View source for Surrender to the spiritual master

<div id="compilation">
<div id="facts">
{{terms|"surrender to the spiritual master"|"surrendered to your spiritual master"|"surrender to your spiritual master"|"surrenders to the spiritual master"|"surrenders to a spiritual master"|"surrendered to his spiritual master"|"surrender to his spiritual master"|"surrendering to the spiritual master"|"spiritual master should be accepted in full surrender"}}


{{notes|}}

{{compiler|Syamananda| Visnu Murti| Sharmila}}

{{complete|ALL}}

{{first|23dec07}}

{{last|20Jan09}}

{{total|12}}

{{totals_by_section|BG=1|SB=2|CC=3|OB=0|Lec=3|Con=1|Let=2}}

{{toc right}}

[[Category:surrendering to a Spiritual Master|1]]
</div>

<div class="section" id="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is" text="Bhagavad-gita As It Is"><h2>Bhagavad-gita As It Is</h2></div>

<div class="sub_section" id="BG_Chapters_1_-_6" text="BG Chapters 1 - 6"><h3>BG Chapters 1 - 6</h3></div>

<div class="quote" book="BG" link="BG 4.34" link_text="BG 4.34, Purport">
<div class="heading">A spiritual master should be accepted in full surrender, and one should serve the spiritual master like a menial servant, without false prestige.</div>

<div class="text">'''[[Vanisource:BG 4.34 (1972)|BG 4.34, Purport]]:''' The Bhāgavatam (6.3.19) says, dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītam: the path of religion is directly enunciated by the Lord. Therefore, mental speculation or dry arguments cannot help lead one to the right path. Nor by independent study of books of knowledge can one progress in spiritual life. One has to approach a bona fide spiritual master to receive the knowledge. Such a spiritual master should be accepted in full surrender, and one should serve the spiritual master like a menial servant, without false prestige. Satisfaction of the self-realized spiritual master is the secret of advancement in spiritual life. Inquiries and submission constitute the proper combination for spiritual understanding.</div>
</div>

<div class="section" id="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="Srimad-Bhagavatam"><h2>Srimad-Bhagavatam</h2></div>

<div class="sub_section" id="SB_Canto_5" text="SB Canto 5"><h3>SB Canto 5</h3></div>

<div class="quote" book="SB" link="SB 5.12.3" link_text="SB 5.12.3, Purport">
<div class="heading">One should not only surrender to the spiritual master but also render loving service unto him (sevayā) so that the spiritual master will be pleased.</div>

<div class="text">'''[[Vanisource:SB 5.12.3|SB 5.12.3, Purport]]:''' As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (4.34): tad viddhi praṇipātena paripraśnena sevayā. The student must approach a spiritual master and surrender unto him fully (praṇipātena). He must also question him in order to understand his instructions (paripraśnena). One should not only surrender to the spiritual master but also render loving service unto him (sevayā) so that the spiritual master will be pleased with the student and explain the transcendental subject matter more clearly. A challenging spirit before the spiritual master should be avoided if one is at all interested in learning the Vedic instructions in depth.</div>
</div>

<div class="sub_section" id="SB_Canto_7" text="SB Canto 7"><h3>SB Canto 7</h3></div>

<div class="quote" book="SB" link="SB 7.7.29" link_text="SB 7.7.29, Purport">
<div class="heading">By offering service and surrendering to the spiritual master, one is elevated to devotional service.</div>

<div class="text">'''[[Vanisource:SB 7.7.29|SB 7.7.29, Purport]]:''' One must accept the pure devotee, the representative of God, as one's guru and then offer him all the respects one would offer the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is the secret of success. For one who adopts this method, the perfect process is revealed. In this verse, the words yair añjasā ratiḥ indicate that by offering service and surrendering to the spiritual master, one is elevated to devotional service, and by performing devotional service one gradually becomes attached to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Because of this attachment to the Lord, one can understand the Lord.</div>
</div>

<div class="section" id="Sri_Caitanya-caritamrta" text="Sri Caitanya-caritamrta"><h2>Sri Caitanya-caritamrta</h2></div>

<div class="sub_section" id="CC_Adi-lila" text="CC Adi-lila"><h3>CC Adi-lila</h3></div>

<div class="quote" book="CC" link="CC Adi 17.257" link_text="CC Adi 17.257, Purport">
<div class="heading">Only unto one who fully surrenders to the spiritual master and the Supreme Lord does the essence of Vedic knowledge become manifested, not to anyone else.</div>

