Anukara means to imitate and anusara means to follow in the footsteps. I think that embracing the mood of the spiritual master does not mean that we exactly try to get in the same frame of mind of the spiritual master but that we hold in high esteem whatever he holds in high esteem. So whatever is important to our spiritual master becomes important to us. And as a servant of spiritual master we begin to pay attention to things that he has pointed out are important; that are important to him. And before we never paid so much attention to these things. And in this way our mood changes, our mood begins slowly… we begin to get some of his mood because the things that are important to him become now important to us. In this way it comes by serving, and by holding in high esteem what is important to him. In this way we embrace the mood of spiritual master without imitating.
Because we are a different person- completely. We cannot, we have a different nature, and it is also not right to follow someone else’s nature. We all have a different living- some people need a little more sleep, some people need a little less sleep; some eat more some eat less; some eat fast, some eat slow; some talk a lot, same talk a little; some need to really sit down a bit more than others just to sort of ( relaxing sound)… I think that we cannot deny that in our nature, and that may be different. There is a difference between us and the spiritual master. But we have faith in our spiritual master, that he is really dedicated in serving Krishna and that he has brought down Krishna consciousness to real life. Because the spiritual master must do more that just repeat the books.
Spiritual master must bring the transcendental knowledge to real dealings; it must translate to actual activities of life, than it is realized knowledge, otherwise it is in some sense only book knowledge. So that is what made Srila Prabhupada such a wonderful personality, because he is so exalted; so otherworldly; a resident of the spiritual world; someone who is seeing Krishna- whatever He wants; someone who has a glimpses of the spiritual world; and than at the same time someone so very much there with the people he was with; and someone very human and also very concerned with the human experiences and so on; kind and considerate; but no going for any compromise; somehow or other coming down and working with people who were so entangled, and slowly, slowly bringing them up to higher standard- never compromising anything. Nice how he functioned at all these levels, I really like that. I am thinking about that, so I am looking at him than as my example. I cannot imitate that, you see. I can also try to keep my chin up, but people might be saying- so arrogant, he walks with his nose up in the air. Prabhupada walked with his chin up… so I will not try to imitate that. If we imitate we always fall short.
But if I try to; if we try to serve than it can be done. In this way than we embrace the mood of spiritual master and spiritual masters. We are the one we are, we are the servant. Just like Hanuman was a great, surrendered servant of Lord Ramacandra. Lord Ramacandra was a prince and Hanuman was a monkey; he could not be like Lord Ramacandra. But his glory was his service. By service we embrace the mood of spiritual master, by serving what is dear to the spiritual master.
In regards to service The Nectar of Devotion describes two types of service. It describes general service and it describes service in the mood of personal attendant. And it says that the mood of the personal attendant is higher. And it is obvious that the personal attendant is not just serving, the personal attendant is seeing- well what is needed now; general servant- well what can we offer; we can offer milk; we can offer water, juice; all these things that are offerable; general service- all accepted- Thank you very much. But the personal attendant is looking what is the need now and according to conditions make the offering. The personal attendant is very sensitive to do the needful.
The disciple who becomes like a personal attendant of the spiritual master begins to serve the need of the spiritual master. Such a disciple becomes like an extension of the spiritual master. Than the spiritual masters influence in the world is increasing. If he has a thousand of such disciples than he has thousand wings by which he can fly! -and in this way the mercy of Krishna can spread throughout the world. Than the spiritual master has- even if he has one such a disciple he would be very pleased with such a disciple who is helping him in the mission.Such a disciple may never ask so much- but always do (my ask of course, but may not); but that disciple would be recognized, that would be… he really embraces the mood of the spiritual master. Because the spiritual masters mood is ultimately- he works to bring Krishna’s mercy to the whole world, what else is he got to do?
Part of the lecture given by HH Kadamba Kanana Swami, 11th of July 2008, Sockholm
