Category:Becoming a Guru
Theme Analysis
The process of becoming a guru in the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is uniquely defined by the instructions of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. During His earthly pastimes, Lord Caitanya issued a universal mandate: āmāra ājñāya guru hañā tāra' ei deśa. He ordered everyone, especially those born in India, to become a guru and deliver the people in their local surroundings. This mission does not necessarily require one to travel to foreign countries or hold massive resources; it simply requires the sincere desire to act as Kṛṣṇa's representative wherever one is situated.
The qualification to become a guru is remarkably straightforward yet rigorously strict. Lord Caitanya instructed: yāre dekha, tāre kaha 'kṛṣṇa'-upadeśa. To become a guru, one simply has to repeat the instructions of Kṛṣṇa as they are found in the Bhagavad-gītā. A bona fide guru never manufactures their own philosophy, concocts new dogmas, or performs cheap magic tricks to bluff the public. By acting like a faithful peon and delivering the exact message of the Supreme Lord without adulteration, anyone can instantly become a recognized spiritual authority.
Furthermore, material designations are entirely irrelevant to this spiritual post. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu established the principle: yei kṛṣṇa-tattva-vettā, sei 'guru' haya. Whether one is a brāhmaṇa, a śūdra, a sannyāsī, a gṛhastha, or even born in a family of caṇḍālas (dog-eaters), if they possess full knowledge of the science of Kṛṣṇa, they are perfectly qualified to be a guru.
However, alongside this accessibility comes a grave, formidable responsibility. The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (gurur na sa syāt) strictly warns that one must not become a guru, father, or mother if they cannot save their dependents from the cycle of birth and death. A spiritual master takes on the immense burden of their disciples' sinful reactions. Therefore, while becoming a guru by repeating Kṛṣṇa's words is conceptually simple, the actual execution requires absolute purity, spiritual strength, and the genuine ability to lead conditioned souls back home, back to Godhead.
- The Universal Mandate: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ordered everyone to become a guru and deliver the people in their immediate surroundings.
- The Simple Process: The only method for becoming a bona fide guru is to strictly repeat the teachings of Lord Kṛṣṇa without manufacturing any new ideas.
- Transcending Caste: Anyone who perfectly knows the science of Kṛṣṇa is qualified to be a guru, completely regardless of their material birth or social status.
- The Heavy Burden: A guru must be capable of saving their disciples from the cycle of birth and death, absorbing their sinful reactions in the process.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Becoming a Guru - The Supreme Mission and Responsibility.
Subcategories
This category has the following 6 subcategories, out of 6 total.
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Pages in category "Becoming a Guru"
The following 113 pages are in this category, out of 113 total.
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- A guru does not mean that he has taken shelter of somebody else and he has become guru
- A guru is mahajana because he knows what is religion and what is the law given by God. Therefore he's mahajana. How he has become mahajana? Because he is following the previous mahajana. That's all. It is not difficult. Evam parampara-praptam
- A guru should not become a guru, a father should not become a father, a mother should not become a mother, nobody should become relatives, kinsmen, if one cannot save his son, his disciple, his friend from the imminent danger of birth and death
- A person coming out from the lowest grade of human society, sva-paca, candala, if he's a Vaisnava, he can become guru. This is the verdict of the sastra
- Actually one who has attained the perfection, she can become guru. But man or woman, unless one has attained the perfection.... Yei krsna-tattva-vetta sei guru haya. The qualification of guru is that he must be fully cognizant of the science of Krsna
- Actually there is only one guru - Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So those who simply repeat His words, they also become guru. But of course a guru never thinks himself as being God
- All of you who have come to Krsna consciousness movement, that is our request, that you, all of you, become guru but don't speak nonsense. That is request. Simply speak what Krsna has said. Then you become brahmana, you'll be guru, and everything
- Amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa (CC Madhya 7.128). One should become a guru and spread Krsna consciousness all over the world, simply by preaching the teachings of Bhagavad-gita
- Amongst my Godbrothers no one is qualified to become acarya. So it is better not to mix with my Godbrothers very intimately because instead of inspiring our students and disciples they may sometimes pollute them
- Anyone who is well-versed in bhagavat-tattva-vijnanam, he can become guru. Not others. And in many places this is confirmed, that sat-karma-nipuno vipro. A brahmana, very well expert in his business. Brahmana's business means sat-karma, 6 kinds of karma
- Anyone who takes care of his subordinate, he is guru. The first charge is that you should not become a guru unless you are completely in awareness how to save your dependent from the path of birth and death
- Anyone who wants to become guru, if he cannot teach his disciples how to surrender, govinda-carana-dvayam, anasritya, how to take shelter of the lotus feet of Govinda, he should not become guru. That is cheating
