Swimming in an Ocean of Transcendental Bliss

Why be miserable when you can swim at every minute an ocean of transcendental bliss no matter where you are or what you are doing? You simply have to kick out from your consciousness the false ego of bodily identification with the understanding that you are an eternal spirit-soul servitor of the Supreme Person, and that your sojourn in the material existence is for one purpose and for one purpose only: to reconnect yourself with that all-beautiful, all-powerful, all-merciful, all-knowing Supreme Personality of Godhead. And then you must go beyond the platform of understanding to the platform of transcendental realization. This is accomplished through the regular daily practice of real transcendental meditation by chanting the Hare Krishna mahamantra, "Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare", under the expert guidance of a bona fide spiritual master.

Answers According to the Vedic Version

Question: How to Get a Spiritual Master?

I have been reading the Bhagavad-gita As It Is. I want to serve the Supreme Lord. I understand that for this I need a guide or spiritual master. How do I get one?

Paola

Answer: You Already Have One.

By reading Bhagavad-gita As It Is by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and desiring to follow his teachings you have already taken the first step of accepting Srila Prabhupada as your instructing spiritual master. Now you should become fixed up in chanting at least 16 rounds a day of the Hare Krishna mahamantra and following the four regulative principles as follows:

1. No illicit sex
2. No intoxication
3. No meat eating
4. No gambling

To become steady in these practices you require the association of devotees. Therefore you should participate regularly in the activities of your nearest ISKCON center. Once you are fixed in these practices your local ISKCON leader will recommend you to take shelter of the spiritual master of your choice. And then when your commitment is firm he will recommend you to become initiated by that spiritual master as a disciple.

We have many gurus in ISKCON who are qualified to teach you how to perfectly follow the teachings of Srila Prabhupada for going back to home, back to Godhead in this lifetime. Many of my students inquire from me how to choose which one of the gurus to take initiation from. My answer to them is that they should see which guru is one who is saving them from this material world. It is from that guru that they should take their initiation.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

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