Prabhupada Is Not Ordinary 

The sastras warn us not to think of the spiritual master as an ordinary man.  That is very hard for the nondevotees to comprehend.  They think the spiritual master is an ordinary person because they see him growing old, or they see him show anger.  They misjudge him in many ways.  They have no idea what is ordinary and what is extraordinary.  It takes spiritual vision to appreciate the pure devotee, but the sastras tell us the truth. 

The sastras list certain qualifications of a spiritual master, yet even among those who possess these qualifications, Srila Prabhupada is extraordinary.  What is it about him that makes him extraordinary?  Or, we can ask, “There appear to be some extraordinary things about Prabhupada, so what is it about Prabhupada that makes these things extraordinary?”

Dr. Harvey Cox said, “Prabhupada is one in a million.”  He founded the Hare Krishna Movement, which continues to grow and establish roots in countries all over the world.  Fulfilling Lord Caitanya’s prediction that the holy name would be known in every town and village of the world was seen as a near impossible task by other sannyasis.  Prabhupada fulfilled the Lord’s prediction.  He must be an extraordinary person, someone fully empowered by Krishna, to possess so much pure devotion and determination. 

One should not see the spiritual master as an ordinary man.  This is not only the proper etiquette described in the Vedas, it is reality.  The spiritual master is never ordinary, even if he appears to be growing older, or seems to forget a Sanskrit verse, the disciple should never doubt his spiritual master because of these things.  Prabhupada explained that his perfection was that he was always preaching and was fully engaged in Krishna consciousness.  The guru is not the Supersoul who knows all things, but he has an intimate relationship with the Supersoul.  Srila Prabhupada was always dedicated to Krishna’s mission.  He produced amazing, tangible results.  He is extremely dear to Krishna.  All his displays of anger, or illness, or humanness are transcendental; they are meant to bring us closer to him in loving exchange.

The spiritual master lives in the internal energy.  He always desires to talk about Krishna and glorify Krishna, and to engage himself and others in Krishna’s service.  To be in his presence is intense and purifying, and this can be difficult for a neophyte to take.  Therefore, when he acts in apparently “ordinary” ways, it relieves his neophyte disciples and enables the beginning devotee to feel intimacy with the exalted pure devotee.  When the ordinary devotee can do simple things, like heat water for the guru’s bath, or cook him his favorite sweets, his affection is aroused.  Therefore, Srila Prabhupada used to occasionally engage his disciples in conversations and activities just to bring them closer to him.  He used the same psychology an adult uses when he plays on the level of a child.  It is a way to gain their trust and affection. 

Ultimately, nothing is ordinary or mundane when sanctioned by the pure devotee and engaged in Krishna’s service.  Therefore, whenever we think of Prabhupada as ordinary, meaning mundane or conditioned like other karmic-bound souls in this world, we commit Vaisnava aparadha.