Category:Direction of a Spiritual Master
Theme Analysis
This category establishes the absolute necessity of acting under the direction of a bona fide spiritual master to achieve success in Krsna consciousness. Srila Prabhupada explains that just as a ship requires a captain to cross a dangerous ocean, the conditioned soul requires a guru to navigate the material world. The direction of the spiritual master is not different from the direction of Krsna; they act as parallel lines. By surrendering one's independence and following the guru's instructions regarding daily duties, worship, and preaching, the disciple's life becomes perfect. The quotes warn against "manufacturing" one's own process and emphasize that even great souls like Dhruva Maharaja and Arjuna succeeded only because they strictly followed their spiritual masters.
- The Captain of the Ship: The material world is an ocean of nescience, and the human body is a boat; the spiritual master is the expert captain who directs the boat to the spiritual destination.
- Identity with Krsna's Will: The spiritual master is the transparent via medium; obeying his order is identical to obeying the Supreme Lord.
- Practical Engagement: Spiritual direction is not abstract; it involves specific instructions on how to use one's energy, money, and specific talents (like art or business) for Krsna.
- Guaranteed Perfection: There is no risk of failure if one strictly adheres to the guidance of the guru, whereas independent attempts, no matter how great, are destined to fail.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Success through the Direction of the Spiritual Master.
Subcategories
This category has the following 3 subcategories, out of 3 total.
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Pages in category "Direction of a Spiritual Master"
The following 156 pages are in this category, out of 156 total.
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- A complete progressive march on the return path home, back to Godhead, will depend on the instructions of the revealed scriptures directed by a realized devotee
- A devotee must work under the direction of a bona fide spiritual master, not imitate the best devotee
- A disciple must first decide that he should worship the Supreme Lord, and then the spiritual master will give the disciple correct directions
- Acarya does not write any book of sex psychology, Freud's philosophy. That is not acarya; he is a rascal. Acarya gives direction how one can make advance in spiritual life. That is acarya
- According to this process, one hears, chants, remembers and engages in Deity worship, acting under the directions of the spiritual master. These are the essential primary activities of devotional service
- Actually, any activities performed favorably for the satisfaction of the Lord, under the direction of the spiritual master, are spiritual
- Actually, it is for this purpose (to teach the path of spiritual liberation) that Narada Muni compiled his Bhakti-sutra and gave directions in the Narada-pancaratra
- Aditi had performed the yajna of payo-vrata under the direction of her husband, Kasyapa, & therefore she thought of the Lord as Yajna-pati. She was completely satisfied to see the master & Lord of the entire universe come before her to fulfill her desire
- All the camps of our various camps may at least cooperate in the matter of special activities, and I may be able to provide any number of men who may be now inclined to come here and work under my direction
- Although he (Dhruva Maharaja) was only a five-year-old prince with a very delicate body, he was successful because he followed the directions of his spiritual master, Narada
- An artist can attain perfection simply by performing artistic work under the direction of the spiritual master
- Anyone can become a fully qualified brahmana under the direction of a spiritual master. Prahlada Maharaja provided a vivid example of how to think of the spiritual master and accept his directions calmly
- Anyone can serve the Supreme Lord by performing his prescribed duties under the direction of a spiritual master, or representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. No one should think that his prescribed duties are inferior
- Arjuna is representing the perplexed position of the materialistic person. So under the circumstances, a guru is required to give us real direction
- As far as possible, every householder, by the direction of the spiritual master, must install the Deity of Visnu, forms like Radha-Krsna, Laksmi-Narayana, Sita-Rama, Nrsimha, Varaha, Gaura-Nitai, Matsya, Kurma and salagrama-sila
- As soon as you become Krsna conscious and you follow the rules and regulations under the direction of your bona fide spiritual master, at that time you become yourself bona fide
- At such a time (when a devotee is perplexed) the Supersoul immediately appears, provided the devotee is purified in heart by following the directions of the spiritual master
- At the age of 70 I had the energy to go outside India and apart from other various duties, engage myself in writing books even at night without sleep. All these have been done in accordance with the direction of my Prabhupada Gurudeva
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- Because the senses are material, it is not at all possible to realize the Transcendence by them. Therefore the senses have to be spiritualized by the prescribed method under the direction of the spiritual master
