I decided, while at home to not bring any of my Silas on the trip this time, to the program. As it turned out, and unknown to me beforehand, three new silas were given to me-DESPITE my not wanting to bring any of mine from home. Sort of tells you something, right?
So our ONLY real business, if we call ourselves devotees, is to put Krsna FIRST in our lives, not second , or third or fourth after family, job, friends, hobbies, etc.You know ,like try to "squeeze" in Krsna somewhere there in our lives, after all the other stuff is done. No, that is totally the opposite of being devotee. Devotee means, as Prabhupada has explained,to always be thinking of the Supreme Lord in some way or other. And if we are doing that, then He will manifest in our lives in that way. If we dont do that, then His other "energies" will manifest in our lives.Personally I would rather have Him than His inferior/external energies.
The below quotes, explain how Prabhupada and Krsna are living now, not that either of Them has gone anywhere, but that both of Them are still present, viable, effulgent and all pleasing if we know the secret of how to associate with Them.
The many quotes below substantiate this position.
Hare Krsna
--see you--on Gaura Purnima
Damaghosa das
your humble servant
(notice the colored glass balls in the flower vase)
Srila Prabhupada's teachings are:
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.
(SP Letter to Gaurasundara, 13/11/69)
So we should associate by vibration, and not by the physical presence. That is real association.
(SP Lecture, 18/8/68, Montreal)
There are two conceptions of presence – the physical conception and the vibrational conception. The physical conception is temporary, whereas the vibrational conception is eternal. [...] When we feel separation from Krsna or the Spiritual Master, we should just try to remember their words of 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, chapter 4)
Although according to material vision His Divine Grace Srila
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada passed away from this material world on the last day of December 1936, I still consider His Divine Grace to be always present with me by His vani, His words. There are two ways of association – by vani and by vapu ; vani means words and vapu 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.
(C.c. Antya, Concluding words)
I shall remain your personal guidance, physically present or notphysically, as I am getting personal guidance from my Guru Maharaj.
(SP Room conversation, 14/7/77,Vrindavan)
It is sometimes misunderstood that if one has to associate with personsengaged in devotional service, he will not be able to solve the economicproblem. To answer this argument, it is described here that one has toassociate with liberated persons not directly, physically, but byunderstanding, through philosophy and logic, the problems of life.
(S.B. 3.31.48, purport)
I am always with you. Never mind if I am physically absent.
(SP 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.
(SP Room conversation, 6/10/77, Vrindavan)
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 Maharaj 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.
(SP 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.
(SP 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.
(SP 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.
(SP Lecture, 13/1/69, Los Angeles)
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.
(SP Lecture, 18/8/71, London)