Los Angeles
Los Angeles
nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhū-tale
srimate Bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine
srimate Bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine
namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine
nirvisesa-sūnyavadi-pascatya-desa-tarine
nirvisesa-sūnyavadi-pascatya-desa-tarine
In our modern world, there is such a great mass of conflicting statements about the purpose of our valuable life that the people of the world are at a loss to find genuine engagements for their energy. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam this is compared to the noise of an ocean. When we approach the shore of an ocean, there is a confusion of names being uttered, yet if one inquires the meaning of these names, nothing can be found. In the same way, all the names and designations of the material world will end just as the bubbles formed in the ocean rose to the surface and merged into the greater atmosphere. Men who are a little advanced often find themselves expounding a series of denials, saying to themselves, "not this, not this." Unfortunately the mind rebels and refuses to accept such negative assertions, asking, now that we have restricted and proscribed so many things, what do we positively propose? The materialists live a life of denials, trying to avoid the painful exigencies of material existence. But they find that the so-called pleasures which they seek to pit against a harsh and inimical world are themselves temporary and lead to a negative state of exhaustion and death. The mind therefore seeks a positive goal in spiritual life to soothe and restore the chaffed conditions of material association. Therefore when it is confronted with more and subtler varieties of negation, the mind will inevitably refuse to accept such conclusions. The need is therefore for a positive statement of spiritual existence.
Sri Gurudeva is one, and there can be no denial of this fact. There is no question of sectarianism in the teachings of the real acarya; his statements are the statements of the Supreme Absolute and therefore bear the impress of the imperial seal of the transcendental autocrat. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam one sloka states,
vettha tvam saumya tat sarvam tattvatas tad-anugrahat
brūyuḥ snigdhasya sisyasya guravo guhyam apy uta
brūyuḥ snigdhasya sisyasya guravo guhyam apy uta
"And because you are submissive your spiritual masters have endowed you with all their favors. Therefore you can tell us all you have learned from them. " (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.1.8) Two words are significant, saumya and snigdasya. These words mean pure, simple and submissive. Because the acaryadeva is submissive to the desires and requirements of his Guru Maharaj, the seed of spiritual insemination is placed within him and he becomes fertile with transcendental knowledge. Our Spiritual Master's Guru Maharaja, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, once stated that the guru is able to speak exactly according to qualifications of the audience. Therefore there is a reciprocation which must involve both parties, the hearer and the speaker. If the hearer is pure, simple and submissive, then the speaker is able to engender the highest spiritual perfection through the medium of transcendental sound vibration. On the other hand, if there is some defect in the listener's moral stance, then the level must be lowered to an acceptable platform. It is up to the guru to find the exact level on which to present the unalterable truths. "…In the Third Canto, twenty-fifth Chapter, twenty second verse, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, Lord Kapila says, 'My dear mother, when a person is actually in association with devotees, the sublime potency of My devotional service can be experienced.' In other words, when a pure devotee speaks, his words act upon the hearts of the audience…(and have) the potency to inject spiritual life within the audience."
The message of Gurudeva therefore cannot be opposed or debated, because there is a contradiction between the process of analytical reception and analytical destruction. One may choose one or the other, but if we choose the latter weapon to thrash out the Absolute Truth we will be up against a wall and have no means of defeating it. The conditioned soul has four defects and thus his potential knowledge is confined within the prison wall of the material manifestation. The processes of the elevationists and the yogis, only serve to approach the indolent, lax and unlimited feature of the Absolute without finding shred or trace of the originating Supreme Energetic. Even the successful yogis, who through the grace of Supersoul contrive to penetrate the effulgent boundary of the realm of Visnuloka and arrive in the anti-material planets, are not allowed to remain but must return to their designated station in temporary material existence. Therefore it is concluded by all saints and acaryas that the best, easiest and most secure means of approaching the truth is through the descending process. The descending process invokes two inherent factors for a full dose of receptivity-the guru and the Supreme Lord. This is stated in the Caitanya-caritamrta, "guru-krsna krpaya-paya bhakti-lata-bija:" By the grace of Krsna one receives the spiritual master, and by the grace of the spiritual master, one receives Krsna.