- As we have stressed over and over, we have to receive knowledge from the disciplic succession. Knowledge has to be received from Bhagavan, the perfect one. If we simply follow this system, we can become a guru for the whole world
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- Become authority. That is . . . We said that. You become guru, authority. But you learn first of all as cela from the guru. And then you become guru
- Bilvamangala then immediately left the prostitute's house and went to Vrndavana. The fact was that in his previous life he had executed devotional service up to bhava-bhakti. Thus the prostitute Cintamani actually became his guru
- By that only qualification, that he's not a Vaisnava, he cannot become guru, whereas, on the other's hand. If a person, sva-pacah means coming of the family of dog-eaters, candala - if he has become a Vaisnava, you can accept him as guru
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- Caitanya Mahaprabhu advises everyone, especially every Indian, to become a guru under His order
- Caitanya Mahaprabhu confirms, yei krsna-tattva-vetta sei guru haya (CC Madhya 8.128). One who has understood Krsna as the supreme controller, the Supreme Person, the supreme maintainer, and everything the supreme, ultimate, then he can become guru
- Caitanya Mahaprabhu has given us a little formula, that if you strictly follow the teachings of Bhagavad-gita and if you preach the purpose of Bhagavad-gita, then you become guru
- Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, yei krsna-tattva-vetta, sei 'guru' haya (CC Madhya 8.128): "Anyone who knows the science of Krsna, he can become guru." That is our mission. That is not my mission; that is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission
- Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that it is not very difficult. Yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa: (CC Madhya 7.128) - Simply speak whatever Krsna speaks. Then you become a guru
- Caitanya Mahaprabhu stressed, ye krsna-tattva-vetta, sei 'guru' haya. He never said that the sannyasis should be guru and not the grhasthas. He says, ye krsna-tattva-vetta, sei 'guru' haya. Anyone who knows the science of Krsna, he can become guru
- Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission is that every Indian should become guru and preach the instruction of Krsna
- Cheater, how he can become guru? The first qualification is cheating. If cheater can become teacher - no. Cheater is cheater. So don’t be misled by cheaters. Go to the real teacher. Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet
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- Even though I (Prabhupada) am a fool number one, I become guru, because I am repeating what Krsna has said. That's all. I don't require any education. Very simple thing. Everyone can become guru if he simply repeats what Krsna has said, that's all
- Everyone can become a guru and deliver the local people. How? Yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa. Then you are guru
- Everyone is very anxious to become guru, but rascal does not know how to become guru. So many gurus come from India, all rascal, but they will not speak what Krsna has instructed. Maybe for the first time this has begun, in Krsna consciousness
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- Guru means sadhu. A sadhu means the devotee of the Lord. If one is not sadhu, then he cannot become guru. And sadhu means . . . this is the description given. What is that? Mayy ananyena bhavena bhaktim kurvanti ye drdham. He's sadhu
- Guru means who is above the siddhas. Krsna-tattva-vetta. Yei krsna-tattva-vetta, sei guru haya. One cannot become guru unless he knows krsna-tattva. Not ordinary man. The yogis, the karmis, the jnanis, they cannot become guru. That is not sanctioned
- Guru means who knows the thing, who can teach you. That is guru - not a humbug guru, but guru means one who knows. Tattva-darsinah, one who has seen the truth, he can become guru
- Gurur na sa syat (SB 5.5.18). One should not become a guru if he cannot enable his disciple to advance in Krsna consciousness
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- He (Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu) asks everyone to follow Him and to become a guru to deliver the fallen souls of Kali-yuga - in CC Madhya 7.128
- How shall I find real guru? That is very easy. How it is? Caitanya Mahaprabhu gives us direction. He says, "You become a guru." He asked everyone - not only the Indians, but everyone
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- I have no qualification. How can I become guru? There is no need of qualification. "Still I can become guru?" Yes. "How?" Yare dekha tare kaha krsna-upadesa: "Whomever you meet, you simply instruct what Krsna has said. That's all. You become guru
- If a Brahmin has become very much expert in this six kinds of business," and mantra-tantra-visaradah, "and he knows also all the mantras and tantras, but he is impersonalist or voidist, then he cannot become guru
- If a man from the sva-pacah family, or the candala family, he becomes a Vaisnava, strictly according to the orders, then he can become guru, but not a brahmana if he's not a Vaisnava. This is the stricture
- If some authority says that "Beyond this wall this is the . . . like this," it is all right. So we have to follow this path, that you become guru, deliver your neighborhood men, associates, but speak the authoritative words of Krsna. Then it will act
- If we take up seriously this movement, every one of us become completely aware of this movement and take this mission as Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, "Every one of you, you become a guru," by the order of Caitanya Mahaprabhu
