Vapu Seva & Vani Seva to Guru- Details! Which is more important?
Vapu seva means serving guru directly; Vani Seva means fulfilling the orders of guru by being in another place.
VAPU SEVA
One should Personally serve his Spiritual master whenever possible. However, it is not possible for all and at all time. Even Srila Prabhupada did not serve his guru directly much. But he effectively did his Vani seva by fulfilling what his guru instructed him.
Srimad-Bhagavatam (7.7.30-31):
The words guru-susrushya mean that one should personally serve the spiritual master by giving him bodily comforts, helping him in bathing, dressing, sleeping, eating and so on. This is called guru-çuçrüñaëam. A disciple should serve the spiritual master as a menial servant, and
whatever he has in his possession should be dedicated to the spiritual master.
Respect also the family of Spiritual master:
Hari-bhakti-viläsa, First Vilasa,Text 84:
To the spiritual master’s children, wife, and relatives the disciple should offer the same kind of respectful treatment he offers to the spiritual master himself.
Don’t consider Spiritual master as ordinary human being:
Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.15.27:
If someone considers the Supreme Personality—Krishna or Lord Ramacandra—to be an ordinary human being, this does not mean that the Lord becomes an ordinary human being.
Similarly, if the family members of the spiritual master, who is the bona fide representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, consider the spiritual master an ordinary human being, this does not mean that he becomes an ordinary human being. The spiritual master is as good
as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and therefore one who is very serious about spiritual advancement must regard the spiritual master in this way. Even a slight deviation from this understanding can create disaster in the disciple’s Vedic studies and austerities.
Respect your spiritual master’s Godbrothers also:
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi 5.147:
Sri Advaita Prabhu and Esvara Puri, Lord Caitanya’s Spiritual master, were both disciples of Madhavendra Puri, who was also the spiritual master of Nityananda Prabhu. Thus Advaita Prabhu, as Lord Caitanya’s spiritual uncle, was always to be respected because one should respect one’s spiritual master’s Godbrothers as one respects one’s spiritual master.
(Guru Puja & Worship of Gurus – Importance! READ HERE!)
VANI-SEVA
VANI IS ETERNAL:
Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya Lila—Concluding Words:
Although according to material vision His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti siddhanta Sarasvati 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 Vapu. Vani means words, and vapu means physical presence. Physical presence is sometimes appreciable and sometimes not, but vani continues to exist eternally. Therefore we must take advantage of the vani, not the physical presence.
The Bhagavad-gita, for example, is the vani of Lord Krishna. Although Krishna was personally present five thousand years ago and is no longer physically present from the materialistic point of view, the Bhagavad-gita continues.
Vani is more important than vapu:
Letter to: Tusta Krsna, Ahmedabad 14 December, 1972:
To carry out the teachings of guru is more important than to worship the form, but none of them should be neglected. Form is called vapu and teachings is called vani. Both should be worshiped. Vani is more important than vapu.
Letter to: Satadhanya Calcutta 20 February, 1972:
So far personal association with the Guru is concerned, I was only with my Guru Maharaja four or five times, but I have never left his association, not even for a moment. Because I am following his instructions, 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 service.
Fulfilling Guru’s Order is also an association with him:
Letter to: Hamsaduta — Los Angeles 22 June, 1970:
So far I am concerned, I do not factually feel any separation from my Spiritual Master because I am trying to serve Him according to His desire. That should be the motto. If you kindly try to fulfill my mission for which you have been sent there, that will be our constant association.
The feelings of separation will transform into transcendental bliss:
Letter to: Uddhava — Boston 3 May, 1968:
Please be happy in separation. I am separated from my Guru Maharaja since 1936 but I am always with him so long I work according to his direction. So we should all work together for satisfying Lord Krishna and in that way the feelings of separation will transform into transcendental bliss.
Hope you are now clear about Vapu Seva & Vani Seva.
(GURU SEWA – HOW TO SERVE GURU? READ HERE!)