Returning to the Eternal Religion
267
water. The solution comes when rain from the clouds falls on the forest fire. Only then can the fire be extinguished. That ability is not in your hands, but is in the mercy of God. So, human society is in a confused state, and it cannot find a solution. The spiritual master is one who has received the mercy of God, and he can deliver the solution to the confused man. One who has received the mercy of God can become a spiritual master and deliver that mercy to others.
Mr. O'Grady:  The problem is to find this spiritual master.
Śrīla Prabhupāda:  That is not the problem. The problem is whether you are sincere. You have problems, but God is within your heart.  Īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānām . God is not far away. If you are sincere, God sends you a spiritual master. Therefore God is also called  caitya-guru , the spiritual master within the heart. God helps from within and from without. Everything is thus described in the  Bhagavad-gītā . This material body is like a machine, but within the heart is the soul, and with the soul is the Supersoul,  Kṛṣṇa , who gives directions. The Lord says, "You wanted to do this; now here is the chance. Go and do it." If you are sincere, you say, "Now, God, I want You." Then He will give you directions. "Yes, now you come and get Me like this." This is His kindness. However, if we want something else, that is all right. We can have it. God is very kind. When I want something, He is in my heart directing me and telling me how to have it. So why should He not give directions on how to have a spiritual master? First of all we must again be eager to revive our God consciousness. Then God will give us a spiritual master.
Mr. O'Grady:  Thank you very much.
Śrīla Prabhupāda:  Thank you very much. My request to you is this. You are a poet. Just describe God. You are expert in describing, and therefore I ask you to kindly describe God in your occupation. Then your life will be successful. And if one hears you, his life will also be successful. That is the injunction:
idaṁ hi puṁsas tapasaḥ śrutasya vā sviṣṭasya sūktasya ca buddhi-dattayoḥ avicyuto 'rthaḥ kavibhir nirūpito yad uttamaśloka-guṇānuvarṇanam
[Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.5.22]
There are many leaders in society who are poets, scientists, religionists, philosophers, politicians, and so on. Those who are so expert are given this injunction: your duty is to perfect your occupation by describing the glories of the Supreme Being.