- If you have got power, you can go other country, but it doesn't require. In whichever village, whichever country or town you are, you become a guru. This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission. Amara ajnaya guru haya tara ei desa
- If you simply carry the message of Bhagavad-gita, then you become guru. Don't manufacture anything. Then it will be spoiled
- If you simply do this missionary work and say that, "Krsna is the Supreme Personality," then you become a great devotee. You become a guru. Why people do not do so? It is not very difficult task
- If you want to be a bluffer, cheater, then you can talk all nonsense. But if you actually talk only Krsna's words, then you become a guru. It's not very difficult
- In India there is a system of jata-guru, the guru by caste. By familywise, they become guru. One family is attached to another guru family by hereditary rules, the sons after sons accepting guru, the other party, and there is regular business
- In whatever position you are, you try to understand the science of Krsna. Then you become guru. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission
- It is not difficult to become a guru, provided that we repeat what Krsna says. Whatever Krsna states in Bhagavad-gita is dharma
- It is not that, "You, you remain a sudra, mleccha, & I make you a disciple. I'll never touch you, I'll never touch your foot, and I become your guru." It is not this guru business. It is not guru business. Guru must transfer his qualities to the student
- It is Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s wish that everyone should become a Vaisnava and guru
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- Now, how one can become guru and representative of Krsna? Everyone will say, "I am a representative of Krsna. I am guru." No. That is enunciated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu says: "You just become guru on My order"
- Nowadays it has become a fashion; everyone is becoming guru and he is giving his own opinion, "I think," "In my opinion." That is not guru. Guru means he should give evidences from sastra
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- One cannot become a guru if he does not know what the Personality of Godhead Krsna or His incarnation wants. The mission of the guru is the mission of the Supreme Personality of Godhead: to spread Krsna consciousness all over the world
- One may be rascal number one from material estimation, but if he simply strictly follows whatever is said by Caitanya Mahaprabhu or His representative spiritual master, then he becomes a guru
- One may say that, "What qualification I have got that I can become guru?" That only qualification, yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna' upadesa. You don't require to manufacture any upadesa. Whatever is there already spoken by Krsna, you distribute it
- One may think, - I am illiterate and have no education. I was not born in a very high family. How can I become a guru
- One should not become a guru, a relative, the father, the mother, the husband - In this way there is a list. Why? - If he does not know how to guide his disciple or subordinate to stop the cycle of birth and death
- One should not become guru, one should not become kinsmen, one should not become father, one should not become mother - na mocayed yah samupeta-mrtyum - if one cannot give lesson to the children how to avoid death. This is the duty of the guardians
- One should not think, "Oh, he is my son. What instruction I shall take from him? I know better than him." No. Son or anyone, if he knows the science of Krsna, he becomes guru. This is the Vedic system
- Our request is that every one of you become a guru. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's order
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- Simply to become servant of God, and whomever we meet, we speak the words of God, that's all. Then you become guru. This is our mission
- So many magicians who are becoming guru. This is going on. The public, they do not know what is the meaning of guru, and the cheaters, they get the opportunity of becoming false gurus
- Son or anyone, if he knows the science of Krsna, he becomes guru. This is the Vedic system. It doesn't matter. Caitanya Mahaprabhu approved this
- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted everyone to become a guru and preach the instructions of Krsna everywhere from Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, the Puranas, Vedanta-sutra and similar Vedic literatures
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- The aspirant sisya will hear and study whether he's actually fit for becoming guru
- The best thing is if you come and live with us for some time and learn thoroughly the Krsna science. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu said anyone can become a guru in the matter of teaching about Krsna, provided he or she thoroughly learns the Krsna science
- The foolish rascals, they do not know, "How you can become guru?" If he does not follow the sastra or the supreme authority, Krsna, how he can become? But they accept, guru
- The instruction is there; you simply repeat and let them hear - you become guru. It is not difficult at all. So that is our preaching
- The word tattva-darsi refers to one who has perfectly realized the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Such a person can become a guru and propound Vaisnava philosophy all over the world. The paragon of bona fide preachers and guru is King Pratiha
- The world is full of rascals, therefore there is need of so many gurus to teach them. But what is that qualification of the guru? How everyone can become guru?
