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One small story: Guru Maharaj was going to bed in some private house. There were disciples who didn't speak English. Guru Maharaj pointed at the pillow and blanket and said in Russian: - "Are there..." then he made a sign of
a clapping bird with his arms Then he again said in Russian: ys Abhinanda das
Potency of Pranama Mantra . . . The first time I cooked for Guru Maharaj, he was in his room. When I had finished cooking and began to offer the food on the altar, I put a picture of Guru Maharaj and began to chant the pranam mantra – nama om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate gopal krsna goswamin iti namine . . . Guru Maharaj came right into the room where I was offering and stood there for a while. The same thing happened the next day and I realized that when we utter the pranama mantra of Guru Maharaj, he is present in this sound. (Dravida das – Russia)
Back to Godhead . . . Once while traveling in the car with Srila Bhagavatpada, the devotee who was driving asked him, "Bhagavatpada, can we go back to Godhead in this birth itself?" I overheard Guru Maharaj telling the devotee, "Yes, if you have firm faith in guru and Krishna!" I was quite struck by this conversation because here was our spiritual master instructing us on a very important topic – our relationship with himself. Once before I had heard him declare, "Anybody who considers the spiritual master to be an ordinary person, cannot make any progress in spiritual life." (Romapada das – England)
Knower of disciple’s spiritual progress . . . Due to my increased business involvement, I was not able to chant my 16 rounds. After a program, Guru Maharaj saw me and asked me whether I was chanting my 16 rounds. I was amazed how could he know this? Then he inspired me to complete my rounds. When he was about to leave, I offered him some donation but he said my real devotion would be my rounds! (Kalki das – Delhi)
Preaching in all circumstances . . . Guru Maharaj was admitted to ESCORTS hospital and I became his personal doctor cum servant. I was staying with him 24 hours and had the opportunity to observe all 26 qualities of a vaisnava. Doctors advised that only two visitors should come to see Guru Maharaj. I was supposed to guard the gate like Jaya and Vijaya so I stopped some devotees. Guru Maharaj was in CCU (Coronary Care Unit) and I refused one of his disciples to go in. Later on when Guru Maharaj came to know about this, he chastised me because of this prevention. He wasn’t concerned about his own health but was ready to bestow his mercy on us, fallen souls. Just like Bhisma deva, who was lying on the bed of arrows in the battlefield of Kurukshetra but still preached to the Pandavas. |
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