By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
We have to receive mercy both from the spiritual master and Krishna. We cannot jump over to Krishna. That is another nonsense. We must approach Krishna through guru. That is paramparā system. Krishna is not so cheap thing that you can jump over. Somebody says, “Oh, why shall I accept guru? I can approach Krishna directly.” No. Krishna does not accept such…
Mad-bhaktah pūjābhyadhikah: Krishna says that “First of all you become devotee of My devotee.” Caitanya Mahāprabhu says, gopī-bhartuh pada-kamalayor dāsa-dāsa-dāsānudāsah: “I am the servant of the servant of the servant of Krishna [Cc. Madhya 13.80].” This is called paramparā system. You have to learn how to become servant of the servant of Krishna. The more you become in the lower position—servant, servant, servant, servant, servant, hundreds times servant, servant—then more you are advanced. Here in this material world everyone is trying to be master of the master. Just opposite. And the spiritual world, the endeavor is to become servant’s servant. This is the secret. Continue reading