"If You Love Me..."

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj
Kolkata—Worldwide, 11 October 2020, part 5

Question: How does the relationship between a disciple and a spiritual master work heart to heart when it is not possible to associate physically? Sometimes it is a bit difficult for me to understand that relationship internally.

Why is it difficult to understand it? The relationship between Gurudev and his disciple is an eternal relationship. You have a relationship with your father and mother in this world, but this is only a bodily relationship, but devotional relationship is an eternal relationship. The Guru is always near you. When you give some offering or puja to your Guru, you think it is only a photograph, but no, you must have strongest faith that Gurudev is there. You think, "Oh, we serve the Deity, it is a doll," "We give a garland to Gurudev's photograph, it is just a formality, Gurudev does not really accept it"—why do you think so? Gurudev always gets it.

Gurudev always thinks about everybody, both about his obedient disciples and his disobedient disciples also. A proper guru always wishes good for his disciples and even for those who are not his disciples. A guru always thinks about everyone's benefit, always wishes everyone good:

sarve bhavantu sukhinah, sarve santu nairamaya
sarve bhadrani pasyantu ma kaschit dukhabhag bhavet

"Let all be happy, let all be healthy, let all experience auspiciousness, let no one be suppressed by grief."

(A popular 'universal peace' prayer)

That is main thing.

Devotee: Like, "Sri Guru karuna sindhu adhama janara bandhu" (Sri Guru is an ocean of mercy, a friend of the fallen.)

Actually, we do not think whether we are the worst (adhama) or the best—we always try to be humble, that is our main priority.

Anyhow, Gurudev is not far. Gurudev is always near. You know, sometimes when I sleep, I wake up at night—at that time, I think about my Guru. When I go to bed, I think of my Guru. When I wake up from bed, I first pay dandavat to my Guru, only then I go to the bathroom. We should always think about our Guru.

কি শয়নে, কি ভোজনে, কিবা জাগরণে ।
অহর্নিশ চিন্ত কৃষ্ণ, বলহ বদনে ॥

ki sayane, ki bhojane, kiba jagarane
aharnisa chinta krsna, balaha vadane

"Whether you are sleeping, eating, or resting, always chant the Name of Krishna."

(Sri Chaitanya-bhagavat, Madhya-khanda, 28.28)

যদি আমা'-প্রতি স্নেহ থাকে সবাকার ।
তবে কৃষ্ণ-ব্যতিরিক্ত না গাইবে আর ॥

yadi ama'-prati sneha thake sabakara
tabe krsna-vyatirikta na gaibe ara

"If you have any love and affection for Me, then only say 'Krishna'—do not say anything except 'Krishna.'"

(Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata, Madhya-khanda, 28.27)

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said, "You think I am going to take sannyas and go far away from Nabadwip, leaving My mother, the whole family and you all, but this is not so. You are always with Me. If you love Me, if you have any love and affection for Me, then always think about Krishna, always chant Hare Krishna and tell others to chant it." This is what Mahaprabhu advised everybody when He was going to take sannyas...

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