Shrila Prabhupada's Quotes on Vani and Vapu

Physical presence is immaterial. Presence of the transcendental sound
received from the Spiritual Master should be the guidance of life.
That will make our spiritual life successful. If you feel very
strongly about my absence you may place my pictures on my sitting
places and this will be source of inspiration for you.
(SP Letter to Brahmananda and other students, 19/1/67)

But always remember that I am always with you. As you are always
thinking of me, I am always thinking of you also. Although physically
we are not together, we are not separated spiritually. So we should
be concerned only with this spiritual connection.
(SP Letter to Gaurasundara, 13/11/69)

So we should associate by vibration, and not by the physical
presence. That is real association.
(SP Lectures SB, 68/08/18)

There are two conceptions, the physical conception and the
vibrational conception. The physical conception is temporary. The
vibrational conception is eternal. When we feel separation from
Krishna or the Spirirual Master, we should just try to remember their
words or instructions, and we will no longer feel that separation.
Such association with Krishna and the Spiritual Master should be
association by vibration not physical presence. That is real
association.
(SP in Elevation to Krishna Consciousness,(BBT 1973), Page 57)

Although according to material vision His Divine Grace Shrila
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarsavati Thakura Prabhupada passed away from this
material world on the last day of December 1936, I still consider his
Divine Grace to be always present with me by his vani, his words.
There are two ways of association - by vani and by vapuh. Vani means
words and vapuh means physical presence. Physical presence is
sometimes appreciable and sometimes not, but Vani continues to exist
eternally. Therefore, one must take advantage of the Vani, not the
physical presence.
(SP in CC, Antya 5 Conclusion)

Therefore we should take advantage of the Vani, not the physical
presence.(SP Letter to Suci Devi Dasi, 4/11/75)

I shall remain your personal guidance, physically present or not
physically present, as I am getting guidance from my Guru Maharaja.
(SP Room Conversation, Vrindavan, 14/7/77)

It is sometimes misunderstood that if one has to associate with
persons engaged in devotional service, he will not be able to solve
the economic problem. To answer this argument, it is described here
that one has to associate with liberated persons not directly,
physically, but by understanding, through philosophy and logic, the
problems of life.
(SP in SB 3:31:48)

I am always with you. Never mind if I am physically absent.
(SP Letter to Jayananda, 16/9/67)

Paramananda: We're always feeling your presence very strongly, Shrila Prabhupada,
simply by your teachings and your instructions. We're always meditating on your instructions.
Shrila Prabhupada: Thank you. That is the real presence. Physical presence is not
important. (SP Room Conversation, Vrndavana, 6/10/77)

You write that you have desire to avail of my association again, but
why do you forget that you are always in association with me? When
you are helping my missionary activities I am always thinking of you,
and you are always thinking of me . That is real association. Just
like I am always thinking of my Guru Maharaja at every moment,
although he is not physically present, and because I am trying to
serve him to my best capacity, I am sure he is helping me by his
spiritual blessings. So there are two kinds of association: physical
and preceptorial. Physical association is not so important as
preceptorial association.
(SP Letter to Govinda Dasi, 18/8/69)

As far as my blessing is concerned, it does not require my physical
presence. If you are chanting Hare Krishna there, and following my
instructions, reading the books, taking only Krishna prasadam etc.,
then there is no question of your not receiving the blessings of Lord
Chaitanya, whose mission I am humbly trying to push on.
(SP Letter to Bala Krishna, 30/6/74)

'Anyone who has developed unflinching faith in the Lord and the
Spiritual Master can understand the revealed scripture unfolding
before him'. So continue your present aptitude and you will be
successful in your spiritual progress. I am sure that even if I am
not physically present before you, still you will be able to execute
all spiritual duties in the matter of Krishna Consciousness, if you
follow the above principles.
(SP Letter to Subala, 29/9/67)

So although a physical body is not present, the vibration should be
accepted as the presence of the Spiritual Master, vibration. What we
have heard from the Spiritual Master, that is living.
(SP General lectures, 69/01/13)

Devotee: ...so sometimes the Spiritual Master is far away. He may be
in Los Angeles. Somebody is coming to Hamburg Temple. He thinks 'How
will the Spiritual Master be pleased?'
Shrila Prabhupada: Just follow his order, Spiritual Master is along
with you by his words. Just like my Spiritual Master is not
physically present, but I am associating with him by his words.
(SP SB Lectures, 71/08/18)

Just like I am working, so my Guru Maharaja is there, Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati. Physically he may not be, but in every action he is there.
To serve master's word is more important than to serve physically.
(SP Room Conversation, Vrindavan, 2/5/77)

So that is called prakata, physically present. And there is another
phrase, which is called aprakata, not physically present. But that
does not mean, Krishna is dead or God is dead. That does not mean,
prakata or aprakata, physically present or not present, it does not
matter. (SP Lectures SB 73/12/11)