- Because the spiritual master is the representative of the Supreme Lord, his direction is directly the direction of the Supreme Lord. BG 1972 purports
- Brahmacari means celibacy, live under the direction of the teacher and accept all kinds of hardship under the teacher's or spiritual master direction. Children, they can easily take it
- By discharging devotional service under the direction of the bona fide spiritual master, or acarya, he (the living entity) develops love of Godhead
- By immediately offering obeisances (dandavat) unto the spiritual master and by strictly following his directions, the student becomes advanced. Maharaja Priyavrata was doing all these things regularly
- By one's personal attempts, therefore, one cannot get free from the clutches of material nature. One has to accept a bona fide spiritual master and work according to his direction
- By practicing this regulated devotional service under the direction of the spiritual master, certainly one awakens his dormant love of Godhead. This process is called abhidheya
- By serving a bona fide spiritual master, gradually a conditioned soul becomes detached from material enjoyment and invariably makes progress in spiritual realization under the direction of the spiritual master
- By studying Srimad-Bhagavatam under the direction of the bona fide spiritual master, one can perfectly understand the science of Krsna, the nature of the material and spiritual worlds, and the aim of life. Srimad-Bhagavatam amalam puranam
- By such transcendental devotional service (under the direction of the spiritual master), the Lord is served. I (Gajendra) offer my respectful obeisances unto Him
- By the mercy of guru, by the mercy of Krsna, one can make advancement in spiritual understanding. So one must be sincere. Then every direction is there
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- Devotional service can be practiced with one's senses under the direction of a bona fide spiritual master
- Devotional service is so perfect that simply by following the rules and regulations and executing them under the direction of the spiritual master, one is liberated, as it is said herein (in SB 3.33.10), from the clutches of maya, even in this body
- Devotional service may be regulative or affectionate. One who has not developed transcendental affection for Krsna should conduct his life according to the directions and regulations of the scriptures and the spiritual master
- Dhruva Maharaja conquered the Supreme Lord because at a very tender age, only five years old, he underwent all the austerities of devotional service. This devotional service was of course executed under the direction of a great sage, Narada
- Directions are given to the sincere devotee in two ways: one is by way of the saints, scriptures and spiritual master, and the other is by way of the Lord Himself, who resides within the heart of everyone
- Don't do anything which is against the will of the SM. Because we cannot see Krsna eye to eye at the present moment. The direction is coming through disciplic succession. We should follow favorably to cultivate KC. Then our life is successful
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- Ecstatic love of Godhead can be potently invoked simply by following the rules and regulations of devotional service as they are prescribed in scriptures, under the direction of a bona fide spiritual master
- Even in ordinary activities, we first consider gain and loss, and then we act. Similarly, an intelligent person must consider the entire process of material existence and then act intelligently, following the directions of the bona fide spiritual master
- Everyone of us has got a certain amount of good energy derived from Krishna, and when that energy is employed under the expert direction of Spiritual Master, one's life becomes successful. That is the secret of Krishna Consciousness
- Everything under the direction of the spiritual master. Why you are asking? You do not know these things? Why do you ask this question? It must be, according to the direction of the spiritual master
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- Generally, a man is born as an ordinary being, and by the purificatory processes he is born for the second time. When he sees a new light and seeks direction for spiritual progress, he approaches a spiritual master for instruction in the Vedas
- Grhastha devotees must adopt the arcana-vidhi, or Deity worship according to the suitable arrangements and directions given by the spiritual master
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- He (a common man) has to take shelter of a bona fide spiritual master and work under his direction faithfully and sincerely; then he becomes perfect, without a doubt
- He (Arjuna) is perplexed, "Which one, which side will be glorious? I shall stop fighting or not fighting?" When you are in such perplexity, what to do and what not to do, so in order to get right direction, you must approach the spiritual master
- He (God) is the witness of everyone's body, nothing is unknown to Him. He knows what we need. Our duty, therefore, is to execute devotional service sincerely, under the direction of the spiritual master
