If Advaita Vedanta says a guru is mandatory, how are we supposed to find an authentic one in modern life? Do we just wait for a "Gurukul era" to be reborn?

 Advaita Vedanta has been in decline since Vishnuswami, Nimbarka Swami, Ramanujacharya and Madhvacharya gave their understandings of Vedanta.

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu synthesized the teaching of all four acharyas in Acintya‑bhedābheda while propagating the Sankirtan movement and devotion to Radha Krishna.

Advaita Vedanta was for a bygone age. The new circumstances call for collective chanting of the holy names. Srimad Bhagavatam declares that will prove as effective as any other process of liberation in other times.

Whatever result was obtained in Satya-yuga by meditating on Visnu, in Treta-yuga by performing sacrifices, and in Dvapara-yuga by serving the Lord's lotus feet can be obtained in Kali-yuga simply by chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. SB 12.3.52

In the Age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the names of Krishna. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Krishna Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons and confidential companions. Srimad Bhagavatam 11.5.32

Besides Srimad Bhagavatam states that devotional service offers so much more than merging into impersonal Brahman.

My Lord, the transcendental bliss derived from meditating upon Your lotus feet or hearing about Your glories from pure devotees is so unlimited that it is far beyond the stage of brahmananda, wherein one thinks himself merged in the impersonal Brahman as one with the Supreme. Since brahmananda is also defeated by the transcendental bliss derived from devotional service, then what to speak of the temporary blissfulness of elevating oneself to the heavenly planets, which is ended by the separating sword of time? Although one may be elevated to the heavenly planets, he falls down in due course of time. Srimad Bhagavatam 4.9.10

If you are prepared to wait for a ‘gurukul era’ to be born, fill in the time by chanting Hare Krishna.

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