# Success in Spiritual Life *The spiritual master solves the problems of life, teaches the art of devotional service, and enables success in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.* ← Back to [[wiki/compile/spiritual-master-disciple|The Spiritual Master and the Disciple]] --- ## The Spiritual Master Solves the Problems of Life ### Perplexities require approaching a spiritual master ![[bg/2/7#purport|it behooves one to approach a bona fide spiritual master who can give one proper guidance]] —Bg. [[bg/2/7|2.7]] Purport --- ### Only the spiritual master can solve the problems of life ![[bg/2/8#purport|help can only be given by a spiritual master]] —Bg. [[bg/2/8|2.8]] Purport --- ### An intelligent person must inquire from the spiritual master ![[sb/7/7/47#purport|One must approach a bona fide spiritual master by surrendering himself]] —SB [[sb/7/7/47|7.7.47]] Purport --- ### To solve the problems of life, one must humbly approach a spiritual master ![[sb/1/19/31#purport|one should humbly approach a spiritual master to understand the transcendental science]] —SB [[sb/1/19/31|1.19.31]] Purport --- ### The spiritual master solves all confusion > **Mr. O'Grady:** And he makes a decision on how to help me stop this confusion? > > **Śrīla Prabhupāda:** Yes, the spiritual master is one who solves all confusion. If the spiritual master cannot save his disciple from confusion, he is not a spiritual master. That is the test. —The Science of Self-Realization --- ## Learning the Art of Devotional Service ### It is the duty of every man to approach a spiritual master > *sarva-desa-kāla-daśāya janera kartavya* > *guru-pāśe sei bhakti praṣṭavya, śrotavya* > > "It is therefore the duty of every man—in every country, in every circumstance and at all times—to approach the bona fide spiritual master, question him about devotional service and listen to him explain the process." —Cc. [[cc/madhya/25/122|Madhya 25.122]] --- ### One must be trained in devotional service by a spiritual master ![[sb/9/4/18-20#purport|according to the instructions of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, the first business of a devotee is to accept a bona fide spiritual master]] —SB [[sb/9/4/18-20|9.4.18-20]] Purport --- ### The neophyte must approach the personality of devotee ![[sb/1/2/12#purport|A third-class devotee has to receive the instructions of devotional service from the authoritative sources]] —SB [[sb/1/2/12|1.2.12]] Purport --- ### To understand devotional service, one must accept a Vaiṣṇava guru > If one wants to learn the meaning of *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam,* one must take lessons from a realized soul. One should not proudly think that one can understand the transcendental loving service of the Lord simply by reading books. One must become a servant of a Vaiṣṇava... One must accept a Vaiṣṇava *guru* *(ādau gurv-āśrayam),* and then by questions and answers one should gradually learn what pure devotional service to Kṛṣṇa is. That is called the *paramparā* system. —Cc. [[cc/antya/7/53|Antya 7.53]] Purport --- ### How association with a pure devotee leads to perfection > The influence of a pure devotee is such that if someone comes to associate with him with a little faith, he gets the chance of hearing about the Lord... In the second stage, after one becomes a little advanced and mature, he automatically offers to follow the principles of devotional service under the guidance of the pure devotee and accepts him as the spiritual master. In the next stage, under the guidance of the spiritual master, the devotee executes regulative devotional service... and in the last stage there is pure love of Godhead. —The Nectar of Devotion --- ### The expert spiritual master engages the devotee according to his tendency > A devotee already attracted by the name, form, qualities, etc., of the Supreme Lord may be directed to his specific manner of devotional service; he need not waste time in approaching the Lord through logic. The expert spiritual master knows well how to engage his disciple's energy in the transcendental loving service of the Lord, and thus he engages a devotee in a specific devotional service according to his special tendency. —Cc. [[cc/adi/1/35|Ādi 1.35]] Purport --- ### Practicing bhakti-yoga under the spiritual master's direction ![[bg/12/9#purport|This practice of bhakti-yoga, under the rules and regulations, with the direction of a spiritual master, will surely bring one to the stage of love of God]] —Bg. [[bg/12/9|12.9]] Purport --- ### Acting under the spiritual master's direction is pure devotional service ![[sb/3/29/8#purport|To act under the direction of a bona fide spiritual master with a motive to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead is pure devotional service]] —SB [[sb/3/29/8|3.29.8]] Purport --- ### The neophyte must be trained to attain the ultimate goal ![[sb/1/6/23#purport|under the direction of the spiritual master he is trained in transcendental service of the Lord]] —SB [[sb/1/6/23|1.6.23]] Purport --- ### Spontaneous devotional service through the spiritual master > Externally a devotee performs all the items of devotional service... and within his mind he always thinks of his eternal relationship with Kṛṣṇa... If one engages himself in the service of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa in this way, he can transcend the regulative principles enjoined in the *śāstras* and, through his spiritual master, fully engage in rendering spontaneous love to Kṛṣṇa. —Cc. [[cc/madhya/22/165|Madhya 22.165]] --- ### How the disciple attains spiritual perfection ![[sb/7/7/33#purport|By following the instructions of the guru and the śāstras, the disciple attains the stage of devotional service]] —SB [[sb/7/7/33|7.7.33]] Purport --- ## Success in Spiritual Life Requires a Spiritual Master ### For success, one must take shelter ![[sb/1/16/3#purport|one who wants to have self-realization must approach and take shelter of a bona fide spiritual master to achieve real success]] —SB [[sb/1/16/3|1.16.3]] Purport --- ### The principle is essential ![[bg/13/8#purport|The principle of accepting a spiritual master...is essential]] —Bg. [[bg/13/8|13.8-12]] Purport --- ### One must approach a realized 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]] —SB [[sb/2/4/10|2.4.10]] Purport --- ### The common man must take shelter ![[sb/3/22/6#purport|He has to take shelter of a bona fide spiritual master and work under his direction faithfully and sincerely; then he becomes perfect without a doubt]] —SB [[sb/3/22/6|3.22.6]] Purport --- ### The Vedas instruct one must approach a guru ![[sb/8/16/23#purport|tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet: one must accept a guru for proper direction]] —SB [[sb/8/16/23|8.16.23]] Purport --- ### Complete surrender brings blissful life > Śrīpāda Śrīdhara Svāmī has composed a nice verse in which he says, "O all-merciful spiritual master, representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, when will my mind be completely surrendered unto your lotus feet? At that time only, by your mercy, I shall be able to get relief from all obstacles to spiritual life, and I shall be situated in blissful life." —Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead --- ### One who does not accept a spiritual master can never go back to Godhead > One should always remember that a person who is reluctant to accept a spiritual master and be initiated is sure to be baffled in his endeavor to go back to Godhead. One who is not properly initiated may present himself as a great devotee, but in fact he is sure to encounter many stumbling blocks on his path of progress toward spiritual realization... Such a helpless person is compared to a ship without a rudder, for such a ship can never reach its destination. —Cc. [[cc/adi/1/35|Ādi 1.35]] Purport --- ### One must act with reference to sādhu, śāstra and guru > Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura advises, *sādhu-śāstra-guru-vākya, cittete kariyā aikya.* The meaning of this instruction is that one must consider the instructions of the *sādhu,* the revealed scriptures and the spiritual master in order to understand the real purpose of spiritual life. —Cc. [[cc/adi/7/48|Ādi 7.48]] Purport