My dear Spiritual Master and Father,
Please accept my most humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to you on this special day of your appearance!

As I reflect on the past ten years of having the great fortune of your presence in my life, I realise that I am like that small child standing on the shore of the ocean and trying to perceive its width and depth. I cannot actually perceive the enormity of your influence in my life. You have been a constant support and guide to me, taking interest in every sphere of my life, making every effort to steer me in the right direction, dealing with my ups and downs, patiently waiting for me and never giving up on me.

You give such an incredible degree of care to so many people. It is so wonderfully inspiring to see your exemplary example of selfless surrender to Srila Prabhupada's mission of making and caring for devotees.

Thank you for giving me opportunities to serve, and for allowing me to cook for you. Thank you for making so many supportive arrangements in my life. Without you, I don't know where I would be.

Srimad Bhagavatam 3.25.8
“Your Lordship is my only means of getting out of this darkest region of ignorance because You are my transcendental eye, which, by Your mercy only, I have attained after many, many births.”
Purport
This verse is very instructive, since it indicates the relationship between the spiritual master and the disciple. The disciple or conditional soul is put into the darkest region of ignorance and therefore is entangled in the material existence of sense gratification. It is very difficult to get out of this entanglement and attain freedom, but if one is fortunate enough to get the association of a spiritual master like Kapila Muni or His representative, then by his grace one can be delivered from the mire of ignorance. The spiritual master is therefore worshiped as one who delivers the disciple from the mire of ignorance with the light of the torch of knowledge. The word paragam is very significant. Paragam refers to one who can take the disciple to the other side. This side is conditioned life; the other side is the life of freedom. The spiritual master takes the disciple to the other side by opening his eyes with knowledge. We are suffering simply because of ignorance. By the instruction of the spiritual master, the darkness of ignorance is removed, and thus the disciple is enabled to go the side of freedom. It is stated in Bhagavad-gita that after many, many births one surrenders to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Similarly, if, after many many births, one is able to find a bona fide spiritual master and surrender to such a bona fide representative of Krsna, one can be taken to the side of light.

By the grace of Krsna, you came into my life. Please continue to guide me towards the real life of freedom in pure Krsna consciousness, and please bless me that I can take your instructions to heart and become a real disciple.

Your aspiring servant and spiritual daughter,
Acyuta bhava dd

Dear Gurudeva

Please accept my humble obiecences
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada

oḿ ajñāna-timirāndhasya
jñānāñjana-śalākayā
cakṣur unmīlitaḿ yena
tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ

Gradually you are showing me the follies of this material existence, its becoming clearer that the pursuit of material pleasures is as foolish as trying to build a boat made from newspaper to sail the cook strait.

The more you reveal to me about the realities of material life and the futility of the enjoyment found there, a desperate need arises in the heart to become more dependent upon you and your instructions.

You frequently remind me of the time I finally let down the facade and admitted that my life was miserable, but I never told you my side of the story. While you sat peacefully on the couch I knelt on the floor crying, but despite the abundance of tears, you were able to offer assurance the I was not alone in my pessimistic vision of the world. During this short meeting you easily established in my heart conviction that there are actually intelligent beings on this planet.

You agreed that what I had been chewing tasted bad, comparable to poison, and it appeared as though you were applauding and clapping as i spat it out.

Like a baby needs something in its mouth like dummy or a puppy a fake bone you expertly customize each of your children with the right Bhakti bubble gum flavor.

When you speak of Devotional Service you often compare it to a precious jewel. You expressed that the skills that we acquire in our devotional practice are very dear and we should continue developing them to try to offer Krsna the best. This jewel is so precious because time cannot take it away or reduce its value, it is something that we will always have.

Gurudeva you are a most expert maker of flower garlands. You pick up the fallen souls and turn them into devotees threading them together into a beautiful garland to hang about the golden neck of Lord Caitanya.

Thank you for sending my material advancement into remission, and for helping to turn down the volume of on countless embarrassing situations.

I pray that with your blessings I can continue to become more focused and less mentally complex to serve you better and to assist you in you garland making.

Trying to be your sincere servant and daughter

Akarsini devi dasi

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada

I came across a series of video interviews from 2011 where you were asked "Why do you continue to practise Krishna Consciousness?". You answered "Every year in Bhakti is so different than the previous year. There is nothing else I could have done which would allow me to look back on the preceding year and wonder, "My consciousness was so low last year, what was I thinking?". Every year gives you a higher and higher vista... Again I repeat because I think it’s so important… That to me is such a precious jewel. Indeed, every year is an ever fresh experience."

For those near and dear to me, it's been an interesting year. Looking back on even a few months ago I wonder, what on earth was I thinking. I can’t believe I said like that. I can’t believe I saw like that. I can’t believe I reacted like that. Unfortunately those who are the most dear get the brunt of it, and I’m very sorry that was you. Thank you for enabling me to reflect back in this way and propel a stronger desire for improvement.

In a class of yours I listened to during this time, you spoke about how we should always welcome purification. After all, this is the aim of Bhakti - for our hearts to become pure. You explained that when purification strikes however, our reaction can often be unappreciative, defensive, taken as undue and therefore pushed away. Failing to want to work on ourselves, some even give up. But the correct vision is to see purification as Krishna’s mercy. We should relish it and beg for more, because it’s an opportunity to make progress, push ahead and allow our hearts to transform.

To my great fortune (and hopefully in the future for yours) about a hundred purifying things happened at all once, literally. It was like a domino effect. The first domino got knocked over, which knocked over onto the next, which knocked over the next, then the next, the next, the next, the next… suddenly all this garbage from my heart was spread out on the table.

Initially I took it as a massive blow. Externally I continued, although at the end of one evening programme at Bhakti Lounge, I was placing down a cushion and completely put my lower back out. I couldn’t teach yoga, play harmonium or bend down to pay my obeisance’s for a month, which looking back on now, was no doubt related to the internal state.

But thanks to your care, humour and incredibly accurate words, I was able to walk again. In a conversation that I will never forget, you spoke in such a way that moved something in my clogged heart. Then adding to my amazement, as I left the room, the back injury that had struck on the day you had last departed from Wellington, instantly disappeared, the day before you once again departed.

Thank you for your kindness and mercy in giving me an opportunity to rise above my limited, conditioned vision. My desire is to always do the best for you, and there you are even helping me to fulfill this desire, by showing me ways in which to become better.

“Sincere” you said in a Wellington class, “means to constantly push ahead churning the ocean of loving devotional service”. Service, which I’m starting to understand isn’t just service, but personal development.

Thank for reminding me of this vital component of Bhakti. Your tolerance, commitment and desire for progress is so precious to me. Please always help me to keep moving forward. Please forgive me for any offenses.

Your servant,
ananda-candra

Dearest Guru Maharaj,

My most humble obesciences at your lotus feet.

How can I glorify you? Whatever I say is never going to be enough!!

You have been so merciful unto me .

You initiated me in less than a year when I was always lost and not knowing what I was doing.

You are my only shelter and support.

Please guide this lost unfortunate soul. Please show me the way my lord. Oh most merciful.

I am greatly looking forward to your LIVE vyasa puja on 18th January 2014 in Melbourne and we are going to make it a grand event. This is a once in many lifetimes' opportunity for all of us.

And Yes I will submit a grand offering and I am going to participate in various events.

Please dont forsake me oh gurudeva!!!

I beg forgiveness for any offenses.

My best wishes and may you go on conuering the whole world and enlightening many unfortunate souls and give them krsna prema.

Your ever aspiring servant
Ananta Virya Das

Dear Guru Maharaja,

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

As I continue my practice of Krishna consciousness it seems like I discover more and more unwanted things in my heart and sometimes it terrifies me, because, if at a neophyte stage I am able to see it, then, what discoveries the future will bring me?
It also seems like doubts and these unwanted things will never leave me, so I cling to the memory, when you once said: “Devotional service and chanting Maha-mantra does work”. Only self-realized soul like you can make statement with such conviction.

Thanks to the opportunities you have given to me, though sometimes I am not taking them seriously, I am able to relish small drops of bliss from my attempt to make this service opportunity selfless. It is certainly by your expertise we are engaged in Bhakti according to our skills and talents. Where I would be now if I did not meet devotees guided and inspired by your instructions? What kind of pleasure I would seek? Thank you for putting “one” in front of my “zeros”. Finally, my life starts to have some meaning.

Over the time I keep observing how personal and expert you are in dealings with devotees. I cannot fully comprehend it. You are taking care not only of spiritual needs of your followers but often help to make arrangements in their - what we call - material life.

BG 3.21

yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhas
tat tad evetaro janaḥ
sa yat pramāṇaḿ kurute
lokas tad anuvartate

Whatever action a great man performs, common men follow. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.

Seeing your exemplary behavior with devotees inspires me to develop such skills and to follow the standards of quality and sincerity.

Reading about your personal relationship with Srila Prabhupada and knowing how busy you are makes me also realize how precious those minutes of personal association. Even though Srila Prabhupada comments that personal association is for neophytes, I want to repeat your words you have said in your offering to your spiritual master - “let me always remain a neophyte”. Just in your presence so many “important” things become insignificant.

One quality of yours is particularly stands out for me – sober. In the purport to the verse of SB 4.29.82 Srila Prabhupada comments:

“The word dhéra means "sober," and véra means "hero." One who is struggling against mäyä is a hero, and one who is sober enough to understand his position is a dhéra. Without becoming sober or heroic, one cannot attain spiritual salvation.”

Guru Maharaj, you have both of these qualities fully manifested. You are a real hero for me, my god brothers and sisters and many other Vaishnavas.

So many other qualities of you are far beyond my vision but what I see is enough to have faith that taking shelter at your lotus feet will make my life successful. I need your mercy Guru Maharaja. Please help me to become pure instrument in your hands and hands of Lord Caitanya! I wish I can understand the secret how to follow your instructions, how to serve the devotees and how to please you.

Your servant,
Ananta-naga Das

Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda!

oḿ ajñāna-timirāndhasya
jñānāñjana-śalākayā
cakṣur unmīlitaḿ yena
tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ
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.

Not too long ago I was crawling around in this desert of material nature seeking to end my frustrated attempts to achieve peace and happiness. I took shelter of many so-called friends, family and teachers who simply encouraged me to work hard and in the future I would reap the rewards. Blinded by false promises and with tears of frustration in my burning eyes I had no choice but to concede to the mad struggle for material existence.

Without a doubt it is by your association that I escaped that hellish condition of life. From you I imbibed faith in Kṛṣṇa which led me to practicing the process of bhakti yoga. Following your instructions, beginning with chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, I began to feel genuine peace and happiness. You very expertly opened my tightly shut eyes and very affectionately applied that jñānāñjana, that salve of knowledge, onto my blind burning eyes

While reading Bhagavad Gita I found myself coming across Śrīla Prabhupāda repeatedly emphasising the need for expert guidance from the bona fide spiritual master. This point really made me appreciate how you so expertly weave philosophy and application together in such a way that I find so many solutions to overcoming any obstacle I face in my Bhakti career. No matter how many times I listen to the same lecture it is still so fresh with spiritual insight and practical application.

I can’t help but marvel at how I can cross-check whatever you have said and find Śrīla Prabhupāda mentioning the same principle in his books or lectures. Indeed you are that bona fide spiritual master that provides expert guidance.

Going out on sańkīrtana I meet people on the streets who express their disappointing experiences of being betrayed by other so-called spiritual leaders. Some relay how people use the scriptures for political purposes, for personal sense gratification or to establish their position as God. The propensity to cheat and be cheated is certainly prominent and it is extremely difficult to find bona fide spiritual guides.

Yet how fortunate are we to have a bona fide spiritual master such as yourself who is following in the footsteps of Śrīla Prabhupāda. Like a postman you simply deliver the message of Godhead without altering the contents. As a bona fide guru you continuously establish Kṛṣṇa's position, uncover our identity as part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa and provide guidance so that we can serve Kṛṣṇa.

I am grateful to you Guru Maharaja. As a caring and loving spiritual father you are guiding this soul out of the dense darkness of illusion with the torchlight of knowledge as you have received from Śrīla Prabhupāda.

“Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is a bona fide representative of Sri Hari [Krsna]”

your spiritual son,
Ananth Subramaniam

Dear Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances.

I miss you very much, as I miss the whole Melbourne temple.

I want to tell you one thing that I've started chanting one round. I try to do most of the days but sometime I cannot. I also made "Japa Card" in my Krishna Kingdom class. I've to fill number of rounds that I did every day.

I wish if I can have your darshan in my dream or in real. If it is in real I'll be very happy. But see I'll also try to come in Melbourne as fast I can.

You know maharaj, when I was small, I did once I did sixteen rounds in one day.

It is our sincere desire to invite you to our house for honoring prasad.

One last things about my brother Vrajdham , he is not that fortunate to have your regular darshan as I had, I pray to Lord Krishna and you to give him special blessings and love.

Please give your blessings to me, my little brother, my father and mother.

Your servant,
Ananya & Vraj dham :-)

Dear Devamrita Maharaja,

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

Looking back, I did not realize the impact meeting a great personality such as yourself would have on my life. You have been guiding me since the start of my path in bhakti, steering me towards spiritual stability. With your instructions to focus me, surrounded by your inspiring disciples, I clearly see that the leisurely pace I have been going at must change. I urgently need to leap into the pilot’s seat and turn off the cruise control.

Recently, Krishnaloka Mataji asked the residents of the ladies’ ashram, “Who wants to go back to Godhead?” After hearing this question and offering a response devoid of certainty, something finally clicked. This is serious.

Thank you for giving me this rare opportunity to be engaged in devotional service in such a special environment, filled with your exemplary disciples.

I’m very grateful to you for taking notice of my spiritual welfare, for taking up my case and admitting me to the hospital. I pray for the intelligence to follow your instructions wholeheartedly, and to shed my lackadaisical propensities. I pray that I may somehow be of use to you in serving Srila Prabhupada in his mission.

Your servant,

Bhaktin Ariel


Wellington

Dear Devamrita Swami

Thank you for continued help to start practicing Krishna Consciousness, It's always a special occasion when you come to Bhakti Lounge to give Srimad Bhagavatam class and lead kirtan.
Being able to do service in the different outreach programs you're providing, even indirectly, helps to develop a service attitude and gives one good facility to follow in your and Srila Prabhupadas footsteps.
You always have special insight and seem to know exactly what to do in any situation. In the Srimad Bhagavatam the spiritual master is said to be the helmsman on the boat of transcendental knowledge. You fill this position for so many expert devotees, this doesn't seem possible yet you do it so easily.
Just listening to your classes receptively clears the mirror of the mind yet being covered by so many layers of mental speculation please help me to give up this web of illusion and sit down quietly at your lotus feet.
Your aspiring servant, Arthur

Dear Gurudeva,

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

In the mood of deep neophyte humbleness, I am offering to Your lotus feet my obeisances. As the sastras explains, the immensity of the Vaisnava qualities cannot be adequately sung by any conditioned soul. So in full appreciation in my mind, I am offering You a bouquet of wonderful flowers. Please Gurudeva accept this very inadequate offering.

