Our Pride in Prabhupada

There is no difference between the spiritual master’s instructions and the spiritual master himself.  In his absence, therefore, his words of direction should be the pride of the disciple. – (Cc. Adi 1.35, purport)

What does this mean, that the guru’s order is the pride of the disciple?  It means that the disciple has received a treasure and this is the cause of his satisfaction.  He is not boastful about it, but undeniably, his guru’s order is the cause for self-congratulation.  He is confident that a great soul is leading him back to Godhead.  He is no longer downtrodden.  The disciple of a bona fide spiritual master has won the prize, the cream, the flower.

Such pride exists even in the Supreme – Lord Krishna is proud of Srimate Radharani, and She is proud of Him.  Srila Prabhupada was proud of his guru maharaj, who was never defeated.  And his guru maharaj was proud to be the son of Bhaktivinoda Thakura.  All devotees of Lord Caitanya are proud to belong to the Gaudiya Vaisnava sampradāya.

Material existence crushes us and makes us ashamed.  Our relationship with Srila Prabhupada makes us transcendental.  Yet this pride doesn’t work against humility.  We remain a fool before the spiritual master.

One time I wrote to Srila Prabhupada that I did not think myself a very bold preacher.  He wrote that he too once thought he could not speak, but by practice he gained confidence.  Moreover, he said, we are not cheating anyone when we speak, so you should not be hesitant or ashamed.  Prabhupada compared the devotees of the Lord to the servant of the king.  As the king is most honorable, so is his servant.

The spiritual pride in the guru’s order implies a grave responsibility.  We are to discharge Prabhupada’s order for the benefit of the whole world.  The pride of the elite must be preserved at all costs.  Arjuna was proud of his friendship with Krishna, but when Arjuna wanted to renounce the kṣatriya’s duty, Krishna warned him not to dishonor the glorious relationship.  And so it is stated that the spiritual master will always keep company with the disciple, as long as the disciple follows strictly the instruction of the spiritual master.

Let us be proud of the knowledge in Srila Prabhupada’s books.  Never take it as a minor event that we have come to accept them as scriptures.  Who can comprehend these things except the devotees themselves?  People will take it as vainglory.  But even at the risk of being misunderstood, we have to speak and write of Prabhupada’s glories.  The world should see splendid architecture in his memory, his samadhis and museums – and the Bhaktivedanta Institute and the Bhaktivedanta Manor.  Most important of all, we should consider ourselves blessed by his association, and so in pride, we bow down at his lotus feet.  By the causeless mercy of Prabhupada, even the lowest born and most fallen can now aspire to topmost bliss, Krishna in Vrindavana.  May we always remember that we are the servants of the true servant of the Supreme.