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Vyasa Puja Offerings 2012
(View Devamrita Swami's 2012 offering to Srila Prabhupada)
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Abhishek Bhatnagar
Dear Srila Gurudev,
Please accept my prostrated obeisance in the dust of your lotus feet. All glories to you.
On this auspicious day I am trying to glory your unlimited magnanimity.
Often I have heard from senior devotees, god brothers and sisters about you that you are the true Doctor and Best Consultant for all your problems, because you are the knower of the absolute truth, but practically I couldn’t relate …how could that be possible.
First I would like to sincerely thank a devotee his /her name is avyaktha who is doing a nice service by posting your priceless lecture videos on youtube. You gave a lecture on 02/12/2012 in California and after hearing and watch your lecture on youtube, I could relate that how mature and experienced you are, and, no one can be better than your holiness.
You have given clear picture of different stage of our life like teenage, youth, couples and the old age. How we react, when we are dealing with material nature and at last the consequence
Key highlights from that lecture I have gathered that …
That we forget about Time but time never forgets us …
Material happiness will never motivate us to server the Lord Krishna sincerely. Before I was thinking that if Krishna gives me nice comfortable life, I can chant more and serve more, but after hearing your précised lecture I have realized that I am a fool number one. Even though Kama-misra bhakti is not recommended, but still, I often get into the accounting of how much devotional service I have done and what Krishna has given to me.
You clearly explained the true nature of Jiva, how deeply we are attached to material desires,” Material expectation drive us crazy and then we blame Krishna, and our longing for material happiness consume us, “ I can relate to my life that I have wasted days and days to get a 2 min of insignificant happiness.
In the same lecture, you have given clear diagnoses for people like me, why can’t they progress in Krishna conciseness, due to the stubborn nature and not taking the right medicine for problem.
On this auspicious day, I would like to pray to mother Sarasvati Devi (goddess of learning) let me use my intelligence to listen your divine instructions and by acting on it, make myself free from this material bondage and Material desires.
I sincerely pray for your good health,
May I become an instrument of preaching mission for the pleasure of his dive grace Srila Prabhupada.
Yours trying to be aspiring servant
Abhishek
Please accept my prostrated obeisance in the dust of your lotus feet. All glories to you.
On this auspicious day I am trying to glory your unlimited magnanimity.
Often I have heard from senior devotees, god brothers and sisters about you that you are the true Doctor and Best Consultant for all your problems, because you are the knower of the absolute truth, but practically I couldn’t relate …how could that be possible.
First I would like to sincerely thank a devotee his /her name is avyaktha who is doing a nice service by posting your priceless lecture videos on youtube. You gave a lecture on 02/12/2012 in California and after hearing and watch your lecture on youtube, I could relate that how mature and experienced you are, and, no one can be better than your holiness.
You have given clear picture of different stage of our life like teenage, youth, couples and the old age. How we react, when we are dealing with material nature and at last the consequence
Key highlights from that lecture I have gathered that …
That we forget about Time but time never forgets us …
Material happiness will never motivate us to server the Lord Krishna sincerely. Before I was thinking that if Krishna gives me nice comfortable life, I can chant more and serve more, but after hearing your précised lecture I have realized that I am a fool number one. Even though Kama-misra bhakti is not recommended, but still, I often get into the accounting of how much devotional service I have done and what Krishna has given to me.
You clearly explained the true nature of Jiva, how deeply we are attached to material desires,” Material expectation drive us crazy and then we blame Krishna, and our longing for material happiness consume us, “ I can relate to my life that I have wasted days and days to get a 2 min of insignificant happiness.
In the same lecture, you have given clear diagnoses for people like me, why can’t they progress in Krishna conciseness, due to the stubborn nature and not taking the right medicine for problem.
On this auspicious day, I would like to pray to mother Sarasvati Devi (goddess of learning) let me use my intelligence to listen your divine instructions and by acting on it, make myself free from this material bondage and Material desires.
I sincerely pray for your good health,
May I become an instrument of preaching mission for the pleasure of his dive grace Srila Prabhupada.
Yours trying to be aspiring servant
Abhishek
Acyuta bhava devi dasi
To my dear Spiritual Master and Father,
Please accept my most humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to you on this most auspicious day of your appearance!
Gurudeva you are such an exemplary personality! Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura glorifies the sublime character and qualities of the spiritual master in his beautiful Gurvastaka prayers, prayers which so wonderfully remind me daily of you.
You are like a magnanimous cloud, raining mercy down on the materially afflicted souls. Your constant travelling and preaching, your personal instructions, your brilliant classes and lectures are the divine water by which our blazing fire of material existence may be extinguished.
You are always gladdened by the sankirtan movement of Lord Caitanya! Your dancing and chanting is mesmerising Gurudeva, and you transport us to another place in kirtan. Just to see your dancing brings such a joy to the heart! Your recent post of a video of Radhanath Maharaj’s kirtan in which you were dancing with the devotees so wonderfully, brought such an inexplicable joy to my heart. You relish chanting Hare Krishna so much! It is so inspiring to see your exemplary expression of pure bhakti.
You are engaging your disciples in worship of the Deity, and you are always encouraging us to take this worship seriously. By your mercy and kindness we slowly gain access to the service of the Supreme Lord.
You relish Prasad and are so satisfied to see devotees relishing Prasad! A few years back at a retreat to celebrate your vyasa puja, you encouraged us all to take Prasad with gusto, and to glorify the Prasad by chanting “Hari Hari” while we ate. What a wonderful mood this created in the prasadam room!
You are always eager to hear and chant about Krishna! You show us by your own example how to be absorbed in japa. Having the wonderful fortune of chanting with you and a small group of devotees at your cottage at New Gupta Vraja, being able to see and hear how you so carefully and lovingly approach the Holy Name, was an experience I’ll never forget. Thank you Gurudeva, for being such an exemplary teacher. And then seeing the wonderful look on your face, when in the evening you called us up to your cottage for Krishna Book reading, as you leaned towards us all and excitedly asked “Who wants to hear about Krishna?!” Thank you Gurudeva for giving us this great gift.
You are expert in assisting the servants of Krishna in giving pleasure to Krishna by arranging so many opportunities for conditioned souls to make their way back home. You cast a wide net, and arrange such a supportive environment for people to come, to gradually and organically find themselves, and to engage in devotional service. The rarest of gifts, you make easily available, following in the footsteps of Srila Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya.
You are a most dear confidential servant of the Lord and should be honoured as such. Without your mercy there is no possibility of pleasing Krishna or making any spiritual advancement. That’s stands to reason, as Krishna Himself says in Srimad Bhagavatam (9.4.68):
sādhavo hṛdayaḿ mahyaḿ
sādhūnāḿ hṛdayaḿ tv aham
mad-anyat te na jānanti
nāhaḿ tebhyo manāg api
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.
And as Srila Prabhupada explains in a purport (1.13.56):
A pure devotee of the Lord does not live on any planet of the material sky, nor does he feel any contact with material elements. His so-called material body does not exist, being surcharged with the spiritual current of the Lord’s identical interest, and thus he is permanently freed from all contaminations of the sum total of the mahat-tattva. He is always in the spiritual sky, which he attains by being transcendental to the sevenfold material coverings by the effect of his devotional service. The conditioned souls are within the coverings, whereas the liberated soul is far beyond the cover.
Thank you for reaching out to rescue this conditioned soul from the blazing fire of material existence. I pray that I can someday be of some use to you, in your mission to serve Srila Prabhupada.
Your eternally indebted daughter and aspiring servant,
Acyuta bhava devi dasi
Please accept my most humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to you on this most auspicious day of your appearance!
Gurudeva you are such an exemplary personality! Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura glorifies the sublime character and qualities of the spiritual master in his beautiful Gurvastaka prayers, prayers which so wonderfully remind me daily of you.
You are like a magnanimous cloud, raining mercy down on the materially afflicted souls. Your constant travelling and preaching, your personal instructions, your brilliant classes and lectures are the divine water by which our blazing fire of material existence may be extinguished.
You are always gladdened by the sankirtan movement of Lord Caitanya! Your dancing and chanting is mesmerising Gurudeva, and you transport us to another place in kirtan. Just to see your dancing brings such a joy to the heart! Your recent post of a video of Radhanath Maharaj’s kirtan in which you were dancing with the devotees so wonderfully, brought such an inexplicable joy to my heart. You relish chanting Hare Krishna so much! It is so inspiring to see your exemplary expression of pure bhakti.
You are engaging your disciples in worship of the Deity, and you are always encouraging us to take this worship seriously. By your mercy and kindness we slowly gain access to the service of the Supreme Lord.
You relish Prasad and are so satisfied to see devotees relishing Prasad! A few years back at a retreat to celebrate your vyasa puja, you encouraged us all to take Prasad with gusto, and to glorify the Prasad by chanting “Hari Hari” while we ate. What a wonderful mood this created in the prasadam room!
You are always eager to hear and chant about Krishna! You show us by your own example how to be absorbed in japa. Having the wonderful fortune of chanting with you and a small group of devotees at your cottage at New Gupta Vraja, being able to see and hear how you so carefully and lovingly approach the Holy Name, was an experience I’ll never forget. Thank you Gurudeva, for being such an exemplary teacher. And then seeing the wonderful look on your face, when in the evening you called us up to your cottage for Krishna Book reading, as you leaned towards us all and excitedly asked “Who wants to hear about Krishna?!” Thank you Gurudeva for giving us this great gift.
You are expert in assisting the servants of Krishna in giving pleasure to Krishna by arranging so many opportunities for conditioned souls to make their way back home. You cast a wide net, and arrange such a supportive environment for people to come, to gradually and organically find themselves, and to engage in devotional service. The rarest of gifts, you make easily available, following in the footsteps of Srila Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya.
You are a most dear confidential servant of the Lord and should be honoured as such. Without your mercy there is no possibility of pleasing Krishna or making any spiritual advancement. That’s stands to reason, as Krishna Himself says in Srimad Bhagavatam (9.4.68):
sādhavo hṛdayaḿ mahyaḿ
sādhūnāḿ hṛdayaḿ tv aham
mad-anyat te na jānanti
nāhaḿ tebhyo manāg api
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.
And as Srila Prabhupada explains in a purport (1.13.56):
A pure devotee of the Lord does not live on any planet of the material sky, nor does he feel any contact with material elements. His so-called material body does not exist, being surcharged with the spiritual current of the Lord’s identical interest, and thus he is permanently freed from all contaminations of the sum total of the mahat-tattva. He is always in the spiritual sky, which he attains by being transcendental to the sevenfold material coverings by the effect of his devotional service. The conditioned souls are within the coverings, whereas the liberated soul is far beyond the cover.
Thank you for reaching out to rescue this conditioned soul from the blazing fire of material existence. I pray that I can someday be of some use to you, in your mission to serve Srila Prabhupada.
Your eternally indebted daughter and aspiring servant,
Acyuta bhava devi dasi
Aghahanta das
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my prostrated obeisances at your lotus feet.
As I write this on the eve of your most auspicious anniversary, here in New Zealand it is also the eve of the infamous long weekend. Flurrying like rats from the confines of their cage many make the long journey to the sacred shores of the kiwi coastlines where they hope to find peace for their restless minds. Others seeking a stronger and quicker dose of forgetfulness make the b-line to the bars and clubs to kick-start the highly anticipated self-induced coma. So, for most, today is the same as any other day, another repeat episode in the struggle for existence.
How the more surreal then does it feel, that during such a weekend of slumber, I find myself here in the Lord’s holy dhama of New Varshan on this holy day of your appearance, surrounded by so many bright eyed faces and open hearts.
To be in such an assembly, is certainly very humbly and a reminder of how far from the mark I am at claiming myself as your follower and disciple. I am certainly unfit to speak in such an assembly and no doubt the only qualification I have to do so is that I hold this very deep debt to you. So please Gurudeva, kindly excuse the offenses or mistakes that are here in this meager offering due to ignorance and kindly accept this simpleton’s expression of gratitude.
This year on your Vyasa Puja, I would like to say something about the priceless gift you have given us here in Auckland.
The Loft, commonly referred to by many as a spiritual oasis in this desert like city continues to quench the thirst of spiritual seekers year after year.
I have been reflecting lately on just how under your careful guidance and direction this mercy ship of Lord Gauranga has evolved from its beginnings with only a handful of devotees to where it is now with its ever-expanding community.
Such an amazing tactic of urban warfare you have directed in order to save the countless souls you seek shelter from the devastating onslaught of Kali yuga.
From the frontlines where book distributers hand out life lines to the mercy kitchen where the WMD’s are made, The Loft continues to provide service opportunities for all no matter how young or old. What a wonderful and enlivening feeling it is to come together despite all our diversities in nature and each contribute a little something to this powerful preaching paradigm.
It was your mercy, in the form of The Loft, that saved me from the clutches of maya and now it is that same mercy that keeps me from falling back.
Thankyou Gurudeva for providing the endless opportunities to plug in to this wonderful program. Sometimes householder life with all its obligations and distractions can seem all encompassing, devouring all of ones time and energies. Nevertheless, rest assured due to your mercy, I know there is always some little way or some little thing I can do to stay connected to this great mission.
My debt lies with you Gurudeva and your Loft program and my only hope of repaying this great gift is to try and serve this dynamic community and its purpose in whatever little way I can.
On this most auspicious day of your appearance, I humbly beg, please give us the strength and humility to work together to make this Auckland centre a powerful community of real lovers and givers of Lord Chaitanya’s mercy.
Your indebted and aspiring servant,
Aghahanta das
Please accept my prostrated obeisances at your lotus feet.
As I write this on the eve of your most auspicious anniversary, here in New Zealand it is also the eve of the infamous long weekend. Flurrying like rats from the confines of their cage many make the long journey to the sacred shores of the kiwi coastlines where they hope to find peace for their restless minds. Others seeking a stronger and quicker dose of forgetfulness make the b-line to the bars and clubs to kick-start the highly anticipated self-induced coma. So, for most, today is the same as any other day, another repeat episode in the struggle for existence.
How the more surreal then does it feel, that during such a weekend of slumber, I find myself here in the Lord’s holy dhama of New Varshan on this holy day of your appearance, surrounded by so many bright eyed faces and open hearts.
To be in such an assembly, is certainly very humbly and a reminder of how far from the mark I am at claiming myself as your follower and disciple. I am certainly unfit to speak in such an assembly and no doubt the only qualification I have to do so is that I hold this very deep debt to you. So please Gurudeva, kindly excuse the offenses or mistakes that are here in this meager offering due to ignorance and kindly accept this simpleton’s expression of gratitude.
This year on your Vyasa Puja, I would like to say something about the priceless gift you have given us here in Auckland.
The Loft, commonly referred to by many as a spiritual oasis in this desert like city continues to quench the thirst of spiritual seekers year after year.
I have been reflecting lately on just how under your careful guidance and direction this mercy ship of Lord Gauranga has evolved from its beginnings with only a handful of devotees to where it is now with its ever-expanding community.
Such an amazing tactic of urban warfare you have directed in order to save the countless souls you seek shelter from the devastating onslaught of Kali yuga.
From the frontlines where book distributers hand out life lines to the mercy kitchen where the WMD’s are made, The Loft continues to provide service opportunities for all no matter how young or old. What a wonderful and enlivening feeling it is to come together despite all our diversities in nature and each contribute a little something to this powerful preaching paradigm.
It was your mercy, in the form of The Loft, that saved me from the clutches of maya and now it is that same mercy that keeps me from falling back.
Thankyou Gurudeva for providing the endless opportunities to plug in to this wonderful program. Sometimes householder life with all its obligations and distractions can seem all encompassing, devouring all of ones time and energies. Nevertheless, rest assured due to your mercy, I know there is always some little way or some little thing I can do to stay connected to this great mission.
My debt lies with you Gurudeva and your Loft program and my only hope of repaying this great gift is to try and serve this dynamic community and its purpose in whatever little way I can.
On this most auspicious day of your appearance, I humbly beg, please give us the strength and humility to work together to make this Auckland centre a powerful community of real lovers and givers of Lord Chaitanya’s mercy.
Your indebted and aspiring servant,
Aghahanta das
Akarsini
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeiscences All Glories to Srila Prabhupada
When I first started going to the loft in Auckland, every visit would reveal more and more that you were not an ordinary person. When you gave class there would be more shoes at the door then usual. Sometimes when I came up the stairs it would be difficult to find a space for my shoes on the small platform outside. The cooks looked more stessed then usual about the prasada and the kiratana felt lighter and more vibrant, it was special.
At the time I could not appreciate how fortunate I was to come in contact with a Spiritual Master. I was afraid of any personal exchange when you came to visit the loft, so when I would hear devotees talking about when you were arriving I would hide in the yoga changing rooms, or go for a walk, anything to avoid crossing your path. You sensed you were very intelligent and could read me like a book so I found it easier to runaway then to be confronted with my horrible self.
When I met you personally for the first time, it was not the plastic I was used to. I donʼt think you even said hello, you looked at me, asked a couple of questions and then strongly told me to stop enjoying material pleasures. You shortly left the room and then I walked into the door. In my emotional shock, I experienced a mixture of shame, anger, and most of all happiness, as I drove home, in my mind I was celebrating a freedom festival.
Not long after this experience I got to talk with you again at the loft. You were comfortably seated on the couch and appeared very happy and peaceful. You had a big smile on your face and like a child you asked me if I wanted to help you save the world. Most would find that amusing and not really take such a question so seriously but your sincere and humble mood melted the heart, and besides I had nothing better to do. You seemed so simple and satisfied. Even if a millions volunteered to help you or no one at all, you were going to continue with your mission anyway, success or failure it didnʼt matter and you couldnʼt have cared less what anyone thought.
I was talking to a person dressed in plain robes who did not appear to possess any material possessions but you had love which made you fearless, I found that to be most beautiful and attractive and knew that it was what I really wanted for myself.
Please give me your blessings and protection so I can keep assisting you in your humble, joyful mission to serve lord Caitanya, despite the challenges Maya will place on the path. Thank you for giving me a purpose on this planet and for showing me that before you can attempt to save the world one needs to save ones self first. Without your help I would not have been able to rebuild my body and mind. I hope now I can offer you more
Trying to be your servant and daughter
Akarsini devi dasi
Please accept my humble obeiscences All Glories to Srila Prabhupada
When I first started going to the loft in Auckland, every visit would reveal more and more that you were not an ordinary person. When you gave class there would be more shoes at the door then usual. Sometimes when I came up the stairs it would be difficult to find a space for my shoes on the small platform outside. The cooks looked more stessed then usual about the prasada and the kiratana felt lighter and more vibrant, it was special.
At the time I could not appreciate how fortunate I was to come in contact with a Spiritual Master. I was afraid of any personal exchange when you came to visit the loft, so when I would hear devotees talking about when you were arriving I would hide in the yoga changing rooms, or go for a walk, anything to avoid crossing your path. You sensed you were very intelligent and could read me like a book so I found it easier to runaway then to be confronted with my horrible self.
When I met you personally for the first time, it was not the plastic I was used to. I donʼt think you even said hello, you looked at me, asked a couple of questions and then strongly told me to stop enjoying material pleasures. You shortly left the room and then I walked into the door. In my emotional shock, I experienced a mixture of shame, anger, and most of all happiness, as I drove home, in my mind I was celebrating a freedom festival.
Not long after this experience I got to talk with you again at the loft. You were comfortably seated on the couch and appeared very happy and peaceful. You had a big smile on your face and like a child you asked me if I wanted to help you save the world. Most would find that amusing and not really take such a question so seriously but your sincere and humble mood melted the heart, and besides I had nothing better to do. You seemed so simple and satisfied. Even if a millions volunteered to help you or no one at all, you were going to continue with your mission anyway, success or failure it didnʼt matter and you couldnʼt have cared less what anyone thought.
I was talking to a person dressed in plain robes who did not appear to possess any material possessions but you had love which made you fearless, I found that to be most beautiful and attractive and knew that it was what I really wanted for myself.
Please give me your blessings and protection so I can keep assisting you in your humble, joyful mission to serve lord Caitanya, despite the challenges Maya will place on the path. Thank you for giving me a purpose on this planet and for showing me that before you can attempt to save the world one needs to save ones self first. Without your help I would not have been able to rebuild my body and mind. I hope now I can offer you more
Trying to be your servant and daughter
Akarsini devi dasi
Ale Izquierdo
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my most humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and all glories to your loving divine grace in this auspicious day of your appearance.
Today I have been meditating on your example. I can see you have all the qualities of a maha devotee. I see that in every moment of your life you are living by the principles taught by Srila Prabhupada. Our glorious master, Srila Prabhupada’s life was an example of selfless love for those who were just coming out of the claws of maya. You are like that. "Pure bhakti forces you to give yourself ”. And for you to stay in touch with those principles, and to apply them practically into your life, maybe every day you ask yourself, what would Srila Prabhupada do?
Your life is preaching bhakti and helping others remember Krsna and never to forget him. I feel overwhelmed every time when I experience a glimpse of God’s unlimited love and how much love my soul has forgotten.
In my desperate cry I sometimes lose hope and see Krsna and Goloka to be so far away from my experience. I wonder if there is any hope for me in this lifetime.
I heard you saying in a lecture that in our early stages of bhakti yoga we can't see Krishna’s reciprocation and care for us, but that without a doubt, it is there.
Without a doubt you are close to me always by your example but I only hope for your merciful glance . There is certainly a lot of nectar serving in separation. Even if I do not see you, how can I ever complain. You have been very kind and tolerant with me. .
The year has been filled with so much purification. I have felt far away from you because of my poor service, but through chanting I was always with you. Your number one instructions," attentive chanting of the holy name, shelter of Srimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavad Gita". I have nothing to complain about and have everything to be thankful for.
Please Guru-Maharaj, instill in my heart a drop of that mood of servitorship for your divine grace as you have for Srila Prabhupada.
Your eternal aspiring servant of your servant.
Bhaktin Ale
Please accept my most humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and all glories to your loving divine grace in this auspicious day of your appearance.
Today I have been meditating on your example. I can see you have all the qualities of a maha devotee. I see that in every moment of your life you are living by the principles taught by Srila Prabhupada. Our glorious master, Srila Prabhupada’s life was an example of selfless love for those who were just coming out of the claws of maya. You are like that. "Pure bhakti forces you to give yourself ”. And for you to stay in touch with those principles, and to apply them practically into your life, maybe every day you ask yourself, what would Srila Prabhupada do?
Your life is preaching bhakti and helping others remember Krsna and never to forget him. I feel overwhelmed every time when I experience a glimpse of God’s unlimited love and how much love my soul has forgotten.
In my desperate cry I sometimes lose hope and see Krsna and Goloka to be so far away from my experience. I wonder if there is any hope for me in this lifetime.
I heard you saying in a lecture that in our early stages of bhakti yoga we can't see Krishna’s reciprocation and care for us, but that without a doubt, it is there.
Without a doubt you are close to me always by your example but I only hope for your merciful glance . There is certainly a lot of nectar serving in separation. Even if I do not see you, how can I ever complain. You have been very kind and tolerant with me. .
The year has been filled with so much purification. I have felt far away from you because of my poor service, but through chanting I was always with you. Your number one instructions," attentive chanting of the holy name, shelter of Srimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavad Gita". I have nothing to complain about and have everything to be thankful for.
Please Guru-Maharaj, instill in my heart a drop of that mood of servitorship for your divine grace as you have for Srila Prabhupada.
Your eternal aspiring servant of your servant.
Bhaktin Ale
Alexandr
Dear Guru Maharaj please accept my respectful obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Thanks to possibility to communicate with you through hearing of lectures in record and especially personal contact to you, during your visits to us to Ukraine, for me become more and more obvious that there is a power capable to overcome all my difficulties on a spiritual way and to give me a shelter. It is power of your love!
I stand only on the beginning understanding that such the relations with the spiritual master and I pray to keep this possibility and once to estimate it fully. Thanks dear Guru Maharaj and please forgive me my ignorance and english.
Hare Krishna!
Sasha, Donetsk.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Thanks to possibility to communicate with you through hearing of lectures in record and especially personal contact to you, during your visits to us to Ukraine, for me become more and more obvious that there is a power capable to overcome all my difficulties on a spiritual way and to give me a shelter. It is power of your love!
I stand only on the beginning understanding that such the relations with the spiritual master and I pray to keep this possibility and once to estimate it fully. Thanks dear Guru Maharaj and please forgive me my ignorance and english.
Hare Krishna!
Sasha, Donetsk.
Amit K
Dear Gurudeva
Please accept my most humble obeisances in the dust of your lotus feet.
All glories to your unalloyed and dynamic devotional service to your spiritual master,srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada
and to Lord Caitanya’s sankirtana mission
sri-guru-carana-padma - Ready to fulfil the desires of Spiritual Master
Spiritual master is an embodiment of Devotion because his desire is non different from supreme lord. Also Spiritual master can be an acaraya which teaches by his example, this implies that one whose practice and preaching are non different. In other words one who support his preaching by his practice and also deliver others by their preaching mood.
If disciple develop this conviction that order of spiritual master is non-different from krsna, lord can reveal the true meanings of his knowledge to them. I confess that I do not have this conviction and out of foolishness, I was taking every thing granted and ignoring your valuable instructions in my devotional career. Thus my sincere desire is to develop this firm conviction and taking your teachings as my life and soul and seeking to perform Bhakti under your guidance.
ha ha prabhu koro daya
These lines from Sri Prema-Bhakti-Candrika sung by Srila Narottam dasa Thakura, explained that spiritual master is one who representative of entire sampradaya, voices the teachings of pervious acarayas. it further implies that Spiritual master is one who has read, understood, realised and thus ready to impart these assimilated teachings down to coming generations. Therefore in that sense I am fortunate enough that i have got this rare opportunity to associate and guidance of an expert vaisnava.
Spiritual master can not be viewed as only one but also deemed as an agent of entire lineage.He does not representing their own idea but passing and presenting the gist of vaisnava culture.Therefore I wish if I can ask for an ability and intelligence to understand and implement these teachings of whole sampardaya in my life
deho mora pada-chaya - Following the instructions of Spiritual Master
It has been said that "one should deserve before desiring"
Before seeking the blessings of Spiritual master, one should deserve to have them because blessings of a sadhu goes along only with active Service to Krsna.
Personally, I am certainly not a deserving candidate as my devotional desires and spiritual interests do not collaborate with your desires. Because I do not know what is krsna's desire, only spiritual master can tell us. Therefore spiritual master can help disciple to establish in devotional service. This is my misfortune that whatever devotional practice I am doing with conditioned mind and without your instructions and guidance. However still, i am hopeful to get connected with you and wish to participate in your mission.
I duly understand that only instructive devotional service can build a substantial relationship with you, devotees and Krsna. Active Service to you and krsna can only be a reason to approach at your lotus feet, otherwise there is no meaning of association with you. Since i was lacking this service attitude, I fail to establish relationship with you, devotees and thus with entire sampradaya. This is the reason I was escaping from you and your service for long time. I did not put enough effort to rectify myself and did not do any service to you. Considering this situation,i do not want to cheat you or burden on you. However i am hopeful to rectify myself and try my best to connect appropriately with you.
Of course, I may be mistaken about my perceptions, neither should I expect utopia in this world, but I must act in faith to the standards and principles you taught and exemplified.
By your profound kindness and tolerance on this fallen, rebellious fool, srila gurudev, I am gradually becoming more aware of this wonderful freedom Krsna is offering me, along with the confidence and strength to make the difficult choice between my selfish fear and my innate spiritual courage. I beg that you continue to bless me with the association, clarity and courage to make such choices so that to progress in my devotional career.
Your fallen, but grateful and determined student,
Amit
Melbourne Mahaprabhu Mandir (Australia)
Please accept my most humble obeisances in the dust of your lotus feet.
All glories to your unalloyed and dynamic devotional service to your spiritual master,srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada
and to Lord Caitanya’s sankirtana mission
sri-guru-carana-padma - Ready to fulfil the desires of Spiritual Master
Spiritual master is an embodiment of Devotion because his desire is non different from supreme lord. Also Spiritual master can be an acaraya which teaches by his example, this implies that one whose practice and preaching are non different. In other words one who support his preaching by his practice and also deliver others by their preaching mood.
If disciple develop this conviction that order of spiritual master is non-different from krsna, lord can reveal the true meanings of his knowledge to them. I confess that I do not have this conviction and out of foolishness, I was taking every thing granted and ignoring your valuable instructions in my devotional career. Thus my sincere desire is to develop this firm conviction and taking your teachings as my life and soul and seeking to perform Bhakti under your guidance.
ha ha prabhu koro daya
These lines from Sri Prema-Bhakti-Candrika sung by Srila Narottam dasa Thakura, explained that spiritual master is one who representative of entire sampradaya, voices the teachings of pervious acarayas. it further implies that Spiritual master is one who has read, understood, realised and thus ready to impart these assimilated teachings down to coming generations. Therefore in that sense I am fortunate enough that i have got this rare opportunity to associate and guidance of an expert vaisnava.
Spiritual master can not be viewed as only one but also deemed as an agent of entire lineage.He does not representing their own idea but passing and presenting the gist of vaisnava culture.Therefore I wish if I can ask for an ability and intelligence to understand and implement these teachings of whole sampardaya in my life
deho mora pada-chaya - Following the instructions of Spiritual Master
It has been said that "one should deserve before desiring"
Before seeking the blessings of Spiritual master, one should deserve to have them because blessings of a sadhu goes along only with active Service to Krsna.
Personally, I am certainly not a deserving candidate as my devotional desires and spiritual interests do not collaborate with your desires. Because I do not know what is krsna's desire, only spiritual master can tell us. Therefore spiritual master can help disciple to establish in devotional service. This is my misfortune that whatever devotional practice I am doing with conditioned mind and without your instructions and guidance. However still, i am hopeful to get connected with you and wish to participate in your mission.
I duly understand that only instructive devotional service can build a substantial relationship with you, devotees and Krsna. Active Service to you and krsna can only be a reason to approach at your lotus feet, otherwise there is no meaning of association with you. Since i was lacking this service attitude, I fail to establish relationship with you, devotees and thus with entire sampradaya. This is the reason I was escaping from you and your service for long time. I did not put enough effort to rectify myself and did not do any service to you. Considering this situation,i do not want to cheat you or burden on you. However i am hopeful to rectify myself and try my best to connect appropriately with you.
Of course, I may be mistaken about my perceptions, neither should I expect utopia in this world, but I must act in faith to the standards and principles you taught and exemplified.
By your profound kindness and tolerance on this fallen, rebellious fool, srila gurudev, I am gradually becoming more aware of this wonderful freedom Krsna is offering me, along with the confidence and strength to make the difficult choice between my selfish fear and my innate spiritual courage. I beg that you continue to bless me with the association, clarity and courage to make such choices so that to progress in my devotional career.
Your fallen, but grateful and determined student,
Amit
Melbourne Mahaprabhu Mandir (Australia)
Amogh Mogre
Dearest Guru Maharaj,
my best wishes to you always. Today is the auspicious day when you have descended from Vaikuntha to deliver fallen and rotten souls like myself. All glories unto you.
Your preaching techniques are simple yet so deep and insightful.
I have always fondly remembered our very first meeting on 31st July 2011 at the farm in Victoria-Australia. From that very day I saw you as my spiritual master and my desire has been fulfilled.
When I came to you with an issue which was causing me a lot of anxiety,the advise you gave me that day has literally transformed me. Time and again I keep going back to it.
O transcendentally blissful gurudeva , when my mind finally achieves a place at your lotus feet, all the tiresome labor of my spiritual practices will be finished, and by your mercy I will experience the greatest happiness.
I continue to pray at your lotus feet always desiring your mercy.
Oh gurudev, please don't ever forsake me, as I shall then give up my life immediately. I have no other shelter besides you.
Your insignificant yet ever aspiring servant
Amogh Mogre
Ananda-candra devi dasi
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisance’s
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
People wake in the morning immediately thinking about their loved ones. People spend their days constantly thinking about their loved ones. People go to sleep dreaming about their loved ones. What is my meditation day and night? – it’s the Bhakti Lounge. This seems to be my love affair.
What a fortunate position I am in of having the opportunity to constantly meditate and put my heart and energies into the transcendental realm of an outreach centre dedicated to spreading the sublime message of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and mission of Srila Prabhupada and one which is my dear spiritual father’s very own creation and project. Taking on responsibility for such a task is certainly a relishable and honourable affair, that some small-timer like me certainly does not deserve.
Within a few months of my Bhakti beginnings you invited me into the world of management and multi-tasking. Thank you Gurudeva for perfectly engaging my propensities and nature in this way and having such confidence, trust and enthusiasm for hearing ideas. Selfless service for the pleasure of your spiritual master you describe, is real love.
Recently I was reading something you wrote in 2006, after just having finished a vigorous three year stint as chairman for ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission. It was rounded off with chairing the Annual GBC meetings in Mayapur, for eleven days straight. You said “Nevertheless let me proclaim it boldly, nothing in this world can compare to the cloudburst of satisfaction from the Lord and the spiritual master that graciously rains down upon devotees who voluntarily accept responsibility in the worldwide service of Mahaprabhu. That divine shower is the inestimable payoff for our accepting what, to ordinary vision, can appear a thankless and arduous task—staffing Prabhupada’s movement.”
Of course one cannot compare the weight of responsibility you have with the worldwide affairs GBC, not to mention hundreds of disciples and aspiring disciples, being a travelling sannyasi, living the lifestyle of a major spiritual leader, being a representative of Krishna - everybody is constantly looking up to your example.
But, this is fine Gurudeva uvaca said with such sweet and strong poetic assertion that I will relish forever and I know will continue to encourage me.
Yes neophyte moments of frustration may sometimes arise “I don’t even have time to replace my toothbrush… why am I being caught up in so much maintenance… why is this person contacting me for the fifth time today”, however in these off moments, thanks to your fine example of first class management and selfless sacrifice, the intelligence soon kicks in realizing that there is nothing in the world that I world trade this for. As you said to me once “Relish these days. Krishna is so kind to you, so much service. You’ll look back on these days of intense seva as u rock in your granny chair”.
Of course external endeavours for increasing the outreach please and enliven you like no other, but actually it’s the internal endeavours which propel such service. And actually true responsibility isn’t just showy affairs but it's the dedication of working on ones innerself, looking into the chambers of the heart and rectifying ones shortcomings through intense chanting and focused reading. In this way one can actually become of some use to you. This is the essence of responsibility and the true way to thank and reciprocate with you for the eternal debt I owe.
Recently u said to me “Better sadhana means better planinng and executing. Improve the spiritual content of your life and all management will be at your fingertips.” I really need your help to be able to do this. You so perfectly maintain equilibrium despite all of the pressures you must certainly have on your shoulders. Thank you for absorbing me in this challenge.
Ys
ananda-candra
Please accept my humble obeisance’s
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
People wake in the morning immediately thinking about their loved ones. People spend their days constantly thinking about their loved ones. People go to sleep dreaming about their loved ones. What is my meditation day and night? – it’s the Bhakti Lounge. This seems to be my love affair.
What a fortunate position I am in of having the opportunity to constantly meditate and put my heart and energies into the transcendental realm of an outreach centre dedicated to spreading the sublime message of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and mission of Srila Prabhupada and one which is my dear spiritual father’s very own creation and project. Taking on responsibility for such a task is certainly a relishable and honourable affair, that some small-timer like me certainly does not deserve.
Within a few months of my Bhakti beginnings you invited me into the world of management and multi-tasking. Thank you Gurudeva for perfectly engaging my propensities and nature in this way and having such confidence, trust and enthusiasm for hearing ideas. Selfless service for the pleasure of your spiritual master you describe, is real love.
Recently I was reading something you wrote in 2006, after just having finished a vigorous three year stint as chairman for ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission. It was rounded off with chairing the Annual GBC meetings in Mayapur, for eleven days straight. You said “Nevertheless let me proclaim it boldly, nothing in this world can compare to the cloudburst of satisfaction from the Lord and the spiritual master that graciously rains down upon devotees who voluntarily accept responsibility in the worldwide service of Mahaprabhu. That divine shower is the inestimable payoff for our accepting what, to ordinary vision, can appear a thankless and arduous task—staffing Prabhupada’s movement.”
Of course one cannot compare the weight of responsibility you have with the worldwide affairs GBC, not to mention hundreds of disciples and aspiring disciples, being a travelling sannyasi, living the lifestyle of a major spiritual leader, being a representative of Krishna - everybody is constantly looking up to your example.
But, this is fine Gurudeva uvaca said with such sweet and strong poetic assertion that I will relish forever and I know will continue to encourage me.
Yes neophyte moments of frustration may sometimes arise “I don’t even have time to replace my toothbrush… why am I being caught up in so much maintenance… why is this person contacting me for the fifth time today”, however in these off moments, thanks to your fine example of first class management and selfless sacrifice, the intelligence soon kicks in realizing that there is nothing in the world that I world trade this for. As you said to me once “Relish these days. Krishna is so kind to you, so much service. You’ll look back on these days of intense seva as u rock in your granny chair”.
Of course external endeavours for increasing the outreach please and enliven you like no other, but actually it’s the internal endeavours which propel such service. And actually true responsibility isn’t just showy affairs but it's the dedication of working on ones innerself, looking into the chambers of the heart and rectifying ones shortcomings through intense chanting and focused reading. In this way one can actually become of some use to you. This is the essence of responsibility and the true way to thank and reciprocate with you for the eternal debt I owe.
Recently u said to me “Better sadhana means better planinng and executing. Improve the spiritual content of your life and all management will be at your fingertips.” I really need your help to be able to do this. You so perfectly maintain equilibrium despite all of the pressures you must certainly have on your shoulders. Thank you for absorbing me in this challenge.
Ys
ananda-candra
Ananta-naga das
Dear Srila Gurudeva
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and all glories to you!
The Sankirtana movement is rising and spreading everywhere to give the shelter and liberation to all fallen souls. Now I see the central city life as breeding ground for lust and envy, where stress, anger and frustration are seemingly eternal companions of the inhabitants. As you said in one of the classes - “Dirty hearts and polluted minds”.
Your desciples under your expert guidance created a very profound net, with which they can “catch” some of those, who want a real change in their lives. The devotees are meeting those souls and bringing them into The Loft – the spiritual oasis in the heart of the modern city, where by further association with devotees a person gets a chance for liberation.
CC Ādi 1.45: According to the deliberate opinion of all revealed scriptures, the spiritual master is nondifferent from Kṛṣṇa. Lord Kṛṣṇa in the form of the spiritual master delivers His devotees.
Your aspiring servant, being one of those lost souls wondering in the dark, somehow met one of your street soldiers –dedicated book distributors. I am very glad to be captured by that net and later getting the opportunity to try to serve you. “Heal the healer” - was one of your first instructions to me. Your words went straight into my heart and I still remember your very calm and soft voice when you kindly instructed me.
When I read twelfth chapter of Bhagavad Gita where Kṛṣṇa describes the qualities of a devotee, I see all these qualities present in you. You are not envious but a kind friend to all living entities, you do not think yourself being a proprietor and free from false ego, you are equal in both happiness and distress and tolerant, always satisfied, self-controlled, and engaged in devotional service with determination, with mind and intelligence fixed on Kṛṣṇa. You made Krishna the Supreme Goal of your life. Certainly, you are very, very dear to Kṛṣṇa - therefore you can “give” Kṛṣṇa to others. Thank you for being so merciful. How fortunate I am to see a living example of what Kṛṣṇa speaks about to Arjuna. It makes my faith stronger.
Dear Gurudeva, for every little attempt I make in service, you reciprocate and give back so much that it is impossible for me to comprehend. How can I possibly understand you and your mercy? How can I see the scope of all that you do for all of us: your aspiring servants, “honest well-wishers, affectionate benefactors, the neutral, mediators, the envious, friends and enemies, the pious and the sinners...”? You are not making distinctions. With equal mind, you are ready to help everyone and give back more than they can offer to you and Kṛṣṇa.
I admire your expertise to give classes and answer the questions. You can see the heart of your disciple and the origin of the question. Often you answer to what caused the question, making disciple wondering. You are always trying to bring us to the fastest lane on the highway to Godhead, where you are always situated, but many of us cannot keep up with the pace and take a slower lane. But you are always there, leading by example.
This is your special mercy and without you we cannot get mercy of Kṛṣṇa.
Please, let me offer my humble obeisances again and again and wish you good health.
Aspiring to become your servant,
Ananta–naga das
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and all glories to you!
The Sankirtana movement is rising and spreading everywhere to give the shelter and liberation to all fallen souls. Now I see the central city life as breeding ground for lust and envy, where stress, anger and frustration are seemingly eternal companions of the inhabitants. As you said in one of the classes - “Dirty hearts and polluted minds”.
Your desciples under your expert guidance created a very profound net, with which they can “catch” some of those, who want a real change in their lives. The devotees are meeting those souls and bringing them into The Loft – the spiritual oasis in the heart of the modern city, where by further association with devotees a person gets a chance for liberation.
CC Ādi 1.45: According to the deliberate opinion of all revealed scriptures, the spiritual master is nondifferent from Kṛṣṇa. Lord Kṛṣṇa in the form of the spiritual master delivers His devotees.
Your aspiring servant, being one of those lost souls wondering in the dark, somehow met one of your street soldiers –dedicated book distributors. I am very glad to be captured by that net and later getting the opportunity to try to serve you. “Heal the healer” - was one of your first instructions to me. Your words went straight into my heart and I still remember your very calm and soft voice when you kindly instructed me.
When I read twelfth chapter of Bhagavad Gita where Kṛṣṇa describes the qualities of a devotee, I see all these qualities present in you. You are not envious but a kind friend to all living entities, you do not think yourself being a proprietor and free from false ego, you are equal in both happiness and distress and tolerant, always satisfied, self-controlled, and engaged in devotional service with determination, with mind and intelligence fixed on Kṛṣṇa. You made Krishna the Supreme Goal of your life. Certainly, you are very, very dear to Kṛṣṇa - therefore you can “give” Kṛṣṇa to others. Thank you for being so merciful. How fortunate I am to see a living example of what Kṛṣṇa speaks about to Arjuna. It makes my faith stronger.
Dear Gurudeva, for every little attempt I make in service, you reciprocate and give back so much that it is impossible for me to comprehend. How can I possibly understand you and your mercy? How can I see the scope of all that you do for all of us: your aspiring servants, “honest well-wishers, affectionate benefactors, the neutral, mediators, the envious, friends and enemies, the pious and the sinners...”? You are not making distinctions. With equal mind, you are ready to help everyone and give back more than they can offer to you and Kṛṣṇa.
I admire your expertise to give classes and answer the questions. You can see the heart of your disciple and the origin of the question. Often you answer to what caused the question, making disciple wondering. You are always trying to bring us to the fastest lane on the highway to Godhead, where you are always situated, but many of us cannot keep up with the pace and take a slower lane. But you are always there, leading by example.
This is your special mercy and without you we cannot get mercy of Kṛṣṇa.
Please, let me offer my humble obeisances again and again and wish you good health.
Aspiring to become your servant,
Ananta–naga das
Ananth Subramaniam
Dear Guru Maharaja
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to you on this most auspicious day of your appearance!
How fortunate are we that on this special day we can come together and glorify you. I am not competent enough to describe your transcendental qualities but as we worship mother Ganges by offering Ganges water back to her – it is only by your mercy can I think of describing some of your unlimited qualities. Therefore with folded palms I pray for your mercy to be able to glorify you to the best of my capacity.
Guru Maharaja your presentations of the philosophy of Krsna Consciousness, always enriched with your personal realisations, are 100% in line with the teachings of the previous acaryas and the authorised scriptures. Expertly revealing the science of Krsna Consciousness you bring us out of the darkness of ignorance by showing us the path back to Godhead with the torchlight of knowledge as you have received it through the guru-parampara.
Whether you give a lecture or a short personal darshan you so expertly dispel the illusions I take to be reality. I quite distinctly remember my first personal darshan with you. Somehow I explained my ‘spiritual practices’ unimpressed you said "ah demigod worship". Instead you recommended that I should chant Hare Krsna. Confused I remember going home to my family. Noticing my mood my parents asked “What’s wrong?” I collapsed on the couch next to them and exclaimed “they say Krsna is God… and all the others are demigods!” I surprised them and myself. A week later just as you had recommended, I began to chant Hare Krsna regularly. Looking back I can’t help but smile. You helped me overcome the misconceptions I had and allowed me to take my first step towards Krsna.
You are also expert in providing guidance. One time I came to you seeking clarification regarding which asrama I should pursue and you simply told me to read Srimad Bhagavatam and chant Hare Krsna attentively. Being dull-headed, I could not really understand how your answer related with the question. However in due course with your blessings I began reading reading Srimad Bhagavatam and my question was answered. I came to you clarifying small details but you gave me the greatest treasure. The opportunity to relish reading Srimad Bhagavatam and Srila Prabhupada's Bhaktivedanta purports.
Later on while struggling to grasp the philosophy I came to you and you told me that by distributing the books I would be able to understand them better. I tried to follow what you said and I found Srila Prabhupada reciprocating through his purports. Without your guidance I do not know if I could have remained in the association of devotees what to speak of following the four regulations and chanting Hare Krsna.
Whenever I think of all the personal darshans and interactions I have had with you, Guru Maharaja, I am always awestruck at how expert you are at dealing with me so personally. When in Sydney at the beginning of the year, a few devotees and I got to receive you at the Sydney temple. During your visit there, the reciprocation I received from you made my heart melt.
While we fumbled around trying to arrange a solid internet connection, you displayed your genuine concern by asking us about how our chanting was going. Then as you were leaving I paid my obeisances and after, what seemed to be a considerable amount of time I got up. I had expected that you had left but to my surprise you stood there carefully studying me with a big smile. I felt really happy and satisfied that you spent a moment of your time for someone as insignificant as me.
From the bottom of my heart I would like to thank you for your expert guidance helping me detach myself from my ‘kuruksetra-like’ situation and attach myself to reading and distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books. Thank you for being the expert physician you are, constantly curing the disease of avidya by persistently prescribing me the antidote of the attentive chanting of the Holy Names. Please know that it because of you that I now feel so satisfied and happy in Krsna Consciousness.
I am eternally indebted to you Guru Maharaja for all you have done for me. It is not possible for me to ever repay you. I therefore beg for your mercy so that I may be able to engineer my lifestyle so that it is favourable for carrying out your instructions. In this way I hope to please you.
Your aspiring servant,
Ananth Subramaniam
(Sri Sri Radha-Gopinatha Mandir, Sydney)
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to you on this most auspicious day of your appearance!
How fortunate are we that on this special day we can come together and glorify you. I am not competent enough to describe your transcendental qualities but as we worship mother Ganges by offering Ganges water back to her – it is only by your mercy can I think of describing some of your unlimited qualities. Therefore with folded palms I pray for your mercy to be able to glorify you to the best of my capacity.
Guru Maharaja your presentations of the philosophy of Krsna Consciousness, always enriched with your personal realisations, are 100% in line with the teachings of the previous acaryas and the authorised scriptures. Expertly revealing the science of Krsna Consciousness you bring us out of the darkness of ignorance by showing us the path back to Godhead with the torchlight of knowledge as you have received it through the guru-parampara.
Whether you give a lecture or a short personal darshan you so expertly dispel the illusions I take to be reality. I quite distinctly remember my first personal darshan with you. Somehow I explained my ‘spiritual practices’ unimpressed you said "ah demigod worship". Instead you recommended that I should chant Hare Krsna. Confused I remember going home to my family. Noticing my mood my parents asked “What’s wrong?” I collapsed on the couch next to them and exclaimed “they say Krsna is God… and all the others are demigods!” I surprised them and myself. A week later just as you had recommended, I began to chant Hare Krsna regularly. Looking back I can’t help but smile. You helped me overcome the misconceptions I had and allowed me to take my first step towards Krsna.
You are also expert in providing guidance. One time I came to you seeking clarification regarding which asrama I should pursue and you simply told me to read Srimad Bhagavatam and chant Hare Krsna attentively. Being dull-headed, I could not really understand how your answer related with the question. However in due course with your blessings I began reading reading Srimad Bhagavatam and my question was answered. I came to you clarifying small details but you gave me the greatest treasure. The opportunity to relish reading Srimad Bhagavatam and Srila Prabhupada's Bhaktivedanta purports.
Later on while struggling to grasp the philosophy I came to you and you told me that by distributing the books I would be able to understand them better. I tried to follow what you said and I found Srila Prabhupada reciprocating through his purports. Without your guidance I do not know if I could have remained in the association of devotees what to speak of following the four regulations and chanting Hare Krsna.
Whenever I think of all the personal darshans and interactions I have had with you, Guru Maharaja, I am always awestruck at how expert you are at dealing with me so personally. When in Sydney at the beginning of the year, a few devotees and I got to receive you at the Sydney temple. During your visit there, the reciprocation I received from you made my heart melt.
While we fumbled around trying to arrange a solid internet connection, you displayed your genuine concern by asking us about how our chanting was going. Then as you were leaving I paid my obeisances and after, what seemed to be a considerable amount of time I got up. I had expected that you had left but to my surprise you stood there carefully studying me with a big smile. I felt really happy and satisfied that you spent a moment of your time for someone as insignificant as me.
From the bottom of my heart I would like to thank you for your expert guidance helping me detach myself from my ‘kuruksetra-like’ situation and attach myself to reading and distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books. Thank you for being the expert physician you are, constantly curing the disease of avidya by persistently prescribing me the antidote of the attentive chanting of the Holy Names. Please know that it because of you that I now feel so satisfied and happy in Krsna Consciousness.
I am eternally indebted to you Guru Maharaja for all you have done for me. It is not possible for me to ever repay you. I therefore beg for your mercy so that I may be able to engineer my lifestyle so that it is favourable for carrying out your instructions. In this way I hope to please you.
Your aspiring servant,
Ananth Subramaniam
(Sri Sri Radha-Gopinatha Mandir, Sydney)
Anchal Shrivastava
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
On your appearance day, when I am trying to understand my relation with you, I feel like thanking you for giving my life a meaning and real direction. 2 years back, I was oblivious about this date of the year but now this date has become one of the most special days of every year in my life. When I am reflecting back at all my darshans with you in this short span of time, I can see that every darshan of yours has contributed positively to my progress in life (KC) and I felt much more mature and confident afterwards.
I still can remember so vividly, 1.5 years back when I was going back to India (end of March), and during my last Krishna fest you walked up to me at loft and said that I should come back by the end of may. I couldn’t realize at that time that you cared for me so much and your instruction was so magnetic that I could never forget it and I always felt deeply connected with you ever since.
Gurudeva, I feel very satisfied in my heart now after taking your shelter and now request you to teach me how best I can utilize this human life. At this stage of my life I have a very strong need of your guidance and support, as I really want to get strong and not get defeated by illusions and ignorance. I wish to really become one of your strong soldiers against material energy and want to make you proud.
Your aspiring servant,
Anchal
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
On your appearance day, when I am trying to understand my relation with you, I feel like thanking you for giving my life a meaning and real direction. 2 years back, I was oblivious about this date of the year but now this date has become one of the most special days of every year in my life. When I am reflecting back at all my darshans with you in this short span of time, I can see that every darshan of yours has contributed positively to my progress in life (KC) and I felt much more mature and confident afterwards.
I still can remember so vividly, 1.5 years back when I was going back to India (end of March), and during my last Krishna fest you walked up to me at loft and said that I should come back by the end of may. I couldn’t realize at that time that you cared for me so much and your instruction was so magnetic that I could never forget it and I always felt deeply connected with you ever since.
Gurudeva, I feel very satisfied in my heart now after taking your shelter and now request you to teach me how best I can utilize this human life. At this stage of my life I have a very strong need of your guidance and support, as I really want to get strong and not get defeated by illusions and ignorance. I wish to really become one of your strong soldiers against material energy and want to make you proud.
Your aspiring servant,
Anchal
Andrew G
Dear Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Thank you for the waterfall of mercy that flows from your lotus feet to and through all of those taking shelter of you.
The Depth of your compassion knows no boundaries.
Thank you for always knowing whats best for me even when I desire something else.
There is no-one I get more anxious to serve and please than you.
The moment when I know I've pleased you is always the most ecstatic moment in my life, I literally jump for joy.
Your Aspiring Servant
Bhakta Andrew G
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Thank you for the waterfall of mercy that flows from your lotus feet to and through all of those taking shelter of you.
The Depth of your compassion knows no boundaries.
Thank you for always knowing whats best for me even when I desire something else.
There is no-one I get more anxious to serve and please than you.
The moment when I know I've pleased you is always the most ecstatic moment in my life, I literally jump for joy.
Your Aspiring Servant
Bhakta Andrew G
Andrey Solovyev from Irkutsk.
Hare Krishna, Your Holiness Devamrita Swami Maharaj!
Please accept my humble obeisances in the dust of Your lotus feet! All glories to Srila Prabhupada! In this holy day of Your appearance, I want to wish You all the best! Unfortunately I do not have yet the possibility of a personal relationship with You, but I communicate with Your disciples and see how they are genuinely engaged in devotional service. No doubt all of this is Your spiritual strength and deep faith in Sri Krishna. Dear Guru Maharaj, You are so skillfully can preach the glories of the Holy Name, and to instill the belief that I have no doubt of the truth of devotional service. Many devotees would like to have direct contact with Gurudev, receive direct instruction from him, but after reading Your book, the story of how Srila Prabhupada came to the main office of the BBT, and you talked Maharaja Prabhupada, as published His book. But Srila Prabhupada did not say, and only pointedly said, "Um ..." He shook his head. It was the only one in Your life personal contact with Srila Prabhupada. This story struck me. Despite the fact that you Gurudev received no personal contact with his spiritual teacher, You did not fall into despair, but had to continue devotional service of Guru and Krishna. This example inspires me. Personal contact with Srila Prabhupada, we can get by reading his books. Thank You dear Devamrita Swami Maharaj for Your selfless service and preaching, which brings the world the true blessing!
Once again, please accept my humble obeisances.
Hare Krishna! All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Your candidate as an apprentice, Bhakta Andrey Solovyev from Irkutsk.
Please accept my humble obeisances in the dust of Your lotus feet! All glories to Srila Prabhupada! In this holy day of Your appearance, I want to wish You all the best! Unfortunately I do not have yet the possibility of a personal relationship with You, but I communicate with Your disciples and see how they are genuinely engaged in devotional service. No doubt all of this is Your spiritual strength and deep faith in Sri Krishna. Dear Guru Maharaj, You are so skillfully can preach the glories of the Holy Name, and to instill the belief that I have no doubt of the truth of devotional service. Many devotees would like to have direct contact with Gurudev, receive direct instruction from him, but after reading Your book, the story of how Srila Prabhupada came to the main office of the BBT, and you talked Maharaja Prabhupada, as published His book. But Srila Prabhupada did not say, and only pointedly said, "Um ..." He shook his head. It was the only one in Your life personal contact with Srila Prabhupada. This story struck me. Despite the fact that you Gurudev received no personal contact with his spiritual teacher, You did not fall into despair, but had to continue devotional service of Guru and Krishna. This example inspires me. Personal contact with Srila Prabhupada, we can get by reading his books. Thank You dear Devamrita Swami Maharaj for Your selfless service and preaching, which brings the world the true blessing!
Once again, please accept my humble obeisances.
Hare Krishna! All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Your candidate as an apprentice, Bhakta Andrey Solovyev from Irkutsk.
Andy
Dear Devamrita Maharaja,
Please accept my sincere and humble obeisances.
All glories to His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada!
On this most auspicious day of your Vyasa-puja, I want to say simply and deeply...Thank You.
Through your inconceivable shakti and immense compassion, even for such fallen souls as I, you force open my eyes...if even only a slither. Although still dwelling in the fire of material existence, by your mercy the blaze has been reduced to a flame.
This debt I can never repay. I beg only to honour your most precious gift of spiritual awakening with the respect and dedication it deserves.
All glories and gratitude to you Maharaja, Krishna's dear servant.
With full respect and heartfelt love.
Your aspiring servant,
Andy.
Please accept my sincere and humble obeisances.
All glories to His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada!
On this most auspicious day of your Vyasa-puja, I want to say simply and deeply...Thank You.
Through your inconceivable shakti and immense compassion, even for such fallen souls as I, you force open my eyes...if even only a slither. Although still dwelling in the fire of material existence, by your mercy the blaze has been reduced to a flame.
This debt I can never repay. I beg only to honour your most precious gift of spiritual awakening with the respect and dedication it deserves.
All glories and gratitude to you Maharaja, Krishna's dear servant.
With full respect and heartfelt love.
Your aspiring servant,
Andy.
Anne-Lise (Toronto)
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Pabhupada
Thank you so much for your guidance in helping Bhakti Lounge become such a special place. I hope that through following your instructions we can make it a vibrant and thriving community and fulfill your vision of what you would like the place to be like!
I feel very lucky to be able to be a part of the growth of that community, and happy to see the ways in which I have been able to grow from taking part in trying to serve. I have been able to learn how to cook from the expert advice of Shyam-Mohini and Mangal-aarti Devi Dasi, learn to chant the Hare Krishna Mantra, and open my heart and mind to the possibility of understanding the mystical pastimes of Krishna.
Music, cooking, and reading seemed like ordinary things before, but now I can see how when used in service to Krishna they are like a lens, which, when focused can help you to see the true purpose of this life!
I really want to glorify your appearance on this earth, on this auspicious day of your Vyasa-Puja! You have so generously given out love of Krishna and made so many opportunities of service possible in this program of the "pattita-pavana" we call "Bhakti Lounge Toronto". I can't stress enough that I am so thankful for your tremendous endeavor to serve krishna, in which luckily some oblivious souls like me have been swept up in the process!!! Thank you so much for making such facilities available to me and many others, and I pray that in some small way I will be able to also serve you and do my part in this mission of sharing the holy name of Krishna with other inquisitive souls.
I thank you deeply from the bottom of my heart for blessing us with your presence in Toronto, and I hope that through your instructions I can gain some of the qualities I see in your disciples, who serve you with such unwavering focus.
My best wishes to you on this glorious occasion!
Your aspiring servant,
Anne-Lise
All glories to Srila Pabhupada
Thank you so much for your guidance in helping Bhakti Lounge become such a special place. I hope that through following your instructions we can make it a vibrant and thriving community and fulfill your vision of what you would like the place to be like!
I feel very lucky to be able to be a part of the growth of that community, and happy to see the ways in which I have been able to grow from taking part in trying to serve. I have been able to learn how to cook from the expert advice of Shyam-Mohini and Mangal-aarti Devi Dasi, learn to chant the Hare Krishna Mantra, and open my heart and mind to the possibility of understanding the mystical pastimes of Krishna.
Music, cooking, and reading seemed like ordinary things before, but now I can see how when used in service to Krishna they are like a lens, which, when focused can help you to see the true purpose of this life!
I really want to glorify your appearance on this earth, on this auspicious day of your Vyasa-Puja! You have so generously given out love of Krishna and made so many opportunities of service possible in this program of the "pattita-pavana" we call "Bhakti Lounge Toronto". I can't stress enough that I am so thankful for your tremendous endeavor to serve krishna, in which luckily some oblivious souls like me have been swept up in the process!!! Thank you so much for making such facilities available to me and many others, and I pray that in some small way I will be able to also serve you and do my part in this mission of sharing the holy name of Krishna with other inquisitive souls.
I thank you deeply from the bottom of my heart for blessing us with your presence in Toronto, and I hope that through your instructions I can gain some of the qualities I see in your disciples, who serve you with such unwavering focus.
My best wishes to you on this glorious occasion!
Your aspiring servant,
Anne-Lise
Antonia Sidoroff
Dear Srila Gurudev,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to you on this auspicious day, your appearance day!
This time last year I was in Vrindavan dham, standing in wonder of Gaura Nitai, Krsna Balarama and Radha Shyamasundara, going on parikramas with His Grace Deena Bandu Prabhu, ready to embark on my Bhakti Sastri adventure in Mayapur and eagerly wanting, by deliberate considerations, to raise myself to the platform of Krsna consciousness. To attain such an end, as I was reading in Srila Prabhupada's books, one must sincerely render service to a bona fide spiritual master, which begins one's spiritual life in Krsna consciousness. And so I was hearing from the mahatmas. Holding onto my unnecessarily puffed-up position in the material world, I would often tell Vamsidhari that whilst I find HIS spiritual master to be very inspiring, I could and would find MY OWN spiritual master. Nonetheless, deep in my heart the connection was there and I was very pleased and excited when Pia told me that you were coming to the dham and giving Srimad Bhagavatam class. I remember you held your gaze upon me at the beginning of the class and I was fearful that you could see all my false prestige. After your ecstatic class on Damodar lila the devotees crowded around you and my dear friend Pandita urged me to try to get the opportunity to associate with you, but, thinking it impossible, I said we should leave. We wandered back to the MVT and it was quite amazing actually, because when we stopped to get some fruit from the grocer an entourage of people walked past and when I saw by your robes that it was you, I dropped everything in my hands and ran after you, moving sheepishly amidst the procession of your disciples and well-wishes. When we arrived where you were staying, Shyam Gauri, who was busily engaged in your service, asked me if I could go and collect her milk delivery. I was very glad to render some service to Shyam Gauri, however, internally I felt that again the opportunity to meet with the Lord's pure devotee had slipped through my hands. As I was walking back with the milk, I saw that Shyam Gauri was calling me back and as I came nearer I could hear that she was saying that you were ready to see me!
Maharaja, you were so kind to me at that meeting. I was astounded that you thanked me for appreciating Vamsidhari's devotional qualities and expressed your gratitude to me for helping him in his Krsna consciousness. When I told Vamsidhari of our talk he said that the truth is that it is by your mercy only that he has any good qualities at all. And I am beginning to understand the reality of his statement. It is because of your shelter, unfathomable care and compassion, firm determination and your seeing and speaking on the authority of the sastra that your disciples have the rare and special mood and focus on devotional service that they do. It is awe-inspiring and I want nothing more than to imbibe their spirit of sacrifice and their surrender. I was practicing Krsna consciousness for only a short time when I started associating with Vamsidhari and it was his humility, his knowledge of the scripture and his no-nonsense approach that attracted me to Srila Prabhupada's books and to coming to New Zealand. When I came to last year's mid-year retreat I was chanting eight rounds and because of Krishnaloka's purity, shakti and encouragement I went home and immediately started to chant sixteen rounds. Now by that same inconceivable mercy I am here in Wellington, living, serving and associating with your gem-like disciples, reading and relishing the Srimad Bhagavatam, partaking in outreach programs, stuck to Gokul-Lila when I go out on sankirtan with her, venturing up to Krsna food to distribute delectable prasadam, and, though none of my friends, family or the devotees outside of Wellington would believe it to be true, I'm even learning how to cook. I am eternally indebted to you for giving me this opportunity and accepting this menial service.
I had read and been told that Srila Prabhupada said that when the disciple is sincere, Krsna will send a bona-fide guru. I wondered whether He would ever send one to me. The funny thing is that you were the first guru I ever met. I just couldn't see that right away. There are so many things I cannot see. How wonderful it is that the guru takes the torchlight of knowledge and presents it before the living entity enveloped in darkness. That knowledge relieves him from the sufferings of the darkness of ignorance. And your business is certainly to see that no human being suffers in this material world. Expertly spreading the cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, you make it easy to chant and be happy.
"Glory to the Sri-Krsna-Sankirtana, which cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years and extinguishes the fire of conditional life, of repeated birth and death. This sankirtana movement is the prime benediction for humanity at large because it spreads the rays of the benediction moon. It is the life of all transcendental knowledge. It increases the ocean of transcendental bliss, and it enables us to fully taste the nectar for which we are always anxious".
Spreading Krsna consciousness, sharing it with others, is so satisfying. It brings joy to the Bhakti yoga practitioner and to everyone who comes into contact with Krsna and His devotees. Bruno, a twenty-four year old boy I met on Harinam, came to Soulfeast twice, did some service helping Gaura-arti to cook a feast, and shared a wonderful meal with Bal Gopal Prabhu, before heading back to the south ireland where he is being sponsored to stay in New Zealand. On his last visit to Bhakti Lounge he was telling me that he downloaded the maha-mantra onto his ipod and that he keeps listening to it over and over. He also said that when he was last taking intoxicants, he kept thinking "what would Bal Gopal say if he saw me doing this?" Just this week we were speaking on Facebook and he commented that, despite having travelled the world for the past two and a half years and meeting so many different people, he found his short time with us to be so memorable and that the devotees were the most special people he's ever encountered.
How fortunate we are to be engaged in service to guru and Gauranga! How grateful I am to be cultivating a relationship and aspiring to take initiation from you. I hope, pray and endeavor to accept your instructions as my heart and soul and to please you.
Your aspiring servant,
Bhaktin Antonia
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to you on this auspicious day, your appearance day!
This time last year I was in Vrindavan dham, standing in wonder of Gaura Nitai, Krsna Balarama and Radha Shyamasundara, going on parikramas with His Grace Deena Bandu Prabhu, ready to embark on my Bhakti Sastri adventure in Mayapur and eagerly wanting, by deliberate considerations, to raise myself to the platform of Krsna consciousness. To attain such an end, as I was reading in Srila Prabhupada's books, one must sincerely render service to a bona fide spiritual master, which begins one's spiritual life in Krsna consciousness. And so I was hearing from the mahatmas. Holding onto my unnecessarily puffed-up position in the material world, I would often tell Vamsidhari that whilst I find HIS spiritual master to be very inspiring, I could and would find MY OWN spiritual master. Nonetheless, deep in my heart the connection was there and I was very pleased and excited when Pia told me that you were coming to the dham and giving Srimad Bhagavatam class. I remember you held your gaze upon me at the beginning of the class and I was fearful that you could see all my false prestige. After your ecstatic class on Damodar lila the devotees crowded around you and my dear friend Pandita urged me to try to get the opportunity to associate with you, but, thinking it impossible, I said we should leave. We wandered back to the MVT and it was quite amazing actually, because when we stopped to get some fruit from the grocer an entourage of people walked past and when I saw by your robes that it was you, I dropped everything in my hands and ran after you, moving sheepishly amidst the procession of your disciples and well-wishes. When we arrived where you were staying, Shyam Gauri, who was busily engaged in your service, asked me if I could go and collect her milk delivery. I was very glad to render some service to Shyam Gauri, however, internally I felt that again the opportunity to meet with the Lord's pure devotee had slipped through my hands. As I was walking back with the milk, I saw that Shyam Gauri was calling me back and as I came nearer I could hear that she was saying that you were ready to see me!
Maharaja, you were so kind to me at that meeting. I was astounded that you thanked me for appreciating Vamsidhari's devotional qualities and expressed your gratitude to me for helping him in his Krsna consciousness. When I told Vamsidhari of our talk he said that the truth is that it is by your mercy only that he has any good qualities at all. And I am beginning to understand the reality of his statement. It is because of your shelter, unfathomable care and compassion, firm determination and your seeing and speaking on the authority of the sastra that your disciples have the rare and special mood and focus on devotional service that they do. It is awe-inspiring and I want nothing more than to imbibe their spirit of sacrifice and their surrender. I was practicing Krsna consciousness for only a short time when I started associating with Vamsidhari and it was his humility, his knowledge of the scripture and his no-nonsense approach that attracted me to Srila Prabhupada's books and to coming to New Zealand. When I came to last year's mid-year retreat I was chanting eight rounds and because of Krishnaloka's purity, shakti and encouragement I went home and immediately started to chant sixteen rounds. Now by that same inconceivable mercy I am here in Wellington, living, serving and associating with your gem-like disciples, reading and relishing the Srimad Bhagavatam, partaking in outreach programs, stuck to Gokul-Lila when I go out on sankirtan with her, venturing up to Krsna food to distribute delectable prasadam, and, though none of my friends, family or the devotees outside of Wellington would believe it to be true, I'm even learning how to cook. I am eternally indebted to you for giving me this opportunity and accepting this menial service.
I had read and been told that Srila Prabhupada said that when the disciple is sincere, Krsna will send a bona-fide guru. I wondered whether He would ever send one to me. The funny thing is that you were the first guru I ever met. I just couldn't see that right away. There are so many things I cannot see. How wonderful it is that the guru takes the torchlight of knowledge and presents it before the living entity enveloped in darkness. That knowledge relieves him from the sufferings of the darkness of ignorance. And your business is certainly to see that no human being suffers in this material world. Expertly spreading the cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, you make it easy to chant and be happy.
"Glory to the Sri-Krsna-Sankirtana, which cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years and extinguishes the fire of conditional life, of repeated birth and death. This sankirtana movement is the prime benediction for humanity at large because it spreads the rays of the benediction moon. It is the life of all transcendental knowledge. It increases the ocean of transcendental bliss, and it enables us to fully taste the nectar for which we are always anxious".
Spreading Krsna consciousness, sharing it with others, is so satisfying. It brings joy to the Bhakti yoga practitioner and to everyone who comes into contact with Krsna and His devotees. Bruno, a twenty-four year old boy I met on Harinam, came to Soulfeast twice, did some service helping Gaura-arti to cook a feast, and shared a wonderful meal with Bal Gopal Prabhu, before heading back to the south ireland where he is being sponsored to stay in New Zealand. On his last visit to Bhakti Lounge he was telling me that he downloaded the maha-mantra onto his ipod and that he keeps listening to it over and over. He also said that when he was last taking intoxicants, he kept thinking "what would Bal Gopal say if he saw me doing this?" Just this week we were speaking on Facebook and he commented that, despite having travelled the world for the past two and a half years and meeting so many different people, he found his short time with us to be so memorable and that the devotees were the most special people he's ever encountered.
How fortunate we are to be engaged in service to guru and Gauranga! How grateful I am to be cultivating a relationship and aspiring to take initiation from you. I hope, pray and endeavor to accept your instructions as my heart and soul and to please you.
Your aspiring servant,
Bhaktin Antonia
Arthur Thompson
Dear Devamrita Swami
Please accept my humble obeisance's
Thank you for your merciful association and guidance. Whilst trying to understand how valuable the opportunity of your service is I'd like to show some gratitude for the facilities you're providing and the example that you're setting.
It is easy to see that devotional service is the goal of life when you're in the room, and if that wasn't enough of a benediction your insightful classes and wise instruction is accessible and valuable.
With so many progressive disciples going against the grain of society (what to speak of the material energy) the volume of the same quality help you've given me in a few short talks is very humbling.
If I can show an atom of your patience and compassion one day to help someone out I'm sure my life will be successful and by your grace maybe I'll understand that Krishna is in the atom.
I can't thank you enough,
Your aspiring servant,
Arthur
Please accept my humble obeisance's
Thank you for your merciful association and guidance. Whilst trying to understand how valuable the opportunity of your service is I'd like to show some gratitude for the facilities you're providing and the example that you're setting.
It is easy to see that devotional service is the goal of life when you're in the room, and if that wasn't enough of a benediction your insightful classes and wise instruction is accessible and valuable.
With so many progressive disciples going against the grain of society (what to speak of the material energy) the volume of the same quality help you've given me in a few short talks is very humbling.
If I can show an atom of your patience and compassion one day to help someone out I'm sure my life will be successful and by your grace maybe I'll understand that Krishna is in the atom.
I can't thank you enough,
Your aspiring servant,
Arthur
Atma Maya devi dasi
Hare Krishna, dear Guru Maharaj, all glories to you! All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to all the devotees!
Dear Guru Maharaj, I love you very much. This day I will play accordion for you with great pleasure. I always think of you and offer you my service.
I found in one Srila Prabhupada’s letter to his disciples: “Always remember that I am always with you. If you always think of me, I also always think of you. Although we are separated physically, from the spiritual point of view we are together. Therefore, we should always be concerned with this spiritual bond only”.
When I read your offering to Srila Prabhupada on His Vyasa-puja (April 11th, 2012) I was touched by your words: “…when this present body has done its dash, I look forward to starting off from the very beginning with you, wherever you want, however you want it”. I want to confess that I often say the same to you in my unsent letters.
Dear Guru Maharaj, can I hope to follow you in service wherever and however you want in the next life and for ever?
Your disciple Atma Maya d.d.,
Russia, Omsk.
Dear Guru Maharaj, I love you very much. This day I will play accordion for you with great pleasure. I always think of you and offer you my service.
I found in one Srila Prabhupada’s letter to his disciples: “Always remember that I am always with you. If you always think of me, I also always think of you. Although we are separated physically, from the spiritual point of view we are together. Therefore, we should always be concerned with this spiritual bond only”.
When I read your offering to Srila Prabhupada on His Vyasa-puja (April 11th, 2012) I was touched by your words: “…when this present body has done its dash, I look forward to starting off from the very beginning with you, wherever you want, however you want it”. I want to confess that I often say the same to you in my unsent letters.
Dear Guru Maharaj, can I hope to follow you in service wherever and however you want in the next life and for ever?
Your disciple Atma Maya d.d.,
Russia, Omsk.
Bal Gopal das
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and all glories to you on this most auspicious day of your appearance !
Srila Prabhupada states in the fourth canto ‘’The association of devotees is the most important factor in this world’’ As you are the cause of our receiving ‘’the most important factor in this world’’ and as you are the most important factor in this world by giving us of yourself, you are considered the Supreme well wishing friend of all living enities. ‘Suhrdam sarva dehinam’
As we learn from the Bhagavad Gita
‘’Most important is how the man in Krsna consciousness speaks ; for speech is the most important quality of any man. The immediate symptom of a Krsna conscious man is that he speaks only of Krsna and of matters relating to him. ‘’
Why is it that your divine speeches are considered the most essential factor in this world?
‘’The transcendental vibration from the mouth of a pure devotee is so powerful that it can revive the living entities memory of his eternal relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead’’…The Lord asks every sleeping living entity to get up and engage in devotional service... This awakening voice comes through the mouth of a pure devotee.
A pure devotee always engages in the service of the Lord, taking shelter of His lotus feet, and therefore he has a direct connection with the saffron mercy-particles that are strewn over the lotus feet of the Lord. Although when a pure devotee speaks the articulation of his voice may resemble the sound of this material sky, the voice is spiritually very powerful... As soon as a sleeping living entity hears the powerful voice emanating from the mouth of a pure devotee, he immediately remembers his eternal relationship with the Lord, although up until that moment he had forgotten everything. SB 4.20.25
As soon as my hearing from you began twelve and a half years ago my whole life shifted, so much so that all I valued with teenage infatuation and all my teenage madness began to dissolve, and the real purpose of my life was awoken. Determination was formed. If such shifts could happen in such a lowly example as myself, I often wonder at the major vaikuntha shifts in this country if only the leaders heard from you.
Recently I heard you read to us a purport from the 1st canto, A purport which I thought myself quite familiar, However, hearing you explain it was as if it was a completely fresh purport never read or heard of before!
These speeches are so ever fresh that although in some cases I have listened to some of your lectures maybe 50 times and some parts I know exactly what you will say next they are still so enchanting, enthusing and full of Bhakti that I never tire hearing them.
To the new comers to Bhakti your expertise is incredible, You explained at one of the discussion evenings at the Loft
‘According to Bhagavad Gita you become a leader by learning to live a lifestyle of purity then not only do you purify your life but you purify others by your presence . That means a lifestyle change Ahhh who wants a lifestyle change?
Do you want to change your life so that you’ll emanate purity? What do you think that entails? What does that mean to be pure? Any one got any idea?
Guest 1: To be free of my physical body,
To be free of the physical body, can you give us a description of that ?
Guest 1: No, because I don’t know what it would be like to be free of my physical body, to no longer suffer, to no longer have to eat, to no longer do the mundane things. Just to be completely free, total freedom.
So if somebody kills you now they’ll be setting you free, ( laughter ) this is your definition of purity?
Guest 1: What, if someone killed me or ?
Yeah, then you wouldn’t be eating anymore you wouldn’t be this, no more physical body? I’m just asking.
Guest 1: Yes to be free from my physical body that to me would be purity.
And what would you do, in that condition, when your free from the physical body?
Guest 1: I won’t know, I don’t know, or won’t know until I get there,
Ok so that means your whole understanding about purity you also don’t know about
Guest 1: my understanding of purity is developing.
But you say it won’t happen until your free from the physical body.
Guest: 1 Yes
And you won’t know what that’s like till you get there.
Guest1: No
So therefore purity you won’t know about till you get free of the physical body.
Guest1: exactly
So there’s no point in discussing it now.
Guest1: No (Lots of Laughter from everyone)
Sounds good so right now we just do whatever we like right? We just wallow in the mud right now right? See what I mean by nothings changed?
Guest1: Yes
Good, your smart (more laughter) (Loft , Auckland 1996)
Examples like this are so much spiritual sense gratification for me (sad indriya). Every time I listen to one of your transcendental discourses I find that they are full with newer and more interesting themes to endeavour to assimilate and repeat. It is this wealth that is one of your many generous gifts to us all.
When you reveal the actual nature of this deformed world it is again so much nectar.
Where to repose our love so that everyone can become happy. Now that’s an awesome goal, think about it. That’s a goal worthy of your life. Not just some small vision- I just want to find one person for me to love. I want one person whose going to love me, and not pay attention to anyone else. Isn’t that very miserly. The Vedic knowledge is concerned with the expansive love, So much so that you’re thinking how can I deposit my love in such a way that everyone can become happy. Your loving propensities will expand and expand.
You so clearly point us to the highest goal in such a practical and wonderful way.
Why is Krsna the Supreme Beloved? Because Krsna is unlimitedly attractive… As soon as there’s limitation in the attractiveness how can they be Supremely Beloved? You’ll perceive the limitations. In dealing with your, so called, loved ones- you simultaneously perceive the limitations, right? But you can’t really give your heart fully in these loving exchanges if you perceive limitations. There’ll be reservation. But in Krsna there is no limitation. Therefore you can love Krsna without hesitation and reservation. (Nectar of Devotion Lecture, Perth, 2003)
Gurudeva, I am very fortunate and thankful to be able to associate with You and the devotees, by whose service I am being awarded interest in these divine speeches. To be able to chant and dance amongst the devotees is my highest happiness and by your grace being able to dip into the ocean of love of God through the book distribution service is absolutely gratifying.
King Prthu begged Lord Visnu, ‘’My dear Lord, I therefore do not need any other benediction but the opportunity to hear from the mouth of your pure devotee’’
On this day of your appearance I beg you for the raging desire to always hear from you, the opportunity to chant amongst you and the devotees of Srila Prabhupada, and some how or other compassionately give this to others. Please make this my only aspiration in this world.
Your aspiring servant
Bal Gopal das
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and all glories to you on this most auspicious day of your appearance !
Srila Prabhupada states in the fourth canto ‘’The association of devotees is the most important factor in this world’’ As you are the cause of our receiving ‘’the most important factor in this world’’ and as you are the most important factor in this world by giving us of yourself, you are considered the Supreme well wishing friend of all living enities. ‘Suhrdam sarva dehinam’
As we learn from the Bhagavad Gita
‘’Most important is how the man in Krsna consciousness speaks ; for speech is the most important quality of any man. The immediate symptom of a Krsna conscious man is that he speaks only of Krsna and of matters relating to him. ‘’
Why is it that your divine speeches are considered the most essential factor in this world?
‘’The transcendental vibration from the mouth of a pure devotee is so powerful that it can revive the living entities memory of his eternal relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead’’…The Lord asks every sleeping living entity to get up and engage in devotional service... This awakening voice comes through the mouth of a pure devotee.
A pure devotee always engages in the service of the Lord, taking shelter of His lotus feet, and therefore he has a direct connection with the saffron mercy-particles that are strewn over the lotus feet of the Lord. Although when a pure devotee speaks the articulation of his voice may resemble the sound of this material sky, the voice is spiritually very powerful... As soon as a sleeping living entity hears the powerful voice emanating from the mouth of a pure devotee, he immediately remembers his eternal relationship with the Lord, although up until that moment he had forgotten everything. SB 4.20.25
As soon as my hearing from you began twelve and a half years ago my whole life shifted, so much so that all I valued with teenage infatuation and all my teenage madness began to dissolve, and the real purpose of my life was awoken. Determination was formed. If such shifts could happen in such a lowly example as myself, I often wonder at the major vaikuntha shifts in this country if only the leaders heard from you.
Recently I heard you read to us a purport from the 1st canto, A purport which I thought myself quite familiar, However, hearing you explain it was as if it was a completely fresh purport never read or heard of before!
These speeches are so ever fresh that although in some cases I have listened to some of your lectures maybe 50 times and some parts I know exactly what you will say next they are still so enchanting, enthusing and full of Bhakti that I never tire hearing them.
To the new comers to Bhakti your expertise is incredible, You explained at one of the discussion evenings at the Loft
‘According to Bhagavad Gita you become a leader by learning to live a lifestyle of purity then not only do you purify your life but you purify others by your presence . That means a lifestyle change Ahhh who wants a lifestyle change?
Do you want to change your life so that you’ll emanate purity? What do you think that entails? What does that mean to be pure? Any one got any idea?
Guest 1: To be free of my physical body,
To be free of the physical body, can you give us a description of that ?
Guest 1: No, because I don’t know what it would be like to be free of my physical body, to no longer suffer, to no longer have to eat, to no longer do the mundane things. Just to be completely free, total freedom.
So if somebody kills you now they’ll be setting you free, ( laughter ) this is your definition of purity?
Guest 1: What, if someone killed me or ?
Yeah, then you wouldn’t be eating anymore you wouldn’t be this, no more physical body? I’m just asking.
Guest 1: Yes to be free from my physical body that to me would be purity.
And what would you do, in that condition, when your free from the physical body?
Guest 1: I won’t know, I don’t know, or won’t know until I get there,
Ok so that means your whole understanding about purity you also don’t know about
Guest 1: my understanding of purity is developing.
But you say it won’t happen until your free from the physical body.
Guest: 1 Yes
And you won’t know what that’s like till you get there.
Guest1: No
So therefore purity you won’t know about till you get free of the physical body.
Guest1: exactly
So there’s no point in discussing it now.
Guest1: No (Lots of Laughter from everyone)
Sounds good so right now we just do whatever we like right? We just wallow in the mud right now right? See what I mean by nothings changed?
Guest1: Yes
Good, your smart (more laughter) (Loft , Auckland 1996)
Examples like this are so much spiritual sense gratification for me (sad indriya). Every time I listen to one of your transcendental discourses I find that they are full with newer and more interesting themes to endeavour to assimilate and repeat. It is this wealth that is one of your many generous gifts to us all.
When you reveal the actual nature of this deformed world it is again so much nectar.
Where to repose our love so that everyone can become happy. Now that’s an awesome goal, think about it. That’s a goal worthy of your life. Not just some small vision- I just want to find one person for me to love. I want one person whose going to love me, and not pay attention to anyone else. Isn’t that very miserly. The Vedic knowledge is concerned with the expansive love, So much so that you’re thinking how can I deposit my love in such a way that everyone can become happy. Your loving propensities will expand and expand.
You so clearly point us to the highest goal in such a practical and wonderful way.
Why is Krsna the Supreme Beloved? Because Krsna is unlimitedly attractive… As soon as there’s limitation in the attractiveness how can they be Supremely Beloved? You’ll perceive the limitations. In dealing with your, so called, loved ones- you simultaneously perceive the limitations, right? But you can’t really give your heart fully in these loving exchanges if you perceive limitations. There’ll be reservation. But in Krsna there is no limitation. Therefore you can love Krsna without hesitation and reservation. (Nectar of Devotion Lecture, Perth, 2003)
Gurudeva, I am very fortunate and thankful to be able to associate with You and the devotees, by whose service I am being awarded interest in these divine speeches. To be able to chant and dance amongst the devotees is my highest happiness and by your grace being able to dip into the ocean of love of God through the book distribution service is absolutely gratifying.
King Prthu begged Lord Visnu, ‘’My dear Lord, I therefore do not need any other benediction but the opportunity to hear from the mouth of your pure devotee’’
On this day of your appearance I beg you for the raging desire to always hear from you, the opportunity to chant amongst you and the devotees of Srila Prabhupada, and some how or other compassionately give this to others. Please make this my only aspiration in this world.
Your aspiring servant
Bal Gopal das
Bh Gaurahari
Dear Gurudeva.
Please accept my most humble obeisances.
all glories to Srila Prabhupada.
This simple offering isn't enough to glorify your magnanimous activities your compassion for those who aren't sheltered at the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada's Sankirtan movement.
An appropriate offering would be to fully dedicate my time and energy to serving guru and Gauranga in the glorious adventure of spreading the message of Krsna.
You mentioned in one of your lectures the Sankirtan struggle, that we should be all weather devotees not that when its not we don't.
We struggle so hard for Maya we should at least struggle that hard for Krsna.
When you began going out on Sankirtan it was very tough, a few books a day for two years, but you were determined to love it because Srila Prabhupada loves book distribution. seeing all these sankirtan devotees come in and distribute books no problem. But one day on Sankirtan you just began passing out these big Krishna Books, that day you did thirty seven Krishna books,amazing, you thought to yourself "this cant be me it must be Krsna.
but then your health took a turn for the worst you spent some of the day coughing on the floor and the other part of the day on Sankirtan. You were no longer able to go out as much.
this is a nice meditation for me my Gurudeva cant go out as much as ge would like so on his behalf i'll distribute books thinking this is for my Gurudeva.
Just as Haridasa Thakur wished to relieve Lord Caitanya's anxiety as to how the other living entities night be delivered.
In the Gurvastakam Prayers verse nine:
Yasya prasadad bhagavat prasada,yasya prasadan nagati kuto pi.
"by the mercy of guru one gets Krsna,without the mercy of guru one cannot make any advancement.
The duty of the disciple is to assist the spiritual master in his service to Radha-Krsna.
Agian in the Gurvastakam Prayers verse five:
"the guru is expert in assisting the gopis who at different times make different tasteful arrangments for the perfection of Radha and Krsna's conjugal loving affairs within the groves of Vrindavan
i offer my respectful obeisances unto such a spiritual master".
Lord Caitanya also prays:
"gopi pada kamalayor das anu das anu das"
"I am the servant of the servant of the servant of the gopis"
I shall also endeavour to be your menial servant, to assist you in anyway i can.
i'm not very qualified and i make a lot of mistakes but i have a desire to serve therefore please engage that small desire in the fire of Lord Caitanya's sankirtan movement.
Sacrificing my life in this way i hope this will show some apprecciation.
In a Srila Parbhupada morning walk conversation, His Divine Grace mad the point that one becomes a devotee of Krsna after accumulating many pious activities.
One of the devotees thought to himself "what pious activities have i accumulated"
The party of devotees came to a halt as the devotee asked Srila Prabhupada
"but i have no qualification"
Srila Prabhupada immediatley replied
" i am your qualification".
Without service to the spiritual master one becomes a dead body dressed in so called costly garments.
Please kindly ornament me with the unnaloyed devotion to follow you nicley.
Placing myself at your lotus feet depending on your mercy.
Your servant Bh Gaurahari.
Please accept my most humble obeisances.
all glories to Srila Prabhupada.
This simple offering isn't enough to glorify your magnanimous activities your compassion for those who aren't sheltered at the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada's Sankirtan movement.
An appropriate offering would be to fully dedicate my time and energy to serving guru and Gauranga in the glorious adventure of spreading the message of Krsna.
You mentioned in one of your lectures the Sankirtan struggle, that we should be all weather devotees not that when its not we don't.
We struggle so hard for Maya we should at least struggle that hard for Krsna.
When you began going out on Sankirtan it was very tough, a few books a day for two years, but you were determined to love it because Srila Prabhupada loves book distribution. seeing all these sankirtan devotees come in and distribute books no problem. But one day on Sankirtan you just began passing out these big Krishna Books, that day you did thirty seven Krishna books,amazing, you thought to yourself "this cant be me it must be Krsna.
but then your health took a turn for the worst you spent some of the day coughing on the floor and the other part of the day on Sankirtan. You were no longer able to go out as much.
this is a nice meditation for me my Gurudeva cant go out as much as ge would like so on his behalf i'll distribute books thinking this is for my Gurudeva.
Just as Haridasa Thakur wished to relieve Lord Caitanya's anxiety as to how the other living entities night be delivered.
In the Gurvastakam Prayers verse nine:
Yasya prasadad bhagavat prasada,yasya prasadan nagati kuto pi.
"by the mercy of guru one gets Krsna,without the mercy of guru one cannot make any advancement.
The duty of the disciple is to assist the spiritual master in his service to Radha-Krsna.
Agian in the Gurvastakam Prayers verse five:
"the guru is expert in assisting the gopis who at different times make different tasteful arrangments for the perfection of Radha and Krsna's conjugal loving affairs within the groves of Vrindavan
i offer my respectful obeisances unto such a spiritual master".
Lord Caitanya also prays:
"gopi pada kamalayor das anu das anu das"
"I am the servant of the servant of the servant of the gopis"
I shall also endeavour to be your menial servant, to assist you in anyway i can.
i'm not very qualified and i make a lot of mistakes but i have a desire to serve therefore please engage that small desire in the fire of Lord Caitanya's sankirtan movement.
Sacrificing my life in this way i hope this will show some apprecciation.
In a Srila Parbhupada morning walk conversation, His Divine Grace mad the point that one becomes a devotee of Krsna after accumulating many pious activities.
One of the devotees thought to himself "what pious activities have i accumulated"
The party of devotees came to a halt as the devotee asked Srila Prabhupada
"but i have no qualification"
Srila Prabhupada immediatley replied
" i am your qualification".
Without service to the spiritual master one becomes a dead body dressed in so called costly garments.
Please kindly ornament me with the unnaloyed devotion to follow you nicley.
Placing myself at your lotus feet depending on your mercy.
Your servant Bh Gaurahari.
Bhadrasena das
Dear Gurudeva
Please accept my humble obeisance
All glories to you, Srila Gurudeva
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Oh spiritual father, on this most auspicious day of your appearance, I am wondering,“ Where are you now, where are you?”
I know you are always traveling far and wide, even to the most remote places of the world, and also to locations that are dangerous for persons with your mission and purpose in mind. However, for you, such inconveniences and dangers are sources of spiritual inspiration, opportunities to please your spiritual master, even more. These are the symptoms of someone most dear to Krishna, in risking everything for the mission of Guru and Gauranga.
Such a spiritual master you are.
On this day of your appearance in this world, I simply offer my menial attempt to glorify you to the best of my ability.
When I contemplate your whereabouts, especially on such an important day as today, I start to feel a deep longing, craving in my heart to be in your company. I am overwhelmed with a feeling that I can’t live without knowing, or feeling that you are there, to guide and protect me, and simultaneously, I feel the need to increase the opportunities to serve you in some way. This spiritual tug of war is very acute on such an important day as today. I truly miss you.
Alongside this feeling of separation, I am praying for the ability, to also, be able to intensify and expand my service to your outreach mission, knowing that this is the best way to be always in your company and under your protection. To please the spiritual master and to follow His “vani” or instructions is the secret to spiritual nourishment. How to take greater risks and efforts for the mission of reaching out to others is the definitive symptom of one who has the most intimate connection with Krishna and the parampara. You exhibit this symptom without cessation, and I can simply try to follow your example like a helpless duckling attached and dependent on his mother.
ya idaṁ paramaṁ guhyaṁ
mad-bhakteṣv abhidhāsyati
bhaktiṁ mayi parāṁ kṛtvā
mām evaiṣyaty asaṁśayaḥ
na ca tasmān manuṣyeṣu
kaścin me priya-kṛttamaḥ
bhavitā na ca me tasmād
anyaḥ priya-taro bhuvi
“ For one who explains this supreme secret to the devotees, pure devotional service is guaranteed, and at the end he will come back to Me.There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear.” (BGita 18:68/69)
In your life we see all the characteristics and qualities of someone who is very dear to Krishna. What are those characteristics?
satataṁ kīrtayanto māṁ
yatantaś ca dṛḍha-vratāḥ
namasyantaś ca māṁ bhaktyā
nitya-yuktā upāsate
“Always chanting My glories, endeavoring with great determination, bowing down before Me, these great souls perpetually worship Me with devotion.”( BGita 9:14)
Often, amongst spiritual weaklings like myself, we enquire, “Who is an advanced devotee?” Of course, Krishna equips the aspiring fledglings with all the knowledge needed to secure a bona fide spiritual master in the Bhagavad Gita; how he acts and behaves. We see such determination and consistency in your attempts to spread ‘krsnaprema’ to anyone who has a slight interest, and you are willing to persevere through all inconveniences and impediments. Such are your glories.
tad viddhi praṇipātena
paripraśnena sevayā
upadekṣyanti te jñānaṁ
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.” (BGita 4:34)
Of course, there are much deeper and more extensive texts and purports available in regards to the many qualities inherent in the personality of an advanced devotee. And on this most wonderful day of your appearance, I wish to attempt to glorify just two of the countless qualities that ornament your Vaisnava character, as a most dear servant of Srila Prabhupada and Lord Krishna.
The quality of tolerance
Firstly, from the physical and mental perspective, we see that you tolerate so much traveling. To be constantly flying is certainly very severe for the body and mind; to be crammed in to such small spaces for so many hours. You don’t just do this once or twice, but for months, year after year, decade and after decade. Anyone who has experienced a long-haul flight knows how they feel physically and mentally once they disembark the plane, all spaced out, and then, to deal with the jetlag and time zone adjustments. For so many years you have been relentlessly pursuing such a rigorous travel itinerary in order to catch, in the net of your mercy, a few fortunate lost souls drowning in illusion. But it doesn’t end there.
Once you have landed, you are immersed amongst throngs of persons seeking your shelter and guidance, and who are extremely eager to unleash their problems and anxieties upon you. Often, in their eagerness to thrust upon you their cries for assistance, they are often unaware, by the mask of their own anxieties, that you have individual needs, such as a need for space and privacy. Still, as part of your duty and compassion, you give your time and guidance to help nurture the bhakti flame within their hearts. This service you perform year after year, and due to your purity, the numbers of persons coming to you are increasing more and more, and therefore, the demands on you are increasing. All this you tolerant, in the hope that as many people as possible take advantage of their good fortune, and can become eligible to return back home, back to Godhead. Sometimes such persons are very grateful, and sometimes they are not, but still you give.
brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja
“Even if one wanders for many millions of years, from the time of creation until the time of annihilation, one cannot get free from the path of material existence unless one receives shelter at the lotus feet of a pure devotee.” (Cc. Madhya 19.151)
Secondly, the quality of expertise.
For me, I am beginning to see more and more how expert you are in your ability to preach in a contemporary way. From the infancy of the Loft Preaching in Auckland, to today, you have tolerated the test of time in terms of your methodology or “Out of the box” style preaching. Now, it is accepted, all over the world, that the Loft paradigm is an effective way to outreach. Of course, those who look into Srila Prabhupada’s early days in the west, will see how you simply followed in the footsteps of your beloved spiritual master.
As you know, Srila Prabhupada scanned the environment of New York for a year, surveying the people and their ways of thinking. He was learning the ways of the people, and preparing to deliver the message in a way that they would be able to digest it easily. Then, in his own way, he began preaching according to time and place. At one point Srila Prabhupada lived in a place called ‘The Loft’, where young persons could come and feel comfortable to associate with a pure devotee, take prasadam and hear kirtan, in the form of philosophy and harinam.
Similarly, for the sake of making arrangements to make it easy for western persons to come to KC, you expertly created an environment in which local persons could feel comfortable to befriend devotees, hear the philosophy and the holy name.
Even at times, some people may have had doubts, however, the successful results proved that this is the way to push ahead, as many persons were taking to KC. It is easy to hand out a book, and to go on harinam, but to actually put in the years to nurture and train new persons, that is something else, and this is where you have stood out.
Along side distribution, you created a facility to cultivate and water the ‘bhakti lata bija’, the seed they had received. How many of us are prepared to take on this responsibility, to not only give the seed of devotion, but to also stick around and put the time and energy into nurturing that seed, taking on the real austerity? All glories unto you.
The expertise, of the Loft centers you designed, help remove all the cultural and religious barriers that inhibit people to come to our bhakti culture. Once acclimatized and purified, they can then enter the full bhakti immersion, with all its glory. Sheer brilliance, a testimony to your sensitivity and intelligence, the head and the heart combined.
I see with more clarity now, how you have simply followed your spiritual master, and that you have simply created a contemporary Loft situation. And just see the results! In this room alone, there are so many devotees who have been or are being trained and nurtured under your care?
Often, it is not always apparent, that bringing persons to KC is not just about harinam and book distribution, or prasadam distribution. That is the easy part; the hardest part, and often-neglected part, is “ Who is going to train and nurture them?” This is the real work, and you have so brilliantly created such an amazing facility where we can bring people to the association of devotees, nurture them, and then offer them training, so they can go the distance in KC.
And just see how liberal and broad minded you are. You are open to anyone coming to receive training, whoever they aspire for. You offer invitations to so many other senior devotees to come and nurture those under your shelter, at our retreats and ashrams. You offer council to devotees who have different spiritual masters. All glories unto you.
Today we hear that the Loft Preaching paradigm is now acknowledged within ISKCON as the ‘cutting edge of outreach’ in the western world. You pushed on and tolerated, and now we see amazing results here in NZ. Here in tiny NZ we see that both the men and ladies receive world acclaimed training. How many other places in ISKCON do ladies receive such training? Where brahmacaris are of such a standard, and men are given a chance to get themselves together, so they can enter householder life in a stable and sober way? Our community has the lowest divorce rate in ISKCON. The fruit of all your labor and expertise is blossoming.
Where is that purport, which aligns with the mission you under took? Again, first canto SB has everything in it.
“The expert devotees also can discover novel ways and means to convert the non-devotees 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 materialistic population. Such transcendental activities of the devotees for the service of the Lord can bring a new order of life to the foolish society of materialistic men.” SB 1:5:16 purport
Here we see that Srila Prabhupada, on the authority of Narada muni, clearly explains the top most expert preacher. We see clearly how the Loft Centers are inspired and blessed by the parampara. See the quality and standard of the disciples and those trained under you.
And after all these years of struggling, tolerating all impediments, and giving shelter to so many persons, I simply wish to glorify you for all you have done for me and for others. I am so proud to be your undeserving disciple, I am so proud to proclaim to the assembly here today, the amazing services you have done for guru and Krishna.
So, on this day of your appearance, I pray that I can continue to be a loving disciple and to remain always at your lotus feet. There is always so much more I can say about my beloved spiritual father, but I simply beg that you will not reject me or kick me away, although I am such a foolish child and full of offences.
pracare purva-daksyam ca
bhakticara pravinata
pararthatapi karunyam
yasya sarve ca te namah
Begging and praying to remain your eternal servant
Your disciple Bhadrasena das
Please accept my humble obeisance
All glories to you, Srila Gurudeva
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Oh spiritual father, on this most auspicious day of your appearance, I am wondering,“ Where are you now, where are you?”
I know you are always traveling far and wide, even to the most remote places of the world, and also to locations that are dangerous for persons with your mission and purpose in mind. However, for you, such inconveniences and dangers are sources of spiritual inspiration, opportunities to please your spiritual master, even more. These are the symptoms of someone most dear to Krishna, in risking everything for the mission of Guru and Gauranga.
Such a spiritual master you are.
On this day of your appearance in this world, I simply offer my menial attempt to glorify you to the best of my ability.
When I contemplate your whereabouts, especially on such an important day as today, I start to feel a deep longing, craving in my heart to be in your company. I am overwhelmed with a feeling that I can’t live without knowing, or feeling that you are there, to guide and protect me, and simultaneously, I feel the need to increase the opportunities to serve you in some way. This spiritual tug of war is very acute on such an important day as today. I truly miss you.
Alongside this feeling of separation, I am praying for the ability, to also, be able to intensify and expand my service to your outreach mission, knowing that this is the best way to be always in your company and under your protection. To please the spiritual master and to follow His “vani” or instructions is the secret to spiritual nourishment. How to take greater risks and efforts for the mission of reaching out to others is the definitive symptom of one who has the most intimate connection with Krishna and the parampara. You exhibit this symptom without cessation, and I can simply try to follow your example like a helpless duckling attached and dependent on his mother.
ya idaṁ paramaṁ guhyaṁ
mad-bhakteṣv abhidhāsyati
bhaktiṁ mayi parāṁ kṛtvā
mām evaiṣyaty asaṁśayaḥ
na ca tasmān manuṣyeṣu
kaścin me priya-kṛttamaḥ
bhavitā na ca me tasmād
anyaḥ priya-taro bhuvi
“ For one who explains this supreme secret to the devotees, pure devotional service is guaranteed, and at the end he will come back to Me.There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear.” (BGita 18:68/69)
In your life we see all the characteristics and qualities of someone who is very dear to Krishna. What are those characteristics?
satataṁ kīrtayanto māṁ
yatantaś ca dṛḍha-vratāḥ
namasyantaś ca māṁ bhaktyā
nitya-yuktā upāsate
“Always chanting My glories, endeavoring with great determination, bowing down before Me, these great souls perpetually worship Me with devotion.”( BGita 9:14)
Often, amongst spiritual weaklings like myself, we enquire, “Who is an advanced devotee?” Of course, Krishna equips the aspiring fledglings with all the knowledge needed to secure a bona fide spiritual master in the Bhagavad Gita; how he acts and behaves. We see such determination and consistency in your attempts to spread ‘krsnaprema’ to anyone who has a slight interest, and you are willing to persevere through all inconveniences and impediments. Such are your glories.
tad viddhi praṇipātena
paripraśnena sevayā
upadekṣyanti te jñānaṁ
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.” (BGita 4:34)
Of course, there are much deeper and more extensive texts and purports available in regards to the many qualities inherent in the personality of an advanced devotee. And on this most wonderful day of your appearance, I wish to attempt to glorify just two of the countless qualities that ornament your Vaisnava character, as a most dear servant of Srila Prabhupada and Lord Krishna.
The quality of tolerance
Firstly, from the physical and mental perspective, we see that you tolerate so much traveling. To be constantly flying is certainly very severe for the body and mind; to be crammed in to such small spaces for so many hours. You don’t just do this once or twice, but for months, year after year, decade and after decade. Anyone who has experienced a long-haul flight knows how they feel physically and mentally once they disembark the plane, all spaced out, and then, to deal with the jetlag and time zone adjustments. For so many years you have been relentlessly pursuing such a rigorous travel itinerary in order to catch, in the net of your mercy, a few fortunate lost souls drowning in illusion. But it doesn’t end there.
Once you have landed, you are immersed amongst throngs of persons seeking your shelter and guidance, and who are extremely eager to unleash their problems and anxieties upon you. Often, in their eagerness to thrust upon you their cries for assistance, they are often unaware, by the mask of their own anxieties, that you have individual needs, such as a need for space and privacy. Still, as part of your duty and compassion, you give your time and guidance to help nurture the bhakti flame within their hearts. This service you perform year after year, and due to your purity, the numbers of persons coming to you are increasing more and more, and therefore, the demands on you are increasing. All this you tolerant, in the hope that as many people as possible take advantage of their good fortune, and can become eligible to return back home, back to Godhead. Sometimes such persons are very grateful, and sometimes they are not, but still you give.
brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja
“Even if one wanders for many millions of years, from the time of creation until the time of annihilation, one cannot get free from the path of material existence unless one receives shelter at the lotus feet of a pure devotee.” (Cc. Madhya 19.151)
Secondly, the quality of expertise.
For me, I am beginning to see more and more how expert you are in your ability to preach in a contemporary way. From the infancy of the Loft Preaching in Auckland, to today, you have tolerated the test of time in terms of your methodology or “Out of the box” style preaching. Now, it is accepted, all over the world, that the Loft paradigm is an effective way to outreach. Of course, those who look into Srila Prabhupada’s early days in the west, will see how you simply followed in the footsteps of your beloved spiritual master.
As you know, Srila Prabhupada scanned the environment of New York for a year, surveying the people and their ways of thinking. He was learning the ways of the people, and preparing to deliver the message in a way that they would be able to digest it easily. Then, in his own way, he began preaching according to time and place. At one point Srila Prabhupada lived in a place called ‘The Loft’, where young persons could come and feel comfortable to associate with a pure devotee, take prasadam and hear kirtan, in the form of philosophy and harinam.
Similarly, for the sake of making arrangements to make it easy for western persons to come to KC, you expertly created an environment in which local persons could feel comfortable to befriend devotees, hear the philosophy and the holy name.
Even at times, some people may have had doubts, however, the successful results proved that this is the way to push ahead, as many persons were taking to KC. It is easy to hand out a book, and to go on harinam, but to actually put in the years to nurture and train new persons, that is something else, and this is where you have stood out.
Along side distribution, you created a facility to cultivate and water the ‘bhakti lata bija’, the seed they had received. How many of us are prepared to take on this responsibility, to not only give the seed of devotion, but to also stick around and put the time and energy into nurturing that seed, taking on the real austerity? All glories unto you.
The expertise, of the Loft centers you designed, help remove all the cultural and religious barriers that inhibit people to come to our bhakti culture. Once acclimatized and purified, they can then enter the full bhakti immersion, with all its glory. Sheer brilliance, a testimony to your sensitivity and intelligence, the head and the heart combined.
I see with more clarity now, how you have simply followed your spiritual master, and that you have simply created a contemporary Loft situation. And just see the results! In this room alone, there are so many devotees who have been or are being trained and nurtured under your care?
Often, it is not always apparent, that bringing persons to KC is not just about harinam and book distribution, or prasadam distribution. That is the easy part; the hardest part, and often-neglected part, is “ Who is going to train and nurture them?” This is the real work, and you have so brilliantly created such an amazing facility where we can bring people to the association of devotees, nurture them, and then offer them training, so they can go the distance in KC.
And just see how liberal and broad minded you are. You are open to anyone coming to receive training, whoever they aspire for. You offer invitations to so many other senior devotees to come and nurture those under your shelter, at our retreats and ashrams. You offer council to devotees who have different spiritual masters. All glories unto you.
Today we hear that the Loft Preaching paradigm is now acknowledged within ISKCON as the ‘cutting edge of outreach’ in the western world. You pushed on and tolerated, and now we see amazing results here in NZ. Here in tiny NZ we see that both the men and ladies receive world acclaimed training. How many other places in ISKCON do ladies receive such training? Where brahmacaris are of such a standard, and men are given a chance to get themselves together, so they can enter householder life in a stable and sober way? Our community has the lowest divorce rate in ISKCON. The fruit of all your labor and expertise is blossoming.
Where is that purport, which aligns with the mission you under took? Again, first canto SB has everything in it.
“The expert devotees also can discover novel ways and means to convert the non-devotees 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 materialistic population. Such transcendental activities of the devotees for the service of the Lord can bring a new order of life to the foolish society of materialistic men.” SB 1:5:16 purport
Here we see that Srila Prabhupada, on the authority of Narada muni, clearly explains the top most expert preacher. We see clearly how the Loft Centers are inspired and blessed by the parampara. See the quality and standard of the disciples and those trained under you.
And after all these years of struggling, tolerating all impediments, and giving shelter to so many persons, I simply wish to glorify you for all you have done for me and for others. I am so proud to be your undeserving disciple, I am so proud to proclaim to the assembly here today, the amazing services you have done for guru and Krishna.
