Nama Om Vishnu Padaya Krishna Presthaya Bhutale
Srimate Devamrita Swamin iti namine

Pracare purva-daksyam ca, Bhaktacara-pravinta
Pararthatapi Karunyam, Yasya sarve ca te namah

Dear Guru Dev,
Please accept my humble obeisance
On your appearance day I would like to thank you for the love and care you have given to me.

It is very difficult for me to glorify your qualities and personality, whenever I see you or hear your Devine voice, I can feel that I am standing in front of the vast ocean of qualities, like -steadfast , Intelligence, Honesty, caring, magnanimous, compassionate , humble and many more…

But out of these the most wonderful quality is that you are ever most merciful and compassionate to all the fallen conditioned souls, recently I have learnt the meaning of conditioned soul, which means “one who has a particular nature and doesn’t want to give up their nature”.

I have now realized that ever since I met you, you have pedantically analyzed my difficult situations and in each situation you have saved me for the greatest danger, although I have acted like a stubborn child who doesn’t want to listen to his parents do all sorts of nonsense activities, but still you have never given up on me, always eagerly asking about my welfare, always ready to listen to my nonsensical talks and at the end you shower your wisdom and put off my burning anxiety.

According to Bhagavad Gita Krishna say’s – chapter 3.31—“Those persons who execute their duties according to My injunctions and who follow this teaching faithfully, without envy, become free from the bondage of fruitive actions”, And in the next TEXT 32: But those who, out of envy, disregard these teachings and do not follow them are to be considered bereft of all knowledge, befooled, and ruined in their endeavors for perfection.

I can see myself in the second text, that I have acted with enviousness, disregarding the teaching for the shastras and not having complete faith in Krishna’s word. I have acted like I am the most intelligent person, but later material nature taught me a lesson that I have befooled myself or cheated myself. All my endeavors for perfection were aim less and simply waste of time.

Moreover as Srila Prabhupada explains that in his purports for the same verse:- An ordinary man with firm faith in the eternal injunctions of the Lord, even though unable to execute such orders, becomes liberated from the bondage of the law of karma”. Whereas in the next verse purport he says that “As there is punishment for disobedience to the order of the supreme executive head, so there is certainly punishment for disobedience to the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead”.

I can now claim myself that I am most disobedient and Most Envious son of Krishna. I have suffered very little though I deserve more for enjoying separately from Krishna. But you saved me, Because of your strong vow “to save the fallen soul”. You never left me alone and you have saved me and protected me from the greatest danger.

Therefore on your appearance day I beg to Lord Shri Narshima Dev for your health and wellbeing, I then beg Lord Shri Nityananda maha prabhu and all the Vaishnavas and Vaishnavi, please allow me to serve you sincerely and help you to spread Lord Shri-Shri Gauranga Mahaprabhu mission for the pleasure of his Dear most devotee HDG Srila Prabhupada.

Thank you GuruDev for your Causeless mercy on the Conditioned soul.

Yours aspiring Servants
Abhishek, Shubhra and Chakradhar

Dear Gurudeva

Please accept my most humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada

How dedicated you are to your spiritual master! I recall once while you were sitting speaking with me after you had taken your lunch, you leaned back in your chair and spoke softly, “I did so many things just because Srila Prabhupada wanted me to.” And your words of determination in an email telling me of your difficult early book distribution days, “I was determined to love it, to please Srila Prabhupada. I simply wanted to please my Guru, through thick and thin, no matter what.”

Your life is the embodiment of surrender to Srila Prabhupada. You constantly give of yourself, so selflessly traveling all over the world encouraging people to take up Krishna consciousness and to progress in Krishna consciousness. It is so inspiring to see in action how the “we make it easy” motto really works! Your skillful preaching methods, following in the footsteps of Srila Prabhupada, make practicing Krishna consiousness so much more accessible to people. It is the glaring need of human socieity.

And even amidst so many world wide responsibilities you are amazingly personal, taking the time to give such an incredible level of care to your spiritual dependents, both through devising systems of care and also through your personal instructions.

In a purport of the Fourth Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam, Srila Prabhupada explains,
“There need be no anxiety over attaining perfection because if one follows the instruction given by the spiritual master he is sure to attain perfection. Our only concern should be how to execute the order of the spiritual master. A spiritual mater is expert in giving special instructions to each of his disciples, and if the disciple executes the order of the spiritual master, that is the way of his perfection. “(SB 4.8.71)

Gurudeva, please continue to give me the blessing of your instructions. I pray that I may be able to follow them and become a useful servant to you. Thank you for your patience with me.

Your eternally aspiring servant and spiritual daughter,
Acyuta bhava dd

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeicences
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada

In the Brahma-Samhita (5.38) it is stated, premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena:
“Govinda (Krsna) is always seen by the devotee whose eyes are anointed by the the pulp of love.” Your Spiritual Master, Srila Prabhupada comments as follows, “If we are devotees, lovers of God, the ointment of love will clear our eyes. In order to see God, we have to cleanse our eyes by wiping away the cataracts of material contamination.”

From my experience in the Bhakti labratory, in this case (Bhakti Lounge), you have been carefully defrosting my heart, hardened by aimlessly skipping and hopping in maya-devi’s aromatic garden.

By following your instructions the arca-vigraha form of the lord becomes more and more beautiful and desirable to look upon. As the eye infection heals the beautiful darlings of Vraja appear less like representations cast in stone.

Thank you Gurudeva for the personal care and advice that you give us. You are allways reminding us to keep things simple and not to have too much clutter in our lives. You are are blessing us with so much facility to learn to serve devotees, a pre-requisite for developing real love of Krsna.

Your stumbling servant/daughter

Akarsini devi dasi

Dear Srila Gurudeva,
Please accept my most humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to you on this auspicious day of your appearance.


"According to their karma, all living entities are wandering throughout the entire universe. Some of them are being elevated to the upper planetary systems, and some are going down into the lower planetary systems. Out of many millions of wandering living entities, one who is very fortunate gets an opportunity to associate with a bona fide spiritual master by the grace of Kṛṣṇa. By the mercy of both Kṛṣṇa and the spiritual master, such a person receives the seed of the creeper of devotional service." (CC Madhya 19.151)

As a creeper seed above the ground
in the middle of nowhere without water, I was.
My desperate attempt to live brought your supreme grace, who came to pick me up personally and planted me into the ground with one drop of your mercy.
Now you are standing in front of me, like a wall, perfectly, waiting one day for this creeper grow and be sustained by your instructions.

Gurudeva, You received this suffering soul kindly into your spiritual hospital (The Loft), and somehow or other you convinced me to stop my foolish attempts to find happiness in this material world.
“Very fortunate” can be the only description of my association with you and your disciples.

Now that I have received this valuable seed, I want to learn how to grow, one day to be seen by you. I want to be an obedient daughter that is always willing to execute your request.

Please bless me to one day become your servant by truly surrendering myself unto your lotus feet.

I'm trying to find the way to reciprocate with you for what you are giving to me.

Your aspiring servant of your servants.
Bhaktine Alejandra.

Dear Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances.

All glories to you and Srila Prabhupada,

On this auspicious day of your appearance, I would like to make my humble attempt to show my sincere gratitude at your lotus feet.

The great saint Bhaktisiddhanta Thakur prayed for the boon that he would “always desire the greatest good for even his worst enemy.” I have seen the same compassion and concern towards suffering conditioned souls despite of your inconveniences and bad health. During the Melbourne retreat Program, your health was not very good due to intensive traveling programs. Still you give classes and perform rock kirtana with us. It was very inspiring.

During this year, I did not have your personal darshan due to my awkward schedule and I did not courage to make any arrangement to see you. Perhaps, I am lacking an urge to render some service unto you.

However, I am determined and tend to follow your instructions (in action) in the hope that one day I will develop an urge to serve you and all devotees.
Never mind of unfavorable circumstance, my karmic reactions and Lack of support, I keep moving on the way to bhakti. In that mood even if I keep on doing my service and remain attached to the servant of your servant, my life will be meaningful and successful.

Here is a nice poem from Mother Teresa as a further reflection on this point.

Do It Anyway??

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;?
Be kind anyway.

If you are honest and sincere, people may cheat you;?
Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;?
Build anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;?
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
?Give the world the best you've got anyway.

?You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;
?It was never between you and them anyway.



Praying to Krishna for your good health.

Your Poor Student

Amit (Melbourne)

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I was listening to a recording of a workshop discussion you were running involving a group of vibrant students. As the conversation progressed, you stirred and a young lady said “I just wish that the answers would all be handed to me on a plate.” Little did she know the plate was right there in front of her. You humoured in a low voice “Well, ahh, do you really?”

This is the question - do we really? You selflessly hold the plate right there in front of us. We just have to sincerely and simply accept it. It’s very easy. So why do we have to go and make it more complicated?

Prabhupada summarised so nicely in a lecture he gave on Nectar of Devotion in Vrndavan in 1972, that “People do not like to accept simple things. ‘Simply Krsna’, He said, ‘that is pure devotional service’. But it’s very difficult to achieve because people will not accept a simple thing. You give them big formulas and they like it. ‘You press your nose in this way, you make your head downwards, you excercise in this way’ and they think, ‘Yes, this is something.’ But Krsna gives the easiest process. He says ‘You surrender unto Me. I give you all possible help.’ But we are not prepared to do that. Lord Caitanya says ‘You simply chant Hare Krsna. You'll achieve the highest perfection.’ But people will not accept a simple thing. They want to make something very difficult. Therefore it is said, ‘Pure devotional service is rarely achieved.’

The main difficulty is selfish desire. Recently I wrote to you grateful for the realisation that came, in seeing how ‘poor me' moments, in a twisted kind of way is actually sense gratification. I’d never really understood it before. If I don’t think about me, then what is there to think about? The only other option is Krsna, and no thanks. It’s disgusting. I can see how this deep envy, causes such unnecessary complication.

Actually if I cared for my Spiritual Master and wanted to reciprocate with him, then I would act only in ways to make his life easier, rather than how I want to be. The servant is supposed to be the servant, putting the Spiritual Master first. Me-isms prevent the exchange from becoming sweet. Simple and sweet, like it’s meant to be.

The mission statement of your contemporary outreach centres is ‘We make it easy.’ That is because you make it easy, to make it easy.

In the Fourth Canto, Prabhupada describes Malayadhvaja, a great devotee whose name signifies one who stands firm and makes others similarly as firm. “With his devotional flag unfurled, he always stands fast to conquer other conceptions of transcendental realisation.” “The pure, strong devotee always comes out victorious.”

Such a bold image, immediately I think of you, standing fixed and unfaltering, leading the army. A flag is fully extended and blowing firmly in the breeze, signifying that you are on an irrepressible mission. A mission of complete loyalty to your spiritual master’s desire. You cannot be conquered by anything. By example, you show there is no other way. By your association, your qualities become contagious. This is how you make it easy.

In Bhagavad Gita, Chapter Two it says that “Those who are on this path are resolute in purpose and their aim is one”. Resolute is determined, unshakeable, purposeful, persistent, strong-willed, unrelenting, unyielding, spirited, brave, bold and courageous. You are that ‘rare good soul’ who is referred to in the purport. The one who knows perfectly that Krsna is the root of everything. By being so fixed and convinced in purpose, you give us purpose. This is how you make it easy.

When things seem difficult the only thing we can rely on is engagement in service. And where do I find the service? I find it in you. I can just step next door into the endless action at Bhakti Lounge and dive into devotion of any kind. You are there when you are not there. This is how you make it easy.

I’m so fortunate to have a Spiritual Master. I’m so fortunate to have you as my Spiritual Master. You are like a boat, which sails steadily on course. The rest of us follow behind, swerving on and off track. But continually you sail right down the middle, straight ahead. And selflessly you allow us to lean on your current, pulling us back on course.

We sing every morning ‘yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah’ by serving the Spiritual Master one can easily advance in Krsna Consciousness. All we have to do is sincerely and simply accept the plate you so selflessly offer.

Your servant
Ananda-candra

Dear Maharaj

Wishing u a very happy appearance day! May you always remain submerged in the incessant ocean of Krsna prema!! May you never ever have to take birth in this material world again!!!

I consider myself very fortunate and blesssed to have got the ultimate shelter of your lotus feet..You rendered me the much-needed support and fatherly love, when I was going through the worst phase of my life. Having committed several sinful activities due to my sheer ignorance and propensity towards the bodily concept of life, I know that I am not at all worthy of all this. But still your are so compassionate and merciful upon me. I am highly indebted to you not only for guiding me, but for also showing me how wonderful Krsna conscious life is! Pls continue guiding me and bless me so that I can keep serving Krsna by serving you with the best of my limited abilities.

YS
Aradhana

Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to your auspicious appearance day!

Gurudeva, you have appeared in this world as an eager assistant of Srila Prabhupada in his mission to save this world from its darkest hour. In your service to Srila Prabhupada as one of his representatives you are expertly guiding hundreds and thousands of people to take full shelter of Prabhupada’s exciting Krsna conscious program... As our Guru you are so amazingly expert in exposing all the maya that impedes us in giving ourselves fully to this process.

In your book Bhakti Bhava you have given so many insights into how maya makes us sluggish and reserved in Bhakti:

‘’I find that sometimes members of the bhakti society can like Krsna consciousness - they think that its a good thing - but they also feel that one has to do other things to fulfil the inner self. This is the symptom of a neophyte devotee, or someone who has been in Krsna consciousness for a long time without proper application. In Bhagavad-Gita, Srila Prabhupada makes an interesting point about this phenomenon. He explains that sometimes someone trying to be a devotee can think, “All this talk about the superexcellence of devotional service is a bit fanatical...”Then we can think that we need other activities outside of the bhakti sensory experience to sufficiently fulfil ourselves... We might even entertain the thought that there’s such a phenomenon as ‘too much Krsna’... Have you ever thought like that? “There could be too much Krsna in my life.” Maybe some devotees have warned you, “Watch it! Don’t get too much Krsna!”... How can those words make any sense? Can there be such a thing as too much love? No. Too much happiness? No. Then why too much Krsna? The misconception derives from insecurity, “I don’t know if I can trust Krsna completely. Yes, he’s the Supreme Personality of Godhead... but to give everything to Krsna; isn’t that dangerous? You’ve got to know how to deal with Krsna properly, keep him at a safe distance, throw flowers at him from afar..., offer your food to him, but don’t let him get too close.” Of course such persons advise you to do the same thing with the guru, “Watch it, get your name, get your beads, a picture to keep on your wall, but don’t get too many instructions from him.” Some of you have heard like that? My point is that so much of this misunderstanding stems from our inability to see the total inner fulfilment that devotional service provides."

In one conversation with you many years ago, you described how we as your aspiring disciples hesitate to carry out your instructions, requests or suggestions. When asking something of a disciple you described how sometimes the disciple will pull a funny face, namely the diarrhoea face (as if they have to find a bathroom very quickly!) Although they may agree verbally by politely saying “I’ll try my best”, the facial expression reveals their reluctance. I certainly laughed when you gave this example. You then withdrew the humour and gravely said, “In this way, the time of my life is being consumed”. Taken aback by this I asked a question, “How can we become more submissive to your instructions Srila Gurudeva?” You replied, “It’s not submissiveness, its intelligence.” You then stated that it wasn’t necessary to say, “O Srila Gurudeva, O Srila Gurudeva”. Saying Gurudeva is enough.

I realized that posing as a submissive disciple was one thing but that it doesn’t mean we are any more willing or receptive to carry out the orders of the spiritual master. Lacking intelligence as you stated, we are unable to see that carrying out your instructions is our prime means of progressing in achieving real love, real happiness and highly developed Krishna consciousness. Without this intelligence we miss seeing that you are actually trying to serve our highest self interest by guiding us in Devotional service. Without this intelligence we are unable to access the total inner fulfillment that devotional service under your guidance provides. Without this Intelligence I am still so optimistic about material life!

During Gaura Purnima you explained that we should even be prepared to taste the nectar of chastisement. Even Sanatana Gosvami himself was lamenting that he didn’t receive it from Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

“Lord Caitanya began to verbally chastise Jagadananda pandit. “Jaga!” “He’s just a new boy! Has he become so proud that he thinks he can advise persons who are his superiors? Sanatana Goswami in every respect you are Jagadananda Pandits superior... You’re on the level of his guru! Yet he dares to advise you.”.”How did Sanantan goswami react to that? He fell at Lord Caitanya’s feet and said “I can now understand the great fortune of Jagadananda pandit. I can also understand my misfortune. No one in this world is as fortunate as Jagadananda pandit. You are making him drink the nectar of affectionate chastisement, whereas you just give honorable words to me. You don’t allow me to taste that special nectar of chastisement that indicates more affection. You just say nice things about me, keeping me at a distance by such nice words. But Jagadananda pandit, you bring him so close by chastising him. ...

Does that make sense to you? “Ohhh... no... Who wants to be chastised?” We think the opposite. If we’re chastised that means we’re being pushed away. Conversely, Canakya Pandit says, “someone you love you chastise”. You chastise your children and disciples. That’s a sign of love. “Ohh... not so sure about that. That’s old times; this is the modern age now.” Bhakti dealings are on a different level, so Sanatana goswami is educating us. He says it is my misfortune that you haven’t accepted me as one of your intimate relations. In other words you haven’t accepted me as an intimate associate whom you chastise.”

Gurudeva! Thank you for gifting me with these merciful showers of chastisement! You are always eager for us to give our very best efforts to Krishna. Thank you so much for not tolerating any of the nonsense behaviour I’ve displayed over the years.

In this world of madness, I’m naturally inclined to do the worst things for myself, thinking that they will be fulfilling. Please give me the intelligence by which I can recognise that you are always serving my highest interests. Only by carrying out Your instructions will I achieve the total fulfillment and love that devotional service provides.


Aspiring to always remain,
Your servant,
Bal Gopal das

Dear Gurudeva
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada

Please forgive me for the millions of offenses I've made. Please forgive me for
purposely ignoring you when you tried to help me so many times. Your so determined
to help us and give us Krsna consciousness that you never gave up. From my side it
seems you tried every approach you could think of to try and help me but I'm such
an extremely stubborn little snake that I purposely ignored you every time. The fact
that you tried and tried so many different ways and never gave up was one of the
things that kept me from 'completely' spacing out. I could see that your so compassionate
and caring to us that you put in so much effort to try and help us. Without you
we'd all be so spaced out. You give us so much strength through your Bhagavatam
classes and Facebook updates (I look pretty much everyday to see if there's a new one
because they're always so amazing and inspiring) and all the other things you do
to try and help us. Your putting in such an effort to try and help us not only
spiritually but materially as well so that we can peacefully practice Krsna
consciousness.

It must be so difficult for you to help people like us who have just come from
intense kali yuga backgrounds. It's so hard for some of us to adjust to new ways
of living because we're all so mode of passion. It's hard for us sometimes to see
that even though what your asking us to do now may not be so nice for our tiny
brains at this point in time, it'll make us so much happier in the future. It's
difficult for us to understand that by doing our duty we'll find happiness far
superior to the so-called happiness that we'll find if we just follow our whims.
From looking at my own mentality sometimes I get so worried that even if I can get
myself out of that mode of Passion mentality, how are we supposed to help other
people come to Krsna consciousness and get out of that passionate mentality? It's
so hard for me so what about other people who aren't as strong as I am? Not that I'm
very strong. I think I've proven myself to be extremely weak lately. But I think you
get the point.

Thank you so much for all your inspiration and for your determination to help us.
We all appreciate it so much. One day we'll realise the great jewel that you've
given us and we'll all be so grateful. Please give me your blessings
so I can fight Maya and not space out again. Infact please give us all strength
to fight Maya. I can see that I'm not the only one having a hard time and I
sometimes get worried about other devotees who are having a rough time. I can see
that some devotees might be getting a little proud and are maybe thinking of
going into the Material energy. Not that there's really anything for us to get proud about in the Age of Kali but due to our not having a sufficient taste for Krsna consciousness we think that there's actually pleasure in the Rubbish bag of the Age Of Kali. I pray that those devotees who are struggling can also get the strength to
carry on in Krsna consciousness. Kali Yuga is such a crazy age and it's so easy
to get agitated. In one sense I could say it's a great miracle that people like
us are even practicing Krsna consciousness, but then at the same time Lord Caitanya
and Lord Nityanandas mercy is so powerful that it's not that surprising.

Please give us the strength to battle Maya. We're all so weak and unintelligent
none of us stand a chance against Maya without your blessings and ultimately the
blessings of Krsna. Please help us stay safe.

Also, please give me strength to battle my hormones because they are so strong.
When you said that when you turn 21 you become like a blazing inferno I didn't
realise the reality of the fact that you really do become like a blazing inferno.
I never could have imagined how strong they would become, but wow. So much romantic
feelings and warm fuzzies. It's so intense. Sometimes I wonder if I'm gonna be
able to last, the desire for feminine association get's so strong sometimes. It's
very intense. So please also give me the strength to fight my hormones because, wow.
Seriously. If in the material world we can have such strong hankering I can only
begin to imagine how strong a pure Vaisnavas hankering is for Krsnas association
and service. Hopefully sometime soon I can experience that pure hankering for Krsna.

Thank you for being so inspiring and caring.

Your aspiring servant
Bhakta Ben

Dear beloved Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances on this auspicious day of your appearance, all glories to You, Srila Gurudeva.

Once again, I am poised eagerly, with pen in hand, so to speak, to write a glorification of you, my divine spiritual master. There are innumerable ways to start, and unlimited ways to glorify you, so I will simply open my heart and see what it dictates.

First of all a few inspiring excerpts from Srila Prabhupada on the importance of the spiritual master:

CC Adi:1: 35 purport: “ The secret is that one MUST submissively listen to those who know perfectly the science of God, and one must begin the mode of service regulated by the preceptor.”

“ It is imperative therefore, that one accept a spiritual master, if he at all desires to gain the favor of the Lord. The service of the spiritual master is essential.”

After studying these verses, I have begun to deepen my understanding of how important it is to find and serve such a devotee as yourself. After wandering through so many lives, and so many situations, even in this life, that shackle me to more and more suffering, by the mercy of Krishna, one who is fortunate comes in contact with a genuine spiritual master.

How fortunate I am, and all those around me, to have come in contact with you some how or other.

Presently, we are witnessing a blossoming of more and more new devotees, paralleled with a flourishing turn out regularly at the Loft, here in Auckland. After your years of struggling and perseverance, going back to the early 1990’s, we are now seeing the fruits or your mercy and sacrifice for Lord Caitanya and His associates. In these times when outreach from temples have decreased, you have been pushing forward with the main thrust of ISKCON’s mission, in such new and to some, controversial ways.

Now, though, we see the result of your risk taking and expertise to push ahead, to the point, that now, your so called “Loft Preaching” has become world famous. In tiny New Zealand, with such a small population, we see more and more people coming to KC and taking up the practices, outside of the of the original temple settings. Not only are devotees being created, but the standard of your disciples, even living outside of a temple setting, is of a proper level and seriousness as far as I have experienced.

So much effort and sacrifice you have put into New Zealand. The current fruits of success testify to your sincerity and purity.

Each day, I always remind myself that every bit of service I have has come to me from you, and that actually my efforts are so tiny in comparison. Whatever fruits come from my so-called efforts are not actually mine, but are yours. Somehow, by you kindness, you offer me service, which I know I don’t actually deserve or appreciate enough.

I only wish I could do more. As one swims in the nectar and austerities of full time outreach, one is gifted with the vision to see the actual suffering taking place in peoples lives and in society as a whole. The sufferings described in Srila Prabhupada’s books become a reality. The depth and scope of seeing the suffering is enough to make a hard-hearted ex-Londoner like me cry. I realize that, with only a few more years to go of this pathetic life, I must try to help as many as I can before I depart. Then, and only then will I have lived a life without regret, then, and only then, can I feel I have repaid a small amount of my debt to you.

But it is not easy helping others, as I am learning more and more under your guidance. Yes, some even turn against you after the years of selfless compassion that one may have sprinkled upon them. From this, I am beginning to understand a tiny fraction of the austerities you have had to endure through the decades of helping others. I am getting some glimpse of why, by reaching out to others, one gets the special mercy of Guru and Gauranga. It is because it is not easy.

BGita 18:69 “ There is no servant in this world more dear to me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear.”

It seems easier sometimes to simply settle down, relax, and retract to a more self centered life and leave the preaching to the others. But no, I cannot do that when I think of what my spiritual father is doing for others. I must follow him like an honorable son.

So many Kali-yuga wrecks need you Gurudeva. With all their complexities, traumas and misunderstandings, they come in contact with you, and by your mercy and compassion, you spend years tolerating and guiding them back to a sane life. Through all types of weather, you continue to be there, to help and guide us through the inevitable storms.

On this special day, I wish to send a simple gesture of deep gratitude for all you have done, for all you are doing, and for all you will tolerate in nurturing this fool, and others, back to sanity and real life.

Another glorification of you comes from the second verse, the stress on service. WHY? Because the service tailored to the individual disciple is the mercy and connection to bring us closer to the spiritual master and Krishna. The secret is to embrace this service as one’s life and soul, and to continue with it through all trials and tribulations.

Without any doubt, we are all witnesses to your expertise in individually designating service to devotees, thus creating for them perfect conditions, to take advantage of, in order to grow in KC.

You bring people to KC and then you take up the real hard work of nurturing them and helping them to go the distance. The amazing Loft centers, that make it easy for people to come, are just the beginning. Once in the door, so to speak, the real work begins.

Now as a result of your efforts, we see the fruits of an ever-growing community of serious devotees in different stations of life. Loft centers, contemporary ashrams for men and ladies, brahmacari ashrams, single men arrangements, and householders. You have established such a variety of situations, to allow the diversity of individuals that have come to you, to be able to simply practice KC peacefully. As you said many years ago, “ There is a place for everyone under the (Krishna) Sun .”

This manifestation of different situations for different persons is a testament to your brilliance in applying KC according to the times we live in.

I could write all day, but with so much services at hand, and so many more worthy offerings for you to hear and read, I will end here.

So, I beg on this day for your mercy to allow me to continue reaching out to others, as you have done, and to give me the strength and ability to perform this most difficult service. In this way my life will simply be a glorification of your mercy, and a testament to your compassion. In this way my life will have meaning and fulfillment.

Always remaining your servant and beggar

Bhadrasena das

Dear Gurudeva
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet
All glories to Srila Prabhupada

Today all around the world, disciples will get the opportunity to glorify you and show their gratitude to you for helping them in their life- materially and spiritually.

Gurudeva, just like Ananta Sesa with so many hoods cannot completely glorify the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna, similarly, no matter how much we glorify you it would not be sufficient.

I just want to tell you from the bottom of my heart that I love you very much and you are everything in my life. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura in his Saranagati writes, “O lord and master! When will this devotee be blessed by obtaining your mercy? I am low, fallen, and devoid of all strength and intelligence. Please make me your beloved servant.”

Gurudeva, I see myself in the same situation being low and fallen. Please make me your servant.

Aspiring to be your servant,
Bhagavat Katha dasa

Dear Maharaj,

Please accept my humble obeisances,

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

All glories to you on your appearance day!

I guess every neophyte has realizations which are coming when one starts to live Bhakti life. They seem to be so important because of the new experience and new vision that practice gives us, an amazing understanding of the surrounding creation and relationships between different energies of Krishna.

This new vision and way of living gives us an opportunity to attain real freedom. I really thank you for giving us this knowledge and opportunity to serve Krishna.

Please let me share my realizations with you as this is the most precious thing I can offer to thank you.

“I was born in the darkest ignorance....”

Yes, the town in Russia I was born was built by prisoners after the Second World War. Still there are roots of that “culture” in the local society. From my early years I was told “there is no God...” and only Communist Party can solve all the problems of the world.
In my teenage I witnessed big changes in the country – collapse of the Soviet Union, anarchy in the society and degradation of the social values. I was heavily conditioned and even though I met devotees first time about 20 years ago I was not ready to take on God Consciousness.

“...my spiritual master opens my darkened eyes with the torch of transcendental knowledge...”

Knowledge – it was always something most wanted. I always had “difficult” questions to my parents and teachers. I knew that “there is something else out there” far greater than I can imagine. In my search for the Absolute Truth I have changed my concepts from being atheist to become an impersonalist. I really believed in reincarnation, but did not come across genuine system of knowledge to go further with it.
Only by your mercy, when you came to New Zealand to spread Bhakti Yoga philosophy, myself and many others got the chance to become liberated.
Seeing the level of your knowledge, the fruits of the decades of practice, the level of your very advanced disciples inspired me that maybe one day I can get a glimpse of enlightenment.

To me, even a year ago, due to my conditioning, the idea to have a spiritual master was very hard to accept. But I remember the feeling in my heart when we had one of the first conversations and you asked me to help you at the Loft. I have had NO doubt that this is an order I would be so happy to follow. From that moment I realized that
“...following the orders of a genuine spiritual master is only way to achieve perfection”. Your short, but precise instructions are going straight to my heart, giving me a hope for liberation. I pray to be able to help you in your mission.


“I bow to down to my spiritual master with great awe and reverence”

Again, I could not imagine doing this sincerely to anyone and now this is what I want to do, especially on this day. May Krishna bless you on your path of delivering fallen souls from the prison of material existence. Please keep inspiring and instructing us as you always do.

Hare Krishna,

Your aspiring servant

Bhakta Alex

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to you.

I wish to express my gratitude for taking such deep care of me and giving me support at a time when I had almost lost every hope of God’s existence. I was at a point in my life when I had started believing atheists because I couldn’t find any genuine spiritualists. It was nothing less than a miracle that you came into my life. After more than a year as I now look back at these small incidences it seems like a plan laid out for me to come to Krsna Consciousness.

Meeting a saffron wearing young man, talking to me about Bhagvad Gita, at a busy market place, his invitation to me to come to Loft, and listening to your class about the real identity. All these sequences don’t seem to be ordinary events. I somehow feel in my heart that it was a strange plan to bring me (this fallen conditioned soul) to your lotus feet.

Guru Maharaj, I have come so close to your lotus feet but it is so agonizingly painful that I don’t know how to worship them, how to make myself qualified to bow down, how to understand your instructions and how to immerse myself in your devotional service.

This letter is an offering, however, when I look at my heart I find nothing but impious desires, contaminated emotions and unlimited weaknesses and that is unfortunately what I can offer you at this point in life. I am hoping that you will give me strength to become your true disciple one day and then I will be able to offer you pure devotional service.

In the expectation of becoming your truly humble servant,

Bhakta Anchal

Dear Devamrita Swami,

Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I'm very fallen
and Your very wise
let's work together
because I'm running out of time

I'm a complete mess
and an utter failure too
my only hope in this world
is to try to please You

I'll do whatever You say
go wherever You ask
I'll try my best to rise to the occasion
with whatever given task

Please lend me some more tools...
a sense of urgency will work
urgency will expedite the cleansing of my heart
from all this material mirk

In just mere moments
we'll all be dead
please give us Your causeless mercy
and take us back to Godhead

Please shower us with Your mercy
You don't have to, but it would be nice
Your mercy is our only hope
otherwise my next body will be head lice

Your faithfully aspiring dog,

Bhakta Andrew

Dear Devamrita Swami
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Due to your mercy and your selfless service to the Lord, I am now starting to practice Bhakti Yoga.
With your patience and knowledge you explained to me the difference between Bhakti Yoga and other yoga systems and meditation techniques, which lead to an impersonalist conception of the Divinity.
I thank Krishna the opportunity to meet His pure devotee and pray to make from this lifetime the best use, serving you and giving Krishna to others.

Your aspiring servant,

Bhakta Axel
Vrindavan Dham
1st October 2011

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Recently I have realised the superexcellence of devotional service. It really is amazing and I've been seeing Sri Govinda a lot, Bala Gopals salagram sila. He is always happy and blissful, and his smile and face are really nice. I think I am doing better thanks to Bal gopal, hriman krishna, yourself and a long list of your disciples and so on. Especially recently bala gopal has been inspiring me with his dedication, devotion and happy character. Also he has a lot of love for Govinda like yourself. Although maybe not on the same level. So, I am making progress I think according to bal gopal and I think this is due to your mercy and eagerness to spread the bhakti experience to others. Hopefully I can continue making some progress and please you according to my capacity, maybe I havent always been up to the level that you would hope but perhaps a bit more effort and intelligence would go a long way. I really like this talk you gave at soho street about your past in this life. And the end where you really inspired this young guy to take to krishna consciousness. It was really amazing hearing some of your experiences in the beginning of your Krishna conscious years. I can see how I got some special mercy when I first came along as well thanks to your wonderful program and centres. Your lectures have helped me a lot I like the Krsna fest lectures because then I can learn to preach like you and hopefully one day when I'm able help some people. So I hope I have glorified you to the maximum extent possible, hopefully if not I will be more inspired next year if not. I think this is just the beginning for me in some ways. Previously due to health problems perhaps I couldn't fully enjoy the nectar of devotee association and the other forms of devotional service. But as you have encouraged me in the past, hearing and chanting being so important can help me to get out of this material tabernacle altogether and also things like "material changes wont help your situation" and "take shelter of the holy name and study prabhupadas books". Krishna consciousness can help me to enjoy service and after some time enjoy eternal bliss in the association of Sri Govinda and His devotees. So this motivates me to do my chanting and to associate with devotees, follow your instructions, etc.

"My dear Lord, You are glorified by the selected verses uttered by great personalities. Such glorification of Your lotus feet is just like saffron particles. When the transcendental vibration from the mouths of great devotees carries the aroma of the saffron dust of Your lotus feet, the forgetful living entity gradually remembers his eternal relationship with You. Devotees thus gradually come to the right conclusion about the value of life. My dear Lord, I therefore do not need any other benediction but the opportunity to hear from the mouth of Your pure devotee." Hopefully this verse speaks for itself.

"My dear highly glorified Lord, if one, in the association of pure devotees, hears even once the glories of Your activities, he does not, unless he is nothing but an animal, give up the association of devotees, for no intelligent person would be so careless as to leave their association. The perfection of chanting and hearing about Your glories was accepted even by the goddess of fortune, who desired to hear of Your unlimited activities and transcendental glories." Sometimes I think of leaving the association of devotees, but the thought of not seeing you again is too painful. And also life without Krishna consciousness is downright boring and unfruitful. Like Ramdas said to me, you'll never find friends like those in Krishna consciousness. There is always some incident in the end, ultimately death, that parts us. Whereas as devotees we are eteranally related in society, friendship and love.

My mind is wandering now so I will have to end this offering here. But I hope you have enjoyed reading it and please give me your blessings *beg* *beg*.

Your aspiring eternal servant,
Bhakta Brendan

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to You on Your most auspicious appearance day!
For Your pleasure I have attempted to describe an evening Kirtan during the Otaki festival.


As your car pulls up, ripples of ecstasy spread.

You appear in the Kirtan hall. Devotees prostrate themselves in reverence of Your majesty.

Your presence cuts a path through the crowd, just as the Yamuna gave passage.

As You elegantly move to the front, it is as if You float.

You sit down, self-satisfied and sober.

You face is an ocean of gravity and serenity as you hear the devotees’ Kirtan.

Who can fathom the emotions that lie beneath!?

When will we know who You are Srila Gurudeva?

A friendly nudge and wink alert me to the removal of Your jacket.

A servant scurries as You call for tambourine.

The time has come.

At last our hero rises to enter the battle! Jaya!

Your booming voice immediately resuscitates us, surcharging us with transcendental ecstasy.

You open darkened eyes, replenish weakened hearts.

The original master of ceremonies, You spear point the charge against maya.

You stand resolute and fearless at the eye of the storm, empowerment personified.

Every syllable resounds with unlimited potency as the waves of mercy crash upon us.

Your eyes start to dart about as You take us deeper with every mantra.

A glance at the drummers urges them on as you join the dancing.

We watch in awe as You demonstrate how to chant the Holy Name.

Your pure presentation of the Maha-mantra can easily extinguish the forest fire of material existence.

But will we take advantage?

We are feeble and impotent, intelligence stunted by Kali Yuga vice.

“Chant from the heart!” you implore us, “Krishna, Krishna!”

It’s life or death.

We are drowning in the ocean of nescience. Your causeless mercy is our only hope!

“Louder, louder!” you beseech us to reach for perfection.

“But we can’t keep up with You Gurudeva! Don’t leave without us!”

Seeing our plight Your efforts redouble (although they already seemed maximal).

You are fighting for us, tooth and nail.

You are so compassionate that You only ask us to hold out our hands and receive.

It is Your blood, sweat and tears that give us facility and ability.

“Jaya Sacinandana”

With eternal vigour You reach down to the gutter and pull us up to the highest platform.

“Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna...”

Just when we thought there was nothing left in the tank.

You drive us on, smashing our limited horizons, forcing us to taste the nectar we turned our backs on.

You spring into the air, jubilant with euphoric ecstasy and we follow.

It’s a massacre.

The corpses of lust, envy and greed pile up as Your Kirtan works its magic.

The yajna is nearly complete as you seamlessly introduce Prabhupada’s, timeless, original melody.

Warm, sweet, reassuring, life-affirming.

We gratefully embrace the final few mantras as the Kirtan draws to a close.

“Jaya om visnu-pada paramahamsa parivrajakacarya...”

Gasping for breath, dripping with sweat we offer obeisances.

By Your mercy we can achieve the spiritual sky.

It is possible!


Thank you Gurudeva!

Aspiring to aspire to be,
Your servant,
Bhakta Chi

Dear Gurumaharaja,

Hare Krsna,

please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada,
and to Your Divine Grace on this wonderful day of your appearance.

This is an offering meant to glorify you and all of your transcendental qualities of compassion, mercy, tolerance,

I have been so fortunate to receive shelter at your lotus feet. Sometimes I don't realize just how lucky I am... and how lucky we are as your disciples.
The spell of maya is so strong, the curtain so thick, that it is so easy for me to be tricked into thinking only of myself.
To forget that the association of devotees is so important. It is the air in the jumping castle, the vapor in the cloud, petrol in the car.
It is the reason why my spiritual life is progressing.

Our whole disciplic succession is dedicated to spreading love of Krishna throughout the universe, and through Srila Prabhupada and Your Divine Self I have also dived into this wonderful ocean of devotee association.
And as you always encourage in your classes, we have to dive deep.

My first association was with Srila Prabupada through his books. I read Bhagavad-Gita As It Is and Science of Self-Realization for almost two years before running into a devotee on the streets of Cape Town.
His name was Vraja Krsna, and he took very good care of me.

After spending time with me for a few months, he said that there was someone I had to meet, someone very special, and that that person would be coming to the temple soon.
Against so much opposition I made it to the Hare Krishna temple that day.

Vraja took me upstairs to meet this Guru, and I eagerly followed, not knowing what to expect. I think I thought that the 'guru' would probably ask me if I wanted to be enlightened, and then touch me on the head or something. Little did I know...

I can't remember much of what happened after that - thanks to a kali yuga memory and a good dose of drugs.
I remember feeling overwhelmed, and stunningly at ease - both at the same time.
Like a son seeing a loving father after many long years.
And you reciprocated as such.
You asked me about what I was doing, we spoke about animation (the Simpsons if I'm not mistaken) and I kept trying to tell you how I wanted to use everything to help people become more spiritual.
You gently kept nudging me in the right direction, while encouraging me to use my talent.
Like a caring father, you were already guiding me.
And I wanted to accept, to do exactly as I was told.
But the wonderful, the powerful mind was figuring out ways to push aside the help you were giving.
Only later, with more reading of Srila Prabhupada's books, more absorption in your classes, more chanting of Hare Krishna, more devotional service, and more devotee association, would my mind become tired and give me some slack.

I can truly see how you have fathered me over the years Srila Gurudeva.
You have taken so much care to learn to know me, to be involved, that I am confident that you know me better than anyone.

And now, even though I don't get to see you often, I can still feel how you are always with me through your instructions.
I can try to be like a son who's away from home. I can remember you and how you are so very kind to everyone you meet.

When I remember that I feel very lucky to know you as my spiritual master, an assistant to Srila Prabhupada.

On this day I humbly ask that you will forever keep me in your association, as your servant, that you will promptly replace this false ego with the real one, so I may serve you better.

Thank you Srila Gurudeva.

Your aspiring son,

bhakta Richard

Hare Krishna.

Srila Gurudeva Vyasa Puja Offering 2011

nama om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale
srimate devamrita swamin iti namine

pracare purva-daksyam ca bhaktacara-pravinata
pararthatapi karunyam yasya sarve ca te namah
Dear Guru Maharaj,

Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to your auspicious appearance day.

