Srila Prabhupda, New York, March 2, 1966: Now, to take such guidance means the spiritual master should also be a very perfect man. Otherwise, how can he guide? Now, here Arjuna knows that Sri Krishna is the perfect person. So therefore he is accepting Him as sisyas te ’ham sadhi mam tvam prapannam: “I am just surrendering unto You, You self, Yourself, and You accept me as Your disciple because friendly talks cannot make a solution of the perplexity.”
Friendly talks may be going on for years together, but there is no solution. Here, accepting Krishna as the spiritual master means whatever Krishna will decide, he has to accept. One cannot deny the order of a spiritual master. Therefore one has to select a spiritual master whose order, carrying, you’ll not commit a mistake. You see?
Now, suppose if you accept a wrong person as spiritual master, and if you, if he guides you wrongly, then your whole life is spoiled. So one has to accept a spiritual master whose guidance will make his life perfect. That is the relation between spiritual master and disciple. It is not a formality. It is a great responsibility both for the disciple and for the spiritual master. And… Yes?
Guest: But if the disciple is in ignorance before…
Prabhupada: Yes.
Guest: …how does he know which master to choose? I mean, because he doesn’t have the knowledge…
Speak Your Mind