Category:Advice from a Spiritual Master
Theme Analysis
The instructions of a genuine spiritual master form the foundation of authentic devotional life. Throughout these quotations, guidance from guru, śāstra, and saintly authorities repeatedly directs the conditioned soul away from material entanglement and toward surrender to Kṛṣṇa. Spiritual advancement becomes possible when one abandons speculation and faithfully accepts transcendental instruction through disciplic succession. The advice of exalted devotees such as Nārada Muni, Prahlāda Mahārāja, Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, and Śukadeva Gosvāmī consistently emphasizes devotional service, renunciation, chanting of the holy name, and obedience to guru.
- Shelter of Guru and Paramparā: Real spiritual life begins when one accepts the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master coming in disciplic succession. Through surrender, inquiry, and service, transcendental knowledge is revealed.
- Devotional Service Above Ritual and Speculation: Great authorities repeatedly advise that pure devotional service to Kṛṣṇa is superior to fruitive activities, dry philosophy, ritualism, or materialistic pursuits.
- Obedience Leads to Spiritual Perfection: Advancement depends upon faithfully following the instructions of guru and śāstra without whimsical interpretation or argument.
- Association and Chanting as Essential Practices: The holy name, association with devotees, hearing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and engagement in practical devotional service are repeatedly prescribed as the means of purification.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Following the Advice from a Spiritual Master Toward Pure Devotional Service.
Subcategories
This category has only the following subcategory.
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Pages in category "Advice from a Spiritual Master"
The following 80 pages are in this category, out of 80 total.
A
- According to the advice of Narada Muni, one should directly engage in devotional service. This will include all pious activity
- According to the advice of Srila Rupa Gosvami Prabhupada, we should not give up attachment to money that can spread the Krsna consciousness movement
- After deliberating on this point (whether to follow his guru or please the SPG independently), he (Bali Maharaja) decided that Lord Visnu should be pleased in all circumstances, even at the risk of ignoring the guru's advice to the contrary
- After describing the potency of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, My spiritual master taught Me another verse, advising Me to always keep it within My throat
- An effeminate husband, simply being attracted by the external beauty of his wife, tries to become her most obedient servant. Sripada Sankaracarya has therefore advised that we not become attracted by a lump of flesh and blood
- Another guru advises that sex is the ultimate goal of life and that one should therefore engage in sex to the best of his ability. These are the instructions of foolish gurus
- Arjuna was advised to receive transcendental knowledge from the realized person by surrender, questions and service. Receiving transcendental knowledge is not like exchanging dollars; such knowledge has to be received by service to the spiritual master
- As advised by the spiritual master, he (the foolish person) tries to follow the regulative principles, but due to misfortune he cannot follow the instructions of the spiritual master
- As indicated in verse 79 (SB 4.29.79), Narada Muni advised King Pracinabarhi to take to devotional service rather than waste time performing ritualistic ceremonies and fruitive activities
B
- Because this is very difficult, the nondevotees - the jnanis and yogis - cannot stop the waves of sense gratification, although they try to do so. Therefore you are advised to engage in the devotional service of Krsna, the son of Vasudeva
- Bhaktivinoda Thakura asks the living entity why he is being carried away in these bodily machines to be placed in so many different circumstances. He advises that one surmount the waves of maya by surrendering unto Krsna
- By the mercy of the guru, even a dumb man can become the greatest orator, and even a lame man can cross mountains. As advised by Lord Brahma, one should remember this sastric injunction if one desires success in his life
H
- He (Bali) decided immediately to reject the advice of Sukracarya and go on with his duty. Thus he gave all his possessions to Lord Vamanadeva
- He (Kasyapa Muni) was not so foolish that he would present himself as an exalted personality, as good as God. He was actually a bona fide guru because he advised his wife to seek shelter at the lotus feet of Vasudeva
- He (Prahlada Maharaja) advises, "Give up this darkness," hitvatma-patam, "because it will kill you." In this dark well you'll be killed
- He (Vyasadeva) was not satisfied until he wrote Srimad-Bhagavatam. His dissatisfaction was observed by his spiritual master, and consequently Narada advised him to write on the transcendental activities of the Lord Sri Krsna
I
- I advise you to read our books daily as far as possible and try to understand the subject matter from different angles of vision by discussing it frequently with the devotees at the New York temple. In this way you will gradually become convinced
