Curing the Material Disease by Following the Direction of the Spiritual Master
In the modern era, independence and self-direction are highly celebrated virtues. However, when it comes to spiritual realization, this independent spirit is the very cause of our continued bondage. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the conditioned soul is suffering from a deep-seated material disease, and just like any severe illness, it cannot be cured by guesswork or self-medication. It requires an expert physician—the bona fide spiritual master—and a precise prescription found in the śāstras (scriptures). The science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is remarkably simple: one only needs to follow the direction. This article explores the powerful medical analogy used by Śrīla Prabhupāda, the danger of manufacturing our own spiritual paths, how authorized direction controls the restless mind, and the ultimate guarantee of seeing Kṛṣṇa face-to-face.
The Prescription for the Material Disease
To understand how to engage in spiritual life, one must look at it practically. If a person is sick and receives medicine from a doctor, they must read the label and follow the directions exactly; they cannot take the medicine according to their own whim or the advice of an unqualified friend. Similarly, the Bhagavad-gītā and the instructions of the spiritual master are the specific prescriptions meant to cure the disease of material illusion. If we want the cure, we must follow the label.
- If we want to take a particular medicine, then we have to follow the directions written on the label. We cannot take the medicine according to our own whim or the direction of a friend.
- The physician is giving some medicine and some diet. So if we follow the directions of the physician and eat the diet prescribed by him, there is hope of curing the disease. This is one way.
- If you follow the direction of the bottle label then you get benefit. Similarly, here is the direction: evam parampara-praptam (BG 4.2). You have to understand Bhagavad-gita from the disciplic succession, and that it means one who is devotee.
- It is not the question of whether it is pleasurable or nonpleasurable, but if you want to cure yourself from the disease, you have to follow the directions. That is the process.
The Danger of Manufacturing Your Own Way
The greatest impediment to spiritual progress is the false ego, which convinces the conditioned soul that they can understand God through their own intellect. People often read scriptures like the Bhagavad-gītā but manufacture their own commentaries and meanings to suit their personal desires. Śrīla Prabhupāda warns that this deviation guarantees failure. True knowledge descends only through the paramparā system; we must accept the authorized direction without adding or subtracting anything.
- To become Krsna conscious is not very difficult job. Simply you have to follow the direction. That's all. But if you manufacture your own meaning, commentation on Bhagavad-gita, then you are deviated. You are lost.
- The difficulty is that we do not follow the direction of the sastras, therefore we are misguided. As I was speaking the other day, because we have forgotten Krsna for time immemorial, therefore these books are there.
- God, there are incarnation, there are hundreds and thousands of incarnation, but to accept that incarnation we have to follow the direction of the sastra. The sastra, in every incarnation is described there, His symptoms are described there.
- Here is Bhagavad-gita. You follow the direction, you will understand what is God, what you are, what is this world, what is our relation between ourself, what is our condition, how we can get out of this miserable condition. Everything you will find.
Controlling the Maddened Elephant of the Mind
The mind is famously difficult to tame, often compared to a maddened elephant that ravages everything in its path. On our own strength, we cannot subdue it. However, the regulative principles of devotional service—when executed under the strict direction of a bona fide spiritual master—act as the perfect restraints. By following this direction, the mind is pacified, the soul is liberated from the clutches of māyā (illusion), and ecstatic love for God is naturally invoked.
- Sometimes the mind is compared to a maddened elephant. Without following the direction of a spiritual master one cannot control the mind and the senses.
- Devotional service is so perfect that simply by following the rules and regulations and executing them under the direction of the spiritual master, one is liberated, as it is said herein (in SB 3.33.10), from the clutches of maya, even in this body.
- Ecstatic love of Godhead can be potently invoked simply by following the rules and regulations of devotional service as they are prescribed in scriptures, under the direction of a bona fide spiritual master.
- The words devarsi-carananusayana indicate that Maharaja Priyavrata, having fully surrendered to the great sage Devarsi Narada, was strictly following all the devotional processes and regulative principles under his direction.
The Guarantee of Spiritual Vision
The ultimate goal of following the direction is to please the spiritual master. According to the foundational principle of Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavism (yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādaḥ), if the spiritual master is pleased by our strict obedience, Kṛṣṇa is automatically pleased. Once the Lord is satisfied with our sincere endeavor to follow the authorized path without deviation, He personally removes the veil of illusion, allowing the devotee to see Him face-to-face at every moment.
- Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura says you have to follow the direction of the spiritual master. He's guiding as a leader. And if he's pleased, that means Krsna is pleased. Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah.
- If you get right guru, then you are liberated. If you follow the direction, if you want to please him, yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah, then you are liberated.
- You should be assured that "Because I'm following strictly the direction of my spiritual master and sastras, certainly I shall meet Krsna."
- You will see Krsna gradually. He will be revealed. He'll be present immediately. It is all revelation. Not that by your eyes you can see. But if you follow the prescription, the direction, you will see Krsna daily, always, twenty-four hours.
Conclusion
The beauty of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement lies in its absolute clarity. We do not need to invent a new philosophy or guess our way to the spiritual world; the map has already been perfectly drawn by the predecessor ācāryas. As Śrīla Prabhupāda assures us, curing the material disease is simply a matter of taking the medicine exactly as prescribed. By abandoning our false independence, controlling the mind through regulative principles, and humbly following the direction of the śāstras and the bona fide spiritual master, any sincere soul is guaranteed to conquer illusion and achieve the ultimate perfection of eternal association with Kṛṣṇa.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Following the Direction. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.