reflections jul07

8/14/2019 Reflections Jul07

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There is a need for masters in terms ofsadhus who are masters, disciples who are masters,gurus who are masters

ast who take full shelter of the perfect master. In this way, the transcendental system continues. Srila Prabhupada said i

Nectar of Devotion, Chapter Seven that, without making disciples, the propagation of the cult of the Hare Krishna move

guru-ship. Aguru who is not expert at beco

master causes much incoherence. Aguru who is deviant causes spiritual suicide to himself and to those who come u

uch care. A disciple who does not become expert and who does not become a master is playing games with the transcend

rocess and will have to take more lives in these material bodies. We cheat when we take for granted what Krishna has

vailable.

he Principal and the Teachers

As we focus on our founder-acarya Srila Prabhupada, we focus onguru-tattvathe position of theguru and the pos

f the disciple. It is very simple, but it is complicated for the devious. It is complicated for the faithless. It is complicated t

egree that a person has mixed devotion.

Consider the structure of a school. There is a principal and there are teachers. The teacher has the duty to deal dir

ith the students and to provide direct guidance under the jurisdiction of the principal. His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada

rincipal. He is directly and indirectly overseeing the activities of the institution. Along with the principal, there are also teac

he quality of a particular school, but each teacher has his or her own duty and responsibility. They do not bring a studen

he classroom and fail to teach because they feel the principal has the ultimate duty. No. The teachers duty is to teach an

arry out their individual duty. Based on the quality of their instruction, the school or institution will be powerful.However, sometimes a teacher is just a nonsense. They should not be teaching and they let the students do what

hey want:yata mata tata patha

he necessary knowledge in a particular classroom. Sometimes the teacher just tolerates the students because the student

w, have to be in the classroom. For such a teacher, it is just a job. In Kali-yuga, so many people have this consciousness;

now the walk, they know the talk, but they do not imbibe it in their lives. They are just mechanical in their actions. In su

tuation, the teacher suffers as well as the students because a true teacher is always learning. The student grows and the tea

rows simultaneously. Later, the teacher is happy at how the students have progressed and matured because they might eve

Genuine Practice Leads to Genuine ResultsIn Kali-yuga, many people want to get results with the least amount of effort. Students want a degree without the w

nd teachers want the job without doing the job. What do we have? In many institutions, there is abuse on the part of the teac

nd the students, which leads to very improper role models. Consequently, institutions become weak. In places where bot

When such people gather for reunions and association, they will feel enlivened because they can come together

aving grown and used what they learned from their fundamental areas of study.

If you are proper students and if we are proper teachers, then as we come together forsadhu-sanga to discuss

nderstand truth, we will become so enlivened to share our realizations, our projects, our understanding, and our commit

oguru and Krishna. Conversely, when we have been cheating students, we will simply feel sad and depressed when we c

ogether. At gatherings and festivals, those people who have been dedicated in theirsadhana will feel very enlivened. For eople who have been weak in theirsadhana or deviant, it will become one of the most depressing times of the year. T

ill simply feel miserable because they did not use the lesson properly and, therefore, their lives have become somewhat

mbarrassment. However, when we use the lesson and use the devotion, we are happy within ourselves. We will be happ

ear from other people who have also used the lesson wisely. This type of association will consequently create a tremen

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Honoring the Founder-Acarya

We want to constantly give reference to Srila Prabhupada as our founder and as our eternal siksa-guru. As we said

way to facilitate everyones consciousness, we want every disciple to chant Srila Prabhupadas pranama before they chant

uruspranamapranama and then your spiritual masterspranama, w

will help to remind you that you are not just connected with a father or a single personality, but you are connected with a sys

Your father is the catalyst, the link that connects you to the chain. It should be obvious in peoples minds, but since in some

is not, then there is a need for some socialization to help some people come to that understanding.

ecause they are good disciples. When they are not good disciples, it does not matter what they call themselves or where

avel or what they do because they will be a disturbance to theparampara system. As we are good disciples, we want to

nd share that so we can become servant-leaders. We can guide others in the process of sharing.

When you take initiation, you become a part of Srila Prabhupadas entourage and part of the garland we put on him

piritual master puts a garland on hisguru who puts a garland on hisguru and in this way a wonderful chain goes on. How

he bhakti process.

You are seen by the spiritual master as hands, legs, mouths, and ears that can allow the spiritual master to serve

piritual master many times over. That is how dear all of you are to me. We see you as ears, hands, legs which can allow

o glorify Srila Prabhupada even more and offer him more. The more you offer quality service, the more we can offer quervice to Srila Prabhupada.

leasing the Principal

Sometimes the principal is extremely happy that some of the teachers are working so hard on behalf of the schoo

he institution, cultivating very nice students. At other times, the same principal becomes disturbed that so many peopl

Mahaprabhus mission, no matter where you go.

As you are connected with Srila Prabhupada and directly with your spiritual master, the greatest way that you can s

ourguru is to move about and carry the bhakti. That love and devotion will remind people of Krishnas love and Prabhupa

mercy and compassion. The greatest disturbance you do for your spiritual master is to move about as a hypocrite or as a cheadhu who commits aparadhas

mbarrassment if that is your quality. Make us even more proud as we embark on this activity of offering to Srila Prabhup

How to Connect With the Spiritual Master in His Absence

by Indrani devi dasi

In February 2005, at the Vyasa-Puja of H. H. Bhakti Tirtha Swami, I felt that he would recover and be with us for s

me longer, even though he was preparing our minds for his physical departure. During the ceremony he got up to dance.

o thankful and excited, and thought it a new beginning. During those moments, I laughed and cried as I went wild dancingumping with the devotees. But as the months passed, the health reports began to indicate that his departure was near, and

n urgency to travel to Gita Nagari.

is greeting warm. Each day I would go to the Institute house and sit in a rocking chair on the enclosed porch and chant.

rength in the holy name and I felt the sound vibration was reaching him. Some days I also sang with the bhajana groups

Day by day I could see his body deteriorate. Then on June 27 th, he left us. The event he was preparing us for

appened. The devotees endeavored to console one another.

