REALIZING GURU IN THE HEART
Dear Hare Krishna Gurudeva, please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and to you!!
Respected Gurudeva, for your causless mercy, at the beginning of October I dreamed of you, you were contemplating a very special lake because it was a lake not of water but of golden light, or in any case of golden water. When I woke up I felt in a hurry to write to you, therefore I will start.
A few days before Janmastami, we spoke on the phone and I expressed my desire to see you and serve you in Spain and India. Your response was “You can also come to the United States and stay with us for a year” and “now you have to realize me in your heart”. Gurudeva, you know how to touch people’s hearts because Srila Prabhupada touched yours and taught you by his example. Therefore, far from saddening me, your response filled me with enthusiasm. I understood that my service should not be based on my desires, but on how and where you want me to serve you (go to the USA and be useful in your Sankirtan especially in NIOS). This is the theme of the Bhagavad Gita (4.34).
Regarding your words “you have to realize me in your heart”, after several days of reflecting on them and by the mercy of SADAI NIMAI NITAI, I was able to understand the following: To advance in spiritual life the disciple must establish an internal, deep and spiritual connection with his Spiritual Master. “Realizing the Guru in your heart” means that, beyond his physical presence, which is undoubtedly auspicious, we must internalize his teachings and feel his constant guidance in the heart. This is possible through sincerity and constant devotional practice. Then, on the same day of Janmastami, in Chosica, thinking of you in front of the altar of Sita, Rama, Laksman, Hanuman I could remember you dancing and singing for His pleasure, at that moment I better understood your main teaching that guides our service: 1) Who am I? 2) Who are we? 3) A plan to develop Sankirtan together and 4) The resources and paraphernalia we have to do it. Your fundamental teaching to properly do this is clear: Get up early and chant 16 good rounds.
Srila Prabhupada addressed this topic in a letter to his disciple Jadurani Dasi on September 4, 1972: “I am always with you through your faithful following of my instructions. Physically we may not be present, but that does not matter. If you follow me strictly, then I am with you always, at all times."
So, my humble conclusion of realizing you in my heart is that I must always be aware that the Guru-disciple relationship is not limited by time and space, the Guru-disciple relationship is eternal. The physical presence of the Guru is not the most important thing, but the obedience and sincerity in following his teachings, this is the essence of what it means to "realize the Guru in your heart." Is that right?
Thank you very much Gurudeva for giving me a useful and practical perspective on my humble service to you, after all, putting your spiritual desire and guidance above my individualistic desires is the best way to make spiritual advancement.
Manuel has sent you a report of the academic Sankirtan we will perform with Radhika Raman d, Lalita-gopi Dd, Govinda Pramodini Dd, Jagad-Guru, Gunavira and other devotees in October. Please give us your blessings to be instruments of your mercy and to be useful to you and the Sankirtana and mission of Srila Prabhupada.
Hare Krishna GURUDEVA, your insignificant servant,
Abhiram Thakur das
HpS - ASA - Thank, agtSP, you!
Your realization seems the same as ours and there is an exact citation in NIO (6?) like this.
When you say, understanding Sankirtan of spiritual master, we think of all of us understanding the internal service of Srila Prabhupada!
Eyes dying.
Hope other letters also useful to you.
!!
!
❗️
