How do pure devotees respect their spiritual master?
The spiritual master is known to ordinary people in one form and to his intimate devotees in another. The pure devotees recognize their spiritual master as the supreme well-wisher, as most dear to Krsna, and as the object of their love and devotion, the object of their eternal service and their life and soul. The spiritual master is most dear to and nondifferent from Krsna. It is not possible to achieve Krsna's service without serving the spiritual master. Only those who serve the spiritual master can be considered Vaishnavas.
What mentality should a sincere disciple have?
Sincere disciples should be completely devoted to their guru. They should know their spiritual master to be as good as God and the only object of theit love and devotion. The spiritual master is my eternal master and I am his eternal servant.
Is there no hope of attaining auspiciousness without serving the guru?
How can we attain auspiciousness if we reject the well-wisher who has come to bestow auspiciousness? The spiritual master comes from vaikuntha. The Lord has sent him. How can we go back to Godhead if we renounce his shelter and association? The spiritual master's mercy is the root of all the auspiciousness. What have we actually done to receive his mercy?
Who follows the path of argumentation?
As long as people accept the path of dry argument, they cannot find a bonafide spiritual master. The path of argument causes us to doubt the fact that there cannot be any truth superior to or separate from the spiritual master's teachings. Those who follows the path of argument disregard the spiritual master. The spiritual master alone is capable of removing all doubts and misconceptions. Dry argument has no foundation or standing. The truth received through disciplic succession does not change. The conception maintained in the argument-prone hearts of those who are envious of the spiritual master is disrespectful toward the guru and scriptures.
When will we achieve auspiciousness?
Only when we hear *hari-katha* from saintly persons and the *mahajanas* and then follow in their footsteps can we achieve auspiciousness. In order to make pots, we must first take lessons from a potter. Then we must start to work. Similiarily, if we do not follow the most experienced persons but try to achieve something by our independent endeavor, we will face many obstacles on the path to success. We will also fail to understand the purport of scripture and become controlled by mental speculation.
Can an ordinary man speak about the spiritual world?
Only those who have descended from the spiritual world can speak about the spiritual world. No one from this world can speak about the spiritual world. When the living entities are fortunate enough to hear about the spiritual world from those who have come from the spiritual world, they gain the opportunity to know about Vaikuntha. We cannot understand transcendental topics by mundane consideration.
Did you make disciples?
I have not made anyone my disciples. Those who are considered my disciples by others are actually my spiritual masters. To associate with others means to accept something from them. I do not accept anything from anyone except that which I received from my spiritual master.
What quality must we possess before we make disciples?
We don't need to make disciples, we need to become disciples. In other words, we must always engage in the service of guru and Krsna. The Vaishnavas, the devotees of Visnu, see the spiritual master in everything. If we are proud to be Vaishnavas, we cannot serve Lord Vishnu or the Vaishnavas properly.
Should everyone be respected as a Spiritual master?
One should not disobey his spiritual master. We should not blaspheme the Vedic literature or disrespect the guru by considering many persons his equal. The only benefit the living entities can experience is to take complete shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna.
Should we enjoy the items meant for the spiritual master's service?
It is an offence to enjoy items offered to the spiritual master. This means that we are treating the spiritual master as if he were an insignificant, ordinary human being.
Articles
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- প্রভুপাদ - শ্রীনাম ও শ্রীনামী
- গুরুমহিমা - স্বপ্রতিষ্ঠার তরে
- The Purpose of Life
- त्याज्य-पुत्र
- হে যোগমায়া দেবি
- Respect one vaishnav and offend another Vaishnav is an offense
- হে শ্রীনিত্যানন্দরাম!
- প্রেম-কলহ বনাম গুর্ব্ববজ্ঞা
- কলি-কুশলী
- প্রভুপাদ নামের অপসারণ - Displacing the Prabhupāda Name
- প্রচারক তথা বিবিক্তানন্দী - Preacher vs. Living in Solitude
- দশম-অধস্তন আচার্য্যবৃন্দ - The 10th Generation Acāryas
- Vinode Vaibhava Sarasvatī
- Candra-mouli Śiva - Ahaṃ Vedmi
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Message of Srila Bhakti Vinode Thakur.
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