Sharanagati

Sanatana kahe bala kaila upadesh

Taha java sei mora Prabhu datta desh

(Chaitanya Charitamrita, 3.4.144)

This expression is very important, so you please, remember it: “Prabhu datta desh”. “Desh” is “a place”; “Prabhu datta” is “given by the Lord”. The Lord-given place, we can say. You should stick to your service. Because if God, or our master, gives us some service – this is Prabhu datta desh for us. And I have to tell you, that Sofia is a Prabhu datta desh for me. Because my spiritual master gave me the service to come here, visit the devotees. So I’m very thankful to all of you, that you create and maintain and inhabit this desh., so that I don’t have to come to an empty place, but I can come here and see your devotion growing. There were some times, when I had to show my attachment to Sofia. And not from selfish desires, but because this is Prabhu datta desh for me. This is not my place, it’s given to me. You feel the difference? So it’s not a place for enjoyment, it’s a place for service. And you should be attached to your service.

And in classical times the devotee would NEVER leave the service, that was given to him by his master. But of course now this is not a classical age. Most of the people are not fit for such a classical attitude. Still, try to remember this expression – Prabhu datta desh. And when you will realize in your lives what is your Prabhu datta desh, fix your mind on this and serve that principle. This is based on trust and respect: “I have to serve what I was given.”

Prabhu datta desh – you might think that this is only one specific duty or service. Which is true! But basically what is the real Prabhu datta desh, what is the real service given by the spiritual master? Go back, back home, back to Godhead.

So in one sense Prabhu datta desh is located – you go to one place and this is it. But if we expand the understanding, than we can understand that whole our life should be like this. Everything that we do should be under the care and for the service.

And if you work always under the care and guidance of Shri Krishna and Shri Guru, then this will be a Prabhu datta desh. That means, they have provided us a life, some space, some time to express our loving services and our gratitude. “O my Lord, You have given me this lifetime, so I will use it for You.” So Prabhu datta desh might be one very specific duty – or your complete and whole life. Start with the specific and then expand to the general.

The expression goes: “Prabhu datta desh” – “given by the Lord, by the master”. So it’s not “found by the servant”, but “given by God.” But this is a concrete case, a specific situation. Otherwise when we live our life, if we understand that I should live for the purpose of the Absolute Truth, then there is a transformation of my life: I understand that all my existence is given, provided, in order to achieve some higher goals. When you get from your master – that is the concrete case, that is the specific case. When you don’t enter into such a connection – you master doesn’t give you a specific duty, or you don’t have master – as most of the people don’t have – still if you understand that life is for living for God, then this is the transformation. And in this way you will find a different dimension for your life.

But Prabhu datta desh is very specific act of giving some instruction, transferring some duties or delegating some powers.