# Other Reasons for Accepting a Guru *Additional important reasons why a spiritual master is essential.* ← Back to [[wiki/compile/spiritual-master-disciple|The Spiritual Master and the Disciple]] --- ## Any person desiring real happiness must seek out a spiritual master > In the Eleventh Canto of *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam,* Prabuddha tells Mahārāja Nimi: "My dear King, please know for certain that in the material world there is no happiness. It is simply a mistake to think that there is happiness here, because this place is full of nothing but miserable conditions. Any person who is seriously desirous of achieving real happiness must seek out a bona fide spiritual master and take shelter of him by initiation." —The Nectar of Devotion --- ## Only one out of millions gets the fortunate opportunity ![[cc/madhya/19/151#purport|Out of many millions of wandering living entities, one who is very fortunate gets an opportunity to associate with a bona fide spiritual master]] —Cc. [[cc/madhya/19/151|Madhya 19.151]] Purport --- ## To act in yoga requires surrender to the servant of Kṛṣṇa ![[bg/2/48#purport|One has to become the servant of Kṛṣṇa, or the servant of the servant of Kṛṣṇa]] —Bg. [[bg/2/48|2.48]] Purport --- ## To attain Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one must surrender to a bona fide spiritual master ![[sb/4/26/20#purport|One cannot come to the precincts of Kṛṣṇa consciousness unless he touches the dust of the lotus feet of a person who has become a mahātmā]] —SB [[sb/4/26/20|4.26.20]] Purport --- ## One develops Kṛṣṇa consciousness proportionately ![[sb/4/21/35#purport|by such association one proportionately develops his consciousness towards the Supreme Personality of Godhead]] —SB [[sb/4/21/35|4.21.35]] Purport --- ## To revive one's original Kṛṣṇa consciousness ![[sb/6/1/16#purport|One must render service to a Vaiṣṇava in order to get freed from sinful reactions, revive one's original Kṛṣṇa consciousness]] —SB [[sb/6/1/16|6.1.16]] Purport --- ## To increase attachment for the Supreme Personality of Godhead ![[sb/4/22/22#purport|to increase attachment for the Supreme Personality of Godhead one has to accept a bona fide spiritual master]] —SB [[sb/4/22/22|4.22.22]] Purport --- ## Service of the devotees brings love of God > In the Third Canto, Seventh Chapter, 19th verse, of the *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* [it is said], "Let me become a sincere servant of the devotees because by serving them one can achieve unalloyed devotional service unto the lotus feet of the Lord. The service of devotees diminishes all miserable material conditions and develops within one a deep devotional love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead." —The Nectar of Devotion --- ## How one attains Kṛṣṇa consciousness by following the spiritual master > 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 --- ## One who surrenders under the spiritual master's direction is immediately purified ![[sb/4/30/41#purport|One who is brought under the lotus feet of the Lord by the endeavor of the Lord's servant, the spiritual master, is certainly immediately purified]] —SB [[sb/4/30/41|4.30.41]] Purport --- ## Even demons can be elevated under a spiritual master's guidance ![[bg/17/5-6#purport|if such persons are fortunate enough to be guided by a spiritual master who can direct them to the path of Vedic wisdom, they can get out of this entanglement]] —Bg. [[bg/17/5-6|17.5-6]] Purport --- ## Puffed-up persons do not seek the protection of a spiritual master > A person who is puffed up by so-called education and who has no humility does not seek the protection of a bona fide spiritual master. He thinks that he does not require a spiritual master and that he can achieve the highest perfection by his own efforts. —Teachings of Lord Caitanya --- ## One can meditate only under proper direction ![[sb/1/6/15#purport|One should not meditate according to one's personal whims. One should know perfectly well from the authoritative sources of scriptures through the transparent medium of a bona fide spiritual master]] —SB [[sb/1/6/15|1.6.15]] Purport