Srila Prabhupada is the initiating guru
“I am the Spiritual Master of this institution, and all the members of the Society, they’re supposed to be my disciples. They follow the rules and regulations which I ask them to follow, and they are initiated by me spiritually.”
Srila Prabhupada~ (Radio interview, March 12, 1968,SanFrancisco)
"Initiation is a formality. First of all you have to decide whether you will abide by the rules and regulations and become Krsna conscious. That is your consideration. You have to decide for yourself whether you are going to take this Krsna consciousness seriously. That is your decision. Initiation is a formality. If you are serious, that is real initiation. If you have understood this Krishna philosophy and if you have decided that you will take Krishna consciousness seriously and preach the philosophy to others, that is your initiation. My touch is simply a formality. It is your determination. That is initiation."
(Srila Prabhupada Conversation, 'The Search for the Divine', Back to Godhead, # 49)
One does not have to undergo initiation or execute the activities
required before initiation. One simply has to vibrate the holy name with his lips.
Thus even a man in the lowest class (caṇḍāla) can be delivered.
(CC Madhya 15.108)
"The chanting of Hare Krishna is our main business, that is real initiation. And as you are all following my instruction in that manner, the initiator is already there." (Srila Prabhupada Letter, August 19th, 1968)
"If you have understood this Krishna philosophy and if you have decided that you will take Krishna consciousness seriously and preach the philosophy to others; that is your initiation. My touch is simply a formality. It is your determination that is initiation.”
(Srila Prabhupada's Back To Godhead Article, ‘Search for the Divine’)
"Well, initiation or no initiation, first thing is knowledge...knowledge. Initiation is formality.
Just like you go to a school for knowledge,and admission is formality.
That is not very important thing."
(Srila Prabhupada Interview, Chandigarh, 16/10/76)
Srila Prabhupada: "I have selected
you among eleven men as ‘rittvik‘
or representative of the acharya, to
give initiations, both first and
second initiation, on my behalf."
(July 10th)
“…the process for initiation to be
followed in the future.” (July 11th)
“…continue to become ritvik and
act on my charge.” (July 19th)
“…continue to become ritvik and
act on my behalf.” (July 31th)
"Regarding the disciplic succession coming from Arjuna, disciplic succession does not always mean that one has to be initiated officially. Disciplic succession means to accept the disciplic conclusion. Arjuna was a disciple of Krishna and Brahma was also a disciple of Krishna. Thus there is no disagreement between the conclusions of Brahma and Arjuna. Vyasadeva is in the disciplic succession of Brahma. The teachings to Arjuna was recorded by Vyasadeva verbatim. So according to the axiomatic truth, things equal to one another are equal to each other. We are not exactly directly from Vyasadeva, but our Gurudeva is a representative of Vyasadeva. Because Vyasadeva and Arjuna are of equal status, being students of Krishna, therefore we are in the disciplic succession of Arjuna. Things equal to the same thing are equal to one another." (Srila Prabhupada letter to Dinesh Tittenhurst 31 October, 1969)
"In other words, the spiritual master awakens the sleeping living entity to his original consciousness so that he can worship Lord Visnu. This is the purpose of diksa, or initiation. Initiation means receiving the pure knowledge of spiritual consciousness." (Sri Caitanya caritamrta, Madhya-lila, 9.61, purport, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada)"Diksa actually means initiating a disciple with transcendental knowledge by which he becomes freed from all material contamination." (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, 4.111, purport, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada)"Diksa is the process by which -one can awaken his transcendental knowledge and vanquish all reactions caused by sinful activity.A person expert in the study of the revealed scriptures knows this process asdiksa." (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, 15.108, purport)
"Regarding parampara system: there is nothing to wonder for big gaps. Just like we belong to the Brahma Sampradaya, so we accept it from Krishna to Brahma, Brahma to Narada, Narada to Vyasadeva, Vyasadeva to Madhva, and between Vyasadeva and Madhva there is a big gap. But it is sometimes said that Vyasadeva is still living, and Madhva was fortunate enough to meet him directly. In a similar way, we find in the Bhagavad-gita that the Gita was taught to the sun god, some millions of years ago, but Krishna has mentioned only three names in this parampara system--namely, Vivasvan, Manu, and Iksvaku;and so these gaps do not hamper from understanding the parampara system."