Bg 3.21 "Whatever action a great man preforms, common men follow.
And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.

“There is love in Krsna consciousness” you say..... Love? This word always left a lingering question mark in my life until I met you. And now I have been able to see it, but only because it is so prominent in you.

As they say "the proof is in the pudding", results are more than words. They are there for all to see. They are certain. We are, all of us (your disciples and aspiring disciples) ripples produced by the exemplary acts of your personality.

Your fullness in conviction, determination, great compassion and life has captured my faith and transform my heart. I have actually witnessed this phenomenon in the drastic change within myself and activities since coming into contact with you and your disciples. I'm happy to see the ways in which I have been able to grow from taking part in some little service thanks to the facilities you have made available at Bhakti Lounge and at The Loft. Chanting, dancing, playing musical instruments, cooking, taking Prasad, hearing about Krishna and having the association of those who desire to love the Lord are becoming my highest joy, and has surpassed anything I could have ever hoped for in this material world.

As my dear friend Fremahji would say in an ecstatic kirtan, “I just want to jump out of my body and go back to the spiritual world”. I certainly laugh when I heard that for first time. But could it be that easy Gurudeva?. Spiritual food, spiritual sounds, spiritual literature, I am in the spiritual world?

Srila Prabhupada explain in His purport S.B 7.9.33. “ We can understand that the material body is caused by the spiritual body and is therefore an expansion of the spiritual body. Thus when one takes up spiritual activities, one's entire material body is spiritualized. Similarly, in this material world, when the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement expands, the entire material world becomes spiritualized.”

I will be seeking to always increase my absorption and the execution in this activities and share them with others in order to always remember your great personality in my heart.
 Thank you so much for making such facilities available. I’m happy to be part of this great family.

Your aspiring servant & spiritual daughter
Arundhati devi dasi

Dear Guru-Mahārāja, my dear lord and master

Please accept my prostrated obeisances in the dust of Your lotus feet. All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda. All glories to You on this most auspicious occasion of celebrating Your divine appearance in this world!

In trying to understand the potency of Your mercy, following Your example and that set by previous Ācārya’s who use material examples to reveal the surface of spiritual truths, I am considering a speck of dust from Your lotus feet to be like that of a nuclear power station. This speck, although unperceivable by ordinary material vision, has inconceivable potency because it is completely spiritual, with no environmental side-effects.

In particular, just as the energy in a nuclear reactor is released by nuclear fission, similarly, Your breaking-down and distillation of Prabhupāda’s teachings releases the spiritual understanding necessary to promote ones theoretical knowledge (or jñāna) to realized experiential knowledge (or vijñāna). In particular, Your Searching for Vedic India, is so brilliant in illuminating the reality of consciousness and so searing to modern challenges thereto, that it can be considered as an off-the-shelf reactor-core, just waiting to be activated by a little interest in its subject matter. Powering various devotional communities around the world, particularly in Australia and New Zealand, many devotees are being enlivened by the spiritual energy emanating from Your lotus feet, forming an extensive power grid of Krishna consciousness that reaches out to all members of society, whether in the dark-ages of spiritual development or at the cutting-edge of powered-flight back to Godhead. Whether in some alcove in Murmansk or Soweto, a speck of Your mercy provides light to any darkened consciousness anywhere in the world, to suspend old habits of sense gratification instantly and open their eyes to the treasures that Prabhupāda left within the massive house of ISKCON.

Unlike a typical set of nuclear reactor-rods, the core of Your power station does not require any artificial cooling because it is completely spiritual. In fact, any liquid within the system that may be mistaken as a coolant is spiritual nectar that is meant to increase the rate of spiritual energy being diffused into the consciousness of the connected person. The presence of this liquid-catalyst within Your system for intensifying the rate of energy distribution can be perceived from a statement by Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira: "My dear Lord Krsna, great personalities and devotees in full Kṛṣṇa consciousness always think of Your lotus feet and remain fully satisfied by drinking the nectar of transcendental bliss. The nectar which they constantly drink sometimes comes out of their mouths and is sprinkled on others as the narration of Your transcendental activities." [Kṛṣṇa Book, Ch72] Your unique expertise in presenting Krsna consciousness and packaged according to the needs, interests and concerns of Your audience, allows anyone to relish the sweet taste, even by persons afflicted with acute levels of jaundice or have had their sense of taste numbed by the drinking of the hot-coffee-of-economic-development. By regular audience of Your lectures on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and various discourses on topical issues-of-the-day, even a neophyte devotee, having read Prabhupāda’s Nectar of Devotion can understand that You possess the dhīra-lalita quality of Lord Kṛṣṇa. In particular: “A person is called dhīra-lalita if he is naturally very funny, always in full youthfulness, expert in joking and free from all anxieties.” [Nectar of Devotion, Ch23] Prabhupāda goes further to explain that a dhīra-lalita personality is domesticated and submissive to their beloved. Your domestication, so to speak, and submission is to Prabhupāda and His will.

The occurrence of “a radioactive fallout” in Your spiritual power station is actually even more devastating than that from a nuclear powered one. Unlike the fallout in Chernobyl, which has an exclusion zone 30km in radius, a fallout from Your lotus feet has an affected zone that is actually unlimited, but is seen to be restricted by the range of current-day air travel. Through Your extensive service to Prabhupāda, many devotees across all continents of the globe have had their consciousness rendered as material wastelands by Your words – that is, no material desires can ever fructify there. Even newly connected users to Your power-grid, who are still far from perfecting bhakti-yoga, can experience that any future attempts at continuing to cultivate material desires, or enjoying the fruits will fail, just as trying to enjoy sweet-rice that has grains of sand. Further still is that, unlike a nuclear fall-out which has finite lifespan, the effect of Your mercy is eternal, promising one to go back to Godhead never to return again to the wasteland of the material world. In fact, when hearing about Your glories from Your illustrious god-siblings, it is easy to understand that such “an energy fallout” from Your lotus feet has occurred behind the former iron-curtain, when You distributed Prabhupāda’s books fearlessly, with no reservation of the devastation to material desires they would cause. Now, by Your magnanimous efforts, which contributed to the foundation of Eastern-Europe’s devotional community, Your glories are spread throughout the three worlds by the resounding kīrtana performed at the annual Ukraine Festival.

Using Your phraseology, Your breaking into the storehouse of the love for Prabhupāda’s books, first by Your contribution during the marathon for publishing the Caitanya-caritāmṛta in 1975, then continuing to distribute this love to others for over 40 years, renders the description, of a so-called “fallout” from Your power station, redundant because Your spiritually-active mercy cannot and is not being contained. The reason for this, paradoxically, is that just as the reactor-core in a nuclear power station is immersed in a pressure vessel, similarly, You are immersed in the transcendental ocean of devotional service. The depth of Your immersion is described in the introduction to the Nectar of Devotion as follows: “Let us offer our respectful obeisances to all the great devotees and ācāryas (holy teachers), who are compared to sharks in the great ocean of nectar and who do not care for the various rivers of liberation.” Your power station creates no radioactive waste in its process of energy-release because unlike nuclear fission, which is a process of splitting an atom into its constituent parts, You do not dissect Prabhupāda’s teachings but rather present them as they are, with an ever-crisp uncreased package.

In modern times, although much of the earth is lit by spots of electrically powered light, when viewing the earth from outer space, its luminescence and its effect cannot compare to that of the moon. In this connection, Prabhupāda writes: “During the rainy season, in the evening there are many glow-worms visible about the tops of trees, hither and thither, and they glitter just like lights… People should learn to take advantage of the actual luminaries of the sky—the sun, moon and stars—instead of the glow-worms’ light.” [Kṛṣṇa Book, Ch20] Although physical proximity to You may be distant, the disciples that manage Your website are assisting devotees alike to take advantage of Your illuminating mercy. In this way, with You being a prominent star that surrounds the moon-like presence of Prabhupāda, devotees connected to Your lotus feet can consider that, with their devotional life being a manifestation of Your mercy, they are made of stardust.

From a personal point of view, seeing the extent of Your mercy manifest itself more and more in my life, I consider Your prominence in my life to be like that of the moon as well. This status follows naturally from Your a position as being part of guru-tattva. Using Your phraseology once again, considering the guru-paramparā as a hierarchy of nested consciousness, in which the pre-eminence of the Ācārya-moon is recognised, the good fortune of simultaneously basking in the light of more than one moon is a matchless facility provided exclusively by ISKCON – a connection to Your lotus feet has heightened this experience for me. By noting that Lord Nityānanda Prabhu’s lotus feet are described as being more cooling then millions of moons, just as a material planet such as Saturn can have multiple celestial bodies orbiting it, similarly, since Lord Nityānanda Prabhu is the original Guru, His lotus feet can be considered as planetary system of countless moons with orbits spiralling across the material creation, casting their cooling rays over the scorched consciousness of all resident living entities. Although incredible and still unbelievable, You have causelessly agreed to cast Your moonlight throughout the night-sky of my consciousness. Thank You.

Dear Guru- Mahārāja, the potency of mercy emanating from the dust of Your lotus feet is beyond compare to any contemporary material example. Indeed such dust can solve types of energy crises. Your strong connection to the original power-house, Lord Kṛṣṇa, through the will of Śrīla Prabhupāda, enables to You deliver Lord Caitanya’s mercy in its entirety, “by whose mercy even a dog can swim across a great ocean” [CC, Ādi 9.1]. Buffered with the mercy from the guru-paramparā that follows Lord Caitanya’s, when coupled with Your mercy, how much faster can I swim across this whirlpool of thinking myself to be the controller and enjoyer? The answer is prayer to Your lotus feet; therefore, I beg You to grant me the following benediction. Although up to now I have been miserly accepted only a single speck of dust from Your lotus feet, I now wish to continuously roll in it, covering my body, mind and words completely. In particular, just as electricity can be used for various purposes, similarly, although the spiritual energy released from Your lotus feet can be used to power a devotional life in the gṛhastha-āśrama I wish to utilise it for a devotional life in the brahmacārī-āśrama. Considering the history of my body and mind, raging material desires, and strong attachment to family and social expectations, I do not know how this is ever going to happen on my own strength. Therefore, please help me to render my a consciousness a complete material wasteland so that it may be restored to its original condition of being Your servant, life after life.

All glories to You on this most blessed event in celebrating Your Śrī Vyāsa-Pūjā Mahā-mahotsava!

Your indebted aspiring disciple
Atla

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances in the sacred dust of your lotus feet.

All glories and praise to your dear most master Srila Prabhupada !

All glories to you and your uncommon devotional service to Srila Prabhupada !

Gurudeva, when I reflect upon the wealth and fortune of devotional service and devotee association you have generously given me over the years I am truly thankful to you. In recent reflections, I recall how kind you are to encourage me to taste the honey of Sankirtan and the special sweetness of sharing Sankirtan with others. In this way you show us how eager you are to see us all become very dear to Krsna.

Srila Prabhupada writes -
The Sankirtana devotees are very dear to Krishna... Krishna has immediately recognized them as true servants. (letter to Uttamasloka, Dec 11 1975)

Undoubtedly your determined Sankirtan career, beginning as a three week old devotee, shows us the standard of how to become dear to Guru and Krsna. You often recall '' I Hated it but I was determined to Love it because Srila Prabhupada loved it"... You enthusiastically went out for 9 hours every day and on Thursdays, Fridays, weekends and concert nights these long Sankirtan days would often become 18 hours where you would distribute till 3 in the morning! without sleep ! Such is your determination to serve Srila Prabhupada!

Since these times you have undertaken many incredible risks and endured much personal inconvenience to see that Srila Prabhupada's books are being given access to the world.

During my first visits to the Loft in Newmarket, accompanied by one of my old associates, you personally sold us a Bhagavad Gita although we already had a copy - you assured us that we both needed one - somehow or other we could not escape your unavoidable mercy shower !

After my first time distributing books on queen st in Auckland, Krsnaloka, who enthusiastically took us out told us ''Devamrita swami said book distribution is an Ocean of Love God.'' By your mercy I was able to taste something very special, present in this service.

Another time some ladies arrived at your apartment with your lunch, having put alot of effort into cooking and eager to discover how you liked it, they asked 'How was it Guru Maharaja ?' You showed your appreciation for the lunch but You made it clear that you were more interested in tasting Sankirtan stories from your lunch cooks. So very pleased you were with the Sankirtan efforts of your devotees - You then stated how happy you were when you thought of us all going on book distribution. You then revealed to us the plain truth in pleasing you "I'm conquered by Nectar stories."

Another time you told a pair of brahmacaris that you were very pleased by their preaching efforts. Then you stunned them by saying that you enjoyed reporting their book distribution activities to Srila Prabhupada! The fact that you were delighted to personally report their preaching activities to Srila Prabhupada himself certainly put them in a special state of wonder and amazement !

On another occasion you called a young brahmacari and encouraged him in his service of Sankirtan. You petitioned him to pray to Gaura Nitai for an Increase in his preaching efforts - you finally gave him the supreme benediction - "by your preaching efforts you are attracting me to make my base in your city". Despite the incredible inconvenience you mercifully moved your entire base, all your personal belongings, books, and clothes to that fortunate place simply to encourage, enliven, inspire and oversee the young Sankirtan efforts of these fortunate devotees.

You have so kindly given me so much opportunity to absorb myself in distributing Lord Caitanya's supreme benediction. This has been the only actual value this lifetime has offered me. Even now, just reflecting on my own small Sankirtan efforts and seeing others engage in this sacred activity gives me great joy.

Thank you Gurudeva for always positioning us in a way that we are able to remain somehow or other connected to this sacred sankirtan activity. You are always eager to see us all included in these universally auspicious activities.

Having entered my 13th year in Bhakti (this year) I beg you to keep me always engaged in such a way that my obnoxious teenager tendencies do not surface and spoil my chances to be of use to you in the remainder of this feeble lifetime.

As Narottama das thakura sings

Prati-janme kori asa caranera dhuli narottame koro daya apanara boli

I desire to have the dust of your holy feet in every birth I may take. Please consider Narottama yours and be kind upon him...

I desire that wherever I wander in this world of disease and death I may somehow or other be of use to you in distributing these supreme benedictions Lord Caitanya is offering us.

Aspiring to become
Your servant
Bal Gopal das

Dear Gurudeva

Please accept my obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhuapada
All glories to you, my spiritual master

Today is the wonderful and glorious occasion of your appearance in this world.

