Serving The Spiritual Master’s Lotus Feet

Serving The Spiritual Master’s Lotus Feet
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura
A real disciple accepts his spiritual master as the servitor form of God, and hence most dear to Krishna. He never considers his spiritual master inferior to the Lord in any way. A sincere disciple serves and worships his spiritual master as if he were God. Those who do not follow this principle fall down from their position as disciples. Until we see the spiritual master as a manifestation of and non-different from the Supreme Lord, we will not be able to chant the Lord’s name purely. A genuine disciple must possess firm determination and faith in his spiritual master, thinking, “I will serve my spiritual master and Lord Gauranga with utmost simplicity. I will follow my spiritual master’s in-structions, which have descended here from the Supreme Lord. I will never disobey my spiritual master’s orders despite the influence of anyone in this world. If following my spiritual master means I must become proud or become an animal or go to hell forever, I will still never hesitate. I will not follow anyone other than my spiritual master. I will destroy the current of mundane thought by the strength of his instructions. If my spiritual master showers even a particle of pollen from his lotus feet upon the world, then millions of people will be delivered. There is no knowledge or proper code of conduct in the fourteen worlds that weighs more than a particle of dust from the lotus feet of my spiritual master.”
– Amṛta Vāṇī: Nectar of Instructions of Immortality of His Divine Grace Bahk¬tisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada; Compiled by Sripada Bahkti Mayukha Bhagavat Maharaja; Adapted and Published by Isvara dasa; Touchstone Media.