Writings » from disciples » Vyasa Puja Offerings 2002
Vyasa Puja Offerings 2002
(View Devamrita Swami's 2002 offering to Srila Prabhupada)
Agnidev das and Svaha devi dasi
Dear Guru Maharaja
Please accept our most humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to your lotus feet on this auspicious day!
Every morning the disciple should do reverence to his spiritual master.
Our spiritual master is our first importance.
For warriors there is nothing other than thinking of his master and following his instructions always.
If one creates this resolution within himself he will always be mindful of the masters person and will not depart from him for a moment.
We know the hardest war to fight is the fight against maya which you take on with a fearlessness and compassion like no other general.
We surrender unto your lotus feet as two mere warriors willing to fight for yours and the mission of Srila Prabhupada.
Your servants
Agnidev das and Svaha devi dasi
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Ameyatma das
Dear Maharaja,
Please accept my most humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to your divine lotus feet
Time and age are biting me at the heals while the material hankerings in the heart seem to be intensifying.
All around me the Kali-yuga horrors are breeding and the atmosphere smothers my feeble attempts to chant.
Other devotees also struggle with the same dilemas and sometimes it seems the uphill battle is unsurmountable.
But then we look to you see you clinging like a helpless innocent child to the feet of your father Srila Prabhupada and we gain some insight into the solution to all problems.
We see you tirelessly travelling the planet determined to bring reform in ISKCON by stressing proper attentive chanting and following Srila Prabhupada's simple formula of book distribution. Simultaneously you attentively care for devotee's needs nuturing loving arenas of sadhu sanga.
You cut through our different weeds of attachment and clear the path to the world of bhakti.
It is indeed true that only the spiritual master can extinuish this blazing forest fire of material existence and you are kindly allowing us to realise this eternal secret.
Thank you Maharaja. Thank you so much for everything you are doing. May we one day cling onto your lotus feet and be pulled out of this miserable material ocean.
Your ever aspiring servant,
Ameyatma das
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Ananda Vardhana dd
Russia, Perm
September 1st, 2002
Dear Devamrita Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
I’d like to thank you kindly for your wonderful preaching, which helped me to restore my lost taste for devotional service.
When I look back at my last year, I see that my spiritual life has considerably changed for the better. I feel this all happened due to my listening to and following your instructions.
When we together with my husband, Prema vardhana das, came for the Odessa festival last year, I was frankly speaking not in the best of my spiritual health: after spending a few years in ISKCON, unfortunately I fell into the trap in which many “senior devotees” often fall. My spiritual practice became mechanical; I didn’t get a satisfaction from the devotional service. My spiritual life was replaced by wild external activity. My mind was telling me: “Why should you hear the Holy Name attentively? Why should you go for kirtanas? It’s only for new bhaktas. Why should you listen to classes, read Prabhupada’s books every day? You already know everything.”
I didn’t like my condition. I understood this was wrong, this won’t lead to anything good, but I couldn’t get out of this on my own as a sick person can’t cure himself on his own. He needs the help of a doctor, so did I. I understood I needed somebody’s help and I asked Krishna for help. In response to my prayers, He had brought me to your classes.
I felt as if I regained my sight after a long period of blindness. You spoke about simple things but for me they sounded completely new. Once again, the interest for Krishna as a person awoke in me, as well as desire to learn and hear about Him more and more. I developed a conviction that it was quite possible to develop the relationship with Him, that it was quite accessible if we follow the process right. Because of your classes, I saw that Srimad-Bhagavatam was not just a dry theoretical knowledge but it was full of life and it had a direct bearing to my life. You also helped me to understand that Srila Prabhupada gave us in his books and instructions everything necessary for attaining the spiritual perfection. There is no need to seek any additional instructions anywhere else.
By your words and example, you are showing that one should not waste his human life but dedicate it in Krishna’s service.
I’m sure your preaching helps many devotees — young and senior — to see the reality and to understand their real occupation.
I’m thankful to Krishna for helping me to meet you.
Your servant,
Ananda vardhana dd
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Carana Renu dd
Dearest Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I was drowning in an ocean of material suffering. You compassionately picked me up and gave me shelter at your lotus feet. Your words cut through my illusions and entered my heart. There you planted the seed of the creeper of devotional service. You gave me the most precious gift which can never be repaid.
You instructed me to chant with attention, to make this my number one priority. You have given me so many opportunities to serve you. How fortunate I am to receive such care. Although I have done nothing good to deserve it, I can only beg for more. Please remove the stubborn pride which stains my heart, I long to relish the sound of the maha-mantra.
Upon examining your mercy, I am unable to calculate its full extent. I am unable to adequately glorify you. My only hope is that by following your instructions I may be able to do something to please you. Now I have a reason to live.
But the whole material world is drowning in misery. What can I do?
I pray that I may always feel your presence. In this way I may become fearless to assist you in your service to Srila Prabhupada, in the sankirtan mission of Lord Chaitanya. Without you I cannot do anything.
Begging to remain your servant always,
Carana Renu dasi
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Bhaktin Chloe
nama om visnu-padaya krsna-prestaya bhu-tale
srimate devamrta-svamin iti namine
nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine
namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine
nirvisesa-sunyavadi-pascatya-desa-tarine
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to you on your most auspicious Vyasa-puja day.
My dear spiritual father, I am only a simple soul – if I could paint a picture over the internet, I would!
The glorification I wish I could offer you is so far beyond my comprehension. All I know is that you have saved me from material life and have so kindly blessed me with an instruction, so that I might make advancement in Krsna Consciousness.
The perfection of my existence would be to please you.
Recently I was reading from Krsna Book ‘Killing the Demon Pralambasura’. This section reminded me of you:
‘The inhabitants of Vrndavana were never disturbed by the scorching heat of the sun or the high summer temperatures. The lakes of Vrndavana are surrounded by green grasses, and various kinds of lotus flowers bloom there, such as the kahlara, kanja and utpala, and the air blowing in Vrndavana carries the aromatic pollen of those lotus flowers. When the particles of water from the waves of the Yamuna, the lakes and the waterfalls touched the bodies of the inhabitants of Vrndavana, they automatically felt a cooling effect. Therefore they were practically undisturbed by the summer season.’
Similarly Guru Maharaja, you are the shelter and saviour of the fallen souls, suffering in the blazing fire of material existence.
You are the caring gardener, who plucks out the weeds and plants the seed of devotional service, assisting each individual flower to bloom in full transcendental bliss.
You are the gentle breeze carrying the sweet aroma of Krsna katha.
You are the fearless, raging river, fixed undivided in your service to Srila Prabhupada, flooding the world with the message of Lord Caitanya.
Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto your lotus feet on your Vyasa-puja day, begging to serve you eternally, in whatever way pleases you most.
Your simple servant, who only sees colour and emotion!
Chloe
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Elizabeth, Michael, Ann-Marie and Louise Clark
Dear Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
I would firstly like to thank you for all your encouragement and supportive direction you have given to this disciple who aspires nothing more than to be Krsna's loving servant. Krsna seems so far away always until our family meets you once again - and at that moment He is very close to me. Then after our meeting I try hard to follow your kind instructions not always easy - but determination wins.
Dear Maharaja - may Krsna shower His blessings on you - His special servant to inspire every person you meet in every town and village to follow in His lotus footsteps. We wish you good health always to carry on your transcendental preaching message. We are very happy to wish you a beautiful Vyasa Puja day.
Your servants, Elizabeth, Michael, Ann-Marie and Louise Clark
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Bhakta Craig
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Thank you for accepting this fallen conditioned soul back as an aspiring servent at your lotus feet.