Sitting down, I now try to ponder the deep significance of this, not only for myself, but also for the world at large. Yes, in the world around us, the general masses also ponder, gossip and glorify significant others or events in their lives, with the hope that, by such conversing, they will feel satisfied and that their lives will be more fulfilling or appear more valuable. They often look back to important events or persons of the previous decade, or century, as if this will actually help them in some way improve their future. But as we know, this type of material activity further cements them with material hope, reinforcing the idea that the bodily concept of life will and can fulfil them, and ingrains them more in their futile karmic activity, which is, at the best, dry and vacuous.
For the Bhakti practitioner, however, absorption and talk about transcendental personalities and events derives a completely different result. When we compare the impact and affect of practicing Krsna consciousness with our previous karmi days, we see, hopefully, how much the mundane energy, comprising of boredom and monotony, has been dissipated. Those so-called 'significant' mundane events and relationships start to reveal their transparency and their shadowy substance. How insignificant they now appear in having no lasting impact on our real being?

The personal soul longs to have REAL significance and REAL persons with which to pour their hearts and energies into. As eternal persons we long to be able to talk about our favourite relationships with others, whether they are with friends or seniors. As people get older materially, we see that such persons love to repeat their most significant stories and events, as if this will remain fresh and stimulating for themselves and others. Also, there is an unconscious assumption and expectation that, by such remembrances, new insight and wisdom will manifest, that will soothe their sojourn in material existence.
In contrast, as KC students, we actually have access to truly ever fresh stories and events. They are all focused on our relationships with other devotees, which breeds and bathe the practitioners’ hearts in ever-increasing wisdom and happiness. There is a significant impact on the deeper level which drives them on forever.

This is the significance of the appearance of such a personality as your self in this world. Such a person has the ability, and empowerment, to redirect the spirit souls from the insignificant dry desert of material life to the unending ocean of real loving relationships and true significance.

As an aspiring devotee, I was thinking prior to sitting down,

" What am I going to write about this time?"

I was feeling the material energy dragging this activity of writing an offering down to the mundane level. But, now that I have chanted a good set of Japa, and I am now writing with the aim of glorifying my spiritual master, I now feel enlivened and could write forever about you. By contact with the spiritual master, through the disciplic succession of Gurus, this experience, of feeling the veil of the mundane world being lifted, becomes possible.

That is real significance.

So, today I wish to glorify you, my spiritual master, by illuminating the power and mercy which you have bestowed upon me, and on those you meet, which enables each recipient the opportunity to escape the material energy, and taste the gradual rising of the spiritual reality in their hearts. How fortunate we are to have come in contact with you? The ultimate significant event is to come in contact with a truly significant person after, so many births and deaths! A bonafide spiritual master.

The significance of coming in contact with such a devotee of Krishna, such as your self, is the rarest thing in all existence. The modern world is hankering desperately for someone, or something, to remedy the varieties of global crises’, which plague everyone in every corner of the globe. They hope that some rare person will discover some new invention, or will become a new trustworthy politician or leader, in order to save the world, so they can continue with their adharmic activities without disturbance. With each invention and change of leader they are unaware that they are simply increasing their problems and are becoming more and more unhappy. Without the torchlight of knowledge from such personalities as you, they are unable to see things as they are.

But unfortunately, they are completely unaware of the presence of such great devotees, which are present and amongst them. Such advanced devotees as you can destroy their material tendencies and relieve them of ALL their suffering. Yet, tragically, they are oblivious, and most don't even care.

Yet despite this, you enter into nearly every inhabitable continent of the world and create ingenious enticing scenarios where such uninterested persons become interested. As Srila Prabhupada said " Management means to create and arrange an interest in Krishna where people have no interest ". Each year, spanning four decades, you travel globally to try to deliver this sublime knowledge to laypersons, enduring a travel itinerary I could maybe bare for just a few weeks. Your ability to tailor presentations of Vedic wisdom to various contemporary audiences is evidence of your compassion and commitment to try ' by hook or by crook' to help those lost in the material world.

pracare purvam daksham ca
bhaktacara pravina ta
parathathapi karunyam
yasya sarve ca te namah

Such confidential service to please your Gurumaharaj and Krishna, is testament to your true colours as a pure servant of Supreme Personality of Godhead. On this day, I simply wish to highlight your special significance in this dark time. You are the real shelter that persons hanker for. Persons like you are the only hope for the people at large, in order for them to escape their dark futures and karmic bondage. Without coming in contact with a pure devotee, then there is very little chance of returning home back to Godhead.

You came into my life, and I have witnessed how you have entered into others lives, transforming them and guiding them out of the darkness. To describe the full significance of your appearance and presence in this world is beyond my puny scope and ability. I simply try to deepen my appreciation and understanding of the significance of your presence in my life, and I offer my deepest gratitude for all your mercy and guidance. I pray I can continue to please you the way a disciple should; by offering my body, mind and words in the service of your outreach activities and projects, which you have laboured so hard to establish. These small attempts of service to your lotus feet are my life force and I pray you will allow me to continue such confidential service, despite my offences.

Your insignificant servant and disciple

Bhadrasena das

Dear Guru Maharaja

Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada

As per the purport of SB 4.21.27, “…<i> Krsna sends His representative, the spiritual master, or pure devotee. This is also the planned activity of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. They come to canvass and educate, and thus a person in the illusory energy of the Supreme Lord gets a chance to mix with them, talk with them and take lessons from them, and somehow or other if a conditioned soul surrenders to such personalities and by intimate association with them chances to become Kṛṣṇa conscious, he is saved from the material conditions of life</i>.”

Gurudeva, I thank you for bestowing upon me your precious association and time. I beg at your lotus feet that I may one day surrender to you.

Your servant,
Bhagavat Katha dasa

Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances! All glories to Srila Prabhupa!
On this auspicious occasion, I would like to share some of my immature realisations with you.
In Bhagavad Gita, Krsna told Arjuna that “Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth” (BG. 4.34).
This verse talks about the significance of submissive attitude in the spiritual life. Only by submissive hearing from a spiritual master can a person successfully assimilate the transcendental knowledge. A challenging attitude cannot help one realize the transcendental message. Prabhupa use one particular word to describe how we can get proper guidance, which is susrusu. This means one must be anxious to hear the transcendental message. The desire to sincerely and submissively hear is the first qualification.
Lord Caitanya came to earth to set up a perfect example of being a devotee. He also talked about being submissive. In one sloka, he said that : O son of Maharaja Nanda [Krsna], I am Your eternal servitor, yet somehow or other I have fallen into the ocean of birth and death. Please pick me up from this ocean of death and place me as one of the atoms of Your lotus feet.
In another sloka, he said One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige, and ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly. Prabhupa explained that in this submissive attitude, one should be ready to tolerate all insults to one’s own self. But there is one exception. That is when Krsna or his pure devotee is blasphemed, a genuine devotee becomes angry and acts like fire against the offenders. Gurudeva yourself has set a perfect example for us. Once you were talking about Krsna’s pastime in public, an Indian man stood up and said that Krsna is immoral. He steals others’ wife. You immediately replied, “ You are a thief. You dance with Krsna’s wife.” “No, that is my wife.” Then you defeated him by saying “ Is your wife made of your potency? Did you manifest her?”
If a person is submissive and ready to offer all respects to others, he is less likely to offend other devotees as well. Lord Caitanya compared devotional service to a creeper. In the first place, he said that we should protect the bhakti creeper most carefully against the mad elephant offense against the pure devotees. .An offense at the lotus feet of the Lord is sometimes excused by the merciful Lord, but an offense at the feet of a devotee is very dangerous for one who actually wants to make progress in devotional service. What is an offense? Prabhupa said that It is an offence to consider an empowered Vaisnava an object of disciplinary action. It is offensive to try to give him advice or to correct him. Fortunately, I learned this fact in one of the end year retreats by your ocean of mercy, which helps me commit less offense to other Vaisnavas.
A serious Bhakti practitioner should not blame or correct other devotees unless he is put into that managerial position. However, the blaming attitude is there naturally. Sometimes I can encounter a tough situation that I may want to blame someone. Then who shall I blame? Other senior devotees? No, by having a submissive attitude, I should understand that I myself am to be blamed. It may seem that I am innocent. Ramadas mentioned that our mind is the cause of all the suffering. But I didn’t create my mind. And I didn’t create those sufferings for myself. So shall I say this is Krsna’s fault? No. I am blameworthy because it is I myself that chose to associate and identify with the temporary bodies and locales that material nature supplies. Then I further complicate my plight by plunging into the material flavours of happiness and distress—intricacies packaged according to my past Karma.
This material world is like a place full of dangerous fire. Because of forgetting Krsna, I came to this high-risk and fire-hazard zone. Amidst the accumulated trash-heaps of my material desires which are spontaneous igniting frequently, I try to enjoy. I am so conditional that sometimes I think this fire burns me good. Or I prefer that fire to this fire, because that fire may burn me more intensely. To get out of this fire world, I need the mercy of you, by submissively hearing and serving. In Bhgavad Gita, it says that one should serve the spiritual master like a menial servant, without false prestige. Satisfaction of the self-realized spiritual master is the secret of advancement in spiritual life. The lotus feet of our spiritual master are the only way by which we can attain pure devotional service. So let me pray that I can become a submissive servant of you and other devotees. May Krsna bless me with spiritual intelligence and determination so that I can satisfy you and other devotees. Srimad prabhupa kijaya!


Your menial servant,
Felix

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

The spiritual master's pleasure is in the advancement of the disciple. I have heard that real spiritual advancement is never accompanied with pride. One can only make spiritual advancement by Guru-krpa. Srila Prabhupada explains the causeless mercy of the Guru in a morning walk conversation: "Guru-krpa is like this. I give you mercy and you say 'I don't want', but I say 'no, you take'. Guru-krpa then Krsna-krpa, not that Krsna-krpa."

By the mercy of the spiritual master, bhagavad-prasada, is achieved. What is that prasada? Bhakti, devotional service. Without the mercy of the spiritual master the wandering jiva cannot receive the seed of Bhakti. TKG elaborates on this point: "Love of God is dormant within everyone's heart, but without the seed of Bhakti, one's love of God can't manifest itself."

This was practically exhibited when recently you kindly took the time out of your busy schedule to come exclusively to Panca-tattva Swansea-Dhama. On the appearance day of Srimati Radharani whilst we were all ecstatically dancing in Kirtan, I was fortunate to be at the front. I realized whilst observing you so absorbed in the Kirtan that this person has Bhakti, but I don't have any. Thinking in this way I began begging: "Please make my life fortunate by giving me a drop of your mercy, a drop of your Bhakti."

I've heard that vani is higher than vapu, though the vapu should never be neglected. When I took darshan with you in Wales, you instructed me: "Develop a love for the books and you'll want to distribute them to others." Please allow me to assist you in this way, by being able to give others this topmost knowledge that is Srila Prabhupada's books.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur once said: "Those who have life preach, those who have no life cannot preach. The life of the disciple is the order of the spiritual master." In Sri Isopanisad it is described: "Just as the hand severed from the body has no value, although it seems to have all the functions of the hand, it does not." In the same way the disciple who does not act on the order of the Guru is as good as a severed hand. Prahlada Maharaja explains that his first and foremost duty is to serve his Guru, Narada Muni.

The Christmas marathon is soon to commence. Please allow me to make your order to love and distribute books my life and soul. This is my desire.

Your insignificant aspiring servant,
Bhakta Gaura

Dear Gurudeva,

On this blessed day of your divine appearance I would like very much to share a realisation I had whilst reading Srila Prabhupada Lilamrita. Please forgive any shortcomings on my behalf in describing this subject matter, as it is beyond my understanding.

Srila Prabhupada always said that the one thing he could claim as his real merit was that he always followed his spiritual masters instructions with life and soul. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta was known by all his disciples to be very scholarly, very devoted, and also, at times, very heavy. He was known as singha-guru, or “lion guru”. He would use what was referred to as “the chopping technique”. “Do not flatter”, he would say. He wanted the truth spoken in a straightforward way, as Krishna desired. Some of his disciples were at times afraid to bring guests before him, just incase he was too heavy on them. And it was noted that those who criticised, soon left.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta had a plan, not just locally, but globally, for many future generations yet to come. Lord Caitanya’s Sankirtan movement was to reach all towns and villages of the world. That was the plan. And although some took it theoretically, Srila Prabhupada did not. He had received a direct instruction to become a good English preacher and spread Lord Caitanya’s message abroad.

Coming to the west, Srila Prabhupada had the support of an entire line of acharyas behind him. He was the empowered representative. Being a devoted disciple, undeviating from the inner intention and instruction of his spiritual master, he was qualified and authorised in every way to achieve the goal. He even implemented the “chopping technique” very nicely whenever necessary in his service to his spiritual master. Again, no doubt, some may have misunderstood. But despite popular demand for things to remain as they are, Srila Prabhupada had a mission to fulfil, and he did it just as his spiritual master would have wanted.

So here it is Gurudeva, the “better late than never” realisation I got from reading this amazing literature. I am lost for words when I think of how precisely you have carried on Srila Prabhupada’s service to his spiritual master, not just maintained, but increased … in a way I know that Srila Prabhupada would be very much pleased.

The society in New Zealand is so strong. It has potency, energy, life. Things are really happening here; so much so that I wonder at times how it is I can even keep up with contributing my minimal allotted share. Your disciples are so enthused, not just some of the time but at all times. It’s a symptom of genuine spiritual potency, a result of having pleased the one who has successfully pleased Lord Krishna.

Where would I be if you had not come to this small Island at the bottom of the world? That’s one question I don’t want to realistically answer. You were even warned by some; “Don’t go to New Zealand, kiwi’s are really mental”. But you had a vision for the future. There was an opportunity for service. A chance to increase Srila Prabhupada’s divine mission was one not to be missed on your behalf.

What’s more, I know there is a plan many years ahead that I am completely unaware of, just as a two and a half year old is completely oblivious to the plans and workings of his father.

So today on your divine appearance day I am praying that I can have the intelligence to follow your instructions as they are, not just now but for years to come. So far you have not asked for much from me. It has simply been a matter of “get your health together and get a job”, something my biological father perhaps should have asked of me. Never the less I know this instruction is an important one… the only instruction I am perhaps competent to carry out at this point. I hope in the future I will be qualified to do more.

All glories, all glories, all glories to you Gurudeva on your blessed divine appearance day!

Your two and a half year old,

Bhakta Max.

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

I would like to start this offering by thanking you for all the service that you have rendered to Krishna and for all the service that you have rendered and are still rendering to me personally as well. This debt I will never be able to repay, but I will try anyway even though that will most definitely seem foolish.

This is certainly how I feel when I am writing this offering, foolish, for what can a sinful wretch as myself possibly have to say about a great saintly personality such as yourself, that is of any meaning or value at all. I pray to Lord Nityananda that at least it is not offensive.

