kanaka-kamini paratistha-baghini
chadiyache yare sei ta’ vaisnava
Dusta Mana! Tumi kisera Vaisnava (11)
Money, women and fame are like tigresses. Those who have relinquished them are indeed Vaisnavas. Vaisnavas alone are pure and detached devotees who can conquer material existence.
With this qualification, a genuine guru can make disciples throughout the world. Simply chanting the maha-mantra - hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare, hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare, does not indicate a person’s gurutva, qualification to be guru.
apani acari dharma jivere sikhaya
apani na kaile dharma sikhana na jaya
One must teach dharma to the jivas by personally practising it. If one does not practise, he should not teach others.
acinoti yah sastrartham acare sthapayaty api
svayam acarate yasmad acaryas tena kirttitah
Vayu Purana
An acarya is one who fully understands the conclusions of the revealed scriptures and whose behaviour reflects his deep realization. He is a living example, for he teaches the meaning of the scriptures by both words and deeds.
The above slokas were spoken to emphasize that one who assumes the position of guru and gives instruction to others must himself be following that instruction. If he does not, his preaching will never be effective. If a person takes intoxication and then tells others not to do so, his instruction will carry no potency.
The scriptures do not sanction a person becoming guru if his behaviour is improper. They explain that he must have realization of sabda-brahma (transcendental sound vibration), he must be endowed with realization of para-brahma (the Lord’s transcendental form) and have full realization of transcendental subjects, such a krsna-tattva. If he has no such realization, he cannot impart transcendental knowledge to his disciple by speaking mere words. To give diksa means to bestow transcendental knowledge.
divyam jnanam yato dadyat
kuryat papasya sanksayam
tasmad-dikseti sa prokta
desikais tattva-kovidaih
Hari-bhakti-vilasa (2.3–4)
One who is fully conversant with tattva, philosophical truth, knows that the process of diksa can awaken a person’s transcendental knowledge and annihilate the reactions of his sins.
Sri Devananda Gaudiya Matha, Navadvipa 8 March 1998