# Mutual Testing of Guru and Disciple *The guru and disciple should carefully study each other before establishing a relationship.* ← Back to [[wiki/compile/spiritual-master-disciple|The Spiritual Master and the Disciple]] --- ## The Process of Mutual Testing ### The guru and disciple should study each other carefully before establishing a relationship > The *sāstras* enjoin that before we take a *guru* we study him carefully to find out whether we can surrender to him. We should not accept a *guru* suddenly out of fanaticism. That is very dangerous. The *guru* should also study the person who wants to become a disciple to see if he is fit. That is the way a relationship is established between the *guru* and disciple. —The Science of Self-Realization --- ### The process of mutual testing of the spiritual master and disciple > "In your book there should be the characteristics of the bona fide *guru* and the bona fide disciple. Then, before accepting a spiritual master, one can be assured of the spiritual master's position. Similarly, the spiritual master can also be assured of the disciple's position..." > > PURPORT: As far as the mutual testing of the spiritual master and disciple is concerned, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura explains that a bona fide disciple must be very inquisitive to understand the transcendental subject matter. As stated in *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* (11.3.21): > > *tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta* > *jijñāsuḥ śreya uttamam* > > "One who is inquisitive to understand the highest goal and benefit of life must approach a bona fide spiritual master and surrender unto him." > > A serious disciple must be alert when selecting a bona fide spiritual master. He must be sure that the spiritual master can deliver all the transcendental necessities. The spiritual master must observe how inquisitive the disciple is and how eager he is to understand the transcendental subject matter. The spiritual master should study the disciple's inquisitiveness for no less than six months or a year. —Cc. [[cc/madhya/24/330|Madhya 24.330]] Purport --- ## The Spiritual Master Tests the Disciple ### The spiritual master tests the determination of the candidate for discipleship ![[sb/4/8/30#purport|The process of bhakti-yoga is simultaneously very difficult and very easy to perform. Śrī Nārada Muni, the supreme spiritual master, is testing Dhruva Mahārāja to see how determined he is to prosecute devotional service. This is the process for accepting a disciple. The great sage Nārada has come to Dhruva under the direction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead just to initiate him, yet he is testing Dhruva's determination to execute the process]] —SB [[sb/4/8/30|4.8.30]] Purport --- ### It is the spiritual master's duty to test how serious the disciple is to execute devotional service ![[sb/4/8/32#purport|The great sage Nārada is instructing Dhruva Mahārāja just to test him. Actually, the direct order is that from any point of life one should begin rendering devotional service. But it is the duty of the spiritual master to test the disciple to see how seriously he desires to execute devotional service. Then he may be initiated]] —SB [[sb/4/8/32|4.8.32]] Purport --- ## Characteristics of a Bona Fide Disciple ### The qualifications of a bona fide disciple > The qualifications of a bona fide disciple are described in *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* (11.10.6) as follows: > > *amānya-matsaro dakṣo* > *nirmamo dṛḍha-sauḥrdaḥ* > *asatvaro 'rtha jijñāsur* > *anasūyur amogha-vāk* > > The disciple must have the following qualifications. He must give up interest in the material bodily conception. He must give up material lust, anger, greed, illusion, madness and envy. He should be interested only in understanding the science of God, and he should be ready to consider all points in this matter. He should no longer think, "I am this body" or "This thing belongs to me." One must love the spiritual master with unflinching faith, and one must be very steady and fixed. The bona fide disciple should be inquisitive to understand transcendental subject matter. He must not search out faults among good qualities, and he should no longer be interested in material topics. His only interest should be Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. —Cc. [[cc/madhya/24/330|Madhya 24.330]] Purport --- ### Qualifications of a sincere disciple ![[sb/1/5/29#purport|These are the necessary qualifications of a prospective candidate who can expect to be elevated to the position of a pure unadulterated devotee. Such a candidate must always seek the association of pure devotees...A neophyte devotee must faithfully serve the pure devotee, and he should be very much obedient and strictly follow the instructions]] —SB [[sb/1/5/29|1.5.29]] Purport --- ### The disciple must be gentle, submissive and devoted ![[sb/4/13/24#purport|A disciple always inquires from the spiritual master, and the spiritual master answers the question, provided the disciple is very gentle and devoted...The spiritual master is not inclined to disclose all the secrets of transcendental science unless the disciple is very submissive and devoted]] —SB [[sb/4/13/24|4.13.24]] Purport --- ### A disciple who has love for his spiritual master is endowed with all confidential knowledge > The word *snigdha* (very peaceful) and the word *su-snigdha* (affectionate) are ... found in *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* (1.1.8): *brūyuḥ snigdhasya śiṣyasya guravo guhyam apy uta.* "A disciple who has actual love for his spiritual master is endowed, by the blessings of the spiritual master, with all confidential knowledge." —Cc. [[cc/madhya/17/15|Madhya 17.15]] Purport --- ## The Spiritual Master Accepts Any Sincere Person ### The spiritual master, not caring for a person's material condition, gives shelter to any person > Those who are highly advanced in spiritual understanding do not care about a person's material condition. A spiritually advanced person sees the spiritual identity of every living being, and consequently he makes no distinction between a learned *brāhmaṇa,* a dog, a *caṇḍāla* or anyone else. He is not influenced by the material body but sees a person's spiritual identity... The servant of the Lord is also similarly inclined. He gives shelter to any person—any living entity—regardless of whether one belongs to a *brāhmaṇa* family or is a *caṇḍāla.* The spiritual master reclaims all people and encourages everyone in spiritual life. By taking shelter of such a devotee, one can make his life successful. —Cc. [[cc/madhya/10/54|Madhya 10.54]] Purport --- ### Spiritual masters in the line of Lord Caitanya are liberal in accepting disciples > One who has accepted the *sannyāsa* order of life is forbidden to accept as a disciple anyone who is not fit. A *sannyāsī* should first of all examine whether a prospective student is sincerely seeking Kṛṣṇa consciousness. If he is not, he should not be accepted. However, Lord Caitanya's causeless mercy is such that He advised all bona fide spiritual masters to speak about Kṛṣṇa consciousness everywhere. Therefore, in the line of Lord Caitanya, even the *sannyāsīs* can speak about Kṛṣṇa consciousness everywhere, and if someone is seriously inclined to become a disciple, the *sannyāsī* always accepts him. > > The one point is that without increasing the number of disciples, there is no propagation of the cult of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Therefore, sometimes even at a risk, a *sannyāsī* in the line of Caitanya Mahāprabhu may accept even a person who is not thoroughly fit to become a disciple. Later on, by the mercy of such a bona fide spiritual master, the disciple is gradually elevated. However, if one increases the number of disciples simply for some prestige or false honor, he will surely fall down in the matter of executing Kṛṣṇa consciousness. —The Nectar of Devotion