Gurudeva, I am considering myself to be a product of your mercy and every day as a gift. You give this gift of devotional service so freely even to someone as utterly unqualified as myself. Hopefully one day by your mercy I can become somewhat qualified to render service that is a little bit pleasing.

I will try with my heart, body and words to follow your instructions properly and to make them my life and soul. With your blessings I hope to take part in Srila Prabhupada's mission to spread Krishna-Consciousness all over the world, however insignificant that part might be.

You have given me life and I pray that I can properly honour this gift by giving it to others. Thank you.

Your insignificant aspiring servant,
Bhakta Merlin

Pamho agtsp...ki jaya...Hare Krishna 2 HH Devamrita Swami...13yrs ago I first encountered ur Sri Krishna like divine lotus toes @ new dwarka dham...while u gave class on Sri Krishna katha...2 tis day my dear gurudev, I am dumb profounded by ur "chewing the chew" statement...being that I consider myself a condition soul known as a Hiphoppa...I ask ur holiness what advice would u give 2a wannabe Hare Krishna devotee like me, who is n2 Hiphop kulture...ur holiness retorted that I should praise Sri Krishna katha within Hiphop kulture...& try 2 surrender 3yrs 2 the new dwarka dham community...consequently I am still trying 2 fulfill tis request...thus praying that Srila Prabhupada, Sri Krishna's pure devotees & ur divine grace bless I 2 share love of Sri Krishna with Hiphop kulture worldwide...so that ur guru's mission is achieved...Hare Krishna...oneluv...hari,hari...hehe!

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 on this auspicious day of your appearance.

In this world everyone is always hankering for a deep and satisfying relationship. People go through so many relationships – Parent-child, Husband-wife, Employer-worker and so on. Mundane relationships begin, build-up, continue for some time, deteriorate in charm and terminate. All this happens because everything within material nature is limited by time, space and thought (ullańghita-trividha-sīma-samātiśāyi…). Gurudeva, in one of the lectures you said “…we want to mend the relationships we have now but what about our relationships in past lives…we had relationships with other fish when we were a fish and now we don’t even remember…”

The relationship between guru and disciple is very special. It is an eternal relationship (cakṣu-dāna dila yei, janme janme prabhu sei…). It is said that by touch, by vision and by meditation only do the birds, the fish and the tortoise maintain their offspring. A guru maintains his disciples by all these three ways. He gives personal instructions to the disciple, observes his advancement and prays to Krsna for his deliverance. Guru always thinks of the topmost welfare of the disciple and always protects like a loving father. My prayer today would be that may I never grow up so much, so that I might think that I can stand independently without your support. Gurudeva your spiritual strength is increasing exponentially everyday and you can definitely hold thousands of disciples in your arms.

A few insignificant words said to glorify your skill of oration won’t do justice but ingratitude would be a greater offense than babbling. Your well-composed and well-prepared lectures have shaken the hearts of many souls. You have the mystic power to melt steel frame hearts with your indubitable words. The arrows that you shoot from your lotus mouth act wonderfully because they are laced with compassion. I pray to have deep faith in your words.

You are an empowered messenger of Krsna who is spreading the essence of bhaktivedanta purports far and wide. You are an authority on how to spread the holy name (pracare purva daksyam…). Please bless me to follow in your footsteps and allow me to have a miniscule percentage of determination that you have to spread Mahaprabhu’s sankirtana movement.

Holy Name becomes soft when we are able to deal with vaisnavas softly and appropriately. You are one of the authorities on vaisnava dealings (bhaktacara pravinata). Please bless me to follow in your footsteps by serving and pleasing all the vaisnavas.

When you see the youth suffering by indulging in Kali Yuga activities it brings tears to your eyes. When you see how people are uselessly attached to pleasing skin sensations it brings tears to your eyes. You are a perfect vaisnava, para duhkha duhkhi….(pararthatapi karunyam….). Please bless me so that I can develop a fraction of that compassion.

Queen Kunti prays in Srimad Bhagavatam 1.8.42 that “O Lord of Madhu, as the Ganges forever flows to the sea without hindrance, let my attraction be constantly drawn unto You without being diverted to anyone else.”

tvayi me 'nanya-viṣayā matir madhu-pate 'sakṛt
ratim udvahatād addhā gańgevaugham udanvati

Your desires are like a raging river rushing unhindered towards Krsna’s lotus feet. My desire is to be a small particle in that river & flow with the current. I do not want to swim upstream & ultimately die like salmon. May I perform all services in Srila Prabhupada’s mission on your behalf in a small attempt to repay you.


Aspiring to be a worthy servant,
Bhakti Sara Dasa

Dear Guru maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

I have no words to thank you enough for what you have done for me. I feel my attempts to glorify you, actually only bring you down to my level. I am very grateful to have you as my spiritual master. Srila Prabhupada’s books and Krsna conscious lifestyle become easier to understand and practice as you expertly present it to us.

By always helping others to become Krsna conscious, your whole life is dedicated in service of Srila Prabhupada . I cannot comprehend how you do it and how it happens. It is mystical. You yourself take on the responsibility to give everyone the best opportunities so that we can grow organically in Krsna Consciousness. You give yourself fully to others, always thinking about how can we be best situated to advance in our Krishna Consciousness and be engaged in service pleasing to Srila Prabhupada. This is not ordinarily possible for anyone to do that. The way you care for the devotees, we can understand how much Prabhupada and Krsna care for us.

I pray that I may be engaged in assisting you all my life in the service of Srila Prabhupada.

Trying to be a servant,

Bhakti-lata devi dasi

Hare Krishna Guru Maharaj,

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

I feel very in adept in finding the appropriate words to express my gratitude for the mercy that you have shown me. I could never understand what ‘causeless mercy’ meant, until I started living in the ashram. Each day, as I see the service attitude, humility and submission of my ashram sisters and the wonderful devotees here, I wonder at my fortune. Given my selfishness and rebellious nature, I certainly do not deserve to have such an opportunity. But somehow I am here, and the devotees are tolerating my offenses lovingly, and allowing me to stay on. I do not deserve any of this. Thus, I am confident that it is only by your causeless mercy that I have had this chance for ashram training and get the constant association of such wonderful devotees.

Given my selfish attitude, I realize that my attempts at devotional service are only possible because of your mercy. If I am able to go out on Sankirtan and distribute a single book, it is only because of your mercy, otherwise I have no desire or sense of duty to even get out of the door.

In spite of my fortune, Guru Maharaj I am so unfortunate that I do not realize the auspiciousness of what is being offered to me. Guru Maharaj, like an expert doctor you know all the dark diseases that impede my spiritual growth and you also know the treatment that I need. Please let your mercy be with me, so I may learn to appreciate the devotees, devotional service, and reduce offenses against the holy name.

Hopefully, by your mercy, someday I will be able to serve your instructions.

Your aspiring servant,
Anjali Saroop

Hare Krishna Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Nama om Vishnu padaya Krishna presthaya bhutale
Srimate Devamrita Swami itin namine
pracare purve daksyam ca bhakta cara pravinata
Prararthatapi karunyam yasya sarve ca te namah.

Your glories remind me of this verse, “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.” SB 1.5.7

I am still at the very beginning of our relationship as your disciple, and am always moved at the way that you so expertly picked me up out of material life. In each darshan that we had you displayed your glory of being able to see exactly what was in my heart and how to guide me bit by bit into serving Krishna genuinely and choosing to take to this path of devotional service. Although outwardly I have surrendered, I can see that there is still so much more room for me to increase my dependence on Krishna. I can recognize that these are baby steps in my spiritual journey and I thank you so much for being my eternal spiritual guide. You can recognize the deficiencies in me and instruct me on this path of purification.

Thank you so much for taking the pains to travel to every habitable continent on earth to spread the message of Krishna Consciousness. I can hardly imagine the difficulty you undergo in doing so, but so many lives are touched by this. I cannot understand the fortune that you have granted all of us, by giving us access to the message of Lord Caitanya. By the example that you set for us, I feel inspired to become a gardener in this sankirtana mission of Lord Caitanya. The lectures that you present are so expert that even those who do not want to take medicine become cured. In these ways, and I pray that in ever-increasing ways, I appreciate your service to Srila Prabhupada and seek to take shelter of your lotus feet.

From the bottom of my heart, I thank you so much for the love that you extend to all of us here at the Bhakti Lounge in Toronto, and that each year you fly here for such a small team, and make a point to tell us that it is for us that you are here. It is overwhelming to think how much you love and care for all of us, and that I am also a recipient of that love. I cannot express how much it means to me that I am also in your heart and thoughts as you are in mine. At all times when I feel disturbed by my mind and uncertain of the difficulties I am facing in spiritual life, all it takes is for me to think of you, and how you gave your life to this spiritual path. I am very much a neophyte and my confidence in devotional service is always fluctuating. But I completely trust you and feel that if you gave your life to become a servant of Krishna then I want to also do the same. As a person I feel that you are the coolest and most successful person that I have ever met. It only takes for me to remember this and then I am ready in all ways to carry on in service. I pray that this trust only increases as I continue to serve you.

I am eternally indebted to you for your instructions, guidance, and loving care.
I hope that very soon you will accept me as your sincerely surrendered disciple, and that I can fulfill the vision that you see for me as a servant of Krishna.

Thank you so much for everything, Gurumaharaja.
Your Aspiring Servant,
Bhaktin Anne-Lise

Dear Maharaja,
oḿ ajñāna-timirāndhasya
jñānāñjana-śalākayā
cakṣur unmīlitaḿ yena
tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ

I greet you on your birthday, and wish you good health and strength. Thank you for showing me the example and the way with your perseverence, spiritual strength, vocation to remain a member of Srila Prabhupada’s movement, how to carry on the dream of Srila Prabhupada and how not to forget his words: “If we have faith that Krishna provides and sustains everyone, then why would we be miserly?” That would mean that we lost our faith in Krishna and think that we are the doers and suppliers. We are certain that Krishna will take care of us! Let the whole world come, we will feed everyone. Please do it nicely and start it soon!” Thank you that due to even your presence I do not lose my faith, and even if I become bewildered for a moment I can take shelter at your lotus feet.
Your aspiring servant,
bhn Barbara

Hare Krishna Guru Maharaj,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to his Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada and unto your divine feet.

Nama om visnupadaya Krishna prestaya bhutale srimate Devamrita Swami iti namine.

All glories to you on this auspicious Vyasa Puja day. On this special day, I pray for your good health and many more years of loving service to Srila Prabhupada.

I am so thankful to Lord Krishna for allowing such a wonderful spiritual soul to come into my life to provide me proper spiritual guidance. You descended to this material world just to give the holy name to the people of this world. You are a warm and caring person who helps and touches everyone you associate with. My husband, Subra, and I, had the greatest fortune of having your divine association during your visit to Dallas earlier this year. We pray and hope you come to Dallas soon as we are longing for your association and mercy.

Kindly forgive me for any offences.

Your ignorant aspiring servant,
Githa

Dear Devamrita swami,

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

I have attempted again this year to express my gratitude for your help.
I desperately want to show my appreciation.
I hope this demonstrates what is in my heart :)

If there is some problem with the body of the spiritual master, the disciple is eager to help. They do not think, ‘Oh, he is sick, I should get away from him so I can save myself’.
ISKCON is Srila Prabhupadas body. So sometimes there are problems and ‘illness’ comes in. But the sincere followers do not think, ‘I need to get as far away as possible so I am not disturbed by this.’ They are always finding ways to help the spiritual master and are eager to serve and assist him in any way they can. They do whatever is within their power to create change and save the situation.
Prabhupadas sincere followers are doing everything in their power to nourish and protect this movement, just as they would protect Prabhupada when he was here. Thank you very much for helping Srila Prabhupada.

When I think of how you have brought so many sincere souls into this movement, I am greatly inspired. I feel so fortunate to see their beautiful examples. Hard working, self sacrificing, unshakable service attitudes fill your ashrams. To see so many healthy cells in this body of Prabhupadas movement is a very joyful thing.
This is a rare precious thing. I have not seen enough to know just how rare. But it is certainly rare.
And it is the most valuable thing.
There are so many opportunities for lost souls to connect with Krishna and his devotees.
The diligent and faithful street preachers.
The festivals and feasts for the inquisitive.
The spiritually potent food for the yogis and the Uni students.
It’s all so powerful and I am watching as
it creates a ripple effect through the illusions of this world. It is a miracle. It is an incredible experience when a friend who is a heavily devout servant of Maya invites me to take Prasad at the University or is eagerly pleading that I come to the Loft. I am so astonished and moved by how much your presence and sincerity is helping our small country. We may never fully grasp how different things would be without you and your Sankirtan army.

You have taken on a role that is unfathomably difficult. And Kali yuga is degrading everything, food, music, literature, dress sense, and most of all, common sense...
And you are taking on the momentous task of trying to bring people out of intense states of drug and abuse induced stupors. It is very difficult for people to grasp higher concepts in society today. If someone has an issue, it should be dealt with by taking more drugs, or indulging the senses till they forget the issue. Meditation and God consciousness are often seen as luxuries for the ‘special’ few. I can not imagine what it is like to be in your position, but I truly admire you for standing strong and true when so many of your fellow soldiers have left the battle field.

I want to thank you for teaching me many invaluable lessons. The journey of bhakti can sometimes be very difficult. I often find myself sending out a prayer that I wish things could just be a little bit... easier. But somehow you make hard work seem like a good thing. And this was pretty much inconceivable to me before coming to Krishna consciousness. Hard work was for the less intelligent and there was never a need to ‘go against the current’. You have helped me grasp what that ‘current’ actually is and that going against Maya is essential for spiritual survival. She is great at espionage and Her spies can even infiltrate our own minds. I am so grateful to you for helping me to understand that fact.

Even now you are not so present in my life, indirectly you are still teaching me valuable lessons.

On this occasion, I would like to acknowledge the greatest gift you have given me. You taught me that we need to be true to our word, even if it hurts. You taught me that the truth always needs to be spoken, even if we do not benefit from it, and even if our name will be slandered because of it. You taught me that what is in the heart is the reality and the externals count for very little. Mostly, you taught me that if I can learn how to please Krishna, nothing else will matter. This is a very valuable and rare gift.

So in return, I am making this small offering to try to express my appreciation for all the time and thought you put into keeping me in bhakti and helping me to move forward. I wouldn't be where I am without you. You were the one pulling in the life raft when everyone else let go...



Please accept my sincere respects and heartfelt gratitude.

