Srila Gurudeva: You should know that the association of a Vaisnava or Guru are of two kinds. One is saraga and the other is niraga. Those who are attached even today with worldly desires, who want some money, some fame, and other things that worldly people want, he is saraga. He may give some teachings to you, he can teach, but the effect of that association will be temporary. Like for example we can see that Bhagavan dasa and Jaya-Tirtha and so many, they were not qualified. Some fruit came, but it was temporary. It was not permanent.
A niraga bhakta, a niraga Gurudeva, he has no worldly attachment. He is not involved in making money. He always tries to help the needy persons who are sincere and mercifully gives them his association. He has no desire for any selfish gain or anything worldly. He only thinks that, “By doing so, by helping this sincere devotee, Krsna will be happy and my Gurudeva will be happy.” To attain the mercy of Gurudeva and Krsna, they associate and give initiation, otherwise not.
mahad-vicalanam nrnam grhinam dina-cetasam
nihsreyasaya bhagavan kalpate nanyatha kvacit
Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.8.4
[O Narada, great saintly persons like you visit the homes of family men, not to profit from them but simply to bestow eternal auspiciousness upon them, even though they are often reluctant to hear anything for their spiritual benefit, being too materialistic. Otherwise you have no need to travel from one place to the next.]
Sukadeva Gosvami, Narada Gosvami, Rupa Gosvami, Sanatana Gosvami, they don’t need any fame or money or anything. The servant of Sanatana Gosvami had six or seven golden coins and Sanatana Gosvami told him, “You should at once give these coins up. These are like death.” Then that servant gave them all up, except he kept one hidden with him. Sanatana Gosvami again asked him, “Do you have any golden coins with you?”
“Oh yes, I have kept one for your service.”
“Take it and go return at once. I don’t want to keep you with me.” So a Guru should be like that. Then his teachings will be permanent. Then he will initiate them and he will teach them what real bhakti is. He will teach him all the established truths. Gradually, by his teachings, he will become gradually qualified.
[Spoken by Srila Gurudeva on April 28th, 1998, France, published as part of the Bhakta Bandhav Anthology, Volume 27]