Every Disciple of Śrīla Prabhupāda Must Become a Future Spiritual Master
The mission of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu is to inundate the entire world with Kṛṣṇa consciousness. To achieve this, a single spiritual master is not enough; thousands are required. Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently expressed his vision that his disciples should not remain perpetual students but should mature into qualified spiritual masters themselves. He instructed them to become "future hopes" of the world by strictly adhering to the paramparā system. This article explores the specific instructions, qualifications, and warnings Śrīla Prabhupāda gave regarding his disciples taking up the role of guru.
The Order to Become Guru
Śrīla Prabhupāda did not want to create a centralized church with only one head; he wanted to create a family of ācāryas. He explicitly stated that his training was meant to produce future spiritual masters who could carry the message to every corner of the globe. His order was universal to his followers: everyone should become a guru and deliver the people in their neighborhood.
- I am training you all to become future Spiritual Masters.
- We require hundreds and thousands of gurus. But not cheaters.
- It is not that you have become a student and you'll remain student. No. One day you shall become also guru and make more students, more students, more.
- Whatever limited circle, you just become guru and deliver them. Deliver means deliver from the ignorance. Everyone is in ignorance, so we have to teach them that "You are not this body. You are pure soul. Your business is different."
Qualification: Strictly Following
A common misconception is that becoming a guru requires extraordinary erudition or mystic power. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarified that the only qualification is sincerity and strict adherence to the instruction of the spiritual master. The guru does not manufacture anything new. He simply repeats what Kṛṣṇa has said. If a disciple presents the Bhagavad-gītā as it is, without adulteration, they are qualified to be a spiritual master.
- You become a spiritual master under my order, under His order. Don't manufacture yourself. Under the order of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. That is called parampara system, one who is following in disciplic succession the order of Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
- Simply prepare yourself how to repeat Krsna's instructions very nicely, without any malinterpretation.
- If you adulterate nonsensically like a rascal, then you cannot become a spiritual master. If you simply follow what Krsna has spoken, then you become spiritual master. Very simple thing. It doesn't require education.
Etiquette and Maturity
While the order is to become guru, there is a specific etiquette regarding when one takes up the role of initiating disciples. Śrīla Prabhupāda explained that in the presence of one's spiritual master, one acts as a respectful disciple and brings others to him. It is only after the spiritual master's disappearance, and upon attaining maturity in spiritual life, that one should accept disciples of one's own.
- We are interested in preparing acarya, but the etiquette is, at least for the period the guru is present, one should not become acarya. Even if he is complete he should not.
- When we are completely, cent per cent follower of acarya, then you can also act as acarya. This is the process. Don't become premature acarya. First of all follow the orders of acarya, and you become mature.
- So far as your taking initiation from Brahmananda Maharaja, I have no objection, but it is the etiquette that in the presence of one's Spiritual Master, one does not accept disciples.
Avoid Being a "Cheap Guru"
Śrīla Prabhupāda warned against the danger of ambition. One cannot become a spiritual master simply by a "rubber stamp" or by political maneuvering. If one tries to be a guru without being qualified, or if one deviates from the strict principles, the result is cheating. The preaching will not be effective, and the movement will suffer.
- Then you'll not be effective (if you rubber stamp). You can cheat, but it will not be effective. Just see our Gaudiya Matha. Everyone wanted to become guru, and a small temple and "guru." What kind of guru? No publication, no preaching.
- You become guru, but you must be qualified first of all. Then you become... What is the use of producing some rascal guru?
- The Nectar of Instruction. We should follow, strictly follow. Then prthivim sa sisyat. Then you'll be able to preach and make disciples all over the world. This is the injunction. That is called gosvami. Don't be cheap preacher, cheap guru.
Conclusion
The future of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement depends on the sincerity of the disciples to carry out this specific order: to become pure, qualified spiritual masters. Śrīla Prabhupāda did not want his work to end with him. He wanted "family transcendental diplomas" to continue through the generations. By remaining humble servants, strictly following the regulative principles, and repeating the message of Kṛṣṇa without change, every disciple has the potential—and the duty—to become a transparent medium for the previous ācāryas, delivering the world from the darkness of ignorance.
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 Becoming Guru (Disciples of SP). We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.