Finding a Genuine Guru

In talking about spiritual life with college students, BACK TO GODHEAD contributor Jayadvaita dasa often explains why a person who wants genuine spiritual life needs a genuine spiritual master.

I remember that, before I met my spiritual master eight years ago, I had always hoped I would meet someone who could guide me to a higher truth. It wasn't a clearly formulated idea-more like a secret wish. I would read books by people I thought had some higher understanding, and I would take some ideas from this author, some from that. But there wasn't anyone I could respect as really knowing. No doubt, they had their insights, ideas that seemed fresh and brilliant. But there wasn't anyone about whom I could say, "This man truly has knowledge. Let me approach him and ask him to be my teacher."

Then, in 1968, I met my spiritual master-His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. And after I had studied and tested his teachings, and after my doubts (my protectors!) were satisfied, I decided to become his disciple. Now, as a student of Srila Prabhupada, I travel to colleges throughout the central United States, speaking with people about Krsna consciousness and trying to answer their questions according to what my spiritual master has taught me. Many of the students I talk to want answers to the same questions I once struggled with-questions like, "To live a spiritual life, is it necessary to accept a spiritual master?" "Is there only one spiritual master, or can there be more than one?" "Where does the spiritual master get his knowledge?" and "How can I find my spiritual master?"

A student at a university in Michigan recently asked me, "If I'm a spiritual person, why can't I find spiritual truth on my own? Why go to someone else? Why can't I just reach the truth by my own experience?" The image is familiar: a sincere seeker, gleaning clues to the truth wherever he can find them, putting the pieces together by his own intuition and sensitivity until finally he solves the puzzle of life. Noble, is it not?

Yes, but how naive! When I want knowledge about any material subject (be it chemistry, physics, mathematics, geography, grammar, or even how to make a wristwatch), the quickest, surest, easiest way is simply to find someone who knows and ask him. Imagine yourself in a big city you've never been in before. Suppose you want to find the post office. How would you do it? Would you start walking around and try to guess which way to go? You might. But if you were really serious about mailing your package, you'd approach a policeman or postman, get yourself a clear set of directions, and then go straight to your destination.

Spiritual life is like trying to find a post office in a strange city. We can waste our time speculating, trying to follow our hearts, or we can get serious and admit that we don't know where we're going, and that we need to follow someone who knows what's what. This is the first step in factual spiritual life.

Question: "But if I'm sincere, why can't I become self-realized just on the strength of my sincerity?" You can, but only by sincerely following the right process. Suppose you sincerely want to become a doctor. That sincerity is the first thing you need. But if you're genuinely sincere, you won't try to become a doctor by buying some medical textbooks in the college bookstore and studying at home. No. You'll go to medical school, study under qualified experts, and in this way gradually become a qualified doctor yourself. In the same way, if you're sincere about becoming self-realized, you should sincerely try to find a bona fide spiritual master and study under him.

Question: "But isn't it higher to find the truth on your own, to struggle for it and finally achieve realization?" You have to decide which you'd rather be-noble or self-realized. If you're serious about self-realization, you should welcome all the help you can get. To put off finding the truth just to enjoy the romance of being a "perpetual seeker" would be ludicrous.

Question: "But I've read the Bhagavad-gita, among other spiritual books, and it seems to me that I can understand them and practice spiritual life on my own." Then you haven't understood the Bhagavad-gita, because near the end of the Fourth Chapter Lord Krsna clearly says, "Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth" (Bg. 4.34).