Presence By Sound


“Reception of spiritual knowledge is never checked by any material condition.” (SB 7.7.1 : Purport)


“The potency of transcendental sound is never minimised because the vibrator is apparently absent.” (SB 2.9.8 : Purport)


“So we should associate by vibration, and not by the physical presence. That is real association.” (SB Lecture, 18/08/68)


“Therefore we should take advantage of the vani, not the physical presence.” (Letter — 4/11/75)


“I shall remain your personal guidance, physically present or not physically present, as I am getting guidance from my Guru Maharaja.” (Room Conversation, Vrindavan, 14/7/77)


“We are not separated actually. There are two – Vani or Vapuh – so Vapu is physical presence and Vani is presence by the vibration, but they are all the same.” (Letter — 22/6/70)


“So although a physical body is not present, the vibration should be accepted as the presence of the Spiritual Master, vibration. What we have heard from the Spiritual Master, that is living.” (Lecture, 13/01/69, Los Angeles)


“You write that you have desire to avail of my association again, but why do you forget that you are always in association with me? When you are helping my missionary activities I am always thinking of you, and you are always thinking of me . That is real association. Just like I am always thinking of my Guru Maharaja at every moment, although he is not physically present, and because I am trying to serve him to my best capacity, I am sure he is helping me by his spiritual blessings. So there are two kinds of association: physical and preceptorial. Physical association is not so important as preceptorial association.” (Letter — 18/8/69)


“Yes, the ecstacy of separation of Spiritual Master is even greater ecstasy than meeting with him.” (Letter — 13/1/68)


“It is better service to Krishna and Spiritual Master in a feeling of separation; sometimes there is a risk in the matter of direct service.” (Letter — 31/12/67)


“He reasons ill who tells that Vaisnavas die, when thou art living still in sound.” ( Poem by Bhaktivinoda Thakur)


So we should give more stress on the sound vibration, either of Krishna or Spiritual Master. Never think that I am absent from you, presence by message (or hearing) is the real touch.” (Letter — 2/8/67)


“Vani is more important than vapuh.” (Letter — 14/12/72)


“I am always with you. Never mind if I am physically absent.” (Letter to Jayananda, 16/9/67)


“Although according to material vision His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarsavati Thakura Prabhupada passed away from this material world on the last day of December 1936, I still consider his Divine Grace to be always present with me by his vani, his words. There are two ways of association – by vani and by vapuh. Vani means words and vapuh means physical presence. Physical presence is sometimes appreciable and sometimes not, but vani continues to exist eternally. Therefore, one must take advantage of the vani, not the physical presence.” (C.c. Antya, concluding words)


“The disciple and Spiritual Master are never separated because the Spiritual Master always keeps company with the disciple as long as the disciple follows strictly the instructions of the Spiritual Master. This is called the association of Vani. Physical presence is called Vapuh. As long as the Spiritual Master is physically present, the disciple should serve the physical body of the Spiritual Master, and when the Spiritual Master is no longer physically existing, the disciple should serve the instructions of the Spiritual Master.” (S.B. 4:28:47, purport)


“Just like I am always thinking of my Guru Maharaja at every moment, although he is not physically present, and because I am trying to serve him to my best capacity, I am sure he is helping me by his spiritual blessings. So there are two kinds of association: physical and preceptorial. Physical association is not so important as preceptorial association.” 
(Letter — 18/8/69)