31 Jan 2013
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Advaita Acarya, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Chanting Hare Krishna, Sri Caitanya-Caritamrta, Srimati Tulasi Devi
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Sri Caitanya's descent, Advaita Acarya, appears by the desire of His devotee, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, protector of religion, srimati tulasi, tulasi buds in water from the ganges, Tulasi devi
…Whenever the Supreme Personality of Godhead descends in His human form, He sends ahead all His devotees, who act as His father, teacher and associates in many roles. Such personalities appear before the descent of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Before the appearance of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu, there appeared His devotees like Śrī Mādhavendra Purī; His spiritual master, Śrī Īśvara Purī; His mother, Śrīmatī Śacīdevī; His father, Śrī Jagannātha Miśra; and Śrī Advaita Ācārya.
Advaita Ācārya having appeared, He found the world devoid of devotional service to Śrī Kṛṣṇa because people were engrossed in material affairs.
Everyone was engaged in material enjoyment, whether sinfully or virtuously. No one was interested in the transcendental service of the Lord, which can give total relief from the repetition of birth and death.
Seeing the activities of the world, the Ācārya felt compassion and began to ponder how He could act for the people’s benefit.
[Advaita Ācārya thought:] “If Śrī Kṛṣṇa were to appear as an incarnation, He Himself could preach devotion by His personal example.
“In this Age of Kali there is no religion other than the chanting of the holy name of the Lord, but how in this age will the Lord appear as an incarnation?
“I shall worship Kṛṣṇa in a purified state of mind. I shall constantly petition Him in humbleness.
“My name, ‘Advaita,’ will be fitting if I am able to induce Kṛṣṇa to inaugurate the movement of the chanting of the holy name.”
“Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who is very affectionate toward His devotees, sells Himself to a devotee who offers Him merely a tulasī leaf and a palmful of water.”
Advaita Ācārya considered the meaning of the verse in this way: Not finding any way to repay the debt He owes to one who offers Him a tulasī leaf and water, Lord Kṛṣṇa thinks, “There is no wealth in My possession that is equal to a tulasī leaf and water.”
Thus the Lord liquidates the debt by offering Himself to the devotee. Considering this, the Ācārya began worshiping the Lord.
Thinking of the lotus feet of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, He constantly offered tulasī buds in water from the Ganges.
He appealed to Śrī Kṛṣṇa with loud calls and thus made it possible for Kṛṣṇa to appear.
Therefore the principal reason for Śrī Caitanya’s descent is this appeal by Advaita Ācārya. The Lord, the protector of religion, appears by the desire of His devotee.
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28 Jan 2013
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Art, Free Audio Books, Free Downloads, Free eBooks, Krishna Path, Prahlada-Nrsimha das
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, audio books, free download, free eBooks, Internet, ISKCON Press, Krishna art, Krsna Book, Krsna The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Prahlada-Nrsimha das, Transcendental Art
click on image to enlarge
I am always glad to hear from my friend Prahlada-Nrsimha Prabhu over at Krishna Path because it usually means he has another book ready to be uploaded onto the Internet. For instance today this message arrived in our mailbox:
Haribol! We are very happy to announce that KrishnaPath.org has now completed the scanning of the original 1970 ISKCON Press edition (Volume one) of KRSNA The Supreme Personality of Godhead and is available for free download! We are working hard to get you the second volume as well. By your prayers and blessings the second volume KRSNA book will be ready and available for free download soon.
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28 Jan 2013
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Devotional Service, Srimad Bhagavatam
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, causeless mercy, chanting, devotional service, hearing, Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, mercy of sri caitanya, millennium, Prayers by Queen Kunti, praying, remembering, Srimad Bhagavad-gita, Srimad Bhagavatam, worshiping
…In the Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā the Lord asserts that He appears in every millennium just to reestablish the way of religion. The way of religion is made by the Supreme Lord. No one can manufacture a new path of religion, as is the fashion for certain ambitious persons. The factual way of religion is to accept the Lord as the supreme authority and thus render service unto Him in spontaneous love.
