Those who misrepresent the parampara—or themselves as belonging submissively to it—suffer a reaction. Those who serve the parampara are protected, because they are acting on the orders of their seniors. Such devotees can spread Lord Caitanya’s message to every town and village.
(Lecture- SB 4.1.2, Moscow, Sept 1996)
Someone may claim to represent the disciplic succession, but if he is not submissive to the previous acaryas, his words are worth nothing.
(Lecture- SB 4.1.2, Moscow, Sept 1996)
If we strictly follow our spiritual masters order, we can overcome all the imperfections that come with having accepted a material body.
(Lecture- Srila Prabhupada's Vyasa Puja, Almaty 1995)
I realized the necessity of getting confirmation within my heart that my decisions were in accordance with Srila Prabhupada's will. The disciple should look for this confirmation, beginning right from the time of accepting a spiritual master, and continuing all along his/her path of devotional service.
Collected Letters Written to Friends and Disciples Vol 4, Pg 70-76, 2nd paragraph
Genuine humility and service are both powerful ways to repair spiritual relationships.
Collected Letters Written to Friends and Disciples Vol 4, Pg 70-71, last paragraph
I am sure that you must have heard before these points which I've just made. I repeat them again and again in my lectures and in personal instructions. But the key to realizing them will come only when these points are applied with faith in one's life
Collected Letters Written to Friends and Disciples Vol 4, Pg 54, 3rd paragraph
After hearing these points, please don't try to judge others by whether or not they are following these principles. First apply them yourself, and if you do so sincerely, you will practically see for yourself (vijnana) how much more satisfied (internally) you will become with your simple devotional duties. Without spiritual satisfaction, you will not be in a position to judge whether others are rightly situated or not.
Collected Letters Written to Friends and Disciples Vol 4, Pg 54-55, last paragraph
The gathering needs to be centered more on hari-katha and less on management. Devotees need to prepare philosphical presentations for their group gatherings; there needs to be a good leader who can inspire participation in discussion; and there needs to be a strong desire amongst all the members to participate in this part of your meetings. If the deisre is there, then a natural enthusiasm can be generated. But if everyone carries all of their old predispositions about each other to the meetings, then unfortunately, the meetings will go nowhere. The power is in all of your hands to change. All of you have realizations to share. If, in the beginning, you at least force yourselves to share them and to sincerely listen to each other, then things will improve.
Collected Letters Written to Friends and Disciples Vol 4, Pg 55, last
Living financially independent, and working independent from the society of devotees, can better help a devotee to live by the teachings of Bhagavad-Gita - by not being idle, artifically maintained, and thus unengaged in their "material" duties, and by becoming more appreciative of the available time for their spiritual duties - hearing, chanting, remembering, worshipping the deity etc. When living by these principles then one's so-called "material" duties are not material at all, but rather they become a support to their spiritual duties. This is called gauna dharma.When one lives by these principles, and does so with the right understanding, then their association with devotees becomes more meaningful and complete.
Collected Letters Written to Friends and Disciples Vol 4, Pg 54, 2nd paragraph
Many devotees living within a temple or spiritual community, live very imbalanced lives. Either they lack sufficient motivation to be more fully engaged, both internally and externally, and this therefore contributes to their lack of self satisfaction, or they resent being pressured by the temple or community administration to be more engaged, also both internally and externally, than they wish to be engaged, and this also contributes to their lack of self-satisfaction. Thus there is no harmony in their lives, but only dissatisfaction.
Collected Letters Written to Friends and Disciples Vol 4, Pg 54, 1st paragraph