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- I do not mean to impose upon you such strictures (should rather fast than taking food out of his own accord), but the purport is that a brahmacari should not do anything without being directed by the Spiritual Master
- If a spiritual master cannot direct his disciples to become free of sinful activities, he becomes responsible for their sinful acts. These subtle laws of nature are unknown to the present leaders of society
- If he makes progress under the direction of the Spiritual Master, then he revives his original Krsna Consciousness in full and thus he regains his position in the eternal Kingdom of God
- If one regularly executes such devotional service (regular execution of the regulative principles mentioned in the sastras, as ordered and directed by the spiritual master), he will certainly attain perfection in due course of time
- If one takes directions from the experienced spiritual master one can go back home, back to Godhead; otherwise, one may return to the cycle of birth and death
- If one takes to spiritual life under the direction of Narada Muni or his representative and thus engages himself in the service of the Lord, he qualifies himself to see the Lord face to face
- If such persons (demoniac persons) are fortunate enough to be guided by a spiritual master who can direct them to the path of Vedic wisdom, they can get out of this entanglement and ultimately achieve the supreme goal. BG 1972 purports
- If the acarya, guru, is satisfied, then we must know certainly that Krsna is satisfied. So this is the principle, and the acaryas give us direction. It is not very difficult. Simply we have to become very serious and sincere. Then everything is all right
- If this principle (remaining with the family and trying to become purified by chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra regularly under the direction of a spiritual master) is followed by everyone, there is no need to accept sannyasa
- If you follow this simple process (chanting sixteen rounds & avoiding ten offenses) faithfully under the direction of your Spiritual Master & try to understand our philosophy by regular study, you will continue to progress your lives in KC
- In all phases of life one has to perform devotional activities under the direction of the spiritual master in order to attain perfection in bhakti-yoga. It is not that one has to confine or narrow one's activities. Krsna is all-pervading
- In the beginning one must accept a bona fide spiritual master, and if a devotee follows strictly the direction of the spiritual master, as Dhruva followed the instruction of Narada Muni, then it is not difficult for him to achieve the favor of the Lord
- In the beginning, the senses are engaged by the direction of the spiritual master and sastra, and after realization, when the same senses are purified, the engagement continues
- In the Krsna conscious state, the living entity engages in devotional service under the direction of the spiritual master. In this way he gets out of the clutches of maya and takes shelter under the lotus feet of Lord Krsna
- In this way, one can perfect his life by engaging in devotional service under the directions of the sastras and the spiritual master. Devahuti understands this and is thus submitting to her son just as Arjuna submitted to Sri Krsna on the battlefield
- It is the duty of every sincere devotee to accept the arca-vigraha at home or in the temple and worship the form of the Lord as advised in authorized scriptures and directed by the spiritual master
- It would be better to remain with his family and try to become purified by chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra regularly under the direction of a spiritual master. This is the instruction of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
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- Jiva Gosvami has written in the beginning of his Tattva-sandarbha - I, a tiny living entity known as jiva, am trying to assort the events of the book chronologically, consulting the direction of great personalities like Madhvacarya
- Jiva Gosvami has written in the beginning of his Tattva-sandarbha - I, a tiny living entity known as jiva, am trying to assort the events of the book chronologically, consulting the direction of great personalities like Ramanujacarya
- Jiva Gosvami has written in the beginning of his Tattva-sandarbha - I, a tiny living entity known as jiva, am trying to assort the events of the book chronologically, consulting the direction of senior Vaisnavas in the disciplic succession
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- Karyam means "It is my duty." That is real sannyasa. "Krsna wants that this Krsna consciousness movement must be spread. So this is my karyam. This is my duty. And the direction is my spiritual master. So I must do it." This is sannyasa
- Krsna consciousness is so exalted that one who is perfectly situated in Krsna consciousness, under the direction of the spiritual master, is fully satisfied by reading krsna-katha as found in Srimad-Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita and similar Vedic literatures
- Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami was not actually a direct disciple of Srila Rupa Gosvami, but he followed the instructions given by Rupa Gosvami in the BRS. He therefore acted according to the directions of Rupa Gosvami & prayed in every chapter for his mercy
