Everyone is in a bona fide disciplic succession provided he keeps that tradition. Apani acari prabhu jive sikhaila. One must behave that “I belong to this disciplic succession. I must keep myself fit for the post.” Then it is all right. If he deviates, then he deviates the disciplic succession. Hare Krsna. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says frankly that… This is disciplic succession. Amara ajnaya: “Just carry out My order.” Then you are in disciplic succession. If you do not keep yourself in the order of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, then simply by becoming disciple, you are not in the disciplic succession. This is disciplic succession. Caitanya Mahaprabhu said this clearly, amara ajnaya guru hana tara ei: “Wherever you live, you become a spiritual master.” How? Yare dekha tare kaha krsna-upadesa: “Whomever you meet, you only speak what Krsna has instructed.”

Srila Prabhupada — Morning Walk, March 9, 1974, Mayapura