Hare Krishna!
In the modern era, we are constantly striving to be perfect in our knowledge and skills. There are numerous teachers available who can help us master various abilities and enhance our intelligence. Knowledge today is scattered everywhere, but it depends on us whether we wish to take advantage of it or not.
But what about spirituality?
We often take spirituality lightly and think that we can master it on our own, without any teacher or guide. However, that is not the right approach. Let us see what the Bhagavad Gita teaches us about this important subject.
In the Bhagavad Gita (4.34), Lord Krishna says:
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 souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth.”
Lord Krishna is not saying:
“O dear one! You have performed great austerities and now you know Me completely. You are perfect—go to the caves of the Himalayas, practice penance for two years, and whatever you speak will become truth, and people will follow you.”
He never said such a thing to anyone in history. In fact, even He Himself served His spiritual master, Sandipani Muni, with great humility. Similarly, Lord Rama served His teachers, Vasistha Muni and Visvamitra Muni, with deep respect and sincerity. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (Krishna Himself) also served His guru, Ishvara Puri, very seriously and humbly.
If we ever claim, “Oh! I have learned everything on my own, without any teacher or guide,” it is simply our foolishness. Even a small child learns to crawl, walk, and speak from his parents. In the same way, on the spiritual path, a bona fide guru teaches us how to crawl, walk, and talk spiritually. Without such guidance, we cannot move forward. Otherwise, we may easily be misled by those who themselves are misguided.
A true guru is one who has learned sincerely from his own guru in a bona fide disciplic succession (parampara). Only such an authorized and realized teacher can guide us properly and help us progress with discipline and devotion. It is up to us whether we wish to learn sincerely or not.
Sadly, in today’s world, there are many so-called teachers who sell their own cheap philosophies under the name of authentic Vedic wisdom. Therefore, we must be cautious and seek knowledge only from genuine sources.
Let us turn to the most authentic and pure scripture — “Bhagavad Gita As It Is.”
Let us learn, grow, and progress together on this divine journey!
Hare Krishna!
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