So, on this day of your appearance, I pray that I can continue to be a loving disciple and to remain always at your lotus feet. There is always so much more I can say about my beloved spiritual father, but I simply beg that you will not reject me or kick me away, although I am such a foolish child and full of offences.
pracare purva-daksyam ca
bhakticara pravinata
pararthatapi karunyam
yasya sarve ca te namah
Begging and praying to remain your eternal servant
Your disciple Bhadrasena das
Bhakta Axel Seybold
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Dear Devamrita Swami
In your vyasa-puja I want to emphasize your undeterminate service to the devotees, disciples and society in general. Your message is very clear and you allways have a good answer for my doubts. Thanks very much
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Dear Devamrita Swami
In your vyasa-puja I want to emphasize your undeterminate service to the devotees, disciples and society in general. Your message is very clear and you allways have a good answer for my doubts. Thanks very much
Bhakta Graham
Dear Devamrita Swami
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srilla Prabhupada! All glories to your lotus feet on this auspicious day.
Krsna states in Bhagavad Gita, 3:21, that what action a great man performs, common men follow, and I am a very common man. There have been no exemplary acts on my part to warrant the mercy and kindness you have shown me since my beginning the endeavor to practice Krsna Consciousness 2 years ago. Ever the wallflower during kirtans, I was too proud and too shy to really get involved with the other devotees, until you instructed a devotee to shove me into the dance, and for the first time I tasted a drop of what is Mahaprabhu's mercy, available to those who are not even qualified, such as myself.
Now I am perceiving how your mercy extends out in your sankirtan mission. You've designed a centre where the citizens of Auckland and Wellington can seek the same taste. Alluring them with the promise of knock out prasadam, the devotees break down the people's barriers by simply trying to emulate your teachings. As you have said Maharaja, the people of today are lonely, and the devotees here are helping them to find real happiness in the shelter of Krsna's holy name. I have seen meat eaters and speculators dancing in ecstasy crying out the holy name, all from the great acts you have performed in your mission to share this movement around the world.
I want to thank you for allowing me to try and become a part of your mission. The training and guidance provided here under your tutelage doesn't just ease the loneliness, it makes us Krsna Conscious, which is the ultimate goal. It is your daily exemplary acts that inspire us to this end. No words and no acts can truly do justice the depth of gratitude each devotee feels for being given the chance to practice this perfect path of Krsna Consciousness, but all I can say is Thank you for your mercy in giving me a chance to try.
Your servant
-Bhakta Graham
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srilla Prabhupada! All glories to your lotus feet on this auspicious day.
Krsna states in Bhagavad Gita, 3:21, that what action a great man performs, common men follow, and I am a very common man. There have been no exemplary acts on my part to warrant the mercy and kindness you have shown me since my beginning the endeavor to practice Krsna Consciousness 2 years ago. Ever the wallflower during kirtans, I was too proud and too shy to really get involved with the other devotees, until you instructed a devotee to shove me into the dance, and for the first time I tasted a drop of what is Mahaprabhu's mercy, available to those who are not even qualified, such as myself.
Now I am perceiving how your mercy extends out in your sankirtan mission. You've designed a centre where the citizens of Auckland and Wellington can seek the same taste. Alluring them with the promise of knock out prasadam, the devotees break down the people's barriers by simply trying to emulate your teachings. As you have said Maharaja, the people of today are lonely, and the devotees here are helping them to find real happiness in the shelter of Krsna's holy name. I have seen meat eaters and speculators dancing in ecstasy crying out the holy name, all from the great acts you have performed in your mission to share this movement around the world.
I want to thank you for allowing me to try and become a part of your mission. The training and guidance provided here under your tutelage doesn't just ease the loneliness, it makes us Krsna Conscious, which is the ultimate goal. It is your daily exemplary acts that inspire us to this end. No words and no acts can truly do justice the depth of gratitude each devotee feels for being given the chance to practice this perfect path of Krsna Consciousness, but all I can say is Thank you for your mercy in giving me a chance to try.
Your servant
-Bhakta Graham
Bhakta Ivo from Bulgaria
Hare Krishna Devamrta Maharaj.
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
A year before I joined ISKCON I had a dream.I was swiming against the flow of a big river.It was something like a race,a competion.There were other people swiming with me.It was very hard and we were struggling.There were many obstacles-big trees,rocks and the strong flow.I was in pain,but all of a sudden a mysterious man came close to me and told me to follow him.He was going to help me finish safely the race.He helped me swim across the obstacles and we finished the painful race.
Now was the time for the prize-I was taken aboard on a beautiful flying shipboard.There were many people with me and we were starting a journey to far and mystical place.It felt like going home.
Suddenly a thought came in to my mind:
HEY!!!What is this?!I was swiming in that river but I didn't enjoy it.And it looks fun!I should jump and swim for my own pleasure this time!
As the flying ship started taking off I decided to jump.At the same moment my hands got covered with big and painful blisters.I got scared and screamed out:
"O, my God!Please forgive me!"
I woke up all sweaty and with one thought on my mind-I'm so stupid.
At this moment I know one thing-who that mysterious man is.
On this auspicious occasion I would like to thank you for your instructions.They are like the light at the end of a dark tunnel-both guiding and enlivening.Thank you for your association-a breath of fresh air.Thank you for your mercy-a cool breeze in the hot summer day in the desert of material life.
I humbly fall at your lotus feet and beg you:please give me the opportunity and the intelligence to serve you and the devotees with love and devotion,so that I would never want to swim in the river of material enjoyment.
Please forgive me the mistakes and the offences that I have made.
Your servant,
bhakta Ivo.
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
A year before I joined ISKCON I had a dream.I was swiming against the flow of a big river.It was something like a race,a competion.There were other people swiming with me.It was very hard and we were struggling.There were many obstacles-big trees,rocks and the strong flow.I was in pain,but all of a sudden a mysterious man came close to me and told me to follow him.He was going to help me finish safely the race.He helped me swim across the obstacles and we finished the painful race.
Now was the time for the prize-I was taken aboard on a beautiful flying shipboard.There were many people with me and we were starting a journey to far and mystical place.It felt like going home.
Suddenly a thought came in to my mind:
HEY!!!What is this?!I was swiming in that river but I didn't enjoy it.And it looks fun!I should jump and swim for my own pleasure this time!
As the flying ship started taking off I decided to jump.At the same moment my hands got covered with big and painful blisters.I got scared and screamed out:
"O, my God!Please forgive me!"
I woke up all sweaty and with one thought on my mind-I'm so stupid.
At this moment I know one thing-who that mysterious man is.
On this auspicious occasion I would like to thank you for your instructions.They are like the light at the end of a dark tunnel-both guiding and enlivening.Thank you for your association-a breath of fresh air.Thank you for your mercy-a cool breeze in the hot summer day in the desert of material life.
I humbly fall at your lotus feet and beg you:please give me the opportunity and the intelligence to serve you and the devotees with love and devotion,so that I would never want to swim in the river of material enjoyment.
Please forgive me the mistakes and the offences that I have made.
Your servant,
bhakta Ivo.
Bhakta James (James Chesterman. Akld, NZ) & Deva
Bhakta James' offering :
"LOVE HAS TAKEN OVER"
My Dearest Devamrita Swami, My Gurudeva
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet... Jaya Jaya Gurudeva!
I really love you... I know that when I say this & express it for you, that there is some percentage of real love that I do possess... And I know for sure that within that percentage of real love I have for you, that I do indeed love you.
The remaining percentage is in the process of being cleansed & purified... Gradually, a full percentage of pure love will be there, & this is my goal.
What an amazing goal to have! To be able to actually love... Thank you so much for having given me such a mission.
You saved me... You gave me my life back...
You gave me something that at first, I could not see what it was... but in time, this love has taken over... and now I can see what you gave me... True Love.
I think that today people do not actually know what love is - they are afraid of it.
We have a version of love given to us by maya the illusory energy, & people find themselves unknowingly hiding inside the walls of that so called love... trapped, & frustrated. But I am fully confident that this Sankirtana movement of Lord Caitanya will melt peoples hearts, allowing them to feel the real love they have been longing for.
Such a great gift you have given me - now I must do my very best to also give it to others.
Your name really says it all about you Gurudeva : DEVAMRITA
You make me feel like diving into a beautiful ocean of divine transcendent nectar, and being swallowed up by it, never to surface again.
What could ever make me want to leave such a place? Absolutely nothing...
I'll be in there swimming deeper & deeper, drowning in that devamrita forever.
YOU ARE SO GREAT!! MAHATMA... You embody everything I dearly behold : father, guide, master, friend, chastiser, renunciant, expert communicator, devotee completely absorbed in Krsna consciousness at every single moment, a great lover of Krsna, & a friend of the fallen souls. To me, you are the ultimate, my favorite person.
Thank you so much for being very patient with me, I will always remain sincere & faithful to you... Hare Krsna. Your disciple, Bhakta James
___________________________________________________________________
Deva's offering :
Thank you Devamrita Swami for letting me be one of your disciples, & thank you for giving me your blessings when you lift up my hair :)
You are such a pure disciple of Srila Prabhupada... you always follow the steps that he gives you carefully.
You are so amazing how you travel around the world & preach.
You are so divine everywhere you go you spread Krsna Consciousness! You give talks, kirtans, music, spiritual knowledge! So thank you for making me a devotee of yours.
Last week I had a dream about you : You were sitting on the couch at The Loft eating some rice, then I came & sat next to you & asked, "can I have your remnants?"
And you said "yes I'll just finish a bit more then you can have it all"
So then I was very happy... 3 seconds later I woke up
Hare Krsna, from Devamrita Bhrnga Chesterman (Deva)
"LOVE HAS TAKEN OVER"
My Dearest Devamrita Swami, My Gurudeva
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet... Jaya Jaya Gurudeva!
I really love you... I know that when I say this & express it for you, that there is some percentage of real love that I do possess... And I know for sure that within that percentage of real love I have for you, that I do indeed love you.
The remaining percentage is in the process of being cleansed & purified... Gradually, a full percentage of pure love will be there, & this is my goal.
What an amazing goal to have! To be able to actually love... Thank you so much for having given me such a mission.
You saved me... You gave me my life back...
You gave me something that at first, I could not see what it was... but in time, this love has taken over... and now I can see what you gave me... True Love.
I think that today people do not actually know what love is - they are afraid of it.
We have a version of love given to us by maya the illusory energy, & people find themselves unknowingly hiding inside the walls of that so called love... trapped, & frustrated. But I am fully confident that this Sankirtana movement of Lord Caitanya will melt peoples hearts, allowing them to feel the real love they have been longing for.
Such a great gift you have given me - now I must do my very best to also give it to others.
Your name really says it all about you Gurudeva : DEVAMRITA
You make me feel like diving into a beautiful ocean of divine transcendent nectar, and being swallowed up by it, never to surface again.
What could ever make me want to leave such a place? Absolutely nothing...
I'll be in there swimming deeper & deeper, drowning in that devamrita forever.
YOU ARE SO GREAT!! MAHATMA... You embody everything I dearly behold : father, guide, master, friend, chastiser, renunciant, expert communicator, devotee completely absorbed in Krsna consciousness at every single moment, a great lover of Krsna, & a friend of the fallen souls. To me, you are the ultimate, my favorite person.
Thank you so much for being very patient with me, I will always remain sincere & faithful to you... Hare Krsna. Your disciple, Bhakta James
___________________________________________________________________
Deva's offering :
Thank you Devamrita Swami for letting me be one of your disciples, & thank you for giving me your blessings when you lift up my hair :)
You are such a pure disciple of Srila Prabhupada... you always follow the steps that he gives you carefully.
You are so amazing how you travel around the world & preach.
You are so divine everywhere you go you spread Krsna Consciousness! You give talks, kirtans, music, spiritual knowledge! So thank you for making me a devotee of yours.
Last week I had a dream about you : You were sitting on the couch at The Loft eating some rice, then I came & sat next to you & asked, "can I have your remnants?"
And you said "yes I'll just finish a bit more then you can have it all"
So then I was very happy... 3 seconds later I woke up
Hare Krsna, from Devamrita Bhrnga Chesterman (Deva)
Bhakta Lake Curry
Hare Krishna Srila Gurudev
Please accept my humble obeisances
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to you Srila Gurudev, on your auspicious appearance day.
Two years ago one of your devotees found me drowning in the ocean of neiscience, just moments before my lungs where filled with it’s overbearing water. By following your instructions so whole-heartedly, they were able to give me the most valuable gift in existence. Even though you were thousands of miles away at the time, your mercy flowed through them so causelessly. Although I was reluctant to accept it, it lifted me from total ignorance to the infinite world of Bhakti.
I pray for the intelligence to decorate my life with your instructions and serve you without restraint.
The stories of your past inspire my heart and drive me to push further than my mind thinks it can go. Your life is leaving footprints that my legs can only dream to follow. So I will pray for humility and try to serve your servants to the best of my ability.
Your disciples are like a rope, anchored to your heart, holding me up in my spiritual life. Thanks to your groundedness in love of God, and the devotees unwavering strength- I finally have something real and palpable to hold onto in this life, which is more then I could ever ask and far more than I deserve.
I am very inexperienced in book distribution, but when I do get out, I feel very enthusiastic about this great service. But on those days when it’s too cold outside for sankirtan, or when my mind gives me grief, I listen to some of your lectures and your true love for Krishna warms my heart (and hands). When I can’t get out the door, your profound words bring down torrents of mercy, drowning any doubts that dissuade me from my service to you.
I hope I can please you in some small way, Srila Gurudev, so my breath is worth breathing.
Aspiring to be your servant,
Bhakta Lake
Please accept my humble obeisances
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to you Srila Gurudev, on your auspicious appearance day.
Two years ago one of your devotees found me drowning in the ocean of neiscience, just moments before my lungs where filled with it’s overbearing water. By following your instructions so whole-heartedly, they were able to give me the most valuable gift in existence. Even though you were thousands of miles away at the time, your mercy flowed through them so causelessly. Although I was reluctant to accept it, it lifted me from total ignorance to the infinite world of Bhakti.
I pray for the intelligence to decorate my life with your instructions and serve you without restraint.
The stories of your past inspire my heart and drive me to push further than my mind thinks it can go. Your life is leaving footprints that my legs can only dream to follow. So I will pray for humility and try to serve your servants to the best of my ability.
Your disciples are like a rope, anchored to your heart, holding me up in my spiritual life. Thanks to your groundedness in love of God, and the devotees unwavering strength- I finally have something real and palpable to hold onto in this life, which is more then I could ever ask and far more than I deserve.
I am very inexperienced in book distribution, but when I do get out, I feel very enthusiastic about this great service. But on those days when it’s too cold outside for sankirtan, or when my mind gives me grief, I listen to some of your lectures and your true love for Krishna warms my heart (and hands). When I can’t get out the door, your profound words bring down torrents of mercy, drowning any doubts that dissuade me from my service to you.
I hope I can please you in some small way, Srila Gurudev, so my breath is worth breathing.
Aspiring to be your servant,
Bhakta Lake
Bhakta Max Knight
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to you Gurudeva on this auspicious day of your appearance.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
It has been one year since my first Vyasa Puja offering to you. Since that time, it has become increasingly apparent that I am indeed one hundred per cent helpless, and it is imperative that I completely depend on and adhere to your instruction if I am to survive the trip across this vast ocean of necience.
Whilst trying to work out roughly where I would be and what my state of consciousness would be if I had not been fortunate enough to come in contact with this amazing family of devotees, I can only imagine that it would be a pretty sad sight that is a little too painful to realistically contemplate. Krishna says in bhagavad-gita “four kinds of pious men begin to render devotional service unto Me — the distressed, the desirer of wealth, the inquisitive, and he who is searching for knowledge of the Absolute”. I sometimes wonder why there isn’t a category for those who failed miserably at trying to hold together the most basic life of sinful activity. To say that I was in the materially distressed category would be speaking very charitably about my situation.
I read in a purport the other day by Srila Prabhupada that there isn’t really even a choice whether or not one should become Krishna Conscious. It is compulsory. Material existence, particularly in Kali Yuga, is very very risky. No one can handle it. We think we can hack it only because all we get to see is one small frame of an entire movie reel. We see that one small image and immediately think that we understand the entire movie. We do not see what came before that frame, and we definitely do not see what will come after it. We see this one, quite disgusting, yet strangely alluring picture and insanely conclude that it is safe to take part in the film. Kali Yuga is a tragedy… but for some reason I seem to think it is a romantic comedy. Thank you for relentlessly endeavouring to shed light on what is really going on.
In the conclusion to Sri Caitanya Caritamrita, Srila Prabhupada writes:
There are two ways of association — by vāṇī and by vapuḥ. Vāṇī means words, and vapuḥ means physical presence. Physical presence is sometimes appreciable and sometimes not, but vāṇī continues to exist eternally.
Whenever I feel lost I put on one of your lectures Gurudeva. And it is honestly like the sun is rising once again. I see myself and the whole situation clearly enough to take the next step forward. You cut through all the mental static, all the illusions and all the excuses created by a mind fuelled by material hankering. You show me, in the most ingenious ways, all the reasons why this world is useless and all the reasons why devotional service is so exalted.
sādhūnāḿ sama-cittānāḿ
sutarāḿ mat-kṛtātmanām
darśanān no bhaved bandhaḥ
puḿso 'kṣṇoḥ savitur yathā
When one is face to face with the sun, there is no longer darkness for one's eyes. Similarly, when one is face to face with a sādhu, a devotee, who is fully determined and surrendered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one will no longer be subject to material bondage. SB 10.10.41
In the purport to this text Srila Prabhupada writes “If by chance one meets a sādhu, a devotee, one's life is immediately successful, and one is freed from material bondage. It may be argued that whereas someone may receive a sādhu with great respect, someone else may not receive a sādhu with such respect. A sādhu, however, is always equipoised toward everyone. Because of being a pure devotee, a sādhu is always ready to deliver Kṛṣṇa consciousness without discrimination.”
Universities discriminate as to who they deem worthy to cheat, and then they charge people a fortune for it. You however munificently distribute the topmost education… the contents of the storehouse of love of God.
It is a tear-worthy miracle that so many people all over the world have the opportunity to hear this most confidential, most sublime knowledge. I see so many people on a daily basis who seem more eligible and qualified to hear it than myself. But somehow or other I too am allowed access to what should be the most exclusive and expensive education of all time.
As Lord Caitanya Himself says “It would be a most laborious task for me to pick the fruits and distribute them alone. But I suspect some would receive them and others would not. Therefore I order every man within this universe to pick the fruits and distribute them everywhere!”
Thank you Gurudeva for having the ingenious foresight to see that the only way for this stubborn rascal to accept the fruits of love of God would be if it were presented in the form of Cheesecake at Bhakti Lounge. Thank you so much for always following in the footsteps of Srila Prabhupada by thinking big and always scheming practical ways according to time, place and circumstance to distribute the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Always aspiring to follow and serve you Gurudeva.
Your humble servant,
Bhakta Max.
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to you Gurudeva on this auspicious day of your appearance.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
It has been one year since my first Vyasa Puja offering to you. Since that time, it has become increasingly apparent that I am indeed one hundred per cent helpless, and it is imperative that I completely depend on and adhere to your instruction if I am to survive the trip across this vast ocean of necience.
Whilst trying to work out roughly where I would be and what my state of consciousness would be if I had not been fortunate enough to come in contact with this amazing family of devotees, I can only imagine that it would be a pretty sad sight that is a little too painful to realistically contemplate. Krishna says in bhagavad-gita “four kinds of pious men begin to render devotional service unto Me — the distressed, the desirer of wealth, the inquisitive, and he who is searching for knowledge of the Absolute”. I sometimes wonder why there isn’t a category for those who failed miserably at trying to hold together the most basic life of sinful activity. To say that I was in the materially distressed category would be speaking very charitably about my situation.
I read in a purport the other day by Srila Prabhupada that there isn’t really even a choice whether or not one should become Krishna Conscious. It is compulsory. Material existence, particularly in Kali Yuga, is very very risky. No one can handle it. We think we can hack it only because all we get to see is one small frame of an entire movie reel. We see that one small image and immediately think that we understand the entire movie. We do not see what came before that frame, and we definitely do not see what will come after it. We see this one, quite disgusting, yet strangely alluring picture and insanely conclude that it is safe to take part in the film. Kali Yuga is a tragedy… but for some reason I seem to think it is a romantic comedy. Thank you for relentlessly endeavouring to shed light on what is really going on.
In the conclusion to Sri Caitanya Caritamrita, Srila Prabhupada writes:
There are two ways of association — by vāṇī and by vapuḥ. Vāṇī means words, and vapuḥ means physical presence. Physical presence is sometimes appreciable and sometimes not, but vāṇī continues to exist eternally.
Whenever I feel lost I put on one of your lectures Gurudeva. And it is honestly like the sun is rising once again. I see myself and the whole situation clearly enough to take the next step forward. You cut through all the mental static, all the illusions and all the excuses created by a mind fuelled by material hankering. You show me, in the most ingenious ways, all the reasons why this world is useless and all the reasons why devotional service is so exalted.
sādhūnāḿ sama-cittānāḿ
sutarāḿ mat-kṛtātmanām
darśanān no bhaved bandhaḥ
puḿso 'kṣṇoḥ savitur yathā
When one is face to face with the sun, there is no longer darkness for one's eyes. Similarly, when one is face to face with a sādhu, a devotee, who is fully determined and surrendered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one will no longer be subject to material bondage. SB 10.10.41
In the purport to this text Srila Prabhupada writes “If by chance one meets a sādhu, a devotee, one's life is immediately successful, and one is freed from material bondage. It may be argued that whereas someone may receive a sādhu with great respect, someone else may not receive a sādhu with such respect. A sādhu, however, is always equipoised toward everyone. Because of being a pure devotee, a sādhu is always ready to deliver Kṛṣṇa consciousness without discrimination.”
Universities discriminate as to who they deem worthy to cheat, and then they charge people a fortune for it. You however munificently distribute the topmost education… the contents of the storehouse of love of God.
It is a tear-worthy miracle that so many people all over the world have the opportunity to hear this most confidential, most sublime knowledge. I see so many people on a daily basis who seem more eligible and qualified to hear it than myself. But somehow or other I too am allowed access to what should be the most exclusive and expensive education of all time.
As Lord Caitanya Himself says “It would be a most laborious task for me to pick the fruits and distribute them alone. But I suspect some would receive them and others would not. Therefore I order every man within this universe to pick the fruits and distribute them everywhere!”
Thank you Gurudeva for having the ingenious foresight to see that the only way for this stubborn rascal to accept the fruits of love of God would be if it were presented in the form of Cheesecake at Bhakti Lounge. Thank you so much for always following in the footsteps of Srila Prabhupada by thinking big and always scheming practical ways according to time, place and circumstance to distribute the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Always aspiring to follow and serve you Gurudeva.
Your humble servant,
Bhakta Max.
Bhakti Sara 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 Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to you.
The human body can be compared to a ship with which we can cross the ocean of material existence. The tongue can be said to be the rudder guiding the ship. This tongue has been habituated to vibrate mundane topics & take pleasure in lower tastes. By glorifying qualities & activities of Krsna & His pure devotees this desert like tongue can be over flooded with nectar.
Devotees are adorned with beautiful qualities which can be compared to glittering ornaments. It is stated in Srimad Bhagavatam 3.25.21
titiksavah karunikah suhrdah sarva-dehinam
ajata-satravah santah sadhavah sadhu-bhusanah
The symptoms of a sadhu are that he is tolerant, merciful and friendly to all living entities. He has no enemies, he is peaceful, he abides by the scriptures, and all his characteristics are sublime. This is a brief description. Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami lists 26 qualities in Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya Lila 22.78-80. These qualities are present in a pure vaisnava like you Gurudeva.
Following is a poem listing some of your qualities. It is in the form of a prayer to Maya Devi. Kindly accept it as an offering on this auspicious Vyasa Puja day.
ORNAMENTS OF MY SPIRITUAL MASTER
Dear mother Maya this is your old slave
For many lives I accepted, all the orders you gave
To serve you, again and again I have tried
But neither you are pleased nor I am satisfied
You have covered me up & pulled me down
In the material ocean you made me drown
It’s not your fault, for Krsna you did this thankless duty
It was my desire to leave my Lord & chase false beauty
Recently though, did you notice, my service has been slack
My sound sleep on your lap is under an attack
The person responsible is a great general in Lord Caitanya’s army
He is a mighty warrior & his name is Devamrita Svami
He is armed with love & equipped with ornaments that can make a big heap
The bright glitter of these ornaments is taking away my sleep
This charming person, I accepted as master, I couldn’t resist
His qualities are numerous, but a few, let me list
He is kind humble truthful faultless & equal to all
Mild clean generous peaceful, he will never let us fall
He works for everyone’s benefit & is possession free
These shining ornaments of my spiritual master attract me
He is fully surrendered to Krsna with body words & mind
Attachment to material gains, he has left far far behind
He has no material desires, he is steady like a tree
These shining ornaments of my spiritual master attract me
He is grave silent friendly poetic expert & full of compassion
He is very respectful & is free from false prestige or illusion
His control on lust anger greed & eating reveal his purity
These shining ornaments of my spiritual master attract me
Who will not be attracted by these ornamental attributes
Humble service to such spiritual master will bear nectarean fruits
So, from your service, dear mother, kindly accept my resignation
I pray for your help to serve my Gurudeva with full dedication
Aspiring to be a humble servant of my Gurudeva,
Bhakti Sara Dasa
Bhaktilata Devi Dasi
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to you on this auspicious occasion of your appearance day
A few weeks ago, I stopped someone on a very busy Swanston Street, outside Crossways (Melbourne, Australia) to show him Bhagavad-Gita. As I was presenting the book, he interrupted me and said: ‘see I am not interested in religion, so it’s not for me’. Remembering your lecture at Melbourne University how you explained that science is actually also a religion, I replied with confidence, don’t worry this is not about religion. It is about knowledge coming from a highly advanced civilization. He accepted my answer just enough to stay back and keep listening, while hundreds of people were hastily walking pass.
Then I carried on presenting the book and he said ‘see I don’t believe in karma’. I explained to him that everyone can understand and practically see that for every action there is a reaction: some we can see immediately others only after some time. He translated it as being ‘physics’ and again agreed with what I was saying, just enough to keep listening to what I had to say. Then he came to the point that science has done some really good things for the world, like the scientists have created the nuclear atom. For which I simply replied that this was nothing new. It existed in previous ancient civilization. He was surprised and with honesty replied ‘I’ve never heard of it’. He was keen to see any reference about it. I confidently said yes certainly. As he gave me his email address he explained to me that he was a researcher in Victoria University.
Only by seeing and hearing how you boldly teach Krishna Consciousness I was able to discuss with him. Indeed simply by repeating how you tackle these topics and situations, I felt completely empowered. Otherwise I don’t know anything about science and would not have much to talk with a researcher. But just by repeating what I heard from you, this researcher was impressed. It is truly amazing how you make it so easy for us to understand what would ordinarily be beyond our reach of understanding. Just like a mother patiently feeds the child in small bites, you chew the philosophy for us and feed us in small bites size that we can digest and give to others in the same manner.
How much you care for us! So much that you expertly and compassionately devise ways in which we as individuals, can be appropriately engaged and progress steadily in our Krishna consciousness. This is truly amazing!
In the 9th canto, Srila Prabhupada states that according to Vedic system, one can get a son by accepting a bona fide disciple through initiation. No difference is made between biological sons and disciples, both are considered legitimate descendants. The actual daughter or son is the one who carries the mission of the father. I feel so grateful that I am officially one of your daughters and part of Srila Prabhupada greater family. I pray that I can be a real daughter at heart and in action in the same manner that you are a real son of Prabhupada. Your constant guidance comes as the greatest causeless mercy. Thank you so much. I am ever indebted and grateful to you.
Learning to be a servant,
Bhakti-lata dd
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to you on this auspicious occasion of your appearance day
A few weeks ago, I stopped someone on a very busy Swanston Street, outside Crossways (Melbourne, Australia) to show him Bhagavad-Gita. As I was presenting the book, he interrupted me and said: ‘see I am not interested in religion, so it’s not for me’. Remembering your lecture at Melbourne University how you explained that science is actually also a religion, I replied with confidence, don’t worry this is not about religion. It is about knowledge coming from a highly advanced civilization. He accepted my answer just enough to stay back and keep listening, while hundreds of people were hastily walking pass.
Then I carried on presenting the book and he said ‘see I don’t believe in karma’. I explained to him that everyone can understand and practically see that for every action there is a reaction: some we can see immediately others only after some time. He translated it as being ‘physics’ and again agreed with what I was saying, just enough to keep listening to what I had to say. Then he came to the point that science has done some really good things for the world, like the scientists have created the nuclear atom. For which I simply replied that this was nothing new. It existed in previous ancient civilization. He was surprised and with honesty replied ‘I’ve never heard of it’. He was keen to see any reference about it. I confidently said yes certainly. As he gave me his email address he explained to me that he was a researcher in Victoria University.
Only by seeing and hearing how you boldly teach Krishna Consciousness I was able to discuss with him. Indeed simply by repeating how you tackle these topics and situations, I felt completely empowered. Otherwise I don’t know anything about science and would not have much to talk with a researcher. But just by repeating what I heard from you, this researcher was impressed. It is truly amazing how you make it so easy for us to understand what would ordinarily be beyond our reach of understanding. Just like a mother patiently feeds the child in small bites, you chew the philosophy for us and feed us in small bites size that we can digest and give to others in the same manner.
How much you care for us! So much that you expertly and compassionately devise ways in which we as individuals, can be appropriately engaged and progress steadily in our Krishna consciousness. This is truly amazing!
In the 9th canto, Srila Prabhupada states that according to Vedic system, one can get a son by accepting a bona fide disciple through initiation. No difference is made between biological sons and disciples, both are considered legitimate descendants. The actual daughter or son is the one who carries the mission of the father. I feel so grateful that I am officially one of your daughters and part of Srila Prabhupada greater family. I pray that I can be a real daughter at heart and in action in the same manner that you are a real son of Prabhupada. Your constant guidance comes as the greatest causeless mercy. Thank you so much. I am ever indebted and grateful to you.
Learning to be a servant,
Bhakti-lata dd
Bhaktin Isabelle
Dear Devamrita swami,
Please accept my humble obeisances and respects.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to Guru and Gauranga.
I am afraid I will not be able to properly express my gratitude.
I try every time but always feel unsatisfied.
I have not yet developed true gratitude.
I still feel that I am 'owed' something for all the suffering I've gone through.
I am always doubting the deals I am offered.
This world is so full of crooked business men and charming faces.
It has been a painful lesson to find greed and deceit
are also present in spiritual life and are so cleverly disguised.
In this age of hypocrisy and quarrel everyone is looking out for
themselves first.
They may give to a certain point but then
the tether snaps and your alone again.
I am petrified of going through this pain again and
I know I make things very difficult for you.
I wish it could be different.
You are giving from your heart.
You want what is best and try to protect us as a loving parent.
I will strive to repay you for the time and care you have given me.
And mostly for the faith you have invested in me.
It seems this is a debt that lasts an eternity.
When my heart is empty and my spirit weak
I turn to great devotees such as Mirabai and Sita.
They were put through so much pain and heart ache.
They continued to love the Lord unconditionally.
As time has passed so many conditions have developed.
We all have our list. 'I will love God when...' 'I will obey guru when...'
Love of God seems to be a weak flame on a candle that may not last.
It has dwindled through the ages.
It seems everything in this world is temporary.
You give so much to please your guru.
If I could learn to serve in that way,
without greed or pride,
my life would be perfect.
I apologise for the way I have carelessly burst into your life.
And the way I continue to foolishly test you.
I do not have proper knowledge of what I am doing.
It seems that my schemes and 'shrewdness' are at play,
I am actually just holding onto a fluke horse hoping for the best.
You have promised me things I could never dream of.
You have shown me kindness like no one else.
You have held the mirror up and shown me what I can become.
Thank you for being truthful and patient.
You are teaching me by example.
That is a true teacher.
Thank you for showing me how to escape the material conception of life.
It may seem pleasing for the body
but it is a horrific inferno for the soul.
Thank you for fighting for us.
You are saving us from our own forgetfulness.
To forget who we are is hell.
To forget Krishna is excruciating.
I pray that I can repay you for the kindness you have shown me.
Your eternal servant,
Isabelle
Please accept my humble obeisances and respects.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to Guru and Gauranga.
I am afraid I will not be able to properly express my gratitude.
I try every time but always feel unsatisfied.
I have not yet developed true gratitude.
I still feel that I am 'owed' something for all the suffering I've gone through.
I am always doubting the deals I am offered.
This world is so full of crooked business men and charming faces.
It has been a painful lesson to find greed and deceit
are also present in spiritual life and are so cleverly disguised.
In this age of hypocrisy and quarrel everyone is looking out for
themselves first.
They may give to a certain point but then
the tether snaps and your alone again.
I am petrified of going through this pain again and
I know I make things very difficult for you.
I wish it could be different.
You are giving from your heart.
You want what is best and try to protect us as a loving parent.
I will strive to repay you for the time and care you have given me.
And mostly for the faith you have invested in me.
It seems this is a debt that lasts an eternity.
When my heart is empty and my spirit weak
I turn to great devotees such as Mirabai and Sita.
They were put through so much pain and heart ache.
They continued to love the Lord unconditionally.
As time has passed so many conditions have developed.
We all have our list. 'I will love God when...' 'I will obey guru when...'
Love of God seems to be a weak flame on a candle that may not last.
It has dwindled through the ages.
It seems everything in this world is temporary.
You give so much to please your guru.
If I could learn to serve in that way,
without greed or pride,
my life would be perfect.
I apologise for the way I have carelessly burst into your life.
And the way I continue to foolishly test you.
I do not have proper knowledge of what I am doing.
It seems that my schemes and 'shrewdness' are at play,
I am actually just holding onto a fluke horse hoping for the best.
You have promised me things I could never dream of.
You have shown me kindness like no one else.
You have held the mirror up and shown me what I can become.
Thank you for being truthful and patient.
You are teaching me by example.
That is a true teacher.
Thank you for showing me how to escape the material conception of life.
It may seem pleasing for the body
but it is a horrific inferno for the soul.
Thank you for fighting for us.
You are saving us from our own forgetfulness.
To forget who we are is hell.
To forget Krishna is excruciating.
I pray that I can repay you for the kindness you have shown me.
Your eternal servant,
Isabelle
Bhaktin Michelle
Dear Devamrita Swami
Please accept my humble obesciences.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I remember the first time I meet you, you gave a lecture at Bhakti Lounge and it was so nice, both my mother and I came. Although your words at that time were so strong and forceful because you didn’t beat around the bush, they were also so sweet to hear. During the class you went around and asked everyone “who are you?” most replied with what gender they are, their name and where they are from, whereas for me, I replied “I don’t know?” .That started me thinking of my true self, part and parcel of Krishna.
I think of teachers at my school and, oh how tolerant you are, maintaining fallen souls, oh how advanced you are! School does not interest me and nether does work, but learning and working in Bhakti has interested me since meeting you, All glories to you on this auspicious day! You have personally lead me and so many other devotees to see Krishna, and I hope by this I can repay you by being the best I can ever be!
I have a sense that your body is not matter, but spiritual, I sense your purity and that makes me feel happy around you. Through seeing and hearing of how kind, soft, and sincere both you and your disciples are, only enhances my desire to be like you and your amazing disciples.
Although I have come to Krsna Consciousness at a younger age than most and I have done less harmful things to myself than most teenagers my age, I feel that I am almost worse than them as I can see how mental I am. You came to New Zealad to spread Krishna consciousness and I want to be part of that too. I want to be part of setting living entities here free. My life without Krishna Consciousness would have evolved around sex, drugs and other harmful things like everyone else my age. Without Krishna I would still be anorexia or “twiggy”, like you said in an answer to a question I asked in class.
I would like to tell everyone about Krishna through book distribution but as I have learnt by your disciple Gokul lila dd they may not be a ‘ripe mango’ so the fear of rejection is a bit scary. But Devamrita Swami, everyone assembled here today were ripe, and are now situated under your lovely lotus feet. Can I please also be situated under your lovely lotus feet?
“Chant and dance in ecstasy and eat as much prasadam as possible. Focus on chanting 16 rounds daily” were your very dear instructions to me, oh how I am trying but I am finding it difficult doing it on my own at home. Please help me to do so. I really like it when you come here, your kirtan’s, your merciful look my way to encourage me to dance ecstatically and then I feel blissful.
I appreciate your humility and focus on the devotees in Wellington. All glories to you.
Your aspiring servant, Bhaktin Michelle
Please accept my humble obesciences.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I remember the first time I meet you, you gave a lecture at Bhakti Lounge and it was so nice, both my mother and I came. Although your words at that time were so strong and forceful because you didn’t beat around the bush, they were also so sweet to hear. During the class you went around and asked everyone “who are you?” most replied with what gender they are, their name and where they are from, whereas for me, I replied “I don’t know?” .That started me thinking of my true self, part and parcel of Krishna.
I think of teachers at my school and, oh how tolerant you are, maintaining fallen souls, oh how advanced you are! School does not interest me and nether does work, but learning and working in Bhakti has interested me since meeting you, All glories to you on this auspicious day! You have personally lead me and so many other devotees to see Krishna, and I hope by this I can repay you by being the best I can ever be!
I have a sense that your body is not matter, but spiritual, I sense your purity and that makes me feel happy around you. Through seeing and hearing of how kind, soft, and sincere both you and your disciples are, only enhances my desire to be like you and your amazing disciples.
Although I have come to Krsna Consciousness at a younger age than most and I have done less harmful things to myself than most teenagers my age, I feel that I am almost worse than them as I can see how mental I am. You came to New Zealad to spread Krishna consciousness and I want to be part of that too. I want to be part of setting living entities here free. My life without Krishna Consciousness would have evolved around sex, drugs and other harmful things like everyone else my age. Without Krishna I would still be anorexia or “twiggy”, like you said in an answer to a question I asked in class.
I would like to tell everyone about Krishna through book distribution but as I have learnt by your disciple Gokul lila dd they may not be a ‘ripe mango’ so the fear of rejection is a bit scary. But Devamrita Swami, everyone assembled here today were ripe, and are now situated under your lovely lotus feet. Can I please also be situated under your lovely lotus feet?
“Chant and dance in ecstasy and eat as much prasadam as possible. Focus on chanting 16 rounds daily” were your very dear instructions to me, oh how I am trying but I am finding it difficult doing it on my own at home. Please help me to do so. I really like it when you come here, your kirtan’s, your merciful look my way to encourage me to dance ecstatically and then I feel blissful.
I appreciate your humility and focus on the devotees in Wellington. All glories to you.
Your aspiring servant, Bhaktin Michelle
Bhaktin Nimarata
Dear Srila Gurudev,
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to You Gurudev on Your most auspicious Vyasa Puja Day!!!
Pracare purva-daksyam ca, Bhakticara-pravinta
Pararthatapi Karunyam, Yasya sarve ca te namah
om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah!!
“I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my guru, my spiritual master, opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisance unto him”
yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado
yasyaprasadan na gatih kuto 'pi
dhyayan stuvams tasya yashas trisandhyam
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam
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. 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.
It takes birth after births to receive the mercy of a spiritual master and finding a Guru. But in my case, Guru maharaj, You found me hiding behind the tree of material desires and nurtured me with your spiritual guidance and love to connect me back to the Prema bhakti.
I want to thank you Gurumaharaj, for finding me out and bringing me back to Krsna Consciousness. So dedicated are you in fulfilling the instructions of Srila Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. There has not been any day that you do not think about fulfilling the mission of bringing Krishna Consciousness to the whole world. Your constant travelling despite of health problems and your thirst to bring the holy names to everyone is priceless.
“Srila Prabhupada (B.G 2.41) instructs that Krishna Consciousness is best practiced under the able guidance of spiritual master who is a bonafide representative of Krsna, who knows the nature of student and who can guide him to act in Krishna consciousness”
In this Bhakti school, You exactly know how to support Your weak student like me. Your continuous condolence on my most poor performance enlivened me back to improve myself and my Bhakti. Despite many disappointments I gave, You have always smiled me back and said that ‘You are satisfied’. Not only that, each time I had a chance of Your personal Darshan, you never forgot to ask how my health was”. You have always blessed my family to progress further in Krishna consciousness.
Srila Gurudev, I am so blessed to have your shelter with intense nurture and spiritual guidance that perhaps, even I cannot imagine how blessed I am. I pay my gratitude for accepting this weakest and fallen student as one of “HH Devamrita Swami “ s disciples who are ever enthusiastic and ever ready for serving You.
Gurudev on this auspicious occassion, I along with Bhaktin Aradhana Upadhyay and Bhaktin Rati (my big sister) have sung and recorded a song for Your pleasure that translates as below:
gurudev krpa kara ke mujhe ko apana lena
(gurudev, please bestow your mercy on me, accept me as your own.)
Main sarana padu teri, carano me jagah dena
(I have taken shelter of you. Please give me a place at your lotus feet)
karuna nidhi nama tera, karuna barasao tum,
(please shower your mercy on me because you are renowned as a store house of mercy.)
soye huye bhagya ko, he natha jagao tum
(O my Lord, only then will my sleeping fortune wake up.)
meri nava bhanvara dole, use para laga dena
(My boat is caught in a whirlpool, please take me across this ocean!)
tum sukha ke sagara ho, bhakti ke sahare ho
(you are the ocean of happiness, and shelter for bhakti.)
mere man me samae ho, mujhe prana se pyare ho
(You are dearer to me than my life and are always on my mind.)
nita mala japu teri, mere dosha bhula dena
(I chant your name every day, please ignore my faults.)
main santon ki sevaka hun, guru carano ki dasi hun
(I am a maidservant of the vaishnavas, and the lotus feet of my Guru.)
nahi natha bhulana mujhe, is jaga me akeli hun
(please don't forget me because I'm all alone.)
tere dvara pe ayi hun, nahin dil se bhula dena
(I am a beggar at your door. Please do not ignore me.)
Aspiring to remain in your shelter and service life after life.
Your servant,
Bhaktin Nimarata
(Melbourne, Australia)
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to You Gurudev on Your most auspicious Vyasa Puja Day!!!
Pracare purva-daksyam ca, Bhakticara-pravinta
Pararthatapi Karunyam, Yasya sarve ca te namah
om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah!!
“I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my guru, my spiritual master, opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisance unto him”
yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado
yasyaprasadan na gatih kuto 'pi
dhyayan stuvams tasya yashas trisandhyam
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam
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. 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.
It takes birth after births to receive the mercy of a spiritual master and finding a Guru. But in my case, Guru maharaj, You found me hiding behind the tree of material desires and nurtured me with your spiritual guidance and love to connect me back to the Prema bhakti.
I want to thank you Gurumaharaj, for finding me out and bringing me back to Krsna Consciousness. So dedicated are you in fulfilling the instructions of Srila Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. There has not been any day that you do not think about fulfilling the mission of bringing Krishna Consciousness to the whole world. Your constant travelling despite of health problems and your thirst to bring the holy names to everyone is priceless.
“Srila Prabhupada (B.G 2.41) instructs that Krishna Consciousness is best practiced under the able guidance of spiritual master who is a bonafide representative of Krsna, who knows the nature of student and who can guide him to act in Krishna consciousness”
In this Bhakti school, You exactly know how to support Your weak student like me. Your continuous condolence on my most poor performance enlivened me back to improve myself and my Bhakti. Despite many disappointments I gave, You have always smiled me back and said that ‘You are satisfied’. Not only that, each time I had a chance of Your personal Darshan, you never forgot to ask how my health was”. You have always blessed my family to progress further in Krishna consciousness.
Srila Gurudev, I am so blessed to have your shelter with intense nurture and spiritual guidance that perhaps, even I cannot imagine how blessed I am. I pay my gratitude for accepting this weakest and fallen student as one of “HH Devamrita Swami “ s disciples who are ever enthusiastic and ever ready for serving You.
Gurudev on this auspicious occassion, I along with Bhaktin Aradhana Upadhyay and Bhaktin Rati (my big sister) have sung and recorded a song for Your pleasure that translates as below:
gurudev krpa kara ke mujhe ko apana lena
(gurudev, please bestow your mercy on me, accept me as your own.)
Main sarana padu teri, carano me jagah dena
(I have taken shelter of you. Please give me a place at your lotus feet)
karuna nidhi nama tera, karuna barasao tum,
(please shower your mercy on me because you are renowned as a store house of mercy.)
soye huye bhagya ko, he natha jagao tum
(O my Lord, only then will my sleeping fortune wake up.)
meri nava bhanvara dole, use para laga dena
(My boat is caught in a whirlpool, please take me across this ocean!)
tum sukha ke sagara ho, bhakti ke sahare ho
(you are the ocean of happiness, and shelter for bhakti.)
mere man me samae ho, mujhe prana se pyare ho
(You are dearer to me than my life and are always on my mind.)
nita mala japu teri, mere dosha bhula dena
(I chant your name every day, please ignore my faults.)
main santon ki sevaka hun, guru carano ki dasi hun
(I am a maidservant of the vaishnavas, and the lotus feet of my Guru.)
nahi natha bhulana mujhe, is jaga me akeli hun
(please don't forget me because I'm all alone.)
tere dvara pe ayi hun, nahin dil se bhula dena
(I am a beggar at your door. Please do not ignore me.)
Aspiring to remain in your shelter and service life after life.
Your servant,
Bhaktin Nimarata
(Melbourne, Australia)
Bhaktin Pia
Dear Srila Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!!
All glories to you on this auspicious day of your appearance day!!
You are very expert in giving us conditioned souls the chance to requalify ourselves to serve Sri Sri Radha and Krsna. While reading the seventh chapter of Sri Caitanya Caritamrta, several purports written by Srila Prabhupada stood out. In his purport to verses 31 and 32, I felt he was describing you perfectly:
“Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu wanted to invent a way to capture the Māyāvādīs and others who did not take interest in the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. This is the symptom of an ācārya. An ācārya who comes for the service of the Lord cannot be expected to conform to a stereotype, for he must find the ways and means by which Kṛṣṇa consciousness may be spread.”
I feel very fortunate to have come in contact with bhakti yoga through your preaching mission. It has been such a natural progression. Like the motto for your outreach centers: We make it easy to come to Krsna consciousness, to grow in Krsna consciousness and to spread Krsna consciousness. You have truly found how to deliver the real substance in an irresistibly attractive form. And having guests perform ajnata sukriti at the centers while encouraging the devotees to create personal friendships with them really prepares their hearts for reconnecting with Krsna. I am so grateful to have been one of those guests. And recently a very special soul started coming along. She had dreamt that the Hare Krsnas took care of her the night before meeting the Auckland harinam party. We became good friends and engaged in devotional service cooking together. A few weeks ago she shared her realization with me about reading Srila Prabhupada’s books. She said she felt like she had one piece of the puzzle and Srila Prabhupada was giving her the rest of the pieces to complete it. I had felt the same the day I finished reading Bhagavad Gita and met you at Soul Feast. Once more I have experienced how following your instructions, in this case, giving Krsna to others, is what really satisfies my heart.
You have such a clear and accessible way of explaining spiritual knowledge. I vividly remember asking you three years ago in a workshop why Krsna wants us to exist, since you had just stated that Krsna is completely self satisfied. You replied, “For pleasure”, and with that simple answer you helped me understand my real position and purpose. As Srila Prabhupada explains in the purport to CC Adi Lila 7.116:
“The basic principle for the existence of the living entities is called cid-vilāsa, or spiritual pleasure. The omnipotent Lord displays His pleasure potency as the living entities. The Lord is described in the Vedānta-sūtra (1.1.12) as ānanda-mayo 'bhyāsāt. He is by nature the reservoir of all pleasures, and because He wants to enjoy pleasure, there must be energies to give Him pleasure or supply Him the impetus for pleasure. This is the perfect philosophical understanding of the Absolute Truth.”
I know that the level of surrender deepens when one advances in spiritual life and I am just a neophyte trying to develop steadiness in devotional service to Sri Sri Radha and Krsna, but I do sincerely want to serve you and please you. As Srila Prabhupada declares in his purport to CC Adi Lila 7.72:
“Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura remarks in this connection that a disciple must accept the words of his spiritual master as his life and soul.”
I pray and beg to Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda to strengthen my spiritual intelligence so that I can follow your instructions properly and hopefully be of use in your preaching mission someday.
Your eternal servant,
Bhaktin Pia
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!!
All glories to you on this auspicious day of your appearance day!!
You are very expert in giving us conditioned souls the chance to requalify ourselves to serve Sri Sri Radha and Krsna. While reading the seventh chapter of Sri Caitanya Caritamrta, several purports written by Srila Prabhupada stood out. In his purport to verses 31 and 32, I felt he was describing you perfectly:
“Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu wanted to invent a way to capture the Māyāvādīs and others who did not take interest in the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. This is the symptom of an ācārya. An ācārya who comes for the service of the Lord cannot be expected to conform to a stereotype, for he must find the ways and means by which Kṛṣṇa consciousness may be spread.”
I feel very fortunate to have come in contact with bhakti yoga through your preaching mission. It has been such a natural progression. Like the motto for your outreach centers: We make it easy to come to Krsna consciousness, to grow in Krsna consciousness and to spread Krsna consciousness. You have truly found how to deliver the real substance in an irresistibly attractive form. And having guests perform ajnata sukriti at the centers while encouraging the devotees to create personal friendships with them really prepares their hearts for reconnecting with Krsna. I am so grateful to have been one of those guests. And recently a very special soul started coming along. She had dreamt that the Hare Krsnas took care of her the night before meeting the Auckland harinam party. We became good friends and engaged in devotional service cooking together. A few weeks ago she shared her realization with me about reading Srila Prabhupada’s books. She said she felt like she had one piece of the puzzle and Srila Prabhupada was giving her the rest of the pieces to complete it. I had felt the same the day I finished reading Bhagavad Gita and met you at Soul Feast. Once more I have experienced how following your instructions, in this case, giving Krsna to others, is what really satisfies my heart.
You have such a clear and accessible way of explaining spiritual knowledge. I vividly remember asking you three years ago in a workshop why Krsna wants us to exist, since you had just stated that Krsna is completely self satisfied. You replied, “For pleasure”, and with that simple answer you helped me understand my real position and purpose. As Srila Prabhupada explains in the purport to CC Adi Lila 7.116:
“The basic principle for the existence of the living entities is called cid-vilāsa, or spiritual pleasure. The omnipotent Lord displays His pleasure potency as the living entities. The Lord is described in the Vedānta-sūtra (1.1.12) as ānanda-mayo 'bhyāsāt. He is by nature the reservoir of all pleasures, and because He wants to enjoy pleasure, there must be energies to give Him pleasure or supply Him the impetus for pleasure. This is the perfect philosophical understanding of the Absolute Truth.”
I know that the level of surrender deepens when one advances in spiritual life and I am just a neophyte trying to develop steadiness in devotional service to Sri Sri Radha and Krsna, but I do sincerely want to serve you and please you. As Srila Prabhupada declares in his purport to CC Adi Lila 7.72:
“Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura remarks in this connection that a disciple must accept the words of his spiritual master as his life and soul.”
I pray and beg to Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda to strengthen my spiritual intelligence so that I can follow your instructions properly and hopefully be of use in your preaching mission someday.
Your eternal servant,
Bhaktin Pia
Bhava Sandhi dd
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
namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine
nirvisesha-sunyavadi-pascatya-desa-tarine
Dear Gurudeva.
Recently I was reading the wonderful "Prabhupada" book that you personally gave my husband. One quotation really struck me. “Unless there is a loving feeling, how is it possible for you to always make loving offerings to me? The spiritual master is always instructing his disciples, and they in turn are always trying to serve their spiritual master. It is a reciprocation of love.”
This is so far from what we are taught in Kali yuga. Love, as we are taught, is just mere exchanges of excretions and emotions, as you say, not instructions and service.
You are so expert in giving the medicine in the form of instructions. With the shakti of decades of bhakti performed you implore us not to re-invent the wheel (although we see our problems are so unique). Having seen various phases of life act on devotees you can see the wheel of time being turned and the wheel being re-invented each time.
I remember one instruction you gave to me as a Loft manager - "help make the time that the single girls have at The Loft the best years of their lives". Knowing that most of us enter the grhasta ashram, and the complexities that come along with that, you encourage and design the single years so that a higher taste may develop that can never be forgotten; a benchmark that is again hankered after.
I did try to follow that instruction and now in my housewife / mother days this has manifested itself in an unusual way - I have a sort of an addiction to book distribution. I just can’t help myself (it probably drives my husband mad). I try to conceal my obsession but I can’t help it. I carry books wherever I go. I keep a Bhagavatam set in the car (just in case). I sell books online. The other day I was crossing the road and I saw a man getting in his car at the gas station and I thought “wow this man needs a Bhagavad gita!” So, with Lalita laughing in the buggy, we run up to him and handed him a Gita. “Wow” he exclaims “where can I buy one of these? Can I give you $20 and have this one?” I think my addiction has come hankering for the taste of seeing people so grateful for the books. The other day a young girl kept repeating to me how glad she was that she had met me and given me her money, as she would have wasted it on something useless and now she had this wonderful book.... Exchanges like this keep me going out there. That, and I am trying to please you.
On this your Vyasa-puja day I try to meditate on our reciprocal loving relationship, Gurudeva and pray in the year ahead I may be able to offer you more and tune my heart to your instructions.
Your aspiring servant Bhava Sandhi dd
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
namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine
nirvisesha-sunyavadi-pascatya-desa-tarine
Dear Gurudeva.
Recently I was reading the wonderful "Prabhupada" book that you personally gave my husband. One quotation really struck me. “Unless there is a loving feeling, how is it possible for you to always make loving offerings to me? The spiritual master is always instructing his disciples, and they in turn are always trying to serve their spiritual master. It is a reciprocation of love.”
This is so far from what we are taught in Kali yuga. Love, as we are taught, is just mere exchanges of excretions and emotions, as you say, not instructions and service.
You are so expert in giving the medicine in the form of instructions. With the shakti of decades of bhakti performed you implore us not to re-invent the wheel (although we see our problems are so unique). Having seen various phases of life act on devotees you can see the wheel of time being turned and the wheel being re-invented each time.
I remember one instruction you gave to me as a Loft manager - "help make the time that the single girls have at The Loft the best years of their lives". Knowing that most of us enter the grhasta ashram, and the complexities that come along with that, you encourage and design the single years so that a higher taste may develop that can never be forgotten; a benchmark that is again hankered after.
I did try to follow that instruction and now in my housewife / mother days this has manifested itself in an unusual way - I have a sort of an addiction to book distribution. I just can’t help myself (it probably drives my husband mad). I try to conceal my obsession but I can’t help it. I carry books wherever I go. I keep a Bhagavatam set in the car (just in case). I sell books online. The other day I was crossing the road and I saw a man getting in his car at the gas station and I thought “wow this man needs a Bhagavad gita!” So, with Lalita laughing in the buggy, we run up to him and handed him a Gita. “Wow” he exclaims “where can I buy one of these? Can I give you $20 and have this one?” I think my addiction has come hankering for the taste of seeing people so grateful for the books. The other day a young girl kept repeating to me how glad she was that she had met me and given me her money, as she would have wasted it on something useless and now she had this wonderful book.... Exchanges like this keep me going out there. That, and I am trying to please you.
On this your Vyasa-puja day I try to meditate on our reciprocal loving relationship, Gurudeva and pray in the year ahead I may be able to offer you more and tune my heart to your instructions.
Your aspiring servant Bhava Sandhi dd
Bhn Barbara, Hungary
Dear Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada.
oḿ ajñāna-timirāndhasya
jñānāñjana-śalākayā
cakṣur unmīlitaḿ yena
tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ
I would like to greet you on the day of your appearance and I wish you health, strength and steadfastness. Thank you for giving me your association and that I could serve you somehow in New Vraja Dhama. Every minute of your classes was like a gulp of water for the thirsty, a bite of air for the suffocating. Thank you for giving me the chance with your instructions to find the right path towards Krishna-consciousness. Thank you for your causeless mercy that you give day after day. I hope one day I will be able to reciprocate it somehow.
Your aspiring servant,
bhn. Barbara, Hungary
Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada.
oḿ ajñāna-timirāndhasya
jñānāñjana-śalākayā
cakṣur unmīlitaḿ yena
tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ
I would like to greet you on the day of your appearance and I wish you health, strength and steadfastness. Thank you for giving me your association and that I could serve you somehow in New Vraja Dhama. Every minute of your classes was like a gulp of water for the thirsty, a bite of air for the suffocating. Thank you for giving me the chance with your instructions to find the right path towards Krishna-consciousness. Thank you for your causeless mercy that you give day after day. I hope one day I will be able to reciprocate it somehow.
Your aspiring servant,
bhn. Barbara, Hungary
Bimala Prasad Dasa and Family
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.
The last two years have been the most auspicious in my spiritual life because you gave us initiation last year and this year you blessed our home with your lotus feet, and welcomed Sri Sri Nitai-Gaurachandra. In our devotional community, my family has been serving you minimally, but even though, you keep showering us with your mercy. You allowed us to wash your lotus feet, you gave an enlightening class and led an ecstatic Gaura-arati kirtan. Whoever came to the welcoming were enlivened by your ecstatic mood and no-one will ever forget your liberal and merciful attitude.
Srila Gurudeva, by your instructions and example, you are clearly showing us the way to advance in spiritual life. In Bhakti-bhava, you instuct: “to get Kṛṣṇa’s mercy, you have go beyond your comfort zone”. Because of this, I have got a lot of enthusiasm, utsaha, in the service of Kṛṣṇa. We are not worthy of worshipping Gaura-Nitai deities, but through your mercy, you have allowed us to serve the Supreme Lord and thereby improve in our devotional service and purity. Throughout this year, you have graced us all by your powerful presence, and aided us in our devotional service by your dynamic lectures.
My family is very, very happy to be able to serve you prasadam and allow us to continue on with this service in the future. We have a strong desire to witness your presence on your Vyasa-puja day in Melbourne Mahaprabhu Mandira. Please bless the devotees here at Melbourne by kindly accepting this humble plea. On this auspicious day of your Vyasa-puja celebration, we all pray to Kṛṣṇa for your continued good health so that you can save more and more of us fallen souls through your dynamic preaching, benevolent mercy and pure association.
Aspiring to be the servant of your servants,
Bimala Prasad Dasa, Lalitha Prasad Devi Dasi, Bhakta Charan and Krishna Priya.
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.
The last two years have been the most auspicious in my spiritual life because you gave us initiation last year and this year you blessed our home with your lotus feet, and welcomed Sri Sri Nitai-Gaurachandra. In our devotional community, my family has been serving you minimally, but even though, you keep showering us with your mercy. You allowed us to wash your lotus feet, you gave an enlightening class and led an ecstatic Gaura-arati kirtan. Whoever came to the welcoming were enlivened by your ecstatic mood and no-one will ever forget your liberal and merciful attitude.
Srila Gurudeva, by your instructions and example, you are clearly showing us the way to advance in spiritual life. In Bhakti-bhava, you instuct: “to get Kṛṣṇa’s mercy, you have go beyond your comfort zone”. Because of this, I have got a lot of enthusiasm, utsaha, in the service of Kṛṣṇa. We are not worthy of worshipping Gaura-Nitai deities, but through your mercy, you have allowed us to serve the Supreme Lord and thereby improve in our devotional service and purity. Throughout this year, you have graced us all by your powerful presence, and aided us in our devotional service by your dynamic lectures.
My family is very, very happy to be able to serve you prasadam and allow us to continue on with this service in the future. We have a strong desire to witness your presence on your Vyasa-puja day in Melbourne Mahaprabhu Mandira. Please bless the devotees here at Melbourne by kindly accepting this humble plea. On this auspicious day of your Vyasa-puja celebration, we all pray to Kṛṣṇa for your continued good health so that you can save more and more of us fallen souls through your dynamic preaching, benevolent mercy and pure association.
Aspiring to be the servant of your servants,
Bimala Prasad Dasa, Lalitha Prasad Devi Dasi, Bhakta Charan and Krishna Priya.
Brahmakunda Dasa
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances at the dust of your lotus feet
All Glories to Srila Prabhupda
All Glories to you
Few years back, soon after my initiation I was being introduced to some devotees and I got introduced as your disciple. Immediately I could see how much respect they had for you and also being your disciple they had certain expectations of me. It was kind of scary for me, in my mind I was thinking what have I got myself into, may be I have made a mistake, how will I ever meet these expectations. And now it is more clear to me that if it is not for your continuous training, guidance & instructions through your lectures and personal example it is not possible to meet any expectation or make any spiritual advancement. Thank you Gurudeva for patiently teaching us how to practise Krishna Consciousness in our day to day to life, so that in spite of our so many material attachments we can make spiritual progress and at the same time you are expertly training us on how to present Krishna Consciousness to others in a contemporary way where people can appreciate the knowledge, understand it and value the importance of it in their own lives. Onetime in a letter Prabhupada wrote that Krsna takes special appreciation for his devotees who are engaged in risking for his preaching work and he gives special care and guidance to them at all times because they are sincerely trying to serve him in this way. We can see because of your sincere desire & efforts how Krishna has empowered you to lift people from materialistic lifestyle and bring them to a spiritual platform. You are like a Bhakti Magnet, chasing people around the world and attracting them to Bhakti. In Krishna book Prabhupada writes that “If someone is able by chance to see face to face great saintly people like Narada, who is always serene & merciful to everyone then immediately that conditioned soul becomes liberated”. Thank you Gurudeva for your mercy and compassion.
One time Prabhupada said to one of his disciples: “You expand the empire of Krishna Consciousness. Krishna has given you the ability. Do it enthusiastically with the courage of an Englishman and the heart of a Bengali mother.” For decades you have been enthusiastically and boldly spreading Krishna Consciousness and with your mother like affectionate and tender dealings you are taking care of devotees and disciples all around the world. You are always concerned for our well being and like a mother always ready to forgive us for our mistakes. Just like a mother hears the words a child never says, you always seem to know what is there in our heart and accordingly help us & guide us to keep making advancement in Krishna Consciousness. I remember onetime when Bhaktilata & myself were travelling with you, for few days we were going to New York without you, you asked me where am I going to stay in New York and I replied I am still trying to arrange accommodation. You said why didn’t you tell me that you are having difficulty in finding accommodation, I said I did not want to bother you and you replied “If you do not tell me that bothers me, in this trip, I have to make sure you are ok”. Gurudeva please always keep me with you because without you, on my own, I will not be ok, I will be lost in the material world.
In one letter to Madhudvisa Prabhu, Prabhupada wrote “I feel happy that even after my departure, things will go on. I am happy that I have got so many sincere devotees who will carry on. That is my happiness”. Today after so many years of service, how much joy & happiness you must be giving to Prabhupada and the Parampara. It is evident from your VyasaPuja offering to Srila Prabhupada this year and your lifetime of service that you seek the Spiritual World in Prabhupada’s service. I pray that I can follow your foot steps and pursue your instructions to please Srila Prabhupada and you.
Learning to become a servant
Brahmakunda Dasa
Please accept my humble obeisances at the dust of your lotus feet
All Glories to Srila Prabhupda
All Glories to you
Few years back, soon after my initiation I was being introduced to some devotees and I got introduced as your disciple. Immediately I could see how much respect they had for you and also being your disciple they had certain expectations of me. It was kind of scary for me, in my mind I was thinking what have I got myself into, may be I have made a mistake, how will I ever meet these expectations. And now it is more clear to me that if it is not for your continuous training, guidance & instructions through your lectures and personal example it is not possible to meet any expectation or make any spiritual advancement. Thank you Gurudeva for patiently teaching us how to practise Krishna Consciousness in our day to day to life, so that in spite of our so many material attachments we can make spiritual progress and at the same time you are expertly training us on how to present Krishna Consciousness to others in a contemporary way where people can appreciate the knowledge, understand it and value the importance of it in their own lives. Onetime in a letter Prabhupada wrote that Krsna takes special appreciation for his devotees who are engaged in risking for his preaching work and he gives special care and guidance to them at all times because they are sincerely trying to serve him in this way. We can see because of your sincere desire & efforts how Krishna has empowered you to lift people from materialistic lifestyle and bring them to a spiritual platform. You are like a Bhakti Magnet, chasing people around the world and attracting them to Bhakti. In Krishna book Prabhupada writes that “If someone is able by chance to see face to face great saintly people like Narada, who is always serene & merciful to everyone then immediately that conditioned soul becomes liberated”. Thank you Gurudeva for your mercy and compassion.
One time Prabhupada said to one of his disciples: “You expand the empire of Krishna Consciousness. Krishna has given you the ability. Do it enthusiastically with the courage of an Englishman and the heart of a Bengali mother.” For decades you have been enthusiastically and boldly spreading Krishna Consciousness and with your mother like affectionate and tender dealings you are taking care of devotees and disciples all around the world. You are always concerned for our well being and like a mother always ready to forgive us for our mistakes. Just like a mother hears the words a child never says, you always seem to know what is there in our heart and accordingly help us & guide us to keep making advancement in Krishna Consciousness. I remember onetime when Bhaktilata & myself were travelling with you, for few days we were going to New York without you, you asked me where am I going to stay in New York and I replied I am still trying to arrange accommodation. You said why didn’t you tell me that you are having difficulty in finding accommodation, I said I did not want to bother you and you replied “If you do not tell me that bothers me, in this trip, I have to make sure you are ok”. Gurudeva please always keep me with you because without you, on my own, I will not be ok, I will be lost in the material world.
In one letter to Madhudvisa Prabhu, Prabhupada wrote “I feel happy that even after my departure, things will go on. I am happy that I have got so many sincere devotees who will carry on. That is my happiness”. Today after so many years of service, how much joy & happiness you must be giving to Prabhupada and the Parampara. It is evident from your VyasaPuja offering to Srila Prabhupada this year and your lifetime of service that you seek the Spiritual World in Prabhupada’s service. I pray that I can follow your foot steps and pursue your instructions to please Srila Prabhupada and you.
Learning to become a servant
Brahmakunda Dasa
Brendon christy
Dear Guru Maharaj
Please Accept My Respectful Obeisances
All Glories To Srila Prabhupada
All Glories To you on this Auspicious Day
The spotless Character and presence you pervade is illuminating throughout the three worlds,I bow down to your lotus feet with all in reverence. many conditioned souls are lost in there search for true happiness and a peaceful life, but by your mercy you dissipate all fears lust, greed and anger with the sweet words emanating from your lotus mouth. I am especially fortunate what you have giving me residency at garuda ashram, senior mentor with guidance dovetailed both material and spiritually, and the association of your inspiring disciples. Also i am a qualified taxi driver because of your guidance. thank you Guru maharaj you are my saviour i am truly grateful to you.
otaki retreat 2010 i will never forget that moment when you were leading kirtan, you told us all to call out for krishna deep within our hearts , by my amazement i could feel a surcharge of transcendental bliss go throughout my body , my eyes filled with tears , i was in complete ecstasy from the maha mantra flowed through my body, i was realizing you have given me the most precious gift lord caitanyas san kirtan movement of chanting the holy name.
I pray to gaura nitai that i can become a soul surrendered to you eternally, and that you always engage me in your loving devotional service.
Aspiring to become your servant
Bhakta Brendon
Buddhimanta Dasa
Hare Krishna dear Guru Maharaj
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabupada.
All glories to this auspicious day of your Vyasa Puja
Happy Vyasa Puja Guru Maharaj. Guru Maharaj on the Vyasa puja day, a sincere disciple is supposed to offer his gratitude, appreciation, service and some gift to his spiritual master to honour this day. But how unfortunate I am I have no realisation, although I have been practicing Krishna consciousness for past 18 years but due to my heart like stone and endless anarthas I have accumulated I am unable to relish the inner flavour of spiritual life you have kindly provided me. Today I see myself with no qualification other than being a disciple of your holiness, the most merciful, personal and fatherly spiritual master and that means a lot to me. Guru Maharaj your personal instructions and lectures are the source of my inspiration in whatever little services I am rendering. You are known for skilfully delivering the message of Vedic scriptures and crafting your way to the heart of listener. Your lectures about Krishna are like roaring of a lion which reminds me the glory of Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Maharaj. In forest all small or big animals flee when hear lion’s roar similarly all the anarthas and material attachments flee away by listening to your spiritual roaring. Guru Maharaj you are always eager to help the wandering souls, today on your Vyasa Puja day you must be more inclined to shower your mercy especially to your spiritual children so please bless me that I can learn how to render devotional service within ISKCON management without offending vaishnavas, without seeing too many faults in the managers or in the system and at the same time keep the self sadhna intact. Today I definitely need this special guidance from you how to become a mature devotee who does not agitate even when face provoking situations within or without. I have understood one cannot go back to Godhead unless one is 100% sure in mind and pure at heart and this is my biggest worry, I don’t see myself getting a pure heart in near future unless you bestow some special favour to me.
Guru Maharaj, today I pray at the lotus feet of Lord Narsimha Dev to always protect you and bless you with a long and healthy life so that you can carry on with the soul saving mission you have taken up to fulfil the desire of Srila Prabhupada.
Happy Vyasa Puja day Guru Maharaj.
Your humble servant
Buddhimanta Dasa
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabupada.
All glories to this auspicious day of your Vyasa Puja
Happy Vyasa Puja Guru Maharaj. Guru Maharaj on the Vyasa puja day, a sincere disciple is supposed to offer his gratitude, appreciation, service and some gift to his spiritual master to honour this day. But how unfortunate I am I have no realisation, although I have been practicing Krishna consciousness for past 18 years but due to my heart like stone and endless anarthas I have accumulated I am unable to relish the inner flavour of spiritual life you have kindly provided me. Today I see myself with no qualification other than being a disciple of your holiness, the most merciful, personal and fatherly spiritual master and that means a lot to me. Guru Maharaj your personal instructions and lectures are the source of my inspiration in whatever little services I am rendering. You are known for skilfully delivering the message of Vedic scriptures and crafting your way to the heart of listener. Your lectures about Krishna are like roaring of a lion which reminds me the glory of Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Maharaj. In forest all small or big animals flee when hear lion’s roar similarly all the anarthas and material attachments flee away by listening to your spiritual roaring. Guru Maharaj you are always eager to help the wandering souls, today on your Vyasa Puja day you must be more inclined to shower your mercy especially to your spiritual children so please bless me that I can learn how to render devotional service within ISKCON management without offending vaishnavas, without seeing too many faults in the managers or in the system and at the same time keep the self sadhna intact. Today I definitely need this special guidance from you how to become a mature devotee who does not agitate even when face provoking situations within or without. I have understood one cannot go back to Godhead unless one is 100% sure in mind and pure at heart and this is my biggest worry, I don’t see myself getting a pure heart in near future unless you bestow some special favour to me.
Guru Maharaj, today I pray at the lotus feet of Lord Narsimha Dev to always protect you and bless you with a long and healthy life so that you can carry on with the soul saving mission you have taken up to fulfil the desire of Srila Prabhupada.
Happy Vyasa Puja day Guru Maharaj.
Your humble servant
Buddhimanta Dasa
Caitanya Vihara das
Dear Srila Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to You, on the occasion of Your most auspicious Vyasa Puja.
Before meeting you Srila Gurudeva, I had always been disappointed in my efforts to find a real role model and guide. Although I was convinced that somewhere, somehow a path to genuine success existed, all the various paths I had flirted with just led to frustration and the insidious onset of cynicism.
Under the influence of ‘the mass consensual trance’ everyone eagerly promotes all sorts of lifestyles, careers and variegated avenues of activity as being ultimate paths in themselves, leading to endless peace, satisfaction and bliss.
Deciding to pursue a medical career I bought into the propaganda that complete satisfaction automatically awaited me on completing my training. Seduced by prospectus photos of ‘radiant, self-satisfied physicians adorned with stethoscopes’ I went for it. I hoped that the rigorous course would lead to self improvement. I wanted knowledge; I wanted to be able to make some sort of useful contribution to society. Of course the prestige, money and respect that would follow were also welcome.
Five years later, I was proudly graduating and started work as ‘Dr. Chi’. However, once the initial intoxicating buzz wore off the realities of the daily grind set in. Long hours, poor working conditions, stress and unhealthy shift patterns were all part of the job. Still, I remained optimistic that on finding the right specialty everything would fall into place and that the red carpet of success would be rolled out.
Over the next few years I would work in almost every major department in the medical field. Paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, accident and emergency, general medicine, psychiatry, surgery, the list went on. But nothing clicked. I looked to the senior doctors in each field hoping to see the ecstatic figures from the prospectus pages but what I saw frightened me. Despite achieving wealth, status, family, home ‘and the rest’ most of the consultants were simply anxiety ridden slaves. I could see that all the different career options were riddled with inherent frustration and limitation.
So how could I invest further blood, sweat and tears in something which would inevitably fall short of the mark?
Then by Krishna’s mercy I contacted You, Srila Gurudeva. One year after having met the devotees in Swansea, Wales, I came to New Zealand. Enticed by the promise of a better lifestyle and seeking adventure I arrived in Hamilton, ‘the exotic metropolis of Waikato’. Working a comfortable job in ophthalmology (eye surgery) life was much more pleasant, but soon I began to wonder what the real purpose of my transfer to the other side of the world was. That was until I was tipped off about Your website. On discovering the treasures stored therein, I would race to finish my daily duties and then hide out in my office, secretly listening to Your lectures and reading Krishna book for several hours each day.
The transcendental messages delivered by Your warm, familiar and dynamic voice penetrated deep into my heart. A few months later, You came to Hamilton to rescue me in person at a home program held at the residence I was sharing with other doctors.
In the Bhagavad Gita (chapter 18, text 54) Krishna states:
brahma-bhutah prasannatma
na socati na kanksati
samah sarvesu bhutesu
mad bhaktim labhate param
‘One who is thus transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme Brahman and becomes fully joyful. He never laments or desires to have anything. He is equally disposed toward every living entity. In that state he attains pure devotional service unto Me.’
Over the next two years, I attempted to closely observe You whenever I could and was amazed to see Your superhuman demonstration of this verse in action without any discrepancy. In stark contrast to the empty fronts paraded by my former mundane mentors, Your unlimitedly graceful presence, transcendentally cutting humour, invigorating laugh and heart warming smile imbued me with enthusiasm, determination and faith. Despite sacrificing material wealth, prestige, family, home ‘and the rest’ it was clear You were a transcendental millionaire! You were the perfect person and guide I had been searching for all this time. I became confident that You could extract me from my suffering existence and that by trying to follow You, the peace, satisfaction and bliss I had been hankering for would finally be delivered.
Of course from a technical point of view I can understand that everyone is always on ‘Krishna’s path’. In the Bhagavad Gita (chapter four, text 11) Krishna mentions that everyone follows His path in all respects. However, I had run out of gas whilst speeding off in completely the wrong direction, firmly under the grip of the dangerous, lower modes of material nature. Only by Your kind, patient and compassionate mercy have I been able to slowly turn around and start to move in the right direction.
Ironically, I still haven’t escaped hospital life! This time however, I am the one receiving intensive treatment, under Your expert care. Adorned with flower garland, You are the truly radiant and self satisfied physician! After admitting me to the brahmacari ward of Your hospital, You have prescribed a solid course of devotional service backed by aggressive, intravenous ‘sravanam kirtanam visnoh’. Properly followed, this regime undoubtedly has the potency to completely destroy at root the most vicious and pernicious disease of material existence. Furthermore, I can now see a genuine future for myself and others in the most dynamic field of ‘spiritual medicine’. By Your grace, weary resignation has been transformed into burning optimism. Amazingly, it seems that I may just have found the perfect specialty to commit to after all.
In the Bhagavad Gita (chapter three, text 21) Krishna comments:
yad yad acarati sresthas
tat tad evetaro janah
sa yat pramanam 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.’
You often stress the importance of humbly trying to follow in the footsteps of the great mahajanas rather than trying to cheaply imitate. Still, Your stride is so huge Gurudeva that even attempting to follow in Your footsteps is certainly no easy task, especially for a weak rascal such as myself.
As the spiritual master, we understand that you represent Balarama, the original spiritual master.
As such, this year I beg You for the strength, ability, intelligence and determination to humbly try and follow the path chalked out so clearly by Your imposing footsteps. I beg for the opportunity to further my training in ‘spiritual medicine’ under the shelter of Your lotus feet, to become qualified to really push on the ‘family business’ and to thereby make a real difference to others as well as myself.
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving me the rare and wonderful opportunity to traverse the perfect path of bhakti under Your expert guidance and for Your awe inspiring demonstration of spiritual life in action.
Your aspiring and grateful servant,
Caitanya Vihara Das
Caitanya-lila dasa
Dear Gurudeva,
please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to you on this wonderful day!
This year, as I was thinking about what to write in honor of your kind grace, I thought to do a little research on the word 'homage'.
Homage is generally used to infer that someone is showing respect or giving honor to someone else.
However, 'homage' is also - and more specifically - used to indicate that one is the servant of another;
"the formal public acknowledgment by which a feudal tenant or vassal declared himself to be the man or vassal of his lord, owing him fealty and service." - dictionary.com =)
So this, to me, was very appropriate. I am nothing more - and want nothing more - than to be your indebted servant, big or small.
Having said that, I also wanted this offering to be a glorification of you and your wonderful activities in the service of your spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada
As I was reading Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta I came across this verse, and thought it very fitting;
"'Kṛṣṇa-mayī' means 'one whose within and without are Lord Kṛṣṇa.' She sees Lord Kṛṣṇa wherever She casts Her glance."
-CC Ādi 4.85
The description is of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, but it struck me how you so fully embody the mood of the servants of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. You give us that example in your life.
Whether it's absorbing yourself in ecstatic kirtans, or relishing the taste of prasada, or serving the devotees so lovingly and selflessly.
If your life were like a reel of film (old school) we would be able to look at any one of those images and find a wealth of exemplary instruction.
So again on this great day I thank you. Thank you for being so kind as to have dedicated your life to your spiritual master.
Thank you for making the effort to fan the spark of bhakti in everyone you meet.
Thank you for taking the time to cultivate our Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Thank you for all your hard work.
May you always remain close to Srila Prabhupada and the Panca-tattva.
And may I always be there to serve you.
Your aspiring disciple,
Caitanya-lila dasa.
please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to you on this wonderful day!
This year, as I was thinking about what to write in honor of your kind grace, I thought to do a little research on the word 'homage'.
Homage is generally used to infer that someone is showing respect or giving honor to someone else.
However, 'homage' is also - and more specifically - used to indicate that one is the servant of another;
"the formal public acknowledgment by which a feudal tenant or vassal declared himself to be the man or vassal of his lord, owing him fealty and service." - dictionary.com =)
So this, to me, was very appropriate. I am nothing more - and want nothing more - than to be your indebted servant, big or small.
Having said that, I also wanted this offering to be a glorification of you and your wonderful activities in the service of your spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada
As I was reading Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta I came across this verse, and thought it very fitting;
"'Kṛṣṇa-mayī' means 'one whose within and without are Lord Kṛṣṇa.' She sees Lord Kṛṣṇa wherever She casts Her glance."
-CC Ādi 4.85
The description is of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, but it struck me how you so fully embody the mood of the servants of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. You give us that example in your life.
Whether it's absorbing yourself in ecstatic kirtans, or relishing the taste of prasada, or serving the devotees so lovingly and selflessly.
If your life were like a reel of film (old school) we would be able to look at any one of those images and find a wealth of exemplary instruction.
So again on this great day I thank you. Thank you for being so kind as to have dedicated your life to your spiritual master.
Thank you for making the effort to fan the spark of bhakti in everyone you meet.
Thank you for taking the time to cultivate our Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Thank you for all your hard work.
May you always remain close to Srila Prabhupada and the Panca-tattva.
And may I always be there to serve you.
Your aspiring disciple,
Caitanya-lila dasa.
Campak Gaur devi dasi
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisnace's unto you.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All praise to you on the special celebration day of your appearance.
I thank the Lord for giving me the opportunity to meet such a magnificent devotee as yourself and to have come under your shelter at a young age. Your care, love and guidance has protected and saved me from a very unfortunate position.
You are giving me the chance to learn what is real love, what is devotional service and I am very gradually learning to understand that it is the greatest gift of all.
Before I met you I knew nothing about anything, especially love, responsibility in life, the quality of real care, duty, self preservation and elevation, how to get peace of mind, where to find real happiness.
Please accept my insignificant way to try and thank you.
Thank you Gurudeva for being a glorious master, expert and patient teacher, compassionate lover and caring father.
Thank you for the many classes that you give, that open up the real world of spiritual life and create a desire within ones heart to want Krsna.
Thank you for your splenderously enlivening kirtans, when you share your taste for the holy name, you shine in love for the Lord, bringing to life a sleeping soul.
Thank you for moulding many wonderful disciples, and giving one a chance to associate with such saintly persons.
Thank you for the mentor and marriage system that you have created which gives devotees the required support to make a life long career in bhakti.
As an expert doctor you have taught me what my disease is, what the cure is, and how to take the medicine.
You have very kindly dispensed it in a palatable and patient way. You have given so much.
On this day I pray for the courage, strength and integrity to become a sincere disciple.
I want to understand your position more. I pray for the needed intelligence, deep trust, faith and humility to become more obedient to your orders, your love and your way of life.
On my own, my way of living, of ignorance, of fear, of selfishness does not work.
May I always do your will for me.
Thank you for keeping me.
Aspiring to serve you,
Your spiritual daughter and trying disciple
Campak Gaur devi dasi
Please accept my humble obeisnace's unto you.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All praise to you on the special celebration day of your appearance.
I thank the Lord for giving me the opportunity to meet such a magnificent devotee as yourself and to have come under your shelter at a young age. Your care, love and guidance has protected and saved me from a very unfortunate position.
You are giving me the chance to learn what is real love, what is devotional service and I am very gradually learning to understand that it is the greatest gift of all.
Before I met you I knew nothing about anything, especially love, responsibility in life, the quality of real care, duty, self preservation and elevation, how to get peace of mind, where to find real happiness.
Please accept my insignificant way to try and thank you.
Thank you Gurudeva for being a glorious master, expert and patient teacher, compassionate lover and caring father.
Thank you for the many classes that you give, that open up the real world of spiritual life and create a desire within ones heart to want Krsna.
Thank you for your splenderously enlivening kirtans, when you share your taste for the holy name, you shine in love for the Lord, bringing to life a sleeping soul.
Thank you for moulding many wonderful disciples, and giving one a chance to associate with such saintly persons.
Thank you for the mentor and marriage system that you have created which gives devotees the required support to make a life long career in bhakti.
As an expert doctor you have taught me what my disease is, what the cure is, and how to take the medicine.
You have very kindly dispensed it in a palatable and patient way. You have given so much.
On this day I pray for the courage, strength and integrity to become a sincere disciple.
I want to understand your position more. I pray for the needed intelligence, deep trust, faith and humility to become more obedient to your orders, your love and your way of life.
On my own, my way of living, of ignorance, of fear, of selfishness does not work.
May I always do your will for me.
Thank you for keeping me.
Aspiring to serve you,
Your spiritual daughter and trying disciple
Campak Gaur devi dasi
Candidasa dasa
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
This year I would like to appreciate how expertly you deal with all kinds of different people.
I remember you once telling me that you don't generalise with your advice. Instead, you give advice specific to each person. For example you never say: "everyone must become a brahmacari", nor "everyone must become a grihasta", rather, you expertly discuss one's individual situation and inclination, and you advise whatever is best for them according to time, place, and circumstance. You certainly did that with me. I can appreciate how the brahmacari ashram wasn't a suitable situation for me at the time when the decision was relevant, and now I find myself happily married to a wonderful Krishna-conscious spiritual daughter of yours. Thank you for guiding me so expertly.
As it says in the Caitanya Caritamrita Madhya-Lila 15.132:
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then ordered Narahari: "I wish you to remain here with My devotees. In this way the three of you should always execute these three duties for the service of the Lord."
PURPORT
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu set forth three duties for three different people. Mukunda was to earn money and follow the religious principles, whereas Narahari was to remain with the Lord's devotees, and Raghunandana was to engage in the Lord's service in the temple. Thus one person worships in the temple, another earns money honestly by executing his professional duty, and yet another preaches Kṛṣṇa consciousness with the devotees. Apparently these three types of service appear separate, but actually they are not. When Kṛṣṇa or Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the center, everyone can engage in different activities for the service of the Lord. That is the verdict of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
You have certainly taken Prabhupada's purport to heart. Everyone can contribute to Krishna's mission in their own special way, and you help figure out how best to facilitate their contribution.
You tirelessly travel to every continent of the world, transcendently educating and enlightening, teaching and preaching, sharing and serving. Ultimately, succeeding in making everyone you meet understand that:
"This knowledge is the king of education, the most secret of all secrets. It is the purest knowledge, and because it gives direct perception of the self by realisation, it is the perfection of religion. It is everlasting, and it is joyfully performed." - Bhagavad-Gita 9.2
Thank you.
Your servant,
Candidasa dasa
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
This year I would like to appreciate how expertly you deal with all kinds of different people.
I remember you once telling me that you don't generalise with your advice. Instead, you give advice specific to each person. For example you never say: "everyone must become a brahmacari", nor "everyone must become a grihasta", rather, you expertly discuss one's individual situation and inclination, and you advise whatever is best for them according to time, place, and circumstance. You certainly did that with me. I can appreciate how the brahmacari ashram wasn't a suitable situation for me at the time when the decision was relevant, and now I find myself happily married to a wonderful Krishna-conscious spiritual daughter of yours. Thank you for guiding me so expertly.
As it says in the Caitanya Caritamrita Madhya-Lila 15.132:
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then ordered Narahari: "I wish you to remain here with My devotees. In this way the three of you should always execute these three duties for the service of the Lord."
PURPORT
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu set forth three duties for three different people. Mukunda was to earn money and follow the religious principles, whereas Narahari was to remain with the Lord's devotees, and Raghunandana was to engage in the Lord's service in the temple. Thus one person worships in the temple, another earns money honestly by executing his professional duty, and yet another preaches Kṛṣṇa consciousness with the devotees. Apparently these three types of service appear separate, but actually they are not. When Kṛṣṇa or Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the center, everyone can engage in different activities for the service of the Lord. That is the verdict of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
You have certainly taken Prabhupada's purport to heart. Everyone can contribute to Krishna's mission in their own special way, and you help figure out how best to facilitate their contribution.
You tirelessly travel to every continent of the world, transcendently educating and enlightening, teaching and preaching, sharing and serving. Ultimately, succeeding in making everyone you meet understand that:
"This knowledge is the king of education, the most secret of all secrets. It is the purest knowledge, and because it gives direct perception of the self by realisation, it is the perfection of religion. It is everlasting, and it is joyfully performed." - Bhagavad-Gita 9.2
Thank you.
Your servant,
Candidasa dasa
Carana Renu dasi
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Another year has passed without my having sat in your class, danced in your kirtan, heard your wise counsel, or stared at your lotus feet (as I do). I am busy, serving as a mother, a manager, and a cook. By your grace, I have a full life in Krishna consciousness. But I do miss your personal association, which I was so fortunate to receive when I was younger. Unfortunately, being so young and new to the complex emotions of bhakti and the formalities of the guru and disciple relationship, I was not able to fully relish my time with you. Due to my naive ignorance and inexperience I was not able to fully appreciate and bask in your greatness, your generosity, your mercy, your wisdom and your complete immersion in Krishna consciousness. I was mostly a mental wreck, worrying about so many details, and I was not able to serve you well. If I could go back to those times with you in London, Spain, Los Angeles, New Zealand, Southampton and Manchester, knowing what I know now, I would surely be able to more fully relish your association and serve you better. However, looking back, I see that even then, as a young, neurotic bhaktin, I benefited immensely from your association. The personal association and guidance, that you so generously and causelessly bestowed on me, nurtured in me a strength of conviction and faith, and a determination in practice, that have carried me through the ups and downs of material life and kept me steady on the path of bhakti in Prabhupada's mission. I owe you so much. Every year I discover how much more I owe, and I pray for the opportunity to try to repay you. And I pray that I will be able to receive more of your personal association and guidance, despite my many duties that keep me from following you around the world. With your help I can make progress toward becoming a real devotee. I pray that Krishna will protect you on your travels. And I pray that my bond with my beloved Spiritual Master will never be broken.
I am just one insignificant aspiring disciple but there are so many others who have been deeply touched by you and continue to depend on your mercy. I don't know how you do it but I'm sure it's not easy.
Thank you for all the hard work you put into helping your disciples grow in bhakti. And thank you for giving me the priceless gift of devotional service.
Your servant, Carana Renu dasi.
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Another year has passed without my having sat in your class, danced in your kirtan, heard your wise counsel, or stared at your lotus feet (as I do). I am busy, serving as a mother, a manager, and a cook. By your grace, I have a full life in Krishna consciousness. But I do miss your personal association, which I was so fortunate to receive when I was younger. Unfortunately, being so young and new to the complex emotions of bhakti and the formalities of the guru and disciple relationship, I was not able to fully relish my time with you. Due to my naive ignorance and inexperience I was not able to fully appreciate and bask in your greatness, your generosity, your mercy, your wisdom and your complete immersion in Krishna consciousness. I was mostly a mental wreck, worrying about so many details, and I was not able to serve you well. If I could go back to those times with you in London, Spain, Los Angeles, New Zealand, Southampton and Manchester, knowing what I know now, I would surely be able to more fully relish your association and serve you better. However, looking back, I see that even then, as a young, neurotic bhaktin, I benefited immensely from your association. The personal association and guidance, that you so generously and causelessly bestowed on me, nurtured in me a strength of conviction and faith, and a determination in practice, that have carried me through the ups and downs of material life and kept me steady on the path of bhakti in Prabhupada's mission. I owe you so much. Every year I discover how much more I owe, and I pray for the opportunity to try to repay you. And I pray that I will be able to receive more of your personal association and guidance, despite my many duties that keep me from following you around the world. With your help I can make progress toward becoming a real devotee. I pray that Krishna will protect you on your travels. And I pray that my bond with my beloved Spiritual Master will never be broken.
I am just one insignificant aspiring disciple but there are so many others who have been deeply touched by you and continue to depend on your mercy. I don't know how you do it but I'm sure it's not easy.
Thank you for all the hard work you put into helping your disciples grow in bhakti. And thank you for giving me the priceless gift of devotional service.
Your servant, Carana Renu dasi.
Chris Murphy
Dear Gurudeva
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Thank you for your merciful instructions; they increase our Bhakti foundation leading us to elevation.
In your efforts to spread Bhakti there is no cessation therefore you are our inspiration.
Life can be blissful and simple if I just try to please your disciples but I'm too nervous in my service my minds a disservive, so defiant and dull nothing can enter this thick skull.
On your auspicious appearance day I pray that you stay with this stray.
Two years ago working a sweat for a worthless cheque, minimum wage had my adrenaline caged, full of venom and rage.
Meanwhile you're the steady sage, whirling, twirling and unfurling your love of godhead around the world.
Spreading the love of Sri Krishna, Rama saving people from their karma, drama pulling em outta Tama Guna.
You have been with the internal, eternal while I was nocturnal with the external. Felt like I was walking a tight rope without a circus net, a nervous wreck while you were out there deserving respect.
I was discouraged, hungry and malnourished then I read the Bhagavad Gita, there was nothing sweeter.
All glories to you, who have the agility, gentility, humility, stability, nobility, versatility, capability, tranquility and ability to spread love of Godhead to the mislead.
All glories to you in your position as the physician fixing the condition of those who need to reform and transform to perform devotional service once again unto Sri Krishna who is the force of another creation many many galaxies away were we can remain eternally, forever young.
Aspiring to be your sincere servant
Chris
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Thank you for your merciful instructions; they increase our Bhakti foundation leading us to elevation.
In your efforts to spread Bhakti there is no cessation therefore you are our inspiration.
Life can be blissful and simple if I just try to please your disciples but I'm too nervous in my service my minds a disservive, so defiant and dull nothing can enter this thick skull.
On your auspicious appearance day I pray that you stay with this stray.
Two years ago working a sweat for a worthless cheque, minimum wage had my adrenaline caged, full of venom and rage.
Meanwhile you're the steady sage, whirling, twirling and unfurling your love of godhead around the world.
Spreading the love of Sri Krishna, Rama saving people from their karma, drama pulling em outta Tama Guna.
You have been with the internal, eternal while I was nocturnal with the external. Felt like I was walking a tight rope without a circus net, a nervous wreck while you were out there deserving respect.
I was discouraged, hungry and malnourished then I read the Bhagavad Gita, there was nothing sweeter.
All glories to you, who have the agility, gentility, humility, stability, nobility, versatility, capability, tranquility and ability to spread love of Godhead to the mislead.
All glories to you in your position as the physician fixing the condition of those who need to reform and transform to perform devotional service once again unto Sri Krishna who is the force of another creation many many galaxies away were we can remain eternally, forever young.
Aspiring to be your sincere servant
Chris
Damodara Krsna dasa
Dear Srila Gurudeva
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to you
SB 1.1.22 <i>“We think that we have met Your Goodness by the will of providence, just so that we may accept you as captain of the ship for those who desire to cross the difficult ocean of Kali, which deteriorates all the good qualities of a human being.”</i> (The sages to Suta Gosvami)
Prior to my Krsna consciousness, I, like many, was struggling in the oppressive material atmosphere <i>(prakrti-sthani karsati)</i> and coming to realize this, in my overwhelming frustration, I prayed to God to send me a teacher, a guru.
During my herbal enhanced internet studies I came across a group called ‘The Ascended Masters,’ and by their grace I came to know of gurus and even Krsna to a small degree. I would even fantasize being chastised by my guru. Why? Well, because of Hollywood movies of course which portray the guru as an old man with vast knowledge who would sharply correct his students. I thought, “Where will I find this old man to chastise me and give me knowledge?”
The waving modes of material nature combined with the currents of Kali-yuga had me immersed in the waters of the vast ocean of degradation. I could see my self becoming more debased and animalistic with the passing of days, months and years. I desperately cried out “Where is my Guru?” wondering if I would ever find that captain to navigate my battered ship across these precarious waters.
Once upon a time I prayed to God, “I just want to dedicate everything to You. I am sick of trying to live for my self. I want to walk for You. Breath for You...” But quickly another wave came, pushing me back under the surface and submerging any sincere desire to serve anyone else but my self. I was lost at sea and so, so desperate to find some solid ground.
These and more sentiments arose from time to time between 2006 and 2007, then by the good grace of the Lord and His devotees I met you.
A few years have past since that traumatic experience of being lost at sea and bashed about by the waves of Kali, when I find my self reading verses like the one quoted above, SB 1.1.22, and this purport from SB 4.8.25, <i>“...The Supreme Personality of Godhead is present in everyone's heart, and as soon as He understands that a living entity is serious about entering devotional service, He sends His representative. In this way Narada was sent to Dhruva Maharaja. This is explained in the Caitanya-caritamrta. Guru-krsna-prasade paya bhakti-lata-bija: [Cc. Madhya 19.151] by the grace of the spiritual master and Krsna, one can enter into devotional service. Because of Dhruva Maharaja's determination, Krsna, the Supersoul, immediately sent His representative, Narada, to initiate him.”</i>
Of course, I would be foolish to compare my self to Dhruva Maharaja, the five year old hero, who set out to the forest with a determined vow to find Visnu.
What then qualified me to have you come throw me a life jacket and pluck me out of the depths of the <i>bhavambudhau</i> (the ocean of nescience)? As Krsna explains in BG 7.16, was I searching for knowledge of the Absolute? May be. Was I inquisitive? Yes. Did I have a desirer for wealth? Sure. But beyond doubt I was distressed and I knew it. That must have been my sincerity, I sincerely knew I was distressed and was looking for an alternative, something spiritual. I was ripe for the picking.
Could it be that I am picking up my bhakti practice from a previous life? As Srila Prabhupada writes in his ‘Nectar of Devotion’ quoting Srila Rupa Gosvami, <i>“...He says that devotional service is a continual process from one's previous life. No one can take to devotional service unless he has had some previous connection with it. For example, suppose in this life I practice devotional service to some extent. Even though it is not one-hundred-percent perfectly performed, whatever I have done will not be lost. In my next life, from the very point where I stop in this life, I shall begin again. In this way there is always a continuity...”</i> If that is so, then I didn’t make much advancement.
Was it by chance I met you? Again Srila Prabhupada writes in the ‘Nectar of Devotion’ <i>“...But even if there is no continuity, if only by chance a person takes interest in a pure devotee's instruction, he can be accepted and can advance in devotional service...”</i>
Looked at another way, I fall into that ‘most fallen’ category. This you personally explained to me when you replied to an email I first sent you in which I expressed my concerns about how I had done everything Prabhupada’s books say not to do. You gave me assurance by explaining that I was the property of Lord Caitanya who claims the most fallen as recipients for His magnanimous mercy <i>(Krsna-prema-pradaya te)</i>. You, as His representative, came to claim me, who am rightly His property.
Now I am yours Gurudeva. How did this happen? What mercy I have received.
I want to thank you for the best years of my life. It has been so wonderful. I am very happy. I am very grateful. I don’t get bord. I am excited to make advancement in Krsna consciousness. You have made my life so rich with the wealth of research work into Krsna-bhakti. I just want to read more and more, I can’t get enough. Thank you so much for Srila Prabhupada’s books. Thank you for your amazing classes. Thank you for your rocking kirtanas. Thank you for the holy name, the <i>maha-mantra</i>. Thank you for my God brothers. Thank you for the brahmacari ashrama. Thank you for book distribution which helps me to realize my good fortune of having a lifestyle based on Krsna-bhakti, a lifestyle based on chanting <i>Hare Krsna</i>. Thank you for service at Krishna House and other outreach opportunities. Outreach helps me to see the obvious suffering people are experiencing due to gross ignorance and ultimately living a life devoid of Krsna consciousness. The fogginess of hedonism is gradually fading with the rising of the Krsna-bhakti sun. Let there be all victory for the congregational chanting of the holy name of Lord Krsna <i>(vijayate sri-krsna-sankirtanam)</i>. Thank you Gurudeva!
I feel that my words are rather cheap in comparison to the invaluable jewels you are giving like the <i>nyasis-siromani</i>, Lord Caitanya, the crown jewel of the sannyasis, the <i>cintamani-dhama</i>, palaces made of touchstone, and the <i>purusa-bhusana</i>, the jewel among men, Lord Sri Krsna. And it is surely a joke to consider these words of appreciation as adequate reciprocation for what you have done and are doing for me. As Srila Prabhupada writes in the purport for SB 4.22.47, <i>“...a person who tries to repay the spiritual master or teacher of the transcendental message of Krsna becomes a laughingstock just like a joker because it is not possible to repay such a debt...”</i> What then should I do about this apparent paradox? I guess I will have to concede to a life of humiliation as I make attempts to please you with efforts that are never enough to repay the unpayable debt.
I imagine my greatest pleasure to be for you to consider me a valuable asset for your service to Srila Prabhupada and the illustrious <i>Brahma Madhva Gaudiya Vaishnava Sampradaya</i>. To achieve this end I will tightly embrace the sound of laughter for my purification as I submit my humble service attempts at your lotus feet again and again.
Like Lord Brahma, who prayed to Lord Sri Krsna at the end of the <i>brahma-vimohana-lila</i>, please <i>“...Accept my humble obeisances until the annihilation of this material world. As long as there is sunshine within this material world, kindly accept my humble obeisances...”</i>
Your servant
Damodara Krsna dasa
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to you
SB 1.1.22 <i>“We think that we have met Your Goodness by the will of providence, just so that we may accept you as captain of the ship for those who desire to cross the difficult ocean of Kali, which deteriorates all the good qualities of a human being.”</i> (The sages to Suta Gosvami)
Prior to my Krsna consciousness, I, like many, was struggling in the oppressive material atmosphere <i>(prakrti-sthani karsati)</i> and coming to realize this, in my overwhelming frustration, I prayed to God to send me a teacher, a guru.
During my herbal enhanced internet studies I came across a group called ‘The Ascended Masters,’ and by their grace I came to know of gurus and even Krsna to a small degree. I would even fantasize being chastised by my guru. Why? Well, because of Hollywood movies of course which portray the guru as an old man with vast knowledge who would sharply correct his students. I thought, “Where will I find this old man to chastise me and give me knowledge?”
The waving modes of material nature combined with the currents of Kali-yuga had me immersed in the waters of the vast ocean of degradation. I could see my self becoming more debased and animalistic with the passing of days, months and years. I desperately cried out “Where is my Guru?” wondering if I would ever find that captain to navigate my battered ship across these precarious waters.
Once upon a time I prayed to God, “I just want to dedicate everything to You. I am sick of trying to live for my self. I want to walk for You. Breath for You...” But quickly another wave came, pushing me back under the surface and submerging any sincere desire to serve anyone else but my self. I was lost at sea and so, so desperate to find some solid ground.
These and more sentiments arose from time to time between 2006 and 2007, then by the good grace of the Lord and His devotees I met you.
A few years have past since that traumatic experience of being lost at sea and bashed about by the waves of Kali, when I find my self reading verses like the one quoted above, SB 1.1.22, and this purport from SB 4.8.25, <i>“...The Supreme Personality of Godhead is present in everyone's heart, and as soon as He understands that a living entity is serious about entering devotional service, He sends His representative. In this way Narada was sent to Dhruva Maharaja. This is explained in the Caitanya-caritamrta. Guru-krsna-prasade paya bhakti-lata-bija: [Cc. Madhya 19.151] by the grace of the spiritual master and Krsna, one can enter into devotional service. Because of Dhruva Maharaja's determination, Krsna, the Supersoul, immediately sent His representative, Narada, to initiate him.”</i>
Of course, I would be foolish to compare my self to Dhruva Maharaja, the five year old hero, who set out to the forest with a determined vow to find Visnu.
What then qualified me to have you come throw me a life jacket and pluck me out of the depths of the <i>bhavambudhau</i> (the ocean of nescience)? As Krsna explains in BG 7.16, was I searching for knowledge of the Absolute? May be. Was I inquisitive? Yes. Did I have a desirer for wealth? Sure. But beyond doubt I was distressed and I knew it. That must have been my sincerity, I sincerely knew I was distressed and was looking for an alternative, something spiritual. I was ripe for the picking.
Could it be that I am picking up my bhakti practice from a previous life? As Srila Prabhupada writes in his ‘Nectar of Devotion’ quoting Srila Rupa Gosvami, <i>“...He says that devotional service is a continual process from one's previous life. No one can take to devotional service unless he has had some previous connection with it. For example, suppose in this life I practice devotional service to some extent. Even though it is not one-hundred-percent perfectly performed, whatever I have done will not be lost. In my next life, from the very point where I stop in this life, I shall begin again. In this way there is always a continuity...”</i> If that is so, then I didn’t make much advancement.
Was it by chance I met you? Again Srila Prabhupada writes in the ‘Nectar of Devotion’ <i>“...But even if there is no continuity, if only by chance a person takes interest in a pure devotee's instruction, he can be accepted and can advance in devotional service...”</i>
Looked at another way, I fall into that ‘most fallen’ category. This you personally explained to me when you replied to an email I first sent you in which I expressed my concerns about how I had done everything Prabhupada’s books say not to do. You gave me assurance by explaining that I was the property of Lord Caitanya who claims the most fallen as recipients for His magnanimous mercy <i>(Krsna-prema-pradaya te)</i>. You, as His representative, came to claim me, who am rightly His property.
Now I am yours Gurudeva. How did this happen? What mercy I have received.
I want to thank you for the best years of my life. It has been so wonderful. I am very happy. I am very grateful. I don’t get bord. I am excited to make advancement in Krsna consciousness. You have made my life so rich with the wealth of research work into Krsna-bhakti. I just want to read more and more, I can’t get enough. Thank you so much for Srila Prabhupada’s books. Thank you for your amazing classes. Thank you for your rocking kirtanas. Thank you for the holy name, the <i>maha-mantra</i>. Thank you for my God brothers. Thank you for the brahmacari ashrama. Thank you for book distribution which helps me to realize my good fortune of having a lifestyle based on Krsna-bhakti, a lifestyle based on chanting <i>Hare Krsna</i>. Thank you for service at Krishna House and other outreach opportunities. Outreach helps me to see the obvious suffering people are experiencing due to gross ignorance and ultimately living a life devoid of Krsna consciousness. The fogginess of hedonism is gradually fading with the rising of the Krsna-bhakti sun. Let there be all victory for the congregational chanting of the holy name of Lord Krsna <i>(vijayate sri-krsna-sankirtanam)</i>. Thank you Gurudeva!
I feel that my words are rather cheap in comparison to the invaluable jewels you are giving like the <i>nyasis-siromani</i>, Lord Caitanya, the crown jewel of the sannyasis, the <i>cintamani-dhama</i>, palaces made of touchstone, and the <i>purusa-bhusana</i>, the jewel among men, Lord Sri Krsna. And it is surely a joke to consider these words of appreciation as adequate reciprocation for what you have done and are doing for me. As Srila Prabhupada writes in the purport for SB 4.22.47, <i>“...a person who tries to repay the spiritual master or teacher of the transcendental message of Krsna becomes a laughingstock just like a joker because it is not possible to repay such a debt...”</i> What then should I do about this apparent paradox? I guess I will have to concede to a life of humiliation as I make attempts to please you with efforts that are never enough to repay the unpayable debt.
I imagine my greatest pleasure to be for you to consider me a valuable asset for your service to Srila Prabhupada and the illustrious <i>Brahma Madhva Gaudiya Vaishnava Sampradaya</i>. To achieve this end I will tightly embrace the sound of laughter for my purification as I submit my humble service attempts at your lotus feet again and again.
Like Lord Brahma, who prayed to Lord Sri Krsna at the end of the <i>brahma-vimohana-lila</i>, please <i>“...Accept my humble obeisances until the annihilation of this material world. As long as there is sunshine within this material world, kindly accept my humble obeisances...”</i>
Your servant
Damodara Krsna dasa
Danakeli Devi Dasi ( chile )
hare krishna guru maharaja .
le ofresco mis humildes reverencias .
todas las glorias a Srila Prabhupada .
hoy en su vyasa-puja, tengo una vez mas la oportunidad de poder glorificarlo.
comenzare por lo principal, que es agradecerle por otro año de tener la misericordia de estar bajo su guia .
me parece como si fuera ayer cuando entre por primera vez por la puerta del templo, sin saber nada acerca de krishna y sus devotos, llevando una vida completamente vacia y sin sentido .
gracias a la misericordia de krishna, Srila Prabhupada llego desde India en un largo y muy sacrificado viaje, para hacer que muchos jovenes y personas de todas las edades pudieran encontrar el verdadero sentido de sus vidas.
uno de esos jovenes fue usted guru deva.
muchas veces he escuchado a devotos mayores contar pasatiempos acerca de como usted y sus hermanos espirituales, ponian en riesgo sus propias vidas, con tal de satisfacer el deseo de Srila Prabhupada de distribuir sus libros.
aunque ya lo he escuchado cientos de veces siempre me genera el mismo sentimiento de orgullo de tenerlo como maestro espiritual .
sin duda usted nos predica con su propio ejemplo, la entrega que devemos tener hacia el guru y el compromiso tan grande que tenemos con Srila Prabhupada, quien fue un instrumento de krishna para rescatarnos de las miserias de este mundo material, y enseñarnos el camino de regreso a krishna.
en los dias prebios a su vyasa-puja siempre me da un poco de nostalgia no poder servirlo directamente o tener la oportunidad de leerle mi ofrenda personalmente. pero hace algunos dias atras escuche un pasatiempo del libro "el nectar de Prabhupada ", donde el devoto Panca Dravida Swami, le pregunta a Srila Prabhupada que como el podia entender que tenia una relacion personal con Srila Prabhupada al barrer o lavar el piso del templo en algun sitio del otro lado del mundo,y que como podia saber si lo estaba sirviendo personalmente.
