Bona fide guru

Expressions researched:
"bona fide guru"

SB Canto 2

Since sex desire is very strong at a certain stage of life, the guru may allow the brahmacārī to marry; this license is given to a brahmacārī who is unable to continue the way of naiṣṭhika-brahmacarya, and such discriminations are possible for the bona fide guru.

SB 2.7.6, Purport: The brahmacāri, or a boy from the age of five years, especially from the higher castes, namely from the scholarly parents (the brāhmaṇas), the administrative parents (the kṣatriyas), or the mercantile or productive parents (the vaiśyas), is trained until twenty-five years of age under the care of a bona fide guru or teacher, and under strict observance of discipline he comes to understand the values of life along with taking specific training for a livelihood. The brahmacārī is then allowed to go home and enter householder life and get married to a suitable woman. But there are many brahmacārīs who do not go home to become householders but continue the life of naiṣṭhika-brahmacārīs, without any connection with women. They accept the order of sannyāsa, or the renounced order of life, knowing well that combination with women is an unnecessary burden that checks self-realization. Since sex desire is very strong at a certain stage of life, the guru may allow the brahmacārī to marry; this license is given to a brahmacārī who is unable to continue the way of naiṣṭhika-brahmacarya, and such discriminations are possible for the bona fide guru.

And the first step, therefore, in pursuance of the system of knowledge received by Brahmā, is to approach a bona fide guru who is the representative of the Lord following the paramparā system.

SB 2.9.37, Purport: No one should try to give a new interpretation by dint of mundane knowledge. And the first step, therefore, in pursuance of the system of knowledge received by Brahmā, is to approach a bona fide guru who is the representative of the Lord following the paramparā system. No one should try to squeeze out his own meaning by imperfect mundane knowledge. The guru, or the bona fide spiritual master, is competent to teach the disciple in the right path with reference to the context of all authentic Vedic literature. He does not attempt to juggle words to bewilder the student. The bona fide spiritual master, by his personal activities, teaches the disciple the principles of devotional service.

SB Canto 5

After all, if he is at all eager to be relieved of the struggle for existence, he must find a bona fide guru and take instructions at his lotus feet.

SB 5.14.1, Purport: For them it is stated in the Vedas: tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet [MU 1.2.12]. When the living entity is lost in the forest of the material world, in the struggle for existence, his first business is to find a bona fide guru who is always engaged at the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu. After all, if he is at all eager to be relieved of the struggle for existence, he must find a bona fide guru and take instructions at his lotus feet. In this way he can get out of the struggle.

One should approach a bona fide guru to inquire about the highest benefit of life.

SB 5.14.13, Purport: A guru should be accepted as advised in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.3.21). Tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta jijñāsuḥ śreya uttamam: One should approach a bona fide guru to inquire about the highest benefit of life. Such a guru is described as follows: śābde pare ca niṣṇātam. Such a guru does not manufacture gold or juggle words. He is well versed in the conclusions of Vedic knowledge (vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyaḥ [Bg. 15.15]). He is freed from all material contamination and is fully engaged in Kṛṣṇa's service. If one is able to obtain the dust of the lotus feet of such a guru, his life becomes successful. Otherwise he is baffled both in this life and in the next.

SB Canto 6

According to the Vedic instructions, tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet: [MU 1.2.12] to know this science, one must approach a bona fide guru, a spiritual master who will initiate the disciple with the sacred thread so that he may understand the Vedic knowledge.

SB 6.5.20, Purport: A first-class intelligent man is called a brāhmaṇa because he knows the Supreme Brahman, the Absolute Truth. According to the Vedic instructions, tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet: [MU 1.2.12] to know this science, one must approach a bona fide guru, a spiritual master who will initiate the disciple with the sacred thread so that he may understand the Vedic knowledge. Janmanā jāyate śūdraḥ saṁskārād dhi bhaved dvijaḥ. Becoming a brāhmaṇa through the endeavor of a bona fide spiritual master is called saṁskāra. After initiation, one is engaged in study of the śāstra, which teaches the student how to gain release from materialistic life and return home, back to Godhead.

SB Canto 7

Tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta jijñāsuḥ śreya uttamam: [SB 11.3.21] if one is actually serious in inquiring about the solution to material existence, one must approach a bona fide guru.

SB 7.7.47, Purport: The Vedic instructions say, tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet: [MU 1.2.12] to solve the problems of life, one must accept a spiritual master. Tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta jijñāsuḥ śreya uttamam: [SB 11.3.21] if one is actually serious in inquiring about the solution to material existence, one must approach a bona fide guru.

tad viddhi praṇipātena

paripraśnena sevayā

upadekṣyanti te jñānaṁ

jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ

"Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth." (Bg. 4.34) One must approach a bona fide spiritual master by surrendering himself (praṇipātena) and rendering service. An intelligent person must inquire from the spiritual master about the goal of life.

SB Canto 8

Kaśyapa Muni was actually a bona fide guru because he advised his wife to seek shelter at the lotus feet of Vāsudeva.

SB 8.16.20, Purport: Thus Kaśyapa Muni was an ideal spiritual master. He was not so foolish that he would present himself as an exalted personality, as good as God. He was actually a bona fide guru because he advised his wife to seek shelter at the lotus feet of Vāsudeva. One who trains his subordinate or disciple to worship Vāsudeva is the truly bona fide spiritual master. The word jagad-gurum is very important in this regard. Kaśyapa Muni did not falsely declare himself to be jagad-guru, although he actually was jagad-guru because he advocated the cause of Vāsudeva. Actually, Vāsudeva is jagad-guru, as clearly stated here (vāsudevaṁ jagad-gurum).