Your eternally grateful servant,
Isabelle

Dear Devamrita Swami Maharaja;

On this most auspicious day I offer to you Maharaja my humble obeisances.

tyaktva sva-dharmam caranambujam harer bhajann apakvo ‘tha patet tato yadi
yatra kva vabhadram abhud amusya kim
ko vartha apto ‘bhajantam sva-dharmatah

"If someone gives up all material prospects and takes complete shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, there is no loss or degradation in any way. On the other hand a non-devotee may fully engage in his occupational duties and yet, not gain anything."

Through you, your disciples residing at New Dvarka gave me their mercy, friendship love and, over the due course of time gave me the encouragement to take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. At first however, it was not so easy. I was rejected which was not easy to take, however, I pursued Krsna with all my heart and over time as your devotees came to know me, trust and friendship developed. Because of your wonderful devotees, their compassion and love for me today I am serving Krsna in New Vrindaban WV.

In one sense I lost everything, gave up everything in pursue of Krsna. I have not lost anything; but in reality I have gained so much through my relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead and his devotees.

Thank-you Maharaja for you kindness, sense of humor and excellent Bhagavatam Classes. Looking forward to seeing you again.

Krsna's eternal servant and yhs,
Bhaktin Leslie

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.

Maharaja, I will never forget the first time I saw you here in Wales. At the time I had only been coming to the temple for a short period and started to become more of an irregular visitor than a regular to the weekly Tuesday night kirtana programmes. Indulging in kirtana once a week had become something I did just to escape from the brick wall I had hit in my life.
People have asked me if before I became a devotee I had reached a cross roads in my life and this was the path I chose, the actual fact is that I had been through many cross roads and had come to a dead end. There was no left or right - I couldn’t see a way forward and I knew I could never go back and continue getting battered by the illusions of false enjoyment only to fall short, get up, dust myself off and try again.. and again. I had hit a brick wall, fallen off ‘the hedonistic treadmill’ and was in search of the deeper meaning behind this never ending battle with the constant waves of happiness and distress.

Somehow by the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, your beloved Srila Prabhupada, the devotees here in Wales and you, Srila Gurudeva, this most undeserving and fallen soul got thrown a rope ladder. Your visit to Wales in 2011 saved me and helped me climb the wall. Your presence was illuminating and it sparked the desire in my heart to take to this process seriously. I felt I could connect with everything you spoke about during your talk that evening, it made the path of Bhakti the only clear path in this jungle of material existence. You cut away at the misconceptions that are posed to us by Maya. Happiness isn’t something that can be gained from a change in external circumstances. No, happiness can’t be found by travelling to the other side of the world and engaging in all of the same activities you have been aimlessly pursuing on this side of the world to no lasting avail. ‘There is no real happiness in this world, without real knowledge.’

Since that visit in 2011, I have been trying to gain that ‘real knowledge’ from you by listening to your lectures, reading your blogs and through the early fragile stage of my path in Bhakti taking shelter of your disciple Dina Dayala, who encouraged and supported me so much. Your words always inspired me and continue to inspire me, guiding me and helping me push on in trying to humbly serve the mission here in Wales.

In a lecture you gave in Brisbane, you were talking about the importance of Vani association. You said how ‘Vani is association, and vani is more important, because the vapuh sometimes you have it sometimes you won’t. Vani is the eternal association and actually has a much deeper imprint believe it or not, but that’s something that has to be experienced.’
You went onto say’ Somehow or other the association is lasting beyond biological change, that has to be realised and a sincere disciple can realise that and indeed get more nourishment from the vani than the vapuh. That doesn’t mean you neglect the vapuh.. you take what you can get. But the vani there’s no limit.’

I have been fortunate in your past two visits to Wales to experience you’re vani and vapuh association. But as you said in the above mentioned lecture ‘the vapuh is limited by time, place and circumstance.’ So I relish and treasure the limited moments of your vapuh presence here in Wales, and cling on tightly to the vani for my eternal guidance and necessity to progress on the path back to Godhead.

In a purport from the Srimad Bhagavatam 11.20.17 it is explained ‘’one who cannot understand that the human body is a suitable boat for crossing the ocean of material existence will see no need to accept a captain in the form of the spiritual master and will not at all appreciate the favourable winds of The Lords mercy. He has no chance of achieving the goal of human life. Acting against his own self-interest, he gradually becomes the killer of his own soul.’’
I pray to always remain free from drowning in the deep waters of ignorance and the relentless waves of happiness and distress brought on by the ocean of illusion that is maya, and always remain on this bhakti life boat guided into the ‘favourable winds of The Lords mercy’ by you, my eternal spiritual master.

Aspiring to be the servant of your servants,

Bhaktine Kirsty.

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

I was recently reading about Lord Caitanya’s tour of South India; about how, almost like a mad lion, Lord Caitanya would travel through the land performing sankirtana and how He would induce anyone He would meet to chant "Hari Hari!" Attracted by the Lord, they would follow Him, now also chanting. After some time the Lord would embrace them then ask them to return to their homes having invested them with spiritual potency. Now empowered by this Bhakti Shatki, the Lord’s followers were able to preach Krishna Consciousness. Each empowered individual would return to his own village, chanting, and that empowered person would request everyone and anyone to chant. Then those people who came to see that empowered personality would also become like him. Simply by seeing him and receiving the mercy of his glance, they would chant and dance.

This reminded me of you, how you have been embraced by the parampara and have received this Bhakti Shakti and are now transforming others. Wherever you go, you leave a trail behind you of people chanting and dancing. You inspire others to then reach out to others spreading Lord Caitanya’s mercy, empowering them also, if they take up the challenge. You influence all those who come close to you to chant the holy name. Even when my daughter was only just able to speak, I had been cooking for you at New Gupta Vraja and was about to do the dishes. I popped a little of your remnants into her mouth; she looked up at a painting of Krisna on the wall, and pointing to it she started saying “Krishna Krishna Krishna,” over and over again.

The other day I was at the park with my daughter (sorry, I have a lot of children examples, not exactly "Jnana caksus!"). As usual, she had dressed herself in a skirt that was far too long and wanted to run off and climb up something high, so I explained, “I don't want you to do that—you may fall and get hurt.” Still wanting to do it, she said, "Will you catch me if I fall down?" and I replied, "It depends how far away from me you are." This reminded me of you and how even if we slip on the path of Bhakti you can catch us if we stay close, but we should stay close to your instructions and not be reckless with our devotional lives causing you more trouble than assistance. I beg for a glance of your mercy that one day I can fully accept that embrace from the parampara you have given me and that I may repay you in some small way by bringing others to your lotus feet for you to offer to the lotus feet of your Srila Prabhupada.

Your aspiring servant,
Bhava Sandhi devi dasi

nama om visnu pādāya krsnapresthāya bhūtale
srimate devāmrta swāmin iti namine

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

pracāre purva-daksyam ca bhaktācāra pravinata
parartathāpi karunyam yasya sarve ca te namah

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

Dear Gurudeva
Please accept my Humble Obeisances
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada
All Glories to you Gurudeva on this Auspicious Day of your Vyasa puja

Please accept my attempt to glorify you Gurudeva, i feel very fortunate to be here today amongst the assembly of vaisnavas and vaisnavis . i would like talk a litttle about the krishna kunja that is located at otaki near wellington the selfless service that was done by our god brothers and sisters to build and maintain the wonderful facility thank you gurudeva. i would also like to glorify you gurudeva because when i first came to the loft 3 years ago i remember how welcome i felt the devotees made me feel i was suffering a lot. '' Generally the conditioned souls are mad because they are always engaged in activities which are causes of bondage and suffering''Bhakti rasamrita sindhu i can relate to this feeling know matter what activities i carried out it didn't feel fulfilling i felt i needed more or a change. But gurudeva you explain we should mold our activities of our life in such a way that we constantly remember krishna. you say don't take to material activities it will cause forgetfulness of our eternal relationship with krishna. another quote from srimad bhagavatam canto 3 chapter 25 text 21
titiksavah karunikah
suhrdah sarva dehinam
a jata 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.

you have all these qualities gurudeva it is seen by your activities and from Bhagavad Gita “whatever action a great man performs common men follow and whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts all the world pursues.”

You lead by example, your devotees the path of devotional service uncontaiminated. Where as so called leaders in this age of kali are clearing the path for the order carriers of Yamaraj. So they can capture with their tight ropes and suffer the consequences of sinful activities.

You mention Gurudeva that unless we take to devotional service we are all under the influence of the three modes of material nature. So it is explained that after many many births when one becomes wise he surrenders unto Vasudeva knowing perfectly well that Krsna is the origin and cause of all causes. It is that you are elevating our consciousness so we gradually rise and come to the platform of serving Krsna in pure love. Just like a father who teaches his son what is favourable and unfavourable.

Thank you Gurudeva, you display the symptons of a spiritual master. You are the external manifestation of Krsna, a reserviour of all auspicious qualities. Please accept my glorification of you Gurudeva. May I always take shelter of your lotus feet.

sakshad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair
uktas tatha bhavyata eva sadbhih
kintu prabhor yah priya eva tasya
vande guroh sri-caranaravindam

The spiritual master is to be honored as much as the Supreme Lord, because he is the most confidential servitor of the Lord. This is acknowledged in all revealed scriptures and followed by all authorities. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is a bona fide representative of Sri Hari [Krishna].

Translation
Aspiring to be your sincere servant
-Bhuri Bhoja

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

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

Dear Srila Gurudeva,

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

This year we had the rare chance to attend your unforgettable New Zealand retreat. At the beginning, our economic status was fluctuating due to job uncertainty, but we still came because of our family’s strong desire to attend your retreat. This desire had been postponed from the last two years by a variety of reasons. However, it was only after experiencing the nectar of your knowledgable lectures and lively kirtans that we realised how fortunate we were to be there. Guru Maharaja, I strongly felt that in New Zealand that you were like Kṛṣṇa in Vrindavana, as compared to that of Melbourne, where you are like Kṛṣṇa in Dwaraka. At the retreat, you were so merciful, showering your blessings upon us like rain. Your countenance was also extremely pleasant, resembling that of the beautiful surroundings. You personally took so much care about us at every moment, even little concerns like climate, food, residence etc. From this we are getting a chance to learn many things which we can implement in our lives.

Early next year will be the most exciting event of our lives – that is, a Vyasa-puja when you are personally present in Melbourne. We have been waiting for this event for the last two years. Therefore, please give us your mercy so that we can succeed in our minute attempt to serve you. In your last visit to Melbourne, we served you prasadam that was too spicy. This in turn caused you to suffer with stomach problems. Please forgive us, for we are such insignificant servants. In the future, we will endeavour to be more attentive when cooking, thereby avoiding such mistakes. This incident shows that you are the real spiritual father, for you accept all of our errors. Therefore, on this most auspicious day of your Vyasa-puja, we beg for your mercy, as it is only through your blessings that we can advance in our Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Aspiring to be the servant of your servants,

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

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances at the dust of your lotus feet.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada

All glories to you on this day of your divine vyasa puja

In one of Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasa Puja offering to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur, he wrote that “honouring your spiritual master is not done just through words of praise and offering garlands but it is done by carrying out his orders.”

Gurudeva, by following Prabhupada’s instructions, going thorough hardships for his pleasure, enduring great difficulties and risk to carry out his mission & compassion, you have made your entire life an offering to Srila Prabhupada.

Carrying the same mood as Prabhupada you are always going out of your way to help us, care for us, to some how make us understand the uselessness of material life and to give us a higher perspective in life so that we do not miss out on the opportunities that we have been given.

I read an article in which Gopiparanadhana Prabhu comments from Skanda Purana 16.2 that “The Vedic sages are not only mystics but expert communicators as well; they systematically teach practical means by which persons entangled in material life can also become self-realized.”
When I read this, I immediately thought of you, how expertly you present the spiritual knowledge in the modern day society, you spend time studying people’s mind set and behaviour, adapt your presentation according to the audience and explain the philosophy in such a practical way that people can easily relate with the talk. In fact this is one of your motto’s “We make it easy” for people to be Krishna Conscious, in this way you are taking conditioned souls out of material entanglement and just by your transcendental smile you melt people’s heart.

You are a store house of wisdom, experience, transcendental knowledge and your mind is always fixed in humbly serving others. Often hearing you, your lectures helps me understand my conditioning, emotions or feelings I might be going through. In a lecture or personal conversation, you might say things jokingly, but behind that humour you always seem to know where the problem is and you help to address the issue.

I hope that I can follow in your footsteps, make a humble and sincere effort to assist you in your mission.

Learning to be a Servant
Brahmakunda Dasa

Nama om vishnu padaya krsna prestaya bhutale
Srimate Devamrita Swamin iti namine

Pracare purva dakshyam ca
Bhaktacara pravinata
parartatapi karunyam
yasya sarve ca te namah

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances at the dust of your lotus feet.

If there is anything I have learned from my brief experience of Krishna Consciousness in this life, it is that we can not understand Krishna on our own merit, but we need the blessings the spiritual master, who comes in many forms, one of the most important of which is the diksa guru. Thus practically the whole Krishna Conscious philosophy rests on the guru principle.

This being my first official Vyasa Puja offering as an aspiring disciple of Your Holiness, I feel quite unqualified. Not to mention that I have only briefly began a relationship with Your Holiness. But nonetheless, I am attempting to write something to expound upon your glories.

It is said that you can judge a tree by the fruits it bears. The fruits of a guru are his disciples and indeed it was the attractive qualities of your disciples that first attracted me to you. As I continue to meet more of them, I am amazed at the quality of their faith and the depth of their attachment to you. Your disciples inspire me and encourage me to move forward to a blissful life of Krishna Consciousness relationships. This can only be an indication of the wonderful qualities of their Gurudeva.

Also, since I did not have the good fortune to personally associate with Srila Prabhupada or be around when the mercy was flowing so strongly in the early days, your classes have given purports on the Bhaktivedanta purports, enabling souls like me to relish his instructions today. Not only that but you explain how to successfully be a devotee in the ISKCON that Srila Prabhupada instituted, helping us to surpass some of the difficulties that are inherent along the path of Bhakti.

Finally, when I had the good fortune to see you and hear from you personally a few months back in LA, you worked a miracle. With only a handful of words and a few glances, you gave me direction, strength and stability in my life that I could not have achieved otherwise.

I pray today that I can learn to become a proper disciple and someday become attached to you like your many disciples. This will undoubtedly assure the success of my Krishna Consciousness.

Your humble servant and aspiring disciple,
Bhakta Bryan Bolen
Denver, CO

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, I wonder what my life would have been without listening to your lectures, wandering aimlessly, what else. The day I am very sad due to my own created problems not blaming on material energy, your lectures showing full insight of Krishna consciousness, shower the mercy like rain on the burning forest of my consciousness. Clarity, purity and applicability of your lectures penetrate the heart and are of full of instructions for any stage of practitioner of Bhakti. Recently when I was on trough of my struggling day, I listened to your lecture where you were speaking about happiness, "How can be there any happiness without Krishna? If you ask where happiness is, indirectly you are asking where Krishna is. So why not seek Krishna directly and happiness will follow. Krishna and happiness are not two. You explained very clearly quoting Krishna is the source of everything including happiness." Guru Maharaj I am so mad that I am still working hard trying to find happiness separate from Krishna.

