Bhakti Caru Swami : When Prabhupada first went to Mayapur with his American disciples, they drove straight to our ISKCON land there without stopping at the Gaudiya Math, Chaitanya Math, or Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur’s Samadhi. Some of Prabhupada’s God-brothers commented, “He didn’t even stop at his spiritual master’s samadhi.” When Prabhupada was told that they were speaking like that he commented, “Do they think that I am ever separated from my spiritual master, even for a moment? My spiritual master is always with me.“
That is how a disciple should be conscious of his spiritual master. The spiritual master is the external manifestation of the Supersoul. When a devotee attains perfection, he always considers his spiritual master to be present with him by his words of instruction. Srila Prabhupada felt that his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur, was always seeing his activities and was guiding him within his heart by his words.
Similarly, the more we become Krishna conscious, the more we make spiritual advancement, the more we will hear Srila Prabhupada’s guidance. The benefit of being in ISKCON is that everywhere we can feel Srila Prabhupada’s presence. We can see Prabhupada in the temples he established or inspired, in the Deity worship he guided, in his books, or in his followers. Everything has come from Srila Prabhupada’s instructions and personal example, and that’s what is protecting us from the onslaughts of illusion and is pushing us towards our ultimate destination, Krishna’s lotus feet.
Reference: Memories Anecdotes of a Modern Day Saint – Volume 2 by Siddhanta Dasa