Prabhupada le respondio: "ISKCON es tan grande, pero yo soy pequeño " . luego explico que en realidad Panca Dravida no tenia que hacer nada, que el era responsable directo de mantener todos los templos limpios ,barrerlos y ver que las ollas estubieran lavadas, pero que no podia hacer todo por si mismo, asi que de esa manera le pedia a Panca Dravida que lo ayudara en el templo predicando y barriendo el suelo.
cuando escuche este hermoso pasatiempo comprendi que krishna me estaba dando la respuesta a este sentimiento que tenia, y cada vez que lo recuerdo, me da fuerzas para seguir ayudandole a usted y a Srila Prabhupada con un granito de arena, a mantener la predica , y la limpieza de uno de los muchos templos de ISKCON que hay alrededor de todo el mundo.
con mucho mas que decir, pero sin intencion de quitarle mas de su valioso tiempo se despide su eterna sirvienta .
Danakeli Devi Dasi .
le ofresco mis humildes reverencias .
todas las glorias a Srila Prabhupada .
hoy en su vyasa-puja, tengo una vez mas la oportunidad de poder glorificarlo.
comenzare por lo principal, que es agradecerle por otro año de tener la misericordia de estar bajo su guia .
me parece como si fuera ayer cuando entre por primera vez por la puerta del templo, sin saber nada acerca de krishna y sus devotos, llevando una vida completamente vacia y sin sentido .
gracias a la misericordia de krishna, Srila Prabhupada llego desde India en un largo y muy sacrificado viaje, para hacer que muchos jovenes y personas de todas las edades pudieran encontrar el verdadero sentido de sus vidas.
uno de esos jovenes fue usted guru deva.
muchas veces he escuchado a devotos mayores contar pasatiempos acerca de como usted y sus hermanos espirituales, ponian en riesgo sus propias vidas, con tal de satisfacer el deseo de Srila Prabhupada de distribuir sus libros.
aunque ya lo he escuchado cientos de veces siempre me genera el mismo sentimiento de orgullo de tenerlo como maestro espiritual .
sin duda usted nos predica con su propio ejemplo, la entrega que devemos tener hacia el guru y el compromiso tan grande que tenemos con Srila Prabhupada, quien fue un instrumento de krishna para rescatarnos de las miserias de este mundo material, y enseñarnos el camino de regreso a krishna.
en los dias prebios a su vyasa-puja siempre me da un poco de nostalgia no poder servirlo directamente o tener la oportunidad de leerle mi ofrenda personalmente. pero hace algunos dias atras escuche un pasatiempo del libro "el nectar de Prabhupada ", donde el devoto Panca Dravida Swami, le pregunta a Srila Prabhupada que como el podia entender que tenia una relacion personal con Srila Prabhupada al barrer o lavar el piso del templo en algun sitio del otro lado del mundo,y que como podia saber si lo estaba sirviendo personalmente.
Prabhupada le respondio: "ISKCON es tan grande, pero yo soy pequeño " . luego explico que en realidad Panca Dravida no tenia que hacer nada, que el era responsable directo de mantener todos los templos limpios ,barrerlos y ver que las ollas estubieran lavadas, pero que no podia hacer todo por si mismo, asi que de esa manera le pedia a Panca Dravida que lo ayudara en el templo predicando y barriendo el suelo.
cuando escuche este hermoso pasatiempo comprendi que krishna me estaba dando la respuesta a este sentimiento que tenia, y cada vez que lo recuerdo, me da fuerzas para seguir ayudandole a usted y a Srila Prabhupada con un granito de arena, a mantener la predica , y la limpieza de uno de los muchos templos de ISKCON que hay alrededor de todo el mundo.
con mucho mas que decir, pero sin intencion de quitarle mas de su valioso tiempo se despide su eterna sirvienta .
Danakeli Devi Dasi .
Dandakaranya das & Vrindaranya devi dasi
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.
Dearest Gurumaharaja,
Please accept our humble respects on the auspicious day of your appearance.
As life runs its transitory course, its always reassuring to know that there is one constant, our relationship with Guru and Gauranga. In this modern age one of the biggest challenges is maintaining meaningful inter-personal relationships, based on the principles of mutual respect, trust and appreciation.
As we can see from your example, by cultivating Krsna consciousness, with the right attitude, naturally a person develops so many wonderful Vaisnava qualities. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu lists the 26 qualities of a Vaisnava as:
1. Kind to everyone, 2. Does not quarrel with anyone, 3. Fixed in the Absolute Truth, 4. Equal to everyone, 5. Faultless, 6. Charitable, 7. Mild, 8. Clean, 9. Simple, without material possession, 10. Benevolent, 11. Peaceful, 12. Completely attached to Krsna, 13. Has no material hankering, 14. Meek, 15. Steady, 16. Self-controlled, 17. Does not eat more than required, 18. Sane, 19. Respectful, 20. Humble, 21. Grave, 22. Compassionate, 23. Friendly, 24. Poetic, 25. Silent, 26. Expert.
Being in your personal association we can see these qualities inherent in your character, therefore we should not take your sanga for granted.
It is an honor and a privilege to be able to render you some personal service from time to time, and we always feel uplifted and inspired when the opportunity comes.
So thank you for tolerating our existence, and we hope that we can be of some service to you in some small way.
Your servants,
Dandakaranya das and Vrindaranya devi dasi.
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.
Dearest Gurumaharaja,
Please accept our humble respects on the auspicious day of your appearance.
As life runs its transitory course, its always reassuring to know that there is one constant, our relationship with Guru and Gauranga. In this modern age one of the biggest challenges is maintaining meaningful inter-personal relationships, based on the principles of mutual respect, trust and appreciation.
As we can see from your example, by cultivating Krsna consciousness, with the right attitude, naturally a person develops so many wonderful Vaisnava qualities. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu lists the 26 qualities of a Vaisnava as:
1. Kind to everyone, 2. Does not quarrel with anyone, 3. Fixed in the Absolute Truth, 4. Equal to everyone, 5. Faultless, 6. Charitable, 7. Mild, 8. Clean, 9. Simple, without material possession, 10. Benevolent, 11. Peaceful, 12. Completely attached to Krsna, 13. Has no material hankering, 14. Meek, 15. Steady, 16. Self-controlled, 17. Does not eat more than required, 18. Sane, 19. Respectful, 20. Humble, 21. Grave, 22. Compassionate, 23. Friendly, 24. Poetic, 25. Silent, 26. Expert.
Being in your personal association we can see these qualities inherent in your character, therefore we should not take your sanga for granted.
It is an honor and a privilege to be able to render you some personal service from time to time, and we always feel uplifted and inspired when the opportunity comes.
So thank you for tolerating our existence, and we hope that we can be of some service to you in some small way.
Your servants,
Dandakaranya das and Vrindaranya devi dasi.
Dayamaya devi dasi
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All Glories to you on your VyasaPuja.
Gurudeva,
I feel incapable of glorifying you on this auspicious day of your appearance. I’hv but very little knowledge of your sacrifice and dedication to your spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, so I cannot comprehend your greatness. However, I find my connection to you through your lectures. Whatever I know about you is by listening to your Vani.
Your lectures are a source of great inspiration for me. Even just by listening to you for 15-20 minutes everyday on my way to sankirtana, gives me the strength to do this service. Through your lectures, I can feel how convinced you are about Krsna Consciousness, and that convinces me about the purpose of my life ie I solely exist to serve you.
You have given me everything that I need in order to assist you. You have given shelter to my mortal body in the form of Bhakti Lounge, the association of gem like God-sisters for my mind and the Holy Name and His service for me, the soul.
On this auspicious day of your Appearance, I beg you to allow me to cling to your lotus feet in the form of your instructions and empower me to assist you in anyway you may desire.
Your aspiring servant and daughter,
Dayamaya devi dasi.
Dayavira das
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
namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine
nirvisesha-sunyavadi-pascatya-desa-tarine
Rare in this world is one willing to share divine truth, with the populace at large.
Rarer still is one willing to share spiritual perfection free of charge.
To be in this world but not of it, is a standard you have achieved.
By all your outreach preaching a great burden of ignorance, has been much relieved.
Through deep compassion, you reached out to the most hardened hearts in this age of Kali.
Turning so many lives around, giving us all shelter as a Krishna devotee.
Like a well of limitless nectar, you shower us with your merciful glance.
Not considering our ill motives, that should disqualify us from receiving a second chance.
With all good qualities imbued in you, by the grace of the great saintly rises.
It is a wonder in this dark age of quarrel, that you are not listed among the endangered species.
So potently vibrating the all attractive sound of Sri Hari.
You elevate our consciousness up to the very best it can be.
Your full conviction in Krishna's words, has installed firm faith in many a fallen soul.
Thus armed with knowledge and detachment, those under your wing are sure to reach the ultimate goal.
Please accept this humble homage for all your loving care, dear Gurudeva.
Without your constant shelter, I would be eternally bound as maya`s slave.
Your servant, Dayavira das
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
namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine
nirvisesha-sunyavadi-pascatya-desa-tarine
Rare in this world is one willing to share divine truth, with the populace at large.
Rarer still is one willing to share spiritual perfection free of charge.
To be in this world but not of it, is a standard you have achieved.
By all your outreach preaching a great burden of ignorance, has been much relieved.
Through deep compassion, you reached out to the most hardened hearts in this age of Kali.
Turning so many lives around, giving us all shelter as a Krishna devotee.
Like a well of limitless nectar, you shower us with your merciful glance.
Not considering our ill motives, that should disqualify us from receiving a second chance.
With all good qualities imbued in you, by the grace of the great saintly rises.
It is a wonder in this dark age of quarrel, that you are not listed among the endangered species.
So potently vibrating the all attractive sound of Sri Hari.
You elevate our consciousness up to the very best it can be.
Your full conviction in Krishna's words, has installed firm faith in many a fallen soul.
Thus armed with knowledge and detachment, those under your wing are sure to reach the ultimate goal.
Please accept this humble homage for all your loving care, dear Gurudeva.
Without your constant shelter, I would be eternally bound as maya`s slave.
Your servant, Dayavira das
Deval Joshi
Dear Sri Devamrita Maharaj ,
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada,
Dear Guryudeva,
One more year has passed since I had the golden opportunity to meet you in person for few minutes during last year in Vrindavan Dham . The meeting was so very special and encouraging for me as it gave a strong feeling being a close member and a connectivity in Srila Prabhupada's movement through your Grace.
Once again, I feel very fortunate to be given a chance to glorify your Grace on the special day of your Vyasa- Puja festival! I have always felt a great respect towards you Gurudeva, whenever I get a chance to hear about your lecturers and preaching efforts worldwide. I liked watching a lot of your cheerful and blissful photographs on the Facebook in the recent months.
Your beaming smile is encouraging and gives a hope to a struggling & insignificant person like me to carry on somehow and other in Krishna conscious process. I have not been able to serve you much in any capacity till date but I do relish our last year's meeting.
Dear Gurudeva, I would also like to express my desire to be able to get a life time opportunity to see if I can serve you in coming future in some direct or indirect ways.
As of now , Frank y and honestly , I don't have much to say, only thing what I can say is that I appreciate your extraordinary skills of presenting Krishna Consciousness to every one.
The next day of your auspicious Vyas-puja festival, on 21st Oct , I shall try to cheer on my own insignificant b'day..On that particular day ,I shall beg to request you to please bless me so that I may be able to render some services unto you.
Last but not the least, how can I forget to glorify most respectful Daivisakti Mataji in Vrindavan, who has always instructed me to become serious in Krishna bhakti and to understand the gravity & responsibility of serving your Grace. And also my obeisances to your loving disciples -Gokula-ranjana Prabhu and Shyama Gauri Mataji who are always so committed to serve you and reflect same sincerity in their behavior.
Thank you once again Gurudeva,
Your aspiring servant,
Deval Joshi
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada,
Dear Guryudeva,
One more year has passed since I had the golden opportunity to meet you in person for few minutes during last year in Vrindavan Dham . The meeting was so very special and encouraging for me as it gave a strong feeling being a close member and a connectivity in Srila Prabhupada's movement through your Grace.
Once again, I feel very fortunate to be given a chance to glorify your Grace on the special day of your Vyasa- Puja festival! I have always felt a great respect towards you Gurudeva, whenever I get a chance to hear about your lecturers and preaching efforts worldwide. I liked watching a lot of your cheerful and blissful photographs on the Facebook in the recent months.
Your beaming smile is encouraging and gives a hope to a struggling & insignificant person like me to carry on somehow and other in Krishna conscious process. I have not been able to serve you much in any capacity till date but I do relish our last year's meeting.
Dear Gurudeva, I would also like to express my desire to be able to get a life time opportunity to see if I can serve you in coming future in some direct or indirect ways.
As of now , Frank y and honestly , I don't have much to say, only thing what I can say is that I appreciate your extraordinary skills of presenting Krishna Consciousness to every one.
The next day of your auspicious Vyas-puja festival, on 21st Oct , I shall try to cheer on my own insignificant b'day..On that particular day ,I shall beg to request you to please bless me so that I may be able to render some services unto you.
Last but not the least, how can I forget to glorify most respectful Daivisakti Mataji in Vrindavan, who has always instructed me to become serious in Krishna bhakti and to understand the gravity & responsibility of serving your Grace. And also my obeisances to your loving disciples -Gokula-ranjana Prabhu and Shyama Gauri Mataji who are always so committed to serve you and reflect same sincerity in their behavior.
Thank you once again Gurudeva,
Your aspiring servant,
Deval Joshi
Dharmaraj das
Nama om Visnu padaya Krishna presthaya bhu-tale srimate Devamrita swami iti namine
Pracare purva daksyam ca
bhaktacara pravinata
parartha atapi karunyam
yasya sarve ca te namah
Dearest and beloved Gurumaharaj,
Many of the qualities that define you as a devotee of the Lord, is confirmed by the scriptures, and on this special day, I only ask of Sri Krishna and again exclaim its virtues Gurudev, at this time, it is increasingly coupling goes to material desire, driven by the influence of the age of Kali, His work, Gurudev, becomes more glorious
and worthy of being followed, since you took refuge in the lotus feet of the Lord, who is the spiritual Master orginal.
yat-iva sevayagner rudra rodanam
vijahyam Puman malam atmans tamah
varnam bhajeta nija that so 'avyayo
sa bhūyāt isah paramo guror Guruh
¨Whoever wants liberation from material entanglement must be devoted to the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and leave the contamination of ignorance, which are fastened to
pious and impious activities. With that recover their spiritual identity, in the same way that a piece of gold or silver can be seen from all impurities when subjected to the action of fire. May that Supreme Personaliaaad be our teacher espirirtual inexhaustible, for He is the original spiritual master of all other spiritual teachers¨
SB 8.24.48
Gurudev've started a new stage in my life, with faith that your mercy can give me the joy of being able to serve with devotion, at some point, and have that satisfaction and have pleased, Jay Gurudev, happy Vyasa puja
Your aspirant to servant,
Dharmaraj das
Pracare purva daksyam ca
bhaktacara pravinata
parartha atapi karunyam
yasya sarve ca te namah
Dearest and beloved Gurumaharaj,
Many of the qualities that define you as a devotee of the Lord, is confirmed by the scriptures, and on this special day, I only ask of Sri Krishna and again exclaim its virtues Gurudev, at this time, it is increasingly coupling goes to material desire, driven by the influence of the age of Kali, His work, Gurudev, becomes more glorious
and worthy of being followed, since you took refuge in the lotus feet of the Lord, who is the spiritual Master orginal.
yat-iva sevayagner rudra rodanam
vijahyam Puman malam atmans tamah
varnam bhajeta nija that so 'avyayo
sa bhūyāt isah paramo guror Guruh
¨Whoever wants liberation from material entanglement must be devoted to the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and leave the contamination of ignorance, which are fastened to
pious and impious activities. With that recover their spiritual identity, in the same way that a piece of gold or silver can be seen from all impurities when subjected to the action of fire. May that Supreme Personaliaaad be our teacher espirirtual inexhaustible, for He is the original spiritual master of all other spiritual teachers¨
SB 8.24.48
Gurudev've started a new stage in my life, with faith that your mercy can give me the joy of being able to serve with devotion, at some point, and have that satisfaction and have pleased, Jay Gurudev, happy Vyasa puja
Your aspirant to servant,
Dharmaraj das
Dhira Bhakta das
Hare Krishna
Please Accept My Humble Obeisances
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada
Dear Devamrita Swami Maharaja
Staring at a blank document page that should be filled with glorification of you my mind simply goes blank, it's not a case of writers block but the inadequacy of words; seeing and hearing from others who have been touched by you, listening to the various classes and reading the small insights posted remains inspirational.
Words of glory is one thing but the best praise is to take to heart your instructions realizing how vital it is to follow dilligently as you give the best example of service and devotion in the way you live your life.
Guidance and inspiration, dilligence in following your own Guru Maharaja's instructions impresses on my mind the need to also do the same in mine; a leader leads by example and you have shown us the most amazing example of how to live our lifes.
So words seem pointless almost inadequate to express my gratitiude for the mercy and example you have shown to me along with the greatest of tollerance.
So on this vyasa puja day I just praise and feel fortunate for your appearance in this world full of missery to guide and save lost spirit souls like myself and guide them back home back to Sri Krishna
Yours Humbly
Dhirabhakta Das
Please Accept My Humble Obeisances
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada
Dear Devamrita Swami Maharaja
Staring at a blank document page that should be filled with glorification of you my mind simply goes blank, it's not a case of writers block but the inadequacy of words; seeing and hearing from others who have been touched by you, listening to the various classes and reading the small insights posted remains inspirational.
Words of glory is one thing but the best praise is to take to heart your instructions realizing how vital it is to follow dilligently as you give the best example of service and devotion in the way you live your life.
Guidance and inspiration, dilligence in following your own Guru Maharaja's instructions impresses on my mind the need to also do the same in mine; a leader leads by example and you have shown us the most amazing example of how to live our lifes.
So words seem pointless almost inadequate to express my gratitiude for the mercy and example you have shown to me along with the greatest of tollerance.
So on this vyasa puja day I just praise and feel fortunate for your appearance in this world full of missery to guide and save lost spirit souls like myself and guide them back home back to Sri Krishna
Yours Humbly
Dhirabhakta Das
Dhira-Lalita 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”
Srila Gurudeva – please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to your appearance Srila Gurudeva
This is a great opportunity for me today to make an attempt to glorify you on very special occasion of your appearance day. I find myself in a situation where I am trying to glorify a person who is already greatly renowned on this planet for his expertise and innovation in preaching Krsna consciousness. Being your disciple it is my duty to glorify my spiritual master according to my capacity. Although my capacity is very limited but your personality is so glorious and there are many thing s to say on that. We glorify you everyday singing Guruastakam prayer, but today is even more special being the day of your appearance.
Your fame as a great speaker of Krsna philosophy and its delivery to variety of audience is well known around the world. Hearing Srimad Bhagavatam from you is so attractive and gives one enthusiasm to hear more and more. You always speak to establish the glories of the personality of Supreme Person, Lord Sri Krsna.
mahāprabhoḥ kīrtana-nṛtya-gīta-
vāditra-mādyan-manaso rasena
Your chanting of Hare Krsna mahamantra in kirtans leaves a deep impact on hearts of the listeners. Many persons who have had the fortune of hearing your kirtans certainly find themselves mesmerized by the Holy name. They become enlivened chanting the Holy names, jumping higher and higher seeing you chanting like a roaring lion. People forget all their fears and hesitations and chant in great ecstasy getting your pure association. What a great fortune occurs to such souls who get such opportunity in human form of life.
Seeing your attractive personal qualities and having the fortune to come in contact with you makes me also realize its significance. I am very grateful to devotees who introduced me to the Loft which is a refuge for many conditioned souls seeking protection from Material energy. In the course of time as we hear more about your personal qualities and your activities, certainly the desire to know you increases more and more. Gradually one learns from devotees the best way to make a relation with you is to engage in devotional service. One also learns, just by engaging in devotional service and serving the devotees like a servant, one can please you the most.
yuktasya bhaktāḿś ca niyuñjato 'pi
Srila Gurudev, You make many arrangements to engage your disciples in devotional service. Persons interested to understand and aspiring to participate in Sankirtan movement of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu are given so much care and expert guidance by your disciples. All this happens in your personal guidance. This is how you show your compassion for all the conditioned souls. I am grateful to you for giving me opportunity to seek guidance from expert mentor and senior vaisnavas here.
Hearing from Srimad Bhagavatam one develops intelligence to distinguish between material and spiritual life. By hearing Bhagavatam and seeking guidance from devotees my intelligence has also started to develop to some extent. I have observed how for many parents great anxiety is to help their children make a bright future. However these parents due to lack of intelligence and knowledge of Krsna consciousness are not able to really help their children. Their major concern is to get them good education in making money and get settled, once they secure a big paying job or business. Parents who have little or no knowledge of spiritual life feel great satisfaction once they have done this duty forgetting the real goal of life. Majority of them are so sure to think that is the best way to settle in life, have a good job, beautiful husband or wife, big house & good health and so on. Not many persons are fortunate enough to be born in families of devotees and hence their future is very dark.
Turning the pages of Bhagavatam and reading glories of devotees engaged in service of the Supreme Lord constantly, one is able to understand glories of devotional service and Spiritual Master. Sastra states certainly the position of Spiritual Master like you is glorious who offers the best Krsna conscious lifestyle opportunities to his disciples. All glories to you who make different ashram arrangements according to time and place for devotees. At these ashrams one is able to perform devotional service and make the best use of their lives. This is certainly the real and the best settlement.
saḿsāra-dāvānala-līḍha-loka-
trāṇāya kāruṇya-ghanāghanatvam
prāptasya kalyāṇa-guṇārṇavasya
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
Srila Gurudev, You save the conditioned souls from blazing fire of material existence by engaging them in devotional service out of causeless mercy. How can one pay the debt of such mercy? You are saving people from the rat race of chasing false happiness in material realm. You do it very expertly by offering them access to the source of all pleasures, following the chain of disciplic succession starting from Supreme Lord himself. All glories to you who have come to show the success of this Vedic technology by his personal example and save many conditioned souls.
brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva
guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja
Out of great kindness you also saved me from engaging in pursuit of following illusory happiness and accepted as a disciple by initiating me in Krsna consciousness. It is a great favour and I am eternally indebted to you for this Srila Gurudeva.
yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo
yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto 'pi
It is stated in sastra by mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of the Supreme Person, Krsna. Out of compassion, you also offered me an opportunity to engage in full time service which is to happen soon Krsna willing. Owing these debts to you, I am obligated to pay them and therefore my duty is to perform service unto you which is the only way to attempt to repay. On this special day I pray to you to be more merciful and grant me knowledge, enthusiasm and strength to be used as an instrument in devotional service.
O Spiritual father, you are expert (Daksya) in dealing with devotees, therefore I pray to you to give me intelligence so I can learn to deal with devotees appropriately. This will certainly help me serve the devotees with gratitude and humility, for your pleasure and it will be pleasing to devotees also. I have many shortcomings and due to them will make mistakes therefore I need your mercy even more. Getting your mercy I will also become sincere and strong in service to you and Lord Gauranga and the vaisnavas.
Your aspiring servant
Dhira-Lalita Dasa
srimate devamrita swamin iti namine
pracare purva-daksyam ca bhaktacara-pravinata
pararthatapi karunyam yasya sarve ca te namah”
Srila Gurudeva – please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to your appearance Srila Gurudeva
This is a great opportunity for me today to make an attempt to glorify you on very special occasion of your appearance day. I find myself in a situation where I am trying to glorify a person who is already greatly renowned on this planet for his expertise and innovation in preaching Krsna consciousness. Being your disciple it is my duty to glorify my spiritual master according to my capacity. Although my capacity is very limited but your personality is so glorious and there are many thing s to say on that. We glorify you everyday singing Guruastakam prayer, but today is even more special being the day of your appearance.
Your fame as a great speaker of Krsna philosophy and its delivery to variety of audience is well known around the world. Hearing Srimad Bhagavatam from you is so attractive and gives one enthusiasm to hear more and more. You always speak to establish the glories of the personality of Supreme Person, Lord Sri Krsna.
mahāprabhoḥ kīrtana-nṛtya-gīta-
vāditra-mādyan-manaso rasena
Your chanting of Hare Krsna mahamantra in kirtans leaves a deep impact on hearts of the listeners. Many persons who have had the fortune of hearing your kirtans certainly find themselves mesmerized by the Holy name. They become enlivened chanting the Holy names, jumping higher and higher seeing you chanting like a roaring lion. People forget all their fears and hesitations and chant in great ecstasy getting your pure association. What a great fortune occurs to such souls who get such opportunity in human form of life.
Seeing your attractive personal qualities and having the fortune to come in contact with you makes me also realize its significance. I am very grateful to devotees who introduced me to the Loft which is a refuge for many conditioned souls seeking protection from Material energy. In the course of time as we hear more about your personal qualities and your activities, certainly the desire to know you increases more and more. Gradually one learns from devotees the best way to make a relation with you is to engage in devotional service. One also learns, just by engaging in devotional service and serving the devotees like a servant, one can please you the most.
yuktasya bhaktāḿś ca niyuñjato 'pi
Srila Gurudev, You make many arrangements to engage your disciples in devotional service. Persons interested to understand and aspiring to participate in Sankirtan movement of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu are given so much care and expert guidance by your disciples. All this happens in your personal guidance. This is how you show your compassion for all the conditioned souls. I am grateful to you for giving me opportunity to seek guidance from expert mentor and senior vaisnavas here.
Hearing from Srimad Bhagavatam one develops intelligence to distinguish between material and spiritual life. By hearing Bhagavatam and seeking guidance from devotees my intelligence has also started to develop to some extent. I have observed how for many parents great anxiety is to help their children make a bright future. However these parents due to lack of intelligence and knowledge of Krsna consciousness are not able to really help their children. Their major concern is to get them good education in making money and get settled, once they secure a big paying job or business. Parents who have little or no knowledge of spiritual life feel great satisfaction once they have done this duty forgetting the real goal of life. Majority of them are so sure to think that is the best way to settle in life, have a good job, beautiful husband or wife, big house & good health and so on. Not many persons are fortunate enough to be born in families of devotees and hence their future is very dark.
Turning the pages of Bhagavatam and reading glories of devotees engaged in service of the Supreme Lord constantly, one is able to understand glories of devotional service and Spiritual Master. Sastra states certainly the position of Spiritual Master like you is glorious who offers the best Krsna conscious lifestyle opportunities to his disciples. All glories to you who make different ashram arrangements according to time and place for devotees. At these ashrams one is able to perform devotional service and make the best use of their lives. This is certainly the real and the best settlement.
saḿsāra-dāvānala-līḍha-loka-
trāṇāya kāruṇya-ghanāghanatvam
prāptasya kalyāṇa-guṇārṇavasya
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
Srila Gurudev, You save the conditioned souls from blazing fire of material existence by engaging them in devotional service out of causeless mercy. How can one pay the debt of such mercy? You are saving people from the rat race of chasing false happiness in material realm. You do it very expertly by offering them access to the source of all pleasures, following the chain of disciplic succession starting from Supreme Lord himself. All glories to you who have come to show the success of this Vedic technology by his personal example and save many conditioned souls.
brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva
guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja
Out of great kindness you also saved me from engaging in pursuit of following illusory happiness and accepted as a disciple by initiating me in Krsna consciousness. It is a great favour and I am eternally indebted to you for this Srila Gurudeva.
yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo
yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto 'pi
It is stated in sastra by mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of the Supreme Person, Krsna. Out of compassion, you also offered me an opportunity to engage in full time service which is to happen soon Krsna willing. Owing these debts to you, I am obligated to pay them and therefore my duty is to perform service unto you which is the only way to attempt to repay. On this special day I pray to you to be more merciful and grant me knowledge, enthusiasm and strength to be used as an instrument in devotional service.
O Spiritual father, you are expert (Daksya) in dealing with devotees, therefore I pray to you to give me intelligence so I can learn to deal with devotees appropriately. This will certainly help me serve the devotees with gratitude and humility, for your pleasure and it will be pleasing to devotees also. I have many shortcomings and due to them will make mistakes therefore I need your mercy even more. Getting your mercy I will also become sincere and strong in service to you and Lord Gauranga and the vaisnavas.
Your aspiring servant
Dhira-Lalita Dasa
Dina Dayala Devi Dasi
nama om vishnu-padaya krishna-presthaya bhu-tale
srimate devamrita-swamin iti namine
Prachare purva daksham ca bhaktachara pravinita
paratatapi karunyam yasya sarve ca te namaha
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
Appreciation of you and for the care you are giving devotees increases within me year after year. Especially in the last year, I have realized that your mercy is extremely precious and that I have been so fortunate to receive it.
Over your forty years of dedicated service to Srila Prabhupada, you have developed a wonderful model of western outreach and community. It can be said that you are a contemporary acarya of western preaching, manifesting Srila Prabhupada’s mercy in this particular way to show how western outreach can be successfully done, even in these most degraded times.
You gave a class in Manchester 2004 to support and inspire the devotees that were there to outreach. Listening to this class now, I realize how, in such an intimate way, you revealed the secret to western outreach. You explained that Krishna consciousness expands from the purified heart of a devotee and spreads with “the personal touch, with outreach heart-to-heart”.
Your disciples can all testify with their own experience how you personally reached out to them. I remember when you took the risk to reach out to me with the penetrating question, “What are you doing with your life?” It reached my heart and unleashed a waterfall of hot tears. But what reached me even more was that two years after I neglected your well-wishing advice (pleading with me), you didn’t turn me away; instead, you carefully continued to guide and support me.
Here is some of that class from 2004— the secret of western preaching from the heart of the purified devotee:
"The distributer of Krishna consciousness maintains the heart investment understanding that there are different types of people at different speeds in different situations, so regardless of the circumstances of the patient, the devotees go on showing their mercy. ‘Alright, if not this way, try that way. Don't give up. If you can't get through the front door, go around to the back door: if the back door is locked, try to get through a window—but somehow or other, try to be Krishna conscious.‘ You see, not everyone is going to walk up into the front door and step straight into Krishna consciousness. The path for many persons is crooked sometimes: two steps forwards, one step backwards, three steps sideways. So it takes a heart-felt sensitive devotee to handle all that, and you have to be prepared for being misunderstood, neglected. It's the natural human tendency, that when you invest your heart into something, you want a return. ‘Don't you understand? I want the best for you. We are giving you the best thing. Don't you understand?’ That's being a bit impersonal. A devotee— an actual competent distributer of Krishna consciousness keeps the heart invested and radiates in all circumstances, understanding the way the material world works, understanding there is such a thing as illusory energy and understanding the super excellence of devotional service."
Gurudeva, it takes a heart felt sensitive devotee to handle a little bit of outreach; but what does it take to handle a lifetime of outreach and to have accomplished what you have by the force of your devotional service?
When one reaches out from the heart, wearing one’s heart on one’s sleeve one can get hurt. One does get hurt, and even you (as you explain, a devotee does have their human side). Many times you would have felt the pain of rejection and the anguish of disappointment not only from new people or unstable disciples, but also from older devotees who opposed you. During these times, against all odds, you continued with acute spiritual intelligence, humility, and dedication to Srila Prabhupada by understanding the way of begging.
Gurudeva, you are most glorious. Krishna says, “There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear.”
This is a time for disciples to try and say thank you, because somehow or other, by fortune I met you and received your mercy. Thank you for personally reaching out to me and then giving me the shelter of a Krishna conscious community based on the culture of care and compassion. Thank you for giving me opportunities to go deeper and find shelter in Krishna consciousness by instructions, classes, and writings like Bhakti-bhava, always and especially when I start to flounder again. Thank you for emphasizing hearing and chanting, and showing how much nectar there is in this occupation, doing everything within your power to give us this satisfaction. And thank you for engaging us all in the ever-exciting work of outreach that engages the heart and connects us with the ever-expanding ocean of Krishna consciousness.
Praying for the service of your lotus feet,
Your servant and spiritual daughter,
Dina Dayala devi dasi.
srimate devamrita-swamin iti namine
Prachare purva daksham ca bhaktachara pravinita
paratatapi karunyam yasya sarve ca te namaha
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
Appreciation of you and for the care you are giving devotees increases within me year after year. Especially in the last year, I have realized that your mercy is extremely precious and that I have been so fortunate to receive it.
Over your forty years of dedicated service to Srila Prabhupada, you have developed a wonderful model of western outreach and community. It can be said that you are a contemporary acarya of western preaching, manifesting Srila Prabhupada’s mercy in this particular way to show how western outreach can be successfully done, even in these most degraded times.
You gave a class in Manchester 2004 to support and inspire the devotees that were there to outreach. Listening to this class now, I realize how, in such an intimate way, you revealed the secret to western outreach. You explained that Krishna consciousness expands from the purified heart of a devotee and spreads with “the personal touch, with outreach heart-to-heart”.
Your disciples can all testify with their own experience how you personally reached out to them. I remember when you took the risk to reach out to me with the penetrating question, “What are you doing with your life?” It reached my heart and unleashed a waterfall of hot tears. But what reached me even more was that two years after I neglected your well-wishing advice (pleading with me), you didn’t turn me away; instead, you carefully continued to guide and support me.
Here is some of that class from 2004— the secret of western preaching from the heart of the purified devotee:
"The distributer of Krishna consciousness maintains the heart investment understanding that there are different types of people at different speeds in different situations, so regardless of the circumstances of the patient, the devotees go on showing their mercy. ‘Alright, if not this way, try that way. Don't give up. If you can't get through the front door, go around to the back door: if the back door is locked, try to get through a window—but somehow or other, try to be Krishna conscious.‘ You see, not everyone is going to walk up into the front door and step straight into Krishna consciousness. The path for many persons is crooked sometimes: two steps forwards, one step backwards, three steps sideways. So it takes a heart-felt sensitive devotee to handle all that, and you have to be prepared for being misunderstood, neglected. It's the natural human tendency, that when you invest your heart into something, you want a return. ‘Don't you understand? I want the best for you. We are giving you the best thing. Don't you understand?’ That's being a bit impersonal. A devotee— an actual competent distributer of Krishna consciousness keeps the heart invested and radiates in all circumstances, understanding the way the material world works, understanding there is such a thing as illusory energy and understanding the super excellence of devotional service."
Gurudeva, it takes a heart felt sensitive devotee to handle a little bit of outreach; but what does it take to handle a lifetime of outreach and to have accomplished what you have by the force of your devotional service?
When one reaches out from the heart, wearing one’s heart on one’s sleeve one can get hurt. One does get hurt, and even you (as you explain, a devotee does have their human side). Many times you would have felt the pain of rejection and the anguish of disappointment not only from new people or unstable disciples, but also from older devotees who opposed you. During these times, against all odds, you continued with acute spiritual intelligence, humility, and dedication to Srila Prabhupada by understanding the way of begging.
Gurudeva, you are most glorious. Krishna says, “There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear.”
This is a time for disciples to try and say thank you, because somehow or other, by fortune I met you and received your mercy. Thank you for personally reaching out to me and then giving me the shelter of a Krishna conscious community based on the culture of care and compassion. Thank you for giving me opportunities to go deeper and find shelter in Krishna consciousness by instructions, classes, and writings like Bhakti-bhava, always and especially when I start to flounder again. Thank you for emphasizing hearing and chanting, and showing how much nectar there is in this occupation, doing everything within your power to give us this satisfaction. And thank you for engaging us all in the ever-exciting work of outreach that engages the heart and connects us with the ever-expanding ocean of Krishna consciousness.
Praying for the service of your lotus feet,
Your servant and spiritual daughter,
Dina Dayala devi dasi.
Divya Jnana dasa
Dear Gurudeva
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
My memories as a young devotee engaged in devotional service was one of a blissful experience. The most wonderful thing for me was to be able to go on sankirtan and preach about Krsna. Knowing that all my activities were satisfying to you was the perfection of my life. Thank you for instructing me to go out and preach Lord Chaitanya’s message. Your inspiration and devotion to Srila Prabhupada’s service is my motivation to continue in devotional service.
I realize that it can never be possible to thank you sufficiently for having come and saved me from the hellish condition of material existence. If it weren’t for your mercy I would certainly be a hopeless victim in the hands of maya.
On this most auspicious day of your Vyasa Puja, I can only try to rededicate myself to being always part of your service to Srila Prabhupada. Please let me serve you by serving usefully in your preaching , so that I may make a worthwhile contribution which will please you.
In the sastra it is explained that by the mercy of guru a lame man can cross mountains, a dumb man can speak eloquently, and a blind man can see the stars in the sky. Feeling somewhat lame, dumb and blind I can only depend on your mercy to be successful in Krsna Consciousness.
I pray that I can always remember your instructions and always take shelter at your lotus feet.
Your servant
Divya Jnana dasa
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
My memories as a young devotee engaged in devotional service was one of a blissful experience. The most wonderful thing for me was to be able to go on sankirtan and preach about Krsna. Knowing that all my activities were satisfying to you was the perfection of my life. Thank you for instructing me to go out and preach Lord Chaitanya’s message. Your inspiration and devotion to Srila Prabhupada’s service is my motivation to continue in devotional service.
I realize that it can never be possible to thank you sufficiently for having come and saved me from the hellish condition of material existence. If it weren’t for your mercy I would certainly be a hopeless victim in the hands of maya.
On this most auspicious day of your Vyasa Puja, I can only try to rededicate myself to being always part of your service to Srila Prabhupada. Please let me serve you by serving usefully in your preaching , so that I may make a worthwhile contribution which will please you.
In the sastra it is explained that by the mercy of guru a lame man can cross mountains, a dumb man can speak eloquently, and a blind man can see the stars in the sky. Feeling somewhat lame, dumb and blind I can only depend on your mercy to be successful in Krsna Consciousness.
I pray that I can always remember your instructions and always take shelter at your lotus feet.
Your servant
Divya Jnana dasa
Dixit Ramparsad
Nama om visnu-padaya
krsna presthaya bhutale
Srimate devamrta swami iti namine
Pracare purva daksyam ca
bhaktacara pravinitah
Paratatapi karunyam
yasya sarve ca te namah
Dear Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to you.
On this much anticipated day of Vyasa puja of yours, I would like to extend my gratitude towards you for trying to uplift this stubborn fallen soul who keeps on getting entangled in the clutches of Maya. With my minute and insignificant ability, I am trying to glorify your magnanimous qualities. Please gurudev apologise me for my childish endeavour.
Reflecting upon your instructions and how you have been advising me from previous years as well, this year a very big obstacle has been vanished without great efforts of mine. I still ponder on the instructions you gave me last time when I came to meet you at our Melbourne farm retreat and you were giving a class on how to make your parents a devotee. I then came up to you for personal darshan and when I pointed out how my parents were arya samajist and they were against me coming to temple in a way and it would be difficult to preach to them, you looked at me with a smiling face and asked me to stay here and keep up with my sadhana as I am still weak to affront the situation. You also told me on how to lead my life in such a way and become stronger so that when my parents see me, they will have no choice in accepting it. At that time, it seemed as if I was standing alone on the shore about to face a storm. I tried to abide to your instructions and stopped worrying too much about it and finally this year when they actually came to visit me for the first time, it was with great astonishment that they did not throw a lot of tantrums and accepted it. On the contrary I had the opportunity to even bring them to temple a couple of times and also to one harinama. Seeing that I was associating with devotees only and my dad who could not point out any bad qualities in them, he went back satisfied and with hopefully a change of approach to our Iskcon movement. Such has been the power of your words Maharaj.
Also this year, I had the opportunity to drop you off to the airport. I still remember I was chanting during the morning program, and Nanda Mandir prabhu came up to me and asked if I was free and could help him. At that point of time, I felt that I had the concentration at peak level and I was relishing the taste of chanting, especially after attending your previous night's house program at one of the devotees place. I was about to apologise and ask if the service could wait but out of curiosity, I simply went on inquiring what was it about. To drop Maharaj to the airport was the answer.
I was super excited but then I realised my car was maybe too small and inappropriate but Nanda Mandir prabhu hinted that we were to use the temple's car. I felt like it was a lifetime opportunity and enjoyed each and every second of that experience.(About how I went and carried your bags from 3rd level and raced down the stairs being fired up to make it all perfect and also dropping you inside the airport. Secretly, I was observing each and every movement of yours. I could easily feel that it was different, something extraordinary) At last came the point when you were about to enter the departure lounge. After having previously enquired in the car about where was I at regarding my course, and after I said thank you for your association to us Melbourne devotees, you simply turned to me with a smiling face and asked me to bring a balance to my life. At that moment, I just stood there watching you go with great awe and reverence. Soon after tears filled up my eyes when I realised without me telling you the current situation that I was facing, you simply gave the solution straight away. I could sense at that time I was even the centre of attraction by being in dhoti and kurta but I was so moved by your instructions that I became red. Outside, Nanda Mandir prabhu was waiting in the car and asked whether Maharaj said anything. I simply managed to laugh and said life changing words.
Dear guru maharaj, I wonder what I have done to benefit such wise directions. I am still too far down the list of being a servant of yours, but with a bit of some help I might just cling on and get close to the bottom of the barrel. On this auspicious day, I beg for your mercy and blessings to at least get a drop of the nectar. I cannot stress enough how unfortunate I have been that despite you providing the ocean of mercy, out of my selfish and stubborn behaviour, I am simply wasting my time and not doing as much as I would wish to. I just hope with your mercy and help of devotees I am able to advance in my spiritual life. In one of your lecture when you came this year, you mentioned how in kaliyuga everyone is a walking disaster, I just wish I could detach myself from this group and surrender myself to be able to serve you and other devotees and hopefully abide to teachings of Srila Prabhupada.
Eternally grateful to you,
The servant of your servant
Dixit
krsna presthaya bhutale
Srimate devamrta swami iti namine
Pracare purva daksyam ca
bhaktacara pravinitah
Paratatapi karunyam
yasya sarve ca te namah
Dear Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to you.
On this much anticipated day of Vyasa puja of yours, I would like to extend my gratitude towards you for trying to uplift this stubborn fallen soul who keeps on getting entangled in the clutches of Maya. With my minute and insignificant ability, I am trying to glorify your magnanimous qualities. Please gurudev apologise me for my childish endeavour.
Reflecting upon your instructions and how you have been advising me from previous years as well, this year a very big obstacle has been vanished without great efforts of mine. I still ponder on the instructions you gave me last time when I came to meet you at our Melbourne farm retreat and you were giving a class on how to make your parents a devotee. I then came up to you for personal darshan and when I pointed out how my parents were arya samajist and they were against me coming to temple in a way and it would be difficult to preach to them, you looked at me with a smiling face and asked me to stay here and keep up with my sadhana as I am still weak to affront the situation. You also told me on how to lead my life in such a way and become stronger so that when my parents see me, they will have no choice in accepting it. At that time, it seemed as if I was standing alone on the shore about to face a storm. I tried to abide to your instructions and stopped worrying too much about it and finally this year when they actually came to visit me for the first time, it was with great astonishment that they did not throw a lot of tantrums and accepted it. On the contrary I had the opportunity to even bring them to temple a couple of times and also to one harinama. Seeing that I was associating with devotees only and my dad who could not point out any bad qualities in them, he went back satisfied and with hopefully a change of approach to our Iskcon movement. Such has been the power of your words Maharaj.
Also this year, I had the opportunity to drop you off to the airport. I still remember I was chanting during the morning program, and Nanda Mandir prabhu came up to me and asked if I was free and could help him. At that point of time, I felt that I had the concentration at peak level and I was relishing the taste of chanting, especially after attending your previous night's house program at one of the devotees place. I was about to apologise and ask if the service could wait but out of curiosity, I simply went on inquiring what was it about. To drop Maharaj to the airport was the answer.
I was super excited but then I realised my car was maybe too small and inappropriate but Nanda Mandir prabhu hinted that we were to use the temple's car. I felt like it was a lifetime opportunity and enjoyed each and every second of that experience.(About how I went and carried your bags from 3rd level and raced down the stairs being fired up to make it all perfect and also dropping you inside the airport. Secretly, I was observing each and every movement of yours. I could easily feel that it was different, something extraordinary) At last came the point when you were about to enter the departure lounge. After having previously enquired in the car about where was I at regarding my course, and after I said thank you for your association to us Melbourne devotees, you simply turned to me with a smiling face and asked me to bring a balance to my life. At that moment, I just stood there watching you go with great awe and reverence. Soon after tears filled up my eyes when I realised without me telling you the current situation that I was facing, you simply gave the solution straight away. I could sense at that time I was even the centre of attraction by being in dhoti and kurta but I was so moved by your instructions that I became red. Outside, Nanda Mandir prabhu was waiting in the car and asked whether Maharaj said anything. I simply managed to laugh and said life changing words.
Dear guru maharaj, I wonder what I have done to benefit such wise directions. I am still too far down the list of being a servant of yours, but with a bit of some help I might just cling on and get close to the bottom of the barrel. On this auspicious day, I beg for your mercy and blessings to at least get a drop of the nectar. I cannot stress enough how unfortunate I have been that despite you providing the ocean of mercy, out of my selfish and stubborn behaviour, I am simply wasting my time and not doing as much as I would wish to. I just hope with your mercy and help of devotees I am able to advance in my spiritual life. In one of your lecture when you came this year, you mentioned how in kaliyuga everyone is a walking disaster, I just wish I could detach myself from this group and surrender myself to be able to serve you and other devotees and hopefully abide to teachings of Srila Prabhupada.
Eternally grateful to you,
The servant of your servant
Dixit
Dvaraka Puri
Please accept my humble obeisances
All Glories to Srila Pabhupada!
All Glories to Guru Deva!
Dearest Guru Maharaja,
On this very special day, the anniversary of your appearance day, I wish to take the opportunity to thank you for your ceaseless service and care and offer all praise to you.
You assume so many roles in order to guide your spiritual children closer to Krishna - utilising the many talents and love that Krishna has endowed you with. You waste nothing, especially time and love, as you offer it all back to our Lord - The perfect example set for your aspiring devotees to replicate.
I feel humbled in your presence and my ususal sense of spiritual poverty is always replenished after time with you.
I consistently pray to be able to love and serve you more deeply and when words fail me , as they so often do, simply let me dance, let me dance, let me dance for you and our sweet Lord!
All Glories to Srila Pabhupada!
All Glories to Guru Deva!
Dearest Guru Maharaja,
On this very special day, the anniversary of your appearance day, I wish to take the opportunity to thank you for your ceaseless service and care and offer all praise to you.
You assume so many roles in order to guide your spiritual children closer to Krishna - utilising the many talents and love that Krishna has endowed you with. You waste nothing, especially time and love, as you offer it all back to our Lord - The perfect example set for your aspiring devotees to replicate.
I feel humbled in your presence and my ususal sense of spiritual poverty is always replenished after time with you.
I consistently pray to be able to love and serve you more deeply and when words fail me , as they so often do, simply let me dance, let me dance, let me dance for you and our sweet Lord!
Dvaravati dasi
Hare Krishna! Dear Gurudev, please accept my obeisances. All Glories to Shrila Prabhupad!
Thank You for Your mercy, patience and compassion which You spill upon those who come in contact with You. Dear Gurudev, Your love and compassion heat Kali Yuga people hearts including my heart. Your selfless service to Shrila Prabhupad inspires me and initiate me to serve You and Shrila Prabhupada's mission with more dedication and aspiration. I desire to satisfy You by performing Your instructions. At present time I make efforts to become concentrated and stable. I still dress big Deities of Radha-Govinda one time a week. Also I build plans :-)
how to give my heart to devotees.
I am very thankful to Krishna that now my life belongs to You.
Always trying to become Your Real disciple, Your eternal servant Dvaravati dasi.
Thank You for Your mercy, patience and compassion which You spill upon those who come in contact with You. Dear Gurudev, Your love and compassion heat Kali Yuga people hearts including my heart. Your selfless service to Shrila Prabhupad inspires me and initiate me to serve You and Shrila Prabhupada's mission with more dedication and aspiration. I desire to satisfy You by performing Your instructions. At present time I make efforts to become concentrated and stable. I still dress big Deities of Radha-Govinda one time a week. Also I build plans :-)
how to give my heart to devotees.
I am very thankful to Krishna that now my life belongs to You.
Always trying to become Your Real disciple, Your eternal servant Dvaravati dasi.
Ekatma Gaur Das
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 Gurudev. Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to you. A Very Happy Vyasa Puja Day to you.
Gurudev, I always get amazed at how you deal with unique preaching challenges you face all the time. In one recent Melbourne University program, you came across a rational atheist and even though she was offensive with her arguments, you remained calm and composed like always, with a smile on your face you made a sincere attempt to clear her ignorance but when you saw that nothing will go through her head, you didn’t try to argue with her but on the other hand, you picked up her weakness of liking prasadam and you personally served her. Next day in your Bhagavatam lecture you mentioned about this incident and you added that we are not a debating society. Initially out of my ignorance, I thought you being an Uttama-Adhikari could have easily defeated all her arguments, but why didn’t you do that? Later, when I meditated on this, you only gave me the intelligence to think clearly and made me realise two things here, One you taught us how not to commit the Ninth offence against the chanting of holy names, i.e., to instruct a faithless person about the glories of holy name and Two by serving prasadam to the lady by your lotus hands, you assured that she will get attracted to Krishna someday.
I sometimes wonder, being a Sannyasi, how you know the insight of so many different kinds of people more than they know themselves! This is only because you have the full mercy of Krishna and Guru parampara to see everything with the eyes of sastra.
Thank you Gurudev for all your personal care, inspiration, advice and guidance that you give to me and my family so that we can follow Prabhupada’s instructions. Through your lectures you always remind us to keep things simple, but still I am involved in my material endeavours. On this auspicious day of your appearance, I beg at your lotus feet to please bless me with devotional humility and tolerance to progress in spiritual life.
Aspiring to be your useful servant
Ekatma Gaur Das
Srimate Devamrita Swamin iti namine
Pracare purva-daksyam ca,
Bhaktacara-pravinta Pararthatapi Karunyam,
Yasya sarve ca te namah
Dear Gurudev. Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to you. A Very Happy Vyasa Puja Day to you.
Gurudev, I always get amazed at how you deal with unique preaching challenges you face all the time. In one recent Melbourne University program, you came across a rational atheist and even though she was offensive with her arguments, you remained calm and composed like always, with a smile on your face you made a sincere attempt to clear her ignorance but when you saw that nothing will go through her head, you didn’t try to argue with her but on the other hand, you picked up her weakness of liking prasadam and you personally served her. Next day in your Bhagavatam lecture you mentioned about this incident and you added that we are not a debating society. Initially out of my ignorance, I thought you being an Uttama-Adhikari could have easily defeated all her arguments, but why didn’t you do that? Later, when I meditated on this, you only gave me the intelligence to think clearly and made me realise two things here, One you taught us how not to commit the Ninth offence against the chanting of holy names, i.e., to instruct a faithless person about the glories of holy name and Two by serving prasadam to the lady by your lotus hands, you assured that she will get attracted to Krishna someday.
I sometimes wonder, being a Sannyasi, how you know the insight of so many different kinds of people more than they know themselves! This is only because you have the full mercy of Krishna and Guru parampara to see everything with the eyes of sastra.
Thank you Gurudev for all your personal care, inspiration, advice and guidance that you give to me and my family so that we can follow Prabhupada’s instructions. Through your lectures you always remind us to keep things simple, but still I am involved in my material endeavours. On this auspicious day of your appearance, I beg at your lotus feet to please bless me with devotional humility and tolerance to progress in spiritual life.
Aspiring to be your useful servant
Ekatma Gaur Das
Felix Yan (Wellington)
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and your merciful lotus feet. Only by your grace can I purify my consciousness and attain pure devotional service.
This material world is created for living entities who are so attached to sensuous pleasure that they want to enjoy without God. With this sinful criminal mentality, they are obliged to go through the cycle of birth and death for numerous lives since time immemorial. To be one of those foolish rascals, I have been trying to adjust to this material world and exploit my bodily senses as much as possible for years in this life. Therefore, I have long forgotten my real identity and been tossed miserably by the waves of material ocean.
O master be merciful unto me! Thank you for kindly picking me up from the tossing waves of material illusion and imparting the king of knowledge to me. With the selfless help of your compassionate disciples, I start to realize what the perfectional stage of my life should be. It is so fascinating to join Caitanya Maha prabhu’s Sankirtan movement and perform my prescribed duty joyfully!
Furthermore, it is not enough to merely understand that I am not the body but the soul. As a neophyte practitioner of Krsna Consciousness, I need to put more stress on applying the teaching of you to my everyday activity. Fortunately, I begin to participate in the street book distribution in this year, which is such a nectared part of my spiritual life. I can feel that my soul can be nourished by devotional service and my life will be successful by serving other devotees.
On this auspicious day, may you give me the shade of your lotus feet to help me conquer all my material desires and get me ready for the battlement with Maya!
A humble servant of your servants,
Felix
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and your merciful lotus feet. Only by your grace can I purify my consciousness and attain pure devotional service.
This material world is created for living entities who are so attached to sensuous pleasure that they want to enjoy without God. With this sinful criminal mentality, they are obliged to go through the cycle of birth and death for numerous lives since time immemorial. To be one of those foolish rascals, I have been trying to adjust to this material world and exploit my bodily senses as much as possible for years in this life. Therefore, I have long forgotten my real identity and been tossed miserably by the waves of material ocean.
O master be merciful unto me! Thank you for kindly picking me up from the tossing waves of material illusion and imparting the king of knowledge to me. With the selfless help of your compassionate disciples, I start to realize what the perfectional stage of my life should be. It is so fascinating to join Caitanya Maha prabhu’s Sankirtan movement and perform my prescribed duty joyfully!
Furthermore, it is not enough to merely understand that I am not the body but the soul. As a neophyte practitioner of Krsna Consciousness, I need to put more stress on applying the teaching of you to my everyday activity. Fortunately, I begin to participate in the street book distribution in this year, which is such a nectared part of my spiritual life. I can feel that my soul can be nourished by devotional service and my life will be successful by serving other devotees.
On this auspicious day, may you give me the shade of your lotus feet to help me conquer all my material desires and get me ready for the battlement with Maya!
A humble servant of your servants,
Felix
Florian
Dear Devamrita Swami,
Please accept my respectful obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Thank you so much for all the work you are doing for Srila Prabhupada's movement, delivering so many conditioned souls, like me, to which you are so kind. Through your words, you spoke to me up to this point, and some of your history, which was shared with me by some of your amazing disciples, I was able to see, that you are definetely not an ordinary person. I had the pleasure to feel how concerned you are for persons like me, although you have bigger things going on.
Thank you also for giving birth to the project that we call "The Loft", because without your mercy I would never have had contact with any devotee of Lord Krishna, with any of your disciples, through whom one can guess how great you must be.
And thank you for the good time you have already given to me, for you are an expert kirtan-yogi, comedian and wise man, who's knowledge and voice penetrate through the body and give peace to the mind.
All glories to You and all Your disciples.
Hare Krishna.
Your servant,
Florian
Please accept my respectful obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Thank you so much for all the work you are doing for Srila Prabhupada's movement, delivering so many conditioned souls, like me, to which you are so kind. Through your words, you spoke to me up to this point, and some of your history, which was shared with me by some of your amazing disciples, I was able to see, that you are definetely not an ordinary person. I had the pleasure to feel how concerned you are for persons like me, although you have bigger things going on.
Thank you also for giving birth to the project that we call "The Loft", because without your mercy I would never have had contact with any devotee of Lord Krishna, with any of your disciples, through whom one can guess how great you must be.
And thank you for the good time you have already given to me, for you are an expert kirtan-yogi, comedian and wise man, who's knowledge and voice penetrate through the body and give peace to the mind.
All glories to You and all Your disciples.
Hare Krishna.
Your servant,
Florian
Fremah Kutu
Dear Devamrita Swami,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
At our first encounter; “I was sitting on the floor, right in front of you and I could see wow this person has something special! Everyone was so drawn to you. After attending six of your lectures you completely ripped my material life apart, it’s never been the same since. I was sure the examples you used in your lectures were being directed towards me, “people these days have no sense of direction, they just go with the flow, do what you feel is right for you.” These examples made it clear that I was living a life of illusion and it shook me to the core.
Thank you for opening my eyes to spiritual knowledge and pulling me out of ignorance.
Thank you for believing in me.
Thank you for giving me the chance for real happiness – not the artificial happiness you talked about in your lectures.
Thank you for wanting the best for me by giving me the opportunity to reach my spiritual potential.
Your aspiring servant,
Fremah
Please accept my humble obeisances.
At our first encounter; “I was sitting on the floor, right in front of you and I could see wow this person has something special! Everyone was so drawn to you. After attending six of your lectures you completely ripped my material life apart, it’s never been the same since. I was sure the examples you used in your lectures were being directed towards me, “people these days have no sense of direction, they just go with the flow, do what you feel is right for you.” These examples made it clear that I was living a life of illusion and it shook me to the core.
Thank you for opening my eyes to spiritual knowledge and pulling me out of ignorance.
Thank you for believing in me.
Thank you for giving me the chance for real happiness – not the artificial happiness you talked about in your lectures.
Thank you for wanting the best for me by giving me the opportunity to reach my spiritual potential.
Your aspiring servant,
Fremah
Gadai Gauranga dasa
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to you on this most auspicious day of your appearance.
Thank you for the maha mantra. This is the greatest gift. I am eternally indebted to you for this.
<i>Golokera prema-dhana, hari-nama-sankirtana</i>
Srila Prabhupada quoting Narottama dasa Thakura states it is imported from the spiritual world. (Lecture Los Angeles, November 13, 1968).
Caitanya Mahaprabhu said to Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya:
harer nama harer nama
harer namaiva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nasty eva
nasty eva gatir anyatha
“In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy, the only means of deliverance is the chanting of the holy names of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way.”
We are so fortunate that you have also provided all facility to chant with full attention. A small sample of what you have given us to aid in this attempt is:
1) Numerous practical demonstrations of how to actually chant with attention
2) A large sadhu sanga network
3) Contemporary ashrams for basic training
4) Respective Ashrams for further progress
5) Book distribution
6) Loft preaching
7) Prasad distribution
I think of Dhruva Maharaja while trying to write this offering. I am entirely dependent on your mercy. Actually, I cannot even glorify you without your mercy. As Visnu touched Dhruva on the head with the conch and thereby bestowed His mercy so Dhruva could offer prayers, please be merciful to me so I may follow your instructions to chant the holy name with attention and share the maha mantra with others.
Thank you for allowing me to be a servant of your servants. This is real wealth.
“The value of a moment’s association with a devotee of the Lord cannot be compared even to the attainment of the heavenly planets or liberation from matter, and what to speak of worldly benedictions in the form of material prosperity, which is for those who are meant for death.” (SB.1.18.13)
Thank you for your guidance, tolerance and patience. Although I keep planting and watering weeds, you constantly uproot them and protect the bhakti creeper.
Aspiring to be a sincere servant,
Gadai Gauranga dasa
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to you on this most auspicious day of your appearance.
Thank you for the maha mantra. This is the greatest gift. I am eternally indebted to you for this.
<i>Golokera prema-dhana, hari-nama-sankirtana</i>
Srila Prabhupada quoting Narottama dasa Thakura states it is imported from the spiritual world. (Lecture Los Angeles, November 13, 1968).
Caitanya Mahaprabhu said to Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya:
harer nama harer nama
harer namaiva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nasty eva
nasty eva gatir anyatha
“In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy, the only means of deliverance is the chanting of the holy names of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way.”
We are so fortunate that you have also provided all facility to chant with full attention. A small sample of what you have given us to aid in this attempt is:
1) Numerous practical demonstrations of how to actually chant with attention
2) A large sadhu sanga network
3) Contemporary ashrams for basic training
4) Respective Ashrams for further progress
5) Book distribution
6) Loft preaching
7) Prasad distribution
I think of Dhruva Maharaja while trying to write this offering. I am entirely dependent on your mercy. Actually, I cannot even glorify you without your mercy. As Visnu touched Dhruva on the head with the conch and thereby bestowed His mercy so Dhruva could offer prayers, please be merciful to me so I may follow your instructions to chant the holy name with attention and share the maha mantra with others.
Thank you for allowing me to be a servant of your servants. This is real wealth.
“The value of a moment’s association with a devotee of the Lord cannot be compared even to the attainment of the heavenly planets or liberation from matter, and what to speak of worldly benedictions in the form of material prosperity, which is for those who are meant for death.” (SB.1.18.13)
Thank you for your guidance, tolerance and patience. Although I keep planting and watering weeds, you constantly uproot them and protect the bhakti creeper.
Aspiring to be a sincere servant,
Gadai Gauranga dasa
Gaura Kishore dasa
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 Gurudeva,
In the purport to CC Adi 1:35, Srila Prabhupada makes the following point:
"The service of the spiritual master is essential. If there is no chance to serve the spiritual master directly, a devotee should serve him by remembering his instructions. There is no difference between the spiritual master's instructions and the spiritual master himself. In his absence, therefore, his words of direction should be the pride of the disciple. If one thinks that he is above consulting anyone else, including a spiritual master, he is at once an offender at the lotus feet of the Lord."
Reflecting on this most essential principle in the relationship between the disciple and guru, I can observe how year after year you strive to imbibe these words in both your preaching efforts as well as your personal dealings. By bringing us closer to Srila Prabhupada’s shelter within the ISKCON movement you continuously display your deep love and appreciation for what he has given you and in part all of us through his words and instructions. It is this most personal example that melts our steel framed hearts and opens up to possibility of reawakening our dormant love of God.
So I pray that in some small way I can continue to remember your instructions and endeavour to apply them more sincerely in my spiritual practices, in this way I can truly follow in your footsteps. And in so doing try to curb the stubborn independence that I have developed over many births and learn to become a true servant of the servant.
Your servant
Gaura Kishore dasa
krishna-presthaya bhu tale
srimate devamrita
svamin iti namine
pracare purva-daksyam ca
bhaktacara-pravinata
pararthatapi karunyam
yasya sarve ca te namah
Dear Gurudeva,
In the purport to CC Adi 1:35, Srila Prabhupada makes the following point:
"The service of the spiritual master is essential. If there is no chance to serve the spiritual master directly, a devotee should serve him by remembering his instructions. There is no difference between the spiritual master's instructions and the spiritual master himself. In his absence, therefore, his words of direction should be the pride of the disciple. If one thinks that he is above consulting anyone else, including a spiritual master, he is at once an offender at the lotus feet of the Lord."
Reflecting on this most essential principle in the relationship between the disciple and guru, I can observe how year after year you strive to imbibe these words in both your preaching efforts as well as your personal dealings. By bringing us closer to Srila Prabhupada’s shelter within the ISKCON movement you continuously display your deep love and appreciation for what he has given you and in part all of us through his words and instructions. It is this most personal example that melts our steel framed hearts and opens up to possibility of reawakening our dormant love of God.
So I pray that in some small way I can continue to remember your instructions and endeavour to apply them more sincerely in my spiritual practices, in this way I can truly follow in your footsteps. And in so doing try to curb the stubborn independence that I have developed over many births and learn to become a true servant of the servant.
Your servant
Gaura Kishore dasa
Gaura Prema das, Nitai Prema dd, & Krishna Prema das
Dearest Gurudev,
Please accept our humble obeisances at the dust of your lotus feet.
radha-sammukha-samsaktim
sakhi-sanga-nivasinim
tvam aham satatam vande
madhavasraya-vigraham
"Oh spiritual master, I continually offer my obeisances unto you, who are always in the presence of Srimati Radharani and very much devoted to Her. You always reside in the association of Her confidants, the gopis, and you are the abode of loving devotion to Krsna."
Without your mercy and shelter, how else can we, the fallen residents of Kali yuga, hear of the ultimate loving abode of Lord Krishna and His pleasure potency, Srimati Radharani. By accepting us as your disciples, you have given us the greatest gift and for this, we are eternally thankful.
We pray at the Lotus Feet of the Panca Tattva that your preaching mission continues to grow exponentially and that Lord Krishna, as the Paramatma, softens the hearts of all who hear your message.
Your humble servants,
Gaura Prema das, Nitai Prema dd, and Krishna Prema das
Please accept our humble obeisances at the dust of your lotus feet.
radha-sammukha-samsaktim
sakhi-sanga-nivasinim
tvam aham satatam vande
madhavasraya-vigraham
"Oh spiritual master, I continually offer my obeisances unto you, who are always in the presence of Srimati Radharani and very much devoted to Her. You always reside in the association of Her confidants, the gopis, and you are the abode of loving devotion to Krsna."
Without your mercy and shelter, how else can we, the fallen residents of Kali yuga, hear of the ultimate loving abode of Lord Krishna and His pleasure potency, Srimati Radharani. By accepting us as your disciples, you have given us the greatest gift and for this, we are eternally thankful.
We pray at the Lotus Feet of the Panca Tattva that your preaching mission continues to grow exponentially and that Lord Krishna, as the Paramatma, softens the hearts of all who hear your message.
Your humble servants,
Gaura Prema das, Nitai Prema dd, and Krishna Prema das
Gaura-arati Dasi
To my dearmost Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
“The Lord, being full and free from problems, can wholeheartedly care for his devotees. His concern is how to elevate and protect all those who have taken shelter of His lotus feet. The same responsibility is also entrusted to the spiritual master. The bona fide spiritual master’s concern is how the devotees who have surrendered to him as a representative of the Lord may make progress in devotional service.” CC Adi 1.62 pp
This is something that strikes me about you Gurudeva - your tireless ability to care for the devotees, and your skill in always knowing, in every situation, what will be best for our advancement in Krishna consciousness.
With one concise sentence you can fuel our service for years...
With one roll of your eyes you can initiate a 180 ‘U-turn’ on some ‘great plan we’ve been making...’
With a big jolly laugh you help us realize our illusions and foolishness...
With a few words of appreciation you make hours, weeks or months of apparent struggle in our service welcomed again... and again...
Even periods of silence from you give us realization!
Whether a strong rebuke or oodles of affection you always endear us to deepen our commitment to Krishna’s service - <i>if indeed that is what we want.</i>
Obviously, we are not dealing with any ordinary person.
Due to your acting wholly and solely to assist Srila Prabhupada in his life mission you are that bonafide spiritual master, firmly connected through parampara in pure devotional service. You are that bonafide spiritual master free from personal problems, who has so selflessly taken on the responsibility of helping all those who have surrendered unto you, with our piles of problems, pride, emotional baggage and weird idiosyncrasies, to make progress in devotional service. You are that bonafide spiritual master, evidenced by your ability to transform the character and heart of your dependents, allowing us to gradually leave behind our tendency for selfish life and enabling us to see the clear and encouraging path of Krishna’s service, Krishna’s pleasure.
Your words, your glances, your laughing, your chastisements, your affection and your silence are all refined, controlled (not at all whimsical), strikingly appropriate and timely. It’s amazing - You always know what is best for us.
Please count me as one of the servants who have taken shelter at your lotus feet. Please help me make progress in devotional service so I may in turn better assist you in your service to Srila Prabhupada. Sincerely, there is nothing I long for more than this opportunity. To be of some use to you in your devotional service.
In a few months I’ll be moving into the grhastha phase of life. This situation as far as I have seen, can either be one of great distraction, or one of stabilization. And I have a slight fear. I’m afraid that I may receive less instructions from you, less responsibility and devotional service opportunity and therefore be easily bogged down by endless material complexities. My desire is to come to the stage of having your service and desires perpetually in the forefront of my consciousness, for your service to be my constant engagement, my most cherished asset. To know how to please you in every situation, and act upon that knowledge. I realize that this will take a great focus and a control of the mind that I’m yet to develop, but what I also realize is that your merciful and generous nature is beyond my ability to comprehend.
“Brhaspati informed Indra that Bali Maharaja’s prowess was not his own but that of his exalted Guru, Sukracarya. By the pleasure of the spiritual master, one can get extraordinary power, especially in spiritual advancement. The blessings of the spiritual master are more powerful than one’s personal endeavor for such advancement.” SB 8.15.28
Guru Maharaja, on this most glorious day of your Vyasa Puja, I want to thank you for always knowing what is best and giving me the best. And, I’m going to be the cheeky Gaura-arati I’m known to be. I’m going to ask for more of your mercy. For more depth in my Krishna consciousness, so I may be of better use to you in your service to Srila Prabhupada. You always know what is best for my advancement so please Gurudeva, whether it’s thunder-like or rose-like, please instruct me in your service for my betterment.
Desiring to be situated under your lotus-like feet,
Gaura-arati dasi
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
“The Lord, being full and free from problems, can wholeheartedly care for his devotees. His concern is how to elevate and protect all those who have taken shelter of His lotus feet. The same responsibility is also entrusted to the spiritual master. The bona fide spiritual master’s concern is how the devotees who have surrendered to him as a representative of the Lord may make progress in devotional service.” CC Adi 1.62 pp
This is something that strikes me about you Gurudeva - your tireless ability to care for the devotees, and your skill in always knowing, in every situation, what will be best for our advancement in Krishna consciousness.
With one concise sentence you can fuel our service for years...
With one roll of your eyes you can initiate a 180 ‘U-turn’ on some ‘great plan we’ve been making...’
With a big jolly laugh you help us realize our illusions and foolishness...
With a few words of appreciation you make hours, weeks or months of apparent struggle in our service welcomed again... and again...
Even periods of silence from you give us realization!
Whether a strong rebuke or oodles of affection you always endear us to deepen our commitment to Krishna’s service - <i>if indeed that is what we want.</i>
Obviously, we are not dealing with any ordinary person.
Due to your acting wholly and solely to assist Srila Prabhupada in his life mission you are that bonafide spiritual master, firmly connected through parampara in pure devotional service. You are that bonafide spiritual master free from personal problems, who has so selflessly taken on the responsibility of helping all those who have surrendered unto you, with our piles of problems, pride, emotional baggage and weird idiosyncrasies, to make progress in devotional service. You are that bonafide spiritual master, evidenced by your ability to transform the character and heart of your dependents, allowing us to gradually leave behind our tendency for selfish life and enabling us to see the clear and encouraging path of Krishna’s service, Krishna’s pleasure.
Your words, your glances, your laughing, your chastisements, your affection and your silence are all refined, controlled (not at all whimsical), strikingly appropriate and timely. It’s amazing - You always know what is best for us.
Please count me as one of the servants who have taken shelter at your lotus feet. Please help me make progress in devotional service so I may in turn better assist you in your service to Srila Prabhupada. Sincerely, there is nothing I long for more than this opportunity. To be of some use to you in your devotional service.
In a few months I’ll be moving into the grhastha phase of life. This situation as far as I have seen, can either be one of great distraction, or one of stabilization. And I have a slight fear. I’m afraid that I may receive less instructions from you, less responsibility and devotional service opportunity and therefore be easily bogged down by endless material complexities. My desire is to come to the stage of having your service and desires perpetually in the forefront of my consciousness, for your service to be my constant engagement, my most cherished asset. To know how to please you in every situation, and act upon that knowledge. I realize that this will take a great focus and a control of the mind that I’m yet to develop, but what I also realize is that your merciful and generous nature is beyond my ability to comprehend.
“Brhaspati informed Indra that Bali Maharaja’s prowess was not his own but that of his exalted Guru, Sukracarya. By the pleasure of the spiritual master, one can get extraordinary power, especially in spiritual advancement. The blessings of the spiritual master are more powerful than one’s personal endeavor for such advancement.” SB 8.15.28
Guru Maharaja, on this most glorious day of your Vyasa Puja, I want to thank you for always knowing what is best and giving me the best. And, I’m going to be the cheeky Gaura-arati I’m known to be. I’m going to ask for more of your mercy. For more depth in my Krishna consciousness, so I may be of better use to you in your service to Srila Prabhupada. You always know what is best for my advancement so please Gurudeva, whether it’s thunder-like or rose-like, please instruct me in your service for my betterment.
Desiring to be situated under your lotus-like feet,
Gaura-arati dasi
Gaura-mantra devi dasi
Ma om visnu padaya
Krishna presthaya bhutale
Srimate Devamrita Swamin
Iti namine
Pracare purva daksyam ca
Bhaktacara pravinatha
Pararthatapi karunyam
Yasya sarve ca te namaha
To my dear Spiritual Master and Father.
Dear Guru Maharaja, please accept my most humble obeisances to Your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to Your Divine Grace on this very special day of Your Appearance!
On this most auspicious day of Your appearance though feeling completely useless and unqualified to properly glorify Your divine Personality, still for Your pleasure I will try my best. You often say that reciting Lord’s pure vaisnavas’ and acaryas’ prayers is more pleasing to Krishna than making up our own prayers. These amazing quotes glorifying the position of the Spiritual Master are a big inspiration for me in serving You:
Yasya deve para bhaktir
Yatha deve tatha gurau
Tasyaite hy arthaha
Prakasante mahatmanaha
“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”. (Svetasvatara Upanisad 6.23)
Samavahaya guros caram
“If one rejects the lotus feet of one’s Spiritual Master, all of his previous spiritual advancement becomes null and void.” (SB 11.2.38pp)
“By the instruction of a bona fide Spiritual Master, a living entity can know of his spiritual position, his material body, his senses, how he is entrapped, and how he is under the spell of the material modes of nature”. (BG14.19)
“Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur has pointed out that the original cause of offending the Lord and falling down from one’s position is one’s not learning how to properly worship a bona fide Spiritual Master. One who is trained to offer respectful obeisance and worship to the bona fide Spiritual Master automatically offers proper worship to the Supreme Lord. Without the mercy of a bona fide Spiritual master even a so called religious man will gradually become atheistic, offend the Lord by foolish speculation and fall into a hellish condition of life” (SB11.5.3.pp)
Gurudev, being so much into all spheres of my life, since quite early age You have always been both my dear Spiritual Master and most caring Spiritual Father.
Gurudev, this year my faith in Guru was severely tested. But since not a blade of grass will move without Krishna’s will and since whatever He does is perfect and absolute, it helped me to realize how everything that I do in my Krishna Consciousness – from rising early in the morning to going out to preach – is out of affection for You. You are that transcendental thread that pearls are strung upon.
Srimad Bhagavatam (10.70.18) describes Krishna as follows: “He would appear like the moon surrounded by the circle of stars called naksatras”. Gurudev, this is how I see You each time You appear in kirtan amongst Your devoted disciples.
It is said that Guru is best glorified by his disciples’ success, advancement in devotional service and elevated vaisnava qualities. Out of Your endless compassion You placed me in this amazing temple community, letting me observe and learn from Your wonderful disciples. Each time I look at my dear god-sisters and god-brothers who possess such incredible devotional characteristics I realize what an insurmountable distance I still have to go to actually be worthy of being your disciple. I just hope that one day I will be able to glorify You in the same way.
Once in Your lecture describing the proper guru-disciple relationship you mentioned there must be intimacy, that is taking Guru’s mission as one’s life and soul. Decade after decade You so selflessly, risking Your life dedicated Yourself to Your own Spiritual Master’s mission, showing us the perfect example of real love and guru-disciple relationship.
Srimad Bhagavatam (10.86.52) states, “One can gradually become purified by seeing, touching and worshipping the Deities, places of pilgrimage and holy rivers. But one can attain the same result immediately simply by receiving the glance of exalted sages”.
You tirelessly travel around the world waking up the conditioned souls back to their original Krishna Consciousness. Once back in 2005 visiting the remotes part of the former communist country, western Siberia, Russia, You mercifully granted me the chance to give up this animalistic kali-yuga lifestyle.
SB (11.2.5pp) says, “While engaged in preaching work he has to meet with so many opposing elements, and therefore the sadhu, or devotee of the Lord, has to be very tolerant. Someone may ill-treat him, because the conditioned souls are not prepared to receive the transcendental knowledge of devotional service. The sadhu has the thankless task of impressing upon them the importance of devotional service.”
Gurudev, Your tolerance knows no bounds. I have nothing in my existence to be proud of, but You are my only pride. That somehow or other by the causeless mercy of Srila Prabhupada now this insignificant kali-yuga creature has the Lord’s pure devotee, Your Holiness Devamrita swami, as both most qualified Spiritual Master and loving Spiritual Father.
Your each and every class, being a masterpiece, leaves me speechless. Your outstanding ability to just within one hour or less present the word’s completely devastated condition on all levels, cultural background analyses and the clear-cut solutions that the bhakti academy provides.
However, the most paramount and irreplaceable part of your preaching mood has always been distribution of Srila Prabhupada’s transcendental books, to which You have fully dedicated Your own life and now enthusiastically encouraging all Your disciples to take up this blissful activity. I cannot express my gratitude enough for engaging me in distributing Lord Caitanya’s glories in this way, which You also call “the family business”. Obviously being a walking mess myself, it is just by Your causeless mercy that I have this most rare chance to help other people change their lives and again turn back to Krishna; without it my own life immediately becomes dry, selfish and deprived of any taste, like a desert.
Concluding I would like to mention this Bhagavatam verse that so beautifully describes Lord Caitanya’s sankirtana mood which is so much like Yours:
“Out of sheer mercifulness You chased after the fallen conditioned souls, who are always in pursuit of the false enjoyment of illusion, and at the same time engaged in searching out Your own desired object, Lord Shyamasundara”. (11.5.34)
Gurudev, my heart is made of stone and is steel-framed and I am forever indebted to You. But on this day I dare to humbly beg for a benediction to sacrifice my life – and if required the next one and the next one – as an instrument in Your lotus hands for spreading Lord Caitanya’s glories in the form of kirtan and Srila Prabhupada’s transcendental books.
Param vijayate sri Krishna sankirtana!
Struggling to become Your unconditional servant,
Gaura-mantra dasi.
Krishna presthaya bhutale
Srimate Devamrita Swamin
Iti namine
Pracare purva daksyam ca
Bhaktacara pravinatha
Pararthatapi karunyam
Yasya sarve ca te namaha
To my dear Spiritual Master and Father.
Dear Guru Maharaja, please accept my most humble obeisances to Your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to Your Divine Grace on this very special day of Your Appearance!
On this most auspicious day of Your appearance though feeling completely useless and unqualified to properly glorify Your divine Personality, still for Your pleasure I will try my best. You often say that reciting Lord’s pure vaisnavas’ and acaryas’ prayers is more pleasing to Krishna than making up our own prayers. These amazing quotes glorifying the position of the Spiritual Master are a big inspiration for me in serving You:
Yasya deve para bhaktir
Yatha deve tatha gurau
Tasyaite hy arthaha
Prakasante mahatmanaha
“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”. (Svetasvatara Upanisad 6.23)
Samavahaya guros caram
“If one rejects the lotus feet of one’s Spiritual Master, all of his previous spiritual advancement becomes null and void.” (SB 11.2.38pp)
“By the instruction of a bona fide Spiritual Master, a living entity can know of his spiritual position, his material body, his senses, how he is entrapped, and how he is under the spell of the material modes of nature”. (BG14.19)
“Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur has pointed out that the original cause of offending the Lord and falling down from one’s position is one’s not learning how to properly worship a bona fide Spiritual Master. One who is trained to offer respectful obeisance and worship to the bona fide Spiritual Master automatically offers proper worship to the Supreme Lord. Without the mercy of a bona fide Spiritual master even a so called religious man will gradually become atheistic, offend the Lord by foolish speculation and fall into a hellish condition of life” (SB11.5.3.pp)
Gurudev, being so much into all spheres of my life, since quite early age You have always been both my dear Spiritual Master and most caring Spiritual Father.
Gurudev, this year my faith in Guru was severely tested. But since not a blade of grass will move without Krishna’s will and since whatever He does is perfect and absolute, it helped me to realize how everything that I do in my Krishna Consciousness – from rising early in the morning to going out to preach – is out of affection for You. You are that transcendental thread that pearls are strung upon.
Srimad Bhagavatam (10.70.18) describes Krishna as follows: “He would appear like the moon surrounded by the circle of stars called naksatras”. Gurudev, this is how I see You each time You appear in kirtan amongst Your devoted disciples.
It is said that Guru is best glorified by his disciples’ success, advancement in devotional service and elevated vaisnava qualities. Out of Your endless compassion You placed me in this amazing temple community, letting me observe and learn from Your wonderful disciples. Each time I look at my dear god-sisters and god-brothers who possess such incredible devotional characteristics I realize what an insurmountable distance I still have to go to actually be worthy of being your disciple. I just hope that one day I will be able to glorify You in the same way.
Once in Your lecture describing the proper guru-disciple relationship you mentioned there must be intimacy, that is taking Guru’s mission as one’s life and soul. Decade after decade You so selflessly, risking Your life dedicated Yourself to Your own Spiritual Master’s mission, showing us the perfect example of real love and guru-disciple relationship.
Srimad Bhagavatam (10.86.52) states, “One can gradually become purified by seeing, touching and worshipping the Deities, places of pilgrimage and holy rivers. But one can attain the same result immediately simply by receiving the glance of exalted sages”.
You tirelessly travel around the world waking up the conditioned souls back to their original Krishna Consciousness. Once back in 2005 visiting the remotes part of the former communist country, western Siberia, Russia, You mercifully granted me the chance to give up this animalistic kali-yuga lifestyle.
SB (11.2.5pp) says, “While engaged in preaching work he has to meet with so many opposing elements, and therefore the sadhu, or devotee of the Lord, has to be very tolerant. Someone may ill-treat him, because the conditioned souls are not prepared to receive the transcendental knowledge of devotional service. The sadhu has the thankless task of impressing upon them the importance of devotional service.”
Gurudev, Your tolerance knows no bounds. I have nothing in my existence to be proud of, but You are my only pride. That somehow or other by the causeless mercy of Srila Prabhupada now this insignificant kali-yuga creature has the Lord’s pure devotee, Your Holiness Devamrita swami, as both most qualified Spiritual Master and loving Spiritual Father.
Your each and every class, being a masterpiece, leaves me speechless. Your outstanding ability to just within one hour or less present the word’s completely devastated condition on all levels, cultural background analyses and the clear-cut solutions that the bhakti academy provides.
However, the most paramount and irreplaceable part of your preaching mood has always been distribution of Srila Prabhupada’s transcendental books, to which You have fully dedicated Your own life and now enthusiastically encouraging all Your disciples to take up this blissful activity. I cannot express my gratitude enough for engaging me in distributing Lord Caitanya’s glories in this way, which You also call “the family business”. Obviously being a walking mess myself, it is just by Your causeless mercy that I have this most rare chance to help other people change their lives and again turn back to Krishna; without it my own life immediately becomes dry, selfish and deprived of any taste, like a desert.
Concluding I would like to mention this Bhagavatam verse that so beautifully describes Lord Caitanya’s sankirtana mood which is so much like Yours:
“Out of sheer mercifulness You chased after the fallen conditioned souls, who are always in pursuit of the false enjoyment of illusion, and at the same time engaged in searching out Your own desired object, Lord Shyamasundara”. (11.5.34)
Gurudev, my heart is made of stone and is steel-framed and I am forever indebted to You. But on this day I dare to humbly beg for a benediction to sacrifice my life – and if required the next one and the next one – as an instrument in Your lotus hands for spreading Lord Caitanya’s glories in the form of kirtan and Srila Prabhupada’s transcendental books.
Param vijayate sri Krishna sankirtana!
Struggling to become Your unconditional servant,
Gaura-mantra dasi.
Gauraraya das (srs)
Dear Srila Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble dandavat obeisance at your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada .
Patita Pavana
‘Friend of the fallen’
You have been and are a real friend to me, a friend who has not given up even when the door was closed in your face. Please forgive me.
You are a friend who gives my Spiritual Master regular updates of my progress, when I am so unable to do so myself. Keeping my Diksa connection alive and kicking, you carry news of my steps in Krsna consciousness to him, steps which are only possible by your kindness. This news, which I should be relaying myself, of which each step is an evidence of your blessing, is that which is most dear to me, (although I dare not admit it even to myself how much this means to me) news that may please that most cherished of personalities H.H. Srila Sivarama Swami. What a great kindness this is that you should take it upon yourself to do this. I cannot truly fathom the depth of it.
Your mercy is truly all that I am made of.
You are a friend who does not shy away from the hard words of truth when they are needed.
‘It’s not too late to turn your life around’ you said to me as i drove you back to Vishnu maya’s house one day, your face turned toward me from the passenger seat trying to catch my attention you looked me in the eye with such compassion, my heart opened and let go a fraction more.
Things aren’t that bad are they? Am I balanced on the knife’s edge? But I can see how unaware of the danger I am in, of being swept away by the all powerful current of time. The precious hours, days, months and years already lost. I can only lament how much time has past, misspent, frittered and wasted in such an offhand way.
‘Purification not putrefication Gauraraya!’
How these words stung! You all but shouted them in my face as i sat there right at your feet at Jhulan Yatra’s house, in front of 50 other devotees. That verbal slap was ringing my ears, I had nowhere to go but to look up at you and surrender, and that sting became a cool relief, a long slither of glasslike sharp envy being removed from my heart, and what a sweetness I found came in such pain. May that sweetness come again, again and yet again.
And last but not least ‘thanks but no thanks’ I can’t believe I said those words to you, I hang my head in shame. You came to my home, to my very door and I closed that door in your face. Yet you continued to reach out to me and help in my Spiritual life. More and more with every passing year I understand just how much your mercy is truly all that I am made of.
I was talking recently with one of your disciples Krsnagraja Prabhu and he was appreciating how much you really care for the devotees, and as he said this I could see the depth of the truth of that statement. Even after all that you have done for me I am still in the grave danger of being ungrateful. Please bless me with the intelligence and heart to truly value the gift of devotional life that you are making available to me, to look to the bright future that you offer in your extended hand and make it my life and soul.
May I always remain your servant in the service of Guru and Krsna.
Gauraraya dasa.
Please accept my humble dandavat obeisance at your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada .
Patita Pavana
‘Friend of the fallen’
You have been and are a real friend to me, a friend who has not given up even when the door was closed in your face. Please forgive me.
You are a friend who gives my Spiritual Master regular updates of my progress, when I am so unable to do so myself. Keeping my Diksa connection alive and kicking, you carry news of my steps in Krsna consciousness to him, steps which are only possible by your kindness. This news, which I should be relaying myself, of which each step is an evidence of your blessing, is that which is most dear to me, (although I dare not admit it even to myself how much this means to me) news that may please that most cherished of personalities H.H. Srila Sivarama Swami. What a great kindness this is that you should take it upon yourself to do this. I cannot truly fathom the depth of it.
Your mercy is truly all that I am made of.
You are a friend who does not shy away from the hard words of truth when they are needed.
‘It’s not too late to turn your life around’ you said to me as i drove you back to Vishnu maya’s house one day, your face turned toward me from the passenger seat trying to catch my attention you looked me in the eye with such compassion, my heart opened and let go a fraction more.
Things aren’t that bad are they? Am I balanced on the knife’s edge? But I can see how unaware of the danger I am in, of being swept away by the all powerful current of time. The precious hours, days, months and years already lost. I can only lament how much time has past, misspent, frittered and wasted in such an offhand way.
‘Purification not putrefication Gauraraya!’
How these words stung! You all but shouted them in my face as i sat there right at your feet at Jhulan Yatra’s house, in front of 50 other devotees. That verbal slap was ringing my ears, I had nowhere to go but to look up at you and surrender, and that sting became a cool relief, a long slither of glasslike sharp envy being removed from my heart, and what a sweetness I found came in such pain. May that sweetness come again, again and yet again.
And last but not least ‘thanks but no thanks’ I can’t believe I said those words to you, I hang my head in shame. You came to my home, to my very door and I closed that door in your face. Yet you continued to reach out to me and help in my Spiritual life. More and more with every passing year I understand just how much your mercy is truly all that I am made of.
I was talking recently with one of your disciples Krsnagraja Prabhu and he was appreciating how much you really care for the devotees, and as he said this I could see the depth of the truth of that statement. Even after all that you have done for me I am still in the grave danger of being ungrateful. Please bless me with the intelligence and heart to truly value the gift of devotional life that you are making available to me, to look to the bright future that you offer in your extended hand and make it my life and soul.
May I always remain your servant in the service of Guru and Krsna.
Gauraraya dasa.
Gaurav Sharma (Punjab/IND)
Respected Sri Srimad Devamrita Swami Maharaj,
Please accept my useless dandavat pranaams at your lotus like feet.
Sri Guru Gauranga Jayate!
Srila Prabhupada Jayate!
Dear Swami Maharaj,
On the blessed occasion of your Vyas puja, I offer my humble prayers for your good health, and I thank you for your wonderful works, both online and offline, literary and personal. All your projects, even the smallest piece you write, are self-evidently a product of your deep devotion to Srila Prabhupada and the acharyas, this is evident to even the most fallen of a persons, like me.
Having been a recipient of your mercy, personal care and guidance, I'd always be indebted to you. Though, I feel embarrassed that I have never been able to render any service to you to express my gratitude.
While reminiscing the time I was under your care in 2008 at Sri Govardhan, I see how I was so fortunate to be in the presence of someone so deeply infused with hearing and chanting.
I seek your compassionate blessings to be able to do some good to my self.
Your indebted foolish servant,
Gaurav Sharma
Please accept my useless dandavat pranaams at your lotus like feet.
Sri Guru Gauranga Jayate!
Srila Prabhupada Jayate!
Dear Swami Maharaj,
On the blessed occasion of your Vyas puja, I offer my humble prayers for your good health, and I thank you for your wonderful works, both online and offline, literary and personal. All your projects, even the smallest piece you write, are self-evidently a product of your deep devotion to Srila Prabhupada and the acharyas, this is evident to even the most fallen of a persons, like me.
Having been a recipient of your mercy, personal care and guidance, I'd always be indebted to you. Though, I feel embarrassed that I have never been able to render any service to you to express my gratitude.
While reminiscing the time I was under your care in 2008 at Sri Govardhan, I see how I was so fortunate to be in the presence of someone so deeply infused with hearing and chanting.
I seek your compassionate blessings to be able to do some good to my self.
Your indebted foolish servant,
Gaurav Sharma
Gitavali devi dasi
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to you on this most auspicious day of your appearance.
Today, I’d like to take this opportunity to glorify you, to tell you how much you mean to me, to let you know how I appreciate and love what you do.
I hope I don’t sound too proud, but deep down I am very proud to be one of your disciples. Everything that you do in your daily life is fully centred around your Krishna consciousness, in helping others come to Krishna consciousness, nurturing the devotees in Krishna consciousness. I love this quote that describes this in the 10th canto of Srimad Bhagavatam:
“Even while engaged in various activities, devotees whose minds are completely absorbed at Your lotus feet, and who constantly hear, chant, contemplate and cause others to remember Your transcendental names and forms, are always on the transcendental platform, and thus they can understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”
The care and attention you offer, the time you take for us is so valuable and I cherish the moments that I’ve had being your next door neighbour in good ol’…Otahuhu.
For the last 3 years, whenever you’d stay in Auckland, you’d stay with us, at the Yatra’s house. I feel privileged to have gotten this chance to serve you there. Now time, like everything, is taking you away from us so you can be closer to a bigger Vaisnava community: New Varshana. I feel like I didn’t take the chance to serve you nicely enough. I feel like I could’ve done a whole lot more to serve you wholeheartedly in person, while I still could. My self-centeredness is so engrained in me and I apologies for that. I do think how fortunate we are to have you around so much throughout the year. You may have moved, but not too far away.
Recently I finished reading “Many Moons”, the very inspiring book you gave us to read, written by your Godbrother Giriraja Swami. In it I read so many instances of exemplary disciple serving their Gurus so amazingly. I got introduced to many wonderful departed Vaisnavas I never got to know before and through their stories, I felt so uplifted to want to serve you better. There is a quote in “Many Moons” from the Krishna Book that I’d like to share:
“And as Lord Krishna told his friend Sudama: “If a man is sufficiently educated in student life under the guidance of a proper teacher, his life becomes successful in the future. He can very easily cross over the ocean of nescience, and he is not subjected to the influence of the illusory energy…As the Supersoul of the living entities, I sit in everyone’s heart and observe everyone’s activity in every stage and order of life. Regardless of which stage one is in, when I see that one is engaged seriously and sincerely in discharging the duties ordered by the spiritual master and is thus dedicating his life to the service of the spiritual master, that person becomes most dear to Me…(We) can realise that without the blessings of the spiritual master no one can be happy. By the mercy of the spiritual master and by his blessings, one can achieve peace and prosperity and be able to fulfil the mission of human life”
(Krsna, chapter 80)
I have to admit that when we last dropped you off at the airport, I felt very sad and was silently crying in the back of the car knowing that this is probably the last time we drive you to the airport. I knew we’d be separated from you for 4 months. It was very late and you were heading towards Asia. A place where I’ve never dreamt of going, but you are happily going there to spread Krishna consciousness. To me, you are an incredible, and amazing personality. To me, Gurudeva, you are my hero.
I also want to thank you for writing the article that you put up on Facebook. I really enjoy reading them as they are full of real life Bhakti in action. Quoting some parts from one of your last articles:
“ Far from our natural status, we struggle. Slaves of our mind and senses, we muddle—bluffing and slogging our way through the deserts and swamps of yet another lifetime.
Maya offers a myth. What Sri Chaitanya offers is real. Though the ultimate goal of life seems so far away, please know for sure that it is certainly progressively achieved.
“Unalloyed love of Krishna is like an ocean of happiness. If someone gets one drop of it, the whole world can drown in that drop.” (Cc. Madhya 2.49)
Standing on the shore of the bhakti ocean, I long for just one droplet of its pure devotion to Krishna. Since just that tiniest, nanoscale amount can transform the entire world, certainly it can purify this lowly self, who innumerable lifetimes ago rejected Krishna and embraced maya in her countless forms. Tell me, where will I now acquire the strength to go all the way back Home?
Only when the qualification descends, via the mercy cloud of the divine preceptor's instructions and service, at that time I may dare walk into the greatest mystery of the spiritual world.
Though the ultimate goal may seem impossibly far away, never forget that in these most difficult times for making spiritual and even material advancement, Krishna makes the path back to Him the easiest option.
Brilliant. I now ask myself, when will I take MY spiritual life seriously? When will I take the active steps to jump out of my comfort zone to really serve you, to really try to please you and get to know our beloved Krishna. Thank you again for giving us all that we need to know to progress in spiritual and material life. Gurudeva I beg to remain your servant in whatever circumstance of life, in whatever universe, allow me to stay fixed at your lotus feet.
Your spiritual daughter and servant,
Gitavali devi dasi
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to you on this most auspicious day of your appearance.
Today, I’d like to take this opportunity to glorify you, to tell you how much you mean to me, to let you know how I appreciate and love what you do.
I hope I don’t sound too proud, but deep down I am very proud to be one of your disciples. Everything that you do in your daily life is fully centred around your Krishna consciousness, in helping others come to Krishna consciousness, nurturing the devotees in Krishna consciousness. I love this quote that describes this in the 10th canto of Srimad Bhagavatam:
“Even while engaged in various activities, devotees whose minds are completely absorbed at Your lotus feet, and who constantly hear, chant, contemplate and cause others to remember Your transcendental names and forms, are always on the transcendental platform, and thus they can understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”
The care and attention you offer, the time you take for us is so valuable and I cherish the moments that I’ve had being your next door neighbour in good ol’…Otahuhu.
For the last 3 years, whenever you’d stay in Auckland, you’d stay with us, at the Yatra’s house. I feel privileged to have gotten this chance to serve you there. Now time, like everything, is taking you away from us so you can be closer to a bigger Vaisnava community: New Varshana. I feel like I didn’t take the chance to serve you nicely enough. I feel like I could’ve done a whole lot more to serve you wholeheartedly in person, while I still could. My self-centeredness is so engrained in me and I apologies for that. I do think how fortunate we are to have you around so much throughout the year. You may have moved, but not too far away.
Recently I finished reading “Many Moons”, the very inspiring book you gave us to read, written by your Godbrother Giriraja Swami. In it I read so many instances of exemplary disciple serving their Gurus so amazingly. I got introduced to many wonderful departed Vaisnavas I never got to know before and through their stories, I felt so uplifted to want to serve you better. There is a quote in “Many Moons” from the Krishna Book that I’d like to share:
“And as Lord Krishna told his friend Sudama: “If a man is sufficiently educated in student life under the guidance of a proper teacher, his life becomes successful in the future. He can very easily cross over the ocean of nescience, and he is not subjected to the influence of the illusory energy…As the Supersoul of the living entities, I sit in everyone’s heart and observe everyone’s activity in every stage and order of life. Regardless of which stage one is in, when I see that one is engaged seriously and sincerely in discharging the duties ordered by the spiritual master and is thus dedicating his life to the service of the spiritual master, that person becomes most dear to Me…(We) can realise that without the blessings of the spiritual master no one can be happy. By the mercy of the spiritual master and by his blessings, one can achieve peace and prosperity and be able to fulfil the mission of human life”
(Krsna, chapter 80)
I have to admit that when we last dropped you off at the airport, I felt very sad and was silently crying in the back of the car knowing that this is probably the last time we drive you to the airport. I knew we’d be separated from you for 4 months. It was very late and you were heading towards Asia. A place where I’ve never dreamt of going, but you are happily going there to spread Krishna consciousness. To me, you are an incredible, and amazing personality. To me, Gurudeva, you are my hero.
I also want to thank you for writing the article that you put up on Facebook. I really enjoy reading them as they are full of real life Bhakti in action. Quoting some parts from one of your last articles:
“ Far from our natural status, we struggle. Slaves of our mind and senses, we muddle—bluffing and slogging our way through the deserts and swamps of yet another lifetime.
Maya offers a myth. What Sri Chaitanya offers is real. Though the ultimate goal of life seems so far away, please know for sure that it is certainly progressively achieved.
“Unalloyed love of Krishna is like an ocean of happiness. If someone gets one drop of it, the whole world can drown in that drop.” (Cc. Madhya 2.49)
Standing on the shore of the bhakti ocean, I long for just one droplet of its pure devotion to Krishna. Since just that tiniest, nanoscale amount can transform the entire world, certainly it can purify this lowly self, who innumerable lifetimes ago rejected Krishna and embraced maya in her countless forms. Tell me, where will I now acquire the strength to go all the way back Home?
Only when the qualification descends, via the mercy cloud of the divine preceptor's instructions and service, at that time I may dare walk into the greatest mystery of the spiritual world.
Though the ultimate goal may seem impossibly far away, never forget that in these most difficult times for making spiritual and even material advancement, Krishna makes the path back to Him the easiest option.
Brilliant. I now ask myself, when will I take MY spiritual life seriously? When will I take the active steps to jump out of my comfort zone to really serve you, to really try to please you and get to know our beloved Krishna. Thank you again for giving us all that we need to know to progress in spiritual and material life. Gurudeva I beg to remain your servant in whatever circumstance of life, in whatever universe, allow me to stay fixed at your lotus feet.
Your spiritual daughter and servant,
Gitavali devi dasi
Gokula Lila devi dasi
Dear beloved Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisance’s
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to your most auspicious appearance.
Recently I was on Sankirtan in Upper hutt, I approached a Samoan man in his 50’s. He quickly told me his wife of 30 years had left him 7 months ago and was already with another man. “That’s the problem with working night shifts” he informed me. I empathized with him, as the reason he was working the night shifts was to support the family and could see that this situation must be weighing heavy on his heart. I tried to connect the Bhagavad gita to him as a solution to the heart pain he was experiencing. He gave $50. I don’t think it was specifically because he really desired a book but rather that someone had given him a few moments and heard his problems.
This man received a copy of all the books I had in my book box.
In Kali yuga it’s rare to find someone who knows what it’s like to be cared for. Since meeting you, you have given me so much to ensure I’m one of those rare persons.
CC Adi lila 1.46
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.
Your attentive, diligent care is consummate. Not only are you the spiritual master helping us to rise to the plane of transcendental service but you are also making up for what some of us never had; the attentive service of parents.
Spiritual famliy expansion is not limiting your personal care in the lives of each disciple. An aspect of your care I’ve been marvelling over lately is how you convey to disciples your gratitude to their dedication to service and consequently want to reciprocate with them, help them and impact in their lives. It’s a competition which we can never win; you sincerely
care for us and as a result we engage our energy, talents and desires in service because ‘someone cares’, then out of gratitude for our service you give us more, which again inspires us to become more absorbed in service.-In this way we are protected from a life of emptiness by your compassion and selflessness in the form of a caring loving father and master.
CC Adi lila 1.62
The Lord, being full and free from problems, can wholeheartedly care for His devotees. His concern is how to elevate and protect all those who have taken shelter at His feet. The same responsibility is also entrusted to the spiritual master. The bona fide spiritual master's concern is how the devotees who have surrendered to him as a representative of the Lord may make progress in devotional service. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is always mindful of the devotees who fully engage in cultivating knowledge of Him, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.
You are the living purport of these verses from the Caitanya Caitamrta; always mindful and wholeheartedly caring for the devotees under your shelter.
Several times a day we recite your pranam mantra
pracare purva-daksyam ca
bhaktacara-pravinata
pararthatapi karunyam
yasya sarve ca te namah
Obeisances to you who have all the qualities of unique skills in preaching, competence in Vaisnava dealings, selflessness, and compassion.
To care for devotees consistently takes competence-you always touch my heart whether you are dealing sweetly, strongly or not dealing at all!
Compassion-not only in the early days did you show me compassion but continually your compassionately begging me personally and through lectures to give up my unwanted/unneeded baggage.
Selflessness-as sometimes your care is taken for granted, misunderstood, unappreciated or at worst forgotten and discarded.
I hate to consider what my life may be like if you had not bothered to relentlessly care for me over the years.
Thank you.
CC Adi lila 1.46
..without the care of the spiritual master one cannot rise to the plane of transcendental service.
I have a debt to you that I will never be able to pay back as the interest is rapidly increasing year after year, but I will gratefully attempt all the same.
Your servant
Gokula Lila dd
Please accept my humble obeisance’s
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to your most auspicious appearance.
Recently I was on Sankirtan in Upper hutt, I approached a Samoan man in his 50’s. He quickly told me his wife of 30 years had left him 7 months ago and was already with another man. “That’s the problem with working night shifts” he informed me. I empathized with him, as the reason he was working the night shifts was to support the family and could see that this situation must be weighing heavy on his heart. I tried to connect the Bhagavad gita to him as a solution to the heart pain he was experiencing. He gave $50. I don’t think it was specifically because he really desired a book but rather that someone had given him a few moments and heard his problems.
This man received a copy of all the books I had in my book box.
In Kali yuga it’s rare to find someone who knows what it’s like to be cared for. Since meeting you, you have given me so much to ensure I’m one of those rare persons.
CC Adi lila 1.46
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.
Your attentive, diligent care is consummate. Not only are you the spiritual master helping us to rise to the plane of transcendental service but you are also making up for what some of us never had; the attentive service of parents.
Spiritual famliy expansion is not limiting your personal care in the lives of each disciple. An aspect of your care I’ve been marvelling over lately is how you convey to disciples your gratitude to their dedication to service and consequently want to reciprocate with them, help them and impact in their lives. It’s a competition which we can never win; you sincerely
care for us and as a result we engage our energy, talents and desires in service because ‘someone cares’, then out of gratitude for our service you give us more, which again inspires us to become more absorbed in service.-In this way we are protected from a life of emptiness by your compassion and selflessness in the form of a caring loving father and master.
CC Adi lila 1.62
The Lord, being full and free from problems, can wholeheartedly care for His devotees. His concern is how to elevate and protect all those who have taken shelter at His feet. The same responsibility is also entrusted to the spiritual master. The bona fide spiritual master's concern is how the devotees who have surrendered to him as a representative of the Lord may make progress in devotional service. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is always mindful of the devotees who fully engage in cultivating knowledge of Him, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.
You are the living purport of these verses from the Caitanya Caitamrta; always mindful and wholeheartedly caring for the devotees under your shelter.
Several times a day we recite your pranam mantra
pracare purva-daksyam ca
bhaktacara-pravinata
pararthatapi karunyam
yasya sarve ca te namah
Obeisances to you who have all the qualities of unique skills in preaching, competence in Vaisnava dealings, selflessness, and compassion.
To care for devotees consistently takes competence-you always touch my heart whether you are dealing sweetly, strongly or not dealing at all!
Compassion-not only in the early days did you show me compassion but continually your compassionately begging me personally and through lectures to give up my unwanted/unneeded baggage.
Selflessness-as sometimes your care is taken for granted, misunderstood, unappreciated or at worst forgotten and discarded.
I hate to consider what my life may be like if you had not bothered to relentlessly care for me over the years.
Thank you.
CC Adi lila 1.46
..without the care of the spiritual master one cannot rise to the plane of transcendental service.
I have a debt to you that I will never be able to pay back as the interest is rapidly increasing year after year, but I will gratefully attempt all the same.
Your servant
Gokula Lila dd
Gokula-ranjana dasa
Dear Srila Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
It would seem that for some ailments of the chronic type, there might well be only one small group of therapists in the world who understand the disease so completely that they can cure it altogether. While the complex and frustrating symptoms of the disease can baffle any number of allopaths, natropaths, homeopaths and other quacks for years if not decades, these particular therapists can identify the very subtle cause of the illness and offer tremendously effective techniques for soothing and reversing it. Additionally, these therapists are known to stand by what they teach – either using such techniques in their own daily lives or, having once being stricken with such a chronic disease themselves, they have resolved their own troubles and then gone on to help others. Their websites are laced with incredible testimonials written by those they have helped, who are obviously very grateful for having found someone who can reverse their painful and debilitating condition and give them their lives back.
Perhaps it could be said that the pure devotees of the Lord perform a similar, but transcendental version of this in their curative work treating the most chronic and debilitating of all illnesses – attachment to material nature. Certainly they are the only community of healers capable of identifying the root cause of the disease and giving the knowledge and techniques to reverse it. In these days when the material fever is reaching new heights they are some of the few souls left who will even acknowledge that material attraction is a disease at all. Their lives and the stories of their lives are examples and inspirations to others and their websites are laced with glorifications and expressions of gratitude.