Hoping this meets you in good health.
Your servant,
Bhakta Craig
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Dandakaranya das
nama om visnu padaya krsna prestaya bhu-tale
srimate devamrta swamin iti namine
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my obeisances on this auspicious day of your Vyasa-puja.
In a world where time is seemingly becoming a precious commodity in peoples 'busy' lives, a fact which is having such devastating effects on human relationships, you always seem to have time for me, even though you are the busiest person that I know. This is one of the many aspects of your mercy. Narottama Dasa Thakur in his Sri-Guru-Vandana has sung:
sri guru karuna-sindhu adhama janara bandhu
O Spiritual master, O ocean of mercy and friend to the fallen!
After all the selfless austerity and sacrifice that you have undergone over the decades (from preaching behind the Iron curtain in post WW2 Europe, to having to constantly re-adjust to different time zones around the planet, trapped in claustrophobic aeroplanes) in order to spread Krsna consciousness to the unfortunate souls of Kali yuga, demonstrates to me the meaning of 'karuna sindhu', ocean of mercy. This quality of selflessness is so rarely seen on any sort of level in this day and age. It sets a very inspiring example for me.
The only real peace of heart that I can find in this upside down age is knowing that my Guru Maharaja has genuine Krsna conscious love and concern for me and all of his dependants. To bask in the sunshine of the nectar of your association makes living in this dark age of ignorance easier to tolerate. Please never stop radiating your mercy upon this fallen soul.
Your aspiring servant
Dandakaranya das
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Devahotra Das
Dear Devamrita Maharaja
Who is this guru whose young disciples attack maya with the energy of potent service?
For several years, the exploits of your disciples in Australia and New Zealand have stood out in my mind
And testified to the potency of your preaching, your commitment to Krsna
Across the Tasman Sea to Tasmania came lecture tapes and melodious kirtan
Classes where logic, humour and sastra combined to present the irrefutable Vedic truth
Drawing all seekers to Srila Prabhupada's books and to Krsna's lotus Feet
When my own guru renounced position, I clung to your lectures and laughed at your story of the sheep and the swedes
O how I can see that the propensity to live as sheep is so close to each of us
To be fought and fought and fought with the holy Name, with sastra and shelter at the feet of saintly Vaisnavas
Please inspire me, protect me and bless me to live, to serve, to grow as a faithful disciple of Sri Guru and Gauranga.
Unworthy Devahotra dasa
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Dhriti devi dasi
Dear Guru Maharajah,
Please accept my most humble obeisances on your auspicious Appearance Day.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I wrote a very simple poem, (nothing like the expertise of Donna's) I hope you like it?
ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP
Devamrita Swami is my eteranlly loving guru
Who gives me lots of guidance of what to do
Never have I met anyone so great
His pure association brought me from another state
Little did I know what he had planned
Meat-eating, intoxication, gambling and illicit sex were banned
I really believed in him from the very start
He explained that of Krsna I was a small part
He waited patiently for the realization to come
That to maya I no longer wanted to succumb
You see, all I ever wanted was someone to care
Then I met Devamrita Swami who was always there
You gave me the most wonderful golden gift
Which gave me a transcendental sublime lift
You mercifully gave me the name Dhriti which means endurance
Thank you for giving me this most enjoyable divine experience
Your kindness I will never forget
I pray that this opportunity to become your disciple you will never regret
You accepted me into your very kind heart
So really I should feel like we are never apart
You overlooked all my many misgivings and lackings
You are a great example of humility amidst all your disciples thankings
Please take me back to the spiritual world with you
Other than devotional service I have no duty left here to do
Please save me from this miserable materialistic zoo
If I don't return in this life I hope that I can eternally serve you.
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At last I can honestly say that I feel complete happiness and satisfaction in my relationship with you. I have never met anyone so kind and understanding as you are. I can comfortably reveal my mind to you and I have the utmost faith in your instructions.
You always have so much time for devotees and what you give us is so precious and unforgettable.
I remember so clearly how in the past I always craved your attention, I still do. But, in the past when you were so attentive to me I was so petrified and shy that I was unable to fully appreciate what you were giving me.
I am gradually blossoming in my devotional service, by your mercy alone.
I just recently read your On The Way To Krsna #5 and I was so impressed with how simple you made devotional service. You mentioned determination as one of the key qualities and you also said that we have a responsiblity to honour what wonderful mercy Prahbupada has given us.
Guru Maharajah I love you so much and I don't want to ever disappoint you. I want to serve you in whatever capacity I am able but, I desire to be conscious of my service and to do it attentively with such care.
My words are unable to describe fully the efforts you have made to carry on the purity of Prabhupada's pertinent instructions.
I would like to share a beautiful verse that I found while reading the Nectar of Devotion:
Pg 70 "A person who chants the holy name of Krsna once can counteract the resultant actions of more sinful activities than he is able to perform."
When I read this I was completely astounded. Krsna is so merciful and you are also so merciful.
I want to share a nice experience with you. Today while working I met this poor lost soul who has had both legs removed above the knee. While I was with her I notice that she almost started crying. So I explained how she is not this body that if she becomes God realised she will obtain a spiritual body and leave this body behind. She was so grateful and kept thanking me and said that she felt relieved. I will take her some maha prasadam tomorrow. Krsna kindly used me as an instrument to preach to this poor soul.
I can never fully show my appreciation for what you have given me. I only pray that I can somehow please you with my false attempts to serve you.
Your eternnally loving servant of the servant of the servant,
Dhriti devi dasi.
I sincerely hope you have a glorious day.
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Divya Jnana das
nama om visnu-padaya krishna presthaya bhu-tale
srimati devamrita-swamin iti namine
nama om visnu-padaya krishna-presthaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine
namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine
nirvisesa-sunyavadi-pascatya-desa-tarine
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my respectful obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Thank you for delivering from this ocean of nescience and placing me as a speck of dust at your lotus feet. I hope I can please you by following your orders and advancing in devotional service.
Thank you for having such compassion to preach Lord Caitanya's mission all over the world. I pray by your mercy that I can also develop such compassion.
Thank you for becoming my spiritual father. You insipre me to try my best for Krishna and Srila Prabhupada.
Your servant,
Divya-jnana das
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Bhaktin Dijana
Dear Maharaja, Hare Krishna!
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
I always wonder why is it that words can not express our feelings. I also wonder why is it that I always lack words when I want to say something that matters. So here I find myself, praying to Krishna to help me to put a few special words together to let you know how much I appreciate you.
Dear Maharaja, only by your mercy I find myself spiritually stronger. You have helped me to get back the taste for Holy Name. What more could I ask for?!!! Thank you for being there for me when I needed you. Thank you for being so kind to me and showing me that you care.
Hare Krishna!
Your humble servant,
Dijana
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Dina Dayala dd
nama om visnu-padaya krsna-prestaya bhu-tale
srimate devamrta-svamin iti namine
nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine
namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine
nirvisesa-sunyavadi-pascatya-desa-tarine
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my obeisances, fallen at your lotus feet.
All glories to you on this auspicious day of your vyasa-puja.
My first memory of you is when you were sitting, luminous, in the passenger seat of a car parked outside The Loft in Newmarket, watching Rasayatra distribute books. She had caught me as I was coming down the street and whisked me around the side of the car to see you. I felt a little ashamed to be surprising you like that, but you were not phased, and simply smiled and waved your hand. What were you doing, just sitting there in the car, I wondered. It was far beyond my foggy vision to see. That you, and Srila Prabhupada were there pulling people out of the ocean of their suffering in material existence. That bedraggled air-head is eternally indebted.
