A VAISNAVA NEVER DIES

Article: A VAISNAVA NEVER DIES

A Lecture on the Occasion of Srila Prabhupada’s Disappearance Day Festival By

Srila Gour Govinda Swami November 6th, 1994 Bhubaneswar India

[sastra gives many definitions of what is a Vaisnava and what is a Guru. General descriptions are given, and also confidential ones. In this lecture, Srila Gour Govinda Swami glorifies His Divine GraceA. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, by describing the elevated position of a Vaisnava. He describes Srila Prabhupada specifically as “Sri Guru,” or the spiritual master who descends from the Lord’s transcendental abode.

We print the lecture here inhonor of Srila Prabhupada on the occasion of his centennial appearance celebrations, and in loving memory of our recently departed, eternal spiritual guide, Srila Gour Govinda Swami. -ed.]

Beyond Birth and Death

We can say something about the holy life history and pastimes of a pure devotee of Krsna, Vaisnava µhakura, our revered spiritual master, Sri Srimad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. One should understand a Vaisnava never dies. A Vaisnava is not an ordinary jiva, so he has no birth and no death. He’s beyond birth and death. As the Supreme Lord appears and disappears, similarly His dear devotee, Vaisnava µhakura, appears and disappears:

na karma-bandhunamjanma vaisnavanamcavidyate

visnuranucaratvamhi

moksamahurmanisimah

“A Vaisnava does not take birth under the jurisdiction of karmic law. His birth and disappearance are transcendental. The wise have declared that the servants of Visnu are eternally engaged in the liberated service of the Lord and hence are free from the laws of material nature.” ( Hari-bhakti- vilasa, 10.113)

The Vaisnavas have no birth, no death and no bondage of karma. They are the dear servants of Lord Visnu, therefore they are not ordinary human beings. They never take birth, they never die as ordinary human beings. One should not think like that. If one thinks in that way he will commit a great aparadha, a great offense. They appear and disappear in the same way the Supreme Lord and His innumerable incarnations appear and disappear.

The appearance and disappearance day of a Vaisnava is as auspicious as the appearance day of the Supreme Lord. These days give us an opportunity to glorify them. A Vaisnava is always to be glorified. He has left indestructible fame and glory here. His fame is not only chanted in the material world, it is also chanted in the spiritual world. His glories are chanted everywhere. One who glorifies such a Vaisnava gets the mercy of that Vaisnava, and his good fortune arises.

Empowered

This is the holy disappearance day of our revered spiritual master Sri Srimad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada who is the Founder-acarya of the International Society for Krsna Consciousness. He fulfilled the desires of Lord Caitanya.

Mahaprabhu had this desire: prthivite ache yata nagaradi- gram sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama

“My name will be chanted and preached throughout the world, in all towns and villages, all corners of the world.” (Caitanya-bhagavata)

That was Mahaprabhu’s prophecy five hundred years ago. Now it has come true because Srila Prabhupada fulfilled this desire. He is completely empowered by his guru, the previous acaryasand Gauranga Mahaprabhu. Otherwise nobody could do what he did. Such a wonderfully miraculous thing. Krsna-sakti vina nahe tara pravartana, without the assistance of Krsna sakti nobody can do what he did by physical strength. One should understand that he was completely empowered, otherwise how could he fulfill the desires of Lord Caitanya?

Good Fortune

The purpose of this rarely achieved human birth is to understand Krsna, to know Krsna, to see Krsna, to get Krsna. To re-establish our lost relationship with Krsna. The question is, who can do that? How will it be done? This can only happen by the mercy of a dear devotee of Krsna. Such a person is not easily available, he is very rare. One who has good fortune he can meet such a devotee. Without good fortune no one can meet such a person, or else one may meet him but be unable to see him, to get his mercy. One should try to understand this point.

janasya krsnad vimukhasya daivad adharma-silasyasuduhkitasya

anugrahayehacarantinunaˆ

bhutanibhavyanijanardanasya

“My dear Lord, great philanthropic souls travel on the earth on behalf of the Supreme Personality of Godhead to show compassion to the fallen souls who are averse to the sense of subordination to the Lord.” (Bhag. 3.5.3)

Because of our prarabdha karma, past work, we have forgotten Krsna. We have been moving here in this material world, undergoing thousands of species of life, and have been afflicted with the three tapas, three types of suffering. Such rare personalities, dear devotees of Krsna, Vaisnava µhakura, they descend here and wander in this material world to shower their mercy on the suffering jivas.

