7 / Evidence
Regarding Devotional Principles

In the Eleventh Canto of Srimad-Bhdgavatam, Prabuddha tells
Maharaj Nimi: “My dear King, please know for certain that in the
material world there is no happiness. It is simply a mistake to think
that there is happiness here, because this place is full of nothing but
miserable conditions. Any person who is seriously desirous of achiev-
ing real happiness must seek out a bona fide spiritual master and take
shelter of him by initiation. The qualification of a spiritual master is
that he must have realized the conclusion of the scriptures by delib-
eration and arguments and thus be able to convince others of these
conclusions. Such great personalities who have taken shelter of the
Supreme Godhead, leaving aside all material considerations, are to be
understood as bona fide spiritual masters. Everyone should try to
find such a bona fide spiritual master in order to fulfill his mission
of life, which is to transfer himself to the plane of spiritual bliss.”

The purport is that one should not accept as a spiritual master
someone who is Fool Number One, who has no direction according
to the scriptural injunctions, whose character is doubtful, who does
not follow the principles of devotional service, or who has not con-
quered the influence of the six sense gratifying agents. The six agents
of sense gratification are the tongue, the genitals, the belly, anger,
the mind and words. Anyone who has practiced controlling these six
is permitted to make disciples all over the world. To accept such a
spiritual master is the crucial point for advancement in spiritual life.
One who is fortunate enough to come under the shelter of a bona
fide spiritual master is sure to traverse the path of spiritual salvation
without any doubt.

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