- I have advised Gurudasa not to pay any tailor but to make clothes by our own devotees for the deities
- If one is determined that, "I shall only act according to the advice of my Guru Maharaja," then he's perfect. One has to submit like Arjuna said, sisyas te 'ham sadhi mam prapannam (BG 2.7). Otherwise he'll argue
- If you take the advice of great acaryas, just like Ramanujacarya, Sankaracarya and Lord Jesus Christ, everything, every man will say - Oh, there is God. There is God
- Ignoring the guru's advice
- In essence the grhastha should be engaged in occupational duties advised by the spiritual master and sastra. Specifically a grhastha should engage in agricultural activities to earn money
- In my last meeting with Prabhupada in Radha Kunda he advised me to print some books if I get money. I took it very seriously and by His grace we have now published my translations of Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, etc
- In our Krsna consciousness movement, our students are first advised to worship Guru-Gauranga, and then, when they are somewhat advanced, the Radha-Krsna Deity is installed, and they are engaged in the worship of the Lord
- In the Ujjvala-nilamani (Sakhi-prakarana 1), Srila Rupa Gosvami advises: prema-lila-viharanam, samyag vistarika sakhi, visrambha-ratna-peti ca
- In this age, it is more important to create devotees than to construct temples. My Guru Maharaja advised me to give more stress on literary work such as publishing books and magazines in KC, and temple opening is a secondary consideration
- Instructions from family members and society should be accepted superficially, but in essence the grhastha should be engaged in occupational duties advised by the spiritual master and sastra
- It is imperative that a serious person accept a bona fide spiritual master in terms of the sastric injunctions. Sri Jiva Gosvami advises that one not accept a spiritual master in terms of hereditary or customary social and ecclesiastical conventions
- It is the duty of such a sober personality as Bali Maharaja to abide by the orders of his spiritual master immediately, as his spiritual master had advised
M
- Maharaja Pariksit had already been advised by his spiritual master, Sukadeva Gosvami, to think of the universal form of the Lord, and therefore, following the advice of his spiritual master, he continuously thought of that form
- Maitreya: A great rsi of yore. He was spiritual master of Vidura and a great religious authority. He advised Dhrtarastra to keep good relations with the Pandavas
- My Guru Maharaja advised me to give more stress on publication work so most probably I shall try to concentrate my energy in this department very shortly
- My Guru Maharaja used to advise us that, "It is better to live in rented house than to possess own house." Why? Because if we possess our own house, we'll be more attached
- My Guru Maharaja used to advise us to read Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu. Everyone, after initiation. At least, he advised me
N
- Narada advised him that "You have written so many books: Puranas, Vedas, Vedanta." But Vyasadeva said, "Still I am not feeling very satisfied." So Narada Muni advised that, You are not feeling satisfied because you have not described about the Supreme PG
- Narada gave them (the hunter & his wife) 1 Tulasi plant, & they sat down near the Tulasi plant, & he advised that "Go on chanting HK mantra." In the meantime, in the village it was advertised that - The hunter has become a Vaisnava. Let us go and see him
- Narada is advising Vyasadeva; Vyasadeva is advising his disciple Madhvacarya; he is advising his disciple. This is Vaisnavism. They are not concerned for personal self
- Narada Muni advised Vyasadeva that "You are not feeling satisfied because you have not described about Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is the defect. Now you have got mature experience, you describe simply about SPG, Krsna." Therefore he wrote SB
- Narada Muni advises that, "Induce everyone to be engaged in Krsna consciousness. Even if he falls down, there is no loss." This is the principle. If he becomes successful, oh, the greatest boon. That greatest boon is described in BG, highest perfection
- Narada Muni advises the Pracetas to worship the direct cause, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As stated before, when the root of a tree is watered, all the parts are energized
- Narottama dasa Thakura advises us that, - You firmly catch the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda
- None of them were advised by Guru Maharaja to become acarya. His idea was "Let them manage; then whoever will be actual qualified for becoming acarya, they will elect. Why I should enforce upon them?" That was his plan
O
- One can meditate upon the Lord anywhere and everywhere. Thus Prahlada Maharaja advised his friends, the sons of the demons, to take this path back home, back to Godhead, without difficulty
- Only by thinking of the lotus feet of the Lord and always taking the spiritual master's advice can one advance in spiritual life and understand Vedic knowledge
- Our KC movement adopts this pancaratrika-vidhi, as advised by Sanatana Gosvami: "As bell metal, when mixed with mercury, is transformed to gold, a person, even though not golden pure, can be transformed into a brahmana, simply by the initiation process."
