Fulfilling the Desires of a Spiritual Master

The spiritual path is often mystifying for the neophyte, but the Vedic conclusion is clear: the key to success lies in satisfying the representative of God. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the spiritual master is the transparent via medium to the Supreme Lord; therefore, aligning one's will with the desires of the guru is the most direct method to please Kṛṣṇa. This article explores the nature of this surrender, from the rejection of personal ambition to the execution of the guru's missionary vision.

Gateway to Kṛṣṇa

A common question for sincere seekers is how to understand the will of the Supreme Lord when He is not physically visible. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that there is no difficulty in this matter: the spiritual master is Kṛṣṇa's representative. By making the satisfaction of the spiritual master one's life's goal, the disciple automatically satisfies the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

• Krsna is not physically present before me (the seeker). Then how I shall know what Krsna desires? That is not very difficult. Krsna's representative is there, the spiritual master. If you fulfill the desire of the spiritual master, then you fulfill the desire of Krsna.
• Lord Brahma said: My dear son, O lord of the world, I am very pleased with you, and I desire all blessings for both you and your wife. You have without reservation surrendered yourself unto me with your heart for my instructions.

Standard of Pure Devotion

The desires of a pure devotee are vastly different from those of a materialist. While ordinary men seek wealth or higher planetary births, great souls like Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura and Prahlāda Mahārāja reject even the post of Lord Brahmā or direct benedictions from the Lord. Their only "greed" is for more service—represented by Rūpa Gosvāmī's desire for millions of tongues and ears to chant and hear.

• Bhaktivinoda Thakura says, brahma-janme nahi mora asa: "I do not desire even to take birth as Lord Brahma." Because that is not pure bhakti.
• Even though Prahlada Maharaja was directly offered all the benedictions he might have desired, he refused to accept such offerings from the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
• Prthu Maharaja therefore wanted innumerable ears, as Rupa Gosvami also desired to have millions of ears and millions of tongues to chant and hear the glorification of the Lord.

Executing the Mission

The relationship between Śrīla Prabhupāda and his Guru Mahārāja, Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, stands as the perfect example of discipleship. Despite delays caused by householder life, Śrīla Prabhupāda kept the order to preach in English locked in his heart. He emphasizes that true discipleship means cooperating to fulfill the guru's missionary vision, rather than creating new concoctions.

• I think now we should cooperate fully for preaching the Mission of Srila Prabhupad (Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur). He very eagerly desired that the message of Lord Chaitanya should be preached all over the world.
• I should have joined and executed his (My Guru Maharaja's) desire immediately, but due to my ill luck I could not immediately execute his order, but it was in my heart that it is to be done.
• One party strictly followed the instructions of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, but another group created their own concoction about executing his desires.

Compassion in Disguise

Sometimes the desires of a spiritual master or sage may appear harsh, yet they are always merciful. Whether it was Nārada Muni cursing the sons of Kuvera to remove their pride, or desiring that King Barhiṣat give up his fruitive rituals, the goal is always to realign the soul with the path of pure devotion. The ideal disciple, like Śivānanda Sena, accepts even apparent hardship if it is the desire of the Lord or His representative.

• Seeing the two sons of the demigods (Nalakuvara and Manigriva) naked and intoxicated by opulence and false prestige, Devarsi Narada, in order to show them special mercy, desired to give them a special curse.
• The King (Barhisat) was engaged in fruitive ritualistic ceremonies because he hoped to get a better life in the future. Narada Muni desired him to give up all mental concoctions.
• When Sivananda later returned and saw his wife crying, he said - Why are you crying? Let us all die if Sri Nityananda Prabhu desires.

Conclusion

The desires of a spiritual master are the compass that guides the disciple through the ocean of material existence. By surrendering to these desires—whether they be for preaching, correction, or personal service—the disciple connects directly to the Supreme Lord. As Śrīla Prabhupāda demonstrated, holding the guru's order in one's heart is the secret to success in spiritual life.

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 Desires of a Spiritual Master. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.

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