Spiritual Master and Disciple—Part 04

Giriraj Swami: Practically, that you are realizing Krishna because Krishna is absolute, so His name, His form, His qualities, His pastimes are all the same. So, if you have actual realization of the name, then you have realization of the form, you have realization of the pastimes, you have realization of everything. So, if we are not on the platform of pure chanting like that, or well, there may be another level of pure chanting also, but we are not on the level of really appreciating the holy name and experiencing Krishna quite intimately through the chanting, and we need the connection of paramparā, that’s the method that’s been given by Vedic authority, and we are seeing practically that without the connection, it’s hard to maintain chanting.

In one letter, one devotee asked Srila Prabhupada about persons who are not initiated chanting or if there is a difference if someone is initiated or not initiated. So, Srila Prabhupada wrote back that there is a gulf of difference between initiated and not initiated. And he said that it’s beneficial for one to chant even if one is not initiated, but when one is initiated, he becomes fixed. And if one is not initiated, even though he is chanting, he may easily fall away. So, it’s a list, the pain of losing the spiritual master was so great, the reaction was never to put oneself in that position again.

I mean, I’ve had devotees write me and openly say that after Bhagavan left, they vowed they would never put their faith in anyone else again like that. And then they say that by chanting and hearing and discussing with devotees and passage of time, things are becoming more clear. They feel they again can’t place their faith in someone. And on the other side, as painful as losing the spiritual master was, at least in the case of some devotees, it’s becoming more painful to not be connected. So, the pain and the desperation of not being connected becomes worse than the fear of having the same thing happen again. And then they start moving forward towards establishing a relationship again.

Any other questions or comments? So, can we end now? So, before we go on to the next topic, are there any more questions or statements about the subjects that we’ve been discussing over the last days? Don’t be shy.

So, basically, we’ve been discussing the necessity of accepting a spiritual master, taking initiation, and following his instructions. But even accepting the fact that some spiritual masters have fallen down, everyone must be directly or indirectly surrendered to Srila Prabhupada as founder acharya and must follow his instructions. Now, one instruction that Srila Prabhupada gave was that we should act on the platform of madhyamādhikārī.

Now, when my temple president, Satsvarupa dasa, informed me of this instruction, I was quite surprised because Srila Prabhupada was always preaching the highest. So, I was surprised that Srila Prabhupada wanted us to act on the platform of madhyamādhikārī. But then I realized that if we are on the platform of kaniṣṭhādhikārī, we should definitely try to come to the platform of madhyamādhikārī, because the position of kaniṣṭhādhikārī is not very secure.

And even The Nectar of Devotion and other books state very clearly that because the kaniṣṭhādhikārī can fall down quite easily, you should come to the platform of madhyamādhikārī as soon as possible. And if one is actually situated on the platform of madhyamādhikārī, he should act on that platform. And even if one is uttama-adhikārī or one becomes uttama-adhikārī, he should also act on the platform of madhyamādhikārī for the sake of preaching.

So, it’s very clear that Srila Prabhupada wants us to act on the platform of madhyamādhikārī. And the symptoms of madhyamādhikārī are that he gives his love to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He makes friendships with other devotees. He shows mercy to innocent persons by instructing them about devotional service. And he avoids the envious. In other words, the madhyamādhikārī preaches. And in the course of preaching, he shows his love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He works cooperatively with other devotees in the mood of friendship. And by preaching, he shows mercy to the innocent people by giving them transcendental knowledge. And he avoids the envious.

The platform of madhyamādhikārī is a platform of liberation. It’s a platform of pure devotees. And beneath the platform of madhyamādhikārī is the platform of kaniṣṭhādhikārī or prakriti bhakta. Prakriti bhakta specifically is on the material platform, and he doesn’t know how to deal properly with devotees or with people in general. So, Srila Prabhupada’s instruction that we should not fight means that we should not be on the platform of prakriti bhakta. Because prakriti bhaktas fight. Prakriti bhaktas think, My way of worshiping is superior and others’ ways of worshiping is inferior, and they fight.

