A lway s E m b r a c e d
by
Kåñëa
As an Uprooted Tree Falls on the Ground Whenever Çréla Prabhupäda called Çréla Gour Govinda Swami, he would immediately stop what he was doing, make his way quickly to Prabhupäda’s room and offer his obeisances, falling flat on the ground like a stick. “Yes Prabhupäda”, he would say. “You called me?” Some devotees thought Çréla Gour Govinda Swami was going to hurt himself because he hit the ground with his whole body and it made a slapping sound. Of course, when the disciple comes before his spiritual master, the disciple should always prostrate himself on the floor in front of him.* Çréla Gour Govinda Swami: Mahäprabhu said; tåëäd api sunécena taror iva sahiñëunä amäninä mänadena kértanéyaù sadä hariù Be as tolerant as a tree, otherwise you cannot serve Mahäprabhu. You cannot serve and please Guru and Gauräìga unless you tolerate and cooperate. Mahäprabhu’s teaching is most important; otherwise, you cannot do haribhajana. No pride, and with great humility, much humbler * yatra yatra guruà paçyet tatra tatra kåtäïjaliù praëamed daëòavad bhümau chinna-müla iva drumaù “Anywhere that one sees his spiritual master, he should, with folded hands and in a humble mood, pay his obeisances to him just as an uprooted tree falls on the ground.” (Çré Hari-bhakti-viläsa 1.90, quoted from Devé-ägama and spoken by Çré Närada Muni.)
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