To accept a spiritual master is not a hobby: "Because everyone accepts some spiritual master, let me have also a spiritual master, without following the instruction, without following the principle." That sort of acceptance of spiritual master is not required. He doesn't require to accept a spiritual master who is not inquisitive on transcendental subject matter. Jijñāsuḥ śreya uttamam (SB 11.3.21).
Uttamam means . . . ut means surpassing, and tamam means the darkness. This material world is darkness. And one who has transcended the darkness region and has come to the region of light . . . jyotir gamaḥ tamasa mā, "Don't remain in this darkness. Go to the light." So that is called uttamam. Uttamam. Udgata tamaṁ yasmād.
So questions, jijñāsuḥ, inquisitive, of transcendental matter. There are many things to inquire. Śrotavyādīni rājan (SB 2.1.2), there is, in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. There are many subject matter for inquiry and hearing. But one who is interested in hearing about the transcendental subject matter, ramante yoginaḥ anante (CC Madhya 9.29), the unlimited, infinite subject matter, for him a spiritual master is needed. Not for all. Tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta jijñāsuḥ śreya uttamam (SB 11.3.21). And who is spiritual master? That is also stated. Śābde pare ca niṣṇātam. Śābde means the Vedic śruti, śruti. This is called śābda-brahma. One who has learned both śruti and smṛti. Śruti means Vedas, and smṛti means books derived from Vedic knowledge. That is called smṛti. And Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī says in his Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu that śruti smṛti . . .
- śruti-smṛti-purāṇAdi-
- pāñcarātriki-vidhiṁ vinā
- aikāntikī harer bhaktir
- utpātāyaiva kalpate
- (Brs. 1.2.101)
If one poses himself a great devotee but does not follow the principles of śruti, smṛti, purāṇa and Nārada Pañcarātra, and the rules and regulation thereof, then his presentation as great devotee is simply disturbance.
According to this Hari-bhakti-vilāsa and according to the direction of the Gosvāmīs in the Lord Caitanya's line, if one does not follow the principles of Vedas, principles of the smṛti or corollaries, Vedic literature . . . just like Bhagavad-gītā is called smṛti, and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Mahā-purāṇa.
So śruti, smṛti, purāṇAdi, and pāñcarātriki-vidhim, Nārada Pañcarātra. Without following the rules and regulation of these scriptures, if one poses himself as devotee of Kṛṣṇa, aikāntikī harer bhaktiḥ—harer means Lord; bhakti, devotional service—he is disturbance to the society.