Guru Maharaj whenever I tend to forget my goal in life, you mercifully through your lectures put me back on track, the track that goes straight back home back to Godhead. It happens many times I find the answer of my day on the same day in one of your lectures and I take it not 'by chance' but 'by your mercy'. Guru Maharaj every year on your Vyasa puja day I think next year I will write a nice offering thinking all my problems will vanish by next year and I will have all good and promising report from my side but that has not happened yet. I am unable to contribute any substantial service to push on this beautiful movement of Srila Prabhupada for the pleasure of Lord Caitanya. Guru Maharaj I am so grateful to you and genuinely indebted to you for all the love and care you have for me in spite of my unlimited faults. You expertly ignore my faults and try to engage me somehow in devotional service of the Lord.

Today on this wonderful day of your Vyasa puja I pray for your good health and long life to spread the glories of Lord Caitanya and to connect many more degraded souls like myself to the Holy Name.

Happy Vyasa Puja day Guru Maharaj.
Your humble servant,

Buddhimanta Dasa

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances,
all glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Over the last few years and months we have seen a lot of changes take place in the brahmacary asrama. Most notably, under your expert care the asrama is rapidly expanding. Currently, there are 13 prabhus wearing saffron and several other boys aspiring for official admittance. With the closing of Krishna House in Hamilton and the bringing together of the different teams, a larger Auckland residence was required. As such, under your instruction we recently moved from Thakura Saranga’s basement apartment to Ananta Naga’s impressive Garuda asrama. Since then, I have been amazed to notice the devotees increasing in ecstasy every day. The Kirtans are becoming even more enthusiastic, more jubilant and more euphoric with every mangala arati. Similarly, the relationships and camaraderie between devotees is wonderful to observe. Witnessing this I feel so inspired and grateful to somehow or other be a member of your powerful brahmacary asrama and am very optimistically looking forward to seeing how things further develop. Thank you so much for your loving guidance and deep presence in all of our lives.

Reflecting upon recent management meetings and evening programs at the asrama, it is overwhelming to consider just how much you care for us. You give so much attention and time to personally oversee the asrama. Through your affectionate yet firm directions, asrama life is optimized to give us the best chance of actually becoming Krishna conscious and going back to Godhead in this lifetime. You are so patient, tolerant and thorough. As the famous saying goes, ‘the devil’s in the details’. Indeed, we have seen that when required, you leave no stone unturned in your constant and rigorous efforts to uplift the asrama.

In your offering to Srila Prabhupada this year you discussed the wonder of Srila Prabhupada’s vani-sanga. However, you also described the initial disappointment you felt in seemingly missing out on physical association with Prabhupada. Subsequently, you mention:

‘Vigorously urging your fledgling granddisciples to value the physical presence of their guru with utmost care, I would instruct them to seek every opportunity to have it.’

As you generously and painstakingly nurture us, your own fledgling disciples, I can see how your personal experiences have molded your approach. You are so kind that you give us both your vani and vapu, knowing how important both types of association are. For the stumbling (or should I say barely crawling!) neophyte such as myself, having your direct ‘physical’ association is so enlivening, inspiring and reassuring. Simultaneously, you also issue us with clear instructions so that we can try to take advantage of your vani. I hope that as time goes by I will learn to appreciate, understand, treasure and take shelter of your vani-sanga more and more.

Still, one might be tempted to question further; how and why is your brahmacary asrama expanding so nicely given all the external and internal difficulties of Kali yuga?

This question was answered in style by your exalted Godbrother, HH Kesava Bharati Dasa Goswami, during our stay in India earlier this year. Safely tucked away in Govardhana Palace, Khela Tirtha, Jiva Daya and I relished extended evening discussions and readings with Maharaja in His private chambers. One evening he inquired about the brahmacary asrama and was delighted to hear how things were evolving. Smiling, he closed his eyes in ecstasy and proceeded to glorify you, explaining that one of the qualities which makes you so attractive is your incredible level of renunciation. Maharaja proceeded to comment that by the power of your personal renunciation you are inspiring so many fortunate souls to seriously take up the process of Krishna consciousness and attempt to follow in your footsteps. As such, he felt that the success of your brahmacary asrama was certainly wonderful, but not at all surprising.

In relation to this I could not help but think of you whilst reading through my most favorite section of Srimad Bhagavatam. In the 11th canto, chapter seven, entitled ‘Lord Krishna instructs Uddhava’, Krishna relays the historical narration concerning the conversation between king Yadu and a brahmana avadhuta. In texts 26 through 30, Maharaja Yadu, observing the learned and fearless brahmana inquires as follows:

“O brahmana, I see that you have acquired a most expert understanding of all things and all people within this world. Kindly tell me, sir, how did you acquire this extraordinary intelligence and why are you traveling freely throughout the world?

“Generally human beings work hard to cultivate religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and also knowledge of the soul, and their usual motive is to increase the duration of their lives, acquire fame and enjoy material opulence.

“You, however, although capable, learned, expert, handsome and most eloquent are not engaged in doing anything (material), nor do you desire anything (material).

“Although all people within the material world are burning in the great forest fire of lust and greed, you remain free and are not burned by that fire. You are just like an elephant who takes shelter from a forest fire by standing within the water of the Ganges River.

“O brahmana, we see that you are devoid of any contact with material enjoyment and that you are traveling alone, without any companions or family members. Therefore, because we are sincerely inquiring from you, please tell us the cause of the great ecstasy that you are feeling within yourself.”

In the string of blockbuster purports which accompany these texts, Hridayananda dasa Goswami comments:

“Ignorant persons often think that renounced spiritual life is meant for those who are impotent or homely or incompetent in practical worldly affairs. Sometimes foolish people say that religious life is a crutch for those who are not expert enough to achieve a high status in society. Therefore King Yadu has described the qualities of the mendicant brahmana in order to show that the brahmana has taken to renounced spiritual life in spite of great potential for worldly success. The avadhuta brahmana is described as being expert, learned, good-looking, eloquent and in every sense qualified to be a great material success. Still, the avadhuta has renounced material life and taken to Krishna consciousness. Going back home, back to Godhead, for an eternal life of bliss and knowledge is the real work of a human being.’

This flow of verses and purports perfectly describe some of your vastly elevated qualities and superstar-like transcendental status. I can also understand that it suitably represents deep desires of my own. Ever since first meeting you I have felt irresistibly drawn to know and understand you better. You are so happy, free and learned and I increasingly want to know how this is so! Despite having acquired a small amount of elementary spiritual knowledge during my initial years in Krishna consciousness, with your blessings I am very much looking forward to becoming purified and qualified enough to understand you much more in due course of time. I can only pray that I too can become like a transcendental elephant and learn to take full shelter from the burning forest fire of material existence by standing within the cooling, nectarian waves of the Holy Name with you. Indeed, please teach me how to become completely submerged within the ecstatic, cascading deluge of the Holy Name and never come out!

Thank you so much for renouncing the world to save us Gurudeva. Even though you could have had everything materially, you chose to dedicate your life to Srila Prabhupada, Lord Caitanya and Krishna. Your heroic demonstration of how to renounce the material in order to achieve the infinitely higher reality of Krishna consciousness is simply breathtaking. Indeed, the more I try to meditate on your glories, the more awestruck I become!

Aspiring to become and always be your servant,

Caitanya Vihara 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 Srila Gurudeva,
please accept my humble obeisances,
all glories to Srila Prabhupada.

This year I prepared myself for writing this offering by preparing an offering for His Holiness Giriraja Swami.
As I was doing that it struck me how we as disciples put our hearts out there when we are offering our Vyasa-puja homages. There's some intense appreciation and personal feelings that come to light.

But then I think; how much more personal and intense must it be for you? You have given, and continue to give yourself to your disciples in the service of your spiritual master.
(As I read this my wife reads me SB 11.3.22 about how the spiritual master gives himself to his disciples)

I have to say that I feel that my thanks seem insignificant in comparison to the sacrifices you make every day. I can only strive day by day to serve you with the same seriousness with which you serve Srila Prabhupada.

I have honestly never seen anyone so dedicated, focussed, strong, thoughtful, intent, compassionate and many more flattering words - all of which are 100% applicable to you.
You embody all the qualities of a devotee. You present the bhakti philosophy in honest and relatable way. You care about everyone you meet - about their real self. You tell it 'as it is', not mincing words when it comes to spiritual instruction.
You have conquered the mind and your strength and inspiration are what keeps me (and a lot of others) going.

While writing this I realize that there can be no end to this glorification.

Let me try to sum it up as follows: Dear Gurudeva, I love you and will always aspire to serve you and reach out as you do. I appreciate all that you do, even though I can't comprehend the full scope of your preaching.

Obeisances,
your servant,
Caitanya-lila dasa

Dear Gurudeva,

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

Happy Appearance Day.

Thank you for appearing in this world, at the most needed time and
place, to assist Srila Prabhupada your divine father in saving the
human race...

Thank you for your compassionate, saintly, selflessly dedicated life.
You practice, preach and live in Krishna, all your days and nights...

Thank you for your expert outreach, in thoughtful and dynamic ways,
you are reaching Krishna's lost servants, sharing eternal truth relevant
to today...

Thank you for your personal vaisnava dealings, how you are loyal and
always there, for a devotee who reaches out to come under your super
care...

Thank you for being my spiritual master, a loving father for me too,
any auspiciousness I may have in my life...it has come through you.

Thank you.

Your aspiring and trying low servant,
Campak Gaur devi dasi.

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

A new chapter in the grihasta ashram has started for Visnu-maya and me. With the birth of our son Ishaan, we are both extremely busy and exhausted. You remind me that you gave us sufficient and repeated warnings that life in a family will be like this. Thank you for managing our expectations. This way we might be able to learn our lesson in this lifetime and develop a strong desire to associate with Krishna in the spiritual world. A desire that is the only price to pay.
 <blockquote>“There is no material calculation for the value of the ticket by which one can enter the kingdom of God. The only price for such entrance is this laulyam l?las?may?, or desire and great eagerness.”
&nbsp;&nbsp; – Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 9 </blockquote>
Thinking about our son and his future, I’m reminded of the following verse in Srimad-Bhagavatam:
 <blockquote> gurur na sa sy?t sva-jano na sa sy?t
pit? na sa sy?j janan? na s? sy?t
daivam? na tat sy?n na pati? ca sa sy?n
na mocayed yah? samupeta-mr?tyum

“One who cannot deliver his dependents from the path of repeated birth and death should never become a spiritual master, a father, a husband, a mother or a worshipable demigod.”
&nbsp;&nbsp; – Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.5.18 </blockquote>
Srila Prabhupada explains in the purport:
 <blockquote>“[...] the father, spiritual master or husband must be able to release the dependent from repeated birth and death. If he cannot do this, he plunges himself into the ocean of reproachment for his unlawful activities. Everyone should be very responsible and take charge of his dependents just as a spiritual master takes charge of his disciple or a father takes charge of his son. All these responsibilities cannot be discharged honestly unless one can save the dependent from repeated birth and death.” </blockquote>
I’ve heard you repeatedly lament that in your own job as spiritual master is made increasingly difficult by the state of most young people today. A state of wrecked brain and wrecked body, wrecked from too much drug use, too much intoxication, too many illicit connections, and too much family trauma.

I have recently come across a scientific test that attempts to measure the degree of childhood trauma that someone has experienced. Here, for your study, is a link to the Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) test and associated research:

<a href="http://www.helloquizzy.com/tests/the-adverse-childhood-experience-test">http://www.helloquizzy.com/tests/the-adverse-childhood-experience-test</a>
<a href="http://acestoohigh.com/got-your-ace-score/">http://acestoohigh.com/got-your-ace-score/</a>

The higher the score, the more traumatic one’s childhood was. Trauma creates intense stress, stress that destroys the mind and body’s ability to function, thereby leading to disease, addiction, depression, and, in-general, making it evermore difficulty for one to practice Krishna consciousness.

You have explained that when souls inhabiting such decrepit bodies finally encounter Krishna consciousness in their 20s, you often have the thankless task of helping them recover enough to gain a solid footing in Krishna consciousness.

Certainly, children of devotees can expect to be somewhat shielded from the messed-up word of youthful trauma, giving them a solid foundation from which to start practicing Krishna consciousness from. With your guidance I hope that I will somehow or other be able to give my son the chance to prosper in Krishna consciousness by allowing him to experience a childhood free of trauma and full of Krishna.

Your servant,
Candidasa dasa

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

Each year it seems like the time between your Vyasa Pujas gets shorter. I become more aware of our advancing age. How much longer will we be around? How little time I have been able to spend with you in this one short life-span, much of which I had already wasted before we even met. How little service I have rendered. I am painfully aware of the fact that my time here with you is limited.

Dear Guru Maharaja, the daily details of my life are dovetailed in Krishna’s service – serving my devotee husband, raising my son in Krishna consciousness, cooking and offering to Krishna, helping to run our yoga resort at which we try to teach people about Krishna and show them a lifestyle conducive to Bhakti. I feel connected to you by following the many instructions you kindly gave me. When I chant japa, I am with you. But still, I want more. I want to serve you more.

Dear spiritual father, please engage me in your service. You are completely absorbed in serving your spiritual master, and I aspire to be like you.

Your hopeful servant, Carana Renu dasi.

Dear Devamrita Maharaja,

I offer my most humble obeisances unto you.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

All glories to your service!

Material desires within my heart are very strong. I feel like an insignificant ant drowning in the ocean of such miseries.
But through your kindness and compassion I'm able to see that your hand is out ready to give the mercy of Srila Prabhupada.

Before my short time practicing bhakti I felt alone, and completely within the grips of temporary happiness and distress, but now I've been given a real home, some where I can call home.

Your eagerness and encouragement towards all and fixed determination towards pushing on Srila Prabhupada's mission is extremely inspiring!

I pray to you that I will be given the chance to serve at your lotus feet so my horrible material tendencies can gradually be cleansed.

Your aspiring servant
Bhakta Christian ( Hamilton, New Zealand )
Jaya Srila Prabhupada!

Dear Gurudeva,

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

The spiritual master is the manifestation of Krsna’s mercy. This is the sastric conclusion. By Krsna’s mercy we have you, our beloved spiritual master.

I have certainly received your mercy, but still I am in need of more mercy and I have no doubt that you will continue to rain down mercy (<i>karunya-ghanaghanatvam</i>) if I remain your servant by following your instructions.

