Hare Krishna.
4th April, 2014, Gurgaon.
HG Murari Prabhuji, from Jaipur, was in Gurgaon and though I could not get his association I could revisit an important parameter on my chanting.
Shyam Sundar Prabhuji shared with me the discussion he had with Prabhuji on improving his chanting. Murari prabhu told him that our chanting is only as good as the priority we give it. When Shyam Sunday Prabhu ji pushed him to elaborate on it, he asked him what does he do when he gets a call on the mobile while he is chanting. Shyam Sundar Prabhuji replied him that he stops his chanting and take the call and once the call is over he gets back to his chanting. Murari Prabhu then told him that if your Guru is sitting with you then would you still take the call. Shyam Sundar Prabhu ji replied that he never picks a call in the presence of his Guru. Murari prabhu then replied` So in your priority chanting is placed lower than your Guru’ ? This question obviously flummoxed Shyam Sundar Prabhuji and got him thinking. He said he will now ensure that he will give priority to chanting and will try not to get disturbed while chanting.
When prabhuji shared this conversation with me in the evening, I agreed that I too do the same, many a times, and this inspite of having heard so many lectures and seminars on not to do it. I told myself that I too will try to give priority to my chanting from now onwards and will consciously try not to get disturbed while chanting my rounds.
All glories to Murai Prabhu.
All glories to Sri Nama Prabhu.
Please visit http://www.forthepleasureoflordkrishna.com for the same blog with pictures.
All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga.
Comments
Hare Krishna prabhuji,
PAMHO, AGTSP.
I am a neophyte devotee. I share my realisations and, sometimes, instructions which help in my devotional journey on this wonderful platform. I am not capable to answer your questions and my humble request would be to ask such questions to some senior devotee in your local temple/centre/Nama Hatta,circle, etc.
I pray to you that please don't mind me replying like this but I really am completely incapable to answer such questions.
Your insignificant servant,
Giriraj Das
Thank you Shyam Sunder Krishna Das for taking the trouble to clarify my questions.
I hope I am not bothering you too much.
Do you mean to say that we should not receive the Guru and offer him seat/service, and just continue with our Deity worship?
Hare Krishna,
Guru or senior Vaishnavas will always join us in our worship to the lord. They would never ask us to leave the worship and sit with them.
Because they have more love for the Lord and regale in deity worship and usually would have top class Vaishnava etiquette. That's why they are senior Vaishnava or Guru.
Very fallen servant,
Shyam Sunder Krishna Das
Nice Answer. This takes me to another question. What if you are worshiping the deity at your home and your Guru or a senior Vaishnava comes?
Hare Krishana Prabhuji,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Thank you very much for asking the wonderful question. I had doubt whether I could reply correctly on that so I requested my dear friend and brother HG Shyam Sundar Prabhu to reply to it. I am posting his reply below.
Hare Krishna Prabhu,
My limited understanding: Guru being representative of Krishna, if he calls, i will stop chanting and take his instructions.
If i am doing maths sums and my friends ask about what happened in English class, I would ignore and focus in solving maths sums. But if suddenly maths teacher calls me, I would listen to him as his instructions would help me to focus and get the solutions faster. Ignoring teacher's call would mean I am not surrendered to the fact he knows about the subject more than me.
Another way to think, if we are doing deity worship and lord comes, would we stop worship, yes. We wont ask him to wait till we finish our worship.
Lastly, Prabhupada used to say: Guru is representative of Krishna, he is not God but he has to be respected like lord.
This is my limited understanding. Pls correct me if its wrong.
Very fallen servant,
Shyam Sunder Krishna Das
What will you do if your Guru calls you while you are chanting?