The Necessity of Accepting a Spiritual Master

The Necessity of Accepting a Spiritual Master
If you want to achieve real happiness, my best advice is that follow the instructions that Srila Prabhupada gives in the Nectar of Devotion regarding accepting the shelter of a bona fide spiritual master. Here they are:

In the Eleventh Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Third Chapter, verse 21, Prabuddha tells Mahārāja Nimi, "My dear King, please know for certain that in the material world there is no happiness. It is simply a mistake to think that there is happiness here, because this place is full of nothing but miserable conditions. Any person who is seriously desirous of achieving real happiness must seek out a bona fide spiritual master and take shelter of him by initiation. The qualification of a spiritual master is that he must have realized the conclusion of the scriptures by deliberation and arguments and thus be able to convince others of these conclusions. Such great personalities who have taken shelter of the Supreme Godhead, leaving aside all material considerations, are to be understood as bona fide spiritual masters. Everyone should try to find such a bona fide spiritual master in order to fulfill his mission of life, which is to transfer himself to the plane of spiritual bliss."

The purport is that one should not accept as a spiritual master someone who is fool number one, who has no direction according to the scriptural injunctions, whose character is doubtful, who does not follow the principles of devotional service, or who has not conquered the influence of the six sense-gratifying agents. The six agents of sense gratification are the tongue, the genitals, the belly, anger, the mind and words. Anyone who has practiced controlling these six is permitted to make disciples all over the world. To accept such a spiritual master is the crucial point for advancement in spiritual life. One who is fortunate enough to come under the shelter of a bona fide spiritual master is sure to traverse the path of spiritual salvation without any doubt.

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Srila Prabhupada has spoken very wisely. If we follow his advice, we will attain the supreme perfection of going back home, back to Godhead.

Answers According to the Vedic Wisdom

Question: Disturbed by Thoughts of the Past

Hare Krishna 🙏🙏🙏
How can a person make himself apart from this material world and always live spiritual life? I have tried a lot to be happy in what I have and be satisfied for what Krishna gives me, but there is always that past life thought that comes in my mind, and I get very upset mind.
Give us your blessings Gurudeva.

Thanks
Nisha
Hare Krishna 🙏🙏🙏

Answer: Be Here and Now

My Dear Nisha,

Please accept my blessings.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

In this connection the great spiritual master, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur,
has written:

"Forget the past that sleeps and ne'er
The future dream at all,
But act in times that are with thee
And progress thee shall call."

I hope this meets you in the best of health and in an ecstatic mood.

Your ever well-wisher,
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Sankarshan Das Adhikari is one of the spiritual masters of the worldwide Hare Krishna Movement. He has dedicated the last 50 years of his life for bringing a spiritual revolution to planet earth by spreading the teachings of Lord Sri Krishna all over the world. He is based in Austin, Texas and when there is no pandemic regularly travels all over the world teaching his audiences how to attain Krishna consciousness, the highest stage of spiritual awakening. He is available for media interviews and to speak to groups and organizations either in person or via the internet.

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