Category:Becoming a Spiritual Master
Theme Analysis
In a revolutionary move, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu opened the position of spiritual master to everyone, regardless of caste, birth, or social status. The only qualification He established is knowledge of the science of Krsna (krsna-tattva-vetta). Śrīla Prabhupāda echoes this instruction, urging all his disciples to become spiritual masters by strictly following the disciplic succession. This category explores the democratizing yet rigorous nature of this duty.
- The Universal Order: Lord Caitanya's command is amara ajnaya guru hana—"By My order, become a spiritual master." This instruction is not limited to a select few but is a call to action for every sincere follower to deliver the people of their land.
- The Qualification: One need not be a born brahmana or a sannyasi to become a guru. Whether one is a sudra, a householder, or even born in a family of dog-eaters, if they know the science of Krsna, they are qualified to teach. Conversely, a scholarly brahmana without devotion is unfit.
- The Peon Principle: Becoming a spiritual master does not mean becoming God or manufacturing new philosophy. It means becoming a faithful servant who delivers the message of Bhagavad-gita "as it is," like a peon delivering a letter.
- Grave Responsibility: While the process is simple, the responsibility is heavy. One should not become a spiritual master, father, or husband if they cannot save their dependents from the cycle of birth and death. It is not a position for profit, fame, or livelihood.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Everyone Should Become a Spiritual Master.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Heavy Responsibility of Becoming a Spiritual Master.
Subcategories
This category has the following 11 subcategories, out of 11 total.
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Pages in category "Becoming a Spiritual Master"
The following 152 pages are in this category, out of 152 total.
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- All of you become spiritual masters. Your duty is simply to talk to whomever you meet of Krsna, or of the instructions given by Krsna
- Amara ajnaya guru hana tara ei desa
- Instruct everyone to follow the orders of Lord Sri Krsna as they are given in the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam. In this way become a spiritual master and try to liberate everyone in this land
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- A disciple of Kali cannot become an acarya by the decision of some high-court. Mundane votes have no jurisdiction to elect a Vaisnava acarya. A Vaisnava acarya is self-effulgent, and there is no need for any court judgment
- A husband should be so enlightened that he should become the spiritual master of his wife in order to enlighten her in the advancement of Krsna consciousness
- A peon's duty is that he must sincerely carry out the order of the postmaster and deliver the letter to the proper person. That is their duty. Similarly, this parampara system is like that. Every one of us should become a spiritual master
- A real brahmana is the natural teacher or spiritual master. Unless one has Vedic knowledge, one cannot become a spiritual master
- A scholarly brahmana expert in all subjects of Vedic knowledge is unfit to become a spiritual master without being a Vaisnava, but a person born in a family of a lower caste can become a spiritual master if is a Vaisnava - Padma Purana
- A spiritual master simply must be conversant in the essence of the sastra; he must understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Only then can one become a spiritual master
- According to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, anyone who is conversant in the transcendental knowledge, or the science of Godhead, be he a brahmana or a sudra, a householder or a sannyasi, is eligible to become a spiritual master
- According to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu: A person may be a brahmana, a sannyasi, a sudra or whatever, but if he is well conversant in the science of Krsna, he can become a guru - CC Madhya 8.128
- According to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s philosophy, anyone who knows the science of Krsna can become a spiritual master, without reference to whether or not he is a brahmana or sannyasi
- Acknowledging the benediction offered to him by Krsna, he (Brahma) became the original spiritual master of all living entities
- Actually the brahmana is supposed to be the spiritual master of all other varnas, or classes, but as far as Krsna consciousness is concerned, everyone is capable of becoming a spiritual master because knowledge in KC is on the platform of the spirit soul
- After the disappearance of Srila Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami in Vrndavana, Srila Jiva Gosvami became the acarya of all the Vaisnavas in Bengal, Orissa and the rest of the world, and it is he who used to guide them in their devotional service
- Although a follower may not be a liberated person, if he follows the supreme, liberated God, his actions are naturally liberated from the contamination of the material nature. Lord Caitanya therefore says: "By My order you may become a spiritual master."
