"The guru does not mean that I keep a guru, so, as order-supplier: 'My dear guru, I am suffering from this. Can you give me some medicine?' 'Yes, yes. Take this medicine.' ' Yes.' Not that guru. If you are suffering from some disease, you go to a physician. It is not guru's business to give you some medicine. A guru's business is to give you Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa sei tomāra, kṛṣṇa dīte pāra (Bhajana-Lālasā, Song 7). A Vaiṣṇava is praying, guru: 'Sir, you are devotee of Kṛṣṇa. You can give me Kṛṣṇa if you like.' This is the position of śiṣya (disciple). Guru's business is how to give you Kṛṣṇa, not any material things. For material things, there are so many institution. But if you want Kṛṣṇa, then guru is required. Who is..., who requires a guru?
tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta
jijñāsu śreya uttamam
śābde pare ca niṣṇātaṁ
brahmaṇy upasamāśrayam
(SB 11.3.21)
Who requires a guru? Guru is not a fashion, 'Oh, I have got a guru. I shall make a guru.' Guru means one who is serious. Tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta. One has to seek out a guru. Why? Jijñāsu śreya uttamam. One who is inquisitive of the Supreme. Not guru make a fashion, just like we keep a dog, fashion, similarly, we keep a guru. That is not guru dharma. 'Guru will act according to my decision.' Not like that. Guru means one who can give you Kṛṣṇa. That is guru."
(Srila Prabhupada Lecture, London, August 7, 1973)
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