By Laxmimoni dasi
If Srila Prabhupada visited you,
Maybe just for a day or two,
And came by unexpectedly,
I wonder what you’d do.
Oh, I know you’d give your nicest room,
To such an honored guest,
And all the food you’d offer,
Would be the very best.
And you would keep assuring him,
You’re glad to have him there,
That serving him within your home,
Is a joy beyond compare.
But if you saw him coming,
Would you meet him at the door,
With arms outstretched to welcome,
This honored visitor?
Or would you have to change your clothes,
Before you let him in?
Or hide some magazines,
And put the Gita where they’d been?
Would you watch those mundane movies,
Upon your TV set?
Would you have to answer e-mail,
While he was taking rest?
Would you run to turn your music off,
Before it reached his ears?
And put the tilak on your forehead,
Or bind or shave your hairs?
Would you cover up your Playstation,
Take your posters off the wall?
Would you have to hide the DVDs,
You just bought at the mall?
Would you gossip with your partner,
About devotees’ faults?
Would you have to re-cook dinner,
Without the garlic salt?
Would you put Tulasi on your neck,
And have to find your japa beads?
And wake up in the morning before the
Sun peeks through the trees.
Would you sing the songs you always sing,
And read the books you read?
And let him know the things on which
Your mind and spirit feed?
Would Prabhupada be invited,
Everywhere you planned to go?
Or, would you, maybe, change your plans,
Just for a day or so?
Would you be glad to have him meet,
Your very closest friends?
Or would you hope they’d stay away,
Until his visit ends?
I wonder if Prabhupada spent,
A day or two with you,
Would you go right on doing,
The things you always do?
Would you go right on saying
The things you always say?
Would life for you continue,
As it does from day to day?
Would you be glad to have him stay,
Forever on and on?
Or would you sigh with great relief,
When finally he had gone?
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Thank you Maharaja for this well written and thought provoking poetic invitation to wonder how one would welcome the Supreme Visitor…
But what if we already lived with the consciousness that Srila Prabhupada, and as it is Sri Guru, is already living with us�
What if we lived with the awareness that as Paramatma is the Supreme Omnipresent Seer, Srila Prabhupada, and as it is Sri Guru, as saksad Hari, the external manifestation of the Supersoul, is also similarly in a position to see us at every moment…?
What if we became resolute to be sincere and not just restrict our devotional life to the manifestation of some external signs, socially acceptable within a given community…?
What if we opened our self, heart and soul, and accepted to be guided step by step, in our progress, by Srila Prabhupada, and as it is Sri Guru, humbly and honestly acknowledging our present condition and sincerely offering our menial service at his lotus feet…?
What if we accepted to become a beggar of love of God, and humbly approached Srila Prabhupada, and as it is Sri Guru, so that he may bestow his mercy upon us and blessed us with an increasing taste and attachment for the chanting of the Holy Name…?
What if we understood that as Sri Krishna is always present, within our heart and around us, in every atom and in everyone’s heart, Srila Prabhupada, and as it is Sri Guru, is more so than our daily guest and that, to the contrary, we are his guest in his property, as everything belongs to him and is meant to be engaged in his service, for his pleasure…?
What if Srila Prabhupada, and as it is Sri Guru, became dearer to us than our very self, more dear to us than any of our family members, than anyone we would have ever met�
Then, there would be no more questions of âwhat ifâŠ?â
Srila Prabhupada, and as it is Sri Guru, would already be living with usâŠ
We would already be living with him… He would be with us at our every step and by our side, at our every breathâŠ
Mata Pita Guru Bandhu Sakha HariâŠ
We would never be aloneâŠ
That would be the time for our real self to feast on Srila Prabhupadaâs presenceâŠ
The time for our heart to bathe in love for Srila Prabhupada along with, for future generations, love for his bona fide representative, Sri GuruâŠ
Actually God is always our witness, in dream or wakefulness, in heaven or hell.
reference, “Miracle on Second avenue”, introduction Shyamasundara das Adhikary, page x11, Srila Prabhupada,” Become yourselves Krishna conscious, and spread Krishna consciousness”. I especially appreciate this statement of Srila Prabhupada because it says to me that where ever we are at we can become Krishna conscious and then spread Krishna consciousness to our best ability. This is our daily challenge as we evolve from maya.
God does not focus on our faults , rather He accepts our service. Srila Prabhupada did not focus on our faults, rather he focused on our upliftment.
