(Srila Prabhupada in San Francisco, 1967)
Devotee: Sometimes this question comes up, with the devotees especially, that it says the devotee makes advancement when the spiritual master is pleased. Right?
So sometimes the spiritual master is far, far away. He may be in Los Angeles. Somebody is coming to Hamburg temple. He thinks, "How will the spiritual master be pleased?"
Prabhupāda: Just follow his order. Spiritual master is along with you by his words. Just like my spiritual master is not physically present, but I am associating with him by his words.
Devotee: And Kṛṣṇa knows that; therefore we make advancement. He is sitting in our heart. He knows what we’re doing. So He sees, "He’s serving My pure devotee," immediately there is advancement.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Spiritual master…, Kṛṣṇa is not limited. It is not material. You can associate with Kṛṣṇa and the spiritual master in any circumstance, provided you want two things. Just like we can associate with Kṛṣṇa immediately if we take Bhagavad-gītā as it is. He is not different from Bhagavad-gītā.
Nāma-rūpe kali-kāle kṛṣṇa-avatāra (CC Ādi 17.22). Kṛṣṇa is incarnated in His name in this age. You associate with Kṛṣṇa’s name, immediately associate with Kṛṣṇa.
Devotee (2): And his devotees.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
(Srila Prabhupada Lecture, London, July 7, 1972)
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