Srila Prabhupada letter to Dayananda,4 December 1968
One example~
27. Srila VisvanathaCakravarti
Thakura (1626 - 1708)
28. Srila Jagannatha
dasa Babaji (1776 - 1894)
SRILA PRABHUPADAS INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO TAKE INSTRUCTIONS WHEN HE IS NOT PRESENT
Paramahamsa: My question is, a pure devotee, when he comments on Bhagavad Gita, someone who never sees him physically, but he just comes in contact with the commentary, explanation, is this the same thing?
Srila Prabhupada: Yes. You can associate with Krishna by reading Bhagavad-Gita. And these saintly persons, they have given their explanations,comments. So where is the difficulty?
(SP Morning Walk, Paris 11/6/74)
Devotee: Srila Prabhupada when you're not present with us, how is it possible to receive instructions? For example in questions that may arise...
Srila Prabhupada: Well the questions are answ...answers are there in my books.
(SP Morning Walk, Los Angeles, 13/5/73)
"In my books the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness is explained fully so if there is anything you do not understand, then you simply have to read again and again. By reading daily the knowledge will be revealed to you and by this process your spiritual life will develop."
(SP Letter to Brahmarupa Dasa, 22/11/74)
"The potency of transcendental sound is never minimized because the vibrator is apparently absent."
Answers by Citing the Lord's Version : SB 2.9.8 :Srila Prabhupada's Purport
"Regarding your question about instruction, spiritual life is different from material life. The instruction given in my books is supposed to be personal instruction. When we read the Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, it is understood that we are receiving personal instructions of Kṛṣṇa. No physical barrier is there in the case of spiritual affairs." (Letter to Dhṛṣṭaketu: Bombay 14 Oct 1973)
So we should associate by the vibration, and not by the physical presence. That is real association. Sabdad anavrtti. By sound. Just like we are touching Krsna immediately by sound. Sound vibration. So we should give more stress on the sound vibration, either of Krsna or of the spiritual master. Then we'll feel happy and no separation.
(S.P. Lecture, 18/8/68,Montreal.)
"My Guru Maharaja, my spiritual master, used to say that you have to select a spiritual master not by seeing but by your ear, but by hearing. And you don't select a spiritual master who has got a very good hair or beard or some very beautiful feature, "Oh, he is a very good, nice looking." No. You must hear. Tad viddhi pranipatena. Sruti. The whole process is sruti. The Vedas are called sruti. The ear has to aural reception."
(B.G. 4.24.34 Lecture, N.Y. 2nd August, 1966)
"There are two ways of association - by vani and by vapuh. Vani means words and vapuh means physical presence. Physical presence is sometimes appreciable and sometimes not, but Vani continues to exist eternally. Therefore, one must take advantage of the Vani, not the physical presence."
(CC, Antya 5 Conclusion)
"Therefore we should take advantage of the Vani, not the physical presence."
(Letter to Suci Devi Dasi, 4/11/75)
"I shall remain your personal guidance, physically present or not physically present, as I am getting guidance from my Guru Maharaja." (Room Conversation, Vrindavan, 14/7/77)
"Physical presence is immaterial. Presence of the transcendental sound received from the Spiritual Master should be the guidance of life. That will make our spiritual life successful. If you feel very strongly about my absence you may place my pictures on my sitting places and this will be source of inspiration for you."
(Letter to Brahmananda and other students, 19/1/67)
"But always remember that I am always with you. As you are always thinking of me, I am always thinking of you also. Although physically we are not together, we are not separated spiritually. So we should be concerned only with this spiritual connection."
(Letter to Gaurasundara, 13/11/69)
"So we should associate by vibration, and not by the physical presence. That is real association."
