[Prev][Next][Index]
Importance of the Spiritual Master - Bhagavad Gita 4.34
-
To: alt-hindu@cis.ohio-state.edu
-
Subject: Importance of the Spiritual Master - Bhagavad Gita 4.34
-
From: susarla@rice.edu (H. Krishna Susarla)
-
Date: 20 Jan 1995 01:01:37 GMT
-
From news@larry.rice.edu Thu Jan 19 19: 49:06 1995
-
Newsgroups: alt.hindu
-
Organization: Rice University, Houston, Texas
TEXT 34
tad viddhi pranipatena
pariprasnena sevaya
upadeksyanti te jnanam
jnaninas tatt va-darsinah
tat--that knowledge of different sacrifices; viddhi--try to understand;
pranipatena--by approaching a spiritual master; pariprasnena--by
submissive inquiries; sevaya--by the rendering of service;
upadeksyanti--they will initiate; te--you; jnanam--into knowledge;
jnaninah--the self-realized; tattva--of the truth; darsinah--seers.
TRANSLATION
Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master.
Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The
self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have
seen the truth.
PURPORT
The path of spiritual realization is undoubtedly difficult. The
Lord therefore advises us to approach a bona fide spiritual master in
the line of disciplic succession from the Lord Himself. No one can be a
bona fide spiritual master without following this principle of
disciplic succession. The Lord is the original spiritual master, and a
person in the disciplic succession can convey the message of the Lord
as it is to his disciple. No one can be spiritually realized by
manufacturing his own process, as is the fashion of the foolish
pretenders. The Bhagavatam (6.3.19) says, dharmam tu saksad
bhagavat-pranitam: the path of religion is directly enunciated by the
Lord. Therefore, mental speculation or dry arguments cannot help lead
one to the right path. Nor by independent study of books of knowledge
can one progress in spiritual life. One has to approach a bona fide
spiritual master to receive the knowledge. Such a spiritual master
should be accepted in full surrender, and one should serve the
spiritual master like a menial servant, without false prestige.
Satisfaction of the self-realized spiritual master is the secret of
advancement in spiritual life. Inquiries and submission constitute the
proper combination for spiritual understanding. Unless there is
submission and service, inquiries from the learned spiritual master
will not be effective. One must be able to pass the test of the
spiritual master, and when he sees the genuine desire of the disciple,
he automatically blesses the disciple with genuine spiritual
understanding. In this verse, both blind following and absurd inquiries
are condemned. Not only should one hear submissively from the spiritual
master, but one must also get a clear understanding from him, in
submission and service and inquiries. A bona fide spiritual master is
by nature very kind toward the disciple. Therefore when the student is
submissive and is always ready to render service, the reciprocation of
knowledge and inquiries becomes perfect.
Books of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