They are very merciful. To meet them is very, very auspicious. When good fortune arises one may meet such a person. By his mercy he can understand, “Who is the Lord and who am I? How can I know the Lord, understand Him and get Him?” Thereby achieving the success of this rarely achieved human birth. It is stated:

brahmandabhramitekonabhagyavanjiva guru-krsna prasade paya bhakti-lata bija (Cc. Madhya 19.151)

Wandering and wandering through thousands of universes, in thousands of species of life, if some jiva is very fortunate he gets the seed of the bhakti creeper by the mercy of Guru and Krsna. Jivera ‘svarupa’ haya — krsnera ‘nitya dasa’, the real identity of the jiva is the eternal servant of Krsna. He is not the inhabitant of this material universe, material brahmanda.

He has abused his minute independence, therefore he has been wandering here in the cycle of repeated birth and death in thousands of species of life. Sometimes he becomes a man, sometimes he becomes a demigod, sometimes a demon, and sometimes a tree, creeper, worm or germ. When some good fortune arises, at that time the jiva meets sad-guru, Sri Guru.

Real Darsana of Guru

The life in which the darsana of Sri Guru takes place is a very, very successful life. That is good fortune. Seeing Gurudeva, having the darsana of Gurudeva means to receive the mercy of Gurudeva. We may see Gurudeva with these eyes, but if Gurudeva casts his merciful glance on us then it should be understood that we are very fortunate. Otherwise we should not think ourselves very fortunate. By his mercy we can realize what is his real svarupa, how he is a maha bhagavata. Guru means heavy and not light.

If someone is very fortunate he gets the darsana of such Sri Guru or sad-guru it is to be understood good fortunate has arisen for him. We are not speaking of seeing the external body constituted of blood, flesh and bones. Darsana does not mean to see the external form of Guru. To see the Guru’s real form, his real svarupa, that is guru-darsana. To see how he is dear to Krsna.

That is not material darsana. That is transcendental, spiritual darsana, aprakrta darsana. If someone can see how the gaura-karuNa-sakti, the mercy potency of Gaura, is moving in him, that is the darsana of Guru. One who can do this is fortunate. That is truly good fortune. By nature Sri Guru is very merciful. He is very tolerant. He always excuses our innumerable aparadhas, offenses. He is merciful to all jivas. He is a most dear and intimate associate of Krsna.

He has come down here to give us Krsna. He gave us Krsna. He gave us faith in Krsna, Krsna sraddha, taste in Krsna- katha, Krsna-katha ruci,and the invaluable wealth of Krsna-prema. That is real darsana of Guru. He’s always looking at us with merciful eyes. He has taken up this resolution to deliver us from our most fallen position. Prior to the darsana of Sri Guru we are ill- fated. We had only bad fortune. The day we met Sri Guru, Sad Guru, good fortune arose.

If someone gets an opportunity to meet such a Guru his material bondage starts to be destroyed. When his material bondage is destroyed then he gets the opportunity to have the darsana of Sri Guru, mahatma, maha-bhagavata. Such a jiva is bhagyavan, fortunate. Having already wandered through lakhs and lakhs of brahmandas, the ill-fated jiva experiences only misfortune. Now he has become fortunate, he has gotten the darsana of a maha-bhagavata, Krsna-prestha, a dear devotee of Krsna.

Meeting the President

In this material world if one meets the President of the State, the Chief Minister or Prime Minister he will get some of his material desires fulfilled. He may think, “Oh, I am very fortunate.” No. This is not good fortune. When we speak about meeting Sri Guru, sad-guru we are not speaking of that kind of fortune. If one meets Sri Guru one cannot describe what kind of fortune he has gotten.

There is no way to put such good fortune in language. Up to that time he had been a karmi, a jñani, a bhogi or a tyagi. But now he becomes situated in his constitutional position as Krsna-dasa. This is truly subhagya, good fortune. Now the revolution of the cycle of birth and death stops.

