A Safe Position

At the lotus feet of Gurudeva

After my two-month journey and brief sojourn in South Africa, England, and Turkey, it is good to be here in Russia, back at the lotus feet of Srila Gurudeva — in a safe position.

When a child goes to the seaside with his parent, there is no need for him to worry about whether the tide is coming in or going out, whether there is a swift current or a strong backwash, whether the rocks are slippery and he may fall into the water, or whether the rocks have barnacles that may cut his feet or otherwise injure him, because under the watchful eye of the his guardian, he may do anything and everything, safe in the knowledge that if he is in any danger at all, his parent will warn or restrain him, before he gets hurt.

If, however, the child goes to the beach alone, he will find himself in a very dangerous situation. There are so many hazards for the unwary child: without the experience of his guardian, his every activity will be hazardous and fraught with danger.

Similarly, when we are away from the protective shelter of our gurudeva, there is danger at every step (padam padam yad vipadam). It is only by his grace that we get the grace of Krishna (yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado); without his grace, we have no other prospect (yasya prasadan na gatih kuto 'pi).

I offer my obeisances unto the lotus feet of my Divine Master, Srila Gurudeva (vande guroh sri-caranaravindam).