The spiritual world of Lord Caitanya’s sankirtana is beyond my vision but I have faith in you. Why would you have been sitting in that car in Newmarket that day, and why do you traverse the earth surrendering to the austerities of constant travel? What potential is it, that you see for the conditioned souls? One day, when you told us they are destroying themselves, your body actually writhed. Although I can’t see much, I was able to see the agony of one who can. You mercifully revealed the truth to me.
The impossibility of offering you words that express my appreciation foils me. Thank you, dear Guru Maharaja, for everything.
Your fullness in conviction, determination, great compassion and life has captured my faith.
Now please, please, reveal the secret of sankirtana to me, so that I will be able to do something to help in this supreme welfare work of yours.
Your servant,
Dina Dayala devi dasi
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Bhaktin Donna
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Suffering lifetimes of impersonal, superficial relationships, always dwelling in an ocean of self -pity, constantly succumbing to my mind and senses, I’ve bowed down to my demoniac tendencies millions of times…
And now, for no reason that I deserve –causeless mercy- I have the fortune of your personal association. Despite all the impurities that loiter in my heart, where most people would have given up hope, you have never given up trying to help?
It is said that in Kali Yuga one has to be empowered by the lord to preach. You have opened so many people to Krishna Consciousness- smashing all their misconceptions- you’re even smashing the brick walls that line my heart. Though I try to resist, like ice my heart is being melted.
There is a proverb that says:
Truly, the wealth of a man should be measured in what they have given rather than what they have kept.
And you, the wealthiest of all, you are giving everything you have.
Your example is clear. Your love for your spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, is seen from your fixed determination to please him. You’ve taken all his instructions so deeply into your heart, following his footsteps as your guide and serving his lotus feet – your only goal.
I pray for your mercy that I can follow your instructions as you do Srila Prabhupada’s.
Your rebellious daughter,
Donna
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Bhakta Duncan
Dear Devamrita Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisences, all glories to Srila Prabhupada!
I would like to thank you Maharaja for helping me take part in Srila Prabhupada's mission and giving me the opportunity to have your personal association and time. When you replied saying that you would stay here at my flat in London I knew that Krsna was giving direct reciprocation to my prayers - and I knew that this was not to be taken lightly. Finding out more about your work for Srila Prabhupada and the devotion that you have, put me into a very humble position, knowing that I have made very little progress so far but at the same time sure that by your mercy alone I will make something of my life. (What I have left). I pray that I can continue to help you with your commitment to push on with Srila Prabhupada's missionary work and that I will go the distance. Please accept my humble obeisences on this special day; all glories to your work for Srila Prabhupada.
Trying to be your servant, Bhakta Duncan
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Ekendra das
nama om visnu-padaya krishna presthaya bhu-tale
srimati devamrita-swamin iti namine
nama om visnu-padaya krishna-presthaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine
namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine
nirvisesa-sunyavadi-pascatya-desa-tarine
mukam karoti vacalam
pangum langhayate girim
yat-krpa tam aham vande
sri gurum dina-taranam
"I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, the deliverer of all fallen souls, whose mercy turns the dumb into eloquent speakers, and enables the lame to cross mountains."
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
Srila Narottama Das Thakur sings with deep humility and gratitude: "sri-guru karuna-sindhu, adhama janara bandhu - O spiritual master, you are an ocean of mercy and a friend to all fallen souls." This statement certainly applies to my relationship with you. When I was suffering so much in this world you reached down to pull me from the depths of degredation; thus saving me from such a hellish future. As if that weren't enough, you then patiently helped to straighten out my life in much the same way as Krishna straightened the hunchback Kubja by placing his feet over hers and, with his fingers, lifted her up by her chin. How can I ever repay you?
Narottama Das sweetly cries "sri-guru-carane rati, ei se uttama-gati - Attachment to the lotus feet of the Spiritual Master is the ultimate goal of life." I have yet to learn the actual meaning of this verse though I sing it nearly every day.
I pray that in an age plagued with doubt, mistrust and an overall sense of hopelessness I may still somehow develop the qualities of loyalty, gratitude, submission and obedience to your divine and compassionate guidance. After all, you saved me.
Your servant, Ekendra das
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Bhakta Felix
Dear gurudeva:
Please accept my most humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!!!
On this auspicious day of your transcendental appereance I wanted to take some of your valuable time to express my most profound feeling of gratitude and respect to you.
I haven’t got words to thank your attention and care, you are brillantly preaching and spreading Krishna consciousness, following the order of your spiritual master, working hard, everyday listening for the needs of the devotees, advising people who go to you for shelter, enlightening with your transcendental intelligence those who have doubts about the Absolute truth and spiritual life.
Planting firmly the enthusiasm in the heart of those who dance in front of you in the ecstatic kirtanas and making everyone smile while you teach them whith your unique humor.
In closing, even though you are so busy with the nectarean service to Sri Krishna, still you have given me your merciful association, attention and care, to help me to go back home - back to Godhead.
Thank you for being so merciful with such a low and fallen soul like me.
With a lot of affection and reverence.
Your useless aspiring servant, Bhakta Felix
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Gopal Guru das
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisences. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to your lotus feet on the day of your vyasa-puja, in your first year as an initiating ISKCON guru. Your god-brothers have bestowed upon you the authority to initiate disciples into the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya-sampradaya. This long awaited for event is an official show of recognition of your purity and ability to transmit the message of Vasudeva as a transparent via medium.
As stated in the Bhagavad-Gita, 4:34:
tad viddhi pranipatena
pariprasnena sevaya
upadeksyanti te jnanam
jnaninas tattva-darsinah
'Just try to learn the truth by approaching a Spiritual Master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth.'
A few years ago I never thought I would be taking shelter of a bona-fide Spiritual Master, who would be dragging this worthless soul from the lowest depths of material nature. I did not receive my first taste of Krishna consciousness directly from your lotus feet, but I received it from your aspiring disciples at the time. I was immediately attracted by their purity, enthusiasm and strict sense of purpose in life, which I had always lacked. All of this came to a solidified reality when I first had the privilege of taking darsana with you, a short while after first meeting your dependents. It only took you 10 minutes to make my whole material life seem totally insignificant and the alternative you presented was irresistible.
On your vyasa-puja, this year, when I reflect upon my very limited experience in devotional service, I can only think of how expertly you are propagating the message of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, which was given to us by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, your spiritual master. You have so strictly taught us the basics of reading Prabhupada's books, distributing Prabhupada's books and basing our day on the attentive chanting of Hare Krishna. The most amazing thing I found, from my own little experience and from what I have been told from senior devotees, is that these are the things which are lacking in a lot of ISKCON centres around the world. I was so fortunate to have the association of my god-brothers and god-sisters just recently in New Zealand. They are in an environment where there are no installed deities, no veteran devotees and no maha prasadam. But they have taken shelter of the holy names and Prabhupada's books. The fruits of their sacrifices are showing with large numbers of new devotees coming to take shelter of the holy names and Prabhupada's books, as a full time service, maybe more so than any large temple in Australasia.
In Melbourne there has been a remarkable turn around. More books are being distributed, more preaching programs are in place and the morning japa-mala period is more intense with less disruptions and more chanting. The results of the sacrifices are now starting to fructify with new devotees starting to come and more laxmi to be spent on preaching efforts and temple maintenance. One thing that stood out for me in one of your latest lectures was the amount of faith that Prabhupada had in his books. He came all the way over to America with only his books, and with this he started the Krishna Consciousness movement, as you said, "He did not bring a box of stickers, he brought books". It seems that we have lost a lot of faith in Prabhupada's books and the results of this are prevalent in temples around the world that have lost their book distribution focus - devotees are being burnt out from trying to raise money for the temples expenses and congregations numbers are decreasing. However, we have seen here in Melbourne that by increasing our preaching efforts and performing the sankirtana yajna, distributing Prabhupada's books, Krishna has sent his devotees to assist us in this mission and is also providing laxmi so that we can sustain these activities.