Bhagavad Gita As It Is chapter 6 verse 7. “He who is regulated in his habits of eating,sleeping,recreation and work can mitigate all material pains by practicing the yoga system”.
In Srila Prabhupada’s purport he explains how a pure devotee cent percent engaged in Krishna’s service behaves, so that is the definite goal which we can all aspire to. thank you
AC Bhakrtivedanta swami,joined 1969,Miami,initiated Boston 1970.
satyahit das adhikary
Dear Prabhus,
Obeisances. Jaya Prabhupada!
Who actually wrote this poem? Laxmimoni dasi or Indradyumna Maharaja? It is a very powerful tool for self-reflection and honesty. It has affected me very deeply. Srila Prabhupada states in a purport in the Fourth Canto:
“Anyone can become successful in devotional service provided he displays no duplicity. It is explained here that one must be very frank and open-minded. To be situated in a lower status of life is not a disqualification for success in devotional service. The only qualification is that whether one is a brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya or sudra, he must be open, frank and free from reservations. Then, by performing his particular occupational duty under the guidance of a proper spiritual master, he can achieve the highest success in life.”
I think this poem helps us in this respect. Thank you very much. Hare Krishna.
daso ‘smi,
nama prabhu das
Dear Puskaraksa prabhu,
âWhat ifâ we never left the spiritual world in the first place? Then we wouldnât be having this discussion. But we have fallen and we are not pure devotees. So strictly following the instructions of the spiritual master is how me can make advancement in our devotional life. Perhaps for you this poem is not relavent because you are already beyond the âexternal signsâ of a devotee. But as far as I understand, becoming sincere MEANS following the guidelines Srila Prabhupada gave us. Do you consider wearing tilak, and chanting japa external? Do you think it is all right to eat garlic and watch mundane movies and tv? Do you think reading non-devotional magazines is better than reading Bhagavad-gita? So just what is your point when you say:
What if we became resolute to be sincere and not just restrict our devotional life to the manifestation of some external signs, socially acceptable within a given community�
This poem is a very nice reality check and wake-up call for those devotees who consider themselves followers of Srila Prabhupada but perhaps need a little encouragement to be more strict in their devotional practices.
Srila Prabhupada was asked this question in Australia:
Devotee: Srila Prabhupada, if Krsna is everywhere, why do we stress the importance of living a very strict life in the temple atmosphere?
Prabhupada: But have you got the eyes to see Krsna everywhere?
Devotee: No, Srila Prabhupada.
Prabhupada: Then you must attention give to temple. When you have got the eyes to see Krsna everywhere, you may not require temple worship. But why do you try to imitate that? You have no eyes to see that. Yes.
And when Yamuna asked Srila Prabhupada about being strict he replied:
Prabhupada: What can be done? Let others do whatever they like. We can preach that “Do not do it,” but you cannot force, because the whole world has gone in these four principles of life, this eating, meat-eating, drinking, gambling. And so our regulation is very strict. You see? If we say that “You do whatever you like,” then many people may come and join. (laughter) But we are not going to say that.
continued…
And when discussing the âexternalsâ of Vaishnava appearance Srila Prabhupada had this to say;
Prabhupada: Why your dress is not as a sannyas?
Tusta Krsna: The robes make people uncomfortable, Prabhupada. They see you as different and canât relate. They wonât relax enough to listen when I wear robes.
Prabhupada: But sannyasis must dress in saffron with robes and shaved head.
Tusta Krsna: I am following all the principles, but the dress is external and superficial. Why should we let it hamper the preaching?
Prabhupada: If the dress is superficial, why should you change your dress to please people who are so serious about the superficial? [Pause.] You understand my point? Superficial people become controlled by superficial and external things. Why do you dress to please superficial people? You should dress to please Krsna.
Tusta Krsna: So you would like me wear saffron and shave up?
Prabhupada: Yes, I want you to promise this. Only wear saffron and keep your head shaved. This is sannyÀsé dress. You should promise.
Tusta Krsna: Yes, Prabhupada. I promise.
So this poem is not written for the liberated souls like you:-) It is written for us struggling devotees who do not always follow so strictly yet we want to please Srila Prabhupada. It is meant to encourage us to improve and not be complacent. It is very nice. Hare Krishna.
daso âsmi,
nama prabhu das
Pundarika VidyĂ€nidhiââbada-sĂ€khĂ€ jĂ€ni
yÀnra nÀma lanÀ prabhu kÀndilÀ Àpani
Pundarika VidyÀnidhi, the third big branch, was so dear to Lord Caitanya MahÀprabhu that in his absence Lord Caitanya Himself would sometimes cry.
