Jayapataka Svāmi, GBC-Eastern India & Bangladesh
Jayapataka Svami, GBC-Eastern India & Bangladesh
Vyasa-pūja Offering to His Divine Grace Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada: The Transcendental Physician for the Modern Day
om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namaḥ
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namaḥ
The bona fide spiritual master is accepted as good as Krsna because he is the representative of Krsna. This is confirmed in all Vedic scriptures and by all authorities. If one judges a spiritual master by his appearance, by his possessions, or by other superficial methods, the judgement will be imperfect. A spiritual master speaks from the transcendental platform the vibrations he has received from his spiritual master through disciplic succession. These transcendental words are known as sabda-brahma and cannot be compared with ordinary sounds. Just as a touchstone cannot be identified conclusively until it transforms base metal into gold, or a physician until he can cure his patient, similarly, a bona fide spiritual master is able to transform a disciple, even of inferior nature, into a first-class person, i.e., a devotee of the Lord, A spiritual master is not merely a pet or a fashion to maintain for some time and discard on a whim. The spiritual master is Krsna's way for coming to us and guiding us back to home, back to Godhead. It is serious business.
Knowledge is the light by which the darkness of ignorance is vanquished. Knowledge implies real knowledge, or knowledge free from error. Any kind of knowledge can be obtained in one of two ways. One way is by experimental knowledge, which is compared to blind men feeling the different limbs of an elephant and giving their postulations on the form and nature of the elephant. The blind man holding the trunk thinks and elephant is a gigantic snake, and the man holding the leg thinks another way. In this way different theories are evolved from different angles of observation, with no angle being complete or correct. The other method is by receiving knowledge by the descending process, i.e., through guru-parampara, or disciplic succession. Knowledge handed down from the source of all knowledge, or descending knowledge, is perfect and free form defect because it doesn't depend on the imperfect perceptions of imperfect people. Just as the sun is self-illuminating, real knowledge from Krsna is self-effulgent and doesn't depend on empirical speculation.
Considering the unique position of the spiritual master, it is essential to consider how one should approach him. Bhagavad-gita says:
One must approach the spiritual master in a humble frame of mind, surrender unto him and offer him service. Then one should inquire about the truth from the spiritual master because he has seen the truth. This forms a reciprocal relationship of service and enlightenment between the guru and the disciple. In a challenging attitude one cannot get enlightenment from the spiritual master. Surrender means complete surrender without considering the momentary material profit or loss.
Everyone is looking for a friend-someone to love and trust. But in this material world if we put our trust in anyone, laying our head in his lap, he will cut our head off. This is the position. His Divine Grace Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is showing how one can be a real well-wisher for everyone. Srila Prabhupada is relieving everyone, without discrimination, from all kinds of dangerous conditions. Actually, everyone is constantly suffering-at every moment we are suffering-so much so it is taken for granted. No one questions why he is being harassed and troubled by other creatures, why he is being agitated by his body and mind, why he is growing old or dying. Neither taking the miseries of life for granted nor the cures of the superficial symptoms will help. The expert physician searches out the root cause and treats it; subsequently, all symptoms disappear. The spiritual master is the total physician of our composite disease of material life and its miseries. Srila Prabhupada is curing his disciples and giving them real healthy life to lead in this life and the next. A normal doctor may demand high personal fees, but Srila Prabhupada is asking nothing for himself. Everything is used or the satisfaction of Krsna, and to uplift others from their miserable condition.
A patient's relationship with his physician may end with the bill. But the spiritual master's relationship with his patient (disciple) is eternal. Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura in his Prayers to the Spiritual Master describes how the spiritual master uplifts the devotee and trains him in this life, and in the liberated stage continues to guide the disciple to serving Krsna with spiritual senses. On the other hand, if the disciple doesn't finish his business and reach Krsna in this life, the spiritual master again takes birth in this material world to deliver the disciple. The relationship between the guru and disciple is individual and everlasting. It is most nectarine and sweet.
Considering the great risk the spiritual master is taking for his disciple and the great gift he is giving, every disciple must take seriously his obligation to his spiritual master. Our relationship with Srila Prabhupada is not one-sided. We have sufficient instructions from Srila Prabhupada through his books and personal lectures and instructions to understand what is required of us to satisfy his desires. Srila Prabhupada has done so much for all of us, we should try to finish our business and not compel him to come again.
Srila Prabhupada is establishing truth from the Vedas. Recently Srila Prabhupada said: "In this world there are two groups. One group is good. One group is bad. They are fighting with each other for supremacy. Krsna and Balarama are standing aside and watching both groups. We belong to Krsna-Balarama's group." Only Krsna-Balarama's party is never defeated. (The whole world believed in the moon hoax, but Srila Prabhupada stood firm. Now the cheating is being revealed…)
Out of thousands and thousands of men, a few are surrendering in devotion. As Srila Prabhupada's disciples our close connection must be maintained. How glorious, how rare are the devotees of Srila Prabhupada! ISKCON is a transcendental hospital, curing all inmates of the material disease. Not everyone is cured upon admittance. It takes time. Day by day, moment by moment, according to sincerity and practice, the devotees are progressing. Any superficial symptoms of previous diseases are not very important in comparison with the fact of taking shelter of Srila Prabhupada. Let us concentrate on the goal and consolidate our efforts to satisfy Srila Prabhupada, spreading Krsna consciousness for the welfare of the whole world. Remember, a great soul sees only the good quality in a person, while an envious person sees only the bad qualities.
Srila Prabhupada's program is worldwide. Broad-minded persons can take part and feel their significance in Krsna consciousness' massive program. Srila Prabhupada is our physician, and he is administering the cure. Chanting Hare Krsna, taking maha-prasada and working cooperatively with our Godbrothers to serve Sri Krsna and his devotees. The change of heart that the disciple undergoes under the guidance of the bona fide spiritual master is the proof of the effectiveness of the sincerity of the disciple. Srila Prabhupada has already proved his efficacy, and now it is up to us to accept the cure and the medicine properly to perfect our lives and give this to others. This is Srila Prabhupada's desire. On this holy Vyasa-pūja day let us offer Srila Prabhupada our obeisances and glorify his name and instructions. I beg to take the dust of the feet of the great souls who have taken as their life and soul the service of Srila Prabhupada!
Jayapataka Svami
GBC-Eastern India & Bangladesh
GBC-Eastern India & Bangladesh
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