# Faith in the Spiritual Master *The secret of success in spiritual life: faith in the spiritual master and Kṛṣṇa.* ← Back to [[wiki/compile/spiritual-master-disciple|The Spiritual Master and the Disciple]] --- ## The Secret of Success ### The secret of success—faith in the spiritual master and Kṛṣṇa > The *Vedas* confirm this: > > *yasya deve parā bhaktir* > *yathā deve tathā gurau* > *tasyaite kathitā hy arthāḥ* > *prakāśante mahātmanaḥ* > > "To one who has staunch faith in the words of the spiritual master and the words of the Supreme Personality of Godhead the secret of success in Vedic knowledge is revealed." —Cc. [[cc/adi/12/8|Ādi 12.8]] Purport --- ### One can read Bhagavad-gītā successfully with faith in the spiritual master > This is a good example of a person who had become so successful that he was able to capture the attention of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu even while reading *Bhagavad-gītā* incorrectly. His spiritual activities did not depend on material things such as correct pronunciation. Rather, his success depended on strictly following the instructions of his spiritual master.... being faithful to both Kṛṣṇa and the spiritual master is the secret of success in spiritual life. —Cc. [[cc/madhya/9/98|Madhya 9.98]] Purport --- ### To have the key to transcendental knowledge, one must hear from a bona fide ācārya with faith > The conviction to worship Kṛṣṇa is established when one hears the transcendental message from the undisturbed *ācārya* with faith and love. One who has no faith in or love for Lord Kṛṣṇa cannot be convinced of this simple truth. —Śrī Īśopaniṣad, Mantra 13, Purport --- ## Faith Reveals Vedic Knowledge ### The meaning of scriptures is revealed to one who has faith in guru and Kṛṣṇa ![[sb/3/24/13#purport|the import of Vedic instruction is revealed automatically only to one who has implicit faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead and in his spiritual master]] —SB [[sb/3/24/13|3.24.13]] Purport --- ### By following the instructions of the spiritual master with faith, one's devotional service matures > As one advances in devotional activities, the process becomes progressively clearer and more encouraging. Unless one gets this spiritual encouragement by following the instructions of the spiritual master, it is not possible to make advancement. Therefore, one's development of a taste for executing these instructions is the test of one's devotional service. —Cc. [[cc/adi/1/60|Ādi 1.60]] Purport --- ## The Proper Conditions for Receiving Knowledge ### The proper conditions for receiving transcendental knowledge ![[sb/1/1/13#purport|The first condition is that the audience must be very sincere and eager to hear. And the speaker must be in the line of disciplic succession from the recognized ācārya]] —SB [[sb/1/1/13|1.1.13]] Purport --- ### If the guru and disciple are sincere and bona fide, there will be good results > If a man is potent and if a woman is not diseased, then by their conjugation there will be conception. In the same way, if the recipient of spiritual knowledge and the deliverer of spiritual knowledge are sincere and bona fide, there will be good results. —The Nectar of Devotion --- ## By the Guru's Pleasure, Kṛṣṇa Is Pleased ### One pleases the guru by carrying out his orders > **Śrīla Prabhupāda:** If you please God's representative, then automatically God becomes pleased, and thus you can directly see Him. > > **An Indian gentleman:** How to please God's representative? > > **Śrīla Prabhupāda:** You have to carry out his orders, that's all. —Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers --- ### By carrying out the orders of the spiritual master, the disciple can be endowed with extraordinary power ![[sb/8/15/28#purport|By the pleasure of the spiritual master, one can get extraordinary power, especially in spiritual advancement. The blessings of the spiritual master are more powerful than one's personal endeavor]] —SB [[sb/8/15/28|8.15.28]] Purport --- ### By following the instructions, the disciple is liberated from sinful reactions > If one follows the instructions of Nārada Muni, one can be delivered from any amount of sinful reactions. This is the secret of success. If one has unflinching faith in Kṛṣṇa and the spiritual master, the result is *tasyaite kathitā hy arthāḥ prakāśante mahātmanaḥ:* all the conclusions of revealed scriptures will be open to such a person. —Cc. [[cc/madhya/24/255|Madhya 24.255]] Purport