Category:Wants of a Spiritual Master
Theme Analysis
Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that the essence of spiritual life is submissive service to the bona fide spiritual master. True service is not whimsical; it means acting exactly according to whatever the spiritual master wants, assuming the humble position of a menial servant. Because a genuine guru has no material ambition for wealth or prestige, his only anxiety is to see that the entire world becomes Kṛṣṇa conscious. By dedicating one's life to executing the desires of the spiritual master—just as Śrīla Prabhupāda executed the desires of Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, and Rūpa Gosvāmī established the mission of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu—a disciple becomes perfectly aligned with the supreme will. Consequently, exalted Vaiṣṇavas like Prahlāda Mahārāja or Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura want absolutely nothing for their personal sense gratification. Their only prayers are for the spiritual welfare of others and the opportunity to remain in the association of pure devotees. Even when great authorities and spiritual masters like Nārada Muni deliver punishments, their underlying desire is always to ensure the conditioned soul's eternal spiritual remembrance.
- The Definition of Service: True devotional service means completely abandoning one's own agenda to fulfill whatever the spiritual master wants, acting with the unhesitating obedience of a menial servant.
- The Purity of the Guru's Desire: A bona fide spiritual master has no interest in material acquisitions or fame. His only want is to execute the will of the previous ācāryas and see the suffering souls become happy in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
- Selfless Prayers: Exalted Vaiṣṇavas reject all personal benedictions, including elevation to the highest planetary systems. They only want to pray for the deliverance of others and the eternal association of the Lord's pure devotees.
- The Compassion of the Sages: The actions and instructions of great spiritual authorities are solely intended to anchor the consciousness of the living entity to the Supreme Lord, ensuring their steady progress back to Godhead.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Service Means Whatever the Spiritual Master Wants.
Pages in category "Wants of a Spiritual Master"
The following 16 pages are in this category, out of 16 total.
B
- Before doing so (giving up life by jumping from Govardhana Hill in Vrndavana) he (Raghunatha dasa Gosvami) wanted to see the lotus feet of Srila Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami
- Bhaktivinoda Thakura says: If I forget You & take my birth as Lord Brahma, I don't want it. I don't want it - What is the use of taking a birth like Brahma? - But I shall like to take my birth as even a small insignificant insect where a devotee is there
- Brahma wanted to show some of his own power and see the power of Krsna, who was engaged in His childhood pastimes, playing as if with ordinary cowherd boys - SB 10.13.15
H
- He (Lord Siva) wanted to see the recent incarnation of Mohini-murti, which Lord Visnu had assumed to distribute the nectar generated from the churning of the ocean of milk
- His (Spiritual master's) only anxiety is how Krsna will be known all over the world. That's all. He has no ambition, pounds, shilling, pence. He only wants to know, only wants to see that everyone is devotee of Krsna and they are happy
S
- Service means whatever the spiritual master wants, "You do this," you must do it, just like a menial servant
- Sukracarya wanted to tell Bali Maharaja how he would be cheated by Lord Vamana. "You have promised three steps," he said. "But with only two steps, all your possessions will be finished. How then will you give Him a place for His third step"
T
- The great devotees relished the taste of unceasing devotional service of the Lord, hearing, chanting, etc., and by developing the same taste (as the great sages), Narada wanted also to hear and chant the glories of the Lord. BG 1972 purports
- The illusory, material energy is represented by Durgadevi, who is the wife of Girisa, or Lord Siva. Durgadevi could not captivate Lord Siva's mind, but now that Lord Siva wanted to see Lord Visnu's feminine form
- The SP of Godhead (Nrsimhadeva) said in effect, "I fulfill the desires of everyone. Since you (Prahlada Maharaja) are My devotee, whatever you want for yourself will naturally be given, but if you pray for anyone else, that prayer also will be fulfilled"
- This idea of doll exhibitions to demonstrate our philosophy has long been proposed, and my Guru Maharaja was very keen to execute this idea. Therefore I am just trying to give some shape to what my Guru Maharaja wanted
W
- We Gaudiya Vaisnava, we are known as rupanuga. Rupanuga means the followers of Rupa Gosvami. So why we should become followers of Rupa Gosvami? Because sri-caitanya-mano 'bhistam sthapitam yena bhu-tale: he wanted to establish the mission of Sri Caitanya
- When Prahlada Maharaja chants om namo bhagavate narasimhaya, he prays for a benediction from the Lord, but because he is also an exalted Vaisnava, he wants nothing for his personal sense gratification