In Due Course of Time


An instructive letter to a disciple’s inquiry on how to deal with the inevitable departure of one’s spiritual master.

My dear Disciple,

Please accept my blessings. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Thank you for your letter. I can appreciate your concern that one day I will depart this world. But remember that I will be with you forever. There will only be short lapse of association between when I leave – and then you do.

Otherwise we’ll be serving Srila Prabhupada, Radhe Syama and all Their associates in the spiritual world for eternity and beyond. Meditate on this when the time comes for me to depart. Separation only increases our attachement. It is all the arrangement of the Lord. When our spiritual master departs we must cry out in grief … but then collect ourselves and continue with his mission. In this way we associate with our guru maharaja after his departure. And the very nature of that service qualifies us for his association again in spiritual world. It is a transcendental thing that cannot be understood by those who have no devotion.

Srila Prabhupada once wrote to me, “I am also feeling separation from my guru maharaja, but I feel he is always watching over and protecting me.”

You are my dear and beloved disciple and we will always be together; either in meeting – or separation.

I pray that I can remain for many years as possible to help fulfill the dream of my spiritual master to spread the chanting of the holy names all over the world. But when the time comes to leave – in whichever way it is – I am ready to go. Ready to serve Srila Prabhupada in any capacity that he chooses – wherever that may be.

Death is never pretty. Sometimes ugly. Not every devotee leaves in a sublime manner. And it’s not so important really. Once someone said, “Don’t ask me how he died … ask me how he lived.” Death is but an insignificant moment compared to a lifetime of devotional service. Maharaja Pariksit left this world because of a so-called curse and a snake bite! Bhismadeva left with his body riddled by arrows. But no one doubts for a moment they attained the highest destination.

We are only concerned with service to Guru and Gauranga. Death is only a brief interruption of that eternal service.

Let is always remember and glorify the devotional service of those devotees who have sacrificed their lives for Srila Prabhupada and his mission. Just as a cow can recognize her calf amongst a multitude of calves in the pasture ground – so the Lord can see His devotee amongst the mass of people in this world because of their love for Him. The departures of such devotees may not be noted by the common man – but certainly the Lord and His pure devotees are aware of the passing of each and every vaisnava soul.

I have no doubt in my mind that Aindra prabhu attained the spiritual world. He had firm faith in the Holy Names, his beloved deities and the holy dhama of Sri Vrindavan. That faith was expressed in each and every one of his bhajans.

For the next few weeks we will all experience mixed emotions – happiness and distress – because of his departure. But ultimately we are left with the concession that he achieved his heart’s desire: to live with the Lord in the spiritual world. What can be more glorious than that?

I hope one day to follow in his footsteps.

Your ever well wisher,
Indradyumna Swami


Views: 501 • July 23, 2010 Aindra Prabhu, Death, Holy Name, Instructions




Comments : 1


  1. Dandavat Pranam Maharaj-ji
    All glories to Srila Prabhupada

    Thank you so much for sharing this letter, for all your transcendental photography, for this blog

    If i am qualified to ask Sri Sri Radhe Shyam for an opportunity to serve you, I would like to humbly request Them for the gift of being qualified to serve you

    Happy Hari’s and Krishna’s 2012 to you :-)

    Kanha’s and your servant eternally
    surabhi