- Although one is situated as a brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra, brahmacari, vanaprastha, grhastha or sannyasi, if he is conversant in the science of Krsna he can become a spiritual master as vartma-pradarsaka-guru, diksa-guru or siksa-guru
- Anyone following the order of Lord Caitanya under the guidance of His bona fide representative can become a spiritual master
- Anyone from any part of the world who becomes well conversant in the science of Krsna becomes a pure devotee and a spiritual master for the general mass of people and may reclaim them by purification of heart
- Anyone who has become competent to control the tongue, to control the mind, to control the anger, to control the belly & control the genital, if 6 kind of control is there, he is fit for becoming spiritual master; he can make disciples all over the world
- 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
- As Narada Muni was expert physician for curing material disease, similarly, he made Vyasadeva expert physician; Vyasadeva made Madhvacarya expert physician. So one has to come down in that disciplic succession and become bona fide spiritual master
- As soon as one is liberated he is immediately a resident of Krishna Loka, and anyone who knows the truth of Krishna can become Spiritual Master. That is the version of Lord Caitanya
- Authority to become the spiritual master
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- BG (10.10): "To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me." Krsna does not become the direct spiritual master unless one is fully trained by His representative spiritual master
- Bhagavata says that, "If you cannot develop the spiritual life of your dependent, then don't become a spiritual master, don't become a teacher, don't become a father, don't become a husband." These things are restricted
- By His order only, one should become a spiritual master and cooperate with the Lord. One should not become a spiritual master for one's personal benefit, for some material gain or as an avenue of business or occupation for earning livelihood
- By the grace of the Supreme Lord Visnu, anyone can be completely purified, become a preacher of Krsna consciousness, and become the spiritual master of the entire world. This principle is accepted in all Vedic literature
- By the mercy of the Supreme Lord, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, everyone became a first-class devotee. Later they became teachers or spiritual masters and liberated the entire world
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- Caitanya Mahaprabhu does not follow the formality, only the sannyasis should be the spiritual master. Anyone who knows the science of Krsna, he can be spiritual master
- Caitanya Mahaprabhu proved that a person like Ramananda Raya, although born in a sudra family and situated in the grhastha-asrama, can become the spiritual master of such exalted personalities as Himself and Pradyumna Misra
- Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, amara ajnaya: "On My order." That is the crucial point. One does not become spiritual master by his own whims. That is not spiritual master. He must be ordered by superior authority
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- Even though a person may be born in a very respectable brahmana family, he cannot become a bona fide spiritual master if he is not a devotee of the Lord
- Every student is expected to become Acarya
- Everyone can become spiritual master if he presents the instruction as it is. Not that "I am now advanced. I can change the process what I received from spiritual master." That is rascaldom
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- First of all you have to select who can be your spiritual master. That requires some knowledge. Or you have to behave with a person to understand, "Whether he is fit to become my spiritual master?" Then you should offer yourself to be a student
- Following the instructions of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His disciplic succession, one can become a spiritual master, for the process is very easy. One can go everywhere and anywhere to preach the instructions of Krsna
- From the life of Narada Muni it is distinct that although He was a conditioned soul in His previous life, there was no impediment of His becoming the Spiritual Master
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- He (a disciple) must not take on unlimited disciples. This means that a candidate who has successfully followed the first 12 items can also become a spiritual master himself, just as a student becomes a monitor in class with a limited number of disciples
- He (Arjuna) asks Krsna to become his spiritual master and teach him. The lessons given by Sri Krsna are not simply meant for Arjuna but for everyone
- He (Caitanya) has openly said that anyone - doesn't matter in what, which family or in which country he has taken his birth, anyone who knows this science of Krsna, he's eligible to become a Vaisnava or a spiritual master