So, spiritually, there is no question of separation, even physically
we may be in far distant place.
(SP Letter to Syama Dasi, 30/08/68)

I went to your country for spreading this information of Krishna
Consciousness and you are helping me in my mission, although I am not
physically present there but spiritually I am always with you.
(Letter to Nandarani, Krishna Devi and Subala, 3/10/67)

We are not separated actually. There are two - Vani or Vapuh - so
Vapu is physical presence and Vani is presence by the vibration, but
they are all the same.
(SP Letter to Hamsadutta, 22/6/70)

So in the absence of physical presentation of the spiritual master,
the Vaniseva is more important. My Spiritual Master Sarsavati
Goswami, may appear to be physically not present, but still because I
try to serve his instruction, I never feel separated from him.
(SP Letter to Karandhara, 22/8/70)

I also do not feel separation from my Guru Maharaja. When I am
engaged in his service, his pictures give me sufficient strength. To
serve master's word is more important than to serve him physically.
(SP Letter to Syamasundara, 19/7/70)

So far as personal association with Guru is concerned, I was only
with Guru Maharaj 4 or 5 times, but I have never left his
association, not even for a moment. Because I am following his
instruction, I have never felt any separation. There are some of my
Godbrothers here in India, who had constant personal association with
Guru Maharaja, but who are neglecting his orders. This is just like
the bug who is sitting on the lap of the king. He may be very puffed
up by his position but all he can succeed in doing is biting the
king. Personal association is not so important as association through
serving. (SP Letter to Satyadhana, 20/2/72)

So spiritually appearance and disappearance, there is no
difference ... spiritually there is no such difference, appearance or
disappearance. Although this is the disappearance day of Om Vishnupada
Shri Shrimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, there is nothing to be
lamented, although we feel separation.
(SP Lecture, Los Angeles 13/12/73)

So my Guru Maharaja will be very, very much pleased with you ... it
is not that he is dead and gone. That is not spiritual
understanding ... he is seeing. I never feel that I am alone.
(SP Lecture, 2/3/75)

Vani is more important than vapuh.
(SP Letter to Tusta Krishna Das, 14/12/72)

Yes I am glad that your centre is doing so well and all the devotees
are now appreciating the presence of their spiritual master by
following his instructions, although he is no longer present. This is
the right spirit.
(SP Letter to Karandhara, 13/9/70)

The spiritual master by his words, can penetrate into the heart of
the suffering person and inject knowledge transcendental which alone
can extinguish the fire of material existence.
(SP in SB(1987 Ed) 1.7.22)

There are two words, vani and vapuh. Vani means words, and vapuh
means the physical body. Vapuh will be finished. This material body
it will be finished, that is the nature. But if we keep to the vani,
to the words of the spiritual master, then we remain very fixed
up...if you always keep intact, in link with the words and
instructions of the higher instructions, then you are always fresh.
This is spiritual understanding.
(SP General lectures, 75/03/02)

So we should give more stress on the sound vibration, either of Krishna
or Spiritual Master. Never think that I am absent from you, presence
by message(or hearing) is the real touch.
(SP Letter to students, August 1967)

Reception of spiritual knowledge is never checked by any material
condition. (SP SB (1987)Ed) 7.7.1.)

The potency of transcendental sound is never minimised because the
vibrator is apparently absent.
(SP in SB 2.9.8)

The disciple and Spiritual Master are never separated because the
Spiritual Master always keeps company with the disciple as long as
the disciple follows strictly the instructions of the Spiritual
Master. This is called the association of Vani. Physical presence is
called Vapuh. As long as the Spiritual Master is physically present,
the disciple should serve the physical body of the Spiritual Master,
and when the Spiritual Master is no longer physically existing, the
disciple should serve the instructions of the Spiritual Master.
(SP in SB 4:28:47)

If there is no chance to serve the spiritual master directly, a
devotee should serve him by remembering his instructions. There is no
difference between the spiritual masters instructions and the
spiritual master himself. In the absence therefore, his words of
direction should be pride of the disciple.
(SP in CC(1975 Ed) Adi 1.35)

He lives forever by his divine instructions, and the follower lives
with him. (SP in SB(1962 Ed) Preface)

He reasons ill who tells that Vaishnavas die, when thou art still
living in sound. (Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura)

Yes, the ecstacy of separation of Spiritual Master is even greater
ecstasy than meeting with him.
(SP Letter to Jadurani, 13/1/68)

Krishna and his representative are the same. Similarly, the spiritual
master can be present wherever the disciple wants. A spiritual master
is the principle, not the body. Just like a television can be seen in
thousands of place by the principle of relay monitoring.
(SP Letter to Malati, 28/5/68)

It is better service to Krishna and Spiritual Master in a feeling of
separation; sometimes there is a risk in the matter of direct service.
(SP Letter to Madhusudana, 31/12/67)

All quotes by Shrila Prabhupada are copyrighted by The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International Inc.