"So these puffed-up persons cannot understand Krishna. One has to become very humble. Christ also says, 'The kingdom of God is for the humble and the meek.' That is actually... And Krishna also says, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. This is the beginning of humbleness: 'Yes, I have nothing, insignificant.' Bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam [Bg. 7.19]. This is real knowledge, to remain always insignificant before guru -- Krishna. Then it is profit. If somebody thinks that 'I have become more than my guru, more than Krishna,' then he is finished. So one should become very humble and meek. It doesn't matter where he is situated, either this institutionally, brahmacari, grhastha, vanaprastha, sannyasa. Even one has taken sannyasa, he should remain always humble. So never we should think that 'I have become very big personality.' That was the instruction of my Guru Maharaja, that bada vaisnava -- 'I am very big Vaisnava. Everyone should come and obey my orders' -- this is condemned position.

The real position is one should be very humble and meek. Jnane prayasam udapasya namanta eva. Namanta means humble. One should be prepared to learn from... Namanta eva san-mukhari... Those who are pure devotee. From them one should be very much anxious to hear. That, the same thing, anyabhilasita-sunyam [Brs. 1.1.11]. Who has no other desire in the material world except to serve Krishna, he is pure devotee. So one should be anxious in humbleness to hear from such personality. Sthane... It doesn't require to change. There are so many questions sometimes: whether it is necessary to take sannyasa and it is... By the routine work, it is necessary. But if one is serious, so for him it is not necessary -- ahaituky apratihata -- because for a serious student of devotion, Krishna is in his hand. So anyway, even if you are a sannyasi or grhastha or vanaprastha, it doesn't matter. You should remain very humble. That is required. Sthane sthitah. And you should hear from the realized soul in humbleness. Then the Krishna, the great, He will be conquered by you."

(Srila Prabhupada lecture, Mayapur, February 10, 1976)

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