brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva
guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja
“According to their karma, all living entities are wandering throughout the entire universe. Some of them are being elevated to the upper planetary systems, and some are going down into the lower planetary systems. Out of many millions of wandering living entities, one who is very fortunate gets an opportunity to associate with a bona fide spiritual master by the grace of Kṛṣṇa. By the mercy of both Kṛṣṇa and the spiritual master, such a person receives the seed of the creeper of devotional service.
~ Srila Krishnadas Kaviraj – Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta Madhya-līlā 19.151
The external Guru, the Mahānta-guru not only helps us to contact the inner Guru- the Chaittya-guru , but he helps to prepare us so we can infallibly read the direction of the Chaittya-guru. At first, in a raw way, we may receive direction from the Chaittya-guru, and that draws us to the Mahānta-guru. With the help of the Chaittya-guru we come to the Mahānta-guru. The Chaittya-guru helps us in a raw way, in a general way which is not very systematic and clear.
~ Swāmī. B.R Śrīdhar
Coming to Mahānta-guru we feel, “Yes, with the help of my Chaittya-guru my internal hankering has been satisfied.” Then with the help of our Mahānta-guru we come to find that clear direction in our Chaittya-guru. They are helping one another. By the help of the Mahānta-guru our ability to read the Chaittya-guru becomes more clear, more skilfully developed. Our reading of the innate Chaittya-guru becomes more clear as we become cleansed of the different thoughts and ideas mixed up from yogīs, jñānīs, karmīs, and so many other different sections. The Chaittya-guru will give us more adherence to the Mahānta-guru, and in this way they each help the other.
After receiving help from the Chaittya-guru, we come to Mahānta-guru, but sometimes it may also happen that after accepting Mahānta-guru, the Chaittya-guru again becomes covered. The Mahānta-guru will then take the disciple and help him cleanse the dirt that has covered his Chaittya-guru
