Just as the control tower is in constant communication with the pilot by radio, so the Supersoul is our constant companion, and like the shepherd plane flying just beside Mr. O'Neill's Cessna, the spiritual master is also there with us in the form of his instructions and teachings.

Supersoul to the Rescue

Internal and external guidance

While flying Mr. O'Neill suddenly experienced difficulty seeing his instruments and sent a mayday alert. When control tower responded, however, at first he said he was happy to continue flying on his own. But when it was pointed out to him that his plane was descending and turning, he asked for help. They sent a plane to him, piloted by Wing Cdr Paul Gerrard, chief flying instructor at RAF Linton-on-Ouse. The instructor flew alongside Mr. O'Neill, communicating instructions to him over the radio, telling him to turn left and right, to lower the plane and to do his pre-landing checks. In this way he shepherded the stricken pilot down to safe landing.

This story is very much applicable to all of us here in this material world. We like to think we are competent to fly our planes independently and wander or proceed through life with the expectation that we will arrive at our intended destination, and so we enjoy ourselves along the way, but when all of a sudden we find ourselves in a dense cloud and can't see our way forward, or get tossed by the crosswinds of destiny, at such times we pray to God for help. The Vedas explain that the Supreme Lord dwells within the heart of every living being, so we are never actually alone, though we mistakenly think we are acting independently. As soon as we give up this false idea of independence and surrender ourselves to be guided by Krishna, He guides us from within as Supersoul, paramatma, and from without by sending the spiritual master.

The living entities wander in life after life, undergoing the miserable conditions of material existence. But when one is very anxious to get free from the material entanglement, then he gets enlightenment through a spiritual master and Krishna. This means that Krishna as the Supersoul is seated within the heart of the living entity, and when the living entity is serious, the Lord directs him to take shelter of His representative, a bona fide spiritual master. Directed from within and guided externally by the spiritual master, one attains the path of Krishna consciousness, which is the way out of the material clutches.

Therefore there is no possibility of one's being situated in his own position unless he is blessed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Unless he is enlightened with the supreme knowledge, one has to undergo the severe penalties of the hard struggle for existence in the material nature. The spiritual master is therefore the mercy manifestation of the Supreme Person. The conditioned soul has to take direct instruction from the spiritual master, and thus he gradually becomes enlightened to the path of Krishna consciousness. The seed of Krishna consciousness is sown within the heart of the conditioned soul, and when one hears instructions from the spiritual master, the seed fructifies, and his life is blessed. [Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.31.16, purport]

There is another analogy in this story. Some people mistakenly think that by accepting the spiritual master, getting initiated, they have just to sit back and enjoy the ride while the spiritual master tows the plane. This is not the case. We each have to fly our own plane. The spiritual master, like the shepherd pilot, gives practical instruction, but he will not fly the plane for us, he will not police us or drag us forcibly along. It is up to the disciple to hear from the spiritual master and execute his orders in full faith that success is assured.

So submissive inquiry (hearing the instruction of the spiritual master), surrender (giving up the notion that we can manage on our own), and service (carrying out the instructions of the spiritual master) are essential to receive the blessings of the spiritual master.

tad viddhi pranipatena
pariprashnena sevaya
upadekshyanti te jñanam
jñaninas tattva-darshinah

"Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth." [Bhagavad-gita 4.34]

In his purport, Srila Prabhupada writes:

Satisfaction of the self-realized spiritual master is the secret of advancement in spiritual life. Inquiries and submission constitute the proper combination for spiritual understanding. Unless there is submission and service, inquiries from the learned spiritual master will not be effective. One must be able to pass the test of the spiritual master, and when he sees the genuine desire of the disciple, he automatically blesses the disciple with genuine spiritual understanding. In this verse, both blind following and absurd inquiries are condemned. One should not only hear submissively from the spiritual master; but one must also get a clear understanding from him, in submission and service and inquiries. A bona fide spiritual master is by nature very kind toward the disciple. Therefore when the student is submissive and is always ready to render service, the reciprocation of knowledge and inquiries becomes perfect.

Just as the control tower is in constant communication with the pilot by radio, so the Supersoul is our constant companion, and like the shepherd plane flying just beside Mr. O'Neill's Cessna, the spiritual master is also there with us in the form of his instructions and teachings. Therefore we recommend the books of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada to everyone. They are the sound representation of the spiritual master, encapsulated in ink on paper. Srila Prabhupada is no longer physically here, but everything is in his books. The great spiritual master Bhaktivinode Thakur wrote: "He reasons ill who says that Vaishnavas die, When thou art living still in sound!" And in his first book, Srila Prabhupada himself wrote the following dedication to his own spiritual master: "He lives forever in his instructions, and the follower lives with him." So we do not need to feel distressed or fearful. We are not alone. Krishna is right here within us as Supersoul, and He has sent us Srila Prabhupada and his books to help us get back home safely, back to Godhead.