My response after reading a devotee's recently posted letter
by Srila Prabhupada sent to his students in 1967:
by Srila Prabhupada sent to his students in 1967:
Meena Devi Dasi
"Actually.... that Srila Prabhupada's letter is meant
for all his students and not merely one of His students
doesn't change what I trying to express....
That He has students.
"Actually.... that Srila Prabhupada's letter is meant
for all his students and not merely one of His students
doesn't change what I trying to express....
That He has students.
I was thinking about this later after commenting...
If someone thinks they can become Mother Yasoda
or Nanda Maharaja they cannot. It is described somewhere
how that mentality is actually impersonalism.
If someone thinks they can become Mother Yasoda
or Nanda Maharaja they cannot. It is described somewhere
how that mentality is actually impersonalism.
Mother Yasoda and Nanda Maharaja already exist, eternally.
But by taking shelter of them a devotee can develop
a similar mood of devotion for Krishna.
Similarly if someone thinks they can become
Srila Prabhupada's disciple now that He has disappeared...
they cannot. But... they can learn to develop
a similar mood of devotion as his disciples.
But by taking shelter of them a devotee can develop
a similar mood of devotion for Krishna.
Similarly if someone thinks they can become
Srila Prabhupada's disciple now that He has disappeared...
they cannot. But... they can learn to develop
a similar mood of devotion as his disciples.
Devotee response:
Anyone at any time and anywhere can become a siksha disciple of Srila Prabhupada. That's why he wrote books and that's what the eternal vani presence of the acarya means. He reasons ill who says that Vaisnavas die -- whilst thou art living still in sound ......
Anyone at any time and anywhere can become a siksha disciple of Srila Prabhupada. That's why he wrote books and that's what the eternal vani presence of the acarya means. He reasons ill who says that Vaisnavas die -- whilst thou art living still in sound ......
I really don't follow what your point is.
This quote from this letter to "My Dear Students"
was applicable to all of us then, is applicable now
and completely relevant and universally applicable forever -- whether one took diksha from His Divine Grace
or one accepts him in his/her heart as siksa guru.
How can there be any other interpretation?
This quote from this letter to "My Dear Students"
was applicable to all of us then, is applicable now
and completely relevant and universally applicable forever -- whether one took diksha from His Divine Grace
or one accepts him in his/her heart as siksa guru.
How can there be any other interpretation?
Meena Devi Dasi
I don't agree with you on this.
Yes Srila Prabhupada is available to everyone.
He is the foremost representative of Srila Vyasadeva for our time. His books are not just books, they are the Vedas
presented for our understanding, especially for
those in the Western countries.
But He is not available "in the same way" that
He was available to those He initiated.
We are getting that from hearing about Him
from those He initiated..
I don't agree with you on this.
Yes Srila Prabhupada is available to everyone.
He is the foremost representative of Srila Vyasadeva for our time. His books are not just books, they are the Vedas
presented for our understanding, especially for
those in the Western countries.
But He is not available "in the same way" that
He was available to those He initiated.
We are getting that from hearing about Him
from those He initiated..
Devotee response:
Maybe you're just reading more into this than I am so I'll drop it.
But I will say that I have met many sincere and wonderful devotees
who were born years after Srila Prabhupada disappeared
from our vision. But by dint of their strict adherence
to his teachings and instructions they are more intimately
and spiritually united with him than myself
who had lots and lots of personal association.
Vani is more important than vapuh. That's the message.
But you are reading some other message into his words
in this letter and I'll respect that.
Maybe you're just reading more into this than I am so I'll drop it.
But I will say that I have met many sincere and wonderful devotees
who were born years after Srila Prabhupada disappeared
from our vision. But by dint of their strict adherence
to his teachings and instructions they are more intimately
and spiritually united with him than myself
who had lots and lots of personal association.
Vani is more important than vapuh. That's the message.
But you are reading some other message into his words
in this letter and I'll respect that.
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