(Lectures SB, 68/08/18)
"There are two conceptions, the physical conception and the vibrational conception. The physical conception is temporary. The vibrational conception is eternal.[...] When we feel separation from Krsna or the Spirirual Master, we should just try to remember their words or instructions, and we will no longer feel that separation. Such association with Krsna and the Spiritual Master should be association by vibration not physical presence. That is real association."
(Elevation to Krsna Consciousness,(BBT 1973), Page 57)
"It is sometimes misunderstood that if one has to associate with persons engaged in devotional service, he will not be able to solve the economic problem. To answer this argument, it is described here that one has to associate with liberated persons not directly, physically, but by understanding, through philosophy and logic, the problems of life." (SB 3:31:48)
"I am always with you. Never mind if I am physically absent." (Letter to Jayananda, 16/9/67)
Paramananda: We're always feeling your presence very strongly, Srila Prabhupada, simply by your teachings and your instructions. We're always meditating on your instructions.
Srila Prabhupada: Thank you. That is the real presence. Physical presence is not important. (Room Conversation, Vrndavana, 6/10/77)
"You write that you have desire to avail of my association again, but why do you forget that you are always in association with me? When you are helping my missionary activities I am always thinking of you, and you are always thinking of me . That is real association. Just like I am always thinking of my Guru Maharaja at every moment, although he is not physically present, and because I am trying to serve him to my best capacity, I am sure he is helping me by his spiritual blessings. So there are two kinds of association: physical and preceptorial. Physical association is not so important as preceptorial association."
(Letter to Govinda Dasi, 18/8/69)
"As far as my blessing is concerned, it does not require my physical presence. If you are chanting Hare Krsna there, and following my instructions, reading the books, taking only Krsna prasadam etc., then there is no question of your not receiving the blessings of Lord Caitanya, whose mission I am humbly trying to push on."
(Letter to Bala Krsna, 30/6/74)
"Anyone who has developed unflinching faith in the Lord and the Spiritual Master can understand the revealed scripture unfolding before him'. So continue your present aptitude and you will be successful in your spiritual progress. I am sure that even if I am not physically present before you, still you will be able to execute all spiritual duties in the matter of Krsna Consciousness, if you follow the above principles."
(Letter to Subala, 29/9/67)
"So although a physical body is not present, the vibration should be accepted as the presence of the Spiritual Master, vibration. What we have heard from the Spiritual Master, that is living."
(General lectures, 69/01/13)
Devotee: ...so sometimes the Spiritual Master is far away. He may be in Los Angeles. Somebody is coming to Hamburg Temple. He thinks 'How will the Spiritual Master be pleased?'
Srila Prabhupada: Just follow his order, Spiritual Master is along with you by his words. Just like my Spiritual Master is not physically present, but I am associating with him by his words.
(SB Lectures, 71/08/18)
"Just like I am working, so my Guru Maharaja is there, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati. Physically he may not be, but in every action he is there. To serve master's word is more important than to serve physically."
(Room Conversation, Vrindavan, 2/5/77)
"So that is called prakata, physically present. And there is another phrase, which is called aprakata, not physically present. But that does not mean, Krsna is dead or God is dead. That does not mean, prakata or aprakata, physically present or not present, it does not matter."
(Lectures SB 73/12/11)
"So, spiritually, there is no question of separation, even physically we may be in far distant place."
(Letter to Syama Dasi, 30/08/68)
"I went to your country for spreading this information of Krsna Consciousness and you are helping me in my mission, although I am not physically present there but spiritually I am always with you."
(Letter to Nandarani, Krsna Devi and Subala, 3/10/67)
"We are not separated actually. There are two - Vani or Vapuh - so Vapu is physical presence and Vani is presence by the vibration, but they are all the same."
(Letter to Hamsadutta, 22/6/70)
"So in the absence of physical presentation of the spiritual master, the Vaniseva is more important. My Spiritual Master Sarsavati Goswami, may appear to be physically not present, but still because I try to serve his instruction, I never feel separated from him."
(Letter to Karandhara, 22/8/70)
"I also do not feel separation from my Guru Maharaja. When I am engaged in his service, his pictures give me sufficient strength. To serve master's word is more important than to serve him physically."
