yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado
yasyaprasadan na gatih kuto 'pi
dhyayan stuvams tasya yacas tri-sandhyam
vande guroh Sri-caranaravindam
"By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Krsna. Without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement. Therefore, I should always remember and praise my spiritual master. At least three times a day I should offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master."- Sri Sri Gurvashtaka (8)
I think there is absolutely no doubt that one should get initiated in the disciplic line and serve one’s own spiritual master as heart and soul. Without the mercy of one’s own spiritual master it is not possible to advance in Krishna Consciousness. Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah, we should follow in the footsteps of Mahajans which means we should get initiated in a bonafide line of guru and disciples. Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Himself set this example and we should only follow in his footsteps. So to think or advice otherwise simply is deviation from the previous acharyas.
Below is a brief transcription of Srila Prabhupada’s answer to a question at the end of a lecture indicating the importance of fulfilling the order of Guru thus implying importance of guru in the life of a spiritual aspirant.
Q. You said that if you are performing some activity, you must…the activity must be tested to see if Krishna is pleased, what is the test?
A. If the spiritual master is pleased then Krishna is pleased…that you are singing daily yasya prasadad bhagavat prasado yasya prasadan na gatih kuto api, if the spiritual master is pleased then Krishna is pleased that is the test. If he is not pleased, then he has no other way. That is very simple to understand suppose when one is working in the office immediate boss head clerk or superintendent of the department so everyone is working if he satisfies the superintendent or the head clerk then it is understood that he has satisfied the management directly…..therefore guidance of spiritual master is required. Krishna comes in the form of the spiritual master to guide that is stated in the Chaitanya Chariamrta- guru Krishna krpa, guru krpa - mercy of guru is mercy of Krishna, so when both of them are satisfied then our path is clear guru Krishna krpai pay bhakti latha bhij then our devotional service is perfect….just like this movement, this movement was started only for the satisfaction of my spiritual master. He wanted, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu wanted that this movement should be spread all over the world so he ordered many of my God brothers…he sent some of my god brothers to foreign countries to spread that somehow or other was not very successful he was called back so I thought let me try in this old age so the only desire was to satisfy the desire of the spiritual master so he has helped now it is coming to successful this is yasya prasadad bhagavat prasado…if we actually sincerely work under the direction of the spiritual master that is satisfaction of Krishna and Krishna will help adequately.
SP Lecture in Delhi (BG 4.18) - 3rd Nov 1973
Q. You said that if you are performing some activity, you must…the activity must be tested to see if Krishna is pleased, what is the test?
A. If the spiritual master is pleased then Krishna is pleased…that you are singing daily yasya prasadad bhagavat prasado yasya prasadan na gatih kuto api, if the spiritual master is pleased then Krishna is pleased that is the test. If he is not pleased, then he has no other way. That is very simple to understand suppose when one is working in the office immediate boss head clerk or superintendent of the department so everyone is working if he satisfies the superintendent or the head clerk then it is understood that he has satisfied the management directly…..therefore guidance of spiritual master is required. Krishna comes in the form of the spiritual master to guide that is stated in the Chaitanya Chariamrta- guru Krishna krpa, guru krpa - mercy of guru is mercy of Krishna, so when both of them are satisfied then our path is clear guru Krishna krpai pay bhakti latha bhij then our devotional service is perfect….just like this movement, this movement was started only for the satisfaction of my spiritual master. He wanted, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu wanted that this movement should be spread all over the world so he ordered many of my God brothers…he sent some of my god brothers to foreign countries to spread that somehow or other was not very successful he was called back so I thought let me try in this old age so the only desire was to satisfy the desire of the spiritual master so he has helped now it is coming to successful this is yasya prasadad bhagavat prasado…if we actually sincerely work under the direction of the spiritual master that is satisfaction of Krishna and Krishna will help adequately.
SP Lecture in Delhi (BG 4.18) - 3rd Nov 1973
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