Therefore, to approach a bona fide guru, or spiritual master, is essential.

SB 8.16.24, Purport: This is the bona fide Vedic system of receiving the process of devotional service, by which the Supreme Personality of Godhead is pleased. Therefore, to approach a bona fide guru, or spiritual master, is essential. The bona fide spiritual master is he who has received the mercy of his guru, who in turn is bona fide because he has received the mercy of his guru. This is called the paramparā system. Unless one follows this paramparā system, the mantra one receives will be chanted for no purpose. Nowadays there are so many rascal gurus who manufacture their mantras as a process for material advancement, not spiritual advancement. Still, the mantra cannot be successful if it is manufactured. Mantras and the process of devotional service have special power, provided they are received from the authorized person. Yāre dekha, tāre kaha 'kṛṣṇa'-upadeśa: [Cc. Madhya 7.128] the bona fide guru is he who advises his disciples exactly in accordance with the principles spoken by Kṛṣṇa.

SB 8.24.48, Purport: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu therefore gives a definition of guru. Yāre dekha, tāre kaha 'kṛṣṇa'-upadeśa: [Cc. Madhya 7.128] the bona fide guru is he who advises his disciples exactly in accordance with the principles spoken by Kṛṣṇa. The bona fide guru is he who has accepted Kṛṣṇa as guru. This is the guru-paramparā system. The original guru is Vyāsadeva because he is the speaker of Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, wherein everything spoken relates to Kṛṣṇa. Therefore guru-pūjā is known as Vyāsa-pūjā.

SB Cantos 10.14 to 12 (Translations Only)

The qualification of the bona fide guru is that he has realized the conclusions of the scriptures by deliberation and is able to convince others of these conclusions.

SB 11.3.21, Translation: Therefore any person who seriously desires real happiness must seek a bona fide spiritual master and take shelter of him by initiation. The qualification of the bona fide guru is that he has realized the conclusions of the scriptures by deliberation and is able to convince others of these conclusions. Such great personalities, who have taken shelter of the Supreme Godhead, leaving aside all material considerations, should be understood to be bona fide spiritual masters.

CC Madhya-lila

The guru must be bona fide, and he must have heard from his own bona fide guru.

CC Madhya 8.312, Purport: Sometimes the prākṛtā sahajiyās claim that they have heard the truth from their guru. But one cannot have transcendental knowledge simply by hearing from a guru who is not bona fide. The guru must be bona fide, and he must have heard from his own bona fide guru. Only then will his message be accepted as bona fide. Lord Kṛṣṇa confirms this in the Bhagavad-gītā (4.1):

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

imaṁ vivasvate yogaṁ proktavān aham avyayam

vivasvān manave prāha manur ikṣvākave ’bravīt

“The Supreme Lord said, ‘I instructed this imperishable science of yoga to the sun-god, Vivasvān, and Vivasvān instructed it to Manu, the father of mankind, and Manu in turn instructed it to Ikṣvāku.’”

By the Lord’s mercy one gets the association of a bona fide guru, and by the mercy of the guru one gets a chance to render devotional service.

CC Madhya 13.18, Purport: The seed of devotional service fructifies and becomes a transcendental creeper. Finally it reaches the lotus feet of the Lord in the spiritual sky. This seed is obtained by the mercy of the Lord and the guru. By the Lord’s mercy one gets the association of a bona fide guru, and by the mercy of the guru one gets a chance to render devotional service. Devotional service, the science of bhakti-yoga, carries one from this material world to the spiritual world.

Your book should describe the characteristics of the bona fide guru and the bona fide disciple.

CC Madhya 24.330, Translation: “Your book should describe the characteristics of the bona fide guru and the bona fide disciple. Then, before accepting a spiritual master, one can be assured of the spiritual master’s position. Similarly, the spiritual master can also be assured of the disciple’s position. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, should be described as the worshipable object, and you should describe the bīja-mantra for the worship of Kṛṣṇa, as well as that for Rāma and for other expansions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

“As bell metal can be turned into gold when treated with mercury, a disciple initiated by a bona fide guru immediately attains the position of a brāhmaṇa.”

CC Madhya 24.331, Purport: “As bell metal can be turned into gold when treated with mercury, a disciple initiated by a bona fide guru immediately attains the position of a brāhmaṇa.”

As far as the time of dīkṣā (initiation) is concerned, everything depends on the position of the guru. As soon as a bona fide guru is received by chance or by a program, one should immediately take the opportunity to receive initiation. In the book called Tattva-sāgara, it is stated:

durlabhe sad-gurūṇāṁ ca sakṛt-saṅga upasthite

tad-anujñā yadā labdhā sa dīkṣāvasaro mahān

grāme vā yadi vāraṇye kṣetre vā divase niśi

āgacchati gurur daivād yathā dīkṣā tad-ājñayā

yadaivecchā tadā dīkṣā guror ājñānurūpataḥ

na tīrthaṁ na vrataṁ hemo na snānaṁ na japa-kriyā

dīkṣāyāḥ karaṇaṁ kintu svecchā-prāpte tu sad-gurau

“If by chance one gets a sad-guru, it doesn’t matter whether one is in the temple or the forest. If the sad-guru, the bona fide spiritual master, agrees, one can be initiated immediately, without waiting for a suitable time or place.”