The topmost duty of a human being is to inquire who he is and what his relationship with God is. There are various siddhantas or essential conclusions about the relationships between God and the soul, the soul and matter, and matter and God. In Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Vaisnava Sampradaya, as the followers of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu we follow the siddhanta of acintya-bhedabheda-tattva, which means simultaneous inconceivable oneness and difference of the Lord and His expansions.

This is a tough concept to grasp as one can be inclined to sway to one extreme and think that he is equal to God or he is God and that he just has to revive his Godhood by few weeks of yogic meditation or study of Vedanta. The other extreme is when one thinks he is separate and independent to God. However, the correct understanding is that we are one with God in quality to a certain extent and different in quantity.

Lord Krsna is the possessor of inconceivable potencies and qualities of transcendental knowledge and bliss. We as His parts also inherit His qualities. One of the very wonderful qualities of Krsna is compassion. It is stated in Nectar of Devotion that a person who is unable to bear another's distress is called compassionate and that Krsna is so compassionate that instead of offering obeisances to Kåñëa directly, devotees offer obeisances to His compassionate nature.

This quality of compassion is so attractive that so many people claim to be philanthropic under different banners but no one except devotees know the real standard of compassion. In one of your lectures, Gurudeva, you mentioned that the real compassion is to give Krsna Consciousness to others. To show your compassion you travel all around the world with great difficulty to help conditioned souls like me. Srila Prabhupada writes in the purport to SB 1.2.28-29 that tapasya means voluntary acceptance of bodily pains to achieve some higher end of life. So, Gurudeva, you are a real tapasvi or ascetic.

It is stated in Caitanya Caritamrita Madhya Lila 22.47 that:

kṛṣṇa yadi kṛpā kare kona bhāgyavāne
guru-antaryāmi-rūpe śikhāya āpane

"Kṛṣṇa is situated in everyone's heart as the caittya-guru, the spiritual master within. When He is kind to some fortunate conditioned soul, He personally gives him lessons so he can progress in devotional service, instructing the person as the Supersoul within and the spiritual master without.

The mercy of guru and Krsna comes in the form of instructions.

kṛṣṇa kṛpālu arjunere lakṣya kariyā
jagatere rākhiyāchena upadeśa diyā

"Kṛṣṇa is so merciful that simply by aiming His instructions at Arjuna, He has given protection to the whole world. (CC Madhya 22.56)

Gurudeva, as a perfect representative of Krsna, you also show us mercy by giving your instructions. You are just like an expert doctor who prescribes a particular medicine to the patient according to the type & intensity of the disease. So, the expert doctor is there, the right medicine is there, then why don’t we get cured and attain our natural condition of Krsna consciousness? The answer is that we don’t take the medicine as prescribed. Therefore our prayer should be to come to sanity & follow the instructions of guru properly which are full of love & compassion.

As conditioned beings, we cannot see Krsna because of the curtain of maya. Only if Krsna shows a fraction of His mercy can we know Him. Our naive efforts are of no use. Krsna will show His mercy if guru shows his mercy (yasya prasadad bhagavat prasado…). The importance of mercy of a pure vaisnava is mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatam 7.5.32

naiṣāḿ matis tāvad urukramāńghriḿ
spṛśaty anarthāpagamo yad-arthaḥ
mahīyasāḿ pāda-rajo-'bhiṣekaḿ
niṣkiñcanānāḿ na vṛṇīta yāvat

Unless they smear upon their bodies the dust of the lotus feet of a Vaiñëava completely freed from material contamination, persons very much inclined toward materialistic life cannot be attached to the lotus feet of the Lord, who is glorified for His uncommon activities. Only by becoming Kåñëa conscious and taking shelter at the lotus feet of the Lord in this way can one be freed from material contamination.

So Gurudeva please bless me so that I can perform devotional service up to your expectations.

Aspiring to be worthy servant,
Bhakti Sara Dasa

Dear Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

All glories to you!

“When one wants to cross a large ocean, he requires a strong boat. It is said that this human form of life is a good boat by which one can cross the ocean of nescience. In the human form of life one can obtain the guidance of a good navigator, the spiritual master. One also gets a favorable wind by the mercy of Krsna, and that wind is the instructions of Krsna. The human body is the boat, the instructions of Lord Krsna are the favorable winds, and the spiritual master is the navigator. The spiritual master knows well how to adjust the sails to catch the winds favorably and steer the boat to its destination. If, however, one does not take advantage of this opportunity, one wastes the human form of life. Wasting time and life in this way is the same as committing suicide.” (SB4.23.28).

Thank you Gurudeva for saving so many of us from this catastrophe in your decades of selfless service.

Another year has gone past and I realize more and more about your dedication, determination and sacrifices you make. As Bhagavad-Gita describes, Vasudevah sarvam iti sa mahatma su-durlabhah, it is a very rare soul who completely surrenders unto the Lord and that surrender in Krsna consciousness is based on knowledge.

I recall my own doubts and drawbacks to engage in service and your patience in guiding me towards a life conducive for Krsna consciousness. I am ever grateful to you for helping me to make some sense of my life. I also always find it a great source of inspiration to see how you so expertly take care of so many other devotees and amazingly transform them.

You demonstrate what Srila Prabhupada explains in SB1.5.13, “Srila Vyasadeva or his representatives are qualified because they are rightly trained to see things in true perspective. Srila Vyasadeva and his representatives are pure in thought due to their spiritual enlightenment, fixed in their vows due to devotional service and determined to deliver the fallen souls rotting in material activities.”

When with compassion, you talk and laugh about kali yuga habits it makes me realize that indeed there is nothing that glamorous about the material world. You have transformed so many people’s hearts, please keep transforming mine, I have still a long way to go in my Krsna consciousness.

I wish I can assist you in your mission to serve Srila Prabhupada.

Your servant,
Bhakti-lata devi dasi

Dear Maharaja,

Please, accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I am greeting you on your appearance day: Devamrita Swami Maharja ki jaya!

My first memory, although through a dream, is connected to the verse below:

krisna! krisna! krisna! krisna! krisna! krisna! krisna! he
krisna! krisna! krisna! krisna! krisna! krisna! krisna! he
krisna! krisna! krisna! krisna! krisna! krisna! raksa mam
krisna! krisna! krisna! krisna! krisna! krisna! pahi mam
rama! raghava! rama! raghava! rama! raghava! raksa mam
krisna! kesava! krisna! kesava! krisna! kesava! pahi mam

Caitanya-caritamrita (Madhya 7.96)

We can read about this sloka in Caitanya Caritamrita: “Chanting this verse, Lord sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, knownas Gaurahari, went on His way. As soon as He saw someone, He would request him to chant "Hari! Hari!"”

I give thanks to you for enthusing me through your association during your stays in Hungary and I am inspired by the realization you are following Caitanya Mahaprabhu and representing Srila Prabhupada’s mission. I would like to find the way to express my gratitude one day. Until then I am trying to follow your instructions in my fallen and conditioned way, keeping all your words you told me in mind. Thank you for your causeless mercy.

Your aspiring servant:

bhaktin Barbara Hungary, Debrecen.

nama om vishnu padaya krishna presthaya bhutale
srimate devamrita swamin iti namine

Dear Maharaj,

Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to your auspicious Vyasa Puja day.

Maharaj, I am not qualified to speak about you. But I don't want to miss this opportunity to glorify you according to my little realizations.

Being an unqualified student I am trying to glorify a professor ( who teaches Bhakthi Yoga to every one with out any consideration), a scientist ( who invents new preaching techniques to spread the science of Bhakthi Yoga).

A pure devotee can deliver condition souls just by his glance. By tinge of your association and powerful lectures( which enters directly deep in to heart) so many new people are taking Krishna Consciousness and I am one of them.

In one of the lectures I heard Vani is more important then Vapu, then I thought "how's that". But one day Nityanand Priya Prabhu told me how much personal association you have got of Srila Prabhupad. However, you dedicated your entire life at the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupad by taking his instructions as life and soul. I am really inspired to see how a disciple serves his Gurudev.

Maharaj in one of the retreats at melbourne, I got an opportunity to meet you personally at that time I asked you one question about parents. Your answer was " by looking at your behaviour their hearts will transform gradually". Now I can say pure Vaishnava words always comes true. Thank you Maharaj. All glories to you, there is some change in them. And last week my father was searching for some thing suddenly he found Srila Prabhupada's book (Perfection of Yoga/telugu version), he said that he got that book almost ten years ago and now he started reading that.

Maharaj, this is my first offering to you. So please forgive me for any offenses, I might have done.

On this auspicious day i beg you to guide me and bless me to take Krishna Consciousness seriously.

Aspiring to be your servant,
Bhargav

nama om visnu-padaya krsna-prestaya bhu-tale
srimate devamritasvamin iti namine
pracare purva daksam ca bhakti cara pravinata
para tatapi karunam yasya sarve ca te namah
nama om visnu-padaya krsna-prestaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedantasvamin iti namine

Dear Gurumaharaja
In your recent book, Bhaki Bhava, you wrote in depth about the need to invest our hearts emotions in devotional service. You warned “without active service the hearts expressions will re-invest in material life”. Thank you for this wonderful book and for always arranging ample opportunities for dynamic service.

From my early days stumbling across The Loft culture, to my now modest housewife days (as you once called them), there has never been a shortage of service opportunities, for Lord Caitanya’s mission, to keep me out of trouble. Srila Prabhupada’s book distribution especially has given me much shelter and hope. As a mother of a young child I haven’t slept a full night or digested a meal in almost two years. Sometimes my japa is very broken or distracted and I feel devotionally stagnant, but I know if I can get out on the street, even for just half an hour, the persons who take books are my hope. I pray that we will be able to continue this service.

Thank you for always keeping life simple for us, protecting our fragile devotional creepers, by stressing the foundation of sadhana and dynamic engagement in Lord Caitanya’s sankirtan movement.

Your aspiring servant, Bhava Sandhi dd

Hare Krishna Maharaja.
PAMHO ,AGTSP.

This very humble offering is titled :

"Where Would we Be Now"
( without Gurudeva)

Probably : Over-weight, unhealthy, Drugged-up, unhappily married to the future ex-partner , three ungrateful kids who don't want to know us, working like a dog in a nowhere job going nowhere fast, walking around in a daze wondering why we even bothered to get up this morning, waking up just long enough to wonder how the hell we got ourselves into this mess.........WE WERE ALL HEADING THERE! ....assuming we hadn't ODed or committed suicide before we got this far.
Intervene Gurudeva otherwise known as the FLYING DOCTOR .
Lifting the puss soaked bandages of our festering lives, letting us breath again.
Cutting away the malignant false-ego...sometimes with anesthetic .....and sometimes NOT.
Paying the bill after surgery ...not possible but try we must! All Glories Gurudeva. x 500,000,000,000,000,000,000,000.
Y.S. BKD

Nama Om Vishnu padaya
Krsna-presthaya Bhutale
Srimate Devamrta Swami
Iti namine

Pracare purva-daksyam ca
Bhaktacara-pravinata
Pararthatapi karunyam
Yasya sarve ca te namah

Dear Srila Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to Your Lotus Feet.
All glories to you on this auspicious day.

This year has been the auspicious year of my life because we got initiation from you. The initiation happened in the perfect time and circumstances. I was just emerging from the grievous loss of my material father and instantly you, my spiritual father, stepped into my miserable life. When I returned from India, I was submerged in an ocean of sadness but after two days, when we were sitting in your initiation lecture, all the negative feelings caused by the passing away of my father were destroyed simply by your enlightening class.

Srila Gurudeva, you are showering your unending mercy upon us by allowing us to serve you personally. We requested you to give us permission to serve you prasadam and you assented. Once before you gave us an idea for a book to help us cook you prasadam. When we expressed our feelings that the book would indeed by worthy and useful, you yourself took care of the matter and sent the No-Oil Cooking book through the hands of Bhagavat Katha Prabhu. This shows the personal care you take for your disciples.

On your last visit, we had the fortune of meeting you. In that meeting, we requested you to attend, and thereby bless with your presence, the welcoming ceremony of our Sri-Sri Gaura-Nitai deities. You accepted this proposal and we all have been waiting for a long time for this wonderful occasion. Please bless us on this auspicious occasion to advance in spiritual life.

Aspiring to be the servant of your servants,

Bimala Prasad Dasa, Lalitha Prasad Devi Dasi, Bhakta Charan and Krishna Priya.

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances

All glories to Srila Prabhupada

All glories to you on this most auspicious day of your appearance

Gurudeva, sometimes I think with my strong material attachment and deep rooted material desires, what is the hope for me to develop any love for Krishna and go back home back to Godhead. With this thought in my mind, I was hearing the pastime of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, about how he instructed Lord Nityananda to go door to door and without discrimination ask people to chant the Holy name of the Lord and preach Krishna Consciousness. Immediately I started thinking that this very same instruction you received from Srila Prabhupada and how you have made it your life and soul. Following in the same mood of Lord Nityananda, you have been tirelessly travelling for almost 4 decades going door to door, place to place, country to country, putting your life in danger to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books and Krishna’s Holy name to anyone and everyone without discrimination.

Just like how Nityananda Prabhu tolerated Madhai hitting him with the earthen pot, you tolerate people’s earthen pot like challenging questions and offensive attitude. With your heart bleeding to see them suffer, you humbly try to explain them their suffering condition in the material world and ask them to give Krishna consciousness a chance. This is such a selfless act of compassion from you and often it is a thankless act because people cannot even appreciate what you are trying to do for them, but you still keep showing them your patience and compassion.

One day when Haridas Thakur told Advaitya Acharya that how Nityananda Prabhu was trying to preach to Jagai and Madhai and almost got them killed, Advaitya Acharya replied back: “you will see Haridas that just because Nityananda Prabhu has his mercy upon Jagai & Madhai, in a few days they will be in our satsang, chanting and dancing in ecstasy”.

Year after year we see that just because of your sincere desire, purity, mercy and innovative efforts to best present Krishna consciousness, you change people’s hearts and soon they are chanting and dancing in ecstasy.

Gurudeva, I once asked you, I don’t know why I am in Krishna Consciousness, it’s not that I have any love for Krishna, but I don’t want to do anything else either. You replied back “you are doing it to please the Parampara.” It is only out of your causeless mercy that I have any link to the Parampara and I believe it is your family business to take people out of the Material World and this is my only hope to go back home back to Godhead.

"sri-guru-carana-padma, kevala-bhakati-sadma,
bando mui savadhana mate
jahara prasade bhai, e bhava toriya jai,
krsna-prapti hoy jaha ha'te"

One time someone asked you “Are you Prabhupada’s disciple”, if someone had asked me this question, being puffed up, I would have replied with great pride yes. But you, with great humility replied “I am trying to become one”.

I pray that one day I can develop a humble mood of becoming a servant of a servant of a servant of a servant…… and please the Parampara.

Learning to become a servant
Brahma kunda dasa

Dear Devamrita swami maharaj your holiness please accept my humble obeisances all glories to srila prabhupada, i offer my respectful obeisances unto you on this auspicious day. please accept my sincere appreciation.By your mercy you have given me the understanding of the absolute truth, i have been searching in the wrong place mayas illusionary energy. You explain Bhakti yoga in such a practical way, that all conditioned souls can use this method in there every day lives, Sravanam kirtanam Hearing and Chanting the Glories of lord Krishna. Thank you so much for Being selflessly and humble to krishna, because all humanity can take shelter of lord Chaitanyas movement. My mind and senses are unpurified, so maharaj please accept my heart felt offering to your sweet lotus feet. trying to be your aspiring servant. bhakta Brendon.

Nama om Vishnu padaya
Krishna presthaia bhutale
Srimate Devamrita
swamin iti namine
pracäre ’pürva-däkñyaà ca
bhaktäcära-pravéëatä
parärthatäpi käruëyaà
yasya sarve ca te namaù
“Obeisances to you who have all the qualities of unique skill in preaching, competence in Vaishnava dealings, selflessness and compassion.”
Hare Krishna dear Guru Dev
Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to your lotus feet, all glories to Vyasa Puja festival.
Guru Maharaj, wish you many happy returns of the Vyasa Puja day.
Guru Maharaj, my life was aimless before I met you. Mercifully you have given this insignificant soul a significant goal of life; also you have shown me the way to achieve the same as well. But this is surely my ignorance that I have put very little endeavor to head towards the goal. The way to Krishna sounds easy, appears easy but for impure souls like me it’s an uphill task. Material life offers fresh allurements every day and spiritual life has its own challenges in store. Guru Maharaj you have been very kind by picking me up from the street of maya and place me in your personal care. On this special day of your Vyasa Puja I beg at your lotus feet, please bless me with devotional humility and tolerance. Guru Maharaj please guide me how should I handle myself when I see things happening wrong in our divine movement. Trying to make things at a nearly perfection level as per your training and Srila Prabhupada’s books but sorry to say is not welcome. Please bestow me with some maturity with expertise so that I can be tolerant especially in the testing conditions. I am eternally indebted to you for your crystal clear instructions and the training with fine details imparted so perfectly in each and every disciple. Now this is left to individual soul to capitalize on what you have invested in them. I relish and also repeatedly glorify the fact that in spite of your super busy preaching schedule, intense travelling itinerary and managing higher responsibilities you meticulously draw the devotional engagement chart of each and every disciple. That’s why I can see my God brothers and sisters are so fixed in their services. I pray at your lotus feet please bless me I can also become a sincere servant and a staunch follower of your instructions. Guru Maharaj I feel sad seeing I am not properly engaged in devotional service to my capacity, I want to do more and more always following in your footsteps but due to my anarthas I am unable to do what actually I want to do in Krishna consciousness. May be I am not pure enough so Krishna does not take service from me. Guru Maharaj please help me out in this critical phase of my Krishna conscious career where spiritual life has come to a standstill and I don’t see any self progress.
Although I am not qualified to properly glorify yourself but you are very merciful to give me this opportunity for my purification. Guru Maharaj you carry the same compassion and kindness for the living entities which you have inherited from your spiritual master His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada. How mercifully you deliver the same message of Lord Caitanya just by artfully delivering in the different packaging some times to suit the situation and the audience. Loft, Seminars in universities, initiating especially Indian parents after their children become devotees, your web site full of updated enlightening articles, spiritual roaring like a lion in yours instructive lectures, the delicacy you adopt in using sense of humor, your whispering mimickry of a character to make devotees understand the point, are a few of your creative and tailor made transcendental packages of love of Krishna. Guru Maharaj the expertise you apply in dealing with house holder’s problems is as good as with brahmcaris and brahmcarinis. Guru Maharaj sometimes I wonder how you know insight of house holders more than they know themselves. This is purely Krishna’s empowerment to you so that you can deliver many more conditioned souls. Being in a man’s body I always relish when you speak about wives psychology so perfectly like a book shot. When I face distress of grahastha ashram I always remember some accurate statements dashed by you, “it takes a long time to realize you married to a woman” “facts are not important when woman speaks” “Husbands find this difficult to understand what wives actually need because wives themselves are not sure of what they need”, spontaneously smile appears on my face and I carry on with my duties without much hindrance. I understand these statements are not meant for vaishnavis but I use these tools to satisfy my false ego of a man.
Guru Maharaj, I still make many mistakes and commit offences whenever I get some opportunity to serve yourself but you are so kind to this useless servant that you patiently tolerate me in a hope that may be one day I will become a sincere devotee. Guru Maharaj I relish all the chastising nectar I get as maha Prasad from you so please keep chastising me, correcting me and instructing me, you do whatever you like with this tiny servant but please do not move me away from the loving service of your lotus feet.
On this a very special day of your Vyasa Puja, I pray to Lord Narsimha Dev to always protect you, bless you with a long and healthy life so that for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada you can carry on expanding this divine sankirtan movement of Lord Gauranga.
Guru Dev ki Jai
Srila Prabhupada ki Jai

Your humble servant
Buddhimanta Dasa

Dear Devamrta Maharaja,

Please accept our humblest obeisances on this auspicious day marking your appearance here. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

The Brazilian National Council (CGB) wishes to recognize your outstanding sacrifice and efforts to push forward Srila Prabhupada’s mission. We note how you selflessly and tirelessly travel all over the world both vigorously preaching and also patiently dealing with administrative affairs, as you do in your GBC seva to Brazil.

We are inspired by your dedication and take the opportunity of this day, your vyasa puja, to thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Your servants,
The Brazilian National Council

Dear Devamrita Swami

Please accept my humbles obeisances
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada

Prahlada Maharaja said,
"O great one, O Supreme Lord, because of combination with pleasing and displeasing circumstances and because of separation from them, one is placed in a most regrettable position, within heavenly or hellish planets, as if burning in a fire of lamentation. Although there are many remedies by which to get out of miserable life, any such remedies in the material world are more miserable than the miseries themselves. Therefore I think that the only remedy is to engage in Your service. Kindly instruct me in such service"
"My dear master, I am not doing mercantile business with you, that I will take some remuneration from you for my service. My dear Lord, it is my duty to render service unto You not in exchange of something"

After some much needed mercy from you Maharaja, you have so kindly pointed out what can only be said as the start of my ocean of faults.
Because of this mercy I am finally beginning to see what Prahlada Maharaja and yourself are trying so hard to drill into us all.

What are you doing? hurry up and get out of the goo of kali yuga.
There is nothing other than pure love and service to Krsna.

For 6 hours a day I listen to your discourses, classes, lectures and speakings on the Krsna conscious philosophy.
As I listen to you speak I have a spiritual forcefield protecting me as i conduct my activites in this world that nothing can penertrate.

Thank you Maharaja.
Thank you Maharaja.
Thank you Maharaja.
Thank you for showing us freaks of kali yuga your personal example of what to do and how to do it.

Thank you for and please dont stop instructing me.
Thank you for helping me to understand your instructions.
Please engage me in your service.

Your aspiring servent
Cameron

Dear Srila Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and all glories to you on your auspicious appearance day!

Please accept this humble offering as I attempt to express the appreciation I feel for you.

<span style="font-size:22px;"><strong>G</strong></span>lory and Grace from realms above you bring to this world dying for love.
<span style="font-size:22px;"><strong>U</strong></span>ndeviated devotion to the Lord is what you possesses, shining a bright light amongst a kali yuga mess.
<span style="font-size:22px;"><strong>R</strong></span>eal you are, authentic and genuine, your love connects fallen souls back to the source divine.
<span style="font-size:22px;"><strong>U</strong></span>nalloyed to your spiritual master in all that you do, this world would be a better place if it were to only follow you.
<span style="font-size:22px;"><strong>D</strong></span>ivorced from maya you are, now you could just sit back! Instead you travel this world with compassion and to Krsna marry souls back.
<span style="font-size:22px;"><strong>E</strong></span>xcellent expert teacher! Reassurance you always give, reforming, rescuing and redeeming your many orphaned needy kids.
<span style="font-size:22px;"><strong>V</strong></span>irtue is your heart, valuable your every word, hearing from you in Srimad Bhagavatam class makes all other desires just absurd!
<span style="font-size:22px;"><strong>A</strong></span>uthentic author, O Father! please never cast your glance away, 'cause safely by your side is where I always desire and need to stay...


Aspiring to be your worthy spiritual daughter, servant and eternal cooking maiden,

Campak Gaur devi dasi.

Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

A few months ago you asked me for my thoughts on how we could spread Krishna consciousness online. You explained that sankirtan is certainly the best method of introducing Krishna consciousness to people. However, you went on to say that there always will be those devotees who cannot or do not go out on sankirtan. So, you asked, could there be a good way of using the Internet for spreading our spiritual tradition? Even if online methods were only a tiny fraction as effective as in-person methods, that would be a huge success, you said.

You constantly amaze me by your ability and desire to be on the technological cutting edge for Krishna. Just like your own spiritual master revolutionarily utilized technologies like the dictaphone and airplane in Krishna's service, if there is some material knowledge, specific discovery, or new technology, you will be the first to claim it for the Lord.

In this offering I would therefore like to do some service for you and present an analysis of how we can make use of the Internet for spreading Krishna consciousness. I have heard that Srila Prabhupada used to ask his disciples who were expert in particular areas of material knowledge for guidance when necessary. Similarly, you have kindly engaged me in Krishna's service by asking for my thoughts on this topic. I can't presume to teach you anything. I am perpetually your student. However, since you have asked, I will do my best to answer, by your mercy.

Firstly, let me look at what people use the Internet for:

A large percentage of Internet use is for unmentionable activity that cannot easily be dovetailed in Krishna's service. So, I'll ignore it in this analysis. The Internet is also significantly used for (mostly illegal) file sharing using BitTorrent. Again, there is little opportunity for us here.

The market research company Nielsen recently did an analysis of the top 10 online sectors by the amount of time people spend with them. The results are here:

<img src="assets/nielsen.png"/>
(Source: <a href="http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/online_mobile/what-americans-do-online-social-media-and-games-dominate-activity/">Nielsen NetView</a> &#8211; June 2009-June 2010)

Social Networking is by far the largest category (and growing rapidly), next is Games (also growing), and Email (shrinking rapidly). Online video is also growing. Search is largely unchanged. Everything else is shrinking. Social Networking, Email, and Instant Messaging are all different ways of communicating. Games, Videos and Multi-category Entertainment are all forms of entertainment. Search and Portals are ways of finding things.

In other words, people use the Internet for three things (in this order):
<ol><li>Communication</li><li>Entertainment</li><li>Finding information</li></ol>With that in mind, here are my thoughts on how can use the online world to help bring others to Krishna consciousness:

First and foremost, we can use the Internet as a communication tool. The Internet is a great way to communicate with people anywhere on the planet. The exact technology does not matter. The principle is that we can use the Internet as a tool for easy, quick, inexpensive inter-personal communication with prospective and current devotees. Sañjaya used his mystic power of dura-sravana-darsanam (<a href="http://vedabase.net/sb/11/15/6-7/en2">SB 11.15.6-7</a>) to narrate the Bhavagad-Gita to Dhrtarastra. We can use our imitation mystic power of <a href="http://www.skype.com">Skype</a> to do similar things.

Next there is entertainment. We can hardly complete with big-budget hollywood-style entertainment (although <a href="http://www.biganimation.com/littlekrishna/familyentertainment.html">nice when we do</a>). We can, however, provide entertaining content that increases people's interest in Krishna conscious topics. For example, we might create fun videos of Krishna conscious activities and put them on youtube for people to find and watch. Even if we don't create the content ourselves, we can try to influence other people who are creating content. For example, it would cost millions to create a Krishna conscious computer game and hardly anyone would buy it. But if we could influence a game development studio to incorporate some Krishna conscious ideas into their latest game, then that would be an inexpensive means to attain the same success. We don't even need to create content that is directly Krishna conscious. As long as something holds people's attention while somehow or other increasing their interest in Krishna, that content is a wonderful form of entertainment.

Finally there is information. We probably have been focusing on information too much at the expense of the previous two categories. There is a lot of Krishna consciousness information out there on the World Wide Web, but, from what I can see, hardly anyone who isn't already a devotee is reading it. Without personal communication to point people at the Krishna knowledge on various websites, and without changing the way that knowledge is packaged to make it more entertaining; without those two aspects, unfortunately, few people will benefit from the knowledge.

Still, information/knowledge is vital. Once someone has been sufficiently interested and entertained, they need knowledge. And where better to find knowledge than on the "Information Superhighway"?

Some concrete suggestions for your consideration:
<ol>
<li>We need a means of establishing personal communication between the devotee (e.g. book distributors) and prospective devotees. Such a communication channel can give someone the taste for learning more and more about Krishna. Narada Muni himself came to Krishna consciousness in this way. He says:
<blockquote>O Vyasadeva, in that association and by the mercy of those great Vedantists, I could hear them describe the attractive activities of Lord Krsna And thus listening attentively, my taste for hearing of the Personality of Godhead increased at every step. (<a href="http://vedabase.net/sb/1/5/26/en2">SB 1.5.26</a>)</blockquote></li>
<li>Krishna explains in the Bhagavad-Gita:
<blockquote>In the minds of those who are too attached to sense enjoyment and material opulence, and who are bewildered by such things, the resolute determination for devotional service to the Supreme Lord does not take place. (<a href="http://vedabase.net/bg/2/44/en">BG 2.44</a>)</blockquote>
People's minds are unlimitedly distracted from Krishna and unlimitedly attracted to sense enjoyment. So, if we can give them something that looks like sense enjoyment to their minds, yet simultaneously attracts their minds to Krishna, then the battle is half-won. One way of doing this could be to create (reasonably well done) entertaining videos that also answer common philosophical questions. These videos should be 1-3 minutes so that they don't wear out people's short attention spans.</li>
<li>Knowledge of Krishna needs to be everywhere. In wikipedia, in the newspapers, on TV, on the radio, in magazines, in books (Buddha's holy name has been getting <a href="http://ngrams.googlelabs.com/ngrams/graph?content=krishna%2Cbuddha&year_start=1900&year_end=2008&corpus=0&smoothing=2">a lot more attention</a> in books than Krishna's over the years) and in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blogosphere">blogosphere</a>. Krishna explains that knowledge of him has worked in the past as a means of helping people, so, chances are, it will still work today.
<blockquote>Being freed from attachment, fear and anger, being fully absorbed in Me and taking refuge in Me, many, many persons in the past became purified by knowledge of Me — and thus they all attained transcendental love for Me. (<a href="http://vedabase.net/bg/4/10/en">BG 4.10</a>)</blockquote></li>
</ol>Please Gurudeva, give me the knowledge, skill and inspiration so that I can help create, maintain and use information technology for spreading Krishna consciousness throughout this world and its people; people who need help to stop them spiraling out-of-control through the Information Age.

I know this is not the traditional style of offering. Please tolerate my humble attempts at doing a little bit of service for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission.

Your servant,
Candidasa dasa

Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Every year on your Vyasa Puja day, not only do I think about all your great qualities and your selfless service in so many parts of the world, I also take time out to reflect on the many ways that you have helped me personally to make spiritual progress and come closer to Krishna. I also think about what I could do to serve you. I simultaneously feel a profound sense of gratitude and a troubling sense of debt.

I dream that somehow, someday, I will render valuable service to the mission of Srila Prabhupada and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and make you proud to call me your disciple. But, when I look at my life, I see that I am still very far from realizing that dream, and I am troubled by the guilt of debt and failure. When I hear people referring to me as a disciple of Devamrita Swami, my heart breaks a little bit because I know that I don’t deserve such a status and I feel guilty for not doing more to become purified, to serve you and to glorify you. But, at the same time, my heart fills with love for you, thinking how fortunate I am to have such an expert spiritual teacher and caring spiritual father who does not give up on me despite my lack of qualification.

You have given me the instructions and inspiration that I need for a pure life in Krishna consciousness. I pray that I will be able to continue to follow your instructions through all the ups and downs of life, and one day make you proud. In the past few years I have had very little contact with you. I don’t see you often. I hardly ever write. Yet, mystically, as each year goes by, I feel a strengthening of my connection to you. My other dream is that one day we will be eternally united in serving Krishna in the spiritual world. I know this is a very high aspiration and I have a long way to go. I also know that following your instructions is the means to attaining this dream. Please don’t give up on me. I am still trying.

Your fallen servant, Carana Renu dasi.

Dear Gurumaharaja, please accept my humble obeisances at the dust of your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to Your Divine Grace!

Dear Gurudev in this most auspicious day of you Vyasapuja I want to thank you for
everything again and it is just impossible to find appropriate words to describe that mercy
and benefit that you give to the conditioned souls. Every minute of your time you devote
to the service to Srila Prabhupada. Your love and devotion to Srila Prabhupada are
unlimited.

Thank you for always reminding me and keep me going in my spiritual life. Only by your
mercy and example I am able to continue. Thank you for you amazing lectures which
opens my eyes again and again and gives me understanding.


You revive love to Krishna in the hearts of living beings. There are many saints that
worry only about their own deliverance and don’t think about the deliverance of others.
You, Dear Gurudeva, want everyone to bring back home to Krishsna.

Thank you so much for your kindness towards us. Please bless me to get rid of all
material desires and to love forever our beloved Sri Sri Radha-Krishna with the purest
unmotivated and tender love.

Thank you for your mercy
You indebted servant Carumukhi devi dasi

Dear Srila Gurudeva

Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and all glories to you

Moving at the speed of the mind, with chopper <i>(parasu)</i> in hand, wielding the sword of knowledge, you hack the limbs off all the demons of doubt, lust, anger, greed, madness, envy and illusion.

Your preaching is like Parasurama, a relentless attack on the enemy, only slowing down to the speed of the wind.

Srila Prabhupada has mentioned in many places that devotional service is a declaration of war against the illusory energy. Similarly, you have said, <i>“It is open season on materialism.”</i> 13.06.09 Wellington

Therefore, you are leading the attack, a spiritual warlord, a veteran of Lord Caitanya’s army whose presence on the battlefield increases the morale of aspiring spiritual warriors.

Your words are like <i>astras</i> thrown by Krsna at His foes which are devastating the demons of material aspiration in my life. You’re smashing any hopes I had in the illusory energy like Bhaumasura’s capital city and fortress, Pragjyotisa-pura, well fortified but broken to pieces by the strokes of Krsna’s demon smashing club, Kaumodaki. Similarly, you are demolishing any faith I have in the myth of material happiness. I can see <i>(caksur unmilitam yena)</i> by your grace that material life is an illusory shelter – there is no shelter within the jurisdiction of time.

Even though I am surrounded by the enemy, indeed, the enemy has captured strategic positions within my own fort (the body), I am fighting back – I can’t stop fighting like when Krsna destroyed Paundraka’s army. Seeing this, the soldiers on Krsna’s side began to fight with greater strength. Therefore, throwing in the towel and surrendering is not an option for your mercy has given me this fighting spirit.

Your battle cries <i>(Hare Krsna Hare Krsna...)</i> are constant sources of kirtana ecstasy and enthusiasm which shatters the heart of all demoniac desires. Such battle cries inject spiritual life into the heart of the hearer. In the heat of your kirtana the presentations of the illusory energy loose all traces of significance.

From your strongholds (Brahmacari ashrama and Krsna House etc) we move out in military phalanx to wage war on the illusory energy after a pep talk, your Srimad-Bhagavatam class.

You’re one of Srila Prabhupada’s commandos, deputed by the parampara to New Zealand to make an assault on the material lives of the inhabitants there. The proof of your brilliance is evident in the fact that you have convinced the assaulted to join you in your attack <i>(CC Antya 3.143 Purport: A spiritual master is recognized as an actual guru when it is seen that he has changed the character of his disciples.)</i> You have named this <i>aksauhini</i> division <i>“The Brain Giving Brigade.”</i>

When Dvaraka was being attacked by Salva and his airship Sauba, Krsna was away in Hastinapura. Krsna returned and got Daruka to drive Him to where Salva was. The Yadus could tell Krsna had arrived on the battlefield when they saw His chariot which bore the flag of Garuda. You can imagine just how ecstatic they felt knowing Lord Krsna has arrived on the frontline to kill their formidable enemies. Similarly, it is ecstatic for me when you arrive on the frontline of New Zealand preaching and show us all with great prowess how to reach out and touch the lives of conditioned souls.

Your mercy is for real and this is shown when you accept disciples even though they don’t know the full ramifications of initiation. As you mentioned in a blog (May 9 2006), <i>“...your guru gets a dose of your sinful reactions...Yes, ladies and gentlemen, let me remind you that accepting disciples is not a piece of cake. There are real occupational hazards...”</i>

I feel a bit like Narada Muni when he was talking about Prahlada Maharaja to King Yudhisthira. <i>“My dear King, it is very difficult to describe the character of Prahlada...whatever I can explain about his character will simply be an arrangement of words; his actual character is impossible to describe.”</i> My humble attempt to glorify you doesn’t touch a fraction of your true glories which remain hidden from my neophyte vision.

Previous to my Krsna conscious career I prayed to the God I did not know for a spiritual master. It is safe to say that prayer was answered when I met you. Therefore, I thank Krsna for you and I thank you for Krsna.

Srila Rupa Gosvami instructs <i>sato vrtteh – follow in the footsteps of the previous acaryas.</i> When hearing about the uncommon, superhuman and heroic acts of our parampara I am simultaneously very ecstatic and sad.

I am ecstatic to hear of their uncommon acts, character, determination and devotion to Krsna, these people are far out, far out of the material world that is. I think that these devotees are actually the most beautiful thing in all the three worlds. The real wonder of the world is a pure devotee of Krsna not the Great Pyramid of Giza.

I felt that way the first time I heard a recording of a lecture you gave on the pastime of Lord Caitanya mistaking that sand dune for Govardhana. As you wonderfully described that pastime tears came to my eyes and I thought, <i>“This is the most beautiful thing.”</i> From then on I couldn’t wait to read the Caitanya Caritamrta.

I am also sad because I feel, <i>“What can I do? How am I going to follow in their footsteps? They are spiritual giants and I am a dwarf.”</i> I find your spiritual stature intimidating. I am so, so small, it is truly humbling.

Of course I am going to try, try to please you, but I am begging you Gurudeva, please imbue me with Vaisnava qualities, character, strength and intelligence to assist in your mission. I want to be a part, I want to help, but I am feeling overburdened by my conditioned nature. I need your mercy to transcend it.

Your aspiring servant
Damodara Krsna dasa

nama om visnu padaya
krsna presthaya bhutale
srimate devamrita
swamin iti namine

pracare purva daksyam ca
bhaktacara pravinata
pararthatapi karunyam
yasya sarve ca te namah

Dear Gurumaharaja,

After much deliberation, we have finally relocated to Murwillumbah. We are about 7 minutes drive from New Govardhana Farm. After 4 months we have settled in and are satisfied that we have made the right decision with our move.

It's great to be living closer to the umbrella of Srila Prabupada's and Lord Caitanya's mercy; a devotee community, beautiful deities, and even a Hare Krsna school for Toshan and Varshana! (All of the things that Grihasta's have to worry about!).

As the horrific and unabated abominations of Kali-Yuga charge on, my appreciation for the shelter of the Hare Krsna movement grows everyday. Of course I have you to thank for steering me in the right direction on the Bhakti path. I am so grateful that with your expertise as a teacher of Krnsa Concious philosophy you were able to change the direction that my life was heading in.

I know that without having had your sanga back in my early twenties I would now be an older version of the confused dreadlocked, pot-smoking creature that you so aptly named "Puff", after our first interaction. (That's a scary thought)!

Thank you once again Gurumaharaja. I hope that you are in good health and are having much success in your outreach work around the world.

Your Servant,

Dandakaranya das

Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Today on this day of your Appearance, I would like to convey my heartfelt gratitude for allowing me to engage in devotional service.

In Prabhupada Lilamrita we read how Srila Prabhupada in his initial days of preaching in New York would live in a single room, with one small area for his living and use a big portion of the room for giving lectures and classes. He would completely absorb himself in translating the scriptures, inviting people, giving classes and giving them Krsna Consciousness.

Guru Maharaja, you have the same mood as that of Srila Prabhupada. Following in the footsteps of your spiritual master, you have introduced the ‘Loft’ style of preaching which is helping so many people to take up the process of KC, who ordinarily wouldn’t do so.

Guru Maharaja, you are also so expert in engaging us, ie your disciples, in becoming Krsna Conscious ourselves. In the process of giving it to others, we are pushed to work on our KC and purify our motivations to do devotional service so we may become suitable instruments in your service.

You are nicely training us, through the mentor system, how to keep Prabhupada’s books as the basis of our lives – read them, apply them and distribute them. What more can I ask for? You have given me a lifetime career focussed around these books.

On this auspicious day of your VyasaPuja, I only pray for this benediction that I may be able to bring more and more lost parts and parcels of Krsna and offer them at your lotus feet.

Aspiring to be under the shelter of your instructions,

Your servant and disciple,
Dayamaya devi dasi.

nama om visnu-padaya krsna-prestaya bhu-tale
srimate devamritaswami iti namine
pracare purva daksam ca bhakti cara pravinata
para tatapi karunam yasya sarve ca te namah
nama om visnu-padaya krsna-prestaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedantasvamin iti namine

Dear Gurumaharaja

Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Every year it is simply amazing to wittiness your ever increasing commitment to spreading Krishna Consciousness according to Srila Prabupada's desire.
So many new faces coming forth, to pick up and run with the banner of devotional service, due to your merciful faith injecting glance. Youthful energy combined with the maturity of your more seasoned dependants, such a powerful and inspiring force for sure. In this complex world of constant flux, somehow you are able to tune into the current trends and subcultures, thus expressing Krishna's message in the digestible language of the day. Surviving the test of time, your message of hearing, leading simple a life and above all dependence on Krishna - has been a rock solid formula for spiritual success. A simple, but not cheap process to follow.
The transformation into a transparent sadhu, as you, who's outside is an exact replica of on whats inside, is certainly a prize worth achieving.
Thank you for placing some faith in my heart so that I to can awake from this dreaming state which covers my very self.
Please keep me as a grain of dust at your lotus feet, so one day I can lovingly chant Hare Krishna and truly become the servant of the servant of Lord Caitanya.
Your aspiring servant,
Dayavira das

Hare Krishna ,


It has been a great opportunity for me to say offering in the glorification of HH Devamrita Maharaj.

