Who Is a Real Guru?
Among the naïve , of course, one may pass for a spiritual master by wearing robes and a beard, bearing a twinkle in one's eye, performing some magic tricks, or speaking riddles. But intelligent people won't settle for these outer trappings... Related Articles (Article by BTG Editors)

Knowledge is the solution--First Find A Bona Fide Guru (MP3 Audio from 1966)
For knowledge we have got to go to the right person, one who has actually seen or experienced the Absolute Truth. Unless we find such a person who has actually seen the Absolute Truth or who has in his experience what is Absolute Truth, there is very little chance of our spiritual advancement. (MP3 Audio by Srila Prabhupada)

The Guru Is A Pure Devotee!
During Srila Prabhupada's physical presence there was no confusion in ISKCON over the qualifications and qualities of a bona fide guru. Srila Prabhupada was personally present and he exhibited all the qualities perfectly and all the devotees understood the spiritual master was a pure devotee. Related Articles (Article by Madhudvisa dasa)

First You Must Know What Guru Is, "You cannot search after a school and go to a cloth shop"
One cannot deny the order of a spiritual master. Therefore one has to select a spiritual master whose order, carrying, you ll not commit a mistake. You see? Now, suppose if you accept a wrong person as spiritual master, and if you, if he guides you wrongly, then your whole life is spoiled. So one has to accept a spiritual master whose guidance will make his life perfect. (Article by Srila Prabhupada)

With All the Humility at My Command
It is February 1936, in Bombay. The pure devotee who three decades later will become the world-renowned spiritual master of the Krishna consciousness movement glorifies his own spiritual master. Here we learn the time-honored meaning of the spiritual master, the disciple and their relationship... Related Articles (Article by Srila Prabhupada)

The Life of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada
Absolute is sentient Thou hast proved. Impersonal calamity Thou hast moved. This gives us a life Anew and fresh. Worship thy feet Your Divine Grace. (Article by Srila Prabhupada)

Initiation Into Spiritual Life
The bad preceptor is a familiar character. It is inexplicable how those gurus who live in open sin contrive never-the-less to retain the unquestioning allegiance of the cultured portion of their disciples... (Article by Srila Bhaktsiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur)

A Spiritual Master Should Not Be Accepted As A Matter Of Fashion
If you want to know who is a spiritual master, then you have to test him whether he is speaking exactly like the bona fide spiritual master. Sri Narottama dasa Thakura has explained about this, who is spiritual master. What is that? He says, sadhu sastra guru vakya tinete kariya aikya. If you want to advance yourself in spiritual science, then you have to test these three things... (Article by Srila Prabhupada)

What is a real guru? Prabhupada explains:
Accepting a guru really means learning the spiritual science from him and executing his instructions. As you say, life is hectic, so don't jump into a guru-disciple relationship blindly. If you continue chanting Hare Krishna and study Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabupada, I'm sure your path will become crystal clear. (Letter from Dravinaksa dasa)

Everyone Requires A Guru
So every village, every home, every neighborhood, they require guru. But who will be guru? One who repeats the instruction of Krsna. Yare dekha tare kaha. It is very easy. So people are accepting all over the world the instruction of Krsna. These books we are selling. Daily our collection is five to six lakhs of rupees. Now this recent publication, . . . (Article by Srila Prabhupada)

Saints, Swindlers, Cheaters- Who is a real guru?
Yes. Of course, to search out a guru is very nice, but if you want a cheap guru, or if you want to be cheated, then you will find many cheating gurus. But if you are sincere, you will find a sincere guru. Because people want everything very cheaply, they are cheated. (Article by Srila Prabhupada)

CAITYA-GURU
A person in full Krsna consciousness acts by the dictation of Krsna. In the beginning of Krsna consciousness, dictation is received through the transparent medium of the spiritual master. When one is sufficiently trained and acts in submissive faith and love for Krsna under the direction of the bona fide spiritual master, the dovetailing process becomes more firm and accurate. (Article by Bhakta Roy)

Srila Prabhupada-Acarya Actual Initiator
We know it is only the uttama adhikari acarya Prabhupada that is able to transmit diksa (spiritual Initiation) into the madhyam adhikaris heart whereby he is enabled to see Krsna and relish loving mellows in his svarupa. (television in the heart). (Article by Mahesh dasa)

His Divine Grace Srila Sac-cid-ananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura's Appearance Day Lecture, London, September 23, 1969
So Bhaktivinoda Thakura is an ideal guru. He was not a sannyasi; he was grhastha, householder, living with family, wife, children. Still, he was guru. So anyone can become guru. Not that a sannyasi can become guru. A householder also can become guru, provided he knows the science. Related Articles (Article by Srila Prabhupada)

Bhakti Caru Swami's Disappearance Day offering to Srila Prabhupada
Why do we hesitate to tell a new comer who is searching for a guru that Srila Prabhupada, the best guru the world has ever seen, is still here, and one can surrender unto him and go back to Godhead very easily? When we have such a great good fortune, why do we not take full advantage of it? Related Articles (Article by Bhakti Caru Swami)

Srila Prabhupada Our Jagad Diksa Guru: Living Still--In Sound
Just like I have written in the first publications of Srimad-Bhagavatam, the spiritual master lives forever by his divine instruction and the disciple lives with him., because I have always served my Guru Maharaja and followed His teachings I am now even never separated from Him. (Article by Mahesh dasa)

Srila Prabhupada's July 9th. Letter.
An important point is that Srila Prabhupada's final written instruction on initiations is a system whereby new devotees are initiated by a ritvik priest on his (Srila Prabhupada's) behalf. Many new devotees are not aware of this nor have they read the letter that Prabhupada sent out to all temples on July 9th 1977. This letter very clearly states that henceforward all new devotees would be initiated in this way. Related Articles (Article by Sudama dasa)

The Blind Man and the Cow's Tail
A blind man was once trying to negotiate the path to his father-in-law's house with the help of only his walking stick. In a field nearby he heard a cowherd boy humming a tune to himself. The blind man hailed the boy and asked, Kindly lead me to the house of my father-in-law. It is nearby, but I can't find the way myself. (Article by Sudama das)

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Prabhupada's Disappearance Day, Lecture (1)
Now, you American boys and girls who have taken to this movement, please take it more seriously and... That is the mission of Lord Caitanya and my Guru Maharaja, and we are also trying to execute the will by disciplic succession. You have come forward to help me. I shall request you all that I shall go away, but you shall live. Don't give up pushing on this movement, and you'll be blessed by Lord Caitanya and His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Prabhupada. (MP3 Audio by Srila Prabhupada)

Sri Vyasa-puja Hyderabad, August 19, 1976 [MP3 Audio]
So anyone of you, you can become guru. It is not that I am an extraordinary man, an extraordinary god coming from some mysterious place. It is not that--it is very simple thing. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says yare dekha tare kaha krsna'-upadesa. So I request you follow the Caitanya Mahaprabhu's instruction that you also, you become a guru at your home. (MP3 Audio by Srila Prabhupada)