Reference to Vaishnava Literatures: Nectar of Instruction

Q. Srila Prabhupada said in certain places that one should accept a spiritual master whose guidance will make one's life perfect. Would it make any difference to one's spiritual progress if the spiritual master one accepted was:

Q. I live in a devotee community and often feel that I don't know how to associate with others. I love them and try to serve them but all too often I just don't feel emotionally safe in their association. I don't feel free to be open in case they hurt me and thus I am wasting my life constantly holding back (defending like a kicked dog). I am desperate for some clarification on this point.

Q. In some ISKCON temples, we see that celebrations are held for Rama-navami for example, and pictures of Sita Rama Lakshman Hanuman are displayed and revered by those who have some particular affection for those personalities. However, it seems that to honor Allah or Jehovah, Jesus Christ or Lord Buddha alongside Krishna would not be as readily acceptable. Someone asked me recently if there was any type of ceremony on Christmas and seemed a little surprised that nothing was done.

Q. 1. Time-management is a big issue for students. While it is important to be responsible in our studies, there is also a desire to spend more time in spiritual activities. How can a neophyte with a very biased priority learn to balance time between sadhana, other spiritual activities and day-to-day work?

Q. 1. In ISKCON devotees always say that we should talk about Lord only. I work in a public sector corporation. I have many friends; they are materially very much attached. They tease me and they even tease my Lord.
 

Q. In the loving association of devotees, I am very slowly developing an "unmotivated" love for the wonderful devotees. But somehow I am also simultaneously realizing, that there is a lot of impersonal attitude towards others who are not devotees of Krishna.

Q. I have read in many places about the phrase 'fall down'. I am a bit confused about what is the meaning of fall down of a devotee?

What does it actually mean when we say a devotee (both a neophyte and a elevated devotee) has fallen down? When can I consider that I have fallen down? Is it that when we deviate from the instructions of the spiritual master in a broader sense, or is it when we break any regulative principle; or is it both, or is it anything else? A Pure devotee cannot fall down (by Krishna's Grace). For aspiring devotees like us, since we are not pure, we are anyways fallen. So how can we identify that event of fall down  and take a recourse action to reinstate ourselves?

Q. From the beginning on, I have been completely unable to fit in with the devotees. The major issue seems to be my lack of faith or confidence in the process, and the devotees do not seem to tolerate that. For the most part at the nama-hatta, nobody speaks to me at all, and if they do, it is usually in a patronizing, condescending tone. Unless I initiate a conversation, barely anyone ever talks to me. I therefore feel like I am merely an impostor and that they would rather see I wouldn't be there at all.

Q. In one recent Question and Answer session with another devotee, you mentioned the importance of honesty. How can one who has no honesty like me get this quality? I feel the natural tendency to make others feel everything is good, that I am good and expert. The mind is always seeking for ways to get attention and appreciation from others. I even don’t have to do it purposely, it is rooted so deep in me, and just happens even without notice most of the time. I am such a pretender. How can I uproot this anartha?

Q. In one of your lecture/discussion, where you are speaking about preaching or sharing Krishna consciousness with other people, you say something like, ''... if the door isn't open, don't try to go in.'