The Lord, however, out of His causeless mercy, because He is more merciful to the suffering living beings than they can expect, appears before them and renovates the principles of devotional service comprised of hearing, chanting, remembering, serving, worshiping, praying, cooperating and surrendering unto Him. Adoption of all the above-mentioned items, or any one of them, can help a conditioned soul get out of the tangle of nescience and thus become liberated from all material sufferings created by the living being illusioned by the external energy. This particular type of mercy is bestowed upon the living being by the Lord in the form of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. (from Purport to SB 1.8.35)
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26 Jan 2013
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, Book Changes, Spiritual Master, The Hare Krishna Movement
Tags: 1972 Macmillan edition, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, as it is, bhagavad-gita, original 1972, picture of Srila Prabhupada, prabhupada pictures
Images of the Disciplic Succession (taken from Original 1972 Edition of Bhagavad-gita As It Is)
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
the Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
and greatest exponent of Krishna Consciousness in the western world.
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja
the spiritual master of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
and foremost scholar and devotee in the recent age.
Srila Gaura Kisora Das Babaji Maharaja
the spiritual master of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami
and intimate student of Srila Thakur Bhaktivinode
Srila Thakur Bhaktivinode
the pioneer of the program to benedict
the entire world with Krishna consciousness
As taken from Original 1972 Edition of Bhagavad-gita As It Is
*Note; These images were deleted from: Second Edition, Revised and Enlarged …or rather, current edition.
25 Jan 2013
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Sri Nandanandana das, Vegetarian Cooking, Vegetarianism
Tags: animal crulety, animal slaughter, bhakti yoga, compassion, Ferdinando Lambruschini, Isaac Bashevis Singer, karma, meateaters, Newton's third law of motion, non violence, peace, Prasadam, slaughter industry, spiritual path, universal brotherhood, vegetarian, vegetarian diet, violence to animals
…On the spiritual path, there are several reasons why a person is recommended to be vegetarian. One primary reason is that we need to see the spiritual nature within all living beings, and that includes the animals and other creatures as well. Universal brotherhood means nonviolence to both humans and animals. It consists of understanding that animals also have souls. They are alive, conscious, and feel pain. And these are the indications of the presence of consciousness, which is the symptom of the soul.
…Isaac Bashevis Singer, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature, asked, “How can we pray to God for mercy if we ourselves have no mercy? How can we speak of rights and justice if we take an innocent creature and shed its blood?” He went on to say, “I personally believe that as long as human beings will go shedding the blood of animals, there will never be any peace.”
…The Buddhist scripture (Sutta-Nipata 393) also advises: “Let him not destroy or cause to be destroyed any life at all, or sanction the acts of those who do so. Let him refrain from even hurting any creature, both those that are strong and those that tremble in the world.” It is also said in the Buddhist scripture, the Mahaparinirvana Sutra, “The eating of meat extinguishes the seed of great compassion.”
Why Be Vegetarian?
By Stephen Knapp (Sri Nandanandana dasa)
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25 Jan 2013
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bob Cohen, Perfect Answers Perfect Questions
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bob Cohen, devotee Krsna, krsna consciousness, krsna-samprasnah, loka-mangalam, material consequences, material miseries, original consciousness, perfect devotee, prasada, pure devotee, Srila Prabhupada, Syamasundara dasa
Continuing with our series of a True account entitled Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers… A search for meaning carries Bob Cohen, a young American Peace Corps worker halfway around the world, to an ancient village in the midst of West Bengal. There, in a small bamboo hut, he finds a teacher who is able to tell him everything he ever wanted to know.
…Bob: A perfected soul, a devotee, a pure devotee…
Śrīla Prabhupāda: A perfected soul is one who engages twenty-four hours a day in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is perfection. That is a transcendental position. Perfection means to engage in one’s original consciousness. That is perfection.
Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers
By His Divine Grace A.C. Baktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Chapter 6, February 29, 1972, (evening)
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23 Jan 2013
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Absolute Truth, Arjuna, atma, Bg. 8, bhagavad-gita, Bhagavan, body mind soul, brahman, devotional seervice, fruitive activities, individual soul, karma, Krishna, krsna consciousness, living enity, Paramatma, Srimad Bhagavatam, transcendental, yoga, yoga principles
Bhagavad-gītā As It Is 1972 Edition
By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Chapter 8
Attaining the Supreme
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20 Jan 2013
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Devotional Service, Mayavadi, Spiritual Life, Sri Caitanya-Caritamrta
Tags: austerity, Demigod Gaṇeśa, fruitive activity, goddess durga, goddess kali, goddess of fortune, impersonal Brahman, It Is Not All One and the Same, Kṛṣṇa, Lord Ramacandra, Lord Siva, mystic yoga, speculative knowledge
click on image to enlarge
“One Can Understand Me As I Am, Only By Devotional Service”
It Is Not All One and the Same
…Lord Kṛṣṇa told the gopīs, ‘The means of attaining My favor is loving service unto Me, and fortunately you are all thus engaged. Those living beings who render service unto Me are eligible to be transferred to the spiritual world and attain eternal life with knowledge and bliss.’
The fulfillment of human life is summarized in this verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.82.44).
And in the Bhagavad-gita
…Lord Krsna told Arjuna, “One can understand Me as I am, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, only by devotional service. And when one is in full consciousness of Me by such devotion, he can enter into the kingdom of God.”
Impersonalists cannot understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead; therefore it is not possible for them to enter into the spiritual kingdom of God and return home, back to Godhead. Actually one attains different results by different means. It is not that all achievements are one and the same.
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20 Jan 2013
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Free Downloads, Free eBooks, Songs of the Vaisnava Acaryas
Songs of the Vaisnava Acaryas (Free download)
It is with great pleasure that we share with you the Original 1974 Edition of the Songs of the Vaisnava Acaryas, thanks to some very special devotees over at Krishnapath.org who are making all these original books available again and for free. This Song Book and The Hare Krishna Cookbook, were probably my two favorite books as a new devotee. They were so cherished that I had the pages laminated in plastic to preserve them. I must have known instinctually then that these books were endangered, because I also have my original 1972 Bhagavad-gita, original 1970 Krsna Books Vol. I & II, 1968 edition of the Teaching of Lord Chaintanya, as well as many others. Please click on the following link for a free pdf download of the scans of original song book. Hare Krishna!
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18 Jan 2013
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Brahma, KRSNA The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vaisnava Vocabulary
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Brahma, chirping of the birds along with cooing of the peacocks, hearing and chanting, Krishna, Krsna, Lord Brahma, nityanavanavayamana, surrounded by the whispering of the leaves in the trees, The Stealing of the Boys and Calves by Brahma, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, vaisnava vocabulary, Vol.1 chapter 13
click on image to enlarge
Here is a new word for your vaisnava vocabulary, nityanavanavāyamāna This word is explained in following paragraph. And for an example of the word nityanavanavāyamāna in transcendental subject matter we offer the following chapter from the KRSNA Book.
It is said that it is the nature of a devotee to constantly apply his mind, energy, words, ears, etc., in hearing and chanting about Kṛṣṇa. This is called Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and for one who is rapt in hearing and chanting Kṛṣṇa, the subject matter never becomes hackneyed or old. That is the significance of transcendental subject matter in contrast to material subject matter. Material subject matter becomes stale, and one cannot hear a certain subject for a long time; he wants change. But as far as transcendental subject matter is concerned, it is called nityanavanavāyamāna. This means that one can go on chanting and hearing about the Lord and never feel tired but will remain fresh and eager to hear more and more.
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18 Jan 2013
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Festivals, Kumbha Mela
Tags: Allahabad, Ganga, Ganges River, holy people, Kumbha Mela, kumbha mela 2013, mela, mythical Saraswati, pilgrims, Prayag, religious festival, sadhus (saints), saraswati river, Ujjain Haridwar, worlds largest religious festival, Yamuna, yogis
Kumbh Mela 2013
The World’s Biggest Religious Festival
The Kumbh Mela, believed to be the largest religious gathering on earth is held every 12 years on the banks of the ‘Sangam’- the confluence of the holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati. The Mela alternates between Nasik, Allahabad, Ujjain and Haridwar every three years. The one celebrated at the Holy Sangam in Allahabad is the largest and holiest of them.