Sri Caitanya MahĂ€prabhu called Pundarika VidyĂ€nidhi âfather,â and He gave him the title Premanidhi. Pundarika VidyĂ€nidhi later became the spiritual master of GadĂ€dhara Pandita and an intimate friend of SvarĂŒpa DĂ€modara.
GadÀdhara Pandita at first misunderstood Pundarika VidyÀnidhi to be an ordinary pounds-and-shillings man, but later, upon being corrected by Sri Caitanya MahÀprabhu, he became his disciple.
bada sĂ€khĂ€,ââgadĂ€dhara pandita-gosĂ€ni
tenho laksmi-rĂŒpĂ€, tĂ€nra sama keha nĂ€i
GadÀdhara Pandita, the fourth branch, is described as an incarnation of the pleasure potency of SriKrishna. No one, therefore, can equal him.
(C.c. Adi lila 10.15)
There is an interesting story how Srila Gadahar Pandit first met Pundarik Vidyanidhi. He had heard that he was a very great devotee and one worthy of seeking for. So he went to his home for a darshan.
However, his initial vision of him generated some confusion, as in front of him was sitting what appeared to be the personification of sense gratification – dressed in oppulent silk clothing, hair oiled and nicely combed back, seated upon a huge silken cushion with a water-pipe for smoking in front of him and beautiful young women seated around the room.
Gadadhara Pandit came there, expecting to see a sadhu, a guru, someone he could approach for spiritual knowledge, learn from and take shelter of. But to his surprise he saw what he thought to be a sense gratifier, as per the external symptoms displayed…
“I came here to learn from you about Krishna” Gadadhar said…, but as soon as the word Krishna was uttered, Pundarik Vidyanidhi fell to the ground ! His body became strangely transformed and he mumbled the name of Krishna, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare…
Gadhadhara then realized that this was no ordinary man, but a very advanced devotee, absorbed in blissful Krishna consciousness !
Here is another presentation, for you to relish:
A disciple of Sri Madhavendra Puri, Pundarika Vidyanidhi was Sri Gadadhara Pandit’s guru, and an intimate friend of Svarupa Damodara.
Once in Jagannatha Puri, Pundarika Vidyanidhi met Svarupa Damodara after a long separation. In a joyful mood of friendship Pundarika and Svarupa wanted to take the dust from each other’s feet. A scuffle began as they tried to simultaneously catch the feet of one another, but at the same time, avoid having their own feet caught. Both being quite strong, neither won. But Sri Gauranga enjoyed their sporting play and everyone laughed.
Pundarika Vidyanidhi has other namesâSri Vidyanidhi, Acaryanidhi, Bhaktyanidhi, and Premanidhi (given by Lord Caitanya). “Simply by hearing his name,” said Sri Gaura, “the whole world becomes purified.” Premanidhi’s pure devotion caused Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to sometimes cry profusely and call out loudly, “Bop, (father) Pundarika! Pundarika is My father, My dearmost friend. When will I see him again?” Pundarika Vidyanidhi is King Vrsabhanu, Sri Radha’s father, in Vrndavana lila.
Continually floating in the sea of Krishna prema, Pundarika often showed ecstatic bodily symptoms of tears, horripilation, fallÂing unconscious. “Whoever recites or hears the following narration of the meeting of Pundarika Vidyanidhi and Sri Gadadhara Pandit will receive the treasure of love of God.” (Sri Caitanya Bhagavata)
When he first arrived in Navadvipa Pundarika Vidyanidhi disÂguised himself as a worldly sense enjoyer. Besides Mukunda, nobody knew that Pundarika Vidyanidhi was pure a Vaisnava. “Today, I will introduce you to a most exceptional Vaisnava,” said Mukunda, as he took Gadadhara Pandit to meet Pundarika Vidyanidhi.
They found Pundarika reclining on an opulent brass bed covered with red satin sheets, silk pillows, and topped with a three-tiered canopy. A gem-studded pan box stuffed with fragrant spices and betel nuts waited within arm’s reach. Two shiny brass spittoons stood as silent sentries beside the bed. Seeing the mirror stained red from his chewing pan, Pundarika laughed heartily. Two servants cooled him with peacock fans.
Was this a Vaisnava or a prince wallowing in luxury wondered Gadadhara Pandit?