<div class="text">'''[[Vanisource:CC Adi 17.257|CC Adi 17.257, Purport]]:''' The purport of this verse is that one who is unflinchingly devoted to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu, and similarly devoted to the spiritual master, with no ulterior motive, becomes a master of all knowledge. In the heart of such a devotee, the real essence of the Vedic knowledge becomes manifested. This essence is nothing but surrender unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead (vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyaḥ [Bg. 15.15]). Only unto one who fully surrenders to the spiritual master and the Supreme Lord does the essence of Vedic knowledge become manifested, not to anyone else.</div>
</div>

<div class="quote" book="CC" link="CC Adi 17.257" link_text="CC Adi 17.257, Purport">
<div class="heading">First one must surrender to the spiritual master; then the process of devotional service will develop.</div>

<div class="text">'''[[Vanisource:CC Adi 17.257|CC Adi 17.257, Purport]]:''' Śrīdhara Svāmī confirms in his commentary that first one must surrender to the spiritual master; then the process of devotional service will develop. It is not a fact that only one who diligently pursues an academic career can become a devotee. Even with no academic career, if one has full faith in the spiritual master and the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he develops in spiritual life and real knowledge of the Vedas. The example of Mahārāja Khaṭvāṅga confirms this.</div>
</div>

<div class="sub_section" id="CC_Madhya-lila" text="CC Madhya-lila"><h3>CC Madhya-lila</h3></div>

<div class="quote" book="CC" link="CC Madhya 24.258" link_text="CC Madhya 24.258, Purport">
<div class="heading">This is the process of initiation. The disciple must surrender to the spiritual master, the representative of Kṛṣṇa.</div>

<div class="text">'''[[Vanisource:CC Madhya 24.258|CC Madhya 24.258, Purport]]:''' This is the process of initiation. The disciple must surrender to the spiritual master, the representative of Kṛṣṇa. The spiritual master, being in the disciplic succession stemming from Nārada Muni, is in the same category with Nārada Muni. A person can be relieved from his sinful activity if he surrenders to the lotus feet of a person who actually represents Nārada Muni. Nārada Muni gave instructions to the hunter after the hunter surrendered.</div>
</div>

<div class="section" id="Lectures" text="Lectures"><h2>Lectures</h2></div>

<div class="sub_section" id="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" text="Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures"><h3>Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures</h3></div>

<div class="quote" book="Lec" link="Lecture on BG 2.8-12 -- Los Angeles, November 27, 1968" link_text="Lecture on BG 2.8-12 -- Los Angeles, November 27, 1968">
<div class="heading">So one who is intelligent, if he can understand that this worldly position is simply illusion... The, all the thoughts which I have concocted, based on the principle of "I" and "mine," this is all illusion. So one, when one is intelligent to get out of the illusion, he surrenders to a spiritual master.</div>

<div class="text">'''[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 2.8-12 -- Los Angeles, November 27, 1968|Lecture on BG 2.8-12 -- Los Angeles, November 27, 1968]]:''' So one who is intelligent, if he can understand that this worldly position is simply illusion... The, all the thoughts which I have concocted, based on the principle of "I" and "mine," this is all illusion. So one, when one is intelligent to get out of the illusion, he surrenders to a spiritual master. That is being exemplified by Arjuna. When he's too much perplexed... He was talking with Kṛṣṇa as friend, but he saw that "This friendly talking will not solve my question." And he selected Kṛṣṇa... Because he knew the value of Kṛṣṇa. At least, he ought to have known. He is friend. And he knows that Kṛṣṇa is accepted... "Although He is acting as my friend, but by great authorities Kṛṣṇa is accepted as the Supreme Personality of Godhead." That was known to Arjuna. So he said that "I'm so much puzzled that I cannot understand. Even accepting that I shall be victorious in this battle, still I shall not be happy.</div>
</div>

<div class="quote" book="Lec" link=Lecture on BG 4.34 -- Questions & Answers -- August 14, 1968, New York link_text="Lecture on BG 4.34 -- Questions & Answers -- August 14, 1968, New York">
<div class="heading">Spiritual master is the representative of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore, surrendering to the spiritual master means surrendering to Kṛṣṇa.</div>