Renunciation Through Wisdom

Those foolish souls who refuse to take shelter of a bona fide guru are truly shelterless.

Renunciation Through Wisdom 4.5: Those foolish souls who refuse to take shelter of a bona fide guru are truly shelterless. Without the guidance of a guru, these rascals consider themselves knowledgeable, and on the basis of this misconception they make the mistake of worshiping God as a man and a mere mortal as God.

Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures

By rejecting him, you can accept an actual bona fide guru.

Lecture on BG 2.4-5 -- London, August 5, 1973: A guru who does not know what to do and what not to do, but by mistake, by mistakenly I have accepted somebody as guru, he can be rejected. By rejecting him, you can accept an actual bona fide guru. So guru is not killed, but he can be rejected. That is the injunction of the śāstra. So Bhīṣmadeva or Droṇācārya, certainly they were gurus, but Kṛṣṇa indirectly giving indication to Arjuna, that "Although they are in the position of guru, you can reject them."

But he'll not search out a bona fide guru.

Lecture on BG 2.7 -- London, August 7, 1973: "I am asking you. Because it is my duty. I'm now falling in my duty, faulty. So this is not good. So I must ask somebody who is superior to me." That is the duty. Tad vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum eva abhigacchet [MU 1.2.12]. This is the Vedic duty. Everyone is perplexed. Everyone is suffering in this material world, being perplexed. But he'll not search out a bona fide guru. No. That is kārpaṇya-doṣa. That is kārpaṇya-doṣa. Here, Arjuna is coming out of the kārpaṇya-doṣa. How? Now he's asking Kṛṣṇa. Pṛcchāmi tvām. "My dear Kṛṣṇa, You are the most superior person. That I know. You are Kṛṣṇa. So I am perplexed. Actually, I am forgetting my duty. Therefore, I am asking You."

You have to go to a bona fide guru, and he'll make you understand things.

Lecture on BG 2.15 -- Mexico, February 15, 1975: This is transmigration. You create some body and you see differently. This is transmigration. We are... Every day, every night, we are experiencing transmigration, but we have no intelligence to understand. Therefore, tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet [MU 1.2.12]. You have to go to a bona fide guru, and he'll make you understand things.

We must approach a bona fide guru in order to understand the science of Kṛṣṇa.

Lecture on BG 9.1 -- Vrndavana, April 17, 1975: Tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum eva abhigacchet [MU 1.2.12]. We must approach a bona fide guru in order to understand the science of Kṛṣṇa. Abhigacchet. This I have explained several times. So anasūyave. If you want to learn Kṛṣṇa, then you should be very much humble and submissive to Kṛṣṇa and His devotee, anasūyave. Jñānaṁ vijñāna-sahitam. Jñāna, this knowledge, most confidential knowledge, it is not sentiment.

That bona fide guru means one who has accepted Kṛṣṇa as guru. He is bona fide guru. That is bona fide guru.

Lecture on BG 13.3 -- Hyderabad, April 19, 1974: Just like my disciples, because they have accepted me as guru, whatever I say, they accept it. Otherwise I have not bribed them. These European, Americans... I have no money. I went to New York with seven dollars. What money I have got? But they have accepted. So this is the process. You must find out somebody whom you can accept as guru. That guru must be bona fide. Otherwise what is the use of accepting a bogus guru? So what is that bona fide guru? That bona fide guru means one who has accepted Kṛṣṇa as guru. He is bona fide guru. That is bona fide guru.

Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

Nobody can understand the bona fide guru or Kṛṣṇa unless he is free from sinful life.

Lecture on SB 1.5.29 -- Vrndavana, August 10, 1974: If you become disobedient to guru, then your business is finished. These are the qualifications. Me anuraktasya praśritasya... And hatainasaḥ. Hata enasaḥ. Means "All my sinful activities stopped." Nobody can understand the bona fide guru or Kṛṣṇa unless he is free from sinful life. Therefore we have to accept this principle: no illicit sex, no gambling, no, I mean to say, intoxication, no meat-eating.

Actually, it is not directly Vyāsa, but because the bona fide guru represents Vyāsadeva, his pūjā is also vyāsa-pūjā.

Lecture on SB 1.7.5 -- Vrndavana, September 4, 1976: Actually, it is not directly Vyāsa, but because the bona fide guru represents Vyāsadeva, his pūjā is also vyāsa-pūjā. Mad-bhakta-pūjā abhyadhikā. To worship Vyāsadeva, worship the bona fide spiritual master and worship the Lord, they are the same. Rather, Kṛṣṇa says that if you worship His bona fide representative, that worship is better than directly worshiping.

He has to take shelter of the bona fide guru.

Lecture on SB 1.7.18 -- Vrndavana, September 15, 1976: And one who does not want to remain in darkness, for him, tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta [SB 11.3.21]. He has to take shelter of the bona fide guru. If you are serious about not remaining in darkness, as it is said in the Vedas, tamasi mā jyotir gama. If you take this instruction of Vedas... Vedic instruction you have to take. Otherwise you'll suffer.

First of all, you must have a bona fide guru.

Lecture on SB 1.10.3 -- Mayapura, June 18, 1973: First of all, you must have a bona fide guru. And if you follow, then your life is perfect. So two things must be correct: the guru must be correct and the disciple must be correct. Then the business will be correct. And either of them, if guru is incorrect or the disciple is incorrect, there will be no action.