I am so deeply indebted to Gopal ranjana Prabhu for suggesting me to do so. I am an aspiring disciple of Maharaj.


Dear Maharaj -I perhaps saw you first time during the Pune Yatra few years ago, which is a yearly event being organized by Radhanatha Swami since many years in the house of HG Krishna Chandra Prabhu who is one of the famous industrialist in Mumbai known as Mr. Arvind Mafatlal.


One of the highlight of the program was that your good self was dancing so ecstatically on the request of your loving God brother Radhanatha Swami with having raised hands & your mood was so in tuned to Krishna that I became attracted to your spontaneous devotion & to your wonderful, universal smile which was visible on your face while becoming absorbed in the kirtans. It was of total fulfillment and satisfaction. I felt in that way, later you spoke very good philosophical classes.


Your lecturers especially in the Chopatty temple which I often heard have a unique style of presentation. You expertly present the false propagandas which are being put forward by the Modern men & their so called scientific institutions and their failures. This is your dynamic style by all means!!!


You have a unique ability to convince any kind of an audience whether they may be students of IIT or business professionals or modern styled westernized young man and woman.


No one can get bored ever hearing you lecturing. Some times it happens that the philosophy of KC becomes too heavy to hear even when the best of the speakers are around giving their talks from the dais. This happens especially in the conditioned state with people like me who have so less interest to hear philosophy but Dear Maharaj you can so expertly blend the ancient age old Vedic philosophy with the modern defects that even the educated, professional, materially successful people can’t ignore your points what to speak of devotees who are already enchanted.

That way your classes have always attentive and curious hearers figuring out as to what you would present next in the line of conviction.


I feel that your education at the prestigious Yale University has given you the extra edge to present your philosophical points to the modern man about KC, which of course you have so b’fully dovetailed in the service of Krishna.


Your lecturers at IIT Mumbai are classic ones. All the bramcharies at Choppatty temple are so much crazy about you, in fact mad for you. Whether it is Gauranga Pr or Vraj Bihari Pr all of them are eagerly awaiting for you in the Choppatty.


Your explanations as to what is currently happening in the western societies in terms of all kinds of degradation with your fitting real examples and presenting them in a very attractive manner and how it is catching up fast in India too is all done expertly , certainly by Prabhupada &Krishna’s special blessings upon him.


What I noted that you won’t criticize much about the modern defects in a traditional & usual ISKCON manner of lecturing but rather present it all in a very humorous way many a times about the foolishness and stupidity of materialistic societies. This is much easier for all kinds of audiences to get it digested without vomiting out.


Just for example you once mentioned about the 9/11 tragedy in the New York City. You explained how the materialistic people can’t even save themselves materially what to speak of their caliber in spiritual fronts. I recall you mentioned that in one of the twin towers , the boss at the investment bank office told his employees to leave the building immediately as it was dangerously shaking due to one of the planes got crashed into it but the employees were sitting on their terminals watching anxiously over the NYSE graph movements and they didn’t want to go to loose on the money, so they went to the next office to check as to what is happening and those people told casually that “some one phoned at the NY radios just now that the Trade centre is bombing”. They commented to them that how crazy NY people are and they made a fun of the entire situation & did not take it seriously. So the employees returned back to their terminals and no one survived.

This point went deep inside my heart and I appreciated your point that really materialistic people are so fool and helpless in dangerous situations that they don’t have any idea how they may protect themselves, though they falsely promise or guarantee others on the safety & security and claim like that. Just like US govt. claiming to its citizens that America is the safest place to live. But the Americans and whole world stopped believing on this after 9/11 episode. Everyone realized that no place is safe in this world. Tragedy can strike any where irrespective of place and people or a particular condition.


Another time when you were lecturing at the IIT Mumbai, you mentioned during the question and answer sessions to some students that “Just see you all are contemplating that how the Bramchari life could make us feel that we are missing all the enjoyments but see here all the ice cream has been finished by the Bramcharis only. I just got the news that the bramcharies are enjoying ice cream.”


This you again mentioned in your Sunday feast lecture at Chopatty temple and every one laughed so heartedly. I noted that Bramcharis , Grihasthas , old man , woman , young devotees all equally enjoyed your classes.


To summarize, I like your jolly good nature, a unique laughing style.


I pray to Krishna to bestow upon you all His choicest blessings & may I get a chance to serve you by becoming his disciple.


This is all I want to say on the auspicious appearance ceremony or Vyas Puja celebrations being organized by the esteemed disciples of HH Devamrita Swami Maharaj.


Thank you very much!



Your aspiring servant,


Deval

Nama om visnu padaya Krishna prestaya bhu tale
Srimate Devamrita swami iti namine




Pracare purva daksyam ca

bhaktacara pravinata

pararta athapi karunyam

yasya sarve ca te namah




Dear and Beloved Gurudev, Please accept my obeinsances !! all Glories to Srila Prabhpada!




At least i can't understand, how much is important is the Srila Prabhupada's mission and your attachment to it, however i can see all your love and devotion to continue it, following, instructions, y giving alll your energy for improve,and expand this ISKCON,

I can see , by all this years your courage and determination to fight, to keep alive the spirit of Preaching around the world especially, in East Europe and ex URSS, taking risks just to please your spiritual master...and show us how it's truly that Sri Krishna says in the Bhagavad gita:




Mahatmanas tu mam patha

daivim prakrti asritah

bhajanty ananya manaso
jñatva bhutadim avyayam



" O son of Partha, those who are not delued, the great souls, are under the protection of the divine nature. They are fully engaged in devotional service, because they know as the Sùpreme Personality of Godhead, original e inexaustible" BG 9.13




I can see, your and kind and loving dedication to care and protect to devotees, all , without distinction, and all we notest one of your most wonderful qualitie:Compassion for helping to us to understand ant tasting the nectar of devotional service..




I can see many other quailities, but, i just pray trying toi be honest to see , actually Understand that i must to surrender unto the dust of his lotus feet, and i pray for understand the all benefits and fortune that it means take shelter in the spiritual master.

Your Kindness, devotion and attachment to chant the Holy Name always be an inspiration for me. And always you have the right view about our development and growing in Krishna Consciousness, according to specify individual situation, You said in the your book Bhakti-bhava " I believe n Krishna, who do you believe in? "Is that bhakti - simply to have a religious belief sitting on top of your head?. Maybe some of you actually thought that to be a devotee of Krishna means, We believe in Krishna" No. Sorry but we're rejecting all that . We will talk about how to feel in Krishna consciousness, not how to believe."



And I just pray, again and one more again, to apreciate and any moment I can see really, to divine and merciful person that is you ,Gurudev, and offer surrender, as you deserve.



Trying to become a faithful servant, of your lotus feet.



Dharmaraj das

Dear Guru Maharaja
Please Accept My Humble Obeisances
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada

Hare Krishna,

I am again finding myself lost for words as I am reminded of the debt owed to you.
Sitting reading through the various e-mails sent over the years, patience, tolerance and never forgetting the corrections; time taken simply to keep me focused on Krishna and devotional service.
Feeling pangs of separation as I listen to your classes and thoughts as they are posted on the internet, reminding that by example we can follow; you simply and sincerely serving your own Guru Maharaja and imparting and asking of us the same, by perfect example we can follow.
Living a life absorbed in thoughts of Krishna
Selflessly moving from one place to another with one aim, to share this perfect love with others.
Your compassion always shining through.

Your Humble Disciple
Dhirabhakta Dasa

Dear Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to you on the most auspicious day of your vyasa-puja.

As I reflect back on my spiritual life with the words of the Gaura Yoga Centre mission statement still vibrating in my heart, I realize something. "We make it easy. We make it easy to come to Krishna consciousness, we make it easy to grow in Krishna consciousness, and we make it easy to give Krishna consciousness to others." It all makes sense now--Krishna consciousness had been made easy.

Guru Maharaja, your genius and compassion are famous throughout the world. Following in the footsteps of your spiritual master and faithful to core intent, you apply the same power of genius to Krishna's service as he did. You, like he, always think of how to present Krishna consciousness to people in a way they will love to connect with. You, like he, work closely with the leaders to create a spiritual environment that facilitates the individual needs of the devotees. You, like he, devise and supervise the organization of strategies for the devotees to joyfully connect others with Krishna consciousness.

You make it easy.

Otherwise, how can one born of this culture of utter degradation, connect with and practise, what to speak of give, Krishna consciousness--the purest most sublime knowledge--to others?

You work tirelessly to make it easy, using every moment with utmost efficiency and precise intelligence. You give your life's energies to this purpose, not just at the Gaura Yoga Centre, but all over the world--enduring the agonies, as well as the ecstasies. There are the agonies of energy-depleting travel, stressful pressures of national and international management, and--the one you told me personally affects you--the agony when someone you have tried to help turns against you.

There is a picture of you on the altar-shelf in the kitchen at the preaching centre in Cardiff. Your eyes are closed deep in prayer; your head poised in a very regal way reminding me of the way Srila Prabhupada held his. You, following with all humility in his footsteps, are the great benefactor of so many people. I long to feel the weight of responsibility for your service. I have so much to repay you for and time passes quickly. Thus, I beg for your continued mercy so that I can practise Krishna consciousness, and with strength like a sacred thread you give me, string all my life's activities in your service.

Your grateful servant,
Dina Dayala devi dasi.

Dear Guru Maharaja!
Please accept my humble obeisances!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Heartily congratulate You on the day of Your appearance!
I wish You a direct understanding of the mercy of Srila Prabhupada and consistently good health.
Let Your eternal communion with the devotees of the Lord and Yours disciples will be happy. I need You like a guru. After meeting with You now I know that God is, God is love and God - this is Krishna. Thank You for Your concern for me.
with love and devotion Uttara dd Omsk.


Dear Guru Maharaja!
Please accept my obeisances to Your lotus feet!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
In this wonderful day of Your events I want to praise You and Your divine qualities.
Your caring and kindness to the fallen souls know no borders. I felt it when You called me. I am eternally grateful for all that You told me. Every word came into my heart.

Your disciples have told me that this is a great mercy and good luck, because You never made any of them. Thank You merciful to us.
I feel a great need to do something to Your satisfaction.
Your relationship with Prabhupada show what should be the true relationship between guru and disciple. Your example You show how a disciple should serve the spiritual master.
You love Srila Prabhupada and natural for You to give him Your life. Let me also congratulate all of Your students and well-wishers to the fact that their lives were not in vain, because through You they can also serve Srila Prabhupada!
I am very happy to communicate with Your disciples and feel like a member of Your family. From Your disciples that surround me, I get inspiration to serve You. I thank You for that. That You have done for me. Look forward to meeting You soon.
Your disciple Natalia Guseva Omsk

Dear Guru Maharaja!
Please accept my humble obeisances!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to all devotees of the Lord!
Here and another year passed, and the Ukrainian Festival as one bright moment.
The most powerful experience for me at this festival - Your insight into the very heart of kirtan and emotional and exciting lectures with deep meaning, during which time I felt like laughing and crying. and of course the long-awaited darshan. This is precious moments spent with the dearest to my heart a spiritual master.
Your example of compassion, optimism, enthusiasm, love, inspiration and happiness in Krishna Consciousness teach us, Your disciples. Let heart and mind to be always with You.
After the second initiation I was offered the following service in the temple, decorate the Deities of Radha-Govinda, cook for Them. and also to sing to their satisfaction.
I am sorry that I only have 2 days off. I can devote to serving.
My dear Guru Maharaja. I love You very much I am glad and happy that I have you, I thank God for His grace to me. Thank You for Your patience, love, compassion and caring. My love for You is very rapturous and gentle.
Your disciple Atma-maya. Omsk.

Dear Guru Maharaja!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
I am very grateful for my spiritual name assignment Hariseva dasi and agree to forever be a serve and happy that Radha and Krishna.
I wish You on this bright day, good health and lives for years to come. I will try to please You with its successes and raise their spiritual level.
Your servant Hariseva dd

Dear Gurudeva
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

There is a verse in the 9th Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam, where the Lord talks about his intimate relationship with his pure devote: “The pure devotee is always within the core of My heart, and I am always in the heart of the pure devotee. My devotees do not know anything else but Me, and I do not know anyone else but them.”

When I hear this verse I can only think of you. Everything you do is for Krsna’s pleasure, because Krsna is always in your heart, your only motivation is to serve Krsna and his devotees. Your service is so wonderfully laced with bhakti that all your activities appear so attractive. Year after year you continue your service, ever increasing and steady.

There is no doubt that the secret to success to spiritual life is to take the order of the spiritual master as one’s life and soul.

You are the proof of this secret. Srila Prabhupada explains in the 3rd Canto:
“Materially, when a man becomes tired by rendering service in his physical body, he is allowed retirement, but in the transcendental service there is no feeling of fatigue because it is spiritual service and is not on the bodily plane. Service on the bodily plane dwindles as the body grows older, but the spirit is never old, and therefore on the spiritual plane the service is never tiresome”

Srila Prabhupada explains in the Caitanya Caritamrta:

“To keep oneself free from material contamination and attain the Lord’s favor, one must be sincerely eager to render service to the Lord. This is the only qualification necessary.” (Cc. Madhya 19.135 purport).

On this glorious day of your appearance, I request one boon, that I too can remain sincere and eager to render service to Krsna under the shade of your lotus feet.

Your servant
Divya-jnana dasa

Let me offer my respectful obeisances to the Supreme Person, Sri Krishna Caitanya, who mercifully has gave to us across the parampara the trascendental gift of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra, for the benefit of the entire universe.
Guru Maharaja, in this so special day of Your trascendental aparition I offer to You thousands of obeisances and I wish that You always receive the blessings of Srila Prabhupada and the entire Parampara and showing to us the trascendental glory of the Lord.
With love,
Your servant
Divyanama dasa
Wilson Temple, Peru

nama om vishnu-padaya
krishna-preshthaya bhu-tale
shrimate devamrta swami iti namine

Hare krsna maharaj,
pamho.
On this auspicious day of yours, i'd like to pen my first offering to you. Maharaj you have been so compassionate and merciful to all the fallen souls who are just thriving to burn themselves at the clutches of maya. Words of wisdom emanating from you and guidance provide the soothing solutions to relieve the miseries faced by such people which includes particularly me, yet we are so unfortunate, so fallen that we are unable to grasp that helping hand of yours. You have been like a caring father, a model mentor and a loving mother. in this day and age, where the darkness of material life is invading everyone, your guidance is like the light in the tunnel.
Dear Maharaj, this year has been a turning point in my spiritual life. After having personal darshan of you at your ever blissful retreat in Melbourne this year, those 2 minutes of exquisite guidance has had a great effect on my spiritual life. You had guided me to become more serious in order to be able to tackle my parents who are arya samajist and who do not favour me taking up krsna consciousness. Maharaj i am trying and i have since then attended more mangala aratis and dedicated to more devotional service, eating only prasadam from temple to purify the consciousness, donating more of what i work and chanting more attentively. Such has been your power of mercy of those 2 minutes.
Dear Maharaj, please bestow your mercy on this fallen soul who is still unable to develop a taste of the Holy name and still entangled in the clutches of maya. You have been so compassionate that so many devotees from the melbourne community particularly, are trying hard to abide to your instructions. please continue in shedding your mercy on us all and help us in our menial endeavors
Devamrta Maharaj ki jaya.

The servant of your servant
Dixit Ramparsad

Al Glories to Srila Prabhupada
All Glories to Guru Deva

Please accept my humble obeisances Guru Deva, on this beautiful day of your Vyasa Puja.

A wise man (Albert Einstein) once said:
"There are only two ways to live your life - One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is.'

From the day that Krishna guided me into your life I have come to experience these many miracles but also to realise that there is a third way we can choose to live our lives - that of service to God, to Krishna. (Einstein didn't have all the answers after all.)

55 years on this earth is such a brief time
but I have come to realise that Krishna has strategically placed very special souls amongst us - you being one of them Guru Deva.

These souls he has endowed with exceptional qualities - some being humility, transcendental knowledge, compassion, an enormous loving heart and the x factor that attracts lost and seraching souls like bees to nectar.

Krishna has allowed many wondrous things to occur in this complex and challenging world. From the billions of souls that inhabit this earth he chose you as a key player in bringing love, peace, awareness of the Supreme Soul and God realisation to us.

I thought I was content in my life until I was introduced to your beautiful and dutiful devotees who showed me what true happiness really looked and felt like.

You are an exemplary model of how a human should live and serve. I know I fall down constantly in my service to Krishna and, at times, I must be such a disappointment to you. But please know, that because you have accepted me as your devotee life has taken on a whole new meaning: I have gratitude for everything and everyone; I have become addicted to chanting the Lord's holy names; my family, though not all devotees, look at life in a more spiritual and non-judgemental way - and, at last I know my reason for living - service to God is what I now strive for!

With all my heart - Thank You Guru Deva.

May Krishna guide you, protect you and allow us to have you in our lives for a very long time to come.

Your aspiring and devoted servant
Dvaraka Puri

Nama Om Vishnu padaya
Krsna-presthaya Bhutale
Srimate Devamrta Swami
Iti namine

I offer my respectful obeisances to Srimate Devamrta Swami who is very dear to Lord Krsna on this earth, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.

Pracare purva-daksyam ca
Bhaktacara-pravinata
Pararthatapi karunyam
Yasya sarve ca te namah

Obeisances to you who have all the qualities of unique skill in preaching, competence in Vaisnava dealings, selflessness and compassion.

Dear Gurudeva. A Very Happy Vyasa Puja Day to you. Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to you.

It is said that by the mercy of Krishna, one gets a Guru and by the mercy of Guru one gets Krishna. I can clearly remember the day 6 years ago, when my father passed away and I was begging for Sri Sri Radha Vallabha’s mercy and at that moment you entered the temple room and I saw you for the first time. Those were just few minutes in my early days in Krishna Consciousness, but it is now after getting initiated into Prabhupada’s family under your umbrella, I can realise that how much important those few minutes were, that was actually Krishna’s mercy upon me Who was showing me my eternal master and spiritual father.

Gurudev, you have been kind and compassionate towards me since the day you gave me your shelter, even though you are busy in pleasing Srila Prabhupada and spreading Lord Chaitanya’s mercy, you have the ear to listen to my problems. In the brief darshans, which I had with you this year, I was amazed how you could instantly and expertly give clear and precise guidance which not only inspires me and my family but my extended family as well. Please forgive me for not doing much to please you in return to your kindness.

This year, I want to beg you to bless me with some intelligence, so that I can cultivate enthusiasm to follow you in Srila Prabhupada’s mission and to continuously remain in your secure shelter, in spite of my so many shortfalls.

Aspiring to be your useful servant,

Ekatma Gaur Das

Dear Guradeva,
Please accept my most humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and to your merciful lotus feet.
Thank you for saving me from the darkest ignorance,and opened my eyes with the torch of spiritual knowledge.I was living a totally wasted life in China for about 3 years,hopeless and meaningless.Though I was always trying to find the answer of life,I could find nothing but more and more distress.I also tied to be a nondevotional and nihilistic buddhist to comfort myself,which is quite difficult in kali-yuga.My burning desires was drying up my senses all the time,which made it impossible for me to focus on the confusing philosophy of Buddhism.
Fortunately,with the great mercy of Krishna,I can come to New Zealand and meet you and so many wonderful devotees.I have never known that there can be such a kind of spiritual bliss in the world.I have never known that even serve others can be so sweet.I used to be a eating bird who wanted to enjoy the fruits of the tree.But actually I was just fully engrossed with anxiety and moroseness.Now it’s time to turn my face to another bird and know the glories of Krishna.I surrender unto your lotus feet,Gurudeva.And I will try to be a good servant of you and all other devotees.
A fallen soul
Felix Yan

Dear Devamrita Swami

Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada

om ajñāna-timirāndhasya
jñānāñjana-śalākayā
cakṣur unmīlitaṁ yena
tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ

vāñchā-kalpatarubhyaś ca
kṛpā-sindhubhya eva ca
patitānāṁ pāvanebhyo
vaiṣṇavebhyo namo namaḥ


I have spent my life fruitlessly searching for happiness, wandering lost and alone on the dark road of impersonalism. Somehow or other, by the grace of Kṛṣṇa, I have wandered here and just like a kind father you have picked me up and set me upon the path of light. By your mercy, I have found the courage to stick myself to devotional service. By your guidance, I have remained steady in my determination to serve the devotees of the Lord. My debt to you, for the kindness you have shown me, cannot be factually measured, for it seems to increase with each passing day. I am so very happy now, to be under your care. Thank you again and again. I am a soul surrendered unto you and I so hope to one day become your faithful servant.

Gurudeva,

O Lord! Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. You are the Lord of my life. Only by your grace can I obtain love for Krsna. I have the prana to back up this hefty claim. All the great sages confirm this truth about you.

Visvanatha Cakravati Thakura prays:

By the mercy of the spiritual master, one receives the benediction of Krsna. Without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement.
(Gurvastakam)

Narottama das Thakura sings:

The lotus feet of our spiritual master are the only way by which we can attain pure devotional service.
(Guruvandanam)

Bhaktivinoda Thakura cries out to his guru:

sakale sammana, korite sakati,
deho’ natha! yathayatha
tabe to’ gaibo, harinama-sukhe,
aparadha ha’be hata

O Lord and master! Invest me with the power to properly honour all living beings. Only then will I sing the holy name in great ecstasy and will all my offenses cease.
(Gurudeva)

Krsna in the role of the perfect devotee instructs:

By the mercy of both Krsna and the spiritual master, such a person receives the seed of the creeper of devotional service.
(CC.M.19.151)

Prahupada states:

Devotional service can in fact be attained only through the mercy of a pure devotee.
(NOD, pg14)

Krsna is the Supreme Absolute Truth. He explains that one cannot know him without the mercy of a spiritual master:

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.
(BG.4.34)

Prahlada Maharaja teaches us that:
Unless they smear upon their bodies the dust of the lotus feet of a Vaisnava completely freed from material contamination, persons very much inclined toward materialistic life cannot be attached to the lotus feet of the Lord, who is glorified for his uncommon activities. Only by becoming Krsna conscious and taking shelter at the lotus feet of the Lord in this way can one be freed from material contamination.
(SB.7.5.32)

And Jada Bharata clearly shows the mandatory requirement of the guru’s mercy:

My dear King Rahugana, unless one has the opportunity to smear his entire body with the dust of the lotus feet of great devotees, one cannot realize the Absolute Truth. One cannot realize the Absolute Truth simply by observing celibacy [bramacarya], strictly following the rules and regulations of householder life, leaving home as a vanaprastha, accepting sanyasa, or undergoing severe penances in winter by keeping oneself submerged in water or surrounding oneself in summer by fire and the scorching heat of the sun. There are many other processes to understand the Absolute Truth, but the Absolute Truth is only revealed to one who has attained the mercy of a great devotee.
(SB.5.12.12)

In the purport of SB.1.7.6, Prabhupada states: “Revival of the dormant affection or love of Godhead does not depend on the mechanical system of hearing and chanting, but it solely and wholly depends on the causeless mercy of the Lord. When the Lord is fully satisfied with the sincere efforts of the devotee, He may endow him with His loving transcendental service.”

Therefore, I cannot obtain love for Krsna without Krsna’s mercy. However, I NEED your mercy to get Krsna’s mercy. Please be merciful to me Gurudeva and
“make this servant of yours more humble than a blade of grass” (Gurudeva - Bhaktivinoda). I pray your vani may be eternally fixed in my heart.

Gurudeva, my heart is full of dirt. I am immersed in envy. Please mercifully bestow your blessing upon me so I can assist in your mission. You asked me to use my intelligence in Krsna’s service. As I thought about this afterwards, I was reminded of SB 11.5.32: “In this Age of Kali, people who are endowed with sufficient intelligence will worship the Lord, who is accompanied by His associates, by the performance of sankirtana-yajna”.

I am begging you Gurudeva to allow me to develop the emotions of a real devotee like you.

Desperate for your mercy,
Gadai Gauranga dasa

nama om vishnu-padaya krishna-preshthaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine
namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine
nirvisesha-sunyavadi-pascatya-desa-tarine

nama om vishnu-padya krishna-preshthaya bhu-tale
srimate devamrita-svamin iti namine

om ajnana timirandhasya
jnananjana salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena
tasmai sri guruve namah

Dear Gurudeva,
By some great fortune you allow us year upon year to have a brief glimpse of your monumental endeavours to help spread the mission of Srila Prabhupada. The level of your determination to give much needed support, nourishment and loving care to those you visit leaves me in no doubt that your are continually relishing the nectarian mellows of bhakti. It is this simple display of the dynamics of selfless service to Krsna that inspires me to try harder to just get a small taste by trying to serve you in some small way.
Your understanding of the complexities of vaishanva dealings in the midst of 21st century madness and the delicate way in which you deal with them perfectly, displays your thankless task of purifying us of our misconceptions and false identities. I perhaps don’t appreciate this enough nor do I allow myself to open up more to you so that you can administer the medicine in a greater dose. Please continue to tolerate this stubbornness of mine I pray that I can develop the humility and selflessness that you show and in this way develop stronger relationships with fellow devotees and in turn become a better representative of your guidance.
Thank you for listening to us and for giving us your support and care and once again thank you for showing us the personal reality of Krsna Consciousness.
All glories to you on this most auspicious occasion of your vyasa puja.

Your servant
Gaura Kishore dasa

Our dearest Gurudev,



Please accept our humble obeisances at the dust of your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.



Once again on this Auspicious day we want to Thank You for bestowing your mercy and shelter on us. We are in complete awe of the devotional path commandeered by you, Gurudev. Your perfect example of how to live a Krishna Conscious lifestyle is an inspiration for our family.



Though we are not qualified to understand the activities of an elevated Vaishnava such as yourself, we are however, able to observe the following from our experience:



Gurudev, you protect your disciples' devotional creeper by your mercy and will do everything to help maintain it.

You regularly travel to share Krishna Katha with your disciples, even though such long-distance traveling can be very grueling.

You maintain a light hearted atmosphere, while at the same time deliver the most serious transcendental message to your disciples to steer them on the right path.

Yet you are capable of becoming like a lion to protect our devotional life.



When we consider all you do for us, we feel we don't have any way to repay your kindness, Gurudev. We humbly pray to and beg Pancha Tattva that They will make all your activities successful and keep you in good health, year after year, so that we may have the opportunity to serve your lotus feet.



Your eternal servants,

Gaura Prema das, Nitai Prema dd, and Krishna Prema das

Dear Srila Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to You my dear father and master.

I was recently doing some research for a soul feast presentation on what is going on in this world in the name of civilization. What I came across, which surely was only the tip of the iceberg, was absolutely horrifying. In the name of leadership the mass-scale suppression, torture and mental and emotional abuse that exists is frightening...
And I thought, that could’ve been me!
But here I am,
<i>With the most selfless compassionate master awakening me to reality.</i>

We travelled on harinam down Courtenay Place, I observed the arrogant yet insecure attitude of the patrons in the bars. Women whos self worth lies solely on attractive abilities, hearts barren as deserts. Men with one agenda and one agenda only...
And I thought, that could’ve been me!
But here I am,
<i>Transferred to Vaikuntha in association of sadhus chanting and dancing in ecstasy.</i>

Whilst resting my body and mind in Otaki, a chicken came through the fence to scavenge for some worms or food scraps - he was in total anxiety...
And I thought, that could’ve been me!
But here I am,
<i>Hearing the sweeter than sweet pastimes of Sri Hari.</i>

Of all the myriads of births I could soon have been taking,
Any species, any planet, tracks to misery I was making,
But here I am, only by your causeless mercy,
<i>With the chance to wake up to immortality.</i>


Now let me take at least this one short life,
And to my full capacity extend your mercy to others in strife.
Taking your instructions deep into my head, and my heart,
With this strength even maya we can outsmart.
But oh how to stay focused and determined all the time,
With the distraction of material desires which are not so sublime!
Please instruct me Srila Gurudeva in how I can be,
A useful disciple and assist you, not give you anxiety.

Aspiring to become and remain your dear, devoted servant,
Gaura-arati dasi

Dear Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances, All Glories to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada.

Gurudeva, it is said that actions speak louder than words, and that talk is cheap.
Please let me act as a disciple should and not be a cheap devotee.
Your example is a standard on the battlefield of Kali yuga, rising above the dust and carnage, you give direction and a rally point to those who become lost or bewildered in the fight against maya.
Please use me as your instrument in the battle as you see fit.
Begging to remain in your shelter and service.
Gauraraya das

Dear Srila Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to you on this most auspicious day of your appearance.

The work you do, all over the world, giving yourself to others, you are dedicating everything to your very own spiritual master, doing everything for Krishna. You do so much and I, do not know where to begin to glorify you properly. You deserve the best of everything, because you imbibe the best for Krishna. I’m sorry that I am not very qualified to glorify you adequately.

I myself, if I may say, am full of faults, full of material desires, full of bodily consciousness. I don’t even have much taste for hearing about the Lord or to chant His holy names attentively, but I’m grateful for your association and the wonderful association of my peers who are striving to serve you and become Krishna conscious.

Sometime my husband will ask me about what I read that day so we can discuss Krishna conscious topics but all I can mutter out is: “Prabhu, you have something on the side of your mouth.” or “Prabhu, do you think I’ve gained weight?”, or “Prabhu, do you think I look nice in this sari?” How silly I am to waste his time and ruin the nice Krishna conscious moment he was trying to set. I’m so filled with bodily consciousness and selfishness that it is terribly embarrassing.
Krsna speaks of this in the Bhagavad Gita 18.58:

“If you become conscious of Me, you will pass over all the obstacles of conditioned life by My grace. If, however, you do not work in such consciousness but act through false ego, not hearing Me, you will be lost.”

Prabhupada in his brilliant purport explains: “(…) No one should be carried away by the false ego of the bodily concept of life. One should not falsely think himself independent of the laws of material nature or free to act. He is already under strict material laws. But as soon as he acts in Krsna consciousness, he is liberated, free from the material perplexities. One should note very carefully that one who is not active in Krsna consciousness is losing himself in the material whirlpool, in the ocean of birth and death. No conditioned soul actually knows what is to be done and what is not to be done, but a person who acts in Krsna consciousness is free to act because everything is prompted by Krsna from within and confirmed by the spiritual master.”

Srila Gurudeva, you are using every opportune moment, your evenings, your everyday energy in Krsna’s service, always glorifying Him. I often feel like I’m wasting my valuable form of life, lost in the material whirlpool of material existence. I’m reading the books, but nothing’s going in! When will the day come when I will happily pick up Prabhupada’s precious books and really put their teachings into practice? When will I get the taste that you have for hearing and chanting the Holy names of the Lord? When will I get off the bodily platform? I have to remind myself that I’m a spirit soul who’s presently in a woman’s body, but only temporarily.

Gurudeva, I’m confident that through your instructions, with time, I can learn to listen to my authorities: the sadhus, the shastras, my gurupati, and you, my beloved spiritual master, and really come to fruition to become the devotee I’m meant to be; A servant of the Lord who can help others come to the path of Bhakti.

It does give me hope when I look at where I was, just a few years ago and where I am now. Thank you, Gurudeva for all your words of encouragement over the years.
It is only due to your mercy that I am able to advance in Krsna consciousness. Bhakti is not cheap. There is no doubt about that.
Three years ago while I was attempting to distribute books, you sent me a personal text message: “If you’d just be more grounded, focused and reliable, down from the airwaves, that would really help you in your service. I know you can do it, if you put your mind to it. Yw”
You believed in me Gurudeva. A few months ago, you told me how pleased you were that I’m doing much more service than ever before. That I’m more grounded now and not so spaced out. By your mercy, miracles do happen. As we hear in this gem of a verse from the Caitanya Caritamrita 17.80:

“mukam koroti vacalam
pangum langhayate girim,
yat kripa tam aham vande
sri gurum dina-taranam”

“I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, the deliverer of the fallen souls. His mercy turns the dumb into eloquent speakers and enables the lame to cross mountains.”

Srila Gurudeva, thank you for giving us the shelter of an amazing spiritual family. Us, your disciples are one of a kind, we have a good reputation throughout Iskcon which is only due to you, being such an exemplary leader, a perfect example of what it is to be a Vaisnava devotee of Krnsa. That culture of looking after devotees which you imbibe is thoroughly priceless.

Aspiring to become an exemplary devotee,
Your eternally indebted servant,
Gitavali devi dasi

Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to you our glorious spiritual master



‘It is said that great personalities almost always accept voluntary suffering because of the suffering of people in general. This is considered the highest method of worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is present in everyone's heart.’
Srimad Bhagavtam 8-7-44

HH Sivarama Maharaja in his Vyasa puja offering to Srila Prabhupada in 2006 speaks very graphically about the personal inconvenience a spiritual father takes on for his dependents.

‘I am so closely connected with guiding the evolving lives of my spiritual children which is not always without it shares of dangers and obstacles. Sometimes devotes loose heart while waging war with maya, an enemy who never tires. Sometimes they succumb to the urges of the senses and call truce, only to perish; sometimes they lose faith in the instution, in its leadership, in me, in Srila Prabhupada. Sometimes they stray to practice Krsna Consciousness in their own way, only to deviate. When these things happen devotees often give up their services, vows, practices, becomes critical and devoid of spiritual radiance. At times I feel like a parent who laments the rebelliousness of his children. This foolishness, stubbornness, breach of trust and harsh words of devotees are heart wrenching. In Jiva Gosvami’s words, “as painful as a lance in the heart”. But a lance plunged into the heart causes pain only once at the moment before death. But the sight and sound of a dispirited Vaisnava causes pain repeatedly, for after witnessing them I continue to live.
That pain brings fourth warm tears, deep sighs, and the question “how can I continue like this?’

A year ago a former Sankirtan devotee and initiated disciple of yours was making a come back to the Loft and had again begun chanting 16 rounds, despite an addition of two small children to her youthful life. When you learned about her re-immersion in Bhakti
your response- “Ah how I loved her ecstatic Kirtan.”
Similarly, another person of close calibre also trying to re-land in Bhakti informed you of her plans to re-establish herself in good Krsna Consciousness association,
your response -“I will rest better when you return.”

The heart of you our spiritual father, is unfathomable; willing to take on the inconvenience and austerity of disciples, and the ‘lance-like pain’ that comes with such service.

In a prayer Lord Brahma offers Krsna in Canto 8.5.26 is relevant in this connection.
‘You have no material qualities. Indeed, You are inconceivable. The mind cannot catch you by speculation, and words fail to describe you. You are worshipable by everyone.
We offer our respectful obeisance’s unto you.’

As explained by HH Sivarama Maharaja rebellious children can causes lamentation, tears and pain like that of a parent for a child.
At a Bhagavatam class recently with HH Bir Krishna Gosvami he describe what it’s like opening up his email inbox,
“Gurudeva My husband wants a divorce, what do you think,?”
“Gurudeva, My wife is smoking dope, help!”
“Gurudeva I don’t like you anymore..”

You yourself have described having spiritual dependents can mean sleepless nights of worry and physical illness.

Despite such a demanding service and whip lashes to your heart, you are still able to re-open the doors to such persons who have rebelled, giving them all encouragement, love and assistance in continuing Bhakti.
Furthermore not letting such pain affect your future aspiring disciples but continually accepting more persons for initiation. Indeed such examples of tolerance and endurance in such a difficult service certainly qualifies you as a great personality as described within the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam.

When we see you, you are always in best form, enthusiastically speaking from Bhagavatam, tirelessly giving guidance, care and adjustment to guests and devotees alike, overseeing and directing the management, stirring and rejuvenating the outreach, dancing and chanting energetically in Kirtan...
Sometimes it’s hard to believe that behind all of these services you do so expertly, is your constant exertion, labour, prayers and reflection on how to keep us, your struggling disciples, engaged and fixed in Krsna’s service and that you are dealing with all the above mentioned reactions that come with such a service.

As your disciples, we know that when you deal with us we feel we have your full attention, that you make every decision with precision and contemplation. Recently a disciple had been asked to leave NZ and had two days to go to her next destination. When hearing of such disturbance you rang her giving her reassurance that everything would be okay. When she asked where she should go you told her that you were planning to think about it in January but now you would think about it today. This is an example of your precision. When you are dealing with a devotee you are not absorbed in deciding what to do about hundreds of others’ problems.

Thank you for tolerating so much and taking care of us.
In turn let us take such good care of you and your relentless desires to please Srila Prabhupada.

Your grateful servant
Gokula Lila dd

nama om vishnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale
srimate devamrita svamin iti namine

pracare purva daksam ca bhaktacara pravinata
pararthatapi karunyam yasya sarva ca te namah


Dear Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances on this auspicious Sri Vyasa Puja day
All glories to Srila Prabhupada

Even with greatest intelligence one cannot understand the plan and activities of an advanced devotees still even though unqualified, I am trying to offer a few words of appreciation for your pleasure and mercy.

The Lord’s system of purification of the conditioned soul within the material world is through His pure hearted devotees who always meditate on Krsna. Lord Krsna tells Uddhava:

nirapekṣaḿ muniḿ śāntaḿ
nirvairaḿ sama-darśanam
anuvrajāmy ahaḿ nityaḿ
pūyeyety ańghri-reṇubhiḥ

“With the dust of My devotees' lotus feet I desire to purify the material worlds, which are situated within Me. Thus, I always follow the footsteps of My pure devotees, who are free from all personal desire, rapt in thought of My pastimes, peaceful, without any feelings of enmity, and of equal disposition everywhere.” [SB 11.14.16]

Krsna follows in the foot steps indicate that, dust from the Lord’s feet has already purified such great devotees and such devotees completely fixed themselves in the pastimes of the Lord assist in His mission. You have taken up the Lord’s mission of reclaiming conditioned souls in such a profound way that you are known within whole ISKCON for your own unique preaching skills as well as your ability to inspire others to preach. I remember, last year in Mayapur, book distribution minister Vijay Prabhu glorifying you and requesting all assembled devotees and GBCs to convey special appreciation for your success in making westerners into devotees. Your ability to inspire devotees for preaching is unparalleled as we saw in last year book distribution such a tiny country as New Zealand surpassed even a giant like America and came third position just behind India and Russia. In our Melbourne context, student preaching has grown from a few devotees to much of a significance both in quality and quantity only by your involvement, efforts, guidance and mercy. I have seen personally you going through significant difficulties with health and still you prioritize Melbourne preaching efforts and give time even for personal meetings with guests between back to back lectures.

Once you explained that Prabhupada had already given the ticket to Goloka Vrndavan by the end of this life to all those sacrificed for Caitanya Caritamrta marathon, however, you have explained that there are many who dropped that most valuable ticket by disassociating from Prabhupada’s movement and devotional service. However, you are carrying that valuable gift from Srila Prabhupada and distributing that mercy on behalf of Krsna by tirelessly traveling and preaching.

janasya kṛṣṇād vimukhasya daivād
adharma-śīlasya suduḥkhitasya
anugrahāyeha caranti nūnaḿ
bhūtāni bhavyāni janārdanasya

“O my lord, great philanthropic souls travel on the earth on behalf of the Supreme Personality of Godhead to show compassion to the fallen souls who are averse to the sense of subordination to the Lord.” [SB 3.5.3]

I consider myself most fortunate to come in touch with you and this feeling of good fortune and the sense of gratitude is increasing as the years roll by. In fact it is considered rare to get human form of life even though it is temporary, however, it is considered rarer to get association of someone who is dear to the Lord of Vaikuntha. [SB 11.2.29]

durlabho mānuṣo deho
dehināḿ kṣaṇa-bhańguraḥ
tatrāpi durlabhaḿ manye
vaikuṇṭha-priya-darśanam

I feel more responsible in relationship with you and feel more obliged to follow your instructions and to please you. When we feel the sense of responsibility mixed with a feeling of inability, it is a dichotomy and this can only be resolved by your mercy and so folding my hands I pray for your mercy.

Your aspiring servant,
Gopa Vrndesa Dasa

Dear Guru Maharaja.
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to you on the auspicious day of your appearance.

