1) Who is a bonafide Spiritual Master & what are his qualifications?

A bonafide Spiritual Master is one who comes in the unbroken chain of disciplic succession or Guru
parampara. There are 4 disciplic successions:
a) Brahma Sampradaya
b) Sri Sampradaya
c) Rudra Sampradaya
d) Kumara Sampradaya

Qualifications of a bonafide Spiritual Master :

The two important qualifications of a Spiritual Master are :- Strotriyam Brahma & Nistham. He must have
heard the Vedic knowledge through the disciplic succession & He must be established in devotional
service to the Supreme Lord. He doesn’t have to be a very learned Scholar, but he must have heard from
proper authority.
Other qualifications are :-
a) A bonafide Spiritual Master is one who acts according to Scriptures & at the same time Preaching.
b) He speaks only about God and gets others to become devotees of God.
c) He must have realized the conclusion of the Scriptures & be able to convince others of those
conclusions.
d) He doesn’t concoct or manufacture & put jolt his own opinions. He speaks what his Guru & the
previous Acharyas have said.

2) It is said that once one accepts Harinam initiation from a bonafide Guru, one must accept further mantras
from him & to accept other initiations from some one else is a great offense. Do you believe this? If so,
why?

Yes, I believe that once one accepts Harinam initiation from a bonafide Guru, one must accept further
mantras from him & to accept other initiations from some one else is a great offense, because that means
I no longer have faith in the Guru who is representative of the previous Acharyas & Lord Krishna. Also I
am overlooking my Guru from whom I have taken Harinam initiation who has promised to take me back
home, back to Godhead. If I ignore such a Spiritual master who is a pure devotee of Lord Krishna, then it
becomes a great offense which will surely lead to my fall down because Krishna stops bestowing His
mercy on me as He doesn’t tolerate anyone offending His pure devotees.

3) Why does one worship a Spiritual Master like God? Is the Spiritual Master Bhagavan? The Spiritual
Master is worshipped like God because he is a manifestation of Krishna and should not, therefore, be
regarded as an ordinary man. The Guru is Krishna’s representative, the former Acharyas representative.
Being the representative of the Lord, the Guru, is non-different from the Lord. As Visvanatha
Chakravarthi Thakura says in his prayers to the Spiritual Master “Yasya prasadad Bhagavat Prasadah”
by the mercy of the Spiritual Master, one receives the benediction of Krishna. Krishna has instructed that
the Spiritual Master must be accepted as His very self & therefore must not be envied.
 No, the Spiritual Master is not Bhagavan. But he is as good as God. “Saksad-dharitvena samasta-
sastrair”. The Spiritual Master is called sevaka-Bhagavan – worshiper God & Krishna is called sevya –
Bhagavan – worshipable God.

4) How does the bonafide Guru see himself in relation to Lord Krishna? What is his actual position in
relation to Lord Krishna and the disciple?

The spiritual master considers himself to be the servant of the servant of the servant a hundred times of
the Lord – dasa dasanudasa.

The bonafide Spiritual Master is a transparent via medium between Lord Krishna & the disciple . One
cannot approach Krishna directly, but only through His pure devotee by accepting such a pure devotee as
spiritual master & rendering service unto him.

5) Do you believe the spiritual master speaks the Absolute Truth?

How is it possible that the same message spoken by Lord Krishna 5000 years ago is represented by the
Spiritual Master today? Having accepted shelter of the Guru are you committed to reading & respecting
the books authorized by him for study?

Yes, I believe the Spiritual master speaks the Absolute Truth because he is the representative of Krishna,
The original Spiritual master .

The same message spoken by Lord Krishna 5000 years ago is represented by the Spiritual Master today
because the transcendental knowledge is received through the unbroken chain of disciplic succession. A
bonafide spiritual master does not attempt to create or manufacture answers. He speaks only with
reference to the Sastras & gives answers according to Vedic understanding & as given by the previous
Acharyas.

Yes I am committed to reading & respecting the books authorized by him for study.

6) Under what circumstances should the Spiritual Master be rejected?

According to Sastra, the duty of the Guru is to take the disciple back home back to Godhead. If he is
unable to do so & instead hinders the disciple in going back to Godhead, he should not be a Guru. Any
one who is the Guru should enable his disciple to advance in Krishna Consciousness. Any one who is
suppose to be Guru but goes against the principle of Vishnu-Bhakthi can’t be accepted as a Guru. The
example of Bali Maharaja is very significant here. Bali Maharaja’s Guru, Sukracharya advised him not to
 fulfill his promise to Sri Vamanadeva. But Bali Maharaja considered that Sukracharya was no longer to be
accepted as a Spiritual Master, for he has deviated from the duty of a Spiritual Master.