(Letter to Syamasundara, 19/7/70)
"Regarding your question about instruction, spiritual life is different from material life. The instruction given in my books is supposed to be personal instruction. When we read the Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, it is understood that we are receiving personal instructions of Kṛṣṇa. No physical barrier is there in the case of spiritual affairs."
(Letter to Dhṛṣṭaketu: Bombay 14 Oct 1973)
"The disciple and spiritual master are never separated because the spiritual master always keeps company with the disciple as long as the disciple follows strictly the instructions of the spiritual master. This is called the association of vani (words). Physical presence is called vapuh. As long as the spiritual master is physically present, the disciple should serve the physical body of the spiritual master, and when the spiritual master is no longer physically existing, the disciple should serve the instructions of the spiritual master."
SB 4.28.47
Paramahaṁsa: Śrīla Prabhupāda, when you are not present with us, how is it possible to receive instructions, for example, on questions that may arise?
Prabhupāda: Well, the questions... Answers are there in my books.
Paramahaṁsa: Other than that, for example, that we would ask you in...
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Paramahaṁsa: Do you direct us also through the heart? Besides the Paramātmā?
Prabhupāda: If your heart is pure. Everything depends on purity.
(Morning Walk at Cheviot Hills Golf Course: LA 13 May 1973)
"In my absence you read the books. What I talk, I have written in the books...
That's all. That's all right. But still, you can associate with me by reading my books."
(Morning Walk -- August 7, 1975, Toronto)
"To honor the spiritual master means to carry out his instructions word for word." SB 3.24.12 purport
A "LIVING" SPIRITUAL MASTER ???
(Morning Walk, Seattle, 2/10/68)
MADHUDVISA: Is there any way for a Christian to, without the help of a Spiritual Master, to reach the spiritual sky through believing in the words of Jesus Christ and trying to follow his teachings?
SRILA PRABHUPADA: I don't follow.
TAMALA KRISHNA GOSWAMI: Can a Christian in this age, without a Spiritual Master, but by reading the Bible, and following Jesus's words, reach the ...
SRILA PRABHUPADA: When you read the Bible, you follow the Spiritual Master. How can you say without. As soon as you read the Bible, that means you are following the instruction of Lord Jesus Christ. That means that you are following the Spiritual Master. So where is the opportunity of being without Spiritual Master.
MADHUDVISA: I was referring to a living Spiritual Master.
SRILA PRABHUPADA: Spiritual Master is not question of ... Spiritual Master is eternal...so your question is 'without Spiritual Master'. Without Spiritual Master you cannot be at any stage of your life. You may accept this Spiritual master or that Spiritual master. That is a different thing. But you have to accept. As you say that "by reading Bible", when you read Bible that means you are following the Spiritual Master represented by some priest or some clergyman in the line of Lord Jesus Christ.
750716pc.sf Conversations
Reporter (2): What will happen to the movement in the United States when you die?
Prabhupada: I WILL NEVER DIE.
Devotees: Jaya! Hari bol! (laughter)
Prabhupada: I SHALL LIVE From MY BOOKS, AND YOU WILL UTILIZE.
Reporter (2): Are you training a successor?
Prabhupada: Yes, my Guru Maharaja is there. Where is my photo of Guru Maharaja? I think... Here is.
Indian Lady: ... is that spiritual master still guiding after death?
Srila Prabhupada: Yes, yes. Just like Krsna is guiding us, similarly spiritual master will guide us. (General lectures, 69/09/23)
Devotee: Srila Prabhupada when you're not present with us, how is it possible to receive instructions? For example in questions that may arise...
SRILA PRABHUPADA: Well the questions are answ... answers are there in my books.
