# The Mercy of the Spiritual Master *Receiving the mercy and blessings of the spiritual master.* ← Back to [[wiki/compile/spiritual-master-disciple|The Spiritual Master and the Disciple]] --- ## Guru-Kṛpā: The Mercy of the Spiritual Master ### The spiritual master distributes the greatest mercy to his disciples > The word *guru-prasāda* indicates that the spiritual master is very merciful in bestowing the boon of devotional service upon the disciple. That is the best possible gift the spiritual master has to offer. Those with a background of pious life are eligible to receive life's supreme benefit, and to bestow this benefit, the Supreme Personality of Godhead sends His representative to impart His mercy. Endowed with the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the spiritual master distributes the mercy to those who are elevated and pious. Thus the spiritual master trains his disciples to render devotional service unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is called *guru-kṛpā.* It is *kṛṣṇa-prasāda,* Kṛṣṇa's mercy, that He sends a bona fide spiritual master to the deserving disciple. By the mercy of Kṛṣṇa, one meets the bona fide spiritual master, and by the mercy of the spiritual master, the disciple is fully trained in the devotional service of the Lord. —Cc. [[cc/madhya/19/152|Madhya 19.152]] Purport --- ### If the disciple hears from the guru patiently, without unnecessary opposition, the guru will have mercy on him > All of us should hear him [the *guru*] patiently. If we listen to the transcendental sound without unnecessary opposition, he will surely have mercy upon us. —The Science of Self-Realization --- ### By serving the spiritual master with heart and soul, the disciple achieves all the mercy of the spiritual master and the Lord ![[sb/3/23/7#purport|By the grace of Kardama Muni, Devahūti experienced actual realization simply by serving...For spiritual achievement the easiest path is to take shelter of a bona fide spiritual master and to serve him with heart and soul. That is the secret of success]] —SB [[sb/3/23/7|3.23.7]] Purport --- ### To get the mercy of the Supreme Lord, one must serve the spiritual master, the captain of the boat crossing the ocean of nescience ![[sb/7/15/45#purport|This human form of body is a most valuable boat, and the spiritual master is the captain...one must serve the spiritual master very sincerely so that by his mercy one will be able to get the mercy of the Supreme Lord]] —SB [[sb/7/15/45|7.15.45]] Purport --- ## Blessings of the Spiritual Master ### By the blessings of the spiritual master, the disciple becomes perfect > Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī states in his *Gurv-aṣṭaka* prayer, *yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto 'pi:* "By the mercy of the spiritual master one is benedicted by the mercy of Kṛṣṇa. Without the grace of the spiritual master one cannot make any advancement." It is by the mercy of the spiritual master that one becomes perfect... Īśvara Purī pleased his spiritual master by service, and by the blessings of his spiritual master he became such a great personality that Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu accepted him as His spiritual master. —Cc. [[cc/adi/9/11|Ādi 9.11]] Purport --- ### When the guru is satisfied by the disciple's service, he blesses him > [After returning to Their teacher his revived dead son:] The brothers asked if Their teacher had anything more to ask from Them, but he replied, "My dear sons, You have done enough for me. I am now completely satisfied... I give You the benediction that whatever You speak will remain as eternally fresh as the instruction of the *Vedas.* Your teachings will not only be honored within this universe or in this millennium, but in all places and ages and will remain increasingly new and important." Due to this benediction from His teacher, Lord Kṛṣṇa's *Bhagavad-gītā* is ever-increasingly fresh and is not only renowned within this universe, but in other planets and in other universes also. —Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead --- ### By the mercy of the spiritual master, one can achieve happiness, peace and prosperity > "My dear friend... both of us can realize that without the blessings of the spiritual master no one can be happy. By the mercy of the spiritual master and by his blessings, one can achieve peace and prosperity and be able to fulfill the mission of human life." —Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead --- ## Pleasing the Spiritual Master ### By satisfying the spiritual master, the disciple gets the Lord's mercy ![[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 --- ### The disciple derives his strength only from his spiritual master, by pleasing him ![[sb/6/7/23#purport|Lord Brahmā wanted to point out to the demigods that by the strength of the guru one can become most powerful within this world, and by the displeasure of the guru one can lose everything]] —SB [[sb/6/7/23|6.7.23]] Purport --- ### By pleasing the spiritual master, one automatically pleases the Supreme Personality of Godhead ![[sb/4/22/8#purport|The devotees, out of their extreme love for Govinda, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, always carry the Lord within their hearts...by satisfying the spiritual master one can satisfy the senses of the Supreme Personality of Godhead]] —SB [[sb/4/22/8|4.22.8]] Purport --- ## A Disciple's Prayer for Mercy ### A disciple's prayer for the mercy of his spiritual master > Gurudeva, give to this servant just one drop of mercy. I am lower than a blade of grass. Give me all help. Give me strength. Let me be as you are, without desires or aspirations. > > I offer you all respects, for thus I may have the energy to know you correctly. Then, by chanting the holy name in great ecstasy, all my offenses will cease. > > When will such mercy fall to this one who is weak and devoid of intelligence? Allow me to be with you. > > If you examine me, you will find no qualities. Your mercy is all that I am made of. If you are not merciful unto me, I can only weep, and I will not be able to maintain my life. —*Gurudeva! kṛpā-bindu-diyā,* Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura