Physical presence is immaterial.Presence of the transcendental sound from Guru

[krsna]

Physical presence is immaterial. Presence of the transcendental sound

received from the Spiritual Master should be the guidance of

life. That will make our spiritual life successful. If you feel very

strongly about my absence you may place my pictures on my sitting

places and this will be source of inspiration for you. (Letter to

Brahmananda and other students, 19/1/67)

 

But always remember that I am always with you. As you are always

thinking of me, I am always thinking of you also. Although

physically we are not together, we are not separated spiritually. So

we should be concerned only with this spiritual connection.

(Letter to Gaurasundara, 13/11/69)

 

So we should associate by vibration, and not by the physical presence.

That is real association.

(Lectures SB, 68/08/18)

 

There are two conceptions, the physical conception and the vibrational

conception. The physical conception is temporary. The

vibrational conception is eternal.[...] When we feel separation from

Krsna or the Spirirual Master, we should just try to remember their

words or instructions, and we will no longer feel that separation.

Such association with Krsna and the Spiritual Master should be

association by vibration not physical presence. That is real

association. (Elevation to Krsna Consciousness,(BBT 1973), Page 57)

 

Although according to material vision His Divine Grace Srila

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarsavati Thakura Prabhupada passed away from this

material world on the last day of December 1936, I still consider his

Divine Grace to be always present with me by his vani, his

words. There are two ways of association - by vani and by vapuh. Vani

means words and vapuh means physical presence. Physical

presence is sometimes appreciable and sometimes not, but Vani

continues to exist eternally. Therefore, one must take advantage of

the Vani, not the physical presence. (CC, Antya 5 Conclusion)

 

Therefore we should take advantage of the Vani, not the physical

presence. (Letter to Suci Devi Dasi, 4/11/75)

 

I shall remain your personal guidance, physically present or not

physically present, as I am getting guidance from my Guru Maharaja.

(Room Conversation, Vrindavan, 14/7/77)

 

It is sometimes misunderstood that if one has to associate with

persons engaged in devotional service, he will not be able to solve

the economic problem. To answer this argument, it is described here

that one has to associate with liberated persons not directly,

physically, but by understanding, through philosophy and logic, the

problems of life. (SB 3:31:48)

 

I am always with you. Never mind if I am physically absent. (Letter

to Jayananda, 16/9/67)

 

Paramananda: We're always feeling your presence very strongly, Srila

Prabhupada, simply by your teachings and your instructions. We're

always meditating on your instructions. Srila Prabhupada: Thank you.

That is the real presence. Physical presence is not important.

(Room Conversation, Vrndavana, 6/10/77)

 

You write that you have desire to avail of my association again, but

why do you forget that you are always in association with me? When

you are helping my missionary activities I am always thinking of you,

and you are always thinking of me . That is real association.

Just like I am always thinking of my Guru Maharaja at every moment,

although he is not physically present, and because I am trying to

serve him to my best capacity, I am sure he is helping me by his

spiritual blessings. So there are two kinds of association: physical

and preceptorial. Physical association is not so important as

preceptorial association. (Letter to Govinda Dasi, 18/8/69)

 

As far as my blessing is concerned, it does not require my physical

presence. If you are chanting Hare Krsna there, and following my

instructions, reading the books, taking only Krsna prasadam etc., then

there is no question of your not receiving the blessings of

Lord Caitanya, whose mission I am humbly trying to push on. (Letter to

Bala Krsna, 30/6/74)

 

'Anyone who has developed unflinching faith in the Lord and the

Spiritual Master can understand the revealed scripture unfolding

before him'. So continue your present aptitude and you will be

successful in your spiritual progress. I am sure that even if I am

not physically present before you, still you will be able to execute

all spiritual duties in the matter of Krsna Consciousness, if you

follow the above principles. (Letter to Subala, 29/9/67)

 

So although a physical body is not present, the vibration should be

accepted as the presence of the Spiritual Master, vibration. What we

have heard from the Spiritual Master, that is living. (General

lectures, 69/01/13)

 

Devotee: ...so sometimes the Spiritual Master is far away. He may be

in Los Angeles. Somebody is coming to Hamburg Temple. He thinks 'How

will the Spiritual Master be pleased?' Srila Prabhupada: Just follow

his order, Spiritual Master is along with you by his words. Just like

my Spiritual Master is not physically present, but I am associating

with him by his words. (SB Lectures, 71/08/18)

 

Just like I am working, so my Guru Maharaja is there, Bhaktisiddhanta

Sarasvati. Physically he may not be, but in every

action he is there. To serve master's word is more important than to

serve physically. (Room Conversation, Vrindavan, 2/5/77)

 

So that is called prakata, physically present. And there is another

phrase, which is called aprakata, not physically present. But that

does not mean, Krsna is dead or God is dead. That does not mean,

prakata or aprakata, physically present or not present, it does not

matter. (Lectures SB 73/12/11)

 

So, spiritually, there is no question of separation, even physically

we may be in far distant place. (Letter to Syama Dasi, 30/08/68)

 

I went to your country for spreading this information of Krsna

Consciousness and you are helping me in my mission, although I am

not physically present there but spiritually I am always with you.

(Letter to Nandarani, Krsna Devi and Subala, 3/10/67)

 

We are not separated actually. There are two - Vani or Vapuh - so Vapu

is physical presence and Vani is presence by the vibration, but

they are all the same. (Letter to Hamsadutta, 22/6/70)

 

So in the absence of physical presentation of the spiritual master,

the Vaniseva is more important. My Spiritual Master Sarsavati

Goswami, may appear to be physically not present, but still because I

try to serve his instruction, I never feel separated from him.

(Letter to Karandhara, 22/8/70)

 

I also do not feel separation from my Guru Maharaja. When I am engaged

in his service, his pictures give me sufficient strength. To

serve master's word is more important than to serve him physically.

(Letter to Syamasundara, 19/7/70)