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Symptoms of a Real Guru
June 11, 2012  |  radhanath-swami

At the massive tent at Bombay, amidst 25,000 people, Srila Prabhupada, the guru and founder of the Hare Krishna movement signaled one of his disciples to get Richard (now Radhanath Swami) to the stage. Richard was astounded that he was being chosen to sit next to Srila Prabhupada on the stage. During the lectures, Richard heard a voice within his heart proclaim that Srila Prabhupada was his guru. But the mind couldn’t accept. Richard decided to keep travelling more to the Himalayas and search for his guru. Radhanath Swami writes that in the presence of Srila Prabhupada he felt to be in the presence of a spotless mirror; coming in the presence of such a spotless soul helped him see both the beauty and ugliness of his own inner life. His faith and doubts, virtues and sins, strengths and weaknesses were being revealed to him. It was both a joyful and a painful experience to be in the association of Srila Prabhupada.

Radhanath Swami has revealed to us through his lectures and writings that meeting a genuine spiritualist is not some sentimental or a feel good’ experience. A genuine spiritual preceptor, guru, speaks the truth and in his presence, a sincere aspirant feels an internal struggle; he comes face to face with his own impurities and the joy of being with a great soul is simultaneously accompanied by a sobering realization of one’s own shortcomings.

The primary quality of a guru is he connects all to God and himself is absorbed in service to transcendence. This knowledge of the Absolute Truth which the guru imparts is also not of the guru’s own making. A genuine guru receives knowledge from his own guru, who in turn receives it from his own spiritual master. In this the way the chain of bonafide spiritual masters reaches God Himself, who is the source of all spiritual knowledge. Radhanath Swami revealed to us once that the reason Srila Prabhupada’s presence invoked such deep spiritual experiences was his connection to this disciplic chain of gurus. Radhanath Swami also offers an interesting meaning of the word ‘guru’. In sanskrit language, ‘guru’ means heavy and therefore a real guru is heavy with spiritual knowledge.

Radhanath Swami guards his students that searching for a guru is not some leisure activity; getting a guru is not something like getting a pet. It’s not a fashion but rather a serious commitment to search for a guru and enquire from him submissively about spiritual subject matters.

Radhanath Swami also explains on the basis of scriptures that we should consider ourselves truly blessed if we can get the association of a genuine guru. It is by the Lord’s grace that a spiritual aspirant gets the shelter of a guru and then by the guru’s grace, a student begins to understand the deeper aspects of his relationship with God. Radhanath Swami also cautions people to not foolishly consider the guru to be the same as God. The guru is certainly a confidential associate of God and is worthy of all our reverence and respect. However it is unhealthy for our spiritual life to think that the guru is a substitute for God. Guru is a servant of God and we have to aspire to be the servant of guru’s servants. Radhanath Swami assures that cultivating this mood helps us also to become dear to God.

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27 Comments


  1. Thank you very much, had seemingly wonderful experience when HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj had come to pune and we were attending his class at NVCC. Hari bol

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  2. Thank u very much for this wonderful elobaration of symptoms of a genuine guru. The congregation of Sri Sri Radha Gopinath is undoubtly the most fortunate one being continuously guided and guarded by HH RNS Maharaj.

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  3. The Guru is the genuine well wisher of the disciple. He gradually purifies the disciple so that he becomes eligible to serve Their Lordships. We are unlimitedly blessed to have the association of a guru like Radhanath Swami.

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  4. Very genuine and elaborate explanation about GURU has been seen here. Otherwise, now a days we will land up with any cheap guru available at every mile stone.

    I read the Journey Home book and found to be most exciting and heart touching. I recommend this book for other true seekers during their JOURNEY HOME.

    Nice book

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  5. Amazing article.

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  6. Guru is representing God, giving love of God, showing God in everyone and everyone in God.All glories to HH Radhanatha Swami Maharaja.

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  7. thank you for sharing

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  8. chandraprakassh

    how can i serve in this mission of yrs

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  9. Arjun K Ramachandra

    I very much appreciated the point that being with an exalted saint not only brings a feeling of joy but also a sobering realization of our own impurities.

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  10. wonderful article.

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  11. Amazing one.

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  12. Wonderful article. Thank you so much

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  13. Thanks for sharing.

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  14. Rajendra Prasad

    Presnece of a genuine spiritualist makes one humble and joyous because he is very pure and connected to krishna through disciple sucession. I aspire for such a moment in my life.

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  15. Great teaching. thank u.

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  16. santipur nath das

    Hari Hari. Jai Srilla gurudeva!

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  17. Very good article explaining the importance of accepting a Guru & then ellaborating on the qualities of a genuine Guru….thanks

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  18. Radhanath Swami takes one gently from the level of mere feel-good to a detailed description of the qualities of a genuine spiritual master.

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  19. Such a wonderful explanation by Maharaj!

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  20. Kalpana Kulkarni

    Wonderful article highlighting who a true guru is and what qualities he has.

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  21. Very inspiring article. Thanks for sharing…

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  22. The primary quality of a guru is he connects all to God and himself is absorbed in service to transcendence. Thank you very much.

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  23. We are blessed as we have got a genuine guru in form of HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj

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  24. very nice article.

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  25. Wonderful…

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  26. Thanks for sharing!

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