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17 Jan 2013
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Chanting Hare Krishna, Mantra Meditation, Meditation
Tags: Bg 8.8, chanting, chanting Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, mantra meditation, sixteen words, Srila Prabhupada, Srimad Bhagavatam lecture 7.9.10, Sriman Havagriva brahmacari, vishnujana swami
He who meditates on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, his mind constantly engaged in remembering Me…is sure to reach Me.
…In this verse Lord Kṛṣṇa stresses the importance of remembering Him. One’s memory of Kṛṣṇa is revived by chanting the mahāmantra, Hare Kṛṣṇa. By this practice of chanting and hearing the sound vibration of the Supreme Lord, one’s ear, tongue and mind are engaged. This mystic meditation is very easy to practice, and it helps one attain the Supreme Lord. (from purport to Bhagavad-gita 8.8)
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17 Jan 2013
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Krishna, Srimad Bhagavatam
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Dwarka, flowers fell upon the road, garlands of flowers, Krishna, Krsna, lightning and rainbows, Lord Krsna's Entrance into Dvaraka, Lord' bodily hue, monsoon cloud, SB 1.11.27, white feathered fans, white umbrella, yellow garments
As the Lord passed along the public road of Dvārakā, His head was protected from the sunshine by a white umbrella. White feathered fans moved in semicircles, and showers of flowers fell upon the road. His yellow garments and garlands of flowers made it appear as if a dark cloud were surrounded simultaneously by sun, moon, lightning and rainbows.
…The sun, moon, rainbow and lightning do not appear in the sky simultaneously. But the situation created at the time of His passing on the roads of Dvārakā was beautiful and could not be compared to anything besides the description of natural phenomena.
full text and purport More
16 Jan 2013
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Lectures, Radha Madhava, Songs of the Vaisnava Acaryas, Spiritual Life, Spiritual World
Tags: Bhaktivinoda Thakura
click on image to enlarge
…Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you very much for your coming here to participate in this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. We are calling everyone to go back to home, back to Godhead. This is our movement, Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Just now we described the place where we intend to go. That is Goloka Vṛndāvana. There the Supreme Personality of Godhead is residing with His consort Rādhārāṇī. Rādhā-Mādhava. (from lecture by Srila Prabhupada, Laguna Beach 9-30-1972)
So this is the original nature of Krsna. He is Radha-Madhava. He is the lover of Srimati Radharani.
Full Lecture plus song More
15 Jan 2013
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Chanting Hare Krishna, Ganges, Holy Places of Pilgrimage, Sri Nandanandana das, Stephen Knapp
Tags: chanting Hare Krishna, Hari, Holy Names of the Lord, Krishna, Lord Vishnu, Padma Purana, Sri Nandanandana dasa, Stephen Knapp
This is Part 3 in the series on ‘Chanting the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra’ by Sri Nandanandana Prabhu, describing the power of the Lord’s holy names.
Lord Vishnu’s Names are More Powerful than the Greatest Holy Places
by Sri Nandanandana dasa (Stephen Knapp)
The power of the Lord’s holy names is also related in the following story. It is described in the Padma Purana that many years ago when asked by the sages at the forest of Naimisharanya which one single act will bring the fruit of visiting the many holy places, Suta Gosvami answered in this way: Out of so many rituals and rites that are prescribed, only one is superior. There is no doubt that one who has devotion to Lord Vishnu has undoubtedly conquered everything. Hari, [Vishnu, Krishna], the Lord of all gods, should alone be propitiated. The goblin of sin will perish by means of the great sacred hymns in the form of the names of Vishnu. There is no doubt that those with pure hearts, going around Vishnu even once, get (the fruit of) having bathed at all the holy places. A man would obtain the fruit of (having visited) all holy places by seeing Vishnu’s image. Chanting the excellent name of Vishnu, a man would obtain (the result) of having chanted all the sacred hymns. A man having once smelt the tulasi plant, the grace of Vishnu, does not see the huge and terrible face of Yama [Yamaraja, the lord of death]. A man having (but) once saluted Krishna does not drink the mother’s milk [does not need to be reborn again]. I always repeatedly salute them whose mind is (fixed) on the feet of Vishnu. Even [those of lower tribes, such as] pulkasas, chandalas, or other mleccha tribes, who serve the feet of Vishnu alone are fit to be saluted. Then what about the meritorious and devoted brahmanas and royal sages? Having placed one’s devotion in Vishnu, a person does not experience confinement in the womb (is not reborn). A man who with high sounds chants the name of Vishnu purifies the world as does the Ganga [Ganges River]. There is no doubt that a man is freed from sins like murder of a brahmana by seeing (the image of), touching (the feet of), reciting (the name of), and devoting oneself (to Vishnu).
