# Qualifications of the Spiritual Master *How to recognize a bona fide guru—his characteristics and qualities.* ← Back to [[wiki/compile/spiritual-master-disciple|The Spiritual Master and the Disciple]] --- ## The Spiritual Master Strictly Follows Disciplic Succession and Scripture ### Knowledge descends through disciplic succession > The transcendental knowledge of the *Vedas* was first uttered by God to Brahmā, the creator of this particular universe. From Brahmā the knowledge descended to Nārada, from Nārada to Vyāsadeva, from Vyāsadeva to Madhva, and in this process of disciplic succession the transcendental knowledge was transmitted by one disciple to another till it reached Lord Gaurāṅga, Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, who posed as the disciple and successor of Śrī Īśvara Purī. —The Science of Self-Realization --- ### By following disciplic succession, one can become a guru for the whole world > The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is based on this principle. We are not presenting anything that we ourselves could manufacture. Whatever we manufacture is sure to be defective or deficient.... We have to receive knowledge from the disciplic succession. Knowledge has to be received from Bhagavān, the perfect one. If we simply follow this system, we can become a *guru* for the whole world.... It is not difficult to become a *guru,* provided that we repeat what Kṛṣṇa says. —Teachings of Lord Kapila, the Son of Devahūti --- ### By following in the disciplic succession, one can become a guru > This Kṛṣṇa consciousness philosophy is very easy because we do not manufacture ideas. We take the ideas and the words delivered by the Supreme Person, Kṛṣṇa, or His incarnation or representative. His representative does not say anything which Kṛṣṇa Himself does not say. It is very easy to be a representative, but one cannot be a representative of Kṛṣṇa if one tries to interpret Kṛṣṇa's words in a whimsical way. > > There is no authority superior to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, and if we stick to this principle, we can become *gurus.* —Teachings of Lord Kapila, the Son of Devahūti --- ### A bona fide spiritual master does not deviate ![[bg/4/42#purport|A bona fide spiritual master is in the disciplic succession from time eternal, and he does not deviate at all from the instructions of the Supreme Lord]] —Bg. [[bg/4/42|4.42]] Purport --- ### One cannot be a spiritual master unless he has received knowledge through disciplic succession ![[sb/2/8/25#purport|One cannot be a spiritual master in perfection unless and until one has received the same by disciplic succession]] —SB [[sb/2/8/25|2.8.25]] Purport --- ### A bona fide guru is not hereditary ![[sb/7/5/31#purport|An actual guru is śrotriya, one who has heard or received perfect knowledge through paramparā, the disciplic succession]] —SB [[sb/7/5/31|7.5.31]] Purport --- ### As a leader, the spiritual master must follow the principles of scripture ![[bg/3/21#purport|A teacher must follow the principles of śāstra (scripture) to reach the common man]] —Bg. [[bg/3/21|3.21]] Purport --- ### The spiritual master scrupulously follows the conclusions of scripture > In the *paramparā* system, the instructions taken from the bona fide spiritual master must also be based on revealed Vedic scriptures. One who is in the line of disciplic succession cannot manufacture his own way of behavior. There are many so-called followers of the Vaiṣṇava cult in the line of Caitanya Mahāprabhu who do not scrupulously follow the conclusions of the *śāstras,* and therefore they are considered to be *apa-sampradāya,* which means "outside of the *sampradāya.*" —Cc. [[cc/adi/7/48|Ādi 7.48]] Purport --- ### What the guru speaks must be confirmed by sādhu and śāstra ![[sb/4/16/1#purport|Sādhu-śāstra-guru: one has to test all spiritual matters according to the instructions of saintly persons, scriptures and the spiritual master]] —SB [[sb/4/16/1|4.16.1]] Purport --- ## Knowledge of the Science of Kṛṣṇa—Not Birth or Social Position—Is the Requirement ### A person from any varṇa or āśrama can become a spiritual master > *kibā vipra, kibā nyāsī, śūdra kene naya* > *yei kṛṣṇa-tattva-vettā, sei 'guru' haya* > [Cc Madhya 8.128] > > "Whether one is a *brāhmaṇa,* a *sannyāsī,* or a *śūdra*—regardless of what he is—he can become a spiritual master if he knows the science of Kṛṣṇa." —Cc. [[cc/madhya/8/128|Madhya 8.128]] --- ### Knowledge of Kṛṣṇa, not birth, qualifies one