"oḥ, you must approach a bona fide guru."

Lecture on SB 1.16.12 -- Los Angeles, January 9, 1974: "If you want to take knowledge," tad-vijñānārtham, "to understand the complete science," tad-vijñānārtham, "the spirit," sa gurum eva abhigacchet, "oḥ, you must approach a bona fide guru." Otherwise there is no knowledge. That is not knowledge.

By the grace of Kṛṣṇa, one gets a bona fide guru, and by the grace of the bona fide guru, one gets Kṛṣṇa.

Lecture on SB 3.25.30 -- Bombay, November 30, 1974: His representative, the spiritual master, is there. Therefore Caitanya Mahāprabhu says, guru-kṛṣṇa-kṛpāya pāya bhakti-latā-bīja [Cc. Madhya 19.151].By the grace of Kṛṣṇa, one gets a bona fide guru, and by the grace of the bona fide guru, one gets Kṛṣṇa. ination of guru and Kṛṣṇa. This is going on. So as we are fallen, similarly, śāstra has given us very easy method to appreciate our transcendental life, our blissful life.

"you must seek out a bona fide guru."

Lecture on SB 3.25.39-40 -- Bombay, December 8, 1974: If you actually very much eager to inquire about it, then you require a guru. Tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta jijñāsuḥ śreya uttamam: [SB 11.3.21] "One who is inquisitive about spiritual life, about spiritual identity," tasmāt, "therefore," guruṁ prapadyeta, "you must seek out a bona fide guru." So who can be better guru than Kṛṣṇa? He is the original guru. Here it is stated, guruḥ.

If you have got a pure, bona fide guru, then whatever he says, you do it.

Lecture on SB 3.26.1 -- Bombay, December 13, 1974: n the morning also these boys, they sing Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura, āra nā koriho mane āśā. If you have got a pure, bona fide guru, then whatever he says, you do it. You don't think of anything else, āra nā koriho mane āśā. No more. That is all right.

And if you have really a bona fide guru, then by pleasing him you will get the favor of Kṛṣṇa.

Lecture on SB 5.5.18 -- Vrndavana, November 6, 1976: When Kṛṣṇa sees that "Here is a sincere soul, he wants Me," teṣāṁ satata-yuktānāṁ bhajatāṁ prīti-pūrvakaṁ, buddhi-yogaṁ dadāmi tam [Bg. 10.10]. As soon as sees, Kṛṣṇa, that "Here is a sincere person who wants Me," He'll give you nice guru. Guru-kṛṣṇa kṛpa. Yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādat. And if you have really a bona fide guru, then by pleasing him you will get the favor of Kṛṣṇa. Yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto 'pi.

In order to learn everything very clearly, he must have the shelter of a bona fide guru.

Lecture on SB 5.6.3 -- Vrndavana, November 25, 1976: But when there is question of personal meditation, they protest. Therefore tad-vijñānarthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet [MU 1.2.12]. In order to learn everything very clearly, he must have the shelter of a bona fide guru. Ādau gurvāśrayam. If we want release from all this disturbance of the material world, then the first and foremost thing is ādau gurvāśrayam.

If you want to learn that spiritual science, then you must approach a bona fide guru.

Lecture on SB 6.1.1-4 -- Melbourne, May 20, 1975: This is the instruction. If you want to learn that spiritual science, then you must approach a bona fide guru. Gurum evābhigacchet. There are many sastric injunction like that. Tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta jijñāsuḥ śreya uttamam [SB 11.3.21]. And who requires a guru? Guru is not a fashion. It is necessary. How it is necessary? Now, anyone who is inquisitive to understand the spiritual science, for him it is necessary. Jijñāsuḥ sreya uttamam.

That two..., twelve personalities are mentioned especially, that they are mahājana, they are authorized, bona fide guru, and you have to follow their path.

Lecture on SB 6.1.16 -- Denver, June 29, 1975: That two..., twelve personalities are mentioned especially, that they are mahājana, they are authorized, bona fide guru, and you have to follow their path. It is not difficult. So Svayambhū means Lord Brahmā. Svayambhūḥ nāradaḥ śambhuḥ.

Guru-mukha-pad... You accept the bona fide guru, and what he orders you, carry out.

Lecture on SB 6.1.26-27 -- Philadelphia, July 12, 1975: You must know what is your duty from guru. You are singing every day, guru-mukha-padma-vākya, cittete koriyā aikya, ār nā koriho mane āśā **. This is life. This is life. Guru-mukha-pad... You accept the bona fide guru, and what he orders you, carry out. Then your life is successful. Ār nā koriho mane āśā. You rascal, you do not desire anything else.

If you want to learn that transcendental science, you must go through the bona fide guru.

Lecture on SB 6.1.39 -- Los Angeles, June 5, 1976: Similarly, the śāstra says, tad vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet [MU 1.2.12]. If you want to learn that transcendental science, you must go through the bona fide guru. And Kṛṣṇa also says in the... This is Vedic injunction.

In order to learn that higher transcendental platform of knowledge, one should approach a guru, bona fide guru, who knows.

Lecture on SB 6.1.49 -- Detroit, June 15, 1976: This is the source of knowledge. And the Vedic injunction is tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet [MU 1.2.12]. In order to learn that higher transcendental platform of knowledge, one should approach a guru, bona fide guru, who knows.

