Is it okay to practice bhakti even without a spiritual teacher and learn through reading Srila Prabhupada's books ..
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Is it okay to practice bhakti even without a spiritual teacher and learn through reading Srila Prabhupada's books ..
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Maybe, without a spiritual master is harder, but still possible !
the scriptures proclaim having a spiritual master is mandatory, (of course, not necessarily in person as explained in other replies). sincerity is crucial. having a spiritual master makes us humble. a master is not someone with a stick who will beat you if you falter. rather, he is your best friend who helps overcome difficulties & gives more pleasure & benefits than any other friend. having such a friend is what you really want :)
SB 11.3.21 — Therefore any person who seriously desires real happiness must seek a bona fide spiritual master and take shelter of him by initiation. The qualification of the bona fide guru is that he has realized the conclusions of the scriptures by deliberation and is able to convince others of these conclusions. Such great personalities, who have taken shelter of the Supreme Godhead, leaving aside all material considerations, should be understood to be bona fide spiritual masters.
hare krishna
pamho
AGTSP
when you are reading srila prabhupad's books, it means he is your spiritual teacher. Prabhupad himself said those who read his books regularly are to be considered initiated (ref. here). Guru comes in many ways - books, videos, audios, multiple persons (shiksha gurus) - if you are sincere ... please pray to Lord Sri Krishna to give guidance, if you're sincere you'll experience miracles, eagerness is required , also it's good to have personal contact with a senior devotee but you will have to pray for it
Hare Krsna
Is it okay to practice bhakti even without a spiritual teacher and learn through reading Srila Prabhupada's books ?
Yes, it is okay.
When we read Srila prabhupada books, accepting the knowledge and practicing the instructions then depending on the sincerity the practitioner is accepting Srila Prabhupada as spiritual master.
So it is not actually without spiritual master. The connection to spiritual master is through the instructions and service. Instructions are accepted and service is rendered.
Hare Krsna
Good Reply Prabhuji
Hare Krishna _/\_
We must clean the house before the arrival of the guest. Similarly we need to clean our heart for inviting Lord to come and sit in our heart. The cleaning process is already given by Prabhupada.
Prabhupada said through that process we will get 2 installments -
1) ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam: first instalment will be => I become liberated from the material conception of life at once. Therefore the misunderstanding of this body identification is at once removed by chanting mahamantra offencelessly.
2) bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇam: In the forest nobody goes to set fire---it automatically takes place---similarly, in spite of our good wish that we want to live peacefully in this world, there cannot be any peace. There will be fire, fire sets off. So as soon as one be confidently convinced that "I am not this body," then he is protected from this fire of this material world, fire, material world.
So when one who is fully convinced that there is no happiness in this material world - either through one's body (SB 11.3.18) or through wealth (SB 11.3.19) or even by getting heaven(SB 11.3.20) one cannot get happiness. Such a person who seriously desires real happiness must seek a bona fide spiritual master and take shelter of him by initiation (SB 11.3.21).
Have faith - If we are serious, Krishna Himself will guide us on this path !! Remember the powerful son of Vyāsadeva, Srila Sukadeva, appeared to deliver king Parīkṣit. King Parīkṣit himself said -
SB 1.19.36 — Otherwise [without being inspired by Lord Kṛṣṇa] how is it that you have voluntarily appeared here, though you are moving incognito to the common man and are not visible to us who are on the verge of death?
- Jai Shri Krishna !! Jai Bhakt Prahlad ki Jai !!
Hare bol
Maybe, without spiritual master is harder, but still possible ?!
Hare Krsna
Krsna consciousness is a descending process. It is a process which has been given by the supreme personality of godhead Himself. Spiritual master is the agent who provides us the process of practicing Krsna consciousness. There is no scope for "may be this or may be that" in Krsna consciousness.
Spiritual master is the one who puts an end to all the maybe
Hare Krsna
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