Evidence Regarding Devotional Principles 59
To Accept Initiation from the Spiritual Master
and Receive Instructions from Him

Sage Prabuddha continued to speak to the King as follows: “My
dear King, a disciple has to accept the spiritual master not only as
spiritual master, but also as the representative of the Supreme Per-
sonality of Godhead and the supersoul. In other words, the disciple
should accept the spiritual master as God because he is the external
manifestation of Krsna.” This is confirmed in every scripture, and a
disciple should accept the spiritual master as such. One should learn
Srimad-Bhagavatam seriously and with all respect and veneration for
the spiritual master. Hearing and speaking Srimad-Bhagavatam is the
religious process which elevates one to the platform of serving and
loving the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

The attitude of the disciple should always be to satisfy the bona
fide spiritual master. Then it will be very easy for him to understand
spiritual knowledge. This is confirmed in the Vedas, and it will be
further explained by Riipa Gosvami that, for a person who has un-
flinching faith in God and the spiritual master, everything becomes
revealed very easily.

To Serve the Spiritual Master with Faith and Confidence

Regarding accepting initiation from the spiritual master, in the
Eleventh Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, 17th Chapter, 22nd verse, it
is stated by Lord Krsna: “My dear Uddhava, the spiritual master must
be accepted not only as My representative but as My very self. He
must never be considered on the same level with an ordinary human
being. One should never be envious of the spiritual master, as one
may be envious of an ordinary man. The spiritual master should al-
ways be seen as the representative of the Supreme Personality of God-
head, and by serving the spiritual master, one is able to serve all the
demigods.”
