Qualities of Preacher

Display ideal character and to interact with others with

with politeness and respect

Therefore, those who are members of this society, they should be ideal. Simply by their association people will become good, very good responsibility. And if they become bad themselves, there is no possibility because we are giving instruction. We are behaving like that. Still, one becomes bad—où, that is very great misfortune. Therefore all our members, the members of the Kåñëa consciousness society, should be ideal. At least people may see that "Here is a class of men—ideal character, ideal behavior, spiritual advanced, and very frugal and very nice." That is... Yasyästi bhaktir bhagavaty akiïcanä sarvair guëais tatra samäsate suräù [SB 5.18.12]. That is natural. If one becomes a devotee... That is the certificate, that how one has achieved good qualities.

- Srimad Bhagvatam Lecture, September 2, 1975

Freedom from Maya

tate krsna bhaje, kare gurura sevana
maya-jala chute, paya krsnera charan
If the conditioned soul engages in the service of the Lord and simultaneously carries out the orders of his spiritual master and serves him, he can get out of the clutches of maya and become eligible for shelter at Krishna's lotus feet.
Madhya Lila 22.25

INTERNAL WORMS

Once the headmaster of the Thakur Bhaktivinode Institute asked Srila Saraswati Thakur, “So many devotees have given up everything, are staying in the math, and are engaged in devotional service. Why don’t they improve to the advanced stage?” Saraswati Thakur answered, “They have internal worms. They are being eaten up by worms inside. They are taking food but are not getting nourishment because of worms. They are engaging in devotional service, but the advancement is eaten by material desires and secret bad behavior. So they become weak.

Srimad Bhagavatam ki Jai!!

The sound incarnation of Lord Krishna, the Supreme Soul [i.e. Srimad Bhagavatam], enters into the heart of a self-realized devotee, sits on the lotus flower of his loving relationship, and thus cleanses the dust of material association, such as lust, anger and hankering. Thus it acts like autumnal rains upon pools of muddy water. (Srimad Bhagavatam 2.8.5)

‘You Are So Ugly, You Should Marry a Monkey’

When Shrila Prabhupada’s edition of Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya-Lila, Volume 1, was first published, devotees were surprised and pleased to read about the humorous joking between Lord Nityananda and Advaita Acharya during the taking of prasadam at Advaita Acharya's house. One morning, during a car ride with Shrila Prabhupäda, one of the devotees expressed his appreciation for the new volume.
“There is such nice humor in the Caitanya-caritamrita, Shrila Prabhupada.”
“Yes,” said Shrila Prabhupäda, “spiritual life is humor also.” Then he began to tell a story. “Krishna said to one old lady, "You are so ugly, you should marry a monkey.’
“‘No,’ said the old lady, ‘I have given up all material desires. I will marry You, Krishna!’
“‘Yes! Yes! Yes!’ All the gopis and boys clapped and laughed.”
While Prabhupada said this, his eyes lit up and he became animated, laughing at the humorous pastimes of Krishna. “So Krishna was defeated,” said Prabhupada, “by that laughing of the gopés.”