Re: Importance of meeting a Nitya Siddha Devotee

Dear Matus, Nityananda!! Gauranga!! Hare Krishna!! Jaya Shri Vinoda Sarasvata Vedanta Guru Parampara! As we know, association with the Vani of an eternally perfect Associate of the Lord is even more powerful than personal physical direct association with him or her. We have seen many souls, who inspite of being in the personal association of a Mahabhagavata devotee committed offenses and thus were not able to appreciate or take benefit of that pure association. This was due to their lack of understanding of the Vani of that Mahabhagavata. Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura states that a Vaishnava always lives in sound vibration of his Vani eternally. Whereas he is only present for a few years on this planet via Vapu.

There is nothing in Vapu or physical association which is not there in Vani or association by hearing or reading and thus it is not mandatory to have physical association with a Mahabhagavata to become a Mahabhagavata ourselves since all the benefits of that Vapu association can be attained by Vani also. In any case, direct physical association with the Holy Dhaamas of Puri, Navadvipa and Vraja can always be had by the sadhaka along with the association of the purest Vaishnavi Tulasi devi and Naama Prabhu and last but not the least association with the Mahabhagavataas of Gaura lila in the form of Shri Chaitanya Bhagavata, Shri Chaitanya Charitamrita, Shri Navadvipa Dhaama Mahatmya, Shri Chaitanya Mangala etc.

That said, devotees who are not quite advanced need Vapu or physical association to stabilize their devotional practice. And higher the quality of Vapu, the more they are inspired and encouraged on the path to understanding the Lord and the Associates by Vani. So direct physical association with a Mahabhagavata is certainly an ideal situation but it is not the only way to attain love since their Vani is always available to us also, especially of the Associates of Lord Nitaai Gaura.

Daaso'smi, BR Sadhu Swami Gaurangapada.

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