Harikeśa: ...communication, the only way of talking to the spiritual master to communicate is verbal talking, the only way in which one can communicate with his spiritual master?
Prabhupāda: No, there are more.... (break) (?) ...instruction of spiritual master, that is actually communicating.
Devotee: Hm. (break)
Harikeśa: ...which I've always been afraid to ask, because I don't know if it's proper, but you being the external manifestation of Supersoul, if we are having questions, doubts, when, in your absence, if we are receiving indications, is there any possible way that someone who is so conditioned can have any understanding of proper action in your absence? In other words, if I am in your absence and I am in great doubt, and I am praying to Supersoul to please save me somehow, if I receive some action which I must do or some course of action becomes obvious, should I trust that, considering that you're communicating with me, or...?
Prabhupāda: That depends on purity. If one has become pure, without any material desire, then that is possible. But if there is some material desire, we cannot expect direct communication.
Harikeśa: So I have much material desire.
Prabhupāda: I do not say you or he. This is the process. This is the process.
Harikeśa: But in the meantime...
Prabhupāda: Huh?
Harikeśa: ...until we have reached the pure state...
Prabhupāda: In the meantime it is not possible...
Harikeśa: Not possible.
Prabhupāda: ...directly.
Harikeśa: So we must communicate with you verbally or through letters.
Prabhupāda: Not with spiritual master here. You cannot concoct, "Now I am getting directly." No.
Harikeśa: So the nature of the communication with the spiritual master in our state is only through...
Prabhupāda: Spiritual master... Kṛṣṇa is also spiritual master.
Harikeśa: Oh.
Prabhupāda: But Kṛṣṇa sends spiritual master, His representative, as you can appreciate, externally, directly. Otherwise, Kṛṣṇa is already spiritual master. He could give you instruction from the very beginning. But why He is sending His representative? What is the use?
Harikeśa: We're not able to...
Prabhupāda: Ah, because unless we are completely purified, Kṛṣṇa will, does not talk directly. Therefore you have to understand Kṛṣṇa through the spiritual master.
Harikeśa: So when we are having doubts, the only possible way, no matter what the indications are, are simply follow your instructions in all circumstances.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Harikeśa: Right. (break)
Prabhupāda: Kṛṣṇa wanted instruction of guru, not directly.
Harikeśa: Kṛṣṇa's...
Prabhupāda: That, that I was explaining in the morning.
Harikeśa: Yes.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Caitya-guru. One has to take the order of Kṛṣṇa through the media, via media of spiritual master.
Harikeśa: So all of my activities, unless they are directly following your order, are more or less a concoction of my mind.
Prabhupāda: Yes. (break) ...office, you cannot contact the proprietor directly. There are subordinate officers. Through them you have to take the proprietor's help. The office master is there. You have to satisfy the office master. You cannot directly approach the proprietor. If you satisfy the office master, then your promotion and other things is all right. But if you want to... I have got practical experience. One of my friend, he was working in office. So the proprietor was there and many other employees were there. So that my friend, he suggested something to the proprietor, and the proprietor immediately dismissed him: "Oh, this man want to suggest me. Dismiss immediately. Give him his pay he will require." In that I have got practical experience. He later on became so sorry. Now it is the process. So this is practical. We should not try to approach directly Kṛṣṇa. That is not the right way. Caitanya Mahāprabhu says, gopī-bhartuḥ pada-kamalayor dāsa-dāsa-dāsānudāsaḥ: (CC Madhya 13.80) "I am the servant of the servant of." So you have to serve your immediate master, dāsa-dāsānudāsaḥ, servant of the Supreme Lord. If you want to jump over the original master, that is not good. Then you will be dismissed like, like my friend.
Harikeśa: Associating with you is so wonderful, and yet...
Prabhupāda: Just like here in Vṛndāvana, I was here, as I am sitting here. I was sitting here in this very place. That was (indistinct). And when I was hungry I could take my food there, same place. So that is one thing. Just like there are many persons, but because my spiritual master wanted, so I, at seventy years old, when I thought, "Now I shall go," I went, to serve the order of my spiritual master. Otherwise I am sitting here in Vṛndāvana. I am old man, I was chanting. Therefore, because that is my first business.
Harikeśa: Were you just waiting to finish your books?
Prabhupāda: Yes. I was just creating the situation how I shall serve my spiritual master.
Harikeśa: Oh.
Prabhupāda: Not that I was trying to directly contact Kṛṣṇa. That was not my business. This is required. If anyone wants to contact directly Kṛṣṇa, that is not possible. (break)