Approach the acarya

Expressions researched:
"approach the acarya" |"approached the acarya" |"approach acarya" |"approach an acarya" |"approaching the acarya"

SB Preface and Introduction

SB Canto 7

As recommended in Bhagavad-gītā, ācāryopāsanam: one must approach the ācārya for real knowledge

SB 7.15.56, Purport: Acaryavan puruso veda: one who is guided by the bona fide spiritual master knows everything as stated in the Vedas, which set forth the standard of infallible knowledge. As recommended in Bhagavad-gita, acaryopasanam: one must approach the acarya for real knowledge. Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet: [MU 1.2.12] one must approach the acarya, for then one will receive perfect knowledge. When guided by the spiritual master, one attains the ultimate goal of life

Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures

If you want to learn factually things, then you should approach ācārya

Lecture on BG 2.13 -- Pittsburgh, September 8, 1972: So the process of hearing is very important. So our this Krsna consciousness movement is to propagate that "You hear from the authority, Krsna." Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is accepted in the present age and in the past age. In the past age, great sages like Narada, Vyasa, Asita, Devala, very, very great stalwart scholars and sages, they accepted. In the Middle Age, say 1,500 years ago, all the acaryas like Sankaracarya, Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya, Nimbarka... Practically, Indian Vedic civilization, it is still existing on the authority of these acaryas. And it is recommended in the Bhagavad-gita: acaryopasanam. If you want to learn factually things, then you should approach acarya. Acaryavan puruso veda, "One who has accepted acarya, he knows things as they are." Acaryavan puruso veda. So we are receiving knowledge through the acaryas.

You have to approach an ācārya. That is the way of learning transcendental knowledge in all Vedic scriptures

Lecture on BG 9.26-27 -- New York, December 16, 1966: So we have to... In the Bhagavad-gita in the Thirteenth Chapter you have read it that acaryopasanam. Acaryopasanam. You have to approach an acarya. That is the way of learning transcendental knowledge in all Vedic scriptures. Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet: [MU 1.2.12] "If you want to learn that transcendental science, then you have to approach the bona fide spiritual master." Tad-vijnanartham. Tat means transcendental; vijnana means science. If you want to learn. So the Vedic literature teaches us to accept the authorized bona fide spiritual master acarya. Krsna is the head of all acaryas. He is the principal acarya.

If you want to make progress, then you have to approach ācārya

Lecture on BG 13.8-12 -- Bombay, October 5, 1973: Now another important thing is acaryopasanam. If you want to make progress, then you have to approach acarya. Just like if you want to be educated, you go to school, you go to college, you go to university, similarly, if you want to be advanced in knowledge... knowledge means not this material knowledge. Actual knowledge is to advance in spiritual knowledge.

So to understand this knowledge one has to approach ācārya

Lecture on BG 13.8-12 -- Bombay, October 5, 1973: So to understand this knowledge one has to approach acarya. Acarya means one who knows the purpose of Vedic literature, sastra. Asrnoti yah sastram. And practices and teaches his disciple. He knows. Acarya means knows. One who knows the purpose of Vedic literature, he practices in his life, and he teaches his disciple. He is called acarya. So acarya upasanam. Before worshiping the Lord... Just like here Krsna said in the beginning, acaryopasanam, and in the middle he says, mayi cananya-yogena bhaktir avyabhicarini. So before engaging yourself in devotional service to the Lord, you must first of all worship acarya, acaryopasanam. One cannot become a devotee personally. Just like some rascals say, "What is the use of accepting guru?" Of course, they have got very bad experience.

But you ask him what is Kṛṣṇa, he cannot say. Because he has not approached the ācārya. This is the difficulty

Lecture on BG 13.8-12 -- Bombay, October 5, 1973: It is not that "If I like, I can go to a guru; if I don't like I can learn the books at home and learn everything." No, that is not possible. Practically... Just like if you purchase some medical book and study at home and if you begin to practice, you will be called a quack. You will not be recognized by the government. You will not get the practitioner's registration. You will not. Unless you have passed through the medical college, your medical examination, you will not be accepted, even if you say that "I have read all the books." Similarly, if you simply think that "I have read... As we see generally, "Oh, I have read Bhagavad-gita hundred times." But you ask him what is Krsna, he cannot say. Because he has not approached the acarya. This is the difficulty. He might have read Bhagavad-gita a thousand times, but he will not understand a single word because he has not approached.

Simply by speculating, by so-called scholarship, it is not possible. It is not possible. One must approach the ācārya

Lecture on BG 18.67 -- Ahmedabad, December 10, 1972: So as we have understood by the parampara system from my Guru Maharaja, so any of my students who will understand, he will keep it running on. This is the process. It is not a new thing. It is the old thing. Simply we have to distribute it properly, as we have heard from our predecessor acarya. Therefore in the Bhagavad-gita it is recommended: acarya upasanam: "One must approach acarya." Acaryavan puruso veda. Simply by speculating, by so-called scholarship, it is not possible. It is not possible. One must approach the acarya. So the acarya is coming by parampara system, disciplic succession. Therefore Krsna recommends, tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya: [Bg. 4.34] "One should approach the acarya and try to understand by pranipata, surrender." This whole thing is depending on surrender. Ye yatha mam prapadyante. The surrender process, the proportion of surrender, is the means of understanding Krsna. If we are partially surrendered, then we understand Krsna partially. So ye yatha mam prapadyante. It is the proportion of surrender. The one who has surrendered fully, he can understand this philosophy and he can preach also, by the grace of Krsna

Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

Veda means you have to approach ācārya. He knows everything. Unless he is not followers of the Vedas, śruti, he's a rascal

Lecture on SB 1.7.30-31 -- Vrndavana, September 26, 1976: So we are being misled by the so-called scientists and the math... That is not perfect knowledge. The perfect knowledge is in the Vedas. Therefore it is advised, tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet srotriyam brahma-nistham [MU 1.2.12]. You should go to a guru who has complete knowledge from the sruti. Sruti means Vedas. Acaryavan puruso veda. Veda means you have to approach acarya. He knows everything. Unless he is not followers of the Vedas, sruti, he's a rascal. What is the use of going there? What is the... What you'll get by approaching a so-called rascal guru, one who does not know sruti? Therefore Srila Rupa Gosvami has forbidden. And Sanatana Gosvami has forbidden. Avaisnava-mukhodgirnam putam hari-kathamrtam, sravanam naiva kartavyam. Because sravanam, sruti... To go to guru means to hear from him, to inquire from him.