How to be linked up with Srila Prabhupada

A devotee in Texas wrote in, asking what to do, how to be properly connected with Srila Prabhupada. He is certainly not the only one. There are many devotees like him all over the world, so I hope this helps others who likewise want to understand their situation in relationship to Prabhupada.

Dear Bhakta Ronnie, obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Thank you for your nice letter. You have asked, “What exactly is a
devotee like me supposed to do? How do I get linked up with Srila Prabhupada?” This is the question that plagues you, right?

Vaikuntanath das, a good friend of mine from NY City in early 1968, was alone with Srila Prabhupada at the Radha Damodar temple in Vrindaban, India. He wanted to ask a question of Prabhupada that had haunted him for a long time. Finally he felt, “This is my chance.” He asked, “Srila Prabhupada, we are
distributing millions of books, but in the future when you are not here, how will these people who read your books be INITIATED?” Srila Prabhupada looked at him approvingly and answered, “One who
reads my books, he is initiated automatically.”

Actually, initiation as a ceremony is only a formality that takes place after embracing the instruction of Srila Prabhupada (either from books or in person) into the heart. Just as the marriage ceremony takes place after a man and a woman have fallen in love. The love is a prerequsite, not the formality of marriage ceremony.

So take it that your initiation has already been done long, long ago when your heart was pierced by and embraced the instructions of Srila Prabhupada.

Therefore, because it is so, you could never embrace or be embraced by anyone else in the garb of a Guru. In a conversation with Madhudvisa, Prabhupada is asked, “What about a Christian who is reading the Bible, but has no spiritual master?” Prabhupada replies that “If one is reading the Bible, then he is following the spiritual master Lord jesus Christ.” Madhudvisa continues, “I mean a living spiritual master.” Prabhupada replies, “There is no question of living, the spiritual master is eternal. If one is
reading the Bible, then he is following the spiritual master Lord Jesus Christ, and he may be assisted by some clergy man or priest in the church.”

So there you have it. The disciples are like clergy men or priests in the church. Srila Prabhupada is the ACHARYA. He is like JESUS to CHRISTIANITY. His students are simply assistants for those coming after Prabhupada. They are not on the same level.

It is common sense. I think you will understand. You are OK. Don’t be bewildered by the external formulas and rituals being peddled by neophyte devotees.

When I inadvertantly received “Easy Journey to Other Planets”, I read it cover to cover, immediately (March, 1967 ) walked into the NY City 26, 2nd Ave temple and said, “I want to be a devotee. Give and tell me whatever I need.” I never had someone preach to me. The words in the book catapulted me unhesitatingly and totally over the edge of Maya’s cliff into a free fall of Prabhupada’s merciful ocean of devotional service.

I never Joined ISKCON; I always thought I was following and serving the person Prabhupada. And when I die, I will go to wherever he is and continue to serve him, even if I become a dog, but I will be in
Prabhupada’s orbit. That’s all I know, and I don’t need to know more than this. “Ours is not to wonder why, ours is but to do or die.” (R. Kipling)

Your humble servant,
Hansadutta das,

Thank you again, your letter gives me inspiration and hope that some out there have a heart and a head for Prabhupada.

Bhaktisiddhanta Thakur has written: “There is an eternally impassible line of demarcation between the SAVIOR and the SAVED. Only Those who are really saved know this.”

Hare Krishna. Thank you so much. So glad you found it.