AAA

Watching our car being towed away by the American Automobile Association or triple A as it is commonly referred to, I was thinking how in our own devotional life we are each bestowed with association of the AAA. The AAA is best known for its emergency services, it also guides us to our destination by way of road maps and even offers insurance facilities. Likewise, in the journey of life Krishna is manifest as Sadhu, Sastra and Guru but we have to apply for a membership, activate it and then utilize it to the best advantage. The AAA charges our batteries when they are down, so do Sadhu Sastra and Guru. The AAA provides us maps to make our travel easier, the sastras guide us in countless ways and the Guru from within and without guides us to our ultimate destination. Who can provide us life insurance better than the Sadhu, Sastra and Guru. By affirming our commitment to the devotional process, we are insuring our lives and that of generations in the family.

As Srila Prabhupada has explained:"Sadhu sastra, guru vakya, tinete kariya aikya. Spiritual realization can be perfected by three parallel process. Sadhu. Sadhu means saintly persons, who are realized souls, sadhu. And sastra. Sastra means scriptures, authoritative scriptures, Vedic scriptures, sastra. Sadhu, sastra, and guru, a spiritual master. Three parallel line. And if you place your car or vehicle on these three parallel line, your car will go direct to Krsna. Tinete kariya aikya. Just like in the railway line you see two parallel lines. If they are in order, the railway carriages are carried very smoothly to the destination. Here also, there are three parallel lines--sadhu, sastra, guru: saintly person, association of saintly person, acceptance of bona fide spiritual master, and faith in the scriptures. That's all. Then your carriage will be going nicely, without any disturbance."
Srila Prabhupada Lecture, 10-18-68, Seattle