(Morning Walk, Los Angeles, 13/5/73)
So utilise whatever time you find to make a thorough study of my books. Then all your questions will be answered. (Letter to Upendra, 7/1/76)
Every one of you must regularly read our books at least twice, in the morning and evening, and automatically all questions will be answered. ( Letter to Randhira, 24/01/70)
If I depart there is no cause for lamentation. I will always be with you through my books and orders. I will always remain with you in that way. (BTG 13:1-2, December 1977)
Srila Prabhupada~ (Radio interview, March 12, 1968,SanFrancisco)
"Initiation is a formality. First of all you have to decide whether you will abide by the rules and regulations and become Krsna conscious. That is your consideration. You have to decide for yourself whether you are going to take this Krsna consciousness seriously. That is your decision. Initiation is a formality. If you are serious, that is real initiation. If you have understood this Krishna philosophy and if you have decided that you will take Krishna consciousness seriously and preach the philosophy to others, that is your initiation. My touch is simply a formality. It is your determination. That is initiation."
(Srila Prabhupada Conversation, 'The Search for the Divine', Back to Godhead, # 49)
One does not have to undergo initiation or execute the activities
required before initiation. One simply has to vibrate the holy name with his lips.
Thus even a man in the lowest class (caṇḍāla) can be delivered.
(CC Madhya 15.108)
"The chanting of Hare Krishna is our main business, that is real initiation. And as you are all following my instruction in that manner, the initiator is already there." (Srila Prabhupada Letter, August 19th, 1968)
"If you have understood this Krishna philosophy and if you have decided that you will take Krishna consciousness seriously and preach the philosophy to others; that is your initiation. My touch is simply a formality. It is your determination that is initiation.”
(Srila Prabhupada's Back To Godhead Article, ‘Search for the Divine’)
"Well, initiation or no initiation, first thing is knowledge...knowledge. Initiation is formality.
Just like you go to a school for knowledge,and admission is formality.
That is not very important thing."
(Srila Prabhupada Interview, Chandigarh, 16/10/76)
Srila Prabhupada: "I have selected
you among eleven men as ‘rittvik‘
or representative of the acharya, to
give initiations, both first and
second initiation, on my behalf."
(July 10th)
“…the process for initiation to be
followed in the future.” (July 11th)
“…continue to become ritvik and
act on my charge.” (July 19th)
“…continue to become ritvik and
act on my behalf.” (July 31th)
"Regarding the disciplic succession coming from Arjuna, disciplic succession does not always mean that one has to be initiated officially. Disciplic succession means to accept the disciplic conclusion. Arjuna was a disciple of Krishna and Brahma was also a disciple of Krishna. Thus there is no disagreement between the conclusions of Brahma and Arjuna. Vyasadeva is in the disciplic succession of Brahma. The teachings to Arjuna was recorded by Vyasadeva verbatim. So according to the axiomatic truth, things equal to one another are equal to each other. We are not exactly directly from Vyasadeva, but our Gurudeva is a representative of Vyasadeva. Because Vyasadeva and Arjuna are of equal status, being students of Krishna, therefore we are in the disciplic succession of Arjuna. Things equal to the same thing are equal to one another." (Srila Prabhupada letter to Dinesh Tittenhurst 31 October, 1969)
"In other words, the spiritual master awakens the sleeping living entity to his original consciousness so that he can worship Lord Visnu. This is the purpose of diksa, or initiation. Initiation means receiving the pure knowledge of spiritual consciousness." (Sri Caitanya caritamrta, Madhya-lila, 9.61, purport, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada)"Diksa actually means initiating a disciple with transcendental knowledge by which he becomes freed from all material contamination." (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, 4.111, purport, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada)"Diksa is the process by which -one can awaken his transcendental knowledge and vanquish all reactions caused by sinful activity.A person expert in the study of the revealed scriptures knows this process asdiksa." (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, 15.108, purport)
"Regarding parampara system: there is nothing to wonder for big gaps. Just like we belong to the Brahma Sampradaya, so we accept it from Krishna to Brahma, Brahma to Narada, Narada to Vyasadeva, Vyasadeva to Madhva, and between Vyasadeva and Madhva there is a big gap. But it is sometimes said that Vyasadeva is still living, and Madhva was fortunate enough to meet him directly. In a similar way, we find in the Bhagavad-gita that the Gita was taught to the sun god, some millions of years ago, but Krishna has mentioned only three names in this parampara system--namely, Vivasvan, Manu, and Iksvaku;and so these gaps do not hamper from understanding the parampara system."