Whereas madhyamādhikārī makes friends with devotees. Not friends and enemies with devotees, but friends with devotees. Friends and enemies exist on the material platform, but the madhyamādhikārī is on the spiritual platform. So, he makes friends with devotees. Srila Prabhupada wanted us to act on the platform of madhyamādhikārī. And in acting on that platform, we will fulfill his instructions as devotees and as members of ISKCON.

So, I’d like to read two verses, which are appropriate to us aspiring to act on the platform of Vaishnava or madhyamādhikārī.

oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya

oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya

oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Canto Seven, Chapter Five, Text Eleven.

TEXT 11

śrī-prahrāda uvāca
paraḥ svaś cety asad-grāhaḥ
puṁsāṁ yan-māyayā kṛtaḥ
vimohita-dhiyāṁ dṛṣṭas
tasmai bhagavate namaḥ

TRANSLATION

Prahlāda Mahārāja replied: Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose external energy has created the distinctions of “my friend” and “my enemy” by deluding the intelligence of men. Indeed, I am now actually experiencing this, although I have previously heard of it from authoritative sources.

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

As servants of the Supreme Lord, all living entities are one, but a Vaiṣṇava, because of his natural humility, addresses every other living entity as prabhu. A Vaiṣṇava sees other servants to be so advanced that he has much to learn from them. Thus he accepts all other devotees of the Lord as prabhus, masters. Although everyone is a servant of the Lord, one Vaiṣṇava servant, because of humility, sees another servant as his master. Understanding of the master begins from understanding of the spiritual master.

yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo
yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto ’pi

“By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Kṛṣṇa. Without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement.”

sākṣād-dharitvena samasta-śāstrair
uktas tathā bhāvyata eva sadbhiḥ
kintu prabhor yaḥ priya eva tasya
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam

“The spiritual master is to be honored as much as the Supreme Lord because he is the most confidential servitor of the Lord. This is acknowledged in all revealed scriptures and followed by all authorities. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is a bona fide representative of Śrī Hari [Kṛṣṇa].” The spiritual master, the servant of God, is engaged in the most confidential service of the Lord, namely delivering all the conditioned souls from the clutches of māyā, in which one thinks, “This person is my enemy, and that one is my friend.”

COMMENT

So, by the mercy of the spiritual master, one gets the mercy of Krishna, and without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement. So, we need the mercy of the spiritual master. And we get the mercy of the spiritual master, how? By following his instructions. So, if we are taking Srila Prabhupada as our spiritual master, which we all must, either directly or indirectly, we must follow his instructions in order to get his mercy and make advancement. Otherwise, if we don’t follow his instructions, we won’t be able to make any advancement. Why? Because we will be committing offense. Disobeying the orders of the spiritual master is one of the offenses against the holy name. So, if we disobey the orders of the spiritual master, we won’t be able to make any advancement.

Srila Prabhupada has given many instructions regarding the process of chanting and hearing, and we have to chant the holy name of the Lord under the guidance of the spiritual master. In the beginning, we encourage everyone to chant the holy name. One cannot actually get the full benefits of the holy name unless one follows the standard practices of Krishna consciousness. So, although we invite everyone to chant the holy name, the actual idea is that by chanting the holy name, they’ll become purified enough to become interested in the real process of devotional service, and ultimately, to surrender to the actual process and practice it. Then, one can actually make advancements.

One disciple once asked Srila Prabhupada that we invite everyone to chant the holy name, and there are no hard and fast rules for chanting the holy name. So, what is the need for other practices? Srila Prabhupada replied that yes, we invite everyone to chant the holy name without consideration of time, place, and circumstance, in the hopes that by chanting the holy name, they will become purified and come to the stage of accepting the full process of devotional service, by which they can begin the real advancement of spiritual life.

Srila Prabhupada said otherwise, why do we have so many books if simply chanting is enough? We have so many books to explain the science of devotional service, to explain the offenses in chanting the holy name, because there is a standard process, not like sahajiyās, that we just chant the holy name and do whatever we like. So, there is a standard process. And the first points in the process are to surrender to the spiritual master, to take initiation, and to follow his instructions. And if we disobey the instructions of the spiritual master, or as it is said, yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto ‘pi, if we lose the mercy of the spiritual master, then we cannot make any advancement. Rather, we can actually fall down.

