Blind following

Expressions researched:
"blind following"

Bhagavad-gita As It Is

BG Chapters 1 - 6

In this verse, both blind following and absurd inquiries are condemned.

BG 4.34, Purport: 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.

Lectures

Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures

Blind following means: "Oh, there is a swami. So many thousands of people are following. Let me become his disciple."

Lecture on BG 4.34-39 -- Los Angeles, January 12, 1969: Blind following and absurd inquiries. These things are condemned in this verse. Blind following means: "Oh, there is a swami. So many thousands of people are following. Let me become his disciple." This is called blind following. You do not know what is that swami, whether he is a swami or a rascal. You do not know. But because everyone is going, "Oh, let me become his disciple." This is blind following, without any knowledge, blind following. The swami says that "You give me money. I make you immediately God." So this is blind following.

It is not blind following. Kṛṣṇa consciousness is not a sentiment. It is backed by knowledge and practical knowledge.

Lecture on BG 7.2 -- San Francisco, September 11, 1968: We should not go simply by sentiment. Religious sentiment is good for persons who follow blindly. But at the present moment, people are advanced in so-called education. So Bhagavad-gītā gives you full information so that you can accept God with your reason, with your argument, with your knowledge. It is not blind following. Kṛṣṇa consciousness is not a sentiment. It is backed by knowledge and practical knowledge. Vijñānam. Jñānaṁ vijñāna sahitam. So without vijñāna sahitam...