Spiritual Potency

Dear Prabhujis and Matajis,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Gurudev and Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev.

Over the last few days I was fortunate to have conversations with Srila Gurudev (HH Mahavishnu Goswami). In one of the phone discussions Maharaj quoted a verse from Bhagavatam 8.19.26 and requested me to write my realizations on it.

yadṛcchā-lābha-tuṣṭasya tejo viprasya vardhate
tat praśāmyaty asantoṣād ambhasevāśuśukṣaṇiḥ

A brāhmaṇa who is satisfied with whatever is providentially obtained is increasingly enlightened with spiritual power, but the spiritual potency of a dissatisfied brāhmaṇa decreases, as fire diminishes in potency when water is sprinkled upon it.

Unfortunately I do not have much to say on my account. I can only endeavour to write of what I have observed in others, especially Srila Gurudev.

Once we received email from Devaki Prabhuji providing an update on Maharaj's preaching activities in Rajkot. After reading the email I was a bit perplexed as the email reported that a new temple which could accommodate hundreds of devotees was now ready in Rajkot. I was perplexed because it had only been six months since a vacant, rough and barren desert like land in Rajkot had come under Maharaj's hands - How could it be possible that a temple is now standing in just a period of 6 months. There surely is some mistake, I thought. So I rang Devaki Prabhuji to inquire - and Devaki Prabhuji said that he was also surprised - but it was true.

Devaki Prabhu then went on to say but it is really not surprising that a temple is standing, because each penny Maharaj gets he straight away channels it into preaching efforts. In purport to Bhagavatam 8.19.17 Srila Prabhupada says, 'A brahmana or sannyasi is qualified to ask charity from others, but if he takes more than necessary he is punishable.No one can use more of the Supreme Lord's property than necessary. This principle should especially be followed by brahmanas and sannyasis who live at the cost of others.'

We have practically seen Maharaj live by the above standards. Whatever Maharaj gets he spends it for Srila Prabhupada's mission. When Maharaj accepts for himself it is below the bare necessity. His Grace Murali Prabhuji recently reported how everything in Rajkot looked in immaculate and tip top order, except for Maharaj's room which had roof leakages and dampness.

The dampness in Maharaj's room does make breathing difficult and last year it triggered off several near fatal asthma attacks, however it does not dampen Maharaj's spirit to go on reciting Bhagavatam. He is always fully absorbed in singing and relishing the nectar of Lord's extraordinary activities - 'tvad-vīrya-gāyana-mahāmṛta-magna-cittaḥ'. Maharaj is able to do this because he is personification of 'tuṣṭa-manāḥ' - a person who always satisfied in mind even amidst adversity. Whatever providentially comes his way he extravagantly uses it for Krsna and whatever he keeps for himself is often, if not always below the bare necessity (but never above it). Due to this, he is spiritually powerful. It is this spiritual potency which is the foundation of Dwaraka and Rajkot temples and the congregation thereof. With advancing age, this spiritual potency is ever increasing and out of compassion Maharaj freely distributes it wherever he goes.

In comparison let us ask ourselves; 'Are we satisfied? Or are we constantly hankering?' If answers to these two questions put us to shame, then lets us take inspiration from great personalities like Srila Prabhupada, our Spiritual master and other Vaishanava and try to rectify the situation.

Your servant,
Viraja Krishna das
Sydney.