Submitted by: Damagosha Dasa
Srila Prabhupada states that HE is the representative of God.
Jan 28 1977–
Pṛthu-putra: …to show me. They were telling me that “You are going to see the representative of God.” And when I came to that vision, I saw the person. At that time I didn’t know who (it) was. But I had some doubts in my mind, and I was thinking, “Oh, that’s probably another kind of propaganda.” This was all in the dream. But when I came to that person sitting on the elevated seat in that forest, surrounded by many, many devotees, that person looked at me and proved to me that he was the representative of God. But after, I forgot. Maybe one year or something like this. One or two years after…
Prabhupāda: So there is no doubt about it that I am the representative of God.
Pṛthu-putra: Yes. But when I was…
Prabhupāda: Either you dream or not dream, I claim.
Pṛthu-putra: Yes. But this thing was just confirming. When I saw you the first time in Amsterdam, you were the same person that I saw in my dream one or two years previously.
Prabhupāda: That… You have read Caitanya-caritāmṛta? Guru-tattva. Guru-tattva. So there it is clearly said that guru is the manifestation of God. So it is confirmed in the śāstra. And all the ācāryas accept it. Yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādaḥ **.
Satsvarūpa: But is it possible to also learn spiritual truths from this…, from representatives on the subtle plane?
Prabhupāda: There is no question of subtle plane. You are on the gross plane. You first of all study gross things, and subtle, we shall see later on.
Regarding how unqualified people end up choosing the wrong person
Room conversation Bombay Jan 8 1977–The people are wrong. They do not know who is the right man. Any rascal makes some intrigue, and he gets vote. And then they detect, “Oh, he’s the wrong man.” Again another is taken. Punaḥ punaś carvita-carvaṇānām [SB 7.5.30]. And what is the guarantee that another man is right? Because the process is wrong.
Accept guru who is infallible-otherwise is is useless
Oct 3 1976 Vrndavana–But Kṛṣṇa, as soon as He was accepted by Arjuna as guru… Śiṣyas te ‘haṁ śādhi māṁ prapannam: [Bg. 2.7] “Now, Kṛṣṇa, I accept You as my guru. Not as friend.” Because friendly talking is useless waste of time. He accepted Him as guru. When guru speaks, you cannot argue. That is not the process. You should accept a guru who is infallible. Otherwise it is useless. He accepted guru Kṛṣṇa because Kṛṣṇa is infallible. If we accept guru, a bogus guru, then it is no benefit. Guru means Kṛṣṇa’s representative. Not that everyone can be guru.
It is your mistake if you take to the wrong guru
June 28 1976 Vrndavana–So Kṛṣṇa’s present by His words, by His representative. Why don’t you take? You have to take guru. Why do you go to the pseudo guru who will mislead you? Why don’t you take to the real guru? That is your mistake. Therefore you are now disappointed. Now you are in doubt whether guru is needed. Yes, guru is needed, but you go to the real guru. That is instruction in the Bhagavad-gītā.
We have to select a guru by whose order we wont make mistakes
March 2 1966 NY—Now, to take such guidance means the spiritual master should also be a very perfect man. Otherwise, how can he guide? …Therefore one has to select a spiritual master whose order, carrying, you’ll not commit a mistake. You see? Now, suppose if you accept a wrong person as spiritual master, and if you, if he guides you wrongly, then your whole life is spoiled. So one has to accept a spiritual master whose guidance will make his life perfect. That is the relation between spiritual master and disciple. It is not a formality. It is a great responsibility both for the disciple and for the spiritual master.
Imitation and following are two different things
NoI 5–However, one should not imitate the behavior of an advanced devotee or maha-bhagavata without being self-realized, for by such imitation one will eventually become degraded.
Falldown guaranteed for one who tries to overtake his Spiritual master
SB 5.12.14 As soon as a foolish disciple tries to overtake his spiritual master and becomes ambitious to occupy his post. he immediately falls down. Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado yasyaprasadan na gatih kuto ‘pi.
Conversation Nov 2 1977 Vrndavana--“Only Lord Caitanya can take my place. He will take care of the movement.