Spiritual Master and the Disciple

Compiled and edited by Śubhānanda dāsa

• Guide to Sanskrit Pronunciation
• Preface
• Prayers in Honor of the Spiritual Master
• Key Verses from Vedic and Vaisnava Literature Concerning the Spiritual Master
• The Spiritual Master as a Manifestation Or Representative of Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead
• The Absolute Necessity of Accepting a Spiritual Master
• The Qualifications of a Bona Fide Spiritual Master

1. General Instructions
2. To Set an Example, Even the Lord (and His Incarnations, etc.) Accepts a Spiritual Master
3. One Approaches the Lord Through the Spiritual Master (Service to the Lord Begins with Service to His Representative, the Spiritual Master)
4. One Can Understand the Lord Only Through the Spiritual Master
5. To Receive Perfect Knowledge or to Realize The Truth, One Must Approach a Spiritual Master
6. To Understand Vedic Knowledge, One Must Hear from a Spiritual Master
7. To Understand Things Beyond the Range of the Senses and Mind, One Must Hear from a Spiritual Master
8. One Can Achieve Liberation from Material Existence Only by Approaching a Spiritual Master
9. 9.The Spiritual Master Solves the Problems of Life
10. To Learn the Art of Devotional Service, One Must Approach a Spiritual Master
11. For Success in Spiritual Life, One Requires a Spiritual Master
12. To Attain Kṛṣṇa Consciousness, One Must Accept a Spiritual Master
13. Other Important Reasons for Accepting a Bona Fide Spiritual Master

1. The Definition of “Guru” and “Acarya”
2. The Identity of the Spiritual Master

   • The Spiritual Master is a Manifestation of Kṛṣṇa (and Should Not, Therefore, be Regarded as an Ordinary Man)
   • The Eternal Identity of the Spiritual Master
   • The Difference Between the Spiritual Master and the Lord
3. The Qualifications and Characteristics of the Spiritual Master

   • The Spiritual Master Strictly Follows the Principle of Disciplic Succession and of Scripture
   • Knowledge of the Science of Kṛṣṇa (Not Birth or Social Position) is the Requirement for Becoming a Spiritual Master
   • The Spiritual Master Must be Learned in the Vedic Literature
   • To Become a Spiritual Master, One Must be Empowered by the Lord and by His Own Spiritual Master
   • The Spiritual Master Must be a Representative of Kṛṣṇa
   • The Spiritual Master Must be a Devotee of Kṛṣṇa
   • The Spiritual Master Must be a Pure Devotee, a Mahā-Bhāgavata an Uttama-Adhikārī
   • The Spiritual Master is a Confidential Servitor of Kṛṣṇa
   • The Spiritual Master Must be Able to Free His Disciples From Birth and Death and Lead Them Back to Godhead
   • The Spiritual Master Must Teach by Example
   • The Spiritual Master Must be Self-Controlled
   • The Spiritual Master’s Body is Spiritual
   • The Ecstasy of the Spiritual Master
   • Other Important Qualifications and Characteristics of the Spiritual Master
4. The Duties and Proper Behavior of the Spiritual Master

   • The Spiritual Master Enlightens and Instructs His Disciple. (General Instructions.)
   • The Spiritual Master Enlightens and Instructs his Disciple. (What the Spiritual Master Teaches His Disciples.)
   • The Spiritual Master Enlightens and Instructs His Disciple. (How the Spiritual Master Transmits Knowledge to the Disciple.)
   • The Spiritual Master Enlightens and Instructs His Disciple. (The Spiritual Master can Enlighten Even an Unintelligent or Dull-Headed Disciple.)
   • The Spiritual Master Engages His Disciple in Devotional Service
   • The Spiritual Master Frees the Disciple from Material Existence
   • The Spiritual Master Chastises the Disciple (For His Benefit)
   • The Spiritual Master is Glad to See His Disciples Advance
   • The Spiritual Master as Preacher. (General Instructions.)
   • The Spiritual Master as Preacher. (The Spiritual Master Must Preach According to Time and Circumstances.)
   • The Spiritual Master Orders and Empowers His Disciples to Preach (And To Write)
   • The Spiritual Master Engages His Disciples in Deity Worship
   • The Spiritual Master Engages His Disciple in Preparing, Offering and Distributing Prasāda
   • The Spiritual Master Never Claims to be God
   • The Spiritual Master Should be Free From Material Motives
   • Other Important Instructions Concerning the Duties and Proper Behavior of the Spiritual Master
5. Other Important Instructions Concerning the Spiritual Master