In this wandering, wandering, wandering, when we come in contact with a bona fide guru, we get the seed of devotional service.

Lecture on SB 6.2.5-6 -- Vrndavana, September 9, 1975: We have got this machine, and we are wandering throughout the universe in different planets and different forms of life, and we do not know what is the aim of life.

ei rūpe brahmāṇḍa bhramite kono bhāgyavān jīva

guru kṛṣṇa kṛpa pāya bhakti-latā-bīja

[Cc. Madhya 19.151]

In this wandering, wandering, wandering, when we come in contact with a bona fide guru, we get the seed of devotional service. That is the aim of life, how to get that. Therefore the Vedic injunction is tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet [MU 1.2.12]. You must go. Otherwise your life is useless.

If one is working under the direction of the spiritual master with love and faith, then Kṛṣṇa, from within, as caitya-guru, the guru within the heart, He'll help you, and he'll send you bona fide guru to help you externally.

Lecture on SB 7.9.9 -- Mayapur, February 16, 1976: If one is working under the direction of the spiritual master with love and faith, then Kṛṣṇa, from within, as caitya-guru, the guru within the heart, He'll help you, and he'll send you bona fide guru to help you externally. So both ways, you'll be helped, and you'll become Prahlāda Mahārāja.

Nectar of Devotion Lectures

Prabhupāda: So that is bona fide guru. Where is the difficulty to find out a bona fide guru?

The Nectar of Devotion -- Vrndavana, October 31, 1972: Prabhupāda: So that is bona fide guru. Where is the difficulty to find out a bona fide guru? Just like Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, yāre dekha tāre kaha kṛṣṇa upadeśa [Cc. Madhya 7.128]. Caitanya Mahāprabhu says that "You preach the words of Kṛṣṇa." Therefore He's bona fide. Similarly, anyone who is representing Kṛṣṇa and canvassing for Kṛṣṇa, he's bona fide guru. Where is the difficulty? Is there any difficulty? Anyone can understand that if Kṛṣṇa is the original guru, and if somebody's canvassing for Kṛṣṇa, he's bona fide guru. If somebody canvassing for himself, he's not bona fide guru. So there is no difficulty to find out a bona fide guru, provided I am serious to find out a bona fide guru. But if I want something else... Because hṛdy antaḥ stho hy abhadrāṇi. If in my heart there is something else, then I must be cheated by some..., somebody else who is not a bona fide guru. Ye yathā māṁ prapadyante tāṁs tathaiva bhajāmy aham [Bg. 4.11]. So to find out a bona fide guru, spiritual master, is not very difficult. It is very easy.

He must be authorized by the bona fide guru. Then he's guru.

The Nectar of Devotion -- Vrndavana, October 31, 1972: He must be authorized by the bona fide guru. Then he's guru. This is the fact. Here... Nobody can be self-made anything. A medical practitioner, he cannot become self-made, that "I have studied all the medical books in my home." No. "Have you ever gone to the medical college and taken instruction from the bona fide teachers?" Then, if you have got the certificate, then you are medical practitioner. Similarly, bona fide guru means he must be authorized by the superior guru.

So to find out a bona fide guru is not difficult, provided one is bona fide to search out a guru.

The Nectar of Devotion -- Vrndavana, October 31, 1972: So to find out a bona fide guru is not difficult, provided one is bona fide to search out a guru. Therefore Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, guru-kṛṣṇa-kṛpāya pāya bhakti-latā-bīja [Cc. Madhya 19.151]. By the mercy of guru and Kṛṣṇa... Because by the mercy of Kṛṣṇa one gets a bona fide guru, and by the mercy of bona fide guru, one gets Kṛṣṇa. This is the process.

So He will find out a bona fide guru for him.

The Nectar of Devotion -- Vrndavana, October 31, 1972: So as soon as I become serious to know about Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa can understand, "Now My friend is very serious." So He will find out a bona fide guru for him.

If we somehow or other come in contact with bona fide guru and Kṛṣṇa... Kṛṣṇa is already there.

The Nectar of Devotion -- Vrndavana, November 3, 1972: So pure devotional service is rarely achieved. But by chance, guru-kṛṣṇa-kṛpāya pāya bhakti-latā-bīja [Cc. Madhya 19.151], if we somehow or other come in contact with bona fide guru and Kṛṣṇa... Kṛṣṇa is already there. We are already in touch.

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Lectures

Then you have to go, approach the bona fide guru.

Lecture on CC Adi-lila 1.12 -- Mayapur, April 5, 1975: Then you have to go, approach the bona fide guru. He will let you know. Tad viddhi praṇipātena paripraśnena sevayā [Bg. 4.34]. No challenge. That is foolishness. No challenge. Praṇipātena. First of all surrender.

We must approach a bona fide guru for enlightenment.

Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 20.98-102 -- April 27, 1976, Auckland, New Zealand: We must approach a bona fide guru for enlightenment. And samit-pāṇiḥ śrotriyam: one who has received knowledge by hearing, not by speculating. Nowadays it has become a fashion to speculate.

Approach a bona fide guru, a spiritual master, and abide by his orders and do accordingly.

Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 20.98-102 -- April 27, 1976, Auckland, New Zealand: Approach a bona fide guru, a spiritual master, and abide by his orders and do accordingly. Then your life will be successful. And if you keep yourself in the darkness, that "I am very rich man. I am very learned man, but unfortunately, I do not know what I am," so what is the use?