In the upliftment of the fallen souls in this age, the spiritual master is declared to be even more merciful that the Supreme Lord Himself. The spiritual master knows what is the business of the Supreme Lord and he is therefore willing to go one step further than is required of him to pick up those souls who would otherwise be out of touch with the Absolute Truth of devotional service. Again Srimad-Bhagavatam reveals, "O Sūta, those great sages who have completely taken shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord can at once sanctify those who come in touch with them, whereas the waters of the Ganges can sanctify only after prolonged use." The pure devotees of the Lord therefore traverse this mortal plane in the same way as the leaves of the lotus which stand a bare inch above the waters. There is a waxy coating over the leaves of the lotus flower so that even if there is an inundation of contamination it is immediately dissipated because it finds no crevices or flaws in which to rest. In the same way, being confident of the protective yoga-maya covering of the Lord, the pure devotee strides forth to face every danger just to rehabilitate the crippled mentality of the people in general. For this reason the worship of Sri Gurudeva is considered the ultimately auspicious form of worship. The spiritual master may indicate that one should worship and serve the Supreme Lord, but the Lord is more pleased by the worship of his most humble servant than He is of His own worship. "In the Padma Purana there is a nice statement praising the service of the Vaisnavas or devotees. In that scripture Lord Siva tells Parvati, 'My dear Parvati there are different methods of worship, and out of all such methods the worship of the Supreme Person is considered to be the highest. But even higher than the worship of the Lord is the worship of the Lord's devotees."
Lord Siva is a great mahajana or expert authority on the process of devotional service and therefore his statements are accepted by all bona fide devotees. Throughout the history of the world many varieties of religious practice have been propagated according to time, place and circumstance, and in relation to the mentality of the people. Rūpa Gosvami declared that amongst all of these, that religion which promotes pure love of God is foremost and first-class. Nevertheless, higher even than the worship of the Lord is the worship of the Lord's devotees. The devotees are compared with the vice-Lord. By providing the vice-Lord with every variety of service, submission and adherence, in reality one is serving the Lord Himself in the best possible manner. Nevertheless, Acaryadeva never considers himself to be the Lord. Rather the praises and honors he receives are forwarded to the Lord in the same way the viceroy forwards all honors and riches to the lawful king of the country. Because of his scrupulosity in forwarding everything to the Lord, the acaryadeva becomes qualified to receive all honors, and the best way of honoring the Lord is by honoring Sri Acaryadeva. This fact is confirmed in the following statement, "Lord Krsna Himself, addressed to Arjuna, "My dear Partha, one who claims to be My devotee is not so. Only a person who claims to be the devotee of My devotee is actually My devotee."
Therefore especially in the modern Age of Kali or quarrel and confusion, the recommended method of worship is to place oneself at the lotus feet of the pure devotees of the Lord. There is no such pure devotee who has appeared in the western world for the salvation of the most fallen mleccha class of men, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Svami Prabhupada. At this auspicious moment of Vyasa Pūja tithi let us all remember that it is causeless mercy alone which motivates the activities of the pure devotees, because they are not under the stringent laws of Dūrga's prison house. Therefore his appearance can neither be predicted, expected or demanded. He appears out of his sweet will, or at the command of his Guru Maharaja.
Therefore we can only pray as follows:
sri-guru-carana-padma, kevala bhakti sadma
vando mui savadhana mate
yahhara prasade bhai, e bhava tariya yai
krsna prapti haya yanha hate
vando mui savadhana mate
yahhara prasade bhai, e bhava tariya yai
krsna prapti haya yanha hate
"The lotus feet of our spiritual master are the only way by which we can attain pure devotional service. I bow to his lotus feet with great awe and reverence. By his grace one can cross the ocean of material suffering and obtain the mercy of Krsna."
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada, All Glories to Sri Guru and Gaurahga!!!
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