Therefore, in whatever category we may be; initiated, uninitiated, initiated by Prabhupada, initiated by a living guru, initiated by a fallen guru, taking direct shelter of Prabhupada, whatever category we are in, we have to accept Srila Prabhupada as spiritual master directly or indirectly, and follow his instructions. And if we don’t follow his instructions, we’ll be in trouble.

Therefore, the understanding of Prabhu or master begins with the spiritual master. Just like we tell the ordinary people, “You say that you want brotherhood, but unless you accept Krishna as the Supreme Father, how can you have brotherhood?” So, amongst devotees also, we want to have friendly relations amongst the godbrothers and the godsisters, but if we don’t accept the Supreme Father in ISKCON or Srila Prabhupada, then how can we have good relations as godbrothers and godsisters? So, accept Srila Prabhupada as a spiritual father does not mean in theory, “Oh yes, I accept Prabhupada,” and then you don’t follow his instructions. Accepting Srila Prabhupada as founder acharya or as śikṣā-guru, as spiritual father or grandfather, means following his instructions.

Just like there are so many Christians who say, “Yes, I accept Jesus,” but they don’t follow the commandments of Jesus. They are followers of Jesus in name only, not in practice. So, if we are actually surrendered to Srila Prabhupada, we have to be surrendered to following his instructions, not simply claiming, “Oh, I’ve taken shelter of Srila Prabhupada,” and then we do whatever we like.

TEXT 12

sa yadānuvrataḥ puṁsāṁ
paśu-buddhir vibhidyate
anya eṣa tathānyo ’ham
iti bheda-gatāsatī

TRANSLATION

When the Supreme Personality of Godhead is pleased with the living entity because of his devotional service, one becomes a paṇḍita and does not make distinctions between enemies, friends and himself. Intelligently, he then thinks, “Every one of us is an eternal servant of God, and therefore we are not different from one another.”

COMMENT

In the verse, we find the Sanskrit word paśu-buddhir, which means the intelligence of an animal or the animalistic conception of life.

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

As servants of the Lord, we are one, and there can be no questions of enmity or friendship. If one actually understands that every one of us is a servant of the Lord, where is the question of enemy or friend?

Everyone should be friendly for the service of the Lord. Everyone should praise another’s service to the Lord and not be proud of his own service. This is the way of Vaiṣṇava thinking, Vaikuṇṭha thinking. There may be rivalries and apparent competition between servants in performing service, but in the Vaikuṇṭha planets the service of another servant is appreciated, not condemned. This is Vaikuṇṭha competition. There is no question of enmity between servants. Everyone should be allowed to render service to the Lord to the best of his ability, and everyone should appreciate the service of others. Such are the activities of Vaikuṇṭha. Since everyone is a servant, everyone is on the same platform and is allowed to serve the Lord according to his ability. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (15.15), sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi sanniviṣṭo mattaḥ smṛtir jñānam apohanaṁ ca: the Lord is situated in everyone’s heart, giving dictation according to the attitude of the servant. However, the Lord gives different dictation to the nondevotees and devotees. The nondevotees challenge the authority of the Supreme Lord, and therefore the Lord dictates in such a way that the nondevotees forget the Lord’s service, life after life, and are punished by the laws of nature. But when a devotee very sincerely wants to render service to the Lord, the Lord dictates in a different way. As the Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (10.10):

teṣāṁ satata-yuktānāṁ
bhajatāṁ prīti-pūrvakam
dadāmi buddhi-yogaṁ taṁ
yena mām upayānti te

“To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me.” Everyone is actually a servant, not an enemy or friend, and everyone is working under different directions from the Lord, who directs each living entity according to his mentality.

COMMENT

So, Srila Prabhupada has given the philosophy of Krishna consciousness and the science of devotional service in his books. He has created ISKCON as the practical medium for practicing devotional service in the association of pure devotees and for executing the order of the spiritual master. And what is the order of the spiritual master? To become Krishna conscious and to make others Krishna conscious. So, ISKCON exists for this purpose.