Srila Prabhupada letter to Dayananda,4 December 1968
One example~
27. Srila VisvanathaCakravarti
Thakura (1626 - 1708)
28. Srila Jagannatha
dasa Babaji (1776 - 1894)
SRILA PRABHUPADAS INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO TAKE INSTRUCTIONS WHEN HE IS NOT PRESENT
Paramahamsa: My question is, a pure devotee, when he comments on Bhagavad Gita, someone who never sees him physically, but he just comes in contact with the commentary, explanation, is this the same thing?
Srila Prabhupada: Yes. You can associate with Krishna by reading Bhagavad-Gita. And these saintly persons, they have given their explanations,comments. So where is the difficulty?
(SP Morning Walk, Paris 11/6/74)
Devotee: Srila Prabhupada when you're not present with us, how is it possible to receive instructions? For example in questions that may arise...
Srila Prabhupada: Well the questions are answ...answers are there in my books.
(SP Morning Walk, Los Angeles, 13/5/73)
"In my books the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness is explained fully so if there is anything you do not understand, then you simply have to read again and again. By reading daily the knowledge will be revealed to you and by this process your spiritual life will develop."
(SP Letter to Brahmarupa Dasa, 22/11/74)
"The potency of transcendental sound is never minimized because the vibrator is apparently absent."
Answers by Citing the Lord's Version : SB 2.9.8 :Srila Prabhupada's Purport
"Regarding your question about instruction, spiritual life is different from material life. The instruction given in my books is supposed to be personal instruction. When we read the Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, it is understood that we are receiving personal instructions of Kṛṣṇa. No physical barrier is there in the case of spiritual affairs." (Letter to Dhṛṣṭaketu: Bombay 14 Oct 1973)
So we should associate by the vibration, and not by the physical presence. That is real association. Sabdad anavrtti. By sound. Just like we are touching Krsna immediately by sound. Sound vibration. So we should give more stress on the sound vibration, either of Krsna or of the spiritual master. Then we'll feel happy and no separation.
(S.P. Lecture, 18/8/68,Montreal.)
"My Guru Maharaja, my spiritual master, used to say that you have to select a spiritual master not by seeing but by your ear, but by hearing. And you don't select a spiritual master who has got a very good hair or beard or some very beautiful feature, "Oh, he is a very good, nice looking." No. You must hear. Tad viddhi pranipatena. Sruti. The whole process is sruti. The Vedas are called sruti. The ear has to aural reception."
(B.G. 4.24.34 Lecture, N.Y. 2nd August, 1966)
"There are two ways of association - by vani and by vapuh. Vani means words and vapuh means physical presence. Physical presence is sometimes appreciable and sometimes not, but Vani continues to exist eternally. Therefore, one must take advantage of the Vani, not the physical presence."
(CC, Antya 5 Conclusion)
"Therefore we should take advantage of the Vani, not the physical presence."
(Letter to Suci Devi Dasi, 4/11/75)
"I shall remain your personal guidance, physically present or not physically present, as I am getting guidance from my Guru Maharaja." (Room Conversation, Vrindavan, 14/7/77)
"Physical presence is immaterial. Presence of the transcendental sound received from the Spiritual Master should be the guidance of life. That will make our spiritual life successful. If you feel very strongly about my absence you may place my pictures on my sitting places and this will be source of inspiration for you."
(Letter to Brahmananda and other students, 19/1/67)
"But always remember that I am always with you. As you are always thinking of me, I am always thinking of you also. Although physically we are not together, we are not separated spiritually. So we should be concerned only with this spiritual connection."
(Letter to Gaurasundara, 13/11/69)
"So we should associate by vibration, and not by the physical presence. That is real association."
(Lectures SB, 68/08/18)
"There are two conceptions, the physical conception and the vibrational conception. The physical conception is temporary. The vibrational conception is eternal.[...] When we feel separation from Krsna or the Spirirual Master, we should just try to remember their words or instructions, and we will no longer feel that separation. Such association with Krsna and the Spiritual Master should be association by vibration not physical presence. That is real association."