As one can see the sun only by the help of the sunshine, similarly, only by the mercy of the sadhu- guru-mahajana can one can see the Guru. Otherwise, nobody can see the Guru with material eyes. Seeing the Guru does not mean seeing the form of the Guru or his external body. That is not real darsana. Real darsana means to see the real form of Guru, how he is a maha bhagavata, a dear devotee of Krsna.

Assumes a Body

nayamatmapravacanenalabhyo

namedhayanabahunasrutena

In Katha Upanisad [1.2.23] it is stated, “One cannot understand paramatma-tattva by hearing lectures from so many karmis,jñanis,paNdits,yogis. When the caittyaguruin the heart, the paramatma,assumes a body, appears before us and speaks, only then will we be able to understand paramatma-tattva. To have the darsana of Guru means to get a completely new life. New enlightenment comes. Guru-Krsna prasade paya bhakti-lata bija — by the mercy of Guru and Krsna a fortunate jiva gets the seed of the bhakti creeper.

Krsnayadikrpakorikonabhagyavane guru antaryami-rupe sikhaya apane (Cc. Madhya 22.47)

“If Krsna showers His mercy on some fortunate jiva then He appears before him as Guru and teaches. That is mercy.” So Gurudeva is known as the embodiment of Krsna- krpa, the mercy of Krsna, Krsna-krpa-Sri-murti. To get Guru means to get the mercy of Krsna. We should understand that. Gurudeva is the embodiment of the mercy of Krsna — Krsna-prasada. If someone gets Guru he gets good fortune because he gets the seed of the bhakti creeper.

Obtaining material enjoyment, liberation, gold, woman, name, fame, and prestige — these are not good fortune. Many consider these good fortune, But they are not really good fortune. The mayagrasta jiva, conditioned soul thinks, “Oh, these are good fortune.” But this is not real good fortune. Good fortune means to get bhakti, the seed of the bhakti creeper.

Seed of Bhakti

One may ask what is the seed of the bhakti creeper. The seed of bhakti is sraddha, unflinching faith. Not ordinary faith, but sastriya-sraddha, faith in sadhu-sastra-guru-vakya, the words of the pure devotees, scripture and the spiritual master. That is the seed of the bhakti creeper. But what is the seed of sraddha? The seed of sraddha is sadhu-guru-krpa, the mercy of sadhu-guru.

nitya-siddhasya bhavasya prakatyamhrdisadhyata

(Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu1.2.2)

By the mercy of Sri Guru, sad-guru, one will develop prema-bhakti. Without his mercy one cannot get Krsna-prema. sraddha, ruci, priti — faith, then taste, then affection. In this way there is a gradual development. These are different stages of the development of Krsna-prema. This prema- bhakti is also known as nitya-siddha-bhava, or eternal perfect love for Krsna, and it is there in the jiva.

Jivera ‘svarupa’ hay— krsNera ‘nitya dasa’,the svarupa, or real identity of the jiva is to be the eternal servant of Krsna. So this nitya siddha bhava, eternal perfect bhava is covered, it is unmanifested. How will the covering be lifted? How it will become manifest? If you get guru-krpa, the mercy of Sri Guru, then the covering is lifted, and it becomes manifest.

It is there already in the jiva but it is covered, unmanifested. Gurudeva only uncovers it. He makes it manifested, nothing else. One who lifts that covering he’s Guru, he’s maha-bhagavata. By his mercy we get the seed of the bhakti creeper. Until now I was distressed and unhappy, and my Guru made me happy. He has come to deliver me. This bhava, this feeling, arises in the heart upon seeing the Guru.

