Approaching a Guru - The First Step in Spiritual Life
In the Vedic tradition, the first step toward spiritual realization is to approach a spiritual master. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that because we are conditioned souls, we are constantly puzzled by the complexities of life. Just as a confused traveler needs a guide, or a student needs a teacher, the seeker of the Absolute Truth must approach a guru. This transaction is not a formality but a vital necessity for crossing the ocean of material existence.
The Necessity of a Guru
Śrīla Prabhupāda stresses that spiritual life cannot be self-taught. The Vedas enjoin, tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet: to understand transcendental science, one must approach a guru. Without this guidance, one remains bewildered. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that even Arjuna, who was a close friend of Kṛṣṇa, had to formally approach Kṛṣṇa as a guru to solve his dilemma on the battlefield.
- Actually we are puzzled every moment. Therefore it is necessary one should approach to a proper guru. Now Arjuna is approaching Krsna, the first-class guru. First-class guru. Guru means the Supreme Lord. He is guru of everyone.
- If one is serious about understanding the value of life, the goal of life, he should approach a guru. Tasmad gurum prapadyeta (Srimad Bhagavatam 11.3.21). Prapadyeta. Prapadyeta means to surrender. Not that guru should be approached for challenging. No.
- You cannot learn to become a perfect human being without accepting guru. Then you remain a rascal. Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet. That is the Vedic injunction. If you want to learn that transcendental science, you must approach a guru.
- An intelligent man must be very inquisitive to know the transcendental science deeply. Therefore one must approach a guru, a spiritual master.
Qualifications of the Guide
Not everyone can be a guru. Śrīla Prabhupāda warns against approaching "cheaters" who pose as teachers. A bona fide guru is described as tattva-darśī, one who has seen the truth, and brahma-niṣṭham, one fixed in the Absolute. The essential qualification is that the guru must be a representative of Kṛṣṇa. If one approaches a Māyāvādī (impersonalist) or a pretender, their spiritual life will be spoiled.
- Being completely aware of Brahman, the Supreme Absolute Truth, not a bogus. If you want to receive knowledge, then you must approach a guru who is brahma-nistham. That is the qualification of guru.
- Don't approach a cheater, but actually approach a teacher, not a cheater. That teacher is guru, and he is representative of Krsna.
- We have to approach to a guru, tattva-darsi. Tattva-darsi. Tattva-darsi means . . . what is tattva? Tattva means truth. One who has seen the truth. We have to approach such tattva-darsi.
- Unless you approach a person who is representative of Krsna and tattva-darsi, who has seen the truth, jnani, and full of knowledge, from him you can understand what is Bhagavad-gita, what is Bhagavan. Otherwise you cannot understand.
Proper Motivation
Why should one approach a guru? Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that it should not be for material gain. One should not seek a guru to cure a physical disease, to get money, or to see magic tricks like manufacturing gold. The only purpose of approaching a guru is to solve the ultimate problems of birth, death, old age, and disease, and to understand the Absolute Truth.
- The guru should not be approached for material benefits. One should not approach a guru just to cure some disease or receive some miraculous benefit. This is not the way to approach the guru.
- One should approach guru for seeing the tattva, the Absolute Truth. That is necessary. Not for any material benefit. One should not search out a guru for, I mean to say, curing some material disease. For that, there is medical practitioner.
- One should approach a bona fide guru to inquire about the highest benefit of life. Such a guru is described as follows: sabde pare ca nisatam. Such a guru does not manufacture gold or juggle words.
- The color of gold is compared to the will-o'-the-wisp or yellow stool; therefore one should not be allured by gold-manufacturing gurus but should sincerely approach a devotee like Jada Bharata.
The Process of Surrender
The attitude of the candidate is as important as the qualification of the guru. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that one must approach with surrender (prapadyeta) and service. It is not a challenge. If one is sincere, Kṛṣṇa, who is seated in the heart, will direct the serious student to a bona fide master. This combination of the guru's mercy and Kṛṣṇa's mercy (guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde) leads to success.
- You must approach guru where you can surrender. Otherwise don't make guru. And the guru also should not accept such rascal as disciple. First of all, the thing is surrender.
- If you're sincere, Krsna will direct you that "Approach such and such guru," and if guru is pleased, then you'll get Krsna, that guru-krsna krpaya, both, parallel line.
- So this is the process of getting knowledge, to approach the proper person, guru, and submissively hear from him about transcendental knowledge.
- You must approach a guru who has seen the truth. Then surrender unto him. Then serve him. And then make question. Everything will be revealed. These are the statement of Bhagavad-gita.
Conclusion
Approaching a guru is the watershed moment in human life. It marks the transition from animalistic consciousness—focused on eating, sleeping, mating, and defending—to true human consciousness focused on the Absolute Truth. As Śrīla Prabhupāda states, if one wants to be a real human being, one must approach a real guru and learn from him.
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 Approaching 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.