Spiritual Master & disciple 2

Spiritual Master & Disciple 2Qualifications of Guru:

He should act according to the scriptures:

One must act according to the scriptural injunctions and at the same time preach. One who does so is a bona fide spiritual master. CC.Antya Vol II. pg.51-52

He should control his senses.

One who is able to control the urges of the words, mind, anger, the tongue, the stomach and the genitals is qualified to give Spiritual instructions to the whole world. Rupa Gosvami, Upadesamrta.

A goswami or the bona fide representative of Sri Vyasadeva must be free from all kinds of vices. The four major vices of Kali yuga are:

1.illicit connection with woman

2. animal slaughter

3. intoxication

4. speculative gambling of all kinds

A goswami must be free from all these vices before he can dare sit on a vyasasana... He should not only be freed from such vices, but also be well versed II' all revealed scriptures or in the Vedas. SB 1

He should have thorough knowledge and realisation of scriptures:

One who desires the highest good must surrender to the guru, who has full knowledge of the sabda brahma (scripture), who is fixed firmly at the lotus feet of bhagavan and who is free from all material agitation. SB 11.3.21.

That person who is able to grasp the essential meaning of the scriptures, and according to that, establishes the proper mode of conduct in others and who follows that conduct himself is called acarya. Vayu Purana

The words tattva darsi refer to one who has perfectly realised the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Such a person can become a guru and propound vaisnava philosophy all over the world. SB 5.15.4

Personal realisation does not mean that one should, out of vanity, attempt to show one's own learning by trying to surpass the previous acarya. He must have full confidence in the previous acarya, and at the same time he must realise the subject matter so nicely for the particular circumstances in a suitable manner. SB. 1.4.1

He should be a Vaisnava, and devotee of Sri Krishna:

Even though person may be a learned brahmana expert in all the activities of the Veda and smrti sastra, and may be skilful in the use of mantras, if he is not a vaisnava, he is not qualified to be a guru. That person who is a vaisnava, even if he is born in a low family of dog eaters, should be considered guru. Padma Purana

A person may be a brahmana, sannyasi sudra or whatever but if he is well conversant in the science of Krishna, he can become a guru. (CC Madhya 8.128)If one poses himself as an acarya but (does hot have the attitude of servitorship to the Lord, he must be considered an offender, and this offensive attitude disqualifies him from being an acarya. CcAdip.44

He should have compassion for all living entities:

This kind of serious interest in the welfare of the public makes one a bona fide acarya. An acarya does not exploit his followers. Since the acarya is a confidential servitor of the Lord, his heart is always full of compassion for humanity in its suffering. He knows that all suffering is due to the absence of devotional service to the Lord and therefore he always tries to find ways to change peoples' activities, making them favourable for the attainment of devotion. That is the qualification of an acarya.

He should be able to deliver and transform his disciples:

One is recognised by the result of his actions. In vaisnava society there are many types of vaisnavas. Some of them are called swamis, some are prabhus, and some are Prabhupada. One is not recognised however simply by such a name. A spiritual master is recognised as an actual guru when it is seen that he has changed the character of his disciples. Cc Antya v. Ip.282

The following are principles characteristics of the spiritual master which are listed in Hari Bhakti Vilasa:

He should be peaceful, fully in control of the senses and satisfied in the activities of devotional service.

He should be knowledgeable of the Vedas and know the conclusion of the scriptures.

He should be absorbed in worship of the Lord and chanting the Lord's name, and have deep faith in the Lord.

He should always be anxious for the welfare of all living beings. He should exhibit all good qualities.

He should conduct himself according .to sad-acara, the rules mentioned in scripture. He should be intelligent.

He should be steady.

He should be austere.

He should be truthful.

He should be sweet in speech, pleasant to look at clean in body and cloth, and youthful looking.

He should be expert at arguing with and defeating those opposed to devotional service.

He should be an expert judge.

He should be feel gratitude for services rendered to him.

He should be capable of both showing favour to and reprimanding another person.

He should be feel affection for his disciples

He should be completely free from envy, malice, violence, anger, laziness, and sinful activity.

The following characteristics should not be found in the spiritual master:

He should not desire wealth, fame or service from his disciples.

He should not have a desire for accumulating material objects.

He should not be attached to receiving things or hesitant to give things.

He should not delay in making decisions which must be made.

He should not eat too much.

He should not be prone to lying.

He should not be critical of the good qualities of others.

He should not absorb himself in talking about the sinful activities of others.

He should not associate with low characters - those who take intoxication, indulge in illicit sex

or criminal activities.

He should not involve himself in useless philosophies and material logic.

Qualifications of the Disciple:

He should follow the orders and instructions of the spiritual master regarding devotional service:

The son or disciple should accept the words of his spiritual master and father without hesitation. Whatever the father and the spiritual master order should be taken without argument. SB 3.24.13.

A devoted disciple of the spiritual master would rather die with the spiritual master than fail to execute the spiritual masters mission... In other words, to execute the will of the spiritual master, the disciple should be prepared to lay (1o~vii his life and abandon all personal considerations.

As long as the spiritual master is physically present, the disciple should serve the physical body of the spiriitual master, and when the spiritual master 110 longer physically existing, the disciples should serve the instructions of the spiritual master. SB 4.28.47.

Service of the spiritual master is essential. If there is the chance to serve the spiritual master directly, a devotee should serve him by remembering his instructions. There is no difference between the spiritual master's instructions and the spiritual master himself in his absence therefore his words of direction should be the pride of the disciple. Cc Adi 1,p.30

The following are the main characteristics of the disciple which are mentioned in Hari Bhakti Vilasa. The bona fide spiritual master should accept such persons as disciples.

He should be devoted to the lotus feet of tile spiritual master.

He should be fully capable of upholding the vows made to the spiritual master.

He should be engaged day and night in Lords service with body, mind and words. -

He should be desirous of knowing the Absolute truth.

He should be spotless in conduct.

He should be truthful.

He should be gentle and polite,

He should be pleasing to look at.

He should be intelligent.

He should have control of his senses.

He should be show proper respect to elders, to initiated vaisnavas, and to the Lord.

He should observe silence concerning material subjects.

He should have no attraction for committing sinful activities.

The true disciple should not possess the following characteristics:

He should not be lazy, dirty or sickly.

He should not be continually afflicted or lamenting.

He should not be angry, proud or lusty.

He should not be coveting material desires.

He should not show the enjoying mood.

He should not use vulgar or coarse language.

He should not be constantly critical to others.

He should not be miserly, malicious, devious or envious.

He should not give pain to others, or be addicted to cruel activities.

He should not indulge, in sinful activities such as eating meat, gambling or illicit sex.

He should not earn his living by unjust means.

He should not engage in illicit sex.

He should not be ignorant.

He should not be proud of material learning.

He should not indulge in other philosophies.

He should not be addicted to over-eating

This etiquette is that so long as the spiritual master is present. all prospective disciples should be brought to him. Letter to Acyutananda Aug. I 968.

In the last stage of the spiritual masters life, the devotees of the spiritual master should take preaching activities into their own hands. In this way the spiritual master can sit down in a solitary place and render nirjana bhajana When the spiritual master retires for nirjana bhajana , some of his advanced devotees follow him and engage in his personal service.

SB 4.28.34.