suddha-bhakata-carana-renu,
bhajana-anukula
bhakata-seva, parama-siddhi,
prema-latikara mula [SVA 2: Suddha-bhakata]
That is that the dust of the lotus feet of pure devotees is the best Prasad and the service of the Vaisnavas itself is the supreme perfection in life. It is the root of the tender plant of devotion. One time in Los Angles there was a controversy. That was people were reading the Krishna book and especially those chapters that were dealing with rasa-lila.And the group was called the Gopi-bhava Club. This created some kind of disturbance and when Prabhupada came to Los Angeles the leaders of that group met with him. And he asked them, "What are you doing?" And they said, "Well Srila Prabhupada it is said in the Krishna book that one can control material lust by meditating on the intimate pastimes of Krishna. So we are reading those intimate pastimes according to your Krishna book and we are meditating on this one thing."
Prabhupada said, "If you want to meditate on one thing meditate on guru-mukha-padma-vakya, cittete koriya aikya, [Sri Guru-vandana The Worship of Sri Guru (from Prema-bhakti-candrika)] I want to have my consciousness purified by the words emanating from the lotus mouth of my spiritual master. And meditate on yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado [Sri Sri Gurv-astaka] That without the mercy of the spiritual master one cannot get the benediction of Krishna and without pleasing the spiritual master one cannot make any advancement. Therefore " he said, "you just concentrate on following my instruction and don't manufacture your own way."
So this is essential in spiritual life - pleasing the spiritual master and following the order of the spiritual master - not imitating and not concocting anything. Therefore it is said sadhu-sastra-guru-vakya, cittete kariya aikya. The highest threshold of authority in our movement is sadhu-sastra-guru-vakya. In other words understanding the sadhu and the satras through the words of the spiritual master or pure devotee.
We are very fortunate. Imagine if there was one tape of Jesus Christ or Mohamed speaking. That would be worth millions and millions of dollars. Everyone will be very anxious to hear it. But we have thousands and thousands of tapes of Srila Prabhupada speaking. And he is a genuine pure devotee and we have his books, we have his letters, we have his conversations therefore nityam bhagavata-sevaya [SB 1.2.18] We can go on.
srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah
punya-sravana-kirtanah
hrdy antah stho hy abhadrani
vidhunoti suhrt satam [SB 1.2.17]
nasta-prayesv abhadresu
nityam bhagavata-sevaya
bhagavaty uttama-sloke
bhaktir bhavati naisthiki [SB 1.2.18]
By hearing these transcendental messages give to us by Srila Prabhupada and he has distilled the conclusions of all the great Vaisnava acaryas be become purified within. And by engaging in his service and regularly hearing and chanting all inauspicious things in our hearts are destroyed almost to nil.
tada rajas-tamo-bhavah
kama-lobhadayas ca ye
ceta etair anaviddham
sthitam sattve prasidati [SB 1.2.19]
By this regulated hearing and chanting and serving most inauspicious things like lust, anger and greed become lessened or diminished and therefore
evam prasanna-manaso
bhagavad-bhakti-yogatah
bhagavat-tattva-vijnanam
mukta-sangasya jayate [SB 1.2.20]
We become free from these things and we become happy and we are able to engage full time in devotional service.
bhidyate hrdaya-granthis
chidyante sarva-samsayah
ksiyante casya karmani
drsta evatmanisvare [SB 1.2.21]
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