Go to a bona fide guru, try to understand the problems of life, what is the aim of life, how actually we can become happy.

Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 20.98-102 -- April 27, 1976, Auckland, New Zealand: Go to a bona fide guru, try to understand the problems of life, what is the aim of life, how actually we can become happy. This is called brahma-jijñāsā.

If anyone becomes disciple of a bona fide guru, then his duty is to ask from the guru what he can do to help guru.

Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 20.101-104 -- Bombay, November 3, 1975: This is required. If anyone becomes disciple of a bona fide guru, then his duty is to ask from the guru what he can do to help guru. That is required. So Sanātana Gosvāmī is giving us the example. Āpana-kṛpāte kaha 'kartavya' āmāra. Kartavya means duty.

Therefore Vedic injunction is that if you want to be learned, then go to guru, bona fide guru, not the so-called guru.

Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 20.102 -- Baltimore, July 7, 1976: Nobody is learned man unless he goes to the guru. Tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet [MU 1.2.12]. Therefore Vedic injunction is that if you want to be learned, then go to guru, bona fide guru, not the so-called guru.

Festival Lectures

"In the first beginning, you must take shelter of a bona fide guru."

His Divine Grace Srila Sac-cid-ananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura's Appearance Day, Lecture -- London, September 3, 1971: So all the śāstras says, in our Vaiṣṇava śāstra also, Rūpa Gosvāmī says, ādau gurv-āśrayam: "In the first beginning, you must take shelter of a bona fide guru."

And that is also not very difficult to select, who is bona fide guru.

His Divine Grace Srila Sac-cid-ananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura's Appearance Day, Lecture -- London, September 3, 1971: If one has got unflinching faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead, yathā deve, and similar faith in guru... Of course, we must make guru bona fide. Then it is disciplic succession. And that is also not very difficult to select, who is bona fide guru. Bona fide guru means he presents himself as servant of God. He does not pose himself falsely that "I am God." This is bona fide. It is not difficult to find out bona fide.

The bona fide guru will say that "I am servant of the servant of the servant of Kṛṣṇa," or God.

His Divine Grace Srila Sac-cid-ananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura's Appearance Day, Lecture -- London, September 3, 1971: You can cheat all people for some time and some people for all time, but not all people for all time. That is not possible. So these kinds of guru, who poses themself that "I am God," he's a false guru. The bona fide guru will say that "I am servant of the servant of the servant of Kṛṣṇa," or God.

So therefore to find out a bona fide guru means that he does not change the words of Kṛṣṇa.

His Divine Grace Srila Sac-cid-ananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura's Appearance Day, Lecture -- London, September 3, 1971: So therefore to find out a bona fide guru means that he does not change the words of Kṛṣṇa. That is his position. He places everything as it is, and he has understood thoroughly the science. Jijñāsuḥ śreya uttamam. Guru, what is the symptom of guru?

Arrival Addresses and Talks

Vedic knowledge is possible to be understood by a person who has got unflinching faith in the bona fide guru.

Arrival Address -- Vrndavana, September 3, 1976: Vedic knowledge is possible to be understood by a person who has got unflinching faith in the bona fide guru. Guru means representative of Kṛṣṇa—Kṛṣṇa and His representative. We have repeatedly discussed this fact that guru means the bona fide servant of Kṛṣṇa. Guru does not mean a magician or jugglery.

General Lectures

That is bona fide guru. Otherwise, he's not guru. Simple definition. Guru cannot change any word of the predecessor.

Lecture What is a Guru? -- London, August 22, 1973: ive thousand years or five millions of years, what was spoken by the supreme God or guru, the present guru also will say the same thing. That is guru. That is bona fide guru. Otherwise, he's not guru. Simple definition. Guru cannot change any word of the predecessor.

Because guru is bona fide representative of Kṛṣṇa, or God, so if you surrender to guru, bona fide guru, that means you surrender to God.

Lecture What is a Guru? -- London, August 22, 1973: Because guru is bona fide representative of Kṛṣṇa, or God, so if you surrender to guru, bona fide guru, that means you surrender to God. God is accepting your surrender through the guru. Yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo. If you surrender to guru, that means Kṛṣṇa is pleased.

Yes, he's accepted by bona fide guru.

Lecture What is a Guru? -- London, August 22, 1973: That is the sign that he has got guru. He has got the sacred thread. Yes, he's accepted by bona fide guru. That is the sign, sacred thread. So you are offering good respect to your spiritual master. That is very nice. You are very thankful. But at the same time we should remember that how to carry out the orders of the guru so that people may not think that you are talking nonsense. You must be very careful.

Then we can train up how to become bona fide disciple, how to find out bona fide guru, how to establish our relationship with guru and act accordingly and make our life successful.

Lecture What is a Guru? -- London, August 22, 1973: This is the way of making relationship between guru and disciple. Everything is there provided we take them seriously. Then we can train up how to become bona fide disciple, how to find out bona fide guru, how to establish our relationship with guru and act accordingly and make our life successful. Because guru's business is ajñāna-timirāndhasya jñānāñjana-śalākayā.

In order to understand that transcendental science, one must have to go to the bona fide guru.

Pandal Speech and Question Session -- Delhi, November 10, 1973: In order to understand that transcendental science, one must have to go to the bona fide guru. And who is guru? Guru is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa. And anyone who represents that Supreme Personality of Godhead, he is guru. Guru means representative of God.