- Then you'll not be effective (if you rubber stamp). You can cheat, but it will not be effective. Just see our Gaudiya Matha. Everyone wanted to become guru, and a small temple and "guru." What kind of guru? No publication, no preaching
- There is no authority superior to Sri Krsna, and if we stick to this principle, we can become gurus
- There is no difficulty to become a guru if you simply carry out without any adulteration the order of Caitanya Mahaprabhu
- There is parampara. So there is symptoms of guru not that everyone becomes guru. These are controversial points
- This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's teaching. Whoever is qualified in Krsna consciousness can become a guru. His family or material identity does not matter. He simply must know the science
- This is the Bhagavata's instruction: one should not begin . . . become a guru, or to cheat the disciple, showing him wrong path. That is not good. That is instructed by Rsabhadeva
- This Krsna consciousness movement is trying to enlighten people so that they can accept these principles of Bhagavad-gita. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission is para-upakara. And He advises everyone, especially Indians, to become guru
- To become a guru, then you require very good qualifications, and the best qualification is that he does not cheat
- To become guru is very difficult job, but if you simply carry the message of Bhagavad-gita and try to convince anyone you meet, then you become a guru. So our this Krsna consciousness movement is meant for this purpose
- Try to understand. Don't go very speedily. A guru can become guru when he's ordered by his guru. That's all. Otherwise nobody can become guru
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- We cannot accept any rascal to become guru. Guru must be in the parampara system. He is receiving the knowledge directly from God, Krsna
- We do not want to become alone guru, but we want to preach in such a way that every, the chief man, or any man, he can become guru in his surroundings
- We don't need to change our position to become a guru. All we have to do is follow in the disciplic succession stemming from Sri Krsna
- We have to follow the superior order. Then we become guru, not that by cheating others we become guru. No. That is cheater. That is not teacher. Guru means who is following the superior order. The superior order is Krsna or His representative
- We should not speak beyond what is spoken by Krsna. Take Bhagavad-gita and try to preach the principles, speak whatever is spoken in the Bhagavad-gita. Then it doesn't matter whether you are a grhastha or sannyasi or brahmacari. You become guru
- When a living entity plays the part on behalf of Krsna, he also takes the responsibility for the sinful activities of his devotees. Therefore to become a guru is not an easy task. You see? He has to take all the poisons and absorb them
- When a person advances in bhakti, it is natural that many persons will come to him requesting to become disciples and will offer him some material gains
- When we consult an engineer, a doctor or a lawyer, we do not ask whether he is a brahmana or a sudra. If he is qualified, he can help with a particular subject. Similarly, if one knows the science of Krsna, he can be a guru
- Who shall be the guru? Whose subject matter is only Krsna or God, he shall be guru, not an amateur man
- Whomever you meet, you simply speak to him the instruction of Krsna. Then you become guru. And if you don't say that, if you manufacture your own words, then you are cheater, you are not teacher
- Why he should become guru? Why he should accept service from so many people if he cannot rightly direct them?
- Without becoming brahmin, nobody can become guru. That is also fact. Because brahmin means brahma janatiti brahmanah, one who knows Brahman, Brahman. So guru must be a brahmin, mean a qualified brahmin, not born-brahmin
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- Yare dekha tare kaha krsna upadesa (CC Madhya 7.128): Simply speak. Don't become very big upstart. Simply speak what Krsna has done. That's all. You'll become guru
- Yei krsna-tattva-vetta. One who knows the science of Krsna, he can become guru. Prthivim sa sisyat. He can make disciples all over the world
- Yet even a brahmana possessing these qualifications (pathana, paathana, yajana, yaajana, pratigraha, dana) cannot become a guru unless he is the representative of Krsna - gurur na syat
- You become guru. It is not very difficult. How? Now, because you have to simply repeat what Krsna has said. That's all. So Krsna says everything in the Bhagavad-gita
- You can say to others, "My dear sir, please think of Krsna." It doesn't require very much education. Simply just like a peon carry the message: "Sir, you always think of Krsna." Man-mana. Then you become guru
- You haven't got to manufacture something by your fertile brain, speculating. That is useless, nonsense. Simply you take what Krsna has said and preach it. You become a guru and you deliver the whole world
- You must be ready to become a guru simply by repeating the instruction of Krsna, Bhagavad-gita. Therefore we have taken Bhagavad-gita as it is, and following the instruction of Caitanya Mahaprabhu
- You simply decide what Krsna has spoken. Then you become guru. If you want to manufacture something and show some magic, then you do not become guru
- You simply repeat like parrot what Krsna has said. That's all. Is it very difficult? Krsna has said everything in the Bhagavad-gita. You learn Bhagavad-gita, and you repeat that, you'll become guru. This is guru
- You simply repeat what Krsna has said in the Bhagavad-gita, you become guru. To become guru is not... But if you want to be a bluffer, cheater, then you can talk all nonsense