to the demigods and other Vaisnavas. Without the spiritual master's sanction one cannot engage in Radha-Krsna worship. Before chanting the holy name, the disciple should remember the spiritual master and his instructions.

"One who disrespects the spiritual master commits a serious offense that will expel him from the path of pure devotion. The spiritual master, Lord Krsna, and the Vaisnavas must be worshipped with equal devotional fervor. Undeviating faith and devotion in the spiritual master will lead to pure chanting and the final goal of obtaining love of God—krsna-prema.

When to reject a guru

"If by some misfortune the spiritual master falls into bad association, he gradually loses his spiritual realization and potency. At the time the disciple met him, the guru was bona fide and realized, but later, due to offenses against the holy name (namaparadha), he became bewildered by maya and bereft of knowledge.

The real value of the body lies not in the organization of its components, but rather in the self, in the person who operates and uses that body.
Science of Identity Foundation | Jagad Guru Speaks

In this condition he detests Vaisnava company and the chanting of the holy name; gradually he becomes enslaved by lust, greed, wealth and women. If by the mercy of Lord Krsna the disciple can see through all this, then he will reject his guru. Later he can again seek a bona fide and pure devotee and under his spiritual guidance cultivate the pure name.

Guru and disciple must test one another

"The spiritual master must be strict with his disciples. He must correct a prospective disciple before initiating him, and punish the wayward initiated ones. A disciple's spiritual life is rendered useless if he serves and worships an unqualified guru. But as long as the relationship between the spiritual master and the disciple is stable (i.e. each remains qualified in his position) then there is no question of one rejecting the other.

"The guru-disciple relationship is eternal. If both maintain their pure positions and are bona fide, their eternal relationship is never jeopardized. However, if the spiritual master is later exposed as perfidious, the disciple must immediately repudiate him.