Here in Melbourne we are trying to do our humble best to follow your instructions and make the chanting of Hare Krishna the basis of our existence as well as trying to submerse our intelligence in the depths of Prabhupada's purports and sharing these wonderful pieces of literature with others. What other purpose is there for our existence? Material life has no substance and is all temporary and unsatisfying. With this simple focus of trying to distribute Krishna Consciousness to others we can satisfy the spiritual master and Sri Sri Radha-Vallabha - and with the constant endeavour of trying to bring them that extra ounce of satisfaction, devotional service does not turn into an ordinary mundane activity, but an adventure in which one can purify one's existence and live a life with a purpose - to realise that one is an eternal servant of Sri Sri Radha-Vallabha and their devotees.
Thank you so much for so eloquently distributing the message of Vasudeva. It has given my life meaning and purpose.
As stated in the Bhagavad-Gita, 3.9:
yajnarthat karmano ’nyatra
loko ’yam karma-bandhanah
tad-artham karma kaunteya
mukta-sangah samacara
Work done as a sacrifice for Visnu has to be performed, otherwise work causes bondage in this material world. Therefore, O son of Kunti, perform your prescribed duties for His satisfaction, and in that way you will always remain free from bondage.
As your disciple it is my duty to assist you in your service to your Spiritual Master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. You stated in your homage to His Divine Grace that you desire to distribute his books in this life and the next. Although I am not a big book distributor on the streets or on door to door, please allow me to assist you in your service according to my propensities, which are few and faulty. I beg that I may for the rest of this life be able to organize and provide the facilities for the distribution of Prabhupada's books in as many ways as possible. In future lives I do not care what facilities or abilities I have, for as long as I can assist you in serving your Spiritual Master my existence will have meaning and I will be satisfied knowing that your desires and the desires of your Spiritual Master are being fulfilled.
Your servant in the mission of Srila Prabhupada,
Gopala Guru dasa brahmacari
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Guruvani dd
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to your lotus feet on this appearance day.
What becomes of the open-hearted?
Kali-yuga afflicts me with such hazy intelligence, disintegrating memory, scant determination, an assault of doubts and a scarred yet fragile heart. Such ingredients seem hopeless for the cultivation of pure Bhakti – the yoga of devotion!
But where Kali-yuga casts darkness you see light; where I see hopelessness you see hope.
Your saintly qualities are innumerable – how can I expound them all here?
You instill hope in the hopeless;
You care for the careless;
You pry open our hearts and then teach us to help others open theirs.
As Kali yuga culture becomes rotten to the core, you, our spiritual father, foster all of us orphans and give us the strength and confidence to recognise our trues selves – as servants of Krsna.
Behind all our intellectual and philosophical fronts – we all just want to be loved.
You personally, unceasingly give us this love.
By the grace of Krsna one can get a spiritual master.
And by the grace of the spiritual master one can get Krsna.
Krsna is the perfect object for our open hearts and you offer Him to me.
Only by your grace may I recognise it.
Your hopeful servant,
Guru vani devi dasi
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Jaya Tirtha Caran das
nama om vishnupadaya krishna preshtaya bhutale /
srimate bhaktivedanta swamin iti namine //
namaste saraswate deve gauravani pracharine /
nirvishesha shunyavadi paschatya desha tarine //
vancha kalpa tarubhyas cha kripasindhu bhyevacha /
patitanam pavanebhyo vaishnavebhyo namo namah //
nama om vishnupadaya krishna preshtaya bhutale /
srimate devamrita swamin iti namine //
Haribol Maharaj,
Generally we recognize a tree by the fruits that it delivers - and we see that with your good self the tree is both giving good fruits in all the devotees that you are helping in the development of their spiritual lives, proving it's branches can give shade from the onslaught of materialistic life as well as an abundance of opportunities with which to use the by-products of that tree in service.
We are seeing a healthy root system going out daily of sincere followers coming downward to seek out and bring back souls to shelter in the Lofty branches. Me thinks this tree is of the nature of Vyaasa as the Bodhi (Banyan) tree He resides under in Uttara-bhadri is described as being surrounded by thousands of tilaks (devotees) (Sumadhwa Vijay)
That wood found in the top branches is best for kindling and most difficult to find - arani is meant for attrition and soon gives heat and illumination from within. So much effort is required to bring about such sacrifice, yet as an expert pratiprathastri you organize and train your rtviks (assistants), you train advaryus to run your centers becoming qualified in knowing what is needed at the sacrificial hearth at what time. As an expert preacher you are an udgatri singing the praises of the Lord in all directions, through swadhyaya (personal cultivation, festivals, hearing and chanting etc, redistribution.....) and other forms of kirtan (loud singing the glories of the Lord) and sankirtan (congregationaly distributing the same). You are also the desika priest who makes sure things are going in the right direction for the ultimate pleasure of the yajuman, Srila Prabhupad in the topmost yoga - Gaura yoga.
The yajna salas, places of sacrifice are kept well maintained with enthusiasm that is fuel for transmitting the mercy to others - such as Gaura's Place. Each individual sthandila - hearth where the fire of Krishna consciousness burns is kept clean through regular careful attendance, and in good supply of mercy through adequate personal communication.
.......and you are also charitable, kind and encouraging to the brahmanas. Thank you for allowing us a little of your good association, and the opportunity to serve you, and along-side you, and those in your care.
We pray that the ashirvadam blessings that you are obviously receiving from Srila Prabhupad, and the devotees who see the sincere service that you are doing so expertly, filter down favourably, like the thick honey-like Charus, cooked rice, milk and all good things that are redistributed to us who are like honey bees waiting for the nectar as we perform the sacrifice along with you.
The yajna is on, all of us playing our role, please forgive my clumsiness and offences. Please bestow upon me/us a quality of service to the Lord free from unwanted things (dhristi-nirvaranam), taking these steps like Lord Vamandev let the ceremony be successful and full of auspiciousness for all concerned (SB 8:23:31.)
om saha navavatu / saha nau bhunaktu /
saha viryankaravavahai /
tejasvi navadhitamastu / mavidvi sa vahai /
om santih(s) santih(s) santih(s)
"May He protect us both together; may He nourish us both together; may we work conjointly with great energy; may our study be vigorous and effective; may we not mutually dispute (or may we not hate any). Let there be mutual co-operation. Let there be peace, and peace, and peace in me, in my environment and in the forces that act on me." (Maha-Narayanopanisad invocation verse, and from Sweteshwar upanishad invocation)
jaya sri krishna chaitanya
prabhu nityananda
sri advaita gadadhara
srivasadi gaura-bhakta vrnda
hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare /
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare //
Sri Krishnarpanamastu
Sri asmad gurubhyo namah
Subha dinam astu - have a good day !!!
Respectfully, ys, JTCd
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Bhakta Josh
Please accept my respectful obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada,
Dear Guru-Maharaj,
Please accept my humble attempt to show appreciation on your vyasapuja,
Only a Saintly Person Could
Like a flea ridden stray mutt,
Lost on the side of the road,
Playing chicken with cars,
I was suffering from seeds once sowed,
The who cares approach kid,
An aimless wanderer in the bay,
Accompanied by rotties and pitties,
The products of societies decay,
Gin,Tonic & 6 o’clock news olds,
On the streets to look for the lead,
Another valium down their hatch,
Is this what it means to succeed?
