Yesterday marked the 128th anniversary of Shrila Prabhupada's divine appearance, and the B.L.I.S.S devotees celebrated by writing and
reciting offerings to him.
Maitreya Rsi Dasa:
yatha kancanatam yati
kamsyam rasa-vidhanatah
tatha diksa-vidhanena
dvijatvam jayate nrnam
Shrila Jiva Goswami and Shrila Sanantan Goswami have both given this verdict that as bell metal or copper (kamsyam) mixed with mercury (rasa) in a proper alchemical process (vidhanatah) becomes gold, a person can acquire the good qualities of a brahmana when properly initiated by a bona-fide spiritual master. This is the proof that someone is a bona-fide spiritual master⎯he is giving diksa, or spiritual realization, to his disciples. By the mercy of such a guru, even a person coming from the lowest class of people can be purified to such an extent that he can meet Shri Shri Radha-Krishna face to face.
kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasa
abhira-sumbha yavanah khasadayah
ye 'nye ca papa yad-apasrayasrayah
sudhyanti tasmai prabhavisnave namah
“Kirata, Huna, Andhra, Pulinda, Pulkasa, Abhira, Sumbha, Yavana, members of the Khasa races and even others addicted to sinful acts can be purified by taking shelter of the devotees of the Lord, due to His being the supreme power. I beg to offer my respectful obeisances unto Him”. (Shrimad-Bhagavatam 2.4.18)
This is not within the capacity of any ordinary personality. It requires the benediction and empowerment of Shri Krishna in order to do so. Because you are directly in touch purely and fully with the Supreme Lord, Shri Krishna, Shrila Prabhupada, so many fallen souls are becoming purified to the extent that they can be even called brahmanas, not by name only, but by knowledge and qualities. It is quite astonishing that even young men from the most sinful backgrounds in the western countries, are, to this very day, becoming free from all their bad habits and are becoming saintly persons fit to deliver the world on your divine order. The very fact that this is going on is the most eminent and wonderful evidence that your Divine Grace is the still the spiritual master for the whole universe. There are many quotes to support this idea from the shastra, your personal conversations, and letters approved and written by you, but the practical proof that your statements are true is that you are still changing low class bell metal boys and girls in into first grade golden devotees of the Lord.
We cannot fathom your mercy, Shrila Prabhupada, because your mercy is infinite, and our tiny brains are finite. Being conditioned by the illusory energy of Krishna, we are unable to comprehend just how great a benediction you are giving us the opportunity to take up. Because we are covered by the illusory energy, we cannot appreciate the eternal, transcendental, ever-expanding nectar of devotional service to Krishna, which, for no particular reason, who have kindly chosen to give us. Your causeless mercy is explained in Chaitanya Charitamrta:
bhramanda bhuminte, konya bhagyavan jiva, guru-krsna,prasade, paya bhakti late bija.
Because we are fortunate, we have received your causeless mercy in the form of the seed of devotional service. It is the highest goal of life, and before you opened our darkened eyes, we were wandering in the aimless darkness of material existence, suffering in the lower modes with no clue or hope for happiness and purpose. in fact, we were practically animals destined for a hellish existence. if someone is drowning, and another person saves him, the person who was drowning feels tremendously grateful. but because we are forgetful, proud, and ignorant, we do not understand just how much we are drowning in material existence and so we are not sufficiently grateful to you, Shrila Prabhupada. Our every second of life should be directed to your service and fulfilling your evey desire. Please bless us so that we might attain that constant consciousness, Shrila Prabhupada.
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