May 13 1973 LA morning walk

Paramahaṁsa: Śrīla Prabhupāda, when you are not present with us, how is it possible to receive instructions, for example, on questions that may arise?

Prabhupāda: Well, the questions… Answers are there in my books.

Paramahaṁsa: Other than that, for example, that we would ask you in…

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Paramahaṁsa: Do you direct us also through the heart? Besides the Paramātmā?

Prabhupāda: If your heart is pure. Everything depends on purity. Whether there.

 

“The photos of my murti are very nice. The murti of the Spiritual Master should be treated as good as the Deity. Saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair, uktas tatha bhavyata eva sadbhih/kintu prabhor yah priya eva tasya. The guru should be treated as good as God. This is stated in all the sastras. The difference is that God is master-God and guru is servant-God. So the installation ceremony for such a murti should be similar to that done for other Deities. All Temples can have this Deity if they like. But Temples which have only Panca-tattva painting worship should not be given this Deity.

You should make a murti of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati and then they may be worshiped together as is now being done in our Krishna Balarama Temple. They should be placed with Gaura Nitai — Guru Gauranga.”

(Srila Prabhupada Letter, Januray 29, 1976)

“I have no objection to your worshiping my murti for Guru Puja.  But for placing in the temple there must be a pair of murtis, (my Guru Maharaja must be there) as in Krsna-Balarama Mandir, and they must be permanently installed. This may be done in accord with the temple authorities. Or else you may worship one murti of myself privately in your room.”

(Srila Prabhupada Letter, January 13, 1977)

“So far I am concerned, I have no objection if there is carved form of guru on the Guru-Gouranga altar, but one thing, is unless that sculptor is very excellent, it should not be attempted.”

(Srila Prabhupada Letter, September 2, 1972)

“Those who are spiritually advanced, their photograph and ordinary photograph is different. Just like here is statue of Krishna. He’s not different from Krishna. The original person Krishna and this statue of Krishna is the same. Similarly, a spiritually perfect person and his photograph is the same. Because it is in the absolute stage. In the absolute stage there is no difference. In the material stage there is difference. Is that clear?

In the absolute stage there is no difference. Just like we are chanting Hare Krishna. The Krishna is the name of the Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So this name and Krishna is nondifferent. Do you realize it? There is no difference between Krishna who is in His supreme abode and the name Krishna which you are chanting. That is the same. There is no difference. This is absolute conception. Whereas if I am thirsty and if I call the name of water, ‘Water, water, water,’ I require the substance water actually. Simply by calling ‘water’ will not do. That is the difference between matter and spirit.”

(Srila Prabhupada Lecture, New York, September 16, 1966)

 

 

“There are many unauthorized pictures painted by so-called called imaginative artists, but we don’t want such pictures in our temples. So you kindly send me a sketch of the picture, and I shall see whether it is authorized. I am very glad that Devahuti has finished a picture of Radha-Krishna, and that she is working also on Lord Caitanya and Sankirtan. I am also glad that you combinedly want to paint a picture of my photograph. I prefer the picture which was published in our Back To Godhead #18, page 32. It is written there ‘Your ever well-wisher.’ Another thing is please send me the reproduction of the picture which you made for Bhagavat cover. The Macmillan Company is going to publish our Bhagavatam, and I shall give them the picture for the dust cover.”

(Srila Prabhupada Letter, June 1, 1969)

“I thank you very much for your nice presentation of the photographs of my Guru Maharaja and Bhaktivinode Thakura fit in a nice powder case. So I see my Guru Maharaja everyday, whenever necessary. It is kept on my table. I thank you very much for this.”

(Srila Prabhupada Letter, December 2, 1969)

“There is no difference between me and my picture. Therefore we

should honor and keep pictures in that spirit. If we throw pictures

this way and that way, that is offence. The name and picture are as good as the person in spiritual world. In the material world either picture or person, everything is illusion.”

(Srila Prabhupada Letter, September 4, 1972)

“Next you ask if I am present in my picture and form? Yes. In form as well as in teachings. To carry out the teachings of guru is more important than to worship the form, but none of them should be neglected. Form is called vapu and teachings is called vani. Both should be worshiped. Vani is more important than vapu.”

(Srila Prabhupada Letter, December 14, 1972)

“In my room at Radha Damodara Temple you should keep one photo of me and offer to it Prasadam of Sri Radha Damodara.”

(Srila Prabhupada Letter, March 18, 1977)