"No one should disobey the order of the spiritual teacher. Therefore one should select a spiritual teacher whose order, by fulfilling it, you will not make a mistake. Look at it this way: Suppose you accept a wrong person as a spiritual teacher and if he guides you incorrectly, then your whole life is ruined. So one must accept a spiritual teacher whose guide will make your life perfect. That is the relationship between the spiritual teacher and the disciple. It is not a formality. It is a great responsibility for both the disciple and for the spiritual teacher." (Prabhupada Conference on the Bhagavad-gītā such as is 2.7-11, New York, March 2, 1966)