Question: Guru Must Have Seen Krishna's Universal Form?I hope that you are in good health, and please receive this message to clarify my ignorance...Is having seen the universal form of Krishna as described in the Bhagavad-gita a necessary qualification for someone to be a bona fide spiritual master? Or is it not necessary?Please enlighten me!Yours faithfully.Hare Krishna .....Answer: Simply He Must Be a First Class DevoteeIt is not necessary for the spiritual master to have seen the universal form of Krishna. His qualifications are described as follows by Srila Prabhupada in the Nectar of Devotion:The devotee in the first or uppermost class is described as follows. He is very expert in the study of relevant scriptures, and he is also expert in putting forward arguments in terms of those scriptures. He can very nicely present conclusions with perfect discretion and can consider the ways of devotional service in a decisive way. He understands perfectly that the ultimate goal of life is to attain to the transcendental loving service of Krishna, and he knows that Krishna is the only object of worship and love. This first-class devotee is one who has strictly followed the rules and regulations under the training of a bona fide spiritual master and has sincerely obeyed him in accord with revealed scriptures. Thus, being fully trained to preach and become a spiritual master himself, he is considered first class. The first-class devotee never deviates from the principles of higher authority, and he attains firm faith in the scriptures by understanding with all reason and arguments. When we speak of arguments and reason, it means arguments and reason on the basis of revealed scriptures. The first-class devotee is not interested in dry speculative methods meant for wasting time. In other words, one who has attained a mature determination in the matter of devotional service can be accepted as the first-class devotee.Hari Bol...http://harekrishnaharekrishna.ning.com/forum/

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