I can still clearly remember the day that I had my first official darshan with you. After you so expertly dismantled my material ambitions in commerce and politics I started looking into Krishna consciousness more seriously. I read Prabhupada’s books, grilled the devotees with lots of questions and eagerly awaited your visits so that I could attend your classes and kirtans. Your classes were clear, concise and exciting. The topics were well thought out so as to gradually introduce newbies, such as myself, to the core fundamentals of Krishna conscious whilst exposing the deficiencies of the materialistic lifestyle. You had answers to all the questions, and I especially enjoyed the way you very proficiently dissected, sorted out, and completely annihilated philosophical deviations. One key thing that was apparent when listening to your classes was that you were extremely competent in giving advice and you knew something that I didn’t know – and I wanted to know it. From my early teens I was looking for someone I could look up to and guide me in life, so when you came along my life changed.

I then decided to commit to the process of Krishna consciousness. I had my 21st birthday, aka farewell party to material life, and returned eagerly to Wellington ready to engage full heartedly in the process of Krishna consciousness. I remember being disappointed when coming to ‘The Loft’ and hearing that you had already left and that I would need to see you the following day, so I eagerly awaited to see you.

I had uni classes in the morning and I remember preparing for my darshan; how I would approach you and what I would say – it was a big moment for me, the moment I would get formal guidance from a bona-fide spiritual master.

Then the opportunity came, I came in and sat down. Your face beamed with a brilliant smile and you invited me to speak. I then read from a notebook I had written notes on, from what I can remember I recited the verse:

tad viddhi praṇipātena
paripraśnena sevayā
upadekṣyanti te jñānaḿ
jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ

“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.”

I then mentioned that I would like to take up Krishna consciousness more seriously and asked for your guidance. After discussing my situation you then advised me not to go and teach English in Japan (which was my plan) and to complete my degree in Wellington.

I replied by saying that I wanted to go to Japan.

Still, you managed to sort me out so expertly and talked some sense into me. Then at the end of our conversation, as I was walking out the door, you said something to the extent of, “Welcome to Krishna consciousness”. I cannot remember the exact words, but the satisfaction and Krishna consciousness that exuberated from your voice made a permanent impression on me.

From there I have never turned back, and neither have you turned back on me. Despite my inadequacies and temperaments you have always tolerated me and encouraged me further in my Krishna consciousness.

Srila Gurudeva, thank you for being there for me from the beginning. I was, and still am, very fortunate to have had your guidance and association.

Please forgive me for my offenses in my dealings with you. Thank you for tolerating me and guiding me. Please bless me with the ability and determination to be a better devotee and servant, a staunch follower of your instructions, and so that I can fully imbibe your mood of devotee care, cultivation and selfless outreach. I understand that these things are very important to you because you put so much effort into them, and I would like to be of more assistance to you in this field.

Your servant,
Gopala Guru dasa

Dear Gurudev,

Please accept my humble obeisance’s; all glories to you.

Gazing in wonder at a picture of my initiation ceremony, I sit pondering the mysteries of what is taking place in the scene depicted: your outstretched hand holding a simple strand of Tulasi beads, my upturned hand reaching back to collect these wooden jewels. No blinding flash or electrical surge moves from teacher to student, no merging of souls or secret handshake. To external appearances a few simple vows are made and some fruit gets charred. The untrained eye fails to see that a loving exchange of the highest order is taking place- a transcendental, Krishna-infused pact to give instructions and to follow instructions.

8.17.1
PURPORT
For advancement in anything, especially in spiritual life, one must strictly follow the bona fide instructions of the teacher.... As confirmed in the Vedic injunctions, yasya deve parä bhaktir yathä deve tathä gurau [ÇU 6.23]. One should have complete faith in the guru, who helps the disciple make progress in spiritual life. As soon as the disciple thinks independently, not caring for the instructions of the spiritual master, he is a failure.

Looking around Bhakti Lounge, I can see that those who stick closely to and strictly follow your instructions, shine with explosive potency from the action of imbibing your teachings in their lives. I’m often struck with wonder at the stunning qualities I see in my god sisters - your spiritual daughters : their steady enthusiasm, their selfless determination, their surrender and dedication, their charisma and grace, their gentle, tireless efforts to follow and serve your instructions - fruits testament to the quality of the root stock from whence they came: you.

As I reflect on my Vedic adventure of fumbling to apply your directives in my life, there is a gradual dawning realisation that yes, indeed, the application of your shakti-packed instructions are slowly-slowly-slowly switching on the human qualification of discrimination.

It seems like a conundrum that one should have to forego choice in order to get choice, but powerful, imparted words taken out of a darshan with you - and acted on in place of personal preference- do indeed contain the mercy that grants power of choice. Thank Krishna, you’ve also given me something worth choosing!

Truth be known I would be like a child whistling in the dark to pretend he’s not afraid if I audaciously said that “I have no personal motives, I no longer find exercising my choice muscle difficult and I always follow instructions..” Unfortunately not. I’m all too often tripped up by false humility : a thin veneer to a pride that declares “I need not” and a fear that snivels “I dare not.”

But I endeavour on having witnessed phenomenal changes in those around me, who, over the years, made, and continue to make, decisions in their life based around your instructions.

Gurudev, on this day of your vayasa puja, I would like to extend a pledge to develop a more active relationship with your instructions. I beg for the strength and surrender to enter the dynamic realm of your service, which up til now I’ve done in a very superficial way, deviously guising my seemingly never-ending attraction for sense gratification neatly under a highly motivated claim to be executing “devotional service”.

I did absolutely nothing to deserve you reaching your arm out to pass me 108 beads on Krishna’s birthday 3 years ago. You selflessly accepted the barbed baggage of the incalculable births I carried with me, and offered me Krishna.
“Help me to help others” your only humble appeal in return. Let that be the first instruction I exercise discrimination to carry out.

Your white servant
gopesvari dasi

Dear Guru Mahraja,

Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada

Guru Maharaja on this auspicious day I want to offer my gratitude for all the efforts you take to selflessly serve Srila Prabhupada in his mission. In spite of inconveniences you continue to travel throughout the world for our benefit. With your purity you attract conditioned souls like me and bestow your mercy upon them.

I consider myself the most fortunate and blessed for having such a caring and loving spiritual father. You expertly engage us in devotional activities and bring us closer to Krishna. Although I do not have much to offer but you constantly encourage and inspire me to perform devotional service. It is only because of your mercy I am able to be in devotee association and render some service. I can never repay you for what you have done for me and my family. You are our shelter in this material world and if we follow you then we will stay on track to reach the final goal and develop Bhakti for Krishna.

I am trying to get more serious in my spiritual life and hope to serve you better.

I pray for your good health and long life

Your Servant
Govinda kunda devi dasi.

Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my bumbling obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

In a recent darshan you showed your fatherly compassion, once again, sharing your concern that we need to do some homework on parenting practices. Ouch, that hurt the false ego! You continued on to explain the social chaos of today – single parenting, abusive parenting, permissive parenting, “hippy” parenting, absentee parenting. Your analysis and depth of vision of our clean, green (but rotten to the core) NZ society with all it’s dysfunctional family dynamics is so sharp and dissecting.

And now you have to deal with the products of such social chaos. Had you had your own seminal children you would have been able to raise them correctly from the start, but instead you have adopted hundreds of orphan’s with heavy karmic baggage and still you lovingly persist to help each of us – spiritually and materially. To find a spiritual master of such loving compassion and selflessness is … a gift of Krsna!

I’m always enamoured by how astutely you can analyse this world and how in just a few striking words you can unravel a lifetime of misconceptions to point us on to a path of social uprightness and ultimately to spiritual success.

As a product of this rotten society whose fabric of traditional, cultured family life, is virtually disintegrated, I find myself stumbling & guessing my way through parenthood. But your instructions have inspired me into more proactive parenting. Thank you Gurudeva, for challenging me, with all fatherly directness, to equip myself with knowledge to become a better parent.

In the absence of a biological father or grandfather I beg you to always educate me in both material and spiritual affairs.

Offering heartfelt obeisances to your lotus feet.
Your servant
Guru vani dd

Dear Gurudeva,

Please Accept My Humble Obeisances at Your Lotus Feet. All Glories to You and Srila Prabhupada.

When i think back to what my life was like before meeting the devotees in New Zealand, i am extremly grateful for all those devotees who lovingly cared for me and helped me to accept Krishna Consciousness. They are doing this only because you guide and train them to be selfless and compassionate to the suffering souls in this material world.

I have neither the ability to glorify you properly nor can understand the dedication and determination you have for your service to your spiritual master. but, when i think of those devotees with whom i came in touch, who are so selflessly serving the parampara i can get a glimpse of your own inspiring leadership and compassion you have in your heart. You serve tirelessly and train the devotees under your care so that the mission of Sri Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu spreads far and wide.

i am very fortunate to have received your mercy and guidance and hope that i can become worthy of what i have got.

On this most auspicious day of your Vyasa Puja, i humbly beg you to guide and instruct me so that i can one day become qualified to represent this great disciplic succession which is in the safe hands of devotees like you.

Your Foolish Eternal Servant,
Hamsavatara Dasa

nama om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate devamrita swamin iti namine

precare purva daksyam ca bhaktachara pravinata pararthathapi karunyam yasya sarve ca te namaha


Thousands upon thousands of dandavats unto you my dear most spiritual father, on this holy day of your appearance. It is certainly foolish for me to think that it is possible to pay back my spiritual master. The disciple must see him as the manifested representative of the Lord, who by Krishna’s special grace has come to extricate the conditioned souls bound in a network of illusion. Although the spiritual master sees himself as the humblest servitor of the Lord, the disciple is love bound in eternally rendering service unto him, being our direct link to Krishna. Eternally serving the instructions of guru and Gauranga is the disciples’ life and soul. By this authorized service unto the Lord, the spiritual master is giving the disciple the rarest opportunity to reclaim ones’ life from the clutches of illusion.

Rather let me try to develop and express my gratitude to you day by day, as I rise in the early hours of the morning and offer puja to my worshipful Lord, as I chant my rounds, as I dance and sing in the sanga of fellow brahmacharis and devotees, as I partake in honouring prasad, as I try to distribute Srila Prabhupadas books, preach and cultivate, as I try to help others, trying to go deeper into selflessness, compassion and tolerance. I am compelled and moved to be Krsna conscious and help others become Krsna conscious, as you have inspired me and countless others to do so.

You have infused so many to act to their highest potential, using all our talents in serving Krsna, despite the embarrassing state of Kali yuga. For this I am eternally grateful to you Gurudeva. Day by day I am beginning to realize the extraordinary treasures that you and Srila Prabhupada have mercifully bestowed upon me. Although unqualified, undeserving and shameless, by your munificent example you have given me all facility for making my life a real success. Not the so called success that is so dear to those implicated in fruitive activity, but the success in attaining lifes real perfection ‘prema pum artho mahan’.

Gurudeva, I pray that I can always deepen this attitude of genuine gratitude taking it as a sure sign of any spiritual advancement I may have made over the years. I recall a class you gave in Sydney two years ago. You had remarked that Kali Yuga was the age for whingers and that there is always something to whine about, some miserly excuse why we can’t take to Krsna consciousness, or when we are in Krsna consciousness, this neophyte mentality can creep in. Always whinging about our service being too hard or there’s too much service, or I don’t like this service, or I can’t stand this prabhu or that prabhu, whinge, whinge, whinge. Instead of making a habit of this mentality, you emphasized that rather one should learn to be grateful.

The more I have come to terms with the degradation of where I came from, in contrast to the jewels I have somehow inherited by serving you and Srila Prabhupada, I am simultaneously ashamed and enlivened. I am always fearful of going back to living a life of senseless animalism, nor could I ever give up praying to keep the exalted position of trying to selflessly serve the lotus feet of guru and Gauranga. The more I realize the wealth of bhakti, can I say that I have an honest and genuine mood of gratitude towards you, Srila Prabhupada, my god family and all the facility given to me in trying to become Krsna conscious.

Srila Prabhupada writes; “The spiritual master is not actually happy if the disciple brings him money, but when he sees that a disciple is following the regulative principles and advancing in spiritual life, he is very glad and feels obliged to such an advanced disciple.” CC Adi 7, 91 purport.

The spiritual master is the representative of Sri Balarama the original spiritual master and by the mercy of Balarama we get the strength to carry out Krsnas instructions. Therefore in this most sacred day, I pray that by the actions of my body, mind and words, I can keep invoking your mercy, and have the potency in carrying out the direction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead coming through you. In this way, to some extent begin to please you.

Eternally in gratitude and determined to be your obedient and selfless servant.


Hriman Krsna das

Please accept our humble obeisances and also our best wishes on this sacred day of your appearance.

Our hearty gratitude for your compassion to us, for loving Krishna so much. Please take care. You are very dear to us. We wish to see you healthy and happy.

Your eternal servants, lavangi devi dasi, Michael, Amala. (Severodvinsk)

Dear Guru Maharaja,

please, accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Living entities engaging in materialistic way of life cold not understand movements of time, which are representation of Supreme God. Most people act under the influence of modes of passion and ignorance. Only few can elevate themselves to move of goodness and from that position have more or less clear vision of themselves, world around them and become aware of Supreme Lord. These constant endeavors could be compared to war where the mind is the battlefield and victory is never easy.

Your instructions is the way for me to understand and increase my spiritual experience. Utilizing my senses and emotions allow me to have spiritual experience now, in my present situation. By sing temporary material senses and body we can obtain eternal position..

Praying to become useful in your service,

Indranath das.

Nama om vishnu-padaya krishna-presthaya bhu-tale
Shrimate devamrita-swamin iti namine
Pracare-purva-daksyam-ca bhaktacara-pravinata
Pararthathapi-karunyam yasya sarve ca te namah

All glories to Jagat Guru Srila Prabhupada.

All glories to dear Gurudev.

Gurudev, please accept my humble obeisance’s at your lotus feet on this auspicious occasion on your divine appearance day.

Gurudeva, though I am not qualified to write this offering, I am trying to make an attempt to express my feelings from the bottom of my heart. Please forgive me for any offense, if I commit in making this neophyte offering.

I feel so fortunate and thankful to you to give a fallen soul, like me, your kind blessings. I could able to realize year after year the guidance and support that you continue to give me for realizing and understanding the important of leading a healthy and quality spiritual life.

Gurudeva, you always showed your kind affection towards me and I am very thankful that I feel indebted to you. This year I had a very nice realization. Maharaj, I had a desire that you invite Lord Guranga and Nitayanada in our new house. When we expressed our desire to you we could not understand your busy schedule and felt that we should not cause inconvenience. After few days HH Bhanuswami maharaj invited Gaura- Nitai in our house, the ceremony was so auspicious but internally I was missing your presence and feeling emptiness within my heart. But after beginning worshiping of Gaura-Nitai, a few days later you have come in my dream and said that I am going to visit your home very soon. I am so shocked and informed my husband that I got this dream and I felt very happy and was eagerly waiting for that moment. Within two days there was a retreat in Melbourne and after the intense retreat and other preaching schedule, you have visited our home that home program is my dream come true. In my life this is a wonderful and golden memory that Gurumaharaj, despite of your busy and hectic schedule, you could make this happen. I can never forget that sound vibrations, that I can still listen in my house, that escatic kirtan and wonderful lecture describing the pastimes and the mood of caitanya Mahaprabhu is so memorable that I owe you throughout my lifetime. I can feel the difference staying in that house before and later. I was so disturbed that I have come far away from temple and was not happy at all but later on after Gaura- Nitai’s welcoming and your blessing, the house is purified and feel satisfied worshiping Gaura-Nitai. Gurudeva, thankyou very much for being so kind to us and always showered your mercy so that we become steady and fixed in our sadhana and increases our faith in Krishna consciousness. I understood that without Krishna’s mercy one cannot get Guru’s mercy/blessing and without Guru’s blessing one cannot get Krishna’s mercy. Your smiling face, intense lectures and ecstatic kirtans always gives me inspiration to continue to follow Krishna consciousness and increases my faith in Krishna. Whenever I listen to your lectures most of my doubts and questions are answered and the take home message captures deep into my heart and makes me think of how to be able to utilize my time in whatever way that may please you.

Gurudev, year after year you are selflessly and expertly spreading glories of Supreme Lord and serving Srila Prabhupada. You are a perfect example for understanding how a disciple should surrender to guru and make use of this valuable life to understand the supreme absolute truth. You take risk in preaching the glories of the Lord for the pleasure of serving Srila Prabhupada and efficiently convert all those materially inclined persons to Krishna consciousness.

Guru Maharaj, when I think of myself I find nothing of value. Your mercy is therefore essential to me. Without your mercy, I will constantly weep and feel unhappy. On your Vyasa Puja, I sincerely beg you to continue to give your mercy and guidance to me. Please give me blessing to look after my son, Venu Gopal. My only desire is to be an instrument in serving the servants of you in fulfilling your mission of serving Srila Prabhupada.

Aspiring to serve you,
Jahanvi Jivan dd

Nama om visnu-padaya Krsna presthaya bhutale
Srimate devamrta swamin iti namine
Pracare purva daksyam ca bhaktacara pravinitah
Paratatapi karunyam yasya sarve ca te nama


Dear Gurudeva,

Caught-up in the rat race of corporate life and material existence wherein the only outcome of every action is anger, greed, lust and frustration at very corner. I find myself extremely fortunate to have come across a person like you.


I often ponder, if I actually apply your teachings for the betterment of my spiritual life or just float around letting my mind and senses lead me astray, knowing time is getting closer and closer and will eventually destroy my body.

In December 2010, at your retreat in Wellington, you bought to everyone’s attention the six highway robbers on the path of our spiritual highway. The six highway robbers being Kama, Khroda, Moha, Madha, Matsalya and Lobha how they destroy our spiritual life. If it wasn’t for your guidance I would be gripped in the midst of these 6 highway robbers and probably have become a slave to them.

I'm trying my best to control my mind and senses, in terms of words, action and speech but I cannot do this without your guidance, love and instructions.

I pray to Krishna to always keep me in your loving service and never allow my foolish mind to lead me astray from your lotus feet.

Your insignificant servant and son.

Jai Saci Nandana das.

<b>Dear Devamrita Swami, </b>

<i>Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to you on your appearance day!</i>

I’ve often heard that you can judge a guru by his disciples, and quite simply yours are some of the most loving, conscious, compassionate beings I have ever met – so much that they have redefined these words for me!
I feel incredible gratitude to learn from, be inspired by, and be cared for by them. A truly “love-starved wolf” (I loved this metaphor you used in “Bhakti-bhava”), my search for deeper connection and meaning without true knowledge or care led me on a rapidly deteriorating path of physical, mental and spiritual destruction.
I believe Krishna very mercifully answered my mangled, misdirected, misinformed attempts at prayer and guided me to take shelter of Him via you and your devotees – eating humble pie (prasadam, of course!) on the door step of the ashram.
Without The Loft in Auckland and Bhakti Lounge in Wellington, quite honestly there’s no way I would have approached Krishna consciousness. I desperately escaped contact with a sankirtan devotee the same week I first came to Krishna Fest in Wellington, even though I was suffering so intensely! Every day I realise more and more just how special these places are, or rather the people and vision behind them, and it blows my mind to see how their faith and dedication to you fuels their relentless efforts. I’ve been listening to a series of your lectures on Contemporary Urban Preaching, and your intelligence and insight are so inspiring.
Words are cheap but I hope that somehow, with continued purification and an open heart, I can begin to pass on the love and knowledge that I have been blessed with. For now I can just try my best and say <b>Thank You</b> from the bottom of my heart. <i>Hare Krishna!</i>

Your servant,
Jamie

My infinitely dear Guru Maharaja!
Please accept my humble obeisances!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga!
I want to attach my letter to the day of Your birthday.
Received the Prema Vardhana prabhu letter with a translation of Your blog, and was inspired to write You. You have written that is inspired by a disciple thereof, which was traveling from Siberia to 5 days to get pranama. Read the letter I too am very inspired by this dedicated disciple and at the same time You upset because I had a very long time to persuade some of Your disciples go to meet You. Somehow hovers mindset to enjoy the guru - the guru himself even coming to us, We will serve here him, begged mercy or stolen, the guru used to move and we do not, so we'll wait for him, lying on the couch. And this Mataji, who are not poor! I always hurts to hear it. but I am inspired by other Mataji, who lay with his meager salary money to buy a plane ticket and come to the festival to talk to You at least 10 minutes. We talked with her after Your darshan, and concluded that for the sake of 10-20 minutes of close contact with You can be in some way to limit themselves to one year. Because these precious moments are invaluable. Why a disciples is a desire to use a guru? Now, becoming a mentor, I can see it in their wards. Someone just wants to use me for advice on initiation. How to deal with these "vampires"?
I would also like to thank You for the perfect example of sensitivity, care and attention to their disciples. As soon as You called Natasha, she called me, she clever and managed to write down everything You tell her. Now she is at the top of inspiration. Yesterday she asked me how to write a tribute to You for Your birthday. I gave her some advice.
I also wanted to thank You for what You gave me Your love for reading Chaitanya Caritamrta and also gave instruction to serve Sri Sri Nitai-Gauranga! Now I'm very attached to Him. I'm trying to sew up new clothes and make necklaces and bracelets. I sing for Them, as You advised, and take Them to India to Kartika. My husband wants to take me this year at Kartika. I'm a little afraid, because I consider myself unqualified to see the holy dhama. I'm afraid to commit dhama-aparadha unintentionally. But I just want to repeat it carefully holy name, at home is very difficult. many distractions.
I want to finish my letter by saying that I am proud that I am Your disciple, I am proud of my spiritual teacher - an example to follow and inspiration, I'm happy that I can communicate with Your steadfast and sincere disciples - with Rasakrit, his wife, Anne, Uttara and Lavanya. I also respect Your other disciples, but also communicate closely and intimately with these only.
Yesterday was the first time in the room Deities and helped disguise the Deities Radha-Govinda for their night games. I liked it. I will now do it regularly. Thank You for that instruction as well!
Forgive me my ignorance and sentimentality. Let this letter will also be offering in Your appearance day.
Your eternal and insignificant disciple Jana Mohini d.d.

Dearest Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my most humble obeisances in the dust of Your lotus feet.
All glories to You on this most auspicious celebration of Your Vyasa Puja!

Another year has passed by so quickly.
It makes me realise that it is time to become serious about Krsna consciousness.

"I just want you to become Krsna conscious"; these transcendental words have emanated from Your lotus lips several times over the years.

Recently here in Sri Dham Mayapur, it was mentioned in a Srimad Bhagavatam class that `Sravanam`, or proper hearing really means "to act".
Not just to hear something through one ear and out the other without any endeavor on our part.
This really stuck with me somehow, and it makes me think of You GuruDeva, and of how You are such an inspiring example in this regard.

Throughout all of Srila Prabhupada`s books, His Divine Grace says: "just distribute these books and preach this message of Krsna consciousness to everyone you meet."

For You, GuruDeva, this instruction has become Your life and soul.

You dive deep into the nectarian purports of Srimad Bhagavatam and Caitanya Caritamrita, and take everyone who is eager to also taste this nectar, along with You, in Your own unique way.

You inspire everyone, and especially Your disciples and well-wishers, to develop a deep commitment and attachment to our eternal relationship with the Holy names of the Lord.

You make us aware of this most precious and valuable gift, and show us by example how to properly treasure and cultivate this Bhakti-lata.

Every day, by Krsna`s grace, i realise more and more how fortunate i am - and we all are as Your disciples and aspiring servants-
to have come in contact with a pure, bona fide Guru in the line of Lord Caitanya and Srila Prabhupada.

We have no strenght on our own, and we cannot approach Krsna directly ourselves.
Only through the mercy of a pure Vaisnava can we be saved.

This material world is a vast ocean, where calamities await us constantly.
Only through having taken shelter at the lotus feet of a pure devotee of the Lord, is there any hope for us to reach the shore of this dangerous and frightening ocean.

I pray on this day that You will give me the intelligence, patience, humility and determination to understand what it really means to take shelter of Your lotus feet.

Your "Loft-preaching" programs and dynamic SB and CC classes are famous all-over the world, and i feel eternally grateful to be associated with such a revolutionary, cutting-edge spiritual master as Your Good Self.

Despite my `strong-headed` and rebellious nature, You keep showering me with Your care and selfless love.
This makes me feel very much indebted to You, and it inspires me to act in such a way that pleases You.

Although I am very fallen, and possess little or no ability to render any valuable service to You or Your disciples, Your God brothers or -sisters, I pray on this day that You may bless me and my children to become pure servants of the servants of Your servants.

Seeking to serve You.

Your aspiring servant,
Janesvari devi dasi

Dear Srila Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada, and all glories to you on this most wonderful anniversary of your appearance.

Srila Gurudeva, on reading the history of Ajamila and his deliverance by the Vishnudutas in the 6th Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, I contemplate my actual position in the grip of the three modes of material nature and your selfless striving to pull me out.

In Bhagavad-gita, Lord Krishna also reminds me of my appearance in this world: “all living entities are born into delusion, bewildered by dualities arisen from desire and hate” (Bg 7.27).

Gurudeva, you are an ocean of mercy. Srila Raghunatha dasa Goswami says, ‘krpambudhir yah para-duhkha-duhkhi’. Although a Vaisnava himself knows no unhappiness, he nonetheless feels unhappiness on account of the suffering of the conditioned souls. You could be living a life of absorption in sadhana in the holy Vrindavan, but instead you have brought Vrindavan to us here, down-under. You have awakened and invigorated such an unworthy, unqualified fool as myself with your astounding Srimad-Bhagavatam lectures, kirtans and service opportunities. But for you preaching isn’t an austerity, it’s the enlivening activity of the soul proper. In Bhagavad-gita Krishna makes this known:

mac-cittā mad-gata-prāṇā
bodhayantaḥ parasparam
kathayantaś ca māḿ nityaḿ
tuṣyanti ca ramanti ca

“The thoughts of My pure devotees dwell in Me, their lives are fully devoted to My service, and they derive great satisfaction and bliss from always enlightening one another and conversing about Me. (Bg 10.9)”

Actually Gurudeva, you go beyond this. In this verse Srila Prabhupada translates the words ‘bodhayantaḥ parasparam’ as meaning ‘preaching among themselves’, referring to devotees discussing Krishna-katha together. Krishna further explains at the end of Bhagavad-gita: “mad-bhakteṣv abhidhāsyati – by explaining to the devotees,” the supreme secret of Bhakti-yoga, one will afford His mercy (Bg 18.68). But your mercy exceeds Krishna’s description of His own devotee. Where Srimad-Bhagavatam class amongst the intimate association of devotees is the comfortable norm, you have taken your preaching beyond the many temples dotting the globe, and journeyed into the mainstream to find what makes people tick.

You are known for your dynamic preaching strategies. You very expertly set up The Loft, Bhakti Lounge, and similar centres where a confused, lost soul can come to understand the frailties of materialistic life, while simultaneously experiencing the sublime glory of devotional life. And I enthusiastically put my hand up to be identified as one of those fortunate souls!

To obtain devotional service is to attain the kingdom of God.

I Have to admit, most days I take it for granted that I’ve stopped my gross sinful activities and have been given the opportunity of rendering devotional service, but I’m like the baby clutching the jewels. What does it take for me to realise my fortune?

Srila Prabhupada said: “Krishna’s mercy is always there. It is your misuse of fee will. You are given the opportunity – that is fortune. But you do not accept the fortune. That is your misfortune” (Perth, May 10, 1975)

So how will I get Krishna’s mercy? Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura has given me a hint – “yasyaprasadan na gatih kuto ‘pi – you can’t get Krishna’s mercy without first getting the mercy of the guru!”
The spiritual master is always anxious to deliver the fallen conditioned souls. Naturally we can please him by helping in this mission. Gurudeva, part of your mercy lies in the missionary service you have given your disciples. You have given us this opportunity to preach – that is our fortune.

When I hear of the decline in preaching that many ISKCON temples have, or are now facing, I can only feel a deep gratitude for the wealth you have given us. Where devotees around the world struggle to pay the bills and where book distribution is an irregular occurrence, you have set up situations where outreach and book distribution not only go on as daily affairs, but where these engagements actually support the preachers doing that service, thus solving the human resources vs monetary resources dilemma.

In understanding my own position I am trying to assimilate the following realisation; this is the realisation Ajamila had after he was extricated by the Visnudutas from the grips of the Yamadutas:

so 'haḿ tathā yatiṣyāmi
yata-cittendriyānilaḥ
yathā na bhūya ātmānam
andhe tamasi majjaye

“I am such a sinful person, but since I have now gotten this opportunity, I must completely control my mind, life and senses and always engage in devotional service so that I may not fall again into the deep darkness and ignorance of material life.” (SB 6.2.35)

Srila Prabhupada’s purport is clear: “Every one of us should have this determination. We have been elevated to an exalted position by the mercy of Kṛṣṇa and the spiritual master, and if we remember that this is a great opportunity and pray to Kṛṣṇa that we will not fall again, our lives will be successful.”

I thank you so much Srila Gurudeva for extending your mercy this far. I pray that I may develop the strength and courage to bear this mercy, all the while helping to distribute this mercy to others, like the six Goswamis’ ability to bear the mercy of Lord Caitanya and also deliver it to others (sri-caitanya-krpa-bharau bhuvi bhuvo bharavahantarakau).

Trying to be a servant of your devotees. With love, your aspiring disciple,

Jayadeva Kavi dasa

Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to you on this most auspicious day of your appearance.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I would like to take this opportunity to THANK YOU Gurudeva.

Thankyou for your guidance.
Thankyou for your encouragement.
Thankyou for your patience ( I certainly would have given you a good opportunity to practice this one)
Thankyou for your tolerance.
Thankyou for your kindness.
Thankyou for your care.
Thankyou for everything Gurudeva.

Your aspiring servant,
Jhulan yatra das

Dear Maharaj,

Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I would like to thank you for your kind words and gentle guidance, I feel very privileged to have met and spoken with you.

Your inspirational words grow in my mind and blossom in my heart. With sincerity I aspire to become your disciple.

As you asked of me, I will not let you down. I look forward to meeting you again in the near future.

Your aspiring disciple,

Jonna Aubrey

Please accept my humble obeisances.

May your appearance day on this Earth be your last.
I feel as though my life is worth something real after your appearance in my life. The Loft, which is your program has really pulled me out of the matrix and my own mental speculation. After some time and association with your wonderful devotees, I am slowly learning the science of Bhakti. When I read or hear about your journeys and service it totally blows my mind of what you achieve and the lengths you go to fulfill your service. It is a level of devotion that I cannot comprehend and therefore I am very much grateful that I am under the instructions and teachings of you and your devotees.

May your appearance day be a day of nectarean service and that your love for Krishna will fill your heart with ecstatic bliss.

Hare Krishna

Josh Darvill (Auckland)

Dear Maharaja,

Thank you so much for your kindness and compassion. I will never forget what you have done for my real self, the soul. Often times we praise those who give us material things and material enjoyment, but you have given me something way more valuable and real. For more than a year now, I have been listening to your lectures regularly. How can I forget all those times when I went to the park with my red mp3 player just to listen to your lectures. All of your lectures were so eye opening. How can I ever forget when you were explaining about the surfers, and how you were explaining that there is not such a thing as a good or a bad wave. In the material world they are all the same. Whether we have luxury handcuffs or not, what difference does it make.

How can I ever forget when I had the immense fortune to pick you up at LAX. That was the best trip I have ever had. Spending time with you and your servant Shastra Krit Dasa was blissful. I wish those two hours would have lasted longer. I wish they would have lasted forever.

Thank you so much for sharing what you learned from your spiritual master. Thank you so much for having amazing disciples and specially thank you so much for caring for us fallen souls.

Hare Krishna!!

Dear Srila Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to you on this most auspicious day.

I would like to take the opportunity to show my deep gratitude for your selfless service in Srila Prabhupada’s mission year after year. When I lament over small difficulties I feel ashamed when I remember the many more and greater difficulties you have had to face. I remember how you mentioned in a class that at 28 years of age you sacrificed your youth and health to spread Lord Caitanya’s mission in eastern Europe. Since then you have taken on more and more disciples, a very selfless sacrifice, and relentlessly kept on travelling around the globe. Suffering from bodily diseases and car crashes, you simply keep aloof from bodily discomfort and stay focused on Krishna’s spiritual reality.

Your meditation is how to find new ways and techniques to reach out and touch the hearts of all the young, lost souls of today’s absurd culture. And on this special day I am praying for your empowerment to be of some help in this mission.

Certainly your personality and your words are powerful and deeply touch the core of many hearts. During the time of your absence I find most inspiration in hearing your recorded classes, remembering your dedication and compassion.

Although I certainly have nothing myself to be proud of, I can be proud to have the most selfless master. In ups and downs I know that if it was not for your guidance in my life, I would be most unfortunate. So let me pray for the strength and dedication to become a better and more worthy servant of the greatest master, you.

I have got nothing really to offer, but I would like to offer the small effort of trying to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books. I haven’t been able to do it for many months now. But last week I went out for a few hours to give these great jewels out. This was the most inspiring few hours, because I know that even just the effort pleases you a lot. My prayer is that despite whatever obstacles life will through in my way, I may have the determination to increase my efforts in this way.

Thank you for everything Srila Gurudeva!

Your servant and daughter, Karuna-Purna dd

Dear Srila Gurudeva

please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
And all glories unto you, Srila Gurudeva, on this auspicious day of your appearance in this world to wake up the sleeping, forgetful souls from their ignorant slumber in this material world.

I have to write a last minute offering this year and really hope I can express at least a little bit of the gratefulness and appreciation I have for you. Like always I feel helpless and my mind is blank. You are an ocean of good qualities and I feel like the famous frog and cannot comprehend the vastness of this ocean and try with helpless words to describe you from within my little well.

A little while ago I came across the following verse in the purport of the Srimad Bhagavatam 2.9.39 cited from the Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya (13.2):

akṣṇoḥ phalaḿ tvādṛśa-darśanaḿ hi
tanoḥ phalaḿ tvādṛśa-gātra-sańgaḥ
jihvā-phalaḿ tvādṛśa-kīrtanaḿ hi
sudurlabhā bhāgavatā hi loke

"O devotee of the Lord, the purpose of the visual sense is fulfilled simply by seeing you, and to touch your body is the fulfilment of bodily touch. The tongue is meant for glorifying your qualities because in this world a pure devotee of the Lord is very difficult to find."

When I read this verse all I could think about was you. The perfection of sight is seeing a pure devotee of the Lord. You are that pure devotee my eyes are allowed to see and how I love just seeing you, your gestures and facial expressions during your animated lectures, your hands while playing kartalas, your lotus feet, your dancing and singing, everything! You are always shining, effulgent. Now I remember how you were singing and dancing in a kirtan on the last end of the year festival right next to me. I felt already so blissful chanting the holy name but then I could also just absorb myself in taking you in with my eyes and the bliss I felt increased a thousand times. You move so gracefully, your eyes emanate love and eternity and everyone can see how your mouth is relishing the holy name of Krishna. You taste the sweetness of Krishna dancing on your tongue, in your ears, in your mind, in your heart, everywhere… Those moments are so very electrifying and somehow you enable us to have this little but overwhelming taste of Krishna’s sweetness. How that happens, I don’t know.
In Srila Visvanatha Cakravati Thakura’s 8 prayers to the Guru he describes how the Spiritual Master is always gladdened by this Sankirtan movement and relishes the mellows of pure devotion. I don’t know what that means, but I can see you relishing and somehow you allow us to partake of that taste, not much but much more than I deserve. You are so merciful!
The perfection of touch is to touch the body of a pure devotee. How could I touch you Srila Gurudeva? I have this desire to just simply fully surrender unto you unconditionally out of gratefulness what you are doing for me. Sometimes it felt so overwhelming, but most times of course I wish I could feel this desire at least a little bit. Once I felt this desire so strong, triggered by my fiancée. I simply wanted to fall down before you and give you my life and everything and place your lotus feet upon my head. That is the perfection of the sense of touch. You are so kind accepting me as your disciple even though I am so polluted and cannot see how I could possibly reach that point. How nice it is in the beginning of Krishna Consciousness when somehow you get a rest from the material impact but after a while you have all your impurities right in your face. That’s what I start seeing in me now by your mercy and I hope that one day I can be a worthy disciple to be able to deserve the perfection of touch.
And the perfection of speech is to glorify you. My tongue is meant to spread your glories still I have to learn this art to glorify you appropriately and to always have topics concerning Krishna coming forth from my mouth. Only by your mercy I can try to speak of Him and only by your mercy I can try to glorify you.

Please accept my little attempt of expressing how strongly I feel bound up by you and how grateful I am that you give me the chance to try to make my life perfect by serving you. It is a very rare opportunity to find a pure devotee of the Lord but by your mercy you caught me in your net of love of Godhead.

Thank you very much Srila Gurudeva. Please let me know how I can serve you.

Your aspiring disciple
Kasi Priya das

Namo om visnu padya Krsna prestaya bhutale Srimate Devamrta Swami iti namine...

Dear Guru dev,

please accept my humble obeisances on to your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to you on this auspicious day of your appearance.

Gurudev, it seems to look like a chain of miracles by Krsna as how i came into contact with Krsna consciousness through you though i do not deserve. Without my awareness your instructions always protected me and always moved by your selfless love and compassion. At times, I'm scared to talk to you and but when i see you, you shower your mercy through deep concern and your instructions. I really don't know how to thank you..How much ever little time i have,i just want to be Krsna conscious and follow your instructions. My conditioning is so deepen which can be uprooted only and only by your mercy. please help me to break my foolishness and become your sincere disciple. i want to write more but i am short of words to describe you. forgive me.

All glories to you, Gurudev....
Gurudev Vyasa-puja ki jai...

aspiring to be your servant,
keerthi

Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

On this divine day of your appearance I would like to offer gratitude for your transcendental parenting and training and the austerities involved…

Srila Prabhupada explains:

"A spiritual master is not an enjoyer of facilities offered by his disciples. He is like a parent. Without the attentive service of his parents, a child cannot grow to manhood; similarly, without the care of the spiritual master one cannot rise to the plane of transcendental service."
Caitanya Caritamarita Adi-lila 1.46 (from purport)

We are born in the darkness of ignorance and you bring the torchlight of transcendental knowledge to open our eyes. Like you have said though, it can be a hard job getting someone to open their eyes if they want to stay asleep.

I look over your patient training of me and see so much repetition of guidance bouncing off my dull head, lessons not yet absorbed, intelligence not yet activated, despite your hard work. What an austerity!

Yet you remain ever well-wishing, ever attentive, ever invested, always kind, encouraging, chastising when needed.
“Those whom you love, you chastise” you reassure us as we digest your expertly applied adjustments.

“The result will be that those who are sadhu, or realized, will be able to sever his attachment to material association. This is the great advantage of good association. For instance, Krishna speaks Bhagavad-gita to Arjuna just to cut off his attachment to this material affection. Because Arjuna is attracted to things that are impeding the execution of his own duty, Krishna severs these things. To cut something, a sharp instrument is required; and to cut the mind from its attachments, sharp words are often required. The sadhu or teacher shows no mercy in using sharp words to sever the student’s mind from material attractions. By speaking the truth uncompromisingly, he is able to sever the bondage. For example, at the very beginning of Bhagavad-gita Krishna speaks sharply to Arjuna by telling him that although he speaks like a learned man, he is actually fool number one. If we actually want detachment from this material world, we should be prepared to accept such cutting words from the spiritual master. Compromise and flattery have no effect where strong words are required.”
(from Perfection of Yoga)

I am eternally grateful to you for this often thankless and misunderstood task of reaching in to save my soul from the ocean of ignorance. You see the emergency and you see the real self, both of which I am blind to.

I would like to become a very receptive and responsive child…and mature quickly easing your burden of love, honouring you properly:

“To honour the spiritual master means to carry out his instructions word for word” Srimad Bhagavatam 3.24.13 (from purport)

I’ve heard a nice analogy that a baby in nappies is cute but an older child still in nappies is not so appealing.

I beg for the strength to leave the nappy stage.

And to relieve your austerities at least in my case and make your parenting a joy rather than a burden – Srila Prabhupada explains how a disciple making progress makes the spiritual master glad:

“When a disciple very perfectly makes progress in spiritual life, this gladdens the spiritual master, who then smiles in ecstasy, thinking, “How successful my disciple has become!” He feels so glad that he smiles as he enjoys the progress of the disciple, just as a smiling parent enjoys the activities of a child who is trying to stand up or crawl perfectly” Caitanya Caritamrita Adi-lila 7.82 (from purport)

There is unlimited service to be done in your mission of outreach and care for devotees, which I’ve learnt so far requires great focus, intelligence, sense control, self-maintenance and a heart willing to awaken compassion, gratitude and humility.

