Accepting a Guru Is Not a Fashion - Revision history

Navakishora Mukunda: /* Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani */

2026-08-30T04:41:02Z

Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani

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Visnu Murti at 08:34, 4 March 2026

2026-03-04T08:34:56Z

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Navakishora Mukunda at 06:54, 24 January 2026

2026-01-24T06:54:54Z

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Navakishora Mukunda at 06:22, 8 January 2026

2026-01-08T06:22:01Z

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Anurag: Created page with "The relationship between a spiritual master and a disciple is based on absolute truth and total surrender, yet Śrīla Prabhupāda observes that in the current age, it has often degraded into a fashion. Many people collect ''gurus'' like material possessions or seek out those who can perform mystical jugglery, without any intent to actually follow instructions. This article explores Śrīla Prabhupāda's critique of this superficial spirituality and his guidance on how t..."

2026-01-07T07:46:07Z

Created page with "The relationship between a spiritual master and a disciple is based on absolute truth and total surrender, yet Śrīla Prabhupāda observes that in the current age, it has often degraded into a fashion. Many people collect ''gurus'' like material possessions or seek out those who can perform mystical jugglery, without any intent to actually follow instructions. This article explores Śrīla Prabhupāda's critique of this superficial spirituality and his guidance on how t..."

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The relationship between a spiritual master and a disciple is based on absolute truth and total surrender, yet Śrīla Prabhupāda observes that in the current age, it has often degraded into a fashion. Many people collect ''gurus'' like material possessions or seek out those who can perform mystical jugglery, without any intent to actually follow instructions. This article explores Śrīla Prabhupāda's critique of this superficial spirituality and his guidance on how to avoid the trap of "pet dog" ''gurus''.

<div class="toc-right">__TOC__</div>

=== "Pet Dog" Mentality ===
A prevalent misconception is that one can accept a ''guru'' while maintaining complete independence in one's life. Śrīla Prabhupāda compares this to keeping a pet dog—something to show off but not to obey. If a disciple accepts a ''guru'' but thinks, "I do not care for my ''guru's'' order," the relationship is useless. Real acceptance involves a willingness to be disciplined and to surrender one's own arguments.

* [[Vaniquotes:If you think that you know better than Krsna or Krsna's representative, the guru, there is no necessity of accepting guru. Do not keep a guru as a pet dog|If you think that you know better than Krsna or Krsna's representative, the guru, there is no necessity of accepting guru. Do not keep a guru as a pet dog.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:If you find out somebody where you can fully surrender, then accept guru. Don't make guru a fashion. People generally do that, "Everyone has a guru. Let me collect. Let me pick up some guru who will be dancing dog." That kind of guru will not help you|If you find out somebody where you can fully surrender, then accept guru. Don't make guru a fashion. People generally do that, "Everyone has a guru. Let me collect. Let me pick up some guru who will be dancing dog." That kind of guru will not help you.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:I accept a guru, but in my mind I remain independent, "Oh, why shall I abide by the orders of guru?" That means there is no surrender. There is no surrender. It is false. It is just to satisfy some motive, but that will not help|I accept a guru, but in my mind I remain independent, "Oh, why shall I abide by the orders of guru?" That means there is no surrender. There is no surrender. It is false.]]

=== Avoiding Cheaters ===
Because the general populace is eager for cheap miracles rather than the difficult path of self-purification, they fall victim to bogus ''gurus''. Śrīla Prabhupāda warns that if one is impressed by gold-making or word jugglery, they will be cheated. A true ''guru'' is one who speaks the science of Kṛṣṇa, not one who caters to the material desires of the disciple.

* [[Vaniquotes:If you are inquisitive to understand transcendental truth, the Absolute Truth, the guru is... To have a guru is not a fashion. Now it has become a fashion. If somebody shows some jugglery, people become very much anxious to accept such guru. No|If you are inquisitive to understand transcendental truth, the Absolute Truth, the guru is... To have a guru is not a fashion. Now it has become a fashion. If somebody shows some jugglery, people become very much anxious to accept such guru. No.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:If they are eager to accept a guru, they accept a false guru, and they are materially disturbed. This is the position of the people of this age. So against so many disturbances and counter-facts, we have to preach|If they are eager to accept a guru, they accept a false guru, and they are materially disturbed. This is the position of the people of this age.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Unless you find somebody where you can fully surrender, don't accept guru. That is cheating|Unless you find somebody where you can fully surrender, don't accept guru. That is cheating.]]

=== Standard of Mutual Examination ===
To prevent these unfortunate situations, the Vedic system prescribes a period of mutual testing. Śrīla Prabhupāda advises that a prospective disciple should hear from the ''guru'' for at least one year. This allows the disciple to confirm the ''guru's'' knowledge and behavior, and the ''guru'' to assess the disciple's sincerity. Only after this conviction is established should one formally accept initiation.

* [[Vaniquotes:The rules and regulation are that nobody should accept blindly any guru, and nobody should blindly accept any disciple. They must behave, one another, at least for one year|The rules and regulation are that nobody should accept blindly any guru, and nobody should blindly accept any disciple. They must behave, one another, at least for one year.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:By Sanatana Gosvami it is directed that the spiritual master and the disciple must meet together at least for one year so that the disciple may also understand that, - Here is a person whom I can accept as my guru|By Sanatana Gosvami it is directed that the spiritual master and the disciple must meet together at least for one year so that the disciple may also understand that, - Here is a person whom I can accept as my guru.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:When he's convinced that, "Here is actually a guru who can teach me," then you accept him, guru. Don't accept him whimsically|When he's convinced that, "Here is actually a guru who can teach me," then you accept him, guru. Don't accept him whimsically.]]

=== Conclusion ===
Accepting a ''guru'' is the most significant decision in a human being's life, as it opens the door to the eternal world. Therefore, Śrīla Prabhupāda urges us to abandon the fashionable approach and become serious. We must reject the pretenders and the desire for social validation, and instead seek a bona fide representative of Kṛṣṇa to whom we can fully surrender our life and intelligence.

=== Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category [[Vaniquotes:Category:Accepting a Guru|Accepting a Guru]]. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.

(See our [[Vanipedia:Methodology for AI-Assisted Articles|Vanipedia:Methodology for AI-Assisted Articles]])

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