- He must not take on unlimited disciples. This means that a candidate who has successfully followed the first twelve items can also become a spiritual master himself, just as a student becomes a monitor in class with a limited number of disciples
- Highly exalted brahmanas think that unless one is born in a brahmana family, one cannot become a spiritual master and teach the Absolute Truth
- How everyone can become spiritual master? A spiritual master must have sufficient knowledge, so many other qualification
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- I (Prabhupada) shall send chanted beads for him if you recommend. As we are doing here. Don't be allured by such maya. I am training you all to become future Spiritual Masters
- I am old man. If some of you at least understand this science and take up this science, you become future hope of this country or the world. That is my request to you, that you should take this chance and become a spiritual master for all the people
- I cannot control even my tongue and control my genital, and I become spiritual master? This is nonsense
- I hope that all of you, men, women, boys and girls, become spiritual master and follow this principle. Spiritual master - simply, sincerely, follow the principles and speak to the general public
- If one becomes a guru, he is automatically a brahmana. Sometimes a caste guru says that ye krsna-tattva-vetta, sei guru haya means that one who is not a brahmana may become a siksa-guru or a vartma-pradarsaka-guru but not an initiator guru
- If one is advanced in the science of Krsna consciousness, regardless of his position in human society, he may become a spiritual master
- If one is born in a family of dog-eaters but is a pure devotee of the Lord, he can become a spiritual master." The conclusion is that one cannot become a spiritual master unless he is a pure devotee of the Lord
- If one is born in the family of candalas yet is well versed in Krsna consciousness, he can become a guru
- If they see You just once, even women, children, old men, meat-eaters and members of the lowest caste immediately chant the holy name of Krsna, dance like madmen and become spiritual masters capable of delivering the whole world
- If we say that our Spiritual Master is Krishna, then the conclusion is that if we become Spiritual Master some day, then we will also become Krishna. Please try to understand how dangerous this kind of reasoning is
- If you want to become recognized by Krsna very quickly, you take up this process of becoming spiritual master, present the Bhagavad-gita as it is, your life is perfect
- In ancient days there was even a hunter named Dharma, who became a spiritual master for many people
- In the spiritual field nobody can become a bona fide spiritual master by dissatisfying his spiritual master
- Instruct everyone to follow the orders of Lord Sri Krsna as they are given in Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam. In this way become a spiritual master and try to liberate everyone in this land - CC Madhya 7.128 quotes in SB 10.2.19
- It is best not to accept any disciples. One has to become purified at home by chanting the Hare Krsna and preaching the principles enunciated by Sri Caitanya. Thus one can become a spiritual master and be freed from the contamination of material life
- It is especially the case in the acarya families (that the children receive a spiritual impetus from the very beginning of their life). Such families are very learned and devoted by tradition and training, & thus they become spiritual masters. BG 1972 p
- It is not easy job to become a spiritual master. Yes. Then when it is overloaded, you'll suffer
- It is not that woman cannot be acarya. Generally, they do not become. In very special case. But Jahnavi-devi was accepted as, but she did not declare
- It is not very difficult to become spiritual master. Simply you have to become very serious and sincere to the service of Krsna. Therefore Sukadeva Gosvami, variyan esa te prasnah (SB 2.1.1): Loka-hitam: It will be beneficial to the whole human society
- It is said in Padma Purana: A scholarly brahmana expert in all subjects of Vedic knowledge is unfit to become a spiritual master without being a Vaisnava, but a person born in a family of a lower caste can become a spiritual master if he is a Vaisnava
- It is said in Vedic literatures - a person born in a family of a lower caste can become a spiritual master if he is a Vaisnava, or Krsna conscious. BG 1972 purports
- It is said in Vedic literatures - A scholarly brahmana, expert in all subjects of Vedic knowledge, is unfit to become a spiritual master without being a Vaisnava, or expert in the science of Krsna consciousness. BG 1972 purports
- It is understood that the chanters have already studied all the Vedic literature. The specific word used here is anucuh, which means that because they have already completed all those recommended acts, they have become qualified to be spiritual masters