(Elevation to Krsna Consciousness,(BBT 1973), Page 57)
"It is sometimes misunderstood that if one has to associate with persons engaged in devotional service, he will not be able to solve the economic problem. To answer this argument, it is described here that one has to associate with liberated persons not directly, physically, but by understanding, through philosophy and logic, the problems of life." (SB 3:31:48)
"I am always with you. Never mind if I am physically absent." (Letter to Jayananda, 16/9/67)
Paramananda: We're always feeling your presence very strongly, Srila Prabhupada, simply by your teachings and your instructions. We're always meditating on your instructions.
Srila Prabhupada: Thank you. That is the real presence. Physical presence is not important. (Room Conversation, Vrndavana, 6/10/77)
"You write that you have desire to avail of my association again, but why do you forget that you are always in association with me? When you are helping my missionary activities I am always thinking of you, and you are always thinking of me . That is real association. Just like I am always thinking of my Guru Maharaja at every moment, although he is not physically present, and because I am trying to serve him to my best capacity, I am sure he is helping me by his spiritual blessings. So there are two kinds of association: physical and preceptorial. Physical association is not so important as preceptorial association."
(Letter to Govinda Dasi, 18/8/69)
"As far as my blessing is concerned, it does not require my physical presence. If you are chanting Hare Krsna there, and following my instructions, reading the books, taking only Krsna prasadam etc., then there is no question of your not receiving the blessings of Lord Caitanya, whose mission I am humbly trying to push on."
(Letter to Bala Krsna, 30/6/74)
"Anyone who has developed unflinching faith in the Lord and the Spiritual Master can understand the revealed scripture unfolding before him'. So continue your present aptitude and you will be successful in your spiritual progress. I am sure that even if I am not physically present before you, still you will be able to execute all spiritual duties in the matter of Krsna Consciousness, if you follow the above principles."
(Letter to Subala, 29/9/67)
"So although a physical body is not present, the vibration should be accepted as the presence of the Spiritual Master, vibration. What we have heard from the Spiritual Master, that is living."
(General lectures, 69/01/13)
Devotee: ...so sometimes the Spiritual Master is far away. He may be in Los Angeles. Somebody is coming to Hamburg Temple. He thinks 'How will the Spiritual Master be pleased?'
Srila Prabhupada: Just follow his order, Spiritual Master is along with you by his words. Just like my Spiritual Master is not physically present, but I am associating with him by his words.
(SB Lectures, 71/08/18)
"Just like I am working, so my Guru Maharaja is there, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati. Physically he may not be, but in every action he is there. To serve master's word is more important than to serve physically."
(Room Conversation, Vrindavan, 2/5/77)
"So that is called prakata, physically present. And there is another phrase, which is called aprakata, not physically present. But that does not mean, Krsna is dead or God is dead. That does not mean, prakata or aprakata, physically present or not present, it does not matter."
(Lectures SB 73/12/11)
"So, spiritually, there is no question of separation, even physically we may be in far distant place."
(Letter to Syama Dasi, 30/08/68)
"I went to your country for spreading this information of Krsna Consciousness and you are helping me in my mission, although I am not physically present there but spiritually I am always with you."
(Letter to Nandarani, Krsna Devi and Subala, 3/10/67)
"We are not separated actually. There are two - Vani or Vapuh - so Vapu is physical presence and Vani is presence by the vibration, but they are all the same."
(Letter to Hamsadutta, 22/6/70)
"So in the absence of physical presentation of the spiritual master, the Vaniseva is more important. My Spiritual Master Sarsavati Goswami, may appear to be physically not present, but still because I try to serve his instruction, I never feel separated from him."
(Letter to Karandhara, 22/8/70)
"I also do not feel separation from my Guru Maharaja. When I am engaged in his service, his pictures give me sufficient strength. To serve master's word is more important than to serve him physically."