<div class="text">'''[[Vanisource:name wrongly formatted Bhagavad-gita 4.34 -- Questions & Answers -- August 14, 1968, New YorkLecture on BG 4.34 -- Questions & Answers -- August 14, 1968, New York|name wrongly formatted Bhagavad-gita 4.34 -- Questions & Answers -- August 14, 1968, New YorkLecture on BG 4.34 -- Questions & Answers -- August 14, 1968, New York]]:''' Devotee (1): If one surrenders to a spiritual master, what then is their relationship to Kṛṣṇa?
Prabhupāda: Oh. Spiritual master is the representative of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore, surrendering to the spiritual master means surrendering to Kṛṣṇa. He is the bona fide. Spiritual master is just like, as just I explained the śloka, hṛdy antaḥ-stho hy abhadrāṇi vidhunoti suhṛt satām. I'll try to relate one nice story in this connection, the story of Dhruva Mahārāja. Dhruva Mahārāja was a child, and he was insulted by his stepmother. So he went to his own mother and he prayed, "My dear mother"—he was five years old only—"my stepmother has insulted me in this way. I was sitting on the lap of my father and she dragged me out. She told me that 'You cannot sit on the lap on your father.'" So he was the son of king, so he felt insulted and he went to his mother and cried. Then he asked his mother, "What is the remedy?" Because he was a son of a kṣatriya, he was resentful. So his mother directed, "My dear son, your father do not care for me, so he will not hear whatever I say. So if God can help you, then you can get revenge." Then—he was child—he said, "Oh, where is God?" Then mother replied, "Oh, we understand that God is in the forest. Somebody goes to the forest and realizes God. So you cannot go, my dear son." "No, I shall go." So he went to the forest. He went to the forest, and he was asking the tiger, "Oh, you are God?" The elephant, "You are God?" Just like a child. Then when he was so serious, then, because God is within himself, then he was..., Nārada was sent to him, that "You go to the boy. How he is anxious that what is the actual point (indistinct). You just try to help him." So this is the process. When we are seriously anxious about understanding the science of God, then God is within you, He will make your relationship with such a spiritual master who will enlighten you further and further. So practically, the spiritual master is the representative of Kṛṣṇa. Now, it depends on me. Ye yathā māṁ prapadyante tāṁs tathaiva bhajāmy aham [Bg. 4.11]. The degree of my serious thought, if I am seriously about actually perception of the Supreme Lord, then I will get such a spiritual master who can give me information of the Supreme Lord. But if I want something else, then Kṛṣṇa will help you in that way also, you will get something else. So ye yathā māṁ prapadyante. The spiritual master is the representative of Kṛṣṇa, and He, Kṛṣṇa, is sitting within our heart. As you are anxious, your degree of anxiety will be helped by Kṛṣṇa by sending similar quality of spiritual master.</div>
</div>

<div class="sub_section" id="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" text="Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures"><h3>Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures</h3></div>

<div class="quote" book="Lec" link="Lecture on SB 2.4.1 -- Los Angeles, June 24, 1972" link_text="Lecture on SB 2.4.1 -- Los Angeles, June 24, 1972">
<div class="heading">If you approach a bona fide representative, then, taking lessons from him, the result will be upadhārya matiṁ kṛṣṇe, your surrender will be on Kṛṣṇa.</div>

<div class="text">'''[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 2.4.1 -- Los Angeles, June 24, 1972|Lecture on SB 2.4.1 -- Los Angeles, June 24, 1972]]:''' Who knows the tattva? Athāpi te deva padāmbuja-dvaya-prasāda-leśānugṛhīta. "One person who has got a slight benediction from Your lotus feet." Not that all. A slight. Svalpam apy asya dharmasya trāyate mahato bhayāt. If you get a slight, a glance, then your life is perfect, immediately. Not that you have to get all the mercies of the Lord. Even little, very insignificant part. That means, insignificant part, that is, Kṛṣṇa is teaching Himself, "Just surrender." So this much mercy every one of us we can take. How? "Kṛṣṇa, I was wandering throughout the whole universe in so many lives. I did not know that You are my supreme master. Now, from this day, I surrender unto You." Kṛṣṇa is ready: ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi [Bg. 18.66]. "Yes, you do it. I shall give you protection from all sinful resultant action. Immediately." A simple process. So this much mercy we can take, if we will. But we are not willing. We surrender to some rascal, but not to Kṛṣṇa. That is our position. We shall surrender to this man, that man, this man, this one ... Why not Kṛṣṇa? "No," māyā will say. "No, no, no. What is Kṛṣṇa? You surrender to such big politician, big yogi, big bluffer, cheater. You surrender there." Māyā is always after you to bewilder you. Because we have forgotten Kṛṣṇa by our independence, misusing our independence, so māyā wants to give us some good lesson, that "Forgetting Kṛṣṇa, you are trying to be happy. All right, I shall give you nice happiness." This is going on. Therefore, māyā is very strong. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā: daivī hy eṣā guṇamayī mama māyā duratyayā [Bg. 7.14]. You cannot get out of the clutches of māyā so easily.
Then? How it is possible? Mām eva ye prapadyante māyām etāṁ taranti te [Bg. 7.14]. The same thing. "If anyone fully surrenders unto Me, then he can get out of the clutches of māyā." So here, Parīkṣit Mahārāja is fully surrendered to his spiritual master. Vaiyāsaker iti vacaḥ. Whatever he said... Vaiyāsaki, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, he placed the whole thing before him, how to concentrate one's mind on Kṛṣṇa. So upadhārya matiṁ kṛṣṇe. Then immediately this is the result. If you approach a bona fide representative, then, taking lessons from him, the result will be upadhārya matiṁ kṛṣṇe, your surrender will be on Kṛṣṇa.</div>
</div>

