how to know whether they have surrendered unto Guru...

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Camp: Inflight from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to Moscow, Russia via Frankfurt.

 

Here is a question and answer about

> 1.How is one to know whether they have surrendered unto Guru out of blind

> sentiment or real knowledge?

 

One should surrender to a bona fide Spiritual Master who is coming in the

disciplic succession, who is practicing Krishna consciousness and preaching

Krishna consciousness purely. The Spiritual Master should be able to inspire

the disciple to rise higher in devotional service and to reply to the

disciples questions in such a way that the disciple feels the Supersoul in

the heart is confirming the same. If one surrenders under these conditions

then it is considered to be done out of knowledge. At the same time some

sentiment is natural in Bhakti Yoga and the disciple should rightly feel

some enlivenment from the association and instructions of the Spiritual

Master. Without any sentiment Bhakti yoga isn't complete. Without any

knowledge it can be fanaticism or sentamentalism. One uses both the heart

and head in deciding about the Spiritual Master. One may accept siksa

(instructions) from one or more spiritual masters and then eventually

decides to accept formal shelter under one of the Spiritual Masters.

 

An aspiring disciple needs to ask the Spiritual Master for shelter and

express his/her desire to accept the spiritual master as the future diksa

guru. If the Spiritual Master accepts the disciple then there is a testing

period of 6 months to several years during which the disciple tests the

relationship with the Spiritual Master and the consistency of the Spiritual

Master. At the same time the Spiritual Master tests the sincerity of the

disciple. If under the shelter of the Spiritual Master the disciple

continues to make advancement and everything goes well then it is natural to

eventually ask for initiation for the Spiritual Master.

 

This is the normal sequence of events.