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)

Does the Spiritual Master Have A Material Body? Is He Omniscient?
Some devotees have said to me that Srila Prabhupada's form is spiritual. Now with my physical senses I perceive that Srila Prabhupada has a physical body. So how can it be possible that I can perceive a spirtual body? One can notice that Srila Prabhupada's body was changing from youth to old age as do material bodies... Related Articles (Letter from Khan)

Prabhupada on his Disciples Becoming Gurus
It is not that you have become a student and you'll remain student. No. One day you shall become also guru and make more students, more students, more. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission, not that perpetually... Yes, one should remain perpetually a student, but he has to act as guru. That is the mission of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. (Article by Srila Prabhupada)

Srila Prabhupada on Initiation [compilation of quotes]
Please be happy in separation. I am separated from my Guru Maharaja since 1936 but I am always with him so long I work according to his direction. So we should all work together for satisfying Lord Krishna and in that way the feelings of separation will transform into transcendental bliss. Related Articles (Article by Srila Prabhupada)

Who Is Representing Srila Prabhupada Now?
The ISKCON living gurus are advising their disciples: You can't understand Prabhupada's books or classes, you have to hear from me instead. You can't understand Prabhupada... So that's hardly being Prabhupada's representative. Related Articles (Article by Madhudvisa dasa)

PHALGUNA KRISHNA PANCAMI (Srila Prabhupada's 1961 Vyasa-Puja Offering
A Vyasa-Puja offering of five prayers glorifying special characteristics of Srila 108 Bhaktisiddanta Saraswati Goswami Thakura. Presented on the commemoration of his appearance, by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, at the Radha-Damodara temple, Vrindavana, India, in 1961. Related Articles (Article by Srila Prabhupada)

Unless One is a Pure Devotee He Should Not Become A Preacher
Unless one is situated as pure Vaisnava in his dealing, in his behavior, inside and outside, he should not become a preacher because it will not be effective, neither one should hear from such person. Those who are preaching, they must be very sincere. They should read the literatures, just like The Nectar of Instruction. We should follow, strictly follow. Then you'll be able to preach and make disciples all over the world. (MP3 Audio by Srila Prabhupada)

The "Living Guru" Concept
I have been reading the articles on this website for at least a few years now and it has given me great spritual benifit. I do agree that there are so many bogus guru's out there I am looking for a guru as well, but I still think that there must be a living guru to approach. (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)