Pleasing and satisfying the spiritual master

Expressions researched:
"satisfaction of the spiritual master" |"satisfying the spiritual master" |"pleasing the spiritual master" |"pleases the spiritual master" |"satisfies the spiritual master" |"pleased the spiritual master" |"spiritual master is pleased" |"spiritual master is satisfied" |"spiritual master must be satisfied with the disciple" |"satisfy the spiritual master"

Bhagavad-gita As It Is

BG Chapters 1 - 6

By satisfaction of the spiritual master, the Supreme Personality of Godhead becomes satisfied

BG 2.41, Purport: "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."

Srimad-Bhagavatam

SB Canto 1

The secret of success in spiritual life is in satisfying the spiritual master and thereby getting his sincere blessings

SB 1.1.8, Purport: The secret of success in spiritual life is in satisfying the spiritual master and thereby getting his sincere blessings. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura has sung in his famous eight stanzas on the spiritual master as follows: "I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master. Only by his satisfaction can one please the Personality of Godhead, and when he is dissatisfied there is only havoc on the path of spiritual realization."

SB Canto 2

The spiritual master must be satisfied with the disciple

SB 2.1.10, Purport: For advancement of material knowledge there is a need for personal ability and researching aptitude, but in the case of spiritual knowledge, all progress depends more or less on the mercy of the spiritual master. The spiritual master must be satisfied with the disciple; only then is knowledge automatically manifest before the student of spiritual science.

SB Canto 3

It is clearly stated that simply by satisfying the spiritual master one can achieve the supreme success in life

SB 3.22.6, Purport: These methods are undoubtedly helpful for spiritual realization, but the real effect is brought about by the grace of a mahātmā. In Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura's eight stanzas of prayer to the spiritual master, it is clearly stated that simply by satisfying the spiritual master one can achieve the supreme success in life, and in spite of executing all ritualistic performances, if one cannot satisfy the spiritual master, one has no access to spiritual perfection.

SB Canto 4

By pleasing the spiritual master, who is a pure Vaiṣṇava, one pleases the Personality of Godhead

SB 4.9.23, Purport: A Vaiṣṇava is especially favored by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Pleasing him or displeasing him directly affects the pleasure and displeasure of the Supreme Lord. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, in his eight stanzas of prayer to the spiritual master, has sung, yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādaḥ:** by pleasing the spiritual master, who is a pure Vaiṣṇava, one pleases the Personality of Godhead, but if one displeases the spiritual master one does not know where he is going.

By pleasing the spiritual master, who is both brāhmaṇa and Vaiṣṇava, one pleases the Supreme Personality of Godhead

SB 4.22.8, Purport: This is confirmed by Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura in his eight stanzas on the spiritual master: yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādaḥ **. By pleasing the spiritual master, who is both brāhmaṇa and Vaiṣṇava, one pleases the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If the Supreme Personality of Godhead is pleased, then one has nothing more to achieve either in this world or after death.

All the scriptures recommend that it is by pleasing the spiritual master and serving him directly that one can attain the highest perfectional stage of devotional service

SB 4.28.34, Purport: A verse by Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura in his Gurv-aṣṭaka is significant in this regard. Yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādaḥ **. A disciple should always remember that by serving the spiritual master he can easily advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. All the scriptures recommend that it is by pleasing the spiritual master and serving him directly that one can attain the highest perfectional stage of devotional service.

By satisfying the spiritual master, one automatically satisfies Kṛṣṇa

SB 4.28.52, Purport: If the devotee serves his spiritual master sincerely, Kṛṣṇa automatically becomes pleased. Yasya prasādād bhagavad-prasādaḥ. By satisfying the spiritual master, one automatically satisfies Kṛṣṇa. Thus the devotee becomes enriched by both the spiritual master and Kṛṣṇa.

SB Canto 7

If one seriously desires to return home, back to Godhead, one must therefore become strong enough by pleasing the spiritual master

SB 7.15.45, Purport: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu therefore says, guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja: [Cc. Madhya 19.151] one must first please the spiritual master, and then one automatically pleases Kṛṣṇa and gets the strength with which to cross the ocean of nescience. If one seriously desires to return home, back to Godhead, one must therefore become strong enough by pleasing the spiritual master, for thus one gets the weapon with which to conquer the enemy, and one also gets the grace of Kṛṣṇa

SB Canto 8

One should satisfy the spiritual master [ācārya], who is very learned in Vedic literature.

SB 8.16.53, Translation: One should satisfy the spiritual master [ācārya], who is very learned in Vedic literature, and should satisfy his assistant priests [known as hotā, udgātā, adhvaryu and brahma]. One should please them by offering them clothing, ornaments and cows. This is the ceremony called viṣṇu-ārādhana, or worship of Lord Viṣṇu.

One should satisfy the spiritual master and assistant priests by giving them cloth, ornaments, cows and also some monetary contribution.

SB 8.16.55, Translation: One should satisfy the spiritual master and assistant priests by giving them cloth, ornaments, cows and also some monetary contribution. And by distributing prasāda one should satisfy everyone assembled, including even the lowest of men, the caṇḍālas [eaters of dog flesh].

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta

CC Madhya-lila

First there must be the devotee’s mercy; then Kṛṣṇa’s mercy will descend. Our first duty, therefore, is to satisfy the spiritual master, who can arrange for the Lord’s mercy.

CC Madhya 11.58, Purport: At first the Lord did not want to see the King, but due to the Bhaṭṭācārya’s and Rāmānanda Rāya’s earnest endeavors, the Lord’s mind was changed. The Lord already declared that Kṛṣṇa would be merciful upon the King due to the King’s service to the devotees. This is the process by which one can advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. First there must be the devotee’s mercy; then Kṛṣṇa’s mercy will descend. Yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo/ yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto ’pi **. Our first duty, therefore, is to satisfy the spiritual master, who can arrange for the Lord’s mercy. A common man must first begin to serve the spiritual master, or the devotee. Then, through the mercy of the devotee, the Lord will be satisfied. Unless one receives the dust of a devotee’s lotus feet on one’s head, there is no possibility of advancement. This is also confirmed by a statement of Prahlāda Mahārāja’s in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.5.32):

naiṣāṁ matis tāvad urukramāṅghriṁ

spṛśaty anarthāpagamo yad-arthaḥ

mahīyasāṁ pāda-rajo-’bhiṣekaṁ

niṣkiñcanānāṁ na vṛṇīta yāvat

Unless one approaches a pure devotee, he cannot understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Mahārāja Pratāparudra worshiped both Rāmānanda Rāya and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya. Thus he touched the lotus feet of pure devotees and was able thereby to approach Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

These activities satisfy the spiritual master, although he himself does not eat or require such a variety of prasādam.

CC Madhya 14.36, Purport: The spiritual master’s duty is to engage his disciples in preparing varieties of nice foods to offer the Deity. After being offered, this food is distributed as prasādam to the devotees. These activities satisfy the spiritual master, although he himself does not eat or require such a variety of prasādam. By seeing to the offering and distribution of prasādam, he himself is encouraged in devotional service.

Unless one satisfies the spiritual master, he gets the bīja, or root cause, of karma, jñāna and yoga without the benefit of devotional service

CC Madhya 19.152, Purport: The bhakti-latā-bīja can be received only through the mercy of the spiritual master. Therefore one has to satisfy the spiritual master to get the bhakti-latā-bīja (yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādaḥ **). The bhakti-latā-bīja is the origin of devotional service. Unless one satisfies the spiritual master, he gets the bīja, or root cause, of karma, jñāna and yoga without the benefit of devotional service. But one who is faithful to his spiritual master gets the bhakti-latā-bīja.