A spiritual master takes his disciples as his spiritual master. That is the position. He thinks that “Krsna has sent me so many spiritual master.” He does not think himself as spiritual master; he thinks himself their servant. Because they have to be trained. Krsna has appointed him to train them. Therefore he thinks himself as the servant of the disciples. This is the position. So when one is advanced, he can see the importance of devotee.

Advanced devotee never disobey or disrespect another devotee. Disrespect to another devotee is a great offense, vaisnava-aparadha. Vaisnava-aparadha is very serious offense. Therefore we teach to address amongst the devotees, “Prabhu,” “Prabhu,” “Such and such Prabhu.” This should not be simply spoken by the lips; it should be realized. Everyone should think other devotee as his prabhu, master, not he should try to become master.

trnad api sunicena
taror api sahisnuna
amanina manadena…

Manadena. We should be always ready to offer respect to all, not only devotees, but everyone. Everyone.

Because every living entity is originally a devotee of Krsna. But circumstantially, being covered by the coat of maya, he’s playing like demon. But his original nature is a devotee of Krsna. Jivera svarupa haya nitya krsnera dasa [Cc Madhya 20.108-109]. Everyone is eternally servant of Krsna. But being influenced by maya, when he gets this body, given by maya… Prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah. [Bg 3.27] When he’s conducted by the three gunas of maya, he thinks himself otherwise. He thinks himself independent of Krsna. But actually, nobody is independent of Krsna.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on The Nectar of Devotion – October 23, 1972, Vrndavana