Krsna se tomara, Krsnaditeparo tomara sakati ache

ami to kangala ‘Krsna’‘Krsna’boli’ dhai tava pache pache

(Bhaktivinoda Thakura from saranagati)

Krsna is with such a sadhu-guru. He has bound Krsna in his heart by the rope of love. Krsna belongs to him. Only he can give me Krsna. He will give me Krsna-sraddha, faith in Krsna, which will lead to Krsna-rati,then Krsna-prema, attachment, and then love for Krsna.That faith shouldbe unflinching. Seeing such a Guru this faith automatically awakens. That is natural:

bhaktistubhagavad-bhaktasangenaparijayate

(Brhan-naradiyaPuraNa4.33)

Bhakti is there, but it is covered, hidden, lost. But by the mercy of Sri Guru bhakti arises and becomes uncovered. If bhakti were not already there in the jiva, then how would it arise in him? Bhagavad-gita (2.16) says,

nasatovidyatebhavo

nabhavovidyatesatah,

“Of the non-existent (the material body) there is no endurance, but of the eternal (the soul) there is no change.” One should understand this verse. Bhakti-dhana, the wealth of bhakti is there, but Gurudeva makes it manifest, he uncovers it. Gurudeva is wealthy in this bhakti-dhana. He is not rich with material wealth.

Great Misfortune

If such a personality as Sri Guru came and gave his darsana, but still I could not see him then indeed I am most unfortunate. This is very deep philosophy, one should try to understand it. Upon seeing Sri Guru, automatically, spontaneously, the desire will arise in the heart to surrender unto him and serve him. It is to be understood that such a person who has come in contact with Sri Guru , sad-guru is a bhagyavan jiva, a very fortunate jiva.

Just by coming in association with Sri Guru and hearing his katha, a faithless person becomes faithful. Faith arises in his heart and he gets a new life. This is a very great incident, a great revolution in his existence. His direction of life becomes completely turned around. The channel was flowing towards the material world, toward material objects of enjoyment, but now it has turned and flows towards Krsna.

To see and serve Sri Guru is a great revolution in life. It doesn’t matter who you may be, an atheist, a scientist or a philosopher. If you are fortunate enough to see the sad-guru, then your life is completely changed. This is bhagya, this is truly good fortune. If there is no good fortune, one cannot see sad-guru.

brahmaNdabhramitekonabhagyavanjiva guru-Krsna-prasade paya bhakti-lata bija

Gurudeva speaks Krsna-katha, so you see the Guru through your ears, not through your eyes. Through the ear, through vani he makes Krsna enter into you. The form of Krsna comes later. First you have to hear. First comes Krsna’s holy name, hare Krsna hare Krsna Krsna Krsna hare hare hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare. When he utters this maha- mantra, putting it into our ears, this is the first shower of his causeless mercy.

Immediately upon receiving the mantra you’ll get the result. sabda-brahma descends in the form of the holy name, in the form of mantra. Mantra means that which frees us from our mana-dharma, mental concoction. Many gurus are prepared to give mantra. They are in the profession of giving mantra. Mantra vibhasayi, professional mantra gurus, are always ready to give mantra.

“Come, give me a hundred dollars, immediately I will give you Krsna.” This is vibhasayi, this is the activity of the businessmen, professionals. But what mantra can they give? They are not real mantras! The are only words, alphabets, not real mantra. They simply want praNami-praNama, your worship and your money. One hundred dollars, two hundred dollars, that is all they want. They cannot give you Krsna.

Shelter

One should understand Srila Prabhupada. He is not mantra-datta-guru, a guru who simply gives mantra. Rather he is Krsna–datta-guru, the Guru who comes to give Krsna. He is asraya-datta- guru, coming to give shelter. He is not mantra-datta-guru. He taught us how to tread the devotional path. How to walk on this path leading to Vaikuntha.

Like a primary-school teacher who catches hold of the hand of the child and teaches, “Write A, B, C.” Catching hold of our hand he has taught us what other gurus cannot teach. What other gurus do not know. They want only praNama and praNami, some worship and money. They have no ability to take to this path of devotional service and teach others how to tread the path. They have no ability to move there. But Srila Prabhupada made nice arrangements, sravaNam, kirtanam, arcanam, vandanam, that is his causeless mercy.

He did not only give mantra and then send his disciples home. He opened hundreds of ISKCON temples throughout the world. He made arrangements for devotees to stay there, to get food, prasada. Those who are grha-tyagi, who have already left home, they will stay there and engage in hari-bhajana, in the service of Lord Hari.

