activities in Devotional Service Adharma Advanced Devotees Advanced in Knowledge Advanced in Krishna Consciousness Advancement of Civilization Agitation Agriculture Aham Brahmasmi After Death Aim of Life All-pervading All-powerful Altar Ambition Ananda (Bliss) Anartha Anartha-nivrtti Anger Animal Civilization Animal Life Animal Slaughter Animal Propensities Animal Sacrifice Animalistic Animal Society Antimaterial Anxiety Appreciation Approaching a Spiritual Master Approaching Krishna Arati Aryan Asrama Assets Association of Devotees Association of Nondevotees Association of Pure Devotees At the Time of Death Athato Brahma Jijnasa Atheism Atma Atonement Attachment for Krishna Attachment for Women Attaining Perfection Attention Auspiciousness Austerity Authoritative Scriptures Authoritative Sources Authority of the Vedas Avatara Avidya Awareness Basic Principles Battle of Kuruksetra Becoming a Brahmana Becoming a Spiritual Master Becoming God Become God Conscious Become Happy Becoming Krishna Conscious Benediction Beneficial Benefits Benevolent Bewilderment Bhagavad-gita Says Bhagavan Bhagavata-dharma Bhakti Bhakti-yoga Bharata-varsa Bhava Bible Birth after Birth Birth and Death Birth, Death, Old Age and Disease Blasphemy Blessings Bliss Blissful Life Bodily Concept of Life Bodily Consciousness Bodily Necessities Body and Mind Body and Soul Body of The Lord Bona Fide Spiritual Master Brahma-bhuta Brahmacari Caitanya Mahaprabhu's Movement Caitya-guru - the Spiritual Master Within Celibacy Chanting Hare Krishna Charm Cheating Cheating Propensity Cognizant Committing Mistakes Common Sense Compassion Complete Knowledge Compromise Concentrating the Mind Conchshell Conditioned Living Entities Conditioned Souls Conditioned State Confidential Confusion Connection Contamination Controlling Deities Controlling the Mind Controlling the Senses Conviction Cooperating With The Krishna Consciousness Movement Cooperation Corruption Cosmic Manifestation Craziness Cruelty Cultivating Krishna Consciousness Culture Culture of Knowledge Curses Cycle of Birth and Death Danger Dead Bodies Death Means... Death Dedication Degradation Deity Worship Delusion Demigod Worship Democracy Demoniac Demons Depending on Krishna Depression Desireless Destiny Destruction Detachment Deterioration Determination Devastation Developing Krishna Consciousness Deviations Devotees Are Always... Devotees Are Not... Devotees Are... Devotees Can... Devotees Cannot... Devotee Do Not... Devotees Go Back to Godhead Devotees Know... Devotees Never... Devotees of Lord Caitanya Devotees of Lord Krishna Devotees of the Lord Devotees Should Not... Devotees Should... Devotees Sometimes... Devotees Compassion Devotion Devotional Ambition Devotional Anger Devotional Anxiety Devotional Attachment Devotional Service Devotional Service to Krishna Dharma Dirty Things Within Our Heart Disagreement Disciplic Succession Disclosure Discrepancy Discrimination Dishonesty Disobedience Disrespectful Dissatisfaction Distress Disturbances Divisions of Human Society Divorce Doubt Dress of a Sannyasi Duality Duplicity Earn Money Eating, Sleeping, Mating and Defending Economic Development Economic Problems Ecstatic Love Ecstatic Love for Krishna‏‎ Ekadasi Embarrassment Embodied Souls Embryo Emotions Empowerment Encagement Encouragement Energies of the Lord Engaging in Devotional Service Engaging in the Service of the Lord Enjoying Sex Life Enjoying Life Entering into the Kingdom of God Enthusiasm Envious of God Envy Equal Rights Eternal Existence Eternal Life Eternal Relationships Eternal Time Everything Belongs to God Everything Belongs to Krishna Executing Devotional Service Executive Heads of States Extraordinary Faith Faith in God Faith in Krishna Fall Down False Ego False Identification Family Attachment Fear Fearfulness Fearlessness Firm