Pleasing Spiritual Master is Everything

Verse 1.1.8: In this shloka, Srila Vyasadev is speaking about the importance of following the words of a spiritual master. Secret of advancing in the spiritual life is to please the spiritual master.

Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita: vyavasayatmika budhih ekeho kuru nandanan ... such a person is resolute in purpose. Our goal therefore should be to please Guru and Krishna (Siksha guru or Diksha guru).

Examples: Srila Prabhupada strove so much towards publishing books, just to please his spiritual master Srila Bhaktisiddanta Saraswati Thakur.
Srila Rupa Goswami fulfilled almost all the wishes of his spiritual master, Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He only could not construct the temple of Sri Sri Radha Govind. He contemplated so much on that and was so saddened so much because of that. That should be our way and goal. We cannot be complacent. We should somehow or other please Guru and Krishna. Otherwise we cannot go anywhere.

Even in chanting, if we do not have good focus means we do not have good faith. If we firmly believe that Krishna is the same as His Holy Name, then how much fixed we will be?

Otherwise, shramevahi kevalam. Everything will be a waste.
We have to chant with complete attention. If we don't have anything to live for, then we have nothing to die for. Our spiritual life is completely dependent on how much we please our spiritual master.