Spiritual Master who is interested only in a material world is bogus and they mislead many blind followers.

A Spiritual Master can be rejected when he claims to be God and also if he tries lessen the position of the
previous Acharyas, breaks the regulative principles, engages in an abominable action and has lost his
sense of discrimination or goes against the instructions of the Guru parampara.

7) What are the qualifications and responsibilities of a disciple?

The qualifications and responsibilities of a disciple are :

a) The disciple should have implicit faith in his Guru.
b) He should inquire intelligently from the Spiritual Master to make Spiritual progress. He must inquire all
about the progress of devotional service and about the way of perfection. Maharaja Parikshit is a typical
disciple because he is perfectly inquisitive and also anxious to know about what he has not been able to
inquire.
c) He should inquire in a submissive attitude and surrender unto the Spiritual Master fully.
d) He should render loving service to the Spiritual Master so that the Spiritual Master will be pleased with
him and explain the transcendental subject matter more clearly.
e) A disciple should inquire from the Spiritual Master about extrication from the entanglement of fruitive
activities & their reactions.
f) He must be seriously inclined to inquire from the Spiritual Master about the Absolute Truth and know
about the ultimate of goal of life.
g) The seed of devotional service implanted in the disciple by the Spiritual Master must be watered by
hearing and chanting.
h) He should understand that the most important process in devotional service is hearing from the Guru,
Sadhu & Shastra. Hearing is more important than directly studying or perceiving. If one is expert in
hearing & hears from the right source, his knowledge is immediately perfect.
i) The result of serving the servants of the Lord is that one can glorify the Lord by having heard
submissively from his Spiritual Master.
j) The disciple should be prepared to lay down his life to execute the will of the Spiritual Master.
k) He should hear from the bonafide Guru & act on his instructions.

8) What is the unique position of Srila Prabhupada in ISKCON? It is said that by accepting initiation one is
connected with the Guru-Parampara & Srila Prabhupada. Are you committed to serving according to Srila
Prabhupada’s instructions? If so, why?

Unique position of Srila Prabhupada as defined by the GBC :

 a) Srila Prabhupada is the primary instructing Spiritual Master and shelter for all ISKCON members being
the founder Acharya of ISKCON.
b) Srila Prabhupada has realized the teachings of the previous Acharayas and has presented them
appropriately for the modern age.
c) Srila Prabhupada’s teachings in the form of his books should be accepted as standard by all future
generations of ISKCON.
d) Srila Prabhupada should be worshiped everyday by every ISKCON member.
e) Srila Prabhupada’s instructions are the essential teaching for every ISKCON member.
f) Srila Prabhupada established the GBC to execute his will, following the order of the previous Acharayas.
Also he gave the directions for management, principle of co-operation and other practical guidelines.

Yes, I am committed to serve according to Srila Prabhupada’s instructions because it is only through him I
can know Krishna as he comes in the unbroken chain of disciplic succession known as Brahma-Madhava-
Gaudiya Sampradaya.

9) Do you accept Bhagavan Sri Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead? Why? What are devas like
Lord Shiva, Lord Brahma and Goddess Durga & Kali in relation to Lord Krishna?

Yes, I accept Bhavagan Sri Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, because the conclusion of the
Vedas and the Shastras is that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Parasara Muni, a great Sage and father of Srila Vyasadeva, has defined God as one who is full in six
opulence’s – Strength, Fame, Wealth, Knowledge, Beauty & Renunciation.

Lord Brahma in Brahma-Samhita said : “Isvarah paramah Krishna sac-cid ananda vigrah anadir adir govindah
sarva karana karanam”

In Bhagavad-Gita 10.12.13 Arjuna tells to Krishna that He is he Supreme Personality of Godhead who is the
ultimate abode, the purest, the Absolute Truth. That He is transcendental, Original Person, the Unborn, the
Greatest. All the great Sages such as Narada, Asita, Devala & Vyasa confirm this Truth about Krishna and
that Krishna Himself is declaring it to Arjuna.

The Devas like Lord Shiva, Lord Brahma and Goddess Durga & Kali are the parts and parcels of Supreme
Lord who have been assigned specific duties by the Supreme Lord. They are called as the controlling deities,
in the Vedas, for various departments like destruction, creation etc., they are the servants of the Supreme
Lord. With in the material world the Demigods are powerful but Krishna is above all of them. In Bhagavad-Gita
7.23, Krishna has explained men of small intelligence worship Devas and that their fruits are limited &
temporary. The rewards given by the Devas are temporary because any material facility must act in
connection with the temporary body. Whatever material facilities one gets by deriving benedictions from the
demi-gods will be finished with the body.
10 Explain some of the glories of Holy name of Lord Krishna?