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- Janma sarthaka kari' kara para-upakara (CC Adi 9.41). This is Caitanya. First of all, make your life successful. That successful means yei krsna-tattva-vetta sei guru haya (CC Madhya 8.128), to understand Krsna thoroughly. Then you become guru
- Just like I have got many Godbrothers, they are all acting. Similarly, all these disciples which I am making, initiating, they are being trained to become future spiritual masters
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- Kardama Muni was Devahuti's husband, but because he instructed her on how to achieve spiritual perfection, he naturally became her spiritual master also
- Kiba sudra kiba vipra nyasi kene naya, yei krsna-tattva-vetta, tattva-vetta, sei guru haya (CC Madhya 8.128). He becomes spiritual master. It doesn't matter what he is. Sudra, or vipra it does not matter
- Knowledge means ultimately he must know what is God. That is knowledge. Ye krsna tattva vetta sei guru haya. Anyone who knows Krsna, he becomes guru. Otherwise not
- Krsna's speaking is there in the Bhagavad-gita. You simply repeat what Krsna says. You become spiritual master. It is not very difficult
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- Lord Caitanya advised everyone to spread the word of Krsna. He advised, All of you become spiritual masters. Your duty is simply to talk to whomever you meet of Krsna or of the instructions given by Krsna
- Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu says: "Anyone who knows this science (Krsna Consciousness), he becomes spiritual master. It doesn't matter what he is." He has actually said: kiba sudra kiba vipra nyasi kene naya yei krsna-tattva-vetta, sei 'guru' haya
- Lord Caitanya's order is to become a spiritual master under the direction of Him by following the regulative principles, chanting daily at least sixteen rounds of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, & preaching the cult of Krsna consciousness all over the world
- Lord Caitanya, therefore, gave His valuable opinion that although a person may not be born in a brahmana family, if he knows Krsna or the science of Krsna consciousness he is more than a brahmana, and he is quite fit to become a spiritual master
- Lord Siva actually became the spiritual master of the ten sons (of Pracinabarhi), and in turn his disciples took his words so seriously that simply by meditating upon his instructions (dhyayantah) they became perfect. This is the secret of success
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- No one should become a spiritual master - nor a relative, father, mother, worshipable Deity or husband - if he cannot help a person escape the imminent path of death - SB 5.5.18
- Nobody can become a spiritual master who has no reference to the scriptures and these qualities. Nobody can be accepted as a qualified man, he has not . . . if one has not developed his character through the scripture under the instruction of guru
- Nobody can become spiritual master if he has no knowledge. If he's a speculator, he cannot become a spiritual master
- Nobody can preach, nobody can become a spiritual master, without obtaining power from the right source
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- One can become a bona fide spiritual master if he has sufficient knowledge of the science of Krsna, Krsna consciousness
- One can immediately become a spiritual master by having full faith in the transcendental words of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and by following His instructions
- One does not become spiritual master by his own whims. That is not spiritual master. He must be ordered by superior authority. Then he's spiritual master
- One should not be eager to become a spiritual master cheaply for the sake of profit and fame, but should become a spiritual master only for the service of the Lord
- One should not become a caste guru and sell mantras for the benefit of mundane customers, nor should one make disciples for a livelihood. All these activities are offensive
- One should not become a pseudo spiritual master as a matter of business to meet one's family expenditures; one must be an expert spiritual master to deliver the disciple from the clutches of impending death
- One should not become a spiritual master unless he has attained the platform of uttama-adhikari
- One who cannot deliver his dependent from the path of birth and death should never become a spiritual master, a relative, a father or mother, or a worshipable demigod, nor should such a person become a husband
- One who cannot deliver his dependents from the path of repeated birth and death should never become a spiritual master, a father, a husband, a mother or a worshipable demigod
- One who does not have control over the senses and mind is called a godasa, or a servant of the senses, and cannot become a spiritual master
- One who does so (chanting a minimum of sixteen rounds a day and preaching the Bhagavad-gita As It Is) is quite fit to become a spiritual master for the entire world