In the preamble to the GBC laws or ISKCON constitution, the first points are that Srila Prabhupada is the founder acharya of ISKCON, and that ISKCON exists exclusively to execute the will of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. And the GBC body exists exclusively to execute the will of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

So, the common principle for every member of ISKCON is to execute the will of Srila Prabhupada. So, the will of Srila Prabhupada, in terms of practical organization within ISKCON, is recorded in various documents. Of course, even within Srila Prabhupada’s books, but also within various documents like the Direction of Management, which Srila Prabhupada executed in 1970 to form the GBC body, then in all the subsequent GBC resolutions that were adopted during Srila Prabhupada’s personal presence, and in his last will and testament in 1977, where the first point is that the Governing Body Commission is the ultimate managerial authority for the entire International Society for Krishna Consciousness.

And within the Direction of Management, Srila Prabhupada explains about the function of GBC, explains about the function of temple presidents, explains about the function of sannyasis, and he gives his direction to all of us. And we have to accept the direction that Srila Prabhupada has given us, if we are going to actually be accepting him as a spiritual master.

Now, we read two days ago how the madhyamādhikārī is nirantara, Nirantara generally means without cessation, chanting the holy name of the Lord. But also, antra in the first sense means interruption. So, the madhyamādhikārī is chanting the holy name of the Lord or engaged in the service of the Lord without interruption. But another meaning of antra is atheistic ideas. So, we have to be nirantra, which means free from atheistic ideas. One type of atheistic idea that was mentioned was that the spiritual master is an ordinary human being.

If we leave aside consideration of any other spiritual master but Srila Prabhupada, I believe, practically speaking, that faith in Srila Prabhupada as a superhuman man has been eroded. And therefore, we should actually consider whether practically, we do accept Srila Prabhupada on the same level as God, sākṣād-hari. Because the evidence will be seen by whether we are ready to follow his instructions or not.

So, I’ll read one Vyasa-puja offering to Srila Prabhupada that was composed by our godbrother, Ganapati Swami. Because he discusses the subject of ISKCON, and basically, he has arranged in a very logical and conscientious manner various statements from Srila Prabhupada about ISKCON. And if we actually do have faith in Srila Prabhupada and we actually are surrendered to his instructions, we should follow the instructions that he has given to each and every one of us as to how he wants ISKCON to be conducted and how he wants us to serve within ISKCON.

VYASA-PUJA OFFERING by Ganapati Swami

Dear Srila Prabhupada,

Please accept my lowly obeisances in the dust of Your Divine lotus feet. All glories unto you. Just twenty-two years ago today, your Divine Grace was ecstatically anticipating your bold ways to the West to share with us the treasure of Krishna consciousness. As we reciprocated your affectionate advances and absorbed your flaming enthusiasm, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness naturally rose to fulfill your desire of a worldwide association of Vaishnavas. You wrote in the Ādi-līlā, ‘On these principles only does the Krishna consciousness movement go on. We have no business other than to talk of Krishna, worship Krishna, and chant the Hare Krishna mantra.’ You informed us that ISKCON is one of the branches of the Chaitanya tree, and as such, ‘Those who are actually servants of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu must seriously distribute this movement all over the world to render the greatest benefit to human society.’

Lord Chaitanya said He would be known as a pious man. It would be glorified with great pleasure if the fruits of love of God were distributed all over the world. Similarly, we can understand that your deserved reputation as the Lord’s right-hand representative will be expanded universally as this movement flourishes. As you explained, ‘However, don’t create any awkward situation that may be criticized. Caesar’s wife must be above suspicion. Up to now, as I have got a respectable situation, I wish that all my disciples will have a similar respectable position in society. That will keep my name good. Like father, like son.’

