# Surrender to the Spiritual Master *The process of surrendering to and serving the spiritual master.* ← Back to [[wiki/compile/spiritual-master-disciple|The Spiritual Master and the Disciple]] --- ## The Process of Surrender ### Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master ![[bg/4/34|Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him]] —Bg. [[bg/4/34|4.34]] --- ### One should approach a guru in a mood of surrender > One must be confident about the qualifications of his teacher. One does not approach the spiritual master with a challenging spirit. One should also be inquisitive to understand the spiritual science. It is not that one considers himself superior to the *guru.* One must first find a *guru* to whom one can surrender, and if this is not possible, one shouldn't waste his time. —Teachings of Lord Kapila, the Son of Devahūti --- ### The qualification of a bona fide disciple—he must have realized the conclusion of the scriptures > "Any person who seriously desires to achieve real happiness must seek out a bona fide spiritual master and take shelter of him by initiation. The qualification of his spiritual master is that he must have realized the conclusion of the scriptures by deliberation and be able to convince others of these conclusions." —SB [[sb/11/3/21|11.3.21]] --- ## Surrendering Is Accepting the Guru's Words ### Surrender means accepting whatever the guru says > Surrender means that one will accept whatever the *guru* says. It is not that one thinks, "I do not care for my *guru's* order. Still I am a disciple." That is not actually accepting a *guru.* Of course, it has become a fashion to accept a *guru* in this way, but this will not help anyone. —Teachings of Lord Kapila, the Son of Devahūti --- ### Sons ought to accept the words of their father or spiritual master without hesitation ![[sb/3/24/13#purport|The son or disciple should accept the words of his spiritual master and father without hesitation. Whatever the father and the spiritual master order should be taken without argument: "Yes."]] —SB [[sb/3/24/13|3.24.13]] Purport --- ## Service to the Spiritual Master ### One should render service to the spiritual master > *tad viddhi praṇipātena* > *paripraśnena sevayā* > *upadekṣyanti te jñānaṁ* > *jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ* > > 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. —Bg. [[bg/4/34|4.34]] --- ### One must be prepared to obey and satisfy the representative of Kṛṣṇa > Service in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is best practiced under the able guidance of a spiritual master who is a bona fide representative of Kṛṣṇa, who knows the nature of the student and who can guide him to act in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. As such, to be well-versed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness one has to act firmly and obey the representative of Kṛṣṇa, and one should accept the instruction of the bona fide spiritual master as one's mission in life. —Bg. [[bg/2/41|2.41]] Purport --- ### The sincere disciple is blessed by the spiritual master ![[bg/4/34#purport|when the student is submissive and is always ready to render service, the reciprocation of knowledge and inquiries becomes perfect]] —Bg. [[bg/4/34|4.34]] Purport --- ## The Attitude of Surrender ### The disciple should surrender himself, saying "I am your most obedient servant" > Vidura was very eager to receive transcendental knowledge, and because of this, Maitreya was very pleased with him. One can please the spiritual master simply by surrendering to him and rendering service, saying, "Sir, I am your most obedient servant. Please accept me and give me instructions." —Teachings of Lord Kapila, the Son of Devahūti --- ### A surrendered soul takes directions from the Lord directly or from His bona fide representative ![[sb/4/20/13#purport|every man's duty is to receive orders from Lord Kṛṣṇa or from His bona fide representative and take these orders as his life and soul, without personal considerations]] —SB [[sb/4/20/13|4.20.13]] Purport --- ### In devotional service, one should execute the orders with patience, depending on the guru's mercy > One should not be impatient in discharging devotional service, but should take instructions from the spiritual master and execute them with patience, depending on the mercy of *guru* and Kṛṣṇa. —Nectar of Instruction, Text 3, Purport