Jul 28, '07 — "The world goes on in its own perfect way. No person can deflect it by the breadth of a hair from the course chalked out for it by providence. . . . What is necessary is to change our outlook to this very world" -- His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Maharajah Thakura.
I found this quote most interesting, as it gives a mature angle of vision on this question of free will. Apparently, the course of things cannot be changed by a HAIR's BREADTH, yet we have "minute" free will. To my best understanding, Srila Prabhupada expressed that we have a limited free will, to love or not, to be Krsna conscious or not. So far as destiny, again to my best understanding, he suggested that it was fixed.
He also indicated that that was not necessarily the case for Krsna's connected devotees, who operate under special dispensation from a platform of sanction by heart-internal, and formal, initiation into the Sampradaya, i.e., empowered. The rightly situated devotee was now free under the spell of Yoga-Maya, as opposed to being material-time bound as Maha-Maya's children. They stood liberated, while they operated under his direction, by special buoyancy of his sanction.
Just like a devotee at the temple quickly rises to a high level, synchronistically buoyed up by the Power of the holy Devotees and Place, and when she leaves, she can often descend to her more natural spiritual level, as the spiritually inflated state wears off. So, when Srila Prabhupada left, we all felt the loss and are even now still sorting it all out, organizationally speaking.
That means that the "free will" is to surrender to the will of Radha-Krsna with bhakti, or not, and thus to change our experience of the world. We may become, Lord willing, liberated souls in this body. As the karma winds its last way around us, yet the advanced pure devotee is not bound, she is living with Krsna in her heart, mind, words, and deeds, deathless and liberated yet the material form, so-called, has not yet fallen away. The world doesn't change a hair's breadth, but the vision has changed. The devotee will be freed from selfish vision, and see to serve the Lord.
When we accept the spiritual master as our instructor, he represents the Supersoul. Krsna is so kind, but we are so blinded by selfish lust, such that we cannot see at all. So He comes, servant of Nityananda-Baladeva, to rescue the dried up souls, as the Vaisnava guru, external manifestation of Supersoul.
At Sridhama Mayapura, Gaura Purnima 1975, Srila Prabhupada told us to always remember the Lord within the heart. This was a direct instruction, no kidding around prabuas. He was very serious and determined to instruct us clearly on this matter. It was a lecture given for worldwide consumption. He straight out, from his vyasasana that morning, told us to always remember the Form of the Lord within our hearts. One devotee raised his hand and asked if it was also alright to remember the spiritual master within one's heart, (clearly implying he, Srila Prabhupada). Srila Prabhupada said, YES, that is also acceptable.
Retrospectively, it dawned upon again me that Srila Prabhupada was truly the non-different external manifestation of Supersoul.
My first experiences involved many things as a new devotee; we have all experienced these, despite the physical separation. Srila Prabhupada existed for us as very, very real in the form of his words, ideas, instruction, his pictures. We pray to him daily. Surely this also should tell us something about the exalted status of Sri Guru, (Sri meaning specifically the fully realized advanced pure devotee.)
So, in response to the devotee who asked if we could pray to the guru, if he hears, and to Ameyatma Maharajah, whose recent article I have read repeatedly, (the paragraphs shine out ever-fresh in the reading!) And to Bhagavat das, who has strongly argued in favor of glorifying the exalted devotees to the most high, and frankly also in light of the miracles I have experienced directly and personally as a result of serving Srila Prabhupada and his instructions, almost always in separation, I can testify that remembrance of the guru is better than remembrance of Supersoul, is non-different, and that the exalted Vaisnavas have miraculous powers that they rarely show to us mere mortals for fear of a cheap show etc., in humility. Sometimes, in a more jocular mood, or, otherwise, Srila Prabhupada, and his devotees also have shown miracles. Do not doubt this.
For example, everything Srila Prabhupada did, practically speaking! His life is a living parable. There should be a book or website devoted to these miracles, tri-kala-jna included. Srila Prabhupada was no ordinary man! Not even an ordinary Jagad-guru! He is a world saver, as good as God in every respect, or so far as I personally am concerned, better, because he came to save us.
My obeisances to all the Vaisnavas.
Comments