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- Oh, you are playing in the battle? No, you should not manufacture anything. You should be directed by the spiritual master
- One cannot please Krsna by sitting idly; one must act according to the directions of the spiritual master for the sake of pleasing the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and then one will gradually come to the stage of pure devotional service
- One has to approach the spiritual master. He will give direction that "This boy is meant for becoming a brahmana." Everyone has got some tendency. From the tendency it should be designated. Or by work
- One has to develop his devotional service under the directions of a pure devotee, the spiritual master, and in accordance with the Vedic directions given in the Pancaratra and Bhagavata systems
- One must accept a spiritual master who comes in the disciplic succession and is a servant of the servant of the Lord. Under his direction, one must then engage one's three properties, namely his body, mind and words
- One must approach a spiritual master who has full knowledge of the Vedas and be faithfully directed by him in order to become a devotee of the Lord. Then the knowledge of the Vedas will be revealed
- One must receive instructions from the spiritual master and make inquiries in order to learn devotional service. (5) One must follow in the footsteps of the previous acaryas and follow the directions given by the spiritual master
- One must strictly chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra twenty-four hours daily. One may have other duties to perform under the direction of the spiritual master, but he must first abide by the spiritual master’s order to chant a certain number of rounds
- One should adhere to the lotus feet of Krsna very tightly and serve Him under the direction of the spiritual master. Thus in all conditions one will be akuto-bhaya, free from fear
- One who has unflinching devotion for the Supreme Lord and is directed by the spiritual master can see the Supreme Personality of Godhead by revelation. BG 1972 purports
- One who studies carefully, under the direction of a bona fide spiritual master, can understand the real knowledge that the SPG is actually the conductor of all the activities of the individual soul, and the controller of their results as well
- One who wishes to advance to the platform of raganuga-bhakti must follow the injunctions of the authoritative scriptures under the direction of the spiritual master
- Only one who executes his spiritual life under the direction of the spiritual master can achieve the mercy of Krsna. Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah
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- Please be happy in separation. I am separated from my Guru Maharaja since 1936 but I am always with him so long I work according to his direction
- Practice of bhakti-yoga, under the rules and regulations, with the direction of a spiritual master, will surely bring one to the stage of love of God. BG 1972 purports
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- Regardless of where he is situated, anyone whose only aim is to serve the Supreme Lord under the direction of the spiritual master is called jivan-mukta, or one who is liberated even with his material body
- Rupa mentions, Obeying the orders of the spiritual master with faith and devotion, 4) following in the footsteps of great acaryas (teachers) under the direction of the spiritual master, 5) inquiring from the spiritual master how to advance in KC
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- Sadhana-siddha refers to one who has become a devotee by regular execution of the regulative principles mentioned in the sastras, as ordered and directed by the spiritual master
- Service rendered to Krsna under the direction of the spiritual master is bona fide service because the spiritual master is the manifested representative of Krsna
- So Caitanya Mahaprabhu says the medium is sastra, and direction is the guru. Sastra also we cannot understand any book, what to speak of the scripture
- Sometimes the mind is compared to a maddened elephant. Without following the direction of a spiritual master one cannot control the mind and the senses
- Srila Jiva Gosvami has written in the beginning of his Tattva-sandarbha - I, a tiny living entity known as jiva, am trying to assort the events of the book chronologically, consulting the direction of great personalities like Sridhara Svami
- Stri, women, and vaisya and sudra, they're also considered not very in higher position. But Krsna says all of them, if they take to real path of devotional service under the direction of spiritual master, then that is sadhana-bhakti
- Such (transcendental) sound should be received from the transparent agency of the bona fide spiritual master, and the chanting may be practiced by the direction of the spiritual master. That will gradually lead us nearer to the Lord
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- Take direction from Krsna and take direction from Krsna's representative and you do it; then there is no karma-bandhanah. Karmani nirdaheti kintu ca bhakti-bhajam. Otherwise, we are bound up by the reaction of every act
- Thank you very much for your sincere effort in helping me carry out the directions of my Guru Maharaja