Needed someone to understand,
Needed someone to trust,
Left scrambling for self respect
Deceived and exploited by lust,
Got the grace of your servant,
Who showed me to your lotus feet,
A beaten and burnt out stray mutt,
What appreciation can a dog speak?
Now you’ve given me a fresh start,
Due to your mercy I’m on my way,
Being lead by a real father,
What appreciation can a dog say?
Thank you very much Guru-Maharaj for your forgiveness, compassion and guidance.
Through your instructions I have recovered from a foolish ignorant state of existence.
Not only in New Zealand, but in fact universally we are so fortunate to have great saints such as yourself walk amongst us and teach us by your own example how to realize the perfection of our precious human body, which is unalloyed devotional service to the Supreme Lord.
I pray to you that I may develop strength of heart, forbearance and also to gradually dissolve these six enemies so I can effectively take up the real mission of an aspiring disciple, which is to assist you in your mission.
All glories to your relentless preaching endeavours.
Your insignificant servant,
Josh
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Jugala-Kisora das
Dear Srila Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obedience at your lotus feet. All glories to you on
this most auspicious day of your appearance.
In the Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.26.10 purport Srila Prabhupada writes:
“When a man comes in contact with a saintly person, he becomes aware of the stringent laws of nature and thus becomes a religious person. However sinful a man may be, if he receives knowledge from the proper spiritual master and repents his past activities in his sinful life and stops them, he
immediately becomes eligible to return home, back to Godhead.”
I am not of the religious category but just by your association I am slowly becoming aware of how important it is to become a real devotee of the lord. I know for certain that you are "the proper spiritual master" and you have accepted me even though you are aware how wrenched and sinful I really am. Please do not deprive me of this desperately needed spiritual knowledge. Please make me submissive at your lotus feet and if you wish please empower me to help you to preach in your world wide sankirtana mission.
Trying to be an unconditional servant,
Jugala-Kisora dasa
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Bhaktin Kat
Dear Devamrita Swami,
When I hear devotee's offering you their deep, heartfelt prayers, I feel nothing but shame. This jiva, so covered by the iron armour of lust, has somehow been sought out by you. You are pulling me up from this ocean of filthy desires, yet all I do is is grab onto more and more weights to pull me down, tie themforcefully to my eyelids, so that I'm so blind I can't even see what you're doing. Not just to me, but you constantly scan this same ocean in which I'm so enamoured, for more and more unfortunate souls. Determination so great, yet compassion so soft. I only hope that some day I will be fortunate enough to take your instruction to heart, and serve you with even a small part of the determination in which you serve your spiritual master.
Your lowly aspiring servant, Bhaktine Kat
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Khadiravan dd
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet on this auspicious day of your appearance,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Thank you for all the care you give me always, your words of guidance light my path;
When lost in darkness I can remember your words and again find the pathway to pleasing you; sanity restored.
I wish that my gratitude were more heartfelt, like that of your other spiritual children, and that it would rouse me from my kali yuga slumber to sacrifice all of my energies for serving you, just like you do for your Guru Maharaja.
Buried in selfishness, my attitude unwilling, I have wasted precious time as people suffer without relief, but you are so kind that you work so hard to drag some service out of me.
Surely I am lost in the clutches of material nature without you.
Again I beg for your favour, although you have given more than I know already,
Please give me the strength to do what you want me to do, please mould me how you want me to be so that I may become useful to you.
Desiring to become a proactive, selfless servant,
Your daughter,
Khadiravan
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Khela-Tirtha das
On this most auspicious day of your appearance please accept my prostrated obeisances in the dust of your lotus feet.
I first read a letter that you had written to a devotee in Australia some time ago and you encouraged him to take shelter of Krsna....and ... "let maya slide right off you"
These words stuck with me even though at that time maya wasn't sliding off me. Although I thought my thin veneer of looking like a servent of Krsna was enough to get me by...as long as I had my sense gratification I would serve Krsna. Underneath that veneer is the black swirling mess that plagues a
novice practioner that has just come out of the material whirlstool.
My whole existance was serving maya in her turf and on her terms.
You made an appearance at the preaching centre in Newtown and at that moment I knew you were that unique personality that could help"maya slide right off me"
As time went on and as your mercy manifested in allowing this puffed up, self centered fool to render some meagre service to you and Srila Prabhupad,your words sunk deeper and deeper into my heart and made an impression that, to this day, have been the inspiring words of wisdom that have kept me going.
As the famous words go...."I owe you more than I can actually give"
..and Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura's emphatic words...
"Gurudev your mercy is all that I am made of"
I search my heart and vocabulary for the words to properly glorify a truly miraculous and powerful devotee as you but my shortcomings prevail. One thing I do know ,at least, that begins to hint at your glories,on this most auspicious day,is the fact that those persons who have actually taken shelter at your lotus feet are visibly freed from maya's grasp. "you can judge a tree by its fruits"
Please allow me to be one of those persons.
Moreover, your compassion is inspiring them to inspire others and save the fallen souls....which, like Srila Prabupada, is your only concern.
We hear in the revealed scriptures how dear this is to the Lord.
"There is no one in the world more dear to Me than he nor will there ever be one more dear"
By your mercy and dedication to Prabhupada you have helped maya slide right off them.
Please forgive my offenses.
Begging to please you and serve your servents...eternally Khela-tirtha dasa
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Krsnaloka dd
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisance's at your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I am feeling inadequate to make a suitable offering to glorify you on your Vyasa puja. Srila Narottama dasa Thakura has summed up your exceptional character in the following bhajan.
VAISNAVA VIJNAPTI
Vaisnava Gosvami, please be merciful to me now. There is no one except you who can purify the fallen souls.
Where does anyone find such a merciful personality by whose mere audience all sins go far away?
After bathing in the waters of the sacred Ganges many times, one becomes purified, but just by the sight of you, the fallen souls are purified. This is your great power.
The holy name delivers one who has committed an offense to Lord Hari, but if one commits and offense to you, there is no means of deliverance.
Your heart is always the resting place of Lord Govinda, and Lord Govinda says "The Vaisnava's are in My heart".
I desire the dust of your holy feet in every birth I may take. Please consider Narottama yours, and be kind upon him.
------------------------------------------------
I have seen many many times how you are so merciful. You capture poor conditioned souls in your net of compassion and care, and you save them from drowning in this material ocean. Very quickly they become attached to you and indebted to you. Why? - because of your intense compassion upon them; because you really care. Your personalism is what attracts them in this dark age of impersonalism.
Throughout my spiritual life you have guided me and have been very merciful upon me and you have always been kind to me. For this I am your servant and eternally indebted to you. I am begging that I can tap into your mercy to make preaching my life and soul; to be of some help to you in Srila Prabhupada's mission. My worst fear is that I am unable to follow your instructions.
Krsnaloka devi dasi
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Mahavan das
Nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale
Srimate devamrta svamin iti namine
Nama om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhu-tale
Srimate bhaktivedanta svamin iti namine
Namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine
Nirvisesa-sunyavadi-pascatya-desa-tarine
‘Ode to My Spiritual Father’
Lost in Kali Yuga, her four pillars of vice the norm.
I look to you for shelter, for protection from the storm.
Myself a refugee, a product of her lower modes.
The dust from your feet my only hope, my refuge, my abode.
I don’t know how to thank you, for the kindness that you’ve shown me.
You’ve shown real love to such a fool as I, absorbed in I, mine and me.
I want to open my heart to you and become a faithful son.