<div class="section" id="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="Conversations and Morning Walks"><h2>Conversations and Morning Walks</h2></div>

<div class="sub_section" id="1972_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1972 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1972 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3></div>

<div class="quote" book="" link="Talk with Bob Cohen -- February 27-29, 1972, Mayapura" link_text="Talk with Bob Cohen -- February 27-29, 1972, Mayapura">
<div class="heading">You have no mind to follow austerities, but when you accept a spiritual master you have to carry out the order. That is austerity.</div>

<div class="text">'''[[Vanisource:Talk with Bob Cohen -- February 27-29, 1972, Mayapura|Talk with Bob Cohen -- February 27-29, 1972, Mayapura]]:'''

Śyāmasundara: About austerities. If you don't practice voluntarily austerities, then you must involuntarily practice some austerities.

Prabhupāda: Yes, under the direction of spiritual master. You have no mind to follow austerities, but when you accept a spiritual master you have to carry out the order. That is austerity.

Śyāmasundara: Even if you don't want to practice austerity, you must. You are forced to.

Prabhupāda: No, because... You have got... You have surrendered to your spiritual master. His order is final. So even if you don't like, you have to do it. To please me. Even you don't like. Nobody likes to fast, but spiritual master says, "Today is fasting," so what can be done? (laughter) This is austerity. And disciple means who has voluntarily agreed to be disciplined by the spiritual master. That is austerity.</div>
</div>

<div class="sub_section" id="1974_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1974 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1974 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3></div>

<div class="quote" book="Con" link="Room Conversation with Christian Priest -- June 9, 1974, Paris" link_text="Room Conversation with Christian Priest -- June 9, 1974, Paris">
<div class="heading">One should not only hear submissively from the spiritual master, but one must also get a clear understanding from him, in submission and service and inquiries. A bona fide spiritual master is by nature very kind toward the disciple. Therefore when the student is submissive and is always ready to render service, the reciprocation of knowledge and inquiries becomes perfect.</div>

<div class="text">'''[[Vanisource:Room Conversation with Christian Priest -- June 9, 1974, Paris|Room Conversation with Christian Priest -- June 9, 1974, Paris]]:'''
Prabhupada: If one wants to know what is God and to love Him, the path is open for everyone. It does not require high intelligence, high education, high culture. No. Anyone. The process is śravaṇam, the beginning. One has to hear. One may be fool number one, it doesn't matter. No education, it doesn't matter. Poor, doesn't matter. Black, doesn't matter. White, doesn't matter. You try to hear. Satāṁ prasaṅgān mama vīrya-saṁvido bhavanti hṛt-karṇa-rasāyanāḥ kathāḥ [SB 3.25.25]. Therefore, Vedic injunction is in order to know, go to the bona fide guru and hear. Ādau gurv-āśrayam, sad-dharma pṛcchāt. So even one has no experience, if he goes to the experienced man, experienced person, then you can understand and you can love God, and that is perfection of life. Tad viddhi... Find out this verse,
tad viddhi praṇipātena
paripraśnena sevayā
upadekṣyanti te jñānaṁ
jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ
[Bg. 4.34]
This tattva-darśinaḥ means experience. What is that?

Pradyumna:
tad viddhi praṇipātena
paripraśnena sevayā
upadekṣyanti te jñānaṁ
jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ
[Bg. 4.34]
"Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth."

