# The importance of guru > [!summary] > *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 Kṛṣṇa: ![[cc/adi/1/35]] ![[cc/madhya/19/151]] ## The Guru as Kṛṣṇa's Representative **The guru is Kṛṣṇa'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/adi/8/5#translation]] ![[cc/antya/7/11#translation]] **Guru and Kṛṣṇa's combined mercy opens the path to devotion: ![[sb/8/16/12#translation]] ## How to Approach the Spiritual Master **One must approach with humility, inquiry, and service: ![[cc/adi/1/34]] ![[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/4/3#translation]] ## Related Articles - [[wiki/articles/the-disciplic-succession|The disciplic succession]] — Context of guru - [[wiki/articles/the-great-acaryas|The great ācāryas]] — Examples of gurus - [[wiki/articles/surrender-to-the-lord|Surrender to the Lord]] — Through the guru ## 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