This is my wish, O gentle father, though easier said than done.
The winds of pure devotion, push you to your goal
Of pleasing Srila Prabhupada with bhakti – heart and soul.
You travel constantly, adding value to his mission,
When will I, by your grace, gain such an exalted position.
My great fortune as of yet, I have not realised.
To have your glance of pleasure and chastisement as my guide.
Bhaktivinoda has sung ‘suddha-bhakata-carana-renu’
Only after that dust do I aspire, my only question ‘How to repay you?’
All glories to your lotus feet on this most auspicious day of your appearance.
Your hardhearted son,
Mahavan das
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Bhakta Marianna
Dear dad.
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Dad, in this day so favorable, I would like to be thankful for everything.
Thank you for blessing me with the true transcedental knowledge.
I obeisances me at your lotus feet with great respect and admiration, because you are a reservoir of divine qualities.
Oh Gurudeva !! I imploror everytime at your lótus feet for your mercy, please allow me to become me your servant. Every day I thank to the Krishna and the Srila Prabhupada for having winned of gift a spiritual master so merciful . For the grace of Srila Prabhupada I knew the Krishna's Conscience of and for your mercy I occupy constantly in trying to give devotional job.
Desire that in this pretty day has you much health and that Krishna has spilled all the possible blessings in your life. For your mercy I am developing the true happiness that is to full my heart of pure love for Sri Sri Radha Krishna and to serve Srila Prabhupada.
With much love and devotion I am thankful for everything again.
Thank you very very much.
From your perpetual servant,
Bhaktin Marianna
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Bhakta Mark
Dear Maharaja
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
How fortunate I feel to be writing to you on this Vyasa Puja of yours & this is due to your merciful instruction,which I've finally realized is the only instruction that I know is for real.
How fortunate you make me feel Maharaja that to have you in one's association through ashram life,lectures,emails of your travels & very special memories. I bow to you ,only to hope I can serve you better in the future for such fortune.
How fortunate I am to hear and see you when you appear in Wellington & how you keep reminding everyone through the sastra about the lost & bewildered souls who never get to experience the glories of KRSNA, by hearing, chanting, dancing, & feasting.
How fortunate this conditioned soul is to be in your morning classes to witness the direct & compassionate message in such a stylish way & to have been splashed by your contagious humor, just blows me away & fills my heart with so much joy.
Dear Maharaja, I am tired of the merry-go-round of Maya's tricks, and your mercy is my only hope of hopping off'.
All glories, all glories, all glories to you.
Your aspiring (eternal bread-maker) servant,
Bhakta Mark
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Bhaktin Mihoko
Devamrita Swamiji,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to your vyasa puja day.
Without your guide,
I can’t know even where I am situated.
I am a lost child.
Without your perfect knowledge (transcendental message of Krsna),
I can’t see the truth at all.
“Feel for the suffering of your people,
Cry for their sins,
Be lonely for Krsna”
What a meaningful word you gave me in ’95.
It has been so long time to start understanding it.
Only you could save me
From this material entanglement.
Only you could guide me
How I can dedicate to only Krsna.
Only you could show me
The right path to Krsna.
You are so special.
I am deeply grateful to you
For your causeless mercy upon me.
Your servant of the servant,
Mihoko Hara
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Muni Cari das
Dear Guru Maharaja
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to you on the auspicious day of your appearance in this world.
Sometimes I feel like a small child playing in a play pen. You are like the ever watchful father. I am free to make my own decisions but you are always there to guide me and make sure I don't hurt myself, or worse still, injure my wife. As I grow within the safety of this playpen, I get the opportunity to see the countless times you have saved me from near disaster. The thing I wonder though is how many times have you helped me and I did not see? Your influence and guidance seems to be with me always, even though I appear so ungrateful.
Thank you for giving me Brahmana initiation. If it is your will, I would like to continue assisting you in your puja!
So I wanted you to know that even though I do not show it, I appreciate all you have done for me, and continue to do for me. It is only by your mercy that I am here today. Thank you for the care you show my wife (and for teaching me to do the same). I pray that I can somehow assist you is some small way in your service to the mission of Srila Prabhupada and in your puja to Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Balabha, Gaura Nitai and Jaganatha Baladeva Sudadra.
Your servant and Spiritual son, Muni-cari Dasa
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Bhaktin Ngaio
Devamrita Swami you have touched the core of my heart…
Just simply by glancing over me and smiling, so soothing to the heart and soul.
Just simply by your concern for my wellbeing, by your on-going encouragement to give up my deep-rooted nonsense and find out who I really am.
Just simply by your illuminating and enlivening speech that emanates from your heart.
Just simply by the deep compassion you have for rescuing the conditioned souls from the darkness of Kali yuga.
Just simply by your selfless, enthusiastic devotional service you are always rendering and inspiring the devotees in.
Just simply by bestowing your causeless mercy upon me and your kind guidance, which is helping me to be free from suffering and to cross the vast ocean of nescience so gracefully.
You have appeared in my life and cracked my hardened heart and touched the core like the sun appearing after a long stormy winter.
Devamrita Swami I want to be devoted to serving you just like you serve your Guru Maharaja so nicely. I want to please you and feel your presence in your instructions and make them my life and soul.
Please show me how.
Your indebted servant,
Ngaio
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Bhaktin Petra
Dear Devamrita Swami,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to you on this auspicious day.
By some miracle you have showered your mercy onto me and accepted me as your aspiring spiritual daughter. Thank you. By your careful glance my consciousness becomes clearer. I have actually witnessed this phenomenon in the drastic change in my mood and activities since coming into contact with you and your disciples. I've always been looking for my real family and was never satisfied with the one maya handed to me, although I am grateful to them of course for their material efforts. But somehow this chance of having you as my father just blows the top off anything I could have ever hoped for. When I see that you put all your efforts into the most important job of rescuing the conditioned and suffering souls my heart goes out to you and I want to help in any way that I can. You bear the same bright torch of knowledge into this ever darkening Kali yuga as your spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada. There is no other way to directly elevate oneself to the spiritual kingdom where we can reside with Krishna and become free from material bondage. It is stated in the Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.16;
"By serving the servants of the lord, one gradually gets the quality of such servants, and thus one becomes qualified to hear the glories of God. The eagerness to hear about God is the first qualification of a devotee eligible for entering the kingdom of God"
Please speak on with your wit and clever words, convincing people to open their eyes to themselves, and please don't hold back when it comes to me. You are very very merciful and I hope that in time, by rendering full service to your lotus feet, there may be a chance that some of your transcendental qualities might rub off onto me so I can be a dutiful grand-daughter to His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada and bubble my way back home.
Please give me your blessings to keep me on this path and help me develop love for Krishna.
Your eternal faithful servant,
Bhaktine Petra
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Phaniranjana das
Respectfully Devamrita Swami,
We gratefully and humbly offer our sincere best wishes at this important moment. You are doing the best service to Lord Krishna, helping so many people to understand Him and continuously reading the books that will let everyone have Lord Krishna. We know it is a long way to Godhead, but with your help, all of a sudden it will be easier to get near to Him.
The best wishes, and the best prayers for you and your devotees.
Your servants,
Phaniranjana and Flor San Miguel
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Prema-Vardhana das
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my most humble obeisances.
Even though you jokingly praised me a bit during the initiation ceremony, I indeed felt myself useless of doing something valuable for Krishna. Now I understand more distinctly that Krishna is not at all in need of my service, that that is what I am in need of, for my purification. You answered to Vica’s question in Saint Petersburg: “Even though Krishna is self-sufficient and He doesn’t need you, He still wants you.” Similarly, I understand that although you do not need my service you are still giving me an opportunity for purification, allowing me to do at least something for you. I wish Krishna helped me to do it perfectly.
