How Bhakti-yoga Works
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as stated in the Fourth Chapter. That is, that the  Gītā  is coming down in discipline succession: “I first of all instructed this  yoga  system to the sun-god Vivasvān, who taught it to Manu, who taught it to Ikṣvāku.” From Kṛṣṇa the discipline succession is coming down, but “in course of time the discipline succession was broken.” Arjuna is therefore made the new disciple. In the Second Chapter, Arjuna surrenders: “So far we have been talking as friends, but now I accept You as my spiritual master.” Anyone following the principle in this line accepts the  guru  as Kṛṣṇa, and the student must represent Arjuna. Kṛṣṇa is speaking as the spiritual master of Arjuna, and Arjuna says, “Whatever You are saying I accept.” Read it like that—not: “I like this, so I accept it; this I don’t like, and so I reject it.” Such reading is useless nonsense.
The teacher must be a representative of Kṛṣṇa, a devotee, and the student must be like Arjuna. Then this Kṛṣṇa consciousness study is perfect. Otherwise it is a waste of time. In the  Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam  it is stated: “If anyone wants to understand the science of Kṛṣṇa, he should associate with pure devotees. When discussions take place among pure devotees, the potency of spiritual language is revealed.” Scholarly discussion of the  Gītā  is futile. In the  Upaniṣads  it is stated: “To one who has firm faith in God, and similar faith in God’s representative, all the import of Vedic language will be revealed.” We must have the qualification of being a devotee. Become dear to God. My spiritual master used to say, “Don’t try to see God. Act in such a way that God will see you.” We have to qualify ourselves. By your qualification God Himself will come and see you.
If one can perceive God, he is transcendental to all material demands. We are always dissatisfied in the material world in circumstances that won’t continue; happiness is temporary, and temporary plight also will not exist for much time. Cold, heat, duality—it is all coming and going. To get to the absolute