Living with Srila Prabhupada
“Communication is the key to healthy relationships.” If we are truly serious about someone’s presence in our lives, then no matter how challenging, we will make an endeavor to contribute all we can and more to share our grievances and good news with them. Spirituality is a key contributing factor to our sense of self. Regarding matters of faith, ancient Vedic texts speak of vandanam or prayer as a means of communication with the Lord.
Vandanam is an intrinsic part of Gaudiya Vaishnava history. Every page of scripture can be considered prayer. Srila Prabhupada defines prayer as the practical chanting of the holy name of the Lord. The Hare Krishna maha-mantra is the primary prayer he gave to us. He reveals that chanting this mantra is the spiritual method for cleansing our heart. There are many dirty elements that reside within the heart, but when cleansed, we begin to understand things as they are and our misunderstandings are wiped away as a mirror is cleaned of dust. Our primary misunderstanding is that we assume our true selves to be the body, when we are in fact, the soul. Once we have purified ourselves of this misunderstanding, we become eligible for so much more growth.
Krishna is known as Uttamasloka – one who is described by choice poetry. There is no limit to who can glorify or appeal to the Lord with choice words - a woman (Kunti), a demigod (Indra), a demon (Vrikasura), a serpent (Kaliya) or a holy man (Srila Prabhupada).
Srila Prabhupada’s entire contribution to the world is a result of prayer. Even during his childhood, his father’s ardent prayer for his son was to become a follower of Srimati Radharani. As Srila Prabhupada’s society grew, so did certain challenges. Srila Prabhupada made many sacrifices in Juhu, Mumbai to build a home for Sri Sri Radha Rasabihari. At that time, the location seemed isolated, the devotees were cheated of the property, and their temporary temple was almost bull-dozed with the Deities inside. But Srila Prabhupada’s ardent prayer to the Deities was for Them to please bear with him and remain there, and he would very soon build a beautiful temple for Them. Forty-one years later, Srila Prabhupada’s marble temple stands tall and boasts a host of world class amenities.
Our only prayer should be to desire growth in devotional servitude through the via-media of a representative. Srila Prabhupada confirms that simply by offering prayers to Krishna everything becomes auspicious. In a 1973 lecture in Los Angeles, he comments that when Krishna is pleased and smiles even a little, then the whole universe automatically becomes pleased. When praying we should follow in the footsteps of predecessors. There are many prayers by many devotees. In the beginning stages, we should take to heart how they speak to the Lord. As they pray, we can practice our prayer. Krishna’s qualities and opulence are limitless so anyone who feels moved by His qualities and activities offers prayers unto Him.
The definitive result of prayer is for Krishna to see how pure and ready our heart is for service. The words, grammar, and composition make no impact. Ultimately, we may even offer Krishna prayers in a broken language but He will accept them, because He is Absolute. This is referred to as bhavagrahi janardana. Krishna can always see and understand who is communicating with Him.
“O Lord! I am just like a puppet in Your hands. So if You have brought me here to dance, then make me dance, make me dance, O Lord! make me dance as You like.” Srila Prabhupada, Markine Bhagavata-Dharma written on September 17, 1965 in Boston Harbour while still on board the Jaladuta.
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