Faith First-class Men Following in the Footsteps Fools and Rascals Forgetful Living Entities Forgetful Souls Forgiveness Free from Anxiety Free from Bondage Free from Contamination Free from Designation Free from Material Desire Free from Miseries Free from Reaction Friendship Fruitive Activities Fruitive Workers Frustration Full Krishna Consciousness Fully Surrendering Gains Gambling Ganges Gaudiya Vaisnava Gayatri Go Back to Home, Back to Godhead God Give Us Our Daily Bread God Conscious Godlessness God Says God Consciousness God is Everywhere God is Dead God is One God is God God is Not so Cheap God is Great God's Killing God's Creation God's Compassion God Realization Godless Civilization Godly Qualities Goloka Vrndavana - Krishnaloka Good Qualities Gosvami Govardhana Gratefulness Great Offenses Greatest Danger Great Acaryas Greatest Authority Great Service Greatest Service Greatest of All Grhastha Guru-parampara Happiness Happiness and Distress Hatha-yoga Hearing and Chanting Hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam Hellish Condition Hellish Life Highest Benefits Holy Names of God Honesty Human Civilization Human Form of Life Human Life is meant for Humanity Humble and Meek Humility Hypocrisy I Am God I Am Not This Body I Am Spirit Soul Identification With The Body Idol Worship Illicit Sex Life Impediment Incarnations of God Inferior Energy - Material Matter Influence of Time Instructions of the Spiritual Master Intoxication Isvara Jagannatha Puri Jealousy Jiva Jnana Jnana-kanda Jnani Kama Karma Karma-kanda Karma-yoga Killing Animals Kingdom of God Kirtana Knowing God Knowledge of God Knowledge of Krishna Krishna and the Gopis Krishna Conscious Education Krishna Conscious Persons Krishna Consciousness Means Krishna Consciousness Movement Means Krishna Consciousness Movement is a Spiritual Movement Krishna Consciousness Movement is an Educational Movement Krishna Consciousness Movement is Not a Sectarian Movement Krishna Consciousness Movement Is Not... Krishna Consciousness Movement is Saving the World Krishna Consciousness Movement is Teaching... Krishna Consciousness Movement Is... Krishna is Everywhere Krishna is God Krishna is So Kind Krishna-prema Krishna, the Friend of All Krishna's Beauty Krishna's Body Krishna's Disappearance Krishna's Face Ksatriyas Ksetra-jna Laws of God Leaders Leaving this Body Liberated from Liberated Persons Liberated Souls Life after Death Liberation Limited Line of Disciplic Succession Loving Affairs Loving Devotional Service Lover of God Loving God Loving Propensity Loving Service Madness Maha-bhagavata Maha-mantra Mahajanas Mahat-tattva Management Mantra Manufacturing Ideas Marginal Energy Marginal Potency Material Activities Material Advancement Material Association Material Atmosphere Material Attachment Material Benefits Material Bodies Material Body Material Bondage Material Civilization Material Comforts Material Conception Material Consciousness Material Contamination Material Creation Material Desires Material Disease Material Energy Material Enjoyment Material Entanglement Material Existence Material Form Material Gains Material Happiness Material Knowledge Material Life Material Manifestation Material Miseries Material Nature Material Opulence Material Platform Material Possessions Material Qualities Material Science Material Senses Material Universe Materialism Materialists Matter and Spirit Maya the Illusory Energy Mayavada Philosophy Mayavadi Philosophers Mayavadi Sannyasis Meat-eating Meditation Memory Mental Concoction Mental Speculation Mental Speculators Mercantile Class - Vaisyas Mercy Mercy of God Mercy of Guru Mind Miscreants Miserable Conditions Miseries of Life Misinterpretation Mission of Caitanya Mahaprabhu Mission of Human Life Mistakes Misuse Mleccha Mode of Goodness Mode of Ignorance