Importance of Guru (Spiritual master) in a devotee’s Spiritual Life!
(Part of the Series “Duties of a Disciple to his guru”)
Without Guru, Getting Krishna is not easy.
If we jump to the upstairs directly without the stairs, there are chances for fall down and accidents.
But if we go thru the stairs or lift, getting the upstairs is easy and risk-free.
Guru too is like that. Getting Krishna directly is like getting the doctorate just after completing the Kinder Garden studies. It will be very difficult.
(Is Diksha given by a Guru who is not approved by his guru valid? READ HERE!)
A guru is closer to Krishna. So, if we catch a guru, he will give Krishna to us.
Getting a guru also involves SURRENDER. When we surrender to a guru, our ego goes. The feel of “I” goes.
When “I” goes, we (athma) get puirified.
When we are purified, we become eligible to get Krishna.
Without the SURRENDER and service to a guru, getting Krishna is difficult.
Surrender will come only when we are submissive.
Importance of Guru (Spiritual master) in a devotee’s Spiritual Life is clearly said by Krishna in Bhagavad Gita (4-34):
“Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth.”
Srila Prabhupada explains this verse in his purport:
“Mental speculation or dry arguments cannot help lead one to the right path. Nor by independent study of books of knowledge can one progress in spiritual life. One has to approach a bona fide spiritual master to receive the knowledge. Such a spiritual master should be accepted in full surrender, and one should serve the spiritual master like a menial servant, without false prestige. Satisfaction of the self-realized spiritual master is the secret of advancement in spiritual life. Inquiries and submission constitute the proper combination for spiritual understanding. Unless there is submission and service, inquiries from the learned spiritual master will not be effective.”
(The Status of Diksha Guru & Siksha Gurus – Differences! READ HERE!)
Ok, Is a Guru that much great for us to surrender to him?
Guru should not be considered an ordinary man though he too looks like so.
Guru is identical with Krishna for a devotee!
Yes, this is said in Sastras.
In Sri Caitanya Caritamruta, Adi lila 1.46, it is said:
“Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Takura confirms that all the revealed scriptures accept the spiritual master to be identical with the Personality of Godhead because he is a very dear and confidential servant of the Lord.
In all the ancient literatures of devotional service and in the more recent songs of Srila Narottama dasa Thakura, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and other unalloyed Vaishnavas, the spiritual master is always considered either one of the confidential associates of Srimati Radharani or a manifested representation of Srila Nityananda Prabhu.”
Srimad Bhagavatham, 4.8.44 Purport says that the guru is sent by Krishna Himself:
The supreme spiritual master is Krishna, who is therefore known as Caitya-Guru. This refers to the Supersoul, who is sitting in everyone’s heart. He helps from within as stated in Bhagavad Gita, and He sends the spiritual master, who helps from without.
The spiritual master is the external manifestation of the Caitya-guru, or the spiritual master sitting in everyone’s heart.
(Testing a Guru & Disciple before accepting each other! A-Z details! READ HERE!)
Sri Caitanya Caritamruta Antya-lila 4.192-193 says that a Guru removes all our past sins:
Diksha-kale bhakta kare atma-samarpana
sei-kale krsna tare kare ätma-sama
At the time of initiation, when a devotee fully surrenders unto the service of the Lord, Krishna accepts him to be as good as Himself.
sei deha kare tara cid-ananda-maya
aprakata-dehe tanra carana bhajaya
When the devotee’s body is thus transformed into spiritual existence, the devotee, in that transcendental body, renders service to the lotus feet of the Lord.
Srila Prabhupada says that the Guru accepts the sins of devotees in his Letter to: Jadurani — New Vrindaban 4 September, 1972:
The spiritual master accepts the sinful activities of his disciples from the first initiation. I may give initiation very easily, but what can I do? I am prepared to go to hell for service of Lord.
Lecture Bhagavad-Gita 2.2, London, August 3, 1973:
We cannot jump over to Krishna. That is another nonsense. We must approach Krishna through guru. That is paramparA system. Krishna is not so cheap thing that you can jump over.
(How to serve & please the Guru if Guru is far away from your City? READ HERE!)
Somebody says, “Oh, why shall I accept guru? I can approach Krishna directly.”
No. Krishna does not accept such… Mad-bhaktaù pujabhyadhikau. Krishna says that “First of all you become devotee of My devotee.”
Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, gopi-bhartu pada-kamalayor dasa-dasadasanudasaù:
“I am the servant of the servant of the servant of Krishna.
Thus, Krishna will accept our service to Him only if we Surrender to our Guru and Serve him!
Hope this Post has sufficiently explained the Importance of Guru (Spiritual master) in a devotee’s Spiritual Life!
(Can a disciple of a Non-bonafide Guru take Diksha in ISKCON? READ HERE!)