execution of the order of the bona fide spiritual master

[Guest guest]

"Controlling the senses means engaging them in the transcendental service of

the Lord. The Lord's order descends in disciplic succession through the bona

fide spiritual master, and thus execution of the order of the bona fide

spiritual master is factual control of the senses."

 

Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.9.8

 

" While the bhakti-lata creeper is growing, the devotee must protect it by

fencing it all around. The neophyte devotee must be protected by being

surrounded by pure devotees. In this way he will not give the maddened

elephant a chance to uproot his bhakti-lata creeper. When one associates

with nondevotees, the maddened elephant is set loose. Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu has said: asat-sanga-tyaga-ei vaisnava-acara [Cc. Madhya 22.87].

A so-called mature devotee, however, commits a great offense by giving up

the company of pure devotees. The living entity is a social animal, and if

one gives up the society of pure devotees, he must associate with

nondevotees (asat-sanga). By contacting nondevotees and engaging in

nondevotional activities, a so-called mature devotee will fall victim to the

mad elephant offense. Whatever growth has taken place is quickly uprooted by

such an offense. One should therefore be very careful to defend the creeper

by fencing it in-that is, by following the regulative principles and

associating with pure devotees.

If one thinks that there are many pseudodevotees or nondevotees in the Krsna

consciousness society, one can keep direct company with the spiritual

master, and if there is any doubt, one should consult with the spiritual

master. However, unless one follows the spiritual master's instructions and

the regulative principles governing chanting and hearing the holy name of

the Lord, one cannot become a pure devotee. By one's mental concoctions, one

falls down. By associating with nondevotees, one breaks the regulative

principles and is thereby lost."

 

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya-lila 19.157