The physical departure of a Prophet is often a moment of great sorrow and uncertainty for His devotees, but it is crucial to understand that while His body is finite, His wisdom, guidance, and influence are eternal. The Prophet’s mission does not end with His physical form—it continues through the immutable truth of His sayings, His prescribed way of life, and the adherence of His devoted followers.
“Already passed Prophets are embodied in the present, and the present One is the exponent of the past with the requisite of the present age, and He is the Fulfiller of every distinctiveness.”The-Message-2
Thus, the Prophet never truly "dies"—He remains present through His teachings, His system of initiation, and the chain of devoted adherents who live by His principles.
1. The Prophet is Ever-Present Through His Teachings
A Prophet does not merely give abstract spiritual instructions. He establishes a comprehensive system for the physical, mental, and spiritual growth of individuals and society. His words are not just philosophy—they are prescriptions for existence.
Sree Sree Thakur Anukulchandra emphasized:
“If we do not accept Him, we cannot fully realize God or any of the Past Prophets. He is indispensable to everyone. As a fish cannot live an easy, normal, healthy life without water, so also we cannot have an unhampered, meaningful, complete existential life without availing ourselves of the Fulfiller the Best of the age, who symbolizes the very source of the stream of our eternal life.”Integral Philosophy of …
This means that even after the Prophet’s departure, His existence is felt and realized through the eternal relevance of His guidance.
2. Avoiding the Danger of False Succession and Sectarianism
One of the greatest dangers after the Prophet’s departure is the tendency of individuals or institutions to falsely claim His succession. History has repeatedly shown that after a Prophet leaves, self-seeking individuals attempt to assume authority, distort His teachings, and create hierarchical power structures in His name.
Thakur warned against such misinterpretations:
“Beware of false Prophets! They are neither the nurturer of distinctiveness nor its Fulfiller, but their delusive language, characteristics, actions, and attitudes betray the cause of individual upliftment.”The-Message-2
Thakur was extremely strict about preserving His original teachings and warned that no one has the authority to alter His literature, initiation process, or spiritual prescriptions.
“In case of conflict between ‘Shruti’ (direct sayings of the Prophet) and ‘Smriti’ (interpretations by followers), ‘Shruti’ must be upheld.” (Dhruti Bidhayana, Part 1:275)
Thus, no family lineage, committee, or successor can override the Prophet’s original words. He remains the only Guru, the only Ista (Ideal) to be worshipped, until He incarnates again.
3. The Importance of Adherence to the Prophet’s System
While no individual can replace the Prophet, His established system of initiation and adherence continues. This means:
The Prophet’s image is the only worshipable form.
His original sayings (Shruti) are the only guiding authority.
His system of initiation and spiritual practice must remain unchanged.
Sree Sree Thakur states:
“Again, if the Fulfiller the Best of the age is not alive, if He is already gone, it is our paramount duty to follow Him. And we can have the inspiration of following Him truly through an ideal devotee who has unrepelling and passion-pervading attachment.”Integral Philosophy of …
This means that His followers must continue their adherence under the guidance of sincere, selfless devotees who uphold His teachings uncompromisingly.
4. The Role of an Ishtabaahi (Carrier of the Ideal)
An Ishtabaahi is not a successor but a devoted individual who carries the unaltered message of the Prophet. His role is to:
Ensure that devotion to the Prophet remains undiluted.
Encourage adherence to Thakur’s original system of initiation, meditation, and service.
Resist distortions and sectarian divisions.
Be an inspiration to others through his own adherence and love for the Prophet.
However, an Ishtabaahi is not worshipable—only the Prophet is worshipable.
5. How to Continue Spiritual Growth After the Prophet’s Departure
Even though the Prophet is no longer physically present, He has left behind powerful tools to ensure that His followers do not stray. These include:
His Divine Name (Holy Naam)
The Holy Name given by the Prophet is a direct link to Him. Regular Naam Jap (chanting of the Holy Name) helps maintain spiritual connection.
His Image
Only the Prophet’s picture should be worshipped, as He is the only one who embodies all divine attributes.
His Teachings and Literature
Thakur meticulously preserved His words so that no one could distort them permanently.
The Chain of Devotees
The Prophet remains alive in the devotion of sincere followers who adhere to Him without deviation.
6. The Risk of Deviating from the Prophet’s Path
If people fail to strictly adhere to the Prophet’s teachings after His departure, degeneration sets in. This is how sects form, and the original purpose of the Prophet’s mission gets lost.
Sree Sree Thakur warns:
“If we become averse to Fulfiller the Best and continue spiritual practice according to our own passionate choice, we become deprived of worthwhile realization.” Integral Philosophy of …
Thus, blindly following an institution, a successor, or an altered version of the Prophet’s teachings leads to spiritual stagnation and deviation.
7. The Eternal Presence of the Prophet
Sree Sree Thakur Anukulchandra clarifies that Prophets do not "die"—they remain active through their guidance, devotees, and mission.
“Love for Christ is the only messenger and angel that can rescue people from the jaws of Satan.”The-Message-2
This means that through sincere adherence to the Prophet’s words, He continues to guide and nurture His followers, even after His physical departure.
Conclusion
The departure of a Prophet is not the end—it is a test for His devotees. Those who remain uncompromisingly adherent to His original words, initiation system, and way of life continue to experience His presence.
Thus, the correct way to follow the Prophet after His departure is:
Unwavering devotion to the Prophet alone—not to any so-called successor.
Strict adherence to His original teachings (Shruti)—not interpretations or altered versions.
Regular practice of His prescribed spiritual methods.
Association with sincere devotees who live by His teachings.
To deviate from these principles is to lose the path of Truth. To adhere to them is to ensure that the Prophet remains alive in one’s life forever.
“Be adhered to Him actively with every loving watch and every cautious service, and the blessed existence will push you with every blessed success.”The-Message-2
Thus, the Prophet’s mission does not end—it continues eternally through sincere adherence, ensuring that His divine presence never fades from the lives of His followers.
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