Who Is A Bonafide Guru ?

A Ready Reckoner from

Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura

präkåta-rasera çikñä-bhikñä çiñye cäya nä
rati binä jei rasa tähä guru deya nä

The true disciples never desire to ask their spiritual master for instructions regarding material mellows. The genuine spiritual master never gives his disciples any such material mellows, which are devoid of rati, transcendental loving attachment to the Lord. (2)

nija-bhogya käme bhakta ‘prema’ kabhu bole nä
‘rase òagamaga acho’ çiñye guru bole nä

Selfish enjoyment of one’s own senses in mundane lust is never called prema (love of Godhead) by the genuine devotee. A bonafide spiritual master never tells his disciple, “You are absorbed in the mellows of divine rasa.” (8)

‘rase òagamaga ämi’ kabhu guru bole nä
jaòéya rasera kathä çiñye guru bole nä

The genuine spiritual master never claims, “I am absorbed in the mellows of divine rasa.” The guru never talks idly with his disciples on subjects of gross worldly mellows. (9)

näme-rase bheda äche, guru çikñä deya nä
rasa läbha kori’ çeñe sädhana to’ haya nä

The bonafide spiritual master never teaches that there is a difference between the Holy Name of Kåñëa and rasa. Even after attaining actual rasa, the regulative principles of devotional service are never concluded. (12)

rati yukta rasa chäòä çuddha-bhakta bole nä
sädhanete rati rasa guru kabhu bole nä

The pure devotee of Kåñëa never speaks of anything other than rasa, transcendental mellow, that is endowed with rati, loving attachment. The guru never claims that rati and rasa are present within the practice of preliminary devotion (sädhana bhakti). (15)

rüpa hoite näma-sphürti, guru kabhu bole nä
guëa hoite näma-sphürti, guru kabhu bole nä

The genuine spiritual master never asserts that the revelation of the Lord’s Holy Name is separate from His form. The genuine spiritual master never claims that the revelation of the Lord’s Holy Name is separate from His qualities. (32)

rasa äge, rati päche, rüpänugä bole nä
rasa äge, çraddhä päche, guru kabhu bole nä

The true followers of Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé never say that the stage of realizing transcendental mellows (rasa) precedes the development of loving devotional attachment (rati). The bonafide spiritual master will never profess that the realization of such mellows precedes the development of pure faith (çraddhä).  (34)

guru-mahäjana-väkye bheda kabhu haya nä
sädhanera pathe käìöä sad-guru deya nä

There can never be any difference between the explanations of the bonafide spiritual master and the teachings of the great devotees (mahäjanas). The pure spiritual master never puts thorn-like deterrents on the path of one’s execution of practical devotional service (sädhana). (54)

(selected verses from Präkåta Rasa Çata Düñiëé)

All glories to Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté

All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

your servant,

Giriraj dasa