Supreme spiritual master

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Bhagavad-gita As It Is

BG Preface and Introduction

We have to receive knowledge from the proper source in disciplic succession beginning with the supreme spiritual master, the Lord Himself

BG Introduction: Vedic knowledge is not a question of research. Our research work is imperfect because we are researching things with imperfect senses. We have to accept perfect knowledge which comes down, as is stated in Bhagavad-gītā, by the paramparā (disciplic succession). We have to receive knowledge from the proper source in disciplic succession beginning with the supreme spiritual master, the Lord Himself, and handed down to a succession of spiritual masters. Arjuna, the student who took lessons from Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, accepts everything that He says without contradicting Him.

BG Chapters 1 - 6

Arjuna is therefore asking Lord Kṛṣṇa, the supreme spiritual master, to make a definite solution

BG 2.7, Purport: Being intelligent, Arjuna could understand that his affection for family members and his wish to protect them from death were the causes of his perplexities. Although he could understand that his duty to fight was awaiting him, still, on account of miserly weakness, he could not discharge the duties. He is therefore asking Lord Kṛṣṇa, the supreme spiritual master, to make a definite solution. He offers himself to Kṛṣṇa as a disciple. He wants to stop friendly talks. Talks between the master and the disciple are serious, and now Arjuna wants to talk very seriously before the recognized spiritual master.

Although Arjuna was, for the time being, overwhelmed with false grief due to family affection, he surrendered unto Kṛṣṇa, the supreme spiritual master, as a disciple

BG 2.9, Purport: Although Arjuna was, for the time being, overwhelmed with false grief due to family affection, he surrendered unto Kṛṣṇa, the supreme spiritual master, as a disciple. This indicated that he would soon be free from the false lamentation resulting from family affection and would be enlightened with perfect knowledge of self-realization, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and would then surely fight. Thus Dhṛtarāṣṭra's joy would be frustrated, since Arjuna would be enlightened by Kṛṣṇa and would fight to the end.

The jīva soul is struggling very hard on the tree of the material body, but as soon as he agrees to accept the other bird as the supreme spiritual master, the subordinate bird immediately becomes free from all lamentations

BG 2.22, Purport: Kṛṣṇa is the witnessing bird, and Arjuna is the eating bird. Although they are friends, one is still the master and the other is the servant. Forgetfulness of this relationship by the atomic soul is the cause of one's changing his position from one tree to another, or from one body to another. The jīva soul is struggling very hard on the tree of the material body, but as soon as he agrees to accept the other bird as the supreme spiritual master—as Arjuna agreed to do by voluntary surrender unto Kṛṣṇa for instruction—the subordinate bird immediately becomes free from all lamentations.

BG Chapters 7 - 12

You are the father of this complete cosmic manifestation, of the moving and the nonmoving. You are its worshipable chief, the supreme spiritual master

BG 11.43, Translation: You are the father of this complete cosmic manifestation, of the moving and the nonmoving. You are its worshipable chief, the supreme spiritual master. No one is greater than You, nor can anyone be one with You. How then could there be anyone greater than You within the three worlds, O Lord of immeasurable power?

Krsna is therefore the supreme spiritual master

BG 11.54, Purport: In the Vedic literature (Gopāla-tāpanī Upaniṣad 1.1) the following statement appears:

sac-cid-ānanda-rūpāya

kṛṣṇāyākliṣṭa-kāriṇe

namo vedānta-vedyāya

gurave buddhi-sākṣiṇe

"I offer my respectful obeisances unto Kṛṣṇa, who has a transcendental form of bliss, eternity and knowledge. I offer my respect to Him, because understanding Him means understanding the Vedas and He is therefore the supreme spiritual master."

Srimad-Bhagavatam

SB Canto 2

SB Canto 3

SB Canto 4

SB Canto 5

SB Canto 6

SB Canto 7

SB Canto 8

SB Canto 9

SB Canto 10.1 to 10.13

SB Cantos 10.14 to 12 (Translations Only)

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta

CC Adi-lila

CC Madhya-lila

Other Books by Śrīla Prabhupada

Teachings of Lord Caitanya

Nectar of Devotion

Krsna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead

Renunciation Through Wisdom

Message of Godhead

Light of the Bhagavata

Lectures

Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures

Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Lectures

Festival Lectures

General Lectures

Correspondence

1969 Correspondence

1970 Correspondence

Conversations and Morning Walks

1974 Conversations and Morning Walks

1976 Conversations and Morning Walks