Surrender to the spiritual master

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Bhagavad-gita As It Is

BG Chapters 1 - 6

A spiritual master should be accepted in full surrender, and one should serve the spiritual master like a menial servant, without false prestige

BG 4.34, Purport: The Bhāgavatam (6.3.19) says, dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītam: 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.

Srimad-Bhagavatam

SB Canto 5

One should not only surrender to the spiritual master but also render loving service unto him (sevayā) so that the spiritual master will be pleased

SB 5.12.3, Purport: As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (4.34): tad viddhi praṇipātena paripraśnena sevayā. The student must approach a spiritual master and surrender unto him fully (praṇipātena). He must also question him in order to understand his instructions (paripraśnena). One should not only surrender to the spiritual master but also render loving service unto him (sevayā) so that the spiritual master will be pleased with the student and explain the transcendental subject matter more clearly. A challenging spirit before the spiritual master should be avoided if one is at all interested in learning the Vedic instructions in depth.

SB Canto 7

By offering service and surrendering to the spiritual master, one is elevated to devotional service

SB 7.7.29, Purport: One must accept the pure devotee, the representative of God, as one's guru and then offer him all the respects one would offer the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is the secret of success. For one who adopts this method, the perfect process is revealed. In this verse, the words yair añjasā ratiḥ indicate that by offering service and surrendering to the spiritual master, one is elevated to devotional service, and by performing devotional service one gradually becomes attached to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Because of this attachment to the Lord, one can understand the Lord.

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta

CC Adi-lila

Only unto one who fully surrenders to the spiritual master and the Supreme Lord does the essence of Vedic knowledge become manifested, not to anyone else

CC Adi 17.257, Purport: The purport of this verse is that one who is unflinchingly devoted to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu, and similarly devoted to the spiritual master, with no ulterior motive, becomes a master of all knowledge. In the heart of such a devotee, the real essence of the Vedic knowledge becomes manifested. This essence is nothing but surrender unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead (vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyaḥ [Bg. 15.15]). Only unto one who fully surrenders to the spiritual master and the Supreme Lord does the essence of Vedic knowledge become manifested, not to anyone else.

First one must surrender to the spiritual master; then the process of devotional service will develop

CC Adi 17.257, Purport: Śrīdhara Svāmī confirms in his commentary that first one must surrender to the spiritual master; then the process of devotional service will develop. It is not a fact that only one who diligently pursues an academic career can become a devotee. Even with no academic career, if one has full faith in the spiritual master and the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he develops in spiritual life and real knowledge of the Vedas. The example of Mahārāja Khaṭvāṅga confirms this.

CC Madhya-lila

This is the process of initiation. The disciple must surrender to the spiritual master, the representative of Kṛṣṇa

CC Madhya 24.258, Purport: This is the process of initiation. The disciple must surrender to the spiritual master, the representative of Kṛṣṇa. The spiritual master, being in the disciplic succession stemming from Nārada Muni, is in the same category with Nārada Muni. A person can be relieved from his sinful activity if he surrenders to the lotus feet of a person who actually represents Nārada Muni. Nārada Muni gave instructions to the hunter after the hunter surrendered.

Lectures

Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures

Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

Correspondence

1970 Correspondence

1974 Correspondence

Conversations and Morning Walks

1972 Conversations and Morning Walks

1974 Conversations and Morning Walks

1975 Conversations and Morning Walks

1976 Conversations and Morning Walks

1977 Conversations and Morning Walks