Of course, no material philanthropy, however beneficial, will ever qualitatively compare to the remedial work carried out by the pure devotee of the Lord. But, for want of a likeness to glorify your life, Gurudeva, perhaps we can relate the relief that one feels to have a future beyond this life to that felt by the former subject of a chronic disease, who feels their energy gradually returning after so much anguish. How glad we are that we have come in contact with someone who has so wholeheartedly taken up Lord Caitanya’s mission so that we might have the chance to take our spiritual lives back.
Your servant,
Gokula-ranjana dasa
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
It would seem that for some ailments of the chronic type, there might well be only one small group of therapists in the world who understand the disease so completely that they can cure it altogether. While the complex and frustrating symptoms of the disease can baffle any number of allopaths, natropaths, homeopaths and other quacks for years if not decades, these particular therapists can identify the very subtle cause of the illness and offer tremendously effective techniques for soothing and reversing it. Additionally, these therapists are known to stand by what they teach – either using such techniques in their own daily lives or, having once being stricken with such a chronic disease themselves, they have resolved their own troubles and then gone on to help others. Their websites are laced with incredible testimonials written by those they have helped, who are obviously very grateful for having found someone who can reverse their painful and debilitating condition and give them their lives back.
Perhaps it could be said that the pure devotees of the Lord perform a similar, but transcendental version of this in their curative work treating the most chronic and debilitating of all illnesses – attachment to material nature. Certainly they are the only community of healers capable of identifying the root cause of the disease and giving the knowledge and techniques to reverse it. In these days when the material fever is reaching new heights they are some of the few souls left who will even acknowledge that material attraction is a disease at all. Their lives and the stories of their lives are examples and inspirations to others and their websites are laced with glorifications and expressions of gratitude.
Of course, no material philanthropy, however beneficial, will ever qualitatively compare to the remedial work carried out by the pure devotee of the Lord. But, for want of a likeness to glorify your life, Gurudeva, perhaps we can relate the relief that one feels to have a future beyond this life to that felt by the former subject of a chronic disease, who feels their energy gradually returning after so much anguish. How glad we are that we have come in contact with someone who has so wholeheartedly taken up Lord Caitanya’s mission so that we might have the chance to take our spiritual lives back.
Your servant,
Gokula-ranjana dasa
Gopa-Vrndesa Dasa
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
Al glories to your lotus feet
The spiritual master, acarya who is non-different from Krsna appears in the material world to reclaim the conditioned souls on behalf of Krsna. In Srimad Bhagavatam, in Uddhava Gita, Krsna speaks to Uddhava, one should know the acarya as Myself-acaryam mam vijaniyan. Guru is considered non-different from Krsna not because of non-difference in identity but him being dear to Krsna, and so Srimad Bhagavad Gita proclaims who is dear to Krsna
ya idaḿ paramaḿ guhyaḿ
mad-bhakteṣv abhidhāsyati
bhaktiḿ mayi parāḿ kṛtvā
mām evaiṣyaty asaḿśayaḥ
na ca tasmān manuṣyeṣu
kaścin me priya-kṛttamaḥ
bhavitā na ca me tasmād
anyaḥ priyataro bhuvi
For one who explains this supreme secret to the devotees, pure devotional service is guaranteed, and at the end he will come back to Me. There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear. BG 18.68,69
Krsna statement is very well applicable to you because you have given everything to please Krsna and you have given all your energy to spread Krsna Consciousness. Once you pointed out that Krsna surely hears the call of one who does outreach and calling out for Krsna in this mood is the cure for diseased chanting.
We understand that Sri Caitanya Caritamrta is very dear to you. In fact, one of your Godbrother mentioned that you have such a unique and special taste for reading Sri Caitanya Caritamrta. Srila Bhakti Siddhanta predicted that westerners would learn Bengali to read this monumental work on Sri Caitanya, His teaching and activities. Sri Caitanya Caritamrta is full of affectionate dealings between the Lord and His devotees and wonderful exchanges among the devotees. Similarly your dealings with devotees are so wonderful, affectionate and sweet. You extend so much to care for your disciples and whomever you get in touch with. You care so much and do hand holding whenever necessary and at the same time you throw devotional challenges to ensure growth of your disciples. You mentioned once that Srila Prabhupada ensured to give challenges in bhakti with suitable reward to his disciples and in turn they achieved unfathomable feats in the service of Sri Guru and Krsna. You elaborated, Srila Prabhupada had offered the dust of his lotus feet for those who preach in communist countries and hearing this, you jumped into that opportunity. Likewise, as a spiritual father you are keen on seeing the growth of your spiritual kids like me who is just trying to crawl on the neophyte platform. It’s amazing how you deal with all our personal problems at the same time encourage, inspire and enthuse us in performing devotional service.
I recently got a glimpse of your preaching skill and compassion by your mercy. In Melbourne University you did a wonderful talk on consciousness and a lady, who later claimed to be a rational atheist, apparently got offended by your thought provoking, sarcastic but funny presentation of atheistic equivalent of American pledge of allegiance. She tried to argue after the talk and you tactfully managed not argue and led her for prasadam which was her primary concern. After talking to me about this lady, you straight went to her and offered her more prasadam. It was amazing how you personally dealt with her and offered your personal service and encouragement. Next day during Bhagavatam class you mentioned about this lady, “don’t take such atheist seriously because they have to identify with something”. In a few weeks later I met her in one of our weekly sessions in the university and I revealed my identity as a full time volunteer or a monk in the Hare Krishna temple and then the rational atheist apparently started accepting soul and suggested that my service with Hare Krishnas is good for the soul! Then I remembered even though the medicine that you had given her wasn’t palatable at the time of administration, it had it’s effect and I also reflected on your remark during Srimad Bhagavatam lecture.
You always gives the ways and means to save me from the ocean of suffering by your kind instructions. You have kindly engaged me in your service and tolerated so many offenses. You have incessantly encouraged and guided to do outreach. You always inspired me to fight against the onslaught of maya. Your vani brings your presence that gives me hope. You are my äçraya-vigraha, or the manifestation or form of the Lord of whom one must take shelter. It is impossible for me to continue the path of bhakti without your affectionate touch in my heart through your words, merciful glances and deeds. On this most auspicious day I pray that I can be engaged in your service. I beg that I can be of some use in your service in reaching out to common mass and remain always as a servant of devotees.
Your spiritual son
Gopa Vrndesa dasa
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
Al glories to your lotus feet
The spiritual master, acarya who is non-different from Krsna appears in the material world to reclaim the conditioned souls on behalf of Krsna. In Srimad Bhagavatam, in Uddhava Gita, Krsna speaks to Uddhava, one should know the acarya as Myself-acaryam mam vijaniyan. Guru is considered non-different from Krsna not because of non-difference in identity but him being dear to Krsna, and so Srimad Bhagavad Gita proclaims who is dear to Krsna
ya idaḿ paramaḿ guhyaḿ
mad-bhakteṣv abhidhāsyati
bhaktiḿ mayi parāḿ kṛtvā
mām evaiṣyaty asaḿśayaḥ
na ca tasmān manuṣyeṣu
kaścin me priya-kṛttamaḥ
bhavitā na ca me tasmād
anyaḥ priyataro bhuvi
For one who explains this supreme secret to the devotees, pure devotional service is guaranteed, and at the end he will come back to Me. There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear. BG 18.68,69
Krsna statement is very well applicable to you because you have given everything to please Krsna and you have given all your energy to spread Krsna Consciousness. Once you pointed out that Krsna surely hears the call of one who does outreach and calling out for Krsna in this mood is the cure for diseased chanting.
We understand that Sri Caitanya Caritamrta is very dear to you. In fact, one of your Godbrother mentioned that you have such a unique and special taste for reading Sri Caitanya Caritamrta. Srila Bhakti Siddhanta predicted that westerners would learn Bengali to read this monumental work on Sri Caitanya, His teaching and activities. Sri Caitanya Caritamrta is full of affectionate dealings between the Lord and His devotees and wonderful exchanges among the devotees. Similarly your dealings with devotees are so wonderful, affectionate and sweet. You extend so much to care for your disciples and whomever you get in touch with. You care so much and do hand holding whenever necessary and at the same time you throw devotional challenges to ensure growth of your disciples. You mentioned once that Srila Prabhupada ensured to give challenges in bhakti with suitable reward to his disciples and in turn they achieved unfathomable feats in the service of Sri Guru and Krsna. You elaborated, Srila Prabhupada had offered the dust of his lotus feet for those who preach in communist countries and hearing this, you jumped into that opportunity. Likewise, as a spiritual father you are keen on seeing the growth of your spiritual kids like me who is just trying to crawl on the neophyte platform. It’s amazing how you deal with all our personal problems at the same time encourage, inspire and enthuse us in performing devotional service.
I recently got a glimpse of your preaching skill and compassion by your mercy. In Melbourne University you did a wonderful talk on consciousness and a lady, who later claimed to be a rational atheist, apparently got offended by your thought provoking, sarcastic but funny presentation of atheistic equivalent of American pledge of allegiance. She tried to argue after the talk and you tactfully managed not argue and led her for prasadam which was her primary concern. After talking to me about this lady, you straight went to her and offered her more prasadam. It was amazing how you personally dealt with her and offered your personal service and encouragement. Next day during Bhagavatam class you mentioned about this lady, “don’t take such atheist seriously because they have to identify with something”. In a few weeks later I met her in one of our weekly sessions in the university and I revealed my identity as a full time volunteer or a monk in the Hare Krishna temple and then the rational atheist apparently started accepting soul and suggested that my service with Hare Krishnas is good for the soul! Then I remembered even though the medicine that you had given her wasn’t palatable at the time of administration, it had it’s effect and I also reflected on your remark during Srimad Bhagavatam lecture.
You always gives the ways and means to save me from the ocean of suffering by your kind instructions. You have kindly engaged me in your service and tolerated so many offenses. You have incessantly encouraged and guided to do outreach. You always inspired me to fight against the onslaught of maya. Your vani brings your presence that gives me hope. You are my äçraya-vigraha, or the manifestation or form of the Lord of whom one must take shelter. It is impossible for me to continue the path of bhakti without your affectionate touch in my heart through your words, merciful glances and deeds. On this most auspicious day I pray that I can be engaged in your service. I beg that I can be of some use in your service in reaching out to common mass and remain always as a servant of devotees.
Your spiritual son
Gopa Vrndesa dasa
Gopala Guru dasa
Dear Srila Gurudeva.
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to your lotus feet.
Wondering in this material world I was always looking for real pleasure but could not find it, or thinking that I had found it it would just slip though my fingers like dry grains of sand. I was always looking for something but didn't know what, and when I thought I knew what I wanted and obtained it the flickering sense of happiness just pushed me further into the search for satisfaction.
Inadvertently, one weekend whilst at university, after running short on funds due to drinking all of my sales commission, my flat mate recommended we go to the local Hare Krishna centre for a cheap meal and so that he could check out his cute Hare Krishna friend. So off we went to embark on some sense gratification and, ironically enough, it was real sense gratification that we got.
As I walked up three flights of stairs the first sense that was engaged was my hearing; mrdunga and kartelas were playing and accompanied by rhythmic chanting. Then, as I came closer to the entrance, my sense of smell was engaged by exotic incense. Then, as I entered the door, my sense of site was engaged; so many smiling faces, beautiful Deities, colourful saris and mystical books. Then was my sense of taste; an amazing meal unlike anything I had tasted before, my belly was full to the brim.
Something was unique about all of these things. I had smelt, heard, seen and tasted so many things before, yet what I was experiencing was something that was completely different, kind of mystical - yet somewhat familiar. This was my first experience of Bhakti Yoga, devotional service - real sense engagement.
Being a stock standard kali-yuga model comprised of testosterone, meat, alcohol, sin and plenty of passion, what were my chances of taking up a process that was practiced and propounded by exalted personalities such as Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, Srila Prabhupada and yourself, my soon to be spiritual master? It was your mercy only, Srila Gurudeva, that threw chance out the door and brought this practice of Krishna consciousness into my life, as well as the life of so many other people, and made it possible. It is why I am here today and it is why I am trying my best to offer my gratitude and appreciation for what you have done for me and so many others - Gurudeva, without you I would be in a very sorry state right now. But because of your mercy, guidance, compassion and patience my uncontrolled mind and senses are gradually straightening themselves up and becoming more focused and Krishna consciousness.
And here I am, almost 13 years since our first meeting, with plenty of chanting, incense every morning, my very own cute Hare Krishna wife, and lots of tasty prasadam (and a stomach to support my claim). Yet I feel that I have not even made my first few steps in bhakti, as I learn more and become more purified I see more and more the unlimited ocean of service to be rendered and pastimes and activities to be heard and glorified. And ahead of us is your glorious self, fully immersed in the Bhakti-rasamrita sindhu with a strong grip on the lifeline that has been given to you by Srila Prabhupada - what an inspiration!
You in turn, Srila Gurudeva, have also thrown us a life line, and as I try and swim behind you with my chubby infantile legs paddling furiously, yet not making much gain, your merciful glance is propelling me to keep trying, to keep on making progress forward in Bhakti.
Srila Gurudeva; thank you for this opportunity, thank you for your encouragement, thank you for your guidance and thank you for the living example your are setting of bhakti in practice. I pray that I can keep my mind and senses engaged in your service and so that I may be able to render some service for you and the devotees for the pleasure of Sri Sri Pancha-Tattva.
Your aspiring servant,
Gopala Guru dasa.
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to your lotus feet.
Wondering in this material world I was always looking for real pleasure but could not find it, or thinking that I had found it it would just slip though my fingers like dry grains of sand. I was always looking for something but didn't know what, and when I thought I knew what I wanted and obtained it the flickering sense of happiness just pushed me further into the search for satisfaction.
Inadvertently, one weekend whilst at university, after running short on funds due to drinking all of my sales commission, my flat mate recommended we go to the local Hare Krishna centre for a cheap meal and so that he could check out his cute Hare Krishna friend. So off we went to embark on some sense gratification and, ironically enough, it was real sense gratification that we got.
As I walked up three flights of stairs the first sense that was engaged was my hearing; mrdunga and kartelas were playing and accompanied by rhythmic chanting. Then, as I came closer to the entrance, my sense of smell was engaged by exotic incense. Then, as I entered the door, my sense of site was engaged; so many smiling faces, beautiful Deities, colourful saris and mystical books. Then was my sense of taste; an amazing meal unlike anything I had tasted before, my belly was full to the brim.
Something was unique about all of these things. I had smelt, heard, seen and tasted so many things before, yet what I was experiencing was something that was completely different, kind of mystical - yet somewhat familiar. This was my first experience of Bhakti Yoga, devotional service - real sense engagement.
Being a stock standard kali-yuga model comprised of testosterone, meat, alcohol, sin and plenty of passion, what were my chances of taking up a process that was practiced and propounded by exalted personalities such as Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, Srila Prabhupada and yourself, my soon to be spiritual master? It was your mercy only, Srila Gurudeva, that threw chance out the door and brought this practice of Krishna consciousness into my life, as well as the life of so many other people, and made it possible. It is why I am here today and it is why I am trying my best to offer my gratitude and appreciation for what you have done for me and so many others - Gurudeva, without you I would be in a very sorry state right now. But because of your mercy, guidance, compassion and patience my uncontrolled mind and senses are gradually straightening themselves up and becoming more focused and Krishna consciousness.
And here I am, almost 13 years since our first meeting, with plenty of chanting, incense every morning, my very own cute Hare Krishna wife, and lots of tasty prasadam (and a stomach to support my claim). Yet I feel that I have not even made my first few steps in bhakti, as I learn more and become more purified I see more and more the unlimited ocean of service to be rendered and pastimes and activities to be heard and glorified. And ahead of us is your glorious self, fully immersed in the Bhakti-rasamrita sindhu with a strong grip on the lifeline that has been given to you by Srila Prabhupada - what an inspiration!
You in turn, Srila Gurudeva, have also thrown us a life line, and as I try and swim behind you with my chubby infantile legs paddling furiously, yet not making much gain, your merciful glance is propelling me to keep trying, to keep on making progress forward in Bhakti.
Srila Gurudeva; thank you for this opportunity, thank you for your encouragement, thank you for your guidance and thank you for the living example your are setting of bhakti in practice. I pray that I can keep my mind and senses engaged in your service and so that I may be able to render some service for you and the devotees for the pleasure of Sri Sri Pancha-Tattva.
Your aspiring servant,
Gopala Guru dasa.
Gopesvari dasi
Dear Gurudev,
Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Filtered through the "I-want-to-feel-good" lense of the material world, happiness guidance that reads:
"Don't subject yourself to the illusion that things can be "ok" in this world" -DAS (or)
"Stop seeking to enjoy the diseased condition - you have to convince yourself you're sick" -DAS
used to make me nod my head with show-bottle intelligence, while a thick veneer carefully concealed my inner gem : "my case is different".
Gurudev, Im so grateful that you did (and do) see through my veneer. Thank you for reading between the lines of my overly polite emails and for telling me, with a charming smile, that its time to get real : "I want you to shed the artificial gook accumulated over many lifetimes. I want you learn to be natural Susan. I want you to not be be afraid to let your old self go".
In a recent darshan I confessed to you some inappropriate behaviour (aka accumulated gook) that I'd been holding onto. You didn't even blink. You already knew. The words that followed from you, bore with them a weight of forgiveness that nearly knocked me backwards.
Gurudev, thank you for helping me to see that my case is no different at all. Thank you so much for helping me realise the wonderful freedom that comes from being insignificant. Thank you for being the significance of the insignificant.
Please help me to rise above "suit-yourself-devotional service" into the "what-actually-pleases-Krishna" category and be of some use to you. You have provided such a wonderful situation for me, both spiritually and materially, please give me the intelligence and humility to engage with and take proper care of this precious opportunity.
with a heart full of gratitude,
your servant
Gopesvari dasi
Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Filtered through the "I-want-to-feel-good" lense of the material world, happiness guidance that reads:
"Don't subject yourself to the illusion that things can be "ok" in this world" -DAS (or)
"Stop seeking to enjoy the diseased condition - you have to convince yourself you're sick" -DAS
used to make me nod my head with show-bottle intelligence, while a thick veneer carefully concealed my inner gem : "my case is different".
Gurudev, Im so grateful that you did (and do) see through my veneer. Thank you for reading between the lines of my overly polite emails and for telling me, with a charming smile, that its time to get real : "I want you to shed the artificial gook accumulated over many lifetimes. I want you learn to be natural Susan. I want you to not be be afraid to let your old self go".
In a recent darshan I confessed to you some inappropriate behaviour (aka accumulated gook) that I'd been holding onto. You didn't even blink. You already knew. The words that followed from you, bore with them a weight of forgiveness that nearly knocked me backwards.
Gurudev, thank you for helping me to see that my case is no different at all. Thank you so much for helping me realise the wonderful freedom that comes from being insignificant. Thank you for being the significance of the insignificant.
Please help me to rise above "suit-yourself-devotional service" into the "what-actually-pleases-Krishna" category and be of some use to you. You have provided such a wonderful situation for me, both spiritually and materially, please give me the intelligence and humility to engage with and take proper care of this precious opportunity.
with a heart full of gratitude,
your servant
Gopesvari dasi
Govinda Kunda Devi Dasi
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to your divine grace
On this auspicious day of your vyasa puja, i would like to thank you for all the mercy you have bestowed upon me. It is said that a moment’s association with a pure devotee can change someone’s life forever. I have direct experience of this. When I first saw you and heard your lecture at the Melbourne retreat, it was life turning event for me. My plan was to go to the casino and spend time there but instead ended up going to the temple doing service there and started chanting. After returning from Melbourne all my friends were shock to see the change in me, they started wondering whether I went to Melbourne or Vrindavan. All my life I had heard you need a Guru to make spiritual advancement but I use to wonder how will I ever find a Guru but somehow by some arrangement and your mercy I have got the shelter of your divine lotus feet and I am now able to understand my spiritual nature. You always inspire me to keep progressing in my spiritual life.
Guru Maharaja, you spare no pains in travelling and under go so many hardships in a very enthusiastic manner to spread Lord Chaitanya's movement. You are an exemplary disciple of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada and you are a very dedicated, sincere, humble and affectionate Spiritual Master. By your own example you are showing what we should live for and how we can get out of the clutches of maya.
There is no way to thank you enough as I am forever indebted to you but sincerely pray that I can render some service to you. May Lord Krishna bless you with a long and healthy life so that you can spread His message all over the world.
Your humble servant
Govinda kunda devi dasi.
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to your divine grace
On this auspicious day of your vyasa puja, i would like to thank you for all the mercy you have bestowed upon me. It is said that a moment’s association with a pure devotee can change someone’s life forever. I have direct experience of this. When I first saw you and heard your lecture at the Melbourne retreat, it was life turning event for me. My plan was to go to the casino and spend time there but instead ended up going to the temple doing service there and started chanting. After returning from Melbourne all my friends were shock to see the change in me, they started wondering whether I went to Melbourne or Vrindavan. All my life I had heard you need a Guru to make spiritual advancement but I use to wonder how will I ever find a Guru but somehow by some arrangement and your mercy I have got the shelter of your divine lotus feet and I am now able to understand my spiritual nature. You always inspire me to keep progressing in my spiritual life.
Guru Maharaja, you spare no pains in travelling and under go so many hardships in a very enthusiastic manner to spread Lord Chaitanya's movement. You are an exemplary disciple of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada and you are a very dedicated, sincere, humble and affectionate Spiritual Master. By your own example you are showing what we should live for and how we can get out of the clutches of maya.
There is no way to thank you enough as I am forever indebted to you but sincerely pray that I can render some service to you. May Lord Krishna bless you with a long and healthy life so that you can spread His message all over the world.
Your humble servant
Govinda kunda devi dasi.
Govindakunda Devi Dasi
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to you
On this auspicious day of your vyasa puja, i would like to thank you for all the mercy you have bestowed upon me. It is said that a moment’s association with a pure devotee can change someone’s life forever. I have direct experience of this. When I first saw you and heard your lecture at the Melbourne retreat, it was life turning event for me. My plan was to go to the casino and spend time there but instead ended up going to the temple doing service there and started chanting. After returning from Melbourne all my friends were shock to see the change in me, they started wondering whether I went to Melbourne or Vrindavan. All my life I had heard you need a Guru to make spiritual advancement but I use to wonder how will I ever find a Guru but somehow by some arrangement and your mercy I have got the shelter of your divine lotus feet and I am now able to understand my spiritual nature. You always inspire me to keep progressing in my spiritual life.
Guru Maharaja, you spare no pains in travelling and under go so many hardships in a very enthusiastic manner to spread Lord Chaitanya's movement. You are an exemplary disciple of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada and you are a very dedicated, sincere, humble and affectionate Spiritual Master. By your own example you are showing what we should live for and how we can get out of the clutches of maya.
There is no way to thank you enough as I am forever indebted to you but sincerely pray that I can render some service to you. May Lord Krishna bless you with a long and healthy life so that you can spread His message all over the world.
Your humble servant
Govinda kunda devi dasi.
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to you
On this auspicious day of your vyasa puja, i would like to thank you for all the mercy you have bestowed upon me. It is said that a moment’s association with a pure devotee can change someone’s life forever. I have direct experience of this. When I first saw you and heard your lecture at the Melbourne retreat, it was life turning event for me. My plan was to go to the casino and spend time there but instead ended up going to the temple doing service there and started chanting. After returning from Melbourne all my friends were shock to see the change in me, they started wondering whether I went to Melbourne or Vrindavan. All my life I had heard you need a Guru to make spiritual advancement but I use to wonder how will I ever find a Guru but somehow by some arrangement and your mercy I have got the shelter of your divine lotus feet and I am now able to understand my spiritual nature. You always inspire me to keep progressing in my spiritual life.
Guru Maharaja, you spare no pains in travelling and under go so many hardships in a very enthusiastic manner to spread Lord Chaitanya's movement. You are an exemplary disciple of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada and you are a very dedicated, sincere, humble and affectionate Spiritual Master. By your own example you are showing what we should live for and how we can get out of the clutches of maya.
There is no way to thank you enough as I am forever indebted to you but sincerely pray that I can render some service to you. May Lord Krishna bless you with a long and healthy life so that you can spread His message all over the world.
Your humble servant
Govinda kunda devi dasi.
Guru vani dd
Dear Gurudeva,
om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah.
In a recent lecture you said “the occupation of the spiritual master is to stop ignorance, especially those who have their eyes forced shut… the duty of the guru is to see that no-one suffers in the material world. On behalf of Krsna, he pleads with the living entity and provides them with facility/arrangements so that they don’t suffer in this world.”
One day, some years ago now, you mercifully pleaded with an obstinate, sceptical living entity and arranged her shelter in your most revolutionary Loft facility. You gave her a surprising & challenging name, Guru vani devi dasi – servant of the guru’s instructions. I always felt you blessed me with such a name, not because I have always (or even occasionally) been able to follow your vani, but rather because you knew back then that, although a typical kiwi feminist, due to my attachment for you, if I could just follow your instructions then I would be protected from suffering in this world. What great fortune I have had to learn directly from you throughout my ashram years!
Now, as with most of your grhastha disciples, you have given me a wide berth in this ashram, waiting to see what level of sacrifice I will adopt. With a heavy heart I report that your instructions have not been in the forefront of my consciousness in the last few years. My eyes have drooped shut due to ignorance and complacency.
In the same lecture you said “If we become ungrateful we’re like a walking dead. There’s nothing more unattractive than an ungrateful devotee. Because that devotee has everything, but they can’t see it anymore due to hard-heartedness.”
Dear Gurudeva, forgive me for my ungratefulness. Thank-you for pleading with me; thank-you for providing facilities and opportunities to serve you and Krishna and thank-you for patiently waiting on the sideline when my eyes have drooped shut due to the distractions of family life.
Having taken a loooong 5 year maternity leave from focused and determined service to your instructions, please pry open my eyes and allow me to taste the ecstasy of being aligned with your instructions once again.
Dear Gurudeva, at this turning point in my life, I am reporting in for your service... please engage me!
Always indebted to you for your kindness & patience.
Your servant
Guru vani dd
om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah.
In a recent lecture you said “the occupation of the spiritual master is to stop ignorance, especially those who have their eyes forced shut… the duty of the guru is to see that no-one suffers in the material world. On behalf of Krsna, he pleads with the living entity and provides them with facility/arrangements so that they don’t suffer in this world.”
One day, some years ago now, you mercifully pleaded with an obstinate, sceptical living entity and arranged her shelter in your most revolutionary Loft facility. You gave her a surprising & challenging name, Guru vani devi dasi – servant of the guru’s instructions. I always felt you blessed me with such a name, not because I have always (or even occasionally) been able to follow your vani, but rather because you knew back then that, although a typical kiwi feminist, due to my attachment for you, if I could just follow your instructions then I would be protected from suffering in this world. What great fortune I have had to learn directly from you throughout my ashram years!
Now, as with most of your grhastha disciples, you have given me a wide berth in this ashram, waiting to see what level of sacrifice I will adopt. With a heavy heart I report that your instructions have not been in the forefront of my consciousness in the last few years. My eyes have drooped shut due to ignorance and complacency.
In the same lecture you said “If we become ungrateful we’re like a walking dead. There’s nothing more unattractive than an ungrateful devotee. Because that devotee has everything, but they can’t see it anymore due to hard-heartedness.”
Dear Gurudeva, forgive me for my ungratefulness. Thank-you for pleading with me; thank-you for providing facilities and opportunities to serve you and Krishna and thank-you for patiently waiting on the sideline when my eyes have drooped shut due to the distractions of family life.
Having taken a loooong 5 year maternity leave from focused and determined service to your instructions, please pry open my eyes and allow me to taste the ecstasy of being aligned with your instructions once again.
Dear Gurudeva, at this turning point in my life, I am reporting in for your service... please engage me!
Always indebted to you for your kindness & patience.
Your servant
Guru vani dd
Guy Hamilton
Hare Krishna Devamrita Swami
Please accept my most humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and his glorious disciples!
This sublime journey in Bhakti is one of steady progress, one small footstep after another, pushed forward by the guidance and grace of spiritual mentors and fellow Bhakti aspirants alike.
I deeply thank you for this opportunity you have given me, to live in Garuda ashram, take shelter of your disciples and lay some strong foundations on which to build my life in Bhakti.
I am extremely grateful for your kindness and feel undeserving of your limitless grace. I hope to please you in some small way during my time in New Zealand.
Your aspiring servant
Guy
Please accept my most humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and his glorious disciples!
This sublime journey in Bhakti is one of steady progress, one small footstep after another, pushed forward by the guidance and grace of spiritual mentors and fellow Bhakti aspirants alike.
I deeply thank you for this opportunity you have given me, to live in Garuda ashram, take shelter of your disciples and lay some strong foundations on which to build my life in Bhakti.
I am extremely grateful for your kindness and feel undeserving of your limitless grace. I hope to please you in some small way during my time in New Zealand.
Your aspiring servant
Guy
Hamsavatara Dasa
Dear Srila Gurudeva,
Please Accept My Humble Obeisances At Your Lotus Feet. All Glories to You and Srila Prabhupada.
Great Vaiṣṇava devotees of the Supreme Lord can only be properly glorified by similar great Vaiṣṇava devotees only. A conditioned soul under the modes of nature is incapable of truly appreciating and properly serving an exalted devotee. But, trying to glorify the parampara brings all auspiciousness. So, Dear Gurudev, please bear with me for my attempt to glorify you, who is a perfect representative of our transcendental disciplic succession.
Srimad Bhagavatam describes the qualities of a saintly person as follows:
titikṣavaḥ kāruṇikāḥ
suhṛdaḥ sarva-dehinām
ajāta-śatravaḥ śāntāḥ
sādhavaḥ sādhu-bhūṣaṇāḥ
titikṣavaḥ – Tolerant. You are tolerant of a disciple who is not yet fully surrendered to you. You tolerate inconveniences to the body by travelling so extensively all over the world, the impetus being to alleviate the sufferings of the souls drowned in material existence. I was one such person and thank you for saving me and giving me the highest gift one can hope to get.
kāruṇikāḥ – Merciful. Your mercy is available to one and all. The risk you take in accepting the conditioned souls to engage them in Devotional service is a manifestation of Lord Nityananda’s mercy. We read about such great personalities in the scriptures, but it is very inspiring to see Śrīla Prabhupāda’s disciples in our midst who increase the faith in the words of the scriptures by their activities.
The mercy of the spiritual master is always available to the disciple, but the disciple may not be willing to receive that mercy. So, I hope to become qualified to receive that mercy.
Your Humble Servant,
Hamsavatara dasa
Please Accept My Humble Obeisances At Your Lotus Feet. All Glories to You and Srila Prabhupada.
Great Vaiṣṇava devotees of the Supreme Lord can only be properly glorified by similar great Vaiṣṇava devotees only. A conditioned soul under the modes of nature is incapable of truly appreciating and properly serving an exalted devotee. But, trying to glorify the parampara brings all auspiciousness. So, Dear Gurudev, please bear with me for my attempt to glorify you, who is a perfect representative of our transcendental disciplic succession.
Srimad Bhagavatam describes the qualities of a saintly person as follows:
titikṣavaḥ kāruṇikāḥ
suhṛdaḥ sarva-dehinām
ajāta-śatravaḥ śāntāḥ
sādhavaḥ sādhu-bhūṣaṇāḥ
titikṣavaḥ – Tolerant. You are tolerant of a disciple who is not yet fully surrendered to you. You tolerate inconveniences to the body by travelling so extensively all over the world, the impetus being to alleviate the sufferings of the souls drowned in material existence. I was one such person and thank you for saving me and giving me the highest gift one can hope to get.
kāruṇikāḥ – Merciful. Your mercy is available to one and all. The risk you take in accepting the conditioned souls to engage them in Devotional service is a manifestation of Lord Nityananda’s mercy. We read about such great personalities in the scriptures, but it is very inspiring to see Śrīla Prabhupāda’s disciples in our midst who increase the faith in the words of the scriptures by their activities.
The mercy of the spiritual master is always available to the disciple, but the disciple may not be willing to receive that mercy. So, I hope to become qualified to receive that mercy.
Your Humble Servant,
Hamsavatara dasa
Hari Seva devi dasi
Hare Krishna, dear Gurudev, all glories to Srila Prabhupada, all glories to you, all glories to all the devotees!
Dear Gurudev, please, accept my humble obeisances to your lotus feet!
Being under your responsive guidance I can develop the skill of cooking prasadam. I feel your protection and support in my spiritual life!
Dear Gurudev, I wish you sound health and happiness. I want my progress to make you glad. My 75 years old mother has become attracted to Krishna: she is vegetarian, takes care of Tulasi, prays with me and wishes happiness to everyone!
Please, give me and my mom your blessings to be always in service to God.
Falling at your lotus feet,
your disciple Hari Seva d.d.
Russia, Omsk.
Dear Gurudev, please, accept my humble obeisances to your lotus feet!
Being under your responsive guidance I can develop the skill of cooking prasadam. I feel your protection and support in my spiritual life!
Dear Gurudev, I wish you sound health and happiness. I want my progress to make you glad. My 75 years old mother has become attracted to Krishna: she is vegetarian, takes care of Tulasi, prays with me and wishes happiness to everyone!
Please, give me and my mom your blessings to be always in service to God.
Falling at your lotus feet,
your disciple Hari Seva d.d.
Russia, Omsk.
Hiten Pindoria
Dear Srila Gurudev,
On this most auspicious day, I will try to sing of one of your glories, knowing well that I will never be able to give full justice. Nor will I be able to do anything for you that will repay the mercy and love you have shown me over the last few years.
Krishna says that no-one is dearer to Him than the one who spreads His glories to others.
The one thing I notice about you is that you take so much austerity to give Krishna to others. Your whole life revolves around this. From Uni Preaching to Congregation Preaching and from Home Programs to Retreats. I never seem to see you stop! You are definitely spreading Krishna’s glories and hence, going by this verse, you must be really dear to Krishna
Samsara davanala lidha loka
Tranaya karunya ghanaghanatvam
Praptasya kalyana gunarnvasya
Vande guroh sri caranarvindam
My only prayer is that I hope that I can somehow assist You in serving Srila Prabhupada and not just be idle and a hinderance.
Trying to be your servant,
Hiten Pindoria
On this most auspicious day, I will try to sing of one of your glories, knowing well that I will never be able to give full justice. Nor will I be able to do anything for you that will repay the mercy and love you have shown me over the last few years.
Krishna says that no-one is dearer to Him than the one who spreads His glories to others.
The one thing I notice about you is that you take so much austerity to give Krishna to others. Your whole life revolves around this. From Uni Preaching to Congregation Preaching and from Home Programs to Retreats. I never seem to see you stop! You are definitely spreading Krishna’s glories and hence, going by this verse, you must be really dear to Krishna
Samsara davanala lidha loka
Tranaya karunya ghanaghanatvam
Praptasya kalyana gunarnvasya
Vande guroh sri caranarvindam
My only prayer is that I hope that I can somehow assist You in serving Srila Prabhupada and not just be idle and a hinderance.
Trying to be your servant,
Hiten Pindoria
Hriman Krsna das
Dear most Gurudeva
Please accept my humble obeisance
All glories to Srila Prabhuapda
precare purva daksyam ca, bhaktachara pravinata,
parathathapi karunyam, yasya sarve ca te namaha
I remember when I was first coming along to Gaura Yoga in Wellington. I was optimistic and excited about a possible future career in bhakti. At that time, one devotee who was preaching to me was expounding the glories of brahmacharya. He told me that I would make a good celibate monk. Of course being a teenage kali Yuga refugee, fresh off the boat of sinful life, the concept of utter abstinence dawning upon my mind dampened my mood. I actually laughed at him and thought he was joking. Unlike Sri Yamunacarya, immediately my lips curled in distaste and spat on the ground at the thought of ‘no sex’. Over a decade later, humorously I now find myself happily amongst one of those senior celibates, cowering at the idea of married life. How wonderful the effects of Krishna consciousness has, that it can change the heart lathed with lustful desires. The power of devotional service is that, it can transform the inner recesses of the heart, making one yearn for the real and genuine love that can only be had in the spiritual world.
In Srila Prabhupadas purport to SB 10.3.31 he explains in a single line that, “Bhakti, Bhagavan and Bhakta do not belong to this material world.”
How is it that I have the opportunity to render devotional service to Bhagavan Sri Krishna and that others label me as a bhakta? What makes this change of heart all possible? And where would I be if I wasn’t serving the order of guru and Gauranga? Certainly I would be left drowning in a tidal wave of lust, kama sindhu.
This is ahaituki krpa, the causeless mercy of a bhakta sadhu, such as you. Otherwise no one can get bhakti here in this material world. It is not available here. Everyone in this jada jagat wants to forget Krishna, krsna-bahirmukha haiya bhoga-vancha kare; they are devoted simply to serving their genitals pumsah striya mithuni-bhavam etam. Consequently they are all asadhu un-saintly miscreants, burning in an ocean of lamentation, ravaged by birth, disease, old age and death.
Therefore Mahaprabhu said in (CC Mad 20.120).
sadhu-sastra-krpaya yadi krsnonmukha haya
sei jiva nistare, maya tahare chadaya
“If the conditioned soul becomes Krishna conscious by the mercy of saintly persons who voluntarily preach scriptural injunctions and help him to be become Krishna conscious, the conditioned soul is liberated from the clutches of maya, who gives him up.”
Similarly (CC Mad 22.51).
mahat-krpa vina karme ‘bhakti’ naya
krsna-bhakti dure rahu, smasara nahe ksaya
“Unless one is favored by a pure devotee he cannot attain the platform of devotional service. To say nothing of Krishna-bhakti, one cannot even be relieved from the bondage of material existence.”
The nitya-siddhas like Srila Prabhupada have descended into this material world as emissaries in fulfilling Krishna’s desire to reclaim the conditioned souls. By the grace of Srila Prabhupada you have also become a transcendental via medium for Lord Caitanyas mercy to flow through and inundate this lust inflicted world with prema-bhakti. By your extra ordinary efforts, sacrifice and selfless service towards your beloved spiritual master, you have become empowered and are also empowering others to do such wonderful service for Krishna, krsna-sakti vina nahe tara pravartana.
Gurudeva, you have made Bhakti, Bhagavan and Bhakta available to those who have no access to the spiritual world. Certainly, there is nothing more valuable in the three worlds than this divine gift of prema-bhakti unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead. But I am so unfortunate that I cannot fully realize and taste that nectar, durdaivam idrsam ihajani nanuragah. Just as a child that holds a diamond in his hand, but due to immaturity and ignorance, he does not have the capacity to appreciate the vast wealth in his clutches. In his madness the child is burying that diamond in the mud, frivolously distracted by the broken pieces of glass, in the shape of name, fame and adoration.
How unfortunate, but fortunate simultaneously.
Fortunate that, in this sacred day of your appearance, I am particularly encouraged and enlivened in Krishna consciousness by meditating on you, and how by your example, one can factually grasp the higher echelons of bhakti even in this life time. I am encouraged by the faith you have instilled in me to do something small for you and Srila Prabhupada. That faith and trust you have for this fortunate and undeserving soul brings out the best in me, although I feel my best endeavors will always be inadequate to offer in return for what you have made accessible.
You are always there to help and guide me and although you are across the other side of the world you don’t hesitate to call and compassionately chastise and offer some consolation. I am truly blessed to have such a benevolent and loving father as you. Today, I especially pray that as you have shown genuine love and care for me, I can give back that love and care towards others, which I know gladdens your heart so dearly.
Determined to be your selfless and obedient servant,
Hriman Krsna das
Please accept my humble obeisance
All glories to Srila Prabhuapda
precare purva daksyam ca, bhaktachara pravinata,
parathathapi karunyam, yasya sarve ca te namaha
I remember when I was first coming along to Gaura Yoga in Wellington. I was optimistic and excited about a possible future career in bhakti. At that time, one devotee who was preaching to me was expounding the glories of brahmacharya. He told me that I would make a good celibate monk. Of course being a teenage kali Yuga refugee, fresh off the boat of sinful life, the concept of utter abstinence dawning upon my mind dampened my mood. I actually laughed at him and thought he was joking. Unlike Sri Yamunacarya, immediately my lips curled in distaste and spat on the ground at the thought of ‘no sex’. Over a decade later, humorously I now find myself happily amongst one of those senior celibates, cowering at the idea of married life. How wonderful the effects of Krishna consciousness has, that it can change the heart lathed with lustful desires. The power of devotional service is that, it can transform the inner recesses of the heart, making one yearn for the real and genuine love that can only be had in the spiritual world.
In Srila Prabhupadas purport to SB 10.3.31 he explains in a single line that, “Bhakti, Bhagavan and Bhakta do not belong to this material world.”
How is it that I have the opportunity to render devotional service to Bhagavan Sri Krishna and that others label me as a bhakta? What makes this change of heart all possible? And where would I be if I wasn’t serving the order of guru and Gauranga? Certainly I would be left drowning in a tidal wave of lust, kama sindhu.
This is ahaituki krpa, the causeless mercy of a bhakta sadhu, such as you. Otherwise no one can get bhakti here in this material world. It is not available here. Everyone in this jada jagat wants to forget Krishna, krsna-bahirmukha haiya bhoga-vancha kare; they are devoted simply to serving their genitals pumsah striya mithuni-bhavam etam. Consequently they are all asadhu un-saintly miscreants, burning in an ocean of lamentation, ravaged by birth, disease, old age and death.
Therefore Mahaprabhu said in (CC Mad 20.120).
sadhu-sastra-krpaya yadi krsnonmukha haya
sei jiva nistare, maya tahare chadaya
“If the conditioned soul becomes Krishna conscious by the mercy of saintly persons who voluntarily preach scriptural injunctions and help him to be become Krishna conscious, the conditioned soul is liberated from the clutches of maya, who gives him up.”
Similarly (CC Mad 22.51).
mahat-krpa vina karme ‘bhakti’ naya
krsna-bhakti dure rahu, smasara nahe ksaya
“Unless one is favored by a pure devotee he cannot attain the platform of devotional service. To say nothing of Krishna-bhakti, one cannot even be relieved from the bondage of material existence.”
The nitya-siddhas like Srila Prabhupada have descended into this material world as emissaries in fulfilling Krishna’s desire to reclaim the conditioned souls. By the grace of Srila Prabhupada you have also become a transcendental via medium for Lord Caitanyas mercy to flow through and inundate this lust inflicted world with prema-bhakti. By your extra ordinary efforts, sacrifice and selfless service towards your beloved spiritual master, you have become empowered and are also empowering others to do such wonderful service for Krishna, krsna-sakti vina nahe tara pravartana.
Gurudeva, you have made Bhakti, Bhagavan and Bhakta available to those who have no access to the spiritual world. Certainly, there is nothing more valuable in the three worlds than this divine gift of prema-bhakti unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead. But I am so unfortunate that I cannot fully realize and taste that nectar, durdaivam idrsam ihajani nanuragah. Just as a child that holds a diamond in his hand, but due to immaturity and ignorance, he does not have the capacity to appreciate the vast wealth in his clutches. In his madness the child is burying that diamond in the mud, frivolously distracted by the broken pieces of glass, in the shape of name, fame and adoration.
How unfortunate, but fortunate simultaneously.
Fortunate that, in this sacred day of your appearance, I am particularly encouraged and enlivened in Krishna consciousness by meditating on you, and how by your example, one can factually grasp the higher echelons of bhakti even in this life time. I am encouraged by the faith you have instilled in me to do something small for you and Srila Prabhupada. That faith and trust you have for this fortunate and undeserving soul brings out the best in me, although I feel my best endeavors will always be inadequate to offer in return for what you have made accessible.
You are always there to help and guide me and although you are across the other side of the world you don’t hesitate to call and compassionately chastise and offer some consolation. I am truly blessed to have such a benevolent and loving father as you. Today, I especially pray that as you have shown genuine love and care for me, I can give back that love and care towards others, which I know gladdens your heart so dearly.
Determined to be your selfless and obedient servant,
Hriman Krsna das
Indranath das
Dear Guru Maharaja,
please, accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Another year passed by and it's seems like it was just recently we have been celebrating your last Vyasa Puja. Passing of time supposed to increase mode of goodness in the person. Body gets older, requires more time for maintenance, mind getting more tired for endeavours for instability and insecurity. Some of our plans are fulfilled by the mercy of Krishna, others are baffled. However, I'm still trying to surf through the ocean of material existence, jumping from one wave to another, avoiding falling in the deep water in between. When is our taste for enjoying this wonderful material creature of the Lord, will be suppressed by the taste for Krishna Katha, service to devotees and spiritual master. When will I be able to appreciate fully your wonderful role in my life as the spiritual master and loving father. This year we were blessed by you visiting us on Janmashtami. I have noticed how you was relishing every moment of the festival. I can pray to Krishna that one day I will be able to develop my spiritual taste and relish a glimpse of your spiritual happiness.
Your servant,
Indranath das.
please, accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Another year passed by and it's seems like it was just recently we have been celebrating your last Vyasa Puja. Passing of time supposed to increase mode of goodness in the person. Body gets older, requires more time for maintenance, mind getting more tired for endeavours for instability and insecurity. Some of our plans are fulfilled by the mercy of Krishna, others are baffled. However, I'm still trying to surf through the ocean of material existence, jumping from one wave to another, avoiding falling in the deep water in between. When is our taste for enjoying this wonderful material creature of the Lord, will be suppressed by the taste for Krishna Katha, service to devotees and spiritual master. When will I be able to appreciate fully your wonderful role in my life as the spiritual master and loving father. This year we were blessed by you visiting us on Janmashtami. I have noticed how you was relishing every moment of the festival. I can pray to Krishna that one day I will be able to develop my spiritual taste and relish a glimpse of your spiritual happiness.
Your servant,
Indranath das.
Jahnavi Jivan DD
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 Prabhupad
All glories to dear Gurudeva.
Dear Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my obeisance’s at your lotus feet on your divine appearance day.
Few days ago on the appearance day of the Srimati Radhrani, I remembered the day that me and my prabhu met you first time in the Nandagram Farm in 2004. Sometimes I pinch myself to feel that how fortunate I am that I came in contact with such an empowered devotee of the Supreme Lord, Sri krishna. When I first came to Melbourne I always use to complain about this place, people who are too foreign to me, the kind of deserted roads and atmosphere where I felt suffocated to pass my days simply between the four falls of an apartment in Foostcray. My only desire at that time was to run away from this strange country to my hometown and live life how I want to be with my family, friends and relatives.
I also remember my childhood days especially those days where twice in two years our whole family use to celebrate Sri Krishna Janmastami and a special program of Bhagavat saptaha- for 7 days in summer vacation in our farm. The place reminds me of our mango farm, a beautiful temple of Sri Radha and Krishna- the deities are made of white marble stone, surrounded by two lakes either side of the farm, a cow shed where we use for cooking the offering to Lord, a store room for keeping groceries and a big hall for keeping our lagugage and taking prasadam. For each family we had one mango tree to take shelter during the night time to sleep. Today this whole scene remains to me a sweet memory like how a ripened mango taste. My understanding that, why I was given an opportunity to take birth in this pious family was a mystery until I met you and heard your thought provoking lecture in the Farm. I never enquired my parents about the Lord or why we particularly worship Radha Krishna only in the farm two times a year and then forget about the Supreme Lord the rest of the time. But I use to ask my mother lot of questions whenever she performs other demigod worships and make me to participate in worshipping. I use to argue with her to give me reasoning for any kind of worship we perform to God. Most of the time I hear from her the outcome of the worship is for keeping good health, acquiring wealth, obtaining best results, overcoming obstacles etc. And about the Supreme Lord all I understood through my parents is that He is the Lord one among all the Gods and Radharani is His beloved eternal consort. This was a mystery to me until I met you. Gradually the mystery relived to me through your mercy to try to understand this eternal knowledge and of course the true meaning and the taste of that ripened mango. But there is a difference that I noticed is that the mango which I picked to eat in those days was not so tasty and satisfactory but the taste of the mango received in the form of your sublime preaching of the glories of the Lord, reading Srila prabhupada books gives complete satisfaction and so much nectar that I feel like licking the juice of the sweet mango again and again. Now I really feel from the bottom of my heart that I am so lucky among all my family members that I got your mercy. Your impact on my life gives an eternal benefit to me.
BG 4.34 states that
tad viddhi pranipatena
pariprasnena sevaya
upadesksyanti te jnanam
jnaninas tattva-darsinah
One should try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth.
Gurudev, I am very fortunate to get this valuable treasure here at Melboure Maha Prabhu Mandir. Now my desire is to learn more and more about performing unflinching devotional service in the guidance of devotees association and not to run away to my hometown but aim for higher destiny of going back to Godhead with your kind mercy.
Guru Maharaj, you are doing a great humanitarian work by practicing and preaching the science of God to the most fallen souls. You have expertise in presenting Krishna Consciousness to students and professionals and your guidance to them prove to be invaluable in balancing their spiritual and professional life. You have surrendered your life to serve Srila Prabhupada mission of spreading Lord Chaitanya message without any tinge of selfish desire and have been travelling across the globe uninterruptedly and tirelessly since four decades. When I read the book – bhakti bhava written by you I understood the intense love you have for Srila Prabhupada. Though you were doing intimate service working on his books, the only comment you received from Srila Prabhupada is just a beautiful appreciation in the form of extended sound: “Mmmmmmmmmmmm.” You never expected anything in return for your service and you felt the deepest reciprocation from Srila Prabhpada and your heart was fully satisfied. This is because you were listening to Prabhupada’s instrcutions and you have dedicated your entire life serving him without any ulterior motive. When will this fallen soul learn that all the instructions are given in your lectures and Srila prabhupada books and not to think that I need to be told or instructed. I am too ignorant that I am unable to understand this. I try to read Srila prabhupada books but as soon as I read I forget it but if after reading the Srila Prabhupada books, I listen to your sublime lectures I could able to not only understand the subject matter in detail but also helps me to remember it. Guru Maharaj, I beg for your special mercy on this auspicious day so that I can be able to read and understand Srila prabhupada books in this life time.
I am so much indebted to you in this life, and whatever I serve you I feel it is still not sufficient to repay the debt. I pray to Sri Radha Vallabha for your good health and well-being to continue this mission of spreading the message of love of God so that many more fallen souls like me get the advantage of your teachings of bhakti-yoga process. Thank you very much for your kind mercy and compassion upon me despite of my inability to serve you. Thank you very much for your guidance and support to me to understand the Supreme Truth of loving Supreme Lord and serving His devotees. Thank you for providing an opportunity to raise my son in the KC environment and devotees association from the beginning of his life. Also please give your kind blessings to the soul who is going to appear at the end of this year. Finally, I beg you to kindly allow me to do some service in whatever way you like in your mission of serving Srila Prabhupada.
Aspiring to serve you,
Jahnavi Jivan dd
Jai Murari devi dasi
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my respectful obseiances at your lotus feet.
Unfortunate are those who wonder through life determined to achieve happiness and peace through material pursuits.
Understanding perfectly the nature of this material manifestation and what makes it and it's inhabitants tic you selflessly travel the globe carrying with you nothing but a heart full of bhakti.
Through your eye opening talks and intelligent, dynamic, preaching, strategies you deliver the Truth.
Every word you speak is Krishna conscious and every action is for furthering the mission of Srila Prabhupada.
You are the light in my life and a true blessing.
Thank you.
Your servant,
Jai Murari devi dasi
Please accept my respectful obseiances at your lotus feet.
Unfortunate are those who wonder through life determined to achieve happiness and peace through material pursuits.
Understanding perfectly the nature of this material manifestation and what makes it and it's inhabitants tic you selflessly travel the globe carrying with you nothing but a heart full of bhakti.
Through your eye opening talks and intelligent, dynamic, preaching, strategies you deliver the Truth.
Every word you speak is Krishna conscious and every action is for furthering the mission of Srila Prabhupada.
You are the light in my life and a true blessing.
Thank you.
Your servant,
Jai Murari devi dasi
Jai Saci Nandana das
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
Dearest Gurudev,
Once again, I have this wonderful opportunity to glorify you on the
auspicious day of your appearance.
During past six months a lecture given by you struck a deep cord
within me. The lecture revolved around the subject of getting “UP THERE” on the corporate ladder and you aptly summarized “UP WHERE”.
UP THERE where it’s so temporal and flickering, wherein one bad
quarter of trading performance could end careers or where jealousy,
envy and slander form the basis of one´s day to day activities. The shallowness of people, the temporal joys obtained in acquiring material possessions don’t bring joy but entanglement and anxiety.
You are the one who has taught me the differentiation between living a life full of matter based objectives and goals or a life based on everlasting and satisfying pleasures obtained in the bhakti process.
You are carrying the torchlight, which takes one out of gross material bondage, your relentless pursuit and declaration of war against maya has recused a jiva like me from the jaws of a life based on ignorance and gross materialism.
You are empowered by the supreme Lord, this makes me jump with joy knowing that you are there for me as lord’s direct representative this is the greatest fortune and net wealth I have.
How fortunate and indebted I am to have you as my spiritual master and father. Please give me more and more of your mercy so that I can cast away my material attractions and attachments. I wish to render relentless service upon your lotus feet.
Your in significant son
Jai Saci Nandana Das
Srimate devamrta swamin iti namine
Pracare purva daksyam ca bhaktacara pravinitah
Paratatapi karunyam yasya sarve ca te namah
Dearest Gurudev,
Once again, I have this wonderful opportunity to glorify you on the
auspicious day of your appearance.
During past six months a lecture given by you struck a deep cord
within me. The lecture revolved around the subject of getting “UP THERE” on the corporate ladder and you aptly summarized “UP WHERE”.
UP THERE where it’s so temporal and flickering, wherein one bad
quarter of trading performance could end careers or where jealousy,
envy and slander form the basis of one´s day to day activities. The shallowness of people, the temporal joys obtained in acquiring material possessions don’t bring joy but entanglement and anxiety.
You are the one who has taught me the differentiation between living a life full of matter based objectives and goals or a life based on everlasting and satisfying pleasures obtained in the bhakti process.
You are carrying the torchlight, which takes one out of gross material bondage, your relentless pursuit and declaration of war against maya has recused a jiva like me from the jaws of a life based on ignorance and gross materialism.
You are empowered by the supreme Lord, this makes me jump with joy knowing that you are there for me as lord’s direct representative this is the greatest fortune and net wealth I have.
How fortunate and indebted I am to have you as my spiritual master and father. Please give me more and more of your mercy so that I can cast away my material attractions and attachments. I wish to render relentless service upon your lotus feet.
Your in significant son
Jai Saci Nandana Das
Jamie Henderson
Hare Krsna Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obesiances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada and to you on your appearance day ☺
<i>“The bona fide spiritual master is competent to direct a disciple from any stage of life; tamas, rajas or sattva.” – Srimad Bhagavata 1.2.24</i>
I think this verse is very relevant in describing you – I marvel, both in my own experience and in hearing lectures, at how you individualise your interactions to help each person from where they are situated.
Only with sincere compassion, determination and love for Krsna could you reach down into the mud of ignorance to connect with people like me.
The material world is a heart-breaker and a heart-hardener; through your preaching efforts more and more people are able to patch up and thaw out with the thread of the Holy Name and by bathing in the sweetness of harinama sankirtan.
You make this possible in the accessible, attractive and relevant presentation and practise of bhakti yoga at The Loft and Bhakti Lounge. I feel so blessed to have been in contact with these spiritual worlds and their inhabitants.
Thank you for providing me with the facility to wake up, sober up and, at least begin, to grow up.
I pray that I may regain some semblance of sanity and selflessness to do something useful in helping the sankirtana mission.
I feel very fortunate to have been blessed with a taste in book distribution, and I hope to sustain my efforts in this service to please you, Srila Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya.
Thank you for your ongoing encouragement, patience and support in all areas; for making it clear that you believe in me and giving me so much of your time and energy, despite the fact I remain predominantly in the mode of ignorance and operating on third-class intelligence.
Although I don’t have much spiritual desire, one desire I do have is to associate with devotees, especially your bright-eyed, big-hearted disciples. I thank them through you, their inspiration, for “forcibly dragging” and pushing me and so many others forward in the path of bhakti.
I beg forgiveness for any offenses I have caused, for the strength to continue, albeit on the windier routes, and to one day fulfill the potential you see in me to help others too.
My heartfelt respects and appreciation to you on this special day, Maharaja.
<strong>Hare Krsna!</strong>
Your servant,
Jamie
Please accept my humble obesiances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada and to you on your appearance day ☺
<i>“The bona fide spiritual master is competent to direct a disciple from any stage of life; tamas, rajas or sattva.” – Srimad Bhagavata 1.2.24</i>
I think this verse is very relevant in describing you – I marvel, both in my own experience and in hearing lectures, at how you individualise your interactions to help each person from where they are situated.
Only with sincere compassion, determination and love for Krsna could you reach down into the mud of ignorance to connect with people like me.
The material world is a heart-breaker and a heart-hardener; through your preaching efforts more and more people are able to patch up and thaw out with the thread of the Holy Name and by bathing in the sweetness of harinama sankirtan.
You make this possible in the accessible, attractive and relevant presentation and practise of bhakti yoga at The Loft and Bhakti Lounge. I feel so blessed to have been in contact with these spiritual worlds and their inhabitants.
Thank you for providing me with the facility to wake up, sober up and, at least begin, to grow up.
I pray that I may regain some semblance of sanity and selflessness to do something useful in helping the sankirtana mission.
I feel very fortunate to have been blessed with a taste in book distribution, and I hope to sustain my efforts in this service to please you, Srila Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya.
Thank you for your ongoing encouragement, patience and support in all areas; for making it clear that you believe in me and giving me so much of your time and energy, despite the fact I remain predominantly in the mode of ignorance and operating on third-class intelligence.
Although I don’t have much spiritual desire, one desire I do have is to associate with devotees, especially your bright-eyed, big-hearted disciples. I thank them through you, their inspiration, for “forcibly dragging” and pushing me and so many others forward in the path of bhakti.
I beg forgiveness for any offenses I have caused, for the strength to continue, albeit on the windier routes, and to one day fulfill the potential you see in me to help others too.
My heartfelt respects and appreciation to you on this special day, Maharaja.
<strong>Hare Krsna!</strong>
Your servant,
Jamie
Jana Mohini d.d.
My Dear Srila Gurudeva!
Please accept my prostrated obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Dear Srila Gurudev, allow me to congratulate You on the day of Your birthday
Each regular meeting with You in Evpatoria inspires me to a new milestone in my devotional practices. But, for me, to be honest, serious asceticism – hold classes on Bhagavad -Gita. I changed a few places for holding lessons in hopes that will walk more devotes to classes, but the number has not increased.
There are those who went before. The number of people does not depend, in the city centre or on the outskirts to lead ... The problem lies elsewhere. The problem is that I'm in a woman's body. And all who started walking towards me, subsequently began to go to the devotees in men's bodies. Usually they say a woman can't talk philosophy and Scriptures. It is painful for me, because I like to talk about Gita and not about women's problems, husbands, families, children. It is quickly bored.
I understand that I must put up with it, but how do I execute your instructions that I should tell the Gita? I pray every day for Gayatri to the Lord sent people who would not pay attention to my body. And listened to the message of Krishna, which He gave in the Gita.
I really want to share with devotes so little knowledge that I have, but I find it hard to find an audience.
I tried SMS-mailing, phone calls, ad in the temple, announcement and invitations over the Internet – but the situation has not changed! I just panic! I don't know leave me these attempts or to continue training with a tiny group of dedicated 3-4-person. sometimes I just feel like crying from frustration, but I try not to cry.
I am getting very carefully to occupations that they were interested in an interactive form. I hope the lesson will come more devotees, but come all the same. What do I do? How can I offer You this service, because it is not good! I feel utterly worthless personality! In other types of service everything is fine with me, but with this ... I can offer You only Your tenacity and illusory hope that sooner or later will change for the better. Although the material world cannot be optimistic!
Please, Srila Gurudeva, bless me so that I could meet You in this service. I'm passionate about this request!
I wish You to have Your disciples bring You joy and satisfaction of its records to the service. Not such as my account. I wish You good health and new revelations and discoveries in the service of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna, which You take great pleasure in generously give usYour seminars in Evpatoria!
I also remember Your answer to my question about Srila Gour-Govinda Swami-. that's not my level. I understand very well!!! But I so want to have Premа-Dhana, Krishna-prema already in this life. What is the meaning of wanting something more? Everything is already there. No love, no prema. without it, so sad.
Thank You for Your seminars, communication, instraction and caring!
Your insignificant disciple Jana Mohini d.d.
Please accept my prostrated obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Dear Srila Gurudev, allow me to congratulate You on the day of Your birthday
Each regular meeting with You in Evpatoria inspires me to a new milestone in my devotional practices. But, for me, to be honest, serious asceticism – hold classes on Bhagavad -Gita. I changed a few places for holding lessons in hopes that will walk more devotes to classes, but the number has not increased.
There are those who went before. The number of people does not depend, in the city centre or on the outskirts to lead ... The problem lies elsewhere. The problem is that I'm in a woman's body. And all who started walking towards me, subsequently began to go to the devotees in men's bodies. Usually they say a woman can't talk philosophy and Scriptures. It is painful for me, because I like to talk about Gita and not about women's problems, husbands, families, children. It is quickly bored.
I understand that I must put up with it, but how do I execute your instructions that I should tell the Gita? I pray every day for Gayatri to the Lord sent people who would not pay attention to my body. And listened to the message of Krishna, which He gave in the Gita.
I really want to share with devotes so little knowledge that I have, but I find it hard to find an audience.
I tried SMS-mailing, phone calls, ad in the temple, announcement and invitations over the Internet – but the situation has not changed! I just panic! I don't know leave me these attempts or to continue training with a tiny group of dedicated 3-4-person. sometimes I just feel like crying from frustration, but I try not to cry.
I am getting very carefully to occupations that they were interested in an interactive form. I hope the lesson will come more devotees, but come all the same. What do I do? How can I offer You this service, because it is not good! I feel utterly worthless personality! In other types of service everything is fine with me, but with this ... I can offer You only Your tenacity and illusory hope that sooner or later will change for the better. Although the material world cannot be optimistic!
Please, Srila Gurudeva, bless me so that I could meet You in this service. I'm passionate about this request!
I wish You to have Your disciples bring You joy and satisfaction of its records to the service. Not such as my account. I wish You good health and new revelations and discoveries in the service of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna, which You take great pleasure in generously give usYour seminars in Evpatoria!
I also remember Your answer to my question about Srila Gour-Govinda Swami-. that's not my level. I understand very well!!! But I so want to have Premа-Dhana, Krishna-prema already in this life. What is the meaning of wanting something more? Everything is already there. No love, no prema. without it, so sad.
Thank You for Your seminars, communication, instraction and caring!
Your insignificant disciple Jana Mohini d.d.
Janesvari devi dasi
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to You an this most auspicious occasion of Your Vyasa Puja celebration!
I had the good fortune to meet You almost a decade ago.
I was lost in the material whirlpool, trying to find happiness separate from Krsna.
You had come all the way to a small beach town in NZ, to save this fallen soul.
There was a small group of people who were eager to meet You and hear from You.
At the start of the discussion, You asked all of the participants if they had any questions, or what we were inquisitive about.
I remember asking You : "I'd like to know Who God is, who I am, and what my relationship with Him is".
You smilingly approved of my inquisitive mind, and gave very satisfying and elaborate answers during the discourse.
From that moment onwards, my life became transformed.
I had come in contact with many devotees and aspiring devotees over the years, but hearing from Your lotus lips, changed my life completely.
You came to wake me up again, and kindly reminded me of the goal of life.
With complete faith, compassion and determination, You spoke to the supersoul within my heart.
You explained that any material endeavor in this material world is a useless waste of time, and how we are chewing the chewed.
Furthermore, You explained that we are eternal servants of Krsna, Who is the reservoir of all pleasure.
And that unless we re-awaken our dormant love for Him, our human form of life is simply like polished animal life.
During our last darshan in NZ, You showered me with love and affection.
Although I am undeserving of this, Gurudeva, it has nourished the creeper of my devotion.
Your compassion and mercy give me the strenght to carry on in difficult times.
In times when I feel overwhelmed with service, I remember Your words of wisdom : " It is better to be overwhelmed with service, than not have any service at all."
Thank You Gurudeva, for giving me a chance to re-awaken my dormant love for Krsna.
Although I don't have much of Your 'Vapu' association lately, there isn't a day when I don't think about You, Gurudeva.
Despite my inadequacy to serve You properly, I nevertheless pray that You will be pleased by my small attempts to serve You.
I beg to remain Your eternal humble servant.
Your aspiring servant,
Janesvari devi dasi
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to You an this most auspicious occasion of Your Vyasa Puja celebration!
I had the good fortune to meet You almost a decade ago.
I was lost in the material whirlpool, trying to find happiness separate from Krsna.
You had come all the way to a small beach town in NZ, to save this fallen soul.
There was a small group of people who were eager to meet You and hear from You.
At the start of the discussion, You asked all of the participants if they had any questions, or what we were inquisitive about.
I remember asking You : "I'd like to know Who God is, who I am, and what my relationship with Him is".
You smilingly approved of my inquisitive mind, and gave very satisfying and elaborate answers during the discourse.
From that moment onwards, my life became transformed.
I had come in contact with many devotees and aspiring devotees over the years, but hearing from Your lotus lips, changed my life completely.
You came to wake me up again, and kindly reminded me of the goal of life.
With complete faith, compassion and determination, You spoke to the supersoul within my heart.
You explained that any material endeavor in this material world is a useless waste of time, and how we are chewing the chewed.
Furthermore, You explained that we are eternal servants of Krsna, Who is the reservoir of all pleasure.
And that unless we re-awaken our dormant love for Him, our human form of life is simply like polished animal life.
During our last darshan in NZ, You showered me with love and affection.
Although I am undeserving of this, Gurudeva, it has nourished the creeper of my devotion.
Your compassion and mercy give me the strenght to carry on in difficult times.
In times when I feel overwhelmed with service, I remember Your words of wisdom : " It is better to be overwhelmed with service, than not have any service at all."
Thank You Gurudeva, for giving me a chance to re-awaken my dormant love for Krsna.
Although I don't have much of Your 'Vapu' association lately, there isn't a day when I don't think about You, Gurudeva.
Despite my inadequacy to serve You properly, I nevertheless pray that You will be pleased by my small attempts to serve You.
I beg to remain Your eternal humble servant.
Your aspiring servant,
Janesvari devi dasi
Jayadeva Kavi das
Dear Guru Maharaja
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Thank you for always stressing that we need real spiritual knowledge, Gurudeva. Not only do we distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books, but we should also read them ourselves. Once, only several months into my bhakti career, I expressed in one darshan that I still had many doubts about Krishna Consciousness. I expected that you would ask me to list my doubts one by one, and then you would expertly smash each doubt and then I would become a fully enlightened, unalloyed devotee. But you simply asked me, “do you doubt Maya?” This simple answer was all I needed to hear!
By studying the books we may not understand every facet in the beginning; for most people further enquiry and deeper realisation are necessary. But we can very quickly see the frailties of material existence, and Maya’s broken promises. The promise of contentment and fulfilment sound attractive, the problem is she never delivers the goods. Her side of the deal remains unfulfilled. Srila Prabhupada writes in ‘Raja-Vidya: The King of Knowledge’: “Even if we accumulate a million dollars, we must leave it all behind when we leave this body. We need to come to understand that in the material world whatever we are doing is being defeated by the influence of material nature.” Statements like this showcase the reality of our endeavours for proprietorship and enjoyment in mundane struggles, in which our only sure reward is repeated births and deaths.
Conversely, if we don’t take Srila Prabhupada’s books seriously, material natures glimmer can seem quite attractive. Instead we start taking Maya’s preaching seriously and doubts about bhakti yoga begin to slacken our enthusiasm. Srila Prabhupada tells us how it is: “by studying Bhagavad-gita under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master, we can remove these doubts and make definite progress…
But because the fire of knowledge is not burning in our minds, we accept material existence as happiness.”
Some months after you asked me ‘if I doubt Maya,’ my father left his body. It was during my first attendance at the Recharge Festival in Otaki. Before departing for Napier to attend the funeral you requested me, “please see the situation through the eyes of the sastra [scriptures].” That week, stranded away from the devotees and in a sea of grieving relatives, the second chapter of Bhagavad-gita had never seemed so clear to me. Upon my return to Wellington you told me how being a new practitioner in such an intense situation, without devotee sanga, can sometimes lead to one’s compromising the bhakti principles. From that experience I developed a stronger attachment, knowing that the association of devotees is vital for one to stay strong in bhakti practice. I asked how I could combat familiarity with devotees. You told me, “That’s why you need to always read the books. By studying Srimad-Bhagavatam you will be able to see that a devotee is not an ordinary person.”
Thank you Gurudeva for always stressing that we take reading and devotee-relationships seriously. Indeed, a good foundation of knowledge is necessary for us to go forward in the preaching for the long-term and not fizzle out. Strong camaraderie amongst the Vaisnavas will ensure that in times of difficulty we will have the trust to reveal our mind to devotee. If we have firm friendships in Bhakti then we won’t need to search for that friendship elsewhere.
Thank you for being so exemplary yourself in Vaisnava dealings and studying of sastra because we are all looking up to you. Seeing the level of affection you show toward your God brothers and God sisters always makes me amazed how personal you are. The kindness you have for the junior bhakti practitioners when you invite us to read Srila Prabhupada’s books together with you is also very inspirational, because you have so enthusiasm when you read from the books.
On this great day of your appearance I beg from you that I may get some true attraction and attachment to the devotees and the sastra, and that I can improve in my hearing, from both sadhu and sastra. Srila Prabhupada states: “Submissive hearing is so powerful that simply by hearing from authoritative sources we can become completely perfect. In becoming submissive, we become aware of our own imperfections.” Sadhu-sanga and Srila Prabhupada’s books are always there, but like the baby with the diamond I am foolishly casting them aside, not taking these two precious jewels seriously, because I have no deep attraction.
om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah
Your aspiring servant,
Jayadeva Kavi dasa
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Thank you for always stressing that we need real spiritual knowledge, Gurudeva. Not only do we distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books, but we should also read them ourselves. Once, only several months into my bhakti career, I expressed in one darshan that I still had many doubts about Krishna Consciousness. I expected that you would ask me to list my doubts one by one, and then you would expertly smash each doubt and then I would become a fully enlightened, unalloyed devotee. But you simply asked me, “do you doubt Maya?” This simple answer was all I needed to hear!
By studying the books we may not understand every facet in the beginning; for most people further enquiry and deeper realisation are necessary. But we can very quickly see the frailties of material existence, and Maya’s broken promises. The promise of contentment and fulfilment sound attractive, the problem is she never delivers the goods. Her side of the deal remains unfulfilled. Srila Prabhupada writes in ‘Raja-Vidya: The King of Knowledge’: “Even if we accumulate a million dollars, we must leave it all behind when we leave this body. We need to come to understand that in the material world whatever we are doing is being defeated by the influence of material nature.” Statements like this showcase the reality of our endeavours for proprietorship and enjoyment in mundane struggles, in which our only sure reward is repeated births and deaths.
Conversely, if we don’t take Srila Prabhupada’s books seriously, material natures glimmer can seem quite attractive. Instead we start taking Maya’s preaching seriously and doubts about bhakti yoga begin to slacken our enthusiasm. Srila Prabhupada tells us how it is: “by studying Bhagavad-gita under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master, we can remove these doubts and make definite progress…
But because the fire of knowledge is not burning in our minds, we accept material existence as happiness.”
Some months after you asked me ‘if I doubt Maya,’ my father left his body. It was during my first attendance at the Recharge Festival in Otaki. Before departing for Napier to attend the funeral you requested me, “please see the situation through the eyes of the sastra [scriptures].” That week, stranded away from the devotees and in a sea of grieving relatives, the second chapter of Bhagavad-gita had never seemed so clear to me. Upon my return to Wellington you told me how being a new practitioner in such an intense situation, without devotee sanga, can sometimes lead to one’s compromising the bhakti principles. From that experience I developed a stronger attachment, knowing that the association of devotees is vital for one to stay strong in bhakti practice. I asked how I could combat familiarity with devotees. You told me, “That’s why you need to always read the books. By studying Srimad-Bhagavatam you will be able to see that a devotee is not an ordinary person.”
Thank you Gurudeva for always stressing that we take reading and devotee-relationships seriously. Indeed, a good foundation of knowledge is necessary for us to go forward in the preaching for the long-term and not fizzle out. Strong camaraderie amongst the Vaisnavas will ensure that in times of difficulty we will have the trust to reveal our mind to devotee. If we have firm friendships in Bhakti then we won’t need to search for that friendship elsewhere.
Thank you for being so exemplary yourself in Vaisnava dealings and studying of sastra because we are all looking up to you. Seeing the level of affection you show toward your God brothers and God sisters always makes me amazed how personal you are. The kindness you have for the junior bhakti practitioners when you invite us to read Srila Prabhupada’s books together with you is also very inspirational, because you have so enthusiasm when you read from the books.
On this great day of your appearance I beg from you that I may get some true attraction and attachment to the devotees and the sastra, and that I can improve in my hearing, from both sadhu and sastra. Srila Prabhupada states: “Submissive hearing is so powerful that simply by hearing from authoritative sources we can become completely perfect. In becoming submissive, we become aware of our own imperfections.” Sadhu-sanga and Srila Prabhupada’s books are always there, but like the baby with the diamond I am foolishly casting them aside, not taking these two precious jewels seriously, because I have no deep attraction.
om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah
Your aspiring servant,
Jayadeva Kavi dasa
Josh Darvill (Auckland)
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Nama om visnu padaya
Krsna presthaya bhu-tale
Srimate Devamrita Swami iti namine
Pracare purva daskyam ca
Bhakta cara pravinita
Pararthatapi karunyam
Yasya sarve ca te namah
Dear Devamrita Swami Maharaja
Please accept this offering, although I feel insufficiently qualified to say anything about you. I can only speak from my humble position.
A year has passed since this last memorable occasion. A day which, opened my darkened eyes to a whole new paradigm. To see your disciples, humbly offering their respects to you and your service, I realised I was associating with very sincere devoted souls, with love for you that was so strong, so deep, I sat there wishing that I could love someone that much or even half as much. As due to my time in this material prison, I have only learned to gratify my own senses and fuel my false ego. Devoid of any love for anything other than my own selfish agenda, your disciples put me in my place, but also demonstrated that it is possible, by the process of bhakti, that one can attain an amazing level of love and devotion to their spiritual master.
Over the year, you have continually demonstrated your glorious service to Srila Prabhupada. I feel privileged to have been present before you in the loft lectures. The way you sat, and the way you surveyed the audience of Auckland’s most fortunate, everything about you just gave me shivers up the spine. There was one instance when you were speaking with such potency, a girl in the audience, visiting for the first time, was suddenly awakened and she asked you several questions. In awe and reverence I witnessed as your words, so expertly spoken, entered her ears, igniting her heart. Her eyes were wide with attention as your words permeated her entire existence. Next week she was in a sari, on Harinama and chanting on beads.
In June-July, you personally guided me in my most difficult time in Krsna Consciousness. A time where I needed expert guidance as my mind was at its most turbulent. Overwhelmed with anxiety as to my future in Krsna Consciousness you expertly spoke like a real father figure, a new face of my relationship with you, as you tend to be very jovial and make jokes in regard to my personal life. I’ll never forget what you said to me in Otaki! But the way you dealt with me during this time enabled me to fully trust you and gave me confidence that your instructions are for my best interests. Thank you so much for that Maharaja.
As the year has progressed my attachment to you has increased more, and more, up to the point I have at least one dream about you each month. Actually this month I have had two! The most memorable dream was meeting you at an airport. I knew not to offer my obeisances to you formally so with my hands in pranam, I chanted your pranams while fixing my vision at your feet and gradually reaching your head. You knew what I had done and were smiling. You called my name and asked me to walk with you. While walking you gave detailed explanations regarding your instructions to my current situation. They were so specific and relevant that I have no doubt it was real. I hope to make use of this mercy.
I am coming to the realisation as to how much mercy we are getting at the loft. During an amazing lecture at New Varshan by HH Bir Krishna Goswami, an interesting point was raised. He said that one may chant, read, and serve but take many lifetimes to go back to Godhead. He stated that Sankirtan is the way to make rapid advancement and go back home in this lifetime. I believe that the loft is a Sankirtan unit in itself and by your ingenuity we can all be part of the Sankirtan movement regardless of our position. Any service at the Loft is Sankirtan! How fortunate are we!!?? Even those who come in just once and assist doing dishes are getting so much benefit! By your mercy you have given Sankirtan to everyone at the loft. It is clear that you are on a mass extrication mission, travelling the world, rounding up as many fortunate souls as possible and taking us back to the spiritual world!
I will never, ever be able to repay you for this Gurudeva. I owe you my life. And although we don’t communicate so often, I still feel very connected to you. Like how you said in Bhakti Bhava, that you felt close to Srila Prabhupada despite no communication. And how Prabhupada said the closest thing to him was the mosquito! And what was his motivation!? I feel so fortunate to have the time you give me. A verse from the Srimad Bhagavatam 1.18.13 sums this up. “The value of a moment’s association with the devotee of the Lord cannot be compared even to the attainment of the heavenly planets or liberation from matter, and what to speak of worldly benedictions in the form of material prosperity, which is for those who are meant for death.” You are an inspiration to not only myself, but to thousands of people. I pray that Krsna allows you to deliver the mercy and inspiration to all those you encounter in your travels. Please come back safely and I eagerly anticipate the end of year festival in Otaki.
Have a Krsna Conscious appearance day Maharaja!
Thank you.
Your aspiring servant.
Bhakta Josh (Garuda Ashram)
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Nama om visnu padaya
Krsna presthaya bhu-tale
Srimate Devamrita Swami iti namine
Pracare purva daskyam ca
Bhakta cara pravinita
Pararthatapi karunyam
Yasya sarve ca te namah
Dear Devamrita Swami Maharaja
Please accept this offering, although I feel insufficiently qualified to say anything about you. I can only speak from my humble position.
A year has passed since this last memorable occasion. A day which, opened my darkened eyes to a whole new paradigm. To see your disciples, humbly offering their respects to you and your service, I realised I was associating with very sincere devoted souls, with love for you that was so strong, so deep, I sat there wishing that I could love someone that much or even half as much. As due to my time in this material prison, I have only learned to gratify my own senses and fuel my false ego. Devoid of any love for anything other than my own selfish agenda, your disciples put me in my place, but also demonstrated that it is possible, by the process of bhakti, that one can attain an amazing level of love and devotion to their spiritual master.
Over the year, you have continually demonstrated your glorious service to Srila Prabhupada. I feel privileged to have been present before you in the loft lectures. The way you sat, and the way you surveyed the audience of Auckland’s most fortunate, everything about you just gave me shivers up the spine. There was one instance when you were speaking with such potency, a girl in the audience, visiting for the first time, was suddenly awakened and she asked you several questions. In awe and reverence I witnessed as your words, so expertly spoken, entered her ears, igniting her heart. Her eyes were wide with attention as your words permeated her entire existence. Next week she was in a sari, on Harinama and chanting on beads.
In June-July, you personally guided me in my most difficult time in Krsna Consciousness. A time where I needed expert guidance as my mind was at its most turbulent. Overwhelmed with anxiety as to my future in Krsna Consciousness you expertly spoke like a real father figure, a new face of my relationship with you, as you tend to be very jovial and make jokes in regard to my personal life. I’ll never forget what you said to me in Otaki! But the way you dealt with me during this time enabled me to fully trust you and gave me confidence that your instructions are for my best interests. Thank you so much for that Maharaja.
As the year has progressed my attachment to you has increased more, and more, up to the point I have at least one dream about you each month. Actually this month I have had two! The most memorable dream was meeting you at an airport. I knew not to offer my obeisances to you formally so with my hands in pranam, I chanted your pranams while fixing my vision at your feet and gradually reaching your head. You knew what I had done and were smiling. You called my name and asked me to walk with you. While walking you gave detailed explanations regarding your instructions to my current situation. They were so specific and relevant that I have no doubt it was real. I hope to make use of this mercy.
I am coming to the realisation as to how much mercy we are getting at the loft. During an amazing lecture at New Varshan by HH Bir Krishna Goswami, an interesting point was raised. He said that one may chant, read, and serve but take many lifetimes to go back to Godhead. He stated that Sankirtan is the way to make rapid advancement and go back home in this lifetime. I believe that the loft is a Sankirtan unit in itself and by your ingenuity we can all be part of the Sankirtan movement regardless of our position. Any service at the Loft is Sankirtan! How fortunate are we!!?? Even those who come in just once and assist doing dishes are getting so much benefit! By your mercy you have given Sankirtan to everyone at the loft. It is clear that you are on a mass extrication mission, travelling the world, rounding up as many fortunate souls as possible and taking us back to the spiritual world!
I will never, ever be able to repay you for this Gurudeva. I owe you my life. And although we don’t communicate so often, I still feel very connected to you. Like how you said in Bhakti Bhava, that you felt close to Srila Prabhupada despite no communication. And how Prabhupada said the closest thing to him was the mosquito! And what was his motivation!? I feel so fortunate to have the time you give me. A verse from the Srimad Bhagavatam 1.18.13 sums this up. “The value of a moment’s association with the devotee of the Lord cannot be compared even to the attainment of the heavenly planets or liberation from matter, and what to speak of worldly benedictions in the form of material prosperity, which is for those who are meant for death.” You are an inspiration to not only myself, but to thousands of people. I pray that Krsna allows you to deliver the mercy and inspiration to all those you encounter in your travels. Please come back safely and I eagerly anticipate the end of year festival in Otaki.
Have a Krsna Conscious appearance day Maharaja!
Thank you.
Your aspiring servant.
Bhakta Josh (Garuda Ashram)
Julieta Pozo
Hare Krishna Gurudeva
On this special day I want to thank you to give shelter to my family specially my daughters Sammohini and Pamela.
I hope soon I will be also initiated devotee as I have been following all the rules and regulations.
Now I am recovering from a hard time because my health wasn´t very well. But with Pamela, Sammohini and Jai Saci Nandana´s care I am feeling better and strong in my spiritual life.
In the operation theatre just before I lost my conscious I was just thinking about Krishna and when I got my consciousness again I was worried I will be not able to chant my rounds but after 2 weeks by Krishna´s mercy I started chanting again.
Your aspiring servant,
Julieta Pozo
On this special day I want to thank you to give shelter to my family specially my daughters Sammohini and Pamela.
I hope soon I will be also initiated devotee as I have been following all the rules and regulations.
Now I am recovering from a hard time because my health wasn´t very well. But with Pamela, Sammohini and Jai Saci Nandana´s care I am feeling better and strong in my spiritual life.
In the operation theatre just before I lost my conscious I was just thinking about Krishna and when I got my consciousness again I was worried I will be not able to chant my rounds but after 2 weeks by Krishna´s mercy I started chanting again.
Your aspiring servant,
Julieta Pozo
Justo Galeana
Dear Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
In the year 2010 I wrote my first offering. During that year the law of Karma caught up with me and it gave me a very difficult time due to my own sinful activities. Feeling hopeless I understood I needed guidance. During that same year I understood I didn't know what I was doing, and I understood that I was immersed in the ocean of material nature. Fortunately for my fallen self, I knew two of your disciples, one of them being Shastra Krit Prabhu, and the other one Gauraprema Prabhu. They kindly guided me during those difficult times. It was then when I decided to approach you in a more or less humble attitude and beg for guidance and for help. At that moment everything changed. I began to listen to some of your lectures. Every day I listened to at least one lecture, then suddenly I began understand.
I understood that Maya has no limits in the amount of kicks She can give us. In one of your lectures you clearly mentioned that Maya has no limits as to the amount of kicks She can give us and that we shouldn't feel that we have gotten our own quota. I really enjoyed all the lectures you gave about Prahalada Maharaja. You talked about the Samsara Bija. You talked about this seed within the heart, and how devotional service destroys the seed of material desires. I truly admire Prahalada Maharaja and how he is so pure that even when Lord Nishrimhadeva asked him for any benediction he wanted, he expertly refused any material benediction. If Lord Nishrimhadeva would have offered me the same benediction, I would have definitely asked him for opulence greater than that of Lord Indra, and this is why I am still here, rotting myself in this material world. My Samsara Bija is still there, but I know that by chanting the holy names and by pleasing you and the devotees, this Samsara Bija will eventually disappear, and that's what I am hoping for.
Finally I truly enjoyed when you explained the pastimes of Bali Maharaja and Lord Vamanadeva. I have no words to explain how much I enjoyed you telling us your realizations of Srimad Bhagavatam. What I liked the most about this pastime is how Bali Maharaja became so strong by pleasing his Guru. I hope to get to that point of purity and expertise. I hope to please you so much, so that by pleasing you I may please the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Krishna and of course I admire Bali Maharaja's humbleness, by offering his head to Lord Vamanadeva, and I truly admire the potency of Prahlada Maharaja that by his devotion, his grandson Bali Maharaja was able to get all the blessings from God himself.
Dear Maharaja, all I am saying is that I want to please you, and that I want to follow your instructions. There is no way to get close to Krishna if it is not through the blessings of His pure devotee. My dream is to please you so much so that Lord Krishna Himself may look at me and say, "nice, he is doing his best to please my pure devotee Devamrita Swami". :)
Thank you Maharaja, for all you have done for us fallen souls, and thank you so much for scheduling a visit to Mexico. I know you didn't have to, and I know you're doing this out of pure compassion for the fallen souls of this insignificant part of the material universe. Hare Krsna!!
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
In the year 2010 I wrote my first offering. During that year the law of Karma caught up with me and it gave me a very difficult time due to my own sinful activities. Feeling hopeless I understood I needed guidance. During that same year I understood I didn't know what I was doing, and I understood that I was immersed in the ocean of material nature. Fortunately for my fallen self, I knew two of your disciples, one of them being Shastra Krit Prabhu, and the other one Gauraprema Prabhu. They kindly guided me during those difficult times. It was then when I decided to approach you in a more or less humble attitude and beg for guidance and for help. At that moment everything changed. I began to listen to some of your lectures. Every day I listened to at least one lecture, then suddenly I began understand.
I understood that Maya has no limits in the amount of kicks She can give us. In one of your lectures you clearly mentioned that Maya has no limits as to the amount of kicks She can give us and that we shouldn't feel that we have gotten our own quota. I really enjoyed all the lectures you gave about Prahalada Maharaja. You talked about the Samsara Bija. You talked about this seed within the heart, and how devotional service destroys the seed of material desires. I truly admire Prahalada Maharaja and how he is so pure that even when Lord Nishrimhadeva asked him for any benediction he wanted, he expertly refused any material benediction. If Lord Nishrimhadeva would have offered me the same benediction, I would have definitely asked him for opulence greater than that of Lord Indra, and this is why I am still here, rotting myself in this material world. My Samsara Bija is still there, but I know that by chanting the holy names and by pleasing you and the devotees, this Samsara Bija will eventually disappear, and that's what I am hoping for.
Finally I truly enjoyed when you explained the pastimes of Bali Maharaja and Lord Vamanadeva. I have no words to explain how much I enjoyed you telling us your realizations of Srimad Bhagavatam. What I liked the most about this pastime is how Bali Maharaja became so strong by pleasing his Guru. I hope to get to that point of purity and expertise. I hope to please you so much, so that by pleasing you I may please the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Krishna and of course I admire Bali Maharaja's humbleness, by offering his head to Lord Vamanadeva, and I truly admire the potency of Prahlada Maharaja that by his devotion, his grandson Bali Maharaja was able to get all the blessings from God himself.
Dear Maharaja, all I am saying is that I want to please you, and that I want to follow your instructions. There is no way to get close to Krishna if it is not through the blessings of His pure devotee. My dream is to please you so much so that Lord Krishna Himself may look at me and say, "nice, he is doing his best to please my pure devotee Devamrita Swami". :)
Thank you Maharaja, for all you have done for us fallen souls, and thank you so much for scheduling a visit to Mexico. I know you didn't have to, and I know you're doing this out of pure compassion for the fallen souls of this insignificant part of the material universe. Hare Krsna!!
Karuna-purna dasi
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
In gratitude I bow down at your lotus feet,
Which are my shelter in these turbulent times
A few words from your lotus mouth,
Drives away all anxiety and strife
A little service performed under your guidance,
Leaves my heart with peace and happiness in abundance
A few moments of your association,
Gives the seed of all perfection
Hearing you speak Krishna-katha,
Makes my ears greedy for more and more
Thinking of my own meager efforts in serving you,
Makes me feel like a broken tool
Grateful for your magnanimity,
I pray for the desire to make your mission mine at heart
Awestruck by your bhakti,
I beg for the ability to execute your will to the best of my capacity
Your servant, Karuna-purna dasi
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
In gratitude I bow down at your lotus feet,
Which are my shelter in these turbulent times
A few words from your lotus mouth,
Drives away all anxiety and strife
A little service performed under your guidance,
Leaves my heart with peace and happiness in abundance
A few moments of your association,
Gives the seed of all perfection
Hearing you speak Krishna-katha,
Makes my ears greedy for more and more
Thinking of my own meager efforts in serving you,
Makes me feel like a broken tool
Grateful for your magnanimity,
I pray for the desire to make your mission mine at heart
Awestruck by your bhakti,
I beg for the ability to execute your will to the best of my capacity
Your servant, Karuna-purna dasi
Kasi Priya das
Dear Srila Gurudeva
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories unto you on this so auspicious day of your appearance in this world.
How can I appropriately glorify you Gurudeva? I have no understanding of what you are actually offering us. I can understand it’s big, I can understand it’s the best thing, the most natural thing but yet when I get a tiny glimpse of that gift of devotional service to Krishna it’s too much for me to comprehend. I was helplessly, aimlessly wandering around and you kindly picked me up by your mercy and are showing me over and over again the right direction to go. Like a patient parent you wait and assist all your spiritual children on their first attempts to walk the real spiritual path, the path of devotional service to Krishna. You constantly inspire us, motivate us and show by your own example how it is possible to walk the talk.
You are a real saint Srila Gurudeva, a pure devotee who is happy wherever he can preach the glories of Krishna and is able to engage in His loving service. You are greedy, greedy in perfection. One ticket back home, back to Godhead wasn’t enough for you. You got it from your BBT service from Srila Prabhupada. You wanted yet another ticket and went behind the iron curtain to share the gift of devotional service with the people of eastern Europa and Russia. But still you do not rest despite the two tickets back to home. You’re tirelessly trying your best to help others to get the clue to Krishna consciousness. That a symptom of a Maha Bhagavata. Prahlada Maharaja expressed his feelings as follows:
prāyeṇa deva munayaḥ sva-vimukti-kāmā
maunaḿ caranti vijane na parārtha-niṣṭhāḥ
naitān vihāya kṛpaṇān vimumukṣa eko
nānyaḿ tvad asya śaraṇaḿ bhramato 'nupaśye
‘My dear Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva, I see that there are many saintly persons indeed, but they are interested only in their own deliverance. Not caring for the big cities and towns, they go to the Himalayas or the forest to meditate with vows of silence [mauna-vrata]. They are not interested in delivering others. As for me, however, I do not wish to be liberated alone, leaving aside all these poor fools and rascals. I know that without Kṛṣṇa consciousness, without taking shelter of Your lotus feet, one cannot be happy. Therefore I wish to bring them back to shelter at Your lotus feet.’
Following the footsteps of Prahlada Maharaja out of love and compassion for all the misguided conditioned souls seeking happiness in the dessert-like material world you very expertly trick them into devotional service, you somehow or other give them the higher taste of devotional service. Without your expertise in trapping kali yuga fools and rascals like me into to your urban outreach net where would we be? I would still be aimlessly wandering about the world seeking for water in the desert being miserly happy with a fraction of a teaspoon of water while suffering from dehydration and being fully dried up.
You have a Bhakti heart Gurudeva, a heart full of love! And your love seems to be like a never ending stream coming forth from your heart, a refreshing stream which revives our dried up heart. Prahlada Maharaja prays to Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva:
naivodvije para duratyaya-vaitaraṇyās
tvad-vīrya-gāyana-mahāmṛta-magna-cittaḥ
śoce tato vimukha-cetasa indriyārtha-
māyā-sukhāya bharam udvahato vimūḍhān
O best of the great personalities, I am not at all afraid of material existence, for wherever I stay I am fully absorbed in thoughts of Your glories and activities. My concern is only for the fools and rascals who are making elaborate plans for material happiness and maintaining their families, societies and countries. I am simply concerned with love for them.
You are simply concerned with love for all of us, Srila Gurudeva! I don’t know how to appropriately reciprocate with your love. I can simply try to one day understand this amazing gift you have given me and all of us, the gift of devotional service which in a remote past we somehow abandoned. And I can try by your mercy to share this gift with others. I understand, this is my debt to you, an always increasing debt. Prahlada Maharaja summarises a simple truth which you have fully assimilated. And your desire is that we also understand and share it with others. But out of foolishness and self-abuse life after life we are not able to understand and take to this simple fact but you are so kind that you gently direct us towards that understanding, giving as clue after clue after clue:
ahaḿ tv akāmas tvad-bhaktas
tvaḿ ca svāmy anapāśrayaḥ
nānyathehāvayor artho
rāja-sevakayor iva
O my Lord, I am Your unmotivated servant, and You are my eternal master. There is no need of our being anything other than master and servant. You are naturally my master, and I am naturally Your servant. We have no other relationship.
This is the greatest gift and you try to give to all of us out of your love and compassion. How could I thank you? What could I offer you in return? I can only try to somehow or other serve you and hope you accept my helpless attempts.
Your aspiring servant
Kasi Priya das
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories unto you on this so auspicious day of your appearance in this world.
How can I appropriately glorify you Gurudeva? I have no understanding of what you are actually offering us. I can understand it’s big, I can understand it’s the best thing, the most natural thing but yet when I get a tiny glimpse of that gift of devotional service to Krishna it’s too much for me to comprehend. I was helplessly, aimlessly wandering around and you kindly picked me up by your mercy and are showing me over and over again the right direction to go. Like a patient parent you wait and assist all your spiritual children on their first attempts to walk the real spiritual path, the path of devotional service to Krishna. You constantly inspire us, motivate us and show by your own example how it is possible to walk the talk.
You are a real saint Srila Gurudeva, a pure devotee who is happy wherever he can preach the glories of Krishna and is able to engage in His loving service. You are greedy, greedy in perfection. One ticket back home, back to Godhead wasn’t enough for you. You got it from your BBT service from Srila Prabhupada. You wanted yet another ticket and went behind the iron curtain to share the gift of devotional service with the people of eastern Europa and Russia. But still you do not rest despite the two tickets back to home. You’re tirelessly trying your best to help others to get the clue to Krishna consciousness. That a symptom of a Maha Bhagavata. Prahlada Maharaja expressed his feelings as follows:
prāyeṇa deva munayaḥ sva-vimukti-kāmā
maunaḿ caranti vijane na parārtha-niṣṭhāḥ
naitān vihāya kṛpaṇān vimumukṣa eko
nānyaḿ tvad asya śaraṇaḿ bhramato 'nupaśye
‘My dear Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva, I see that there are many saintly persons indeed, but they are interested only in their own deliverance. Not caring for the big cities and towns, they go to the Himalayas or the forest to meditate with vows of silence [mauna-vrata]. They are not interested in delivering others. As for me, however, I do not wish to be liberated alone, leaving aside all these poor fools and rascals. I know that without Kṛṣṇa consciousness, without taking shelter of Your lotus feet, one cannot be happy. Therefore I wish to bring them back to shelter at Your lotus feet.’
Following the footsteps of Prahlada Maharaja out of love and compassion for all the misguided conditioned souls seeking happiness in the dessert-like material world you very expertly trick them into devotional service, you somehow or other give them the higher taste of devotional service. Without your expertise in trapping kali yuga fools and rascals like me into to your urban outreach net where would we be? I would still be aimlessly wandering about the world seeking for water in the desert being miserly happy with a fraction of a teaspoon of water while suffering from dehydration and being fully dried up.
You have a Bhakti heart Gurudeva, a heart full of love! And your love seems to be like a never ending stream coming forth from your heart, a refreshing stream which revives our dried up heart. Prahlada Maharaja prays to Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva:
naivodvije para duratyaya-vaitaraṇyās
tvad-vīrya-gāyana-mahāmṛta-magna-cittaḥ
śoce tato vimukha-cetasa indriyārtha-
māyā-sukhāya bharam udvahato vimūḍhān
O best of the great personalities, I am not at all afraid of material existence, for wherever I stay I am fully absorbed in thoughts of Your glories and activities. My concern is only for the fools and rascals who are making elaborate plans for material happiness and maintaining their families, societies and countries. I am simply concerned with love for them.
You are simply concerned with love for all of us, Srila Gurudeva! I don’t know how to appropriately reciprocate with your love. I can simply try to one day understand this amazing gift you have given me and all of us, the gift of devotional service which in a remote past we somehow abandoned. And I can try by your mercy to share this gift with others. I understand, this is my debt to you, an always increasing debt. Prahlada Maharaja summarises a simple truth which you have fully assimilated. And your desire is that we also understand and share it with others. But out of foolishness and self-abuse life after life we are not able to understand and take to this simple fact but you are so kind that you gently direct us towards that understanding, giving as clue after clue after clue:
ahaḿ tv akāmas tvad-bhaktas
tvaḿ ca svāmy anapāśrayaḥ
nānyathehāvayor artho
rāja-sevakayor iva
O my Lord, I am Your unmotivated servant, and You are my eternal master. There is no need of our being anything other than master and servant. You are naturally my master, and I am naturally Your servant. We have no other relationship.
This is the greatest gift and you try to give to all of us out of your love and compassion. How could I thank you? What could I offer you in return? I can only try to somehow or other serve you and hope you accept my helpless attempts.
Your aspiring servant
Kasi Priya das
Kasinatha das
Dear Guru Maharaja Please A ccept My Humble Obeisances all glories All Glories To Srila Prabhupada.
nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale. srimate devamrita swaminn iti namine
Hare Krishna Guru maharaja.every morning i listen to your lectures from your website while doing some exercise,they are the thoughts for the day and put me in the right mood and outlook.thankyou very much for them iam benefitiing greatly from there ,wisdom,economic,social science,commentrys and humour,especilly now that iam living outside of the temple the material world ,dream world is even more captivating,your lectures though are helping me wake up in this material dream world to the lucid realitys of krishna consciousness.obeisnaces to you.i can,t make it to wales for your vyasa puja this year,my apologies at your lotus feet.i hope to hear you speak at soho temple again sometime soon.wishing good health sadhana and service.your servant .kasinatha das
nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale. srimate devamrita swaminn iti namine
Hare Krishna Guru maharaja.every morning i listen to your lectures from your website while doing some exercise,they are the thoughts for the day and put me in the right mood and outlook.thankyou very much for them iam benefitiing greatly from there ,wisdom,economic,social science,commentrys and humour,especilly now that iam living outside of the temple the material world ,dream world is even more captivating,your lectures though are helping me wake up in this material dream world to the lucid realitys of krishna consciousness.obeisnaces to you.i can,t make it to wales for your vyasa puja this year,my apologies at your lotus feet.i hope to hear you speak at soho temple again sometime soon.wishing good health sadhana and service.your servant .kasinatha das
Kathleen Stack
All Glories to His Holiness Devamrita Swami!!!!
You are the furthest away, but always the closest in my heart. Though our words exchanged have been few, they have left the deepest impression in my consciousness. I am always at your feet, awaiting further instruction. I live to follow you into eternity. This is what makes breathing sweet in my every day. Thank you so much for being brave when you were young, and taking a chance on love.
HARE KRSNA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I cannot say it enough:)
<3 Kathleen
You are the furthest away, but always the closest in my heart. Though our words exchanged have been few, they have left the deepest impression in my consciousness. I am always at your feet, awaiting further instruction. I live to follow you into eternity. This is what makes breathing sweet in my every day. Thank you so much for being brave when you were young, and taking a chance on love.
HARE KRSNA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I cannot say it enough:)
<3 Kathleen
Keerthi aravapalli
Dear Gurudev
Please accept my humble obeisances...
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Namo om visnu padya krsna prestya bhutale srimati Sri Devamrita swami iti namine...
I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace Devamrita swami, who is very dear to Lord Krishna, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.
I, like thousands of others first came into contact with Krishna consciousness through your retreats and from very first time i have encountered i found that your are very dynamic in your personality and very sharp at times to cut off our ignorance.
When i approached you first time with a problem although having no idea about Guru - Disciple relation by your instructions, compassion and boldness created a great impact on me and which made me write an email to you and in reply you have sent me an email as :
Dear Keerthi,
Please accept my blessings.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I simply desire that you have a solid chance to advance in bhakti.
That is my concern.
your wellwisher,
Devamrita Swami
i never ever known someone in my life who has really desired for me in such way not even my parents. I always tried to follow what u said although i had failed badly because of emotions, and fears. When i sit back and think about last two years of my life, i always failed because i wanted things to go on as how i wanted in life although reasons and situations can be anything . I know no matter how much ever I try to do I can never even come close to repaying you for all you have done for me, in spite of letting you down so many times you never gave upon me and indeed you have promised me "Whatever will happen I will never leave you alone"
Gurudev Im really so sorry but its my emotions, fears and hesitations played with me. I donot know much about world, people, situations .......im sorry for not being responsible ..........i am sorry for letting you down definitely never ever i wanted to hurt you.
I am the most lowly and unhappy pest crawling in the lap of Mayadevi, because I have not done a darn thing to make you proud and happy. My heart is shackled in the modes of passion and ignorance. Please, Srila Gurudeva, please, I beg you to release me from this nescience, and engage me in the service of your lotus feet. I have no one other than you who is knows me in complete. Please forgive me if possible. I will give myself every possible chance to develop my spiritual life... it is a promise...
Thank you for being my spiritual father and will pray to dust of your lotus feet which is only shelter for me in this world. I am very grateful to you and help me to become selfless and humble instrument at your lotus feet.
Wish you happy Vyasa Puja Gurudev ....
Thank you again and again for your unlimited mercy and love,
Never ever will be able to repay you,
Always wanting to be in your service...
Yours insignificant servant at your lotus feet.
Please accept my humble obeisances...
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Namo om visnu padya krsna prestya bhutale srimati Sri Devamrita swami iti namine...
I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace Devamrita swami, who is very dear to Lord Krishna, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.
I, like thousands of others first came into contact with Krishna consciousness through your retreats and from very first time i have encountered i found that your are very dynamic in your personality and very sharp at times to cut off our ignorance.
When i approached you first time with a problem although having no idea about Guru - Disciple relation by your instructions, compassion and boldness created a great impact on me and which made me write an email to you and in reply you have sent me an email as :
Dear Keerthi,
Please accept my blessings.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I simply desire that you have a solid chance to advance in bhakti.
That is my concern.
your wellwisher,
Devamrita Swami
i never ever known someone in my life who has really desired for me in such way not even my parents. I always tried to follow what u said although i had failed badly because of emotions, and fears. When i sit back and think about last two years of my life, i always failed because i wanted things to go on as how i wanted in life although reasons and situations can be anything . I know no matter how much ever I try to do I can never even come close to repaying you for all you have done for me, in spite of letting you down so many times you never gave upon me and indeed you have promised me "Whatever will happen I will never leave you alone"
Gurudev Im really so sorry but its my emotions, fears and hesitations played with me. I donot know much about world, people, situations .......im sorry for not being responsible ..........i am sorry for letting you down definitely never ever i wanted to hurt you.
I am the most lowly and unhappy pest crawling in the lap of Mayadevi, because I have not done a darn thing to make you proud and happy. My heart is shackled in the modes of passion and ignorance. Please, Srila Gurudeva, please, I beg you to release me from this nescience, and engage me in the service of your lotus feet. I have no one other than you who is knows me in complete. Please forgive me if possible. I will give myself every possible chance to develop my spiritual life... it is a promise...
Thank you for being my spiritual father and will pray to dust of your lotus feet which is only shelter for me in this world. I am very grateful to you and help me to become selfless and humble instrument at your lotus feet.
Wish you happy Vyasa Puja Gurudev ....
Thank you again and again for your unlimited mercy and love,
Never ever will be able to repay you,
Always wanting to be in your service...
Yours insignificant servant at your lotus feet.
Keziah
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Dear Devamrita Swami
I have only known you for less than a year and already you have inspired me to change my entire life.
I never would have thought that I would be on the same streets where I wasted years of my youth being intoxicated, exploiting myself and others, now dancing and chanting the names of the Lord and trying to distribute Lord Caitanya’s mercy to the conditioned souls.
I was so self conscious and in secure, never did I even for a second think I could even attempt stop people on the street and talk about God.
I never thought I could leave the company of my old “friends” and not look back.
Everything about You inspires me.
Your qualities are so inspiring; the way you expertly deal with everyone, how perceptive you are. Your determination and tolerance, your love and enthusiasm, your strong demeanour and your soft heart. Your mission in setting up preaching centres to make Lord Caitanya’s mercy so easily accessible to and how you so kindly have us engaged in helping in His mission.
You never cease to amaze me.
I pray that my love and service for you will continue to grow until one day when I can surrender.
Thank you for helping me Maharaja.
Your insignificant servant
Keziah
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Dear Devamrita Swami
I have only known you for less than a year and already you have inspired me to change my entire life.
I never would have thought that I would be on the same streets where I wasted years of my youth being intoxicated, exploiting myself and others, now dancing and chanting the names of the Lord and trying to distribute Lord Caitanya’s mercy to the conditioned souls.
I was so self conscious and in secure, never did I even for a second think I could even attempt stop people on the street and talk about God.
I never thought I could leave the company of my old “friends” and not look back.
Everything about You inspires me.
Your qualities are so inspiring; the way you expertly deal with everyone, how perceptive you are. Your determination and tolerance, your love and enthusiasm, your strong demeanour and your soft heart. Your mission in setting up preaching centres to make Lord Caitanya’s mercy so easily accessible to and how you so kindly have us engaged in helping in His mission.
You never cease to amaze me.
I pray that my love and service for you will continue to grow until one day when I can surrender.
Thank you for helping me Maharaja.
Your insignificant servant
Keziah
Khadiravan devi dasi
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda.
All glories to you on your holy appearance day.
This year since moving temporarily away from our usual place of service in Wellington to the naturally beautiful, peaceful beach at Kapiti in the hopes of health rejuvenation for my husband, I found myself contemplating and realising the great benediction and shelter of regular and steady service at a devotional service hub like Bhakti Lounge.
Then naturally the contemplation moves to the one who provides and oversees such a service hotspot. I began to see such hubs as expressions of your love and care for me and countless others, past, present and future. As Śrīla Prabhupāda describes in his purport to Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 19.152:
“The word guru-prasāda indicates that the spiritual master is very merciful in bestowing the boon of devotional service upon the disciple. That is the best possible gift the spiritual master has to offer. “
You have loved us to the greatest extent by giving us opportunities for devotional service. Blind to real love, real benefit, I scramble in different directions looking for this most scarce resource in the material world, and all the while you have long ago given this ultimate love.
