IDOLS

Idolize definition: to regard with blind adoration, devotion.
We have a tendency to idolize.
The child's first idols are the parents.
We are always looking for someone to emulate...someone who is successful and then try to follow them so we can become successful too. Who is happy so we can become happy too.
And for spiritual life...someone who has real knowledge so we can have real knowledge too.
And if we are really, really fortunate... someone who is Krishna conscious so we can become Krishna conscious too.
That is the spiritual master.

So we have to be very careful who we Idolize.
The relationship with the spiritual master is not simply a transference of data. The big computer downloading into the small computer... as we are accustomed to think of knowledge as data.

The idolizing does not go away. This is the attraction. Why we approach someone rather than someone else. We admire them, respect them, trust them, and want what they have to offer.
We idolize them.

If the object of idolization is a pure devotee of Krishna then our attachment or idolization becomes purified and everything is transferred to Krishna the ultimate object of devotion. If the object of idolization is not pure or not purely representing than we will be stuck. Our access to transcendence will be blocked and the idolization will keep us focused on them, the false idol.
The idolizing will not go away. It has to be purified by choosing the pure idol.

There may be many dolls and statues... but there is only one arca vigraha...in a varieties of forms
There may be many teachers but there is only one spiritual master.... in a variety of representatives.
There may be many food preparations but there is only one sanctified food...prasadam in a variety of flavors and taste.
This is oneness.