What is an instructional guru? A guru is a spiritual teacher who initiates a disciple in the science of Kṛṣṇa, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness (śrī-bhagavan-mantropadeśake gurāv ity arthaḥ). The word guru can mean "heavy" or "the supreme". A guru must be able to guide a disciple out of the cycle of birth and death (Bhāg. 5.5.18). A guru must be situated on the highest platform of devotional service and be a first-class devotee, a controller of the senses and mind (Upadeśāmṛta). A guru is a faithful representative of Kṛṣṇa, and who is not a Vaiṣṇa can not be a guru (Padmaṇa). Even a qualified brāhmaṇa as such can not be a guru