My deepest gratitude for your profound love and care, and I beg to take full advantage of your matchless gift of devotional service in this eternally beautiful sankirtana network and make an attempt to reciprocate with you.
Your aspiring servant and daughter,
Khadiravan devi dasi
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda.
All glories to you on your holy appearance day.
This year since moving temporarily away from our usual place of service in Wellington to the naturally beautiful, peaceful beach at Kapiti in the hopes of health rejuvenation for my husband, I found myself contemplating and realising the great benediction and shelter of regular and steady service at a devotional service hub like Bhakti Lounge.
Then naturally the contemplation moves to the one who provides and oversees such a service hotspot. I began to see such hubs as expressions of your love and care for me and countless others, past, present and future. As Śrīla Prabhupāda describes in his purport to Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 19.152:
“The word guru-prasāda indicates that the spiritual master is very merciful in bestowing the boon of devotional service upon the disciple. That is the best possible gift the spiritual master has to offer. “
You have loved us to the greatest extent by giving us opportunities for devotional service. Blind to real love, real benefit, I scramble in different directions looking for this most scarce resource in the material world, and all the while you have long ago given this ultimate love.
My deepest gratitude for your profound love and care, and I beg to take full advantage of your matchless gift of devotional service in this eternally beautiful sankirtana network and make an attempt to reciprocate with you.
Your aspiring servant and daughter,
Khadiravan devi dasi
Khela tirtha das
Dear Guru Maharaja
Please accept my fallen obeisances at your lotus feet. May your glorious contribution to the welfare of the world become ever more manifest, as the seeds you planted, with so much effort, now continue to sprout, grow, flourish, and bring forth a wondrous harvest. May your fame increase!
I write this offering as a heartfelt submission at your lotus feet—an offering of love.
The lines that follow are my humble attempt to glorify you,not only for who you are but also as an inspirational example in ISKCON’s mission.
Gurudev! I appeal to you for the empowerment to realize these aspects of your mission in my service to you.
I begin with your own words to your beloved Srila Prabhupada:
“Because of your bhakti, Krsna’s glories traversed the earth and were lavished upon it. Even Kali-yuga wretches could perceive the most attractive and powerful secret of the cosmos—devotional service.”
This fact about Srila Prabhupada’s unique gift to the world in such dire and desperate times,being carried and echoed through you,Gurudev,is now even further realized as we live in a world torn by international tension. Nations stand armed with weapons of mass destruction and engage in “unbeneficial, horrible works meant to destroy the world.”
“O learned one, in this iron age of Kali men have but short lives. They are quarrelsome, lazy, misguided, unlucky, and, above all, always disturbed.” (SB 1.1.10)
People snarl at one another like cats and dogs across imaginary lines of national borders that just a few generations ago did not exist—and one or two generations forward will cease to be remembered. Yet they make terror against each other. They kill children, women, and the unfortunate animals by the thousands and millions.
Whether aroused by fundamentalism or nationalism, the desire for power or the desire for money, the desire to control or the desire to consume—such bewildered people make life hellish for others and for themselves.
In the midst of the distress of this modern age, innocent people seek shelter and a source of hope. Many seek to escape through the illusions of intoxication, the entertainment industries, illicit sex, gambling, and other distractions that bring at best temporary relief from the emptiness of material experience.
The nature of kali yuga is undeniably apparent and it takes an equally apparent and itinerant preacher potent enough to deal with such a dark and inauspicious time.
And your preaching record speaks for itself, Gurudev
Lord Caitanya’s preaching potency thunders in your being.
Thus, you speak constantly to a wide spectrum of listeners, while you enthuse your followers to maintain and develop the same preaching spirit.
ISKCON lives today as the only institution with a constitution, a foundation, based exclusively on Srila Prabhupada’s instructions.
You,following in Srila Prabhupada’s footsteps ,are the ideal preacher of Krsna consciousness
Yet you do not want your followers to deify your pure devotion or your achievements and then rest upon your laurels. You want your followers to do as you are doing, for what you have done is the practice of all realized devotees.
Devotees who realize that their eternal nature is to be Krsna’s servants practice and preach the eternal process of devotion.
Bhaktivinode thakur sings in his glorification of Lord Nityananda “jiva doya krsna nama sarva dharma sar”;Chanting Krsna’s holy names,being compassionate to the fallen conditioned souls is the essence of all religion.
Thus, you expect us to follow your example. You want your followers to be pure devotees
You critique those who preach enthusiastically without a clear grasp of what they are preaching about. And you are even sterner with those who cultivate their own Krsna consciousness and neglect the preaching.
Srila Prabhupada warns;
“Don’t be a bhajanänandi. As soon as you become a bhajanänandi you’ll be spoiled.”
Gurudev ,you want a balance of both äcära, personal example, and pracära, preaching. That balance is the sign of the perfect devotee, and the real guru.
Sanätana Goswami clearly defines here the bona fide spiritual master of the world. The qualifications expressed in this connection are that one must act according to the scriptural injunctions and at the same time preach
And how do you define devotional practice and preaching?
In your view, to practice Krsna consciousness is to know the philosophy of Bhagavad-Gitä and Srimad Bhägavatam, to chant Hare Krsna without offense, to develop the qualities of a Vaisnava, and to adopt the cultural habits of Vaikuntha. Preaching means to liberate the nondevotees by distributing books, publicly chanting the holy names, distributing prasädam, opening temples to the public,cultivating bhaktas through facilities such as the Loft and so on.
And you want these two things done. You do not want them to be simply the objects of eloquent lip service.
You expect your followers to be competent examples of both
Then to express their adulation of you, not merely by words, but also by deeds.
A quotation from Gandhi says” the way to glorify a man is not to install his statue but to build a community devoted to the ideals he taught.”
Those ideals you are are teaching us , Gurudev ,through your deeply personal and compassionate words with hands on care, are firm ,precise and practically applicable instructions that, despite intercommunal vaisnava dissension ,miscommunication and external disturbances,are our tools to apply the eternally ambrosial philosophy and teachings of Krsna through sadhanna in our lives and the lives of those we are preaching to in this ever turbulent ,swirling world of triguna mayi.
In SB 4.28.31pp Prabhupada encourages us,being practical about the realities of internal dissension in the society:
“Among Vaisnavas there may be some difference of opinion due to everyone's personal identity, but despite all personal differences, the cult of Krsna consciousness must go on. We can see that under the instructions of Bhaktivinoda Thäkura, Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvati Gosvämi Mahäräja began preaching the Krsna consciousness movement in an organized way within the past hundred years. The disciples of Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvati Gosvämi Mahäräja are all Godbrothers, and although there are some differences of opinion, and although we are not acting conjointly, every one of us is spreading this Krsna consciousness movement according to his own capacity and producing many disciples to spread it all over the world. As far as we are concerned, we have already started the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, and many thousands of Europeans and Americans have joined this movement. Indeed, it is spreading like wildfire. The cult of Krsna consciousness, based on the nine principles of devotional service [SB 7.5.23]), will never be stopped. It will go on without distinction of caste, creed, color or country. No one can check it”.
You are boldly marching on for the pleasure of Prabhupada and the disciplic succession and encouraging and inspiring young and old in the fight against Maya
Your example of preaching ,perfect behavior and expertise in vaisnava dealings is glorified in the second pranam mantra we chant at your lotus feet .
The serving and consequent pleasure of such a person is the life and soul of the spiritual aspirant
Your words,Gurudev,are pure ,potent swords that cut away the attachments of your fledging followers and disciples.
Prabhupada confirms this in a BG lecture 6.4-12 New York 1966:
... And what is the result of good association? If we make good association, santah chindanti. Santa means the persons who are sadhu, who are pious. They can cut off by their words our attachment for this material world ... Krsna is presenting His Bhagavad-gita just to cut off. Santah eva hi chindanti uktibhih. Uktibhi. Chindanti means cut. For cutting something we require a sharpened instrument. Here, to cut off the mind from attachment, requires sharpened ukti. Ukti means words ... Just as when a person cuts something there is no mercy, similarly when a sadhu, or a saintly person, speaks to his student he does not show any mercy. He speaks the truth so that his mind may be cut off from unreal attachment.”
Lord Kapila instructs Mother Devahuti thus
“O My mother, O virtuous lady, these are the qualities of great devotees who are free from all attachment. You must seek attachment to such holy men, for this counteracts the pernicious effects of material attachment.”
You are teaching us by your example how to associate with the devotees and ultimately Krsna by offensslessly chanting His Holy Names
Bhaktivinode Thakur ,in glorification of the Spiritual Master ,says in this connection;
“O lord and master! Please invest me with the power to honor all living beings properly. Only then will I sing the holy name in great ecstasy, free of offenses”.
The auspicious anniversary of your appearance is a day when your followers and admirers pause to remember and meditate on your wonderful qualities, the inspiration you continue to provide for us, and your many gifts to us. In this way, we rededicate ourselves to your service and the spreading of the mission of Lord Sri Krsna.
Gurudev, you have given us so many gifts. Vyäsa-püjä day will overflow with acknowledgement of them. Today I would like to glorify you by especially appreciating these gifts—perhaps your greatest gift to us—your devotees ,is your most wonderful gift to your love thirsty ,kali yuga thrashed disciples and aspiring dependants .,
Besides your invaluable vapuh and vani ,is sadhu sanga
In Prabhupada’s “Seven Purposes” he stresses again and again service of the members of the society: “To bring the members of the Society together with each other and nearer to Krishna, the prime entity.” “To erect for the members and for society at large a holy place of transcendental pastimes. “To bring the members closer together for a simpler and more natural way of life.”
Gurudev as your disciples, your followers, you stress so much our care, because you care for us.
And we must also learn to care. As the numbers of your devotees and futher more the members of Iskcon grow, so does their diversity. Having Korean, Swedish and Bengali God family,to name a few,your family is truly global
If I want to love and serve you, Gurudev, I must first learn to appreciate, love, and serve them. More over the aspiring bhaktas that we meet and cultivate.They are your gifts to me. It is they who give me the opportunity to serve. It is they who remind me that I am not God, but His servant. It is they who give me hope that I can continue on the path of devotion with enthusiasm. It is they whom I must genuinely learn to serve with a sincere heart.
I beg that I can remain in the association of the devotees and God family that are pleasing you and to be able to assist in their seva to you,Gurudev.
How to repay such a huge debt.?
Its stated in so many places in sastra and by the previous acaryas that it’s the one debt one cannot repay More emphatically and eloquently expressed by the words of King Prthu;
“Prthu Mahäräja continued: How can such persons, who have rendered unlimited service by explaining the path of self-realization in relation to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and whose explanations are given for our enlightenment with complete conviction and Vedic evidence, be repaid except by folded palms containing water for their satisfaction? Such great personalities can be satisfied only by their own activities, which are distributed amongst human society out of their unlimited mercy”.
Dear Guru Maharaja, I conclude with a prayer at your lotus feet: As Gangä-devi provides her worshipers with water to worship her, please give me the ability to be your true follower, a practitioner and preacher who, always inspired by your example, measures up to your standards and meets your expectations. Only then will the words I have written and spoken in this offering and elsewhere really be worthy of glorifying you.
Your un worthy,aspiring servant of your servants
Khela-tirtha dasa
.
.
Please accept my fallen obeisances at your lotus feet. May your glorious contribution to the welfare of the world become ever more manifest, as the seeds you planted, with so much effort, now continue to sprout, grow, flourish, and bring forth a wondrous harvest. May your fame increase!
I write this offering as a heartfelt submission at your lotus feet—an offering of love.
The lines that follow are my humble attempt to glorify you,not only for who you are but also as an inspirational example in ISKCON’s mission.
Gurudev! I appeal to you for the empowerment to realize these aspects of your mission in my service to you.
I begin with your own words to your beloved Srila Prabhupada:
“Because of your bhakti, Krsna’s glories traversed the earth and were lavished upon it. Even Kali-yuga wretches could perceive the most attractive and powerful secret of the cosmos—devotional service.”
This fact about Srila Prabhupada’s unique gift to the world in such dire and desperate times,being carried and echoed through you,Gurudev,is now even further realized as we live in a world torn by international tension. Nations stand armed with weapons of mass destruction and engage in “unbeneficial, horrible works meant to destroy the world.”
“O learned one, in this iron age of Kali men have but short lives. They are quarrelsome, lazy, misguided, unlucky, and, above all, always disturbed.” (SB 1.1.10)
People snarl at one another like cats and dogs across imaginary lines of national borders that just a few generations ago did not exist—and one or two generations forward will cease to be remembered. Yet they make terror against each other. They kill children, women, and the unfortunate animals by the thousands and millions.
Whether aroused by fundamentalism or nationalism, the desire for power or the desire for money, the desire to control or the desire to consume—such bewildered people make life hellish for others and for themselves.
In the midst of the distress of this modern age, innocent people seek shelter and a source of hope. Many seek to escape through the illusions of intoxication, the entertainment industries, illicit sex, gambling, and other distractions that bring at best temporary relief from the emptiness of material experience.
The nature of kali yuga is undeniably apparent and it takes an equally apparent and itinerant preacher potent enough to deal with such a dark and inauspicious time.
And your preaching record speaks for itself, Gurudev
Lord Caitanya’s preaching potency thunders in your being.
Thus, you speak constantly to a wide spectrum of listeners, while you enthuse your followers to maintain and develop the same preaching spirit.
ISKCON lives today as the only institution with a constitution, a foundation, based exclusively on Srila Prabhupada’s instructions.
You,following in Srila Prabhupada’s footsteps ,are the ideal preacher of Krsna consciousness
Yet you do not want your followers to deify your pure devotion or your achievements and then rest upon your laurels. You want your followers to do as you are doing, for what you have done is the practice of all realized devotees.
Devotees who realize that their eternal nature is to be Krsna’s servants practice and preach the eternal process of devotion.
Bhaktivinode thakur sings in his glorification of Lord Nityananda “jiva doya krsna nama sarva dharma sar”;Chanting Krsna’s holy names,being compassionate to the fallen conditioned souls is the essence of all religion.
Thus, you expect us to follow your example. You want your followers to be pure devotees
You critique those who preach enthusiastically without a clear grasp of what they are preaching about. And you are even sterner with those who cultivate their own Krsna consciousness and neglect the preaching.
Srila Prabhupada warns;
“Don’t be a bhajanänandi. As soon as you become a bhajanänandi you’ll be spoiled.”
Gurudev ,you want a balance of both äcära, personal example, and pracära, preaching. That balance is the sign of the perfect devotee, and the real guru.
Sanätana Goswami clearly defines here the bona fide spiritual master of the world. The qualifications expressed in this connection are that one must act according to the scriptural injunctions and at the same time preach
And how do you define devotional practice and preaching?
In your view, to practice Krsna consciousness is to know the philosophy of Bhagavad-Gitä and Srimad Bhägavatam, to chant Hare Krsna without offense, to develop the qualities of a Vaisnava, and to adopt the cultural habits of Vaikuntha. Preaching means to liberate the nondevotees by distributing books, publicly chanting the holy names, distributing prasädam, opening temples to the public,cultivating bhaktas through facilities such as the Loft and so on.
And you want these two things done. You do not want them to be simply the objects of eloquent lip service.
You expect your followers to be competent examples of both
Then to express their adulation of you, not merely by words, but also by deeds.
A quotation from Gandhi says” the way to glorify a man is not to install his statue but to build a community devoted to the ideals he taught.”
Those ideals you are are teaching us , Gurudev ,through your deeply personal and compassionate words with hands on care, are firm ,precise and practically applicable instructions that, despite intercommunal vaisnava dissension ,miscommunication and external disturbances,are our tools to apply the eternally ambrosial philosophy and teachings of Krsna through sadhanna in our lives and the lives of those we are preaching to in this ever turbulent ,swirling world of triguna mayi.
In SB 4.28.31pp Prabhupada encourages us,being practical about the realities of internal dissension in the society:
“Among Vaisnavas there may be some difference of opinion due to everyone's personal identity, but despite all personal differences, the cult of Krsna consciousness must go on. We can see that under the instructions of Bhaktivinoda Thäkura, Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvati Gosvämi Mahäräja began preaching the Krsna consciousness movement in an organized way within the past hundred years. The disciples of Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvati Gosvämi Mahäräja are all Godbrothers, and although there are some differences of opinion, and although we are not acting conjointly, every one of us is spreading this Krsna consciousness movement according to his own capacity and producing many disciples to spread it all over the world. As far as we are concerned, we have already started the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, and many thousands of Europeans and Americans have joined this movement. Indeed, it is spreading like wildfire. The cult of Krsna consciousness, based on the nine principles of devotional service [SB 7.5.23]), will never be stopped. It will go on without distinction of caste, creed, color or country. No one can check it”.
You are boldly marching on for the pleasure of Prabhupada and the disciplic succession and encouraging and inspiring young and old in the fight against Maya
Your example of preaching ,perfect behavior and expertise in vaisnava dealings is glorified in the second pranam mantra we chant at your lotus feet .
The serving and consequent pleasure of such a person is the life and soul of the spiritual aspirant
Your words,Gurudev,are pure ,potent swords that cut away the attachments of your fledging followers and disciples.
Prabhupada confirms this in a BG lecture 6.4-12 New York 1966:
... And what is the result of good association? If we make good association, santah chindanti. Santa means the persons who are sadhu, who are pious. They can cut off by their words our attachment for this material world ... Krsna is presenting His Bhagavad-gita just to cut off. Santah eva hi chindanti uktibhih. Uktibhi. Chindanti means cut. For cutting something we require a sharpened instrument. Here, to cut off the mind from attachment, requires sharpened ukti. Ukti means words ... Just as when a person cuts something there is no mercy, similarly when a sadhu, or a saintly person, speaks to his student he does not show any mercy. He speaks the truth so that his mind may be cut off from unreal attachment.”
Lord Kapila instructs Mother Devahuti thus
“O My mother, O virtuous lady, these are the qualities of great devotees who are free from all attachment. You must seek attachment to such holy men, for this counteracts the pernicious effects of material attachment.”
You are teaching us by your example how to associate with the devotees and ultimately Krsna by offensslessly chanting His Holy Names
Bhaktivinode Thakur ,in glorification of the Spiritual Master ,says in this connection;
“O lord and master! Please invest me with the power to honor all living beings properly. Only then will I sing the holy name in great ecstasy, free of offenses”.
The auspicious anniversary of your appearance is a day when your followers and admirers pause to remember and meditate on your wonderful qualities, the inspiration you continue to provide for us, and your many gifts to us. In this way, we rededicate ourselves to your service and the spreading of the mission of Lord Sri Krsna.
Gurudev, you have given us so many gifts. Vyäsa-püjä day will overflow with acknowledgement of them. Today I would like to glorify you by especially appreciating these gifts—perhaps your greatest gift to us—your devotees ,is your most wonderful gift to your love thirsty ,kali yuga thrashed disciples and aspiring dependants .,
Besides your invaluable vapuh and vani ,is sadhu sanga
In Prabhupada’s “Seven Purposes” he stresses again and again service of the members of the society: “To bring the members of the Society together with each other and nearer to Krishna, the prime entity.” “To erect for the members and for society at large a holy place of transcendental pastimes. “To bring the members closer together for a simpler and more natural way of life.”
Gurudev as your disciples, your followers, you stress so much our care, because you care for us.
And we must also learn to care. As the numbers of your devotees and futher more the members of Iskcon grow, so does their diversity. Having Korean, Swedish and Bengali God family,to name a few,your family is truly global
If I want to love and serve you, Gurudev, I must first learn to appreciate, love, and serve them. More over the aspiring bhaktas that we meet and cultivate.They are your gifts to me. It is they who give me the opportunity to serve. It is they who remind me that I am not God, but His servant. It is they who give me hope that I can continue on the path of devotion with enthusiasm. It is they whom I must genuinely learn to serve with a sincere heart.
I beg that I can remain in the association of the devotees and God family that are pleasing you and to be able to assist in their seva to you,Gurudev.
How to repay such a huge debt.?
Its stated in so many places in sastra and by the previous acaryas that it’s the one debt one cannot repay More emphatically and eloquently expressed by the words of King Prthu;
“Prthu Mahäräja continued: How can such persons, who have rendered unlimited service by explaining the path of self-realization in relation to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and whose explanations are given for our enlightenment with complete conviction and Vedic evidence, be repaid except by folded palms containing water for their satisfaction? Such great personalities can be satisfied only by their own activities, which are distributed amongst human society out of their unlimited mercy”.
Dear Guru Maharaja, I conclude with a prayer at your lotus feet: As Gangä-devi provides her worshipers with water to worship her, please give me the ability to be your true follower, a practitioner and preacher who, always inspired by your example, measures up to your standards and meets your expectations. Only then will the words I have written and spoken in this offering and elsewhere really be worthy of glorifying you.
Your un worthy,aspiring servant of your servants
Khela-tirtha dasa
.
.
Kirtiman Krsna Das
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.
As I start to write this offering, I’m still in a state of awe, for the reason that till a couple of months back I wasn’t expecting to be in Melbourne for your Vyasa Puja. It’s nothing short of a miracle that I’m here today and more certainly it wouldn’t have been possible without your prayers and blessings. I remember the last time I came to see you, I wasn’t clear of my further stay here in Melbourne and had no clear thoughts on how things would shape up in the coming months. In many ways I was expecting the worst but still hoping that something positive would happen. As I sat in front of you explaining my seemingly miserable condition, you heard me out patiently, but gravely reminded me that irrespective of one’s situation, the common theme was serving Krsna. Though I could accept it theoretically, it was a bitter pill to swallow. You inspired me to pray to the deities, and to be dependent on Krsna. Now when I look back, I realize whilst my mind was clouded with the immediate problem at hand, your vision and instructions were much beyond it – purely transcendental as they were beyond time and external situations.
Gurudev, your ability to apply teachings of the shastras at a level we find practical is simply outstanding. During the lectures given at the New Nandagram retreat this August you were explaining on the science of happiness with reference from the Pingala Gita and it was amazing how you related it to our present day situation. You explained that while we strive for so called happiness, the first step in the true happiness program was to not try for it. Just the way distress comes upon us without us wanting it, whatever happiness we deserve, will also come to us. This understanding was really of great help to keep myself composed during the past few months when things didn’t seem very bright.
Gurudev, I must admit that despite all my shortcomings, many a time I fall to the trap of my false ego and feel proud of whatever little service I do. Though the material energy acts quickly to put me in place, I recently came across a permanent solution for it in this following statement you’d written in this year’s Vyasa Puja offering to Srila Prabhupad - “How amazing it is, that whatever service we may perform nicely for your pleasure, we can be sure at that very moment, somewhere in the huge world of ISKCON, someone is doing it better.”After reading that I felt quite humbled and have something to remind and correct myself every time I feel puffed up. I now realize that, I need to be thankful that in spite of my abilities being very limited, devotees are kind enough to engage me in your service.
During my initiation lecture last year you had stressed on the importance of being grateful to the devotees who have nurtured us in the path of bhakti. Gurudev, on this very auspicious day, my heartfelt prayer to you is to bless me to always act with gratitude towards you and all the devotees here in Melbourne, who have gone out of their way to engage this sinful soul in devotional service. I also seek your blessings to follow your instruction to study Srila Prabhupad’s books regularly. As I come towards the end of this offering I realize that as always I’ve asked for more and had very little to offer.
Eternally indebted to you
Your aspiring servant
Kirtiman Krsna Das
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.
As I start to write this offering, I’m still in a state of awe, for the reason that till a couple of months back I wasn’t expecting to be in Melbourne for your Vyasa Puja. It’s nothing short of a miracle that I’m here today and more certainly it wouldn’t have been possible without your prayers and blessings. I remember the last time I came to see you, I wasn’t clear of my further stay here in Melbourne and had no clear thoughts on how things would shape up in the coming months. In many ways I was expecting the worst but still hoping that something positive would happen. As I sat in front of you explaining my seemingly miserable condition, you heard me out patiently, but gravely reminded me that irrespective of one’s situation, the common theme was serving Krsna. Though I could accept it theoretically, it was a bitter pill to swallow. You inspired me to pray to the deities, and to be dependent on Krsna. Now when I look back, I realize whilst my mind was clouded with the immediate problem at hand, your vision and instructions were much beyond it – purely transcendental as they were beyond time and external situations.
Gurudev, your ability to apply teachings of the shastras at a level we find practical is simply outstanding. During the lectures given at the New Nandagram retreat this August you were explaining on the science of happiness with reference from the Pingala Gita and it was amazing how you related it to our present day situation. You explained that while we strive for so called happiness, the first step in the true happiness program was to not try for it. Just the way distress comes upon us without us wanting it, whatever happiness we deserve, will also come to us. This understanding was really of great help to keep myself composed during the past few months when things didn’t seem very bright.
Gurudev, I must admit that despite all my shortcomings, many a time I fall to the trap of my false ego and feel proud of whatever little service I do. Though the material energy acts quickly to put me in place, I recently came across a permanent solution for it in this following statement you’d written in this year’s Vyasa Puja offering to Srila Prabhupad - “How amazing it is, that whatever service we may perform nicely for your pleasure, we can be sure at that very moment, somewhere in the huge world of ISKCON, someone is doing it better.”After reading that I felt quite humbled and have something to remind and correct myself every time I feel puffed up. I now realize that, I need to be thankful that in spite of my abilities being very limited, devotees are kind enough to engage me in your service.
During my initiation lecture last year you had stressed on the importance of being grateful to the devotees who have nurtured us in the path of bhakti. Gurudev, on this very auspicious day, my heartfelt prayer to you is to bless me to always act with gratitude towards you and all the devotees here in Melbourne, who have gone out of their way to engage this sinful soul in devotional service. I also seek your blessings to follow your instruction to study Srila Prabhupad’s books regularly. As I come towards the end of this offering I realize that as always I’ve asked for more and had very little to offer.
Eternally indebted to you
Your aspiring servant
Kirtiman Krsna Das
Krishna Murari devi dasi
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
My dear spiritual father, thank you for always being there for me. If it wasn't for you I'd be lost somewhere in the dense dark dangerous jungle of Kali-yuga, but thankfully you have given me shelter at your lotus feet. Due to your kindness, you have steered me carefully through the different stages of life, for which I am thankful. I remember one of the first instructions that you gave me was "don't be ordinary", and compared to the ordinary 30 something-year old, my life thus far has not been ordinary, but it is only because of you. You've given me the chance to hear and chant the holy name in the association of sadhus, you've given me the opportunity to distribute Srila Prabupada's booty of books, and on and on I could go. Thank you for giving me so many wonderful ways to serve in Lord Caitanya's sankirtan mission, and I know I haven't always made the best use of all the opportunities you've given me, I'm so sorry for this Gurudeva. Now on the threshold of motherhood, I pray to you that I can please you by not being an ordinary mother, but a Krishna conscious mother, please give me the spiritual intelligence that I may do this service pleasingly for you and Krishna.
Trying to be your servant,
Krishna Murari dd
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
My dear spiritual father, thank you for always being there for me. If it wasn't for you I'd be lost somewhere in the dense dark dangerous jungle of Kali-yuga, but thankfully you have given me shelter at your lotus feet. Due to your kindness, you have steered me carefully through the different stages of life, for which I am thankful. I remember one of the first instructions that you gave me was "don't be ordinary", and compared to the ordinary 30 something-year old, my life thus far has not been ordinary, but it is only because of you. You've given me the chance to hear and chant the holy name in the association of sadhus, you've given me the opportunity to distribute Srila Prabupada's booty of books, and on and on I could go. Thank you for giving me so many wonderful ways to serve in Lord Caitanya's sankirtan mission, and I know I haven't always made the best use of all the opportunities you've given me, I'm so sorry for this Gurudeva. Now on the threshold of motherhood, I pray to you that I can please you by not being an ordinary mother, but a Krishna conscious mother, please give me the spiritual intelligence that I may do this service pleasingly for you and Krishna.
Trying to be your servant,
Krishna Murari dd
Krishna rupa dd
Hare Krishna, dear Guru Maharaj!
Please, accept my humble obeisances in the dust of Your Lotus Feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupad! All glories to You in this auspicious day.
I would like to thank Your parents. Thanks them for giving You to this world! And special thanks to Your mother, for her prayers to the Lord to send his servant to her. She is such a wonderful person!
Thank You that You exist and for Your not easy work- for preaching to satisfy Your spiritual master Srila Prabhupad!
Thank You so much for very sweet, important and practical lectures! They are helping me to live, encourage me with joy and enthusiasm! Thank You for accessible explanation about spiritual life – that it’s not dry and formal but living, joyful and very exciting.
Thank You for Your care! We have a nice opportunity to serve The Lord directly under His lovely associate’s direction.
Unfortunately, I didn’t manage to come to the Ukrainian festival this year and it was some kind of experience for me. I felt separation with the festival and understood how it’s dear to me and how much I wanted to be there! Devotees , have made on-line translations, decreased my pain of separation and I could watch lectures and night kirtans.
It’s 8 years since You gave me initiation. I hope I become more serious and responsible in my spiritual life, at least I want that so much! Everything is only for Your satisfaction, everything is only due to Your mercy!
Thank You for giving so many amazing and sincere God brothers and sisters!
In one of Your lectures, You said that before coming to Saint Petersburg You had two injuries –neck injury and after - collarbone. If so, please, do not come here. We don’t want repetition of the accident. We will come to You! We would like You to be alive, healthy and happy!
Dear Guru Maharaj, please give me Your blessings that sometime I will be able to glorify devotees the way You do and to associate with them in such sweet way You, Srila Prabhupada’s disciples, do.
Trying to be Your servant,
Krishna rupa d.d.
Saint Petersburg,Russia
Please, accept my humble obeisances in the dust of Your Lotus Feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupad! All glories to You in this auspicious day.
I would like to thank Your parents. Thanks them for giving You to this world! And special thanks to Your mother, for her prayers to the Lord to send his servant to her. She is such a wonderful person!
Thank You that You exist and for Your not easy work- for preaching to satisfy Your spiritual master Srila Prabhupad!
Thank You so much for very sweet, important and practical lectures! They are helping me to live, encourage me with joy and enthusiasm! Thank You for accessible explanation about spiritual life – that it’s not dry and formal but living, joyful and very exciting.
Thank You for Your care! We have a nice opportunity to serve The Lord directly under His lovely associate’s direction.
Unfortunately, I didn’t manage to come to the Ukrainian festival this year and it was some kind of experience for me. I felt separation with the festival and understood how it’s dear to me and how much I wanted to be there! Devotees , have made on-line translations, decreased my pain of separation and I could watch lectures and night kirtans.
It’s 8 years since You gave me initiation. I hope I become more serious and responsible in my spiritual life, at least I want that so much! Everything is only for Your satisfaction, everything is only due to Your mercy!
Thank You for giving so many amazing and sincere God brothers and sisters!
In one of Your lectures, You said that before coming to Saint Petersburg You had two injuries –neck injury and after - collarbone. If so, please, do not come here. We don’t want repetition of the accident. We will come to You! We would like You to be alive, healthy and happy!
Dear Guru Maharaj, please give me Your blessings that sometime I will be able to glorify devotees the way You do and to associate with them in such sweet way You, Srila Prabhupada’s disciples, do.
Trying to be Your servant,
Krishna rupa d.d.
Saint Petersburg,Russia
Krishnaloka devi dasi
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
For this vyasa puja offering I have been thinking were would I be if I hadn’t come in contact with you – my eternal father. I know I would be completely lost in the wilderness of Maya’s empty dream land. She promises so much but never delivers – such a lifeless reality.
Now, only by your mercy my life is very rich and full, you have given me so much, how can I ever reciprocate appropriately? Of course one can never pay back the debt to the spiritual master but one must try. The disciple should be committed to trying to give more and more of themselves to Guru & Krishna – this is the process of surrender.
Upon initiation I was thinking – now I have surrendered my life but it’s not just a one off surrender. The expert spiritual master inspires us through his instructions, through his example, and through his classes to surrender more and more of our self in the service of Krishna.
This year after one interaction with you I was thinking – this is the final surrender, I don’t have anything else to give but after reflection I realized it was actually just the beginning! I feel so embarrassed, what have I been doing all these years, so absorb in my own body, mind, circumstances; now is the time to give. To whom much is given, much is expected. But who would not want to give to such a glorious, magnificent master who by his very life exemplifies sacrifice for others?
Your very being commands surrender from your disciples to give of their life’s energy, intelligence, heart and soul because that is what you do. You are such a fine example.
Your humility never seeks attention or recognition.
Your loyalty to your disciples never ceases to amaze me – you don’t give up on trying to help us go to higher levels, many times you patiently wait but you don’t give up.
Your enthusiasm in bhakti is so dynamic and lively – exciting bhakti in the hearts of those around you.
Your outreach abilities are so dynamic and effective; attracting many souls to Krishna consciousness. You are like a chameleon that changes according to the environment & times.
Your kirtans show us what bhakti is all about – a definite reality, an experience – not just a belief.
Your expertise in vaisnava dealings show us how to be a vaisnava – you are so saintly in your behaviour.
You are always so appreciative for the service we do even though so tiny.
Your humorous renditions of maya’s humbling affect on the conditioned soul hits the core but in an easy palatable way – that’s an expert preacher!
Your classes completely expose maya’s illusion and highlight bhakti’s wonderful world through the expert way you communicate and use language.
You make bhakti fun!
The list goes on and because of these qualities and skills, you have won the heart of many devotees inspiring them to want to become Krishna conscious.
Thank you so much for your commitment in trying to deliver this tiny soul. My greatest fear in life is that I will be unable to reciprocate with what you have given me.
your servant,
Krishnaloka devi dasi
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
For this vyasa puja offering I have been thinking were would I be if I hadn’t come in contact with you – my eternal father. I know I would be completely lost in the wilderness of Maya’s empty dream land. She promises so much but never delivers – such a lifeless reality.
Now, only by your mercy my life is very rich and full, you have given me so much, how can I ever reciprocate appropriately? Of course one can never pay back the debt to the spiritual master but one must try. The disciple should be committed to trying to give more and more of themselves to Guru & Krishna – this is the process of surrender.
Upon initiation I was thinking – now I have surrendered my life but it’s not just a one off surrender. The expert spiritual master inspires us through his instructions, through his example, and through his classes to surrender more and more of our self in the service of Krishna.
This year after one interaction with you I was thinking – this is the final surrender, I don’t have anything else to give but after reflection I realized it was actually just the beginning! I feel so embarrassed, what have I been doing all these years, so absorb in my own body, mind, circumstances; now is the time to give. To whom much is given, much is expected. But who would not want to give to such a glorious, magnificent master who by his very life exemplifies sacrifice for others?
Your very being commands surrender from your disciples to give of their life’s energy, intelligence, heart and soul because that is what you do. You are such a fine example.
Your humility never seeks attention or recognition.
Your loyalty to your disciples never ceases to amaze me – you don’t give up on trying to help us go to higher levels, many times you patiently wait but you don’t give up.
Your enthusiasm in bhakti is so dynamic and lively – exciting bhakti in the hearts of those around you.
Your outreach abilities are so dynamic and effective; attracting many souls to Krishna consciousness. You are like a chameleon that changes according to the environment & times.
Your kirtans show us what bhakti is all about – a definite reality, an experience – not just a belief.
Your expertise in vaisnava dealings show us how to be a vaisnava – you are so saintly in your behaviour.
You are always so appreciative for the service we do even though so tiny.
Your humorous renditions of maya’s humbling affect on the conditioned soul hits the core but in an easy palatable way – that’s an expert preacher!
Your classes completely expose maya’s illusion and highlight bhakti’s wonderful world through the expert way you communicate and use language.
You make bhakti fun!
The list goes on and because of these qualities and skills, you have won the heart of many devotees inspiring them to want to become Krishna conscious.
Thank you so much for your commitment in trying to deliver this tiny soul. My greatest fear in life is that I will be unable to reciprocate with what you have given me.
your servant,
Krishnaloka devi dasi
Kristin Hakopa (auckland)
Dear Devamrita Swami
Please except my humble obeisances,
all glories to Srila Prahbupada
Just by listening to your lotus voice I have learnt that there are no such thing as strangers in this world, only friends we haven't met. Krishna blessed me with your presence even though I have been such a brat in life. Thank you soooooooo much for your comforting words that soothe the mind, bring peace to my heart and a big fat nectar smile on my face (: You're sooo awesome maharaja!!
I hope that one day you will take me as your own. But until then I can't wait until your next class. . . .NECTAR! (: see you soon. All glories to Srila Prahbupada. HARE KRISHNA!!
Your eternal servant kristin (:
Please except my humble obeisances,
all glories to Srila Prahbupada
Just by listening to your lotus voice I have learnt that there are no such thing as strangers in this world, only friends we haven't met. Krishna blessed me with your presence even though I have been such a brat in life. Thank you soooooooo much for your comforting words that soothe the mind, bring peace to my heart and a big fat nectar smile on my face (: You're sooo awesome maharaja!!
I hope that one day you will take me as your own. But until then I can't wait until your next class. . . .NECTAR! (: see you soon. All glories to Srila Prahbupada. HARE KRISHNA!!
Your eternal servant kristin (:
Krsna Katha Dasa
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 a theme that you often present in your lectures-
The Process of Bhakti is not a religious belief'.You point out that when we
come to bhakti we are concerned with the fullfillment & satisfaction of our heart.
You always say that we are emotional beings and we always need to put our heart into something!!
Gurudeva you are demonstrating year after year that your heart's satisfaction comes from following in the footsteps of Srila Prabhupada & spreading the glories of
sankirtana movement all around the world.
We read in Chaitanya Caritamrita that Advaita Acharya and Nityanada Prabhu get so emotional about them being servants of Lord Chaitanya. Similarly we can see that you
carry deep spiritual emotions of constantly serving Srila Prabhupada & the Guru Parampara.
On the contrary I find myself hanging onto bhakti as a religious belief with every year passing by. In one lecture you mentioned a very striking point -'You wont be
satisfied by identifying with a religion like you identify with a label of your clothes'.
You are always guiding me to engage my senses in the service of krsna, that is what you describe as bhakti-'bhakti is all about engaging your senses in the service of
the master of your senses'
Gurumaharaj, I am so fortunate to have your presence in my life, I thank you for all your love,effection and guidance given to me and my immediate family.
This year I want to beg for your mercy so that I can try and put my heart into devotional service which means put my heart into following your instructions.
I am trying very hard to align my desires and actions in your service and I seek your blessings to fulfill my following prayer...
"'By serving You constantly, one is freed from all material desires and is completely pacified. When shall I engage as Your permanent eternal servant and always feel
joyful to have such a perfect master?'" CC Madhya 8.73
Your Servant
Krsna Katha Dasa
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 a theme that you often present in your lectures-
The Process of Bhakti is not a religious belief'.You point out that when we
come to bhakti we are concerned with the fullfillment & satisfaction of our heart.
You always say that we are emotional beings and we always need to put our heart into something!!
Gurudeva you are demonstrating year after year that your heart's satisfaction comes from following in the footsteps of Srila Prabhupada & spreading the glories of
sankirtana movement all around the world.
We read in Chaitanya Caritamrita that Advaita Acharya and Nityanada Prabhu get so emotional about them being servants of Lord Chaitanya. Similarly we can see that you
carry deep spiritual emotions of constantly serving Srila Prabhupada & the Guru Parampara.
On the contrary I find myself hanging onto bhakti as a religious belief with every year passing by. In one lecture you mentioned a very striking point -'You wont be
satisfied by identifying with a religion like you identify with a label of your clothes'.
You are always guiding me to engage my senses in the service of krsna, that is what you describe as bhakti-'bhakti is all about engaging your senses in the service of
the master of your senses'
Gurumaharaj, I am so fortunate to have your presence in my life, I thank you for all your love,effection and guidance given to me and my immediate family.
This year I want to beg for your mercy so that I can try and put my heart into devotional service which means put my heart into following your instructions.
I am trying very hard to align my desires and actions in your service and I seek your blessings to fulfill my following prayer...
"'By serving You constantly, one is freed from all material desires and is completely pacified. When shall I engage as Your permanent eternal servant and always feel
joyful to have such a perfect master?'" CC Madhya 8.73
Your Servant
Krsna Katha Dasa
Krsna Kumar dasa
My dear beloved Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to you and jagat-guru Srila Prabhupada!
Who can estimate the purity of a soul such as yourself who is capable of producing disciples such as the Prema family? Shastra-krt, Prema Sankirtan, Yasodeva, Vaninatha Raya, Suresh & Raja Vidya Prabhus? and the list goes on... Where is such a soul to be found in this world? All these caring devotees of Lord Caitanya keep me insulated and happy in this miserable, temporary world.
I'm so indebted to you for guiding me on this tangly path of bhakti. I'm always being tripped up by the overgrown vines of Vaishnava aparadha, and am constantly harassed by the jungle bugs of my untamed mind. But you're hacking away all the vines on the path and clearing the way. You're spraying me with potent deet to repel the mosquitos of my mental concoctions.
In all seriousness, I'm very grateful for your advice, guidance and realization. You are my transcendental dad. I'm trying hard but progress in terms of character reform seems slow. Please accept me. Let me serve you eternally despite my shortcomings. Please bless me that I can become the servant of the newest devotee.
A few days ago in Corvallis, Oregon, one young boy accepted the books I offered him. Putting them away in his side pack, he looked at me and said, "I want to thank you for this. I've actually been really depressed. This is exactly what I've been waiting for. Thank you." Let me offer this small pushpa to your lotus feet on this auspicious day of your birth. Happy Vyasa-puja Gurudeva!
Your fallen disciple,
Krsna Kumar dasa
ISKCON San Diego
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to you and jagat-guru Srila Prabhupada!
Who can estimate the purity of a soul such as yourself who is capable of producing disciples such as the Prema family? Shastra-krt, Prema Sankirtan, Yasodeva, Vaninatha Raya, Suresh & Raja Vidya Prabhus? and the list goes on... Where is such a soul to be found in this world? All these caring devotees of Lord Caitanya keep me insulated and happy in this miserable, temporary world.
I'm so indebted to you for guiding me on this tangly path of bhakti. I'm always being tripped up by the overgrown vines of Vaishnava aparadha, and am constantly harassed by the jungle bugs of my untamed mind. But you're hacking away all the vines on the path and clearing the way. You're spraying me with potent deet to repel the mosquitos of my mental concoctions.
In all seriousness, I'm very grateful for your advice, guidance and realization. You are my transcendental dad. I'm trying hard but progress in terms of character reform seems slow. Please accept me. Let me serve you eternally despite my shortcomings. Please bless me that I can become the servant of the newest devotee.
A few days ago in Corvallis, Oregon, one young boy accepted the books I offered him. Putting them away in his side pack, he looked at me and said, "I want to thank you for this. I've actually been really depressed. This is exactly what I've been waiting for. Thank you." Let me offer this small pushpa to your lotus feet on this auspicious day of your birth. Happy Vyasa-puja Gurudeva!
Your fallen disciple,
Krsna Kumar dasa
ISKCON San Diego
Krsna Prasada das
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
This always seems to be the time of year I feel most anxious, trying to reach into the core of my heart and realise there is nothing there. To try to return some words in reciprocation for everything you have done for me.
I was recently bed ridden with flu symptoms from head to toe, wrapped in every blanket and layer of clothing I could find to get warm. It made me think how similar the so called normal world is today. Society seems to be just one big flu virus and everyone is running around trying to get warm in one way or another and in most cases people are paying to feel like this. Maya’s tricks are so powerful. But we as devotees have also been tricked.
I recently read a discussion from one of Srila Prabhupada’s morning walks.
“Is a devotee simple or crooked?” Srila Prabhupada asked smiling.
“A devotee is simple” the devotees answered.
“No, a devotee is crooked” he revealed to everyones surprise.
“Take me for example” Srila Prabhupada explained “ I came to your country and everyone was eating meat, taking intoxication and doing so much nonsense. I tricked everyone. I’ve tricked all of you into becoming Krsna Conscious. So, in that sense the devotee must be crooked, because he must be able to trick. Just like I have tricked everyone. No one wanted Krsna Consciousness, but I have tricked you.”
Gurudeva, the entire population is basically made up of cheaters and the cheated. Just as Srila Prabhupada has done to his disciples, You have cheated us in the most perfect way, by teaching us to chant Hare Krsna, to dance, to feast and everything in between.
Gurudeva, you are prying our eyes open and giving us a glimpse into the spiritual realm. Why am I so fortunate? Especially those morsels of nectar when you visit. For example, while reading Srimad Bhagavatam and Caitanya Caritamrita you would personally guide us word for word (it seemed) in a Sanskrit lesson. And always such tasty Kirtans wherever you go. Actually Gurudeva, it doesn’t matter what you do, the nectar is just being in your presence. Krsna Book sums this up perfectly.
‘Wherever they go they immediately make the whole atmosphere as pure as transcendence, simply by the touch of their lotus feet.’
Gurudeva, please keep tricking me at every stage of life and never let me be eaten up by the tricks of Maya. I am so glad I fell for your trick, there cannot be anything sweeter for any disciple, but to surrender their lives to you in service.
Trying to be your servant of the servant,
Krsna Prasada das
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
This always seems to be the time of year I feel most anxious, trying to reach into the core of my heart and realise there is nothing there. To try to return some words in reciprocation for everything you have done for me.
I was recently bed ridden with flu symptoms from head to toe, wrapped in every blanket and layer of clothing I could find to get warm. It made me think how similar the so called normal world is today. Society seems to be just one big flu virus and everyone is running around trying to get warm in one way or another and in most cases people are paying to feel like this. Maya’s tricks are so powerful. But we as devotees have also been tricked.
I recently read a discussion from one of Srila Prabhupada’s morning walks.
“Is a devotee simple or crooked?” Srila Prabhupada asked smiling.
“A devotee is simple” the devotees answered.
“No, a devotee is crooked” he revealed to everyones surprise.
“Take me for example” Srila Prabhupada explained “ I came to your country and everyone was eating meat, taking intoxication and doing so much nonsense. I tricked everyone. I’ve tricked all of you into becoming Krsna Conscious. So, in that sense the devotee must be crooked, because he must be able to trick. Just like I have tricked everyone. No one wanted Krsna Consciousness, but I have tricked you.”
Gurudeva, the entire population is basically made up of cheaters and the cheated. Just as Srila Prabhupada has done to his disciples, You have cheated us in the most perfect way, by teaching us to chant Hare Krsna, to dance, to feast and everything in between.
Gurudeva, you are prying our eyes open and giving us a glimpse into the spiritual realm. Why am I so fortunate? Especially those morsels of nectar when you visit. For example, while reading Srimad Bhagavatam and Caitanya Caritamrita you would personally guide us word for word (it seemed) in a Sanskrit lesson. And always such tasty Kirtans wherever you go. Actually Gurudeva, it doesn’t matter what you do, the nectar is just being in your presence. Krsna Book sums this up perfectly.
‘Wherever they go they immediately make the whole atmosphere as pure as transcendence, simply by the touch of their lotus feet.’
Gurudeva, please keep tricking me at every stage of life and never let me be eaten up by the tricks of Maya. I am so glad I fell for your trick, there cannot be anything sweeter for any disciple, but to surrender their lives to you in service.
Trying to be your servant of the servant,
Krsna Prasada das
Krsnamrta das & Rasamrta devi dasi
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.
We trust that you are doing well and we pray for your long and healthy life.
The celebration of your appearance day always brings us lots of bliss and realisation when all your disciples gather to glorify your amazing traits.
On this auspicious day of your Vyasa Puja we would like to thank you for being such an inspiration in our lives.
Thank you for being such an extraordinary role model and a wonderful leader.
You always impart valuable knowledge to us whenever you come to Melbourne.
You keep focusing on the fact that we are wasting our time and resources to try and achieve happiness and objects which are all temporary at the end of the day and that serving Krsna should be the ultimate goal in our lives.
Nowadays it is so easy to get entangled in this rat race to gain material benefits. Fortunately you constantly keep reminding us that we are not this body, therefore we must instead center our mind on spiritual gains.
We hope that we can follow your instructions so that we do not waste this chance of being closer to Krsna in this lifetime.
We humbly pray to Radha Vallabha and Srila Prabhupada that they bestow their mercy upon and we can be of some service to you.
Your aspiring servants,
Krsnamrta das & Rasamrta devi dasi
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.
We trust that you are doing well and we pray for your long and healthy life.
The celebration of your appearance day always brings us lots of bliss and realisation when all your disciples gather to glorify your amazing traits.
On this auspicious day of your Vyasa Puja we would like to thank you for being such an inspiration in our lives.
Thank you for being such an extraordinary role model and a wonderful leader.
You always impart valuable knowledge to us whenever you come to Melbourne.
You keep focusing on the fact that we are wasting our time and resources to try and achieve happiness and objects which are all temporary at the end of the day and that serving Krsna should be the ultimate goal in our lives.
Nowadays it is so easy to get entangled in this rat race to gain material benefits. Fortunately you constantly keep reminding us that we are not this body, therefore we must instead center our mind on spiritual gains.
We hope that we can follow your instructions so that we do not waste this chance of being closer to Krsna in this lifetime.
We humbly pray to Radha Vallabha and Srila Prabhupada that they bestow their mercy upon and we can be of some service to you.
Your aspiring servants,
Krsnamrta das & Rasamrta devi dasi
Krsnananda dasa
Dear Srila Guru Maharaja
Please accept my most humble obeisances on your most auspicious appearance day in this world.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Sometimes the best way I know how to communicate something very deep is to try to use an analogy to simplify things. Please allow me to offer an imperfect analogy in order to try to address the depth of your achievements, activities, intelligence, benevolence and love for all living entities.
When my body and mind were suffering through the tumultuous teenage period I became a soccer fanatic. It was always a delight to see the skill and ability of talented soccer players, teams and for me especially, managers. Generally speaking, if a team was full of star players that won back-to-back games, that meant there was an excellent manager at the helm - perhaps this is why I am using this analogy.
The sastra says Krsna’s intelligence is very deep, and I think the same about you Gurudeva - you are an expert strategist and your intelligence has unfathomable depths. You give inspiration and insight to us in a very wonderful way. In our attempts at reciprocation, we work as a team to help you in your life mission. As I have always seen it -bhakti is a team sport. I have always been attracted in that way. You built our team from scratch!
Every day we train together as devotees to defend ourselves from the attacks of maya as she uses her latest sneaky formation to bewilder us very cleverly. Sometimes players drop away but also sometimes our players achieve stand-out herculean accomplishments! This is your mercy. Often team maya is well and truly on the offense but other times we strike swiftly using sravanam, kirtanam Visnu as you advise and we emerge victorious! You have provided insights as to our strengths, our weaknesses, where we should strike, what we should be alert to and who to learn from. You always stress guidance. This is the key.
From the substitute bench I marvel at the star players (though they are too humble to admit this) you have moulded and fashioned very wonderfully. Expert forwards, defenders, wing players, centre backs. You can rely on them every time and they are first class devotees. Gosh, when I bring on the oranges at half time, it really strikes me how deeply and intensely I wish I could be one of your star players one day. You hold everyone dear, but for those that have sacrificed the most for you - the ones who stay on, well after the training sessions have finished, strictly following your instructions with life and soul - improving their game with tenacious spirit - these players you hold very very dear. When Sri Guru is pleased - everyone is pleased - and this is truly sublime. You make it easy and attractive to practice bhakti, chant the names of Krsna and be happy.
Many of us emerged out of the material mess from the “wild-West”. Our early days can sometimes be spent missing the ball, arguing with each other, overdosing on oranges, becoming infatuated with shiny boots, and being rude to the assistant managers. But patiently you tolerate all this juvenile behaviour and continue on giving us instruction, telling us where we need to improve - pick up our game, improve our fitness levels, understand the opponent, give us strong technical understanding and encourage us - never give in - always think of Krsna. This is real love. I would like to thank you for being so glorious and so wise.
Unnecessarily proud due to my silly shiny boots, along with too many attachments to a variety of asat things in my life, please keep giving me instructions and guidance and the ability to see where I am lacking and dragging my feet. I realise now looking back how many times I have let maya in the back-door. Thank you for tolerating my many mistakes and offenses. Thank you for keeping this perennial under-achiever under your wing.
Your expert managerial skills are testament to your devoted and chaste following of Srila Prabhupada, and the Parampara, your ocean-deep love of Krsna which is exemplary and so inspiring. We are team Krsna united and we have a magnanimous leader.
I pay my prostrated obeisances at half time Srila Guru Maharaja and once again would like to offer my allegiance to the team and will do my best to support your star players and help others to sign up and join the team.
I hope this analogy isn’t too daft and that you accept this shallow attempt of sincerity as an offering with love.
Aspiring to one day be a real servant.
Krsnananda dasa
Please accept my most humble obeisances on your most auspicious appearance day in this world.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Sometimes the best way I know how to communicate something very deep is to try to use an analogy to simplify things. Please allow me to offer an imperfect analogy in order to try to address the depth of your achievements, activities, intelligence, benevolence and love for all living entities.
When my body and mind were suffering through the tumultuous teenage period I became a soccer fanatic. It was always a delight to see the skill and ability of talented soccer players, teams and for me especially, managers. Generally speaking, if a team was full of star players that won back-to-back games, that meant there was an excellent manager at the helm - perhaps this is why I am using this analogy.
The sastra says Krsna’s intelligence is very deep, and I think the same about you Gurudeva - you are an expert strategist and your intelligence has unfathomable depths. You give inspiration and insight to us in a very wonderful way. In our attempts at reciprocation, we work as a team to help you in your life mission. As I have always seen it -bhakti is a team sport. I have always been attracted in that way. You built our team from scratch!
Every day we train together as devotees to defend ourselves from the attacks of maya as she uses her latest sneaky formation to bewilder us very cleverly. Sometimes players drop away but also sometimes our players achieve stand-out herculean accomplishments! This is your mercy. Often team maya is well and truly on the offense but other times we strike swiftly using sravanam, kirtanam Visnu as you advise and we emerge victorious! You have provided insights as to our strengths, our weaknesses, where we should strike, what we should be alert to and who to learn from. You always stress guidance. This is the key.
From the substitute bench I marvel at the star players (though they are too humble to admit this) you have moulded and fashioned very wonderfully. Expert forwards, defenders, wing players, centre backs. You can rely on them every time and they are first class devotees. Gosh, when I bring on the oranges at half time, it really strikes me how deeply and intensely I wish I could be one of your star players one day. You hold everyone dear, but for those that have sacrificed the most for you - the ones who stay on, well after the training sessions have finished, strictly following your instructions with life and soul - improving their game with tenacious spirit - these players you hold very very dear. When Sri Guru is pleased - everyone is pleased - and this is truly sublime. You make it easy and attractive to practice bhakti, chant the names of Krsna and be happy.
Many of us emerged out of the material mess from the “wild-West”. Our early days can sometimes be spent missing the ball, arguing with each other, overdosing on oranges, becoming infatuated with shiny boots, and being rude to the assistant managers. But patiently you tolerate all this juvenile behaviour and continue on giving us instruction, telling us where we need to improve - pick up our game, improve our fitness levels, understand the opponent, give us strong technical understanding and encourage us - never give in - always think of Krsna. This is real love. I would like to thank you for being so glorious and so wise.
Unnecessarily proud due to my silly shiny boots, along with too many attachments to a variety of asat things in my life, please keep giving me instructions and guidance and the ability to see where I am lacking and dragging my feet. I realise now looking back how many times I have let maya in the back-door. Thank you for tolerating my many mistakes and offenses. Thank you for keeping this perennial under-achiever under your wing.
Your expert managerial skills are testament to your devoted and chaste following of Srila Prabhupada, and the Parampara, your ocean-deep love of Krsna which is exemplary and so inspiring. We are team Krsna united and we have a magnanimous leader.
I pay my prostrated obeisances at half time Srila Guru Maharaja and once again would like to offer my allegiance to the team and will do my best to support your star players and help others to sign up and join the team.
I hope this analogy isn’t too daft and that you accept this shallow attempt of sincerity as an offering with love.
Aspiring to one day be a real servant.
Krsnananda dasa
Kundalata devi dasi
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to your lotus feet.
Another year has passed so quickly. Another 12 months, without having taken enough time to regularly contemplate my good fortune of having received your shelter.
In Bhakti-bhava you said: “Just as we want perfect reciprocation from Krishna, we also want perfect reciprocation from our spiritual master. So much work of the guru is to get the disciple to feel assured, ‘You are receiving proper reciprocation from Krishna, and from me’.” Understanding our psyche so well, you tirelessly spend endless hours talking to your dependents, writing emails, doing everything you can to somehow keep us on the bhakti-path. And all this, while you yourself never heard Srila Prabhupada say even one full word just to you!
But did you feel mistreated or neglected, like many of us would in that situation? No. Because by listening to Srila Prabhupada’s instructions and by simply serving him, you realized Krishna and your spiritual master are reciprocating with you perfectly. This really shows us your strong faith and determination in Krishna consciousness. I pray that someday I may also start developing such qualities.
I feel very humble and small, when I think about my godsisters in New Zealand and Australia. All so nicely trained by you, taking their Krishna consciousness very seriously. You have always emphasized to us the importance of good, daily hearing. Absorbed chanting, and reading Srila Prabhupada’s books with care and attention, 2 hours a day. I can tell by looking at my godsisters that it really pays off, and I am very grateful to you for keeping us focused on that.
Our connection to everyone and everything (be it Krishna, the acaryas, the devotional process etc.) is through the guru. By pleasing the spiritual master, everything “magically” works. By displeasing him, everything comes to a halt. I pray that somehow or other I will develop some intelligence and gratitude to do something useful in your service. Although the debt to the spiritual master can never be repaid, I will sincerely try my best to care for others, as you have cared for me.
Thank you, Gurudeva. Thank you for everything you have done for me, I know I don’t always make your life easy.
Your insignificant servant,
Kundalata dd
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to your lotus feet.
Another year has passed so quickly. Another 12 months, without having taken enough time to regularly contemplate my good fortune of having received your shelter.
In Bhakti-bhava you said: “Just as we want perfect reciprocation from Krishna, we also want perfect reciprocation from our spiritual master. So much work of the guru is to get the disciple to feel assured, ‘You are receiving proper reciprocation from Krishna, and from me’.” Understanding our psyche so well, you tirelessly spend endless hours talking to your dependents, writing emails, doing everything you can to somehow keep us on the bhakti-path. And all this, while you yourself never heard Srila Prabhupada say even one full word just to you!
But did you feel mistreated or neglected, like many of us would in that situation? No. Because by listening to Srila Prabhupada’s instructions and by simply serving him, you realized Krishna and your spiritual master are reciprocating with you perfectly. This really shows us your strong faith and determination in Krishna consciousness. I pray that someday I may also start developing such qualities.
I feel very humble and small, when I think about my godsisters in New Zealand and Australia. All so nicely trained by you, taking their Krishna consciousness very seriously. You have always emphasized to us the importance of good, daily hearing. Absorbed chanting, and reading Srila Prabhupada’s books with care and attention, 2 hours a day. I can tell by looking at my godsisters that it really pays off, and I am very grateful to you for keeping us focused on that.
Our connection to everyone and everything (be it Krishna, the acaryas, the devotional process etc.) is through the guru. By pleasing the spiritual master, everything “magically” works. By displeasing him, everything comes to a halt. I pray that somehow or other I will develop some intelligence and gratitude to do something useful in your service. Although the debt to the spiritual master can never be repaid, I will sincerely try my best to care for others, as you have cared for me.
Thank you, Gurudeva. Thank you for everything you have done for me, I know I don’t always make your life easy.
Your insignificant servant,
Kundalata dd
Kurmadeva das
Dear Guru Maharaja:
Please acept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Sri Sri Guru and Gouranga!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to you !
(Translated from Spanish)
On this special day when we are remembering our wonderful Guru Maharaja, who is always fixed in devotional service to his spiritual master Srila Prabhupada. Your always ecstatic and enthusiastic in preaching the holy names. You are very skilled in dealing with all, especially with the Vaisnavas.
Dear Guru Maharaja, you are an example of devotee, intelligence, determination, love, charity, humility and resignation are very salient, your character and humor characterize the above. You definitely have all the good qualities, which is very inspiring. When we see you, you are always chanting the holy names, every moment, every exhalation, Inhalation and every second.
You are absorbed in Krishna. You certainly live Krishna consciousness every moment of your life, and you are always traveling to all parts of the world helping many souls, which is no doubt priceless.
Guru Maharaja in this day of your Vyasa puja, I bow once more and innumerable times before your lotus feet, a single particle of dust of your lotus feet is the perfection for the conditioned souls like me. Your lotus feet are the refuge and inspiration in my life,
and are most adorable. I pray that my mind can meditate on them all the time, which increases my love, my ignorance dissipates and that my service will be highlighted and I become more intelligent in serving you. This is the only way I can be a true servant.
Your eternal servant
Kurmadeva das
Please acept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Sri Sri Guru and Gouranga!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to you !
(Translated from Spanish)
On this special day when we are remembering our wonderful Guru Maharaja, who is always fixed in devotional service to his spiritual master Srila Prabhupada. Your always ecstatic and enthusiastic in preaching the holy names. You are very skilled in dealing with all, especially with the Vaisnavas.
Dear Guru Maharaja, you are an example of devotee, intelligence, determination, love, charity, humility and resignation are very salient, your character and humor characterize the above. You definitely have all the good qualities, which is very inspiring. When we see you, you are always chanting the holy names, every moment, every exhalation, Inhalation and every second.
You are absorbed in Krishna. You certainly live Krishna consciousness every moment of your life, and you are always traveling to all parts of the world helping many souls, which is no doubt priceless.
Guru Maharaja in this day of your Vyasa puja, I bow once more and innumerable times before your lotus feet, a single particle of dust of your lotus feet is the perfection for the conditioned souls like me. Your lotus feet are the refuge and inspiration in my life,
and are most adorable. I pray that my mind can meditate on them all the time, which increases my love, my ignorance dissipates and that my service will be highlighted and I become more intelligent in serving you. This is the only way I can be a true servant.
Your eternal servant
Kurmadeva das
Kusumasava das
Dear Gurudeva,
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
On this most auspicious day –your appearance day- please accept my repeated obeisances at your lotus feet.
Gurudeva, you are fair, liberal and have a broad mind
A place in Krishna consciousness under your care: anyone can find.
You make it easy for anyone of us to achieve the goal of life
Through transcendental sound technology you make it so fun and nice.
You lure us into your scheme and trap by trick and treat
You show us that we are living a lie, what a mystical feat!
With a quick raise of the eyebrows you shattered our ambition
To enjoy separate from Krishna: our material condition.
What a joy! My false conception destroyed! My soul’s true desire.
Impartially you shower your mercy, extinguishing this blazing fire.
My heart is stone-like from all of my material debaunch
Your laugh shatters my demonic heart to pieces just like a transcendental conch.
When will that day come, O Gurudeva, when your words will seem like nectar,
Filling my heart with boundless joy direct from that transcendental sector?
Just by following your instructions our lives will come to perfection
You steer us over the bumps and around the curves, always going in the right direction.
That by engaging in pure loving devotional service- to us you teach-
We shall certainly keep all illusory activities far away from reach.
O Gurudeva, somehow I find myself caught in your transcendental net
O Gurudeva, I am your servant forever; I am eternally always in your debt.
O Gurudeva, I am begging you for Lord Chaitanya’s mercy, passing through disciplic succession
To take your instructions into my heart, please grant me this privilege and qualification.
Aspiring for the cooling shade of your lotus feet,
Kusumasava das
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
On this most auspicious day –your appearance day- please accept my repeated obeisances at your lotus feet.
Gurudeva, you are fair, liberal and have a broad mind
A place in Krishna consciousness under your care: anyone can find.
You make it easy for anyone of us to achieve the goal of life
Through transcendental sound technology you make it so fun and nice.
You lure us into your scheme and trap by trick and treat
You show us that we are living a lie, what a mystical feat!
With a quick raise of the eyebrows you shattered our ambition
To enjoy separate from Krishna: our material condition.
What a joy! My false conception destroyed! My soul’s true desire.
Impartially you shower your mercy, extinguishing this blazing fire.
My heart is stone-like from all of my material debaunch
Your laugh shatters my demonic heart to pieces just like a transcendental conch.
When will that day come, O Gurudeva, when your words will seem like nectar,
Filling my heart with boundless joy direct from that transcendental sector?
Just by following your instructions our lives will come to perfection
You steer us over the bumps and around the curves, always going in the right direction.
That by engaging in pure loving devotional service- to us you teach-
We shall certainly keep all illusory activities far away from reach.
O Gurudeva, somehow I find myself caught in your transcendental net
O Gurudeva, I am your servant forever; I am eternally always in your debt.
O Gurudeva, I am begging you for Lord Chaitanya’s mercy, passing through disciplic succession
To take your instructions into my heart, please grant me this privilege and qualification.
Aspiring for the cooling shade of your lotus feet,
Kusumasava das
Lila Katha devi dasi
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to you on this auspicious day of your Vyasa Puja.
In Bhagavad Gita 4.34 Krishna explains:
tad viddhi pranipatena
pariprasnena sevaya
upadeksyanti te jnanam
jnaninas tattva-darsinah
Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth.
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Thankyou for caring for me and my family.
You are so nicely preaching all over the world.
Please help me to submissively follow your instructions and serve you better.
Your servant Lila Katha devi dasi
Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to you on this auspicious day of your Vyasa Puja.
In Bhagavad Gita 4.34 Krishna explains:
tad viddhi pranipatena
pariprasnena sevaya
upadeksyanti te jnanam
jnaninas tattva-darsinah
Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth.
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Thankyou for caring for me and my family.
You are so nicely preaching all over the world.
Please help me to submissively follow your instructions and serve you better.
Your servant Lila Katha devi dasi
Lila-madhurya devi dasi
Dear Gurudev,
Please, accept my humble obeisances. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to You, Srila Gurudeva!
Srimad Bhagavatam states:
<center>devarsi-bhutapta-nrnam pitrnam</center>
<center>na kinkaro nayam rni ca rajan</center>
<center>sarvatmana yah saranam saranyam</center>
<center>gato mukundam parihrtya kartam</center>
“Anyone who has completely surrendered unto Krishna, Mukunda, giving up all other duties, is no longer a debtor, nor is he obliged to anyone—not the demigods, nor the sages, nor the people in general, nor kinsmen, nor humanity, nor forefathers.” (Bhag. 11.5.41)
By serving to Krishnas’ lotus feet we can pay all debts, but how is it possible to pay debt to Guru, who shows us how to surrender to Krishna? Disciple is the eternal debtor of the Spiritual Master.
Dear Gurudev,
You are so merciful, You do not distinguish people by category of bad and good. You do not distinguish people on those, who fulfil and not fulfil Your expectations. You mercifully give Your love to everyone. Only person, who has true knowledge, can give real love and care to others. You spend Yourself for your servants. How is it possible after the whole day of the festival, which is full of service, to give darshan at 9 p.m?
Guru-mukha-padma-vakya, cittete koriya aikya, ar na koriho mane asa – absence of other (material) desires is precondition of penetration of words of Guru right to the heart. At the same time exactly You, Gurudev, give us power to overcome material desires.
You are the one who liberate from not only material desires, but even desires of moksa and show us that Krishna is real Person who has emotions, who has relations. Even though I have material desires, You make my spiritual desires much stronger. You present us colourful and emotional bhakti process, inspiring us to present our hearts to Krishna. When You say:”just understand, there is nothing better than bhakti”, together with these words You grant faith to us.
This is You, who talks about terrible things of kali-yuga with good-natured catching laughter making them obvious, but without criticism.
My first guru, my mum, explained me, that if I do anything for result, this is waste of time, process itself is much more important. And You give bhakti, which is a process and goal at the same time.
Dear Gurudev, You are the place, where the ocean of Krishna’s love and care breaks banks of spiritual world and surrounds fallen souls.
You eternal debtor,
Lila-madhurya devi dasi
Please, accept my humble obeisances. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to You, Srila Gurudeva!
Srimad Bhagavatam states:
<center>devarsi-bhutapta-nrnam pitrnam</center>
<center>na kinkaro nayam rni ca rajan</center>
<center>sarvatmana yah saranam saranyam</center>
<center>gato mukundam parihrtya kartam</center>
“Anyone who has completely surrendered unto Krishna, Mukunda, giving up all other duties, is no longer a debtor, nor is he obliged to anyone—not the demigods, nor the sages, nor the people in general, nor kinsmen, nor humanity, nor forefathers.” (Bhag. 11.5.41)
By serving to Krishnas’ lotus feet we can pay all debts, but how is it possible to pay debt to Guru, who shows us how to surrender to Krishna? Disciple is the eternal debtor of the Spiritual Master.
Dear Gurudev,
You are so merciful, You do not distinguish people by category of bad and good. You do not distinguish people on those, who fulfil and not fulfil Your expectations. You mercifully give Your love to everyone. Only person, who has true knowledge, can give real love and care to others. You spend Yourself for your servants. How is it possible after the whole day of the festival, which is full of service, to give darshan at 9 p.m?
Guru-mukha-padma-vakya, cittete koriya aikya, ar na koriho mane asa – absence of other (material) desires is precondition of penetration of words of Guru right to the heart. At the same time exactly You, Gurudev, give us power to overcome material desires.
You are the one who liberate from not only material desires, but even desires of moksa and show us that Krishna is real Person who has emotions, who has relations. Even though I have material desires, You make my spiritual desires much stronger. You present us colourful and emotional bhakti process, inspiring us to present our hearts to Krishna. When You say:”just understand, there is nothing better than bhakti”, together with these words You grant faith to us.
This is You, who talks about terrible things of kali-yuga with good-natured catching laughter making them obvious, but without criticism.
My first guru, my mum, explained me, that if I do anything for result, this is waste of time, process itself is much more important. And You give bhakti, which is a process and goal at the same time.
Dear Gurudev, You are the place, where the ocean of Krishna’s love and care breaks banks of spiritual world and surrounds fallen souls.
You eternal debtor,
Lila-madhurya devi dasi
Lilamayi Subhadra devi dasi
Sri Caitanya Caritamrita, Madhya-lila 20.61
akṣṇoḥ phalaḿ tvādṛśa-darśanaḿ hi
tanoḥ phalaḿ tvādṛśa-gātra-sańgaḥ
jihvā-phalaḿ tvādṛśa-kīrtanaḿ hi
su-durlabhā bhāgavatā hi loke
'"My dear Vaisnava, seeing a person like you is the perfection of one's eyesight, touching your lotus feet is the perfection of the sense of touch, and glorifying your good qualities is the tongue's real activity, for in the material world it is very rare to find a pure devotee of the Lord.'"
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
By some wonderful arrangement we had the chance to serve you and benefit from your association. We can understand that this was a great fortune bestowed on us.
Now circumstances have changed and we feel a great loss.
It is like serving you kept us alive.
You have always been very kind to us and even now you take the time to inquire about our welfare and let us know you are thinking of us. We feel grateful for this personal way in which you show your care.
We pray that in this very lifetime we will be able to offer some reciprocation for your continued love, guidance and care.
Once, you challenged me - that we can have a little competition to see who can do the most for the other. And then you laughed and said: "Of course I will always win."
And sure enough, you are miles ahead.
I am puzzled as to how I can ever catch up or even offer a fraction back to you.
And now that is what keeps me going - if I cannot serve you, at least not to displease you. And that one day I might rise to that challenge.
My heart, weak though it may be, is forever indebted to you.
You are my merciful well-wisher and shelter. May I gain strength and determination to serve in some capacity your vision for pleasing Srila Prabhupada.
Your aspiring servant,
Lilamayi Subhadra devi dasi
akṣṇoḥ phalaḿ tvādṛśa-darśanaḿ hi
tanoḥ phalaḿ tvādṛśa-gātra-sańgaḥ
jihvā-phalaḿ tvādṛśa-kīrtanaḿ hi
su-durlabhā bhāgavatā hi loke
'"My dear Vaisnava, seeing a person like you is the perfection of one's eyesight, touching your lotus feet is the perfection of the sense of touch, and glorifying your good qualities is the tongue's real activity, for in the material world it is very rare to find a pure devotee of the Lord.'"
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
By some wonderful arrangement we had the chance to serve you and benefit from your association. We can understand that this was a great fortune bestowed on us.
Now circumstances have changed and we feel a great loss.
It is like serving you kept us alive.
You have always been very kind to us and even now you take the time to inquire about our welfare and let us know you are thinking of us. We feel grateful for this personal way in which you show your care.
We pray that in this very lifetime we will be able to offer some reciprocation for your continued love, guidance and care.
Once, you challenged me - that we can have a little competition to see who can do the most for the other. And then you laughed and said: "Of course I will always win."
And sure enough, you are miles ahead.
I am puzzled as to how I can ever catch up or even offer a fraction back to you.
And now that is what keeps me going - if I cannot serve you, at least not to displease you. And that one day I might rise to that challenge.
My heart, weak though it may be, is forever indebted to you.
You are my merciful well-wisher and shelter. May I gain strength and determination to serve in some capacity your vision for pleasing Srila Prabhupada.
Your aspiring servant,
Lilamayi Subhadra devi dasi
Madhavaseva Das
Dear Guru Maharaj,
Please accept our humble obeisances.
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All Glories to Guru and Gauranga.
All Glories to Your Divine Services.
Namah om visnu padaya krsna prestaya bhutale
srimate devamrta swami iti namine
Pracare purva-daksyam ca, Bhaktacara-pravinatha
Pararthatapi Karunyam, Yasya sarve ca te namah
Thank you Guru Maharaj for another year of sharing you heartfelt realizations through lectures, writings and personal association. Your realizations are our very life and soul, for without these instructions we are completely lost. You are exemplary in all engagements and truly reflect the desire of Srila Prabhupada and previous Acharyas.
We wish you the best in health in the coming years. It is by Krishna's mercy upon us that great Vaishnavas like you are within our reach to take guidance and shelter from. You are our only hope of any success in our life, free from all illusion. We hope and pray that your mercy remains upon us forever and we take your instructions to heart and continue to work towards pleasing Krishna and His dear representatives like you.
Hare Krishna,
Madhavaseva Das, Bhaktin Shandya and Saandhni.
Please accept our humble obeisances.
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All Glories to Guru and Gauranga.
All Glories to Your Divine Services.
Namah om visnu padaya krsna prestaya bhutale
srimate devamrta swami iti namine
Pracare purva-daksyam ca, Bhaktacara-pravinatha
Pararthatapi Karunyam, Yasya sarve ca te namah
Thank you Guru Maharaj for another year of sharing you heartfelt realizations through lectures, writings and personal association. Your realizations are our very life and soul, for without these instructions we are completely lost. You are exemplary in all engagements and truly reflect the desire of Srila Prabhupada and previous Acharyas.
We wish you the best in health in the coming years. It is by Krishna's mercy upon us that great Vaishnavas like you are within our reach to take guidance and shelter from. You are our only hope of any success in our life, free from all illusion. We hope and pray that your mercy remains upon us forever and we take your instructions to heart and continue to work towards pleasing Krishna and His dear representatives like you.
Hare Krishna,
Madhavaseva Das, Bhaktin Shandya and Saandhni.
Madhu-puri
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
The first time I met you you were talking about how to chant attentively by being conscious of the maha mantra going from one's lips to the ears, into the mind and entering the heart. My favorite memories of chanting japa are of times when I tried to use this technique you taught us, and those experiences have never left me.
Not long after that I was chanting alone in the Gaura Yoga temple room and you came in and asked me if I like chanting. When I replied Yes you said That's good. Those simple words, coming from you, whom I trusted and who cared about my welfare, gave me so much conviction and reassurance and relief that I was finally doing something that was right and that as long as I chant Hare Krsna everything will be ok. I still have that feeling deep down. That's because of you.
Once you told me to chant all the time, whether I'm feeling good or bad. I did try to do that and the times when I felt so bad and I would sing and put my concentration into the maha mantra like you taught me, I would end up feeling ecstatic. I have these experiences because you have taught me practically, how to chant and how to be enthusiastic.
Even now, when things have changed, your words come to me and remind me how it can be, how you love me, and how you've kept me alive in bhakti.
Though the words of a rebellious disciple may not mean much, please accept this offering as a small acknowledgement of how you have helped me very much over these years. Thank you.
Your servant,
Madhu-puri dd
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
The first time I met you you were talking about how to chant attentively by being conscious of the maha mantra going from one's lips to the ears, into the mind and entering the heart. My favorite memories of chanting japa are of times when I tried to use this technique you taught us, and those experiences have never left me.
Not long after that I was chanting alone in the Gaura Yoga temple room and you came in and asked me if I like chanting. When I replied Yes you said That's good. Those simple words, coming from you, whom I trusted and who cared about my welfare, gave me so much conviction and reassurance and relief that I was finally doing something that was right and that as long as I chant Hare Krsna everything will be ok. I still have that feeling deep down. That's because of you.
Once you told me to chant all the time, whether I'm feeling good or bad. I did try to do that and the times when I felt so bad and I would sing and put my concentration into the maha mantra like you taught me, I would end up feeling ecstatic. I have these experiences because you have taught me practically, how to chant and how to be enthusiastic.
Even now, when things have changed, your words come to me and remind me how it can be, how you love me, and how you've kept me alive in bhakti.
Though the words of a rebellious disciple may not mean much, please accept this offering as a small acknowledgement of how you have helped me very much over these years. Thank you.
Your servant,
Madhu-puri dd
Madhurananda das
Dear Srila Gurudev,
Om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
chaksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah
Namo om visnu padaya krsna prestaya bhutale srimate Devamrta swamin iti namine
Pracare purva-daksyam ca bhaktacara-pravinta pararthatapi karunyam yasya sarve ca te namah
Please accept my humble obeisances at your Lotus Feet. All glories to you and your service to Srila Prabhupada.
This year has been one of the most difficult I have ever faced. You told me before and during my initiation ceremony that this would be the fall of my empire. I have truly felt like my world has crumbled around me and that all hope was lost.
The only constant during this time has been Krishna and his devotees. I have seen now, more than ever, how flickering and insignificant this world can be and how much suffering it brings. Where others left, Krishna and His devotees stayed. Where others hurt, Krishna and His devotees healed and where others beat me down, Krishna and His devotees picked me up.
When an empire falls, there is pain. However, as you kindly instructed me, on the rubble, a new empire can be built. One with a firm foundation, not on the illusory sand of material energy and flickering happiness, but on the concrete base of sadhana and service. You have kindly mentioned many times to keep Krishna in the center and to develop a dynamic bhakti lifestyle, but only now am I able to get a glimpse of what this really means.
I thank you from the core of my heart for always being strong for me and guiding me forward. Always being positive and being the light in my dark times. Never letting me fall and always reminding me how vital and valuable service is.
Even at my lowest point, you gave such a wonderful instruction. You told me to go on chanting and dancing and to push forward with my spiritual life. Your kindness has encourage so many people to chant and dance for the pleasure of the Lord and Srila Prabhupada and I am so lucky to have been swept up in the wave of your mercy.
Please forgive me for not being the best I can be for you and please always allow me to remain at your service. For without this, what do I have left? Krishna has been so kind to take away everything and show me what my real happiness is. The association of his most wonderful devotees and the opportunity to serve them.
Thank you
Your servant
Madhurananda das
Om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
chaksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah
Namo om visnu padaya krsna prestaya bhutale srimate Devamrta swamin iti namine
Pracare purva-daksyam ca bhaktacara-pravinta pararthatapi karunyam yasya sarve ca te namah
Please accept my humble obeisances at your Lotus Feet. All glories to you and your service to Srila Prabhupada.
This year has been one of the most difficult I have ever faced. You told me before and during my initiation ceremony that this would be the fall of my empire. I have truly felt like my world has crumbled around me and that all hope was lost.
The only constant during this time has been Krishna and his devotees. I have seen now, more than ever, how flickering and insignificant this world can be and how much suffering it brings. Where others left, Krishna and His devotees stayed. Where others hurt, Krishna and His devotees healed and where others beat me down, Krishna and His devotees picked me up.
When an empire falls, there is pain. However, as you kindly instructed me, on the rubble, a new empire can be built. One with a firm foundation, not on the illusory sand of material energy and flickering happiness, but on the concrete base of sadhana and service. You have kindly mentioned many times to keep Krishna in the center and to develop a dynamic bhakti lifestyle, but only now am I able to get a glimpse of what this really means.
I thank you from the core of my heart for always being strong for me and guiding me forward. Always being positive and being the light in my dark times. Never letting me fall and always reminding me how vital and valuable service is.
Even at my lowest point, you gave such a wonderful instruction. You told me to go on chanting and dancing and to push forward with my spiritual life. Your kindness has encourage so many people to chant and dance for the pleasure of the Lord and Srila Prabhupada and I am so lucky to have been swept up in the wave of your mercy.
Please forgive me for not being the best I can be for you and please always allow me to remain at your service. For without this, what do I have left? Krishna has been so kind to take away everything and show me what my real happiness is. The association of his most wonderful devotees and the opportunity to serve them.
Thank you
Your servant
Madhurananda das
Maha Hari das
Dear Gurudeva
Please accept my humble obeisances to you lotus feet
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to you on this most auspicious day!
Here I'm trying to express my feelings with clarity and make sense at the same time.
What I am about to write is , I think, the most sincere and deep feelings of appreciation for you as my spiritual master and well whiser.
I admire you dedication to serve Srila Prabhupada's mission.
I hope I can be of any assistance in such loyal endeavor to please Him.
I am attracted to your way of presenting Krishna Consciousness to the world.
I wish I can be your instrument and represent yours and Srila Prabhupada's teachings effectively.
I feel happy to be alive at the same time you are walking on this planet.
Because to me is a big honor and privilege to meet you personally.
I am grateful to Sri Krishna and Srila Prabhupada to allow me to presence how you take care of the vaisnavas.
So I can learn how to respect , value, serve, love and surrender to them without hesitation.
I am fortunate to feel your presence in my life everyday.
When I do service for the vaisnavas and the community here in Buenos Aires, I always pray to be empower by you and the guru parampara, to be able to inspire others to chant the holy name and do more service for Sri Sri Gaura Nitay.
I will like to thank you for accepting me as your disciple and your spiritual son.
I will like to see you again soon if Krishna allows it, so I can serve you personally once more again.
Happy vyasa puja day gurudeva!
Gandharvika and I will cook a southern feast for you.
Scramble tofu, hash browns , corn bread, and cream pie will be on the menu, and then I will distribute it to the temple devotees after a loving gurupuja on your honor.
With love and respect
your servant and son
Maha Hari das
Please accept my humble obeisances to you lotus feet
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to you on this most auspicious day!
Here I'm trying to express my feelings with clarity and make sense at the same time.
What I am about to write is , I think, the most sincere and deep feelings of appreciation for you as my spiritual master and well whiser.
I admire you dedication to serve Srila Prabhupada's mission.
I hope I can be of any assistance in such loyal endeavor to please Him.
I am attracted to your way of presenting Krishna Consciousness to the world.
I wish I can be your instrument and represent yours and Srila Prabhupada's teachings effectively.
I feel happy to be alive at the same time you are walking on this planet.
Because to me is a big honor and privilege to meet you personally.
I am grateful to Sri Krishna and Srila Prabhupada to allow me to presence how you take care of the vaisnavas.
So I can learn how to respect , value, serve, love and surrender to them without hesitation.
I am fortunate to feel your presence in my life everyday.
When I do service for the vaisnavas and the community here in Buenos Aires, I always pray to be empower by you and the guru parampara, to be able to inspire others to chant the holy name and do more service for Sri Sri Gaura Nitay.
I will like to thank you for accepting me as your disciple and your spiritual son.
I will like to see you again soon if Krishna allows it, so I can serve you personally once more again.
Happy vyasa puja day gurudeva!
Gandharvika and I will cook a southern feast for you.
Scramble tofu, hash browns , corn bread, and cream pie will be on the menu, and then I will distribute it to the temple devotees after a loving gurupuja on your honor.
With love and respect
your servant and son
Maha Hari das
Maha Matsya das
Hare Krishna, dear Gurudeva! Please accept my humble obeisances.
On this blessed day of your appearance let me sincerely thank you! The Ukranian Festival 2012 will remain in my heart forever because of many discoveries and opportunities to associate with sainly vaisnavas, but mainly - because of Mahakirtan!!! The glory of chanting the Holy Name, which I had been hearing and reading of so much, at once became a REALITY! The Holy Name of Krishna descended from the spiritual world of Goloka to the reality of Festival kirtan and has become accessible for all present vaisnavas! This miracle caused deep irreversible changes in my heart. Because of this wonderful Sadhu-sanga miracle I felt and realized that my heart would never be the same. Nature of Srila Prabhupada's heart which is soft like butter, full of compassion and wisdom and selfless and pure Divine love, reflecting in the heart of loving and sincere disciple, was revealed by you.
mahaprabhoh kirtana-nritya-gita- vaditra-madyan-manaso rasena
romanca-kampasru-taranga-bhajo vande guroh sri-caranaravindam
Let me sincerely thank Your Divine Grace for your wise care of your disciples of all levels, which was manifested in your wonderful seminar! Delicately tactfully, humorously and at the same time uncompromisingly and honestly you helped us to continue with our way to home, which is uneasy and full of dangers, sometimes by pointing our mistakes, sometimes by inspiring! Let your Divine Mercy goes on by Krishna's blessings for the benefit of all living entities.
Your unintelligent and clumsy disciple and eternal servant,
Maha Matsya das
On this blessed day of your appearance let me sincerely thank you! The Ukranian Festival 2012 will remain in my heart forever because of many discoveries and opportunities to associate with sainly vaisnavas, but mainly - because of Mahakirtan!!! The glory of chanting the Holy Name, which I had been hearing and reading of so much, at once became a REALITY! The Holy Name of Krishna descended from the spiritual world of Goloka to the reality of Festival kirtan and has become accessible for all present vaisnavas! This miracle caused deep irreversible changes in my heart. Because of this wonderful Sadhu-sanga miracle I felt and realized that my heart would never be the same. Nature of Srila Prabhupada's heart which is soft like butter, full of compassion and wisdom and selfless and pure Divine love, reflecting in the heart of loving and sincere disciple, was revealed by you.
mahaprabhoh kirtana-nritya-gita- vaditra-madyan-manaso rasena
romanca-kampasru-taranga-bhajo vande guroh sri-caranaravindam
Let me sincerely thank Your Divine Grace for your wise care of your disciples of all levels, which was manifested in your wonderful seminar! Delicately tactfully, humorously and at the same time uncompromisingly and honestly you helped us to continue with our way to home, which is uneasy and full of dangers, sometimes by pointing our mistakes, sometimes by inspiring! Let your Divine Mercy goes on by Krishna's blessings for the benefit of all living entities.
Your unintelligent and clumsy disciple and eternal servant,
Maha Matsya das
Mahanila das
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Thank you for all the kind words of advice you have given me, I am definitely clueless without your help. As time goes on I can see that you care about me more than I do; you only want what's best for me. Your entire life is spent selflessly searching for lost souls, only trying to help them. Your dedication is an inspiration for my own spiritual life. I wonder if you realise how deeply you touch peoples lives when you speak to them... You have so much time for people, even for people like me which is why I look up to you so much. Your a real father figure. I can only imagine the pain you feel watching a disciple needlessly struggle with material desires simply because they aren't taking your advice regularly. You never give up on people and that's whats amazes me; true compassion. I've never met anyone like you yet I take you for granted so often, but where would I be if you had never come to New Zealand? Please accept these words as my appreciation for everything you've done for me.
Your servant,
mahanila das
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Thank you for all the kind words of advice you have given me, I am definitely clueless without your help. As time goes on I can see that you care about me more than I do; you only want what's best for me. Your entire life is spent selflessly searching for lost souls, only trying to help them. Your dedication is an inspiration for my own spiritual life. I wonder if you realise how deeply you touch peoples lives when you speak to them... You have so much time for people, even for people like me which is why I look up to you so much. Your a real father figure. I can only imagine the pain you feel watching a disciple needlessly struggle with material desires simply because they aren't taking your advice regularly. You never give up on people and that's whats amazes me; true compassion. I've never met anyone like you yet I take you for granted so often, but where would I be if you had never come to New Zealand? Please accept these words as my appreciation for everything you've done for me.
Your servant,
mahanila das
Mahavan das
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda and to your merciful lotus feet.
In real culture, it is understood that the ear is the most powerful and important sense.
This principle however, particularly when presented in a spiritual context, rubs most up the wrong way in our present “seeing is believing” attempt at human civilization, where we are all apparently, and proudly, “self-authorised.”
Still, regardless of our Kali-yuga programming and cultural biases, we all do, at every moment, consciously or otherwise, accept one sound vibration or another as authoritative in order to recognise, categorize, and value our perceptions.
Understanding this simple and universal truth, an intelligent human being does not ask, “Shall I hear from an authority?” But rather, “Which authority shall I hear from?”
A devotee is one who consciously chooses to hear from Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and who thus “sees through Krishna’s eyes” by hearing from the all-attractive source of all energies, the perfect authority.
And of course a devotee is also one who understands and appreciates Krishna’s Self-authorized education system: śrī guru-paramparā.
The bona fide spiritual master in disciplic succession is not the leader of a personality cult, but rather Krishna’s pure and empowered representative. By constantly repeating Krishna’s perfect sound vibration as it is, he constantly makes Krishna and His absolute vision present to his followers, for their eternal benefit.
Therefore Śrīla Prabhupāda’s spiritual master used to say, “One should see a sādhu through the ears, not the eyes,” because the purpose of seeing a saintly person is to hear from him how to actually “see.”
Although now relegated to archaic primitivism by “advanced” secular education, guru paramparā, as revealed in the pages of Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, is the most powerful and profound form of science and technology, providing the highest experience of peace and pleasure to the sincere follower.
Lord Brahmā, the first living being in the universe, and original scholar (ādi-kavi), provides us with a vivid and primeval example of this forgotten truth.
“Lord Brahmā, the first spiritual master, supreme in the universe, could not trace out the source of his lotus seat, and while thinking of creating the material world, he could not understand the proper direction for such creative work, nor could he find out the process for such creation.”
“While thus engaged in thinking, in the water, Brahmājī heard twice from nearby two syllables joined together. One of the syllables was taken from the sixteenth and the other from the twenty-first of the sparśa alphabets, and both joined to become the wealth of the renounced order of life.”
“When he heard the sound, he tried to find the speaker, searching on all sides. But when he was unable to find anyone besides himself, he thought it wise to sit down on his lotus seat firmly and give his attention to the execution of penance, as he was instructed.” (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.9.5-7)
After Lord Brahmā’s submissive execution of his spiritual master’s instructions, he attained His mercy, who, in reciprocation for Brahmā’s sincerity, revealed to him the whole Vaikuṇṭha world, giving us a primeval and practical example of how perfect hearing turns into perfect seeing by following the sound vibration of the perfect.
Śrīla Prabhupāda writes in this regard:
“To achieve success in life, one should follow the example of Lord Brahmā, the first living creature in the beginning of creation. After being initiated by the Supreme Lord to execute tapasya, he was fixed in his determination to do it, and although he could not find anyone besides himself, he could rightly understand that the sound was transmitted by the Lord Himself…As already stated, Brahmā is the original spiritual master for the universe, and since he was initiated by the Lord Himself, the message of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is coming down by disciplic succession, and in order to receive the real message of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam one should approach the current link, or spiritual master, in the chain of disciplic succession. After being initiated by the proper spiritual master in that chain of succession, one should engage himself in the discharge of tapasya in the execution of devotional service. One should not, however, think himself on the level of Brahmā to be initiated directly by the Lord from inside because in the present age no one can be accepted to be as pure as Brahmā. The post of Brahmā to officiate in the creation of the universe is offered to the most pure living being, and unless one is so qualified one cannot expect to be treated like Brahmājī directly. But one can have the same facility through unalloyed devotees of the Lord, through scriptural instructions (as revealed in the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam especially), and also through the bona fide spiritual master available to the sincere soul. The Lord Himself appears as the spiritual master to a person who is sincere in heart about serving the Lord. Therefore the bona fide spiritual master who happens to meet the sincere devotee should be accepted as the most confidential and beloved representative of the Lord. If a person is posted under the guidance of such a bona fide spiritual master, it may be accepted without any doubt that the desiring person has achieved the grace of the Lord.” (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.9.7 purport)
In real culture, it is understood that the ear is the most powerful and important sense.
My heartfelt plea on this most auspicious day is for your mercy in the form of this realization.
(Trying to be) your servant,
Mahāvan dās
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda and to your merciful lotus feet.
In real culture, it is understood that the ear is the most powerful and important sense.
This principle however, particularly when presented in a spiritual context, rubs most up the wrong way in our present “seeing is believing” attempt at human civilization, where we are all apparently, and proudly, “self-authorised.”
Still, regardless of our Kali-yuga programming and cultural biases, we all do, at every moment, consciously or otherwise, accept one sound vibration or another as authoritative in order to recognise, categorize, and value our perceptions.
Understanding this simple and universal truth, an intelligent human being does not ask, “Shall I hear from an authority?” But rather, “Which authority shall I hear from?”
A devotee is one who consciously chooses to hear from Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and who thus “sees through Krishna’s eyes” by hearing from the all-attractive source of all energies, the perfect authority.
And of course a devotee is also one who understands and appreciates Krishna’s Self-authorized education system: śrī guru-paramparā.
The bona fide spiritual master in disciplic succession is not the leader of a personality cult, but rather Krishna’s pure and empowered representative. By constantly repeating Krishna’s perfect sound vibration as it is, he constantly makes Krishna and His absolute vision present to his followers, for their eternal benefit.
Therefore Śrīla Prabhupāda’s spiritual master used to say, “One should see a sādhu through the ears, not the eyes,” because the purpose of seeing a saintly person is to hear from him how to actually “see.”
Although now relegated to archaic primitivism by “advanced” secular education, guru paramparā, as revealed in the pages of Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, is the most powerful and profound form of science and technology, providing the highest experience of peace and pleasure to the sincere follower.
Lord Brahmā, the first living being in the universe, and original scholar (ādi-kavi), provides us with a vivid and primeval example of this forgotten truth.
“Lord Brahmā, the first spiritual master, supreme in the universe, could not trace out the source of his lotus seat, and while thinking of creating the material world, he could not understand the proper direction for such creative work, nor could he find out the process for such creation.”
“While thus engaged in thinking, in the water, Brahmājī heard twice from nearby two syllables joined together. One of the syllables was taken from the sixteenth and the other from the twenty-first of the sparśa alphabets, and both joined to become the wealth of the renounced order of life.”
“When he heard the sound, he tried to find the speaker, searching on all sides. But when he was unable to find anyone besides himself, he thought it wise to sit down on his lotus seat firmly and give his attention to the execution of penance, as he was instructed.” (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.9.5-7)
After Lord Brahmā’s submissive execution of his spiritual master’s instructions, he attained His mercy, who, in reciprocation for Brahmā’s sincerity, revealed to him the whole Vaikuṇṭha world, giving us a primeval and practical example of how perfect hearing turns into perfect seeing by following the sound vibration of the perfect.
Śrīla Prabhupāda writes in this regard:
“To achieve success in life, one should follow the example of Lord Brahmā, the first living creature in the beginning of creation. After being initiated by the Supreme Lord to execute tapasya, he was fixed in his determination to do it, and although he could not find anyone besides himself, he could rightly understand that the sound was transmitted by the Lord Himself…As already stated, Brahmā is the original spiritual master for the universe, and since he was initiated by the Lord Himself, the message of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is coming down by disciplic succession, and in order to receive the real message of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam one should approach the current link, or spiritual master, in the chain of disciplic succession. After being initiated by the proper spiritual master in that chain of succession, one should engage himself in the discharge of tapasya in the execution of devotional service. One should not, however, think himself on the level of Brahmā to be initiated directly by the Lord from inside because in the present age no one can be accepted to be as pure as Brahmā. The post of Brahmā to officiate in the creation of the universe is offered to the most pure living being, and unless one is so qualified one cannot expect to be treated like Brahmājī directly. But one can have the same facility through unalloyed devotees of the Lord, through scriptural instructions (as revealed in the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam especially), and also through the bona fide spiritual master available to the sincere soul. The Lord Himself appears as the spiritual master to a person who is sincere in heart about serving the Lord. Therefore the bona fide spiritual master who happens to meet the sincere devotee should be accepted as the most confidential and beloved representative of the Lord. If a person is posted under the guidance of such a bona fide spiritual master, it may be accepted without any doubt that the desiring person has achieved the grace of the Lord.” (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.9.7 purport)
In real culture, it is understood that the ear is the most powerful and important sense.
My heartfelt plea on this most auspicious day is for your mercy in the form of this realization.
(Trying to be) your servant,
Mahāvan dās
Manada devi dasi
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prahbupada!
Listening to your Bhagavatam class while trying to control an active young child is not always easy. So when I can get a few minutes of hearing you speak when you are in Wellington, I feel grateful for that much anyway and I try to meditate on your message. In one recent class that you gave, you spoke about the importance of enthusiasm in devotional service for inspiring others and indeed for inspiring ourselves. It was just from these few minutes of hearing that I felt so much more enlivened to carry out my sadhana with more enthusiasm, and it is true that even if at first that enthusiasm may not be present, Krsna certainly reciprocates with our efforts. Your words are so powerful that even a distracted mother can benefit from literally two minutes of hearing you speak. This potency is because you have surrendered yourself to the service of Krsna—with your body, mind and words.
A theme you often discuss is the importance of devotee association. Were it not for your tireless efforts to cultivate such selfless, devoted disciples, we would be in a precarious position. I do not get to see or be around devotees everyday so when I am in the association of devotees I am so grateful to you always, for fostering such wonderful sadhus, who have a very serious mood and a level of devotion I aspire for. I have been taking the association of these devotees for many years and now I pray to be able to give my association back to others.
Thank you for always inspiring determination within me; even when sometimes my material circumstances are difficult, this determination helps me to be steady in developing Krsna consciousness. I am always grateful for the attention you have given me and for your patience over the years. This year I’m particularly appreciative of your regular contact and the fatherly way in which you have checked in on me to see how I am progressing. Thank you for your advice and instruction this year; through this advice you have helped me to keep my life as simple as possible. I’m furthermore very grateful for the service you give me in accordance with my limited capacity, and I hope that I will soon be able to contribute more significantly.
Trying to be your servant,
Manada devi dasi
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prahbupada!
Listening to your Bhagavatam class while trying to control an active young child is not always easy. So when I can get a few minutes of hearing you speak when you are in Wellington, I feel grateful for that much anyway and I try to meditate on your message. In one recent class that you gave, you spoke about the importance of enthusiasm in devotional service for inspiring others and indeed for inspiring ourselves. It was just from these few minutes of hearing that I felt so much more enlivened to carry out my sadhana with more enthusiasm, and it is true that even if at first that enthusiasm may not be present, Krsna certainly reciprocates with our efforts. Your words are so powerful that even a distracted mother can benefit from literally two minutes of hearing you speak. This potency is because you have surrendered yourself to the service of Krsna—with your body, mind and words.
A theme you often discuss is the importance of devotee association. Were it not for your tireless efforts to cultivate such selfless, devoted disciples, we would be in a precarious position. I do not get to see or be around devotees everyday so when I am in the association of devotees I am so grateful to you always, for fostering such wonderful sadhus, who have a very serious mood and a level of devotion I aspire for. I have been taking the association of these devotees for many years and now I pray to be able to give my association back to others.
Thank you for always inspiring determination within me; even when sometimes my material circumstances are difficult, this determination helps me to be steady in developing Krsna consciousness. I am always grateful for the attention you have given me and for your patience over the years. This year I’m particularly appreciative of your regular contact and the fatherly way in which you have checked in on me to see how I am progressing. Thank you for your advice and instruction this year; through this advice you have helped me to keep my life as simple as possible. I’m furthermore very grateful for the service you give me in accordance with my limited capacity, and I hope that I will soon be able to contribute more significantly.
Trying to be your servant,
Manada devi dasi
Mangal Vaisnava dasa
Dear Gurudeva
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada & you on this most auspicious day of your appearance. Due to this age that we live in, everything is deteriorating at an alarming rate for even the most optimistic kaliyugite. Time is pressing, racing out of control to the end of another life, my one & only saving grace is that I listened to you 12 years ago(which was to stay@the Loft until you returned from one of your saving souls tours) & what an amazing decade it has been. To taste a glimpse of real happiness, to serve in the proper mood of humility & meditate deeply on your sacrifice & my deep appreciation for you can only be portrayed by my continual mood of steady service.
From my heart felt prayers to you I cannot thank you enough for saving me from the abominable life my karma would have delt.
Ys Mangal Vaisnava dasa
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada & you on this most auspicious day of your appearance. Due to this age that we live in, everything is deteriorating at an alarming rate for even the most optimistic kaliyugite. Time is pressing, racing out of control to the end of another life, my one & only saving grace is that I listened to you 12 years ago(which was to stay@the Loft until you returned from one of your saving souls tours) & what an amazing decade it has been. To taste a glimpse of real happiness, to serve in the proper mood of humility & meditate deeply on your sacrifice & my deep appreciation for you can only be portrayed by my continual mood of steady service.
From my heart felt prayers to you I cannot thank you enough for saving me from the abominable life my karma would have delt.
Ys Mangal Vaisnava dasa
Mangal-arti devi dasi
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 kids we read about wonderland and magical places and dream of being there to perhaps witness a miracle. I also dreamed like that but as I grew older I never thought it would actually happen. But your mercy, vision and grace has made that dream come true and I am now living in the most beautiful service wonderland you have created here in Toronto. By your vision you laid this plan for ‘Bhakti Lounge’ showing me how to step through the concrete jungle in Toronto and turning it into fertile Bhakti land. Not only did you give the vision but you hand held me all through the way. Showing me where to distribute books, who to target, what services to do, how to setup everything – every little detail you showed what to do and continue to show.
Your immense loving care despite all my inadequacies has been the driving force that has carried me and I pray most humbly that I always remain dependent on your mercy. Dearest Guru Maharaj, I have heard that Spiritual Master Trains the disciple in spiritual life but what you do for me is way more than training, picking me up repeatedly from holes I constantly dig myself into. As Bhaktivinoda Thakur sings in Saranagati:
<i>jogyata-vicare, kichu nahi pai,
tomara karuna—sara
karuna na hoile, kandiya kandiya,
prana na rakhibo ara
If you examine me, you will find no qualities. Your mercy is all that I am made of. If you are not merciful unto me, I can only weep, and I will not be able to maintain my life</i>
Dearest Guru Maharaj, the most loving father that you are, you constantly give me the dual treatment of chastisement and encouragement. As each day goes by I realize more and more how little I can do on my own and the list is down to zero. You have taught me everything – how to cook, how to read, how to chant, how to relate to people, how to make friends, how to speak, how to act…the list is endless and I am still just learning. I cannot describe the limit of your mercy because I do not think that exists but this is way more than any mother of father can do. So please let me forever be fully dependent on this mercy of yours.
<i>Remembering Bali Maharaj’s prayers quoted in Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 37: "My dear Lord, You have simultaneously punished me and showed me Your causeless mercy. My conclusion is that when I have taken shelter of Your lotus feet I shall never be disturbed in any condition of life.”</i>
I humbly pray to Guru Maharaj for strength to be fixed in service to your lotus feet. I tend to slip into forgetfulness on a regular basis and hence pray that your various instructions be always at the forefront of my consciousness driving my thoughts and actions.
In the December retreat Gurudev had said to the devotees that <i>Life is not a bed of roses, but if you carry on executing service to Krishna, then attachment to Krishna and freedom from anxiety will be your inheritance.</i> Praying for the desire and ability to serve and that proper mood of being the servant of your servants. Hoping that by your mercy one day I will experience what it means to execute selfless service.
Your humble servant
Mangal-arti devi dasi
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to your most auspicious appearance day
Dearest Guru Maharaj, as kids we read about wonderland and magical places and dream of being there to perhaps witness a miracle. I also dreamed like that but as I grew older I never thought it would actually happen. But your mercy, vision and grace has made that dream come true and I am now living in the most beautiful service wonderland you have created here in Toronto. By your vision you laid this plan for ‘Bhakti Lounge’ showing me how to step through the concrete jungle in Toronto and turning it into fertile Bhakti land. Not only did you give the vision but you hand held me all through the way. Showing me where to distribute books, who to target, what services to do, how to setup everything – every little detail you showed what to do and continue to show.
Your immense loving care despite all my inadequacies has been the driving force that has carried me and I pray most humbly that I always remain dependent on your mercy. Dearest Guru Maharaj, I have heard that Spiritual Master Trains the disciple in spiritual life but what you do for me is way more than training, picking me up repeatedly from holes I constantly dig myself into. As Bhaktivinoda Thakur sings in Saranagati:
<i>jogyata-vicare, kichu nahi pai,
tomara karuna—sara
karuna na hoile, kandiya kandiya,
prana na rakhibo ara
If you examine me, you will find no qualities. Your mercy is all that I am made of. If you are not merciful unto me, I can only weep, and I will not be able to maintain my life</i>
Dearest Guru Maharaj, the most loving father that you are, you constantly give me the dual treatment of chastisement and encouragement. As each day goes by I realize more and more how little I can do on my own and the list is down to zero. You have taught me everything – how to cook, how to read, how to chant, how to relate to people, how to make friends, how to speak, how to act…the list is endless and I am still just learning. I cannot describe the limit of your mercy because I do not think that exists but this is way more than any mother of father can do. So please let me forever be fully dependent on this mercy of yours.
<i>Remembering Bali Maharaj’s prayers quoted in Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 37: "My dear Lord, You have simultaneously punished me and showed me Your causeless mercy. My conclusion is that when I have taken shelter of Your lotus feet I shall never be disturbed in any condition of life.”</i>
I humbly pray to Guru Maharaj for strength to be fixed in service to your lotus feet. I tend to slip into forgetfulness on a regular basis and hence pray that your various instructions be always at the forefront of my consciousness driving my thoughts and actions.
In the December retreat Gurudev had said to the devotees that <i>Life is not a bed of roses, but if you carry on executing service to Krishna, then attachment to Krishna and freedom from anxiety will be your inheritance.</i> Praying for the desire and ability to serve and that proper mood of being the servant of your servants. Hoping that by your mercy one day I will experience what it means to execute selfless service.
Your humble servant
Mangal-arti devi dasi
Mani Kumar Tata
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 Gurudev,
Please accept my humble obeisance’s at your lotus feet,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to your auspicious Vyasa Puja day.
On this auspicious day of your Vyasa puja I would like to glorify you for my purification though not qualified to and beg for your mercy for the mistakes in my offering.
Another year has passed by so quickly, yet no change in me despite endless shower of your mercy.
I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kind words and gentle guidance every now and then, I feel very blessed to have met you in my life. Until I’ve met you there was no goal in my life except material endeavouring don’t even know what was this life for simply passing lifetimes like a passing cloud.
Your lectures inspires me and makes me think and the words enthuse me to do anything for you, the way you do the kirtan makes me forget everything but Krishna. Gurudev I am so in-debited to you which cannot be repaid even by millions of life time’s service unto your lotus feet.
I would like to share my realisations with all my fellow god brothers & sisters, but because of my limited knowledge couldn’t do better than this.
