Srila Prabhupada's Amazing Selflessness

This morning at 4am I was at ISKCON's Krishna Balarama Mandir waiting for the arati in Srila Prabhupada's samadhi to begin. I was standing in front of a diorama of Srila Prabhupada boarding the ship Jaladuta embarking on his preaching mission to the western world. His hand was firmly gripped on the rope handle, and his face showed staunch determination to carry out the order of his spiritual master to carry the message of Krishna consciousness to the English speaking world in spite of his aging body. As I gazed upon his face I was stunned by the depth of his compassion how selfless he was to risk everything for carrying out of the order of his spiritual master. Such great souls as His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada are extremely rare in this world. I then transferred my eyes down to his lotus shoes knowing that this is my position, to be the humble servant at his lotus feet.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Srila Prabhupada Boarding the Jaladuta Calcutta, 1965

Srila Prabhupada Boarding the Jaladuta Calcutta, 1965

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Beyond Mechanical Chanting

I have just recently taken up the practice of Krishna Consciousness. Since then I have been chanting the Hare Krishna mahamantra whenever possible. But there are times I feel that I do it mechanically. Is this common? Is there some way to get more deeply involved in the chanting beyond the mechanical platform?

Anup

Answer: Stick to Guru's Order

For a neophyte often the chanting seems mechanical. This is normal. This is due to covering effect of the three modes of material nature. The key to rapid success on the path of Krishna consciousness is to always continue chanting one's daily vow of prescribed japa mala given by the spiritual master no matter whether it seems mechanical or natural. In this way by sticking to the order of one's guru the devotee will quickly advance on the path of bhakti and attain the platform where the chanting is fully realized as natural, just as birds are always naturally singing.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

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