Spiritual knowledge must be received through disciplic succession from a qualified spiritual master. The Bhagavad-gita (4.1-3) describes the disciplic succession, and (4.34) teaches that one should approach a guru with humility, render service, and inquire submissively. The guru is not God but is the representative of God. The Science of Self-Realization (Chapter 2) explains that self-made spirituality is not authentic and that the guru must be in disciplic succession.

Spiritual knowledge descends through an unbroken chain of teachers and disciples. This ensures the message remains unchanged. The Bhagavad-gita Introduction explains that the Bhagavad-gita itself was transmitted through parampara from Krishna to Arjuna, establishing a new succession. The Bhagavad-gita (4.1-3) teaches that knowledge must come through authorized channels and that personal interpretation breaks the succession. The message must be received 'as it is,' and Srila Prabhupada represents this succession in modern times.