Without surrender to the spiritual master and disciplic succession, there is no beginning of spiritual life—only smoke, never flame.Listen — Srila Prabhupada Uvaca
Room Conversation with Bhūrijana and Other Devotees — July 1, 1974, Melbourne 740701R1-MELBOURNE [37:17 Minutes] Conv_740701R1-MELBOURNE Prabhupāda: That is sense. [laughs] Otherwise nonsense, that's all. It is up to us to take up the sense or nonsense. The direction is there.
Satsvarūpa: arjuna uvāca naṣṭo mohaḥ smṛtir labdhā tvat-prasādān mayācyuta sthito 'smi gata-sandehaḥ kariṣye vacanaṁ tava [Bg. 18.73] "Arjuna said, My dear Kṛṣṇa, O infallible one, my illusion is now gone. I have regained my memory by Your mercy, and I am now firm and free from doubt and am prepared to act according to Your instructions." Prabhupāda: This is sense. [pause] Bhūrijana: Prabhupāda, I think my illusion is not yet dispelled.
Prabhupāda: Then unfortunate. Bhūrijana: Yes.
Prabhupāda: Continue. [laughter] Who can check? Bhūrijana: I want to understand in this sense, though, exactly how far your instructions are, because I know I want to do it, what you say, but I am not exactly...
Prabhupāda: You are old student. Bhūrijana: Yeah. Prabhupāda: If you still cannot understand what is my instruction, then how can I help you? New students may say like that. You are intelligent, educated, old student. If you say...
[long, silent pause] Our movement is that beginning of spiritual life is to surrender. If there is no surrendering, then is no advance. Sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja [Bg. 18.66]. This is the beginning.
If that thing is lacking, there is no beginning even, what to speak of advancement. That is discussed already. Na siddhim sa avāpnoti na sukhaṁ na parāṁ gatih [Bg. 16.23]. This is the beginning of spiritual life.