# Guru-Kṛpā *On the spiritual master's mercy* --- ### Yasya Prasādād Bhagavat-Prasādaḥ > Therefore *śāstra* says, *yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādaḥ.* If you can satisfy your spiritual master, then you must know that you have satisfied Kṛṣṇa. Because he is representative of Kṛṣṇa, you are working under him, so if he says, "It is all right," Kṛṣṇa says, "It is all right," although you have never seen Kṛṣṇa. And *yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto 'pi.* And if the spiritual master says, "Oh, you are doing nothing" then your all spoiled, all labor is spoiled. *Na gatiḥ kuto 'pi.* You have no other shelter. — [[spoken/1971/710409sb.bom|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.8.18–19, Bombay, April 9, 1971]] --- ### Kṛṣṇa Manifests Externally as Spiritual Master > When one is sincere, then Kṛṣṇa is sitting within everyone. As soon as He sees that "Here is a sincere soul. He's seeking after Me," so He manifests Himself out externally as spiritual master. The spiritual master is therefore representative of Kṛṣṇa. *Guru-kṛṣṇa-kṛpāya pāya bhakti-latā-bīja* [Cc Madhya 19.151]. Two things. Without being representative of Kṛṣṇa, nobody can become spiritual master. *Kṛṣṇa-śakti vinā nahe tāra pravartana* [*Antya* 7.11] Without being empowered by Kṛṣṇa, nobody can preach, nobody can become a spiritual master. — [[spoken/1969/690410sb.ny|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.1.1–4, New York, April 10, 1969]] --- ### Living Like a Menial Servant > Therefore *brahmacārī* means living under direction of *guru, guror hitam.* And *guror hitam:* how he can be simply thinking of benefiting the spiritual master. Unless that position comes, nobody can serve *guru.* It is not an artificial thing. The *brahmacārī,* the disciple, must have genuine love for *guru.* Then he can be under his control. Otherwise why one should be under the control of another person? Therefore it is said, *ācaran dāsavat. Dāsa. Dāsa* means servant. Not only servant, but menial servant. Menial servant means just like the sweeper, the cobbler, like that. They are called menial servant. — [[spoken/1976/760412sb.bom|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.12.1, Bombay, April 12, 1976]] --- ### Full Faith in Guru > *Nīcavat. Ācaran dāsavan nīco gurau sudṛdha sauhṛdaḥ*. This can be possible when one is very thickly related with the *guru.* Otherwise, ordinary relationship will not do. One who has got actually the conviction, *yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo.* One who is convinced that "If I can please my *guru,* then Kṛṣṇa will be pleased." This is called *sudṛdha,* full faith. *Yasya prasādān na gatiḥ kuto 'pi.* "And if I displease my *guru,* then I have no place." In this way. Of course, *guru* cannot be a false *guru.* False *guru* has no such thing. If one *guru* is genuine and the disciple is genuine, then both of them are benefited, and they go back to home, back to Godhead. — [[spoken/1976/760412sb.bom|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.12.1, Bombay, April 12, 1976]] --- ### The Disciple Should Be Chastised > So disciple should be always ready to be chastised. He should not think that he has become perfect. That is perfection. So long he thinks that he is not perfect—he's to be chastised—then he's perfect. And as soon as he thinks that he has become perfect, he's nonsense immediately, nonsense number one. [break] .always to be chastised by the spiritual master for perfection. And if he thinks that now he has become perfect, then he's a foolish. Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, *guru more murkha dekhi:* "My spiritual master saw Me a fool number one." Was He fool number one? He's God Himself. But that is the position. He should remain always a fool number one, ready to be chastised. Then he's perfect. — [[spoken/1975/750408mw.may|Morning Walk, Māyāpur, April 8, 1975]] --- *5 verified verbatim quotes from Śrīla Prabhupāda on guru-kṛpā*