Some of the glories of Holy name of Lord Krishna :

a) Holy name of Lord Krishna is transcendentally blissful.
b) It bestows all spiritual benedictions, for it is Krishna Himself, the reservoir of all pleasure.
c) Krishna’s name is complete and it is the form of all-transcendental mellows.
d) Krishna self-manifests with in His “Sound incarnation”, His Holy name.
e) Holy name of Krishna is not a material name under any condition and it is as powerful as Krishna Himself.
f) Holy name of Krishna is more merciful than Krishna Himself, if someone is engaged in worshiping
Krishna’s deity form and commit offenses, if that person takes shelter of the Holy name chanting Krishna,
Govinda etc., the person purified of all kinds of offences and he is able to relish the nectar of unlimited
ocean of transcendental bliss.
g) The devotees who take shelter of the Lotus Feet of the Holy name through constantly chanting the Holy
name, are saves from destruction due to offenses against the Holy name (Nama aparadha).
h) If someone chants the Holy name accidentally are neglectfully even ones then inconceivable quantities of
their accumulated sinful reactions for many births are destroyed.
i) The transcendental sound of the Holy name of the Lord has its origin in the Spiritual World (Goloka
Vrindavana).
j) The transcendental sound of the Holy name delivers the conditioned souls from the bondage of birth and
death.

9) Why do we follow 4 regulative principles?

The 4 pillars of the sinful life are illicit sex, meat eating, intoxication and gambling. These 4 activities are
stumbling blocks in the path of Spiritual Life. Unless one regulates ones life and gives up these 4 sinful
activities it is impossible to transcend on the path of devotional service.

Krishna is supreme pure. As long as we are sinful we can’t approach Krishna. Therefore we follow 4
regulative principles.

12a) Why do we chant Hare Krishna maha-mantra? What is the difference between chanting Hare Krishna and
punya karmas & pious activities?

We chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra for reviving our transcendental consciousness. As living
spiritual souls we are all originally Krishna Consciousness entities, but due to our association with matter
from time immemorial our consciousness is now adulterated by the material atmosphere. By chanting the
transcendental vibration of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra we can cleanse away all misgivings within our
hearts. Hare Krishna maha-mantra is food for the soul.
 The Hare Krishna mantra is a prayer for protection and deliverance, a prayer to the Lord for His divine
presence and for the opportunity to serve Him. Chanting is compared to the helpless cry of the child for
its mother. It is a prayer from the core of the repentant heart. It is chanted, therefore, in humility.

Persons who executive religious rituals for the satisfaction of Krishna are steady in devotional service and
are called devotees, where as persons who execute religious rituals without intending to please Krishna
are called only pious. Pious activities promote one to heavenly planets or give liberation from material
miseries. Chanting Hare Krishna maha-mantra will bless one with transcendental existence, minimizing
the value of the liberation. In Bhagavad-Gita Krishna assures that a little advancement in devotional
activities can save person from the greatest danger-that of missing the opportunity for human life.
Whereas pious activities do not guarantee that ones next life will be human being. Devotional activities do
not finish with the end of life. It exists eternally. If a person performs pious activities then he can enjoy
until pious credits are there in his account. It does not help him to get out of the cycle birth and death.

b) If one makes a plan to commit sinful acts and counteract them by chanting the Holy names of Lord Krishna
will this free him from the sinful reactions? If not, why?

If one plans to commit sinful acts and counter-act them by chanting the Holy names of Lord Krishna, then
he will not be freed from sinful reactions because it is very offensive. His intension is not to become
purified in order to serve the Lord but to go on enjoying & lording it over the material natural without
surrendering to Krishna.

13) What is the position and responsibility of the GBC body?

GBC refers to Governing Body Commission, which was established by Srila Prabhupada in order to
execute his will, following the order of previous Acharyas. The GBC functions as per the directions for
management, principles of co-operation and other practical guide lines given by Srila Prabhupada. It is
the ultimate governing and spiritual authority of ISKCON as it represents Srila Prabhupada.

14) Explain the difference between the body and soul?

Body is matter which changes in six phases : Birth, growth, maintenance, production of by-products,
dwindling and death. But spirit soul is eternal, it doesn’t go through these changes. It simply enters
another body at death. Material body is subject to destruction. But spiritual soul is in destructible.
According to the Vedas, the measurement of the soul within the body is one-ten-thousandth part of the tip
of a hair. The soul is never born, neither dies. The soul is not slain when the body is slain. It spreads
consciousness through-out the body. The nature of material body is asat, acit and niranda, where as spirit
soul is sat-cit-ananda.