Mode of Passion Modern Civilization Mortality Money Mudha Mukti Mystery Naked Nastiness Negative Neophyte devotee Next Life Nine Processes of Devotional Service Nirvana Nitya No Limit Nondevotees Nonsense Nonviolence Not Believing in God Not Envious Not Surrendered Occupational Duties Offering Prayers Offering Garlands to the Lord Old Age Omkara One With God Opulence Orders of Krishna Orders of the Spiritual Master Origin Of All Origin Original Consciousness Original Cause Original Form of God Original Personality of Godhead Original Position Original Source Paramahamsa Paramatma Parampara Parampara System Part and Parcel of Krishna Past Life Past, Present and Future Passing Away Pastimes of the Lord Path of Devotional Service Path of Liberation Path of Self-realization Patience Peace and Prosperity Penance Perfect Knowledge Perfection Perfection of Life Performing Sacrifices Perpetuity Personal Benefits Personal Feature of the Lord Pessimistic Philosophical Speculation Pious Activities Places of Pilgrimage Planetary Systems Platform of Devotional Service Pleasing Krishna Politicians Politics Poor Fund of Knowledge Positive Pradhana Prakrti Prasadam Preaching Preaching the Krishna Consciousness Movement Predominating Deities Prema Preparing for Our Next Life Presence of Krishna Previous Acaryas Previous births Previous Lives Pride Principles of Devotional Service Private Problems of Life Process of Bhakti Process of Devotional Service Producing Food Grains Propagating the Krishna Consciousness Movement Prosperity Protected by The Lord Protecting Cows Protection of Women Psychology Puffed Up Puranas Pure Consciousness Pure Devotional Service Pure Devotees of the Lord Pure Goodness Pure Love Pure Souls Purification of the Heart Purified Senses Purity Purpose of the Krishna Consciousness Movement Purusa Pushing on the Krishna Consciousness Movement Qualification‏‎ Qualities of Krishna Quality of Goodness Quitting this Body Radha-Krishna Worship Ramayana Rasa-lila Rascal Civilization Rascaldom Reaction Reality Real Happiness Real Identity Real Knowledge Real Love Real Purpose Real Religion Receiving Knowledge Regulative Principles Relationship with God Relationship with Krishna Religion Religious Principles Remedies Remembering Krishna Rendering Devotional Service Rendering Service Rendering Service to the Lord Renounced Order of Life Renunciation Repentance Repetition of Birth and Death Representative of God Responsibility Return Home Back to Godhead Reveal Revealed Scriptures Revelation Rewards Rising Early in the Morning Rogues and Thieves Root Cause Rules and Regulations Sacred Thread Sadhana-bhakti Sadhu Sadhu-sanga Sahajiyas Saintly Persons Saktyavesa-avataras Salvation Samadhi Sampradaya Sanatana Sanatana-dharma Sanctify Sankhya Philosophy Sankirtana Sankirtana Movement Sannyasa Sastra Satisfying Krishna Satisfying Our Senses Sattva-guna Satyaloka Scholarship Science of God Scripture Searching after God Secret Secret of Success Seeing God Seeing God Face to Face Seeing Krishna Self-realization Self-realized Souls Self-sufficient Sense Enjoyment Sense Gratification Sense Objects Sense Organs Sense Perception Sense Pleasures Sentiments Servant of God Servant of God Servant of Krishna Service Attitude Service to Humanity Serving Krishna Servitude Seva Severe Penances Sex Desire Sex Enjoyment Sex Indulgence Shelter of Krishna Shyness Silence Simplicity‏‎ Simultaneously One and Different‏‎ Sin Sincere Devotees Sincerity Sinful Activities Sinful Life Sinful Men Sinful Persons Sinful Reactions Sinner Slaughterhouse‏‎ So-called Happiness‏‎ So-called Scientists‏‎ So-called Devotees So-called Education‏‎ So-called Scholars‏‎ Society, Friendship and Love‏‎ Solving all Economical Problems Solving Problems Solving The Problems Of Life Sons of God Source of Everything‏‎ Soul