You mentioned to us to maintain the purity of the society, lest it become like the colored water in a show bottle. ‘Now people are seeing how genuine our movement is and are coming forward to offer us so many places. We simply have to maintain our strict principles, keeping ourselves pure. Otherwise, there are so many bogus institutions doing business in the name of God and simply cheating the people. We have to be careful not to degenerate like these others.’ To evoke a reverential and responsible attitude of service, you turned ISKCON as your body, the BBT as your heart, and all your faithful disciples as your limbs. ‘You are all the limbs of my body. Unless you cooperate, my life will be useless. The senses and life are co-related. Without life, the senses cannot act, and without senses, life is inactive.’ You taught us to identify the ISKCON society as our life and soul. Once, when one gentleman misjudged that attachment to ISKCON was mundane, you replied by explaining that because Krishna is absolute, Krishna and Krishna’s institution are non-different. To identify with Krishna’s institution was to identify with Krishna directly.

COMMENT

So, the question could be raised as to how this kind is not different from Krishna, but on the absolute platform, there is no difference between the Lord, His name, His qualities, His pastimes, His instructions. So, one of the pastimes of the Lord is to reclaim the fallen souls. So, as long as ISKCON is engaged in reclaiming the fallen souls, it is not different from the Lord. As long as the devotees in ISKCON are engaged in chanting the Lord’s names and following and repeating the Lord’s instructions, the Lord is present. So, ISKCON is actually meant to be an incarnation of the Lord. And therefore, Srila Prabhupada said that the index of a person’s Krishna consciousness is how much he appreciates ISKCON because ISKCON is the direct manifestation of Krishna’s order, Lord Chaitanya’s order, coming to us through Srila Prabhupada.

VYASA-PUJA OFFERING (continued)

Whenever some disciples wanted to leave ISKCON and become Krishna conscious independently, you chided them, saying that it was impossible. ‘But I do not advise that you approach the matter of perfecting your life in this independent way. Unless there is a connection with a bona fide spiritual master coming in the line of disciplic succession, there is no possibility of making progress in spiritual life. So, I have established ISKCON centers for the purpose of catching up the lotus feet of Krishna by intimate connection with the spiritual master. These are my authorized centers for that purpose.’

When others said that they had faith in you but not in your society, you commented, ‘When they say they don’t like ISKCON and the GBC, they are really saying that they don’t like to follow my order. That means they don’t like my order. That means they don’t have faith in my order. That means they don’t have faith in me. That means guru-aparādha—to say they have faith in me is just hypocrisy.’

When some challenged that the absolute spiritual nature was something different from following rules and running an organization, you strongly countered, ‘We have to be very organized, very strict. We cannot deviate an inch. We have a mission to cultivate all over the world. We have to print and distribute books, and open centers and train devotees. And we cannot do that unless we are very organized and efficient. And we have to conduct a mission to save the fallen souls, which is the desire of Lord Chaitanya and the previous acharyas. Then we have to organize the saṅkīrtana movement very nicely, and we have to be strict devotees.’ Again, you said, ‘Obedience is the first law of discipline. We are thinking of a great worldwide organization, which is not possible to be executed if there is disobedience.’

But you repeatedly emphasized that the whole system was to be based on spiritual love and trust, not mundane methods of management. Surrender and submission had to be voluntary. Respect had to be commanded, not demanded. ‘After all, you are all working so hard to please Krishna, only out of love for me. So, there is no question of force if love is there. We should never try to force anyone or reduce our society to an impersonal business exchange. This will kill everything. So, without this spirit of love and trust, it will be impossible for us to overcome the problems confronting ISKCON.’

In another letter, you very wonderfully described the Vaikuntha mentality needed for the success of our society. ‘You speak of pure devotee and you think only one person is a pure devotee, that he is śakty-āveśa-avatāra, that we should obey him only. These things are the wrong idea. If anyone thinks like that, that a pure devotee should be obeyed and no one else, that means he is a nonsense. We advise everyone to address one another as Prabhu. Prabhu means master. So, how should the master be disobeyed? Others, they are also pure devotees. All of my disciples are pure devotees. Anyone sincerely serving the spiritual master is a pure devotee. Why do you want to be in the spiritual sky only with one person? Why not all? We will have another ISKCON there.’

