Approaching a Spiritual Master Date: 2005-01-23 Author: Karthik.S Dear Prabhujis and Matajis, Hare Krsna! All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev. Please accept my humble obeisances. In the Bhagavad Gita 4.34, Lord Sri Kṛṣṇa instructs us about approaching a Spiritual Master. 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. The following story from the Chandogya Upanishad brings out the above message as to how one should approach a spiritual master. There was once a king named Janashruthi, who ruled over the kingdom known as Mahavrasha. He took nice care of his subjects by building rest houses along the roads of his kingdom, building hospitals and homes to care for the sick and needy. Quite naturally, Janashruthi was pleased with himself, for having done so much for his kingdom. His fame spread far beyond the borders of Mahavrasha. Unfortunately, it did not take long to turn him into a very proud man. One evening, while he was relaxing on the terrace of his palace, he saw two lovely swans flying in the air. One of the swans told the other swan not to fly over king Janashruthi, since the bright light emanating from the king could burn the other swan to ashes. The other swan replied, "Don't mock me like that. How could you speak of Janashruthi as if he were greater than Raikva of the cart?" As the king watched the conversation , he was surprised to hear about Raikva, who had earned more merit than him. The next day, Janashruthi ordered his ministers to go forth in all directions and seek out Raikva. When his ministers found him, and informed the king that Raikva had the knowledge of Supreme Brahman, he immediately went with his parade of men to Raikva's village and proudly demanded him to give him the knowledge of Brahman. He also added that he would gift him precious jewels, golden carriage, 600 cows, gold coins, a comfortable place to stay, half of his kingdom or whatever he wanted. Raikva replied, "Knowledge is not a commodity. It cannot be purchased . You are not yet fit to receive the knowledge of Brahman." On hearing this, Janashruthi was at once sad and humbled and he made his way back to the kingdom. After a few weeks, when he had deeply pondered over his meeting with Raikva, he decided to meet Raikva again. This time he went alone wearing simple clothes. On reaching the village, he prostrated before Raikva. He humbly said, "Now I have shed my royal ego and am fully surrendered to you." This time, Raikva saw that the king had lost all his vanity and has become very humble and so accepted Janashruthi as his disciple. We learn from the story that we should approach the Spiritual Master in a humble mood and submissively inquire from Him. This is also nicely explained by Srila Prabhupada in His purport to Sri Caitanya Caritamrta, 8.127(Madhya): "A materialistic person with material opulences should not be very proud or puffed up before a transcendental devotee. If one approaches a transcendental devotee on the strength of one's material heritage, opulence, education and beauty and does not offer respect to the advanced devotee of the Lord, the Vaishnava devotee may offer formal respects to such a materially puffed-up person, but he may not deliver transcendental knowledge to him. Indeed, the devotee sees him as a non-brahmana or shudra. Such a puffed-up person cannot understand the science of Krsna. A proud person is deceived in transcendental life and, despite having attained a human form, will again glide into hellish conditions. By His personal example, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu explains how one should be submissive and humble before Vaishnava even though one may be situated on a high platform. Such is the teaching of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as the Acharya of the world, the supreme spiritual master and teacher." When we go to the Spiritual Master, we should have the following qualities: 1. Paripraśnena (We must submissively inquire from the Spiritual Master) 2. Sevayā (We must not only enquire from the Spiritual Master, but also serve the Spiritual Master) We see from the story that when Janashruthi, came the first time to Raikava, he was filled with royal ego and was not humble. So he was not fit enough to receive spiritual knowledge. But when Janashruthi came the second time, he was humble and he surrendered to Raikva. So, submission and service are the qualifications to receive Spiritual Knowledge. Your humble servant, Karthik.S Abu Dhabi..