What would we do next?

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My thoughts were of how I could serve and please him. I didbelieve him when he said he would be with us more

e left his body than when he had been physically present. Now he was gone. I kept trying to remember the instructions h

ven me. I felt the time had come to sincerely follow and complete those instructions. At one visit by his bedside he had

me that my time to leave my body had not yet come. I took it from his comment that there are things I am supposed to do.

suddenly understood how important it was to keep both his memory and his legacy alive.

I returned to Alachua, Florida on July 19. How would I continue without my spiritual master being physically pre

remembered a few classes I had heard on vani and vapuh in which emphasis was placed on the importance of servin

piritual masters instructions. I also began looking through all the health updates I had received about him via the Interne

aw that he had been continually giving instruction throughout his illness. I thought I could serve by reading these again

making an effort to both follow them and share them with others. Among these instructions I found a transcribed lecture ent

Stop the Violence, in which he answers the question, How can we avoid pitfalls when theguru is not physically pres

n his response he spoke of Srila Prabhupadas passing away and how some of his apparently closest disciples had had a

ad fared better. In that lecture Maharaja gave three things to do to help develop an internal connection with the guru:

Develop the habit of writing letters or diary entries to the spiritual master on a regular basis. By writing you remember

ink about yourguru every day, and you also create a sense in yourself of accountability to the spiritual master.

Develop the habit when you wake up in the morning or before going to sleep at night or at some other time during the dtting before thegurus photograph and speaking to your spiritual master. Let him know what is happening in your life,

ou are doing, and what is going on. Tell him your weaknesses and point out the areas in which you need help. Thank him

ving you insight.

Develop the habit of constantly thinking that yourguru is physically present or watching youthat he is aware of wha

re doing. Or imagine that Krishna is telling yourguru about you. How would your spiritual master be pleased by what yo

oing, saying, or thinking?

In that same lecture he stressed how his own writing gave him a deeper internal connection with Srila Prabhup

his is encouraging for me because I strongly desire an internal relationship with my spiritual master. I have taken my spi

o follow these three items means deeper work on ones self, and because such work is essential for spiritual life I endeav

peak honestly. And I always thank him. There are times when after talking to him about a situation a solution comes to

f pleasing him, it is easier to remember Krsna.

In his concluding words to the Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Srila Prabhupada encourages us in his own expressio

eparation from his spiritual master, His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. Srila Prabhupada turned his separ

nto serving hisgurus mission. He writes, I still consider His Divine Grace to be always present with me by his vani, his w

ani continues to exist eternally. Therefore we must take advantage of the vani, not the physical presence. He states furth

hink that His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura is always seeing my activities and guiding me within my

y his words.

These potent words have helped me to continue striving faithfully for the internal connection with my beloved etpiritual master and to increase my desire to serve him.

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Honoring the Disappearance Day of the Spiritual Master

by Purusa Sukta dasa

bhakty-ambhodhi-vardhana-marga-drastah

sutirtha-kripalu-hrt-padma svamin

sva-taranatustam tejo-mayam tvam

daya-vrsti-ghana-syamam namami

I offer my humble obeisance unto that dark, yet brilliant rain cloud of mercy, His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami Maha

How fortunate we are to have a saint,guru

nother example where a persons dying was such a genuine expression of love and service to masses, who fully received

In the truest spirit of revolution, Srila Bhakti Tirtha Maharaja always reached out to masses and simultaneously conn

ith individuals personally, on the deepest level. Especially for those of us whose spiritual lives awoke and developed b

are, his departure was and continues to be both enlightening and deeply challenging. As we approach the anniversary o

ay, we gather to face this - our Guru Maharaja in separation.It may be comforting, however, to know that holy days are personal. Though regulated/exact intervals of time,

resent themselves to us, repeatedly, as the Lords sacred gifts. They offer a special chance for us to gather together to h

nd serve the Lord and His associates - calling on their Holy Names and adoring their sublime activities - thereby connec

ith their special presence. Thus Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura points to them as mothers of devotion and important too

vercoming stagnation in spiritual life.

There are many kinds of holy days, and among them the disappearance day of the spiritual master is unique. I

pened a new period in our life - serving our Guru Maharaja in separation. As in any test, this period offers a special opport

come closer to the reality of what we practice, so we can see if our understanding, skills and realizations are incomplete

hey are real and mature. As Guru Maharaja said himself, Its going to be a challenge and you will have to prove yoursel

Therefore the anniversary of the day that began this period of maturation is unique among holy days. For us it is

fetime - a mission which served and saved us personally, and for which we remain symbols and hopefully instruments

resent.

In this day we face many special chances to grow from each other, become infected by each others devotion, hea

nother, and rekindle and/or celebrate the relationship that Guru Maharaja and our sacred lineage have with us. It is a d

guru and Krishna to pass al

sts.

opyright 2007 Hari-Nama Press

l rights reserved. No part of this newsletter may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, by any means, including mechani

ectronic, photocopying, recording, or other wise, without prior written consent of the publisher.

ari-Nama Press gratefully acknowledges the BBT for the use of verses, purports and photos from Srila Prabhupadas books. All such material are

haktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.

esigned by Tamal Krsna dasa

dited by Lila Katha dasi

hoto of Bhakti Tirtha Swami: 2006 Lawson Knight/Laksmivan dasa ACBSP

reflections jul07

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