Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura passed away from this material world on 31st December, 1936. So almost forty years past. So there are two phases: prakaṭa and aprakaṭa, appearance and disappearance. So we have nothing to lament on account of disappearance because Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa's devotees . . . not only devotees, even the nondevotees, nobody disappears. Nobody disappears, because every living entity . . . as Kṛṣṇa is eternal . . . it is confirmed in the Vedic literature, nityo nityānāṁ cetanaś cetanānām (Kaṭha Upaniṣad 2.2.13). The description of the Supreme Lord is that He is also nitya, eternal, and the living entities are also eternal. But He is the chief eternal, nityo nityānāṁ cetanaś cetanānām. So qualitatively, there is no difference between Kṛṣṇa and the living entities. And quantitatively, there is difference. What is the difference between nitya, the singular number nitya, and the plural number nitya? The plural number nitya is subordinate, eternal servants of the singular number nitya. Just like if you want to serve somebody, so the master is also exactly like you. He has got two hands, two legs, or the same sentiments. He also eats. Everything is same there. But the difference is the master and the servant. That's all. Otherwise, equal in every respect.
So spiritually, appearance and disappearance, there is no difference. Just like in material point of view, if a person takes birth . . . suppose you get a son born, you become very happy. The same son, when passes away, you become very unhappy. This is material. And spiritually, there is no such difference, appearance or disappearance. So although this is the disappearance day of Oṁ Viṣṇupāda Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, so there is nothing to be lamented. Although we feel separation, that feeling is there, but spiritually, there is no difference between appearance and disappearance.
There is a song, Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura's song, ye anilo prema-dhana. Do you know, any one of you? Can you sing that song anyone? Oh. Ye anilo prema-dhana, karuṇā pracura, heno prabhu kothā gelo (from Prārthanā). I don't remember exactly the whole song. That is our lamentation, that Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura brought this message to distribute all over . . . of course, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu expressed His desire that,
- pṛthivīte āche yata nagarādi-grāma
- sarvatra pracāra haibe mora nāma
- (CB Antya-khaṇḍa 4.126)
He predicted that, "All over the world, as many towns and villages are there, everywhere My name will be known," Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's name, which is now, attempted now, it is being actually . . . to execute this will of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, He said personally:
- bhārata bhūmīte manuṣya janma haila yāra
- janma sārthaka kari kara para-upakāra
- (CC Adi 9.41)
He wanted that His name should be broadcast all over the world, in every town and village. And who would do it? That He asked that anyone who has taken birth in Bhārata-varṣa, India, it is his duty: first of all make himself perfect by understanding the philosophy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; then broadcast it, distribute it. This was the duty of every Indian.
The Indian, especially in India, they have got the privilege to take advantage of the Vedic literature. In other countries there is no such advantage. So if anyone wants to make his life perfect, then he has to take advantage of the vast treasure house of Indian spiritual knowledge. Even one Chinese gentleman, he has written one book about religion. That is a course in New York University. So he has said that, "If you want to know something of religion, then you have to go to India." That's a fact. So Caitanya Mahāprabhu said the every Indian . . . there is need of broadcasting this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement all over the world. So it is the duty of every Indian to first of all make his life perfect. He must know . . . perfection means he must know what is his position and what he has to do. That is perfection.
At the present moment, people do not know what he is even, whether he is this body or something extra. The big, big scientist, they are also failure. This is perfection. First of all one must know what he is, whether he is this body or something beyond this body. This is the beginning of spiritual knowledge. So that advantage is there in India, by culture, by education. Therefore Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu requested that Indians, bharatiya, Bhārata-varṣa, those who have taken birth as human being . . . he doesn't speak to the animals. Bhārata bhūmīte mānuṣya janma (CC Adi 9.41). Mānuṣya janma means human being. Because without being human being, nobody can understand these things. The cats and dogs, they cannot understand. So a person whose behavior is like cats and dogs, he also cannot understand. Therefore He said, janma sārthaka kari: first of all make your life perfect and then distribute this knowledge. This is the Caitanya Mahāprabhu's mission.