# Other Instructions on Disciplic Succession *Additional important teachings about the paramparā system.* ← Back to [[wiki/compile/spiritual-master-disciple|The Spiritual Master and the Disciple]] --- ## The Qualification for Being in the Disciplic Succession ### The qualification for being situated in the transcendental disciplic succession > In this age a person ... should chant the holy names of Hari and Kṛṣṇa, the *mahā-mantra.* That is the sum and substance of eternal religion, known as *sanātana-dharma....* Vaiṣṇava *śāstra* refers to *śruti,* or the *Vedas,* which are called *śabda-pramāṇa,* the evidence of transcendental sound. If one strictly follows the Vedic literature and chants the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he will actually be situated in the transcendental disciplic succession. —Cc. [[cc/madhya/9/362|Madhya 9.362]] Purport --- ### The transcendental potency of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra is transmitted through disciplic succession > The transcendental power or potency of the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra* is herein explained. First, the holy name is vibrated by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. When someone hears from Him directly, he is purified. When another person hears from that person, he also is purified. In this way the purification process is advanced among pure devotees. —Cc. [[cc/madhya/17/49|Madhya 17.49]] Purport --- ## Empowerment Through the Disciplic Succession ### One can be empowered by the disciplic succession to excel even the Lord > Similarly, if one is true to Gaura-Nitāi's service in the disciplic succession, he can excel Nityānanda Prabhu's service. This is the process of disciplic succession. Nityānanda Prabhu delivered Jagāi and Mādhāi, but a servant of Nityānanda Prabhu, by His grace, can deliver many thousands of Jagāis and Mādhāis. That is the special benediction of the disciplic succession. —Cc. [[cc/madhya/16/65|Madhya 16.65]] Purport --- ### Anyone discharging duties in disciplic succession gains fame and salvation ![[sb/3/13/8#purport|anyone discharging his entrusted duties in disciplic succession from Brahmā is sure to gain fame in this life and salvation in the next]] —SB [[sb/3/13/8|3.13.8]] Purport --- ## How Respect Flows Through the Paramparā ### The guru accepts the disciple's respect on behalf of Kṛṣṇa > One has to surrender unto Kṛṣṇa through the via medium of the *guru,* not directly. This is the process. The *guru* does not accept respect from his disciple for his personal self but conveys this respect to Kṛṣṇa.... it is stated in *Bhagavad-gītā* that knowledge of Kṛṣṇa is received through the *paramparā,* the disciplic succession. The *guru* offers the same respects to his *guru,* and his *guru* offers respects to his, and so it goes all the way to Kṛṣṇa. Thus the mercy of Kṛṣṇa comes down through the *paramparā* system, and the respect offered to Kṛṣṇa is offered up through the *paramparā* system. —Teachings of Lord Kapila, the Son of Devahūti --- ### The spiritual master is respected as the representative of Brahmā ![[sb/1/4/33#purport|all other successive disciples in the chain are also equally respected as representatives of the original spiritual master]] —SB [[sb/1/4/33|1.4.33]] Purport --- ## Understanding Kṛṣṇa Through the Paramparā ### One must understand Lord Caitanya and Lord Kṛṣṇa through the disciplic succession > One should understand Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya and Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa from the Gosvāmīs in the *paramparā* system. This Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is following as strictly as possible in the footsteps of the Gosvāmīs. Whoever wants to understand the difficult subject matter of *kṛṣṇa-kathā* should accept the disciplic succession. —Cc. [[cc/madhya/25/271|Madhya 25.271]] Purport --- ### One can hear Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu through the paramparā system > Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu appeared five hundred years ago, but it cannot be said that now the potency of the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra* is less powerful than it was in His presence. By hearing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu through the *paramparā* system, one can be purified.... if one hears about Him through books like *Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta* and through the *paramparā* system of pure Vaiṣṇavas, there is no difficulty in becoming a pure Vaiṣṇava, free from mundane desires and personal motivations. —Cc. [[cc/madhya/17/51|Madhya 17.51]] Purport --- ## Following the Previous Ācāryas in Chanting ### One should chant only those songs left by the previous ācāryas ![[sb/7/9/18#purport|One should chant the bona fide songs received from the disciplic succession...Manufacturing many ways of chanting will never be effective]] —SB [[sb/7/9/18|7.9.18]] Purport --- ### Devotional service begins with service to a devotee in disciplic succession ![[sb/2/6/34#purport|the process of devotional service always begins in the service of the devotee who appears in disciplic succession]] —SB [[sb/2/6/34|2.6.34]] Purport