Question: For some time I want to hear to Srila Prabhupada’s lectures, because I am unable to connect well with my Spiritual Master. It has more to do with my own condition of mind. But since it is helpful to hear spiritual sound vibration, I felt that I can purify myself by hearing Srila Prabhupada’s lectures. But at the same time, I also notice that there is pride in the heart, where I feel that I am diminishing the importance of my Spiritual Master and giving more importance to Srila Prabhupada. I want to avoid this and at the same time, I am unable to appreciate my Spiritual Master’s classes the same way I used to. My faith is not strong the same way, I feel it has more to do with familiarity, offences and requiring sometime for myself to stay away. So, I wanted to request help, as to how I can purify my consciousness, rebuild respect for the Spiritual Master, as well as maintain safe distance. I also feel this is a situation that Krishna is presenting for me to connect and know more about Srila Prabhupada. I just want to ensure that I hear Srila Prabhupada’s classes with regard from my own Spiritual Master as well as with respect for Srila Prabhupada.
Answer by Romapada Swami: Everyone within ISKCON is a follower ISKCON’s Founder-acarya, His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. A book is being prepared by the “Srila Prabhupada’s Position Committee” to elucidate this point for all future generations.
Reading Srila Prabhupada’s books and hearing his recorded lectures, conversations and morning walks provides great inspiration for all members of ISKCON.
It is unfortunate that the causes mentioned within your question above have weakened your prior enthusiasm to hear your Spiritual Master’s lectures, or even produced an aversion to your Spiritual Master.
Since you recognize these results along with their likely causes, the path of deliberately striving to connect more strongly than before with Srila Prabhupada and know more about him is excellent! Also read Lilamrita and/or the other biographies about his life written by those who intimately served him. This will pick you up for sure!
Your final sentence should be your guiding light at this time: “I just want to ensure that I hear Srila Prabhupada’s classes with regard from my own Spiritual Master as well as with respect for Srila Prabhupada.”
