Krishna consciousness and the role of the spiritual master

The teachings of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder-acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, emphasize the importance of connecting with Krishna to purify consciousness. Krishna is described as the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the “ocean of rasas,” possessing various transcendental relationships.

Central to this spiritual practice is the role of the spiritual master. According to the teachings, a sincere student must approach a bona fide spiritual master to understand the Absolute Truth and the identity of the Supreme Person. This process involves submissive inquiry and devotional service, guided by the principle that religion must be supported by philosophy to avoid fanaticism.