On this auspicious day of your Vyasa Puja I wish all glories to you in spreading Krishna consciousness and by following your instructions I will try to become a devotee. In this way I could be some use in Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu's sankirtan movement.
Aspiring to be your servant,
Mani Kumar
srimate devamrita swamin iti namine
pracare purva-daksyam ca bhaktacara-pravinata
pararthatapi karunyam yasya sarve ca te namah
Dear Gurudev,
Please accept my humble obeisance’s at your lotus feet,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to your auspicious Vyasa Puja day.
On this auspicious day of your Vyasa puja I would like to glorify you for my purification though not qualified to and beg for your mercy for the mistakes in my offering.
Another year has passed by so quickly, yet no change in me despite endless shower of your mercy.
I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kind words and gentle guidance every now and then, I feel very blessed to have met you in my life. Until I’ve met you there was no goal in my life except material endeavouring don’t even know what was this life for simply passing lifetimes like a passing cloud.
Your lectures inspires me and makes me think and the words enthuse me to do anything for you, the way you do the kirtan makes me forget everything but Krishna. Gurudev I am so in-debited to you which cannot be repaid even by millions of life time’s service unto your lotus feet.
I would like to share my realisations with all my fellow god brothers & sisters, but because of my limited knowledge couldn’t do better than this.
On this auspicious day of your Vyasa Puja I wish all glories to you in spreading Krishna consciousness and by following your instructions I will try to become a devotee. In this way I could be some use in Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu's sankirtan movement.
Aspiring to be your servant,
Mani Kumar
Mani manjari dd
Dear Gurumaharaja,
Please Accept my unworthy offering
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada
The other day, at a home program in Salem, Oregon I briefly met one of your disciples. I was told at the onset that “One of those brahmacharis is a Devamrita Swami disciple”. Being that I am adrift in so many ways it was an enlivening feeling to know that someone in the room was actually directly anchored to the storehouse of bliss, love and guidance that is your illustrious self. What an exciting prospect it was to maybe connect with a devotee actually linked with you through vows I have yet to muster. Just knowing of that potential, caused wonderful thoughts of you to fill my heart and mind, it was blissful.
Afterwards, when talking to your disciple and his glowing brahmachari countenance, he spoke about times with you, about god brothers, about your books and lectures. It felt as if he were opening a window into a world where connection with you, connection with the divine, is not only a deep breath of fresh air but a reality that can be lived in, walked through, felt. A place where everything rests upon your stalwart and pervasive glory. A glory founded in humility, love, and service to your beloved spiritual master. The surest of cornerstones.
It is this place that I aim for. It is the home I long for. An extension of the spiritual world given to you by Srila Prabhupada. That by your care and mercy alone it and your spiritual family have grown. A realm on earth forged by all the bonds you have established and maintained. Where the tethers you hold tight in your loving hands will pull your disciples back to Krsna. Like Lord Balarama pulls the Yamuna. There is no way I could possibly fathom all that you do for all the fallen conditioned souls. But I can see that it is Awesome.
Like the Yamuna, I will probably have to deal with some significant shredding along the way, but at least because of you I know I will have a home to go back to someday. Thank you Gurumaharaja for all that you do!
Your aspiring servant
Mani manjari dd
Please Accept my unworthy offering
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada
The other day, at a home program in Salem, Oregon I briefly met one of your disciples. I was told at the onset that “One of those brahmacharis is a Devamrita Swami disciple”. Being that I am adrift in so many ways it was an enlivening feeling to know that someone in the room was actually directly anchored to the storehouse of bliss, love and guidance that is your illustrious self. What an exciting prospect it was to maybe connect with a devotee actually linked with you through vows I have yet to muster. Just knowing of that potential, caused wonderful thoughts of you to fill my heart and mind, it was blissful.
Afterwards, when talking to your disciple and his glowing brahmachari countenance, he spoke about times with you, about god brothers, about your books and lectures. It felt as if he were opening a window into a world where connection with you, connection with the divine, is not only a deep breath of fresh air but a reality that can be lived in, walked through, felt. A place where everything rests upon your stalwart and pervasive glory. A glory founded in humility, love, and service to your beloved spiritual master. The surest of cornerstones.
It is this place that I aim for. It is the home I long for. An extension of the spiritual world given to you by Srila Prabhupada. That by your care and mercy alone it and your spiritual family have grown. A realm on earth forged by all the bonds you have established and maintained. Where the tethers you hold tight in your loving hands will pull your disciples back to Krsna. Like Lord Balarama pulls the Yamuna. There is no way I could possibly fathom all that you do for all the fallen conditioned souls. But I can see that it is Awesome.
Like the Yamuna, I will probably have to deal with some significant shredding along the way, but at least because of you I know I will have a home to go back to someday. Thank you Gurumaharaja for all that you do!
Your aspiring servant
Mani manjari dd
Mantramala dd
Dear Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances every day, and especially on this most auspicious day, your Vyasa-puja.
I was contemplating a lot on what to write as this year's offering. I wanted to be genuine, I wanted to avoid the overflow of flowery praise (which may make you yawn like Krishna, when Lord Brahma praised Him excessively after stealing His cowherd friends), and I thought it would be nice to write about something which is educational and gives a quick and fine example of your elevated consciousness and sharpness.
So let me narrate the following event, which took place at a home programme in Sydney, in my early days in your company:
Your presentation was over and it was time to take prasadam. I turned to you with a question which only a neophyte practitioner could ask, and which showed my deep attachment to planet Earth, most precisely to the heavenly region called Sydney. Nevertheless the question I was to ask had occupied my mind for a while so I thought I'd better ask you: "Maharaj, theoretically, if I returned to the spiritual world, wouldn't I want to come back here again?" I projected that I would miss my earthly existence on Vaikunthaloka.
And here's your brilliant reply, four short words only, which cut through my deepest ignorance and foolishness, like a sword: "HAVEN'T YOU SUFFERED ENOUGH?" There was nothing to say. The answer was obvious. And also was the deep effect on me. Thank you, Gurudeva!
This is what happened as per S.B. 1.2.15:
"With sword in hand, intelligent men cut through the binding knots of reactionary work [karma] by remembering the Personality of Godhead. Therefore, who will not pay attention to His message?"
And below is your instruction for the upcoming years:
"Therefore the doubts which have arisen in your heart out of ignorance should be slashed by the weapon of knowledge. Armed with yoga, O Bharata, stand and fight." (B.G. 4.42)
Thank you for your ongoing efforts, Gurudeva, for my spiritual advancement.
I have no doubt that you can see the "big picture". In fact I don't think that any of us have any doubts about that.
Your servant,
Mantramala dd.
Please accept my humble obeisances every day, and especially on this most auspicious day, your Vyasa-puja.
I was contemplating a lot on what to write as this year's offering. I wanted to be genuine, I wanted to avoid the overflow of flowery praise (which may make you yawn like Krishna, when Lord Brahma praised Him excessively after stealing His cowherd friends), and I thought it would be nice to write about something which is educational and gives a quick and fine example of your elevated consciousness and sharpness.
So let me narrate the following event, which took place at a home programme in Sydney, in my early days in your company:
Your presentation was over and it was time to take prasadam. I turned to you with a question which only a neophyte practitioner could ask, and which showed my deep attachment to planet Earth, most precisely to the heavenly region called Sydney. Nevertheless the question I was to ask had occupied my mind for a while so I thought I'd better ask you: "Maharaj, theoretically, if I returned to the spiritual world, wouldn't I want to come back here again?" I projected that I would miss my earthly existence on Vaikunthaloka.
And here's your brilliant reply, four short words only, which cut through my deepest ignorance and foolishness, like a sword: "HAVEN'T YOU SUFFERED ENOUGH?" There was nothing to say. The answer was obvious. And also was the deep effect on me. Thank you, Gurudeva!
This is what happened as per S.B. 1.2.15:
"With sword in hand, intelligent men cut through the binding knots of reactionary work [karma] by remembering the Personality of Godhead. Therefore, who will not pay attention to His message?"
And below is your instruction for the upcoming years:
"Therefore the doubts which have arisen in your heart out of ignorance should be slashed by the weapon of knowledge. Armed with yoga, O Bharata, stand and fight." (B.G. 4.42)
Thank you for your ongoing efforts, Gurudeva, for my spiritual advancement.
I have no doubt that you can see the "big picture". In fact I don't think that any of us have any doubts about that.
Your servant,
Mantramala dd.
Mauricio (San Diego)
All glories to Srila Prabhupada! And all Glories to your exemplary devotional service.
I remember the night that I first heard you speak at Krishna Lounge back in 2010. I remember the moment You spoke, Your voice seemed to penetrate within my heart and my mind was instantly captivated.
You were speaking that night on the topic of Happiness and Distress. I remember feeling a little embarrassed, as if you were addressing me personally. I felt so exposed. All of Your words flowed like perfectly choreographed poetry.
I remember also that You were quite charming, presenting the highest philosophy in such a way that I never imagined was possible. You enlivened the crowd and had us roaring with laughter at times. A tiny voice within me, seemed to whisper “This is your Guru…” I quickly brushed aside the idea, thinking that I would never actually become THAT serious about Krishna Consciousness.
Weeks later, while browsing ISKCON Desire Tree, by pure fortune, I recognized You by Your picture and downloaded lectures, seemingly at random. And so I began to listen as much as possible to Your talks on various topics and Srimad Bhagavatam. The more I listened, the more I became eager for You to visit again.
It wasn’t until months later that I was blessed with Your appearance again at a home program. When You appeared through the door, I felt as if a dream were coming true; I was star struck. I had prayed to Krishna to please reveal to me if You were indeed my Spiritual Master.
At the end of Your presentation, after You had left, I shared with a few devotees that I felt You were my Spiritual Master, and as if to answer my prayer, they offered me Your remnants of Maha water.
Your most recent visit to San Diego however, is what stands out most at the moment. I was so privileged to have engaged in serving Your disciples and preparing Your breakfast every morning. I had never experienced such a delightful intensity, that required the utmost humility and sensitivity.
But what I am most grateful for from Your most recent visit, is that You were most compassionate upon me. You so kindly corrected my misbehavior and sinful activity. I had reveled to You that I still intoxicated, and in my offensive attitude, I was so casual about it, displaying almost no shame.
I will never forget what You said to me. It was a defining moment in my life. You told me
“You are destroying yourself. As long as you keep intoxicating, you take My association very cheaply.”
I was overwhelmed with shame and I was speechless. Still in shock, I made a most inadequate apology.
“I’m sorry Maharaja, I never thought about it that way.”
Thinking back, I should have just let the tears flow instead of holding them back.
Still, even in the midst of Your strict display, I perceived Your kindness and Your compassion. You helped me cross a threshold in my spiritual life, in which I needed to become determined and committed. I needed to stop wasting time and stop fooling around and You so kindly revealed that to me. For this I am eternally indebted to You, more so than I can presently appreciate.
I have come to realize that all my life, I have been searching for the perfect teacher or guide that would so kindly show me the path of real knowledge. I believe with sincerity and with faith that You are that teacher, guide and father that I have always longed for. It is because of You that I have finally become able to begin relishing the process of Krishna Consciousness.
I am striving every day to strictly follow the instructions You imparted to me, eagerly anticipating Your return once again. I hope to offer You upon Your next visit to San Diego, my sincerest and most humble gratitude. I hope that I am eligible and prepared to render You and Your disciples some service.
I wish You all the best on this most auspicious day of your appearance, and I pray to Lord Chaitanya that you will remain present with us on this planet to guide us for many, many years to come. Your aspiring servant-Mauricio.
I remember the night that I first heard you speak at Krishna Lounge back in 2010. I remember the moment You spoke, Your voice seemed to penetrate within my heart and my mind was instantly captivated.
You were speaking that night on the topic of Happiness and Distress. I remember feeling a little embarrassed, as if you were addressing me personally. I felt so exposed. All of Your words flowed like perfectly choreographed poetry.
I remember also that You were quite charming, presenting the highest philosophy in such a way that I never imagined was possible. You enlivened the crowd and had us roaring with laughter at times. A tiny voice within me, seemed to whisper “This is your Guru…” I quickly brushed aside the idea, thinking that I would never actually become THAT serious about Krishna Consciousness.
Weeks later, while browsing ISKCON Desire Tree, by pure fortune, I recognized You by Your picture and downloaded lectures, seemingly at random. And so I began to listen as much as possible to Your talks on various topics and Srimad Bhagavatam. The more I listened, the more I became eager for You to visit again.
It wasn’t until months later that I was blessed with Your appearance again at a home program. When You appeared through the door, I felt as if a dream were coming true; I was star struck. I had prayed to Krishna to please reveal to me if You were indeed my Spiritual Master.
At the end of Your presentation, after You had left, I shared with a few devotees that I felt You were my Spiritual Master, and as if to answer my prayer, they offered me Your remnants of Maha water.
Your most recent visit to San Diego however, is what stands out most at the moment. I was so privileged to have engaged in serving Your disciples and preparing Your breakfast every morning. I had never experienced such a delightful intensity, that required the utmost humility and sensitivity.
But what I am most grateful for from Your most recent visit, is that You were most compassionate upon me. You so kindly corrected my misbehavior and sinful activity. I had reveled to You that I still intoxicated, and in my offensive attitude, I was so casual about it, displaying almost no shame.
I will never forget what You said to me. It was a defining moment in my life. You told me
“You are destroying yourself. As long as you keep intoxicating, you take My association very cheaply.”
I was overwhelmed with shame and I was speechless. Still in shock, I made a most inadequate apology.
“I’m sorry Maharaja, I never thought about it that way.”
Thinking back, I should have just let the tears flow instead of holding them back.
Still, even in the midst of Your strict display, I perceived Your kindness and Your compassion. You helped me cross a threshold in my spiritual life, in which I needed to become determined and committed. I needed to stop wasting time and stop fooling around and You so kindly revealed that to me. For this I am eternally indebted to You, more so than I can presently appreciate.
I have come to realize that all my life, I have been searching for the perfect teacher or guide that would so kindly show me the path of real knowledge. I believe with sincerity and with faith that You are that teacher, guide and father that I have always longed for. It is because of You that I have finally become able to begin relishing the process of Krishna Consciousness.
I am striving every day to strictly follow the instructions You imparted to me, eagerly anticipating Your return once again. I hope to offer You upon Your next visit to San Diego, my sincerest and most humble gratitude. I hope that I am eligible and prepared to render You and Your disciples some service.
I wish You all the best on this most auspicious day of your appearance, and I pray to Lord Chaitanya that you will remain present with us on this planet to guide us for many, many years to come. Your aspiring servant-Mauricio.
Meredith Chinnery
Dear Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada,
I don't know where I'd be if it wasn't for your preaching here in New Zealand and this immense service you do. It certainly would not be here, in the ashram at the loft.
I was trying so hard to enjoy. It was such an immense task, and I wasn't doing so well at achieving this goal. I'd come to a Christmas retreat in 2010 and was so on the bodily and mental platform that I couldn't even appreciate it. A month or so later I left the association of the devotees, and went back to "enjoying."
However, the retreat and the association of you and your disciples stuck in my mind however much I tried to forget. I started having recurring dreams about kirtan, and I couldn't resist going back to the loft.. just this once, of course.
Without knowing that you would be there, I turned up at the loft for Soul feast. It was Krsna's party, the loft Janmashtami celebration. I remember your talk. Halfway through I felt like a switch had turned on in my head. It was a feeling akin to waking up out of a dream. You smashed my false ego, you smashed my hopes for fulfilment through material desires, and you smashed the possibility of me going back to lead the same life as before. Then you led the most ecstatic kirtan I've ever heard- I wanted it to never end. When it did end, I felt so sad, I just wanted to keep dancing and dancing. It was the most real, tangible happiness I'd felt, ever! From this one night of your talk and kirtan I got such a taste that I couldn't stop coming. Before I knew it, I'd moved into the same building as the loft and was trying to move into the ashram.
I am so thankful for this service you do, because I know for sure that if it wasn't for your mercy, I would never have given up trying to "enjoy," and would have continued to be so stubbornly ignorant.
So please Maharaja, continue to shower your mercy. I can't even understand how much mercy you've given me already, but it must be a lot, because I'm here trying to write this vyasa-puja offering.
Thank you so much for everything you do
Your aspiring servant,
Meredith
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada,
I don't know where I'd be if it wasn't for your preaching here in New Zealand and this immense service you do. It certainly would not be here, in the ashram at the loft.
I was trying so hard to enjoy. It was such an immense task, and I wasn't doing so well at achieving this goal. I'd come to a Christmas retreat in 2010 and was so on the bodily and mental platform that I couldn't even appreciate it. A month or so later I left the association of the devotees, and went back to "enjoying."
However, the retreat and the association of you and your disciples stuck in my mind however much I tried to forget. I started having recurring dreams about kirtan, and I couldn't resist going back to the loft.. just this once, of course.
Without knowing that you would be there, I turned up at the loft for Soul feast. It was Krsna's party, the loft Janmashtami celebration. I remember your talk. Halfway through I felt like a switch had turned on in my head. It was a feeling akin to waking up out of a dream. You smashed my false ego, you smashed my hopes for fulfilment through material desires, and you smashed the possibility of me going back to lead the same life as before. Then you led the most ecstatic kirtan I've ever heard- I wanted it to never end. When it did end, I felt so sad, I just wanted to keep dancing and dancing. It was the most real, tangible happiness I'd felt, ever! From this one night of your talk and kirtan I got such a taste that I couldn't stop coming. Before I knew it, I'd moved into the same building as the loft and was trying to move into the ashram.
I am so thankful for this service you do, because I know for sure that if it wasn't for your mercy, I would never have given up trying to "enjoy," and would have continued to be so stubbornly ignorant.
So please Maharaja, continue to shower your mercy. I can't even understand how much mercy you've given me already, but it must be a lot, because I'm here trying to write this vyasa-puja offering.
Thank you so much for everything you do
Your aspiring servant,
Meredith
Merlijn Marien
Dear Devamrita Swami
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
The Loft; the Brahmacari Ashram; Garuda Ashram and all your wonderful aspiring and actual disciples and well-wishers too; without any of these I would be fully submerged in the ocean of nescience, fully ignorant of my true self and what it means to love. You and the inconceivably valuable services you have done have saved so many from the sufferings of the pangs of material nature. Without you where would I be? I dare not let my mind wander on this question. You are the shining light that dispels the darkness of material nature. In your presence all uncertainty, all fear, all suffering is vanquished.
Since I feel incapable of glorifying you properly and sincerely I will try my hand at glorifying your disciples. Simultaneously I will try to talk about the effects you and your disciples have had in my life. It was Hriman Krsna that I first was blessed to associate with. He immediately attracted me with his detachment and peacefulness. I got Bhagavad-Gita, started reading it and although I did not fully understand what was going on, Prabhupada’s association effected me deeply. One month later, I was back in Auckland. I arrived on Sunday at 5 p.m. and raced to the Loft. My memory of what exactly transpired on that day is quite vague, but I remember feeling as though I had found what I had been looking for in the past few years. I felt that I had truly come home. Therefore I was torn because in a week I would have to get on a plane to go to Singapore. The day my plane took off was the day you gave the lecture at the Loft. I did what any sane man would do and forgot about my travels in South-East Asia. All I could think of was hearing you speak and spending as much time as possible with your disciples.
In my eyes all of your disciples are acaryas. Every time they show me what it means to be a Vaishnava and every day I have the opportunity to clean the mirror of my heart by your grace and by the grace of your disciples. Every time I become more and more attracted. Every time my soul is cheering, crying, laughing, dancing and singing because of the opportunity you have given me to be a servant of the devotees. Every time I get puffed up, your disciples are there to give me humility. Every time I get despondent, your disciples are there to turn my frown upside down. They show me what it means to be patient, loving, understanding, gentle, modest, determined, forgiving,… In short they are teaching me the Divine Qualities. If only I were better at learning, better at absorbing their mercy, then perhaps this glorification could do justice to you and your disciples.
I moved into the Ashram on Thursday and on Wednesday morning next week I was surprised with a big self-saucing carob cake for my birthday. Looking back on my first week of chanting the Hare Krsna mahamantra and living in the Ashram my heart is softened by my memories of the loving exchanges that I had with the devotees. I have had doubts and troubled moments since then, but somehow the devotees were always there to care for me and to help me come out of those doubts and troubles with more determination to serve. None of this would have been possible if it weren’t for you. I pray to Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai that one day I will be able to offer you more sincere and more befitting praise.
All glories to you, Devamrita Swami, may you always swim in the love of Sri Sri Radha and Govinda.
Your aspiring servant,
Merlin
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
The Loft; the Brahmacari Ashram; Garuda Ashram and all your wonderful aspiring and actual disciples and well-wishers too; without any of these I would be fully submerged in the ocean of nescience, fully ignorant of my true self and what it means to love. You and the inconceivably valuable services you have done have saved so many from the sufferings of the pangs of material nature. Without you where would I be? I dare not let my mind wander on this question. You are the shining light that dispels the darkness of material nature. In your presence all uncertainty, all fear, all suffering is vanquished.
Since I feel incapable of glorifying you properly and sincerely I will try my hand at glorifying your disciples. Simultaneously I will try to talk about the effects you and your disciples have had in my life. It was Hriman Krsna that I first was blessed to associate with. He immediately attracted me with his detachment and peacefulness. I got Bhagavad-Gita, started reading it and although I did not fully understand what was going on, Prabhupada’s association effected me deeply. One month later, I was back in Auckland. I arrived on Sunday at 5 p.m. and raced to the Loft. My memory of what exactly transpired on that day is quite vague, but I remember feeling as though I had found what I had been looking for in the past few years. I felt that I had truly come home. Therefore I was torn because in a week I would have to get on a plane to go to Singapore. The day my plane took off was the day you gave the lecture at the Loft. I did what any sane man would do and forgot about my travels in South-East Asia. All I could think of was hearing you speak and spending as much time as possible with your disciples.
In my eyes all of your disciples are acaryas. Every time they show me what it means to be a Vaishnava and every day I have the opportunity to clean the mirror of my heart by your grace and by the grace of your disciples. Every time I become more and more attracted. Every time my soul is cheering, crying, laughing, dancing and singing because of the opportunity you have given me to be a servant of the devotees. Every time I get puffed up, your disciples are there to give me humility. Every time I get despondent, your disciples are there to turn my frown upside down. They show me what it means to be patient, loving, understanding, gentle, modest, determined, forgiving,… In short they are teaching me the Divine Qualities. If only I were better at learning, better at absorbing their mercy, then perhaps this glorification could do justice to you and your disciples.
I moved into the Ashram on Thursday and on Wednesday morning next week I was surprised with a big self-saucing carob cake for my birthday. Looking back on my first week of chanting the Hare Krsna mahamantra and living in the Ashram my heart is softened by my memories of the loving exchanges that I had with the devotees. I have had doubts and troubled moments since then, but somehow the devotees were always there to care for me and to help me come out of those doubts and troubles with more determination to serve. None of this would have been possible if it weren’t for you. I pray to Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai that one day I will be able to offer you more sincere and more befitting praise.
All glories to you, Devamrita Swami, may you always swim in the love of Sri Sri Radha and Govinda.
Your aspiring servant,
Merlin
Mich White
Hare Krsna Devamrita Swami,
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
I feel very much blessed to have had your saintly Krsna Conscious association and appreciate your kindness and mercy in all respects. Thank you for letting me stay and do service at Bhakti Lounge and thanks so very much for letting me associate with your nice disciples. Having been gone from the ashram for a while now I am having further realizations on how amazing Krishnas devotees are, also how powerful the Krishna Conscious process really is.
From my humble self having the great opportunity to meet your holiness in person I want to express to you a quote, which I think quite fits your saintly personality. Whenever and wherever I have seen you Maharaja, you always speak of Krishna, and with such vigor. Whenever you speak you always repeat what has been said by the previous Acaryas also, and speak in a way which is fitting for the audience to understand, the qualification of a bonafide spiritual master and a great soul.
BG 9.14
[“Always chanting My glories, endeavoring with great determination, bowing down before Me, these great souls perpetually worship Me with devotion.”]
BG 9.14 PURPORT
[“The mahatma cannot be manufactured by rubber-stamping an ordinary man. His symptoms are described here: a mahatma is always engaged in chanting the glories of the Supreme Lord Krsna, the Personality of Godhead. He has no other business. He is always engaged in the glorification of the Lord. In other words, he is not an impersonalist. When the question of glorification is there, one has to glorify the Supreme Lord, praising His holy name, His eternal form, His transcendental qualities and His uncommon pastimes. One has to glorify all these things; therefore a mahatma is attached to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”]
I adore your lectures and class’s Maharaja, they are always so interesting and enlivening, they always put a smile on my face. You have the wonderful capability of being able to capture the audience with your intensity and enthusiasm, it is like you transfer us all to another world with your recitation of Krsnas past times. I like also how you tell us of funny happenings that occur during your travels too. You very much inspire me in all respects and I hope I will get the chance to see you again soon.
All glories to your very special Vyasa Puja celebration and to your dedication to Srila Prabhupadas lotus feet.
Your aspiring servant,
Mich White
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
I feel very much blessed to have had your saintly Krsna Conscious association and appreciate your kindness and mercy in all respects. Thank you for letting me stay and do service at Bhakti Lounge and thanks so very much for letting me associate with your nice disciples. Having been gone from the ashram for a while now I am having further realizations on how amazing Krishnas devotees are, also how powerful the Krishna Conscious process really is.
From my humble self having the great opportunity to meet your holiness in person I want to express to you a quote, which I think quite fits your saintly personality. Whenever and wherever I have seen you Maharaja, you always speak of Krishna, and with such vigor. Whenever you speak you always repeat what has been said by the previous Acaryas also, and speak in a way which is fitting for the audience to understand, the qualification of a bonafide spiritual master and a great soul.
BG 9.14
[“Always chanting My glories, endeavoring with great determination, bowing down before Me, these great souls perpetually worship Me with devotion.”]
BG 9.14 PURPORT
[“The mahatma cannot be manufactured by rubber-stamping an ordinary man. His symptoms are described here: a mahatma is always engaged in chanting the glories of the Supreme Lord Krsna, the Personality of Godhead. He has no other business. He is always engaged in the glorification of the Lord. In other words, he is not an impersonalist. When the question of glorification is there, one has to glorify the Supreme Lord, praising His holy name, His eternal form, His transcendental qualities and His uncommon pastimes. One has to glorify all these things; therefore a mahatma is attached to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”]
I adore your lectures and class’s Maharaja, they are always so interesting and enlivening, they always put a smile on my face. You have the wonderful capability of being able to capture the audience with your intensity and enthusiasm, it is like you transfer us all to another world with your recitation of Krsnas past times. I like also how you tell us of funny happenings that occur during your travels too. You very much inspire me in all respects and I hope I will get the chance to see you again soon.
All glories to your very special Vyasa Puja celebration and to your dedication to Srila Prabhupadas lotus feet.
Your aspiring servant,
Mich White
Mike McNeish
Dear Devamrita Swami,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktividanta Swami Prabhupada.
I would like to thank you for all the shelter and support you have put in place here in New Zealand. Without such infrastructure there would be little hope for me of attaining any real happiness and making meaningful progress in this life or the next. Thank you. Hare Krishna.
Your aspiring servant,
Mike.
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktividanta Swami Prabhupada.
I would like to thank you for all the shelter and support you have put in place here in New Zealand. Without such infrastructure there would be little hope for me of attaining any real happiness and making meaningful progress in this life or the next. Thank you. Hare Krishna.
Your aspiring servant,
Mike.
Mitul Parmar
nama om visnu - padaya
krsna – presthaya bhu-tale
srimate Devamrita -
swamin iti namine
pracare purva-daksyam ca
bhaktacara-pravinata
pararthatapi karunyam
yasya sarve ca te namah
Hare Krishna Dear Gurudev,
Though I do not have any qualification, I dare glorifying your holiness simply to receive the blessing of Krsna to be able to serve you better. I was hearing your lecture on SB3.32.29, entitled, "By following the order of the Guru, Krsna is pleased". You were explaining how Srila Prabhupada imbibed the instructions of his spiritual master and went to west for preaching. "guru mukha padma vakya cittete koriya akya". With great difficulty he established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness not because he once had been a successful business man or that he had very good management skills, as sometimes people say. As Srila Prabhupada said, "only because he took the instructions of his spiritual master very seriously, he was successful." But is it not the same for you, too? You apparently did not have very much association of your spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada. Neither had you had mystical or deep personal instructions from him. With very little association of Prabhupada mostly through his books, you developed his mood of urban outreach. As not Prabhupada's management skills made him successful, similarly it was not your Yale University Scholarship degree that made you successful in doing this great service to Srila prabhupada.
Kindly bless me so that in the similar way I can develop the deep craving to follow your instructions and thus I am of some instrument in your service to Srila prabhupada.
Aspiring to be your sincere servant,
Mitul.
krsna – presthaya bhu-tale
srimate Devamrita -
swamin iti namine
pracare purva-daksyam ca
bhaktacara-pravinata
pararthatapi karunyam
yasya sarve ca te namah
Hare Krishna Dear Gurudev,
Though I do not have any qualification, I dare glorifying your holiness simply to receive the blessing of Krsna to be able to serve you better. I was hearing your lecture on SB3.32.29, entitled, "By following the order of the Guru, Krsna is pleased". You were explaining how Srila Prabhupada imbibed the instructions of his spiritual master and went to west for preaching. "guru mukha padma vakya cittete koriya akya". With great difficulty he established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness not because he once had been a successful business man or that he had very good management skills, as sometimes people say. As Srila Prabhupada said, "only because he took the instructions of his spiritual master very seriously, he was successful." But is it not the same for you, too? You apparently did not have very much association of your spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada. Neither had you had mystical or deep personal instructions from him. With very little association of Prabhupada mostly through his books, you developed his mood of urban outreach. As not Prabhupada's management skills made him successful, similarly it was not your Yale University Scholarship degree that made you successful in doing this great service to Srila prabhupada.
Kindly bless me so that in the similar way I can develop the deep craving to follow your instructions and thus I am of some instrument in your service to Srila prabhupada.
Aspiring to be your sincere servant,
Mitul.
Mucukunda das
nama om vishnu padaya Krishna prasthaya bhutale
srimate Devamrita swamin iti namine
pracare purva-daksyam ca
bhaktacara-pravinta
pararthatapi karunyam
yasya sarve ca te namah
nama om vishnu-padaya
krishna-preshthaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta
swamin iti namine
namaste saraswati deve
gaura-vani-pracharine
nirvishesha-shunyavadi
pashchatya-desha-tarine
dear gurudeva please accept my most humble obeisances at your lotus feet and please forgive any offenses i may have committed or anything in this offering that may be innapropriate.
as i sit here on the beach i remember your speech
you said humility is the key chanting constantly
in the words of guaranga kirtaniya sada hari
because you dont tend to chant when your always angry
this really struck me cos im an angry karmi
my tongue does not taste the sweetness of bhakti
(except for varuni)
i always admire that you stayed in the fire
your never touched by an attack of maya
i aspire to aspire to let you take me higher
your our purifier and you can teach us how to cry out
cry out for Govinda!
just like a child whos been pricked by a splinter
dear gurudeva your a transcendental thinker
unaffected by dualities like summer and winter
i always appreciate your disciples dont deviate (some may but i guess their not following your instructions)
they're devotion to your feet is more solid than concrete
your grave but sweet
always compassionate to anyone you meet
your a lion on the street but a lamb at home
extremely humble and meek to your guru you have shown
im always impressed by the way you dress,
walk to the vyasasan and make your address
teach how we can express ourselves emotionally in bhakti the best!!!
or if your at krsna fest you'll show the guest's their hearts a mess!!!
they may put up a defence but a week later they'll confess
that you changed them for the better and they want your blessings
youll encourage them to keep attending krsna fest
chant, dance, feast and associate
go back for seconds of prasad let them fill your plate
dear gurudeva your truly great
above the dualities of desire and hate
please clear my karmic slate so i can perform
pure devotional service to radha krsnas divine forms
i know bhakti is the norm and i need to transform
please give me the strength to honour all living beings so i can be reformed
your lowly humble servant mucukunda dasa
srimate Devamrita swamin iti namine
pracare purva-daksyam ca
bhaktacara-pravinta
pararthatapi karunyam
yasya sarve ca te namah
nama om vishnu-padaya
krishna-preshthaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta
swamin iti namine
namaste saraswati deve
gaura-vani-pracharine
nirvishesha-shunyavadi
pashchatya-desha-tarine
dear gurudeva please accept my most humble obeisances at your lotus feet and please forgive any offenses i may have committed or anything in this offering that may be innapropriate.
as i sit here on the beach i remember your speech
you said humility is the key chanting constantly
in the words of guaranga kirtaniya sada hari
because you dont tend to chant when your always angry
this really struck me cos im an angry karmi
my tongue does not taste the sweetness of bhakti
(except for varuni)
i always admire that you stayed in the fire
your never touched by an attack of maya
i aspire to aspire to let you take me higher
your our purifier and you can teach us how to cry out
cry out for Govinda!
just like a child whos been pricked by a splinter
dear gurudeva your a transcendental thinker
unaffected by dualities like summer and winter
i always appreciate your disciples dont deviate (some may but i guess their not following your instructions)
they're devotion to your feet is more solid than concrete
your grave but sweet
always compassionate to anyone you meet
your a lion on the street but a lamb at home
extremely humble and meek to your guru you have shown
im always impressed by the way you dress,
walk to the vyasasan and make your address
teach how we can express ourselves emotionally in bhakti the best!!!
or if your at krsna fest you'll show the guest's their hearts a mess!!!
they may put up a defence but a week later they'll confess
that you changed them for the better and they want your blessings
youll encourage them to keep attending krsna fest
chant, dance, feast and associate
go back for seconds of prasad let them fill your plate
dear gurudeva your truly great
above the dualities of desire and hate
please clear my karmic slate so i can perform
pure devotional service to radha krsnas divine forms
i know bhakti is the norm and i need to transform
please give me the strength to honour all living beings so i can be reformed
your lowly humble servant mucukunda dasa
Mukta carita dasa
Dear gurudeva, please accept my obeisances at your lotus feet.
I am sorry you have to deal with such an impetuous son, who, like a wild horse, wheels his head this way and that whenever you tug on the reins.
when you tell me what to do, I do not like it, and when you do not tell me what to do, I do not like it.
If I don't see a self interest for me in a service, I try to get out with excuses. But you don't let me slip away.
In spite of my childish attitude , you astound me when you show me kindness and concern for my spiritual life. For this astonishing grace, I tearfully beg to thank you, and I fall at your feet in gratitude.
You are the master and I am the servant-this is our only relationship.
On your holy Vyasa-puja day I implore you to overlook my foolishness. Dearest eternal father please bless me with the mercy of always living in harmony with your desires.
your insignificant servant,
mukta carita das
I am sorry you have to deal with such an impetuous son, who, like a wild horse, wheels his head this way and that whenever you tug on the reins.
when you tell me what to do, I do not like it, and when you do not tell me what to do, I do not like it.
If I don't see a self interest for me in a service, I try to get out with excuses. But you don't let me slip away.
In spite of my childish attitude , you astound me when you show me kindness and concern for my spiritual life. For this astonishing grace, I tearfully beg to thank you, and I fall at your feet in gratitude.
You are the master and I am the servant-this is our only relationship.
On your holy Vyasa-puja day I implore you to overlook my foolishness. Dearest eternal father please bless me with the mercy of always living in harmony with your desires.
your insignificant servant,
mukta carita das
Muni-cari dasa
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 are blessed to have this opportunity to come together as a family and glorify our beloved Gurudeva. With the ever increasing family of disciples, aspiring disciples and well wishes it is now quite a powerful audience to stand in front of and address.
It is one thing you have always stressed to us, ‘comradery in fighting illusion’. Even as our spiritual family increases, still you give us the personal care we need and encourage us to take shelter and inspiration from your other children, our god brothers and sisters. This gives us a great deal of confidence, knowing that our big brothers are always looking out for us, and if all else fails dad is right there.
As usual, as I reflect on writing this homage to you Guru Maharaja, I see my gross lack of ability to find the words to describe you and all you mean to me. I always tell people that I am from Australia so English is my second language, but trying to find the words to glorify you, English seems like my 10th language. I turn to the pages of the Caitanya Caritamrta, the book you love so much, for some words form Srila Prabhupada to help me with my linguistic short comings.
Adi lila chapter 1, verse 35, Krsnadasa Kaviraja offers his respectful obeisances at the lotus feet of his initiating spiritual master. Please Guru Maharaja, accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. In the purport Srila Prabhupada says “The expert spiritual master knows well how to engage his disciple’s energy in the transcendental loving service of the Lord”. This you do so expertly Guru Maharaja. From guidance in our daily affairs to major decisions like what service we should focus on and where we should do it. Without you nothing would happen at all.
Then in the purport to verse 46, from the same chapter, Srila prabhupada says the spiritual master is like a parent, “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”. You are, as I already mentioned, our spiritual dad, always looking out for our well being and keeping us moving in the right direction. I pray that I can more sincerely follow your instructions, and learn to think more of ‘you’ and less of ‘me’.
Thank you Guru Maharaja for this greatest gift of serving a pure devotee of the Lord. Your Tireless patience and exemplary preaching spirit gives us the gold standard to aspire for.
You have told us that your god brothers make one unusual criticism of you. They say nothing has changed with you, you are still just as fired up now as you were in 1973. Yet another of the countless good examples you are setting for us.
I read on the internet recently an account by one of your god brothers who was at the Ukraine festival with you. He wrote it just after attending a kirtana you lead. He said there were thousands and thousands of devotees present, dancing to their maximum capacity. He described that you were freely milking the nectar from the spiritual world and drowning the devotees in this kirtana with that nectar. He said it was the best Kirtana he had ever been to.
You could be a rock star I think. A bhakti rock star. Travelling the world leading kirtanas in all the big venues. Which in one sense you are doing. But also you are giving amazing classes, teaching your young children how to walk, keeping your big kids out of jail (so to speak), and trading the kirtana venues of North America and Europe for the ones of Papatoetoe and Otaki.
But of course we all know you are a rock star. Your kirtanas raise us from the dead and take us to Goloka Vrindavana. 108% all the time, weather you have just disembarked from a 14 hour flight or you have been here for some days, it’s always the same. So actually you are better than any rock star, no one can compete with that.
But your tireless energy is not a new thing to me. I remember once going swimming with you in Palmerston North. We were swimming lengths, up and down. I was just behind you and I reached out while swimming and ’accidentially’ touched your lotus feet which were kicking in the water just in front of my face, nectar. You said ‘Krsna’ but did not stop swimming. I stopped to have a water spitting competition with my god brother, but when you completed another 2 lengths you came up to us and chastised us for being weak, lazy, slack, time wasters, etc, and pointed out you were over twice our age but did not stop. You pushed me forward and said ‘swim boy, swim’, so I did.
I pray that you continue to teach me how to swim, swim boy swim, but in the ocean of Krsna prema instead (rather than the Palmerston North public pools). And I pray that while swimming behind you eternally, I repeatedly get the opportunity to touch your lotus feet.
Thank you Guru Maharaja
Begging to remain yours,
Your insignificant disciple and spiritual son, Muni-cari DASA.
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 are blessed to have this opportunity to come together as a family and glorify our beloved Gurudeva. With the ever increasing family of disciples, aspiring disciples and well wishes it is now quite a powerful audience to stand in front of and address.
It is one thing you have always stressed to us, ‘comradery in fighting illusion’. Even as our spiritual family increases, still you give us the personal care we need and encourage us to take shelter and inspiration from your other children, our god brothers and sisters. This gives us a great deal of confidence, knowing that our big brothers are always looking out for us, and if all else fails dad is right there.
As usual, as I reflect on writing this homage to you Guru Maharaja, I see my gross lack of ability to find the words to describe you and all you mean to me. I always tell people that I am from Australia so English is my second language, but trying to find the words to glorify you, English seems like my 10th language. I turn to the pages of the Caitanya Caritamrta, the book you love so much, for some words form Srila Prabhupada to help me with my linguistic short comings.
Adi lila chapter 1, verse 35, Krsnadasa Kaviraja offers his respectful obeisances at the lotus feet of his initiating spiritual master. Please Guru Maharaja, accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. In the purport Srila Prabhupada says “The expert spiritual master knows well how to engage his disciple’s energy in the transcendental loving service of the Lord”. This you do so expertly Guru Maharaja. From guidance in our daily affairs to major decisions like what service we should focus on and where we should do it. Without you nothing would happen at all.
Then in the purport to verse 46, from the same chapter, Srila prabhupada says the spiritual master is like a parent, “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”. You are, as I already mentioned, our spiritual dad, always looking out for our well being and keeping us moving in the right direction. I pray that I can more sincerely follow your instructions, and learn to think more of ‘you’ and less of ‘me’.
Thank you Guru Maharaja for this greatest gift of serving a pure devotee of the Lord. Your Tireless patience and exemplary preaching spirit gives us the gold standard to aspire for.
You have told us that your god brothers make one unusual criticism of you. They say nothing has changed with you, you are still just as fired up now as you were in 1973. Yet another of the countless good examples you are setting for us.
I read on the internet recently an account by one of your god brothers who was at the Ukraine festival with you. He wrote it just after attending a kirtana you lead. He said there were thousands and thousands of devotees present, dancing to their maximum capacity. He described that you were freely milking the nectar from the spiritual world and drowning the devotees in this kirtana with that nectar. He said it was the best Kirtana he had ever been to.
You could be a rock star I think. A bhakti rock star. Travelling the world leading kirtanas in all the big venues. Which in one sense you are doing. But also you are giving amazing classes, teaching your young children how to walk, keeping your big kids out of jail (so to speak), and trading the kirtana venues of North America and Europe for the ones of Papatoetoe and Otaki.
But of course we all know you are a rock star. Your kirtanas raise us from the dead and take us to Goloka Vrindavana. 108% all the time, weather you have just disembarked from a 14 hour flight or you have been here for some days, it’s always the same. So actually you are better than any rock star, no one can compete with that.
But your tireless energy is not a new thing to me. I remember once going swimming with you in Palmerston North. We were swimming lengths, up and down. I was just behind you and I reached out while swimming and ’accidentially’ touched your lotus feet which were kicking in the water just in front of my face, nectar. You said ‘Krsna’ but did not stop swimming. I stopped to have a water spitting competition with my god brother, but when you completed another 2 lengths you came up to us and chastised us for being weak, lazy, slack, time wasters, etc, and pointed out you were over twice our age but did not stop. You pushed me forward and said ‘swim boy, swim’, so I did.
I pray that you continue to teach me how to swim, swim boy swim, but in the ocean of Krsna prema instead (rather than the Palmerston North public pools). And I pray that while swimming behind you eternally, I repeatedly get the opportunity to touch your lotus feet.
Thank you Guru Maharaja
Begging to remain yours,
Your insignificant disciple and spiritual son, Muni-cari DASA.
Nama_cintamani dd
Todas las glorias a Srila prabhupada
feliz vyasa puja
Querido guru maharajas :
Acepte por favor mis mas humildes y respetuosas reverencias al polvo de sus divinos pies de loto .
Es un dia muy especial para recordarlo con gratitud .
Por su paciencia y su misericordia puedo comprender un poco mas , lo importante que es tomar refugio en el maestro espiritual y seguir sus instrucciones .
Usted es un alma muy rendida a Krishna y sabe guiar a los demas por el camino correcto ya que casi siempre estamos confundidos .
Gracias por ayudarme a salir de este mundo de ilusiones , gracias tambien por su ejemplo , por su humildad , su determinacion y por ser siempre una inspiracion .
Deseo ser util para asistirlo en su servicio a Srila prabhupada .
para servirlo siempre
nama_cintamani dd
feliz vyasa puja
Querido guru maharajas :
Acepte por favor mis mas humildes y respetuosas reverencias al polvo de sus divinos pies de loto .
Es un dia muy especial para recordarlo con gratitud .
Por su paciencia y su misericordia puedo comprender un poco mas , lo importante que es tomar refugio en el maestro espiritual y seguir sus instrucciones .
Usted es un alma muy rendida a Krishna y sabe guiar a los demas por el camino correcto ya que casi siempre estamos confundidos .
Gracias por ayudarme a salir de este mundo de ilusiones , gracias tambien por su ejemplo , por su humildad , su determinacion y por ser siempre una inspiracion .
Deseo ser util para asistirlo en su servicio a Srila prabhupada .
para servirlo siempre
nama_cintamani dd
Nanda Mandir dasa
Dear Srila Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Today is your Vyasa Puja celebration and yet another opportunity to glorify you. Every morning we sing two prayers the Gurv-astakam & Guru Vandana glorying You, we offer obeisances, thrice a day we chant the gayatri mantra offering obeisances and meditating on You, daily we offer you arati & it is a tradition in the vedic culture for the disciples to honor their guru on his appearance day by offering some words of honor. Writing a homage is special because it forces one to think deeply and pray to get an insight into the greatness of the spiritual master.
The Nectar of devotion describes the symptoms of bhava bhakti i.e the state of being stunned, perspiration, standing of the bodily hairs on end, faltering of the voice, trembling, fading of the body’s color, tears and devastation. It is very rare to find someone exhibit these symptoms & especially in the presence of neophyte devotees.
The nectar of devotion also describes the nine characteristics of a person who has actually developed ecstatic love for Krsna. By the causeless mercy of the Lord, i have been given various opportunities to serve you whenever you visit melbourne. In observing you closely, i have found all the nine characteristics in you i.e you are always anxious to utilize your time in the Lord’s service, you never waste time, you are reserved and perseverant, you are fully detached from all kinds of material attractions, you never long for any respect or prestige in return for your glorious activities, you are always very eager to serve Srila Prabhupada’s mission faithfully, you have full confidence that Krsna will bestow His mercy, you are fully attached & absorbed in chanting the holy name of the Lord, always eager to describe the transcendental qualities of the Lord to both devotees and non-devotees in way they can understand & always residing in the holy dhama.
This proves that you are a topmost devotee of the Lord & it is my tremendous good fortune to have you as my worshipable spiritual master.
As the nectar of devotion states, one of the items of bhakti is to recite notable prayers. Kindly accept this prayer compiled by Srila BhaktiVinoda Thakura.
gurudeva!
kåpä-bindu diyä, koro' ei däse, tåëäpekhä ati héna
sakala-sahane, bolo diyä koro nija mäne spåhä-héna
Gurudeva! By a drop of your mercy, make this servant of yours humbler than a blade of grass. Giving me strength to bear all trials and troubles, make me devoid of all desires for personal honor.
sakale sammän, korite çakati, deho' nätha! jathäjatha
tabe to' gäibo, harinäma-sukhe, aparädha ha 'be hata
O lord and master! Please give me the power to properly honor all living beings. Only then will I sing the holy name in great ecstasy and all my offenses cease.
kabe heno kåpä, lobhiyä e jana, kåtärtha hoibe, nätha!
çakti-buddhi-hén, ämi ati dén, koro' more ätma-sätha
O lord and master! When will this devotee, obtaining your mercy, become blessed? Devoid of all strength and intelligence, I am very low and fallen. Please make me your own servant.
jogyatä-vicäre, kichu nähi päi, tomära karuëä sära
karuëä nä hoile, käëòiyä käëòiyä, präëa nä räkhibo ära
Upon examining my value, I find that I have none; your mercy is essential to me. Therefore, if you are not merciful I will constantly weep and I will not maintain my life any longer.
Your aspiring servant
Nanda Mandir dasa
Please accept my humble obeisances. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Today is your Vyasa Puja celebration and yet another opportunity to glorify you. Every morning we sing two prayers the Gurv-astakam & Guru Vandana glorying You, we offer obeisances, thrice a day we chant the gayatri mantra offering obeisances and meditating on You, daily we offer you arati & it is a tradition in the vedic culture for the disciples to honor their guru on his appearance day by offering some words of honor. Writing a homage is special because it forces one to think deeply and pray to get an insight into the greatness of the spiritual master.
The Nectar of devotion describes the symptoms of bhava bhakti i.e the state of being stunned, perspiration, standing of the bodily hairs on end, faltering of the voice, trembling, fading of the body’s color, tears and devastation. It is very rare to find someone exhibit these symptoms & especially in the presence of neophyte devotees.
The nectar of devotion also describes the nine characteristics of a person who has actually developed ecstatic love for Krsna. By the causeless mercy of the Lord, i have been given various opportunities to serve you whenever you visit melbourne. In observing you closely, i have found all the nine characteristics in you i.e you are always anxious to utilize your time in the Lord’s service, you never waste time, you are reserved and perseverant, you are fully detached from all kinds of material attractions, you never long for any respect or prestige in return for your glorious activities, you are always very eager to serve Srila Prabhupada’s mission faithfully, you have full confidence that Krsna will bestow His mercy, you are fully attached & absorbed in chanting the holy name of the Lord, always eager to describe the transcendental qualities of the Lord to both devotees and non-devotees in way they can understand & always residing in the holy dhama.
This proves that you are a topmost devotee of the Lord & it is my tremendous good fortune to have you as my worshipable spiritual master.
As the nectar of devotion states, one of the items of bhakti is to recite notable prayers. Kindly accept this prayer compiled by Srila BhaktiVinoda Thakura.
gurudeva!
kåpä-bindu diyä, koro' ei däse, tåëäpekhä ati héna
sakala-sahane, bolo diyä koro nija mäne spåhä-héna
Gurudeva! By a drop of your mercy, make this servant of yours humbler than a blade of grass. Giving me strength to bear all trials and troubles, make me devoid of all desires for personal honor.
sakale sammän, korite çakati, deho' nätha! jathäjatha
tabe to' gäibo, harinäma-sukhe, aparädha ha 'be hata
O lord and master! Please give me the power to properly honor all living beings. Only then will I sing the holy name in great ecstasy and all my offenses cease.
kabe heno kåpä, lobhiyä e jana, kåtärtha hoibe, nätha!
çakti-buddhi-hén, ämi ati dén, koro' more ätma-sätha
O lord and master! When will this devotee, obtaining your mercy, become blessed? Devoid of all strength and intelligence, I am very low and fallen. Please make me your own servant.
jogyatä-vicäre, kichu nähi päi, tomära karuëä sära
karuëä nä hoile, käëòiyä käëòiyä, präëa nä räkhibo ära
Upon examining my value, I find that I have none; your mercy is essential to me. Therefore, if you are not merciful I will constantly weep and I will not maintain my life any longer.
Your aspiring servant
Nanda Mandir dasa
Nandanandana Taukiri
Dear Gurudeva, please accept my humble obeisances, All glories to Srila Prabhupada
As far as I know material life consists of repeatedly chewing what has already been chewed, just like this one time I was chewing sugar cane, the sweet taste lasted for about five seconds then it was just like chewing on bamboo, I kept chewing on it for a while, it seemed like there was some taste there but maybe it was just my imagination, either way my jaw was starting to get really sore.
So material life is very unattractive, I've read about this quite a few times in Prabhupada's books but still I find myself attracted to the flickering and temporary delights of Krsna's external energy.
Whenever you speak, at least for those few hours or minutes or seconds I can see what this material world is all about, when you talk you lift the blanket of illusion off of my eyes.
With your words you paint a perfect picture of material reality and the attractiveness of transcendental devotional service to Krsna and his devotees, your classes are so nectar, they're like the nectarest nectar and have been so helpful for my advancement in Krsna consciousness.
I hope that I can keep listening to your mind blowing classes, serving you and following your instructions for a long time.
Your Servant Nanda
As far as I know material life consists of repeatedly chewing what has already been chewed, just like this one time I was chewing sugar cane, the sweet taste lasted for about five seconds then it was just like chewing on bamboo, I kept chewing on it for a while, it seemed like there was some taste there but maybe it was just my imagination, either way my jaw was starting to get really sore.
So material life is very unattractive, I've read about this quite a few times in Prabhupada's books but still I find myself attracted to the flickering and temporary delights of Krsna's external energy.
Whenever you speak, at least for those few hours or minutes or seconds I can see what this material world is all about, when you talk you lift the blanket of illusion off of my eyes.
With your words you paint a perfect picture of material reality and the attractiveness of transcendental devotional service to Krsna and his devotees, your classes are so nectar, they're like the nectarest nectar and have been so helpful for my advancement in Krsna consciousness.
I hope that I can keep listening to your mind blowing classes, serving you and following your instructions for a long time.
Your Servant Nanda
Neeru
Dear Maharaj,
Please accept my humble Obeicences
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
I was 14 when I first visited Iskon temple vrindavan.
I ended up at home with many question in my mind but no answer.
But I found all answers miles away from india under your shelter maharaj.
I do not have much knowledge about krishna consciousness,A little I have its all because of your mercy.
In this darkness of maya you are the only source of light who is constantly,restlessly with smile always on your face gives knowledge of krishna Consiousness.
I am so grateful to you Maharaj for your kindness to us.
You have made such platform where we all are welcomed always.
I feel fortunate that I came to New Zealand and got a opportunity to know about Supreme Personality of godhead "Krishna"Closely.
Thank you Maharaj for your frequent visit to auckland and giving us your precious advise to improve.
Please instruct me how can I serve you.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
Your Servent
Neeru
Please accept my humble Obeicences
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
I was 14 when I first visited Iskon temple vrindavan.
I ended up at home with many question in my mind but no answer.
But I found all answers miles away from india under your shelter maharaj.
I do not have much knowledge about krishna consciousness,A little I have its all because of your mercy.
In this darkness of maya you are the only source of light who is constantly,restlessly with smile always on your face gives knowledge of krishna Consiousness.
I am so grateful to you Maharaj for your kindness to us.
You have made such platform where we all are welcomed always.
I feel fortunate that I came to New Zealand and got a opportunity to know about Supreme Personality of godhead "Krishna"Closely.
Thank you Maharaj for your frequent visit to auckland and giving us your precious advise to improve.
Please instruct me how can I serve you.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
Your Servent
Neeru
Nick Wilson (Garuda asrama)
Dear Devamrita Swami,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I would like to thank you for the mercy that I have received from you and your disciples. After not only a year in to my Krishna Consciousness journey, I feel as if I have already acquired a debt that I will be unable to repay. I hope I can stay in the association of the devotees, and continue to serve your disciples. I hope in the future, I will be qualified to receive instructions from you and successfully execute them.
When I initially met your very devoted, enthusiastic, and saintly disciples, they gave me an incredible impression of the ISKCON movement that I will never forget. The very attractive, friendly environment, of course with mouth-watering Prasad, at Bhakti Lounge, created a situation where I could easily get a taste for Krishna Consciousness. Even though initially I could not swallow the science of Krishna, I could easily swallow the incredible Prasad and relish the saintly association available. You are very generous to the conditioned souls by setting up these facilities to give people the opportunity to take up Bhakti, thank you.
Presently I have the incredibly fortune to be living in Garuda Asrama. At Garuda we have the opportunity to practice Bhakti yoga to our own capacities, in an environment that is very favorable to spiritual progress. Whether I am in engaged in full time study or on a full time service program, Garuda has provided a solid foundation on which I can build mine Krishna Consciousness upon. For this I am very grateful.
The mentor system you have set up allows me to get guidance on day to day activities leaving very little room for speculation and bad choices. My mentor and your disciple, Muni Cari, has always been there for me when I was in need of advice, encouragement, chastisement and especially when I needed a friend. His ability to say to me exactly what is necessary, in a perfect manner continues to astound me. It seems that he has acquired the ability to be expert in Vaisnava dealings from you. I cannot thank you enough for making these exemplary devotees available as mentors.
Your aspiring servant,
Nick
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I would like to thank you for the mercy that I have received from you and your disciples. After not only a year in to my Krishna Consciousness journey, I feel as if I have already acquired a debt that I will be unable to repay. I hope I can stay in the association of the devotees, and continue to serve your disciples. I hope in the future, I will be qualified to receive instructions from you and successfully execute them.
When I initially met your very devoted, enthusiastic, and saintly disciples, they gave me an incredible impression of the ISKCON movement that I will never forget. The very attractive, friendly environment, of course with mouth-watering Prasad, at Bhakti Lounge, created a situation where I could easily get a taste for Krishna Consciousness. Even though initially I could not swallow the science of Krishna, I could easily swallow the incredible Prasad and relish the saintly association available. You are very generous to the conditioned souls by setting up these facilities to give people the opportunity to take up Bhakti, thank you.
Presently I have the incredibly fortune to be living in Garuda Asrama. At Garuda we have the opportunity to practice Bhakti yoga to our own capacities, in an environment that is very favorable to spiritual progress. Whether I am in engaged in full time study or on a full time service program, Garuda has provided a solid foundation on which I can build mine Krishna Consciousness upon. For this I am very grateful.
The mentor system you have set up allows me to get guidance on day to day activities leaving very little room for speculation and bad choices. My mentor and your disciple, Muni Cari, has always been there for me when I was in need of advice, encouragement, chastisement and especially when I needed a friend. His ability to say to me exactly what is necessary, in a perfect manner continues to astound me. It seems that he has acquired the ability to be expert in Vaisnava dealings from you. I cannot thank you enough for making these exemplary devotees available as mentors.
Your aspiring servant,
Nick
Nicolaas Cowgill
Dear Guru Deva,
Happy Vyasapuja,
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada all glories to you on this most auspisious day.
On this day i would like to express from the depths of my heart the intense gratitude and love i have for you, and how much i appreciate the guidence and instruction's you have given me, taking them as the most important sound vibration of my whole material existance.
On this day i would like to show my understanding of your mission by sighting many sloka's and speaking eloquently from Srimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavad Gita.
On this day i would like to feel intense waves of ecstatic emotion and become physically weak while describing the glories of your character and activities
On this day i would like to please you by recalling inspiring sankirtan stories and personal realization i've had.
So Guru Deva I'm hoping against hope that this day will come during this life time and if not this life than the next or the next.
For now though I will try to follow your instruction to the best of my ability and hopefully one day soon take it as my life and soul.
Please let me hold on to your lotus feet as you expertly guide us across the ocean of material existence. It would seem having complete faith in your ability and total surrender to your command is essential in this endeavour
Yet for those like myself with little intelligence and an uncontrolled mind and fleeting faith your able to reach out to and hoist them aboard the Bhakti ship of Krsna Prema, handing out unlimited service along the way, all the while guiding and directing multiple Bhakti community's around the world, You are a Great Hero Guru Deva.
Your Aspiring Disciple
Bhakta Nick
Happy Vyasapuja,
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada all glories to you on this most auspisious day.
On this day i would like to express from the depths of my heart the intense gratitude and love i have for you, and how much i appreciate the guidence and instruction's you have given me, taking them as the most important sound vibration of my whole material existance.
On this day i would like to show my understanding of your mission by sighting many sloka's and speaking eloquently from Srimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavad Gita.
On this day i would like to feel intense waves of ecstatic emotion and become physically weak while describing the glories of your character and activities
On this day i would like to please you by recalling inspiring sankirtan stories and personal realization i've had.
So Guru Deva I'm hoping against hope that this day will come during this life time and if not this life than the next or the next.
For now though I will try to follow your instruction to the best of my ability and hopefully one day soon take it as my life and soul.
Please let me hold on to your lotus feet as you expertly guide us across the ocean of material existence. It would seem having complete faith in your ability and total surrender to your command is essential in this endeavour
Yet for those like myself with little intelligence and an uncontrolled mind and fleeting faith your able to reach out to and hoist them aboard the Bhakti ship of Krsna Prema, handing out unlimited service along the way, all the while guiding and directing multiple Bhakti community's around the world, You are a Great Hero Guru Deva.
Your Aspiring Disciple
Bhakta Nick
Nilacala Candra Das
All Glories To Sri Sri Guru And Gauranga
All Glories To Srila Prabhupada
Dear Gurudev
I offer my humble obeisances to Your Lotus Feet. On this day you have appeared to deliver several conditioned souls, among them, I am one of the worst of a kind. You have been very Merciful, Loving and Kind at heart in giving me the shelter at your lotus feet.
At Gita Nagari retreat despite your hectic schedule you were very kind in giving me your blessings for which I am ever grateful to you.
I sincerely pray for your good health
Jai Gurudev Jai Jai Gurudev
Your eternal servant
Nilacala Candra Das
New Windsor, Upstate NY
All Glories To Srila Prabhupada
Dear Gurudev
I offer my humble obeisances to Your Lotus Feet. On this day you have appeared to deliver several conditioned souls, among them, I am one of the worst of a kind. You have been very Merciful, Loving and Kind at heart in giving me the shelter at your lotus feet.
At Gita Nagari retreat despite your hectic schedule you were very kind in giving me your blessings for which I am ever grateful to you.
I sincerely pray for your good health
Jai Gurudev Jai Jai Gurudev
Your eternal servant
Nilacala Candra Das
New Windsor, Upstate NY
Nirmala Banka
Namah om Vishnu padaya
Krishna presthaya bhutale
Srimate Devamrita Swami
Iti namne
Prachare purva daksyam ca
Bhakatacara praveenata
Prarthatapi karunyam
Yasye sarve ca te namah
Respected Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada ,
All glories to your lotus feet.
On this holy day of your Vyasa puja I am writing my first offering to you, so kindly forgive my offenses. I beg for the ability to properly glorify you.
Gurudev, I remember the first time when I had the fortune of having your darshan at Noida temple, India on 13th Oct. 2010, Your VYASA-PUJA day. My son in law, Ekatma Gaur Das from Melbourne told me to attend the great ceremony. By the mercy of Lord Krishna and his Devotees I was fortunate to meet you on the same day.
You are so merciful that you accepted me as your disciple (even though I am so fallen and not at all qualified to be a disciple) and gave me shelter on 22nd Oct 2011. I am very grateful to Lord Krishna that I am under the shelter of a spiritual master who opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto you.
In Melbourne temple I heard your lecture many times and you taught me something which I have been longing and searching for my whole life. Your smiling face, intense lectures and ecstatic kirtan always give me inspiration and increase my faith in Krishna Consciousness. Whenever I listen to your lectures most of my questions and doubts are cleared.
Gurudev, I need your guidance and instructions so that I can serve you in a better way and can please Krishna. My only desire is to serve the servant of servants and assist in your mission of serving Srila Prabhupada.
Your servant
Nirmala Banka
Faridabad.
Krishna presthaya bhutale
Srimate Devamrita Swami
Iti namne
Prachare purva daksyam ca
Bhakatacara praveenata
Prarthatapi karunyam
Yasye sarve ca te namah
Respected Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada ,
All glories to your lotus feet.
On this holy day of your Vyasa puja I am writing my first offering to you, so kindly forgive my offenses. I beg for the ability to properly glorify you.
Gurudev, I remember the first time when I had the fortune of having your darshan at Noida temple, India on 13th Oct. 2010, Your VYASA-PUJA day. My son in law, Ekatma Gaur Das from Melbourne told me to attend the great ceremony. By the mercy of Lord Krishna and his Devotees I was fortunate to meet you on the same day.
You are so merciful that you accepted me as your disciple (even though I am so fallen and not at all qualified to be a disciple) and gave me shelter on 22nd Oct 2011. I am very grateful to Lord Krishna that I am under the shelter of a spiritual master who opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto you.
In Melbourne temple I heard your lecture many times and you taught me something which I have been longing and searching for my whole life. Your smiling face, intense lectures and ecstatic kirtan always give me inspiration and increase my faith in Krishna Consciousness. Whenever I listen to your lectures most of my questions and doubts are cleared.
Gurudev, I need your guidance and instructions so that I can serve you in a better way and can please Krishna. My only desire is to serve the servant of servants and assist in your mission of serving Srila Prabhupada.
Your servant
Nirmala Banka
Faridabad.
Nitya-priya devi dasi
Dearest Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to you on the auspicious day of your vyasa-puja.
The beginner in devotional service can practice selflessness by surrendering to the bona fide spiritual master. The devotee is advised to give all he has to the service of his guru and to always consider his guru his well-wisher. Devotees who practice such selfless service of the guru and the Supreme Lord never want anything in return, yet they eventually receive the greatest reward—the Lord's intimate association. As Kṛṣṇa says,
man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namas-kuru
mām evaiṣyasi satyaṁ te pratijāne priyo 'si me
"Always think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me, and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend" (Bg. 18.65).
Nārada-bhakti-sūtra 19
Thank you for accepting me to be your disciple and engaging me in devotional service. For this mercy I am eternally grateful. I would like to learn how to surrender to you more dear Guru Maharaja. My offering this year is a short prayer to serve and surrender to you more and more.
Dearest Gurudeva, Please help me to learn how to serve you and the Lord in this life-time. You have given me so much and I know that I am not qualified to ask for more of your mercy but I pray, please teach me how to practice selfless service. The idea of serving without the expectation of anything in return is such a difficult taste to attain for one who is so attached to greed, recognition and conditional love. Please engage me in your loving devotional service.
Your aspiring servant, disciple and spiritual daughter, Nitya-priya devi dasi
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to you on the auspicious day of your vyasa-puja.
The beginner in devotional service can practice selflessness by surrendering to the bona fide spiritual master. The devotee is advised to give all he has to the service of his guru and to always consider his guru his well-wisher. Devotees who practice such selfless service of the guru and the Supreme Lord never want anything in return, yet they eventually receive the greatest reward—the Lord's intimate association. As Kṛṣṇa says,
man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namas-kuru
mām evaiṣyasi satyaṁ te pratijāne priyo 'si me
"Always think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me, and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend" (Bg. 18.65).
Nārada-bhakti-sūtra 19
Thank you for accepting me to be your disciple and engaging me in devotional service. For this mercy I am eternally grateful. I would like to learn how to surrender to you more dear Guru Maharaja. My offering this year is a short prayer to serve and surrender to you more and more.
Dearest Gurudeva, Please help me to learn how to serve you and the Lord in this life-time. You have given me so much and I know that I am not qualified to ask for more of your mercy but I pray, please teach me how to practice selfless service. The idea of serving without the expectation of anything in return is such a difficult taste to attain for one who is so attached to greed, recognition and conditional love. Please engage me in your loving devotional service.
Your aspiring servant, disciple and spiritual daughter, Nitya-priya devi dasi
Pamela Heyden
Dear Gurudeva
Please accept my humbles obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to you in your appearance day
On this special day I just want to glorify your qualities. Especially your kindness toward me and my family. Even though, I've been without association for long time and I've commited a lot of mistakes, still you are supporting me and giving me advice. I am happy that Krishna gave me the opportunity to meet you. It really changed my life.
Thankyou for letting me continue walking in the spiritual path.
I am looking forward to serve you again.
Your aspirant servant,
Pamela
Please accept my humbles obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to you in your appearance day
On this special day I just want to glorify your qualities. Especially your kindness toward me and my family. Even though, I've been without association for long time and I've commited a lot of mistakes, still you are supporting me and giving me advice. I am happy that Krishna gave me the opportunity to meet you. It really changed my life.
Thankyou for letting me continue walking in the spiritual path.
I am looking forward to serve you again.
Your aspirant servant,
Pamela
Pankaj Sharma
Dear Devamrita Swamiji,
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 ask to come closer to you so that I could know how best to serve you.
After being away from you for a while, you still have accepted me as your own. You have called me “our Pankaj” and you have given me your blessings.
You have forgiven me and you have graced me with some service opportunity. You have asked me to become more serious and formal in my Krishna consciousness and you have said you would help me.
I lost hope these days would ever come in my devotional life but it has.
Dear Maharaj I want to come closer to you, being with you more often, and listen to you. But I guess it is more important to serve you so that you can someday be pleased.
Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita that this world is temporary and full of miseries. But how wonderful is it Swamiji that still, (as I understand from your offering to Srila Prabhupada on his Vyas Puja this year) that you are willing to come back to this world to serve your spiritual master.
When you said, you would want to come back in whatever birth your spiritual master wants, it makes so nice and content reading to me who might not make it in this birth. Now life has no problems for me - just try to perform guided devotional service and don’t tense myself with going back to Godhead in this birth – but the goal should be there I guess, and a disciple shouldn’t want his spiritual master to serve him.
Dear Maharaj, I have no qualities at all - its true I don’t, but what I do have is you. It feels as if after so many births I have felt a shower and a serious bond presented by your kripa.
Your aspiring servant,
Pankaj
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 ask to come closer to you so that I could know how best to serve you.
After being away from you for a while, you still have accepted me as your own. You have called me “our Pankaj” and you have given me your blessings.
You have forgiven me and you have graced me with some service opportunity. You have asked me to become more serious and formal in my Krishna consciousness and you have said you would help me.
I lost hope these days would ever come in my devotional life but it has.
Dear Maharaj I want to come closer to you, being with you more often, and listen to you. But I guess it is more important to serve you so that you can someday be pleased.
Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita that this world is temporary and full of miseries. But how wonderful is it Swamiji that still, (as I understand from your offering to Srila Prabhupada on his Vyas Puja this year) that you are willing to come back to this world to serve your spiritual master.
When you said, you would want to come back in whatever birth your spiritual master wants, it makes so nice and content reading to me who might not make it in this birth. Now life has no problems for me - just try to perform guided devotional service and don’t tense myself with going back to Godhead in this birth – but the goal should be there I guess, and a disciple shouldn’t want his spiritual master to serve him.
Dear Maharaj, I have no qualities at all - its true I don’t, but what I do have is you. It feels as if after so many births I have felt a shower and a serious bond presented by your kripa.
Your aspiring servant,
Pankaj
Param Satya dd
Dear Devamrita Swami,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
This is a very special day; the day your disciples come together and formulate a united feeling, an expression glorifying you. All discrepancies in interactions between one another are reconciled.
This is the glory of a person who is surrendering their self to the Supreme Lord - that simply by remembrance of such a person, all levels of social and psychological disturbance evaporate.
Actually, this true of every day of the week - 365 days of the year, and the disciples should see this.
Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to engage in service to the Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna; and giving me the opportunity to serve you in separation.
Always waiting to be your true servant,
Param Satya
Please accept my humble obeisances.
This is a very special day; the day your disciples come together and formulate a united feeling, an expression glorifying you. All discrepancies in interactions between one another are reconciled.
This is the glory of a person who is surrendering their self to the Supreme Lord - that simply by remembrance of such a person, all levels of social and psychological disturbance evaporate.
Actually, this true of every day of the week - 365 days of the year, and the disciples should see this.
Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to engage in service to the Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna; and giving me the opportunity to serve you in separation.
Always waiting to be your true servant,
Param Satya
Parama Mangala devi dasi
Hare Krishna!! Dear Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances on this most auspicious event of Vyasa Puja for All your disciples! When I look back I see ocean of miserable darkness, in which I was sinking down until I had found the path directing me to the shelter of Your Lotus feet. I feel I have wasted so much time being lived without Your instructions which are sunny rays pervading through clouds of ignorance.
So on the most auspicious day of Your appearance I beg that You please accept this offering as a humble attempt to somehow or other reciprocate with Your causeless mercy.
Your servant, Parama Mangala devi dasi.
Please accept my humble obeisances on this most auspicious event of Vyasa Puja for All your disciples! When I look back I see ocean of miserable darkness, in which I was sinking down until I had found the path directing me to the shelter of Your Lotus feet. I feel I have wasted so much time being lived without Your instructions which are sunny rays pervading through clouds of ignorance.
So on the most auspicious day of Your appearance I beg that You please accept this offering as a humble attempt to somehow or other reciprocate with Your causeless mercy.
Your servant, Parama Mangala devi dasi.
Prabhuram Subramanian
Dear Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeissances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Gurudev,
As years go by, I am slowly realising how much pure and sincere you are towards executing the orders of your spiritual master. Whenever I am in terrible danger in this material world I remember you and krishna and the impending danger goes away. This is the power you possess due to your surrender to krishna.
I can only beg you and krishna to give me formal initiation as soon as possible and take me back to spiritual world. I also pray to krishna that he may give you good health to push on the movement of prabhupada. On this auspicious occasion of your apperance day, kindly grant me your mercy so that I may become sincere and progress in spiritual life.
Aspiring to be your servant,
Prabhuram Subramanian
Please accept my humble obeissances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Gurudev,
As years go by, I am slowly realising how much pure and sincere you are towards executing the orders of your spiritual master. Whenever I am in terrible danger in this material world I remember you and krishna and the impending danger goes away. This is the power you possess due to your surrender to krishna.
I can only beg you and krishna to give me formal initiation as soon as possible and take me back to spiritual world. I also pray to krishna that he may give you good health to push on the movement of prabhupada. On this auspicious occasion of your apperance day, kindly grant me your mercy so that I may become sincere and progress in spiritual life.
Aspiring to be your servant,
Prabhuram Subramanian
Prahlad Wulf
Thank you Guru maharaja
Prema Sankirtan das
Dear Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Pure devotee is very, very dear to Krishna because of his exclusive devotion and surrender to Krishna's lotus feet.
And Krishna said that what to speak of My pure devotee, the devotee of My devotee is very dear to Me.
Lord Krishna said that someone who preaches My glories to the devotee is very, very dear to Me. So, Guru Maharaj, you are that pure devotee of the Lord. You, Guru Maharaj, are that devotee who went to the communist countries at the risk of being put in the jail for many years, or even being killed, in order to fulfill Srila Prabhupada's orders to preach.
You, Guru Maharaj, have a transcendental intelligence to organize the kind of preaching like "Bhakti House" to bring Krishna consciousness to different kind of conditioned souls.
All glories to you, Guru Maharaj!
I am not qualified to glorify you properly but my only hope is that somehow or other I can satisfy you by following your instruction you gave me personally - to distribute Srila Prabhupada's books as much as I can and study them thoroughly.
Please bless me that I can satisfy you in that way and that I can develop love for you and Lord Krishna and His loving devotees.
your fallen, aspiring disciple,
Prema Sankirtan das
Please accept my humble obeisances!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Pure devotee is very, very dear to Krishna because of his exclusive devotion and surrender to Krishna's lotus feet.
And Krishna said that what to speak of My pure devotee, the devotee of My devotee is very dear to Me.
Lord Krishna said that someone who preaches My glories to the devotee is very, very dear to Me. So, Guru Maharaj, you are that pure devotee of the Lord. You, Guru Maharaj, are that devotee who went to the communist countries at the risk of being put in the jail for many years, or even being killed, in order to fulfill Srila Prabhupada's orders to preach.
You, Guru Maharaj, have a transcendental intelligence to organize the kind of preaching like "Bhakti House" to bring Krishna consciousness to different kind of conditioned souls.
All glories to you, Guru Maharaj!
I am not qualified to glorify you properly but my only hope is that somehow or other I can satisfy you by following your instruction you gave me personally - to distribute Srila Prabhupada's books as much as I can and study them thoroughly.
Please bless me that I can satisfy you in that way and that I can develop love for you and Lord Krishna and His loving devotees.
your fallen, aspiring disciple,
Prema Sankirtan das
Priyanka Mittal
Dearest Guru Maharaj
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupad.
I am praying to Krishna to give you good health so you can continue to preach the world about Him.
I am reading Sri Guru Vandana so I can learn to glorify my spiritual master. It is so true that the lotus feet of the spiritual master are the only way by which we can attain pure devotional service. In 2009 you instructed me to chant 16 rounds each day for the next 6 months. Since then I have been chanting 16 rounds every day.
Each day after I finish my rounds, I look at your photo on my altar and I tell you "Maharaj, it is only by your mercy I can do this". Otherwise material life is so tumultuous and it can make 16 rounds an ordeal. Once your disciple pointed out to me that a spiritual master's instruction is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Therefore I am confident that I will continue to chant my rounds every day.
In my day to day life I feel quite incompetent as a wife, a mother, a daughter and as a devotee. However, when I finish my rounds I know in my heart I am doing that one thing right.
I pray to Krishna that he gives me the strength to serve your lotus feet.
Your aspiring servant
Priyanka Mittal
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupad.
I am praying to Krishna to give you good health so you can continue to preach the world about Him.
I am reading Sri Guru Vandana so I can learn to glorify my spiritual master. It is so true that the lotus feet of the spiritual master are the only way by which we can attain pure devotional service. In 2009 you instructed me to chant 16 rounds each day for the next 6 months. Since then I have been chanting 16 rounds every day.
Each day after I finish my rounds, I look at your photo on my altar and I tell you "Maharaj, it is only by your mercy I can do this". Otherwise material life is so tumultuous and it can make 16 rounds an ordeal. Once your disciple pointed out to me that a spiritual master's instruction is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Therefore I am confident that I will continue to chant my rounds every day.
In my day to day life I feel quite incompetent as a wife, a mother, a daughter and as a devotee. However, when I finish my rounds I know in my heart I am doing that one thing right.
I pray to Krishna that he gives me the strength to serve your lotus feet.
Your aspiring servant
Priyanka Mittal
Priyanka devi dasi
Dear Devamrita Swami
please accept my humble obeisances.
I can clearly remember the day I first meet you, I was about ten years old and had been staying over at Sri Radhikas house for the weekend. You were having lunch and devotees were coming and going, I was just sitting just watching it all. After very one had almost left there were only three people in the room Sri Radhika, myself and you, you asked Sri Radhika, who is this? she introduced me as her best friend, you glanced at me and started asking me questions and we had a conversation about as long a conversation a ten year could hold. you then looked at me and said alright we will meet again. I was excited to meet you again Devamrita Swami bit never actually thought it would ever happen. as soon as you left the room many devotees came back and Sri Radhikas mum started handing out your remnants from your plate you'd left behind. i quickly realized that she was coming closer and closer to me. I was flustered and had no idea what to do. it was quite a foreign idea to me that people were enjoying eating what would technically be called your left overs. i didn't want to be rude and not take some, but at the back of my mind i was thinking about the rule at school sharing food is bad. i thought i would quietly take some and act liked i enjoyed it as much as everybody else did, hide it away in my fist and feed it to the birds or some thing. As Sri Radhikas mum came closer and closer to me I extended my hand hesitantly and i got a little red cherry, it was half eating of course but some how i was tempted, it was red and juicy. I justified to myself that i would only eat the side that was wasn't bitten off. it was so delicious I thought 'what ever' and popped the whole cherry in my mouth. only about 9 years later -2 weeks ago- i realized the importance of that little cherry. Devamrita Swami I am so fallen that at once I rejected your mercy and now I realize that if it wasn't for that mercy i really wouldn't have actually ever meet you again and ohh what a dull life that would be. Devamrita Swami as you helped me overcome my fears about eating that cherry that day like wise please help me over come all the challenges that come in my KC career. This leads me to my final point. Every single day i wake and i just cannot believe how fortunate I am. I have the most wonderful wonderful friends in the whole entire world i cannot ask for any thing more. I have the most helpful mentor, my beloved Sruti Cari mataji, and most and for all this net work of devotees, just like a big family looking out for each other. I have realised that this big family doesn't require everyone to be in close connection with everyone else but by appreciating everyone little role in their devotional service to vaishnava makes this spiritual family the best of millions of lifetimes without which I would feel empty, hollow and broken- my life would take a terrible turn. Devamrita Swami your disciples, devotees of Krishna have always stood by me the whole way. They are like the ornaments in my jewelry box. When ever I'm in association with these beautiful ornaments they make me shine and ready for Krishna's service, no matter how dull I may be. Devamrita Swami these are the very ornaments that you have carved and polished and today they are Krishnas dear most devotees. I can only pray that the layers of dust cemented on me dont cause you to much grief to try to chisel into an ornament ,one day.
Your servant,Priyanka devi dasi
please accept my humble obeisances.
I can clearly remember the day I first meet you, I was about ten years old and had been staying over at Sri Radhikas house for the weekend. You were having lunch and devotees were coming and going, I was just sitting just watching it all. After very one had almost left there were only three people in the room Sri Radhika, myself and you, you asked Sri Radhika, who is this? she introduced me as her best friend, you glanced at me and started asking me questions and we had a conversation about as long a conversation a ten year could hold. you then looked at me and said alright we will meet again. I was excited to meet you again Devamrita Swami bit never actually thought it would ever happen. as soon as you left the room many devotees came back and Sri Radhikas mum started handing out your remnants from your plate you'd left behind. i quickly realized that she was coming closer and closer to me. I was flustered and had no idea what to do. it was quite a foreign idea to me that people were enjoying eating what would technically be called your left overs. i didn't want to be rude and not take some, but at the back of my mind i was thinking about the rule at school sharing food is bad. i thought i would quietly take some and act liked i enjoyed it as much as everybody else did, hide it away in my fist and feed it to the birds or some thing. As Sri Radhikas mum came closer and closer to me I extended my hand hesitantly and i got a little red cherry, it was half eating of course but some how i was tempted, it was red and juicy. I justified to myself that i would only eat the side that was wasn't bitten off. it was so delicious I thought 'what ever' and popped the whole cherry in my mouth. only about 9 years later -2 weeks ago- i realized the importance of that little cherry. Devamrita Swami I am so fallen that at once I rejected your mercy and now I realize that if it wasn't for that mercy i really wouldn't have actually ever meet you again and ohh what a dull life that would be. Devamrita Swami as you helped me overcome my fears about eating that cherry that day like wise please help me over come all the challenges that come in my KC career. This leads me to my final point. Every single day i wake and i just cannot believe how fortunate I am. I have the most wonderful wonderful friends in the whole entire world i cannot ask for any thing more. I have the most helpful mentor, my beloved Sruti Cari mataji, and most and for all this net work of devotees, just like a big family looking out for each other. I have realised that this big family doesn't require everyone to be in close connection with everyone else but by appreciating everyone little role in their devotional service to vaishnava makes this spiritual family the best of millions of lifetimes without which I would feel empty, hollow and broken- my life would take a terrible turn. Devamrita Swami your disciples, devotees of Krishna have always stood by me the whole way. They are like the ornaments in my jewelry box. When ever I'm in association with these beautiful ornaments they make me shine and ready for Krishna's service, no matter how dull I may be. Devamrita Swami these are the very ornaments that you have carved and polished and today they are Krishnas dear most devotees. I can only pray that the layers of dust cemented on me dont cause you to much grief to try to chisel into an ornament ,one day.
Your servant,Priyanka devi dasi
Puneeth Anandaraj
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to your auspicious appearance day!
After wandering for quite some time in Bhakti Lounge, I went to the book shelf and spotted a book, “Searching for Vedic India”. I started to question myself “What’s so special about Vedic India?” That was my first association with you after reading your book with those wonderful facts and statistics you presented. I never knew the devotees here were your disciples until you came to Bhakti Lounge. The smile that you glanced over us was something I never had experienced in this lifetime. So much of compassion you shower just with that simple smile of yours.
Likewise, your classes are simple, straight forward and has tremendous meaning to each and every word you say. As you mentioned in one of your classes, “We have spent millions of millions of lifetime searching for true happiness”. But, with your mercy, we are experiencing that true happiness in this lifetime. I have seen the ecstasy among the devotees in every kirtan you sing, crying for Krishna. From the beginning you always been my inspiration, Gurudeva.
You have done more than I deserve. Your devotees are more compassionate to me than I am to them. I ask no more. All I pray for not to forget my eternal Guru and Krishna. I beg for mercy to please you and your devotees.
Your ever aspiring servant,
Puneeth Anandaraj
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to your auspicious appearance day!
After wandering for quite some time in Bhakti Lounge, I went to the book shelf and spotted a book, “Searching for Vedic India”. I started to question myself “What’s so special about Vedic India?” That was my first association with you after reading your book with those wonderful facts and statistics you presented. I never knew the devotees here were your disciples until you came to Bhakti Lounge. The smile that you glanced over us was something I never had experienced in this lifetime. So much of compassion you shower just with that simple smile of yours.
Likewise, your classes are simple, straight forward and has tremendous meaning to each and every word you say. As you mentioned in one of your classes, “We have spent millions of millions of lifetime searching for true happiness”. But, with your mercy, we are experiencing that true happiness in this lifetime. I have seen the ecstasy among the devotees in every kirtan you sing, crying for Krishna. From the beginning you always been my inspiration, Gurudeva.
You have done more than I deserve. Your devotees are more compassionate to me than I am to them. I ask no more. All I pray for not to forget my eternal Guru and Krishna. I beg for mercy to please you and your devotees.
Your ever aspiring servant,
Puneeth Anandaraj
Radha Prasada devi dasi
Dearest Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to you on this most auspicious day your Vyasa Puja.
To the outside world the Vyasa Puja offering to the Spiritual master must seem rather strange. Why does this particular individual get so much recognition and appreciation? All this fame and glory? And to the devotee the opportunity to write an offering for their beloved spiritual master on their Vyasa puja is such a sweet and amazing thing.
On your last visit to Wellington in a class you were explaining that the humble service of the spiritual master is to pry open the disciples eyes while a lot of us are thinking we are happy fumbling around in this dark well of material existence. This is no small feat. The effort and lengths you go to, to awaken this amazing knowledge within us is compelling. You have to get us up to the standard of real human beings first as most of us were living nothing more than polished animal lives. What a daunting task that must be, let alone helping us understand what is real knowledge and inducing love of Krsna within us.
How much I appreciate your love and care cannot be sufficiently explained. One time when you came to stay with us at NGV spontaneously you called us up to speak with you one morning. Me being me I had pre conceived ideals on how I viewed being progressive in Krsna Consciousness is meant to be, caught up in externals thinking this is how things should be. Patiently and lovingly you opened my eyes. “Don’t you understand what I’m wanting to give you is so much than just a trinket. Don’t settle for just a trinket aim higher than that” You worked tirelessly to get me to understand the deepness of your reasoning. It took awhile but we finally got there. After speaking with you that day I felt exposed but enlivened. Now that the profoundness of what you told me has settled in I can begin to understand who wants to settle for just a glittering trinket when the real deal, the real wealth is what we are truly after a loving relationship with Krsna.
You often explain that a life in Krsna Consciousness is a lifetime career. Please recruit me as one of your employees and allow me to dive deeper in the nectarian ocean of devotional service free from external hogwash, selfish desires and my hard hearted ways and replace it with a sincere desire to serve you, to serve all the devotees, to become more personal and actually to cultivate a mood of wanting to get to know and most importantly to love Krsna.
From the depths of my heart, thank you Gurudeva. As each year flies by faster than the previous year, the effort, care and love you have taken the time to give me is more and more gratefully received.
Your enterally indebted servant and spiritual daughter,
Radha Prasada dd
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to you on this most auspicious day your Vyasa Puja.
To the outside world the Vyasa Puja offering to the Spiritual master must seem rather strange. Why does this particular individual get so much recognition and appreciation? All this fame and glory? And to the devotee the opportunity to write an offering for their beloved spiritual master on their Vyasa puja is such a sweet and amazing thing.
On your last visit to Wellington in a class you were explaining that the humble service of the spiritual master is to pry open the disciples eyes while a lot of us are thinking we are happy fumbling around in this dark well of material existence. This is no small feat. The effort and lengths you go to, to awaken this amazing knowledge within us is compelling. You have to get us up to the standard of real human beings first as most of us were living nothing more than polished animal lives. What a daunting task that must be, let alone helping us understand what is real knowledge and inducing love of Krsna within us.
How much I appreciate your love and care cannot be sufficiently explained. One time when you came to stay with us at NGV spontaneously you called us up to speak with you one morning. Me being me I had pre conceived ideals on how I viewed being progressive in Krsna Consciousness is meant to be, caught up in externals thinking this is how things should be. Patiently and lovingly you opened my eyes. “Don’t you understand what I’m wanting to give you is so much than just a trinket. Don’t settle for just a trinket aim higher than that” You worked tirelessly to get me to understand the deepness of your reasoning. It took awhile but we finally got there. After speaking with you that day I felt exposed but enlivened. Now that the profoundness of what you told me has settled in I can begin to understand who wants to settle for just a glittering trinket when the real deal, the real wealth is what we are truly after a loving relationship with Krsna.
You often explain that a life in Krsna Consciousness is a lifetime career. Please recruit me as one of your employees and allow me to dive deeper in the nectarian ocean of devotional service free from external hogwash, selfish desires and my hard hearted ways and replace it with a sincere desire to serve you, to serve all the devotees, to become more personal and actually to cultivate a mood of wanting to get to know and most importantly to love Krsna.
From the depths of my heart, thank you Gurudeva. As each year flies by faster than the previous year, the effort, care and love you have taken the time to give me is more and more gratefully received.
Your enterally indebted servant and spiritual daughter,
Radha Prasada dd
Radha-mohan das
Dearest Gurumaharaj,
Please accept my most humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to the most auspicious day of your Vyaspuja!
With each passing day under the divine shelter of your lotus feet, I feel more and more undeserving of the causeless mercy that you have showered on this fallen soul. I am starting to understand the real meaning of ‘causeless’. As I begin and end my day with chanting your pranam mantra, I wonder if I can ever comprehend the depth of what these words from the mantra really mean:
“Obesiances to you who have all the qualities of unique skills in preaching, competence in Vaisnava dealings, selflessness, and compassion.”
On this most blessed day of your appearance, Gurumaharaj, I want to meditate on a few of your transcendental qualities:
Gurumaharaj, your unique style of embedding Krishna Consciousness in contemporary topics has opened doors of a bhakti-centric lifestyle to thousands of lost conditioned souls, like me, who would have perhaps never taken up to Krishna Consciousness in this lifetime. How you keep yourself at the cutting edge of world research and latest news, is a transcendental mystery to me.
Gurumaharaj, you teach us by your example how to become dear to Guru and Krishna by simply serving the vaisnavas. My heart melts to see your loving exchanges with your god brothers, and your loving care and attention upon your disciples and well wishers, and for that matter, anyone who comes in contact with you!
And who can even estimate the depth of your selfless heart? For the last 40 years, you have traveled around the world, sharing Krishna Consciousness with people at large, accepting hardships and pains (as you often say “waking up in the middle of the night and not knowing where you are”). Every time I see you at the airport walking away with those heavy bags, tears come to my eyes, appreciating the true selflessness demonstrated by your divine self.
And when will that day come when I can begin to understand even an iota of the compassion that you have for all of us? By your example, you have taught us how compassion is the basis of preaching. I fondly remember my first darshan with you in May 2007, the day after the 'Spiritual Economics' talk at Rotman School of Management in Toronto. You jokingly reminded me of the difference between “work to live” and “live to work”, and lovingly instructed me to live a simple, bhakti-centric lifestyle. That one interaction changed the course of my life, completely.
Gurumaharaj, many times during the day I am reminded of the greatest gift that I have received from you – the eternal connection with the disciplic succession. By your causeless mercy, I continue to receive undeserving association of, and opportunity to serve, exalted vaisnavas in our movement, and the rarest chance to participate in the most glorious sankirtan movement of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, which has descended directly from the spiritual world (golokera prema-dhana, hari-nāma-sańkīrtana)! It’s only by your recommendation that Mahaprabhu has allowed a fallen soul like me to participate in this most auspicious yuga-dharma for this age!
I know, I can never repay this debt to you, O my spiritual father, but can only beg at your lotus feet for mercy and strength that I can follow in your footsteps, and imbibe even a fraction of your mood and compassion in sharing Krishna Consciousness with others. I aspire to always remain a humble servant of the sincere followers of ISKCON, our eternal home and family gifted to us by your divine spiritual master and our dear most grandfather, Srila Prabhupada!
Your eternally grateful servant,
Radha-mohan das
Toronto, Canada
Please accept my most humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to the most auspicious day of your Vyaspuja!
With each passing day under the divine shelter of your lotus feet, I feel more and more undeserving of the causeless mercy that you have showered on this fallen soul. I am starting to understand the real meaning of ‘causeless’. As I begin and end my day with chanting your pranam mantra, I wonder if I can ever comprehend the depth of what these words from the mantra really mean:
“Obesiances to you who have all the qualities of unique skills in preaching, competence in Vaisnava dealings, selflessness, and compassion.”
On this most blessed day of your appearance, Gurumaharaj, I want to meditate on a few of your transcendental qualities:
Gurumaharaj, your unique style of embedding Krishna Consciousness in contemporary topics has opened doors of a bhakti-centric lifestyle to thousands of lost conditioned souls, like me, who would have perhaps never taken up to Krishna Consciousness in this lifetime. How you keep yourself at the cutting edge of world research and latest news, is a transcendental mystery to me.
Gurumaharaj, you teach us by your example how to become dear to Guru and Krishna by simply serving the vaisnavas. My heart melts to see your loving exchanges with your god brothers, and your loving care and attention upon your disciples and well wishers, and for that matter, anyone who comes in contact with you!
And who can even estimate the depth of your selfless heart? For the last 40 years, you have traveled around the world, sharing Krishna Consciousness with people at large, accepting hardships and pains (as you often say “waking up in the middle of the night and not knowing where you are”). Every time I see you at the airport walking away with those heavy bags, tears come to my eyes, appreciating the true selflessness demonstrated by your divine self.
And when will that day come when I can begin to understand even an iota of the compassion that you have for all of us? By your example, you have taught us how compassion is the basis of preaching. I fondly remember my first darshan with you in May 2007, the day after the 'Spiritual Economics' talk at Rotman School of Management in Toronto. You jokingly reminded me of the difference between “work to live” and “live to work”, and lovingly instructed me to live a simple, bhakti-centric lifestyle. That one interaction changed the course of my life, completely.
Gurumaharaj, many times during the day I am reminded of the greatest gift that I have received from you – the eternal connection with the disciplic succession. By your causeless mercy, I continue to receive undeserving association of, and opportunity to serve, exalted vaisnavas in our movement, and the rarest chance to participate in the most glorious sankirtan movement of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, which has descended directly from the spiritual world (golokera prema-dhana, hari-nāma-sańkīrtana)! It’s only by your recommendation that Mahaprabhu has allowed a fallen soul like me to participate in this most auspicious yuga-dharma for this age!
I know, I can never repay this debt to you, O my spiritual father, but can only beg at your lotus feet for mercy and strength that I can follow in your footsteps, and imbibe even a fraction of your mood and compassion in sharing Krishna Consciousness with others. I aspire to always remain a humble servant of the sincere followers of ISKCON, our eternal home and family gifted to us by your divine spiritual master and our dear most grandfather, Srila Prabhupada!
Your eternally grateful servant,
Radha-mohan das
Toronto, Canada
Radhakrishnan
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.
Thank you for your kind words, instruction and guidance that has helped us grounded in Bhakti. Once I heard HH Indradymna swami Maharaj mentioning in lecture given in Ukraine that the child sustains in the womb by the nourishment received by umbilical chord. Similarly for the disciple, the words of his spiritual master are like the umbilical chord for sustenance and nourishment in spirituality. Your unequivocal statements in lectures reinforcing the basics of bhakti time and again help us to avoid mistakes, sustain and protect our Bhakti creeper.
Last year end we went for a short visit to Sydney and stayed in a devotees house and I happened to read Bhakti bhava book. I completed in 3 days and desired to possess a copy. Immediately upon return I got a call from Nanda Mandir Prabhu requesting to stock Bhakti Bhava book in big boxes and distribute among congregation. It was a pleasant surprise and amazement of Krishna’s reciprocation. Through the help of other god brothers we circulated over 100 copies. Our slightest desire to serve Krishna, is nurtured immediately by Lord’s reciprocation and rewarded multiple times.
Another incident that is vivid in my thoughts is the program organized in Brahma Kund Prabhu’s house inviting HG Krishna Loka Mataji. Mataji gave a much realized speech on her Krishna consciousness journey and implored audience to help others by seeing the pain of others. It was eye opening statement for me that when I don’t feel the need to help others I’m not seeing the pain, rather caught up in envy and selfishness. Mithul prabhu lead a sweet kirtan and it was rhythmically sung together by over 50+ devotees created a nectarean flow for ears. Seeing in the background various skyscrapers representing false ego of mankind I deeply felt that nectar of holy name has all the power to conquer and heal the hearts of suffering mankind caught up in their skyscraper ignorance. We hanker for the association of devotees to get reminded of false material realities and get inspired to do the true welfare work of Krishna consciousness more and more.
We started to render some preaching service this year, by your grace and support & guidance of HG Jagannath Ram Prabhu and HG Nagesh Prabhu families. Your holiness mentioned it is Krishna’s arrangement and very much inspired to do more to please Krishna. We hope to continue with increased enthusiasm and dedication.
We humbly seek your guidance, instruction and blessings to render more and more devotional service in the association of devotes.
Your aspiring servant
Radhakrishnan, Shobana and Sanjitha.
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.
Thank you for your kind words, instruction and guidance that has helped us grounded in Bhakti. Once I heard HH Indradymna swami Maharaj mentioning in lecture given in Ukraine that the child sustains in the womb by the nourishment received by umbilical chord. Similarly for the disciple, the words of his spiritual master are like the umbilical chord for sustenance and nourishment in spirituality. Your unequivocal statements in lectures reinforcing the basics of bhakti time and again help us to avoid mistakes, sustain and protect our Bhakti creeper.
Last year end we went for a short visit to Sydney and stayed in a devotees house and I happened to read Bhakti bhava book. I completed in 3 days and desired to possess a copy. Immediately upon return I got a call from Nanda Mandir Prabhu requesting to stock Bhakti Bhava book in big boxes and distribute among congregation. It was a pleasant surprise and amazement of Krishna’s reciprocation. Through the help of other god brothers we circulated over 100 copies. Our slightest desire to serve Krishna, is nurtured immediately by Lord’s reciprocation and rewarded multiple times.
Another incident that is vivid in my thoughts is the program organized in Brahma Kund Prabhu’s house inviting HG Krishna Loka Mataji. Mataji gave a much realized speech on her Krishna consciousness journey and implored audience to help others by seeing the pain of others. It was eye opening statement for me that when I don’t feel the need to help others I’m not seeing the pain, rather caught up in envy and selfishness. Mithul prabhu lead a sweet kirtan and it was rhythmically sung together by over 50+ devotees created a nectarean flow for ears. Seeing in the background various skyscrapers representing false ego of mankind I deeply felt that nectar of holy name has all the power to conquer and heal the hearts of suffering mankind caught up in their skyscraper ignorance. We hanker for the association of devotees to get reminded of false material realities and get inspired to do the true welfare work of Krishna consciousness more and more.
We started to render some preaching service this year, by your grace and support & guidance of HG Jagannath Ram Prabhu and HG Nagesh Prabhu families. Your holiness mentioned it is Krishna’s arrangement and very much inspired to do more to please Krishna. We hope to continue with increased enthusiasm and dedication.
We humbly seek your guidance, instruction and blessings to render more and more devotional service in the association of devotes.
Your aspiring servant
Radhakrishnan, Shobana and Sanjitha.
Radhikesh das
Dear Gurudev,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
There’s something that troubles me when I’m in your association. In fact, this has caused me so much botheration that I’ve had to really analyze the meaning of what you say to me by consulting Collins English Dictionary to make sure I’m not misinterpreting you.
You see, when I’m in your association, attempting to serve you in some feeble way, you always give me a ‘thank you’, which according to Collins English Dictionary means ‘to convey feelings of gratitude to’. I’m completely baffled. “Why is Guru Maharaja thanking me?” What reason does the spiritual master have to thank the conditional soul in such a way?
I move on from Collins’ explanation to a more complete, bhakti analysis on ‘thank you’. You explain how when the spiritual master thanks the devotees for their service, he’s thanking them for their love. You emphasize how we need to understand the relationship between service and love—that somehow, we’ve separated the two. Love is a gooey feeling and service is . . . . well . . . . that’s the stuff you do at the temple!
Now I meditate: service is love. If that be the case, then how is the spiritual master serving? What follows is knock-out statement from our founder acharya. ‘Krishna externally appears as the spiritual master and trains the condition souls to come to Krishna Consciousness.’ CC. Mad. 20.123.
Now I realize why I have difficultly when you utter ‘thank you’. The spiritual master is serving his disciples in a way that cannot be repaid and whatever the disciple can do to reciprocate is received and accepted by the spiritual master as an exchange of love.
Now I thank you. I thank you for your expert ability to squeeze out that gooey, loving propensity from conditioned souls. I now look up the definition of gooey: sticky, soft, and often sweet. Please accept this goo mixed with service at your divine lotus feet.
Your servant,
Radhikesh das.
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
There’s something that troubles me when I’m in your association. In fact, this has caused me so much botheration that I’ve had to really analyze the meaning of what you say to me by consulting Collins English Dictionary to make sure I’m not misinterpreting you.
You see, when I’m in your association, attempting to serve you in some feeble way, you always give me a ‘thank you’, which according to Collins English Dictionary means ‘to convey feelings of gratitude to’. I’m completely baffled. “Why is Guru Maharaja thanking me?” What reason does the spiritual master have to thank the conditional soul in such a way?
I move on from Collins’ explanation to a more complete, bhakti analysis on ‘thank you’. You explain how when the spiritual master thanks the devotees for their service, he’s thanking them for their love. You emphasize how we need to understand the relationship between service and love—that somehow, we’ve separated the two. Love is a gooey feeling and service is . . . . well . . . . that’s the stuff you do at the temple!
Now I meditate: service is love. If that be the case, then how is the spiritual master serving? What follows is knock-out statement from our founder acharya. ‘Krishna externally appears as the spiritual master and trains the condition souls to come to Krishna Consciousness.’ CC. Mad. 20.123.
Now I realize why I have difficultly when you utter ‘thank you’. The spiritual master is serving his disciples in a way that cannot be repaid and whatever the disciple can do to reciprocate is received and accepted by the spiritual master as an exchange of love.
Now I thank you. I thank you for your expert ability to squeeze out that gooey, loving propensity from conditioned souls. I now look up the definition of gooey: sticky, soft, and often sweet. Please accept this goo mixed with service at your divine lotus feet.
Your servant,
Radhikesh das.
Rama Hari das
Dear Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada
guru kṛṣṇa-rūpa hana śāstrera pramāṇe
guru-rūpe kṛṣṇa kṛpā karena bhakta-gaṇe
C.C Adi 1.45
According to the deliberate opinion of all revealed scriptures, the
spiritual master is nondifferent from Kṛṣṇa. Lord Kṛṣṇa in the
form of the spiritual master delivers His devotees.
Srila Prabhupada explains further that “The relationship of a disciple
with his spiritual master is as good as his relationship with the
Supreme Lord. A spiritual master always represents himself as the
humblest servitor of the Personality of Godhead, but the disciple must
look upon him as the manifested representation of Godhead.”
When I recollect my earlier years in spiritual quest but mixed with
modern education and later corroded by modern lifestyle, time has very
quickly overtaken leaving behind limited choices in spiritual life.
Although words like Self-Realization was familiar to me in
philosophical books, I was excited and humbled by Krisna’s mercy to
have an opportunity to meet in person Devamrita Swami – a living
testimony of god-realized acharya in 2006. Since then, my previous
plan of taking spiritual life seriously as post-retirement program
made a U-Turn first unknowingly and later knowingly by your merciful
instructions and guidance.
Over the years from this divine association and trying to understand
more about your greatness, a few reflections on this auspicious Vyasa
Puja day,
a) The dedication and sacrifices you make moment after moment in
maintaining and expanding Srila Prabhupada’s Sankirtan mission in
every possible country and city in the world is beyond what we can
even fathom.
b) Just in few personal acquaintances and very limited knowledge, we
only have glimpses in what it takes to handle your responsibilities,
complexities and hardships endured in meticulously guiding innumerable
souls in finding their way and lifestyle in bhakti path in this
troublesome material world.
c) Day after day the kali yuga politicians and corrupt administrators
are making this planet more and more hellish both east and west
leaving no chances for any kind of genuine spiritual knowledge and
culture. Srila Prabhupada rightly concluded that “ISKCON will save the
world in the darkest hour”. By your sacrificial seva and dedication to
Guru, Krishna has perfectly empowered your holiness to penetrate the
minds and hearts of spiritual seekers with your pristine purity and
clarity in tactfully delivering the message of Lord Gauranga.
d) Every time I hear any of your lectures whether for top-notch
academic circles or Srimad Bhagavatam classes or contemporary youth
preaching programs, the message is straight forward and thought
provoking leaving the audience stunned to note their life presented as
a snapshot before them for serious spiritual consideration and steady progress in bhakti life tracing back to Krishna's world.
e) Given the fact of your extraordinary travel schedule across the
globe, how is it that you can guide any person from any walk of life
whether from East or West in every possible way following Srila Rupa
Goswami’s “Yukta-vairagya” principle of using everything that can be
used in Krishna’s service remains a divine mystery.
On this auspicious occasion, I humbly pray and seek your invaluable
personal training and guidance in serving Your Sankirtan mission especially through Book distribution and youth preaching.
Trying to be your servant,
Rama Hari das
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada
guru kṛṣṇa-rūpa hana śāstrera pramāṇe
guru-rūpe kṛṣṇa kṛpā karena bhakta-gaṇe
C.C Adi 1.45
According to the deliberate opinion of all revealed scriptures, the
spiritual master is nondifferent from Kṛṣṇa. Lord Kṛṣṇa in the
form of the spiritual master delivers His devotees.
Srila Prabhupada explains further that “The relationship of a disciple
with his spiritual master is as good as his relationship with the
Supreme Lord. A spiritual master always represents himself as the
humblest servitor of the Personality of Godhead, but the disciple must
look upon him as the manifested representation of Godhead.”
When I recollect my earlier years in spiritual quest but mixed with
modern education and later corroded by modern lifestyle, time has very
quickly overtaken leaving behind limited choices in spiritual life.
Although words like Self-Realization was familiar to me in
philosophical books, I was excited and humbled by Krisna’s mercy to
have an opportunity to meet in person Devamrita Swami – a living
testimony of god-realized acharya in 2006. Since then, my previous
plan of taking spiritual life seriously as post-retirement program
made a U-Turn first unknowingly and later knowingly by your merciful
instructions and guidance.
Over the years from this divine association and trying to understand
more about your greatness, a few reflections on this auspicious Vyasa
Puja day,
a) The dedication and sacrifices you make moment after moment in
maintaining and expanding Srila Prabhupada’s Sankirtan mission in
every possible country and city in the world is beyond what we can
even fathom.
b) Just in few personal acquaintances and very limited knowledge, we
only have glimpses in what it takes to handle your responsibilities,
complexities and hardships endured in meticulously guiding innumerable
souls in finding their way and lifestyle in bhakti path in this
troublesome material world.
c) Day after day the kali yuga politicians and corrupt administrators
are making this planet more and more hellish both east and west
leaving no chances for any kind of genuine spiritual knowledge and
culture. Srila Prabhupada rightly concluded that “ISKCON will save the
world in the darkest hour”. By your sacrificial seva and dedication to
Guru, Krishna has perfectly empowered your holiness to penetrate the
minds and hearts of spiritual seekers with your pristine purity and
clarity in tactfully delivering the message of Lord Gauranga.
d) Every time I hear any of your lectures whether for top-notch
academic circles or Srimad Bhagavatam classes or contemporary youth
preaching programs, the message is straight forward and thought
provoking leaving the audience stunned to note their life presented as
a snapshot before them for serious spiritual consideration and steady progress in bhakti life tracing back to Krishna's world.
e) Given the fact of your extraordinary travel schedule across the
globe, how is it that you can guide any person from any walk of life
whether from East or West in every possible way following Srila Rupa
Goswami’s “Yukta-vairagya” principle of using everything that can be
used in Krishna’s service remains a divine mystery.
