Hare Krsna-below we have a very instructive conversation by Srila Prabhupada with a reporter. Srila Prabhupada directlys communicates with Lord Krsna-He says a pure devotee does this DIRECTLY, NOT FIGURATIVELY.
Unless one is on this level he cannot be spiritual master.
Hare Krsna
Damaghosa das
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Conversations : 1976 Conversations : July, 1976 : Interview with Newsday Newspaper — July 14, 1976, New York : 760714iv.ny :
Interviewer: In the same way I’m curious with respect to the way Kṛṣṇacommunicates with you, whether it’s in a similar kind of way that He gives you your necessities.
Bali–mardana: In other words, when you decide that someone is to be in charge of a particular temple does Kṛṣṇa tell you that this person should be in charge.
Interviewer: Or do you by judging him say this person is qualified.
Prabhupāda: Yes, because a devotee always consults Kṛṣṇa and He gives order.
Interviewer: It’s a more direct communication.
Prabhupāda: Yes. And He gives order.
Rāmeśvara: Because intelligence, our philosophy is that intelligence comes from Kṛṣṇa. So if I have some…
Interviewer: And your philosophy is that your daily necessities come from Kṛṣṇa as well.
Rāmeśvara: Yes, try to understand. Suppose my intelligence sees that this person isqualified, that means Kṛṣṇa has told me.
Prabhupāda: No, not necessarily, Kṛṣṇa will tell directly. A devotee always consultsKṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa tells him, “Do like this.” Not figuratively.
Interviewer: Does that apply then to other kinds of decisions and other kinds of activities as well?
Prabhupāda: Everything. Because a devotee does not do anything without consultingKṛṣṇa.
Bali–mardana: But that applies to a very greatly elevated soul, that is not an ordinaryperson.
Prabhupāda: That is, therefore the minor devotees, they consult the spiritual master.That is our process. Yasya prasādād bhagavat–prasādaḥ **.
Rāmeśvara: I see, I was trying to explain the minor devotees.
Interviewer: No, I was talking about…
Rāmeśvara: You’re talking about the topmost level.
Interviewer: Yes.
Bali–mardana: He’s getting right to the source.(laughter) Right to the top.
Interviewer: That will do it for me, I thank you, kindly.
Prabhupāda: Give him prasādam.
Bali–mardana: We were going to take care of him.
Prabhupāda: Thank you for your coming. Take this flower. (end)