It seems Krishna is giving me a chance to enter in a new phase of life. I would not like my life to be a blank shot. I really want to contribute to Krishna’s mission. I feel Krishna has sent you to me and you shook me up and gave me the most important instruction – to take the Holy Name more seriously. By doing this I begin to sense how Krishna lets me understand through you what I should do to prepare myself for service to Him that is more serious.
I see Krishna’s hand in our encounter. He as the Supersoul arranged this and He engaged me in your service from the very beginning. I asked Him to send me a spiritual master, to give me some special sign, some signal or omen so that I could understand who my spiritual master was. I thought it must be some mystical sign, some miracle or at least distinct voice from the heart that leaves no doubts in accuracy of one’s choice.
And it seemed the sign was there. A year ago at Odessa Festival, my wife, Ananda vardhana, and me came to the first class of your “Vrindavana through the eyes of Uddhava” seminar in a cinema hall. I had never seen you before. You had already sat on the stage singing. We came in, took our seat in the row, and began to chant. You went on singing but there was no translator. He did not come. A devotee, one of the organizers who was responsible for handing assignments out amongst translators happened to be there (he just came to listen to the class) and he miraculously sat just in front of me in the next row. When he noticed that no one was going to translate, he was puzzled. (It turned out that a devotee who was supposed to translate you did not come for the festival and organizers forgot to find another one.) The devotee turned back and saw me. He asked me to come up (to) the stage and translate. Thus, I begun to translate your classes and your instructions at once reflected in my heart and enlivened me. I thought that probably Krishna had arranged all this — that this was the sign. Later there were another couple of cases like this.
Nevertheless, even these seemed to be signs from Krishna — these were insufficient to relief me from my uncertainty. I felt a little indecision. I relied on some external symptoms that did not eliminate my hesitation. Now I understand that even some unusual occurrences and events are far not safe and reliable criterion for a disciple in choosing a guru. Such things can only add to one’s faith that is developing through listening and following.
Now, after one year of trying to follow your instructions I have a confidence that you are my real father, my true well-wisher. You have really helped me to focus my attention on Krishna’s service. Krishna showed me who my spiritual master was: I listened and tried to follow and hesitation disappeared on its own. This is a real sign for me.
Your useless servant,
Prema vardhana das
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Raivata das
Jaya Gurudev!
So much you have done for me. You have really gone out of your way to help me. I can only pray that some day I will be able to render some valuable service in return.
Your servant, Raivata dasa
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Rasayatra dd
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisance's at the dust of your lotus feet.
All glories to you on this most auspicious day of your vyasa-puja.
How can one properly glorify such a magnanimous soul except by taking up the instructions of ones' spiritual master and cherishing, worshipping and nourishing them within the heart.
Srila Prabhupada took the words of his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja to heart and indeed meditated on how to execute them for many years. As the perfect teacher (Acarya) Srila Pabhupada showed us how even through the trials of family and business life, he kept those instructions alive and smoldering within, to later on become apparent to the whole world as his ISKCON. Such is the potency of the instructions of the spiritual master.
Of course, even during those early years Srila Prabhupada was preaching - even to the echelons of 20th century political Indian society. Prabhupada's sense of urgency, coupled with incredible determination and self control, is certainly unique in this modern world. And you, Guru Maharaja, are one of Prabhupadas' unique special sons, sent (according to Srila Prabhupada) by his own Guru Maharaja to help with this special service of delivering Lord Caitanya's mercy into this darkened age of Kali.
Embarrassed by the shackles of passion and ignorance, I now sit here in Vrndavana, humbled and feeling very crow like in this city of swans.
Surely, as such an empowered son of Srila Prabhupada, you can glance mercifully in my direction and ignite those instructions of yours, lying dormant in my heart, thus enabling me to throw off these shackles of lust, envy, anger and greed which prevent me from being your humble servant.
Herein are the prayers of one with slug like consciousness yet one desperate to be of some use in Srila Prabhupada's mission to enlighten this world. And in some minute way, repay part of my eternal debt to you.
Begging to be your instrument (instead of maya's)
Rasayatra devi dasi
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Bhaktin Sara
Dear Guru-Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to your lotus feet!
A fly will enter a garden full of sweet flowers, but will search for stool in the garden. In contrast, a honeybee seeks only nectar from every flower. You are that honeybee. However covered by passion and ignorance a soul may be, you immediately see the nectar – the good qualities, and you extract those qualities for use in Krishna’s service. In this age of envy and criticism, such a honeybee is rarely found.
Bees sometimes sting. Whereas a bee injects poison with its sting, you inject the seed of bhakti into your victim. Nobody desires to be stung by a bee. In Kali Yuga, very few people are looking to be stung with love of God. Nonetheless, you fly from place to place, trying to inject the seed of bhakti into whomever you meet. Once stung by you, one’s life changes eternally. A bee dies after stinging once, but you are specially empowered to continue your mission year after year.
You have a second type of sting. A bee stings when alarmed. When you are alarmed upon observing your disciples acting self-destructively, you mercifully sting us with firm, instructive words, guiding us to act properly. Sometimes your words are painful to our materialistic minds, but you have our true self-interest in your heart.
The bees collect enough sweet honey to feed many. They don’t selfishly keep it all for themselves. You have collected the sweetest honey – the holy name, Srila Prabhupada’s books, Deity worship, sankirtana, and prasadam. You are not satisfied enjoying this honey alone. You know that people are starving for sweetness, thus you have dedicated your life to distributing this honey around the world.
To achieve your goal of sharing this honey, you must work very hard, like a busy bee. Despite risks, physical discomforts, inconveniences, and insults by materialists, you carry on with your hard work of travelling, writing books, helping your disciples, making new disciples, cooperating with your godbrothers, going on preaching programs, and much more. You have sacrificed every moment of your life to help others get out of material existence. How can such actions be adequately glorified?
The bees faithfully serve the queen bee. You faithfully serve the king of ISKCON, Srila Prabhupada. He desired that his disciples become very serious, strict and dedicated to Lord Caitanya’s mission. By adhering to his desires, you have surely pleased him unlimitedly.
Bees live in large beehive communities, working hard together. You have created communities where your servants can safely live and associate. Your beehives are conducive for spiritual growth, and for serving you.
The bees’ best interest is to please the beekeeper, for he has the power to help maintain or destroy the beehive by his will. Our best interest is to please Lord Krishna, but we don’t know how. You kindly teach us how to satisfy the Lord, and thus how to become happy.
Bees always fly about, buzzing a distinct sound vibration. Some people feel annoyed by this buzzing, but thoughtful people can appreciate its uniqueness. You fly around the world, and wherever you go, spiritual sound emanates from your lips. Such transcendental sound vibration is very pleasing to the ear of the fortunate soul. Unfortunate materialists find it irritating. Nonetheless you continue with your spiritual buzzing, knowing that anyone who hears will benefit.
Thank you, Guru-Maharaja for finding the nectar in me where I saw only stool, for your merciful stings that forced me to give up sinful life, for helping me taste the honey of the holy name, and for this undeserved opportunity to associate with your faithful servants at your Wellington “beehive”.
Aspiring to be your faithful worker bee servant,
Bhaktin Sara
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Seva-Kunja dd
nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale
srimate devamrta-svamin iti namine
nama om visnu-padaya krishna-presthaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine
namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine
nirvisesa-sunyavadi-pascatya-desa-tarine
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances on this auspicious day of your divine appearance.
