Question
I find myself struggling with the idea of devotion to the guru. If one disagrees with the guru, how is that reconciled with the belief in the guru as a conduit for God? Also, in light of the many scandals regarding gurus, how can one know for sure that a guru is a holy man?
Answer
The guru is a conduit to God, in that the Guru faithfully explains what Krishna Himself and the great Acaryas taught. The guru is not necessarily expert, and is certainly not all-knowing, in material fields of knowledge.
There are many medical scandals, but we still go to good doctors. The same is true in every professional field.
Before accepting a guru, one must perform ‘due diligence’. Gurus have histories. We can study their teachings and life history and come to a rational decision.