Doubts arose in Gadadhara’s mind about Pundarika’s spiritual status. Reading his mind, Mukunda decided to reveal the highly exalted transcendental identity of Pundarika Vidyanidhi. Mukunda recited Srimad Bhagavatam (10.6.35):
“Always hankering to taste the blood of small children, Putana came to kill baby Krishna. However, because she offered her breast to the Supreme Lord Putana attained the greatest blessing of being accepted as a mother of Sri Krishna.”
Hearing this verse totally transformed Pundarika Vidyanidhi. A Ganges river of tears flooded his eyes. Perspiration rained from his body, his hairs stood erect. He ripped off his embroidered silk shirt and wildly thrashed his legs about. Rolling on the ground, he wailed, “The Lord is infinitely merciful. Yet He deprives me of His mercy.” His clothes, brass bed, fine bed sheets, mirror, spittoons, all his opulent trappings were ripped to shreds-smashed to bits. Ten men tried but couldn’t restrain the force of Pundarika’s ecstasy. The manifestations of Pundarika Vidyanidhi’s pure love for Krishna competed with one another for some time. Finally, his spiritual emotions reached their peak and he lost external unconscious.
After witnessing this spectacular display of transcendental feelings Gadadhara Pandit realized his offense in misjudging Pundarika Vidyanidhi to be a materialistic devotee. To rectify his mistake he wanted to take initiation from Pundarika Vidyanidhi. Six hours later, Sri Pundarika returned to external consciousness. Now he seemed calm and composed. Happily he initiated Gadadhara Pandit. Pundarika Vidyanidhi is Srimati Radharani’s father in Vraja pastimes.
Thank you for the wonderful passages from Caitanya-caritamrta. Again, you are talking about a personal associate of Lord Caitanya, a pure devotee of the Lord. The poem is written for those of us who are struggling and aspiring to become pure devotees. Hare Krishna.
Dear Nama Prabhu das
Hare Krishna
I guess one should not launch into personal attacks. All the more in a manipulative way, by trying to suggest that someone says things he has not said or thinks in a way which is not his, but most likely ours…
The goal is to broaden our understanding… a Vaishnava being tolerant and broad-minded, as stated by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur.
Vaisnavism is like a multi-faceted diamond.
So, we cannot reduce it to a mere black or white equation, even if at times, striking formulas may be used to severe strong material attachments.
This is another facet of this acintya bedha-abheda philosophy, superb, yet subtle philosophy.
So, we should not behave like bulls, charging head down, as soon as they see some red! By doing so, one may well misjudge someone and make offensesâŠ
Srila Prabhupada also said that âKrishna consciousness is not about how we start, but how we finishâ!
So, while some may face some difficulties at some stage, once these difficulties or attachments have been overcome, their progression may be much faster and steadier than for some others, who may have seemed to exemplify the perfect devotee for some time, but end up being shooting stars, as they were just putting on a show, without deep rooted sincerity, or fell down because of aparadhas, having become overly proud due to some faulty appreciation of themselves, which made them think they were superior or in better spiritual standing than others and led them far away from the âtrinad api sunicenaâ vaishnava attitudeâŠ
Moreover, who, besides Krishna and the saksad Hari sat Guru, who is the external manifestation of the Supersoul, know the heart and can evaluate what is the degree of bhakti, sincerity and surrender of a jiva�
A conditioned soul may try to evaluate the level of advancement of others (even though it is not recommended to try to do so) both by judging mostly according to some external criteria, and through the tainted prism of their own material conditioning⊠which is nothing to compare with the above mentioned internal knowledge âŠ
Besides, a conditioned soul may both lack compassion and be self-motivated. Hence, rather than considering others in a helpful and merciful attitude, they may unfortunately try to promote their own ego.
In this way, when they may be (possibly temporarily) capable of performing a certain type of austerity, while some others may not be, they will both conclude these souls to be fallen, while they will consider themselves elevated or at least ahead of them, as if they were engaged in some type of material competitionâŠ
At last, according to the principle of yukta vairagya, one may also misjudge why someone is doing something or using some tool.
For instance, when it may be for the sake of preaching and keeping in touch with the current state of the world, one may read some articles in a magazine (or on the web). Nevertheless, a neophyte devotee may misjudge and consider that person to be in maya, and in this way commit some offences (as a neophyte devotee often has the tendency to be fanatical, as he/she has to make so much effort to try to overcome material attachments, that it generates some tensions, which are often released in criticizing and finding faults with others).
Hoping this finds you well and happily engaged in seva
Das dasanudasa
Puskaraksa das