Prabhupāda: Purport.

Pradyumna: "The path of spiritual realization is undoubtedly difficult. The Lord therefore advises us to approach a bona fide spiritual master in the line of disciplic succession from the Lord Himself. No one can be a bona fide spiritual master without following this principle of disciplic succession. The Lord is the original spiritual master, and a person in the disciplic succession can convey the message of the Lord as it is to his disciple. No one can be spiritually realized by manufacturing his own process, as is the fashion of the foolish pretenders. The Bhāgavatam says: dharmaṁ hi sākṣād-bhagavat-praṇītam—the path of religion is directly enunciated by the Lord. Therefore, mental speculation or dry arguments cannot help one progress in spiritual life. One has to approach a bona fide spiritual master to receive the knowledge. Such a spiritual master should be accepted in full surrender, and one should serve the spiritual master like a menial servant, without false prestige. Satisfaction of the self-realized spiritual master is the secret of advancement in spiritual life. Inquiries and submission constitute the proper combination for spiritual understanding. Unless there is submission and service, inquiries from the learned spiritual master will not be effective. One must be able to pass the test of the spiritual master, and when he sees the genuine desire of the disciple, he automatically blesses the disciple with genuine spiritual understanding. In this verse, both blind following and absurd inquiries are condemned. One should not only hear submissively from the spiritual master, but one must also get a clear understanding from him, in submission and service and inquiries. A bona fide spiritual master is by nature very kind toward the disciple. Therefore when the student is submissive and is always ready to render service, the reciprocation of knowledge and inquiries becomes perfect."</div>
</div>

<div class="section" id="Correspondence" text="Correspondence"><h2>Correspondence</h2></div>

<div class="sub_section" id="1970_Correspondence" text="1970 Correspondence"><h3>1970 Correspondence</h3></div>

<div class="quote" book="Let" link="Letter to Bali-mardana -- Tokyo 25 August, 1970" link_text="Letter to Bali-mardana -- Tokyo 25 August, 1970">
<div class="heading">One should have unflinching faith in Krsna and similarly in the Spiritual Master. That is the way of understanding the secret of Krsna Consciousness.</div>

<div class="text">'''[[Vanisource:Letter to Bali-mardana -- Tokyo 25 August, 1970|Letter to Bali-mardana -- Tokyo 25 August, 1970]]:''' In the Mayavadi Sampradaya they observe the Guru Purnima day to offer respect to the Spiritual Master. This system of offering respect to the Spiritual Master is current in all sections of Vedic followers, but so far we are the Gaudiya Sampradaya is concerned, we offer on the Appearance Day of the Spiritual Master our humble homage annually and this particular auspicious moment is called Vyasa Puja.
I have received the painting of my Guru Maharaja. It is very nicely done. Please convey my thanks to the girl. I have immediately placed this painting on my Deity altar.
Yes, this attitude of surrendering to the Spiritual Master is the best qualification of spreading this movement of Lord Caitanya. That is the Vedic way. One should have unflinching faith in Krsna and similarly in the Spiritual Master. That is the way of understanding the secret of Krsna Consciousness. Unfortunately, attempt has been made lately in our Society to shake this formula. This mischievous attempt has done a great harm, but if you the members of the Governing Body Commission can rectify this mischievous attempt, then still there is hope of making our progress uninterruptedly. I hope Krsna will help us.</div>
</div>

<div class="sub_section" id="1974_Correspondence" text="1974 Correspondence"><h3>1974 Correspondence</h3></div>

<div class="quote" book="Let" link="Ref: Letter to: Hamsaduta: - Mayapur 1 October, 1974" link_text="Ref: Letter to: Hamsaduta: - Mayapur 1 October, 1974">
<div class="heading">Always follow my instructions and my example. This should be your life and soul.</div>

<div class="text">'''[[Vanisource:Ref: Letter to: Hamsaduta: - Mayapur 1 October, 1974|Ref: Letter to: Hamsaduta: - Mayapur 1 October, 1974]]:''' Your statements expressing your surrender to your spiritual master is proper. If this principle is followed you will remain pure and always protected by Krsna. Always follow my instructions and my example. This should be your life and soul.
From Madhavananda I have heard that there is some worship of yourself by the other devotees. Of course it is proper to offer obeisances to a Vaisnava, but not in the presence of the spiritual master. After the departure of the spiritual master, it will come to that stage, but now wait. Otherwise it will create factions.</div>
</div>
</div>