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14 Jan 2013
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Book Changes, Book Distribution, Books by Srila Prabhupada, Free Downloads, Free eBooks, KrishnaPath.org, Prahlada-Nrsimha das
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, authorized editions, book changes, digitally memastered books of his divine grace, krishna .org, Krishnapath, original authorized books, original books by srila prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada
The Words of the Spiritual Master, That is Living!
This just in from the KrishnaPath.org Newsletter:
We are very happy to share with you, for the first time ever in internet history, the authorized editions of Srila Prabhupada’s original books in a digitized format.
The long and hard work of scanning and digitally remastering all of Srila Prabhupada’s books is almost complete!
To veiw post and download the Original Books free click on following link:
Original Books
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14 Jan 2013
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Jiva Goswami, Six Goswamis, Sri Caitanya-Caritamrta
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, disappearance of srila jiva goswami, Jiva Goswami, Srila Jiva Goswami
In honor of the disappearance day of Srila Jiva Goswami, we are posting some verses from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta that have been submitted to us by Yasodanandana Prabhu.
…Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī became the ācārya of all the Vaiṣṇavas in Bengal, Orissa and the rest of the world, and it is he who used to guide them in their devotional service. In Vṛndāvana he established the Rādhā-Dāmodara temple, where we had the opportunity to live and retire until the age of sixty-five, when we decided to come to the United States of America. When Jīva Gosvāmī was still present, Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī compiled his famous Caitanya-caritāmṛta. Later, Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī inspired Śrīnivāsa Ācārya, Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura and Duḥkhī Kṛṣṇadāsa to preach Kṛṣṇa consciousness in Bengal. Jīva Gosvāmī was informed that all the manuscripts that had been collected from Vṛndāvana and sent to Bengal for preaching purposes were plundered near Viṣṇupura, in Bengal, but later he received the information that the books had been recovered.
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13 Jan 2013
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Gopis, KRSNA The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Pride
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, and with dampened eyes they began to see the very pastimes of Kṛṣṇa, gopis pride, His beautiful talks with them, His embracing, kissing, Krsna, krsna consciousness, Krsna's hiding from the gopis, love and aggection, pastimes of krsna, pride, proud, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, they experienced loss of memory
…The gopīs were aware of the reason for Kṛṣṇa’s sudden disappearance. They could understand that when they were enjoying Kṛṣṇa, they thought themselves to be the most fortunate women within the universe, and since they were feeling proud, Kṛṣṇa disappeared immediately just to curb their pride. Kṛṣṇa does not like His devotees to be proud of their service to Him. He accepts everyone’s service, but He does not like one devotee to be prouder than others. If sometimes there are such feelings, Kṛṣṇa ends them by changing His attitude toward the devotee.
Kṛṣṇa, The Supreme Personality of Godhead (1970 Edition)
By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Chapter 30
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10 Jan 2013
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Ananda devi dasi, Guru & Disciple, Srila Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada vani
Tags: all these are instructions from the Spiritual Master, Ananda devi dasi, books, disciple, instructions of the spiritual master, Letters, spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, tapes, vani, Vani Seva, vaphu, verbal instructions, videos
Vani Seva
by Ananda devi dasi
May 12 2009, UK
In Srimad Bhagavatam 4.28.47 we read: “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. 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.”
Srila Prabhupada makes it crystal clear that after the disappearance of the Spiritual Master, the disciple follows the instructions of the Spiritual Master. The Spiritual Master left His instructions in the form of Books, verbal instructions, letters, tapes, videos, all these are instructions from the Spiritual Master,Vani.
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