Vaishnava Etiquette
set of rules for proper spiritual behavior when dealing with a divine Spiritual Master, Representative of Sri Krishna:
Aspirations of eternally liberated souls is quite different from ours: they naturally live to serve their spiritual master without any expectations in return. They know that so-called independence and freedom will never give them any happiness. Hence they aspire only for service and nothing else.
- Keep in mind at all times that Sri Guru is our only shelter in this world and our only chance to get Krishna’s mercy.
- Wait for the service to be given to you from Sri Guru and execute exactly as asked to the best of your ability. If you need to suggest something to Sri Guru, humbly ask for his permission first and act accordingly.
- Never ask Guru to do any service for you! On the contrary, offer yourself as a servant at his lotus feet.
- Never argue with Sri Guru (as if you knew better).
- Always remain like a fool before Sri Guru (so that you can humbly accept the transcendental knowledge from him).
- Guru’s chastisement is the ultimate tool for getting us into the right direction. He knows the exact ailments of each one of us.
- Catch hold of lotus feet of Guru and never let them go. Never leave a bona-fide Guru. That is very sinful and great offense. Bona-fide Guru takes responsibility of taking you into spiritual world, he sweats gallons and gallons of blood to get you there. But you should immediately leave the non bona-fide Guru.
- If you want to hear instructions from some other Guru, you should first seek permission from your Guru.
“Because you cannot give up your spiritual master. That is a great sin. Once accepted, the spiritual master takes responsibility for the disciple. And disciple also must be obedient to the spiritual master for life, for good. That is
the relationship. So if one rejects spiritual master, he becomes a great sinner, most sinful.” [Srila Prabhupada in Lecture on SB 1.3.19, Los Angeles, September 24, 1972]
“Disciple has to do everything under the instruction of the spiritual master. That is his duty. Śiṣya. Śiṣya means who voluntarily accepts disciplinary measures from the spiritual master. He’s ruled by the spiritual master.” [Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura’s Appearance Day, Lecture, London, September 3, 1971] “Even if in the performance of one’s devotional activities one has disobeyed the spiritual master, still one should not give him up, but should remain faithfully with him.” [Narahari Sarakara Thakura in Krishna Bhajanamrita, Verse 51]
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