Please bless me with the strength to assist you as you deserve with maturity and intelligence.

your servant daughter,
Khadiravan

Dear Guru Maharaja
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet
On this most auspicious day of your appearance

Over 40 years of teaching ,preaching and being Krsna concious,you are ,no doubt,a true saint and messenger of the Almighty Supreme Personality of Godhead Bhagavan Sri Krsna.

Sastra and sadhu confirm this

You possess and exhibit all the qualities of a pure devotee


On every level,from the ground up,you are giving practical guidance and advice to your needy followers,disciples and admirerers.

You are fully realized .

As a result,those you give mercy to,are able to make tangible spiritual advancement and attain the ultimate goal of life.
Compassionately dealing with and dispelling all doubts,misconceptions,preconceptions,deviations,trip ups,fall downs in your followers,you are giving so many chances to the kali yuga refugees.

Marching on and boldly preaching Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's message in every town and village in many languages on many continents in different styles and dealing with current world issues,you are making devotees the world over.

You are encouraging all the devotees to become well rounded and healthy both materially and spiritually.
Dealing with all aspects of Prabhupada's ISKCON from Book and Prasad distribution to cow protection and self sustainability
With the ability to read the pulse of todays fast paced world
Giving practical application of sastra for spiritual solutions to all material problems

Making Srila Prabhupada proud!!

ALL GLORIES to YOU GURUDEVA!!!!

Please allow this fallen conditioned soul to come somewhere near the servants of your servants
Your aspiring servant of your servants
Khela-tirtha dasa

nama om vishnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale
srimate devamrita swami iti namine
pracare purva dakshyam ca bhaktacara pravinata
pararthatapi karunyam yasya sarva ca te namah

Dear Guru Maharaj,

Please accept my humble obeisance at your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to you on this auspicious occasion of your Vyasa Puja.
Gurudev, personally for me you have made this a very special and memorable year by bestowing your mercy upon me and providing the much required impetus in my spiritual life by initiating me as your disciple. In one of your lectures on Bhagavad Gita that I heard recently, you were mentioning that one’s understanding of Bhagavad Gita depends on the medium through which he receives it. With each passing day, I realize how unqualified I am and how it is only by the causeless mercy of a pure soul like you that I am fortunate to be linked to the Gaudiya Vaisnava parampara - the perfect medium to understand and live as per the teachings of Bhagavad Gita.

Gurudev, many times during the last year I’ve admired the expertise with which you overcome the challenges put forward to you by many of our guests at the retreats and at the temple. Even while they get offensive with their arguments, you remain so calm and composed always with a smile on your face, making a sincere attempt to clear them of their ignorance and get them attracted to Bhakti in any possible means. What to speak of others, even for myself, whenever I come to you for personal darshan, I try to be intelligent and present the issues I am facing and the various possible solutions that I have thought of. Invariably you would patiently listen to all my plans of building castles in the air and when you spoke you would present an option I had not even thought of before. I often think, “Now why didn’t I think of that?” The answer is easily that I am ignorant and narrow minded, while you see everything in the light of shastras and what is best for us – a ‘Guru’ in all sense.

On a personal note, the last few months have been tough with a lot of unexpected twists and turns in life due to my visa issues. I was surely in anxiety many a time and wasn’t sure how things would shape up for me. When I wrote to you explaining my situation, you advised me as a very loving father to stay strong in my spiritual life serving Krsna in whatever means possible. I’m sure it’s by your blessings the issue got sorted in a miraculously short time and I was able to be back here exactly a couple of days before you were to arrive here in Melbourne for a retreat at New Nandagram.
Gurudev, on this auspicious occasion of your Vyasa puja I humbly seek your blessings to follow you instructions and be of assistance to you and the devotees here at the Melbourne Mahaprabhu Mandir.

Eternally your aspiring servant
Kirtiman Krsna Das

Dear Most Beloved Srila Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to your lotus feet and all glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Despite my hopeless inability to take advantage of your instructions, I really appreciate how much you have extended yourself for me.

Thank you for teaching me how to have fun in the mystic realm of Krishna Book. I am trying my best to increase my appreciation of Srila Prabhupada's transcendental books by reading at least an hour a day. "Love to read the books; love to distribute the books." I pray that someday this offering will increase to two hours of daily reading.

As you've explained, the prayers of the Acaryas hold special purity, but nonetheless, please accept this feeble attempt at a sanskrit prayer. I wrote it with a hidden motive - to attain your divine association again soon:

sri gurudeva sankirtan-sarira
kutah kutasi kujat kasmalam me
bhramaya te bhutani bhakti bruyuh
prarayante pah pada-pankajamrtam

'Dear Srila Gurudeva, Srila Devamrita Swami Maharaja Thakura, you are the embodiment of Lord Caitanya's sankirtan movement. "Where are you? Where are you?" I call out in distress, for you are constantly wandering this world, teaching devotional service to its inhabitants. I only pray that soon I may drink that water which transforms into nectar upon running over your lotus feet.'

I can never repay you for your guidance and for connecting me again with Krishna. Please allow me to serve you and distribute Srila Prabhupada's books. Please excuse my infinite number of offenses. I'm sorry.


Your aspiring servant,

Krishna Kumara dasa
San Diego

P.S.: Please, some people I've met on books and some old friends need your blessings to continue in devotional life. Some are really sincere; they just need help. Please help them go back home, back to Godhead soon. Thank you.

Dear Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to your lotus feet.

Recently I came across this following verse in the Srimad Bhagavatam (4.30.34) and it reminded me of you, the translation goes like this:

Even a moment's association with a pure devotee cannot be compared to being transferred to heavenly planets or even merging into the Brahman effulgence in complete liberation. For living entities who are destined to give up the body and die, association with pure devotees is the highest benediction.

In the purport Srila Prabhupada writes:
The topmost benediction for those who are living in this material world and are subjected to the repetition of birth and death (transmigration) is association with pure devotees. One should search out such pure devotees and remain with them. That will make one completely happy, even though living within the material world. This Krishna consciousness movement is started for that purpose. A person who is overly affected materially may take advantage of this movement and become intimately associated with it. In this way the confused and frustrated inhabitants of this material world may find the highest happiness in association with devotees.

Guru Maharaja getting just a moment of your association is the highest benediction that I’ve received. Your personal presence always gives such incredible inspiration to be Krishna conscious, to hear and chant about Krishna and to know more about Krishna, and your instructions contain such incredible strength to empower one to serve Krishna, over the years it has been astounding to see the transformations others have gone through by taking full advantage of your vapu and vani. Although foolishly I haven’t taken full advantage of you association Gurudeva, I pray that I can be given the ability soon to take full advantage of your vapu and vani through all the different stages of life and somehow or other please you.

Your spiritual daughter and servant,

Krishna Murari dd

Hare Krishna, dear Guru Maharaja!

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Let me congratulate you with this bright day of your appearance!
I cannot help but thank you for opening the Ukrainian festival (Bhakti-sangama) for me. Previously I had never been there and had even no intention to come. But because of you it is already third year of my visiting. Such a wonderful festival, saturated with devotional care! Thank you very much!
I’m very grateful to you for personal instructions and wonderful lectures which I listen again and again. All worries and problems leave my heart.
At present I meditate on two of your instructions: never think that a devotee is a body!
This helps me very much when my mind starts to think of devotees improperly, “He is old, she is young, she is beautiful…” At once I remember your words and all these are gone.
And second: In all circumstances remain in Krishna Consciousness! Maya is happy when we lose our heart feeling helpless, unqualified and useless. I think a lot about it.
Your festival lectures contain so much knowledge – Krishna’s enjoyment, Haridas Thakur, Kubja. I can think of it throughout the year till the next festival.
Thank you so much for all!
Dear Guru Maharaja, please bless me to always remain in the association of devotees and serve them humbly.

Your servant, Krishna Rupa dasi (Saint-Petersburg)

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my obeisances at your lotus feet.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I have been meditating on your mercy – this is one of your many glorious qualities that stand out. Countless times when I have seen that mercy manifest to others or myself I am always amazed at its’ deep and compassionate nature.

What can you say or do for someone who has selflessly given you everything. I don’t even have the capacity; depth of consciousness to realise a fraction of the dept I owe you, my spiritual father.

It’s true that a disciple can’t pay back their dept to the spiritual master.

A disciples mission is – how to honour that dept, how to act to honour their guru maharaja.

Srila Prabhupada says in a purport of Srimad Bhagavatam 3.24.12 “To honour the spiritual master means to carry out his instructions word for word”.

Many instructions you have given me. Some I have carried out, some I have tried and failed to follow but are still trying. Today I beg you please Gurudeva bless me with the ability to follow your instructions on a deeper level.

Your servant,
Krishnaloka devi dasi

Namo om visnu padaya krsna padaya bhutale
srimate devamrta swami iti namine

Pracare purva-daksyam ca, Bhaktacara-pravinta
Pararthatapi Karunyam, Yasya sarve ca te namah


Dear Gurumaharaj,

Please accept my humble obeisences at your lotus feet on this auspicious occasion of your Vyasa Puja.This year I have been reflecting on how personal you are in your dealings with all varieties of different people...whether senior, equal or junior to you.

Starting with the relationship you have with your spiritual master Srila Prabhupada & the Guru Parampara, you are demonstrating year after year from last 40 years that your life is dedicated in serving Srila Prabhupada and his mission.... Quite often you have mention in your lectures that you still relish so much reading Srila Prabhupada's books and each time you go deeper in these books you realise that there so much more to be learnt.You continue to travel every year all around the world to guide so many hundreds & thousands of devotees as a well wisher and as a representative of Srila Prabhupada.

Gurumaharaj you are demonstrating to all of us what is true love in this world , your actions are your feelings of love to Srila Prabhupada & Krsna. These feelings are getting passed down by you to your disciples so that they can continue to serve the mission of Srila Prabhupada...We can see so many examples of exhalted God Brothers & sisters in Australia , New Zealand , USA , Canada, Europe... all working under your guidance and dedicating their lives in service to Guru & Krsna.

Similarly you are so personal in your dealings with your Godbrothers, again you mention quite often in your lectures that one of the reasons of your constant travel is also to get sanga of your Godbrothers & sisters... I had the good fortune of travelling with you for 2 years in a row & I had this idea in my mind that you would normally only travel to places where you had disciples , however I was shocked to find out that most places we were travelling you didnt have any or very few disciples...so then I started to realise how deep is your love for Srila Prabhupada & your realy family that you visited so many places to help and guide everyone in ISKCON , not just your disciples..

Above all , its so mysterious to note your dealings with all your disciples & devotees in general.We read in Krsna book that when krsna was having lunch with all the cowherd boys in the forest , every Gopa was thinking Krsna is only looking at him and smiling at him, whereas actually Krsna expertly was reciprocating with all the cowherd boys equally. Similarly with your personal reciprocation & care for all your disciples, each individual feels that you are showing special mercy upon us...

Gurumaharaj I am so grateful to have your guidance & support in my life & would beg you to kindly always keep me at your lotus feet and engage me in your service. Please guide me that I can be personal in my dealings with all different people...whether senior , equal or junior.. Please bestow your mercy that I can also contribute in some service in your mission to Srila Prabhupada and follow in your footsteps

Your Servant

krsna katha dasa

Dear Gurudeva

Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to you on this most auspicious day of your Vyasa-Puja

This is the hardest time of the year for me as I find it difficult to speak of somebody other than myself. This should be the easiest time of the year, to get the opportunity to humbly try and glorify my spiritual master.

Thank you Gurudeva for your expert guidance and management. The facilities you have made available for us to further our devotional career. From outreach centres and programs in the city, to more outreach in the foothills of Otaki at New Gupta Vraja. There is always somewhere you plug us in.

Thank you Gurudeva for the sometimes overwhelming, endless stream of service opportunities you have made available at New Gupta Vraja, even though it seems to be way out in the country. Since staying here, there is constant streams of devotee association, outreach retreats, now two yearly festivals, organic milk and produce and most importantly, such sweet kirtans with so many different devotees and guests.

Thank you Gurudeva for your care and attention towards your disciples. When you recently called up from Cairns to make sure we were ok after a dream you had that night, I was quite amazed with a comforting feeling of security. My wife even said just after “he really does love us”. When you ask us up to your cottage to come chant our japa with you and kirtan and Krsna book in the evening, having me there with no doubt would be a disturbance. You don’t need to or have to, but out of your mercy you keep calling me back just for my own benefit.

You are making available Gauranga Mahaprabhu’s mission through the Parampara by following Srila Prabhupada with full conviction and determination. You have over filled your heart with love of Krsna now the mercy is overflowing to all us. Gurudeva, I cannot even treat my fellow God brothers and sisters properly what to speak of a personal relationship with Krsna. Your example of this is so powerful, if only I could follow in your footsteps just slightly. I can’t do this on my own, I need your help.

It is so hard to express my heart with words as I am not a writer. Gurudeva please accept some small humble service as my offering to you instead.

Hoping to one day serve you properly.

Your servant,

Krsna Prasada das

namo om visnu padaya krsna prestaya bhutale
srimati devamrita swami iti namine

pracare purva-daksyam ca
bhaktacara-pravinata
pararthatapi karunyam
yasya sarve ca te namah

Dear Guru Maharaj,
Please accept our humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to your lotus feet on this auspicious day of your appearance.

Writing an offering to you is always such a difficult endeavour because no matter how much we try to glorify you it will never be adequate.

We would like to heartily thank you for all your care and the time you spend guiding us in our spiritual life. We really admire how you make time to personally meet all the devotees who want to see you despite your busy schedules when you come to Melbourne.

Sometimes we just ask ourselves, don’t you ever get tired of travelling continuously and giving lectures straight away after getting off the flight! You must be some kind of superman in disguise because no ordinary person can do what you do!

This year after the weekend retreat at the New Nandagram farm, we came to visit you. As soon as we entered the room you mentioned how you noticed, at the farm, that something was worrying one of us. We were totally astounded since you were spot on. All the frustration was expressed and you comforted the situation with your compassionate words. Surprisingly, after that day the issue seemed to have resolved ‘by itself’. Or was it really by itself?

It’s really amazing how the shelter of a spiritual master can completely transform someone’s life. We wonder where we would have been without your guidance and the devotees’ association.

You are a person
who makes life easier and better
for everyone around you.
Your continual acts
of thoughtfulness
and kindness
brighten each day.
What you do for all of us
glow in our memories,
reviving pleasant feelings
every time we think about it.
We appreciate you
and we thank you.

Your aspiring servants,
Krsnamrta das & Rasamrta devi dasi

Dear Srila Guru Maharaja

Please accept my obeisances at your lotus feet

All glories to you on this most auspicious day.

Thank you very much with what you have done with your life. You have perfected it so beautifully. So wonderfully. In a rare moment when I am not spacing out I meditate on what it means to render unmotivated and uninterrupted cent-percent pure devotional service to the Supreme Lord. And my mind boggles. “...anyone who is a first-class devotee must be a first-class intelligent person and therefore not interested in any kind of benediction within this material world.” SB 4.12.8 pp. Whenever I am in your presence Srila Guru Maharaja these words of Srila Prabhupada ring true. Your words personify chastity to guru-parampara and your actions perfectly effectualize guru-vani-smarana. You are on an exalted platform of prema bhakti and as such I feel a little silly and inadequate trying to assemble some words to glorify you.

Thus I would humbly ask that you accept those words that you feel are sincere and reject those words which you deem to be motivated by desires for distinction and adoration.

Gurudeva, you have always been very kind to me. Even though I came to Krsna consciousness loaded with very strong material desires. Finally I thought, I might be able to lord it over the material energy to my full satisfaction. In my diseased condition, I sought a relationship with Krsna on the grounds of Him becoming my order supplier. How sick.
As far as spiritual standing goes, I honestly thought I was “the special one”. How twisted.

But I am in the best hospital. I have everything going for me. You have created such a wonderful community of sincere Vaisnava’s for me to associate with, learn from and become purified by. I could not be doing this without the wonderful friendships I have made here. The way you have built from the ground up a little fortified outpost of Vaikuntha in the middle of a polished version of hell is extraordinary. Thank you for your genius in developing the contemporary men’s ashram and also the mentor system. Both have helped me a lot. I feel very grateful to Mahavan prabhu for his patience and tolerance with me over the years. During my stay at the Parama Karuna Ashram, I spent most of my time either complaining, or throwing tantrums whenever it appeared my material desires were going to be quashed. He is a very capable mentor and devotee and I know that you have given him much mercy so that he can be able to deal with my nonsense.

I would also like to sincerely thank Mahavan again and also Khadiravan Mataji for their help and guidance in planning for my future ashram. I am beginning to appreciate more and more the strength of the material energy. Sometimes, nay, often my intelligence becomes bewildered so I depend upon those who can see more clearly than I do being more freed from the vices of lust, anger and greed than I am.

I am currently courting one of your disciples whom is very dear to you, and I feel a great weight of responsibility as an aspiring grhashta. Please always bless me to do the right thing and always choose Krsna over maya. For this is the example you have set. You always choose Krsna over maya’s allurements. Thus you are a great hero and lion amongst men.

“Bhaktivinoda Thakura describes that a pure Vaisnava, as the proprietor of Krsna and love of Krsna, can deliver both to anyone and everyone he likes. Therefore to get Krsna and love of Krsna one must seek the mercy of pure devotees.” CC Adi 11.59 pp.

Gurudeva, O expert physician, my consciousness is corrupt and my heart hard. Please forgive me for my many offenses. I submit myself to you as your patient. Please be patient with me, for my progress is very slow. But my heart does long for something better.
Please turn me into a real devotee.

Just as a wretched flea clings to the mane of the most magnificent lion, I beg that you may continue to tolerate this invalid clinging to your lionhearted lotus feet.

Aspiring to serve you and your beautiful disciples.
Krsnananda dasa

Please accept my humble obeisances

All glories to Srila Prabhupada



My dear Guru Maharaja



On this auspicious day of your Vyasa-puja of I bow down to your lotus feet
As the most sacred Krishna has given me. Only by his mercy a person
can cross the ocean of material suffering and thus to reach the supreme abode.


Unfortunately I feel so ashamed in front of you. I am feeling my debt is infinite to you. I'll never be able to pay everything you do for me, analysing myself, I don’t find any good qualities in me. Driver by my false ego I act in certain ways, producing good and bad reactions.


In our loving relationship my false ego is not letting me love and serve you sincerely, what to say of glorify you.



On this auspicious day of the celebration of your Vyasa-puja,
I made an agreement with my false ego, to take this opportunity to congratulate you for your tremendous work that you play around the world in ISKCON of Srila Prabhupada.


I can see your work and I think it's the most wonderful, how a person
sacrifices throughout his life, all his energy and desire to serve and follow the order of his spiritual master.


No doubt you are the embodiment of renunciation and you are the most beloved of Krishna, only Krishna knows what class of higher devotee you are and how many people you have helped in times of despair.


I can not understand that kind of relationship, and total dedication, simply because I am a very selfish person, someday I would leave my false ego and advance in Krishna consciousness. No doubt this will be the most glorious moment in which I will serve you.


With love.

Waiting for your mercy


Your servant.
Kurmadeva das

Namah Om Visnu Padaya Krishna presthaya bhu tale
Srimate Devamrita Swami iti namine
Pracare purve daksyam ca bhaktacara pravinata
Prartha tapi karunyam Yasya sarve ca te namah

Dear Srila Gurudev

On this most auspicious day of your appearance, I feel great fortune to take this opportunity and glorify your oceanic qualities.
Daksa - You are an expert master, preacher of Bhagavad dharma, Krsna consciousness. Your great efforts in distributing the highest love of God have saved so many conditioned souls like me.

I remember my first meeting with you at the Loft in Auckland. I asked you why do all spiritual literatures emphasise on finding a Guru and how to find an expert Guru. Out of great compassion, You advised me to read Bhagavad Gita As It Is. Due to less intelligence I could not relate to this answer. Although I had not much interest in reading, but I read Bhagavad Gita As It Is as per your advice. Then I learnt about the Scientific techonlogy of disciplic succession and your advice made me realize what a big fool I am. All my doubts were cleared and my attraction to you increased more and more then. Your qualities are very attractive.

You are well renowned all over the world in speaking on Krsna conscious philosophy. You have shown how practical it is by applying it fully in your own life. Krsna katha sounds more attractive, nectarean by hearing from you. My interest in hearing Krsna katha increased more and more by hearing your lectures on Srimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavad Gita As It Is. It also gives lots of strenth to do more and more. You have set a live example to teach us, How to follow one's Guru's instructions in the best manner using everything in devotional service.

Powerful - You have shown us how to become powerful in devotional service by taking Guru's instructions to your heart. Your power manifests through your wonderful preaching activities and speaking about the Supreme Lord Krsna to all of us. Out of causeless compassion You also empower the devotees practicing Krsna consciousness with dedication and sincerity. I had a personal experiece of it one day.

I went on book distribution with Hriman Krishna Das Prabhu, one of the best book distributors. On this day getting his powerful association I could also do a good number of books and had great exchanges with almost everyone I met. At first I could not understand what is happening today. Later I realized that it his powerful association that helped me participate in a more productive way on this day. He would come and ask me how I am doing. In few hours, he finished a big box packed with Bhagavad Gita and I could feel his influence. I was so thankful to him. I felt great happiness on that day and can not forget this experience.

Generous - You provide us with so many facilities to help us advance in Krsna consciousness. To help us understand the science better you provide us personal guidance by yourself and through expert devotees.

Personal - Just seeing me in one meeting you arranged for me to stay at Thakur Saranga Das Prabhu. You considered my material conditioning and gave me this opportunity out of oceanic compassion. You are so merciful.

Tolerance - You have great tolerance and are a real well wisher of everyone. Even though I do not participate much in preaching activities but still you always inquire How I am doing? Am I being taken care well at the ashram. In addition to that I am given personalised guidance to cultivate devotional service attitude through mentors and association with senior devotees.
I am very fortunate to get your blessings in these ways and am eternally indebted to you.

On this auspicious day of your Vyasa Puja I wish all glories to you in spreading Krsna conciousness. My hope is that by getting your shelter and following your instructions I will also become a devotee. Then I could be useful in some way and participate in Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu's sankirtan movement. My desire is that Your glories spread more and more in all the three wolrds. My request is please always use me as an instrument.

Your servant

Lalit

Dear Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet,

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.


Dear Guru Maharaja you are so merciful.


You are so kind you have given me initiation even though I can't speak English very well.


You always look after me and my family and solve any problems we might have.


You gave such nice daughters in law and such a beautiful name to my Granddaughter.


You always encourage me to do more service.


Thank you for your guidance and help in my life, I am so fortunate and grateful to Krsna that you are my Spiritual Master.


You are so merciful.


Guru Maharaja please help me to increase my service to the devotees and Sri Sri Radha Balabha.


Your servant Lila Katha devi dasi

Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

You are one of the kindest people I have ever met. Your great magnanimity can be seen on a worldwide scale by your voluntary tolerance of the constant inconveniences of travelling; and practically every day giving Krishna conscious classes and making kirtan for the benefit of all types of people.

Of course for me, being a self-absorbed conditioned soul, the most heart touching is how I personally experience your mercy.
Firstly you took the risk of initiating this unsteady fool.
You have listened to my mind and patiently suggested every way to deal with it, including, of course, to chant Hare Krishna.
I'm sorry if I have hurt you by then disconnecting myself and being rebellious, but you are so kind that you have forgiven me many times.
With your pure vision you have seen more potential in me than I can see, but I'm sorry that I have disappointed you by not bringing it out. Even still, you have made your help available for whenever there is a moment of sincere desire to serve.
Now you are accepting me for where I am at and are still encouraging me and engaging me in Krishna's service.
Thank you so much Guru Maharaja for all the forms of your mercy and everything you have tolerated.
I pray to you and Krishna that I will never give up the shelter of trying to serve you, at the least in my small way.

Your servant,
Madhu-puri devi dasi

Jai Srila Gurudev

Om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
Caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah

Namo om visnu padaya krsna prestaya bhutale srimate Devamrita swamin iti namine

Pracare purva-daksyam ca bhaktacara-pravinta pararthatapi karunyam yasya sarve ca te nama

This year has been a difficult one of many changes and challenges. Starting the long walk into a new ashram and transforming my way of life completely.

Only through these changes have I seen how easy I have had it so far and how I have taken so much for granted. An easy life can be like seeing a wonderful machine without seeing the workings behind it. Now, having to take care of the spiritual life of another and take on their problems is a real wake up call.

Your words of encouragement have been the strength I have greatly needed to keep me going through this time. Your words are like a much needed shock from the sleep of complacency. As you have said so many times, we need to preach and serve dynamically.

I am always amazed at how your dedication to Srila Prabhupada’s mission is always increasing. The most amazing example of this was with a vow you shared at Soho Street recently of always being grateful to receive service. I can’t begin to imagine the level of determination that must be present to make such a vow, let alone act on it.

I pray that one day I will be able to repay the kindness you have shown me and use this new ashram as an offering to you and Srila Prabhupada.

Your Servant
Madhurananda das

Dear Guru Maharaj
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All Glories to you.

On this special occasion I pray to Sri Sri Radha Vallabha for your good health and long life. Guru Maharaj this is the hard time of my life as you know we left Melbourne for good and it’s really very tough for us to adjust here without your blessings.

I sometime really feel very upset as missing the association of Melbourne devotee. This time I really need a mercy of Sri Sri Radha Vallabh and you to adjust myself in the new atmosphere and to keep motivated me and my family in our spiritual life.

Please shower your mercy on my family so that we can help you in your preaching mission.

Your Servant
Madhuryadham Devi Dasi

Hare Krishna, dear Guru Maharaja! Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
I’d like to congratulate you with the day of your Vyasa-puja and wish you good health and that nothing would prevent you from spreading Lord Caitanya’s mission.
I’d like to thank you for the support I always feel, especially when I go out for book distribution. When distributing Srila Prabhupada’ s books I think of what you once said in your class – if a person just think positively about the book he is guaranteed a human birth next life. This is very inspiring! Thank you very much for what you do.
The most unpleasant thing for me is to displease you, therefore I try to be a good daughter of the ideal father.
Respectfully,
your servant, Madhyadvipa dasi (Saint-Petersburg, Murmansk)

Dear Gurudeva:
Please accept my humble obeisances to your lotus feet.
All glories to you on your transcendental Vyasa Puja day!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada for giving us you! Our beloved Spiritual Master!

On this auspicious day I always feel a Murkha a big fool. Since I cannot think a proper way to glorify you, as a transcendental Paramahamsa like you deserves.

I also feel deep gratitude, happiness and profound respect for you.

Surfing trough the transcendental vedabase I was trying to find some words of our Founder Acarya, which can school me, regarding the importance of the spiritual master in my life.

I found few powerful statements that I would like to quote:

yasya deve para bhaktir
yatha deve tatha gurau
tasyaite kathita hy arthah
prakasante mahatmanah
[SU 6.23]

“Only unto those great souls who have implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master are all the imports of Vedic knowledge automatically revealed.” Actually the meanings of the words of the Bhagavad-gita or Srimad-Bhagavatam are revealed to one strictly following the orders of the spiritual master. They are also revealed to one who has equal faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In other words, being faithful to both Krsna and the spiritual master is the secret of success in spiritual life.”

I cannot say I am a first class disciple since I’m a very conditioned soul. But I can say that I’m very fortunate to have a bonafide and transcendental spiritual master that can teach me how to be more and more faithful in the devotional service.

I feel indebted to you and Srila Prabhupada for being so merciful with me.
Only a glance, not complete karunya, but kataksa, simply a little glancing, and I’ve become save.

I will remain eternally grateful always remembering that my place is at the shelter of your lotus feet.

Happy Vyasa Puja day Gurudeva!

Your servant, son and disciple

Maha Hari das

Hare Krishna dear Gurudeva. Please accept my humble obeisances.
On this blessed day of your appearance I remember your first visits to Archangelsk that so rapidly going away in time! It was the wonderful time when amazing fortune came to me. Spiritual master’s lotus feet, a dream of all transcendentalists, came to be in my rude and rough hands. I remember every moment… Also I remember I did everything just opposite of what it should have been, and only one question engaged my mind, “What did I do to get such a fortune?” So much time passed, so many different events – sometimes joyous, sometimes not. But your lotus feet are still in my memory.
sri-guru-charana-padma
kevala-bhakati-sadma
bando mui savadhana mate
A wonderful transformation of the heart was your main blessing I realized by Krishna’s mercy. When I listen to you I can see how a thin and sharp scalpel of your mercy cuts attachments deeply rooted in the heart during long lifetimes in the material world. It goes through the ears right in the heart. You say: “Here is Krishna! He is beautiful! He is the taste of water. And this is maya”. And the heart gets purified.
On this auspicious and happy day of your appearance let me sincerely thank you for the treasures you have generously given to us!!! The only thing I wish to see is your saving us, purifying our hearts… and also I wish see your lotus feet in my mind and heart till the very last breath!
Eternally your unworthy and silly disciple, Maha Matsya dasa

Hare Krsna!
Dearest Guru Maharaja!
Please accept my humble, respectful obeissances unto Your lotus feet and congratulations on this special Vyasa Puja day.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to Your Divine Grace!

Srila Prabhupada said that "taking refuge at the lotus feet of the Spiritual Master is the beginning of the end of senseless life, because it opens the path of devotional service, leading to the perfection of love of God"
Thank You for spiritual guidance, through which each of Your disciple feels that he is united with mission of Srila Prabhupada
Dear Guru Maharaja, thank You for the spiritual care You have shown to me by taking a disciple
I wonder how beautiful and delicious spiritual life is, with Your perfect spiritual guidance that helps develop a relationship with a Holy Name.
Which gradually awakens the dormant love for Krishna
I pray to the Holy Name, let my clumsy attempts to serve You become strong steps of spiritual warrior in serving You and Srila Prabhupada's mission

Maha-purna dasi (Chernigov)

Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisance’s,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada

I look at how you've transformed Krsna consciouness in New Zealand since you came here. Its because of you that the number of devotees in New Zealand is increasing exponentially. In nectar of instruction it says an uttama adhikari can be known by how many devotees they make, so when you look at all the devotees you've made, it's pretty obvious you’re on the first class platform. Yet somehow or another here I am, so close to you; yet so far away. That’s why I love you so much Gurudeva; you never give up on people. That’s real compassion.
You give me hope & inspiration, that maybe some day in the future I can become Krsna conscious like you. Everyone needs a role model, so when I see you I think “this is someone I want to be like”
I know I’ve let you down in the past, yet u never gave up on me; everyone else gave up on me, but you didn't. I don’t know anyone else like that, so I think it's safe to say that you’re the most caring person I’ve ever met. I don’t know what I did to deserve you; I've got nothing going for me spiritually. I'm not like your other disciples, I’m always amazed at how quick these new devotees turn into sadhus almost overnight, meanwhile I’ve been sitting in the same place for 6 years, with no progress. That’s why I'm so grateful that you still accept me as your disciple. You do so much for me & I don’t do a thing for you in return; and you STILL have time for me whenever I need it. But this isn't about me, it's about you. I've never meet anyone like you Gurudeva, to this day I don’t know why you've still stuck with me, but I sure am grateful. Please don’t ever leave me Gurudeva, I’m finished without you & I mean it when I say thank you for everything you've done for me.

Your aspiring servant,
Mahanila Das

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to your merciful lotus feet.

All glories to ISKCON’s Founder-Acarya Srila Prabhupada.

Years ago, when I first started the Parama Karuna Ashram service, you asked one person, an aspiring disciple, to stay with me to receive training and guidance. After some time, I wrote to you to share some observations and concerns about the situation and to ask for guidance myself. I explained that I noticed that this devotee had (what I considered to be) a rather freestyle approach to bhakti and was also having some trouble settling into the Ashram program, and I therefore wondered whether he might have felt more comfortable and encouraged in another living situation. I concluded my correspondence by asking, “Which way would you like him to go?” My intention was to get some direction on the best way to encourage him – towards a more regulated, disciplined life or towards his natural “freestyle” approach. In answer to my question, “Which way do you want him to go?” You replied, “Back to Godhead.” At the time, this answer perplexed me, as I was hoping for some more practical direction with which to deal with the situation, however, it did help me to gain a deeper understanding of the Vaisnava heart.

Over the years since then, by the mercy and shelter of your service, I have realized that the driving force behind all of your practical advice, regardless of our degree of receptivity, is one; more than anything else, you want us to attain the same destination that you have - Krishna’s lotus feet - with this one short human life, and you are prepared to sacrifice everything to “make it easy” for us to do that. Of course, “we make it easy” is not the same as “we do it for you,” and therefore out of your deep compassion, you continuously, year after year, decade after decade, urge, beg and plead with us to understand, “Krishna consciousness is not a religious belief!” “Devotee means devotional service!”

Recently, in order to give us even more impetus to experientially enter into the sublime reality of eternal personhood, you gave us your latest book, Bhakti-bhava: the emotional dynamics of a devotee.

In chapter one, you urge us to move beyond our beginner “relief-emotions” stage, by explaining that there is indeed “a future for our heart and its longings in bhakti.”

In chapter two, you explain how the process of vaidhi-sadhana is not a drudgery, as we may sometimes perceive it, but rather Krishna’s perfect system for getting and giving the best love; “the best love arises from voluntary choice.”

In chapter three, by elaborating on the theme of the previous chapter, you give deep personal insights into “training your emotions how to feel,” by always consciously choosing to take shelter of Krishna’s internal potency through practical devotional service, which invokes the mercy of the Lord in the heart.

In chapter four, “the psychology of insecurity and insufficiency,” you remind us of our countless failed attempts at love in “the real world,” and explain how only Krishna can end our frustrated pursuit of love and reciprocation separate from His service.

In chapter five you continue to challenge our conditioned conceptions by daring us to honestly consider that there is actually no love at all in this world, all the while sastrically proving that the real deal does indeed exist, and in fact is “so extraordinary that even Krishna wants to taste it.”

In the final chapter, “the battle with the envy monster,” you encourage us to give up the cause of our material existence by developing spiritual security and direct, rather than indirect, appreciation of the Lord’s dear devotees.

And, of course throughout the whole work, brilliantly intertwined in this practical bhakti psychology and methodology, is a philosophical mind-boggler; whatever ones eternal relationship with Krishna - be it fraternal, parental or conjugal - the foundational flavor of transcendental servitude is always an essential and ever present reality.

Vyasa-puja is an opportunity for a disciple to show sincere gratitude and appreciation to his beloved master, one who is especially empowered with the potency of Srila Vyasadeva to represent Vedic knowledge according to time, place and circumstance, and to thus take those who are fortunate enough to resonate with his presentation out of illusion and back to Krishna’s lotus feet. In Bhagavad-gita (10.8), the Lord describes such a devotee:

“I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who perfectly know this engage in My devotional service and worship Me with all their hearts.”

Thank you for your Bhakti Bhava.

Earnestly praying to take your words deep into my heart, and to thus follow you, “Back to Godhead.”

Mahavan das

Dear Gurudeva
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to you on your appearance day!

Before I met you, I had been almost afraid to meet you. I had heard about you through your disciples at the Newmarket Loft—your reputation for sorting people out, changing their lives, turning them around…but due to my foolishness and my material contamination, I wasn’t sure what it truly meant and whether or not I wanted you to change my life.

When I met you, the sun was beaming in so brightly from the window behind you, forming an effulgence around you that was too glaring for me to look at so I just gazed mostly at your lotus feet. You seemed to be assessing my condition—not in an ordinary way but in a way that you could see the truth about me. You were so compassionate despite the degraded life I had lived and you saw some value in me—my potential to serve Krsna. Having detected my hesitancy and my caution, you conveyed a sense of urgency—to become Krsna conscious in this life is an urgent situation, and that in no way could I “overdose” on Krsna consciousness! The more Krsna the better! Like the glowing light of the sun that day, you illuminated my life and identified me, reminding me of my eternal position as a servant of Krsna.

What is most fortunate about our meeting, was the fact that I received your mercy even when I was not fully able to consciously realize at the time how much I really needed nothing else but for you to be my spiritual master. I wish I could say that I accepted all of your instructions immediately without delay! Nevertheless, my vision had been permanently altered from the beginning of this meeting and the bhakti-lata-bija sowed in my heart; you had adopted me as your spiritual daughter, and in this relationship, I continually encounter the depth of care you give to me. To be treated by you as a valuable part of the Supreme whole, shows genuine care and there is nothing like it in the material world.

At the June retreat this year you spoke of the kirtana and how the enthusiasm and strength of the kirtana depends on how much the devotees present are trying to improve themselves and work on themselves spiritually. You always encourage and inspire us to take responsibility for our own spiritual progress and with spiritual expertise and professionalism you diagnose the problem and offer realistic and practical ways for us to overcome it. Thank you for the opportunity for me to work on overcoming my impediments with the knowledge from your powerful instructions and through the wonderful examples set by those who have taken your instructions deep into their hearts.

Please help me to have stronger faith in your instructions, and to fearlessly and resolutely carry out your instructions. I beg for your continued patience and blessings, that I may someday (sooner rather than later) be well enough to contribute significantly in devotional service.
Aspiring to be your servant
Manada devi dasi

nama om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale
srimate devamrita swamin iti namine

pracare purva daksyam ca bhaktacara pravinata
pararthatapi karunyam yasya sarve ca te namah

Dearest Guru Maharaj

Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to your most auspicious Appearance day

Dearest Guru Maharaj, as years go by I remember more and more how you have granted me and so many others complete shelter, the depth of which I cannot even begin to imagine. Through whatever ups and downs life has presented and through all the foolish problems my mind created, you have repeatedly picked me and whipped me into shape for service to Srila Prabhupada and you still continue to do so. Thank you for accepting me as your servant and steering me, with all my faults and limitations, towards devotional service. Inspite of all my shortcomings and foolish behavior, you continue to let me stick around and get your mercy. I am eternally indebted to this unconditional love I receive from you.

The human body is the boat, the instructions of Lord Krishna are the favorable winds, and the spiritual master is the navigator. The spiritual master knows well how to adjust the sails to catch the winds favorably and steer the boat to its destination. (Purport SB 4.23.28)

The expert spiritual master knows well how to engage his disciple’s energy in the transcendental loving service of the Lord, and thus he engages a devotee in a specific devotional service according to his special tendency. (Purport CC Adi 1.35)

Dear Guru Maharaj, we are so fortunate that you come visit us in Toronto, just to grant us a chance to serve you. You show us how to organize a dynamic preaching operation, with attention to every detail and answer for every question. This time I started to realize that not only are you teaching us how to run a preaching operation, you are teaching us how to ‘think’ in order to be able to do this. In a lecture Gurudev was speaking about providing ‘proper care for dependents’. I don’t have the ability to fully describe the extent of care you provide to devotees, but I was very fortunate to witness it firsthand. First from your lectures and expert guidance you give us taste to read and distribute Srila Prabhupada books, you teach us how to dress properly for the season, how to eat properly and how to cook, how to keep body healthy, how to stay focused – the list is endless as your care covers every aspect of life. Like an expert doctor, you give just the required dosage to everyone based on their ability to take the medicine. During programs we can see how you direct activities by telling us exactly how to setup the right ambience, welcome guests, make announcements – everything! And it is not just that you do it here in Toronto, you do this everywhere. Earlier this year, during the Vaishnavi retreat in Wellington, Vishaka Mataji asked all of us how we structure our lives and stay focused in service. It was amazing to see how each and every Vaishnavi in the room talked about receiving personal instructions, guidance and goals from you and making it the centre of their life. I cannot possibly understand the depth of this shelter that you provide to all your dependents.

Personally for me, Gurudev has to spend so much time trying to teach me every little thing including using ‘common sense’. Thank you Guru Maharaj for so painstakingly answering my questions and hand holding this daughter as I learn to stand up and take a step. How can I thank you Gurudev, I just pray and beg that you will always keep me a debtor of your mercy.

This indeed is the duty of all true disciples: to repay the debt to their spiritual master by offering him, with pure hearts, their wealth and even their very lives. SB 10.80.41

Dear Guru Maharaj, there is nothing much I have but I beg that you will use my life in service as you please. I am sorry for all my faults. I pray repeatedly that you will keep me your servant. My heart is still full of innumerable anarthas, but my only prayer to Sri Sri Radha Kshirchor Gopinath is that may every tiny bit of life’s energies be used only in serving your instruction. I do not have the intelligence and my vision is really blurry, but Guru Maharaj, if you like you can make me see clearly. I pray that you may grant me some ability to look ahead, serve and increase my service absorption. Thank you for giving me the precious jewel of sankirtan, it is like a wave of joy. Please grant me taste and lifelong dedication for this service.

