I want to share two stories about two dearest people in my life.
My first story is about my late mother who, although not a devotee herself, was very fond of Srila Prabhupada. Once she went to see a friend of hers, a lady who happened to be one of the top authorities on literature and linguistics in the country. That lady was also known for her mystic ability to predict future. Almost all of her predictions came true, I have personally experienced it in my life.
So when my mother went to see her friend she showed her a picture of Srila Prabhupada, which she was carrying with her. When her friend saw that picture she immediately asked where my mother have gotten it. She said that Srila Prabhupada has the face of a genius and that his presence is extremely beneficial for the human race. To my mother's amazement, she told her to seek association with that man on the picture without even asking who or what he was.
My mother respected and trusted her a great deal. Soon she was chanting 16 rounds of mahamantra daily. I may have played some small part in that too but she became really determined after hearing that lady's statement.
My mother had severe case of cancer. The doctors gave her maximum few months time. The cancer had spread all over her body and there was no hope at all. But by the mercy of Harinama and Srila Prabhupada she lived almost four years without much pain. When she died her last words were "Little Krsna". She never considered herself a devotee, neither she even admitted believing in God. But she had a lot of faith in her chanting of 16 rounds of mahamantra and a great respect for Srila Prabhupada. She used to say that Harinama was her only hope.
I can't explain what had happened to her. How could she, in her condition, live that long? It was the mercy of pure Vaisnava that kept her alive and away from tremendous pain that cancer is so infamous for.
My second story is about my Gurudeva, His Divine Grace Bhakti Pramode Puri Goswami Maharaja. He had a lady disciple who was diagnosed with leukemia and, like my mother was given only a few months by doctors. She came to Guru Maharaja basically to say goodbye and get some final blessings, as she was preparing herself to die.
After seeing her, Guru Maharaja told one of his senior disciples that he knows how she could be cured but he is feeling shy to tell her directly. He said that she should go to Vrindavan and wait for a particular day. On that day, he said, Lord Krsna will be taking bath at Sri Govinda-kund. So that lady should go there on that day at a particular time and take some water from Sri Govinda-kund. Then she'll be completely cured.
This message was delivered to that lady and she did exactly as instructed by Guru Maharaja... She is alive and well today, 12 years after! To doctors' amazement there are no cancer cells in her body. Without a doubt, she was cured by the mercy of pure Devotee of the Lord!
These both situations deal with fatal medical conditions that usually leave no hope for any improvement, let alone complete cure. I am sure that any of you who have medical background will agree with me. These are pure miracles, much of the same nature that we read about in the sastras. Not only in the ancient times saints and sages could perform such miracles, they're also happening today by the grace of elevated Vaisnavas who honor this Earth with their divine presence.
My conclusion is that if such amazing material benefits can be received from pure devotees of the Lord, then we can only guess about the kind of spiritual benefits we can derive from their association! It is said that a chance to meet sad-guru is so rare that it is compared to the same chance as if a neem tree that is growing on a sea-shore would rot and fall into the sea, then go to the middle of the sea and there a giant sea turtle would have its head caught up in this tree's branches. Even if the latter could be imagined, one should remember that neem never grows on a sea shore, that by its special nature neem never rots, and that sea turtles never go as far as the middle of the sea...
So we should appreciate the fact that we have had the opportunity to meet a real sad-guru. So much that we should drop everything "important" we may be doing now and surrender to him right away! What kind of excuses can we use? If such chance is so rare, then how can we justify not surrendering our whole life to that person immediately?
Well, unfortunately, I manage to justify it somehow... But that is another miracle.
Comments