Haribol, and thanks for reading this (or at least starting to).  This is not intended to be political, but some politics may be under the surface.  My main reason for writing this is a tribute to all who are holding on to this lifeline held firm by the Captain of the ship, Srimad Bhagavatam, His Divine Grace Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.  No building holds them, no logo nor acronym designates them.  Even the Practice may elude them, yet Visnoh Smaranam, rememberance of the Divine Influence, has them firmly in its grip.

 

We have a quote here, posted often to convey a political agenda, but I have not seen a point in this quote that is not discussed.  Pleasing the Spiritual Master, serving Sri Guru with rapt attention; these are discussed in this quote, maybe not overtly, but loud and clear.

 

So, we see needs are met here.  Those being addressed in this statement are informed that Srila Prabhupadas service to them is accomplished.  Clear as a bell, He gives them what THEY have asked for.  The disciples are served as master. 

 

For Srila Prabhupada, this is rasa, real transcendental emotion befitting his authority of Supersoul, Lord Nityananda Himself.  Srila Prabhupada truely believes that his disciples are to be served with rapt attention, and he sets the example of how one goes about being lower than the straw in the street, more tolerant than the tree, ready to offer all respects to others while expecting nothing in the form ofd reswpect in return.

 

For the disciple, it is up to us to judge.  We have been taught properly to discern the actions of vaisnavas as opposed to actions of the gross materialist.  So, when we hear discussions or read transcriptions of discussions, we must understand the personal nature of the discussions going on.  Srila Prabhupada is not teaching the world here, he is imploring a few individuals to not waste what they have demanded from their spiritual master.  Srila Prabhupada is not showing resentment that they have demanded service, he is showing concern of how they will use what they have received from him.  What they have received is what they have asked for, so we must assume that they received only to the level of their own realizations, because what one wants is directly related to the person's level of advancement.

 

What are these desires that have been fulfilled.  The disciples wanted position, they wanted legal title, they wanted management rights affirmed by the chief executive officer.  They received a will, they received an all points bulletin to all the temple presidents (July 9), they received his signature.  Okay, that settles it for me.  I judge accordingly.  Where do they ask for the breath of life?  Where do they ask for the Sound that sustains, where do they ask for rescue and peaceful greeting of Death Herself?

 

Lets switch this around.  What is His desire.  What can I do for Him, how can I please Him?  Of course I have received, but it should never be what I ask for, because I dont know what to ask for.  Drunks laying in the gutter ask for another drink.  Owners of Fortune 500 companies ask for another Fortune 500  company.  People who think God is a religion ask for a religion.