Gurudeva’s Vani and Vapu

Srila Gurudeva: Gurudeva never wants any money or anything. But it may be that the servant is not so high-class and he may accept some money from the disciple. But actually, he has no need of all these things. What does he want? He wants that he should know what is pure love and affection and that he should serve Radha and Krsna conjugal. So, if you are doing so, he will be so happy. This is the interior mood of Gurudeva. I also want that you should be qualified. Gradually you should know what is krsna- prema, what is Krsna’s service, Guru’s service. Have you heard of vani and vapu?

Devotee: Vani means the instructions of Guru.
Srila Gurudeva: And vapu?
Devotee: The body of Guru.
Srila Gurudeva: What is the meaning of this vani and vapu?
Devotee: Vani means to follow the instruction of Guru and vapu means to be in the presence of the Guru and serve his body.
Srila Gurudeva: What is better?
Devotee: To serve the instructions of Guru.

Srila Gurudeva: You will have to serve both–the Guru’s instructions and his body. Some may say that we should not serve Guru’s body. That is wrong. It is offensive, because the body of Gurudeva is transcendental. There is no difference between the vani and vapu of Gurudeva. Isn’t it so? So those who are saying this sometimes don’t know all of these things. But we should know all these things. There is no difference between Gurudeva’s vani and vapu. There is a difference only for a disciple who is not so high. Is there any difference between Krsna’s vani and vapu? There is no difference.

So, we should try to know all these things. For lower-class Vaisnavas, it has been said, “You should follow his vani. You should not follow his vapu.” But really, this is not the truth. When a disciple advances he will see that there is no difference between the vani and vapu. But when a disciple is on a lower stage, he will differentiate and he is bound to differentiate. So, we should know this. You should try to accept all these things, the essence of all these things, and be qualified. Don’t engage your mind in politics or hypocrisy.

We don’t know when we will die, so try to have this high-class prema of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Krsna. How can it be achieved? It can be achieved very easily if you are trying to have the association of bona-fide devotees. One-pointedly give your everything to hear from them and be very strong and determine, “I will follow them.” You can only do this. Krsna’s mercy is independent. If He sees that a devotee is sincere, He will give His mercy. But His mercy doesn’t depend on your practice. You may practice so much, but when Krsna realizes that you are sincere, His mercy will go there and He will be very satisfied.

nayam atma pravacanena labhyo
na medhaya na bahuna srutena
yam evaisa vrnute tena labhyas
tasyaisa atma vivrnute tanum svam
-Katha Upanisad 1.2.23

[The Supreme Self cannot be known by any amount of discourse, intelligence or learning (hearing). Rather, He fully reserves the right to reveal Himself to whom He chooses.]

[Spoken by Srila Gurudeva on January 28th, 1998, Malaysia, published as part of the Bhakta Bandhav Anthology, Volume 25]