Prabhupada: And in paramahamsa stage there is no such discrimination. He sees everyone is engaged in service of the Lord. He does not envy anyone, he does not see anything, anybody. But that is another stage. We should not imitate, try to imitate, but we may know that paramahamsa is the highest stage of perfection. Just like as a preacher we have to point out… Just like I told this boy, "You sit down like this." But a paramahamsa will not say. A paramahamsa, he sees, rather: "He is all right." He sees. But we should not imitate paramahamsa. Because we are preacher, we are teacher, we should not imitate paramahamsa. We must tell the right source, right course.

Revatinandana: You must be higher than the paramahamsa stage, Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: I am lower than you. I am lower than you.

Revatinandana: You are so beautiful. You are paramahamsa, but still, you are preaching to us.

Prabhupada: No, I am lower than you. I am the lowest of the all creatures. I am simply trying to execute the order of my spiritual master. That's all. That should be the business of everyone. Try best. Try your best to execute the higher order. That is the safest way of progressing. One may be in the lowest stage, but if he tries to execute the duty entrusted upon him, he is perfect. He may be in lowest stage, but because he is trying to execute the duty entrusted to him, then he is perfect. That is the consideration.

(December 19, 1970, Surat)