# Spiritual Master *On the relationship with the spiritual master* --- ### Follow the Vāṇī > My Guru Mahārāja passed in 1936, and I started this movement in 1965, thirty years after. Then? I am getting the mercy of *guru.* This is *vāṇī.* Even the *guru* is not physically present, if you follow the *vāṇī,* then you are getting help. — [[spoken/1975/750721mw.sf|Morning Walk, San Francisco, July 21, 1975]] --- ### No Separation from Guru > So there's no question of ever separation as long as the disciple follows the instruction of *guru.* — [[spoken/1975/750721mw.sf|Morning Walk, San Francisco, July 21, 1975]] --- ### Wherever You Live, Follow Strictly > So this is the process. That is the... You sing every day, *guru-mukha-padma-vākya, cittete koriyā aikya.* That is the process. Wherever you live, if you follow strictly the instruction of *guru,* then you remain perfect. — [[spoken/1975/750203mw.hon|Morning Walk, Honolulu, February 3, 1975]] --- ### If You Don't Follow, You Are Fallen > Yes. If you don't follow the instruction of *guru,* then you are fallen down, immediately. That is the way. Otherwise why you sing, *yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo?* It is my duty to satisfy *guru.* Otherwise I am nowhere. So if you prefer to be nowhere, then you disobey as you like. But if you want to be steady in your position, then you have to follow strictly the instruction of *guru.* — [[spoken/1975/750203mw.hon|Morning Walk, Honolulu, February 3, 1975]] --- ### First Business Is to Accept Spiritual Master > No, that is not possible. Therefore Rūpa Gosvāmī said, *ādau gurv-āśrayam.* First business is to accept spiritual master. *Ādau gurv-āśrayam.* Who will train him? He is already fool, rascal. He must be trained up. So he must be trained up by the representative of Kṛṣṇa. — [[spoken/1975/750522mw.mel|Morning Walk, Melbourne, May 22, 1975]] --- ### Only the Fortunate Get a Bona Fide Spiritual Master > Caitanya Mahāprabhu said that, your answer, so "Only the fortunate person, they can get the shelter of bona fide spiritual master." *Kona bhāgyavān jīva.* Not all; *kona. Kona* means some... So as there are *bhagavān*—somebody is rich, somebody is poor; this is also due to fortune or misfortune—similarly, if one is spiritually fortunate he gets a bona fide spiritual master. — [[spoken/1975/750212r1.mex|Room Conversation, Mexico City, February 12, 1975]] --- ### I Strictly Follow My Guru Mahārāja > Yes, done grand style because I strictly follow the instruction of my Guru Mahārāja, that's all. Otherwise I have no strength. I have not played any magic. Did I? Any gold manufacturing? Still, I have got better disciples than the gold-manufacturing *guru.* — [[spoken/1975/750203mw.hon|Morning Walk, Honolulu, February 3, 1975]] --- ### Keep Company with Pure Devotees > The whole process is that we should always be praying mercy of the superior *ācāryas,* and we should keep company with pure devotee. Then it will be easier for us to advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, to receive the mercy of Lord Caitanya and Lord Kṛṣṇa. — [[spoken/1969/690111pu.la|Purport to Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Prabhu, Los Angeles, January 11, 1969]] --- *8 verified verbatim quotes from Śrīla Prabhupāda on the spiritual master*