JAYA SRILA PRABHUPADA!

October 21, 2009

Today, Mangal Aratik was very special for me. Because it was Prabhupada's disappearance day, I was more moved than usual to mediate on His Divine Grace as we chanted the Guruastakam prayers, and in that meditation the thoughts that came to me were unusually inspiring. Not that they were profound in the sense that I had realizations that I had never had before or had never previously heard. And not that they were so deep in the schoarly sense. But the combination of Prabhupada's presence on that special day, the fact that it was Mangal Aratik, the combined association of the devotees, and the darshan of the Deities all brought about the intensity of those thoughts and gave them deeper meaning.

Here is what I was thinking as we sang each verse. I pray that during Mangal Aratik my mind never wanders again and that I can continue in the same mood of appreciation and glorififaction of our most beloved savior, spiritual master and friend.

1) The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as a cloud pours water on a forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master delivers the materially afflicted world by extinguishing the blazing fire of material existence. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is an ocean of auspicious qualities.

Thank you Srila Prabhupada, for saving me from the cycle of birth and death, and its countless miseries.

2) Chanting the holy name, dancing in ecstasy, singing, and playing musical instruments, the spiritual master is always gladdened by the sankirtana movement of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Because he is relishing the mellows of pure devotion within his mind, sometimes his hair stands on end, he feels quivering in his body, and tears flow from his eyes like waves. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.

Thank you Srila Prabhupada, for bestowing upon us the ecstatic Holy Name, without which we would still be absorbed in the music and the myriad of so-called pleasures of this material world, and without which we would have no potency to elevate the conditioned souls.

3) The spiritual master is always engaged in the temple worship of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna. He also engages his disciples in such worship. They dress the Deities in beautiful clothes and ornaments, clean Their temple, and perform other similar worship of the Lord. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.

Thank you Srila Prabhupada, for allowing us to worship and serve the supremely beautiful, divine forms of the Lord, the only true repose of oursenses.

4) The spiritual master is always offering Krsna four kinds of delicious food [analyzed as that which is licked, chewed, drunk, and sucked]. When the spiritual master sees that the devotees are satisfied by eating bhagavat prasada, he is satisfied. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.

Thank you Srila Prabhupada, for giving us the purifying shelter of the Lord's sumptuous prasadam and to make service to Him so palatable through the partaking of His divine remanents.

5) The spiritual master is always eager to hear and chant about the unlimited conjugal pastimes of Radha and Madhava, and Their qualities, names, and forms. The spiritual master aspires to relish these at every moment. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.

Thank you Srila Prabhupada, for enlightening us with truths we never before relished and which, unlike all relative truths, were able to lift us beyond illusion and place us as the lotus feet of the divine couple. And thank you for inspiring us to deliver this liberating nectar to others.

6) The spiritual master is very dear, because he is expert in assisting the gopis, who at different times make different tasteful arrangements for the perfection of Radha and Krsna's conjugal loving affairs within the groves of Vrindavana. I offer my most humble obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.

Thank you Srila Prabhupada, for giving us entrance into the intimate pastimes of the Lord, where we one day hope to serve you in your nitya lila, your eternal pastimes.

7) The spiritual master is to be honored as much as the Supreme Lord, because he is the most confidential servitor of the Lord. This is acknowledged in all revealed scriptures and followed by all authorities. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such aspiritual master, who is a bona fide representative of Sri Hari [Krsna].

Thank you Srila Prabhupada, for so mercifully coming down to our lowly platform to uplift us even though we so often forget your true position as the intimate associate of the Supereme Lord and fail to offer you proper respect.

8) By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Krsna. Without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement. Therefore, I should always remember and praise the spiritual master. At least three times a day I should offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master.

Thank you Srila Prabhupada, for allowing us to try to please you and for so kindly offering our service to Krsna. We know that we would be completely lost without your constant support and we are thus holding on to your lotus feet for our very lives lest we fall back into the abyss of the material world.

Srila Prabhupada Ki Jaya!