# Understanding the Lord Through the Guru One can understand the Supreme Lord only through the direction of a bona fide spiritual master. Without the guru's mercy, even learned scholars cannot comprehend Kṛṣṇa. --- ## One Can Understand Kṛṣṇa Only by the Guru's Direction **One who has unflinching devotion and is directed by the spiritual master can see the Lord:** ![[bg/11/54#purport|One who has unflinching devotion for the Supreme Lord and is directed by the spiritual master can see the Supreme Personality of Godhead by revelation. For one who does not take personal training under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master, it is impossible to even begin to understand Kṛṣṇa]] —Bg. [[bg/11/54|11.54]] Purport --- **One can understand Kṛṣṇa through the spiritual master (although the experience is direct):** ![[bg/18/75|By the mercy of Vyāsa, I have heard these most confidential talks directly from the master of all mysticism, Kṛṣṇa, who was speaking personally to Arjuna]] —Bg. [[bg/18/75|18.75]] ![[bg/18/75#purport|one has to understand Kṛṣṇa not directly but through the medium of the spiritual master. The spiritual master is the transparent medium, although it is true that the experience is direct. This is the mystery of disciplic succession]] —Bg. [[bg/18/75|18.75]] Purport --- ## Unless Enlightened by a Guru **Unless enlightened by a spiritual master, one cannot see Kṛṣṇa, or see things as they are:** One must see things as they are through the mercy of a spiritual master; otherwise if one tries to see Kṛṣṇa directly, he may mistake an ordinary man for Kṛṣṇa or Kṛṣṇa for an ordinary man. **Everyone has to see Kṛṣṇa according to the verdict of Vedic literatures presented by the self-realized spiritual master.** A sincere person is able to see Kṛṣṇa through the transparent medium of Śrī Gurudeva, the spiritual master. **Unless one is enlightened by the knowledge given by the spiritual master, he cannot see things as they are, even though he remains constantly with the spiritual master.** —Cc. Madhya 18.99 --- **By the grace of a bona fide spiritual master, one can understand the Lord:** ![[sb/1/18/3#purport|by the grace of a bona fide spiritual master like Śukadeva Gosvāmī, it is quite possible to know everything of the superior energy of the Lord]] —SB [[sb/1/18/3|1.18.3]] Purport It is very difficult to find the Lord from the Vedic literatures, but **it is very easy to know Him by the mercy of a liberated devotee like Śukadeva Gosvāmī.** --- ## One Must Take Shelter **To understand Kṛṣṇa, one must take shelter of a bona fide spiritual master:** ![[sb/7/5/32#purport|Unless one takes shelter of a bona fide, fully Kṛṣṇa conscious spiritual master, there is no chance of understanding Kṛṣṇa]] —SB [[sb/7/5/32|7.5.32]] Purport The educators, scholars and big political leaders worshiped by millions of people cannot understand the goal of life and take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, for they have not accepted a bona fide spiritual master and the *Vedas.* --- **One who engages in devotional service under the guidance of the spiritual master in disciplic succession becomes qualified to see the Lord face to face:** ![[sb/6/16/50#purport|If one takes to spiritual life under the direction of Nārada Muni or his representative and thus engages himself in the service of the Lord, he qualifies himself to see the Lord face to face]] —SB [[sb/6/16/50|6.16.50]] Purport One must follow the instructions of the spiritual master. Thus one becomes qualified and later sees the Supreme Personality of Godhead. --- ## To Understand God, One Must Approach a Guru **To understand God, one must approach a guru:** **Mr. O'Grady:** Is it possible to arrive at this understanding of God alone? **Śrīla Prabhupāda:** No. Therefore we have cited this verse: *tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet.* The word *abhigacchet* means "must." **It is not possible alone.** In Sanskrit grammar this is called the *vidhi-liṅ* form of a verb, and this form is used when there is no choice. The word *abhigacchet* means that **one must approach a guru.** —*The Science of Self-Realization* --- **Unless guided by a realized spiritual master, one's understanding of the Supreme Lord is simply foolishness:** A student is to be considered perfected when he understands the identity of the holy name and the Supreme Lord. **Unless one is under the shelter of a realized spiritual master, his understanding of the Supreme is simply foolishness.** However, one can fully understand the transcendental Lord by service and devotion. —*Teachings of Lord Caitanya* --- **[← Back to Spiritual Master and Disciple](wiki/compile/spiritual-master-disciple)**