Srila Sridhara Maharaja: If a general plans to invade another country, he must first chalk out his strategy of attack in a broad way. When he goes to practically execute his plan, so many obstacles appear, and he has to solve them and march on. If one plans to travel, first he conceives of the whole plan in a nutshell: "From this foreign land, I will retum home by this route." But to carry out the plan in practice, so many details are necessary. First it is chalked out in a rough plan, and then he must practically do so many things. First he must hire a taxi, then he has to go to the airport to purchase a ticket for the plane-in this way, so many details are required. So, from partial knowledge, we have to develop final knowledge. This detailed knowledge is known as siksa.
Devotee: What is the position of a devotee, who although not yet fully free from the influence of maya, accepts disciples on the order of Srl Caitanya Mahaprabhu and his spintual master?
Srila Sridhara Maharaja: It is better that a man who begins business with small capital has a connection with a wealthier capitalist. Then he can prosper in his business. In a similar way, as long as one is not completely established in Krsna consciousness, he must have some connection with superior aid. Then he will be safe. If we are to fight face to face with maya, illusion, help from the higher agency should be our only resource.
It is very difficult to control maya. Krsna says in Bhagavad-gita (7.14):
daivi hy esa gunamayi
mama maya duratyaya
mam eva ye prapadyante
mayam etam taranti te
"My illusory energy is impossible to overcome. Only one who surrenders to me can cross beyond it." Maya dreads only Krsna, for she has her backing from Him. If you attempt to cross maya alone, it will be impossible. You must have some higher connection. And with the help of that connection you can overcome illusion. Maya will withdraw only when she sees that you have the backing of higher potency. Alone, you cannot fight and gain victory over maya. It is impossible, because wherever you go, you are within the boundary of maya, illusion. It may be more or less intense, but it is all maya. Only when you really come in touch with the plane above maya can you fight against maya; only then will maya withdraw. We must have some shelter beyond maya from where we can fight with illusion. We are advised to take shelter of sadhus, saints, and sastra, scriptures. Their help comes from above, and we must accept that help from the inner core of our hearts.
[Excerpted from the 2nd Chapter: "Initiation Into Transcendental Science" of "Sri Guru and His Grace." From Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar Maharaja's Folio]