   • Lord Kṛṣṇa Sends the Spiritual Master to the Sincere Soul (Or the Sincere Soul to the Spiritual Master)
   • Kṛṣṇa Enlightens the Living Entity From Within as the Supersoul and From Without as the Spiritual Master
   • The Three Kinds of Spiritual Masters (Dīksā, Śiksā and Vartma-Pradarśaka)
   • Titles of Respect Applicable to The Spiritual Master
   • Things Used by the Spiritual Master are Worshipable
   • The Disciple Benefits by Taking Remnants of Food Left by the Spiritual Master
   • When the Spiritual Master Can be Rejected
   • False Spiritual Masters
   • Lord Jesus Christ as Spiritual Master
   • The Physical Demise of the Spiritual Master
   • Other Instructions

Chapter 3: The Principle of Disciplic Succession (Paramparā)

1. The Importance of Following the Principle of Disciplic Succession
2. Vedic Knowledge/Perfect Knowledge Must be Received Through Disciplic Succession
3. To Transmit Knowledge, One Must Have Received Knowledge from the Disciplic Succession
4. To Receive Knowledge from Beyond One’s Perception, One Must Hear from the Disciplic Succession
5. Mantras Must be Received Through Disciplic Succession
6. Transcendental Literature Must Be Written Only in Accordance with the Disciplic Succession
7. The Brahma-Madhva-Gauḍīya-sampradaya
8. Non-Bona Fide Disciplic Successions
9. Other Important Instructions on the Principle of Disciplic Succession

Chapter 4: The Disciple: Qualifications, Characteristics and Duties

1. The Disciple Must Inquire and Hear from the Spiritual Master
2. The Disciple Must Strictly Follow the Instructions of the Spiritual Master

   • General Instructions
   • The Disciple Associates Eternally With His Spiritual Master by Remembering and Following His Vāṇī, Instructions
3. The Disciple Must Serve the Spiritual Master
4. The Disciple Must Satisfy and Please the Spiritual Master
5. The Disciple Must Have Faith in the Spiritual Master

   • General Instructions
   • A Disciple Lacking Faith in the Spiritual Master Cannot Become Successful in Chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa
6. The Disciple Must Be Submissive and Humble
7. The Disciple Must Honor and Respect the Spiritual Master as a Manifestation or Representative of God
8. The Characteristics and Duties of the Brahmacārī Disciple
9. Householder Disciples Regulate Sex Life in Accordance with the Order of the Spiritual Master
10. How a Disciple Should Deal with His Godbrothers
11. The Disciple Should Respect His Spiritual Master’s Godbrothers
12. Proper Dealings Between the Disciple and the Young Wife of His Spiritual Master
13. A Disciple Advances in Kṛṣṇa Consciousness Only Due to the Mercy and Blessings of His Spiritual Maste
14. The Disciple Must Avoid Committing Offenses Against the Spiritual Master
15. Other Important Instructions Concerning the Qualifications, Characteristics and Duties of the Disciple

Chapter 5: Spiritual Initiation (Dīkṣā)

1. The Definition of Dīkṣā
2. The Necessity and Purpose of Initiation:
3. Qualifications and Requirements for Receiving Initiation
4. Mutual Testing of the Spiritual Master and the Candidate for Discipleship
5. The Spiritual Master Initiates the Disciple Into the Chanting of the Maha-mantra
6. At the Time of Initiation, the Spiritual Master Accepts the Burden of the Disciple’s Sinful Reactions
7. Brahminical Initiation (and Gāyatrī Mantra)
8. Through Initiation, Any Person Can be Elevated to Brahminical Status
9. Other Important Instructions Concerning Initiation

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Founder-Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness

Compiled and Edited by Śubhānanda dāsa brahmacārī