Category:A Disciple Should
Theme Analysis
The philosophical essence of this category details the proper etiquette, mindset, and behavioral standards a disciple should maintain. By viewing the spiritual master as the direct representative of the Supreme Lord, the disciple is expected to offer profound respect, submissive obedience, and menial service. Through these teachings, Śrīla Prabhupāda illustrates that a disciple should never act independently, argue with the guru's instructions, or commit the offense of criticism, ensuring a safe and rapid progression back to Godhead.
- Seeing Guru as God's Representative: A disciple should respect and revere the spiritual master equally to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, understanding him to be the Lord's external manifestation.
- Submissive Obedience: The disciple should accept the instructions of the spiritual master without hesitation or argument, prioritizing these orders above all personal considerations.
- Menial Service: Rendering humble, menial service and dedicating one's possessions to the spiritual master is the proper etiquette for a sincere student.
- Avoiding Offenses: A disciple must never criticize, hypocritically deceive, or attempt to instruct the spiritual master, as such actions are severe spiritual offenses.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: The Ideal Attitude Every Disciple Should Maintain.
Pages in category "A Disciple Should"
The following 44 pages are in this category, out of 44 total.
A
- A brahmacari should accept prasada upon the order of the spiritual master, and if the spiritual master sometimes forgets to order the disciple to eat, the disciple should not take prasada on his own initiative; rather, he should fast
- A devotee or a disciple should never attempt to criticize the Lord or His representative, the spiritual master
- A disciple must first decide that he should worship the Supreme Lord, and then the spiritual master will give the disciple correct directions
- A disciple should always meditate on the order of the spiritual master, and that is perfectional meditation. Not only should he meditate upon that order, but he should find out the means by which he can perfectly worship and execute it
- A disciple should always remember that by serving the spiritual master he can easily advance in Krsna consciousness
- A disciple should always respect the spiritual master as a manifestation of Sri Krsna, but at the same time one should always remember that a spiritual master is never authorized to imitate the transcendental pastimes of the Lord
- A disciple should be careful to accept an uttama-adhikari as a spiritual master
- A disciple should never be a hypocrite or be unfaithful to his spiritual master
- A disciple should offer dandabats, not namaskara. The more one becomes fixed up in guru obeisances, the more he advances in spiritual progress
- A disciple should serve the spiritual master as a menial servant, and whatever he has in his possession should be dedicated to the spiritual master
- A woman should think of her husband as the Supreme Lord. Similarly, a disciple should think of the spiritual master as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, a sudra should think of a brahmana as the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- According to the Vedic system, a gift is offered to the spiritual master, which is called guru-daksina. Then the disciple should take to householder life and accept a wife according to religious rites
- After being initiated and receiving the orders of the spiritual master, the disciple should unhesitatingly think about the instructions or orders of the spiritual master and should not allow himself to be disturbed by anything else
- All the disciples practicing Krsna consciousness should obediently follow the regulative principles & remain fixed in chanting the holy name of the Lord. Then there need be no fear. Otherwise one's position is very dangerous, especially in this Kali-yuga
- As confirmed in the Vedic injunctions, yasya deve para bhaktir yatha deve tatha gurau (SU 6.23). One should have complete faith in the guru, who helps the disciple make progress in spiritual life
B
- Before making guru, the system is, for one year the prospective disciple should hear from the person and then decide. And similarly, the guru also see a person who is actually submissive or not. That is Vaisnava injunction, Hari-bhakti-vilasa
- Being called by the spiritual master, the student should study the Vedic mantras regularly. Every day, before beginning his studies and at the end of his studies, the disciple should respectfully offer obeisances unto the spiritual master
- By the mercy of the spiritual master one is benedicted by the mercy of Krsna. Without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement. A disciple should never be a hypocrite or be unfaithful to his spiritual master
D
- Disciple must consider himself completely unaware of the science of Krsna and must always be ready to carry out the orders of the spiritual master to become competent in Krsna consciousness. A disciple should remain a fool before his spiritual master
- Disciple should be intelligent enough to inquire from the spiritual master how to become advanced. So to become advanced means sadhu marganu-gamanam, to follow the acaryas
I
- If he (the disciple) again commits sinful activities, his spiritual master has to suffer. A disciple should be sympathetic and consider this. - For my sinful activities, my spiritual master will suffer
- If possible, the student or disciple should reward the spiritual master with the remuneration the spiritual master requests, and then, following the master's order, the disciple should leave and accept one of the other asramas, namely the grhastha-asrama
- In the Aurobindo Ashram, there they have no other business. The disciples are advised that "Whatever you like, you can do. You should always think of Aurobindo"
- It is a Vedic custom that the junior members of the family should offer respects to the elders every morning. The children or disciples especially should offer their respects to their parents or spiritual master in the morning
- It is the duty of the disciples to take charge of the mission of the spiritual master and execute it properly. Otherwise the disciple should decide to die along with the spiritual master
- It is the etiquette, before speaking anything, the disciple should first of all offer respect to the spiritual master
O
- One's first duty is to accept a bona fide spiritual master. The student or disciple should be very inquisitive; he should be eager to know the complete truth about eternal religion
- Only initiated disciples should be allowed to take this advantage (of taking dust from feet of Vaisnava), not others. Those who are full of sinful activities should generally be avoided
P
S
- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, as an ideal teacher, shows us how a disciple should deal with his spiritual master. Whenever there is doubt regarding any point, he should refer the matter to his spiritual master for clarification
- Sri-vigraha is the arca, or suitable worshipable form of the Lord, and the disciple should be engaged in worshiping the Deity regularly by srngara, by proper decoration and dressing, as also by mandira-marjana, the matter of cleansing the temple
T
- The attitude of the disciple should always be to satisfy the bona fide spiritual master. Then it will be very easy for him to understand spiritual knowledge
- The disciple should also immediately begin marking his body with tilaka - urdhva-pundra - after the initiation, especially his forehead. These are spiritual marks, symptoms of a perfect Vaisnava
- The disciple should not consider whether he is going back home, back to Godhead; his first business should be to execute the order of his spiritual master
- The son or disciple should accept the words of his spiritual master and father without hesitation. Whatever the father and the spiritual master order should be taken without argument: Yes
- This is confirmed in every scripture, and a disciple should accept the spiritual master as such
- This is the correct attitude for a disciple. The disciple should be prepared to offer everything he has including his body, mind, and words, in the service of the guru
- To execute the will of the spiritual master, the disciple should be prepared to lay down his life and abandon all personal considerations