This is essential. Acaryopasanam. To become humble, meek, ahimsa, non-violence, santi, tolerance - in this way you have to make progress

Expressions researched:
"this is essential. Ācāryopāsanam. To become humble, meek, ahiṁsā, non-violence, śānti, tolerance—in this way you have to make progress"

Lectures

Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures

Caitanya Mahāprabhu, He is also incarnation of Kṛṣṇa, but He accepted Īśvara Purī as His guru. They do not require guru, but just to keep pace with the official program, even God personally, He accepted spiritual master. So this is essential. Ācāryopāsanam. To become humble, meek, ahiṁsā, non-violence, śānti, tolerance—in this way you have to make progress.

731002 - Lecture BG 13.08-12 - Bombay

Pradyumna: "The principle of accepting a spiritual master, as mentioned in the seventh verse, is essential."

Prabhupāda: Yes. That knowledge has to be acquired. Ācāryopāsanam, here it is said. You have to worship ācārya. Ācāryavān puruṣo veda. One who has accepted . . . Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura has also said, āśraya loiyā bhaje kṛṣṇa tāre nāhi tyaje āra saba more akaraṇa. Āśraya. You have to take shelter. Evaṁ paramparā prāptam imaṁ rājarṣayo viduḥ (BG 4.2). And Arjuna also said, śiṣyas te 'haṁ śādhi māṁ prapannam (BG 2.7). Śiṣyas te . . . ācārya, ācāryopāsanam. Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna, two friends. There was no need of accepting Kṛṣṇa as Arjuna's spiritual master. Still, he is accepting officially. Śiṣyas te 'haṁ śādhi māṁ prapannam: "I am accepting You as my spiritual master. Please teach me."

So this is essential. Ācāryopāsanam. Tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet (MU 1.2.12). This is Vedic instruction. If you at all interested in the understanding of spiritual subject matter, then you must approach a bona fide spiritual master. Tad vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet. Abhigacchet means "must". It is not that if you like, you can go; if you do not like, you do not. No. You must. Abhigacchet. Samit-pāṇi śrotrīyaṁ brahma-niṣṭam (MU 1.2.12). Tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta jijṇāsuḥ śreya uttamam (SB 11.3.21).

It is not a fashion to accept one guru. If you are actually interested śreya uttamam, the highest perfection of life—tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta—then you have to accept a guru. This is called ācāryopāsanam. Even Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He accepted Sāndīpani Muni as teacher, master. Caitanya Mahāprabhu, He is also incarnation of Kṛṣṇa, but He accepted Īśvara Purī as His guru. They do not require guru, but just to keep pace with the official program, even God personally, He accepted spiritual master. So this is essential. Ācāryopāsanam. To become humble, meek, ahiṁsā, non-violence, śānti, tolerance—in this way you have to make progress. The other ninety-nine items will be described by and by. We have to . . . yes. Tomorrow we shall describe.

Thank you very much. Hare Kṛṣṇa.