# The Importance of Disciplic Succession *Why following the paramparā system is essential for spiritual advancement.* ← Back to [[wiki/compile/spiritual-master-disciple|The Spiritual Master and the Disciple]] --- ## Following the Previous Ācāryas ### Following in the footsteps of the previous ācāryas is favorable to devotional service > *... sato vṛteḥ....* There are six principles favorable to the execution of pure devotional service: ... (6) following in the footsteps of the previous *ācāryas.* —Nectar of Instruction, Text 3 --- ### One attains the goal of life by accepting the instructions of the previous ācāryas ![[sb/7/9/18#purport|By following the instructions of the ācāryas one is always freed from all material contamination, and thus one's life becomes successful, for one reaches the goal of life]] —SB [[sb/7/9/18|7.9.18]] Purport --- ## The Submissive Disciple Receives Perfect Knowledge ### Perfect knowledge descends to the submissive aural receiver ![[sb/1/2/21#purport|The devotees are submissive, and therefore the transcendental knowledge descends from the Personality of Godhead to Brahmā and from Brahmā to his sons and disciples in succession]] —SB [[sb/1/2/21|1.2.21]] Purport --- ### To attain love of God, one must become the servant of the servant > A Vaiṣṇava never thinks that he has a direct relationship with Kṛṣṇa. Lord Caitanya says, "I am the servant of the servant of the servant of the servant—a hundred times the servant of the servant—of Kṛṣṇa." We have to agree to become the servant of the servant of the servant. This is the process of disciplic succession, and if one wants real, transcendental love of God, then he has to adopt this process. —The Science of Self-Realization --- ## Taking Shelter of a Bona Fide Sampradāya ### One must take shelter of one of the four authorized sampradāyas ![[sb/6/3/20-21#purport|One must take shelter of one of these four sampradāyas in order to understand the most confidential religious system]] —SB [[sb/6/3/20-21|6.3.20-21]] Purport --- ### To advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one must follow the previous ācāryas > If one is seriously interested in Kṛṣṇa conscious activities, he must be ready to follow the rules and regulations laid down by the *ācāryas,* and he must understand their conclusions. The *śāstra* says: *dharmasya tattvaṁ nihitaṁ guhāyaṁ mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ.* It is very difficult to understand the secret of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, but one who advances by the instruction of the previous *ācāryas* and follows in the footsteps of his predecessors in the line of disciplic succession will have success. Others will not. —Cc. [[cc/adi/8/7|Ādi 8.7]] Purport --- ### One must have faith in the authorized disciplic succession ![[sb/7/7/17#purport|If one does not take to the path of disciplic succession, it is not possible for one to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead]] —SB [[sb/7/7/17|7.7.17]] Purport --- ## Trying to Advance Outside the Disciplic Succession ### Trying to advance outside the disciplic succession is ludicrous ![[sb/4/22/24#purport|Trying to advance in spiritual life outside the disciplic succession is simply ludicrous]] —SB [[sb/4/22/24|4.22.24]] Purport --- ### Receiving knowledge from the disciplic succession is the same as receiving it from Kṛṣṇa > **Śrīla Prabhupāda:** There is no difference. Suppose I say that this is a pencil. If you say to him, "There is a pencil," and if he says to another man, "This is a pencil," then what is the difference between his instruction and my instructions? > > **Bob:** Kṛṣṇa's mercy allows you to know this now? > > **Śrīla Prabhupāda:** You can take Kṛṣṇa's mercy also, provided it is delivered as it is. Just as we are teaching *Bhagavad-gītā.* In *Bhagavad-gītā* Kṛṣṇa says, *sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja:* "Just give up all other forms of religion and simply surrender unto Me." Now we are saying that you should give up everything and surrender to Kṛṣṇa. Therefore, there is no difference between Kṛṣṇa's instruction and our instruction. —Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers