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The Scientific Theory of the Soul

• Subject: The Scientific Theory of the Soul
• From: card.purchasing
• Date: Wed Jul 19 01:14:17 1995
• Message-Id: id607

Hello. Hare Krishna.

It seems rather strange to accept someone as a perfect authority. Our training in
the west is completely different. But it is the system. It is the only way. But it
is not blind faith. The spiritual master will answer all your questions to your
full satisfaction. While you still have questions there is no question of
surrender. But there are so many cheating gurus now it has become a very difficult
thing. So many people have been cheated. "Once bitten twice shy."

So on one hand the people are not ready to surrender to an authority and even if
some decide to do it they generally surrender to a rascal and get cheated and
exploited...

But still, if you want spiritual knowledge you have to find a real guru...


                             Bhagavad-gita 4.34

                          tad viddhi pranipatena
                            pariprasnena sevaya
                          upadeksyanti te jnanam
                         jnaninas tatt va-darsinah


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.

                                 PURPORT

The path of spiritual realization is undoubtedly difficult. The Lord therefore
advises us to approach a bona fide spiritual master in the line of disciplic
succession from the Lord Himself. No one can be a bona fide spiritual master
without following this principle of disciplic succession.

The Lord is the original spiritual master, and a person in the disciplic
succession can convey the message of the Lord as it is to his disciple. No one can
be spiritually realized by manufacturing his own process, as is the fashion of the
foolish pretenders. The Bhagavatam (6.3.19) says, dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-
pranitam: the path of religion is directly enunciated by the Lord. Therefore,
mental speculation or dry arguments cannot help lead one to the right path. Nor by
independent study of books of knowledge can one progress in spiritual life. One
has to approach a bona fide spiritual master to receive the knowledge. Such a
spiritual master should be accepted in full surrender, and one should serve the
spiritual master like a menial servant, without false prestige. Satisfaction of
the self-realized spiritual master is the secret of advancement in spiritual life.
Inquiries and submission constitute the proper combination for spiritual
understanding. Unless there is submission and service, inquiries from the learned
spiritual master will not be effective. One must be able to pass the test of the

spiritual master, and when he sees the genuine desire of the disciple, he
automatically blesses the disciple with genuine spiritual understanding. In this
verse, both blind following and absurd inquiries are condemned. Not only should
one hear submissively from the spiritual master, but one must also get a clear
understanding from him, in submission and service and inquiries. A bona fide
spiritual master is by nature very kind toward the disciple. Therefore when the
student is submissive and is always ready to render service, the reciprocation of
knowledge and inquiries becomes perfect.




Chant Hare Krishna and be Happy!

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