Category:Approaching a Guru
Theme Analysis
Human life is full of perplexities, and Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that to solve these problems, one must approach a bona fide spiritual master. The Vedic injunction tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet states that one who is serious about understanding the transcendental science must approach a guru. This approach should not be for material benefits, such as curing a disease or manufacturing gold, but for inquiring about the Absolute Truth (tattva). Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that one must approach a guru who is tattva-darśī (one who has seen the truth) and a representative of Kṛṣṇa. The method of approach is not to challenge, but to surrender and render service. If a person is sincere, Kṛṣṇa, acting as the caitya-guru within the heart, will direct them to a genuine spiritual master.
- The Necessity of Guidance: Just as one needs a doctor to cure a disease, one needs a guru to solve the bewilderment of material existence. It is not optional; it is essential for becoming a perfect human being.
- Qualifications of the Guru: The guru must be a representative of Kṛṣṇa, fixed in the Absolute Truth (brahma-niṣṭham), and a seer of the truth (tattva-darśī). One must avoid cheaters and magicians.
- Proper Motivation: One should not approach a guru for material miracles or physical cures. The only valid reason to approach a guru is to learn the science of Kṛṣṇa.
- The Method of Approach: The disciple must approach with an attitude of surrender (prapadyeta) and service, inquiring submissively rather than challenging.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Approaching a Guru - The First Step in Spiritual Life.
Pages in category "Approaching a Guru"
The following 33 pages are in this category, out of 33 total.
A
- Actually we are puzzled every moment. Therefore it is necessary one should approach to a proper guru. Now Arjuna is approaching Krsna, the first-class guru. First-class guru. Guru means the Supreme Lord. He is guru of everyone
- An intelligent man must be very inquisitive to know the transcendental science deeply. Therefore one must approach a guru, a spiritual master
B
- Being completely aware of Brahman, the Supreme Absolute Truth, not a bogus. If you want to receive knowledge, then you must approach a guru who is brahma-nistham. That is the qualification of guru
- By nature we are part and parcel of Krsna, and Krsna is sac-cid-ananda-vigraha. In order to transcend the darkness of material life & go to the world of light, we need to approach a guru. It is for this reason that Devahuti is approaching Lord Kapiladeva
D
- Don't approach a cheater, but actually approach a teacher, not a cheater. That teacher is guru, and he is representative of Krsna
- Don't approach the cheater guru, bluffer guru, and be cheated. Stop this business. This has spoiled the whole spiritual atmosphere of the world. Take guru, the supreme guru, Krsna
I
- If one is serious about understanding the value of life, the goal of life, he should approach a guru. Tasmad gurum prapadyeta (SB 11.3.21). Prapadyeta. Prapadyeta means to surrender. Not that guru should be approached for challenging. No
- If you approach a person, guru, who is not representative of Krsna, you are approaching a rascal. How you'll be enlightened? You must approach Krsna, or His representative. That is wanted
- If you want to learn something, you have to approach some expert in the matter, similarly, if you want to learn what is dharma, how to execute it, then you have to approach such gurus or their representative
- If you're sincere, Krsna will direct you that "Approach such and such guru," and if guru is pleased, then you'll get Krsna, that guru-krsna krpaya, both, parallel line
- In order to know all this transcendental subject matter, it is recommended, "One must approach to the proper guru to understand this subject matter." And that is success of human life
O
- One must approach a guru. That is the Vedic injunction. That Arjuna has already done. When he was he was to fight or not to fight, But he could not make solution. So to make a solution we must approach Krsna as guru, or Krsna's representative
- One must approach a particular type of guru to execute a particular type of duty. Therefore although Visvarupa was inferior to the demigods, the demigods accepted him as their guru to conquer the demons
- One must be serious to understand, and he must approach a qualified mahatma guru. Then his business will be . . . transaction will be very nicely done. This is Vedic process. Is there any difficulty to become mahatma and to become a qualified disciple
- One should approach a bona fide guru to inquire about the highest benefit of life. Such a guru is described as follows: sabde pare ca nisatam. Such a guru does not manufacture gold or juggle words
- One should approach guru for seeing the tattva, the Absolute Truth. That is necessary. Not for any material benefit. One should not search out a guru for, I mean to say, curing some material disease. For that, there is medical practitioner
- One who teaches this tattva-jnana, he is guru. Otherwise he's a rascal. So therefore the first indication is that if you want to become a real human being, then you must approach a real guru and learn from him
T
- The color of gold is compared to the will-o'-the-wisp or yellow stool; therefore one should not be allured by gold-manufacturing gurus but should sincerely approach a devotee like Jada Bharata
- The guru should not be approached for material benefits. One should not approach a guru just to cure some disease or receive some miraculous benefit. This is not the way to approach the guru
- The Vedic injunction is, tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet: (MU 1.2.12) if one wants to be in knowledge of everything, one must approach a guru, a bona fide authority, a spiritual master
- This is the Vedic process for receiving knowledge. One must approach the proper person, the guru, and submissively listen to him expound transcendental knowledge
- To understand these subjects, we should be careful to approach Krsna's representative. We should not approach a bogus guru, who is like a blind man trying to lead other blind men
W
- We have to approach to a guru, tattva-darsi. Tattva-darsi. Tattva-darsi means . . . what is tattva? Tattva means truth. One who has seen the truth. We have to approach such tattva-darsi
- We should not jump over Krsna without the help of guru. That is not possible. You must go through. Because Krsna says, "Actually one who is serious to understand higher transcendental subject matter, he must approach guru." These are Vedic injunction
Y
- You cannot learn to become a perfect human being without accepting guru. Then you remain a rascal. Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet. That is the Vedic injunction. If you want to learn that transcendental science, you must approach a guru
- You must approach a guru who has seen the truth. Then surrender unto him. Then serve him. And then make question. Everything will be revealed. These are the statement of Bhagavad-gita
- You must approach guru where you can surrender. Otherwise don't make guru. And the guru also should not accept such rascal as disciple. First of all, the thing is surrender
- Your first business is to approach bona fide guru and take his asraya. Otherwise there is no devotion