On this auspicious occasion, I humbly pray and seek your invaluable
personal training and guidance in serving Your Sankirtan mission especially through Book distribution and youth preaching.
Trying to be your servant,
Rama Hari das
Ramadas das
Dear Gurudeva.
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
TRANSLATION
I have fortunately been instructed by you, and thus great favor has been bestowed upon me. I thank God that I have listened with open ears to your pure words.
PURPORT
Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī has given directions, in his Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu, on how to accept a bona fide spiritual master and how to deal with him. First, the desiring candidate must find a bona fide spiritual master,
Under the instigation of my flamboyant older cousin my search for a spiritual master began. " We have to get you a guru." After 5 programs with mayavadi sannyasis at the helm my dear cousin asked, " well?" Not wanting to say his effort was a wasted I politely said I had no attraction. Then the most magnificent event. Scruffy and dazed on queen st I walked into the early days of Khela- Tirthas herculean sankirtana effort that’s still going strong after 17 years or so. I got my copy of Bhagavad-gita, started reading in great fascination and wound up in the loft face to face with yourself shaking hands.
Your instruction for me was to read all Srila Prabhupada,s books. I would read one then go to you and say what next. Our reciprocal service based on Prabhupada's books had begun.
As an outstanding bona fide spiritual master always desiring to elevate any common folk who landed in your net, you very kindly dealt with me.
I was not looking for Krishna. You aroused the endeavor. The amazing feat of growing vegetables in alkaline heavy fields.
I am so forgetful. I do not know who I am. I only imagine I am a man getting old. I have forgotten my relationship with the all attractive person. Everyone is in the same delusion of maya and is
forgetful of his prime duty, Kṛṣṇa consciousness, you always desires that everyone become a saintly person.
Now remembrance of Krishna is awakening in those who meet you. The saner section of us say that since we were advised and instructed by you, we are very much favored. We consider ourselves lucky to receive the message by aural reception.
Your presentations made me very inquisitive and attentive even though attentiveness was not my specialty. Simply by speaking with your pure gentle heart and steady intelligence your favor has entered into our ears.
PURPORT. The word karṇa-randhraiḥ means "through the holes of the ears." The favor of the spiritual master is not received through any other part of the body but the ears. This does not mean, however, that the spiritual master gives a particular type of mantra through the ears in exchange for some dollars and if the man meditates on that he achieves perfection and becomes God within six months. Such reception through the ears is bogus.
I did not know what a avatar was before I started Krishna consciousness. I do remember thinking I was one in the very beginning of my practice for a day or so. This gaping mistake abruptly came to and end, washed off by the purity off your spiritual station in new market. Although my dramatic thought is a ridiculous part of human history, at that time in the 90s it was popular and you put many such hypothetical gods in their place.
Next was dealing with my conditioned nature. What was? I was immitating so many rock stars, movies stars, sports stars, and many varieties of other influences. How did you desifer my nature.
The real fact is that a bona fide spiritual master knows the nature of a particular man and what sort of duties he can perform in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and he instructs him in that way. He instructs him through the ear, not privately, but publicly. "You are fit for such and such work in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. You can act in this way."
I can never thank you enough for engaging me in the most memorable incredible unforgettable experience of book distribution. I cant wait to be in the loving arms of sankirtana again.
One person is advised to act in Kṛṣṇa consciousness by working in the Deities' room, another is advised to act in Kṛṣṇa consciousness by performing editorial work, another is advised to do preaching work, and another is advised to carry out Kṛṣṇa consciousness in the cooking department. There are different departments of activity in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and a spiritual master, knowing the particular ability of a particular man, trains him in such a way that by his tendency to act he becomes perfect. Bhagavad-gītā makes it clear that one can attain the highest perfection of spiritual life simply by offering service according to his ability, just as Arjuna served Kṛṣṇa by his ability in the military art. Arjuna offered his service fully as a military man, and he became perfect. Similarly, an artist can attain perfection simply by performing artistic work under the direction of the spiritual master. If one is a literary man, he can write articles and poetry for the service of the Lord under the direction of the spiritual master. One has to receive the message of the spiritual master regarding how to act in one's capacity, for the spiritual master is expert in giving such instructions.
This combination, the instruction of the spiritual master and the faithful execution of the instruction by the disciple, makes the entire process perfect.
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura describes in his explanation of the verse in Bhagavad-gītā, vyavasāyātmikā buddhiḥ, that one who wants to be certain to achieve spiritual success must take the instruction from the spiritual master as to what his particular function is. He should faithfully try to execute that particular instruction and should consider that his life and soul. The faithful execution of the instruction which he receives from the spiritual master is the only duty of a disciple, and that will bring him perfection. One should be very careful to receive the message from the spiritual master through the ears and execute it faithfully. That will make one's life successful.
Please bestow upon me this one pointedness. I’m so tired from material existence and my body is going down the slide in mayas playground. I beg for your prayer. My choice function is dismal . Please bless to choose your service again and again to try and satisfy you. Thankyou so much for my sincere god brothers and sisters
aspiring to become your servant,
Ramadas das
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
TRANSLATION
I have fortunately been instructed by you, and thus great favor has been bestowed upon me. I thank God that I have listened with open ears to your pure words.
PURPORT
Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī has given directions, in his Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu, on how to accept a bona fide spiritual master and how to deal with him. First, the desiring candidate must find a bona fide spiritual master,
Under the instigation of my flamboyant older cousin my search for a spiritual master began. " We have to get you a guru." After 5 programs with mayavadi sannyasis at the helm my dear cousin asked, " well?" Not wanting to say his effort was a wasted I politely said I had no attraction. Then the most magnificent event. Scruffy and dazed on queen st I walked into the early days of Khela- Tirthas herculean sankirtana effort that’s still going strong after 17 years or so. I got my copy of Bhagavad-gita, started reading in great fascination and wound up in the loft face to face with yourself shaking hands.
Your instruction for me was to read all Srila Prabhupada,s books. I would read one then go to you and say what next. Our reciprocal service based on Prabhupada's books had begun.
As an outstanding bona fide spiritual master always desiring to elevate any common folk who landed in your net, you very kindly dealt with me.
I was not looking for Krishna. You aroused the endeavor. The amazing feat of growing vegetables in alkaline heavy fields.
I am so forgetful. I do not know who I am. I only imagine I am a man getting old. I have forgotten my relationship with the all attractive person. Everyone is in the same delusion of maya and is
forgetful of his prime duty, Kṛṣṇa consciousness, you always desires that everyone become a saintly person.
Now remembrance of Krishna is awakening in those who meet you. The saner section of us say that since we were advised and instructed by you, we are very much favored. We consider ourselves lucky to receive the message by aural reception.
Your presentations made me very inquisitive and attentive even though attentiveness was not my specialty. Simply by speaking with your pure gentle heart and steady intelligence your favor has entered into our ears.
PURPORT. The word karṇa-randhraiḥ means "through the holes of the ears." The favor of the spiritual master is not received through any other part of the body but the ears. This does not mean, however, that the spiritual master gives a particular type of mantra through the ears in exchange for some dollars and if the man meditates on that he achieves perfection and becomes God within six months. Such reception through the ears is bogus.
I did not know what a avatar was before I started Krishna consciousness. I do remember thinking I was one in the very beginning of my practice for a day or so. This gaping mistake abruptly came to and end, washed off by the purity off your spiritual station in new market. Although my dramatic thought is a ridiculous part of human history, at that time in the 90s it was popular and you put many such hypothetical gods in their place.
Next was dealing with my conditioned nature. What was? I was immitating so many rock stars, movies stars, sports stars, and many varieties of other influences. How did you desifer my nature.
The real fact is that a bona fide spiritual master knows the nature of a particular man and what sort of duties he can perform in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and he instructs him in that way. He instructs him through the ear, not privately, but publicly. "You are fit for such and such work in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. You can act in this way."
I can never thank you enough for engaging me in the most memorable incredible unforgettable experience of book distribution. I cant wait to be in the loving arms of sankirtana again.
One person is advised to act in Kṛṣṇa consciousness by working in the Deities' room, another is advised to act in Kṛṣṇa consciousness by performing editorial work, another is advised to do preaching work, and another is advised to carry out Kṛṣṇa consciousness in the cooking department. There are different departments of activity in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and a spiritual master, knowing the particular ability of a particular man, trains him in such a way that by his tendency to act he becomes perfect. Bhagavad-gītā makes it clear that one can attain the highest perfection of spiritual life simply by offering service according to his ability, just as Arjuna served Kṛṣṇa by his ability in the military art. Arjuna offered his service fully as a military man, and he became perfect. Similarly, an artist can attain perfection simply by performing artistic work under the direction of the spiritual master. If one is a literary man, he can write articles and poetry for the service of the Lord under the direction of the spiritual master. One has to receive the message of the spiritual master regarding how to act in one's capacity, for the spiritual master is expert in giving such instructions.
This combination, the instruction of the spiritual master and the faithful execution of the instruction by the disciple, makes the entire process perfect.
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura describes in his explanation of the verse in Bhagavad-gītā, vyavasāyātmikā buddhiḥ, that one who wants to be certain to achieve spiritual success must take the instruction from the spiritual master as to what his particular function is. He should faithfully try to execute that particular instruction and should consider that his life and soul. The faithful execution of the instruction which he receives from the spiritual master is the only duty of a disciple, and that will bring him perfection. One should be very careful to receive the message from the spiritual master through the ears and execute it faithfully. That will make one's life successful.
Please bestow upon me this one pointedness. I’m so tired from material existence and my body is going down the slide in mayas playground. I beg for your prayer. My choice function is dismal . Please bless to choose your service again and again to try and satisfy you. Thankyou so much for my sincere god brothers and sisters
aspiring to become your servant,
Ramadas das
Rasayatra devi dasi
Dearest Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to your selfless service!
This year my offering to you is somewhat different. So many of my esteemed godbrothers and godsisters are so eloquent and learned. Therefore they are very expert at choosing fitting words of glorification and locating suitable verses to delineate your glories. And justifiably so.
However this year my offering seeks to be a year long continuous attempt to glorify your qualities of intelligence, unique skill in preaching and your cutting edge efforts to enlighten the world.
One tiny thread in your expansive bhakti net is located in New Zealand. One tiny city in NZ is Auckland. And one tiny oasis in Auckland's kali yuga jungle is situated upstairs in Beach Road- the Loft.
In order to keep this Loft effulgent and effective your disciples in Auckland wish to work together- utilising one anothers strengths and attributes to offer you a garland. This garland is to be composed of unity, devotion, dedication to the mission, purity, mutual respect and focused outreach.
What better way to glorify you than to work together in your mission to serve Srila Prabhupada? Yes- I know- actions speak louder than words.
Therefore kindly empower us; to be resolute in purpose, all the while more tolerant than a tree, more humble than a blade of grass- and exquisitely conscious and appreciative of one anothers efforts in Bhakti.
Let us arrange a setting where devotees can engage their unique talents, maximize outreach opportunities and feel connected to you through their selfless service.
Such a garland of unity in outreach would be something worthy of you, our wonderful, compassionate, brilliant spiritual teacher and guide.
Begging for your empowerment, praying for your mercy, aspiring to be your unconditional servant, and servant of your servants,
Rasayatra dasi
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to your selfless service!
This year my offering to you is somewhat different. So many of my esteemed godbrothers and godsisters are so eloquent and learned. Therefore they are very expert at choosing fitting words of glorification and locating suitable verses to delineate your glories. And justifiably so.
However this year my offering seeks to be a year long continuous attempt to glorify your qualities of intelligence, unique skill in preaching and your cutting edge efforts to enlighten the world.
One tiny thread in your expansive bhakti net is located in New Zealand. One tiny city in NZ is Auckland. And one tiny oasis in Auckland's kali yuga jungle is situated upstairs in Beach Road- the Loft.
In order to keep this Loft effulgent and effective your disciples in Auckland wish to work together- utilising one anothers strengths and attributes to offer you a garland. This garland is to be composed of unity, devotion, dedication to the mission, purity, mutual respect and focused outreach.
What better way to glorify you than to work together in your mission to serve Srila Prabhupada? Yes- I know- actions speak louder than words.
Therefore kindly empower us; to be resolute in purpose, all the while more tolerant than a tree, more humble than a blade of grass- and exquisitely conscious and appreciative of one anothers efforts in Bhakti.
Let us arrange a setting where devotees can engage their unique talents, maximize outreach opportunities and feel connected to you through their selfless service.
Such a garland of unity in outreach would be something worthy of you, our wonderful, compassionate, brilliant spiritual teacher and guide.
Begging for your empowerment, praying for your mercy, aspiring to be your unconditional servant, and servant of your servants,
Rasayatra dasi
Richard Szepvolgyi
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please, accept my humble obeisances. All glories to the dust of your lotus feet on your appearance day.
Thank you for this day which means brightness for me.
Thank you for teaching me through your character how to become a gentleman.
Thank you for teaching me through your example to be attached to the Holy Name.
Thank you for giving me your personal association selflessly.
Thank you for not leaving me alone in the ocean of the material existence.
Thank you for inspiring me to be attached to spiritual topics.
Thank you for showing me the way towards the goal when I am blind.
Thank you so much
Your insignificant servant
bhakta Richard Szepvolgyi
Please, accept my humble obeisances. All glories to the dust of your lotus feet on your appearance day.
Thank you for this day which means brightness for me.
Thank you for teaching me through your character how to become a gentleman.
Thank you for teaching me through your example to be attached to the Holy Name.
Thank you for giving me your personal association selflessly.
Thank you for not leaving me alone in the ocean of the material existence.
Thank you for inspiring me to be attached to spiritual topics.
Thank you for showing me the way towards the goal when I am blind.
Thank you so much
Your insignificant servant
bhakta Richard Szepvolgyi
Rocio Cortes
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to you on your auspicious appearance day
I remember perfectly the first day that I saw you. I was in New Zealand and you were giving a class in Bhakti Lounge, it was a Sunday fest. When you started to speak, first of all, you asked who was new here?. I raised my not very high, but you asked me anyway: what is your name? where are you from? After I answered you, you told me in spanish: well… my home is your home. I did not realize the deep meaning of your sentence until I started developing a Guru – disciple relationship with you by the mercy of Krishna.
How fortunate I am that I have the opportunity to surrender unto your lotus feet and follow your instructions! I do not have the capacity to realize the causeless mercy that you are giving me trough your saintly association. The chance to sacrifice my physical, emotional and egoistical needs for the highest purpose in the human life: developing our love for God performing devotional services, hearing the sweetest pastimes of the Lord Hari, chanting the holy name and having the most wonderful sadhu association. How can I give the hand back to you?
I could keep traveling around, living a life without any regulations, becoming more and more lost in the material and impersonalist existence but your presence that day was so intense and strong that you change completely my life in a split of a second. You made me loce the taste for the karmi activities. This is the power of a pure devotee of the Lord. Never before I admired someone, but then I saw your selfless motivation to serve and explain to the people what was going on in those days and try to wake up them. I have never heard such analyces of the present age like you provide. I was captivated. I couldn’t say no to the Bhakti-Yoga process that you were offering me. Thank you for rescuing me of this dry, empty and unsafe world.
I hope to reciprocate with all the care and preoccupation that you have given me. Everything that I have is my life and soul which I am happy to utilize for your eternal service, my dear Gurudeva.
Your humble servant
Bhaktine Rocio
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to you on your auspicious appearance day
I remember perfectly the first day that I saw you. I was in New Zealand and you were giving a class in Bhakti Lounge, it was a Sunday fest. When you started to speak, first of all, you asked who was new here?. I raised my not very high, but you asked me anyway: what is your name? where are you from? After I answered you, you told me in spanish: well… my home is your home. I did not realize the deep meaning of your sentence until I started developing a Guru – disciple relationship with you by the mercy of Krishna.
How fortunate I am that I have the opportunity to surrender unto your lotus feet and follow your instructions! I do not have the capacity to realize the causeless mercy that you are giving me trough your saintly association. The chance to sacrifice my physical, emotional and egoistical needs for the highest purpose in the human life: developing our love for God performing devotional services, hearing the sweetest pastimes of the Lord Hari, chanting the holy name and having the most wonderful sadhu association. How can I give the hand back to you?
I could keep traveling around, living a life without any regulations, becoming more and more lost in the material and impersonalist existence but your presence that day was so intense and strong that you change completely my life in a split of a second. You made me loce the taste for the karmi activities. This is the power of a pure devotee of the Lord. Never before I admired someone, but then I saw your selfless motivation to serve and explain to the people what was going on in those days and try to wake up them. I have never heard such analyces of the present age like you provide. I was captivated. I couldn’t say no to the Bhakti-Yoga process that you were offering me. Thank you for rescuing me of this dry, empty and unsafe world.
I hope to reciprocate with all the care and preoccupation that you have given me. Everything that I have is my life and soul which I am happy to utilize for your eternal service, my dear Gurudeva.
Your humble servant
Bhaktine Rocio
Rori Murchie
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my most humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to you on this most auspicious day of your appearance!
All glories to the all-inspiring, pure devotional service that you constantly perform simply for the pleasure of the Lord and for the ultimate benefit of poor souls like us who have fallen so far into this dark realm of Kali-yuga.
Apparently, according to current statistics, approximately fifty-million human beings die on this planet each year (probably not including deaths within the womb). This works out to be around one hundred human deaths every minute. Making the somewhat knowledgeable assumption that the majority of these persons have wasted their gift of the human form of life by not taking shelter at the lotus feet a great devotee, a shelter which we can see, by your own exemplary behavior, is being made so readily available to the world, we can only expect that those unfortunate souls can only look forward to experiencing hellish levels of fear and anxiety.
In the Eleventh Canto of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, Kavi Yogendra instructs us as follows:
bhayam dvitīyābhinive śatah syād
īsād apetasya viparyayo ‘smŗtih
tan-māyayāto budha ābhajet tam
bhaktyaikayeśam guru-devatātmā
“Fear arises when a living entity misidentifies himself as the material body because of absorption in the external, illusory energy of the Lord. When the living entity thus turns away from the Supreme Lord, he also forgets his own constitutional position as a servant of the Lord. This bewildering, fearful condition is effected by the potency for illusion, called maya. Therefore, an intelligent person should engage unflinchingly in the unalloyed devotional service of the Lord, under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master, whom he should accept as his worshipable deity and as his very life and soul.” SB 11.2.37
Throughout my short, pathetic life, I seem to have maintained a constant egoistic conception that I am certainly a rather intelligent person; a cut above the rest in my own little world. But this very inaccurate self-analysis, being planted in my heart by the material energy among many other weeds, naturally only gave birth to more fear and anxiety.
I was only ever a puppet in the hands of the illusory energy. Somehow or other, by Krishna’s grace, I managed to be swept out of the cold, violent, fearful waters of Kali-yuga, and onto the soothing tropical beach paradise of your divine, merciful and loving care and protection.
Although being incalculably fortunate (bhāgyavān jīva), having been rescued by guru & Krishna (guru-kŗşņa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja), I still maintained that absurd self image, even despite my innumerable inadequacies and inabilities in my practice of sadhana-bhakti. “Of course I would come to Krishna consciousness. I’m me! I’m an intelligent person and I’m only meant for the best!”
Everyone is certainly meant for the best; Krishna being the best, and everyone being the eternal servant of Krishna. But these thoughts that pervaded the background of my consciousness were only products of a false-ego strengthened by horrible amounts of low-quality, Kali-yuga-rated sense gratification.
Therefore, during my 2-year “shooting star” performance of practicing bhakti-yoga in the association of devotees under your expert guidance, I failed to cultivate sufficient realization of how much mercy you had actually shown toward me.
Wielding an immature and polluted intelligence I was unable to develop real humility. I found it difficult to develop healthy and open relationships with my fellow Vaişņava peers. But most unfortunately for myself, I did not develop full appreciation and gratitude for the obvious fact that you had so mercifully given me the opportunity to receive the greatest gift – devotional service.
Inevitably, having not fully understood my fortunate situation and therefore not cultivating a strong desire to reciprocate with the love you showed to me, I was unable to fight off the monster that came so ruthlessly to hunt me down. Relying on fate and my own so-called sincerity, and not taking full shelter of your mercy in the form of Krishna’s holy name, it wasn’t long before my eternal enemy, lust, forced me to willingly dive headfirst, back into the waves of Kali-yuga hell only to again experience a level of fear and anxiety more bewildering and heart-wrenching than I had experienced before.
So, in the end, what was the value of my so-called intelligence? The marvellous Maharaja Pŗthu prays as follows:
“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.” SB 4.20.26
Like a disobedient, stray dog, I abandoned the shelter of a most glorious and qualified master, to search out sensual and mental satisfaction in the gutters of modern day society. Oh, how unfortunate I was!
Not to wade to deep into my own past misfortune on this glorious day, I've come to the conclusion that I do indeed have the intelligence of a lowly animal. Whereas you, Gurudeva, being a perfectly pure devotee and a bona fide representative of the Lord, seem to possess unfathomable, perfect intelligence by which great numbers of fortunate souls all over the world have their ignorance cut to pieces.
Understanding my own insignificance, my leaving the association of devotees could hardly be considered much of a loss in contrast to the all-victorious sankīrtana movement of Lord Caitanya. As I have heard it from you, Śrīla Prabhupāda once said to a devotee who did not take advantage of the great opportunity that Prabhupāda had given him: “...if you won’t help me, someone else will.”
Whether persons may take full advantage of your guidance and try to assist you in your mission, or whether they, like myself, throw away such a rare opportunity, nevertheless your service and dedication to the mission of Śrīla Prabhupāda remains unflinching, unfailing, and ever-increasing with no end in sight. Like so many great examples we hear of in the śāstra, you continuously remain fixed in your pure-hearted service, not phased by the ups and downs, the pains and pleasures of this material world. And you continue to attract so many others to come and lend a helping hand toward spreading Lord Caitanya’s message.
Even while recognizing my own lack of importance, I know for certain that you prayed for my quick and safe return, for that is simply the compassionate nature of great souls like yourself. And besides, why else would I be here now, back under the protection of your lotus feet? By your mercy only, along with the help of some of the special souls under your guidance, I was introduced to the great privilege of devotional service in the association of devotees. Only by that same mercy and care have I been given that opportunity again. I hereby pray to Krishna wholeheartedly that I do not waste it.
I think that this time, though, I am in even more need of your causeless mercy. On one hand, I did go away and get something “out of my system”, for as the saying goes: ‘Experience is the best teacher......because a FOOL learns no other way!’ And indeed, as you told me, I was “young and immature”. But after 3 years of raising the dial on the self-torture machine of modern-day materialism, I can see that experience is certainly not the best teacher.
Not surprisingly, after wilfully drinking poison I feel even more vulnerable, and susceptible to māyā’s tricks than before. In this contaminated state of existence that I’m suffering in, how can I possibly help myself? If I fail to take seriously your divine instructions, meant for my ultimate happiness, what will stop me from again following the instructions of my mind to search out flickering so-called happiness? If I think it unimportant to invest my heart into developing strong, blissful relationships with the devotees, what will stop me from vainly seeking out fulfilling relationships elsewhere? And if I don’t invest all my energies in attentively hearing, chanting, and serving Krishna’s holy name, then I don’t know what my destination will be.
Gurudeva, not only have you given me so much opportunity to perfect my existence, but you are also the source of the strength by which I will be able to fully utilize this opportunity. Therefore how can I possibly repay you? Śrīla Prabhupāda explains the word vinoda-pātram in the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, to mean ‘joker’: “A joker’s activities simply arouse laughter and a person who tries to repay the spiritual master or teacher of the transcendental message of Krishna becomes a laughingstock just like a joker because it is not possible to repay such a debt.” I take it then that my life mission should be to remain a laughing stock by trying to repay a debt that I know cannot be repaid.
In the ten short months that I’ve been back under your shelter, you have showed me much undeserved mercy, despite the fact that I have continued to prove my own foolishness by thinking, and on some occasions speaking, as if I know what’s best for my own spiritual life, and despite so many other faults I have.
Please forgive me, Gurudeva, for all of my nonsense. I beg you to please continue to bestow upon me the mercy that I so desperately need.
You are my worshipable lord and my very life and soul. I hope that someday I will become, as Kavi Yogendra says, “guru-devatātmā”, one who fully understands this fact. Then I might be considered as having some real intelligence.
I pray to Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu that I someday realize the true extent of your glorious and magnanimous activities. When that day comes then I may fully appreciate what you have done for not only me, but for many fortunate living entities, and then I might be able to properly glorify your lotus feet.
Your ever-indebted, unworthy servant,
Bhakta Rori
Please accept my most humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to you on this most auspicious day of your appearance!
All glories to the all-inspiring, pure devotional service that you constantly perform simply for the pleasure of the Lord and for the ultimate benefit of poor souls like us who have fallen so far into this dark realm of Kali-yuga.
Apparently, according to current statistics, approximately fifty-million human beings die on this planet each year (probably not including deaths within the womb). This works out to be around one hundred human deaths every minute. Making the somewhat knowledgeable assumption that the majority of these persons have wasted their gift of the human form of life by not taking shelter at the lotus feet a great devotee, a shelter which we can see, by your own exemplary behavior, is being made so readily available to the world, we can only expect that those unfortunate souls can only look forward to experiencing hellish levels of fear and anxiety.
In the Eleventh Canto of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, Kavi Yogendra instructs us as follows:
bhayam dvitīyābhinive śatah syād
īsād apetasya viparyayo ‘smŗtih
tan-māyayāto budha ābhajet tam
bhaktyaikayeśam guru-devatātmā
“Fear arises when a living entity misidentifies himself as the material body because of absorption in the external, illusory energy of the Lord. When the living entity thus turns away from the Supreme Lord, he also forgets his own constitutional position as a servant of the Lord. This bewildering, fearful condition is effected by the potency for illusion, called maya. Therefore, an intelligent person should engage unflinchingly in the unalloyed devotional service of the Lord, under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master, whom he should accept as his worshipable deity and as his very life and soul.” SB 11.2.37
Throughout my short, pathetic life, I seem to have maintained a constant egoistic conception that I am certainly a rather intelligent person; a cut above the rest in my own little world. But this very inaccurate self-analysis, being planted in my heart by the material energy among many other weeds, naturally only gave birth to more fear and anxiety.
I was only ever a puppet in the hands of the illusory energy. Somehow or other, by Krishna’s grace, I managed to be swept out of the cold, violent, fearful waters of Kali-yuga, and onto the soothing tropical beach paradise of your divine, merciful and loving care and protection.
Although being incalculably fortunate (bhāgyavān jīva), having been rescued by guru & Krishna (guru-kŗşņa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja), I still maintained that absurd self image, even despite my innumerable inadequacies and inabilities in my practice of sadhana-bhakti. “Of course I would come to Krishna consciousness. I’m me! I’m an intelligent person and I’m only meant for the best!”
Everyone is certainly meant for the best; Krishna being the best, and everyone being the eternal servant of Krishna. But these thoughts that pervaded the background of my consciousness were only products of a false-ego strengthened by horrible amounts of low-quality, Kali-yuga-rated sense gratification.
Therefore, during my 2-year “shooting star” performance of practicing bhakti-yoga in the association of devotees under your expert guidance, I failed to cultivate sufficient realization of how much mercy you had actually shown toward me.
Wielding an immature and polluted intelligence I was unable to develop real humility. I found it difficult to develop healthy and open relationships with my fellow Vaişņava peers. But most unfortunately for myself, I did not develop full appreciation and gratitude for the obvious fact that you had so mercifully given me the opportunity to receive the greatest gift – devotional service.
Inevitably, having not fully understood my fortunate situation and therefore not cultivating a strong desire to reciprocate with the love you showed to me, I was unable to fight off the monster that came so ruthlessly to hunt me down. Relying on fate and my own so-called sincerity, and not taking full shelter of your mercy in the form of Krishna’s holy name, it wasn’t long before my eternal enemy, lust, forced me to willingly dive headfirst, back into the waves of Kali-yuga hell only to again experience a level of fear and anxiety more bewildering and heart-wrenching than I had experienced before.
So, in the end, what was the value of my so-called intelligence? The marvellous Maharaja Pŗthu prays as follows:
“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.” SB 4.20.26
Like a disobedient, stray dog, I abandoned the shelter of a most glorious and qualified master, to search out sensual and mental satisfaction in the gutters of modern day society. Oh, how unfortunate I was!
Not to wade to deep into my own past misfortune on this glorious day, I've come to the conclusion that I do indeed have the intelligence of a lowly animal. Whereas you, Gurudeva, being a perfectly pure devotee and a bona fide representative of the Lord, seem to possess unfathomable, perfect intelligence by which great numbers of fortunate souls all over the world have their ignorance cut to pieces.
Understanding my own insignificance, my leaving the association of devotees could hardly be considered much of a loss in contrast to the all-victorious sankīrtana movement of Lord Caitanya. As I have heard it from you, Śrīla Prabhupāda once said to a devotee who did not take advantage of the great opportunity that Prabhupāda had given him: “...if you won’t help me, someone else will.”
Whether persons may take full advantage of your guidance and try to assist you in your mission, or whether they, like myself, throw away such a rare opportunity, nevertheless your service and dedication to the mission of Śrīla Prabhupāda remains unflinching, unfailing, and ever-increasing with no end in sight. Like so many great examples we hear of in the śāstra, you continuously remain fixed in your pure-hearted service, not phased by the ups and downs, the pains and pleasures of this material world. And you continue to attract so many others to come and lend a helping hand toward spreading Lord Caitanya’s message.
Even while recognizing my own lack of importance, I know for certain that you prayed for my quick and safe return, for that is simply the compassionate nature of great souls like yourself. And besides, why else would I be here now, back under the protection of your lotus feet? By your mercy only, along with the help of some of the special souls under your guidance, I was introduced to the great privilege of devotional service in the association of devotees. Only by that same mercy and care have I been given that opportunity again. I hereby pray to Krishna wholeheartedly that I do not waste it.
I think that this time, though, I am in even more need of your causeless mercy. On one hand, I did go away and get something “out of my system”, for as the saying goes: ‘Experience is the best teacher......because a FOOL learns no other way!’ And indeed, as you told me, I was “young and immature”. But after 3 years of raising the dial on the self-torture machine of modern-day materialism, I can see that experience is certainly not the best teacher.
Not surprisingly, after wilfully drinking poison I feel even more vulnerable, and susceptible to māyā’s tricks than before. In this contaminated state of existence that I’m suffering in, how can I possibly help myself? If I fail to take seriously your divine instructions, meant for my ultimate happiness, what will stop me from again following the instructions of my mind to search out flickering so-called happiness? If I think it unimportant to invest my heart into developing strong, blissful relationships with the devotees, what will stop me from vainly seeking out fulfilling relationships elsewhere? And if I don’t invest all my energies in attentively hearing, chanting, and serving Krishna’s holy name, then I don’t know what my destination will be.
Gurudeva, not only have you given me so much opportunity to perfect my existence, but you are also the source of the strength by which I will be able to fully utilize this opportunity. Therefore how can I possibly repay you? Śrīla Prabhupāda explains the word vinoda-pātram in the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, to mean ‘joker’: “A joker’s activities simply arouse laughter and a person who tries to repay the spiritual master or teacher of the transcendental message of Krishna becomes a laughingstock just like a joker because it is not possible to repay such a debt.” I take it then that my life mission should be to remain a laughing stock by trying to repay a debt that I know cannot be repaid.
In the ten short months that I’ve been back under your shelter, you have showed me much undeserved mercy, despite the fact that I have continued to prove my own foolishness by thinking, and on some occasions speaking, as if I know what’s best for my own spiritual life, and despite so many other faults I have.
Please forgive me, Gurudeva, for all of my nonsense. I beg you to please continue to bestow upon me the mercy that I so desperately need.
You are my worshipable lord and my very life and soul. I hope that someday I will become, as Kavi Yogendra says, “guru-devatātmā”, one who fully understands this fact. Then I might be considered as having some real intelligence.
I pray to Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu that I someday realize the true extent of your glorious and magnanimous activities. When that day comes then I may fully appreciate what you have done for not only me, but for many fortunate living entities, and then I might be able to properly glorify your lotus feet.
Your ever-indebted, unworthy servant,
Bhakta Rori
Rudraram Pandit
Dearest Gurudeva
Please accept my most humble obeisance
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada and onto your lotus feet and on your auspicious appearance day
The other day I was looking through some photos from past the end of year retreat. Amazingly, year by year the number of your disciples is increasing as well as the blissful energy of Krisna. All of us can experience such a nectar which coming from Krisna because of your tireless service, warm care and guidance to us. While looking through your amazing activities, one text came across in my mind.
BG 3.21
Whatever action is performed by a great man, common men follow in his footsteps. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursue.
From this tiny country of New Zealand, how could I know how much activities you do every day – flying, teaching, preaching… And how many of these community like us you look after in the world, hundred? thousand? and how many emails, phone calls you have to make to maintain your devotees, thousand? million?
SB 8.7.44 says
tapyante loka-tapena sadhavah prayaso janah paramaradhanam tad dhi purusasyakhilatmanah
" it is said that great personalities (like your great self) 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"
To your example of personal sacrifice single “Thank you” does not sound enough but with my poor knowledge I cannot think any other word or way to show my deep appreciation. You never give up. You have never given me up although I had so many troubles. Thank you, Gurudeva
Gurudeva, your amazing disciples always give me an opportunity to meditate on you and on your service. Even I do not think I understand “Gurudeva”
Bhaktivinoda Thakura sang in Sarangati
saisava-yauvane, jada-sukha-sange,
abhyasa hoilo manda
nija-karma-dose, e deho hoilo,
bhajanera pratibandha
“Due to attachment to worldly pleasures in childhood and youth, I have developed bad habits. Because of these sinful acts my body has become an impediment to the service of the Supreme Lord.”
Even though I do not have any qualification or skills I am trying to follow your instruction Gurudeva, please humbly accept whatever service I can offer you. I determined to execute as much services as possible to serve you due to my ignorance I can only understand tiny drop of your knowledge. Also I am one of your tiny insignificant devotee but if I can execute any services nicely I may be able to offer something better than now.
For a while ago I asked question to other prabhu in the morning programme what we should do or how should we behave when devotees leave this material world. Thankfully you have given us the example in your blog post about your disciple in Ukraine. Sometimes I wonder how many more times can we see you or attend your class or cook for you. Or even how long am I in this body?? I do not mind having short life or coming back to this material world again as long as I can take up this process again where I left. My only wish is I want to understand more in your class or serve you nicely to my “Gurudeva”
CC says
guru krsna-rupa hana sastrera pramane
guru-rupe krsna krpa krpa karena bhakta-gane
“According to the deliberate opinion of all revealed scriptures, the spiritual master is nondifferent from Krsna. Lord Krsna in the form of the spiritual master delivers His devotees.”
One day you can deliver me from this material world please, Gurudeva. By the time comes I will do my best to serve you and your devotees.
Nama om Visnu padhaya Krsna prestaya bhutale
Srimate Devamrita Swamin iti namine
Pracare purva-daksyam ca bhaktacara-pravinata
Parathatapi karunyam yasya sarve ca te namah
Struggling to be your faithful son,
Rudraram Pandit das
Please accept my most humble obeisance
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada and onto your lotus feet and on your auspicious appearance day
The other day I was looking through some photos from past the end of year retreat. Amazingly, year by year the number of your disciples is increasing as well as the blissful energy of Krisna. All of us can experience such a nectar which coming from Krisna because of your tireless service, warm care and guidance to us. While looking through your amazing activities, one text came across in my mind.
BG 3.21
Whatever action is performed by a great man, common men follow in his footsteps. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursue.
From this tiny country of New Zealand, how could I know how much activities you do every day – flying, teaching, preaching… And how many of these community like us you look after in the world, hundred? thousand? and how many emails, phone calls you have to make to maintain your devotees, thousand? million?
SB 8.7.44 says
tapyante loka-tapena sadhavah prayaso janah paramaradhanam tad dhi purusasyakhilatmanah
" it is said that great personalities (like your great self) 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"
To your example of personal sacrifice single “Thank you” does not sound enough but with my poor knowledge I cannot think any other word or way to show my deep appreciation. You never give up. You have never given me up although I had so many troubles. Thank you, Gurudeva
Gurudeva, your amazing disciples always give me an opportunity to meditate on you and on your service. Even I do not think I understand “Gurudeva”
Bhaktivinoda Thakura sang in Sarangati
saisava-yauvane, jada-sukha-sange,
abhyasa hoilo manda
nija-karma-dose, e deho hoilo,
bhajanera pratibandha
“Due to attachment to worldly pleasures in childhood and youth, I have developed bad habits. Because of these sinful acts my body has become an impediment to the service of the Supreme Lord.”
Even though I do not have any qualification or skills I am trying to follow your instruction Gurudeva, please humbly accept whatever service I can offer you. I determined to execute as much services as possible to serve you due to my ignorance I can only understand tiny drop of your knowledge. Also I am one of your tiny insignificant devotee but if I can execute any services nicely I may be able to offer something better than now.
For a while ago I asked question to other prabhu in the morning programme what we should do or how should we behave when devotees leave this material world. Thankfully you have given us the example in your blog post about your disciple in Ukraine. Sometimes I wonder how many more times can we see you or attend your class or cook for you. Or even how long am I in this body?? I do not mind having short life or coming back to this material world again as long as I can take up this process again where I left. My only wish is I want to understand more in your class or serve you nicely to my “Gurudeva”
CC says
guru krsna-rupa hana sastrera pramane
guru-rupe krsna krpa krpa karena bhakta-gane
“According to the deliberate opinion of all revealed scriptures, the spiritual master is nondifferent from Krsna. Lord Krsna in the form of the spiritual master delivers His devotees.”
One day you can deliver me from this material world please, Gurudeva. By the time comes I will do my best to serve you and your devotees.
Nama om Visnu padhaya Krsna prestaya bhutale
Srimate Devamrita Swamin iti namine
Pracare purva-daksyam ca bhaktacara-pravinata
Parathatapi karunyam yasya sarve ca te namah
Struggling to be your faithful son,
Rudraram Pandit das
Sachi Dulal das
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my prostrated obeisances.
All glories to you on this most auspicious occasion.
By your mercy, my otherwise petty and inconsequential life has now been imbued with a slight flavour of transcendence.
By your mercy, I no longer have any doubts about Sri Krishna—the Supreme Personality of Godhead, or the process of devotional service.
By your mercy, I have become aware of the only obstacle preventing me from making spiritual advancement—my own lack of sincerity.
On this glorious occasion of your appearance, I beg that will you forgive the offenses born of my envy-crippled heart and allow me to remain your aspiring servant,
Sachi Dulal das.
Please accept my prostrated obeisances.
All glories to you on this most auspicious occasion.
By your mercy, my otherwise petty and inconsequential life has now been imbued with a slight flavour of transcendence.
By your mercy, I no longer have any doubts about Sri Krishna—the Supreme Personality of Godhead, or the process of devotional service.
By your mercy, I have become aware of the only obstacle preventing me from making spiritual advancement—my own lack of sincerity.
On this glorious occasion of your appearance, I beg that will you forgive the offenses born of my envy-crippled heart and allow me to remain your aspiring servant,
Sachi Dulal das.
Sadhu-marga das
Please accept my humble obeisances.
all glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Dear gurudev
The Brahma-Madhva-gaudiya-sampradaya is so great. Its wonderfullness is beyond my capasity to understand or glorify.
Lineage coming from Sri Krishna Him self, then lord Brahma, Narada Muni, Vyasadev and so many super advanced personalities. In every yuga Lord appears here in the earth on different forms to establish the yuga dharma or the process of worshiping Him. In this age He comes as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and He starts the transcendentall sankirtan lela. He is free to do what ever He wants and He choose to appear in the Gaudiya-sampradaya. He perfomed His sweet pastimes, dancing, chanting and preaching. He accepted guru on that line and then passed on the knowledge to His followers, students and associates.
After Mahaprabhu there was very special devotees like Srila Rupa Goswami, Srila Sanatana Goswami, Srila Jiva Goswami. Then there was empowered Acaryas like Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Srila Bhaktisidhanta Thakura.
Next to appear was THE guru for the whole tree worlds for next ten thousand years. A guru who did something that no one had heard before: extend the teachings and practicies of Vaisnava dharma to all the round the world. His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivendanta Swami Prabhupada following in the footsteps of previous acaryas, was specially empowered by the Lord to do this task. He was so spritualy integelent that he was able to take the essence from all the Vedic knowledge, make it condense and give program which is the most effective. It works very fast and the most amazing thing is that he was able to make it in a way that it works in present time, for modern people and its designed exactly for us, kali-yuga citizens. Its not too complicated or overly fancy, but its simple, sublime, powerful and for individual devotee there is so much oppurtunity for refinement. It works for pious people and it works for rascals too. Its so easy and very mighty, persons who follow it are not going to miss out anything. Not in emotionally, culturally, socially, educationally, religiously or spiritually. Everything is there.
Now, in the present time the sincere and faithfull followers of Srila Prabhupada, pure Vaisnavas, like you gurudev, who are so devoted to Srila Prabhupada and whitout any sign of fear ready to do any sucrifice for the Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhus sankirtan army. All this transcendental exciting activities are going on in the brahma-madhva-gaudiya sampradaya.
I am eternally indebted to you gurudev, because you have connected this worm in to this great sampradaya. Thank you so much!
You are delivering the message, gaura-vani, as it is, so nicely, so sharply, so sweetly, so purely, so intelligently and carefull way. Thank you so much for labouring so hard to save the conditioned souls.
In the material world jiva becomes polluted and he is accustomed to forget his eternal relationship whit Krishna. He becomes degraded in so many ways, due to his material desires. Jiva, in his forgetfull state do not know that Krishna has created this material world simply to refine living entity and make him sane again.
Out of all different systems of purification, refinement or development the chanting of the holy name is the best. There are different systems for achieving self realization and love of God, but chanting of the holy names is the best.
Outside of Mahaprabhus sankirtan lela people have so many ideas, theories, religions, philosophies, beliefs and methods of worshiping the Supreme Person, but Sriman Mahaprabhus followers, who sincerely chant the holy names, they achieve the goal so easily and quickly. They actulally achieve something which is surprising even to themselves.
Gurudev, thank you so much for giving me the holy name, the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, i will not be able to pay my bept to you ever. Thank you so much for giving so wonderful example of how to chant the holy names.
I want pure devotion service so badly, but i am so far from it. Same time i know that only way to get there is devotional service. For upliftement, purification, liberation or perform our duty, the system is the devotional service. Thats our real duty, its called sanatana-dharma. Devotional service is jivas eternal occupation. Actually they can not become separate from the Lord. Only when they are in illusion it seems like that. But in reality it never happens. Like from our point of view, sometimes the clouds cover the sun, but the sun is still there.
I am very much fallen, but i cannot quit trying to serve the Lord. Where else would i go?
Gurudev, thank you so much for tolerating me, year after year. It must be like walking through fire to make persons like me into devotee. I am sure there are so many good reason to give up the relationship, sense i am so nonsense, but still you keep tolerating me. Thank you so much!
Please, keep tolerating me in the future also. I do not have any other shelter.
Your servant
sadhu-marga das
all glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Dear gurudev
The Brahma-Madhva-gaudiya-sampradaya is so great. Its wonderfullness is beyond my capasity to understand or glorify.
Lineage coming from Sri Krishna Him self, then lord Brahma, Narada Muni, Vyasadev and so many super advanced personalities. In every yuga Lord appears here in the earth on different forms to establish the yuga dharma or the process of worshiping Him. In this age He comes as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and He starts the transcendentall sankirtan lela. He is free to do what ever He wants and He choose to appear in the Gaudiya-sampradaya. He perfomed His sweet pastimes, dancing, chanting and preaching. He accepted guru on that line and then passed on the knowledge to His followers, students and associates.
After Mahaprabhu there was very special devotees like Srila Rupa Goswami, Srila Sanatana Goswami, Srila Jiva Goswami. Then there was empowered Acaryas like Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Srila Bhaktisidhanta Thakura.
Next to appear was THE guru for the whole tree worlds for next ten thousand years. A guru who did something that no one had heard before: extend the teachings and practicies of Vaisnava dharma to all the round the world. His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivendanta Swami Prabhupada following in the footsteps of previous acaryas, was specially empowered by the Lord to do this task. He was so spritualy integelent that he was able to take the essence from all the Vedic knowledge, make it condense and give program which is the most effective. It works very fast and the most amazing thing is that he was able to make it in a way that it works in present time, for modern people and its designed exactly for us, kali-yuga citizens. Its not too complicated or overly fancy, but its simple, sublime, powerful and for individual devotee there is so much oppurtunity for refinement. It works for pious people and it works for rascals too. Its so easy and very mighty, persons who follow it are not going to miss out anything. Not in emotionally, culturally, socially, educationally, religiously or spiritually. Everything is there.
Now, in the present time the sincere and faithfull followers of Srila Prabhupada, pure Vaisnavas, like you gurudev, who are so devoted to Srila Prabhupada and whitout any sign of fear ready to do any sucrifice for the Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhus sankirtan army. All this transcendental exciting activities are going on in the brahma-madhva-gaudiya sampradaya.
I am eternally indebted to you gurudev, because you have connected this worm in to this great sampradaya. Thank you so much!
You are delivering the message, gaura-vani, as it is, so nicely, so sharply, so sweetly, so purely, so intelligently and carefull way. Thank you so much for labouring so hard to save the conditioned souls.
In the material world jiva becomes polluted and he is accustomed to forget his eternal relationship whit Krishna. He becomes degraded in so many ways, due to his material desires. Jiva, in his forgetfull state do not know that Krishna has created this material world simply to refine living entity and make him sane again.
Out of all different systems of purification, refinement or development the chanting of the holy name is the best. There are different systems for achieving self realization and love of God, but chanting of the holy names is the best.
Outside of Mahaprabhus sankirtan lela people have so many ideas, theories, religions, philosophies, beliefs and methods of worshiping the Supreme Person, but Sriman Mahaprabhus followers, who sincerely chant the holy names, they achieve the goal so easily and quickly. They actulally achieve something which is surprising even to themselves.
Gurudev, thank you so much for giving me the holy name, the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, i will not be able to pay my bept to you ever. Thank you so much for giving so wonderful example of how to chant the holy names.
I want pure devotion service so badly, but i am so far from it. Same time i know that only way to get there is devotional service. For upliftement, purification, liberation or perform our duty, the system is the devotional service. Thats our real duty, its called sanatana-dharma. Devotional service is jivas eternal occupation. Actually they can not become separate from the Lord. Only when they are in illusion it seems like that. But in reality it never happens. Like from our point of view, sometimes the clouds cover the sun, but the sun is still there.
I am very much fallen, but i cannot quit trying to serve the Lord. Where else would i go?
Gurudev, thank you so much for tolerating me, year after year. It must be like walking through fire to make persons like me into devotee. I am sure there are so many good reason to give up the relationship, sense i am so nonsense, but still you keep tolerating me. Thank you so much!
Please, keep tolerating me in the future also. I do not have any other shelter.
Your servant
sadhu-marga das
Sammohini devi dasi
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 Gurudeva
The whole year I have being thinking and dreaming about you but when it’s the time to write for your Vyasapuja words are not coming to my mind.
This make me realize…. I am more an emotional than rational person because what I am feeling are many emotions toward you, especially admiration.
For many years I was looking for enlightenment and following different spiritual paths but after I met you and the transcendental knowledge you were freely distributing gave me the orientation to be successful in life and advance spiritually.
Since I become a devotee, I have being feeling life is giving me a lot of tests to become detach to the bodily concept of life and materialism. I guess I am getting it because I need purification before to reach Krishnaloka.
I was looking for answers and knowledge in life. Krishna Consciousness gave me everything and devotional services conquered my heart.
Now I just want to be a better devotee every day and serve you as much as possible because seeing how you are helping to change the world makes me feel proud to be a servant of you and Krishna.
Thank you Gurudeva because you gave me shelter and for every instruction I got and will be getting from you. I need it to become strong in my spiritual life.
Your eternal servant
Sammohini.dd
Srimate devamrta swamin iti namine
Pracare purva daksyam ca bhaktacara pravinitah
Paratatapi karunyam yasya sarve ca te namah
My dear Gurudeva
The whole year I have being thinking and dreaming about you but when it’s the time to write for your Vyasapuja words are not coming to my mind.
This make me realize…. I am more an emotional than rational person because what I am feeling are many emotions toward you, especially admiration.
For many years I was looking for enlightenment and following different spiritual paths but after I met you and the transcendental knowledge you were freely distributing gave me the orientation to be successful in life and advance spiritually.
Since I become a devotee, I have being feeling life is giving me a lot of tests to become detach to the bodily concept of life and materialism. I guess I am getting it because I need purification before to reach Krishnaloka.
I was looking for answers and knowledge in life. Krishna Consciousness gave me everything and devotional services conquered my heart.
Now I just want to be a better devotee every day and serve you as much as possible because seeing how you are helping to change the world makes me feel proud to be a servant of you and Krishna.
Thank you Gurudeva because you gave me shelter and for every instruction I got and will be getting from you. I need it to become strong in my spiritual life.
Your eternal servant
Sammohini.dd
Sandrananda devi dasi
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
On this auspicious day of your Vyasa Puja I would like to offer you a poem.
Thank you for your work to release us from maya,
coaxing the attached souls lifting them higher
like Sanatana in the prison using an analogy
to convince the jailer to set him free
He told the jailor, "One who releases one from illusion
also becomes released and free from delusion"
Sanatana saw the jailor wouldn’t budge
so he thought he would give him a nudge
Seeing Sanatana pull out his money
The jailer lit up thinking this the real honey :
Sanatana speaking the Bhagavatam ironically
convinced the jailer to let him go free!
and the story is told right up to today
how the brother of Rupa got his way.
I am relaying this story to you today
to please you of course in my own small way
like Sanatana you have a way with words
that soothes one from a deep-felt thirst
Always glued to our seats in class
your storytelling sometimes leaves us aghast
Without any desire for fame, power or wealth
you speak only the truth about our real self
A true servant of God you have earned your place
to run with the cowherd boys in their spiritual chase
You carry to us the dust from the gopis's feet
and I pray that one day I will be awarded this treat.
All Glories to you Gurudeva!
From your servant
Sandrananda dd
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
On this auspicious day of your Vyasa Puja I would like to offer you a poem.
Thank you for your work to release us from maya,
coaxing the attached souls lifting them higher
like Sanatana in the prison using an analogy
to convince the jailer to set him free
He told the jailor, "One who releases one from illusion
also becomes released and free from delusion"
Sanatana saw the jailor wouldn’t budge
so he thought he would give him a nudge
Seeing Sanatana pull out his money
The jailer lit up thinking this the real honey :
Sanatana speaking the Bhagavatam ironically
convinced the jailer to let him go free!
and the story is told right up to today
how the brother of Rupa got his way.
I am relaying this story to you today
to please you of course in my own small way
like Sanatana you have a way with words
that soothes one from a deep-felt thirst
Always glued to our seats in class
your storytelling sometimes leaves us aghast
Without any desire for fame, power or wealth
you speak only the truth about our real self
A true servant of God you have earned your place
to run with the cowherd boys in their spiritual chase
You carry to us the dust from the gopis's feet
and I pray that one day I will be awarded this treat.
All Glories to you Gurudeva!
From your servant
Sandrananda dd
Sarupna Prasad
Dear Gurudev,
Please Accept My Humble Obeisance,
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada,
All Glories to your appearance day.
The most significant point in my life’s journey was when I found your shelter in the middle of a busy city where I knew no one and had no interest in anything. I came in with a mind set “I am no longer going to be reserved and just be myself” I tried and tried but I have always failed to get out of my shell.
I had a desire to be a devotee for quite some time; I had taken up chanting when I was young but due to lack of proper guidance I could not progress very much.
Stepping into the loft for the first time, I immediately felt protected and at ease. I found a home away from home where I could be myself and could express myself without actually turning myself inside out. I fell in love with the Soul feast Kirtans! It would be something I look forward to every week.
A few months later, I got to have darshan of you. All the while I was so nervous introducing myself to you. That was when I felt your first instruction come through, “Don’t be an ordinary girl.” I remember telling you,” I feel so closed, I feel I need to be more active.” In response, you said,” Be active here, help out the ladies.” All Glories to your most precious guidance that I have come to genuinely experience the most sublime process.
Since then I have had the privilege for better and more meaningful exchanges with you. I felt I had found my spiritual father. I really appreciate and adore you and your very dedicated disciples that selflessly serve you year after year. I aspire to be one of those very faithful servants and an obedient spiritual daughter so I can serve you eternally in executing Srila Prabhupada’s mission.
My Dear Gurudev, on this day of your appearance I would like to thank you very much from the core of my heart for accepting me in your service and giving me a place in your divine shelter. I feel very much indebted and grateful to you for this. Even more when you say, “I am always here to feed you spiritually, you make me feel responsible for you” I promise to never hurt you, always be engaged in your service in every way possible; in every situation of my life. Lord Shri Krsna has been very merciful upon me to have sent you as my spiritual father. I never knew I would find you so soon. There is nothing is this world that has greater value for me! I do not have very much to offer but just these words of commitment and an attempt to always please you. Moreover, I beg you to always keep me in your association and give me the blessings for doing quality devotional service.
All Glories to your everlasting compassion!
Your insignificant, aspiring Servant and daughter,
Sarupna Prasad.
Please Accept My Humble Obeisance,
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada,
All Glories to your appearance day.
The most significant point in my life’s journey was when I found your shelter in the middle of a busy city where I knew no one and had no interest in anything. I came in with a mind set “I am no longer going to be reserved and just be myself” I tried and tried but I have always failed to get out of my shell.
I had a desire to be a devotee for quite some time; I had taken up chanting when I was young but due to lack of proper guidance I could not progress very much.
Stepping into the loft for the first time, I immediately felt protected and at ease. I found a home away from home where I could be myself and could express myself without actually turning myself inside out. I fell in love with the Soul feast Kirtans! It would be something I look forward to every week.
A few months later, I got to have darshan of you. All the while I was so nervous introducing myself to you. That was when I felt your first instruction come through, “Don’t be an ordinary girl.” I remember telling you,” I feel so closed, I feel I need to be more active.” In response, you said,” Be active here, help out the ladies.” All Glories to your most precious guidance that I have come to genuinely experience the most sublime process.
Since then I have had the privilege for better and more meaningful exchanges with you. I felt I had found my spiritual father. I really appreciate and adore you and your very dedicated disciples that selflessly serve you year after year. I aspire to be one of those very faithful servants and an obedient spiritual daughter so I can serve you eternally in executing Srila Prabhupada’s mission.
My Dear Gurudev, on this day of your appearance I would like to thank you very much from the core of my heart for accepting me in your service and giving me a place in your divine shelter. I feel very much indebted and grateful to you for this. Even more when you say, “I am always here to feed you spiritually, you make me feel responsible for you” I promise to never hurt you, always be engaged in your service in every way possible; in every situation of my life. Lord Shri Krsna has been very merciful upon me to have sent you as my spiritual father. I never knew I would find you so soon. There is nothing is this world that has greater value for me! I do not have very much to offer but just these words of commitment and an attempt to always please you. Moreover, I beg you to always keep me in your association and give me the blessings for doing quality devotional service.
All Glories to your everlasting compassion!
Your insignificant, aspiring Servant and daughter,
Sarupna Prasad.
Sattva-tanu Das
Oh my Dear Spiritual Master,
Without thou I have no hope.
Birth after birth by my mind’s will I have forgotten Krsna.
But by thy grace and thy effulgence thou have enlighten my mind.
Showing me the path to the Divine couple’s place.
Thou have yet saved another life from Maya’s clench.
What would have happened without thy mercy?
Where would have all the forgotten souls gone?
Like an umbrella that protects one from the thunderous rain thou have guarded these souls from the burning fire of existence.
Oh master of mine with thy expertise dealings
Thou have won the heart of all Vaishnavas.
Oh dear Master, like a soldier fights bravely for his nation’s grace
You fight against Maya for His Divine Grace.
Trying to be your obidient servant
Sattva-tanu Das
Sean Mitchell
om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
caksur umilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah
I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, who with the torchlight of knowledge has opened my eyes, which were blinded by the darkness of ignorance.
vancha-kalpa-tarubhyas ca kripa-sindhubhya eva ca
patitanam pavanebhyo vaishnavebhyo namo namah
I offer respectful obeisances unto all the Vaishnava devotees of the Lord, who can fulfil the desires of everyone, just like desire trees, and are full of compassion for the fallen conditioned souls.
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Thank you for the opportunity to serve and associate with Vaishnavas. The importance of sadhu-sanga, saintly association, for spiritual advancement, is something you have stressed very much and so I try more and more to properly embrace.
What I have experienced so far in 3 years of my trials and tribulations trying to function properly in the community of devotees is clarification that they certainly are just like desire trees. This might be a case of ‘be careful what you wish for’ because the qualities of a devotee, due to their natural humility and tendency towards servitude, can be easily perceived in either a proper way or a superficial way, however I desire. By service and loving exchanges based on respect, collectively there will be spiritual advancement but if I simply dwell on the external qualities of a devotee then my spiritual advancement will halt.
In ‘The Nectar of Instruction’, Rupa Gosvami has given extensive advice in this manner and directions us to faithfully associate with and serve the pure devotee who has completely given up the propensity to criticize anyone. That pure devotee does not identify with the material energy.
You are extremely merciful and we witness in you all the good qualities of a pure devotee that are listed in all transcendental literature. The essence of those qualities is that you are always engaged in chanting, glorifying and spreading the Holy Name all around the world. The ability that you have to engage all sorts of devotees in Krishna’s service regardless of their differences in body or mind is characteristic of your successfully empowered efforts in spreading Krishna Consciousness in the contemporary world. This is something we continue to witness and experience through realisation in our association and service under your guidance.
Your mercy is what connects us to the disciplic succession and ultimately what connects us to Krishna. Sometimes we may find it difficult to ‘find the compassion’ to be enthusiastically involved in the ‘highest welfare work’ of distribution of transcendental books but something that we can actually have realisation of is your causeless mercy, with which we can understand our own helpless situation, and therefore even begin to consider being of assistance to someone else.
You have stressed that to actually benefit from this divine mercy our service must not be superficial. For example in your book ‘bhakti-bhava’ you have spoken of a situation of a devotee who might stop chanting his prescribed amount of rounds; “I still have a picture of my Gurudeva. I even have my initiation photo!” he might say. This tendency to identify with the spiritual master sentimentally or superficially is a clever trick of Maya that I have noticed in myself.
During the past year, whilst cooking prasadam feasts for University students on heavy gas burners, I thought of a visual analogy in this manner. While cooking food in a pot on a gas burner we might hastily turn all the knobs up to full blast so that the flame is mostly a dancing shimmer of gold, but an expert chef will come and inform us that the shimmer and shine of those golden flames don’t have so much of an extra effect in terms of heating the bottom of the pot, but really they just make a sooty mess which is hard to clean up. Plus gas will be wasted. So they might instruct us to turn the knob down until the gas lets out a nice pure blue flame. This will have the best overall effect.
Similarly you have recently instructed us to ‘slow the game down’, as a sports coach may call to the team when the boys are getting hasty. With guns blazing we might consider ourselves ‘on the path’ but our service will be hampered by so many faults when pride and arrogance seep in. Spiritual life requires much patience and I hope to somehow find the enthusiasm to engage that non-superficial quality of patience in my dealings and service with devotees and thereby avoid much of which has defeated me in the past.
The nature of a pure, infallible devotee despite their seemingly worldly qualities is compared by Srila Rupa Gosvami to the spiritual waters of the Ganges. The Ganges River cannot be polluted despite the common claims of general people. By giving up association with worldly people and by efficiently taking up the service of the pure devotee we can begin to develop a real desire to jump into the ocean of bhakti, relishing Lord Caitanya’s program of chanting and dancing, remembering Krishna.
I pray to utilize intelligence to fully grasp the relevance of your words and guidance to all types of people, and if I want to feel something, I should feel the urgency of assisting your message’s broadcast worldwide.
As Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita 3.21, “Whatever action a great man performs, common men follow. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.” So therefore the people who are engaged in your service and are faithfully trying to fulfil your instruction will inevitably develop your attitude of devotional service to Krishna, so I pray to remain in their association and service at all times, regardless what the future holds for me in terms of physical condition or ashram situation, which are things I sometimes consider due to a cloudy false ego.
I pray to take from you the medicine of the Holy Name and the association of devotees so that I may be an instrument in Lord Caitanya’s ‘highest welfare work’ of harinam sankirtan. By your example and inspiration and with your mercy I think I will develop a taste for such.
Aspiring to be your obedient servant, Sean
caksur umilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah
I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, who with the torchlight of knowledge has opened my eyes, which were blinded by the darkness of ignorance.
vancha-kalpa-tarubhyas ca kripa-sindhubhya eva ca
patitanam pavanebhyo vaishnavebhyo namo namah
I offer respectful obeisances unto all the Vaishnava devotees of the Lord, who can fulfil the desires of everyone, just like desire trees, and are full of compassion for the fallen conditioned souls.
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Thank you for the opportunity to serve and associate with Vaishnavas. The importance of sadhu-sanga, saintly association, for spiritual advancement, is something you have stressed very much and so I try more and more to properly embrace.
What I have experienced so far in 3 years of my trials and tribulations trying to function properly in the community of devotees is clarification that they certainly are just like desire trees. This might be a case of ‘be careful what you wish for’ because the qualities of a devotee, due to their natural humility and tendency towards servitude, can be easily perceived in either a proper way or a superficial way, however I desire. By service and loving exchanges based on respect, collectively there will be spiritual advancement but if I simply dwell on the external qualities of a devotee then my spiritual advancement will halt.
In ‘The Nectar of Instruction’, Rupa Gosvami has given extensive advice in this manner and directions us to faithfully associate with and serve the pure devotee who has completely given up the propensity to criticize anyone. That pure devotee does not identify with the material energy.
You are extremely merciful and we witness in you all the good qualities of a pure devotee that are listed in all transcendental literature. The essence of those qualities is that you are always engaged in chanting, glorifying and spreading the Holy Name all around the world. The ability that you have to engage all sorts of devotees in Krishna’s service regardless of their differences in body or mind is characteristic of your successfully empowered efforts in spreading Krishna Consciousness in the contemporary world. This is something we continue to witness and experience through realisation in our association and service under your guidance.
Your mercy is what connects us to the disciplic succession and ultimately what connects us to Krishna. Sometimes we may find it difficult to ‘find the compassion’ to be enthusiastically involved in the ‘highest welfare work’ of distribution of transcendental books but something that we can actually have realisation of is your causeless mercy, with which we can understand our own helpless situation, and therefore even begin to consider being of assistance to someone else.
You have stressed that to actually benefit from this divine mercy our service must not be superficial. For example in your book ‘bhakti-bhava’ you have spoken of a situation of a devotee who might stop chanting his prescribed amount of rounds; “I still have a picture of my Gurudeva. I even have my initiation photo!” he might say. This tendency to identify with the spiritual master sentimentally or superficially is a clever trick of Maya that I have noticed in myself.
During the past year, whilst cooking prasadam feasts for University students on heavy gas burners, I thought of a visual analogy in this manner. While cooking food in a pot on a gas burner we might hastily turn all the knobs up to full blast so that the flame is mostly a dancing shimmer of gold, but an expert chef will come and inform us that the shimmer and shine of those golden flames don’t have so much of an extra effect in terms of heating the bottom of the pot, but really they just make a sooty mess which is hard to clean up. Plus gas will be wasted. So they might instruct us to turn the knob down until the gas lets out a nice pure blue flame. This will have the best overall effect.
Similarly you have recently instructed us to ‘slow the game down’, as a sports coach may call to the team when the boys are getting hasty. With guns blazing we might consider ourselves ‘on the path’ but our service will be hampered by so many faults when pride and arrogance seep in. Spiritual life requires much patience and I hope to somehow find the enthusiasm to engage that non-superficial quality of patience in my dealings and service with devotees and thereby avoid much of which has defeated me in the past.
The nature of a pure, infallible devotee despite their seemingly worldly qualities is compared by Srila Rupa Gosvami to the spiritual waters of the Ganges. The Ganges River cannot be polluted despite the common claims of general people. By giving up association with worldly people and by efficiently taking up the service of the pure devotee we can begin to develop a real desire to jump into the ocean of bhakti, relishing Lord Caitanya’s program of chanting and dancing, remembering Krishna.
I pray to utilize intelligence to fully grasp the relevance of your words and guidance to all types of people, and if I want to feel something, I should feel the urgency of assisting your message’s broadcast worldwide.
As Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita 3.21, “Whatever action a great man performs, common men follow. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.” So therefore the people who are engaged in your service and are faithfully trying to fulfil your instruction will inevitably develop your attitude of devotional service to Krishna, so I pray to remain in their association and service at all times, regardless what the future holds for me in terms of physical condition or ashram situation, which are things I sometimes consider due to a cloudy false ego.
I pray to take from you the medicine of the Holy Name and the association of devotees so that I may be an instrument in Lord Caitanya’s ‘highest welfare work’ of harinam sankirtan. By your example and inspiration and with your mercy I think I will develop a taste for such.
Aspiring to be your obedient servant, Sean
Sevamrita devi dasi
Dear Gurudeva
Please accept my humble obiesances at your lotus feet
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
At the Recharge festival in NZ early this year, you told us the story of how Srila Prabhupada dealt with a troubled couple, Krishna-devi and Subala das, during 1967-68. What did Srila Prabhupada do? Srila Prabhupada beckons Krishna devi dasi, who left her husband to be with another man, and consoles Subala das. Srila Prabhupada wrote to Krishna devi as follows;
“I never expected that you shall act in this way. If you love me at all and Krishna at all, you should immediately come back, either to me or to your husband without delay.
"I love you at my heart and therefore I gave you the name Krishna devi dasi…I hope everything will be all right as soon as you come here…I am awaiting your arrival with great interest."
On your website blog, you further shared your realizations and meditation on the story;
"Let us meditate on Prabhupada’s compassion, his example to all of us how to shed rivers of blood, sweat and tears just to bring one person to bhakti and sustain the devotee. This is our yogic austerity in the Age of Quarrel and Darkness- dredging the pool of Kali- yuga to rescue the submerged and entrapped."
As you are glorifying Srila Prabhupada’s compassion in helping the couple, my heart is seized with wonder and appreciation of how you manifest the very same quality: you also shower your personal care – buckets of tears, blood and sweat- upon your disciples.
Such genuine love is so potent that it can force recipients to – or at least try to- disregard the taste for the material energy and their own material conditionings. That sweet love, which is so pure without a drop of artificial flavoring of selfishness, adulterated motives or even just temporary nicety, pushes and pulls many conditioned souls to relish the nectar of devotional service.
Let me rejoice in the greatest fortune of receiving your personal care in my Krsna conscious life – from babyhood, teenage hood to now. Let me follow your footsteps, as a daughter should always do, to give such genuine care to devotees and to those who are submerged in the pool of Kali-yuga. I pray that I may tirelessly endeavor to lay the nectar fruits of assisting Srila Prabhpada’s mission -the family mission- at your feet, not the problems of my troubled mind and body.
<i>nama-srestham manum api saci-putram atra svarupam
rupam tasyagrajam uru-purim mathurim gostavatim
radha-kundam giri-varam aho radhika-madhavasam
prapto yasya prathita-krpaya sri gurum tam nato 'smi</i>
"I bow down to the beautiful lotus feet of my spiritual master, by whose causeless mercy I have obtained the Supreme holy name, the divine mantra, the service of the son of Saci-mata, the association of Srila Svarupa Damodara, Rupa Gosvami, and his older brother Sanatana Gosvami, the Supreme abode of Mathura, the blissful abode of Vrndavana, the divine Radha Kunda and Govardhana Hill, the desire within my heart for the loving service of Sri Radha and Madhava in Vrndavana."
Thank you for helping me to love you more through your divine spiritual instructions and caring guidance, so that I may be able to develop the love for Lord Caitanya’s sankirtana movement, holy name, and service to Sri Sri Radha and Krishna.
Aspiring to always offer you the better seva-amrita,
Sevamrita devi dasi
Please accept my humble obiesances at your lotus feet
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
At the Recharge festival in NZ early this year, you told us the story of how Srila Prabhupada dealt with a troubled couple, Krishna-devi and Subala das, during 1967-68. What did Srila Prabhupada do? Srila Prabhupada beckons Krishna devi dasi, who left her husband to be with another man, and consoles Subala das. Srila Prabhupada wrote to Krishna devi as follows;
“I never expected that you shall act in this way. If you love me at all and Krishna at all, you should immediately come back, either to me or to your husband without delay.
"I love you at my heart and therefore I gave you the name Krishna devi dasi…I hope everything will be all right as soon as you come here…I am awaiting your arrival with great interest."
On your website blog, you further shared your realizations and meditation on the story;
"Let us meditate on Prabhupada’s compassion, his example to all of us how to shed rivers of blood, sweat and tears just to bring one person to bhakti and sustain the devotee. This is our yogic austerity in the Age of Quarrel and Darkness- dredging the pool of Kali- yuga to rescue the submerged and entrapped."
As you are glorifying Srila Prabhupada’s compassion in helping the couple, my heart is seized with wonder and appreciation of how you manifest the very same quality: you also shower your personal care – buckets of tears, blood and sweat- upon your disciples.
Such genuine love is so potent that it can force recipients to – or at least try to- disregard the taste for the material energy and their own material conditionings. That sweet love, which is so pure without a drop of artificial flavoring of selfishness, adulterated motives or even just temporary nicety, pushes and pulls many conditioned souls to relish the nectar of devotional service.
Let me rejoice in the greatest fortune of receiving your personal care in my Krsna conscious life – from babyhood, teenage hood to now. Let me follow your footsteps, as a daughter should always do, to give such genuine care to devotees and to those who are submerged in the pool of Kali-yuga. I pray that I may tirelessly endeavor to lay the nectar fruits of assisting Srila Prabhpada’s mission -the family mission- at your feet, not the problems of my troubled mind and body.
<i>nama-srestham manum api saci-putram atra svarupam
rupam tasyagrajam uru-purim mathurim gostavatim
radha-kundam giri-varam aho radhika-madhavasam
prapto yasya prathita-krpaya sri gurum tam nato 'smi</i>
"I bow down to the beautiful lotus feet of my spiritual master, by whose causeless mercy I have obtained the Supreme holy name, the divine mantra, the service of the son of Saci-mata, the association of Srila Svarupa Damodara, Rupa Gosvami, and his older brother Sanatana Gosvami, the Supreme abode of Mathura, the blissful abode of Vrndavana, the divine Radha Kunda and Govardhana Hill, the desire within my heart for the loving service of Sri Radha and Madhava in Vrndavana."
Thank you for helping me to love you more through your divine spiritual instructions and caring guidance, so that I may be able to develop the love for Lord Caitanya’s sankirtana movement, holy name, and service to Sri Sri Radha and Krishna.
Aspiring to always offer you the better seva-amrita,
Sevamrita devi dasi
Shannon
To the most auspicious and glorious of all people, the meek and humble devotees of the Sankirtan Movement. My utmost and full obeisances unto these vaisnavas who realize the star of infinity that resides in the heart and whose eyes are illuminated with the light of knowledge. Whose hands wipe away the dust of ignorance and who emit the sparks of inspiration and creativity. You have saved my life and soul when you held out your hand of mercy.
All glories to the most venerable and saintly master… Guru Maharaja Devamrita Swami… who has sewn the seeds of devotional service into the hearts of the pure and pious persons that are presently assembled. Then grown in the light of Krsna to produce the finest and sweetest fruits on the tree of eternity… All glories!
Every living spark is searching… searching for what? Great Rsis and Sages start the real search by proposing questions and, if lucky enough, to find a spiritual master. The spiritual master disposes questions, with real answers with a depth of clarity.
To be fortunate enough to associated with a Sadhu, in constant service at the lotus feet of Krsna, is the highest of all reciprocation. Guru Maharaja imparts precise knowledge and perfect qualities making a faint spark become a roaring fire, fueled with the pastimes of Krsna and Prasadam, emanating the amrita of the Holy Names- Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare/Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.
Without a Bonafide guide I wandered in circles, literally chasing my tail! Traveling aimlessly, bewildered and blinded by desires. Being picked up and thrown down time and again, pushed sand pulled in all directions. Prodded and Poked, battered and bruised… ragdolled in the hands of Maya!
Choking on acrid smoke and funneling rivers of poison into my soul, blinded by the ashes of devastation and writhing like a cut worm rolling in the embers of Kali-Yuga
I threw my shaking fists at the sky in frustration. This let me to drop my bewildered, teary eyes into my palms, my anger let to cries, actually tortured screams.
But you heard me… YOU heard me! And you offered the devotees. Soothing hands that wiped away the burning embers, warm smiles that opened my eyes and sweet words on a scented breeze that gave me a chance to breathe. I was comforted in warm embraces and whispered into my ear was the sweet words… I love you forever!… And my angry cries became tearful cries of joy!
Realising my miseries were my own doing, my frustration caused by me, I humbly bow down and surrender to the most awesomely beautiful and brilliant devotees who serve at the divine feet of Sri Guru
I raise my open hands with outstretched arms and wrench out to the sky beyond the sky. I reach inwards as far as I can and I may, with Krsna's mercy, find eternity! A door lies right in front of us but most overlook it. The door is unlocked with knowledge and it is opened with yearning. Beyond the door is a river of consciousness with unlimited depth and diversity! These visions of heaven are what Krsna inspires and are the objects of attraction a devotee aspires. A life of perfection is what I desire to acquire and it is through the selfless service of affection at the feet of Sri Guru!
I thank you Guru Deva, for showing me the inconceivable, irrefutable truth that was hidden from view and i seek spiritual guidance from you! All those who seek shelter at the soft lotus feet of a great Sadhu, who serves 'tirelessly' at the foot of the Almighty Lord, creates themselves a legacy… a life with real meaning and direction. The legacy that is Krsna Consciousness is eternal and to be apart of that legacy is the highest honour! So I thank you again and again with my heartfelt love and praise. Oh Guru Maharaja Devamrita Swami, and I lay before you my life and soul… eternal and unconditional!
All glories to the most venerable and saintly master… Guru Maharaja Devamrita Swami… who has sewn the seeds of devotional service into the hearts of the pure and pious persons that are presently assembled. Then grown in the light of Krsna to produce the finest and sweetest fruits on the tree of eternity… All glories!
Every living spark is searching… searching for what? Great Rsis and Sages start the real search by proposing questions and, if lucky enough, to find a spiritual master. The spiritual master disposes questions, with real answers with a depth of clarity.
To be fortunate enough to associated with a Sadhu, in constant service at the lotus feet of Krsna, is the highest of all reciprocation. Guru Maharaja imparts precise knowledge and perfect qualities making a faint spark become a roaring fire, fueled with the pastimes of Krsna and Prasadam, emanating the amrita of the Holy Names- Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare/Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.
Without a Bonafide guide I wandered in circles, literally chasing my tail! Traveling aimlessly, bewildered and blinded by desires. Being picked up and thrown down time and again, pushed sand pulled in all directions. Prodded and Poked, battered and bruised… ragdolled in the hands of Maya!
Choking on acrid smoke and funneling rivers of poison into my soul, blinded by the ashes of devastation and writhing like a cut worm rolling in the embers of Kali-Yuga
I threw my shaking fists at the sky in frustration. This let me to drop my bewildered, teary eyes into my palms, my anger let to cries, actually tortured screams.
But you heard me… YOU heard me! And you offered the devotees. Soothing hands that wiped away the burning embers, warm smiles that opened my eyes and sweet words on a scented breeze that gave me a chance to breathe. I was comforted in warm embraces and whispered into my ear was the sweet words… I love you forever!… And my angry cries became tearful cries of joy!
Realising my miseries were my own doing, my frustration caused by me, I humbly bow down and surrender to the most awesomely beautiful and brilliant devotees who serve at the divine feet of Sri Guru
I raise my open hands with outstretched arms and wrench out to the sky beyond the sky. I reach inwards as far as I can and I may, with Krsna's mercy, find eternity! A door lies right in front of us but most overlook it. The door is unlocked with knowledge and it is opened with yearning. Beyond the door is a river of consciousness with unlimited depth and diversity! These visions of heaven are what Krsna inspires and are the objects of attraction a devotee aspires. A life of perfection is what I desire to acquire and it is through the selfless service of affection at the feet of Sri Guru!
I thank you Guru Deva, for showing me the inconceivable, irrefutable truth that was hidden from view and i seek spiritual guidance from you! All those who seek shelter at the soft lotus feet of a great Sadhu, who serves 'tirelessly' at the foot of the Almighty Lord, creates themselves a legacy… a life with real meaning and direction. The legacy that is Krsna Consciousness is eternal and to be apart of that legacy is the highest honour! So I thank you again and again with my heartfelt love and praise. Oh Guru Maharaja Devamrita Swami, and I lay before you my life and soul… eternal and unconditional!
Shastra Krit Das
nama om visnu - padaya krsna – presthaya bhu-tale
srimate Devamrita - Swamin iti namine
pracare purva-daksyam ca bhaktacara-pravinata
pararthatapi karunyam yasya sarve ca te namah
On this auspicious occasion of your Vyasapuja celebration Gurudev, I'm making childish attempt to glorify you for my own purification. Please accept this humble offering and bless me that i can continue to be engaged in your service eternally.
There are 26 characteristics of the Krishna's pure devotee described in the Sri Caitanya Caritamrita (Madhya Lila 22. 78-80): These qualities are fully manifest in you Gurudev. From my tiny experience i have witnessed you display all these qualities. Here in I would like to share those experiences for your pleasure and the pleasure of my God family.
Merciful : Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati said a disciple should be more merciful than the Guru. Following in the steps of Prabhupad & our preaching parampara you are living a such a selfless life of sacrifice. Always thinking of novel ways to spreading Krishna Consciousness. You are firm that makes people think that your standards are too high, but very liberal & compassionate. I remember one of my God brothers ( Gurukuli) approached you and said " maharaj i really like you and want to take initiation from you but your standards are too high for me". You looked at him with a innocent smile and asked "what ? 16 rounds and 4 regs is too high for you? " Then he realized gee you are just like all the initiating Guru's in ISKCON and surrendered.
Humble: You are a great example of trinad api principle Gurudev. Like Mahaprabhu said" in front of my spiritual master I'm just a fool". Even though you are so intelligent and have the capacity to read any spiritual text and understand, you are so humble and exemplary that you humbly in your own words only repeat the words of your Spiritual master decade after decade. Therefore there is so much potency in your words, who ever hears you, their life is never the same again.
Truthful: One of the brahminical qualities is truthfulness. As Krishna says there is no more superior truth than Him. So you Gurudeva is always presenting the supreme truth without compromising. As you expertly put "in Gita Krishna is sorry that we have misunderstood him avajananty mam muda" So you are constantly defending Krishna & trying to clear the misunderstandings between Krishna and the jiva's you come across . To repeat the words of Krishna in ALL circumstances with out compromise is not easy therefore you are worshippable.
Equal to all : You are not only concerned about the welfare of human beings. I remember few years ago considering the horrors the cows go through in dairy industry you stopped serving store bought milk at our out reach centers. Also as a visionary you said "as long we compromise saying oh this is kaliyuga, what can be done? at least the cows will get some benefit when we offer the milk to Krishna and keep buying store milk we will never have the enthusiasm to get our own cows". By your compassion, vision and desire we have protected cows and get plenty of cruelty free milk now. Not only in NZ many temples and out reach centers around the world followed your example and got their protected cows.
Faultless : once somebody asked you how is that there is criticism even against pure devotees like you. You replied so nicely saying "when you make propaganda against Maya, Maya will make propaganda against you". Past 14 years i cant find any faults in you. As Krishna describes personalities like you. "Sa mahatma sudurlabha". Prabhupad said my disciples will be known as perfect ladies and gentle man. You are not only a gentle man you are Vaikunta man Gurudeva.
Magnanimous : I met one devotee in Los Angeles few years ago who was initially contaminated by the Ritviks. I didn't know any thing about the Ritvik philosophy. What to speak of convincing or arguing against their teachings, so i simply brought him to you. You with your purity and genius way of presenting the real siddhantha made him speechless. He simply gave obeisances. As he was on the floor offering obeisances you said loudly. "Yes i forgive you on behalf of ISKCON but give up your fault finding mentality. You are honey combed with faults your self so you are seeing it in others". To my surprise that devotee asked you how to give up fault finding ? You said "serve the devotees and go on book distribution that will take care of your pride". He ended up taking initiation from you. I got to see how authoritative and magnanimous you are.
Mild: Being completely free from the material modes of nature even when you chastise you are mild. You said once that when you speak something harsh people remember even after 10 years so its better to show expressions of dissatisfaction. Once there was a movie producer lady visited you. You asked me to find a ride for her so she can attend the evening program you were giving. I immediately & foolishly said "Gurudev there is room in your car is she wants to join us". Again you asked me patiently and gently asked me to find her a ride so i did. Then you called me on the radio and pointed out how i put you on the spot in front of your guest and not to do that again. I walked out with a lesson but you always correct us without discouraging our enthusiasm to serve.
Clean : Once I was serving you breakfast and after you finished I cleared the plates and was rushing out the door to honor the maha. You called me from your room loudly with your lion like voice "SHASTRA KRIT". I came running back inside you asked me "did you wipe the table i eat on with with wet cloth"? Being caught off guard i was stammering for words. Again you asked "YES or NO"? I admitted my fault and said no. Then on top of your voice you said "CLEANLINESS, never hesitate to clean, devotee should be revolutionarily clean. Just by seeing how clean we are people will join us". Also by inspiring us to chant the holy names you cleanse our hearts.
Without Material Possession : In all these years you never pushed us to collect or over endeavor for any projects. You only wanted us to chant nicely & distribute books. Once you said in a humorous way. "Prabhupad didn't come to the west with two heart attacks and stickers. He came with these books". You always preached and took care of the devotees Krishna sent ,hoping Krishna will send more devotees to take care, this way service to Krishna will increase. You always told us" Krishna will give us anything we want but devotional service He won't give cheaply because with devotional service we can conquer Him". During the last year retreat you mentioned how we had nothing and all of a sudden we have acquired the land New Gupta Vraj , Kirtan Hall , Gaura Heaven without any debt. Everyone was surprised how you manage so nicely that you did not borrow any laxmi from any source . Your conviction is that if we take care of the devotees and preach, Krishna will send everything .
Welfare Work For Everyone : So much can be said on this quality of yours. Once you asked my mother to cook for all the Gaura Yoga devotees, you sat all of us down and personally served each preparation. At the end you gave a talk saying how "you sing everyday Catur vidah sri bhagavad prasada, so its my duty to see all of you are satisfied honoring sumptuous prasad. I asked at the end of your talk a question "we also sing yasya prasadad so how do we please you?" You said" become fully Krishna conscious and of course distribute Prabhupad's books". You said it from your heart. You never ask anything for your self. You are always meditating on pleasing your spiritual master.
Peaceful : I was friendly with a Limo driver that comes to our Govindas. He offered me to take you to the airport at the end of your stay in New Dwaraka. I was so happy with this arrangement but I did not bother to tell you the details. So when you came to the car and you saw it was a stretched limo. You got in and became very grave. I was hoping to serve you nicely and make you happy on the contrary I saw you look little disturbed i didn't know what to do. So I mentioned to you "Gurudev this is a free ride". Immediately you put your seat back and relaxed with a mild smile and asked for some water. I try to give you the water bottle but you indicated I should pour it in one of those fancy champagne glasses. At that moment you looked like you could be CEO of a big corporation or the president of the US. As Krishna says "one who knows Me to be the enjoyer of all sacrifices, controller of all the universes and a true friend of all living entities will actually attain peace". So knowing everything is Krishna's energy you did not like to waste even a penny of Krishna's laxmi.
Surrendered To Krishna : By your example you are always showing us how we cannot serve Krishna directly without serving the Spiritual master. Once we came back from a home program in Melbourne I gave obeisances and i was ready to leave to take rest. Before I left, you said to me "I want you to go to Welly and assist with the out reach work there for some time". I foolishly replied "I don't like Wellington Gurudev its too cold there". Immidietly you said "oh its all about what you like these days is it? I never think like you, I go where ever there is service to Prabhupad. If i would have thought Wellington is cold, you would not have become a devotee". I couldn't sleep all night after that exchange, realizing my foolishness.
Desire less : Your only desire is Krishna's service. I once asked you a question about what happens at the time of death for a devotee. You replied "we leave it up to Krishna, how ever Krishna wants , where ever Krishna wants. Geography doesn't matter, service to Krishna must go on". Hearing this profound realization, all this heavy weight i was carrying in my head about where I'm going at the time of death disappeared.
Indifferent To Material Acquisitions: Once i received a laptop as a birthday gift. I had this strong desire to offer it to you. So right after mangal arati with so much enthusiasm i approached you and wanted to offer the laptop to you, which was a big deal for me ( to be able to receive a laptop and to be able to donate it). You simply said "thank you ! but i already have one". Being so sensitive to devotees feelings, you can see I'm disappointed not being able to donate the laptop to you. You mercifully then said "but if you like I can give it to a devotee who will use it in Krishna's service". I became so happy i couldn't even chant japa. I waited a little and went to your quarters with the laptop. You asked me in a heavy voice "have you finished you rounds"? i said no Gurudev I wanted to bring the laptop to you. You said "go finish your rounds and I'm also busy preparing for the Bhagavatam class". I asked if i can leave the laptop with you and go to chant ? you said "no take it with you and come back after the morning program".
Fixed In Devotional Service: The way you chant your rounds attentively and with feelings says it all. Lord Caitanya says who ever comes in the association of a pure devotee will also be inspired to chant. Its so easy to be in good consciousness and chant in your presence. As you once said "I was sprinting back to Godhead ,then the GBC requested to me to take the responsibility of accepting disciples". You are so powerful Gurudev you can sprint back to Godhead taking all of us with you provided we are willing to come with you.
Completely Control Six Bad Qualities : mam ca yo vyabicaryena, sa gunan samatiyeitan. You do not need to control these vices, however, as they are completely absent from your nature. You walk like a vaidurya gem manifesting many beautiful, transcendental qualities at every moment, as you move about in the brilliant light of pure devotional service. Since we are still susceptible to the onslaught of the six bad qualities, we should place our heads, in all humility, at your lotus feet , engage enthusiastically in serving the mission of your Gurudev to the best of our abilities. In this way, we are sure to become completely free from material contamination and develop pure love for Krishna.
Eat Only As Much as Required: You are such a great example and showing us its possible to take care of the body for Krishna's service, even while touring the world nonstop by sending the spread sheet of what you can eat and what you cannot eat. Showing us how its possible to eat ,not just tasty but also healthy. Just taking light breakfast, light dinner and satisfying lunch.
Not Inebriated : Even though you have janma,isvarya, sruta, sribhir, you are cool headed. Its amazing to see again and again you never forget any devotee that's taken shelter of you or even approaches you. You are so proactive and hands on with us. As one disciple of TKG told me " after my Gurudev's departure from this world ,i only see your Gurudev so hands on with his disciples and he takes such good of them" You are conscious of our needs without letting us to push you or rush you.
Respectfull: In your dealings with your God brothers you are so respectful. At the end of class if a senior devotee raises his hand to ask a question you would respectfully say "oh this must be comment". Also when you see your disciples talking to a senior devotee you would address the senior devotee saying thank you for giving your blessings to such and such. Even when you are in rush, if one of your God brothers offers you obeisances on the ground, you pay obeisances back by bowing down. One time in Sydney i went to a festival by Indradyumna maharaj and set up a book table, when they had their own book table. When you found out that i was competing you became disturbed and corrected me asking why compete with the devotees efforts to preach when there are so many other places to distribute ?
Grave: Sometimes I see you after six months and will be driving in the car with you but you wont say anything during the whole drive. Through occasional sidelong glances you will bless us and all of us will feel completely satisfied . I'm amazed how grave and non sentimental you are. You train us to see that Guru, disciple relationship is completely based on Krishna's service. If i have been serving nicely, been a good boy , you let me know just through a pleasing glance. i am always amazed by this quality of yours.
compassionate: This quality cannot be faked. By serving you and closely associating with you, anyone can see your life is one of pure compassion and selfless sacrifice. There is no tinge of material motivations. Your mother prayed at the time of your conception to God to send some one who will spread His glories. Her prayers are benefiting so many 1000's in form of your spreading sanatan dharma far and wide all over the world. Thank you for training us your disciples the art of out reach work also Gurudev. Some preach Krishna consciousness but they don't follow strictly, some follow strictly but don't preach. You Gurudev are expert in spreading Krishna consciousness, follow strictly & train others the art as well, rare combination.
Without False Prestige: It is explained to be proud of ones sinlessness is also a sin in the eyes of Krishna. Once Druvananda, Hriman Krishna and I were staying with you in a farm house during a retreat in Melbourne. It was a wooden house not noise proof. In the middle of the night you started screaming "please be gentle with me Krishna, Please be gentle". We brahmacaris got scared and we ran towards your door and we heard you are mildly snoring and resting. So we went back to sleep. Again you started laughing loudly saying "Krishna you are so funny Krishna, so funny". Again we went to your door to see if everything is OK and heard you snoring and resting. So next morning you kindly took us for a walk, during the walk Druva had the nerve to ask you "Gurudev were you dreaming with Krishna last night"? You asked Druvananda "why you ask"? He explained what we heard ,you then became grave and kept walking to let us know its personal . Even though we are your admirers and disciples you didn't try to impress us.
Friendly: My mother, coming from a certain vaisnava back ground, says to meet a Guru is impossible they are so big time and sometimes hundreds of people are waiting just to have a few mins dharshan, what to speak of them knowing our names, our problems ,giving guidance etc..But our Gurudev is strict but amazingly friendly. She remembers how you corrected her so many times not to watch TV but in a friendly way. At the time of her initiation being a widow, she actually was shy to vow no illicit sex. Rather she vowed to not to watch TV in front of 100's of devotees.
Poetic: You are so poetic. When you speak Krishna katha ,when you write your face book blogs and your books ,devotees all over the world relish it so much .You are such a Kavi. Once one devotee left your lotus feet and was causing all kinds of disturbance, thinking you are against his/her gender. You simply commented "we are not homophobic we are Kama phobic in any shape or form, gross or subtle".
Expert : As your pranam mantra says you are an expert . Not only in preaching, but in what ever you do. The way you dress, the way you honor prasad, the way you dance, the way you lead kirtan, the way you take care of your health, the way you distribute books , the way you present the books, the way you manage your time , the way you manage 1000's of devotees spiritual lives, the way you take care of devotees health, the way you arrange marriages of disciples ,the way you train b'caris, the way you train contemporary men, the way advice and train Mataji's (in a exemplary way by keeping a healthy distance), the way you deal with your relatives, the way you book air tickets , the way you travel. What can i say ? You are so expert Gurudev.
Silent: What ever you speak moment after moment is for the benefit of others. Its shastric, , humorous, instructive, without duplicity, out of compassion & not compromising. Its simply for Krishna's pleasure.
I remain your humble servant ever
Shastra Krit das. Los Angeles.
Sitapati das
Dear Gurudeva,
Many moons ago I sat in a room with you, and a number of others. You were about to leave overseas after a week visiting us at our small center, and you shared your thoughts and feelings with us.
"<i>I wish I could live your lives for you</i>," you said, "<i>but that is not possible</i>". In our late teens and early twenties, we dully appreciated your keen awareness of what lay ahead of us, but could sense the strength of your concern and care.
<center>"Only the ignorant speak of devotional service as being different from the analytical study of the material world. Those who are actually learned say that he who applies himself well to one of these paths achieves the results of both."</center>
- <i>Bhagavad-gita</i> <a href="http://vedabase.com/en/bg/5/4">5.4</a>
A yoga student recently challenged me about my presentation of Bhagavad-gita during my yoga asana class. "<i>You have a captive audience</i>," she said, "<i>and while I appreciate your conviction, it's borders on religious evangelism</i>."
I thought about it for a moment, then said to her: "<i>There is a religion around Bhagavad-gita, but this is not it. Personally, </i>I<i> don't believe everything that the Bhagavad-gita says, but I think it's important to know and to consider. Is it true that the soul transmigrates between different bodies? I don't know. What I do know for sure is that that is what the Bhagavad-gita says, and the Bhagavad-gita is an important part of the history and tradition of yoga. Maybe I should make that more explicit in the class</i>".
"<i>Maybe you should just say</i> less</i>, rather than more</i>," was her reply.
There is something to be said for that. A saying has that "<i>eloquence is the truth spoken concisely</i>". Another has it that "<i>a fool is considered wise until he opens his mouth</i>". Allow me the liberty to open my mouth and prove myself a fool in front of you.
I left that encounter pondering the question: "<i>is it true?</i>"; but more importantly: "<strong><i>what is truth?</i></strong>"
For without an answer to the second question, no answer to the the first can be meaningful.
I think it valuable to understand the worldview presented in the <i>Bhagavad-gita</i>, according to its own frame of reference, and without feeling threatened by a need to (religiously) "believe" or "not believe" it.
Srila Prabhupada presents exactly this point in his Introduction to <i>Bhagavad-gita As It Is</i>:
<center>"So according to the statements of Bhagavad-gītā or the statements of Arjuna, the person who is trying to understand the Bhagavad-gītā, we should at least theoretically accept Śrī Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and with that submissive spirit we can understand the Bhagavad-gītā. Unless one reads the Bhagavad-gītā in a submissive spirit, it is very difficult to understand Bhagavad-gītā, because it is a great mystery."</center>
- <i>Bhagavad-gita As It Is</i> <a href="http://vedabase.com/en/bg/introduction">Introduction</a>
Some may be reflexively (and unconsciously) repulsed by the overt religious connotations of the turn of phrase "<i>the Supreme Personality of Godhead</i>", and the use of the term "<i>submissive</i>". Most do not know this is close to the literal translation of the term "Islam", but intuitively they understand it as suspension of critical thinking and blind adherence to religious dogma, a common perception (some would say trait) of fundamentalist religion.
However, the point that Prabhupada is making here is that the <i>Bhagavad-gita</i> should be examined with a suspension of both "belief" and "disbelief", and examined as a coherent whole for an appreciation of its internal consistency and potential for application.
According to the philosophy underpinning the Bhagavad-gita and its conclusions, truth is <i>Sat</i>. <i>Sat</i> is what is real, what exists, and what is eternal.
<i>Asat</i> is what is not eternal, what is therefore an "appearance of existence", and what is therefore not real.
To use analogy, a lump of clay may be formed into a cup. The cup is an appearance, whereas the clay is the underlying reality. It is the clay that is real, and the cup is not real:
<center>"Those who are seers of the truth have concluded that of the nonexistent there is no endurance and of the eternal there is no change. This they have concluded by studying the nature of both."</center>
- <i>Bhagavad-gita</i> <a href="http://vedabase.com/en/bg/2/16">2.16</a>
The same clay cup may be broken, and remoulded into a plate. Is the cup the reality, or the plate?
According to this understanding, neither - it is the clay that is the substrate of reality, and the cup and the plate are temporary manifestations.
To take the analogy to another level, according to modern atomic theory the clay is made up of molecules. The atoms that make up the chemicals of the clay migrate in and out of the molecular bonds of the clay and the molecular bonds of other substances in the world. Plants extract nutrients from the earth through their roots. Those plants are eaten by animals, whose <i>ahankara</i> - "I-forming energy" - draws the molecules across the barrier of the stomach and press them into service as components of cells in the temporary incorporated association of their body.
Are the clay, the plant, or the body of the animal real? According to this understanding of <i>Sat</i>, they are each temporary manifestations of the underlying substrate - the molecules.
To take it further, Einstein demonstrated through his equation of general relativity that atoms and energy are interchangeable. They are two different states of some deeper, underlying reality.
Here we come close to the statement of Shankara, the great Vedic Philosopher, who ten centuries earlier said: "<i>The material world is category, Brahman is substance</i>". The underlying substrate of reality is something more fundamental than atoms, more fundamental than energy; both are merely transformations, temporary manifestations of this deeper substrate.
The fundamental existential quality of this substrate is simply and profoundly this: existence. As sugar gives sweetness to everything it composes, and water imparts its quality of wetness to anything it participates in, this substance, called <i>Brahman</i> in Sanskrit, imparts existence to reality.
"<i>But is it true?</i>"
To answer this question we first answer: "<i>What is truth?</i>" We have examined truth from the perspective of the philosophy of <i>Bhagavad-gita</i>. Now let us examine it from the perspective of modern science.
According to modern science truth consists of statements of what is. The truth of a statement can never be fully conclusively known, however a hypothesis gains or loses strength through its ability to explain observable phenomena, and its ability to make predictions that can be tested.
In a very simplistic sense we could say that a statement is demonstrated to be true as it enables us to build machines that are effective. Newton's descriptions of the forces of reaction and gravity are validated by the observations of the planetary bodies, and the creation of vehicles that use these forces to move about the gravity well. Einstein's theories, and the contributions to atomic theory of (Kiwi) scientist Ernest Rutherford are validated by the development of atomic power sources and nuclear weapons.
Have I ever seen an atom? No. Do I believe they exist? I don't know for sure, but the fact that atomic theory provides a useful framework for explaining observable phenomena and making predictions that can be tested (including new machines that work) increase my faith that it is a useful framework for understanding the world.
In the same way, my faith that <i>Bhagavad-gita</i> provides a useful framework for understanding the world has increased over time.
This to me is the essential difference between faith and belief. Initial faith means hypothetical acceptance for the purposes of experimental (in)validation. Further faith means a level of certainty proportional to experience of results.
Belief on the other hand means suspension of critical thought and acceptance of something as true irrespective of facts or observations that indicate the contrary.
One member of ISKCON once said to me: "<i>Once you decide to join up, you are not supposed to think anymore. You have to accept <strong>everything</strong></i>."
That, of course, invalidates the very nature of my approach to this knowledge system, one that has served me well, and one that is recommended by Srila Prabhupada in his presentation of <i>Bhagavad-gita</i>.
My understanding now is that different persons have different natures, and different ways of a approaching a knowledge system. Perhaps for this reason, Krishna says: 'Only the ignorant speak of devotional service as being different from the analytical study of the material world.' Perhaps it is a caution that these two different ways of understanding Him appeal to different persons, and mutual respect is required.
At this point in my life, I'm not into crystals, chakras, ghost stories, conspiracy-thinking, or aliens. But that's ok, because those are not essential components of <i>Bhagavad-gita</i> or Krishna Consciousness. I can appreciate that any organisation develops a culture over time, including a way of speaking and dressing, and shared stories and values that constitute the tenor of the culture of the organisation, and which are distinct from its mission or purpose. ISKCON is a global organisation, with lots of sub-cultures within it.
I understand also that while individuals within an organisation go through changes in their personal realization, the 70s will always be alive somewhere - wherever young people are coming into Krishna Consciousness for the first time and experiencing the perfect storm of enthusiasm and youthful energy. I drew a lot of strength recently from visiting the Loft in Auckland, where the perfect storm of dedicated experienced disciples and new enthusiastic persons is taking place.
Is there a snake lying at the bottom of the universe in an ocean? Well, to be honest I don't know. It is not experimentally verifiable, so that's not a question that can be answered in that way. If someone were to tell me that I had to believe that, I would reply that I have no psychological need to "believe" anything, and that my reading of the philosophy is that belief is neither condemned nor required. It is a psychological mode for some and not for others, and one who condemns the mode of understanding of the other does so from a position of ignorance.
Can you make useful and testable predictions, and recommendations about courses of action based on the world view that incorporates the idea of a huge divine serpent at the bottom of the universe? After some time of investigating, I think that you can.
My faith has grown over time that the knowledge system presented in <i>Bhagavad-gita</i> and <i>Srimad Bhagavatam</i> <strong>does</strong> provide useful guidance for life and for living. It uses a different way of seeing and presenting the world - a more vividly colorful and attractively entertaining mode than dry science books (although I actually like those too). The lessons contained within can help us to make sense out of the situations we find ourselves in at different stages of life, and the overall situation of life that we find ourselves in. We require help to extract the essential messages, and not get lost in the details of a presentation from another time and culture. Over the years I have seen you continually dedicate yourself to diving deep within that presentation and that worldview, and resurface from that ocean carrying pearls of wisdom and insight to share.
I understand now a little more of the vision that you had, sitting in that room with those teenagers and young adults who would traverse the terrain of changing biological and psychological experiences, of hopes and expectations of life, of relationships, trials and tribulations, challenges and opportunities, and life-changing inflection point events.
I have heard it said of the six Goswamis that as well as their erudition on spiritual matters, they were frequently consulted for practical matters by the villagers of their area. In addition to your wealth of knowledge of spiritual matters, you also possess a vast depth and breadth of knowledge of practical affairs. There have been many lessons in my life that I have passed through, only to look back and see within them the practical lesson of principles and instructions that I have heard from you. Indeed, if you could live my life for me it would be a different story - but I am immensely glad that you have been there alongside me, giving me advice and encouragement that has carried me through difficult times, and I am confident will continue to bring solace and strength in future times of ease and difficulty.
These are three things that you said to me that I have always considered to be extremely important practical instructions for spiritual life:
"Don't be falsely busy."
"Always keep a core of simplicity in a complex world."
"It is our burden of love to Srila Prabhupada that we work together, no matter how difficult it is."
As the years pass, and I approach the age you were when I first met you, I appreciate more of the nature of the unique contribution you are able to make to others, and that you have made to me. You instantiate a solid point of reference for those who need to believe, and provide the space needed by those who do not. Different people approach Krishna Consciousness with different motives; and at different points in life, the same person approaches Krishna Consciousness in a different way and for different results.
A month ago, I met my god brother Caitanya Vihara on the street in Auckland, where he was distributing books. I deeply appreciated his activity of personally dedicating himself to spreading spiritual knowledge to others, and further, the long-standing focus on this activity that you have established in New Zealand. I shared with him that I felt deeply appreciative that in my twenties my energy was directed into and focused on Krishna Consciousness and sharing it with others.
Do I believe that there is a snake at the bottom of the universe? To be honest I don't know. Do I have faith that the <i>Bhagavad-gita</i> and <i>Srimad Bhagavatam</i> provide a useful guide to living life? Based on my experience - which is an ongoing experiment in the great laboratory of life - I say "Yes".
Is there somewhere in all of this a mystical experience of Radha and Krishna?
When once asked if he had seen Krishna, Srila Prabhupada replied: "<i>Yes I have seen Krishna. Here is Krishna in this painting. You are seeing Krishna now.</i>"
I am an extreme neophyte in Krishna Consciousness, but based on what I have heard and what I have experienced, I have increased faith in this path. So while I will not be so bold as to say that I have seen Krishna, I have seen signs along the way, and I am encouraged.
...and deeply appreciative.
your fallen servant,
Sitapati das
Many moons ago I sat in a room with you, and a number of others. You were about to leave overseas after a week visiting us at our small center, and you shared your thoughts and feelings with us.
"<i>I wish I could live your lives for you</i>," you said, "<i>but that is not possible</i>". In our late teens and early twenties, we dully appreciated your keen awareness of what lay ahead of us, but could sense the strength of your concern and care.
<center>"Only the ignorant speak of devotional service as being different from the analytical study of the material world. Those who are actually learned say that he who applies himself well to one of these paths achieves the results of both."</center>
- <i>Bhagavad-gita</i> <a href="http://vedabase.com/en/bg/5/4">5.4</a>
A yoga student recently challenged me about my presentation of Bhagavad-gita during my yoga asana class. "<i>You have a captive audience</i>," she said, "<i>and while I appreciate your conviction, it's borders on religious evangelism</i>."
I thought about it for a moment, then said to her: "<i>There is a religion around Bhagavad-gita, but this is not it. Personally, </i>I<i> don't believe everything that the Bhagavad-gita says, but I think it's important to know and to consider. Is it true that the soul transmigrates between different bodies? I don't know. What I do know for sure is that that is what the Bhagavad-gita says, and the Bhagavad-gita is an important part of the history and tradition of yoga. Maybe I should make that more explicit in the class</i>".
"<i>Maybe you should just say</i> less</i>, rather than more</i>," was her reply.
There is something to be said for that. A saying has that "<i>eloquence is the truth spoken concisely</i>". Another has it that "<i>a fool is considered wise until he opens his mouth</i>". Allow me the liberty to open my mouth and prove myself a fool in front of you.
I left that encounter pondering the question: "<i>is it true?</i>"; but more importantly: "<strong><i>what is truth?</i></strong>"
For without an answer to the second question, no answer to the the first can be meaningful.
I think it valuable to understand the worldview presented in the <i>Bhagavad-gita</i>, according to its own frame of reference, and without feeling threatened by a need to (religiously) "believe" or "not believe" it.
Srila Prabhupada presents exactly this point in his Introduction to <i>Bhagavad-gita As It Is</i>:
<center>"So according to the statements of Bhagavad-gītā or the statements of Arjuna, the person who is trying to understand the Bhagavad-gītā, we should at least theoretically accept Śrī Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and with that submissive spirit we can understand the Bhagavad-gītā. Unless one reads the Bhagavad-gītā in a submissive spirit, it is very difficult to understand Bhagavad-gītā, because it is a great mystery."</center>
- <i>Bhagavad-gita As It Is</i> <a href="http://vedabase.com/en/bg/introduction">Introduction</a>
Some may be reflexively (and unconsciously) repulsed by the overt religious connotations of the turn of phrase "<i>the Supreme Personality of Godhead</i>", and the use of the term "<i>submissive</i>". Most do not know this is close to the literal translation of the term "Islam", but intuitively they understand it as suspension of critical thinking and blind adherence to religious dogma, a common perception (some would say trait) of fundamentalist religion.
However, the point that Prabhupada is making here is that the <i>Bhagavad-gita</i> should be examined with a suspension of both "belief" and "disbelief", and examined as a coherent whole for an appreciation of its internal consistency and potential for application.
According to the philosophy underpinning the Bhagavad-gita and its conclusions, truth is <i>Sat</i>. <i>Sat</i> is what is real, what exists, and what is eternal.
<i>Asat</i> is what is not eternal, what is therefore an "appearance of existence", and what is therefore not real.
To use analogy, a lump of clay may be formed into a cup. The cup is an appearance, whereas the clay is the underlying reality. It is the clay that is real, and the cup is not real:
<center>"Those who are seers of the truth have concluded that of the nonexistent there is no endurance and of the eternal there is no change. This they have concluded by studying the nature of both."</center>
- <i>Bhagavad-gita</i> <a href="http://vedabase.com/en/bg/2/16">2.16</a>
The same clay cup may be broken, and remoulded into a plate. Is the cup the reality, or the plate?
According to this understanding, neither - it is the clay that is the substrate of reality, and the cup and the plate are temporary manifestations.
To take the analogy to another level, according to modern atomic theory the clay is made up of molecules. The atoms that make up the chemicals of the clay migrate in and out of the molecular bonds of the clay and the molecular bonds of other substances in the world. Plants extract nutrients from the earth through their roots. Those plants are eaten by animals, whose <i>ahankara</i> - "I-forming energy" - draws the molecules across the barrier of the stomach and press them into service as components of cells in the temporary incorporated association of their body.
