Hare Krishna beloved Guru Maharaja, today I was listening to your class in the morning where you describe the time of death of Bishmadeva. You also were describing that the attachment to material things is bad because it creates lust for instance. So then I thought if getting attachment to the guru isn´t something subtle too, for instance sometimes we or some devotees believe we are your eternal associates, Is that true?
HpS - ASA --- Thank you for this letter. Becoming attached to Krsna or Balarama or Krsna's flute or His messenger such as Guru are all fine, but we may become attached to Prasadam because it tastes good, so that is a weed growing along with our pure attachment, and that will keep us in the material plane.
To know our sva-rupa, form in spiritual life and eternal associates, is some thing we cannot really until the Bhava stage. Of course, as Krsna gave special mercy to Narada Muni in SB 1.6, so Krsna can show us things, but we can only appreciate them as impetous for purification, not practical work.
How do we know we are your eternal servants, I think this is some sort of sentimentalism. It is fine to think we deserve your shelter, but I do not think we are about close to be your eternal associates unless we are too much advanced in devotional service, I am not at least. We of course should aspire to be close to your lotus feet though.
HpS - Yes. Of course everyone is different, but we can have clear vision of our sva-rupa in Bhava. Described in Southern part of NOD.
Before that, always nice rounds, 4-regs strict, mangala arati, feeling Krsna's guidance as the Super soul.
What should we desire at the moment of death Gurudeva? I think just to remember Krishna and guru would be enought to finish our path on this material life, What do you think and how do we know what is the correct thing to do?
HpS - It is different for different people. The word is 'smaranam', meditation more than remembering some fact, or picture.
At the time of death we should be doing whatever regular duties we have in this world, while increasing our internal development.
Text 8 of NOI is of course perfect description.
Usually old age precedes death and that is proper stimulous for preparation for death.
Your very many fallen servant,
Jagat Bandhu Jagannatha Swami dasa
I am not associating to anybody, answering your previous question from my last letter. Krishna probably cursed me hahaha
HpS - Keep your self pure by Srila Prabhupada's Sadhana and then look for the innocent people Krsna sends and give them your association so that they can progress.
