A few thoughts on Srila Prabhupada

Srila Prabhupada: “I shall remain your personal guidance, physically present or not physically, as I am getting personal guidance from my guru maharaja.” He wrote this in a letter to his initiated disciples who had written to him expressing their concern for his illness, asking what would happen to them if he were to leave his transcendental body and return to Krsna.

This connection made by the disciple and spiritual master at the time of initiation is not material and did not end with Srila Prabhupada passing out of our physical sight. His instructions, and all of his words, are transcendental and eternal, and have nothing to do with the so-called living or non-living condition. The instructions to us were there before his leaving, and they remained unchanged after his passing. Therefore, the connection remains fully intact if the disciple simply continues to follow those instructions. There is no need to make any adjustments.

It is Krsna’s order that we disciples of Srila Prabhupada become gurus too by explaining this great science, according to our understanding, under the expert guidance of our beloved Srila Prabhupada. This does not mean that we want to be worshipped or our idea is to imitate Srila Prabhupada. It simply means that we are a little willing to accept our great duty to Krsna and the disciplic succession to understand everything as it actually is, and pass it on-with no change- to whomever wants to hear.

This passing along the philosophical understanding without adulteration, according to our realizations, is always pleasing to Srila Prabhupada, and Krsna declares in the Bhagavad-gita that a sincere soul who explains this great science of devotional service to the devotee is very dear to Him.

So, should we too surrender to Krsna completely, so that Krsna may empower us from within our hearts to repeat this same transcendental message as heard from our beloved Srila Prabhupada, and which has been handed down for centuries from master to disciple? Are we to attempt this rare and noble task of becoming authoritative representatives of param para, simply by submissively repeating Prabhupada’s actual teachings, as is the specific instruction of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu? Nothing would please Srila Prabhupada more than if all of his disciples became Krsna conscious, some accepting disciples ,and and everyone preaching Krsna consciousness all over the world.

Respectfully, mahananda dasa