# Spiritual Master and Disciple *On the sacred relationship between guru and disciple* --- ### The Vedic System > But this is the etiquette, this is the Vedic principle, that even if You are God, if You, even if You know everything, still, You have to accept a teacher, a spiritual master. That is the Vedic system. — [[spoken/1972/720621in.la|Initiations, Los Angeles, June 21, 1972]] --- ### Representative of Krsna > Representative means one who says exactly what Kṛṣṇa says; he does not change anything. Kṛṣṇa says, *sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja,* and His representative says that "You give up everything and surrender unto Kṛṣṇa." The same thing. And there is no difficulty. One hasn't got to manufacture some idea, some philosophy. No. Everything is there, and if you preach what Kṛṣṇa has said, then you are spiritual master. — [[spoken/1974/740212le.vrn|Lecture, Vrndavana, February 12, 1974]] --- ### Through the Disciplic Succession > As it has come through the channel of disciplic succession, all these praises will also reach to Kṛṣṇa through that disciplic succession. So it is not personal thing. These things are required. Just like in the military training, they are taught by the officers in a different way, in so many ways, similarly, this is also training of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, so that the feeling of pure consciousness will reach to Kṛṣṇa. — [[spoken/1969/690905vp.ham|Sri Vyasa-puja Lecture, Hamburg, September 5, 1969]] --- ### Transfer the Attachment > So our business is, spiritual master's business is, how to help the disciple to transfer the attachment. It is not that we are creating an..., artificially, no. The attachment quality is there. But it is being mixed up with material things. And if you purify this material contamination, then the attachment become pure, and that is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. — [[spoken/1975/750705r1.chi|Room Conversation with Mr. and Mrs. Wax, Chicago, July 5, 1975]] --- ### Only the Fortunate > 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. — [[spoken/1975/750212r1.mex|Room Conversation with Sanskrit Professor, Mexico City, February 12, 1975]] --- ### Acarya as Representative of God > *Ācārya* is the representative of God. *Yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo.* If you offer prayers, honor to the *ācārya,* then Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is pleased. To please Him you have to please His representative. "If you love me, love my dog." And in the *Bhagavad-gītā* it is said *ācāryopāsanam. Ācāryopāsanam.* We have to worship the *ācārya.* — [[spoken/1976/760819vp.hyd|Sri Vyasa-puja Lecture, Hyderabad, August 19, 1976]] --- ### Become Spiritual Master > Every one of you should be spiritual master next. And what is that duty? Whatever you are hearing from me, whatever you are learning from me, you have to distribute the same *in toto,* without any addition or alteration. Then all of you become the spiritual master. That is the science of becoming spiritual master. — [[spoken/1968/680817vp.mon|Sri Vyasa-puja, Montreal, August 17, 1968]] --- ### By Grace of Krsna and Guru > But it is fact: if one is fortunate enough, then he can understand this Kṛṣṇa consciousness philosophy by the grace of Kṛṣṇa and *guru.* — [[spoken/1976/760517le.hon|Lecture about Mayavada Philosophy, Honolulu, May 17, 1976]] --- *8 verified verbatim quotes from Srila Prabhupada on the spiritual master and disciple relationship*