When did you become the spiritual leader of Krishna consciousness?

[krsna]

Guest: "When did you become the spiritual leader of Krishna consciousness?"

Srila Prabhupada: "When my Guru Maharaja ordered me. This is the guru-parampara. Try to understand. Don’t go very speedily. A guru can become a guru when he’s ordered by his guru. That’s all. Otherwise, nobody can become guru."

(Conversation, October 28, 1975, Nairobi)

 

"The guru must be situated on the topmost platform of devotional service. There are three classes of devotees, and the guru must be accepted from the topmost class... When one has attained the topmost position of maha-bhagavata, he is to be accepted as guru and worshiped exactly like Hari, the Personality of Godhead. Only such a person is eligible to occupy the post of a guru."

(Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya 24.330, Purport, citing Padma Purana)

 

“One should take initiation from a bona fide spiritual master coming in the disciplic succession, who is authorized by his predecessor spiritual master. This is called diksa-vidhana. Lord Krishna states in Bhagavad-gita, vyapasrita: one should accept a spiritual master. By this process the entire world can be converted to Krishna consciousness.”

(Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.8.54, Purport)

 

Disciple: "Srila Prabhupada, when you are not present with us, how is it possible to receive instructions--for example, on questions that may arise?"

Srila Prabhupada: "Well, the answers are there in my books."

Disciple: "Other than that--for example, [questions] that we would ask you in [specific daily matters]. Do you direct us, also, through the heart? Besides the Paramatma?"

Srila Prabhupada: "If your heart is pure. Everything depends on purity."

(Conversation, May 13, 1973, Los Angeles)

 

Guest: "Are you planning to choose a successor?"

Srila Prabhupada: "It is already successful. A genuine thing is always a success."

Disciple: "One thing he's saying, this gentleman--and I would like to know: Is your successor named?"

Srila Prabhupada: "My success is always there. Yes. Just like the sun is there always. It may come before your vision or not--the sun is there. But if you are fortunate, you come before the sun. Otherwise, you remain in darkness. The sun is open to everyone. Our Krishna consciousness movement--Krishna is open to everyone. But if you are fortunate, you come to the light. If you are unfortunate, you do not. That is your choice." (Conversation, February 12, 1975, Mexico City) :pray: