How to increase the faith in our Guru (Spiritual Master)?

How to increase the faith in our Guru (Spiritual Master)?

A male devotee (Name hidden) asked like this:

Hare Krishna prabhu ji. I have one question to u. How to increase faith in spiritual master. How to increase faith in krishna. Some one said against my gurudev when I heard my faith is down from my gurudev. And now I m very disturbed. Please help me to give me a nice counseling. How increase my faith in gurudev. Please hide my name when u post this on your site. Hare Krishna dandvat pranam

REPLY:

Getting a guru itself is a very fortunate thing.  A guru is gifted by Krishna Himself.

Krishna sees your desires from within your heart.

(Why should the devotees and gurus be affected by Pandemic like Covid-19? READ HERE!)

If you desire for a good guru, Krishna Himself shows a bonafide guru.

If you desire to get cheated, ie, by going to a guru who preaches about being happy materially, you are shown a bogus guru.

In your case, you are already fortunate to have got a guru. So, feel happy about that.

Srila Prabhupada confirms this in his evening lecture in Bhuvaneshwar, 23.01.1977:

Guest (3):

 Also the namaskaram is, Gurudeva said, that, mentioned in the Gītā, that all these are fruitless, the soul which is remembering God either in the form of Krsna, but he has not met a guru. Because to get a real guru is a real occasion. It doesn’t happen in the case of everyone. One in million get a chance to get a real spiritual guide. There are so many in the name of spiritual guide. And he will false pray because his inner soul hankers and inner soul thinks that “This is my guru, and somehow I will accept whatever he says.” And the ultimate aim and objective is to love God or to recite his name or surrender to Him.

(Will accepting a Guru alone elevate a devotee to attain perfection? READ HERE!)

Prabhupāda:

This question has been answered by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu while He was teaching Srila Rupa Gosvami.

ei rūpe brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva
guru-kṛṣṇa-kṛpayā pāya bhakti-latā-bīja
        – (Caitanya Caritamruta Madhya lila 19-151)

The guru word is there. Guru Krṣṇa. If you are actually hankering after Krṣṇa—Krṣṇa is within yourself—He will give you a guru. He will give you a guru. Guru-krṣṇa-krpāya. But we must be fortunate to get real guru. If I am unfortunate, I’ll not get a guru.”

EVALUATE BEFORE ACCEPTING A GURU, NOT AFTER ACCEPTING HIM!

A good guru comes in the bonafide guru-disciplic lineage (Parampara). He speaks about Krishna and relate literatures.  He does not give his own newly created perceptions. He always stick to the preachings of scriptures.  He has controlled his senses.

If you find such a bonafide guru, accept him. You are the fortunate person.

Now, we should be very careful in an aspect.

(KRISHNA’s GURU DAKSHINA TO HIS GURU SANDIPANI – STORY! READ HERE!)

Once you accept a guru after evaluating as per the above mentioned aspects, fully trust him. Do not review your choice after choosing a guru.

Because, once you accept a guru, that means you have entrusted yourself to that guru.  The position of the Guru is also a blessing like our getting a particular parents.

Think hundreds of times before accepting a guru.  Once accepted, it is also like the relation of our parents. We should not change him.

In this kaliyuga, many will speak about many things. Even a good guru will be accused by the opposite parties. This kaliyuga is the yuga of quarrels. Therefore, there will always be some negative views about any personality who is in good standing.

But, a disciple is always safe.

So, after accepting a guru, don’t give your ears for the views spread by others against him.  Decide anything through your observation.

(TYPES OF GURUS (SPIRITUAL MASTERS) FROM THE SCRIPTURES! READ HERE!)

Before finishing this reply, let me give an incident during the period of Sri Caitanya Maha Prabhu’s visit to Srirangam, Trichy,  Tamilnadu, India, in the words of Srila Prabhupada:

SP’s Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatham 1.15.27 — New York, March 6, 1975: 

I have narrated several times the story of a brāhmaṇa in South India. He was illiterate, and he was reading Bhagavad-gītā. So his friends, village friends, they knew that “This man is illiterate. How he can read Bhagavad-gītā?” So they were criticizing. “Hello, brāhmaṇa. How you are reading Bhagavad-gītā?” So he did not say anything because he knew that “These friends are criticizing me because I am illiterate. He knows.” So when Caitanya Mahāprabhu came there, Caitanya Mahāprabhu was attracted. He was illiterate, and he was reading Bhagavad-gītā, and Caitanya Mahāprabhu was attracted. Just see. So Caitanya Mahāprabhu inquired, “My dear brāhmaṇa, what you are reading?” So he also could understand that “Here is a person who has not come to criticize me. He is serious.” “Yes, sir, I am reading Bhagavad-gītā, but I am illiterate. I am illiterate.” “Then what you are reading?” “No, I am simply turning the pages. I cannot read anything.” “Then why you are reading if you cannot?” “No, my Guru Mahārāja ordered me. My Guru Mahārāja asked me that ‘You shall read Bhagavad-gītā daily, eighteen chapters.’ ” Guru mahārāja knew that he is illiterate, but still ordered. This is called guru-mukha-padma-vākya, cittete koriyā aikya, ār nā koriho mane āśā. This is called firm faith in guru. Guru ordered him that “You read.” Guru must know him, that he is illiterate. So what he will read? Why guru is ordering him? But because he had firm faith in guru and he was trying to read, Caitanya Mahāprabhu came to see him. Just see. How this line is important: guru-mukha-padma-vākya, cittete koriyā aikya, ār nā koriho mane āśā. Ār means anything more, you don’t try to understand. Whatever your guru says, you just try to carry it out.

Thus, our faith in our guru should be absolute in a surrendered mindset as explained by Krishna in Bhagavad Gita.

((Original Guru Parampara of Mahabharatha & Bhagavatham! READ HERE!)

Author: RAJAN

RAJAN from Tamil Nadu, India, a Life Patron and an Initiated Devotee being in ISKCON for nearly three decades, serves anonymously to avoid Prominence and crowd as an insignificant, Humble and Neutral Servant for all the devotees of Krishna! He promotes Social media forums and this blog-website as e-satsangha (e-forums) blessed with Lakhs of followers, to give Spiritual Solutions for all the Material Problems of the devotees since 2011! He writes friendly and practical tips to practice devotion (i) without hurting the followers of other paths, (ii) without affecting the personal and career life, and (iii) without the blind, superstitious and ritualistic approach! He dedicates all the glories and credits to his Guru and Krishna.

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