First thing is, first business, is to accept a bona fide guru.

Evening Lecture -- Bhuvanesvara, January 23, 1977: Prabhupāda: There is no devotion unless you go to a guru. Forget it. Ādau gurvāśrayam. First thing is, first business, is to accept a bona fide guru. Otherwise there is no devotion. It is simply false imitation. This is the injunction of Rūpa Gosvāmī in Bhakti-rasāmṛta sindhu. Ādau gurvāśrayam: "Your first business is to approach bona fide guru and take his āśraya." Otherwise there is no devotion.

"The first business is that you must find out a bona fide guru."

Evening Lecture -- Bhuvanesvara, January 23, 1977: Therefore Rūpa Gosvāmī stresses, ādau-gurvāśrayam: "The first business is that you must find out a bona fide guru." Then other things.

Philosophy Discussions

In order to be conversant with that science, transcendental science, one must approach a bona fide guru.

Philosophy Discussion on Jean-Paul Sartre: Prabhupāda: Yes. Therefore you should take advice from a man who can give you right direction, so at the end you may not be ashamed; you may be glorious. That is the injunction of the Vedas: tad vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet [MU 1.2.12]. In order to be conversant with that science, transcendental science, one must approach a bona fide guru.

Without approaching a bona fide guru there is no possibility of understanding the nature of God and our relationship with Him.

Philosophy Discussion on Soren Aabye Kierkegaard: Without approaching a bona fide guru there is no possibility of understanding the nature of God and our relationship with Him. So one has to approach a guru. To accept a guru is not a fashion, it is necessity. If one is actually inquisitive, it is a necessity. So the qualification of guru is also given there, that what sort of guru you should search out.

So anyone who carries out the order of God, he can become bona fide guru, because he is not manufacturing anything.

Philosophy Discussion on Soren Aabye Kierkegaard: So original obedience is to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, similarly obedience to the spiritual master is representative of God. So anyone who carries out the order of God, he can become bona fide guru, because he is not manufacturing anything.

And the result will be that after becoming student of such bona fide guru, one will be firmly fixed up in God consciousness.

1972 Conversations and Morning Walks

And the result will be that after becoming student of such bona fide guru, one will be firmly fixed up in God consciousness.

Room Conversation -- April 18, 1972, Hong Kong: So similarly, everyone has to hear either from Kṛṣṇa or from His bona fide representative. That is śrotriyam. And the result will be that after becoming student of such bona fide guru, one will be firmly fixed up in God consciousness. That is the result, firmly fixed up. Now, these boys from foreign countries, according to our geographical arrangement, they are foreigners. But we don't see anything foreign. We see every land belongs to Kṛṣṇa and everyone is part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa.

1973 Conversations and Morning Walks

He should become a disciple of a bona fide guru.

Room Conversation with Indian Guests and Devotees -- July 11, 1973, London: Prabhupāda: Paripraśnena sevayā. He should become a disciple of a bona fide guru. Otherwise how he can learn. If you are uneducated, you should go to school.

Therefore these rascals should go to a bona fide guru.

Morning Walk -- December 4, 1973, Los Angeles: Prabhupāda: That is the injunction of the Vedas. Tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum eva... [MU 1.2.12]. Therefore these rascals should go to a bona fide guru.

1974 Conversations and Morning Walks

He must carry out the instruction of the guru, bona fide guru.

Morning Walk -- April 20, 1974, Hyderabad: Then it is possible. Otherwise, if he does whimsically then it will be a failure. He must carry out the instruction of the guru, bona fide guru. Guru means bona fide guru, not pseudo guru. And according... What guru will advise? To be engaged in Kṛṣṇa's service. These two things will help him. Otherwise it is not possible.

Therefore, Vedic injunction is in order to know, go to the bona fide guru and hear.

Room Conversation with Christian Priest -- June 9, 1974, Paris: Therefore, Vedic injunction is in order to know, go to the bona fide guru and hear. Ādau gurv-āśrayam, sad-dharma pṛcchāt. So even one has no experience, if he goes to the experienced man, experienced person, then you can understand and you can love God, and that is perfection of life.

1975 Conversations and Morning Walks

n order to learn the science, one must go to the bona fide guru. Otherwise it is not possible.

Room Conversation -- August 12, 1975, Paris (with French translator): Prabhupāda: Aurobindo is hodgepodge. It is simply vocabulary. No concrete contribution. Simply words. Tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet [MU 1.2.12]. In order to learn the science, one must go to the bona fide guru. Otherwise it is not possible.

We must have a bona fide guru to train us in the understanding of spiritual matter.

Room Conversation -- February 15, 1975, Mexico: This is... The Vedic injunction is, therefore, tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet śrotriyaṁ brahma-niṣṭham [MU 1.2.12], samit-pāṇiḥ, like that. We must have a bona fide guru to train us in the understanding of spiritual matter. Guru means who knows the thing, who can teach you. That is guru, not a humbug guru, but guru means one who knows.

What you hear from a bona fide guru, that is standard.

Room Conversation with Svarupa Damodara -- February 28, 1975, Atlanta: That is standard. Otherwise how you will find standard? Therefore it is said, guru-mukha-pad... That is standard. What you hear from a bona fide guru, that is standard. Kṛṣṇa says, man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru [Bg. 18.65].

You must go to a bona fide guru who can teach you. Nobody is serious.