as a spiritual master ![[sb/1/18/18#purport|Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu...elevated many lowborn, or those disqualified by birth or action, to the status of devotional service and established them in the position of ācāryas]] —SB [[sb/1/18/18|1.18.18]] Purport --- ### Transcendental knowledge, not birth, qualifies one as a spiritual master ![[sb/1/13/15#purport|According to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, anyone who is conversant in the transcendental knowledge, or the science of Godhead, be he a brāhmaṇa or a śūdra, a householder or a sannyāsī, is eligible to become a spiritual preceptor]] —SB [[sb/1/13/15|1.13.15]] Purport --- ### If one is advanced in the science of Kṛṣṇa, he may become a spiritual master ![[sb/6/7/33#purport|if one is advanced in the science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, regardless of his position in human society, he may become a spiritual master]] —SB [[sb/6/7/33|6.7.33]] Purport --- ### Material identity does not matter—knowledge of Kṛṣṇa matters > This is Caitanya Mahāprabhu's teaching. Whoever is qualified in Kṛṣṇa consciousness can become a *guru.* His family or material identity does not matter. He simply must know the science. When we consult an engineer, a doctor or a lawyer, we do not ask whether he is a *brāhmaṇa* or a *śūdra.* If he is qualified, he can help with a particular subject. Similarly, if one knows the science of Kṛṣṇa, he can be a *guru.* —Teachings of Lord Kapila, the Son of Devahūti --- ### A spiritual master must know the conclusion of the Vedas ![[sb/3/6/30#purport|An impersonalist can become a qualified brāhmaṇa, but he cannot become a spiritual master unless and until he is promoted to the stage of a Vaiṣṇava]] —SB [[sb/3/6/30|3.6.30]] Purport --- ## The Spiritual Master Must Be Learned in the Vedic Literature ### The spiritual master must be well versed in Vedic literature ![[sb/1/1/6#purport|The ācārya or the gosvāmī must be well acquainted with all these literatures]] —SB [[sb/1/1/6|1.1.6]] Purport --- ### Spiritual knowledge, not caste, is the qualification > Whatever position one may have, if he is fully conversant with the science of Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he can become a bona fide spiritual master, initiator or teacher of the science. In other words, one can become a bona fide spiritual master if he has sufficient knowledge of the science of Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa consciousness. The position does not depend on a particular position in society or on birth. This is the conclusion of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and it is in accordance with the Vedic injunctions. —Teachings of Lord Caitanya --- ### The Hari-bhakti-vilāsa injunction serves as social compromise only > In the *Hari-bhakti-vilāsa* it is stated that if one bona fide spiritual master is born in a *brāhmaṇa* family and another, who is also qualified, is born in a *śūdra* family, one should accept the one who is born in a *brāhmaṇa* family. This statement serves as a social compromise, but it has nothing to do with spiritual understanding. This injunction is only applicable for those who consider social status more important than spiritual status. It is not for people who are spiritually serious. —Teachings of Lord Caitanya --- ## The Spiritual Master Is a Pure Devotee ### The spiritual master engages in unalloyed devotional service > The bona fide spiritual master always engages in unalloyed devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. By this test he is known to be a direct manifestation of the Lord and a genuine representative of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu. —Cc. [[cc/adi/1/46|Ādi 1.46]] Purport --- ### The spiritual master is a self-realized pure devotee ![[sb/2/4/10#purport|A serious devotee must first approach a spiritual master who not only is well versed in the Vedic literatures but is also a great devotee with factual realization of the Lord]] —SB [[sb/2/4/10|2.4.10]] Purport --- ### The symptoms of a true guru > "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 qualification of a bona fide *guru* is that he has realized the conclusions of the scriptures by deliberation and is able to convince others of these conclusions. Such great personalities, who have taken shelter of the Supreme Godhead, leaving aside all material considerations, should be understood to be bona fide spiritual masters." —The Nectar of Devotion