Just like Krsna went inside Agasura’s mouth You have entered the heart of a demon. Our relationship which is based upon my service to you is growing day by day and before long I will explode from the ecstasies that such service brings.
I am not a worthy soul, nor am I qualified, still I get, because you give, unconditionally.
Actually my fortune is quite inconceivable and my pride knows no bounds because you have adopted me as your daughter. This daughter so admires her spiritual father.
I love that you love to preach Guru Maharaja. Like an excited child you can’t wait to share the next realization or thought that keeps coming and coming and coming. Your practical guidance and personal application and experiences enliven me so.
In this way you inspire us to make the changes in our lives that we would never have even thought to make. You know and care for us more than we know and care for ourselves. Disturbed to see how we ignorantly abuse ourselves you beg us to develop some respect and a sense of responsibility for our own lives.
It has never been very easy for me to follow your good instructions Guru Maharaja. You have personally guided me through so many tests and trials and passed me. I would just like to thank you for never giving up on me. In this way you are the source of my strength to carry on.
I pray that I may always appreciate what you have so lovingly given me. I hold on tight to your lotus feet and don’t plan to let go. Does this mean that I will get to cook for you when you are a member of Prabhupada’s nirmala sankirtana party in your next life?
Your ever-grateful servant,
Seva kunja devi dasi
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Bhaktin Shara
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada,
All glories to your selfless service upon this planet.
vande sri krsna caitanya
nityanandau sahoditau
gaudodaye pusparantau
citrau sandau tamo nudau’
‘I offer my respectful obeisances unto Sri Krsna Caitanya and Lord Nityananda,
who are like the sun and moon, they have arisen simultaneously on the horizon of Gauda to dissipate the darkness of ignorance and thus wonderfully bestow benedictions upon all.’
‘Dear Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda , my spiritual master has instructed me to pray to you that you use me as an instrument in distributing Krsna consciousness to others. Please help me to fulfil the desires of my spiritual master.’
Guru Maharaja, you have kindly accepted me under your shelter. What other shelter could I have been awaiting in this perilous universe if it was not for your dedication and compassion?
By Lord Caitanya’s inconceivable mercy I have been guided into your association, yet I don’t even understand the great depths of my fortune. Your unrelenting and ceaseless movements over the surface of this earth are the real show of true love and kindness towards all living entities.
Please let my tiny self be of some assistance to you in distributing this Krsna consciousness to others…
‘By the mercy of the guru, even a dumb man can become the greatest orator,
and even a lame man can cross mountains.’
Your aspiring servant,
Shara
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Sruti Cari dd
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
How exciting it is to be able to offer homage to you on your first official Vyasa Puja day! What a privilege!
This year has been very thrilling for us (your disciples), finally you are able to initiate and we are able to acknowledge the depth of the relationship we have with you. It is so nice to have spiritual names and to call you Guru Maharaja. When I look at the devotional qualities of my God brothers and sisters I feel very privileged to be part of such a wonderful family. They are a credit to you.
One thing that I always admire about you is the huge concern you have for the conditioned souls, both materialists and devotees. You are so kind and softhearted. You go out of your way to help people in their spiritual life from whatever point they are at. Reading your ‘On the Way to Krishna’ I marvel at the austerities you go trough to encourage us all in spiritual life, your compassion is so great.
Thank you for all the help you have given me Guru Maharaja, I hope that I will be able to repay you for all the kindness that you have shown me, and that my service will be pleasing to both you and to Lord Krishna.
Your aspiring servant and spiritual daughter,
Sruti-cari dd
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Sudevi dasi
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada,
All glories to you on the auspicious day of your appearance.
When I first met Krsnaloka in Newmarket selling books, she told me that she had a spiritual master. She held such and affectionate impression of you, and from that day on I wanted to have a spiritual master too. I didn't realize that Krsna would fulfill my desire much more than I could
ever have imagined.
When I read your travelling diaries I am amazed at how the same mercy that you have given to me, you give to all others all around the world with expertise and selflessness. You give everyone you meet real love, not material love, but love that sees everyone as Krsna's servants and reminds us to serve Krsna, to serve you in your service to Srila Prabhupada. I was reading in the fifth chapter of the Srimad-Bhagavatam how Narada Muni tells us that the service of the Lord begins with the service of the Lord's bonafide servants, and because the Lord is beyond our material senses our spiritual master acts as a transparant via medium by which to see the Lord. By your mercy we are getting this same chance, even in Kali-yuga and our Kali-yuga past and conditioning.
Thank you Guru Maharaja for helping me so much and for showing me your love to stop me from going back to the material hole that you pulled me out of. You told me that you expect alot from your children (and you give us lots and lots of mercy.) I hope that somehow I can get it together to do some
pleasing service one day.
Please forgive me for my offenses.
From Your foolish aspiring servant,
Sudevi dasi
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Bhaktin Sue
Dear loving spiritual Father, Devamrita Swami,
Please accept my obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Oh, how hard it is for my pathetic intelligence to even conjure up meaningful praises for you - a most dignified and admirable personality. Your loving attributes characterize the most caring Father whose spiritual child longs for his return.
I request that you be satisfied by your own mercy, for I cannot satisfy you by my words.
Please accept my sincere thanks for everything that you have done to me.
Aspiring to be your submissive servant.
Sincerely, Sue (Gaura Yoga)
Waiting at the front door with your slippers.
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Svetadvipa das
om ajnana-timirandhasya
jnananjana-salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena
tasmai sri-gurave namah
If I could only put my mind on paper
If I could only put my heart on film
It would be all the more easier for you
to guide me via Krishnas' will
Sometimes it seems that my mind is set
Sometimes it seems that my heart will fade
I pray to you for guidance
help me escape this iron age
At your lotus feet I crumble
At your lotus feet I pray
Please I beg everyday that
by your mercy I will stay
Seems today I have come so far
Seems like yesterday it as all so dark
You ripped me out for I was wandering
in maya's crazy park
Thanking you seems so petty
Thanking you does not seem a lot
Please accept my obeisances
for you untied my material Knot
Thank you Gurumaharaj. I thought I had something before, but now I am realizing you have given me everything. I am nothing without Krishna's devotees and especially you. I may not contact you as often as I should, but I hear you everyday and I pray I never forget your instruction to become absorbed in the Holy name. "Make us proud", you said, but I don't know how. Lost and helpless, please give me the strength and determination to serve you as you do Srila Prabhupada
your menial servant, Svetadvipa das
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Vrindaranya dd
Dearest Gurumaharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to you on this auspicious occasion of your Vyasa puja.
I am not quite sure where to even begin to offer praise of your many transcendental qualities, or the amazing feats you undergo to assist Srila Prabhupada in spreading Krishna Consciousness in every town and village of the world.
Although, I do feel fortunate and happy that somewhere in your preaching pastimes you have shown me some mercy and encouraged me to leave this material world behind and take up the blissful process of devotional service. Without your guidence and care I could only describe my life as being meaningless and empty like a dry barron desert. I can never forget what you have done and given me and many fortunate others . Thank you kindly for giving me strength to face the challenges and hurdles of practising spiritual life in this materialistic contaminated world.
I hope tocontinue to express this appreciation of my glorious Spiritual master on a daily basis(not only on Vyasa Puja day), from moment to moment, through my actions, when chanting japa and when attempting to follow the instructions you have given.
Thank you Gurumaharaja for being a great inpiration and our hero in Bhakti Yoga. I pray that I can also one day imbibe the same intensity and dedication you have to following Srila Prabhupada's and Lord Caitanya's instructions.
Your lowly servant
Vrindaranya devi dasi
