If you thought “metaphysical” meant BEYOND or ABOVE physics or physical conceptions, think again. First, dictionary definitions say “metaphysical” is “the branch of philosophy that treats of first principles,” and that it “includes ontology and cosmology, and is intimately connected with epistemology.” Second, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura writes that “The pastimes of Krsna are not metaphysical…Krsna’s pastimes are full of variegatedness…In the realm of variegatedness, only the eternal pastimes of Krsna are manifest.” (Sajjana Tosani 6/7)

In one sense everyone in Srila Prabhupada’s movement is, or can become, a guru or at least an instructor, which is one of the meanings of ‘guru.’ Srila Prabhupada on several occasions quoted the verse “Instruct everyone to follow the orders of Lord Sri Krsna as they are given in the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam. In this way become a spiritual master and try to liberate everyone in this land.” (CC Madhya 7.128). Expanding on the concept of guru, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura wrote in his will: “Do not try to become a guru to become envious. Do not try to become a guru in order to become absorbed in material attachments. But if you become my unalloyed servant, if you have acquired my potency, then there is nothing to fear.” In “Easy Journey to Other Planets,” Srila Prabhupada makes it sound like becoming a guru is part of advancement. In Chapter 1, — his “Anti-material Worlds” chapter — he lists twenty points under “General Practice (Positive Functions).” Here he compares a guru to being a monitor in a class – not the teacher – but more advanced than the average student. Point thirteen in Srila Prabhupada’s list reads: “He must not take on unlimited disciples. This means that a candidate who has successfully followed the first twelve items can also become a spiritual master himself, just as a student becomes a monitor in class with a limited number of disciples.”

The Sanskrit version of this clich? is paropadese pandityam / sarvesam su-karam nrnam: “It is easy enough for anyone to make himself sound like an expert when advising others.” (from Brhad Bhagavatamrta, p 288, translation by Gopiparanadhana Dasa.)

Krsna is dear to his devotees because of reciprocation. The verse Ye yatha mam prapadyante tam tathaiva bhajamy aham, Bg.4.11., is further deepened by Sanatan Goswami in his Dig Darsini, where he writes: “and He (Lord Krsna) would follow Yudhisthira in procession and offer words of praise like an ordinary subordinate.” (translation by Gopiparanadara of the Dig Darsini purport, Sri Brhad Bhagamarta p.344)

It has been said that “poverty is the wealth of the brahmanas.” True to form, Chanakya Pandita advised King Chandra Gupta, ruler of India, from a shack. He refused payment, royal residence and sumptuous foodstuffs.

The principle of the ‘higher taste’ holds that the greatest obstacle to spiritual life – sex desire – can be removed, or at least greatly reduced. Srila Prabhupada often commented on this, and in India in 1972, while lecturing in India on Srimad Bhagavatam (1.2.31), he said, “if one takes to Krsna consciousness, then gradually that knot, sex desire… That is the test whether one’s sex desire has diminished. That is the test.”

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura in Visnu-siddhanta-mala writes: “QUESTION: If there is no disagreement between the four Vaisnava schools, why did Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accept only the doctrine of Sri Madhvacarya? ANSWER: The special characteristic of Madhvacarya’s doctrine is that it very clearly and thoroughly defeats the doctrine of oneness. When the jiva thinks himself one with God, he simply places himself into unnecessary distress. To lead the souls along the path away from distress, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted the doctrine of Madhvacarya. But by doing so He did not minimize the importance of the other three Vaisnava schools.”

Education always involves some guesswork, because we rarely know the full propensities of any child in the early years, what to speak of the future and how to prepare for it. This is a challenge for all Krishna consciousness educators. The best scenario is to maintain traditions, yet ensure our systems are always sensitive to time, place, and circumstance, and prioritize preaching as frontline work, thus keeping compassion and our mission as the yardsticks.

The sudden death of nearly 200,000 people has made a lot of earth’s human inhabitants think “why?” But the tragedy is likely to become just another road sign on a freeway. People forget things like earthquakes, terrorist attacks, tidal waves, tornadoes, and floods and – unfortunately — God.

“If one is stone-hearted, then Krsna will stand as stone forever. But if one is soft-hearted by chanting Hare Krishna mantra, then he’ll talk with Krishna.” – Srila Prabhupada on SB1.1.2, London, 17-Aug-1971.