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Although Srila Prabhupada's disappearance did not have the tragedy of an ordinary death, still, without Prabhupada, the devotees felt his loss deeply. The days of grief turned into the second week of December, the pre-Christmas time when devotees usually held a 'marathon' effort in book distribution. Some wondered whether they would be able to hold such a marathon immediately after Srila Prabhupada's disappearance. The leading book distributors thought they could try. And try they did. The December holidays proved an unprecedentedly successful time for book distribution. Thousands of Prabhupada's books were distributed throughout Australia, New Zealand and, indeed, the whole world.

From this, the devotees could discern a strong message. It was clear that Prabhupada's transcendental instructions could be followed even in his physical absence. Here was certain proof that although Prabhupada's followers were greatly distressed by his disappearance, his teachings were reviving them.

Fortunate devotees looked deeper into Prabhupada's instructions. In his concluding words of Caitanya-caritamrta, Srila Prabhupada had written.

I still consider His Divine Grace to be always present with me in his vani, his words. There are two ways of association -- by vani and by vapu. Vani means words and vapu means physical presence. Physical presence is sometimes appreciable and sometimes not, but vani, continues to exist eternally. Therefore we must take advantage of the vani, not the physical presence.

Prabhupada lived in his teachings. By following them, his sincere disciples could live with him, and never be separated from him. In one sense, the disappearance of Srila Prabhupada had activated the devotees into a new and closer relationship with him -- one that was not even there before -- service in separation.


- From "The Great Transcendental Adventure" by HG Kurma Prabhu