It is indeed the occupation of such great personalities as you to show mercy to foolish persons like me. As Prahlada Maharaja prays to Lord Nrsimhadeva:

SB 7.9.42 “<i>…You are the friend of all suffering humanity, and for great personalities it is necessary to show mercy to the foolish. Therefore I think that You will show Your causeless mercy to persons like us, who engage in Your service.</i>”

Yes, suffering humanity is in need of mercy, but not the kind of mercy bestowed by mundane charities and philanthropic workers. No, the mercy that suffering humanity is in need of is that which descends through disciplic succession.

All good things (like mercy) are coming to us through parampara. As the famous aphorism spoken by Srila Prabhupada goes, “<i>Vedic technology means Sri Guru Parampara.</i>”

Modern technology is claimed to have made life easier, more pleasant and work more productive by replacing animal and human labor with machines. Admittedly, it has also accelerated air and water pollution along with other undesirable environmental effects.

With Vedic technology we don’t see such environmental compromises. Rather, we tend to see the polar opposite in that Vedic technology is one of cleaning (<i>ceto-darpana-marjanam</i>) the environment with a chief concern for the environment of one’s heart or consciousness.

In our modern day the ‘heroic’ professors and scientists are exalted for bringing humanity technological conveniences and pleasures such as TV, video games, fast cars, vaccines and touch screens. Similarly, in Vedic culture the spiritual master is exalted for bringing humanity the much-needed mercy of Krsna.

Therefore we are having this wonderful celebration of vyasa-puja to commemorate our indebtedness to you for being the medium by which we are receiving the mercy of Krsna.

In the Sri Brhad Bhagavatamrta we see the mercy of the guru at work in the relationship between Gopa-kumara and his disciple, the Mathura brahmana.
Gopa-kumara (<i>Svarupa</i>) said to his disciple that he had explained to him everything and that he should now decide what is the highest goal of life and what is the best way to achieve it.

But then Gopa-kumara noticed that the brahmana had not yet awakened to the treasure of pure love of Godhead and so he placed his hand on the brahmana’s head. By the grace of his guru’s touch the brahmana suddenly achieved perfection.

BBR 7.14 “<i>Such are the most amazing glories of contact with a great saint. By that contact, this brahmana suddenly achieved perfection, realizing his eternal identity.</i>”

Now, I don’t expect you Gurudeva to touch such a dirty rascal as me with your soft lotus hands but maybe a kick to the head with your feet would suffice. It seemed to do the trick for Kaliya, who had Krsna dancing on his heads and kicking down upon them for quite sometime before a realization suddenly dawned upon him, “<i>…he finally began to understand that Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and he surrendered unto Him…</i>”

I wonder what wonderful things await one who has you dance on his head? The Nectar of Devotion explains as follows, "<i>Please look at this devotee of the Lord who is dancing just from remembering the lotus feet of Krsna. Simply by observing his dance you will lose all interest in even the most beautiful women!</i>" Remembering this quote I fix my vision upon your two dancing feet each retreat as you dance in a captivating way to the delight of everyone. I imagine I could get a close up of your dancing lotus feet if you kindly bestow upon me the kind of mercy Krsna graced Kaliya with.

Of course, we can understand that in a most sacred way one who follows the guru’s vani is having his guru’s feet placed upon their head. I pray to mature by your divine grace and reach that sublime stage of always having your instructions dancing on my head and my tongue.

We remember when the snake in Ambikavana was eating Nanda Maharaja during the Siva-ratri ceremony. Krsna came to save the day and simply by the touch of His divine lotus feet the snake was transformed into his previous form of the beautiful demigod, Vidyadhara. In the same way I was being devoured by the snake of time (<i>kala-sarpa</i>) when, by the grace of parampara technologies, I came in contact with your splendid lotus feet and am now experiencing the transformational effects of contact with those feet.

I meditate on the good fortune of Dhruva Maharaja, who was in Mahavana suffocating the whole universe with his yoga posture. At that time Lord Visnu disappeared from Dhruva’s meditation and appeared outside his heart before him. Dhruva was lost for words but by contact with the Lord’s Pancajanya conch he was empowered to speak eloquent prayers full of philosophical conclusions. Perhaps the touch of your tambourine will have a similar effect?

Actually we understand that the mercy of the guru turns the dumb into an eloquent speaker (<i>mukam karoti vacalam…yat-krpa tam aham vande…</i>). Please bless me with more and more chances to take your instructions upon my head; then even my lowly self will be able to speak with true eloquence.

Please accept me as your servant,
Damodara Krsna dasa

Hare krishna gurú maharajá.
Todas las glorias a Srila Prabhupada.
Por favor acepte mis humildes reverencias.

Espero que se encuentre bien en este día tan auspicioso de su vyasa-puja.
Después de muy largos dos años para mí sin verlo, este año krishna me bendijo con su misericordia sin causa, y pude verlo y servirlo personalmente.
Fue una realización hermosa poder estar junto a usted esos días y ver directamente todo el esfuerzo que hace usted por su maestro espiritual y por nosotros sus discípulos.
También quería agradecerle por darse un tiempo para hablar con mi esposo y con migo a pesar de su ocupada agenda.
Es admirable su determinación, su misericordia y su forma tan experta de siempre darme la instrucción adecuada para mi vida espiritual.
Ver como usted mantiene viva la modalidad y misión de Srila Prabhupada me causa mucha inspiración en la conciencia de krishna y puedo realizar que ya no quiero volver a tener esa vida tan vacía y materialista que tenía antes de conocer a krishna y sus devotos.
Bueno gurú maharajá con mucho más que decir se despide su eterna sirvienta.
Danakeli D.D.

Nama Om Visnu Padaya
Krsna-presthaya Bhutala
Srimate Devamrta Swami
Iti namine

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

Dearest Gurumaharaja,

Please accept my obeisances on the auspicious day of your appearance.

Thankyou for allowing me to come up for a breather from the 'dark well' at the start of this year, by serving you at the end of year NZ retreat.

I was chanting at least 50 rounds each day and also rendering service to your vapuh form. It was a revitalizing immersion and refreshing realization about the potency and simplicity of practicing bhakti yoga.

In the SB 1.2.16 it is stated

"O twice born sages, by serving those devotees who are completely freed from all vice, great service is done. By such service, one gains affinity for hearing the messages of Vasudeva."

In Srila Prabhupadas purport to this verse he says:

"By serving the servant of God, one can please God more than by directly serving the Lord."

I must say that I concur with this statement after rendering you some service at the start of the year. I am very fortunate to have the opportunity of regularly offering intimate services to the deities at ISKCON's New Govardhana farm, however, I feel that there was more of a profound Krsna Conscious experience serving you in NZ and something I will always remember.

Thankyou once again for the opportunity and for tolerating my offenses.

Hare Krsna,

YS
Dandakaranya das

Hare Krishna Devamrita,


Allow me to start by apologizing.

I meet you for the first time In December 2009, and, since then my spirituality has flourished. Yet .... I find myself expressing my gratitude in October 2013. I detect a take, take, and take attitude on my part. Hmmmm ....... Not good.

With this in mind I aim to express and articulate my thoughts & feelings.

It occurs to me that asking, talking, and listening is a skill & art. Fascinating indeed. Thank you for responding to my questions & your answers. All of which I have enjoyed and profited from. Very much so.

I commend you for your service to Krishna and ISKON. It is nothing short of remarkable.

It has been a pleasure to associate with you over the years.

Chanting and reading. Serving and Good association. Bhakti in a word. It is a precious gift and one that I appreciate!

Kind Regards


David

Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All Glories to you on this special day of your appearance.

Please allow me to offer this sankirtana story as a token of gratitude on this auspicious day.

A usual day on Manners St, I was going from person to person, most of them pretending to be happy. After finishing one of those usual exchanges with a teenager, who was immersed in the delights of kali yuga, I turned around to see an old lady walking fast towards the bus stop. When I tried to stop her, she replied in a frantic way, ‘ I have seen your books before, I’hv one of them, but I can’t stop now, I have to go, its urgent’. Underestimating her urgency and mistaking it to be another lame excuse of a conditioned soul, I tried to engage her in a conversation. What she spoke next froze me on the spot. She said, ‘ I HAVE to go to the hospital, my husband is dying, he can leave any moment’. I felt pity that she couldn’t even afford to get a taxi at that crucial hour. She seemed helpless due to old age and also due to her attachment to her husband. Understanding her situation, I said,’ Please take this small book with you and read it to your husband in his last moments. It will give him much solace and peace’. After thinking for a moment, she gave a humble donation and took ‘Bhakti Yoga’ and quickly continued to rush to catch the bus.

This particular exchange made me think, how this material world is a place of mixed happiness and distress. Someone enjoying teenage life oblivious to the real problems of existence and the other suffering from pangs of old age and death. What a contrast ? How can someone be happy in this mixed atmosphere ?

Gurudeva, through your lectures you are constantly imprinting this message on our consciousness, not to slacken in our devotional endeavors, lest we would be caught up in this endless cycle.

By empowering me to do this service on your behalf, you are mercifully helping me to cut the knots of material existence.

You don’t need my service but you are allowing me to serve you only for my own purification.

I’m too small and insignificant to appreciate your magnificent self but I’m unlimitedly grateful to you for accepting me as your disciple.

Your aspiring servant,
Dayamaya dd.

Dear respected Srila Devamrita Swami Maharaj,
Pl. accept my humble obeisances,
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada,

Dear Maharaj,

I feel greatly honoured & fulfilled to have an opportunity & chance to submit my humble offering for the upcoming auspicious ceremony of your vyas-puja.

I had a doubt whether I would be considered for this year or not because I haven't rendered any direct or indirect services & even lost all the connections with your esteemed disciples which I previously had. My first point of contact was always Gokul ranjan Pr and Syama Gauri Mataji.Both are very-very dedicated disciples & I drive great inspiration and conviction to surrender to your lotus feet seeing their sincerity and commitment.

When I received an mailer to submit the offerings before 9th Oct deadline, I was just jubilant & thrilled with enthusiasm about my good fortune that despite no attempts and proper desire to serve Guru, I am being considered again! I am really enlightened and thank all your wonderful loving disciples to grant me a chance to attempt trying serve the mission.

Dear Maharaj, frankly my so called service to you is limited only to the point of visiting your official website periodically, gain some updates about your world-wide preaching, see your pictures on line and remember you.

One incident was quite a realizing one.Very recently one of my friend who visits scared land of Radha-kund insisted that I should better consider taking initiation from babaji there and not from ISKCON as such.

I then immediately thought about you Maharaj and felt deep in my heart that I have a better shelter under your Grace which I am endeavoring to achieve, thereby getting a bonafied connection in Gaudiya- Vaishnavism. I actually do not require to go any where else to surrender, I realized it . I am fully confident that I got a right path and proper authorities in ISKCON who can guide me correctly at every step. My friend understood my resolution and didn't insist again. This friend of mine is actually a TV actor/and model with a charming presence where ever he goes. I occassionly tell him about your style of urban preaching & know it for sure that such people will not digest philosophy, just reading out some slokas from the scriptures but they need exactly your way of preaching which is most effective & penetrating . Because you know how to precisly tell a Krishna conscious view point in a most logical way. You provide exact references needed in your talk which are related to the issue in a highly intelligent way.

Modern urbanized man can be brought into krishna conscious life style by the means of your super lecturing abilities which are unique in its own way,I miss it.


I long for the day when you speak to the elite community in Mumbai @ISKCON Juhu .Most of the people who visit here are from the bollywood side.

Dear Maharaj, How exciting to have your seminar about hollowness/ frustrations and broken relationships experienced in the glamor industry. I am sure people would love to hear from you on the related subjects. Your amazing seminars have been heard and appreciated in ISKCON chowpatty temple,now if the same happens in Radha-rasbihari temple in Juhu, it could be a new chapter in ISKCON urban India preaching. Maharaj, I would like to bring to your attention that we have a team of young devotees in Juhu ISKCON, who invite people from all sections on a weekly basis for a 3 day Bhagvad-Gita session course and I too have become an insignificant instrument by calling people over the phone.

I do not have much to say or offer any thing substantial to you Maharaj on this glories occassion of your Vyas-puja. I would like to become sincere in Krishna consciousness by your blessings to help cross over the emberressment of material sense gratification.

I pray to Krishna to offer you good health and continued success in terms of preaching.

Your aspiring servant,
Deval

Hare Krsna Gurudeva

Please accept my humble obeisances at Your lotus feet
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to You, Srila Gurudeva
All glories to Your most auspicious appearance day



On Your recent visit to Sydney, hearing discourse encouraging congregation participation in Sankirtana is just another cameo of how You engage people from various backgrounds in Bhakti Yoga. Many devotees took inspiration from Your discourse and have taken to book distribution to different degrees. Some come for Monthly Sankirtana festivals, some have put smart boxes in grocery shops they visit etc, some distribute from home or at work and others support in various ways.


yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhas
tat tad evetaro janaḥ
sa yat pramāṇaḿ kurute
lokas tad anuvartate Bg 3.21

Gurudeva, the above verse suits You the best. You are not only an expert Guru but a famous leader also simultaneously. You find newer and newer ways of engaging people in devotional service.

In the same discourse, You also emphasized on the point, how spreading book distribution is the dear most desire of Srila Prabhupada and acharayas in disciplic succession.

Guru mukha padma vakya, cittete koriya aikya

By Your personal example You have shown how to follow instructions of one’s spiritual master with action, by spreading Sankirtana around the world. Since You made contact with Srila Prabhupada’s books, You started reading them four hours every day for six months in a row. It is not at all surprising why You emphasize that to distribute books one has to read the books.

After joining the temple, You went out to distribute books consistently even though for first two years there were not very big results in terms of books scores. Still for pleasure of Srila Prabhupada, You continued distributing till You had a big break one day surprising everyone.

“Tyaktva turnam asesha mandala-pati srenim sada tuccha vat”

You have been spreading Sankirtana worldwide rejecting all the aristocratic association for the benefit of common people. Taking a big risk, You even went to Iron curtain areas secretly distributing books there again for pleasure of Srila Prabhupada. There also You engaged many more persons to join You in this great mission of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Who will not be inspired to distribute books coming in contact with You.

Gurudeva at many places You have mentioned, “ relationship with Guru is through devotional service”. Just like Narada Muni engages even the most degraded persons deeply involved in sense gratification, Out of great compassion, You inspired me and have given a wonderful opportunity to engage in Sankirtana – the Yuga dharma.

At times I do think how I only thought of sense gratification, personal or extended, selfishly like a miser all the time. You have shown me with torchlight of knowledge of Krsna consciousness how to see whole world as One's family and be generous by distribution of this mercy further. Even some of my school friends are surprised to see me take up Krsna consciousness since I was so degraded. I wont be surprised though if they think they may have a better future in Krsna consciousness.

