Some people chant more or perform severe austerities. Yet, they may do so for a material purpose- to get fame or better health etc. Srila Prabhupada, however encouraged devotees to cultivate a sincere attitude while performing their devotional duties. This attitude, he said, is more pleasing to Krishna than the external activities one performs in spiritual life. And the mood that is most pleasing to Krishna is: gratitude and appreciation.
Srila Prabhupada exemplified this mood and taught the world by his own example.
During the physically most painful moments of his life- his final days on this planet, Srila Prabhupada displayed grace and dignity. He only expressed thanks to all devotees and begged forgiveness and showered appreciation on devotees. If we cultivate this mood of appreciation and gratitude now, then during our final moments, it will be easier to practise these virtues.
What we practise now would become a second nature during our death.
Srila Prabhupada in his extremely bad physical condition requested devotees to take him to London. Many were astonished at this request. He said his spiritual master had asked him to preach in the English speaking world. Now, at the last stage of his life, it would be natural to assume he’d prefer to stay in Vrindavan and remember Krishna. Yet, he chose to go to London and he said this was to express his love and gratitude to his spiritual master- this was his service of love to his guru.
The flight to London takes eight to nine hours, yet in this terrible condition, there were delays in Rome and Srila Prabhupada had to share space with people smoking and drinking and loudly talking. When they reached London, there was a strike and the plane hovered above for hours and finally after twenty hours of leaving India, Srila Prabhupada finally landed at the Heathrow airport. He was quickly taken to the Bhaktivedanta Manor where the beautiful deities of Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda reside. Srila Prabhupada had tears of affection on seeing the deities and said that Krishna Balaram (from Vrindavan) had now placed him in the shelter of Sri Radha Gokulananda. Turning to the devotees, he said this was the spiritual world and he’d be happy to die in the presence of all these beautiful devotees in front of Radha Gokulananda. Devotees were stunned to see this depth of devotional sentiments that Srila Prabhupada revealed. He was thousands of miles away from Vrindavan, yet he felt the presence of Vrindavan more in his heart here. And the reason for that was his deep gratitude and appreciation for his spiritual master and recognizing the sincerity of his own disciples.
Therefore if we cultivate gratitude and appreciation, then even thousands of miles away from Vrindavan, we can feel the presence of Krishna and Vrindavan.
KARTIK month offers us this rare chance to experience Vrindavan….let’s make the best use of this opportunity.