- One who has not surrendered to Krsna, how he can become guru? He's a cheater. Yei krsna-tattva-vetta sei guru haya
- One who is conversant with Vedic wisdom is a brahmana. And only a brahmana who is a pure Vaisnava and knows all the intricacies of the science of Krsna can become a spiritual master
- One who is not authorized by the Lord cannot become a spiritual master
- One who is not well versed in the authorized scriptures and not able to answer all such inquiries should not pose as a spiritual master for the matter of material gain. It is illegal to become a spiritual master if one is unable to deliver the disciple
- Our method is very simple. If one is fortunate enough to meet a bona fide spiritual master and if he acts strictly under his discipline, he also becomes within a very short time another spiritual master
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- Persons born in brahmana families think that because they execute the ritualistic ceremonies recommended in the Vedas and follow the principles of smrti, they alone can become spiritual masters of society
- Pundarika Vidyanidhi became the spiritual master of Gadadhara Pandita and an intimate friend of Svarupa Damodara's
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- Regarding your question about the husband becoming the Spiritual Master of the wife, anyone who can give instructing in spiritual life is treated as Spiritual Master. There are two kinds of Spiritual Master, initiator and instructor
- Remain always a servant of your spiritual master and present the thing as you have heard. You'll be spiritual master. This is secret. You should know it. Don't try to become overintelligent. That will spoil. Evam parampara
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- Sannyasa order is the topmost order in social division. So whatever he may be - the only qualification, if he knows the science of Krsna, he becomes spiritual master
- Since both Uddhava and Maitreya were directly instructed by the Lord, both had the authority to become the spiritual master of Vidura or anyone else
- Sometimes, if a spiritual master is not properly authorized and only on his own initiative becomes a spiritual master, he may be carried away by an accumulation of wealth and large numbers of disciples. His is not a very high grade of devotional service
- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu called Pundarika Vidyanidhi - father, and He gave him the title Premanidhi. Pundarika Vidyanidhi later became the spiritual master of Gadadhara Pandita and an intimate friend of Svarupa Damodara’s
- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu says - Whomever you meet, instruct him on the teachings of Krsna. In this way, on My order, become a spiritual master and deliver the people of this country - CC Madhya 7.128
- Sri Sukadeva Gosvami continued: Narada, having become the spiritual master of Citraketu, instructed him fully in this prayer because Citraketu was fully surrendered. O Pariksit, Narada then left with the great sage Angira for Brahmaloka
- Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura also states that although one is situated as a brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra, brahmacari, vanaprastha, grhastha or sannyasi, if he is conversant in the science of Krsna he can become a spiritual master
- Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura explains that unless one is directly empowered by the causeless mercy of Krsna, one cannot become the spiritual master of the entire world - jagad-guru
- Srila Gaura Kisora das Babaji was unable to sign his name, and yet he became the spiritual master of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja, the most erudite learned scholar of His time
- Srotriyam, srotriyam means one who has accepted the Vedic literature, the sastra, scripture, as the guidance. He can be . . . not a extravagant upstart, he makes some group and religious principle of his own and become a guru. No, he's not guru
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- The Mayavadis cannot understand this. They think, "Because the spiritual master has to be accepted as God and because I have become a spiritual master, I have become God." This is rebellious
- The only qualification is that he be conversant with the science of Krsna, Krsna consciousness. That alone makes one perfectly eligible to become a spiritual master. This is the conclusion of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in His discussions with Ramananda Raya
- The prime symptom of one who has become a spiritual master in disciplic succession is that he is one hundred percent fixed in bhakti-yoga
- The professional heads of various spiritual societies or communities often may not have attained to this standard of spiritual perfection and so may not possess the qualifications required for being a spiritual master
- There are many spiritual masters, but Rsabhadeva advises that one should not become a spiritual master if he is unable to save his disciple from the path of birth and death