Guru Maharaj, separation from you is painful so please grant me the benediction that I can make your instructions my life. Seeing Guru Maharaj pleased is the deepest joy and disappointing you is most painful. Please forgive me for my many offences and disappointments I present. I have seen you can pull me whichever way you like, so please pull me unto your lotus feet.

Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado yasyaprasan na gati kuto p i- “By the mercy of the spiritual master one is blessed by the mercy of Krishna. Without the grace of the spiritual master one cannot make any advancement.” Adi 9.11


Your humble servant
Mangal-arti devi dasi

nama om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale
srimate devamrita swamin iti namine

pracare purva-daksyam ca bhaktacara-pravinata
pararthatapi karunyam yasya sarve ca te namah
Dear Srila Gurudev,
Please accept my humble and humiliated obeisance’s to the dust of your lotus feet!!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!!!!
All glories to you Guru Maharaja!!!!
Gurudev, I really don’t know how to begin this offering and also do not know how to present my feelings in words, so I beg for your forgiveness for any mistakes I may make in it.
I feel so energetic and rejoice and feel confident enough by taking your association through your voice, pictures of yours and by your unflinching dedication in carrying out the orders of your spiritual master Srila Prabhupada. I am very fortunate to be blessed with your association and guidance in my life and I always remember you telling me on our first meeting that one has to practice and live as an example and now I can see in my own life just by taking your words I can see a drastic change in my life and some those related to me. Just by following your words in the past years I could see that you are guiding me each and every moment of my life by your divine potency.
Dear Gurudev, your dedication to follow the instructions of Srila Prabhupada and spread the love of lord chaitanya mahaprbhu upon the unfortunate souls like me. It can be seen the way you present krsna consciousness by taking live examples and relating them very nicely and straight to the point. I always used your words to preach my self despite many failures and still struggling with my conditioning.
I wanted to tell so much about you but as my words are very limited could not present my gratitude to you.
By your divine caring upon this useless soul I always get the opportunity to serve your instructions but as my cheating propensity is so deep in me I always give excuses to follow your instructions despite many realizations. I sincerely beg for your forgiveness for not being able to follow your instructions to my fullest ability and ask for your mercy to uplift me and use me as an instrument in your selfless service to your spiritual master (Srila Prabhupada).
You gave me so much, but could not fulfill your instructions to my fullest ability which I always admit to you but you always appreciated me with whatever I am trying to do.
Dear Gurudev, on this auspicious day I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the love and affection you showed and beg you to give me strength to obey your orders to the fullest of my ability and set aside my excuses.
I always wanted your association, your guidance and please I beg you not to leave me!!!
Your aspiring servant,
Mani kumar

Dear Guru Maharaj,

Please accept my humble obeisances.

Your Vyasa-puja always reminds me (either I write about it or not) of how poorly I am using the opportunity that you are here for us, for me and that you are more than willing to help me to advance on the spiritual path.

Old scripts have been holding me back. I am like the "flies or wasps who have such a hard time exiting the window that we open for them" (see Sivarama Swami Maharaj's podcast, Sept 26 2011).

There is indeed very little hope that I will be willing to make a paradigm shift and take sufficient advantage from my association with you, my ultimate wellwisher, my dear spiritual master. I prefer to "do it my way", where the end-result is that I will stay where I am.

Nevertheless you have not been given up on me. It is indeed a herculean effort to give guidance to a patient who thinks that she is rather healthy (at least healthy enough to figure out the things by her own intelligence).

Thank you very much for your patience. You are indeed the embodiment of the kripa, the compassion, the mercy of Krishna.

Please do not give up on me.

Your worthless servant,
Mantramala dd.

Dear Gurudeva,

Please except my humble obeisances.

It has been nearly a year since I came into contact with your well-cultured and established disciples. The impact you have already had on this soul will extend beyond anything I can actually comprehend. My entire future (not being limited to this life) has been changed so dramatically.

Life up until hearing your instruction was a blind struggle. I was envious of all others and envious of my own self, not even knowing who I actually am.

What you have given to myself, and countless others, is real existence. Without actual knowledge, life is merely a meaningless dream fuelled by lust and false expectations. Anxiety is always immeasurable for those who are absorbed in the attractions of this impermanent world. Therefore you have done the greatest welfare work by always striving to enlighten the ignorant, and teach them of the real purpose of this life. You have saved us all from the greatest danger.

And what you do is often a thankless task. Persons with a materialistic mindset have no vision for what it is that you are actually attempting to give them. And still you fearlessly endeavour to help these fallen souls, and awaken them to the real goal of life.

Following in the mood of your own spiritual master you have adopted the work of the greatest of all gardeners. Just like Lord Caitanya Himself, you are most expertly and precisely planting the seeds of love of God all over the world. You are always careful and attentive to nurture these seeds, keeping very close personal relationships with all aspiring disciples.

With such expertise and precision, Prabhupada’s mission will always remain fruitful and will thrive under the shelter of your lotus feet. Prabhupada said that if his disciples could not increase what he has done, they should simply maintain it. From seeing the influence you have had over New Zealand alone, I know you have truly taken all his instructions to heart and are carrying them out with the greatest care and determination.

You truly understood the long-term vision that Srila Prabhupada had for the world. And through a contemporary approach using current global issues, you are spreading the very same message and changing the hearts of countless people.

It is a very rare moment for me to have any sort of clear understanding of the gift that you are trying so patiently to give to the world. It is the greatest of all education, the greatest of all knowledge. And you work so tirelessly to help the world to understand its importance.

I pray to always have the opportunity to serve you in your mission in whatever minute capacity I can handle. I know it will be the greatest wealth in my life.

All glories unto you Gurudeva!

Your aspiring servant and disciple,

Max.

dearest guru maraj
you took me from a worm to a woman and now tanking you also the majic you bring into my life i think you look great at the moment and you need never show me the rope to me now and then i think of you as a sailor on a journey and picture you at the bow shinining a great big torchlight of know ledge to the ledge of my reality you expressed the desire for me to become a vessel for your conquest and the reson you know im finding you in that place we call the material existance that i pass over with ease with you as my guide all glories guru maraj

Please accept my humble obeisance’s
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga

Dear Devamrita Maharaja,

Thank you Maharaja for dedicating your life to Lord Krsna and for helping save the fallen souls of this age. I know it is not an easy job. I often hear of how you risked your life to go behind the iron curtain to preach Krsna Consciousness in Europe, despite the fact that it was so dangerous and people were being killed because the situation was so hostile. It is a great inspiration to me and I think it just goes to show how dedicated you are to the service of the Lord and Srila Prabhupada, also how compassionate and selfless you are to put your life on the line to give Krsna to others.

SB 11.14.16: With the dust of My devotees' lotus feet I desire to purify the material worlds, which are situated within Me. Thus, I always follow the footsteps of My pure devotees, who are free from all personal desire, rapt in thought of My pastimes, peaceful, without any feelings of enmity, and of equal disposition everywhere.

Thank you very much Maharaja for setting up Bhakti Lounge and places like it. Never would I have thought that there would be a place like Bhakti Lounge in this world and especially not in ‘little’ New Zealand. I feel so fortunate because I get to be in the Vaikuntha world even when living in these terrible times -where there are so many distractions which can make spiritual life difficult. The devotees, the kirtan, the prasadam, the programs, the mentor systems, the outreach methods, are all great and I appreciate them immensely, thank you.
It touches my heart to see how dedicated everyone at Bhakti Lounge is to give Krsna to others, how they sacrifice so much to serve the Lord and how they take the mission of Lord Chaitanya so seriously, all a reflection of your great guidance and expertise. Before I came to meet the devotees I was quite anti people and a bit of an impersonalist. I thought that people were only concerned with exploiting one another and that it was very unlikely that I would find anyone who was genuinely nice, so when I came in contact with the devotees I was extremely surprised that such genuinely nice people existed in this day and age.

On this very special day, your appearance day, Maharaja, I feel very indebted to you and Krsna for the mercy you have brought into my life, as well as to this universe as a whole. How I sometimes think what my life and so many other peoples lives would be like if they hadn’t crossed paths with you. Devamrita Maharaja, thank you for making such a great impact in my life, for letting me have the encouragement and support at Bhakti Lounge, and for letting me serve and get to know Krsna, as well as have your wonderful purifying association.

Thank you for coming to the centre regularly and having talks on Krsna. I especially like the talks you have with the guests that come because it is nice to see your great sense of humor and how you can blend it into preaching for Krsna, it is very enlivening to watch. Thank you for being so merciful to me and so generous with your resources. Thanks for being so patient and understanding with me and for helping me with my spiritual life.

Ys,

Michelle

Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada.

Thank you so much for you very determined service to Srila Prabhupada spreading the Krishna Consciousness movement. In this desperate time of need you are a light in this age of Kali. You saved me from a very dark place and I cannot thank you enough.

I hope I can learn to be more grateful of the causeless mercy that's been bestowed upon me and use this as a motivation to serve and make whatever insignificant difference I can spreading harinam sankirtan.

harer nama harer nama
harer namaiva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nasti eva
nasti eva gatir anyatha

All glories to you Maharaja.

Nama om vishnu-padaya
krishna-presthaya bhu tale
srimate devamrita
svamin iti namine

pracare purva-daksyam ca
bhaktacara-pravinata
pararthatapi karunyam
yasya sarve ca te namah


Dear Guru Maharaja

Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada,
and all glories to you on this your vyasa puja celebration!

Once again we have been given the wonderful opportunity of celebrating this most auspicious event, your vyasa puja Srila Gurudeva. A once yearly event when we, your disciples and well wishes, can come together and glorify you and be enlivened by each others association and realizations.

I have been reflecting on the English translations of the prayers to the spiritual master recently. And I see how these verses describe you so nicely.

Here are some snippets from those slokas that paint a picture of my beloved spiritual master. Delivering the materially afflicted world; Chanting the Holy name and dancing in ecstasy; relishing the mellows of pure devotion; engaging your disciples in deity worship; feeling satisfaction when your disciples demolish mountains of prasada (I changed one or two words in that snippet but the meaning is still clear); always eager at every moment to hear and chant about the unlimited pastimes of Radha and Krsna; making expert arrangements, through the sankirtana movement, to serve the pastimes of Radha and Krsna; humbly accepting the worship and honour we give you; and last but not least, without the grace of our spiritual master we cannot make any advancement!

All the time we can see you displaying many or all of these qualities. You are a constant source of inspiration, not just to us your disciples, but to so many who know you or know of you. Thank you Guru Maharaja.

As we chant your pranama mantra we are saying how expert you are in Vaisnava dealings. I got first had experience of this recently. Some how or other, through my gross ignorance or something else, I had managed to create world war 3 at the Loft. This was especially affecting one of my God brothers and his wife. So in this seemingly disastrous situation, you texted me, called me and skyped me from the Ukraine. And what did you do? Blast me, Nuc me? No. Instead you used your unique skill in Vaisnava dealings and as the expert spiritual master you guided me in how I could undo my demolition job. Taking a situation that seemed hopeless and through your expertise, Love and compassion you turned a war field into a rose garden.

I am really praying I can follow your instruction and guidance to a T. Especially in the manner of not repeating my wrong deeds.

How much havoc there would be if it was not for your expertise in all dealings. Thank you Guru Maharaja so much.

Please accept my sincere apologies for all the trouble I caused over the recent months because of my short sightedness, you said this had caused you a great deal of pain. In this regard I would like to inform you Gurudeva that things are really looking up, my relationship with that particular God brother is becoming strong and I hope we can always nicely serve you together.

Going to Cairns with you recently was yet another chance for me to see your care. Despite ill health and many pressing concerns you let me and Sruti-cari travel with you. We got to cook for you and each night we would read Krsna Book together, creating for us some of our sweetest Krsna conscious memories. Thank you for this rear opportunity Gurudeva.

Begging to one day be unconditional,

Your disciple and insignificant spiritual son, Muni-cari DASA.

Dear Srila Gurudeva

Please accept my humble obeisances. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada. All Glories unto Your lotus feet !

The scriptures describe that the first birth of the living entity is due to the union between the father & mother. The second birth is when a person accepts a bona fide spiritual master. The relationship with the spiritual master is eternal, in fact the spiritual master is described as the “eternal father” of the disciple. You do everything what a mortal father does but so much more.

As the father gives birth, by your expert preaching and shelter you give spiritual birth to so many conditioned souls including myself. After giving us spiritual birth you place us safely in a society of devotees where we’ll be properly nourished & cared for by the love & affection of wonderful Vaisnavas. You give us a name which establishes our identity as Krsna’s servant & connects us to the glorious guru-parampara going back to the Lord. You protect us from the attacks of the insurmountable material energy by your invaluable guidance in the form of lectures, personal darshans & physical association. You then educate us by encouraging us to seriously study Srila Prabhupada’s books in order to have a deep footing in the science of bhakti.

You are so loyal to Srila Prabhupada’s books that you have read them inside out, over & over again & risked your life to distribute the knowledge contained within it. As a father you train & mentor us to take up to our eternal occupation i.e rendering loving devotional service in the form of spreading of the sankirtan movement which is very dear to You. You engage us according to our psycho-physical nature in spreading the holy names. You even help in our material situations by giving guidance & arranging situations where we can apply the knowledge we have gained. As our eternal father, you are present in your instructions, therefore our association is not limited by time & space. You are there for us at the time of death. You are so merciful that you never neglect us, even if we have to take birth again in this material world, you appear and guide us on the path, life after life. And when we finally reach our destination Sri Goloka Vrndavana dhama, you are there eternally to engage us in the service of their Lordships & their associates again. Therefore, it is never possible for the disciple to repay his “eternal father”.

On this most glorious occasion, i consider myself fortunate to be with your disciples & well wishers & i seek to be of service to you this lifetime & beyond.

Your aspiring servant

Nanda Mandir dasa

Dear Srila Gurudeva,

Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to your appearance in this world!

We want to thank you for your consistent care and involvement in our lives. You have been overwhelmingly generous to us in so many ways. Spiritually, you have given us your fine example of selflessness and sacrifice. We have the rare privilege to witness regularly how you are absorbed always in devotional service. Whether it be chanting your rounds, reading Srila Prabhupada's books, teaching, guiding and encouraging young devotees, writing, travelling... the list goes on...
Amidst all of this you find the time to enquire about our wellbeing and give your guidance and personal attention.
Not only are we the fortunate recipients of your spiritual care, but basically everything we have is a result of your kindness. Our family exists thanks to you and now you have granted us the opportunity to be near you and stay involved in your service.
We are grateful for your kindness and pray that somehow we can also do something for your pleasure.

With love from your servants,
Nandagopa das, Lilamayi Subhadra devi dasi and Tejas

Please accept my humble obeisances unto your lotus feet.

Thank you for being a guiding light in this dark age of kali, and thank you for tolerating my nonsense.

yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhas
tat tad evetaro janaḥ
sa yat pramāṇaḿ kurute
lokas tad anuvartate


Whatever action a great man performs, common men follow. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.

People in general always require a leader who can teach the public by practical behavior. A leader cannot teach the public to stop smoking if he himself smokes. Lord Caitanya said that a teacher should behave properly before he begins teaching. One who teaches in that way is called ācārya, or the ideal teacher. Therefore, a teacher must follow the principles of śāstra (scripture) to teach the common man.
Prabhupada pretty sums it all up in this verse.
Thank you for being an inspiring figure in my life and thank you for your expert guidance in spiritual activities.

Dear Guru Maharaja,
please accept our humple obeisances in the dust of your lotus feet.

Let us congratulate you with the Day of your appearance. Please accept our gratitude for your causeless love and fatherly care for those who try to be your disciples. Your example inspires us to strive for the level of pure devotion to Sri Krishna. Your instructions give us strength to fight attacks of illusory energy. Your kirtans awake our hearts and Krishna-katha from your lips gives us experience of touching the spiritual reality. Thank you for your selfless service to Srila Prabhupada. We are eager to be useful in fulfilling your mission and hope to sometime become enough qualified for it.

Wishing you good health!
Your servants, Narottam Vilas das, Rati Vilas dasi

All Glories To Srila Prabhupada
All Glories To Sri Sri Sri Guru And Gauranga
All Glories To Srila Devamrita Swami


Dear Gurudev
I offer my humble obeisances to Your Lotus Feet. Gurudev I am one such useless creature in Human Body but with Your compassion, love and Mercy You have given me shelter under Your Lotus Feet. I am always indebted To Your Lotus Feet.

I am settled in North East Upstate New York and due to circumstances I am unable to visit Los Angeles while Your Holiness was there. Though I see Your Holiness online and listen to the lectures yet I miss Your Holiness Vapu. May be in Your next visit I will make it and seek Your Personal Blessings.

This Day I Pray Sri Sri Sri Rukmini Dwarkadish To Shower His Lordships Mercy Upon Your Holiness And Keep Your Holiness in High Spirits And In Excellent Health and keep You Among us and guide us in Krishna Consciousness.


Hari Bol!!!

With Lots Of Love And Prayers

Your Humble Servant
Nilacala Candra Das
Saratoga Springs, New York

---------Hare Krishna-------------------

Namo Om visnu Padaya Krsna Presthaya Bhu-tale
Srimate Devamrita Swami iti namine;
Pracare Purva Dakshin ca Bhakti-cara Pravinatha
Prarathatpi Karunyam yasya sarveca te namah.

Dear Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obesiances
Please accept my best wishes on Your Vyasa Puja day from me and my family.

Gurudev, although I am not fit to glorify your holiness, however, I have attempted to do so for your pleasure on the most auspicious Vyasa Puja day.

Srila gurudev, in last one year I have gone through many thick and thins, however your blessings and your mercy has brought me today to a phase when I appreciate all those hard times to be the most blissful times

From day one, I ever saw your shadow, I have realised that you are the most compassionate towards your disciples and now that I took shelter of yours I have experienced your mercy to all extent. I would like to share those sweet empowering experiences when I was uplifted from pain, anxiety and desires with your direct association.

1. First occasion, when you came to Melbourne early this year (2011), I was too unwell to see you but I showed my desire of serving You even with unfit bodily circumstances. I expressed my concerns regarding the best ways to follow your instructions and you replied me to follow your instruction of chanting holy names which would bring You the most satisfaction. First time, I started to realise how compassionate You can be to your aspiring disciples.

2. On second occasion, When recently you came to Melbourne, again due to various circumstances I was missed out to gain Your association and I was extremely depressed for being deprived of Your association. With sadness of missing out a chance to ask for Your great Darshan out of Your busy schedule, I went to bed with a hope “may be next time?”
Next morning when I logged in my email,You had already e-mailed me to come and see You with my family before you depart. This was the first magic moment when I was extremely blessed with your mercy along with my family. The moment I saw you I was no better than a child who did not met her father for ages. You inquired about my health and my spiritual progress? Then You said me with Your twinkling eyes and bright smile,
“Don’t be anxious”, “ I am satisfied”
And gave instructions to me along with my family. The most amazing moment was the way You instructed me exactly how a father count on the finger to instruct a child–
“ and now = Two things for you to do- number one look after your health and chant 16 rounds and I am satisfied” You repeated it again until I repeated it with you.
This experience made me met a very loving father who is so merciful upon his child.


3. Then On a third occasion, I was in extreme bodily discomfort and was in intolerable pain at a late night and from all my heart and soul I beg for Your and Gauranga’s mercy. As I fell asleep, I dreamt of You GuruMaharaj where You came to my house in that dream and now I was completely anxious to prepare a nice healthy preparation for Your lunch.When I got up early morning, I suffered from “No pain”. Next day your disciple and my godsister “Bhakti Lata devi dasi” called me and offered me to prepare any preparation of my choice for your Vyasa Puja (for which I and my sister Rati have prepared muffins for You). A dream came true for me as I prepare this offering for You Gurudev.

Gurudev, I do not understand how you reciprocated with me in those unexpected times. I am so thankful to You for accepting me as Your disciple and instructing me through all thick and thins. I ‘ll never be able to give back that much service as you give to your disciples. You travel all over the world, meet thousands of disciples but you are very special to each one of us and each one of us is even more special to you.



I have understood it very well that I do not have any intelligence to understand your mercy.
I try and meditate on the 27th verse of 11th canto of Srimad Bhagvatam, with a hope that I will be able to understand Your mercy one day,
In this verse it is stated by Lord Krishna,
“My dear Uddhava, the spiritual master must be accepted not only as My representative, but as My very self. He must never be considered on the same level with an ordinary human being.....”

Thank You Gurudev for being my spiritual father and guiding me before I could get mental in the material madness.
I pray Sri Sri Radha Vallabha to give You the best health and allow me to serve You in all way that pleases You and Jagat Guru Srila Prabhuapad.

Happy Vyasa Puja GuruMaharaj!!!

Your holy servant,
Nimarata

Dearest Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to your lotus feet.

On this most auspicious day of your Vyasa-puja, I wish to express my deepest, heart-felt gratitude for accepting this fallen soul as your disciple.

There really are no words to express the appreciation I have for all the mercy, patience and tolerance you have shown towards me. Knowing that devotional service to your lotus feet is the only way to please you, I struggle daily with so many selfish desires and try to remind my mind that I am not the controller and enjoyer but your servant. I deeply desire to follow your instructions and serve you for as many lifetimes as it will take to remove these seeds of selfishness and greed from my heart. I continue to take more than I give and for that I am very sorry. One day, I hope to fulfill your instruction... “It is not about getting, it is about giving”…you had so carefully and lovingly explained to me that day when we first met at your Spiritual Economics talk at the University of Toronto. My hard heart still struggles to understand this important instruction and act in a way that will one day be pleasing to you.

“While engaging in serving the spiritual master one should remain as a humble servant, and thus when the guru is walking the servant should humbly walk behind. When the guru lies down to sleep, the servant should also lie down nearby, and when the guru has awakened, the servant should sit near him, massaging his lotus feet and rendering other, similar services. When the guru is sitting down on his asana, the servant should stand nearby with folded hands, awaiting the guru’s order. In this way one should always worship the spiritual master.” (SB 11.17.29)

You are an expert spiritual master, preacher, teacher and father. Upon reading this text I realize how far my consciousness and service attitude has to go if I ever wish to render service to you. I don’t even know how to serve or glorify you. You travel the world most of the year rescuing fallen souls from Lord Krsna’s material energy. Thank you for travelling to Canada and thank you for all of the austerity and sacrifices you have preformed in making the whole world your family as you so lovingly give Krsna consciousness to others.

“The characteristics of Krsna are understood to be a storehouse of transcendental love. Although that storehouse of love certainly came with Krsna when He was present, it was sealed. But when Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came with His associates of the Panca-tattva, they broke the seal and plundered the storehouse to taste transcendental love of Krsna. The more they tasted it, the more their thirst for it grew.” (C.c. Adi 7.20-21)

Thank you for your tireless service attitude and easily understandable preaching programs by which you make the storehouse of love of Godhead accessible to others. I beg to one day serve you as you desire so that I might be able to assist you in this very important preaching mission and help others as you so expertly do.

Your aspiring servant,
Nitya-priya devi dasi

Dear Guru-Maharaja, please accept my humble obeisancess. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Dear Guru-Maharaja, I want to thank you for everything you are doing for me. First of all I thank you for your patience. Although I am so stubborn not to surrender and to keep my material attachments, you are not giving up on this fool. You are inspiring me to look beyond my petty materialism and to try to do something serious for Srila Prabhupada. This gives me hope that one day I will become a serious devotee. Your faith in me obliges me not to disappoint you.

Thank you for so expertly digging up and revealing to me my weaknesses in devotional service. With you instructions you are pointing out where the problem is and how it should be solved.

Thank you for giving me perfect example for pure devotional service. In this way pure bhakti becomes practical and alive instead of theoretical.

Thank you for presenting Krishna consciousness in a way that is appealing even for a sworn materialist like me. You are so convincing when you explain that the real emotional expressions of pure love are possible only in devotional service. While listening to your realizations even a stone hearted person like me can develop desire for bhakti.

Thank you for being so concerned about me, always guiding me for my good and being my well wisher.

I will always try to reciprocate with your love by trying to become more fixed in devotional service. Please bless me so that one day I become successful.

Your servant:

Pandava bandhava das

Dear Devamrita Swami Maharaj,

Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to your lotus feet.

On this auspicious time of you Vyasa-puja, I would like to beg for your mercy to properly understand the value of your presence in my life.

I remember being in one of your classes at the December retreats in Otaki in which you mentioned your experiences while distributing Srila Prabhupada's books in what was then called Soviet Union.
This was an incident when you and your Godbrothers were crossing the border and had Bhagavad Gita’s expertly hidden in the car somewhere. While checking the car, the officers could not find anything.

However, just as they were about to finish they found some audio tapes. The moment they played the tape, from the tape you said came Srila Prabhupada’s voice “This is Krishna, not Buddha. This is true religion.” We all started to laugh.

I don’t know if it happened that way, however I was happy that someone who, although has so much responsibility of handling so many tasks around the globe, still makes Krishna consciousness so enjoyable for us. Someone, who after so many years of being Krishna consciousness still has time to add spice and present it in such a way to make us laugh and for some of us, keep on moving forward in Krishna consciousness.

That effort you take to make things more enlivening helps one rise above the mental barriers then and later on remembering them. How unfortunate I am that I’ve got the chance to associate with you and I take things for granted.

Your aspiring servant,
Pankaj Sharma

Hare Krishna!!!
Please accept our humble obeisances!!!All glories to Srila Prabhupada!!!
On auspicious day of your Vyasa-puja we humbly pray and seek out the shelter at dust of your Lotus feet. In Krishna Consciousness we find real happiness through your instructions, which are the basis of spiritual practice. We wish you good health and good disciples.
Your eternal servants Talavan dd (Krasnoyarsk, Russia) and Parama Mangala dd (Ulan-Ude, Russia)

Dear Devamrita Swami,

Please accept my sincere obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!!!


How many lives have I wasted in enjoying myself?
Little did I know I was actually destroying myself.
By your mercy I was rescued from the dangerous sea
And given the lifevest of the holy name Hari.

I am eternally grateful and indebted to you,
To your compassion and to the constant, selfless service you do.
Showing us how to work on our real career and goal
So we can finally give up the tendency to exploit the assets we stole.

I am determined to purify my heart of all this selfish ambition
So I can be of assistance in your serving Nitai Gauranga’s mission.
I don’t know how else to express that bhakti is now and forever my life and soul
And I owe it all to you, Krishna’s dear devotee, a great soul.

Aspiring to be your servant,
Bhaktin Pia

Dear Gurudeva,
This October is the 20th year since I joined the society of devotees. Now looking back I see clearer that only when I met Prabhupada's books and his devotees I learned and obtained something REAL - real life, real education, real relationships, real family! I feel eternaly indebted to him!

Although being an ugly duckling among the swans, in your fatherly association and with Niranjana Maharaja as my God-uncle, I'm very happy, feeling that I am not out of Krishna's family. This fills my heart with gratitude and inspiration.

falling in dandavat,
Prema vardhana dasa

Dear Guru Maharaj

Please accept my humble obeisances.
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada

All Glories to you.

With your blessings now we're in India. It was only few days before, I was having an evening walk with my daughter Ananya on a busy road. She was enjoying the walk, talking nicely about her exciting experiences of the day. Not getting affected to a minute degree by heavy traffic from her side and also not bothering about the potholes on the road. I was tightly holding her hands. I felt that she is relaxed and fearless in my presence. But at the same time I knew that she don't even know at all problems of traffic and potholes are prevented by me.

I feel I'm in same situation - you are my father and holding me tightly saving me from all calamities of material world. I don't know, nor I could ever understand the extend to which you're preventing me and my family from the cruel clutches of may and constantly guiding us to serve the mission of Prabhupada.

I feel I'm just like a leaf connected to the tree of Krishna consciousness through you as the glue, always making sure that I get enough nourishment from the tree.

I love and always remember your instructions and try to follow that with all my abilities.

I only have one request that you look after your health.

Please forgive us for any offenses that we've committed at your lotus feet.

Your aspiring servant,
Premdham Das.

Dear Gurudev
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupad and to you and your disciples.

Gurudev, very patiently, over the past few years you have listened to me talk about my concerns regarding my spiritual advancement. Each time you gave me instructions to help me with my situation. Ordinarily these instructions would be difficult to follow as one remains entangled in the daily affairs of life. However, I had the good fortune to associate with some of your disciples. I observed their love for you and their sincerity in following your instructions. I realised that regardless of their material circumstances they were able to practice Krishna Consciousness simply because they had taken shelter under your lotus feet. Therefore Gurudev, on this auspicious day I pray for your mercy and the mercy of your disciples so that I can continue to follow your instructions and make advancement in my spiritual life.

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to you on this auspicious day!

I wish that I had realization enough to properly honor you, to express my gratitude, and to glorify your bold and innovative preaching.

Fortunately, no one has any need of my words to see your complete and loving devotion to Srila Prabhupada. I am fortunate to simply view, from a very great distance, that loving relationship manifest in your life and example.

Thank you for saving me a nose-bleed seat for that transcendental affair.

your grateful servant,
Pyari caran dasa

Dearest Gurudeva

Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to you on this most glorious and auspicious day your Vyasa-Puja.

It is explained in the Bhagavad-gita that “Transcendental life begins when one accepts a bona fide spiritual master!” (purport Bhagavad-gita 13:8-12)

The perplexities of life are like a forest fire that somehow blazes without being set by anyone. Similarly the world situation is such that the perplexities of life automatically appear without our wanting such confusion. No one wants fire and yet it takes place and we become perplexed. The vedic wisdom therefore advises that in order to solve the perplexities of life and to understand the science of the solution one must approach a bona fide spiritual master.

karpanya-dosopahata-svabhavah
prcchami tvam dharma-sammudha-cetah
yac chreyah syan niscitam bruhi tan me
sisya te ‘ham sadhi mam tvam prapannam

“Now I am confused about my duty and have lost all composure because of miserly weakness. In this condition I am asking you to tell me for certain what is best for me. Now I am your disciple, and a soul surrendered unto you. Please instruct me.”
Bhagavad-gita 2.7

Although I certainly don’t have the intelligence nor the qualities of Arjuna still yet somehow or another fortunately, you are my beloved Spiritual master Gurudeva.

Each year that passes is another year to reflect, to make changes, improvements and hopefully to imbue even just a hint more sincerity, love and devotion than the year before.

On the 5th of August you rang early in the morning from Cairns Australia to check that my husband and I were alright. Your sleep that night had been interrupted by us invading your dreams! I wasn’t up yet so you spoke to my husband, you were pressing to make sure everything was ok, that nothing had happened. As it turned out a few days before a close family friend had committed suicide. When I woke I was amazed at what had happened but at the same time disappointed as I wished I had been awake to pick up the phone first! Then 2 hours later the phone rang again I eagerly rushed to the phone wishing it would be your transcendental presence on the other end and to my surprise it was!

Again you were ringing to check I was okay. I’ll never forget what you said to me that day. You said in material life there will always be a gap no matter how rosy things may appear from the outside, we must fill this gap with Krsna Consciousness then our life will be complete. As I hung up the phone I felt guilty that somehow we had managed to wangle ourselves into your dreams and interrupted your sleep and at the same time completely astonished that somehow you knew something had happened.

At that moment it dawned on me how a spiritual masters work is never done -even when you are sleeping the welfare of your disciples is embedded in your consciousness. I see this first hand with your dealings and exchanges with devotees at New Gupta Vraja. The time and care you immerse into all your disciples is wonderful.

Your love for Srila Prabhupada’s books, the way you study them, the way you encourage us to study them and to give them to others. While you were staying at New Gupta Vraja one night you invited us up to your cottage to read the Sri Caitanya -Caritamrta. Afterwards you were discussing how Srila Prabhupada is so expert with his purports. How inspiring it was to see that after all these years you have been reading his books still they are ever fresh and potent.

Thank you for being our spiritual father, for taking us under your wing, encouraging us and pushing us. Without your grace I would be completely lost. I’d like to begin repaying my accruing debt to you. I pray please give me the intelligence, humility and strength to serve you better, please remove my selfish hardhearted ways so that I can serve you, my god brothers and god sisters with the love and devotion you all deserve.

Hoping one day to become the servant of your servants.

Your spiritual daughter,

Radha Prasada devi dasi

Dear Guru Maharaj
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupad.

The bona fide spiritual master is the representative of Krsna. I've heard that ones relationship with Krsna is reflected in a relationship with the spiritual master. As all surrender Krsna/spiritual master rewards them accordingly. I always felt I should give all but I also terribly fear of loosing only thing I believe I have-indipendence. I know I am clinging onto that illusion. You have planted in me desire to serve Krsna and it is all I want but in the process I have my ideas how. I am sorry. Thank you for being kind to me even though I don't deserve it.
I pray to come up to a standard of sincere desciple
Your servant
Radha Sanga dd

Dearest Gurumaharaj,

Please accept my most humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to your most auspicious appearance day!

On this most blessed day, I wanted to humbly express my deepest, heart-felt gratitude for the divine shelter of your causeless mercy, which is the only hope for a fallen conditioned soul like me. As a perfect candidate for the age of Kali, I was wasting this precious human form of life in frivolous activities and looking for opportunities to satisfy my uncontrolled mind and senses. Dearest Gurudev, it is only by your divine grace that I have come in contact with this most wonderful process of Krishna Consciousness, and it is only by your causeless mercy that I am able to stay in Krishna Consciousness and somehow share it with others.

brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva, guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja

Gurumaharaj, through this humble offering today, I wanted to thank you for your transcendental lectures, which are a store-house of spiritual ecstasy and instructions. As I bathe my consciousness in your vani daily, I am slowly starting to realize the importance of a regulated, bhakti centric life-style with full immersion of the mind and senses in devotional service. I am starting to learn how all of my services expand from my own attentive japa, while also observing how deep rooted my bodily attachments are. Your instruction on 'how to have a positive fear of maya' is my constant meditation. Through your lectures, Gurudev, I feel your constant presence around me. All of my questions are answered as I derive great satisfaction from relishing the nectar of your transcendental discourses. Gurumaharaj, on this most auspicious day, I beg at your lotus feet that I can always keep my mind focused on the words emanating from your lotus mouth, and continue to apply them in my life.

Gurudev, by your grace, somehow I have been given the rare opportunity to participate in the most glorious sankirtan movement of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. My sincere prayer is to always remain attached to reading and distributing Srila Prabhupada's books, which is most pleasing to you.

Gurumaharaj, thank you very much for allowing me to render some personal menial service at your lotus feet during your stay in Toronto. I cannot even begin to imagine my great fortune in getting this service, and I pray that I may remain ever grateful for the mercy that I have received from you. My heart melts to see the sacrifice you make to travel to come here, and shower your personal love and care on us.

We all pray for your good health so that many more conditioned souls like me can become Krishna Conscious in this very life.

Aspiring to be a sincere disciple,
Radha-mohan das
Toronto

nama om vishnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale
srimate devamrita swami iti namine
pracare purva dakshyam ca bhaktacara pravinata
pararthatapi karunyam yasya sarva ca te namah
Dear Gurudev

Please accept our humble obeisance at your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to you on your auspicious Vyasa Puja day.

oḿ ajñāna-timirāndhasya
jñānāñjana-śalākayā
cakṣur unmīlitaḿ yena
tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ

I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him.

We are very thankful for your kind instruction that is guiding us to sustain us in the association of devotees and devotional service. You requested in a lecture in general to please work to relieve transcendental anxiety of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. You are tirelessly engaged selflessly in accomplishing that mission following in the footsteps of Srila Prabhupada.

We, conditional souls caught up in selfish anxiety and petty issues could hardly fathom the anxiety of pure devotees to render selfless service of sacrifice to enable ultimate good to all kinds of people and help them to take steps to go back to Godhead/Kingdom of God in this short life time.

Hope atleast in the interest of relieving anxiety of well-wishing devotional community we become serious in Bhakti in their association and help our true selves and learn to help others. We humbly seek your grace in gaining strength, determination and intelligence to steadily follow the path way back home to Godhead beyond the quagmire of materialistic circumstances.

Your aspiring servant
Radhakrishnan, Shobana and baby Sanjitha.

Hare Krsna Gurudev,

Please accept my humble obeisance’s.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

On this Special day I am trying to write even just a few words to glorify someone as selfless and giving as you. I like to thank you for caring and guiding me though out my life so far.

Gurudev, you have thought me to be more patient in life, and when times are difficult to have firm faith on the Lord.

Gurudev, you have shown me how to be strong in my ways of thinking, and not to occupy the brain with useless pointless issues.

Gurudev, your preaching in Sydney, especially with the retreats has inspired so many people to take the path to Krishna Consciousness. I cannot begin to tell you Gurudev, on how this has made a BIG positive impact to us all.

How fortunate I am to have such a spiritual master as yourself, and you have given me this amazing and extremely rare opportunity to come to Krsna Consciousness and execute devotional service.

Thank You so much my Spiritual Father, Well Wisher to all, Saviour to the world.
Your insignificant servant
Radhika-nath Das

The demigods look upon your activities and wonder, “How can His Holiness engage in devotional service in so many ways?” Your activities, which demonstrate sacrificial service, stump the demigods—what to speak of insignificant, mundane persons such as I. But what I can or what I’m beginning to understand about you is only through the mercy of those who love you.

I find it remarkable how one person’s love for someone can increase one’s own love for that person. I remember each year in New Vraja Dham. Prior to Srila Prabhupada’s book marathon, the Hungarian devotees host a weekend of chanting, and the Welsh Yatra take full advantage of such an event to gain spiritual strength.

I arrive at the dham and stroll around familiar sights. One after another, the devotees who have developed relations with me over the years, greet me with beaming smiles, and with widened eyes coupled with raised eyebrows exclaim, “Devamrita Maharaj?” Then, when I tell each of the Hungarian devotees, “I’m with my temple—Devamrita Maharaj is not here,” they respond with a look of, “Well why isn’t he here? Where is he?” Then I’m jolted and can only respond with a look of, “He’s travelling around the world touching the hearts of all he meets. I’m also sorry he’s not here in our company.”

My experiences in relation to you in this world are glimpses of what it would be like in the spiritual realm: others’ love increasing ones own love. I guess that is exactly what goes on with the Supreme Person and His devotees: increasing exchanges of love, A Love Supreme. Despite being blind in so many ways, I thank you for allowing me to have such vision.

The demigods are queuing up to take birth here on earth. When I first heard of this, it was inconceivable to me. <i>They</i> want to come <i>here</i>? But now the fuzziness is clearing as I realise that by observing your activities they also want their part in Mahaprabhu’s mission. They also seek the attention the Supreme Lord pays you as you preach devotional service for the benefit of all people throughout the world.

Praying to have the mercy of those who love you,

your aspiring servant,
Radhikesh das.

namo om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale

srimate bhakti Devamitra-svamin iti namine

namo om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale

srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine

namaste sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine nirvisesa-sunyavadi-pascate-desa-tarine



My dearest most GuruMaharaja,

Hare Krishna! Please accept my humble obeisances under your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Thank you so much for this opportunity to actually begin my human existence.

By your blessings may I advance in Krishna consciousness.


Your indebited aspiring servent
Raghuveer

Dear Gurudev,

Please accept my humble respectful obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to you on this auspicious day of your appearance.

This is my first offering on your appearance day.
I've tried to give a honest and humble offering.

In the past I was just living in this world without any aim.
It was my first retreat in New Gokul Farm in Cessnock.
The retreat that changed my thoughts and consciousness.
Eventhough it was not one on one, the class you gave was personal to me.
That's was the day that really made me to think Krsna.
I still remember the class and the authoritative style you had in the class.
That quality of you really attracted more towards you.

I was so fortunate when I asked for your email address for future communication.
That you gave your personal email to contact without any hesitation.

Post that I did email few times, then things changed in life.
Hence I wasn't that frequent in writing emails to you.
After long time I wrote email.
You were so compassionate that you remembered me and replied back with your valuable advise.
I was deeply touched by that. I used to think and contemplate on your advise.

I am guilty that these days I don't write frequent emails to you.
But I do still remember the last instruction to gave in a retreat in Sydney.
I took them seriously I honestly tried and trying my level best till today.
I promise that from now will write email frequently to you.

I've personally go through different phases in the life.
For sure can accept that I am in Krsna Consciousness is just because of your mercy Gurudev!
Its your mercy that keeps me active and to take Krsna Consciousness seriously.

