Hare Krsna,
In this lesson, the following paragraph caught my attention.
“As one advances in devotional activities, the process becomes progressively clearer and more encouraging. Unless one gets this spiritual encouragement by following the instructions of the spiritual master, it is not possible to make advancement. Therefore, one’s development of a taste for executing these instructions is the test of one’s devotional service.” (CC Adi 1.60 purport)
I can share my personal realizations. For years I have been trying to find an initiating spiritual master. Right from the beginning of my Krsna consciousness journey, I was sure that I wanted to be initiated. However, I had two challenges – a) Am I qualified enough to seek shelter of an initiating spiritual master? and b) Who do I seek shelter from? This is where the instructing spiritual masters are of immense help. It is important that we share our spiritual desires with like-minded senior devotees who will guide and nurture us. I am fortunate to have such instructing spiritual masters.
There are a couple of important instructions that I received from my instructing spiritual masters. Firstly, I should be patient and not rush into it. The relation between an initiating spiritual master and a disciple is a life-long commitment. One should take time to find such a spiritual master, examine him, and determine if he/she is the right spiritual master. In one of his lectures, Srila Prabhupada said, “But the principle is this, that before accepting a spiritual master you can examine him, you can scrutinize him, but not after him, after accepting.” (Initiation Lecture — Los Angeles, July 13, 1971)
The journey of finding an initiating spiritual master is not easy. We may go through our doubts, fears, inhibitions, challenges, anxieties, and so on. The major fear is, “Am I ready to seriously follow the demands of initiation such as following the four regulative principles?” Life post-initiation is serious business. Therefore, I found Srila Prabhupada’s instruction very assuring – As one advances in devotional activities, the process becomes progressively clearer and more encouraging.
On that note, the second instruction from my instructing spiritual master is that our initiating spiritual master will be revealed to us when we are ready. It is true. As we continue with bhakti and advance in devotional service, the process becomes clearer. Krsna is the Paramatma seating in our hearts. He knows our desires and sincerity. He knows whether we are ready for initiation or not. If we surrender unto Him and sincerely follow the process of bhakti, Krsna makes the path clearer. He brings us to the right instructing spiritual masters who further guides us to our initiating spiritual master.
“Kṛṣṇa is situated in everyone’s heart as the caittya-guru, the spiritual master within. When He is kind to some fortunate conditioned soul, He personally gives him lessons so he can progress in devotional service, instructing the person as the Supersoul within and the spiritual master without.” (CC Madhya 22.47)
“Only out of His immense compassion does the Personality of Godhead reveal Himself as the spiritual master. Therefore in the dealings of an ācārya there are no activities but those of transcendental loving service to the Lord. He is the Supreme Personality of Servitor Godhead. It is worthwhile to take shelter of such a steady devotee, who is called āśraya-vigraha, or the manifestation or form of the Lord of whom one must take shelter.” (CC Adi 1.60 purport)
The relationship between a disciple and his/her spiritual masters are reciprocal. As the initiating spiritual master accepts a disciple and guides him/her, the disciple must also do his/her duty.
“The human body, which can award all benefit in life, is automatically obtained by the laws of nature, although it is a very rare achievement. This human body can be compared to a perfectly constructed boat having the spiritual master as the captain and the instructions of the Personality of Godhead as favorable winds impelling it on its course. Considering all these advantages, a human being who does not utilize his human life to cross the ocean of material existence must be considered the killer of his own soul.” (SB 11.20.17)
Therefore, in order to make advancement in spiritual life we must endeavor to follow the instructions of the spiritual master with our heart and soul. “Unless one gets this spiritual encouragement by following the instructions of the spiritual master, it is not possible to make advancement. Therefore, one’s development of a taste for executing these instructions is the test of one’s devotional service.” (CC Adi 1.60 Purport)
yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo |yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto ‘pi | dhyāyan stuvaṁs tasya yaśas tri-sandhyaṁ | vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
“By satisfaction of the spiritual master, the Supreme Personality of Godhead becomes satisfied. And by not satisfying the spiritual master, there is no chance of being promoted to the plane of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. I should, therefore, meditate and pray for his mercy three times a day, and offer my respectful obeisances unto him, my spiritual master.” (Sri Guru-astaka 8)
“Service in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is, however, best practiced under the able guidance of a spiritual master who is a bona fide representative of Kṛṣṇa, who knows the nature of the student and who can guide him to act in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. As such, to be well versed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness one has to act firmly and obey the representative of Kṛṣṇa, and one should accept the instruction of the bona fide spiritual master as one’s mission in life.” (BG 2.41 Purport)
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Krsna Katha 