Homages from ISKCON Centers

Çré Vyäsa-püjä 2012
beyond the materially conditioned eye and mind—our Vaiñëava äcäryas describe as aprakaöa. As you
yourself have explained:
So Kåñëa has got two kinds of existence: prakaöa and aprakaöa. Prakaöa means when you see
Kåñëa personally. When Kåñëa is present on this planet, everyone can see Kåñëa. And actually,
everyone saw. But only the devotees could understand that “Here is the Supreme Personality of
Godhead.” So that is called prakaöa, “physically present.” And there is another phase, which is
called aprakaöa, “not physically present.” But that does not mean Kåñëa is dead or God is dead.
That does not mean. Prakaöa or aprakaöa, physically present or not present, it doesn’t matter.
[Lecture on Çrémad-Bhägavatam 1.15.33, Los Angeles, 11 December 1973]
So there are two phases, prakaöa and aprakaöa, appearance and disappearance. So we have
nothing to lament on account of disappearance because Kåñëa and Kåñëa’s devotee. . . Not only
devotees, even the nondevotees, nobody disappears. [Lecture, Los Angeles, 13 December 1973]
The truth concerning the manifest and unmanifest existence holds true, whether in relation to the
Supreme Lord or His pure devotees. Thus, speaking about the disappearance of your own beloved
spiritual master, you said:
Janma karma ca me divyam. As Lord Kåñëa’s appearance and disappearance are all spiritual,
transcendental, they are not ordinary things, similarly, Lord Kåñëa’s devotee, His representative,
who is sent to this material world for preaching the glories of Lord Kåñëa, [his] appearance and
disappearance is also like Kåñëa’s. [Lecture on Çrémad-Bhägavatam, 17 December, 1970]
In the same way, those pastimes that lay beyond our own dull material vision—those pastimes of yours,
Çréla Prabhupäda, that by your divine grace are going on today—are not limited by any consideration of
time and space. The uninformed and faithless may dismiss this truth as sentimentalism or imagination.
That is their grave misfortune. But your aprakaöa pastimes are just as real as the pastimes we were blessed
to witness when you were physically present with us in your manifest lélä—those pastimes described
as prakaöa. Moreover, your unmanifest preaching pastimes, not being in any way limited by time and
space, are accessible to all, regardless of time, place, or circumstance. We have heard of many occasions
when people with no previous contact with you, your movement, or your books have reported seeing
you in a dream, yet not having the slightest clue as to who you are until they come across your picture.
This has happened to young and old alike on many occasions, all across the globe. We have witnessed
others being deeply impressed simply by seeing your picture—again without any knowledge of your
standing or the spiritual lineage whose mercy you embody. Nevertheless, they are instinctively attracted
to you by some unquantifiable spiritual potency. This is the same inconceivable potency accessible via
the audio and video recordings of your classes, conversations, and morning walks, the same potency at
work in mürtis of you, and, of course, the same potency by which you affect millions through your books.
Çréla Prabhupäda, how is it possible that you wrote so many books in so short a time? Books of
such philosophical integrity that they drew accolades from the international academic community?
Books of such transparency, honesty, and purity of purpose that they can change the hearts and lives
of whoever reads them? Books of such spiritual depth and potency that you also delighted in reading
them. In Bombay you once said:
Every morning when I sit down to write these books, Kåñëa personally comes and dictates every
word; therefore every time I read these books, even I learn something. And if you read them
every day, then you will also learn something every time you read them. [1996 Vyäsa-püjä book,
remembrance by Bhägavata Däsa, Bhubaneshwar offering]
Çréla Prabhupäda, your books emanate from your heart, and because Kåñëa is in your heart, your
books have the potency and life-giving properties of Kåñëa Himself. Each of your books, with a life of its
128
3_ISKCON Centers_06June2012.indd 128 6/6/12 10:40 AM