- There are symptoms which the prospective devotee evinces, and both the disciple and the spiritual master must see whether each other is eligible to become either a bona fide spiritual master or a bona fide student
- There is no bar against anyone; anyone can become a spiritual master provided he knows the science of Krsna. This is the only qualification, and this science in essence is contained in Bhagavad-gita
- There is no bar for anyone, that one cannot become the spiritual master. Everyone can become spiritual master, provided he knows the science of Krsna. That is the only qualification. And that is very reasonable
- There is sannyasi also, brahmacari, grhastha. We have no such distinction. Yei krsna bhaje sei guru haya. Anyone who is in Krsna consciousness and full in the understanding of science of Krsna, he can become a spiritual master, a teacher
- These are the sastric injunctions (if one is candalas but well versed in KC, he can become a guru), and strictly following these injunctions, Sri Caitanya, as a grhastha named Visvambhara, was initiated by a sannyasi-guru named Isvara Puri
- They (materialistic persons who become preachers, gurus, religionists or philosophers) spread a network of business schemes to collect money for sense gratification by cheating people in general, who have no knowledge of pure devotional service
- Thus being fully trained to preach and become a spiritual master himself, he is considered first-class. A first-class devotee never deviates from the principles of higher authority
- To become a bona fide spiritual master there is no difficulty, simply if we carry the message of Krsna as it is, without any adulteration
- To become a spiritual master is not easy job. One must be very learned scholar and must have full realization of the self and everything
- To become a spiritual master is not very wonderful thing. Simply one has to become sincere soul. That's all
- To spread KC, one need only be cognizant of the science of the spirit soul. It does not matter whether one is a brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra, sannyasi, grhastha or whatever. If one simply understands this science, he can become a spiritual master
- Two things. Without being representative of Krsna, nobody can become spiritual master. Krsna-sakti vina nahe tara pravartana. Without being empowered by Krsna, nobody can preach, nobody can become a spiritual master
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- Unfortunately, it happens that someone who is not fit to become a spiritual master may approach wealthy persons to contribute for temple constructions
- Unless one is devoted, he cannot give everything to the Supreme Lord. Unless one can do so, he cannot become a spiritual master, husband, father or mother
- Unless one is fully aware of Krsna, one cannot become spiritual master. The subject matter itself is difficult. Therefore you don't find many spiritual masters
- Unless you become a dhirah, you cannot understand what is spiritual life, what is spirit. It is not a bogus thing, that I manufacture something, concoct something, and do something, and I become a leader, I become a spiritual master. This is all nonsense
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- We are interested in preparing acarya, but the etiquette is, at least for the period the guru is present, one should not become acarya. Even if he is complete he should not
- We should take the instructions of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the spiritual master of the whole universe, to understand how one becomes a spiritual master and a disciple
- Whatever position one may have, if he is fully conversant with the science of Krsna, Krsna consciousness, he can become a bona fide spiritual master, initiator or teacher of the science
- Whatever you are hearing from me, whatever you are learning from me, you have to distribute the same in toto without any addition or alteration. Then all of you become the spiritual master
- When a devotee is perfectly qualified in chanting the transcendental vibration of the holy name, he is quite fit to become a spiritual master and to deliver all the people of the world
- Whether one is a brahmana, a sannyasi or a sudra, regardless of what he is, he can become a spiritual master if he knows the science of Krsna
- Who is bona fide spiritual master? That is also described, srotriyam brahma-nistham: "One who has heard from his spiritual master." This is... Spiritual master becomes by disciplic succession
- 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
- Without being empowered by the direct potency of Lord Krsna to fulfill His desire and without being specifically favored by the Lord, no human being can become the spiritual master of the whole world
- Without being specifically favored by the Lord, no human being can become the spiritual master of the whole world. He certainly cannot succeed by mental concoction, which is not meant for devotees or religious people