Madhumangala dasa and Prema-rasa devi dasi
om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah
nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale
srimate romapada-svamin iti namine
mukum karoti vacalam pangum langhayate girim
yat-krpa tam aham vande sri-gurum dina-taranam
My dear and respected Guru Maharaja,
Hare Krsna! Please accept my humble obeisances unto the dust of your divine lotus feet on this auspicious day. All glories to Your Divine Grace! All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Recently, as part of my profession, I had an opportunity to work at a US Naval Station project. In order for me to enter the project site, I was required to submit some background information for security verification purposes. Later it was determined that since I am not a US citizen but a foreigner, I need to have a Navy employee escort me inside and that person has to be with me at all times during my site visit.
On the day of my visit to the Naval base, I was told to meet a certain officer outside the main gate, and he would escort me inside the facility. I was supposed to meet the officer at a certain location but somehow I ended up near the main gate. For a moment I thought that since I am so close to the main gate anyway and since I submitted all the paperwork for verification, let me try if I can enter the site on my own. So I pulled my car next to the guard shack and showed my ID to the guards. They told me I can only enter the site either with a Visitor Pass (given to US Citizens) or with an escort. So I turned back and went to look for the Navy officer I was supposed to meet. Once I met the officer, he asked me to jump inside his car. I got in and sat on the passenger side. As we drove by the guard shack, the officer showed his credentials. They looked at the officer’s credentials, and let us inside the facility. I was very surprised that although they noticed that I was there right with him, they did not ask me about my credentials nor concerned about who I am and so on. No questions asked and we were inside the facility within no time.
As we hear and speak of going back to Godhead so many times, this incident made me realize that one cannot do so on one’s own capabilities or credentials. One needs a bona fide Spiritual Master, who is the authorized representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in order to enter that place. The Navy officer’s main business is inside the Naval Station and the only reason he came out was to meet me and then to guide me inside the facility. I felt that similarly, the Spiritual Master is eternally situated at the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna, and the only reason he comes out of that spiritual world and enters this material world is to reclaim the ineligible souls like us and to guide us back to that abode. He does this out of his kindness and compassion. On my own strength if I were to try, it would be impossible. One may think of their possessions, intelligence, strength, beauty, or certain abilities as the reasons for success in their endeavors and would ultimately allow them to enter the spiritual world as well. But as it was proven in my case, my professional experience, knowledge, or skills could not grant me access to the Naval base. I am a foreigner and I needed that authorized person, who can escort me inside the facility. Similarly, we need the Spiritual Master, who gives us an opportunity to hear and learn about the goloka dhama, teaches us the principles of devotional service, and guides us carefully by holding our hands to enter that place. Although on my own I may not have any eligibility or qualification, simply because I am with an authorized representative, there is hope for success. And when the Spiritual Master is on our side, the entrance is guaranteed!
On this auspicious day of your divine appearance, I hope and pray for your mercy which would be the only reason I may be able to do even a minute thing in devotional service, what to speak of higher goals! I beg for even a drop of that mercy, which would enable me to overcome my deficiencies and guide me to the right path.
I am very thankful to Your Divine Grace for the kind association you have extended through yourself directly and through your followers.
About a year and half ago, my mother passed away. It has been the most difficult time so far in my life – although externally I may be occupied with day-to-day activities, I realized deep within my heart it still aches for her loss – to the extent that I still see her and talk to her in my dreams frequently. She left her body on Nrsimha Caturdasi day. Somehow because of your guidance and influence, we were able to remember to keep chanting the holy names, although we did not know at that time that my mother’s soul was departing her body. Having Prema-rasa right next to me was so great in that situation. She was strong and very focused on chanting the holy names throughout. During the whole time of my mother’s passing and even till now, she has been a great support to me. I am very thankful to her! And we both owe it to Your Divine Grace and strongly feel that because of your presence and guidance in our lives, we are able to go through this difficult and painful phase. Thank you so much, Guru Maharaja.
We hear that if we love someone, we should live our lives in such a way as to propagate that person’s teachings in an exemplary manner. One thing I always remember about my mother is about her love for me. She loved me a lot. I cannot express my gratitude for her love and affection for me, in words. So I felt, in return, one thing I can do is to take your guidance as to how I can properly assimilate that love in my life and give it to others. I know Your Divine Grace can help me with this because you have extended that love and affection to me and continue to do so to not just to myself but to so many others every day. I sincerely beg you to kindly bless me with your mercy which would allow me to properly understand and apply the principle of receiving the love and affection from Krsna and His representatives and passing on to others. You are a true example of this principle and if you desire so, I beg you to make me an instrument.
Thank you very much Guru Maharaja for your kindness and compassion on us!
Your aspiring servant,
Madhumangala dasa