Conversation with Indian Guests -- April 12, 1975, Hyderabad: You must go to a bona fide guru who can teach you. Nobody is serious. That is the difficulty. Everyone is thinking, "I am free," although he is pulled by the ear by nature. Prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ [Bg. 3.27]. You have done like this, come on, here, sit down. This is going on, prakṛti. Ahaṅkāra-vimūḍhātmā kartāham iti manyate [Bg. 3.27].

1976 Conversations and Morning Walks

Bona fide guru is indicated by Caitanya, āmāra ājñāya guru hañā: "Become guru."

Room Conversation -- May 2, 1976, Fiji: Prabhupāda: That is the difficulty. Everyone sees that "Some way or other, I become guru. Then so many persons will offer me respect. Somehow or other, create some situation. Then I become guru." This is going on. Not bona fide guru. Bona fide guru is indicated by Caitanya, āmāra ājñāya guru hañā: "Become guru."

So therefore our test is, whether he's a bona fide guru, whether he's talking what Kṛṣṇa has said.

Garden Conversation -- June 27, 1976, New Vrindaban: So therefore our test is, whether he's a bona fide guru, whether he's talking what Kṛṣṇa has said. Then he's guru. Otherwise a rascal. That's all, finished.

All the swamis and yogis who came here, they do not belong to this paramparā system, so therefore they are not bona fide guru.

Interview with Trans-India Magazine -- July 17, 1976, New York: All the swamis and yogis who came here, they do not belong to this paramparā system, so therefore they are not bona fide guru. They are presenting themselves as guru, but they are not guru. Therefore people are misled.

Therefore one has to fix his faith staunchly in the bona fide guru.

Room Conversation -- July 31, 1976, New Mayapur (French farm): Therefore one has to fix his faith staunchly in the bona fide guru. So if one has got bona fide guru, and if he follows that bona fide guru, then his life is success. This is the process. Sākṣād-dharitvena samasta-śāstrair **. So Gurukula means to teach how to become very, very faithful, cent percent faithful, to the bona fide guru. That is Gurukula.

Prabhupāda: He has written me that. He is asking my blessing to find out another bona fide guru.

1977 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation -- January 28, 1977, Bhuvanesvara: Prabhupāda: He has written me that. He is asking my blessing to find out another bona fide guru. Such a rascal he is. If his present guru is not bona fide, why he's asking blessing from him? Such a rascal. He has written me.

A leader, to become leader, is not very difficult, provided one is prepared to follow the instructions of a bona fide guru.

Room Conversation -- November 2, 1977, Vrndavana: Prabhupāda: Yes. Leaders. All nonsense. Leader means one who has become first-class disciple. He is leader. Evaṁ paramparā-prāpta... One who is perfectly following... Our instruction is āra nā kariha mane āśā **. You know this? What is that? Guru-mukha-padma-vākya, cittete kariyā aikya, āra nā kariha mane āśā **. Who is leader? A leader, to become leader, is not very difficult, provided one is prepared to follow the instructions of a bona fide guru.

1947 to 1965 Correspondence

In the Katha Upanisad it is ordered that one must approach the bona fide Guru who is not only well versed in all the scriptures of the world but is also the realized soul in Brahman the Absolute—in order to learn the science of Absolute Truth.

Letter to Mahatma Gandhi -- Cawnpore 12 July, 1947: In the Katha Upanisad it is ordered that one must approach the bona fide Guru who is not only well versed in all the scriptures of the world but is also the realized soul in Brahman the Absolute—in order to learn the science of Absolute Truth. So also it is instructed in the Bhagavad-gita as follows:

tad viddhi pranipatena

pariprasnena sevaya

upadeksyanti tad jnanam

jnaninas tattvadarsinah

(Bg. 4.34)

But I know that you never underwent such transcendental training except some severe penances which you invented for your purpose as you have invented so many things in the course of experimenting with the relative truths.

1967 Correspondence

By the Grace of Guru one gets Krishna and by the Grace of Krishna one gets a bona fide Guru.

Letter to Devananda -- Delhi 27 September, 1967: By the Grace of Guru one gets Krishna and by the Grace of Krishna one gets a bona fide Guru. Therefore Krishna consciousness means staunch faith both in Guru and Krishna. One minus the other is no good for the devotee. So your faith in the principles of devotion to Guru will certainly help you more and more Krishna. Do not ever try to approach Krishna directly.

1975 Correspondence

Yes, you are right—all qualifications come if you simply surrender to a bona fide Guru.

Letter to Jagaddhatri -- Tehran 14 March, 1975: Thank you for your kind sentiments. From your letter I can understand that you are advancing very nicely in Krishna Consciousness. Yes, you are right—all qualifications come if you simply surrender to a bona fide Guru. Please follow all of our rules very careful and your life will be perfect.

Keep trained up very rigidly and then you are bona fide Guru, and you can accept disciples on the same principle.

Letter to Tusta Krsna -- New Delhi 2 December, 1975: Keep trained up very rigidly and then you are bona fide Guru, and you can accept disciples on the same principle. But as a matter of etiquette it is the custom that during the lifetime of your Spiritual master you bring the prospective disciples to him, and in his absence or disappearance you can accept disciples without any limitation. This is the law of disciplic succession. I want to see my disciples become bona fide Spiritual Master and spread Krishna consciousness very widely, that will make me and Krishna very happy.