(Letter to Syamasundara, 19/7/70)
"Regarding your question about instruction, spiritual life is different from material life. The instruction given in my books is supposed to be personal instruction. When we read the Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, it is understood that we are receiving personal instructions of Kṛṣṇa. No physical barrier is there in the case of spiritual affairs."
(Letter to Dhṛṣṭaketu: Bombay 14 Oct 1973)
"The disciple and spiritual master are never separated because the spiritual master always keeps company with the disciple as long as the disciple follows strictly the instructions of the spiritual master. This is called the association of vani (words). Physical presence is called vapuh. As long as the spiritual master is physically present, the disciple should serve the physical body of the spiritual master, and when the spiritual master is no longer physically existing, the disciple should serve the instructions of the spiritual master."
SB 4.28.47
Paramahaṁsa: Śrīla Prabhupāda, when you are not present with us, how is it possible to receive instructions, for example, on questions that may arise?
Prabhupāda: Well, the questions... Answers are there in my books.
Paramahaṁsa: Other than that, for example, that we would ask you in...
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Paramahaṁsa: Do you direct us also through the heart? Besides the Paramātmā?
Prabhupāda: If your heart is pure. Everything depends on purity.
(Morning Walk at Cheviot Hills Golf Course: LA 13 May 1973)
"In my absence you read the books. What I talk, I have written in the books...
That's all. That's all right. But still, you can associate with me by reading my books."
(Morning Walk -- August 7, 1975, Toronto)
"To honor the spiritual master means to carry out his instructions word for word." SB 3.24.12 purport
A "LIVING" SPIRITUAL MASTER ???
(Morning Walk, Seattle, 2/10/68)
MADHUDVISA: Is there any way for a Christian to, without the help of a Spiritual Master, to reach the spiritual sky through believing in the words of Jesus Christ and trying to follow his teachings?
SRILA PRABHUPADA: I don't follow.
TAMALA KRISHNA GOSWAMI: Can a Christian in this age, without a Spiritual Master, but by reading the Bible, and following Jesus's words, reach the ...
SRILA PRABHUPADA: When you read the Bible, you follow the Spiritual Master. How can you say without. As soon as you read the Bible, that means you are following the instruction of Lord Jesus Christ. That means that you are following the Spiritual Master. So where is the opportunity of being without Spiritual Master.
MADHUDVISA: I was referring to a living Spiritual Master.
SRILA PRABHUPADA: Spiritual Master is not question of ... Spiritual Master is eternal...so your question is 'without Spiritual Master'. Without Spiritual Master you cannot be at any stage of your life. You may accept this Spiritual master or that Spiritual master. That is a different thing. But you have to accept. As you say that "by reading Bible", when you read Bible that means you are following the Spiritual Master represented by some priest or some clergyman in the line of Lord Jesus Christ.
750716pc.sf Conversations
Reporter (2): What will happen to the movement in the United States when you die?
Prabhupada: I WILL NEVER DIE.
Devotees: Jaya! Hari bol! (laughter)
Prabhupada: I SHALL LIVE From MY BOOKS, AND YOU WILL UTILIZE.
Reporter (2): Are you training a successor?
Prabhupada: Yes, my Guru Maharaja is there. Where is my photo of Guru Maharaja? I think... Here is.
Indian Lady: ... is that spiritual master still guiding after death?
Srila Prabhupada: Yes, yes. Just like Krsna is guiding us, similarly spiritual master will guide us. (General lectures, 69/09/23)
Devotee: Srila Prabhupada when you're not present with us, how is it possible to receive instructions? For example in questions that may arise...
SRILA PRABHUPADA: Well the questions are answ... answers are there in my books.
(Morning Walk, Los Angeles, 13/5/73)
So utilise whatever time you find to make a thorough study of my books. Then all your questions will be answered. (Letter to Upendra, 7/1/76)
Every one of you must regularly read our books at least twice, in the morning and evening, and automatically all questions will be answered. ( Letter to Randhira, 24/01/70)
If I depart there is no cause for lamentation. I will always be with you through my books and orders. I will always remain with you in that way. (BTG 13:1-2, December 1977)