You further instructed us that this love and trust amongst godbrothers was only possible if we satisfied you, our spiritual father. ‘This organization is run not by bylaws, meetings, or vouchers, but by following the instructions of the spiritual master with sincerity. Whatever success I have is due to that. To one with faith in the spiritual master and Krishna comes knowledge of the scripture. Without that faith and sincerity, bylaws are useless.’ And we noted that our efforts were doomed if we displeased you. ‘You are right when you say that the movement will come to nothing if I am not satisfied with your actions.’

One godbrother recently complained that since now you are personally gone, all love and trust has disappeared from ISKCON, and we must find another forum for collaboration. But according to your instructions, there can be no other foundation for a spiritual society but love and trust. Thus, we seem to be hopelessly lost in the painful dilemma of choosing between the futile struggle for an illusory earthly co-alliance on one side, and merely giving up the ship on the other.

Some say that Krishna has left ISKCON, or that you have left ISKCON, reminding us of the rumors spread in 1970, which said that you had withdrawn your mercy. But I cannot believe that you have abandoned us because you are the most merciful father. You have taught us that the relationship of a father with his sons is that he will always extend his compassion towards his repentant sons, no matter how neglectfully or offensively they may have previously behaved. It is with this conviction that I beg you to purify our hearts and consciousness so that we can attract your attention and always appreciate your transcendental presence.

Please kick out our personal ambitions with your lotus feet. Help us to maintain this movement as you have requested us to do. ‘Your love for me will be shown by how much you cooperate to keep this institution together after I am gone. If you love me, you will not fight. Stay united. Don’t let this become another Gaudiya Matha. Maintain the society in my absence. Do not let it deteriorate.’

Help us spread Krishna consciousness throughout the world so that you will be proud you picked us out of maya’s gutter and engaged us in Lord Gauranga’s mission. Help us silence the critics who say that ISKCON is finished, when you said it is eternal. Where are they all now?

One last request I have from you, Srila Prabhupada, is that you and your disciples kindly not be offended by my intrigues to you on their behalf as well as mine. While I have no real love for you, I realize that many of my godbrothers do have genuine devotion to your lotus feet. As such, I’m especially speaking of myself when I speak of impurities and insufficiencies in character. If I can somehow be of assistance to your faithful disciples with my body, mind, and words, then my human form of life may have some value.

Praying at your lotus feet for your causeless mercy,

Ganapati dasa Swami.

COMMENT

So, considering the events that have taken place in the past and the reaction that has taken place among devotees, I feel that the question of how Srila Prabhupada wanted ISKCON to go on, especially in relation to the matter of authority, must be discussed. Sometimes the idea is presented, “Because so and so is not a pure devotee, I don’t have to obey him.” Sometimes the idea is presented that there are no pure devotees in ISKCON, so I don’t have to listen to anybody. But the system of authority that Srila Prabhupada set up is not based on the fact that devotees consider the other devotees to be pure or perfect.

In 1977, one disciple wanted to form a separate movement with himself as the leader, and Srila Prabhupada commented, “Even if so and so does think he is more advanced than I am, still, there has to be some authority.” So, the question of whether you think that someone else is advanced or not, or whether you think you are more advanced than someone else, doesn’t change the fact that there has to be some authority. And at that time, Srila Prabhupada commented that even with common sense, one can understand there must be some authority. In every organization, there is some authority. Although one has the right to express one’s own views, one ultimately has to accept the decision of the authority.

Srila Prabhupada gave the example that you are driving in a car with someone. So, you have an idea of how to get to the destination, and the driver has an idea of how to get to the destination. So, you think your idea is better, so you have the right to explain your idea to the driver. But ultimately, if the driver doesn’t accept your idea, you have to go along with the driver, the way the driver wants to go. But that does not mean that you cannot maintain within yourself the idea that your proposal was better.

Accepting a spiritual master means that you have faith in him, that he is the representative of God, and then what he tells you to do is coming from Krishna. Now, even if you don’t accept someone in a position of authority as a spiritual master, you still have to obey what he tells you to do. The difference is that within yourself, you may be convinced that you were right and he was wrong, and you even have the option of appealing to higher authority. But you cannot disobey his order. So, that is the standard procedure in any organization, and as we have to be very organized to spread Krishna consciousness, we have to be disciplined. And being disciplined means we have to be obedient.