- The acarya or the spiritual master's duty is to give direction to the disciples how he can fix up his mind always on the lotus feet of Krsna. He should . . . he knows how to engage a particular devotee in a particular type of service
- The actions of the Krsna consciousness movement are directed by the previous acaryas, headed by Srila Rupa Gosvami; in the association of devotees following these principles, a devotee is able to perfectly maintain his transcendental position
- The best process for advancing in devotional service is to abide by the orders of the spiritual master, for only by his direction can one conquer the senses
- The bona fide spiritual master is the most confidential representative of the Lord, and one must receive direction from the spiritual master in the same spirit that Brahmaji received it from the Personality of Godhead, Lord Krsna
- The devotee engaged by the direction of the spiritual master in the transcendental loving service of the Lord contemplates as follows, "My dear Lord, You are the reservoir of pleasure"
- The execution of Krsna conscious activities with the body should be directed by the spiritual master and then performed with faith. The connection with the spiritual master is called initiation
- The Lord can be pleased only by a humble attitude in the service spirit. The more we render service unto the Lord under the direction of the spiritual master, the more we make advancement on the path approaching the Lord
- The names of these authorities are disclosed in the scriptures, and one has simply to follow them under the direction of the spiritual master. The spiritual master never deviates from the path of the authorities
- The neophyte devotee must act and work very laboriously under the direction of the spiritual master, and he must thus preach the cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
- The senses (of the serious candidate of easy journey to the Vaikuntha) have to be spiritualized by the prescribed method under the direction of the spiritual master
- The six Gosvamis, under the direction of Srila Rupa Gosvami and Srila Sanatana Gosvami, studied various Vedic literatures and picked up the essence of them, the devotional service of the Lord
- The sixty-four regulative principles (of devotional service) are as follows: (5) To follow in the footsteps of previous acaryas and follow the directions given by the spiritual master
- The spiritual master is the most beneficent friend, he is giving you direction from the sastra. Lokanam hita-karinau: "He is the real welfare worker for the human society"
- The spiritual master's order should be taken as the prime duty of life. If one gets a bona fide spiritual master and acts according to his direction, then his perfection of life in Krsna consciousness is guaranteed. BG 1972 purports
- The spiritual master, saintly persons and scriptures direct in the same way. There is no contradiction in these three sources. All actions done under such direction are free from the reactions of pious or impious activities. BG 1972 purports
- The Supreme Lord, Rsabhadeva, understood that His kingdom was His field of activities. He therefore showed Himself as an example and taught the duties of a householder by first accepting brahmacarya under the direction of spiritual masters
- The Vedas also instruct, tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet: (MU 1.2.12) one must accept a guru for proper direction if one is seriously inclined toward advancement in spiritual life
- The word mad-vyapasrayah means under the protection of the Supreme Lord. To be free from material contamination, a pure devotee acts under the direction of the Supreme Lord or His representative, the spiritual master. BG 1972 purports
- There are many regulative principles in the sastras and directions given by the spiritual master
- There is devotional service performed according to the direction of the spiritual master and the injunctions and regulative principles of sastra, and there is devotional service in the spiritual world, rendered directly in association with the SPG
- There is no difference between the spiritual master's instructions and the spiritual master himself. In his absence, therefore, his words of direction should be the pride of the disciple
- Therefore you have got spiritual master. Why he is there? Therefore you have to accept spiritual master who will give you direction. You cannot do it. If you manufacture your own..., then go to hell
- They declared some unfit person to become acarya. Then another man came, then another acarya, another acarya. So better remain a foolish person perpetually to be directed by Guru Maharaja. That is perfection
- Third-class devotee engages in devotional service according to the directions of the spiritual master, or engages out of family tradition, and worships the Deity of the Lord, but he is not cultivated in knowledge of devotional service
- This (Deity worship) is made possible by the direction of the spiritual master who knows the transcendental art and can show the candidate the proper method
- This (executing devotional service under the direction of a spiritual master) is the first principle of devotional service - adau gurv-asrayam
- Thus for unconditional life and self-realization one has to worship the Supreme Lord under the direction of the spiritual master
