# The importance of guru *The Vedic tradition emphasizes that spiritual knowledge must be received through a bona fide spiritual master (guru) in disciplic succession. Without such guidance, one cannot properly understand the Absolute Truth.* ## The Necessity of Accepting a Guru **Without guru one cannot approach Krishna:** ![[cc/adi/1/35]] ![[cc/madhya/19/151]] ## The Guru as Krishna's Representative **The guru is Krishna's direct manifestation:** ![[cc/adi/1/45]] ![[cc/adi/1/46]] **The spiritual master is to be honored as much as the Supreme Lord:** ![[sb/7/15/26]] ## Qualifications of a Bona Fide Guru **A genuine spiritual master must be self-realized and fixed in devotional service:** ![[sb/6/7/21]] ![[bg/4/34]] ## The Essential Mercy of the Guru **Without the guru's mercy, spiritual advancement is impossible:** ![[cc/madhya/19/151]] ![[cc/antya/7/11]] **Guru and Krishna's combined mercy opens the path to devotion:** ![[sb/8/16/12]] ## How to Approach the Spiritual Master **One must approach with humility, inquiry, and service:** ![[bg/4/34]] ![[sb/7/5/32]] ## The Guru-Disciple Relationship **This sacred relationship is the means of transmitting transcendental knowledge:** ![[bg/4/2]] ![[sb/2/9/7]] ## The Disciplic Succession **Knowledge must descend through an unbroken chain of spiritual masters:** ![[bg/4/1]] ![[bg/4/2]] ## From the Index - [[index/entries/spiritual-master|Spiritual Master]] — Comprehensive references on the guru's role - [[index/entries/guru|Guru]] — The spiritual teacher - [[index/entries/disciplic-succession|Disciplic Succession]] — Paramparā system - [[index/entries/initiation|Initiation]] — Dīkṣā process - [[index/entries/surrender|Surrender]] — To the spiritual master