Question: What is the process of submitting a prayer through the spiritual master that Srila Prabhupada had in mind, expressed in the text below?
“In regard to praying to Lord Nityananda Prabhu I have written to you in my last letter that such prayer is quite appropriate. Our only prayer should be in the matter of desiring further development of devotional service and such sincere prayer should be submitted not directly to the lord but through the via-media of His bona fide servitor or representative.”
Letter to: Madhudvisa Los Angeles 14 February, 1970
Answer by Romapada Swami: Exactly as is done in Deity worship, the same applies to Srila Prabhupada’s instruction above regarding prayer.
Prior to approaching the Deity when engaging in puja, via formal procedures one takes permission from the spiritual master to approach the Deity.
Consciousness-wise, similarly, etiquette dictates that one takes permission (even if momentary; however long can vary) from the spiritual master to approach a form of the Lord or a vaisnava further up our disciplic succession, or a great vaisnava whose appearance chronologically precedes Srila Prabhupada’s.