P
- Pariksit Maharaja was advised by Sukadeva Gosvami, My dear King, I've described so many faults. It is like the ocean of faults. But there is one boon also. That is special prerogative, special advantage of this age
- Practically we see that even chanting sixteen rounds becomes difficult. So don't try to imitate, but do it properly, what is advised by your spiritual master, without any offense. That mantra will save you from the dangers of maya
- Prahlada Maharaja advised his friends to depend completely on Krsna and worship Him in devotional service
- Prahlada Maharaja advised that one elevate oneself to the standard of bhagavata-dharma from the very beginning of life (kaumara acaret prajno dharman bhagavatan iha) - SB 7.6.1
- Prahlada Maharaja advises his friends (SB 7.6.3): My dear friends, material pleasure which is due simply to this material body - is essentially the same in any body. And just as misery comes without our trying for it
- Prahlada Maharaja advises one not to be misled by this civilization of sense gratification, and especially not by sex life. Rather, one should be sober, avoid sense gratification and be Krsna conscious
- Prahlada Maharaja has advised that one give up this blind well of home life as soon as possible and go to the forest to take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- Prahlada Maharaja, the spiritual master in the line of disciplic succession, advised that this bhagavata-dharma be instructed to students from the very beginning of their education (kaumara acaret prajno dharman bhagavatan iha) - SB 7.6.1
- Prahlada says to his demoniac friends, "please give up the company of those who are simply after material enjoyment. Just associate with persons who have taken to Krsna consciousness." That is his advice
R
- Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, who was a householder at this time, met Nityananda Prabhu. According to His advice, he executed this festival of dadhi-cida-prasada
- Rupa Goswami says that enthusiasm, patience, conviction, acting exactly to the order of the Sastra & Guru, & always keeping oneself in the society of devotees, & this makes our devotional service successful. Our serious students should follow his advice
S
- Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: O King Pariksit, when Bali Maharaja was thus advised by his spiritual master, Sukracarya, his family priest, he remained silent for some time, and then, after full deliberation, he replied to his spiritual master as follows
- Srila Rupa Gosvami advises, adau gurv-asrayam. One who is serious in wanting to render pure devotional service to the Lord must take shelter of a spiritual master who comes in the disciplic succession from Krsna
- Srila Rupa Gosvami advises: "When one is not attached to anything, but at the same time accepts everything in relation to Krsna, one is rightly situated above possessiveness." - Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.2.255
- Srila Vyasadeva was not satisfied simply with compiling the Vedanta-sutras, but over and above this, by the advice of his spiritual master, Narada, he compiled the Srimad-Bhagavatam in order to understand the real import of Vedanta
- Sukadeva Gosvami continued: After thus advising the demigods and pacifying mother earth, the very powerful Lord Brahma, who is the master of all other Prajapatis and is therefore known as Prajapati-pati, returned to his own abode, Brahmaloka - SB 10.1.16
T
- Taking the advice of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and our spiritual master, one can go to any part of the world and instruct people to become devotees by following the regulative principles, worshiping the tulasi plant and continuously chanting Hare Krsna
- That freedom is there always. The Krsna or His representative, the spiritual master, he can give you good instruction, good advice, but to do it or not to do it, that is your option
- The bona fide guru is he who advises his disciples exactly in accordance with the principles spoken by Krsna. The bona fide guru is he who has accepted Krsna as guru. This is the guru-parampara system
- The guru advises, "Better remain all through brahmacari. No botheration." So he's trained properly, but still if he has desire, then he's allowed to become a grhastha. That is also for a limited time
- The Pracetas were engaged in burning all the trees to ashes, and they considered the trees their enemies. To pacify the Pracetas, the predominating deity of the trees, under the advice of Lord Brahma, delivered the daughter Marisa
- The significance of this particular verse (SB 4.8.71) is that Dhruva Maharaja acted exactly according to the advice of his spiritual master, the great sage Narada
- The Supreme Lord is the dearmost object of all living entities. Prahlada Maharaja therefore advised his class friends, the sons of the demons, to take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead again
- They (the American people) should take advice from the spiritual master, the representative of Krsna. If they do so, they will be happy, and theirs will be an ideal nation to lead the entire world
- This was the subject matter of my Guru Maharaja's satisfaction. He liked to distribute books more than constructing temples. He personally advised me to print books if I have got some money
- To become disciple means to surrender, voluntarily accepting the instruction, the advice, the order of the spiritual master
- To stick to the principles advised by the Spiritual Master and serve Krishna under the direction of the Spiritual Master is the only hope of our advancing in Krishna Consciousness. The Spiritual Master and Krishna are two parallel lines
V
- Vaisnavanam yatha sambhuh: the most exalted Vaisnava is Lord Siva, and those who are actually devotees of Lord Siva follow Lord Siva's advice and take shelter at the lotus feet of Lord Visnu
- Visvanatha Cakravarti, a great Vaisnava, advises, yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah: "By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the mercy of Krsna"
- Vyasadeva was not satisfied (although he complied all Vedic literature). His dissatisfaction was observed by his spiritual master, and thus Narada advised him to write on the transcendental activities of Lord Sri Krsna