CONTENTS:
- YOU ARE THE BEST OF SERVANTS
- SRILA PRABHUPADA'S APPRECIATION
- GURU MAHARAJA’S INSTRUCTIONS
1. YOU ARE THE BEST OF SERVANTS
Hanuman brought the message of Sita Devi from Lanka and after finding Sita Devi, what did Hanuman do? Hanuman burned Lanka and then he came back the same way he went. Lord Ramachandra was very pleased with Hanuman. And then Ramachandra told Hanuman- That you are the best of the servants. There are three kinds of servants. The best is one who accomplishes what he has been asked to do and even more than that. He accomplishes more than what he has been asked to accomplish. And Hanuman was told that you have been asked to find Sita’s whereabouts and you not only found Sita’s whereabouts, you also consoled her with the assurance that we will and rescue her soon, then you found out the enemy. You found out about their fortification and other such arrangements. And on top of everything, you have instilled fear in their hearts, in the heart of the enemy. And then Ramachandra said that the second class is he who just accomplishes what he has been asked to do although he is capable of doing more than that. And the third class one is, the third class one is- he doesn’t even do what he has been asked to do. So, these are the three kinds of servants. And Ramachandra said that Hanuman was the best, he was the first class. And Ramachandra told him that, "Look I am in exile, I don't have anything to give you as my appreciation for your service. I am just a person banished into the forest. So, all I can do, all I can offer you, is my embrace" and saying that Lord Ramachandra embraced Hanuman. Then Rama asked Hanuman “So tell me about the situation of Lanka" and Hanuman told that "Lanka is in an island. Lanka is an island and it is situated on top of a Mountain. The top of the mountain is flat. And the city of Lanka is situated on top of the Trikuta Mountain. It is surrounded by a huge and massive golden wall. The walls of the city are also made of solid gold and then the place is guarded by hundreds and thousands of very powerful soldiers. And around that around the wall there is a moat all around. and those moats are filled with crocodiles and other ferocious aquatics. So, these make Lanka practically invincible, unapproachable. And on top of that, the whole city all around is surrounded by a deep and dense forest. So, the only people who can approach Lanka are the monkeys. So, know you see why the demigods were asked to take birth as monkeys. So, there was a special necessity. So, after getting all the information’s. He was told about Ravana how powerful he was. So, Rama said " now is the auspicious time when the abijit nakshatra is in the ascending, so let us start our march towards Lanka. Because Abijit is the star that brings victory. So, in order to confirm the victory of their onslaught.
2. SRILA PRABHUPADA'S APPRECIATION
I first met Srila Prabhupada in a dream. I got a book written by Srila Prabhupada, Nectar of Devotion, and as I started to read it, from the very first page it occurred to me that this is what I was actually looking for. And the next night I had a dream of Srila Prabhupada. And I saw Srila Prabhupada was sitting on a majestic throne and those days I did not know what a vyasasana was, because in India the saintly people they sit on a rather simple seat, they don't sit on such a gorgeous throne, it looks rather like a throne. So, I saw Srila Prabhupada sitting on a throne. And there was a brilliant light around Srila Prabhupada, as if the light was coming out of his body. And just the sight of Srila Prabhupada made me feel that finally I found my spiritual master.
(Excerpt from “Prabhupada Realizations” by HH Bhakti Charu Swami)
3. GURU MAHARAJA’S INSTRUCTIONS
There are three kinds of servants. The best is one who accomplishes what he has been asked to do and even more than that. He accomplishes more than what he has been asked to accomplish.
(The content of this E-magazine is based on a lecture given by HH Bhakti Charu Swami on day four of the North American Retreat)
(Compiled and Edited by Hemavati Radhika Devi Dasi)