Grhastha disciples

Those who are householder disciples, they should not just stay at home. They should come at regular intervals to the ISKCON temple, associate with sadhu-Vaisnavasand hear hari-katha. They should take advantage of the many, many festivals there. Every week there is the Sunday festival, and in every week, every month, every year many other festivals are taking place. The grhasthas should at least come and take part during this festival time. Join in the festival, hear Krsna-katha, and accept nice prasada.

The saˆsara, or household of the Guru means Krsna-saˆsara, the transcendental world. He has made many big festivals with kirtana, arati, arcana. They are going on day and night, 24 hours. One should take advantage and come and see. You’ll get so much pleasure, so much joyfulness, blissfulness. Come see the very beautiful form of Sri vigraha, the Deity. Chant and dance before Him, hear Krsna-katha, taste nice sweet nectarean Krsna-prasada, maha-prasada. In this way ones life will be successful.

All sufferings, unhappiness and anxiety will all be gone. He has made these arrangements how we can walk on this devotional path. Not only that, he sends his preachers to all corners of the world, to every town and village, even to every home. In that way he attracts people, “Come here to this ISKCON center. Stay here, get prasada, do hari-kirtana.” He says:

radha Krsna bolo, sangecalo ei-matra bikha cai

“This is the only alms I am begging. Chant Radha-Krsna and come with me!” Generally, a grhastha cannot render service to Radha-Krsna twenty-four hours a day. So he says, “Whenever you get the opportunity, come to the temple, chant Hare Krsna, dance and take Krsna-prasada.” He has made all these arrangements. He is not only mantra-datta-guru, he is asraya-datta-guru. He is not only the guru who gives mantra, but he gives shelter, he gives Krsna. He takes all responsibility for his disciples.

Great Debt

The jiva has many debts to pay back. He is indebted to the demigods, to his father and mother, to all humanity, to all living entities. How can one pay them back? It is not possible. Simply one should come and enter into the Guru’s saˆsara, Krsna’s saˆsara. All nice arrangements are there. Develop pure bhakti and all your debts are cleared up. Gurudeva is running very swiftly, faster than the speed of the wind.

Seeing that you cannot keep pace with him, he says, “All right, come slowly. If you cannot run quickly then come slowly.” Gurudeva will never leave you. He will catch hold of your sikhaand drag you. Yes, he has taken up that resolution, he is so supremely merciful. Henever hates the grhasthas. Rather he says, “You grhasthas,push aside your maya-saˆsara,material household. Come slowly and enter into our saˆsara.There may be some delay. Still, we won’t spare you. We’ll catch hold of your sikha and drag you.”

Prabhupada’s Mercy

Think of how merciful he is. This is Sri Srimad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, maha- bhagavata, bhagavatottama, topmost devotee of the Lord. He has made so many festivals, so many books, so much temple construction, so many magazines, dhama parikramas, circumambulation of the holy dhama, Navadvipa parikrama, and Vrndavana dhama-parikrama. He has made so many arrangements, and thereby he has opened the door for one and all, regardless of who he is.

One may be papi or tapi, the most degraded sinful person, or even the most elevated. Whatever one may be, the door is open. That is his supreme causeless mercy. This is incomparable, uncommon mercy. He sends the preachers to all corners of the world, to every town and village. He makes the arrangements for preaching the science of Krsna consciousness. And he has made many tricks.

Today, on the occasion of his holy disappearance day, if we pray for his mercy, get his darsana, and hear his nectarean katha then all auspiciousness will come to us. Our life will be successful. We’ll be free from material bondage. This is real good fortune.

He has showered his mercy on one and all. Very materialistic wealthy persons who cannot follow the four regulative principles, who cannot give up smoking cigarettes, who cannot give up blowing the white flute, who cannot give up eating fish and meat, who cannot give up drinking liquor, still he tells them, “You have some wealth, give something to us, and we’ll utilize it in Krsna’s service.”

For this reason he made this Life Membership program, Patron Member programs. Thereby giving opportunity to them. In this way they can render some service and gain sukrti. In this very life or in their next life they will get bhakti. They will definitely become bhaktas. So, slowly, nice arrangements are there, according to your ability one may accept it. The more one accepts, the more auspiciousness will come to him.

On this occasion of his holy disappearance, I offer a prayer. Let him shower his mercy to one and all.

Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!