Q) What is most pleasing to the spiritual master or the preceptor?
A) The most pleasing thing is that the devotee becomes a pure lover of Krishna. Like Krishna says in Bhagavad-gita 8.7, that when one is mindfully absorbed in Krishna, with intelligence engaged in Krishna's service, he will attain Krishna without a doubt. So, become like that and be like that.

Balarama carries the plow to take out the dirty stuff in the heart. Prabhupada writes in Krsna Book that the name Balarama means spiritual strength. "Bala means strength, but is means spiritual strength. One cannot attain the supreme platform of self-realization without being sufficiently favored by Balarama. Bala does not mean physical strength. One must have the spiritual strength which is infused by Balarama." So when you think of Balarama, you can remember that He gives spiritual strength so that you can reach Krsna, so that you can serve Krsna. There are things that you like to do or that are helpful for you to do in service to Krsna, but sometimes you don't do them. And there are some things you know are not so good to do, but you still do them. Isn't it?

"Balarama's regard or mood in relation to Krsna is servitude. In all cases, without exception, Balarama is in the mood of servitude. In fact, because Balarama is the first expansion of Krsna, then we can say that from Balarama that all other expansions come. The first Sankarsana, and then the catur-vyuha, and Lord Narayana, then the second catur-vyuha, then the purusa-avataras, all living entities and all empowerments that go to those living entities, and the issuing forth of the material creation from the body of Maha-Visnu, all expansions flow from Balarama.

The representative of Krsna can be seen as good as Krsna. He is surcharged with Krsna's potencies. That person's association is so valuable. That is why we should very very very very attentively hear whatever instructions come, because the potency is there. If we just happen to muster up enough attentiveness and humility to hear Prabhupada's purports, or his lectures, messages, or instructions in some way, and take them to heart…it's sufficient to liberate one completely, just in that moment! What to speak of regularly hearing?!

Q) How can one be a better instrument of a great soul who is empowered by Krishna to do wonderful things?
A) Life circumstances are very different for different individuals. Being an instrument of a great personality does not necessarily mean becoming the executor of the services immediately on their left side or right side. It may be more remote. That was my service in relation to Srila Prabhupada, so I can speak from my own experience.

Understand the message, and understand the mood of that great personality, and live it! We may be physically or geographically remote, but be a walking or a perambulatory emissary wherever you are. Exemplify their teachings, and in that way you are an instrument.

Vyasa-puja is honoring Srila Vyasadeva. We are offering puja to Vyasadeva, and by honoring those who represent Vyasadeva we are honoring Vyasadeva. Vyasa-puja is the honoring of that person, or those persons, who are nurturing our relationship with Krsna by delivering Krsna’s message, the Srimad-Bhagavatam in particular. The topics of Srimad-Bhagavatam are very very wonderful, deep, and profound. The more you enter into those topics, you feel the presence of Krsna. Those feelings make you want to go deeper, unendingly.

Srila Prabhupada said that when he read that commentary by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarthi Thakura on Bhagavad-Gita 2.41 (about making the instructions of the spiritual master one's life and soul), it struck him. He knew, "I can't procrastinate any more. I can't simply say I am not qualified, or I am not ready yet. It doesn't matter. I must do this." In essence, that statement by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarthi Thakura catapulted Srila Prabhupada across the Atlantic Ocean to America. So powerful is that message! We are deeply indebted to Srila Visvanatha Cakravarthi Thakura, and to Srila Prabhupada for receiving that message as his life and soul.

By the descending process of mercy, some attachment to serving Krsna comes. We develop a little attachment to serve Krsna; what follows behind that is: 'As I come before Krsna, how can I develop the quality that the Lord is pleased?

Instructions are meant to be followed, understandings that are given by the spiritual master are to be implemented in one's life, commitments are to be actually applied in one's life, the things that one hears in classes are meant for practical application also – these are all instructions along the same line, which are telling the attentive audience that devotional service is practical, not just a "shmooz time" when talking on spiritual topics. It is meant to be practically implemented, and when one does so, then spiritual progress takes place. That implementation may be problematic, and it may require relinquishing of attachments and patterns of behavior, etc. But instructions are for application, in practical terms. That is my repeated point.

Discipline is not a word that most people like, because it sounds harsh. However, there is also a loving kind of discipline, wherein discipline means making oneself obedient to something that will elevate one in a spiritual sense. In Srila Prabhupada's words, "there is no disciple without discipline". It is kind of self-evident. How can one be a disciple without being disciplined? So, discipline is a voluntary function, one in which we submit to the instruction or the understanding that is being imparted.