Are the clay, the plant, or the body of the animal real? According to this understanding of <i>Sat</i>, they are each temporary manifestations of the underlying substrate - the molecules.
To take it further, Einstein demonstrated through his equation of general relativity that atoms and energy are interchangeable. They are two different states of some deeper, underlying reality.
Here we come close to the statement of Shankara, the great Vedic Philosopher, who ten centuries earlier said: "<i>The material world is category, Brahman is substance</i>". The underlying substrate of reality is something more fundamental than atoms, more fundamental than energy; both are merely transformations, temporary manifestations of this deeper substrate.
The fundamental existential quality of this substrate is simply and profoundly this: existence. As sugar gives sweetness to everything it composes, and water imparts its quality of wetness to anything it participates in, this substance, called <i>Brahman</i> in Sanskrit, imparts existence to reality.
"<i>But is it true?</i>"
To answer this question we first answer: "<i>What is truth?</i>" We have examined truth from the perspective of the philosophy of <i>Bhagavad-gita</i>. Now let us examine it from the perspective of modern science.
According to modern science truth consists of statements of what is. The truth of a statement can never be fully conclusively known, however a hypothesis gains or loses strength through its ability to explain observable phenomena, and its ability to make predictions that can be tested.
In a very simplistic sense we could say that a statement is demonstrated to be true as it enables us to build machines that are effective. Newton's descriptions of the forces of reaction and gravity are validated by the observations of the planetary bodies, and the creation of vehicles that use these forces to move about the gravity well. Einstein's theories, and the contributions to atomic theory of (Kiwi) scientist Ernest Rutherford are validated by the development of atomic power sources and nuclear weapons.
Have I ever seen an atom? No. Do I believe they exist? I don't know for sure, but the fact that atomic theory provides a useful framework for explaining observable phenomena and making predictions that can be tested (including new machines that work) increase my faith that it is a useful framework for understanding the world.
In the same way, my faith that <i>Bhagavad-gita</i> provides a useful framework for understanding the world has increased over time.
This to me is the essential difference between faith and belief. Initial faith means hypothetical acceptance for the purposes of experimental (in)validation. Further faith means a level of certainty proportional to experience of results.
Belief on the other hand means suspension of critical thought and acceptance of something as true irrespective of facts or observations that indicate the contrary.
One member of ISKCON once said to me: "<i>Once you decide to join up, you are not supposed to think anymore. You have to accept <strong>everything</strong></i>."
That, of course, invalidates the very nature of my approach to this knowledge system, one that has served me well, and one that is recommended by Srila Prabhupada in his presentation of <i>Bhagavad-gita</i>.
My understanding now is that different persons have different natures, and different ways of a approaching a knowledge system. Perhaps for this reason, Krishna says: 'Only the ignorant speak of devotional service as being different from the analytical study of the material world.' Perhaps it is a caution that these two different ways of understanding Him appeal to different persons, and mutual respect is required.
At this point in my life, I'm not into crystals, chakras, ghost stories, conspiracy-thinking, or aliens. But that's ok, because those are not essential components of <i>Bhagavad-gita</i> or Krishna Consciousness. I can appreciate that any organisation develops a culture over time, including a way of speaking and dressing, and shared stories and values that constitute the tenor of the culture of the organisation, and which are distinct from its mission or purpose. ISKCON is a global organisation, with lots of sub-cultures within it.
I understand also that while individuals within an organisation go through changes in their personal realization, the 70s will always be alive somewhere - wherever young people are coming into Krishna Consciousness for the first time and experiencing the perfect storm of enthusiasm and youthful energy. I drew a lot of strength recently from visiting the Loft in Auckland, where the perfect storm of dedicated experienced disciples and new enthusiastic persons is taking place.
Is there a snake lying at the bottom of the universe in an ocean? Well, to be honest I don't know. It is not experimentally verifiable, so that's not a question that can be answered in that way. If someone were to tell me that I had to believe that, I would reply that I have no psychological need to "believe" anything, and that my reading of the philosophy is that belief is neither condemned nor required. It is a psychological mode for some and not for others, and one who condemns the mode of understanding of the other does so from a position of ignorance.
Can you make useful and testable predictions, and recommendations about courses of action based on the world view that incorporates the idea of a huge divine serpent at the bottom of the universe? After some time of investigating, I think that you can.
My faith has grown over time that the knowledge system presented in <i>Bhagavad-gita</i> and <i>Srimad Bhagavatam</i> <strong>does</strong> provide useful guidance for life and for living. It uses a different way of seeing and presenting the world - a more vividly colorful and attractively entertaining mode than dry science books (although I actually like those too). The lessons contained within can help us to make sense out of the situations we find ourselves in at different stages of life, and the overall situation of life that we find ourselves in. We require help to extract the essential messages, and not get lost in the details of a presentation from another time and culture. Over the years I have seen you continually dedicate yourself to diving deep within that presentation and that worldview, and resurface from that ocean carrying pearls of wisdom and insight to share.
I understand now a little more of the vision that you had, sitting in that room with those teenagers and young adults who would traverse the terrain of changing biological and psychological experiences, of hopes and expectations of life, of relationships, trials and tribulations, challenges and opportunities, and life-changing inflection point events.
I have heard it said of the six Goswamis that as well as their erudition on spiritual matters, they were frequently consulted for practical matters by the villagers of their area. In addition to your wealth of knowledge of spiritual matters, you also possess a vast depth and breadth of knowledge of practical affairs. There have been many lessons in my life that I have passed through, only to look back and see within them the practical lesson of principles and instructions that I have heard from you. Indeed, if you could live my life for me it would be a different story - but I am immensely glad that you have been there alongside me, giving me advice and encouragement that has carried me through difficult times, and I am confident will continue to bring solace and strength in future times of ease and difficulty.
These are three things that you said to me that I have always considered to be extremely important practical instructions for spiritual life:
"Don't be falsely busy."
"Always keep a core of simplicity in a complex world."
"It is our burden of love to Srila Prabhupada that we work together, no matter how difficult it is."
As the years pass, and I approach the age you were when I first met you, I appreciate more of the nature of the unique contribution you are able to make to others, and that you have made to me. You instantiate a solid point of reference for those who need to believe, and provide the space needed by those who do not. Different people approach Krishna Consciousness with different motives; and at different points in life, the same person approaches Krishna Consciousness in a different way and for different results.
A month ago, I met my god brother Caitanya Vihara on the street in Auckland, where he was distributing books. I deeply appreciated his activity of personally dedicating himself to spreading spiritual knowledge to others, and further, the long-standing focus on this activity that you have established in New Zealand. I shared with him that I felt deeply appreciative that in my twenties my energy was directed into and focused on Krishna Consciousness and sharing it with others.
Do I believe that there is a snake at the bottom of the universe? To be honest I don't know. Do I have faith that the <i>Bhagavad-gita</i> and <i>Srimad Bhagavatam</i> provide a useful guide to living life? Based on my experience - which is an ongoing experiment in the great laboratory of life - I say "Yes".
Is there somewhere in all of this a mystical experience of Radha and Krishna?
When once asked if he had seen Krishna, Srila Prabhupada replied: "<i>Yes I have seen Krishna. Here is Krishna in this painting. You are seeing Krishna now.</i>"
I am an extreme neophyte in Krishna Consciousness, but based on what I have heard and what I have experienced, I have increased faith in this path. So while I will not be so bold as to say that I have seen Krishna, I have seen signs along the way, and I am encouraged.
...and deeply appreciative.
your fallen servant,
Sitapati das
Sri Radhika
Dear Guru Maharaja
Please accept my humble obeisances.
Al glories to you.
We are assembled here today to glorify you, and to appreciate all that you have done for us all.
Just one example of your many attributes is your devotion to pleasing your Guru, Srila Prabhupada. You risked the Iron Curtain because you knew Srila Prabhupada wanted wanted devotees to preach there.
Now you risk your health to free us from material bondage. You spend all your time and energy to spread the name of the Lord, Sri Krishna. We can see that you are pleasing your Guru and Krishna. Over a short span of years you have turned a handful of people into over a hundred, and that is only in New Zealand alone. Now you do not rest but you work as hard as ever, the Loft system is working so you want to spread Krishna further, even going to China to preach, to spread the name of the Lord to everyone to rescue them from the clutches of Maya.
Dear Guru Maharaj, thank you for the mercy you have given me over the years, encouraging me to chant and to read Srimad Bhagavatam, not Harry Potter. I know that if not for your mercy then I would just be another rebellious teenager, Probably doing worse then reading Karmi books.
I am sorry Guru Maharaj that I do not have eloquent words to praise you nor will I ever be able to sing all of your virtues nor can I ever thank you enough for rescuing me and giving me this most confidential knowledge, I appreciate it so much Guru Maharaj, thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Your insignificant servant
Sri Radhika.
Please accept my humble obeisances.
Al glories to you.
We are assembled here today to glorify you, and to appreciate all that you have done for us all.
Just one example of your many attributes is your devotion to pleasing your Guru, Srila Prabhupada. You risked the Iron Curtain because you knew Srila Prabhupada wanted wanted devotees to preach there.
Now you risk your health to free us from material bondage. You spend all your time and energy to spread the name of the Lord, Sri Krishna. We can see that you are pleasing your Guru and Krishna. Over a short span of years you have turned a handful of people into over a hundred, and that is only in New Zealand alone. Now you do not rest but you work as hard as ever, the Loft system is working so you want to spread Krishna further, even going to China to preach, to spread the name of the Lord to everyone to rescue them from the clutches of Maya.
Dear Guru Maharaj, thank you for the mercy you have given me over the years, encouraging me to chant and to read Srimad Bhagavatam, not Harry Potter. I know that if not for your mercy then I would just be another rebellious teenager, Probably doing worse then reading Karmi books.
I am sorry Guru Maharaj that I do not have eloquent words to praise you nor will I ever be able to sing all of your virtues nor can I ever thank you enough for rescuing me and giving me this most confidential knowledge, I appreciate it so much Guru Maharaj, thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Your insignificant servant
Sri Radhika.
Sri Yasoda devi dasi
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada,
All glories to you on this most auspicious day of your Vyasa Puja.
Dear Guru Maharaja, I would like to take this opportunity to meditate upon a few excerpts from Srimad Bhagavatam 1.5 - Narada's Instructions on Srimad Bhagavatam for Vyasadeva.
Srila Prabhupada's breathtaking purports shoot straight to the heart, as he explains so nicely the situation of a conditioned soul and the importance of a bona fide spiritual master.
Although achieving such great levels of success, Srila Vyasadeva still felt empty and unsatisfied in life, in such a situation he enquired from his Guru Maharaja, Srila Narada Muni.
1.4.27 pp
Perfection is never attained until one is satisfied at heart. This satisfaction of heart has to be searched out beyond matter.
~Amazing... You have given so many inspirational lectures and seminars on how to satisfy the heart in Krishna Consciousness, to people from all walks of life. You use the latest examples, modern terminology, current world and social conditions - to cut straight through to the rotten core. You have explained this one topic in so many different ways, but in essence, you simply repeat the words of Srila Prabhupada. Thankyou for this example, and thankyou for not only leading the way but for guiding those who are unable to stand alone in how to follow Srila Prabhupada.
1.5.1 pp
Narada was smiling because he well knew the great sage Vedavyasa and the cause of his disappointment.
~Similarly you see straight through the false curtain of Maya's illusion and her captives that hide behind it, administering the perfect medicine for every individual.
1.5.5 pp
In the material world everyone is engrossed with the idea of identifying the body or the mind with the self. As such, all knowledge disseminated in the material world is related either with the body or with the mind, and that is the root cause of all despondencies. This is not always detected, even though one may be the greatest erudite scholar in materialistic knowledge. It is good, therefore, to approach a personality like Narada to solve the root cause of all despondencies.
~Again, it seems you have explained this point unlimited times in unlimited ways just as Srila Prabhupada did. 'We are not the body, or the mind'.
Although an erudite scholar yourself, you realised this deepest of philosophical points at a very early age and gaining everything, you took a step that is so rare to witness, you acted with full faith, full sincerity and full determination on the instructions of your spiritual master from that day onwards. This is the highest intelligence and the greatest example to aspire for.
1.5.6 pp
A person who is cent-percent engaged in the service of the Lord is the emblem of all knowledge.
~This is the qualification of my Guru Maharaja.
1.5.7 vrs.
Like the sun, Your Goodness can travel everywhere in the three worlds, and like the air you can penetrate the internal region of everyone. As such, you are as good as the all-pervasive Supersoul. Please, therefore, find out the deficiency in me...
~ I beg that you may also reveal the deficiency in me and help me to remove what stops me in my service to you.
1.5.10 vrs.
Those words which do not describe the glories of the Lord, who alone can sanctify the atmosphere of the whole universe, are considered by saintly persons to be like unto a place of pilgrimage for crows.
~Thankyou for always talking so eloquently about Krishna and His servants. Thankyou for your blogs and your famous punch lines. You teach the glories of the Lord through such current, humorous and applicable situations thus sanctifying the crows pilgrimage of the modern mind.
1.5.11 pp
It is a qualification of the great thinkers to pick up the best even from the worst.
~ Jaya Srila Prabhupada! Jaya Srila Gurudeva!
...It is said that the intelligent man should pick up nectar from a stock of poison, should accept gold even from a filthy place, should accept a good and qualified wife even from an obscure family and should accept a good lesson even from a man or from a teacher who comes from the untouchables. These are some of the ethical instructions for everyone in every place without exception. But a saint is far above the level of an ordinary man. He is always absorbed in glorifying the Supreme Lord because by broadcasting the holy name and fame of the Supreme Lord, the polluted atmosphere of the world will change, and as a result of propagating the transcendental literatures like Srimad-Bhagavatam, people will become sane in their transactions.
~Thankyou for broadcasting the holy name and fame of The Lord, through Srila Prabhupada's books and teaching us how to become sane in our transactions. Thankyou for seeing hope and potential where there are no visable signs of life, turning iron into gold. This is your great compassion and mercy. Thankyou for never giving up on me. Literally I am made of your mercy.
1.5.24 pp
Without being self-controlled, without being disciplined and 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.
~You always show this strength in the service to your spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada. I pray that, although inconceivable, I may too develop a drop of such beautiful spiritual qualities. Thankyou for giving me a reason to hope and an example to follow.
1.5.28 pp
...If, by the grace of the Lord and the great-souled devotees of the Lord, a living being becomes fortunate enough to associate with the unadulterated devotees of the Lord and gets a chance to hear the unadulterated glories of the Lord, certainly the flow of devotional service takes place like the flow of a river. As the river flows on till she reaches the sea, similarly pure devotional service flows by the association of pure devotees till it reaches the ultimate goal, namely, transcendental love of God. Such a flow of devotional service cannot stop. On the contrary, it increases more and more without limitation. The flow of devotional service is so potent that any onlooker also becomes liberated from the influence of the modes of passion and ignorance. These two qualities of nature are thus removed, and the living being is liberated, being situated in his original position.
~Thankyou for breaking down the dams and making all arrangements for this river of devotional service to flow on fearlessly through the dry desert of Kali Yuga. I was one of those onlookers that got swept up in such a river. Thankyou for guiding me and teaching me how to swim.
On this most auspicious day, I pray that your desire may enter deep within my heart, the heart of my daughter and the hearts of all the devotees, that we may spread this sankirtan movement all over the world.
As you once explained, this is the desire of Lord Caitanya, and although we are nothing, He is the Supreme Lord. If He so desires, He can empower anyone no matter how insignificant. We just have to pray to become His instrument.
Although I pray this, I know there are many things that hold me back. Please help me to let go of the rocks I carry and become an active instrument of your compassion.
Aspiring to be your servant,
Sri Yasoda devi dasi
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada,
All glories to you on this most auspicious day of your Vyasa Puja.
Dear Guru Maharaja, I would like to take this opportunity to meditate upon a few excerpts from Srimad Bhagavatam 1.5 - Narada's Instructions on Srimad Bhagavatam for Vyasadeva.
Srila Prabhupada's breathtaking purports shoot straight to the heart, as he explains so nicely the situation of a conditioned soul and the importance of a bona fide spiritual master.
Although achieving such great levels of success, Srila Vyasadeva still felt empty and unsatisfied in life, in such a situation he enquired from his Guru Maharaja, Srila Narada Muni.
1.4.27 pp
Perfection is never attained until one is satisfied at heart. This satisfaction of heart has to be searched out beyond matter.
~Amazing... You have given so many inspirational lectures and seminars on how to satisfy the heart in Krishna Consciousness, to people from all walks of life. You use the latest examples, modern terminology, current world and social conditions - to cut straight through to the rotten core. You have explained this one topic in so many different ways, but in essence, you simply repeat the words of Srila Prabhupada. Thankyou for this example, and thankyou for not only leading the way but for guiding those who are unable to stand alone in how to follow Srila Prabhupada.
1.5.1 pp
Narada was smiling because he well knew the great sage Vedavyasa and the cause of his disappointment.
~Similarly you see straight through the false curtain of Maya's illusion and her captives that hide behind it, administering the perfect medicine for every individual.
1.5.5 pp
In the material world everyone is engrossed with the idea of identifying the body or the mind with the self. As such, all knowledge disseminated in the material world is related either with the body or with the mind, and that is the root cause of all despondencies. This is not always detected, even though one may be the greatest erudite scholar in materialistic knowledge. It is good, therefore, to approach a personality like Narada to solve the root cause of all despondencies.
~Again, it seems you have explained this point unlimited times in unlimited ways just as Srila Prabhupada did. 'We are not the body, or the mind'.
Although an erudite scholar yourself, you realised this deepest of philosophical points at a very early age and gaining everything, you took a step that is so rare to witness, you acted with full faith, full sincerity and full determination on the instructions of your spiritual master from that day onwards. This is the highest intelligence and the greatest example to aspire for.
1.5.6 pp
A person who is cent-percent engaged in the service of the Lord is the emblem of all knowledge.
~This is the qualification of my Guru Maharaja.
1.5.7 vrs.
Like the sun, Your Goodness can travel everywhere in the three worlds, and like the air you can penetrate the internal region of everyone. As such, you are as good as the all-pervasive Supersoul. Please, therefore, find out the deficiency in me...
~ I beg that you may also reveal the deficiency in me and help me to remove what stops me in my service to you.
1.5.10 vrs.
Those words which do not describe the glories of the Lord, who alone can sanctify the atmosphere of the whole universe, are considered by saintly persons to be like unto a place of pilgrimage for crows.
~Thankyou for always talking so eloquently about Krishna and His servants. Thankyou for your blogs and your famous punch lines. You teach the glories of the Lord through such current, humorous and applicable situations thus sanctifying the crows pilgrimage of the modern mind.
1.5.11 pp
It is a qualification of the great thinkers to pick up the best even from the worst.
~ Jaya Srila Prabhupada! Jaya Srila Gurudeva!
...It is said that the intelligent man should pick up nectar from a stock of poison, should accept gold even from a filthy place, should accept a good and qualified wife even from an obscure family and should accept a good lesson even from a man or from a teacher who comes from the untouchables. These are some of the ethical instructions for everyone in every place without exception. But a saint is far above the level of an ordinary man. He is always absorbed in glorifying the Supreme Lord because by broadcasting the holy name and fame of the Supreme Lord, the polluted atmosphere of the world will change, and as a result of propagating the transcendental literatures like Srimad-Bhagavatam, people will become sane in their transactions.
~Thankyou for broadcasting the holy name and fame of The Lord, through Srila Prabhupada's books and teaching us how to become sane in our transactions. Thankyou for seeing hope and potential where there are no visable signs of life, turning iron into gold. This is your great compassion and mercy. Thankyou for never giving up on me. Literally I am made of your mercy.
1.5.24 pp
Without being self-controlled, without being disciplined and 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.
~You always show this strength in the service to your spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada. I pray that, although inconceivable, I may too develop a drop of such beautiful spiritual qualities. Thankyou for giving me a reason to hope and an example to follow.
1.5.28 pp
...If, by the grace of the Lord and the great-souled devotees of the Lord, a living being becomes fortunate enough to associate with the unadulterated devotees of the Lord and gets a chance to hear the unadulterated glories of the Lord, certainly the flow of devotional service takes place like the flow of a river. As the river flows on till she reaches the sea, similarly pure devotional service flows by the association of pure devotees till it reaches the ultimate goal, namely, transcendental love of God. Such a flow of devotional service cannot stop. On the contrary, it increases more and more without limitation. The flow of devotional service is so potent that any onlooker also becomes liberated from the influence of the modes of passion and ignorance. These two qualities of nature are thus removed, and the living being is liberated, being situated in his original position.
~Thankyou for breaking down the dams and making all arrangements for this river of devotional service to flow on fearlessly through the dry desert of Kali Yuga. I was one of those onlookers that got swept up in such a river. Thankyou for guiding me and teaching me how to swim.
On this most auspicious day, I pray that your desire may enter deep within my heart, the heart of my daughter and the hearts of all the devotees, that we may spread this sankirtan movement all over the world.
As you once explained, this is the desire of Lord Caitanya, and although we are nothing, He is the Supreme Lord. If He so desires, He can empower anyone no matter how insignificant. We just have to pray to become His instrument.
Although I pray this, I know there are many things that hold me back. Please help me to let go of the rocks I carry and become an active instrument of your compassion.
Aspiring to be your servant,
Sri Yasoda devi dasi
Sruti-cari dd
Dear Guru Deva
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Today I read in the Caitanya Charitamrita about the rare fortune of one receiving the seed of the creeper of devotional service:
‘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 bone fide spiritual master by the grace of Krishna. By the mercy of both Krishna and the spiritual master, such a person receives the seed of the creeper of devotional service.’ CC Mad 19.151
How many millions of living entities in this universe!!? Human, animal, bird, tree, plant, fish, insect, bacteria… event the flu virus I’m fighting at the moment is a living entity! I can’t think how many entities there are – it blows my mind! But even more astonishing is that some how or other, I, out of all those living entities, have become so very fortunate to associate with you, a bone-fide spiritual master. You have very mercifully offered me your shelter, and I feel safe.
So now you have so kindly given me the seed of devotional service. That is your immense mercy on me. “That is the best possible gift the spiritual master has to offer”, Prabhupada tells me in the purport. It is so easy for me to be familiar, to take my service for granted, and to feel unenthusiastic. But I try to remember it is your special gift to me, and apply myself.
So I am trying to plant this seed in my heart and grow the creeper of devotional service. But there are so many problems and difficulties. However I feel I am even more fortunate to receive your help to grow my seedling. Your advice how to water it regularly, how to save it from being choked by weeds or trampled by elephants (there seem to be quite a few elephants in this garden!)
At all stages of this gardening process I am totally dependant on your assistance and mercy. But you offer this shelter and guidance to so many conditioned souls, not just me. Your tireless efforts to free us from the material realm are incredible. I can not begin to understand the value of what you give so freely. You are attentive to every detail of our devotional development. With a patience and skill I can only marvel at, you guide us on the path back home back to Godhead.
So how does all this relate to my present, practical reality?
I find myself between services at the moment. One service finished and the next not yet fully manifested. After so many years of demanding activity in Krishna’s service, there is a lull. So with your expert help and guidance, I am using the time and space to go deeper, to look inward, and to examine my heart. It has been interesting and often painful so far, to look closely at the murk I have been ignoring for years. Cleaning the dust off the mirror of the mind… it is pretty firmly caked on! I have been challenging my conceptions of myself, of others, and of the world around me. And trying to understand how my past experiences have affected my view of the present. Pulling the weeds in my heart, out at the root, so they can not sprout again and choke my Bhakti creeper. I want to thank you very sincerely for giving me the time and space to work on myself AND for pushing me to do just that.
I hope that soon I will have a cleaner heart, ready for lots of Bhakti action. I look forward to more attentive japa, more focused service in Lord Chaitanya’s mission, and a perhaps deeper relationship with you.
The future is a mystery to me right now – I have no idea what I will be doing in the coming year, but I have this opportunity to spring clean myself and for that, I am very grateful.
Thank you
Your servant and spiritual daughter
Sruti-cari dd
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Today I read in the Caitanya Charitamrita about the rare fortune of one receiving the seed of the creeper of devotional service:
‘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 bone fide spiritual master by the grace of Krishna. By the mercy of both Krishna and the spiritual master, such a person receives the seed of the creeper of devotional service.’ CC Mad 19.151
How many millions of living entities in this universe!!? Human, animal, bird, tree, plant, fish, insect, bacteria… event the flu virus I’m fighting at the moment is a living entity! I can’t think how many entities there are – it blows my mind! But even more astonishing is that some how or other, I, out of all those living entities, have become so very fortunate to associate with you, a bone-fide spiritual master. You have very mercifully offered me your shelter, and I feel safe.
So now you have so kindly given me the seed of devotional service. That is your immense mercy on me. “That is the best possible gift the spiritual master has to offer”, Prabhupada tells me in the purport. It is so easy for me to be familiar, to take my service for granted, and to feel unenthusiastic. But I try to remember it is your special gift to me, and apply myself.
So I am trying to plant this seed in my heart and grow the creeper of devotional service. But there are so many problems and difficulties. However I feel I am even more fortunate to receive your help to grow my seedling. Your advice how to water it regularly, how to save it from being choked by weeds or trampled by elephants (there seem to be quite a few elephants in this garden!)
At all stages of this gardening process I am totally dependant on your assistance and mercy. But you offer this shelter and guidance to so many conditioned souls, not just me. Your tireless efforts to free us from the material realm are incredible. I can not begin to understand the value of what you give so freely. You are attentive to every detail of our devotional development. With a patience and skill I can only marvel at, you guide us on the path back home back to Godhead.
So how does all this relate to my present, practical reality?
I find myself between services at the moment. One service finished and the next not yet fully manifested. After so many years of demanding activity in Krishna’s service, there is a lull. So with your expert help and guidance, I am using the time and space to go deeper, to look inward, and to examine my heart. It has been interesting and often painful so far, to look closely at the murk I have been ignoring for years. Cleaning the dust off the mirror of the mind… it is pretty firmly caked on! I have been challenging my conceptions of myself, of others, and of the world around me. And trying to understand how my past experiences have affected my view of the present. Pulling the weeds in my heart, out at the root, so they can not sprout again and choke my Bhakti creeper. I want to thank you very sincerely for giving me the time and space to work on myself AND for pushing me to do just that.
I hope that soon I will have a cleaner heart, ready for lots of Bhakti action. I look forward to more attentive japa, more focused service in Lord Chaitanya’s mission, and a perhaps deeper relationship with you.
The future is a mystery to me right now – I have no idea what I will be doing in the coming year, but I have this opportunity to spring clean myself and for that, I am very grateful.
Thank you
Your servant and spiritual daughter
Sruti-cari dd
Stambha Bhava das
Dear Gurudeva
My prostrated obeisances in the Cintamani dust at your lotus feet.
Please accept this humble offering, on this most auspicious day.
Like a rising full moon you shine so bright,
To dissipate the darkness of ignorance by showing what is right,
You plant the seed of Bhakti with skillful precision and great delight,
This brave quest you have accepted like a noble knight.
Taking the risk of KGB interrogation and persecution,
Sacrificing to pioneer a spiritual revolution,
With a strong one pointed resolution
Preaching behind the Iron Curtain, to dispel mass illusion.
Constantly showing immense compassion,
You deliver conditioned souls from the intense mode of passion,
Traveling the world shedding blood by the gallon,
This selfless service is unparalleled, even by the demigods in heaven.
The Vaisnava sanga of your peers you seek,
The loving exchanges you show are so very sweet.
Teaching by your wonderful example and unique mystique,
We all bow down to your lotus feet.
Your pure love for the Holy Name,
Has spread like wildfire you glorious fame.
To change the hearts of the mundane,
constantly trying is your final aim.
When you lead Kirtan at the festival in Ukraine,
You make thousands of devotees dance insane.
Purifying us to enter deeper in to the Holy Name
Where all our happiness and bliss is contained.
When I make a mistake you give me a blast!
Your chastisements I do try to grasp,
Make this disciple of yours more humble than grass,
Your eternal servant, Stambha bhava das.
My prostrated obeisances in the Cintamani dust at your lotus feet.
Please accept this humble offering, on this most auspicious day.
Like a rising full moon you shine so bright,
To dissipate the darkness of ignorance by showing what is right,
You plant the seed of Bhakti with skillful precision and great delight,
This brave quest you have accepted like a noble knight.
Taking the risk of KGB interrogation and persecution,
Sacrificing to pioneer a spiritual revolution,
With a strong one pointed resolution
Preaching behind the Iron Curtain, to dispel mass illusion.
Constantly showing immense compassion,
You deliver conditioned souls from the intense mode of passion,
Traveling the world shedding blood by the gallon,
This selfless service is unparalleled, even by the demigods in heaven.
The Vaisnava sanga of your peers you seek,
The loving exchanges you show are so very sweet.
Teaching by your wonderful example and unique mystique,
We all bow down to your lotus feet.
Your pure love for the Holy Name,
Has spread like wildfire you glorious fame.
To change the hearts of the mundane,
constantly trying is your final aim.
When you lead Kirtan at the festival in Ukraine,
You make thousands of devotees dance insane.
Purifying us to enter deeper in to the Holy Name
Where all our happiness and bliss is contained.
When I make a mistake you give me a blast!
Your chastisements I do try to grasp,
Make this disciple of yours more humble than grass,
Your eternal servant, Stambha bhava das.
Sudha Nidhi das
O Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble apologies in being unable to give adequate recompense for all of the wonderful opportunities you have given us. Indeed, how many lands and how many lives must a soul wander through before receiving the shelter of one so merciful and sincere as yours?
We only have to look around, or even look within to see the dangers this world presents and the more carefully we listen to your words, the more we see how precarious the situation is. We are witness to the methods of the maddened souls, blindly drinking poison, caught up in idle imaginings or passionate pursuits... spiritually impoverished.
While Maya assaults from all angles, lashing out with her army of illusory torments, we can but watch in awe as you carve a blazing path with seeming effortlessness through this darkening fray. There you stand, majestic and serene, calling out to the plighted souls, offering them sanctuary within the glowing wake of your stride.
From where has your effulgent being harnessed such power?
And then it becomes clear: we hear you speaking the names and activities of your spiritual master, and his spiritual master and his spiritual master, and so on in disciplic succession, all the way back to the supreme Lord of all existence Himself:
Krishna!
We learn that you have taken on the duty of carrying this immense technology of parampara, which spans endless aeons of time beyond time, making available to all a part in the legacy of loving service to our Loving Master.
We cannot help but feel overwhelmed with appreciation for your maintaining a spirit of sacrifice through all the challenges that you have faced along the way. We believe that you have such determination and forebearance and wisdom and courage and compassion as we have truly never witnessed in a person whom we have ever known.
It is the greatest joy in life to continue working alongside your dear disciples, through thick and thin. And to know that even though we may not always achieve the result we want for you or for Krishna, that somehow or other it is the offering itself that is accepted – this helps to give us impetus to put in more energy and sincerity in the hope that you may accept at least some part of what we can give.. As we try to learn to give from the heart.
Aspiring to continue serving your-self with less and less of my selfishness.
Sudha Nidhi das
Please accept my humble apologies in being unable to give adequate recompense for all of the wonderful opportunities you have given us. Indeed, how many lands and how many lives must a soul wander through before receiving the shelter of one so merciful and sincere as yours?
We only have to look around, or even look within to see the dangers this world presents and the more carefully we listen to your words, the more we see how precarious the situation is. We are witness to the methods of the maddened souls, blindly drinking poison, caught up in idle imaginings or passionate pursuits... spiritually impoverished.
While Maya assaults from all angles, lashing out with her army of illusory torments, we can but watch in awe as you carve a blazing path with seeming effortlessness through this darkening fray. There you stand, majestic and serene, calling out to the plighted souls, offering them sanctuary within the glowing wake of your stride.
From where has your effulgent being harnessed such power?
And then it becomes clear: we hear you speaking the names and activities of your spiritual master, and his spiritual master and his spiritual master, and so on in disciplic succession, all the way back to the supreme Lord of all existence Himself:
Krishna!
We learn that you have taken on the duty of carrying this immense technology of parampara, which spans endless aeons of time beyond time, making available to all a part in the legacy of loving service to our Loving Master.
We cannot help but feel overwhelmed with appreciation for your maintaining a spirit of sacrifice through all the challenges that you have faced along the way. We believe that you have such determination and forebearance and wisdom and courage and compassion as we have truly never witnessed in a person whom we have ever known.
It is the greatest joy in life to continue working alongside your dear disciples, through thick and thin. And to know that even though we may not always achieve the result we want for you or for Krishna, that somehow or other it is the offering itself that is accepted – this helps to give us impetus to put in more energy and sincerity in the hope that you may accept at least some part of what we can give.. As we try to learn to give from the heart.
Aspiring to continue serving your-self with less and less of my selfishness.
Sudha Nidhi das
Sukanthi Radha devi dasi
My dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept our humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to your lotus feet on this most auspicious day of your appearance.
Mukam karoti vacalam
Pangum langhayate girim
Yat-krpa tam aham vande
Sri-gurum dina-taranam
I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, the deliverer of the fallen souls. His mercy turns the dumb into eloquent speakers and enables the lame to cross mountains.
Om ajnana timarandhasya
Jnananjana-salakaya
Caksur unmilitam yena
Tasmai sri-gurave namah
I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, who has opened my eyes, which were blinded by the darkness of ignorance, with the torchlight of knowledge.
Radha-sammukha-samsaktim
Sakhi-sanga-nivasinim
Tvam aham satatam vande
Madhavasraya-vigraham
Oh spiritual master, I continually offer my obeisances unto you, who are always in the presence of Srimati Radharani and are very much devoted to Her. You always reside in the association of Her confidantes, the gopis, and you are the abode of loving devotion to Krsna.
On this auspicious occasion, for our own purification, although very in capable to do so, we would like to make an attempt to glorify you.
Hilarious sense of humour
Humility that melts the stone-like kali-yuga heart
Dedicated wholeheartedly to serving Srila Prabhupadas mission
Ecstatic kirtanas that beat the bhakti hearts of all
Vibrant preaching inspiring people to take up Bhakti yoga
Auspicious presence in our otherwise empty lives
Making a mentor system so everyone is cared for
Radiant smile breaking all ones defences
Infusing each place you go to with purity and unconditional love
Transforming peoples lives, leaving them completely indebted to you
Attuning everyone to their bhakti potential
Showing us through your perfect example how the bhakti process works
Withstanding all austerities of global travel to give Krishna to others
Arranging devotees lives for maximum bhakti growth
Moment by moment thinking of what is best for Krishna
Indescribable compassion for all living beings
You are the most loving father and grandfather.
You enter into our hearts with your un-conditional love.
You relish chanting the Holy Name, inspiring others to do the same.
You truly care about all living entities.
You are saving so many conditioned souls from the clutches of maya.
Your auspicious presence makes one’s so-called problems disappear.
Your emphasis on outreach gives devotees a taste of the highest bliss.
You have opened out reach centres that are a spiritual oasis in the city for people burning in the forest fire of material existence.
You encourage us to use everything for Krishna’s service, not artificially renouncing.
Your guidance and care gives us reason to live.
Your potent meditation on Krishna’s service waters the root of all existence.
The more one thinks about your glorious qualities, characteristics and bhakti skills, the more one can realise they are unlimited and inconceivable and each one could be expanded upon so much.
Thank you Gurudeva for your appearance in this world and in our lives. We pray that one day we will be able to glorify you adequately and that we may become humble and selfless servants of your invaluable instructions.
Please give us the strength needed to execute your two instructions, to be good examples in the grhasta ashram and to help others in their Krishna consciousness.
Aspiring to be your un-conditional servants,
Sukanthi Radha devi dasi and
Thakur Saranga Das
Please accept our humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to your lotus feet on this most auspicious day of your appearance.
Mukam karoti vacalam
Pangum langhayate girim
Yat-krpa tam aham vande
Sri-gurum dina-taranam
I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, the deliverer of the fallen souls. His mercy turns the dumb into eloquent speakers and enables the lame to cross mountains.
Om ajnana timarandhasya
Jnananjana-salakaya
Caksur unmilitam yena
Tasmai sri-gurave namah
I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, who has opened my eyes, which were blinded by the darkness of ignorance, with the torchlight of knowledge.
Radha-sammukha-samsaktim
Sakhi-sanga-nivasinim
Tvam aham satatam vande
Madhavasraya-vigraham
Oh spiritual master, I continually offer my obeisances unto you, who are always in the presence of Srimati Radharani and are very much devoted to Her. You always reside in the association of Her confidantes, the gopis, and you are the abode of loving devotion to Krsna.
On this auspicious occasion, for our own purification, although very in capable to do so, we would like to make an attempt to glorify you.
Hilarious sense of humour
Humility that melts the stone-like kali-yuga heart
Dedicated wholeheartedly to serving Srila Prabhupadas mission
Ecstatic kirtanas that beat the bhakti hearts of all
Vibrant preaching inspiring people to take up Bhakti yoga
Auspicious presence in our otherwise empty lives
Making a mentor system so everyone is cared for
Radiant smile breaking all ones defences
Infusing each place you go to with purity and unconditional love
Transforming peoples lives, leaving them completely indebted to you
Attuning everyone to their bhakti potential
Showing us through your perfect example how the bhakti process works
Withstanding all austerities of global travel to give Krishna to others
Arranging devotees lives for maximum bhakti growth
Moment by moment thinking of what is best for Krishna
Indescribable compassion for all living beings
You are the most loving father and grandfather.
You enter into our hearts with your un-conditional love.
You relish chanting the Holy Name, inspiring others to do the same.
You truly care about all living entities.
You are saving so many conditioned souls from the clutches of maya.
Your auspicious presence makes one’s so-called problems disappear.
Your emphasis on outreach gives devotees a taste of the highest bliss.
You have opened out reach centres that are a spiritual oasis in the city for people burning in the forest fire of material existence.
You encourage us to use everything for Krishna’s service, not artificially renouncing.
Your guidance and care gives us reason to live.
Your potent meditation on Krishna’s service waters the root of all existence.
The more one thinks about your glorious qualities, characteristics and bhakti skills, the more one can realise they are unlimited and inconceivable and each one could be expanded upon so much.
Thank you Gurudeva for your appearance in this world and in our lives. We pray that one day we will be able to glorify you adequately and that we may become humble and selfless servants of your invaluable instructions.
Please give us the strength needed to execute your two instructions, to be good examples in the grhasta ashram and to help others in their Krishna consciousness.
Aspiring to be your un-conditional servants,
Sukanthi Radha devi dasi and
Thakur Saranga Das
Sukharupa DD
Dear Gurudev, please accept my humble obeisances. Wishing you the best. Krishna prema always. Your humble servant. Sukharupa
Sundarangi devi dasi
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
You are my sankirtan leader Gurudeva - coaching, guiding, showing the real purpose of life, tirelessly reaching out to me and waking up this sleeping soul. Your classes and kirtans provide vision to see reality, like a window thru the cloud of illusion. Please teach me how to follow steadily, to always engage my mind and heart energy fully in Krsna’s service - to appreciate that it is actually Krsna’s service that makes my heart pump.
You tolerate my miserly weak heartedness and selflessly give more than I can even see. Thank you for your shelter - please let me really appreciate all that you give me.
Gurudeva you said that one can advance from the neophyte stage by wanting to cleanse the core of the heart. Please help me clean my heart and purify my desires so that I can advance. Following in the footsteps of the devoted florist Sudama please bless me with the desire for these three qualities
1. Unshakable devotion for Krsna;
2. Friendship with His devotees; and
3. Transcendental compassion for all living beings
(SB 10.41.51)
Well we are now heading to a far-off sankirtan spot – Gita Nagari. Thank you for this opportunity Gurudeva – showing your broad vision is so far greater than mine (I thought we might just move as far as Otaki!). Please let me realise that you are my real source of strength and let me be a useful instrument in your service to Lord Caitanya’s sankirtan mission
Your aspiring servant
Sundarangi devi dasi
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
You are my sankirtan leader Gurudeva - coaching, guiding, showing the real purpose of life, tirelessly reaching out to me and waking up this sleeping soul. Your classes and kirtans provide vision to see reality, like a window thru the cloud of illusion. Please teach me how to follow steadily, to always engage my mind and heart energy fully in Krsna’s service - to appreciate that it is actually Krsna’s service that makes my heart pump.
You tolerate my miserly weak heartedness and selflessly give more than I can even see. Thank you for your shelter - please let me really appreciate all that you give me.
Gurudeva you said that one can advance from the neophyte stage by wanting to cleanse the core of the heart. Please help me clean my heart and purify my desires so that I can advance. Following in the footsteps of the devoted florist Sudama please bless me with the desire for these three qualities
1. Unshakable devotion for Krsna;
2. Friendship with His devotees; and
3. Transcendental compassion for all living beings
(SB 10.41.51)
Well we are now heading to a far-off sankirtan spot – Gita Nagari. Thank you for this opportunity Gurudeva – showing your broad vision is so far greater than mine (I thought we might just move as far as Otaki!). Please let me realise that you are my real source of strength and let me be a useful instrument in your service to Lord Caitanya’s sankirtan mission
Your aspiring servant
Sundarangi devi dasi
Svarupa sakti dvi dasi
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to your lotus feet on your Vyasa Puja celebration.
Although the English language is not suitable, elaborate or comprehensive enough, still i shall make a meagre attempt to glorify my most Revered Spiritual Master.
Contrary to what common man might think and believe, worship of Sri Guru is the life and soul of saddhaka. It is not mere sentiment or emotional trip of ululating or posing with tears in the eyes. It is a real, heartfelt commitment of duty and love from the worshiper and one who is being worshiped. It is a two way affair. Worship of Sri Guru solidifies our bhakti career and retreats our wounded existence and pacifies the inner chambers of the heart back to where it belongs; Hrsikesa, the master of the senses.
Where else would the struggling souls of kali yuga take refuge from the burning sensation of birth, death, old age and disease.
You are the crest jewel of the best type of association, epitome of Vaisanava dealings and the transporter of Krsna’s Department of Mercy. Over the years we see how you have emerged as an empowered son of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada. Decade after decade you have carried the baton of the Sankirtan mission.
Krsna as the Supersoul has been with us since time immemorial, birth after birth. What is this mercy of the Supersoul?
Assuming a body, Katha Upanidas explains
Nayamatma pravacanena labhyo
Na medhaya na bahuna srutena
One cannot understand Paramatma by hearing lectures from innumerable karmis, jnanis, pandits or yogis. It is only when caitya guru in the heart assumes a body and appears before someone that he will be able to understand Paramatma tattva. To have guru means to receive a completely new life. Guru krsna prasade paya bhakti-lata bija. By the mercy of Krsna and guru one receives the bhakti creeper.
Krsna yadi krpa kori kona bhagyavane, guru antaryami-rupe sikhyaya apane.
If Krsna showers his mercy on a fortunate jiva, then the lord appears to that soul as guru and teaches him. Now i see, when one glorifies Krsna automatically the guru is also glorified . You are krsna krpa sri murti.
You have come to give us prema bhakti also known as nitya siddha bhava. By your mercy one develops this Krsna prema. One who contacts you, elucidates the timeless path of Krsna consciousness through constant sravanam and kirtanam.
How much mercy you have passed on from Srila Prabhupada, the chief general of Lord Caitanyas army.....He organised festivals, opened temples, translated books and made devotees of krsna. By making all those arrangements he opened the door for all. You glorified Srila Prabhupada always through distributing his books, spreading and incalculating his teachings in all the habitable continents of the world. One may be a papi( degraded) or a tapi, the most elevated. The door is still open. Such mercy is uncommon and incomparable. You transmit the same transcendental mellow of generosity. All glories to you.
You are not a mantra guru but a krsna data guru and asraya data guru. You give shelter and Ksna You are teaching how to tread the devotional path leading to Vaikhuntha. Like a caring teacher who teaches primary school kids to write A, B, C. Catching hold of our wretched life, you taught us what others cannot because you know how to. You were and are still very strict and faithfull to Srila Prabhupadas instructions.
In kali yuga we are all distressed, but like a shower of rain on a hot summer season you have eased our bruised heart, minds and body and transformed us into happy bright faced bhakti yogis.
Krsna se tomara, krsna dite para,
tomara sakai ache
Ami ta kangala krsa krsna boli
dhai tava pache pache
Ksna is with such a sadhu, he has bound the lord up in his heart with the rope of love. Krsna belongs to him. So it is only he that can give Krsna. He will give me Krsna sraddha which will lead to Krsna rati. Just by seeing such a guru, faith automatically awakens. It is natural but it is hidden. By the mercy of guru it is uncovered. Such is the potency of my spiritual master and such is the family lineage Srila Prabhupada has left upon us ;his grand disciples.
On your auspicious Vyasa puja celebration, I pray that I may willingly take shelter at your lotus feet and dedicate my existence and life to the sankirtana movement of Lord Caitanya without reservation.
Praying to always be associated with your servants birth after birth.
Your servant
Svarupa sakti devi dasi
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to your lotus feet on your Vyasa Puja celebration.
Although the English language is not suitable, elaborate or comprehensive enough, still i shall make a meagre attempt to glorify my most Revered Spiritual Master.
Contrary to what common man might think and believe, worship of Sri Guru is the life and soul of saddhaka. It is not mere sentiment or emotional trip of ululating or posing with tears in the eyes. It is a real, heartfelt commitment of duty and love from the worshiper and one who is being worshiped. It is a two way affair. Worship of Sri Guru solidifies our bhakti career and retreats our wounded existence and pacifies the inner chambers of the heart back to where it belongs; Hrsikesa, the master of the senses.
Where else would the struggling souls of kali yuga take refuge from the burning sensation of birth, death, old age and disease.
You are the crest jewel of the best type of association, epitome of Vaisanava dealings and the transporter of Krsna’s Department of Mercy. Over the years we see how you have emerged as an empowered son of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada. Decade after decade you have carried the baton of the Sankirtan mission.
Krsna as the Supersoul has been with us since time immemorial, birth after birth. What is this mercy of the Supersoul?
Assuming a body, Katha Upanidas explains
Nayamatma pravacanena labhyo
Na medhaya na bahuna srutena
One cannot understand Paramatma by hearing lectures from innumerable karmis, jnanis, pandits or yogis. It is only when caitya guru in the heart assumes a body and appears before someone that he will be able to understand Paramatma tattva. To have guru means to receive a completely new life. Guru krsna prasade paya bhakti-lata bija. By the mercy of Krsna and guru one receives the bhakti creeper.
Krsna yadi krpa kori kona bhagyavane, guru antaryami-rupe sikhyaya apane.
If Krsna showers his mercy on a fortunate jiva, then the lord appears to that soul as guru and teaches him. Now i see, when one glorifies Krsna automatically the guru is also glorified . You are krsna krpa sri murti.
You have come to give us prema bhakti also known as nitya siddha bhava. By your mercy one develops this Krsna prema. One who contacts you, elucidates the timeless path of Krsna consciousness through constant sravanam and kirtanam.
How much mercy you have passed on from Srila Prabhupada, the chief general of Lord Caitanyas army.....He organised festivals, opened temples, translated books and made devotees of krsna. By making all those arrangements he opened the door for all. You glorified Srila Prabhupada always through distributing his books, spreading and incalculating his teachings in all the habitable continents of the world. One may be a papi( degraded) or a tapi, the most elevated. The door is still open. Such mercy is uncommon and incomparable. You transmit the same transcendental mellow of generosity. All glories to you.
You are not a mantra guru but a krsna data guru and asraya data guru. You give shelter and Ksna You are teaching how to tread the devotional path leading to Vaikhuntha. Like a caring teacher who teaches primary school kids to write A, B, C. Catching hold of our wretched life, you taught us what others cannot because you know how to. You were and are still very strict and faithfull to Srila Prabhupadas instructions.
In kali yuga we are all distressed, but like a shower of rain on a hot summer season you have eased our bruised heart, minds and body and transformed us into happy bright faced bhakti yogis.
Krsna se tomara, krsna dite para,
tomara sakai ache
Ami ta kangala krsa krsna boli
dhai tava pache pache
Ksna is with such a sadhu, he has bound the lord up in his heart with the rope of love. Krsna belongs to him. So it is only he that can give Krsna. He will give me Krsna sraddha which will lead to Krsna rati. Just by seeing such a guru, faith automatically awakens. It is natural but it is hidden. By the mercy of guru it is uncovered. Such is the potency of my spiritual master and such is the family lineage Srila Prabhupada has left upon us ;his grand disciples.
On your auspicious Vyasa puja celebration, I pray that I may willingly take shelter at your lotus feet and dedicate my existence and life to the sankirtana movement of Lord Caitanya without reservation.
Praying to always be associated with your servants birth after birth.
Your servant
Svarupa sakti devi dasi
Sveta Manjari
GURUDEV
Please accept my humble obeisance, all glories to Srila Prabhupad; all glories to your lotus feet on your appearance day.
Another year has gone by and this time with no association.
My mind often plays that tune. When will I be seeing Gurudev? Then like with most experiences the reality has to be forced.
Every service like those beautiful moments of bathing and adorning Sri Sri Nitai Mayapurchandra can only be done on your behalf. It is at these moments when I am reminded that each and every service rendered is done only through your mercy. Everything from the lighting and offering of a ghee lamp to adorning The Lordships lotus feet with toe rings cannot be offered without going through our relationship.
It is in this way that I appease the mind, as I realize that it is through service that I am closest to you and not through your physical presence.
Thank you a zillion times Gurudev. Thank you for enabling this fallen soul to serve in my limited capacity and for always accepting what I have to give.
Our relationship is a spiritual one and separation is therefore the sweetest. While this is not always the first thought; the realisation allows me to smile and move on.
Your eternally aspiring servant and spiritual daughter,
Sveta Manjari Devi Dasi
Please accept my humble obeisance, all glories to Srila Prabhupad; all glories to your lotus feet on your appearance day.
Another year has gone by and this time with no association.
My mind often plays that tune. When will I be seeing Gurudev? Then like with most experiences the reality has to be forced.
Every service like those beautiful moments of bathing and adorning Sri Sri Nitai Mayapurchandra can only be done on your behalf. It is at these moments when I am reminded that each and every service rendered is done only through your mercy. Everything from the lighting and offering of a ghee lamp to adorning The Lordships lotus feet with toe rings cannot be offered without going through our relationship.
It is in this way that I appease the mind, as I realize that it is through service that I am closest to you and not through your physical presence.
Thank you a zillion times Gurudev. Thank you for enabling this fallen soul to serve in my limited capacity and for always accepting what I have to give.
Our relationship is a spiritual one and separation is therefore the sweetest. While this is not always the first thought; the realisation allows me to smile and move on.
Your eternally aspiring servant and spiritual daughter,
Sveta Manjari Devi Dasi
Svetadvipa Das
Dearest Gurudeva
Please my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Nama om visnu padaya
Krishna prestaya bhu tale
Srmate Devamrita swami
Iti namine
Pracare purva dasksam ca
Bakti cara pravinata
Para tatapi karunya
Yasya sarve ce te namaha
This Vyasa Puja I was going to exemplify all your qualities as I meditate on a suitable offering to befit a resplendent servant of Srila Prabhupada and Krishna. But as I think and ponder, it is your example that strikes me hard in the heart. Your example is consistent as you strive and long for more service.
Your example is virtuous, commendable, honorable and meritorious. But most of all, for me, it is inspiring.
In your shadow I walk but let me contemplate, to not do what you do, but as you do. Day in, day out. Year in, year out. Till you lead safely back to where we belong.
Your aspiring and determined servants
Svetadvipa Das, Manjulali Dasi and Vrindavan Lali
Please my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Nama om visnu padaya
Krishna prestaya bhu tale
Srmate Devamrita swami
Iti namine
Pracare purva dasksam ca
Bakti cara pravinata
Para tatapi karunya
Yasya sarve ce te namaha
This Vyasa Puja I was going to exemplify all your qualities as I meditate on a suitable offering to befit a resplendent servant of Srila Prabhupada and Krishna. But as I think and ponder, it is your example that strikes me hard in the heart. Your example is consistent as you strive and long for more service.
Your example is virtuous, commendable, honorable and meritorious. But most of all, for me, it is inspiring.
In your shadow I walk but let me contemplate, to not do what you do, but as you do. Day in, day out. Year in, year out. Till you lead safely back to where we belong.
Your aspiring and determined servants
Svetadvipa Das, Manjulali Dasi and Vrindavan Lali
Syama-gauri dd
Dearest Guru Maharaj
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
This time last year I travelled with a handful of your disciples and well-wishers from Vrndavan to Noida to observe your vyasa puja celebration. It would have been the 2nd year that the Iskcon Noida community was celebrating your vyasa puja. You were appreciated so much by the community devotees, so they threw a big celebration and had a surprise visit by one of your god-brothers, H.H Lokanath Swami. Maharaj shared with us his fondness of you and praised your valuable heart and spirit for outreach. He pointed out how your unique ways and ever-fresh thinking of spreading Krsna consciousness are giving so many people real lives.
In the 7th Chapter of Canto 1, text 5, Srila Prabhupada explains in his purport that by the influence of the speeches of saintly persons who have actually realized the Lord, the conditioned soul gets a taste for hearing about the Lord. He is then gradually elevated to the platform of respect, devotion and attachment to the Lord.
Respect, devotion, attachment.
This made me think back of the many times I have witnessed you taking many of us through this process. Right from the time a person shows some interest in bhakti, you encourage them to keep coming, take advantage of the spiritual facilities (offered by the centers), and to gradually take up chanting Hare Krsna.
You nurture us onto the platform of becoming respectable human beings through harmonious and sattvic lifestyles and training, we've all seen so many faces literally transform after some time in bhakti. Encouraging us to spend our physical, intellectual and emotional energies in Krsna's service whole-heartedly, some sparks of devotion to our service develop. Attachment to the Lord is a platform which I wouldn't be able to speak of from experience, but I can at least say that we do begin to feel great responsibility for our various services, performing them for the love of our spiritual master and Krsna.
Srila Prabhupada further explains that the whole thing is completed by the surrendering process. Hmmm....wouldn't it be nice to finally realize that the fallible soldiers we lean on are collapsing under us, and that real shelter is found only under the protective arms of Rama and Krsna.
Srila Prabhupada continues to say "the conditioned souls are being reclaimed by the Lord both ways, namely by the process of punishment by the external energy of the Lord, and by Himself as the spiritual master, and from without He becomes the spiritual master in the shape of scriptures, saints and the initiator spiritual master".
Thank you Guru Maharaj for reclaiming me as a servant of the Lord through serving you and offering me so many ways to come to the platform of respect, devotion, and attachment. May you continue to do so; I have still far to go. Praying that Krsna will allow all of us your association for many more vyasa pujas, happy vyasa puja Gurudeva.
your servant
Syama-gauri dd
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
This time last year I travelled with a handful of your disciples and well-wishers from Vrndavan to Noida to observe your vyasa puja celebration. It would have been the 2nd year that the Iskcon Noida community was celebrating your vyasa puja. You were appreciated so much by the community devotees, so they threw a big celebration and had a surprise visit by one of your god-brothers, H.H Lokanath Swami. Maharaj shared with us his fondness of you and praised your valuable heart and spirit for outreach. He pointed out how your unique ways and ever-fresh thinking of spreading Krsna consciousness are giving so many people real lives.
In the 7th Chapter of Canto 1, text 5, Srila Prabhupada explains in his purport that by the influence of the speeches of saintly persons who have actually realized the Lord, the conditioned soul gets a taste for hearing about the Lord. He is then gradually elevated to the platform of respect, devotion and attachment to the Lord.
Respect, devotion, attachment.
This made me think back of the many times I have witnessed you taking many of us through this process. Right from the time a person shows some interest in bhakti, you encourage them to keep coming, take advantage of the spiritual facilities (offered by the centers), and to gradually take up chanting Hare Krsna.
You nurture us onto the platform of becoming respectable human beings through harmonious and sattvic lifestyles and training, we've all seen so many faces literally transform after some time in bhakti. Encouraging us to spend our physical, intellectual and emotional energies in Krsna's service whole-heartedly, some sparks of devotion to our service develop. Attachment to the Lord is a platform which I wouldn't be able to speak of from experience, but I can at least say that we do begin to feel great responsibility for our various services, performing them for the love of our spiritual master and Krsna.
Srila Prabhupada further explains that the whole thing is completed by the surrendering process. Hmmm....wouldn't it be nice to finally realize that the fallible soldiers we lean on are collapsing under us, and that real shelter is found only under the protective arms of Rama and Krsna.
Srila Prabhupada continues to say "the conditioned souls are being reclaimed by the Lord both ways, namely by the process of punishment by the external energy of the Lord, and by Himself as the spiritual master, and from without He becomes the spiritual master in the shape of scriptures, saints and the initiator spiritual master".
Thank you Guru Maharaj for reclaiming me as a servant of the Lord through serving you and offering me so many ways to come to the platform of respect, devotion, and attachment. May you continue to do so; I have still far to go. Praying that Krsna will allow all of us your association for many more vyasa pujas, happy vyasa puja Gurudeva.
your servant
Syama-gauri dd
Thakur Saranga Das
My dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept our humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to your lotus feet on this most auspicious day of your appearance.
Mukam karoti vacalam
Pangum langhayate girim
Yat-krpa tam aham vande
Sri-gurum dina-taranam
I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, the deliverer of the fallen souls. His mercy turns the dumb into eloquent speakers and enables the lame to cross mountains.
Om ajnana timarandhasya
Jnananjana-salakaya
Caksur unmilitam yena
Tasmai sri-gurave namah
I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, who has opened my eyes, which were blinded by the darkness of ignorance, with the torchlight of knowledge.
Radha-sammukha-samsaktim
Sakhi-sanga-nivasinim
Tvam aham satatam vande
Madhavasraya-vigraham
Oh spiritual master, I continually offer my obeisances unto you, who are always in the presence of Srimati Radharani and are very much devoted to Her. You always reside in the association of Her confidantes, the gopis, and you are the abode of loving devotion to Krsna.
On this auspicious occasion, for our own purification, although very in capable to do so, we would like to make an attempt to glorify you.
Hilarious sense of humour
Humility that melts the stone-like kali-yuga heart
Dedicated wholeheartedly to serving Srila Prabhupadas mission
Ecstatic kirtanas that beat the bhakti hearts of all
Vibrant preaching inspiring people to take up Bhakti yoga
Auspicious presence in our otherwise empty lives
Making a mentor system so everyone is cared for
Radiant smile breaking all ones defences
Infusing each place you go to with purity and unconditional love
Transforming peoples lives, leaving them completely indebted to you
Attuning everyone to their bhakti potential
Showing us through your perfect example how the bhakti process works
Withstanding all austerities of global travel to give Krishna to others
Arranging devotees lives for maximum bhakti growth
Moment by moment thinking of what is best for Krishna
Indescribable compassion for all living beings
You are the most loving father and grandfather.
You enter into our hearts with your un-conditional love.
You relish chanting the Holy Name, inspiring others to do the same.
You truly care about all living entities.
You are saving so many conditioned souls from the clutches of maya.
Your auspicious presence makes one’s so-called problems disappear.
Your emphasis on outreach gives devotees a taste of the highest bliss.
You have opened out reach centres that are a spiritual oasis in the city for people burning in the forest fire of material existence.
You encourage us to use everything for Krishna’s service, not artificially renouncing.
Your guidance and care gives us reason to live.
Your potent meditation on Krishna’s service waters the root of all existence.
The more one thinks about your glorious qualities, characteristics and bhakti skills, the more one can realise they are unlimited and inconceivable and each one could be expanded upon so much.
Thank you Gurudeva for your appearance in this world and in our lives. We pray that one day we will be able to glorify you adequately and that we may become humble and selfless servants of your invaluable instructions.
Please give us the strength needed to execute your two instructions, to be good examples in the grhasta ashram and to help others in their Krishna consciousness.
Aspiring to be your un-conditional servants,
Thakur Saranga Das and
Sukanthi Radha devi dasi
Please accept our humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to your lotus feet on this most auspicious day of your appearance.
Mukam karoti vacalam
Pangum langhayate girim
Yat-krpa tam aham vande
Sri-gurum dina-taranam
I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, the deliverer of the fallen souls. His mercy turns the dumb into eloquent speakers and enables the lame to cross mountains.
Om ajnana timarandhasya
Jnananjana-salakaya
Caksur unmilitam yena
Tasmai sri-gurave namah
I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, who has opened my eyes, which were blinded by the darkness of ignorance, with the torchlight of knowledge.
Radha-sammukha-samsaktim
Sakhi-sanga-nivasinim
Tvam aham satatam vande
Madhavasraya-vigraham
Oh spiritual master, I continually offer my obeisances unto you, who are always in the presence of Srimati Radharani and are very much devoted to Her. You always reside in the association of Her confidantes, the gopis, and you are the abode of loving devotion to Krsna.
On this auspicious occasion, for our own purification, although very in capable to do so, we would like to make an attempt to glorify you.
Hilarious sense of humour
Humility that melts the stone-like kali-yuga heart
Dedicated wholeheartedly to serving Srila Prabhupadas mission
Ecstatic kirtanas that beat the bhakti hearts of all
Vibrant preaching inspiring people to take up Bhakti yoga
Auspicious presence in our otherwise empty lives
Making a mentor system so everyone is cared for
Radiant smile breaking all ones defences
Infusing each place you go to with purity and unconditional love
Transforming peoples lives, leaving them completely indebted to you
Attuning everyone to their bhakti potential
Showing us through your perfect example how the bhakti process works
Withstanding all austerities of global travel to give Krishna to others
Arranging devotees lives for maximum bhakti growth
Moment by moment thinking of what is best for Krishna
Indescribable compassion for all living beings
You are the most loving father and grandfather.
You enter into our hearts with your un-conditional love.
You relish chanting the Holy Name, inspiring others to do the same.
You truly care about all living entities.
You are saving so many conditioned souls from the clutches of maya.
Your auspicious presence makes one’s so-called problems disappear.
Your emphasis on outreach gives devotees a taste of the highest bliss.
You have opened out reach centres that are a spiritual oasis in the city for people burning in the forest fire of material existence.
You encourage us to use everything for Krishna’s service, not artificially renouncing.
Your guidance and care gives us reason to live.
Your potent meditation on Krishna’s service waters the root of all existence.
The more one thinks about your glorious qualities, characteristics and bhakti skills, the more one can realise they are unlimited and inconceivable and each one could be expanded upon so much.
Thank you Gurudeva for your appearance in this world and in our lives. We pray that one day we will be able to glorify you adequately and that we may become humble and selfless servants of your invaluable instructions.
Please give us the strength needed to execute your two instructions, to be good examples in the grhasta ashram and to help others in their Krishna consciousness.
Aspiring to be your un-conditional servants,
Thakur Saranga Das and
Sukanthi Radha devi dasi
Urjjesvari Dasi
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I cannot fathom the depths of your realizations. However, I can recognize and acknowledge that, for as long as I’ve known you, you have always been interested in unraveling the real core of this material world. You aim to extract reality from illusion and disseminate the essence for the benefit of everyone.
Employing this grasp of reality you have transformed many hearts. In an age and culture that has increasingly welcomed and embraced explicit sensual gratification, you are successfully convincing people to give it all up and adopt a spiritual path beyond the clutches of this temporary world.
And you do it with so much enthusiasm.
Thank you for your exceptional example of enthusiastic service.
Thank you for giving continual reminders of the real form of material nature and constantly emphasizing where the real taste is.
I appreciate the sacrifice you perform in striving to give us bhakti-novices that taste for serving Krishna. The taste, which we’d forgotten and longed for our whole life, and many lives before that.
Thank you for giving me a situation in my early years where I could easily get a taste for Krishna’s service.
Moreover, Thank you for always sticking with me through those tough times in my spiritual life and Thank you for considering me fit for such a nice devotee husband.
Your fallen servant,
Urjesvari dd
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I cannot fathom the depths of your realizations. However, I can recognize and acknowledge that, for as long as I’ve known you, you have always been interested in unraveling the real core of this material world. You aim to extract reality from illusion and disseminate the essence for the benefit of everyone.
Employing this grasp of reality you have transformed many hearts. In an age and culture that has increasingly welcomed and embraced explicit sensual gratification, you are successfully convincing people to give it all up and adopt a spiritual path beyond the clutches of this temporary world.
And you do it with so much enthusiasm.
Thank you for your exceptional example of enthusiastic service.
Thank you for giving continual reminders of the real form of material nature and constantly emphasizing where the real taste is.
I appreciate the sacrifice you perform in striving to give us bhakti-novices that taste for serving Krishna. The taste, which we’d forgotten and longed for our whole life, and many lives before that.
Thank you for giving me a situation in my early years where I could easily get a taste for Krishna’s service.
Moreover, Thank you for always sticking with me through those tough times in my spiritual life and Thank you for considering me fit for such a nice devotee husband.
Your fallen servant,
Urjesvari dd
Uttara d.d.
Dear Guru Maharaj!
Please accept my obeisances!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Heartily congratulate You on the day of Your birthday.
Dear Guru Maharaj, I'm happy that You are my eternal spiritual teacher. Thanks for Your heroism against all stemming from the souls and to me as well.
I wish You eternal understanding Your personality from everyone with whom You meet on Your journey. Good health.
Dear guru Maharaja, please. bless me so that I could serve You a devotee like You serve to Srila Prabhupada!
Your eternal disciple of Uttara d.d.
Please accept my obeisances!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Heartily congratulate You on the day of Your birthday.
Dear Guru Maharaj, I'm happy that You are my eternal spiritual teacher. Thanks for Your heroism against all stemming from the souls and to me as well.
I wish You eternal understanding Your personality from everyone with whom You meet on Your journey. Good health.
Dear guru Maharaja, please. bless me so that I could serve You a devotee like You serve to Srila Prabhupada!
Your eternal disciple of Uttara d.d.
Vaishnava Charan Dasa
nama om visnu padaya
krishna prestaya bhutale
Srimate devamrita
Svamin ite namine
pracare purva daksyam ca
bhaktacara pravinata
pararthatapi karanyam
yasya sarve ca te namah
Dear Guru Dev,
Please accept my respectful obeisance’s
All glories to Srila Prabhupad and all glories to you.
Every past year on this auspicious day of your birth most times I try to finish up writing this homage till the last moment. This shows how I get my priorities mixed up in my life. Although I’m just one day ahead this year, I realise it had taken 10 years of my life transform thought into action and also how much importance I place on our relationship, to understand that remembering, meditating glorying is just for my purification and take our relationship seriously.
The fog in mind is just starting to clear now, all these years it’s just that you who have taken me under your wings and have provided me shelter, compassion, care and guidance to grow in Krsna conscious, although my “self obsessed mind” most times think otherwise.
Thank you Guru Dev for all what you have done and most importantly holding on to our one-way relationship.
Still learning the meaning of disciple,
Vaishnava charan Dasa
krishna prestaya bhutale
Srimate devamrita
Svamin ite namine
pracare purva daksyam ca
bhaktacara pravinata
pararthatapi karanyam
yasya sarve ca te namah
Dear Guru Dev,
Please accept my respectful obeisance’s
All glories to Srila Prabhupad and all glories to you.
Every past year on this auspicious day of your birth most times I try to finish up writing this homage till the last moment. This shows how I get my priorities mixed up in my life. Although I’m just one day ahead this year, I realise it had taken 10 years of my life transform thought into action and also how much importance I place on our relationship, to understand that remembering, meditating glorying is just for my purification and take our relationship seriously.
The fog in mind is just starting to clear now, all these years it’s just that you who have taken me under your wings and have provided me shelter, compassion, care and guidance to grow in Krsna conscious, although my “self obsessed mind” most times think otherwise.
Thank you Guru Dev for all what you have done and most importantly holding on to our one-way relationship.
Still learning the meaning of disciple,
Vaishnava charan Dasa
Vamsidhari das
Dear Gurudeva
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
How to glorify the person who has shown me every kindness, extended me every opportunity, endured every rebellion?
On this precious day of your appearance, I feel we sit like enchanted children on the Bhakti-Rasamrta-Sindhu, amazed at the ocean of your
sublime, devotional qualities. Our hearts skipping with every crashing wave, every mesmerizing lecture, every
heart-expanding kirtan, every love-laden/encouraging darshan.
Not being satisfied with just your own transcendental happiness, you've inspired devotees to create networks, communities,
families and outreach projects that carry the lamplight of real love above the nightmare of Kali-yuga, so that the
pleasure waves of devotional service will wash far and wide, not just for this generation or the next, but to the very end.
You've given/created succession, a devotional legacy of excellence.
Thank you so much for helping us, for helping me. Even when your words of advice are ignored, when you
instructions are forsaken, even when those who you're trying to help throw their shoes at you - still, you continue,
to outreach, train, give guidance and love. "What kind of lover are you?" You are the greatest lover Gurudeva,
your service seems to know no bounds, in capacity or quality. What lengths you'll take to rescue, inspire, cultivate someone.
What risks you'll take to ensure the formula remains authentic, fresh and pure, what heartache you feel when
bewildered children walk back into the night of material desire.
Thank you for accepting whatever little service I have to offer, before you I feel so small, but my heart bounds
with joy because I am before you, and for that I am so grateful. I pray to you on this day for the strength to remain
close to your lotus feet, and the lotus feet of those close to you, for in good association everything becomes possible.
Please accept this simple poem, on this special day:
Over the hills and far away,
is a land where you dance & you laugh & you play.
Where the cows moo with love, & the mums beam with joy,
and their hearts skip a beat to see Yashodas young boy.
There's adventure & feasting & secrets to share,
with our friend Shyamasundar who wears a peacock plumb in His hair...
...and at night all His pastimes they dance I our heart,
for we can hardly wait for a new day to start...
...as we remember our love,
the Supreme Absolute, who is now deep in the forest & playing His flute...
Your aspiring servant and son,
Vamsidhari das
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
How to glorify the person who has shown me every kindness, extended me every opportunity, endured every rebellion?
On this precious day of your appearance, I feel we sit like enchanted children on the Bhakti-Rasamrta-Sindhu, amazed at the ocean of your
sublime, devotional qualities. Our hearts skipping with every crashing wave, every mesmerizing lecture, every
heart-expanding kirtan, every love-laden/encouraging darshan.
Not being satisfied with just your own transcendental happiness, you've inspired devotees to create networks, communities,
families and outreach projects that carry the lamplight of real love above the nightmare of Kali-yuga, so that the
pleasure waves of devotional service will wash far and wide, not just for this generation or the next, but to the very end.
You've given/created succession, a devotional legacy of excellence.
Thank you so much for helping us, for helping me. Even when your words of advice are ignored, when you
instructions are forsaken, even when those who you're trying to help throw their shoes at you - still, you continue,
to outreach, train, give guidance and love. "What kind of lover are you?" You are the greatest lover Gurudeva,
your service seems to know no bounds, in capacity or quality. What lengths you'll take to rescue, inspire, cultivate someone.
What risks you'll take to ensure the formula remains authentic, fresh and pure, what heartache you feel when
bewildered children walk back into the night of material desire.
Thank you for accepting whatever little service I have to offer, before you I feel so small, but my heart bounds
with joy because I am before you, and for that I am so grateful. I pray to you on this day for the strength to remain
close to your lotus feet, and the lotus feet of those close to you, for in good association everything becomes possible.
Please accept this simple poem, on this special day:
Over the hills and far away,
is a land where you dance & you laugh & you play.
Where the cows moo with love, & the mums beam with joy,
and their hearts skip a beat to see Yashodas young boy.
There's adventure & feasting & secrets to share,
with our friend Shyamasundar who wears a peacock plumb in His hair...
...and at night all His pastimes they dance I our heart,
for we can hardly wait for a new day to start...
...as we remember our love,
the Supreme Absolute, who is now deep in the forest & playing His flute...
Your aspiring servant and son,
Vamsidhari das
Venkata Brahmananda rao Nelluri
1) Om ajnana-timirandhasya
jnananjana-salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena
tasmai sri gurave, sri DevaaMritaSwame, namah.
In truth, I, Venkata Brahmananda rao Nelluri, was a big sinner, false person, and so forth. All of sudden, I came into contact with YOUR Melbourne Mahaprabhu Mandir (3M) representatives and disciples in mid of 2009, from then on wards, I started to curb my selfish attitude slowly and gradually. I believe that this is just beginning and happened just because of your causeless mercy only.
2) Nama Om Vishnu-Padaya KRSNA presthaya bhutale
srimate DevaaMritaSwamin Iti Namine.
Hare KRSNA guru maharaj, sri DevaaMritaSwami ji, first and foremost, how are you? Guru maharaj, please let me bow down unto your feet again and again either directly or indirectly just to get rid of my sins firstly, because, in fact, YOU have already saved and put away thousands of fragments of sri KRSNA from unavoidable and uninterrupted cycle of disturbances- dislikes- distress- and so on.
Finally, what I can say now to me and to others including relatives, friends, and society is that I have seen a game changer in my life. I am sure that the tide is on the way to washout me in order to bring out a new living being from existing Venkata Brahmananda rao Nelluri. Thank YOU so much for this, and I wish to repay YOU or YOUR team in future as per my capacity, so let me do that Maharaj ji. And live long please.
Yours sincerely (ys),
Venkata Nelluri
jnananjana-salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena
tasmai sri gurave, sri DevaaMritaSwame, namah.
In truth, I, Venkata Brahmananda rao Nelluri, was a big sinner, false person, and so forth. All of sudden, I came into contact with YOUR Melbourne Mahaprabhu Mandir (3M) representatives and disciples in mid of 2009, from then on wards, I started to curb my selfish attitude slowly and gradually. I believe that this is just beginning and happened just because of your causeless mercy only.
2) Nama Om Vishnu-Padaya KRSNA presthaya bhutale
srimate DevaaMritaSwamin Iti Namine.
Hare KRSNA guru maharaj, sri DevaaMritaSwami ji, first and foremost, how are you? Guru maharaj, please let me bow down unto your feet again and again either directly or indirectly just to get rid of my sins firstly, because, in fact, YOU have already saved and put away thousands of fragments of sri KRSNA from unavoidable and uninterrupted cycle of disturbances- dislikes- distress- and so on.
Finally, what I can say now to me and to others including relatives, friends, and society is that I have seen a game changer in my life. I am sure that the tide is on the way to washout me in order to bring out a new living being from existing Venkata Brahmananda rao Nelluri. Thank YOU so much for this, and I wish to repay YOU or YOUR team in future as per my capacity, so let me do that Maharaj ji. And live long please.
Yours sincerely (ys),
Venkata Nelluri
Venu-madhurya das
Dear Srila Gurudeva. Please accept my humble obeisances! All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Thinking of Your name Gurudeva I think it really means ‘Nectar of the Supreme Lord’, because I have not heard anywhere how expertly, lively, and with complete transcendental emotions you relish Krisna Lilas, anywhere You speak of Krisna pastimes they become so live, You make Srimad Bhagavatam a living creation which awakens 5th dimension of pure love in our hearts. SB is a top most nectar of Vedic literature, but it is said, that when it is spoken through the mouth of a pure devotee it becomes even sweeter. If there are some real ‘heart meditations’ on this planet, these are Your lectures on every continent of the world, as nothing can satisfy the hungry heart of the individual soul but Krisna. So selflessly you travel through the world, despite of the health, no time for rest, no time to stop, You accept everyone and ask them to chant Hare Krisna so mercifully.
So generously You invite us to elevate from offensive chanting, from the stage where we accuse everyone and especially Krisna, to a level where we can become true servants of the servants of the servants of Krisna, where we can become instruments of Your Grace, where there is a tiny hope for us to reach Krisna Prema one day. In the famous SB 1.13.29 purport, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada explains that “….even by a moment’s association with a pure devotee, one can achieve all perfection.” Than Srila Prabhupada begins to confirm this point Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu makes, on His personal example of meeting His spiritual master.
My lowest self had this causeless mercy to meet Your Holiness in mid April 2010 at the Loft and just by spending few minutes at Your lotus feet on darshan, You have completely changed my life, my goals, my desires, You have opened my eyes and made me see what every human being should have an opportunity to see, as it is their right and only chance. Where there is knowledge there is no place for ignorance, where there is sun there is no place for darkness. You encourage all of us to read Srila Prabhupad’s heritage and than to serve it, by sharing knowledge and distributing books everywhere we go. This makes life perfect and blissful. You have shown us how to do it by Your personal example, at the time and places where it was much much harder than today, so please, allow us and teach us how to follow in Your footsteps.
With deep feeling of gratitude,
Your insignificant servant,
Venu-madhurya das
Thinking of Your name Gurudeva I think it really means ‘Nectar of the Supreme Lord’, because I have not heard anywhere how expertly, lively, and with complete transcendental emotions you relish Krisna Lilas, anywhere You speak of Krisna pastimes they become so live, You make Srimad Bhagavatam a living creation which awakens 5th dimension of pure love in our hearts. SB is a top most nectar of Vedic literature, but it is said, that when it is spoken through the mouth of a pure devotee it becomes even sweeter. If there are some real ‘heart meditations’ on this planet, these are Your lectures on every continent of the world, as nothing can satisfy the hungry heart of the individual soul but Krisna. So selflessly you travel through the world, despite of the health, no time for rest, no time to stop, You accept everyone and ask them to chant Hare Krisna so mercifully.
So generously You invite us to elevate from offensive chanting, from the stage where we accuse everyone and especially Krisna, to a level where we can become true servants of the servants of the servants of Krisna, where we can become instruments of Your Grace, where there is a tiny hope for us to reach Krisna Prema one day. In the famous SB 1.13.29 purport, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada explains that “….even by a moment’s association with a pure devotee, one can achieve all perfection.” Than Srila Prabhupada begins to confirm this point Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu makes, on His personal example of meeting His spiritual master.
My lowest self had this causeless mercy to meet Your Holiness in mid April 2010 at the Loft and just by spending few minutes at Your lotus feet on darshan, You have completely changed my life, my goals, my desires, You have opened my eyes and made me see what every human being should have an opportunity to see, as it is their right and only chance. Where there is knowledge there is no place for ignorance, where there is sun there is no place for darkness. You encourage all of us to read Srila Prabhupad’s heritage and than to serve it, by sharing knowledge and distributing books everywhere we go. This makes life perfect and blissful. You have shown us how to do it by Your personal example, at the time and places where it was much much harder than today, so please, allow us and teach us how to follow in Your footsteps.
With deep feeling of gratitude,
Your insignificant servant,
Venu-madhurya das
Vinita devi dasi
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to your lotus feet on this most auspicious day of your Appearance.
With dedicated devotional service, we become increasingly more able to receive the love, care, support, encouragement, guidance, and protection that so kindly comes from Krishna and Krishna's devotees. We become more connected to our devotional family and more committed to the understanding, practice and preaching of Krishna Consciousness. This most precious benediction is only made possible by the mercy and grace of the Spiritual Master. Without the Spiritual Master, there is no link to Krishna, and without Krishna we are simply lost in perpetual darkness, suffering and lamentation.
Dearest Gurudeva, thank you so very much for your kindness, for your faith, dedication, austerities, and instructions. Thank you for saving me, for bringing Krishna into my life, and giving me the ability to give Krishna to others.
Thank you also for this opportunity to share my life with so many of your disciples, to be part of a strong and flourishing devotional family, and to see how your care and expertise is transforming the lives of so many suffering souls. Thank you for all the time you spend to nourish our Krishna Consciousness, for sharing your devotional wisdom and experience, and for inspiring Pure Devotional Service.
And last, but not least, thank you for knowing what's best for me, helping me to make the best decisions for my life.
I pray for your continued mercy, to remain always at your lotus feet, and always in the association of devotees.
With sincerest appreciation and indebtedness,
Your aspiring servant,
Vinita devi dasi
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to your lotus feet on this most auspicious day of your Appearance.
With dedicated devotional service, we become increasingly more able to receive the love, care, support, encouragement, guidance, and protection that so kindly comes from Krishna and Krishna's devotees. We become more connected to our devotional family and more committed to the understanding, practice and preaching of Krishna Consciousness. This most precious benediction is only made possible by the mercy and grace of the Spiritual Master. Without the Spiritual Master, there is no link to Krishna, and without Krishna we are simply lost in perpetual darkness, suffering and lamentation.
Dearest Gurudeva, thank you so very much for your kindness, for your faith, dedication, austerities, and instructions. Thank you for saving me, for bringing Krishna into my life, and giving me the ability to give Krishna to others.
Thank you also for this opportunity to share my life with so many of your disciples, to be part of a strong and flourishing devotional family, and to see how your care and expertise is transforming the lives of so many suffering souls. Thank you for all the time you spend to nourish our Krishna Consciousness, for sharing your devotional wisdom and experience, and for inspiring Pure Devotional Service.
And last, but not least, thank you for knowing what's best for me, helping me to make the best decisions for my life.
I pray for your continued mercy, to remain always at your lotus feet, and always in the association of devotees.
With sincerest appreciation and indebtedness,
Your aspiring servant,
Vinita devi dasi
Visnu-maya devi dasi
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
You try to pluck people out of a world where the search for Krishna is not the goal, in fact, God, a term which is very broad nowadays, is the last thing on most people’s minds. Yet you stick to your mission, forever refining your skills, and day after day dedicate yourself to spreading love of Krishna.
People want some substance in life that will give them happiness, and for many, they simply get this taste just by shooting the breeze on a sunny spring day. But no matter how one chooses to weave through life—conquered or defeated—you want to show them something else. You want to show them that their pursuits are primitive, that their goals are not the highest, but rather, the highest objective they should shoot for is to achieve a deep love within, a serenity not bound by material circumstances, however great, however fresh, but a love, based on service, that is pleasurable for eternity.
You see within people the longing for a relationship that won’t let them down. And in your way, you try to convince them that that’s what they really want. A few take, and many wait, but either way, the beginning of something profoundly deep has entered their lives once again: love for Krishna.
Following in the footsteps of Lord Caitanya, you give that seed to people, and you water it as much as you can; you wholeheartedly want people to realise who they truly are.
Your servant,
Visnu-maya dd.
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
You try to pluck people out of a world where the search for Krishna is not the goal, in fact, God, a term which is very broad nowadays, is the last thing on most people’s minds. Yet you stick to your mission, forever refining your skills, and day after day dedicate yourself to spreading love of Krishna.
People want some substance in life that will give them happiness, and for many, they simply get this taste just by shooting the breeze on a sunny spring day. But no matter how one chooses to weave through life—conquered or defeated—you want to show them something else. You want to show them that their pursuits are primitive, that their goals are not the highest, but rather, the highest objective they should shoot for is to achieve a deep love within, a serenity not bound by material circumstances, however great, however fresh, but a love, based on service, that is pleasurable for eternity.
You see within people the longing for a relationship that won’t let them down. And in your way, you try to convince them that that’s what they really want. A few take, and many wait, but either way, the beginning of something profoundly deep has entered their lives once again: love for Krishna.
Following in the footsteps of Lord Caitanya, you give that seed to people, and you water it as much as you can; you wholeheartedly want people to realise who they truly are.
Your servant,
Visnu-maya dd.
Vraja Dhama das
Dandavats Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble and respectful obeisances. All Glories to your Lotus Feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
I am feeling fortunate to have met you. Every year on this day I feel it more and more.
A younger bhakta recently asked me how do I know who my Guru is?
I replied by recounting my personal experience. I had met many Guru's when I first came to know about Krishna Consciousness-but there was only one that made an effort to reach out to me- to lift me out of my "less than ideal situation" and give me a whole new world -complete with good food, good music and good friends. Truly practical and loving shelter.
Many Guru's were available to give general spiritual instructions. But you ushered me into such a unique atmosphere of devotion, free from spiritual politics, full of inspiring association , with you always there to guide and nurture that bhakti atmosphere. That time helped and inspired me to make a change of heart then- and has continued to fuel me through to 10 years later.
Thank you again and again for having crafted such an inspirational environment that dispels the material energy and nurtures our dormant devotion.
Truly indebted, your servant Vraja Dhama das
Please accept my humble and respectful obeisances. All Glories to your Lotus Feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
I am feeling fortunate to have met you. Every year on this day I feel it more and more.
A younger bhakta recently asked me how do I know who my Guru is?
I replied by recounting my personal experience. I had met many Guru's when I first came to know about Krishna Consciousness-but there was only one that made an effort to reach out to me- to lift me out of my "less than ideal situation" and give me a whole new world -complete with good food, good music and good friends. Truly practical and loving shelter.
Many Guru's were available to give general spiritual instructions. But you ushered me into such a unique atmosphere of devotion, free from spiritual politics, full of inspiring association , with you always there to guide and nurture that bhakti atmosphere. That time helped and inspired me to make a change of heart then- and has continued to fuel me through to 10 years later.
Thank you again and again for having crafted such an inspirational environment that dispels the material energy and nurtures our dormant devotion.
Truly indebted, your servant Vraja Dhama das
Vraja Nari devi dasi
Dear Gurudeva,
please accept my humble obeisances,
all glories to Srila Prabhupada,
all glories to you.
Lecture on SB 1.2.15 -- Vrndavana, October 26, 1972:
Just like Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He delivered Jagāi-Mādhāi. They were all this: addicted to illicit sex, meat-eating, drinking and intoxication, gambling. That was their business. So Nityānanda Prabhu went to deliver them, that "First of all, these rascals should be delivered." Therefore He went there. They were very angry. They hurt Him by throwing one stone on His forehead, and blood came out. Still, Nityānanda Prabhu said, "All right, I don't mind. Please chant Hare Kṛṣṇa." This is preaching, Nityānanda. But when Lord Caitanya heard it, He became very angry. He wanted to kill them immediately. So Nityānanda Prabhu requested that "In this incarnation You have promised not to accept any weapons. Please become," I mean to say, "kind upon them." This is the person... This is the business of guru. Guru introduces with God and prays to God, "Please excuse him." This is guru's business. And by the request of guru, God agrees to excuse him. This is the process.
In this day one can count one's good qualities usually on one finger, still here we are chanting Krsna’s name, relishing Krsna Prasad, reading books about Krsna and serving Krsna in so many ways.
What a wonder. Certainly the mercy of the spiritual master.
SB 1.1.15, Purport: Pure devotees of the Lord are more powerful than the waters of the sacred river Ganges. One can derive spiritual benefit out of prolonged use of the Ganges waters. But one can be sanctified at once by the mercy of a pure devotee of the Lord. In Bhagavad-gītā it is said that any person, regardless of birth as śūdra, woman, or merchant, can take shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord and by so doing can return to Godhead. To take shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord means to take shelter of the pure devotees. Anyone, therefore, who takes shelter of the lotus feet of a pure devotee by accepting the pure devotee as his spiritual master can be at once purified.
As Srila Prabhupada said, 'one can be at once purified', but on fools like me you have been spending so much time and energy.
When I first met the devotees at age 22, I had already managed to waste my health, my mind was nothing but shreds, my teenage years are just another bad Kali yuga story.
But somehow or another by your mercy it seems that I am in the process of being forgiven and I am allowed now to chant Krsna's name and serve Him through you.
When I first met your disciples I was floating around in the wonderland of temple life without any proper training or sufficient care of which I needed a lot.
by my good fortune and with the help of Carana Renu mataji, in March 2004 I moved into the Manchester ashram. Coming under your care was when my spiritual life really started.
Suddenly I found myself in the midst of strong, spiritually enthused ladies, who were very much devoted to you. This was a terrifying experience because I was just so out of it (to say the least) and felt very much intimidated by the focus and dedication around me.
The moment I moved in I conducted plans to move out again.
And then not shortly afterward you came for a visit. For some unknown reason I asked you for advise concerning my spiritual life. Then, to my horror the first instruction I received was to stay.
What could I do? I asked you for advice.
The next day while busing into Manchester city Sandrananda used all her intensity to nag me to my bones. She repeated over and over again: 'you asked him, now you have to do what he said!' Even though I felt like throwing her out of the window, I knew she was right.
So I stayed.
Thank God I did.
Without you, how could have ever developed in my Krsna Consciousness?
The next time you came to Manchester I was still hanging in there. Just when you were already sitting in the car about to drive to the airport you waved me to the open window and said: 'I am glad you're still here, I did not know what you would decide to do.'
This moment I have kept as a treasure in my heart.
I haven't got a fraction of understanding what you have done for me. And I wish I could understand more of who you really are and how much I owe you.
Thank you for being my true father. I'll try not to accept any other father ever again.
Your aspiring servant,
Vraja Nari devi dasi.
please accept my humble obeisances,
all glories to Srila Prabhupada,
all glories to you.
Lecture on SB 1.2.15 -- Vrndavana, October 26, 1972:
Just like Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He delivered Jagāi-Mādhāi. They were all this: addicted to illicit sex, meat-eating, drinking and intoxication, gambling. That was their business. So Nityānanda Prabhu went to deliver them, that "First of all, these rascals should be delivered." Therefore He went there. They were very angry. They hurt Him by throwing one stone on His forehead, and blood came out. Still, Nityānanda Prabhu said, "All right, I don't mind. Please chant Hare Kṛṣṇa." This is preaching, Nityānanda. But when Lord Caitanya heard it, He became very angry. He wanted to kill them immediately. So Nityānanda Prabhu requested that "In this incarnation You have promised not to accept any weapons. Please become," I mean to say, "kind upon them." This is the person... This is the business of guru. Guru introduces with God and prays to God, "Please excuse him." This is guru's business. And by the request of guru, God agrees to excuse him. This is the process.
In this day one can count one's good qualities usually on one finger, still here we are chanting Krsna’s name, relishing Krsna Prasad, reading books about Krsna and serving Krsna in so many ways.
What a wonder. Certainly the mercy of the spiritual master.
SB 1.1.15, Purport: Pure devotees of the Lord are more powerful than the waters of the sacred river Ganges. One can derive spiritual benefit out of prolonged use of the Ganges waters. But one can be sanctified at once by the mercy of a pure devotee of the Lord. In Bhagavad-gītā it is said that any person, regardless of birth as śūdra, woman, or merchant, can take shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord and by so doing can return to Godhead. To take shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord means to take shelter of the pure devotees. Anyone, therefore, who takes shelter of the lotus feet of a pure devotee by accepting the pure devotee as his spiritual master can be at once purified.
As Srila Prabhupada said, 'one can be at once purified', but on fools like me you have been spending so much time and energy.
When I first met the devotees at age 22, I had already managed to waste my health, my mind was nothing but shreds, my teenage years are just another bad Kali yuga story.
But somehow or another by your mercy it seems that I am in the process of being forgiven and I am allowed now to chant Krsna's name and serve Him through you.
When I first met your disciples I was floating around in the wonderland of temple life without any proper training or sufficient care of which I needed a lot.
by my good fortune and with the help of Carana Renu mataji, in March 2004 I moved into the Manchester ashram. Coming under your care was when my spiritual life really started.
Suddenly I found myself in the midst of strong, spiritually enthused ladies, who were very much devoted to you. This was a terrifying experience because I was just so out of it (to say the least) and felt very much intimidated by the focus and dedication around me.
The moment I moved in I conducted plans to move out again.
And then not shortly afterward you came for a visit. For some unknown reason I asked you for advise concerning my spiritual life. Then, to my horror the first instruction I received was to stay.
What could I do? I asked you for advice.
The next day while busing into Manchester city Sandrananda used all her intensity to nag me to my bones. She repeated over and over again: 'you asked him, now you have to do what he said!' Even though I felt like throwing her out of the window, I knew she was right.
So I stayed.
Thank God I did.
Without you, how could have ever developed in my Krsna Consciousness?
The next time you came to Manchester I was still hanging in there. Just when you were already sitting in the car about to drive to the airport you waved me to the open window and said: 'I am glad you're still here, I did not know what you would decide to do.'
This moment I have kept as a treasure in my heart.
I haven't got a fraction of understanding what you have done for me. And I wish I could understand more of who you really are and how much I owe you.
Thank you for being my true father. I'll try not to accept any other father ever again.
Your aspiring servant,
Vraja Nari devi dasi.
Vraja-gopi dd
Dear Gurudeva! Please accept my humble obeisances in the dust of your lotus
feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
namaste gurudevaya sarva sidhi pradayane
sarva mangala rupaya sarvananda vidhayine
shri guro paramananda premananda phal-prada
vrajananda pradananda sevayam ma niyojaya
Your compassion and mercy manifest as an open and genuine help to others in
spiritual life. O, spiritual master, I did nothing to deserve your shelter,
but you mercifully fill me with all piety, all perfections and bliss, and
now I have the opportunity to participate in devotional service. I remember
it every time when I do my service. You are always near. This great gift -
the opportunity to serve Krishna in the association of His devotees - is so
precious for me. Its lacking makes my heart empty, holds myself away from
you and devotees. How can this soul surrounded by illusions and who is prone
to listen to his ego be involved in the service of devotees, Sri Sri
Guru-Gauranga? How can this soul without having achieved due spiritual
qualification be in touch with great knowledge of acharias? Out of your
unlimited compassion you give me inspiration and strength for devotional
service to Krishna in the society of His devotees. Please let me become a
good instrument in your hands, because only then my life would be
successful.
Please accept my congratulations in this auspicious day of your appearance.
And let the ears of your disciples be your gift. Let my gratitude and
glorification of your causless mercy be expressed in the form of my eternal
service.
Trying to be the servant of your servants,
Vraja-gopi dd
feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
namaste gurudevaya sarva sidhi pradayane
sarva mangala rupaya sarvananda vidhayine
shri guro paramananda premananda phal-prada
vrajananda pradananda sevayam ma niyojaya
Your compassion and mercy manifest as an open and genuine help to others in
spiritual life. O, spiritual master, I did nothing to deserve your shelter,
but you mercifully fill me with all piety, all perfections and bliss, and
now I have the opportunity to participate in devotional service. I remember
it every time when I do my service. You are always near. This great gift -
the opportunity to serve Krishna in the association of His devotees - is so
precious for me. Its lacking makes my heart empty, holds myself away from
you and devotees. How can this soul surrounded by illusions and who is prone
to listen to his ego be involved in the service of devotees, Sri Sri
Guru-Gauranga? How can this soul without having achieved due spiritual
qualification be in touch with great knowledge of acharias? Out of your
unlimited compassion you give me inspiration and strength for devotional
service to Krishna in the society of His devotees. Please let me become a
good instrument in your hands, because only then my life would be
successful.
Please accept my congratulations in this auspicious day of your appearance.
And let the ears of your disciples be your gift. Let my gratitude and
glorification of your causless mercy be expressed in the form of my eternal
service.
Trying to be the servant of your servants,
Vraja-gopi dd
Yamuna Jivan Das
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,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to you.
On this most auspicious day of your Vyasa Puja, please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. I was fortunate to have your darshan few times this year. And, also had the opportunity of meeting you in Vrindavan and good fortune of my son having the akshara bhyasam done by you. My son Gopal was indeed fortunate to have you personally help him write the first words by helping him write Hare Krishna and Hare Rama.
This year I also had the opportunity of listening and recording your lectures at the Melbourne University. Your Lectures are really amazing, contemporary, most appropriately addressed to the academic, scientific and fundamental needs of the students assembled there. Yours lectures are not simply another sectarian, sentimental, orthodox way but are delivered backed up by the Research data collected from the reputed scientific journals. Instead of blind belief, students are asked to verify the results by entering into the spiritual laboratory. The students, who don’t know anyone other than Darwin,Stephen Hawking etc. are simply captivated by your talk that systematically explain limitations of conventional scientific knowledge and the relevance of the spiritual thinking. I could see more and more students are becoming receptive and so is the university preaching and prasadam distribution. Just like me, how lucky are these students to receive your causeless mercy.
Your love for reading Srila Prabhupad books, motivates me to try to read more and with attention. I remember myself, telling you once that I have read Srimad Bhagavatham and Chaitanya Charitamrita. And you laughed and asked me, how many times I have read them. Afterwards, I came to know that you have read and are always reading Chaitanya Charitamrita so many times that I cant even dream.
One recent incident that was beyond my comprehension was that, in the student’s farm retreat I once asked you a question, which was not appropriate for the time and audience. And, when I met you after few months in Vrindavan, during the course of Bhagavatham Lecture you answered the question that I asked in the farm.
CC.Adi-lila, 1.45
guru krishna-rupa hana shastrera pramane
guru-rupe krishna kripa karena bhakta gane
"According to the deliberate opinion of all revealed scriptures, the spiritual master is non-different from Krishna. Lord Krishna in the form of the spiritual master delivers His devotees".
I am also realizing that, it is actually not possible for me to describe your glories and what ever that I am able to speak are out of your mercy. Please forgive me for my shortcomings and inability.Please shower your mercy on me and my family.
Finally, I pray to Sri Sri Gaura Nitai, Radha Vallabha & Jagannath, Baladev, Subhadra for your health and fulfilment of your mission of serving Srila Prabhupad and spreading the message of Lord Chaitanya.
(CC,Madhya 13.8,Padyavali 74)
naham vipra na ca narapatir napi vaisyo na sudro
naham varni na ca grhapatir no vanastho yatir va
kintu prodyan nikhila paramananda-purnamrtabdher
gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayor dasa-dasanu-dasah
"I am not a brahmana, nor a ksatriya; I am not a vaisya nor a sudra, I am not a brahmacari, nor a householder, not a vanaprastha, not a sannyasi. But since Lord Sri Krsna, the maintainer of the gopis and the overflowing ocean of nectar, is the only source of universal, transcendental bliss, I claim to be a servant to the servant of the servant of His lotus feet."
Aspiring to be the servant of your servants
Yamuna Jivan Das
Srimate Devamrita Swamin iti namine
Pracare purva-daksyam ca, Bhaktacara-pravinta
Pararthatapi Karunyam, Yasya sarve ca te namah
Dear Guru Dev,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to you.
On this most auspicious day of your Vyasa Puja, please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. I was fortunate to have your darshan few times this year. And, also had the opportunity of meeting you in Vrindavan and good fortune of my son having the akshara bhyasam done by you. My son Gopal was indeed fortunate to have you personally help him write the first words by helping him write Hare Krishna and Hare Rama.
This year I also had the opportunity of listening and recording your lectures at the Melbourne University. Your Lectures are really amazing, contemporary, most appropriately addressed to the academic, scientific and fundamental needs of the students assembled there. Yours lectures are not simply another sectarian, sentimental, orthodox way but are delivered backed up by the Research data collected from the reputed scientific journals. Instead of blind belief, students are asked to verify the results by entering into the spiritual laboratory. The students, who don’t know anyone other than Darwin,Stephen Hawking etc. are simply captivated by your talk that systematically explain limitations of conventional scientific knowledge and the relevance of the spiritual thinking. I could see more and more students are becoming receptive and so is the university preaching and prasadam distribution. Just like me, how lucky are these students to receive your causeless mercy.
Your love for reading Srila Prabhupad books, motivates me to try to read more and with attention. I remember myself, telling you once that I have read Srimad Bhagavatham and Chaitanya Charitamrita. And you laughed and asked me, how many times I have read them. Afterwards, I came to know that you have read and are always reading Chaitanya Charitamrita so many times that I cant even dream.
One recent incident that was beyond my comprehension was that, in the student’s farm retreat I once asked you a question, which was not appropriate for the time and audience. And, when I met you after few months in Vrindavan, during the course of Bhagavatham Lecture you answered the question that I asked in the farm.
CC.Adi-lila, 1.45
guru krishna-rupa hana shastrera pramane
guru-rupe krishna kripa karena bhakta gane
"According to the deliberate opinion of all revealed scriptures, the spiritual master is non-different from Krishna. Lord Krishna in the form of the spiritual master delivers His devotees".
I am also realizing that, it is actually not possible for me to describe your glories and what ever that I am able to speak are out of your mercy. Please forgive me for my shortcomings and inability.Please shower your mercy on me and my family.
Finally, I pray to Sri Sri Gaura Nitai, Radha Vallabha & Jagannath, Baladev, Subhadra for your health and fulfilment of your mission of serving Srila Prabhupad and spreading the message of Lord Chaitanya.
(CC,Madhya 13.8,Padyavali 74)
naham vipra na ca narapatir napi vaisyo na sudro
naham varni na ca grhapatir no vanastho yatir va
kintu prodyan nikhila paramananda-purnamrtabdher
gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayor dasa-dasanu-dasah
"I am not a brahmana, nor a ksatriya; I am not a vaisya nor a sudra, I am not a brahmacari, nor a householder, not a vanaprastha, not a sannyasi. But since Lord Sri Krsna, the maintainer of the gopis and the overflowing ocean of nectar, is the only source of universal, transcendental bliss, I claim to be a servant to the servant of the servant of His lotus feet."
Aspiring to be the servant of your servants
Yamuna Jivan Das
Yasodeva das
Dear Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my most humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
You’re such an amazing person, Gurudeva, because of your ability to bring out the best in other people. Unlike the transient and hollow celebrities of mundane communities who rob others of their self-esteem by advertising themselves as the archetype of success and fulfillment, you invest in others the resources and skills required for genuine self-development, culminating in pure love of Krishna!
In the words of Blaise Pascal:
“When a natural discourse paints a passion or an effect, one feels within oneself the truth of what one reads, which was there before, although one did not know it. Hence one is inclined to love him who makes us feel it, for he has not shown us his own riches, but ours. And thus this benefit renders him pleasing to us, besides that such community of intellect as we have with him necessarily inclines the heart to love.”
What a gift! Prema-pumartho-mahan! And how expertly you give that gift, even to those who are thoroughly ungrateful, or even averse, afraid, or repulsed by it! You’ve shown us our own riches by sharing yours. You wear your heart on your sleeve so that we can all take note of its devotional condition, and so that we can revitalize our own devotion. As you have stated in “Bhakti-bhava, The Emotional Dynamics of a Devotee”:
“We long to experience perfect reciprocation. That’s why when we’re around those great souls who have the knack for treating everyone appropriately, we feel happy and inspired. Indeed, observing such a person’s relationships is like studying a beautiful work of art. Whenever beautiful, spiritual reciprocations abound, material anxiety and frustration in the atmosphere fades away. That’s how bhakti-yoga, devotion to Krishna, dispels the love insecurity.”
Thank you, Gurudeva, for making your life an exhibition of love and devotion and for establishing that devotion upon uncompromising principles of humility and service. Thank you for fearlessly entering into the dark lagoon of my heart, vanquishing the demons which reside there and recovering the priceless jewel of bhakti. Thank you, thank you, millions of times over, as you continue to polish that jewel to perfection, sometimes gently, sometimes vigorously, until it radiates pure and perfect krsna-prema.
Your humbled servant,
Yasodeva das
Please accept my most humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
You’re such an amazing person, Gurudeva, because of your ability to bring out the best in other people. Unlike the transient and hollow celebrities of mundane communities who rob others of their self-esteem by advertising themselves as the archetype of success and fulfillment, you invest in others the resources and skills required for genuine self-development, culminating in pure love of Krishna!
In the words of Blaise Pascal:
“When a natural discourse paints a passion or an effect, one feels within oneself the truth of what one reads, which was there before, although one did not know it. Hence one is inclined to love him who makes us feel it, for he has not shown us his own riches, but ours. And thus this benefit renders him pleasing to us, besides that such community of intellect as we have with him necessarily inclines the heart to love.”
What a gift! Prema-pumartho-mahan! And how expertly you give that gift, even to those who are thoroughly ungrateful, or even averse, afraid, or repulsed by it! You’ve shown us our own riches by sharing yours. You wear your heart on your sleeve so that we can all take note of its devotional condition, and so that we can revitalize our own devotion. As you have stated in “Bhakti-bhava, The Emotional Dynamics of a Devotee”:
“We long to experience perfect reciprocation. That’s why when we’re around those great souls who have the knack for treating everyone appropriately, we feel happy and inspired. Indeed, observing such a person’s relationships is like studying a beautiful work of art. Whenever beautiful, spiritual reciprocations abound, material anxiety and frustration in the atmosphere fades away. That’s how bhakti-yoga, devotion to Krishna, dispels the love insecurity.”
Thank you, Gurudeva, for making your life an exhibition of love and devotion and for establishing that devotion upon uncompromising principles of humility and service. Thank you for fearlessly entering into the dark lagoon of my heart, vanquishing the demons which reside there and recovering the priceless jewel of bhakti. Thank you, thank you, millions of times over, as you continue to polish that jewel to perfection, sometimes gently, sometimes vigorously, until it radiates pure and perfect krsna-prema.
Your humbled servant,
Yasodeva das
Yasomati Dasi
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada,
All glories to you Gurudeva,
The storm of nature's 3 modes rage on
in all directions,
but you, Gurudeva,
deftly navigate through the waves
A Sage and a Mystic, untouched and aloof
Ensnared and overburdened,
the selfishly absorbed recoil in wretchedness
all around
Though personally without burden,
you, Gurudeva, feel their pain,
to a far greater extent than even they do,
the present being a mere flash in the
cycle of birth and death
So much suffering undergone,
So much more to come...
Your pain is greater, as you know
the true glory of these suffering souls,
Krishna's parts and parcels,
so far away from home...
With full faith , that we too
fully love Krishna,
you see the very best in us,
and free from envy, guide us back
to that purity
You see the current contamination spectrum,
yet you are not phased,
So powerful you are,
with no motive of pride or to exploit
You give opportunities to transform
the embarrassing deluded tendencies,
instead, links trough service to Krishna
You truly want the best for me,
and am willing to patiently and maturely
sacrifice,
to help
Showers of kindness, blessings, care and
affection,
helping me regain the service taste
that has been lost
Such a debt...that will eternally stand
Carrying me through the wild tide of the
body and mind,
I gratefully bow down at your lotus feet,
may this eternally be where
my consciousness reside
aspiring to be a real disciple,
Yasomati Dasi
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada,
All glories to you Gurudeva,
The storm of nature's 3 modes rage on
in all directions,
but you, Gurudeva,
deftly navigate through the waves
A Sage and a Mystic, untouched and aloof
Ensnared and overburdened,
the selfishly absorbed recoil in wretchedness
all around
Though personally without burden,
you, Gurudeva, feel their pain,
to a far greater extent than even they do,
the present being a mere flash in the
cycle of birth and death
So much suffering undergone,
So much more to come...
Your pain is greater, as you know
the true glory of these suffering souls,
Krishna's parts and parcels,
so far away from home...
With full faith , that we too
fully love Krishna,
you see the very best in us,
and free from envy, guide us back
to that purity
You see the current contamination spectrum,
yet you are not phased,
So powerful you are,
with no motive of pride or to exploit
You give opportunities to transform
the embarrassing deluded tendencies,
instead, links trough service to Krishna
You truly want the best for me,
and am willing to patiently and maturely
sacrifice,
to help
Showers of kindness, blessings, care and
affection,
helping me regain the service taste
that has been lost
Such a debt...that will eternally stand
Carrying me through the wild tide of the
body and mind,
I gratefully bow down at your lotus feet,
may this eternally be where
my consciousness reside
aspiring to be a real disciple,
Yasomati Dasi