- Thus it is the duty of every sincere devotee to accept the arca-vigraha at home or in the temple and worship the form of the Lord as advised in authorized scriptures and directed by the spiritual master
- To achieve success in this way (by the association of pure devotees), one must first find the proper spiritual master and receive training under his direction. Then one can achieve faith in the Supreme. BG 1972 purports
- To act under the direction of a bona fide spiritual master with a motive to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead is pure devotional service
- To act under the direction of spiritual master... Spiritual master directs means he knows sastra. According to the direction of sastra or acaryas, he gives direction. And if we follow, that is called sadhana-bhakti
- To be under disciplinary activities means to be directed by the authorities. Don't manufacture anything. There are so many activities
- 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
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- Under the direction of the bona fide spiritual master, one should see how much service is being executed, and not simply in the matter of rituals
- Under the direction of the spiritual master one should - involuntarily practice some austerities
- Under the direction of the spiritual master the devotees may sell books in Krsna consciousness. But if the devotees think that the energy invested in selling books should be diverted into selling jewelry, that is not a very good idea
- Under the direction of the spiritual master, one must cultivate bhakti-yoga (SB 7.5.23). Then, even within this material world, although the Lord is not visible, a devotee can see Him. This is confirmed in BG 18.55 and in SB 11.14.21
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- Vedic civilization offers us all knowledge in the sastras, and if we live a regulated life under the direction of sastras and guru, all our material desires will be fulfilled; at the same time we will be able to go forward to liberation
- Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura says you have to follow the direction of the spiritual master. He's guiding as a leader. And if he's pleased, that means Krsna is pleased. Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah
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- We may either hear about Krsna, chant His names, worship Him or offer prayers. In any case, we should work under the directions of our spiritual master or Sri Krsna Himself
- We must engage in the nine processes of devotional service, the first of which is hearing (sravana). Then, under the direction of the spiritual master and the sastras, one can immediately become a liberated person
- We should always remember, Krishna is always full in Himself; He does not want a pinch of our help for his satisfaction, but if we try to satisfy Him in so many ways as directed by acaryas and scriptures, indirectly we become benefited by such activities
- What is important is that everyone must engage in Krishna's service under the direction of the spiritual master
- Whatever you are doing under my direction, it is going to my Spiritual Master and thus up to the Gosvamis and then to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Caitanya or Krsna
- When directed by a spiritual master acting as the captain, the boat can very easily cross the ocean of nescience. Furthermore, the boat is helped across by favorable winds, which are the instructions of Vedic knowledge
- When one is freed from all contamination and he acts in devotional service under the direction of the spiritual master, one is on the platform of naiskarma
- When one is sufficiently trained and acts in submissive faith and love for Krsna under the direction of the bona fide spiritual master, the dovetailing process becomes more firm and accurate
- When one transcends the modes of material nature and is fully situated in Krsna consciousness, he can perform anything and everything under the direction of the bona fide spiritual master. BG 1972 purports
- When the living entity perfectly performs spiritual activities under the direction of the spiritual master, he becomes perfect in knowledge and understands that he is not God but a servant of God
- Why this Gaudiya Matha failed? Because they tried to become more than guru. He, before passing away, he gave all direction and never said that "This man should be the next acarya"
- Without accepting a bona fide spiritual master coming in the disciplic succession, one cannot find out the real purpose of devotional service. Therefore one has to accept the shelter of a bona fide spiritual master and agree to be directed by him
- Working for Krishna is not different from chanting, but such work would be done under the direction of the Spiritual Master
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- You are under the direction of your spiritual master. If you see that the spiritual master is satisfied, then you should know that Krsna is satisfied. That is confirmed by Visvanatha Cakravarti: yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah
- You should know that it is all due to your sincerity of heart; when we are sincere, Krishna will always help us, either in external direction by the Spiritual Master, or internally by His Paramatma expansion
- Your specific talents are to be engaged under direction of the Spiritual Master