Sometimes devotees would ask Srila Prabhupada, “Well, what if the authority gives the wrong instruction? Do we still have to follow it?” Srila Prabhupada said that unless the authority tells you not to chant your sixteen rounds or to follow the four principles, you have to follow the instruction. And then the devotee would ask, “Well, what if the authority gives wrong instructions time and time again?” Srila Prabhupada replied, “Well, if the situation is like that, then either I will correct the authority or I will remove the authority. But so, you have to follow what the authority says.”

And then when the devotees would ask, “What about my advancement?” Srila Prabhupada would reply, “Your advancement will be the same.” Because ultimately, you are following Srila Prabhupada’s instructions. If Srila Prabhupada instructs you to follow the temple president, so if you follow the temple president, you are actually following Srila Prabhupada’s instruction. And if you don’t follow the temple president, then you are disobeying Srila Prabhupada’s instruction, which means you don’t like Srila Prabhupada’s instruction, which means you don’t have faith in Srila Prabhupada’s instruction, which means you don’t have faith in Srila Prabhupada.

Of course, Srila Prabhupada wanted the society to run on the basis of love and trust, which means proper reciprocation between Vaishnavas. So therefore, we have to come to the platform of real devotees and not remain on the material platform. Because if we remain on the material platform, our whole consciousness will be polluted with material ideas like, “This is my friend, this is my enemy.”

And again, we come back to the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam because Srila Prabhupada also is not speaking from his own speculation or mental concoction. He is also speaking from the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and previous authorities. So, the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam advises us how we should relate with other devotees. We already discussed the general principle that we should make friendship with devotees.

But as we’ve been discussing, there are different types of devotees or different standards of devotees. But whatever our position is in relation to the other devotee, we always remain the servant of the other devotee. The other devotee always remains our Prabhu, whether in the scheme of management we are in a superior position or in the lesser position, the other devotee always remains Prabhu. Because even the spiritual master, even Srila Prabhupada, considered himself the servant of his disciples. He did the service of training the disciples to serve Krishna and his Guru Maharaja. So, even the spiritual master executes his duties in the mood of service to the Vaishnavas.

So, the Bhāgavatam instructs us that the proper way for a superior devotee to reciprocate with a lesser devotee is that he should take care of the lesser devotee in every respect. That is the spiritual way of dealing. And the lesser devotee, when dealing with the superior devotee, should inquire submissively of the superior devotee and execute the instructions of the superior devotee. And when devotees of equal standing meet, they should exchange realizations in Krishna consciousness and help each other in their service. This is the spiritual way of dealing, this is the Vaikuntha way of dealing.

And the material way of dealing is that the superior tries to exploit the subordinates. He tries to use the subordinate for his own purposes. And the mundane way of the subordinate dealing is that he is envious of the devotee in the superior position and wants to minimize him or pull him down. And the material way of equals meeting is that they become proud of themselves and consider themselves to be superior to others.

So, as long as we remain on the material platform, which basically comes from not properly following the process of Krishna consciousness or from attempting to follow it and at the same time committing offenses, as long as we remain on the material platform, our relationships will be polluted and our service to the spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, will be crippled. But the basis of our cooperation with each other is our love for Srila Prabhupada. And again, even if we say, “Well, we don’t have love,” but at least we should have obedience to Srila Prabhupada’s instructions, which means following the way of working that he left us. And then as Prahlada Maharaja says, when the Supreme Personality of Godhead is pleased, He will free us from animalistic conceptions or material conceptions, like, “This is my friend and this is my enemy.”

So, we have to come to the platform of madhyamādhikārī. But even if we are not really madhyamādhikārīs, but if we serve the instructions that Srila Prabhupada has given us, at least we will be able to serve the preaching mission. And by the mercy of Srila Prabhupada and the Supreme Personality of Godhead, we will be elevated stage by stage to perfection. So, we cannot artificially become like bābājīs.