The Three Factors In Accord When Accepting Spiritual Life

“One should accept a thing as genuine by studying the words of saintly people, the spiritual master and shastra. The actual center is shastra, the revealed scripture. If a spiritual master does not speak according to revealed scripture, he is not to be accepted. Similarly, if a saintly person does not speak according to the shastra, he is not a saintly person. Shastra is the center for all.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya 20.352 Purport)