within the Body‏‎ Speculative Knowledge Spiritual Activities Spiritual Advancement Spiritual Bliss Spiritual Benefits Spiritual Body Spiritual Consciousness Spiritual Culture Spiritual Education Spiritual Energy Spiritual Existence Spiritual Form Spiritual Happiness Spiritual Identity Spiritual Kingdom Spiritual Knowledge Spiritual Life Spiritual Master Spiritual Nature Spiritual Perfection Spiritual Planets Spiritual Position Spiritual Potency Spiritual Progress Spiritual Realization Spiritual Science Spiritual Sky Spiritual Spark Spiritual Understanding Spiritual World Spiritualists Spiritually Advanced Spontaneous Love Spreading Krishna Consciousness Spreading the Krishna Consciousness Movement Sraddha Sravana Sruti Stages of Devotional Service Starting the Krishna Consciousness Movement Starvation Stopping Death Stringent Laws of Material Nature Struggle for Existence Submission Subtle Body Success Successful Life Suffering Suicide Supersoul Supreme Absolute Truth Supreme Consciousness Supreme Controller Supreme Enjoyer Supreme Father Supreme Friend Supreme Goal Supreme Person Supreme Personality of Godhead Supreme Spirit Supreme Source Supreme Truth Surrender Surrender to Krishna Surrendered Souls Sympathetic Sympathy Taking Birth Taking Shelter Taking Sannyasa Taking to Devotional Service Talking Nonsense Tamo-guna Tapasya Tattva There is No God Tests Temple Worship The Holy Names of God Give Liberation The Time Will Come Theism Theoretical Knowledge Thinking of Krishna Three Modes of Material Nature Tilaka Time Factor Time Immemorial Time, Place and Circumstances Tolerance Tradition Transcendence Transcendental Activities Transcendental Bliss Transcendental Body Transcendental Devotional Service Transcendental Form Transcendental Knowledge Transcendental Life Transcendental Literature Transcendental Love Transcendental Loving Service Transcendental Loving Service of the Lord Transcendental Mellows Transcendental Nature of the Lord Transcendental Position Transcendental Qualities Transcendental Science Transcendental Service of the Lord Transcendental Subject Matter Transferring to the Spiritual World Transformation Transmigrating From One Body To Another Transmigration of the Soul Tribulations Trust Trust in God Truth Truthfulness Tulasi Ugra-karma Ultimate Destination Ultimate Goal of Life Unalloyed Devotees Unalloyed Devotional Service Unchasity Uncivilized Unconscious Uncontaminated Under The Direction of Krishna Understanding Bhagavad-gita Understanding God Understanding Krishna Understanding Srimad-Bhagavatam Understanding the Absolute Truth Understanding the Krishna Consciousness Movement Undesirable Undisturbed Unfortunate Unhappy Unintelligent Unsuccessful Untruth Unwanted Things Useless Waste of Time Vaikuntha Vairagya Vaisnava Vaisnava Philosophy Vanaprastha Vani Vapu Varnasrama Varnasrama-dharma Vedanta Philosophy Vedas Vedic Civilization Vedic Culture Vedic Evidence Vedic Hymns Vedic Injunctions Vedic Instructions Vedic Knowledge Vedic Literature Vedic Mantras Vedic Principles Vedic Rituals Vedic Scriptures Vedic Society Vedic Version Vedic Wisdom Vegetarian Very Expert Very Happy Very Intelligent Very Sincere Vijnana Vikarma Visnu-tattva Vital Force Vrndavana War War and Sinful Activities Wasting Time Water of the Ganges Welfare Activities Western Civilization Western World What is Bhagavad-gita What is Education What is God What is Srimad-Bhagavatam Whole Human Society Will of the Lord Wisdom Within the Heart Without Any Doubt Without Deviation Without Hesitation Without Knowledge Without Krishna Consciousness Words of Krishna Working for Krishna Worshiping Worshiping God Worshiping Krishna Worshiping Lord Vishnu Worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead Yajna Yamuna River Yoga Yoga Practice Yoga System Yogamaya Yogi Yukta-vairagya