Me being one of the insignificant servant of yours, on this special day I pray and beg to Sri Sri RadhaGopinath and Srila Prabhupada to give good health to you.
So you can effortlessly carry Srila Prabhupada's mission.

Yours Insignificant Servant
Raja

Dear Gurudeva
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

In Krsna book there is a description of Rukmi coming before Krsna. The paragraph starts like this.

In great stupidity, he soon stood before Krsna.

I can understand that me and Rukmi have a lot in common. He thought he was a big commander and was very boastful but ended up with one of the most unusual haircuts in Krsna book even though he was the brother in law of Krsna.

Please accept this small offering although I am ignorant of your real stature due to my addictions to the lower modes of nature. Just as one who can’t play rugby can appreciate the game any way please allow me to offer a little glorification of you.

It seems I have failed to understand developing a taste for hearing and chanting is done through the medium of service to you.

The remedy for eliminating the problems in the heart and the removing the obstacles in the path on self-realization is the dual association of you and the Srimad Bhagavatam.
Because you lead your life in terms of the Srimad Bhagavatam, you are as good as the book Srimad Bhagavatm. The Srimad Bhagavatam is full of information about the Lord and His pure devotees. Personally when I read the Bhagavatams descriptions of the pure devotees I am reminded of you.
By pleasing you one can receive the benefit of the book Bhagavat.

We see that many of your disciples happened to be regular people of the age. They came in contact with your and your devotees, and simply by regularly keeping that company, they got the chance to become the great personalities they are now. You and the Srimad Bhagavatam have this miraculous effect. You have always emphasised we read and distribute Srimad Bhagavatam. You even ordered 50 thousand of them.

The result of association with you and Srimad Bhagavatam is we see you have examples of fixed up disciples, fixed in the devotional service of the Lord. This is due to your guidance. A powerful team. His holiness Devamrta Swami and his low maintenance partner Srimad Bhagavatam.

Srila Prabhupada writes, “ The messages of the book Bhagavata therefore, has to be received from the devotee Bhagavata, and the combination of these two Bhagavatas will help the neophyte devotee to make progress on and on.”


Srila Prabhupada explained to a devotee’s father that just as by eating the food of a diseased person one becomes infected with that person’s disease, similarly by eating Krsnas remnants we become infected with Krsna consciousness.

Kali Yuga is thriving as predicted. In terms of its symptoms it’s in a very healthy phase. In a good sense, you have entered as an infection in this Yuga. Cleared of the infection of material qualities yourself you have infected others with your qualities out side of the 3 modes of nature. Little do the airlines know they are assisting a spiritual epidemic by flying you all over the show.

Its easy to offer words but the real glorification of your is your fixed up disciples.


Thank you for always keeping my struggling self in the association of fixed up devotees. Please bless me that I may develop the necessary qualifications of being plain and gentle to receive your instruction and to be obedient and strict in following them.


Hope against hope to become your servant,
Ramadas das.

Dearest Gurudeva,
Please accept my most humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
Here goes: another episode of mission impossible- to adequately glorify you with the limited intelligence, eloquence and level of surrender required to have even a glimpse of your spiritual prowess.
I continue to be dazzled by your ability to reach peoples hearts,cut through the solid knots of illusion and canvas the glories of following the four regulative principles of freedom.
This is quite a feat in itself-Kali Yuga marchs to the beat of sinful activity. Its inmates ensnared in a life of chewing the chewed, taking a non stop ride on the ferris wheel of material enjoyment.
Somehow or other you stepped into my life, asked me to get off the ferris wheel of Kali Yuga delights and promised me a better life.
You have been true to your word. This life of aspiring for Krishna Consciousness is the most beautiful, rich, heart soothing balm ever.
I understand I need to deepen my level of Krishna Consiousness to be completely free.
Your personal example so boldly promotes and demonstrates the need to continue to surrender- to share the beauty and effulgence of a purified existence. In your presence ones limitations, mental concoctions, material delusions evaporate away, evoking in their place a deep need, a deep greed to attract Krishna's attention- a desperate long lost call- familiar yet foreign.
Your expertise is your ability to uncover this deep greed; fan it, nurture it and develop it into a steady hum which propels us forward- free from the ferris wheel we were so firmly buckled into for so long.
Because you are so merciful; on this auspicious day of your appearance in this darkened world I request from you a boon.
I want to be greedy for Krishna. And I want the ability to help others also be greedy for Krishna.
I understand that getting off the ferris wheel of material enjoyment was only step one. To continue in my spiritual life I require intense greed- a deeper entrance into the beauty and perfection of the spiritual realm. A greed to serve the Vaishnavas, a greed to be a better instrument in your service.

You Devamrita Swami are my Master, guide and teacher. As such I beg for your mercy. I beg to be greedy for Krishna.

Your insignificant servant,
Rasayatra devi dasi

Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please, accept my humble obeisances.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

All glories unto the dust of your lotus feet.

I hope once I will be able to glorify you in details. I was wondering how to praise you, and only one thing came to my mind: my job is to cook for Krsna. I must give thanks to you for bringing Krsna consciousness into my life. I am fortunate to be accepted as your aspiring disciple. Associating with you and the chance to serve you is what keeps me rising again and again carrying on along the path of Krsna-consciousness.

I remain your insignificant servant:

bh. Szépvölgyi Richárd, Hungary

Dear Maharaja,

I would like to offer my sincere gratitude to your Holiness for all your knowledge,wisdom and caring that you have given me in understanding how to better serve Krsna and his devotees. Please accept my humble obeisances. Jai Sri Gauranga!

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada and onto your holy appearance day

The opening eyes: Wake Up!
The time is flying or at least for me the time is passing faster and faster every year.
It has already passed 6 years since I met you first time. I still can remember what I asked you.

“What is the purpose of life?”

You said,

“Just read Bhagavad Gita and chant Hare Krishna”

I was not able to understand what you mean, or even now, but at least some transcendental energy allow me to follow your instruction.


Jiv jago, jiv jago, gauracanda bole
kota nidra jao maya-pisacira kole

bhajibo boliya ese samsara-bhitare
bhuliya rohile tumi avidyara bhare

(From Jiv Jago)

Endeavouring: The Light is turned on
It is very interesting that you did not push me or give me any difficult instruction. Rather you said
“Focus on your chanting and read Bhagavad-Gita and Bhagavatam”
I was not understanding how hard it is to focus on chanting and understanding Prabhupada books but at least I was enjoying that I found something which gives me some different focus in my life, as if somebody turn the lights on in my life.


“Gauranga” bolite habe pulaka-sarira
“Hari Hari” bolite nayane ba’be nira

Ara kabe nitai-cander koruna hoibe
samsara-basana mora kabe tuccha ha’be

(From Lalasmayi Prathana)

Exploring: Found Rasa

Your introduction to Rasa, the service to Krishna is ever fresh and never fading away. I have never met such a great people like your great devotees who are always humble and very kind to others. Also I have never tasted such a great food which filled with love towards you and Krishna. Further more, no where I can find there I can enjoy executing service and helping others. These experiences are overwhelmingly enough to attach myself to start supporting activities.


Gopinatha, amara bharasa tumi
tomara carane, loinu sarana
tomara Kinkora ami

(From Gopinatha)


Life and Soul: Surrender
Nothing could stop me from executing services, absolute surrendering in this material world, which is the way to save this opportunity to take birth in human body. Gurudeva, how merciful you are! You always gives me mercy that I cannot forget that you said “Very nice” for my cooking, though I do neither have good cooking skills nor lots of bhakti.

radha-krishna prana mora jugala-kisora
jivane marane gati aro nahi mora

kalindira kule keli-kadambera vana
ratana-bedira upara bosabo du’jana

syama-gauri-ange dibo (cuwa) candanera gandha
camara dhulabo kabe heri mukha-candra

gathiya malatir mala dibo dohara gale
adhare tuliya dibo karpura-tambule

lalita visakha-adi jata sakhi-brnda
ajnaya koribo seba caranaravinda

sri-krisna-caitanya-prabhur daser anudasa
seva abhilasa kore narottama-dasa

(From Sakhi Vrnde Vijanpti Song1)

Gurudeva, if I allowed staying this boat, which is crossing and saving people in the material suffering ocean, please give me any instruction. I hardly have any skills to serve you like others but please tell me, please let me and please allow me to serve you.


Trying to be your servant of servant
Rudrarama Pndita das

Dear Srila Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to you on this most auspicious day.

Much like the Bhaktivedanta purports you love to illuminate, your unique Krishna Conscious personality shines forth in multifaceted glory. Over the course of more than forty years—a very long time in the current epoch of irresolute intellects—you have brought to bear on Srila Prabhupada’s movement two unique forces, and when combined they have gathered immense strength in virtue of their combination. One force is that of a polymath; the second, that of an exemplary Vaishnava sadhu; the two together, simply irresistible.

Contemplating your indefatigable outreach efforts is enough to deflate my pretensions of being a member of Mahaprabhu’s sankirtan movement. Really, what can I offer in comparison?

Yet, on this day, it would be amiss if I did not offer anything at all. Let me offer this purport from the Sri Caitanya Caritamrtia (Madhya 7.148) then:


"Although Vāsudeva Vipra was a leper and had suffered greatly, still, after Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu cured him He instructed him to preach Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Indeed, the only return the Lord wanted was that Vāsudeva preach the instructions of Kṛṣṇa and liberate all human beings. That is the process of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Each and every member of this Society was rescued from a very abominable condition, but now they are engaged in preaching the cult of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. They are not only cured of the disease called materialism but are also living a very happy life. Everyone accepts them as great devotees of Kṛṣṇa, and their qualities are manifest in their very faces. If one wants to be recognized as a devotee by Kṛṣṇa, he should take to preaching work, following the advice of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Then one will undoubtedly attain the lotus feet of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself, without delay."

It hardly needs to be said that you have attained shelter at the Lord’s lotus feet. Let me say it anyway.

Through the inevitable turbulence of journeying through the material world, even at times when attaining the lotus feet of Sri Krishna Caitanya seems a rather distant dream, please give me the courage and determination to invite this purport deep into my heart. And even though it is a heart mired in the disease called materialism, please give it your merciful glance, just like you have always done.

Your aspiring servant,
Sachi Dulal das.

Dear Guru Maharaj
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada

Devotional service is such a rear gift. You have given me that gift, even though i am not really good candidate.
Thank you so much.

It is certainly clear, that once again i have failed to meet the standard of a disciple.I have not been able to focus my senses, mind, words, intelligence and life air to following your instructions.
But you are so kind to this rascal, despite my obvious faults you keep on looking after and navi-gating me.
Thank you so much.

I have been thinking during the past year about who i am and what is the actual identity for living entity.
My idea was to find out what will the great Gaudiya-Vaisnava saints say about this. After some research i found out that, they say that by nature living entity is actually servant of servant of servant of servant of Sri Krishna. They say that engagement in humbly serving the Servants of Sri Krishna whit pure heart is the perfection of consciousness.
Next step is to find living example of this. When i see you Gurudev i see such an example.
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura says in his song Gurudev:
”O lord and master! Please invest me the power to honour all living beings properly. Only then will i sing the holy names in great ecstasy, free of offenses.”
Gurudev you have these qualitys.
You are always chanting the holy names in great ecstasy.
You can give proper respect to all living beings, because you see them as eternal parts and parcels of Sri Krishna. Free from envy, proud and lust you consider your self as their servant.
I want to be like also. By association whit you trough your guidance, following your instructions and trying to please by my tiny efforts I may attain also that purity of heart.
Thank you so much.

Your tiny servant
sadhu-marga das

Hare Krishna Maharaja,

Please accept my most humble obeisances at your lotus feet on this most auspicious day of your appearance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to you, Maharaja.

This is the first time i am writing a homage to you. I have known you for about 11-12 years and have found you to be a pure devotee of the Lord who can connect to everyone and more so to the modern generation - GenY. Your classes are a source of constant inspiration for our family - both for our sadhana and for our small preaching efforts here in Brisbane. Your constant association and above all your merciful approach towards all of us, especially towards your disciples is a shining example of how a spiritual master should be. Your affection towards our family - you come for taking prasaadam every time you visit Brisbane, your personal association to me - all this is a cherished treasure for us on this path of Krishna consciousness.

Maharaja, we pray that Lord give you a long life and god health and we get your continued sanga for times to come.

Please forgive my offences.

Your servant
Sakhi-rai das

Namo om visnu padaya Krsna presthaya bhutale
Srimate Devamrita swamin iti namine
Pracare purva daksham ca bhaktacara pravinata
Prarthatapi karunyam yasya sarve ca te namah

My dear Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to your Vyasa Puja day. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Guru Maharaj,
As I sit down to write this offering, I find myself incapable of doing justice to this task. I am overwhelmed by feelings of guilt and unworthiness as yet another year has passed without my making much spiritual advancement. The taste of pure devotional service continues to elude me and I am yet to develop attachment to the holy name. Constantly battling my own anarthas , stuck in my own quagmire of material existence, my only saving grace is the shelter of your lotus feet. It is your causeless mercy only that shines like a lamp in an otherwise dark and gloomy materialistic life.
Guru Maharaj, I consider myself very fortunate to have found the shelter of your lotus feet. Like a lost child, I was wandering in the darkness of Maya. It was you who switched on the light and showed me where I belong. I must admit that I have a long way to go in imbibing this fact. In this war against Maya, you are the perfect general in Srila Prabhupada’s army equipped with the weapons of sastra with which you slash to pieces the demons of ignorance. You possess such competence in preaching and vaisnava dealings that everyone around you is touched and transformed. You can be as soft as a rose and as hard as a thunderbolt while establishing devotional standards.
Guru Maharaj, I have never seen you waste a single moment on mundane things. Your sense of punctuality is amazing. You are the perfect example of a disciple who has dedicated his life to his spiritual master’s mission. Please bless me Guru Maharaj so that I may also become dedicated to you and to Srila Prabhupada. You are the embodiment of mercy and compassion. It doesn’t matter whether one is your disciple or not, you distribute your mercy equally to everyone.
As Yudhisthira Maharaja tells Vidura
“Devotees like your good self are verily holy places personified. Because you carry the Personality of Godhead within your heart, you turn all places into places of pilgrimage.”
Indeed Guru Maharaj , you are carrying forward the legacy of Vaisnava Acaryas. Always rapt in the thought of Krsna, you are saving innumerable souls by bringing them close to Krsna.
Krsna se tomara krsna dite paro , tomara sakati ache
Krsna is yours. You are able to give him for such is your power.
I pray to Krsna to bless you with a very long and healthy life so that you can continue to serve Srila Prabhupada and deliver fallen living entities like me.
May I never leave the service of your lotus feet, which I have obtained with such difficulty after numerous births.
Now, more than ever, Guru Maharaj, I need your shelter. At this point in my spiritual career, I am being hounded, my very faith and every skill that I have learnt as a devotee is severely being put to test. Please bless me so that I can learn what this test wants to teach me and become more fixed in my devotional service and dedication to you, Srila Prabhupada and his ISKCON.
Have a very blissful Vyasa Puja day.
Your servant
Saktimanta dd

Nama om visnu-padaya Krsna presthaya bhutale
Srimate devamrta swamin iti namine

Pracare purva daksyam ca bhaktacara pravinitah
Paratatapi karunyam yasya sarve ca te namah

My dear Guru Maharaja
Again and again Krishna is showing me my weakness. When I am thinking I understood something and advanced a little more in the path of devotional services, something happened to me to remind me how condition I am. Still because the desire to be a better devotee is there I need to meditate about my life again and again and become stronger in my practice.

This time I want to say thank you specially because you gave me the most amazing family. Without the support of the devotes and specially your disciples I will be lost. The way you preach and teach to your sons and daughter is giving me very nice examples and showing me the amazing qualities everyone has. This wonderful qualities are coming out and spreading around by your mercy and under your guidance.

Time is running fast and always something is coming to affect me. Disease and external fenomenos were the predominant miseries to me in the past, specially after being in at earthquake I thought ok that was a big test I didn’t feel fear and I just chanted thinking about Krishna. He,he,he I am child as a devotee. I can’t believe I thought like that.

This year my mind attack me and everything become a mess. The more difficult thing to control. Under your support and guidance I can survive again and again from the material attachment and the bodily concept of life to the sadhana bhakti. Here I am, trying to keep the equilibrium. You know how much I want to serve devotees and how much happiness is giving me.

It is interesting when we are confronted with something challenging how we react.

Thank you for being such a wonderful and loving father and amazing guide for me. I need you for progress in Krishna’s services. Material nature is to strong to deal with and is always attacking us to through some obstacles and may me be in sadness, over different situations I need to build my relationship stronger with Krishna and you again and again.

I am really want to be serious in Krishna Consciousness, even they may be so many impediments.

Looking forward to serve and please you every day

Your aspirant servant
Sammohini devi dasi

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisance’s on this glorious day of your Vyasa Puja celebration.

Last week I had an auspicious dream where you appeared seated in a chair. You were surrounded by a group of young devotee children being coaxed by their parents to approach you with offerings of flowers. They were also running to touch your feet. Maybe I dreamed this scene because we are expecting a baby and I’m already seeing the big responsibility that this endeavour entails. Searching for strength and inspiration I found a wonderful paragraph in Rupa Goswami’s Nectar of devotion that explains how natural attraction for Krishna can develop through mercy and he gives the example of Prahlada maharaja.

“When he was within the womb of his mother she was being sympathetically instructed by Narada muni about the science of devotional service and at the same time Narada muni was wishing that the child within the womb could also take advantage of his instructions. Because Narada, an authorized devotee and great associate of the Lord, was desiring auspiciousness for Prahlada, he developed all the characteristics of a high grade devotee.”


Your regular classes, your lively kirtans, your careful management and personal care, have always been here to show how much you desire auspiciousness for me. Even though I have no vaisnava qualities, you sympathetically raise me and treat me as a devotee. Our baby is already fortunate for their having connection with your wonderful sanga, like Prahlada, from inside the womb.

Krishna says that "of all the servants of God, the one that preaches are the dear most servants in the world to him". This has to be my favourite quality in you.

I hope we remain strong in our efforts to try and serve your preaching mission because I can see the need to give to others the love and spiritual care that you have so kindly given to us.

Aspiring to be a tiny particle of dust at your lotus feet,

Sandrananda dd

My dearmost Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my obeisances at Your lotus feets. All glories to You and Srila Prabhupada!
In this special day, I remember Your mercy upon me, accepting me as Your eternal daughter, and giving me the honour of harinama initiation in our Preaching Center of Miraflores, in Your last initiation in Peru.
Please give always Your mercy and take me to my eternal home with You and Srila Prabhupada!
Your eternal servant
Sasi-Mukhi d.d.

nama om visnu- padaya
krsna pesthaya bhutale
srimate devamrita
swamin iti namine

pracare purva daksyam
ca bhaktacara pravinata
parapatatapi karunyam
yasya sarve ca te namah

Dear Srila Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.

To my great fortune you have directly put me in touch with Krsna consciousness and acting as my inspiration you have endowed me with this unique opportunity to endeavour in learning the divine process of devotional service, in the association of the vaisanavas.

Throughout boyhood I was completely bewildered by material changes. Now by recollection I am sure I can understand that I was waiting for the opportunity to hear from a purified source of intelligence; my eternal spiritual master. Now, in your service I am longing to engage the tongue in tasting but one drop of the nectar of the chanting of Hare Krsna.

Hearing from a bona fide spiritual master is the process which can liberate all the conditioned souls in the material universe.

“Having obtained real knowledge from a self-realized soul, you will never fall again into such illusion, for by this knowledge you will see that all living beings are but part of the Supreme, or in other words, that they are Mine.” BG 4.34

Forgetfulness of Krsna has plunged me into this world in which I have falsely identified as the mind and body. You describe so amazingly, in your book Perfect Escape, the plight of the mind involved with the false ego. Forcing upon one’s consciousness overemphasis on non-essentials such as pleasure and pain, this false self is the enemy of spiritual advancement. Identifying in this way has so far sent me on a wild journey of repeated birth and death; plan-making and mental speculation being my livelihood, while I have marched away from Krsna towards the dead-end goal of bodily-exploitation, which is masked with the spiritually criminal yet seemingly innocent face of sensuous enjoyment.

Your situation is one of transcendence, unbewildered by this material energy. What could be more purifying for the intelligence than hearing from my eternal spiritual master? Until coming into your contact I couldn’t see beyond my broken down mind.

I pray to utilize the best of my ears’ abilities to be absorbed in your instruction.

The Srimad-Bhagavatam keeps together positive hope with the limitless instruction of the spiritual authorities;

“Gradually, as the mind becomes progressively spiritualized, withdraw it from sense activities, and by intelligence the senses will be controlled. The mind too absorbed in material activities can be engaged in the service of the Personality of Godhead and become fixed in full transcendental consciousness.” SB 2.1.18

I pray to remain faithfully in service at your lotus feet, Gurudeva. Please now do as you see fit to rid me of my material contaminations. Having intercepted my sojourn, armed with the torchlight of transcendental knowledge, I am simply the begging recipient of your mercy.

Your aspiring servant, Sean

Dear Gurudeva

Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupda
All glories to you on this auspicious day

Gurudeva, you are my hero for your constant absorption in devotional service. A near-to-four decade of selfless devotional service is definitely not an ordinary achievement. Of course, your body, words and mind continuously engrossed in pleasing guru and Krsna are the price that makes you a worthy recipient of that achievement.

You kindly gave me a glimpse of your unparalleled devotional ‘technique’ of constant absorption in service while my prabhu and I travelled with you early this year. In our flight from Kolkata to Delhi, you were literally ‘constantly engaged’. When the flight departed you first started reading articles on your Ipad, making yourself materially up-to-date for preaching purposes. Sometime after an announcement was made to turn off all electrical gadgets in preparation for landing. What did you do then? You pulled out an article cut out from newspapers to read instead. My mouth dropped. Near to landing the turbulence in the flight made it difficult for you to continue reading, then you pulled out Bhagavad-Gita Sloka book. This time my heart dropped, ‘Wow, this is how my spiritual master does it!!!’ Through such constant engagement ,day after day and year and year, you are certainly beyond the touch of the wheel of birth and death. What’s more, Krsna promises Himself to be easily obtained to such person:

For one who always remembers Me without deviation, I am easy to obtain, O son of Pritha, because of his constant engagement in devotional service [Bhagavad Gita, 8.14]


Sril Prabhupada explains in the purport, “The special qualification of the pure devotee is that he is always thinking of Krishna without deviation and without considering the time or place. There should be no impediments. He should be able to carry out his service anywhere and at any time. Some say that the devotee should remain in holy places like Vrindavana or some holy town where the Lord lived, but a pure devotee can live anywhere and create the atmosphere of Vrindavana by his devotional service. It was Sri Advaita who told Lord Caitanya, "Wherever You are, O Lord -- there is Vrindavana."

In the presence of such pure devotee, you, I certainly felt more purified and inspired than simply being in a holy place, Vrndavan.

Gurudeva, you are my hero for your selflessness in caring for devotees as well as outreaching work. Giving advice to someone, whether a disciple or a non-devotee that you outreach for, even when he/she doesn’t appreciate must not be a very pleasing task. Why to care someone who doesn’t even reciprocate!?

You yourself actually revealed what actually goes on in your heart. In a Srimad-Bhagavatam class in Vrndavana, early this year, you said that whilst thinking the person in front of you is a much better devotee than yourself, you constantly beg Krsna what to stay to the other person to encourage their Krsna consciousness. You’re doing it not for yourself but for guru and Krsna, equipped with compassion on the downtrodden kali-yuga residents. Such humility combined with selflessness is what makes huge impacts in the lives of your disciples and people in general.


Gurudeva, you are my hero with your unlimited, exemplary qualities for me to aspire for. Thank you for showering your care and advice even at times when all you get from your spiritual child is tantrum, whinging and no-action. I beg you for the genuine desire and strength to offer you some service pleasing to you.

Struggling but hoping to be your real disciple,
Sevamrita devi dasi

<strong>D</strong>escended with utmost compassion from the highest realms of Prema Bhakti
<strong>E</strong>very moment I pray to serve you in some small or great way
<strong>V</strong>ery very fortunate to have meet you years ago
<strong>A</strong>lways may my heart stay open to your grace which has no beginning &amp; no end
<strong>M</strong>ercy and love you show us is inconceivable, I cannot comprehend
<strong>R</strong>aining upon us Srila Prabhupad's message of what we could attain
<strong>I</strong>n spite of our attachment to temporary joys and sorrow
<strong>T</strong>irelessly teaching us the imporatance of the Gita and chanting of harinama
<strong>A</strong>nd Maya keeping us enthralled in a life ultimately hollow.
<strong>S</strong>o sweet is your presentation of the bhakti lata bija
<strong>W</strong>ho ever follows, can eternal bliss be far behind?
<strong>A</strong>nswering our questions through Vani, you bestowed the healing balm
<strong>M</strong>emories of your association and instructions the sweetest thing on earth
<strong>I</strong>nspiring us to dive deep within and beyond.

<center><i>om ajnana timirandhasya
jnana-jana salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena
tasmai sri guruve namah</i>

The fabric of this world, by its nature, is of darkness. But just as the sun brings illumination into this world, similarly our lives are filled with divine light, love, compassion, and wisdom by the grace of the spiritual master. Unto such a spiritual master, yourself, I offer my humble obeisances.</center>

"One can only advance so far by self-study of books. In order to progress further, one must obtain the association of a guru, a spiritual teacher."

"When the student is ready, the guru will appear."

One of the qualifications of the student is that he or she is able to recognise a genuine guru. Without this, the guru might appear, but the student is not ready.

Study of accepted scriptures and the writings of recognised authorities such as saints help one to develop oneself to the point of understanding the nature and role of the guru.

The guru is a guide, one who indicates the way. This is done through practical example and precept (teaching).

When both the disciple and the guru are qualified, a successful spiritual venture can be undertaken.

Over time I have become more and more convinced of your qualification to discharge the role of guru for your disciples.

Some years ago in Peru, Param Satya and I were discussing the finer points of distinction between the platform of madhyama and uttama-adhikari outside your apartment.

Overhearing our conversation you leaned out the window and said: "What we need in ISKCON is more kanistha-adhikaris - then at least people would take care of the Deities!"

Kanishta-adhikaris are the "neophytes" - literally "new plants" in Greek. Creating neophytes is the process of creating new devotees.

Sometimes I overhear a long-time member of ISKCON say: "the organisation has matured now"; however, this is dangerous. Of course we should individually and collectively learn from history; however as individuals we may mature, but the organisation needs to stay neophyte forever, otherwise it is not growing - there are no new devotees.

I observe how you remain a neophyte, and encourage your disciples to do the same. You retain a strong emphasis on the basics of Krishna Consciousness - the kinds of things that are necessary to establish (and maintain) a solid footing: hearing and chanting with attention as a priority; careful study of Srila Prabhupada's books; following prescribed fasts.

At the same time you don't fall off the other side of the <i>niyamagraha</i> double-jeopardy tightrope: the non-essential aspects are adapted to time, place and circumstance to keep Krishna Consciousness relevant to society and to individuals as they pass through the various psychological stages of life.

The result is growth - both in terms of expansion of the mission by the addition of neophytes (new devotees), and the continued growth of your disciples who adopt this focus on watering the roots and waiting for flowers to develop as a natural outgrowth of this diligently performed activity.

As my appreciation of your qualification has grown over the years, my realisation of my own disqualification has become clearer to me.

This past year has been challenging for me, but I remained committed to the long haul. It's "spiritual life", not "spiritual week" or "spiritual year", or even "spiritual decade".

At the same time that I have to retain a long-time commitment, there is no time like the present.

Death can come at any moment - illness can strike quickly and end one's health within weeks or even hours. Accident can occur and end life within minutes, seconds, or even instantaneously.

This has been brought home to me vividly over the last year as I've sat at the hospital bedside of both my wife and our son, wondering if they will leave the hospital alive.

The other day I went to the Sunday Feast at the Australian School of Meditation with Prahlad. It reminded me of The Loft in New Zealand in the 1990s.

During the dinner, an enthusiastic young devotee came up to preach to me, interrupting a conversation I was having with another guest. We talked for a while and I mentioned to him what had happened over the last year with my wife, and our son. After spending a few moments gathering intelligence and establishing some common ground he launched into his chosen angle: explaining how the understanding of karma from a previous life helps us to not get angry or blame God, and how Christians were at a loss to explain the problem of evil, or why "bad things happen to good people".

I thought for a moment, and said to him: "<i>It's a good explanation if you need one. I don't really care much for philosophy these days. I'm more pragmatic. I don't think about why these things happen, I just think about what I am going to do now.</i>"

He then changed tact, explaining how we are not the body, and how this understanding helps us to understand that our wife and our son do not belong to us, and in this way we mitigate our suffering.

Then a kirtan began, and he excused himself, saying: "<i>time to chant</i>".

Several of my godbrothers and sisters, and even friends and wellwishers of the movement that I know, have commented that they find interactions such as these to be shallow, mechanical, perfunctory, and even manipulative.

However, new devotees are neophytes, and they relate to others as neophytes. The philosophy is still largely intellectual, and "preaching" is to a large degree a ritualised activity (masquerading under a veneer of common social interaction).

I have observed over time that attempts to make non-devotees into <i>madhyama-adhikaris</i> largely fail. The <i>kanishta-adhikari</i> stage is a necessary precursor. Why be surprised that new devotees preach like neophytes? That's what they are.

Rather than being annoyed or critical of his preaching, or the program that they were running, I found myself appreciating the power of the neophyte, especially in reaching out to others.

Can I start over again? I don't have any problem taking birth again in this world if I can get the opportunity to become a neophyte devotee, and stay one.

I concur with your statement: "<i>What we need in ISKCON are more kanistha-adhikaris</i>" - more new devotees. I am hoping to become one myself.

On behalf of the three of us: Param Satya, Prahlad, and myself, I offer my humble obeisances to you on this, the occasion of the celebration of your Vyasa-puja, and pray to one day attain pure devotional service, uncontaminated by the modes of material nature.

- a unqualified disciple,
Sitapati das

Dear Gurudeva
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to your most auspicious appearance day
pracare purva-daksyam ca
bhaktacara-pravinata
pararthatapi karunyam
yasya sarve ca te namah
“Obesiances to you who have all the qualities of unique skills in preaching, competence in Vaisnava dealings, selfness, and compassion.”
Today on this auspicious day, I will like to thank you for giving us devotional gift with all knowledge and examples; you gave through your classes and divine books. You have knack of explaining high level spiritual topic, with so ease. Your enthusiasm is contagious, when you are giving class; whole atmosphere is so lively and everyone can feel the spiritual vibration, emanating from your transcendental body. Your heart if full and vibrant with Krishna consciousness, and whoever comes in contact with you can experience that. Our conditions are like disease person, as explained in nectar of Devotion.
syāt kṛṣṇa-nāma-caritādi-sitāpy avidyā-
pittopatapta-rasanasya na rocikā nu
kintv ādarād anudinaṁ khalu saiva juṣṭā
svādvī kramād bhavati tad-gada-mūla-hantrī


”The holy name, character, pastimes and activities of Krishna are all transcendentally sweet like sugar candy. Although the tongue of one afflicted by the jaundice of avidya [ignorance] cannot taste anything sweet, it is wonderful that simply by carefully chanting these sweet names every day, a natural relish awakens within his tongue, and his disease is gradually destroyed at the root.” (Nectar of Devotion, text 7)
Guru Maharaja you are so compassionate. I beg at your lotus feet that, to give dull head like me, guidance to come out of this Dark Age and with your mercy one day can relish real nectar of “Hari Naam”. Thank you for everything
Your Servant,
Sravananda Das

Dear Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances,

All glories to your lotus feet

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.



(SB 1.1.2) ...The highest truth is reality distinguished from illusion for the welfare of all.



Thankyou Guru Maharaja, as the perfect example of Srila Prabhupada's empowering words, you are constantly engaged in this highest welfare work - distinguishing reality from illusion and, as Srila Prabhupada explains, (SB 1.5.16) ...The expert devotees also can discover novel ways and means to convert the nondevotees in terms of particular time and circumstance. Devotional service is dynamic activity, and the expert devotees can find out competent means to inject it into the dull brains of the material population.



...How dull is my brain and how illusioned I am - and yet how constantly encouraging, merciful and empowering you are and have always been. Always you are my ever well wisher, my greatest strength and my inspiration.



As you once explained, you have to sometimes wear the father hat and sometimes the spiritual master hat. There is such a fine line between the two and you so personally guide us at every step, just like small children who's parents have to always watch over them, you watch over us at every step, I pray to reciprocate and develop the intelligence to grow up.



My challenge remains the same : (SB 1.5.24) ...Without being self-controlled, without being fully obedient, no one can become successful in following the instructions of the spiritual master, and without doing so, no one is able to go back to Godhead.

I often read these words and they pierce my heart.



I long to be a worthy disciple - action at the very least is required, as you have already given everything, handed straight down through the parampara. Not only that, you show by perfect example what one must do with such mercy - how to be a real disciple, how to serve and love the Spiritual master and how to become one with his mission - making it ones very life and soul.



(Sri Sri Gurv-astaka vrs 8) By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Krsna. Without the grace of the spiritual master, one can not make advancement. Therefore, I should always remember and praise the spiritual master. At least three times a day I should offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master.



Earlier in the year you wrote about my Godsister Mangalarati prabhu - who is a source of constant inspiration for so many fortunate souls. When I read that story I felt the power of bhakti, it is tangible and alive - this is what is possible for one who takes shelter of the bona fide spiritual master and becomes his instrument, and this is the nectar that attracts Krsna. The great ocean of material existence shrinks to the size of a calf's hoof print - anything is possible and there is no obstacle which can not be overcome - such is the power of the spiritual master and the disciple who surrenders to him. This is real intelligence.



As you once mentioned when we go before Sri Sri Gaura Nitai we should pray... 'My dear Lordships, Sri Sri Gaura Nitai, I pray that YOUR desire may enter my heart, that I may spread this sankirtana movement all over the world.'



As impossible as this may seem in my dull mind - as you pointed out at the time nothing is impossible for Sri Sri Gaura Nitai who are parama karuna, an ocean of mercy.



But more pleasing to Lord Caitanya is the service of his dear most servants servant.

You are that real servant Guru Maharaja, you inspire me so very much by your love and surrender to your spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada.

What can I say but that my spiritual master is also a Vaikuntha man



Today - and every day - I pray to you Guru Maharaja, that YOUR desire may enter my heart, that I may serve YOU with intelligence, selflessness and bhakti and that by serving you I may in some minute way assist you in spreading the desire of Sri Sri Gaura Nitai all over the world.



I also pray and beg that you may continue to bless my daughter from all directions that she may grow up lovingly engaged in the service of the servant of the servant of Lord Caitanya.



Trying and praying to be a genuine disciple.



Sri Yasoda devi dasi

Dear Srila Guru Deva,
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Recently you talked with me via Skype – I was going through some difficult times, there was a great deal of trouble and tumult. Your words were so soothing to my troubled heart and mind. You gave me inspiration and courage as well as a clear vision of a very difficult and confusing situation. I have been meditating on parts of this conversation, your apparently simple words and phrases carry so much depth.

You explained how Maya was using a situation to disrupt the outreach, and how we could (and should) rise above her tricks. I dont think we could have done this without your guidence, but I think we are all on the way to mending the crisis. In the aftermath of this attack form maya I am re-assessing my conceptions and expectations. Old hurts in my battered heart are re-visited. How should they be dealt with? It seems that what is normal in one yatra is not aceptable in another. The level of care in this - your yatra is so great, Srila Guru Deva – I am still adjusting to that. It is so wonderful to have your senior disciples to assist me in this transition.

One thing you told me is that “you just have to learn how to handle the flood of devotional service – while taking care of yourself too” This instruction seems like an impossibility to me. The 'flood of devotional service' seems to swamp me with activity leaving me so little time to maintain my personal sadhana, health and practical needs. I remember at one festival you were speaking from Caitanya Caritamrita and explaining how the 'flood of love of god' described there, is actually a flood of devotional service! You explained how we can learn to swim and splash in this flood. What is the benefit in avoiding such a flood? It is your mercy after all. I am so grateful to have such absorbing service to perform for you Srila Guru Deva, but I also understand that I must be careful to attend to my personal maintenance. Otherwise I will not be able to continue for very long. I am slowly learning how to do this. Thank you for your help in this regard, I would be lost without you.

Another part of this amassing conversation you told me “all I have to give you is devotional service – thats all I can give you! – devotional service.” You paused then said “and I pray that you develop a deep attachment to the Holly Name”. This deep attachment to the Holly Name is so desperately lacking in my consciousness right now. My Japa is not very focused, I really must work on it more. I have a plan, please help me to make it work. I really need the guidance and support you give me to carry it out.

My meditation on this conversation is causing so much transformation – cleaning the mirror of my mind. Of course there was more than I can write here. Your words are so powerful and inspirational, even coming as in this case from the other side of the world. I hope to one day be a worthy disciple for you.

Your servant and spiritual daughter
Sruti-cari devi dasi

To my illustrious Gurudeva who is an ocean of mercy

Please accept my most respectful obeisances

All glories to you on this most auspicious day of your appearance

With tears in my eyes and a heart full of deep gratitude, I sincerely thank you for the hard labour you have carried out in keeping me enthusiastic in Krsna consciousness over the years. Always looking out for my welfare, making sure to point out the many faults that I need to work on. Which I know that you do not like to do since your heart is completely free from the propensity to see the faults in others, but as a service to your disciples you have accepted this austerity to help them advance in spiritual life.

In your own person Gurudeva, I am amazed to see the results of decades of sincere practice in Krishna Consciousness through thick and thin. As the years go by you are revealing more and more about your preaching days behind the Iron Curtain. To have so much faith in Guru and Krishna that you would risk being thrown in jail, tortured or even killed, speaks in its self of how surrendered you are to fulfilling the desire of Lord Caitanya to spread Krishna Consciousness throughout the world.

yasya deve para bhaktir
yatha-deve tatha gurau
tasyaite kathita hy arthah
prakasante mahatmanah

‘Only unto those great souls who have implicit faith in both the Lord and the Spiritual Master are all the imports of the Vedic knowledge automatically revealed.’

This is surely the reason for the profound realizations you have on all aspects of devotional service. The way you explain how to apply the science of Krishna Consciousness in the modern age is so straightforward, clear-cut and practical, which is enlivening for devotees all over the world who have the fortunate opportunity to relish your association.

I can say with firm conviction Gurudeva, that when you lead Kirtan, I am transported to the spiritual world. The pure name that you chant pierces through the thick layers of ignorance covering the heart, bathing the soul in spiritual bliss and making the devotees jump higher and higher in total ecstasy. At the Ukraine festival this year, on the night of the closing ceremony you lead a thunderous Kirtan with 6000 devotees going wild, eager to drink through their ears, the nectarian Holy Name emanating from your lotus mouth.

C.C. Antya Lila ch 3 txt 126 ppt.

‘Pure devotees chant the Hare Krsna mantra, and simply by hearing this chanting from a purified transcendental person, one is purified of all sinful activities, no matter how low born or fallen one may be. As soon as one is thus completely free from the reactions of sinful activities, he is eligible to render devotional service to the Lord this is the process for engaging the fallen souls in devotional service’

I cannot describe the unimaginable good fortune I feel for having such a competent spiritual father, with such a strong attachment for chanting the Holy Name to guide me back home to Goloka Vrindavan.

Feeling very useless for not having the ability to glorify you adequately, befitting your qualifications. I will finish with a prayer from Sanatan Goswami to Lord Caitanya.