15) What is ISKCON & why should one remain under ISKCON’s shelter?
 ISKCON is a society of devotees founded for the purpose of pursuing spiritual life. It is not only for
achieving the perfection of human life for oneself but also preaching to others & making them
understanding the purpose of human life & the way of achieving it. Srila Prabhupada’s books contain the
guidelines for achieving perfection in this human life & ISKCON as a society teaches people & practically
engages them in serving the Supreme Lord & His pure devotees.

Srila Prabhupada founded ISKCON so that people could associate with the devotees as association of
devotees is a very vital requirement for one who is engaged in Krishna Consciousness. Outside the
association of ISKCON there is practically no chance for anyone to remain in Krishna Consciousness.
Therefore, if one is serious about becoming Krishna Consciousness, then one should remain in ISKCON.

16) It is said that at the time of accepting Harinam diksha the disciple is to follow the orders of the Spiritual
Master in this life & even life after life? Do you believe this? Does one need to accept a Spiritual Master?
If so, why are you convinced?

I am convinced to follow the orders of the Spiritual Master in this life & even life after life because the
orders of the Spiritual Master are the orders of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The relationship
between the Guru and disciple doesn’t end with the present birth. Such a relationship is spiritual & hence
eternal.

Lord Krishna can be approached only thro’ His pure devotee who should be accepted as the Spiritual
Master. The purpose of human life being God-realization can be achieved only by following a bonafide
Guru. Bringing the mercy from The Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Spiritual Master existinguishes
the blazing fire of material existence by injecting transcendental knowledge.

17) Can you explain the ten offenses against the Holy name?

The offenses against the chanting of the holy name are as follows;

a) To blaspheme the devotees who have dedicated their lives for propagating the holy name of the Lord.
b) To consider the names of demigods like Lord Shiva or Lord Brahma to be equal to, or independent of
the name of Lord Vishnu.
c) To disobey the orders of the Spiritual Master.
d) To blaspheme the Vedic literature of literature in pursuance of the Vedic version.
e) To consider the glories of chanting Hare Krishna to be imagination.
f) To give some interpretation to the holy name of the Lord.
g) To commit sinful activities on the strength of the holy name of the Lord.
h) To consider the chanting of Hare Krishna as one of the auspicious ritualistic activities offered in the
Vedas as fruitive activities (karma-kanda).
i) To instruct a faithless person about the glories of the holy name.
 j) To not have complete faith in the chanting of the holy names and to material attachments, even after
understanding so many instructions on this matter.

Every devotee who claims to be a Vaishnava must guard against these offenses in order to quickly
achieve the desired success.

18) After accepting initiation it is said that one should assist in spreading the Hare Krishna sankirtan
movement of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Are you convinced to do this? In doing this, may one preach
the glories of the holy name forcibly to envious persons? Explain.

After accepting initiation, I am convinced to assist in spreading the Hare Krishna Sankirtana movement of
Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Also Krishna in Bhagavad-Gita tells Arjuna that a person who preaches His
glories is very dear to Him and nobody is dearer to Him.

While preaching the glories of the Holy name, one cannot forcibly preach to envious persons because it
becomes an offense at the lotus feet of the holy name. It is the ninth offense against the chanting of the
holy name. In the Bhagavad-Gita (18.67), the Supreme Lord Krishna explicitly forbids the Gait being
spoken to those who are envious of Him. Those who are too sinful cannot appreciate the transcendental
glories of the Lord. But anyone can take part in chanting the holy name of the Lord. So in the beginning it
is better not to instruct about the transcendental potency of the Lord. Just engage them in chanting the
holy name. At a later date when they are in a position to appreciate the glories of the holy name, it can be
revealed.

19) After initiation, what is the duty of a disciple in regard to increasing one’s service & surrender to Guru &
Lord Krishna. After initiation, is it alright to chant less than 16 rounds when there is a lot of service? If one
misses completing 16 rounds, what should one do?

The duty of a disciple, after initiation, in regard to increasing his service & surrender to Guru & Lord
Krishna is to follow his instructions, understand his mission & try to help in fulfilling his mission. Also the
Guru or his authorized representative should be consulted while taking all major decisions in life.

No, it is not all right to chant less than 16 rounds when there is a lot of service. One should make the
utmost endeavor to complete the 16 rounds even on such occasions. If not, one should complete the
remaining rounds the following day. In case carrying over of rounds becomes a continuous problem, then
one should consult the Spiritual Master or his representative to seek guidance.

20) What is your “goal in life” which you finally want to achieve at life’s end?

My goal in life which I finally want to achieve at life’s end is to go back home, back to Godhead – Goloka
Vrindavana.