‘If you want to make a lame man like me dance, kindly bestow your transcendental blessings on me by keeping your lotus feet on my head’

Your eternal servant

Stambha bhava das

Dear Srila Gurudeva

Thank you so much for being who you are, as a soul, as my spiritual master and as a person.
The time leading up to your vyasa puja celebration gives us all a wonderful opportunity to take our minds off of our own everyday mental anxieties and focus on you, and gives us a chance to reflect upon how fortunate our life is because you are part of it.
Preaching Krsna consciousness, as we all know is no easy task - whether adressing the uneducated, the materialistic, the emotionally and mentally dysfunctional, or spiritually confused and hard hearted. So many conditioned souls are searching for a way out of those dark places, and lest we forget, current deevotees themselves were once there. You however, by your causeless mercy, and with the aid of your steadily growing army of blissful sankirtan soldiers, came to our rescue, providing us with maps, tools and knowledge that would set us on the path, out of a miserable life of blind bondage, toward a joyful life of ecstatic experiences. Certainly I have only just begun my journey on this path Gurudeva, but I am filled with feelings of assurance and can think of no-one I would rather have leading the way than yourself.
It is certainly evident that you are qualified, if not over-qualified to fit such a position. One wonders: "How is it possible that this personality is down here with us?" Wherever you go, the atmosphere is purified by your Krsna-katha, and lively presentations of the Lords sublime truth. When you are giving these talks, there arises a peculiar sensation in the room, as if everyone is being shifted to some degree out of their normal awareness, while a divine portal opens up, providing the opportunity for willing souls to take the journey to back to the land of eternal wonder.
I pray that one day I might have even a tiny drop of such potency, but that in the meantime I may help bring at least a few individuals to get the full dose by hearing from you personally.
And then there is so much that you do for the devotees who choose to place themselves in your care. You are so expert in applying the sastra, advising according to each individuals circumstances. What I see devotees making possible for others in terms of outreach is surely a reflection of this fact. It is inspiring to consider the potential rippling effect that your act of unreservedly spreading the Lords sankirtan movement will have. Your sacrifice for us imbues us with the strength to give the same to others.
In my work schedule I find it hard sometimes to get much time for reading. However, one boon is that during my work day I quite often get the opportunity to listen to lectures. With your booming, witty, captivating voice filling my mind, the work day passes quickly and peacefully.
Something I have become aware of in myself over time since taking up my bhakti practice is a sense of becoming aloof from the constant need to search externally for sources of meaning in my life. Having Krsna and my guru brings me so much peace and focus. I feel much more aloof from the anxieties brought about by passionately hoping to achieve so many things before the end of this life, which I once thought of as perhaps my only chance.
Having said that, I do have some desires and goals for my bhakti career. Prasad distribution is something I would like to involve myself in more seriously in the future once my living situation becomes more established. I feel enlivened by the prospects of being able to serve you in that way.
Well Gurudeva, I have the task of preparing a feast in honor of you and after I finish writing this I am going to engage myself in some preparation for that. How fortunate I must be to serve you and meditate upon you in such a way.
Please keep me always protected beneath the dust of your lotus feet. And may your own bhakti creeper flourish and blossom perpetually.

Eternally aspiring to serve you with sincerity,

Sudha Nidhi das

Dear Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to your lotus feet on this auspicious day of your appearance.

When I was first attending your classes in Manchester, I was sitting by the door one day and as you walked into the room you said, "Hello Tara". I wanted to reciprocate with your personalism and I replied, "Hello.. Dev..am..rita Swa..." Before I could finish, you had passed by and I was a little embarassed having tried to greet you with such a mouthful of words. Now I am so proud to be one of your spiritual children and to be able to call you Gurudeva. How kind you are to adopt me.

Gurudeva, when I first moved into the ashram in Manchester, I didn't go out for the first couple of days. It was most unusual for me not to leave the house all day. I guess I was "settling in" and I found myself doing little services at the ashram. After a few days I think I mentioned to Guruvani or Visnu-Maya that I would like to go out someday. Within the next couple of days I was out distributing fudge and then incense and books! Your disciples are so expert.

Of course, things were exaggerated and by the time I got to New Zealand a couple of months later, word got around that I was a book distributor. I never realized that just a simple desire to "get out of the house" could have such repercussions. Your disciples magnify the tiniest ability.

Krsna had tricked me, "Ok, you want to get out of the house, then go out and distribute books about Me". Now I had to live up to the expectations of a "Staunch sankirtana devotee". You see our full potential.

Over the years, I have continued to do this service with varying impure motivations. However, simultaneously I have been distracted, trying to escape this service, or have doubted if it's really for me as after all I never really made a solid "choice" to do sankirtana, it just kind of "came upon me". You have imposed upon me the greatest love.

Krsna says to Arjuna in Bhagavad-Gita 2.41
"Those who are on this path are resolute in purpose and their aim is one. O beloved child of the Kurus, the intelligence of those who are irresolute is many branched"

Having now changed ashram, I no longer am on a daily roster, I don't have to get out the door at a certain time and I can live my life how "I" choose. However, I want to live my life how you choose and I want to keep my life simply centered around this pivotal point of preaching. Once you told me "Get your strength from me". Now I am depending on your strength as my responsibilities increase, to keep engaging in sankirtana. You are my source of spiritual strength.

CC Adi 7.72 purport:
"A spiritual master knows very well how to engage each disciple in a particular duty, but if a disciple, thinking himself more advanced than his spiritual master, gives up his orders and acts independently, he checks his own spiritual progress"

Srila Gurudeva, I can see now that by the mercy of you and your disciples, I have been given so much encouragement resulting in the precious taste of book distribution. Still I am a fool and I jump for opportunities to serve maya or to take a step away from book distribution. Over and over again you patiently remind us of the goal.

Once when I was struggling, you so appropriately sent me this purport from CC Adi 7.72:

"The more a person engages in the service of the Lord, the more he is important; and, conversly, the more one is bereft of the transcendental service of Krsna, the more he invites the bad fortune of material contamination. In the material world, although materialists want to become one with God, or compete with God, everyone directly or indirectly engages in the service of the Lord. The more one is forgetful of the service of Krsna, the more he is considered to be dying."

You are my sankirtana leader, please keep me alive in this service.

Thank you again and again for your unconditional love.

Aspiring to be your humble servant,

Sukanthi Radha devi dasi

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada and all glories to your devotional service.

Gururdeva thank you for the shelter you provide in the form of real knowledge and culture. You have given us the opportunity for real friendships, relationships and purpose. Thank you for your unlimited encouragement, thanks to your compassionate guidance, it seems that the faith of this rock-like impersonalist is slowly increasing.
Please give me the sincerity and eyes to see that by engaging in your service and following your advice we can uncover reality.

Gurudeva you teach us that love means duty and for us to learn to love Krsna again we must act for his pleasure. Thank you for so selflessly reminding us of this simple spiritual principle over and over again. Your outreach efforts reach deep into my hardening Kali yuga heart and forgetful mind.

Gurudeva thank you for your blogs! When I feel in need of some bhakti connection I check your facebook page eagerly awaiting the next installment, or I play a lecture from your website to get some trickle of your bhakti, which is so surcharged with enthusiasm and compassion.

Gurudeva thank you for your recent kirtan session at Bhakti Lounge where you coached us in the “Swami step” you have given me an extra taste for dancing in kirtan ever since.

Gurudeva you cut through the entangling confusion of material consciousness and provide spiritual strength. Recently I heard you say:
“……the material world is wired in such a way that you never think you have what you need, no matter how much you have….material attachment is a disease…simply by chanting Hare Krsna you can become free from material existence” (Transcribed from lectures in Los Angeles 9-11th June 2011)

Praying to be properly engaged in your service, Sundarangi devi dasi

Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to you Gurudeva

Today marks the most important day, the holiest day, and the most blessed event of your divine appearance. Each year I have offered you my fears, my doubts , my hopes and battle plans. This year I would like to offer you even more. I would like to offer your praise and the glory that you deserve.

Balarama is the protector of the devotees of the Lord. By his divine grace only one can approach the Supreme Lord, Sri Krsna and thus Sri Balarama is the mercy incarnation of the Lord, manifested as the spiritual master, the saviour of the pure devotees.

In the spotless Purana, Srimad Bhagavatam we hear how the demigods approach the Lord. Posing questions and offering prayers to dissipate the complexities of life. Lead by Brahmaji, they wait for the Lord to respond. The lord responds by appearing in his original form for the pleasure of his parts and parcels. Similarly, when we as aspiring servants, disciples and saddhakas find ourselves amidst the raging fire of material existence we approach you, our father and well wisher for assistance. And what is your response? The same response we have heard from our previous acaryas and our revered param guru; AC Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada.

Message of service, though has tought
A healthy life as Caitanya wrought
Unknown to all, it’s full of brace
That’s your gift, your divine Grace

Pure devotional service is what you have come to teach us. You often tell us about our grandfather Srila Prabhupada. ‘If you want to know me, read my books. My books are better than me’. My purports are my transcendental ecstasies. This is the great wealth, the Cintanamani that you give us on a daily basis through your divine vani. Anyone who has any contact with you is truly blessed by Krsna. As we see with Bali maharaj, just because he was a direct descendent of the Great Prahlada maharaj, Lord Vamanadeva was very merciful towards him.

Some say that a Pure devotee should live in Vrindavana or some holy town but a pure devotee can live anywhere and transform that place into Vrindavana. It was Sri Advaita who told Lord Caitanya ‘where ever you are, Oh Lord that is Vrindavana’. Where every word is a song and every step is a dance. You travel the earth as a Vaikhuntha man, untouched by the frailties of the so called techno age. Creating Vrindavana wherever you go.

I have had only one decade of your association and that was enough to stop my gross sinful activities. Having gone through different changes, bewilderment by the material energy and ignorance which seemed blissful at some point, i stand as i did before. As an insignificant beggar , hoping to get onto that transcendental boat sailing back to the Spiritual world under your guidance.

Have you not come, how we would know about Krsna. You are forceful and bold and that is your right. You have the mace to save the fallen souls. How fortunate are we to have a father who left us magnificent Vaisnava treasure chest.

‘O lord, seeing me suffering miseries and fears, you cried and ocean with your compassionate tears. That ocean was sentient and full of love. It was your mercy descending from above. It now has form and travels this earth. He is my eternal Lord birth After Birth.’

Gurudeva, by your constant example I am learning. This is all by your divine grace, although undeserving. You have given me the greatest expecting nothing in return, your mercy that I did not earn. Some days I lose hope and see Krsna and Goloka to be so far away from my experience. I can only hope for your merciful glance.

Forgotten Krsna, We fallen Souls
Paying most heavy, The illusions toll.
Darkness around, all untrance.
You are my only hope.

Although my attempt to glorify you is most inadequate, I thank you for the precious opportunity. I still jump at any chance to attempt reciprocation for the greatest love, engagement in devotional service of the Divine Couple under the guidance of His Holiness Devamrita Swami.

You gave me the association of saintly devotees. Certainly without their friendship and camaraderie, the path back home, back to Godhead is fearfull with roadblocks, traffic jams, pitfalls, and even worse, madness and illusion. Through their support, the false ego in annihilated, like a defeated cancer tumor. In the Western world they sometimes say, ‘Born with a silver spoon in your mouth’. However by the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu I have been born and not with a silver spoon but with one made of Cintamani nama. This Cintamani is the deliverer of Real wealth coming through the maha mantra, family lineage of the 6 Goswamis and the most powerful literature I have ever gazed my existence upon Sri Caitanya Caritamrta and Srimad Bhagavatam upon which having read, I desire to read on..How will I ever repay you for what you have delivered ?

We constantly do assignments, Bhakti Satsri ,Bhakti Vaibhava etc and dig deep into the philosophy in an attempt to mine the greatest wealth. Still, glorification of the spiritual master always leaves a lingering question mark; blissfully inspiring and soberly profound. When we reflect upon your glories I often wonder who am I dealing with, the immensity of the vaisnava qualities cannot be adequately sung by any conditioned soul.



Canto 11:29:6 Uddhavas response to Krsna after hearing all necessary instructions on Yoga.
‘O my Lord, Transcendental poets and experts in spiritual science could not fully express their indebteness to you, even if they were endowed with the prolonged lifetime of Brahama, for you appear in 2 features- externally as the acarya and internally as the Supersoul to deliver the embodied living being by directing him how to come to you.’ It is not possible at all to express my indebtness to you or to the Lord.

Lastly Gurudeva, you have given us Srila Prabhupada, our Param Guru and the chief general of Lord Caitanyas Sankirtana army. His is the Bhakti that made a dimension of Vaikuntha possible within this world of dreams, hopes, and hell. Like a faithful son you follow in his footsteps.
Praying that I may desire to be a selfless servant of the servant of the servant of your servants.

Eternally at your lotus feet
Your servant
Swarupa sakti devi dasi

GURUDEV

Please accept my humble obeisance, all glories to Srila Prabhupad; all glories to your lotus feet on your appearance day.

While I still feel unqualified to glorify you on this auspicious day of your Vyasa Puja, I’m attempting to merely say thank you very much and to show my gratitude to have you as a Spiritual Master.

I have, on more than one occasion requested that you advise me on what to do and how to increase my service to Krishna. Both times you responded by asking about my personal job circumstances and then confirmed that there is no need to become fanatical, and to only do what is possible. For me, this reflects a perfect situation of how your role as the Spiritual Master takes the position of a kind and considerate Guru. But at the same time, this position of Spiritual Master allows me to have an increasing desire to serve you, to serve devotees and ultimately serve Krishna. And so I realise that in this one instance your instruction is not necessary, your existence is sufficient; a reality that you have allowed me to have.

The power of your existence ‘only’ stands true at the times when I wish I could see you more often. I then remember that every moment of my Krishna conscious journey under your divine supervision will be exactly the same whether you are here or there. Gurudev this is the supremacy of your position, your existence as my Spiritual Master. And this will remain my pillar of strength.

As I have previously vowed, I still commit to following the Krishna Consciousness path with determination.

Your eternally aspiring servant and spiritual daughter,
Sveta Manjari Dasi

To my dearest Guru Maharaja.

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to you on this most special day of your vyasa puja.

I have been meditating on understanding that by the process of devotional service, we are never separated from the spiritual master. The search for understanding this devotional secret began in my previous vyasa puja offering to you last year. I find myself “wowed” each time reading your brief writings or listening to you speak on topics of the Lord and His devotees.

Spiritual understanding is knowing that the words of the spiritual master are as good as himself. The ingredients within his words include but are not limited to, the ability to rescue and transform a person’s life, the ability to enable the sincere disciple to perform service beyond his capacity, the ability to reconnect each soul to Krsna.

Over the years and even from the day I first spoke to you, I have become firmly convinced that your words can perform all the above. Seeing how, by your words and instructions, you pull many of Krsna’s parts and parcels out of this painful existence and with your loving guidance revive them in the bliss of selfless service is my inspiration.

Your realizations are far deeper than I can ever imagine, because how is it that when you speak whether it’s direct or indirect outreach, your words leave a deep impact on your listeners? One can see that you have made the words and desires of your spiritual master your very life.

Captivating, thoughtful, compassionate, carrying the purity of the sastras and previous acaryas, cutting with a bit of humor opening the eyes of your listeners, you speak to intervene in the chaotic karma of Krsna’s fragmental parts, steering them to His loving service.

Your love and understanding of Srila Prabhupada’s words in his books is clearly shown through your own speaking and guidance of your disciples. You speak well because you have heard and followed Srila Prabhupada well. Of course hearing from you is beneficial in itself, but acting on your words is what keeps the connection.

” If you don't keep in touch with the original link, then it will be lost. And if you keep touch with the original link, then you are directly hearing Krsna. Similarly, Krsna and Krsna's representative, spiritual master, if you keep always intact, in link with the words and instruction of the superior authorities, then you are always fresh. This is spiritual understanding”- Srila Prabhupada spoke this on the appearance day of his own spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur.

Because I know and have seen the strength your words carry, I aspire to never be separated from you through carefully following your instructions. Remaining intact and ever fresh in devotional service.

In a conversation with his disciples, Srila Prabhupada explains.

Prabhupada: Yes. Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah **. If you get guru's krpa, then automatically you get Krsna.

Narayana: Guru-krpa only comes by pleasing the spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada?

Prabhupada: Otherwise how?

Narayana: Excuse me?

Prabhupada: Otherwise how it can come?

Narayana: So those disciples who don't have opportunity to see you or speak with you...

Prabhupada: That he was speaking, vani and vapuh. Even if you don't see his body, you take his word, vani.

Narayana: But how do they know they're pleasing you, Srila Prabhupada?

Prabhupada: If you actually follow the words of guru, that means he is pleased. And if you do not follow, how he can be pleased?

Sudama: Not only that, but your mercy is spread everywhere, and if we take advantage, you told us once, then we will feel the result.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Jayadvaita: And if we have faith in what the guru says, then automatically we'll do that.

Prabhupada: Yes. My Guru Maharaja passed in 1936, and I started this movement in 1965, thirty years after. Then? I am getting the mercy of guru. This is vani. Even the guru is not physically present, if you follow the vani, then you are getting help.

Sudama: So there's no question of ever separation as long as the disciple follows the instruction of guru.

Prabhupada: No. Cakhu-dan dilo jei... What is that, next one?

Sudama: Cakhu-dan dilo jei, janme janme prabhu sei.

Prabhupada: Janme janme prabhu sei. So where there is separation? Who has opened your eyes, he is birth after birth your prabhu.

Gurudeva, thank you so much for your tireless instructions and guidance. You’ve sometimes said to me, “Think of it like this: I’ve always been your father, you just forgot that and lost the baby pictures, now we’re picking up from where we left off”.

By the process of genuinely following your instructions, by the process of engaging in devotional service, may I remain under your shelter, never separated from you.

Your ever-grateful daughter and servant
Syama gauri dd

“Namo Om vishnu padaya Krishna presthaya bhu tale
Srimate Devamrita Swami iti namine
Prachare purva dakshyam ca bhaktachare pravinata
parartha tapi karunyam yasya sarve ca te namah”

"Obeisances to you who have all the qualities of unique skill in preaching, competence in Vaishnava dealings, selflessness and compassion."

Dear Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisance at your lotus like feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to you.

On this most auspicious day of your glorious appearance, I bow down to the dust of your lotus feet and offer my prostrated dandavat pranam again and again to express my deep gratitude to you for your constant care, guidance and blessings.

Although I don’t have any qualification to receive such good fortune, you still bestow it upon me, causelessly, like the sunshine which doesn’t discriminate and purifies even the most filthy place.

In Nectar of Devotion, chapter seventeen, Srila Prabhupada describes the loving ecstasy of a pure devotee:

“ By the process of executing regulated devotional service, one is actually elevated onto the transcendental stage, beyond the material modes of nature. At that time one’s heart becomes illuminated like the sun. The sun is far above the planetary systems, and there is no possibility of its being covered by any kind of cloud; similarly when a devotee is purified like the sun, from his heart there is a diffusion of ecstatic love which is more glorious than the sunshine”

Your effulgent self demonstrates this purified state.

As a neophyte practioner of bhakti, I do not find any proper tool in my bhakti tool belt to glorify you; it’s like trying to illuminate the sun with a torchlight.

I feel blessed by the all-pervasive presence of you in my life through your instructions and directions. Your beloved daughter Sukanthi Radha reminds me of you and tries to make sure our activities would be pleasing to you. While adjusting, changing and coping up with the different twists and turns of grhasta life, she keeps your pleasure as the yard stick, quoting you, “Gurudeva said this” or “Gurudeva likes this” “Gurudeva won’t like that”.

You reside on our alter, in the kitchen, in our bedrooms and within our hearts. I feel secure living within the community of your swan-like disciples and aspiring disciples.

We pray to you that you will always let us remain in the secure shelter of your lotus feet and empower us to become an instrument to serve you in serving Srila Prabhupada’s mission.

Aspiring to be the servant of your servants,

Thakur Saranga Das

Dear Srila Guru Dev,

Please accept my humble obeisances,

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All Glories to You on this most auspicious divine appearance day of yours!
This year has been quite an juggling act for me, stepping into gristha ashram. I can feel the absence care free thinking and doing things. It through your personal association and mercy, blessing of the vaishnavas that I surviving in the circle of vaishnava sanga, otherwise I would have drowned by the material waves in no time.
I haven’t got the words or the heart to describe the depth of your invaluable glorious preaching efforts, which has and will delivered thousands of souls from their miserly material condition, whether they realize it or not.
Currently, I’m in a dilemma like that which I feel that I haven’t still got the fundamentals right in Krsna consciousness, complacency has crept into my into my spiritual. I’m just driven by mercy of vaishnavas like you and many devotees .
Last year I wrote about the importance of reading Srila Prabhupad books. Although some sincere vaishnavas try to help me, but I’m still stuck with my lazy attitude without making any tangible progress in reading Srila Prabhupada books and application of it.
This is what I said last year.
Most of the times when you visit Melbourne, you ask me mainly two things about chanting and reading. Thank you very much for your constant reminders through your lectures to make chanting as the number one priority in our lives. You also emphasize of reading of Srila Prabhupada’s books. I was very inspired to see my God brothers and sisters in New Zealand had were eagerly trying to keep up the standard of reading 2hours a day minimum upon your instruction. As you have said in one lecture, 'Whether you are a one year devotee, three year, five year, twenty year devotee, unless you regularly read Srila Prabhupada’s books you will grow weak and go away.' As described in the Caitanya caritamrita madhya 2. 278

Men become strong and stout by eating sufficient grains, but the devotee who simply eats ordinary grains but does not taste the transcendental pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Krsna gradually becomes weak and falls down from the transcendental position. However, if one drinks but a drop of the nectar of Krsna’s pastimes, his body and mind begin to bloom, and he begins to laugh, sing and dance.
PURPORT
All the devotees connected with the Krsna consciousness movement must read all the books that have been translated (the Caitanya-caritamrita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita and others); otherwise, after some time, they will simply eat, sleep and fall down from their position. Thus they will miss the opportunity to attain an eternal, blissful life of transcendental pleasure.

I must admit that not reading Srila Prabhupad books regularly has been a weak link in my sadhana throughout the years, which prevents me accepting your blessings fully and increase my degree of surrender to Krsna. On this day I sincerely pray that through your blessings and of the vaishnavas here to overcome this hurdle that I’m struggling with.
Learning to be your servant,
Vaisnava caran dasa

Dear Gurudeva
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to your lotus feet
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
It seems just like yesterday when I met you for first time in Lima Peru and you was a sannyasa who came to visit us.I was in my search of my spiritual master and I already met some Gurus before you but none of them touch my heart like you did.Your wisdom,your determination,your character and your mercy toward the devotees was something that until now make me be so atractive to you Guru Maharaja.
Almost 12 years since than and still feel like I can't follow properly your instructions and be the disciple who can satisfy her Guru without be instructed.You are so mercifull and so Kindfull with all of us.You put the seed of love for Krishna in all of us with your preaching and instructions in our heart.In my live I have so many things to be thankfull to you. Is amazing because even you are a sannyasa you still are guiding me in my grihasta life like when I was single in the brahmacarini asrama,step by step,like the most lovely father.
Gurudeva this year Krishna send me a very special gift and this gift is Malini and this just only happened because of your unlimited mercy,I never see myself be in this position that I'm now but also I dident think few years ago I will be in the streets of Lima doing sankirtana,but al this just happened by your unlimited mercy and Krsna's mercy.I have so much to thank you Gurudeva,so much.
Let us pray to Lord Nrsimhadeva for our most beloved spiritual master H.H Devamrita Swami.Ki Jay!!!!!!!!!!!!
With much gratitud and love. Yours in Krsna conciousness
Vilasini dd,Ananta and Malini.

Dearest Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to you on this auspicious day of your Appearance.

Recently I had the great honour of being in New Zealand for one of your visits. It was Srila Prabhupada's Appearance Day, and after speaking about Srila Prabhupada, enlightening us and enlivening us, you lead the Guru-Puja and Kirtana. What followed was one of the most amazing moments of my life. Looking around at the slow moving crowd, you tried to encourage us to dance with more enthusiasm. You raised your arms and told us “This is the Swami Step!”, and then showed us, with a smile. With more of us moving in time to this treasured Swami Step, a vibrant happiness appeared within you, and radiated throughout the room. Feeling such awe and appreciation to be in your presence, I thought “This... is the perfection of life”.

It is with sincerest gratitude that I write this Vyasa-Puja homage. With every year of my devotional life, my appreciation for you and everything you do continues to grow and deepen within my heart.

In the beginning of our Krishna Consciousness, we often experience a welcome relief from distress. It's seems like a veil of darkness has been lifted, and rays of sunshine appear. Then, the cleansing begins. Ceto darpana marjanam. And those rays of sunshine appear to be lost. But what we don't realise, is how deeply and how thoroughly this cleansing process is working. Then slowly, but surely, as we continue on the devotional path, those rays of sunshine return. And our experience transforms from an alleviation of distress, to an active and expanding Krishna Conscious Career.

Thank you for giving me the ability to genuinely help others, to be a practitioner in the Transcendental Hospital of Krishna Consciousness. You have given us the Supreme medicine, with which we can truly help ourselves, and then genuinely help others, in a way that serves their absolute and ultimate good.

Thank you for working so hard to both establish and maintain this Krishna Conscious medicine throughout the world, for enduring so much austerity, and for tolerating so much from the lost souls of the Kali-Yuga. You are our shining light in the darkness of this material world, inspiring us with your vibrant enthusiasm, sincere dedication, and pure devotion.

Thank you for giving us the Holy Name of Sri Krishna, a wealth of the highest transcendental knowledge, and the most enlivening process of Devotional Service. You are so kindly giving us so much, how is this possible? It is possible by your most sincere following of Srila Prabhupada, continuing his work so humbly, faithfully, and selflessly. For this, I most sincerely thank you.

And last, but not least, thank you for your genuine care, support, and guidance in my life.

I pray that I can always continue to assist you, and always have the association of devotees who serve you.

Your indebted and ever-grateful aspiring servant,
Vinita devi dasi

Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

As Srila Prabhupada's disciples begin to slip away from this earthly world, it's inevitable to think of the inevitable; time and tide wait for no man. Over the years of reading offerings to Srila Prabhupada from his disciples, one of the common themes expressed is in relation to the generations ahead continuing on ISKCONs heritage in its full magnificence.

You yourself write in your homage to Srila Prabhupada in 2003:

<blockquote>'...Our sacred task is to instill in at least some of our dependents a commitment to staff ISKCON and push it forth. Minor adjustments may be necessary, but your sacred core must march on, to the goals you have preordained….'</blockquote>
When I think of the political turmoil of this earthly planet, and the corruption amongst the politicians, I wonder if the next generation, my generation, will do any better for this earth, I mean Kali yuga is no myth, things are getting worse, despite a few pockets of goodness. When we look at the state of the average person nowadays and the things they get up to, really, is there much cause to have faith in the betterment of this material world?

And the same goes for those who are coming to Krishna consciousness, we are the same generation I don't have much faith in managing this earth…. and you want '<i><strong>us</strong></i>' to take up the sacred core of Srila Prabhupadas legacy? I'm daunted at the prospect Guru Maharaja, but putting parampara in its simplest term, 'from Guru to disciple' is the natural way things must go on. Those committed disciples <i>will have</i> the task to push on the sacred core of ISKCON and inherit the responsibility to push forth the goals ordained by His Divine Grace.

Again, I quote from your homage to Srila Prabhupada in 2003:

<blockquote>'…Today your remaining disciples are nearing the sunset of their own time in this world. Indeed some have already passed on. I wonder, what will be our legacy? What will we leave behind, to sustain the next generation of servant-leaders in your mission? How can we inspire another wave of devotees to champion your desires, through thick and thin?…'</blockquote>
Gurudeva, you have created an empire of disciples dedicated to this 'loft' outreach, and under your guidance we manouvre thru trials and tribulations to increase the bhakti fever amongst the conditioned souls. As a small time manager of this maneuvering, I must admit its no walk in the park being constantly in your head thinking about the next move, but I cope because I know I always have you right there to discuss matters with, and hear your comments. Having you there to turn to is not something I want to take for granted, so thank you so much for always being available to share your wealth of incredible insight. Who else can give such clear-cut and immediate guidance? So alas, the inevitable daunts me….Your vapu is my life support in Krishna consciousness Gurudeva.

Thank you so much for all the time you give in training me in management and the fatherly love you have shown me non-stop. The things you know and understand which enable you to maneuver thru situations with such skill and care is beyond material ability. I picked up on this in one of our very first meetings in 2002, and understood from that day on, that if this person with all his intelligence and discernment can take to this process of Krishna consciousness, then so will I. This person is so smart, and from this day forth I will follow this persons intelligence, trust that beyond my own, and learn from him. 10 years on, and I'm still hanging in there Gurudeva. And you, in your 61 years are getting all the more wiser.

Please instruct me deeper in what it means for me to be one of those disciples who push ISKCON forward. I know I'm just your little girl, all the way in remote NZ, but I honestly feel the burden of the responsibility which lies ahead.

Begging to receive your eternal guidance,

Your servant,
Visnu-maya dd.

Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept our most humble and respectful obeisances at the dust of your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to you and your inspirational life of love and compassion. May your your glories continue to unfold by the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His associates.

Just wanted to prostrate myself before you on this auspicious day of your appearance in this dark world. What little spiritual advancement I have been able to make in my life I owe it to you. You remain as the pinnacle of living spiritual inspiration for me as you continue to help the unfortunate souls-giving them back their lives, so that they can in turn help others. It is a most glorious thing, because it is selfless and of so much benefit to the world.

Atheism seems to have become one of the fastest growing religions these days!
But beliefs aside-who can argue with a lifetime of dedication to the upliftment of others in a most practical and profound way. People's lives are being saved from the disaster of their own misguided and selfish desires. Those who you help are in turn dedicating themselves fully to helping others to dedicate their senses to the highest humanitarian work of making people "human" again.

Your aspiring servants- Vraja Dhama das and Bhakti Candrika dd

Dearest Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances,
all gories to Srila Prabhupada and to you.

Wouldn't it be easier to grasp eternal time comprehend unlimited space or, even count the atoms in this world than understand a representative of the Lord of your caliber?

Often I am wondering: “how can he be so personal? How is it possible that he gives everyone exactly what they need and make everyone feel as if they were the most special person in the world?”
He is like the wildest hurricane, putting everything upside down, inside out, like the sweetest, irresistable sugarcandy, he is as beautiful as the moon and his smile is as mild, soothing and cooling as the rays of the moon. He is the most cultured gentelman, perfect in behavior. He is like knowledge personified, with an intellect, as sharp as Parasurama's ax. He is the greatest manager, always knowing exactly which step to take, the best psychologist for the minced hearts of Kali Yuga's refugees, the perfect matchmaker, the coolest rockstar under the sun, and no one jumps like him to the beat. He is humility personified, taking nothing for himself but being the meekest servant of his Gurumaharaja. He is the most charming of snake charmers, the most heroic of lion tamer, the most loving and caring father, and overall, he is the most fabulous, powerful Guru. A direct manifestation of Srila Prabhupada's mercy for this 2nd generation.
And somehow or other I became his disciple.

Thank you Gurudeva for taking me under your wing out of your causeless mercy and compassion.
Thank you for tolerating my insane e-mails and all the loops I've been doing on the ever racing female emotional rollercoaster.
What I'm most grateful for is that you have never given up on me but that you have always there for me.

Desiring to become a worthy recipient of your mercy ,
Your aspiring servant,
Vraja-Nari devi dasi

Srila Devamrita Swami!
I’m bowing down in the dust of your lotus feet, humbly attempting to surrender to your instructions to my best ability. I should listen to the words of my spiritual master and strictly follow his instructions and make them the goal and meaning of my life.
This conditioned soul being so tardy and useless servant has obtained the rarest opportunity to engage in devotional service to Krishna. This is the most valuable gift in all three worlds. I have done nothing to become worthy of your shelter but your causeless mercy knows no bounds and therefore everyone can get it. Only by your mercy can I stay in association of Krishna’s devotees and try to be engaged in devotional service.
Out of your limitless compassion you are giving me inspiration and strength for devotional service in the association of His devotees. Please allow me to become a good instrument in your hands because only then my life will become a success.
“O spiritual master, o ocean of mercy and a friend of fallen souls, you are the instructor and the master of devotees. O lord, please be merciful to me and allow me to take shelter at the shade of your lotus feet. Let your glories spread throughout all the three worlds!”
Let my gratitude and glorification of your causeless mercy be expressed in my eternal service.
Trying to become the servant of the servants of your servants.
Vraja-gopi dasi (Lipetsk)

Dear Guru maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

On this auspicious occasion of your Vyasa Puja I would like to thank you for being a pillar of spiritual strength for the vaisnava community. An ongoing support for my family through out the phases and stages of our life, and an inspiration for all on how to selflessly serve the the Lord and his devotees.

In my life time you have taught me through your realisations how to practically fill the void in the heart and to understand what love really is

For many years my material family in their warped attempt to show love, used insults, aggression, shame and abandonment for not meeting their material expectations. Also because of their intolerance of my interest in the process of Bhakti yoga which was a source of humiliation for them.

But you my spiritual father, overlooked lifetimes of faults and imperfections to teach me what real love is and how to experience it. You gave me an opportunity to engage in harinama, sankirtana, worship of the Deities and Tulasi devi. I was able to cook for you and other visiting devotees. You have blessed me with a spiritual family of many God brothers and sisters, well wishers and dear friends. Who not only show concern for the material body and mind, but also the real person, the spirit soul, and how to develop my loving relationship with Guru and Gauranga.

Guru Maharaja, I really hope and pray to remember and appreciate this good fortune you have given me and many others. I hope that I will be blessed to continue my service to you, Lord Krishna and the vaisnava's.

Your lowly servant
Vrindaranya devi dasi

Om Ajnana-timirandhasya Jnananjana-salakaya
Caksur Unmilitam Yena Tasmai Sri-gurave Namah

I offer my respectful obeisance’s unto my spiritual master, who has opened my eyes, which were blinded by the darkness of ignorance, with the torchlight of knowledge.

Nama om vishnu-padaya krishna-presthaya bhu-tale
Shrimate devamrita-swamin iti namine
Pracare-purva-daksyam-ca bhaktacara-pravinata
Pararthathapi-karunyam yasya sarve ca te namah

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to your most auspicious appearance day.
Please accept my humble obeisances unto your lotus feet on this auspicious occasion of your Vyasa puja day.
We would like to thank you for your mercy, guidance in our spiritual life. We had our dream come true when you visited our house for home program. It was a wonderful program with your ecstatic kirtan and Lecture.
I was lucky to have your instructions this year during my darshans where you revealed your mood and mission of preaching the students and you emphasised that if students take up Krishna consciousness seriously in future they will become parents and will have children and families who are Krishna conscious. I feel fortunate for getting an opportunity to serve the student outreach program and be of an instrument in assisting your preaching mission.
Also, I had the privilege of listening and recording your lecture in Melbourne University and it is amazing to see the way you presented Krishna and the absolute truth as per the place, time, circumstances and the type of audience. The Lecture had wonderfully tied together the different points like the types of desires material, non-material, change of Consciousness that is required, the type of choices we need to make in life and the paradigm shift that is required to change the way people are living today to reduce the human foot print and need for leading a healthy life style. By your strong conviction and faith in Krishna, without sounding sectarian you have conveyed the message, which had really captivated the audience.
I still remember the first time when I had the fortune of having your darshan where within 5 minutes you have changed my whole conception of life. Like an expert surgeon you have cut my ignorance and touched the depths of my heart. At that moment and whenever I reflect on it, I realised that in few minutes you taught me something which I have been longing and searching for the whole of my life.
We also thank you for your blessing on our son Gopal. We remember in one of our darshans when he was quite naughty, you are so compassionate and looked at him and asked him,“ Are you a Joker?”
On your Vyasa puja day, I pray for you to engage me in serving you and in fulfilling the mission of Srila Prabhupad of spreading the glories of Krishna and rescuing the lost souls from the clutches of maya. I beg for your guidance and instructions, so that I may continue to serve you in a way that is steady and pleasing to you.
Aspiring to be your humble Servant
Yamuna Jivan das, Jahnavi Jivan Dasi and Baktha Venu Gopal

Dear Srila Gurudeva

Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and all glories to you on the sacred day of your appearance!

I think that you are a wonderful preceptor, Gurudeva, because your actions are clear reflections of your spoken directives. Although everything you say and every service you perform has perfect transparency, there is one incident in particular that I’ve been completely mesmerized by and would like to share as a testament to your genuineness.

I recall that in April of 2008 you allowed me to accompany you on a trip through California and Canada. We spent a few days in San Diego, in a vacant apartment belonging to a devotee. I was honored to have the opportunity to prepare and serve your breakfast, carry your luggage, do your laundry, etc… One morning, after you had kindly given Bhagavatam class in the temple and taken a light breakfast, you were waiting in the living room of the apartment while I cleaned up the kitchen and prepared the luggage for our onward travel. I knew that you were chanting japa in the next room so I tried to be extra quiet while going about the service, so as not to disturb the incredible transcendental atmosphere. Even though I couldn’t see you from my position in the kitchen, I could just barely discern the sound of your chanting by the aspirant syllable “sh” in Krishna’s holy name. For lack of a deeper understanding, I can only say that the feeling I was picking up in the kitchen was magical.

After finishing in the kitchen and getting everything ready to go I very slowly and very quietly entered the living room and when I saw you sitting on the couch chanting, I became completely stunned. I remember clearly that your lotus petal eyes, which are deep and unfathomable like a still pond, were tightly closed, perhaps to protect me from an unprepared glimpse into the depth of your longing for Krishna. It appeared that your cheek was slightly moistened by transcendental ecstasy. I don’t know if it was tears or perspiration or if my own vision had become saturated by a reflection of your pure spiritual emotions, or perhaps a combination of all these symptoms. The very expression on your face caused my heart to skip a beat. I recall being confronted by insecurities, fearful that pure love of Krishna is real and that we’re going to experience that relationship with the Lord because of your mercy upon us. I wanted to look away in shame but at the same time I was infatuated, hypnotized by your transcendental emotions. You seemed to be in another dimension. It was as if you were embracing the holy names of the Lord like a lover. It looked like you were longing intensely for someone who was already fully present. It looked like you were hoping, pleading, begging for service…

All of this happened within an inconceivable moment, and in the next moment I backed slowly into the kitchen, feeling simultaneously repentant and blessed to have witnessed a small portion of your incredible spiritual nature. No sooner had I passed the threshold of the kitchen doors when you called to me with your penetrating voice, now calm and serene, “Haribol. Are we ready to go?” I recall that my whole body was trembling because of nervous anticipation. Still, I kept my head down and went back to my service, uncertain if you knew that I had been privy to your transcendental condition.

Only a few days later you spoke the following words at an evening lecture in San Jose:

"When the heart is fully cleansed of envy then we can hear about Krishna with rapt attention. Hearing about Krishna with rapt attention means we’re no longer living in this material world. Why is it that we have difficulty hearing our japa? Because of envy. The mind is rebelling, 'Do you really just want to listen to Krishna? Sixteen rounds worth of Krishna, isn’t that too much? You’ve already done one nice round, isn’t that good enough in terms of being attentive for the morning? So go on chant the rest of the sixteen rounds, ya know, but just let your mind grind away on its own. I think you’ve done one nice round where you were fully attentive, that’s good enough for Krishna. Now give yourself a chance, give your own mind a chance.' The fact is, because of the envy, we can’t bring ourselves to hear Krishna attentively non-stop. The mind rebels: 'It’s just too much! Too much for Krishna! What about me? Let me think about my plans, what I have to do today, let me think about my anxieties, what I’m going through, that’s important!' Once again, this is envy. We don’t think that Krishna deserves attentive japa. We think we deserve some attention. Why all that attention going to Krishna for sixteen rounds?

Please forgive me, Gurudeva, because I don’t know very much about Krishna consciousness or devotional service, much less do I understand the ecstasies of bhakti-bhava, nor am I very interested to know these things, on account of my envy. But one thing I know for certain is that you are really chanting Hare Krishna. That means a lot to me and I just want to thank you for that.

Thank you, Gurudeva.

Your aspiring servant,
Yasodeva das

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to you Gurudeva.

When I look at the world, there are endless opportunities to be happy and content.
Your words though are the islands of hope that arise within that ocean of ignorance of mine.
You allow me to contemplate and apply the process to revive who I am, how to factually exist in this world and how to experience who Krishna is, to get me back on track, time after time when I get lost.

The material energy is endless.
The apparent struggle to move forward in Bhakti seem endless.
Your magnanimity, however, is more than endless:
You sweep up whatever whiff of an inclination is there towards Krishna and transform it into a full-fledged service opportunity.
You consistently and seriously present the truth about the futility of material ambitions yet at the same time there is no trace of malice in you if the student is slow to learn.
I am so much indebted to you for your unfathomable kindness, the opportunity to chant the Holy Name and to serve in Guru Parampara under your direction, to be a part of Lord Caitanya’s movement and the support, motivation and protection of the devotees.
By your mercy you give persons the opportunity to enter the wonder world of Bhakti, to find flavour in life other that chewing the chewed, and appreciate the guidance and inspiration of the devotional giants in the pages of the Sastra.
May I get the integrity and strength to direct my desires and intelligence to a life in pursuance of reciprocation for these priceless treasures.

Your servant,
Yasomati Dasi