I am very greatful to You, Srila Gurudeva for this great opportunity and eternally obligated to serve You. As they say Sydney is a mine of venues for book distribution & I am very inspired to be here.

Gurudeva, You are well known for being generous and compassionate to conditioned souls. I therefore, beg You on this most auspicious day of Your appearance that study & distribution of Srila Prabhupada’s books become the dear most desire in the core of my heart also replacing all the material desires. I pray to have the desire to serve Your instructions dedicating my life with body, mind and words.


Your servant

Dhira-Lalita Dasa

Hare Krishna
Please Accept My Humble Obeisances
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada

Dear Devamrita Swami Maharaja

Another year and another opportunity to write a small offering and again I stare at a blank page wondering what to write, words appear inadequate how does one express their feelings given all that you have done for each one of us.

The patience and tolerance shown
The words of guidance that often appears to fall on un-listening ears

Get you remain their willing and encouraging, caring and inspiring.

I remember how you challenged me all them years ago over nursing the body asking what is the benefit; they still will suffer and eventually leave their body; I remember you asking what about the soul?
You made it more personal, to the point? What are you doing to help the suffering of the soul?
Seeing your example the care of looking after the spirit soul, and seeing this reflected in your humble disciples in their actions and words.
Tolerating my irrationality, my doubts, answering each e-mail with a few words which always inspires and encourages; giving me shelter and taking me as a disciple even their showing the greatest compassion a name that reminds me of the most important weakness of mine to help focus my mind.
The simple words of thank you appears weak inadequate, my wish is may I have more of your association and loving care; but more important that your words of advice remains ever present in my mind and heart.

Yours Humbly
Dhirabhakta Das

Dear Gurudeva.

Please accept my humble obeisances on the auspicious occasion of your Vyasa Puja. All glories to your service. All glories to Srila Prabhipada.

Once you said you me “someday you will run a contemporary vedic ashram”. I often wonder how your words will manifest in my life. Our humble home on New Govardhan has five devotees living in it. My saintly in laws who have served devotees for 30yrs and counting, my saintly wife, disciple of HH Hanumat Presak Swami since the age of sixteen, my self Dhruvananda dasa whom is hoping to someday become a subject of your pride in your achievements and our latest addition to the devotee community, our daughter Suryani Dayalu. Our services include pujari, garlands, temple cleaning, temple cooking and catering. We have a thriving garden with surplus to offer to the temple and devotees. I cant help but feel as those our situation is somewhat of a contemporary vedic ashram but I also wonder what else the future will bring.

Ever since returning to the phalanx of Lord Caitanya’s sankirtan army (though I am still not an important member rather I am more likened to a wounded civilian being carried by the valiant Generals such as your holiness), I have wanted to some how help other devotee youth find there place in the movement also. It turns out I am not the only “Second generation” wanting to serve in this way. Sridas prabhu had his epiphany of the “Hanuman house” and summoned the rest of us to work together to achieve the goal we have all shared but could never manifest with momentum in our previous separate projects. Now it seams the planets are aligning and our powers are combining. The idea is that we have grown up and finally established our selves and with gratitude to Srila Prabuupada and all the devotees for what they have all worked so hard give us, we would like to offer something back. Who better knows the struggles of a devotee child’s adolescence then those who have over come them? How valuable will be the program that fills the often barren and treacherous gap between the simple joys of Krsna Conscious childhood and the vast joys of Krsna Conscious adulthood. The secret is a bridge with ladders up the sides. Now it looks like we are finally putting something together for the youth here at New Govardhana and if it works well, it could be used as a model for centres all around the world. My Vyasa puja offering to you this year is a brief overview of the “Hanuman House” project.

Firstly I would like to express to you my gratitude to Ajita Prabhu who has gracefully facilitate the Hanuman House project here on the New Govardhan farm and who has accepted a valuable position on the committee. Ajita Prabhu has guided our committee meetings to establish a mission statement; goals, rule and regs for participants, joining requirements for the youth and also the mentors and helped us develop a professional document to present to the greater ISKCON community. Ajita prabhu is also enthusiastically helping with the fund raising.


Below is a draft of the vision, strategy and goals for Hanuman House......



The vision, strategy and goals for the program are as follows:
The vision:

“An atmosphere where the youth can develop and mature mentally, physically and spiritually within a Krishna Conscious environment”


The Strategy:

1. To build an area/shed as a base where youth from 13+ can attend various mentored and guided activities such as:

a) Organised camping trips and other excursions

b) Workshops; building bridges, woodwork, forging steel, building mud brick walls,

c) Sports including ball games, archery, running and any other team games

d) Bond fires, bhajans and general discussions between mentors and youth

e) Physical training, weights, martial arts, endurance games etc…


2. To aquire equipment suitable for the youth such as:

a. Home base, a lockable shed,
b. Gym equipment
c. Equipment for games
d. Camping equipment
e. Workshop equipment
f. General club equipment


3. To establish rules specific to the Hanuman house including the 4 regulative principles and other rules such as proper etiquettes for youth; no bullying, respect for elders, leadership amongst peers etc..


4. To offer the youth guidance and mentoring from older well established ex-gurukulis and other senior members of the community, to help the youth in their transition from youth to adult hood.


5. To create activities (as listed above but not exclusive) to function and participate within a Hare Krishna community all the while keeping a healthy distance necessary to focus the attention on the development of the child through the challenging years of adolescence.


The Goals:

1. To give the youth an identity (often lacking at that age) in the form of the club “Hanuman House” to facilitate their relationship amongst each other, to create camaraderie and also to facilitate relationship with others and the temple.

2. To train the youth in various aspects of service which can then be offered to the temple as a group, i.e working bees, cooking feast etc…

3. To give the youth a sense of identity, belonging and shelter

4. To provide the youth with a positive alternative for good association, mentoring and activities based on Krsna conscious values

5. To help the youth function within and relate to a community as a group



Here is a brief introduction the committee members:

Ajita Prabhu: Temple President NG.

Sridas Prabhu: Ex NG and Mayapur Gurukula, initiated by HH Jayapataka Swami, established builder by trade in the Murwillumbah area, has two children who both attend(ed) NG Gurukula.

Syama Prabhu: Ex Auckland Gurukula, has lived in Murwillumbah for many years, raised 5 childern through NG Gurukula, and is soon to finish his 10yr career in the Australian Army.

Narottama prabhu: Ex NG and Mayapur Gurukula, initiated by HH Indradyumna Swami, established builder by trade in the Murwillumbah area and works fulltime along side Maha Mantra Prabhu as the building and maintenance men for New Govardhan.

Advaita Parbhu: Ex NG & Vrindavan Gurukula, son of Ambika mataji (ACBSP), has just finished his 11yr career in the Australian Air Force and has settled close to NG and works as a personal trainer in the fitness industry.

Nitai Chand Prabhu: Ex NG Gurukula, son of HG Krsna Kirtan Prabhu and HG Malini mataji, recently spent 3yrs in NG brahmacari ashram and is the current Staff manager of NG’s restaurant Govinda’s at Burleigh Heads, which is 95% staffed by Ex gurukulis.

Dhruvananda dasa: Well you know my story.

These are just the committee members. There will be more senior devotees assisting the program with there unique skills also. So you can see that each member has a lot to offer to the project and the youth will learn many skills for all aspects of life.

We are laying the foundations of the shed, which we have already raised the donations for, on the 12/10/13 (this coming weekend).


Please give us your blessing Gurudeva, that we can all offer a little productive service to the ISKCON community in this way.

Very gratefully offering my tiny part of this wonderful service to you for your Vyasa puja.

Very much looking forward to seeing you when you next visit NG.

Your tiny aspiring servant,
Dhruvananda Dasa

Dear Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to you on your divine vyasa-puja.

I can only offer you simple but heartfelt gratitude.

Sometimes people ask how does one find a spiritual master but, in my experience, it was you that found me. I was floundering and confused by this counterfeit world; but, because I did not have the wits or stability, I could not seek a spiritual master.

Am I just another piece of space junk? On the eve of my 24th birthday, before the usual despondency set in, I made a prayer and launched it into the universe. “Is there anybody out there?” Then miraculously, two weeks later, I meet you at the Loft in Newmarket. After the class you asked to speak to me.

Plunked-down at your feet on the brightly lacquered floor, I finally felt anchored as if I had found my place. Your divine characteristics and knowledge came across so much that it was natural to trust you.

But later that week I was hovering again. Feeling spiritual since going to the Loft, I was at the Auckland Public Library browsing the religious section. I pulled a Koran out of the bookshelf and was pretending to read it when a streak of saffron passed down the central aisle. You immediately came into my consciousness, “It’s him. No. It couldn’t be.” I froze. Then looked out of the corner of my eye to see you slowly turn and look straight at me.

Later you said you didn’t know why you were walking into the library. I saw you walk straight out again afterwards, back down the aisle and out the doors as if you had come from and were returning to another world. Now, how could I doubt Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead and you His representative? It’s still hard to fathom the nature of the Lord’s mercy, though. My life, which was worth nothing, was touched and assumed value.

You are an embodiment of love for the fools and rascals. Not wishing to reside in the forest absorbed in your own meditation, you move in the cities and towns, temples and preaching centres. In these places, your zeal for outreach never diminishes.

Besides establishing, inspiring and overseeing urban outreach centres you know how to work the scene better than anyone. I am sometimes fortunate enough to hear you speak with guests. It always amazes me how deeply focused upon them you are and how tirelessly you apply yourself to help them. How many times must you have asked someone to start chanting and read Bhagavad-gita? It shows that your heart is spotlessly pure and, like Prahlada Maharaja, is only concerned with love for them.

Thank you for finding me and showing what is real love. Today I offer a prayer but not out into the universe this time. Please always keep me close, engaging me in your service.

Your servant,
Dina Dayala devi dasi

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

Before meeting you I was lost in an ocean of nescience, swept hopelessly around by the waves of material existence. The Srimad Bhagavatam defines madness as engaging in activities which are the causes of bondage and suffering. Before meeting you I was completely mad. I could see there was no real happiness in the material world and I wanted out, but had no solution to escape.

Enter my hero. By your association you swept me into Krsna’s service. By your conviction and purity you were able to break the spell maya had on me and allow me to take shelter at your lotus feet. For this I’m eternally grateful for you and feel burdened by a great debt that I’m afraid I’m hopelessly unable to repay.

The easy way to repay the debt is to preach. As I know this satisfies you when your disciples preach and distribute books. I hope that I too can satisfy you by preaching more and become more sincere and attentive in my devotional service.

Your servant
Divya Jnana dasa

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.

I would like to apologise beforehand for my insolence.
A neophyte devotee of my calibre with no qualifications is trying to glorify you.
Still for your pleasure I will try my best.

Maharaj, due to your blessings and mercy this year has been a major step in my devotional life. I have been able to move into Brahmachari ashram along with my senior God brothers and
I can now at least breathe in a secure environment away from the clutches of material influences. Guru Maharaj, ever since I have been doing personal darshans and pouring all my obstacles in front of you, I have realised that your instructions really drives away all stresses and they are very practical. I have been so blind and fallen during the past years that I could not understand fully your instructions. However, since last year that I had come for personal darshan, and you had instructed me how to tackle my impersonalist parents, I could see light at the end of the tunnel.

In bhagvad gita 4.34 it is stated:
tad viddhi pranipatena
pariprasnena sevaya
upadekshyanti te jnanam
jnaninas tattva-darsinah

Gurumaharaj, you are living example of how you impart that knowledge so perfectly that it is practical and relevant without even the slightest of endeavour from my side. Recently, I was listening to your glorifications from my dear Godbrothers and Godsisters in our Melbourne meeting. You have been such an inspiration to everyone and the way that you really care about us is beyond my capacity to describe. Words fall short. I can feel the warmth and cushion of my spiritual father who, selflessly, wants to deliver fallen souls at the expense of his own health and comfort zone.

In your Ukraine festival, you pointed out how you were meditating on the bhagvad gita verse (5.11): "The yogis, abandoning attachment, act with body, mind, intelligence and even with the senses, only for the purpose of purification." You are certainly the epitome of humility where you were seeking mercy from Niranjan Swami confiding that you need purification. This makes me realise my fallen position of how a slight advancement that I think I am making, I become puffed up and I think I have done great efforts.


You have been preaching in places where one's feet would even stagger to stand."Saksad-dharitvena samsata-sastrih" which points out how guru is as good as God and bearing in mind how we are parts and parcel of the lord, you are treading on Srila Prabhupada's path of preaching in those kind of places. Gurumaharaj I beg for your mercy and blessings on this fallen and good for nothing soul, who always find an excuse to remain entangled and lost in my own mundane world. I wonder what I must have done to come into contact with such a divine personality like yours. I am longing for the day where I can surmount the long distance I got to travel, to be at least a minute asset for your service to Srila Prabhupada and the illustrious Brahma Madhva Gaudiya Vaishnava Sampradaya.

Your insignificant and unworthy servant,
Dixit

Haribol Dear Gurudeva

Please accept my most humble obeisances
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!

All Glories to you Gurudeva!

Pracare purva dakshyam ca
bhakti cara pravinata
parathatapi karunyam
yasya sarve ca te namah

I wish to offer sincerest gratitude to you for the selfless service you engage in in order that we, your devotees , may taste a little of what the spiritual world offers us.

May I never forget that you always hold our best interests at heart. You take on burdens that I could never endure out of deep love and care in the hope that we may one day return to Krishna.

I pray that your life of devotion to our sweet Lord may continue in the decades ahead and that you'll be blessed one hundred fold with protection and enlightenment.

Hare Krishna!

Dear Gurudev,

On this glorious day of your appearance, please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. I feel utterly unqualified to glorify your magnanimous qualities and pray to Krsna to give me the right words to appreciate just a few out of many qualities that you possess. You travel so intensively around the globe trying to reach out so many conditioned souls like myself. While traveling, you have even a few hours of transit time dedicated for a lecture to upcoming guests! That shows your compassion and enthusiasm to help more and more people become devotees. This is noticed even by the guests. Here is one of such incident: Upon inviting one of the students for your last seminar at Melbourne University, he replied, "but he just gave a class couple of days back." "Yes, then he flew to overseas. He would be coming back in next 2 days and will be giving seminar on campus." The student could not but get amazed for a couple of seconds just to reply, "wow! He travels a lot!"

Upon attending your seminars, I realized how amazingly you relate to different kind of audiences, whether that be one of the Indian farm retreats or a lecture at Melbourne University. You seem to understand their psychology much better than what they themselves do. We always await for your very interesting lecture topics and your further discussions on that.

I wish to thank you so much for giving me the wonderful opportunity to associate with such amazing god family in Melbourne Manaprabhu Mandir. Regularly, I get to associate with many of these devotees during my service at Melbourne University. At my complete disqualification they tolerate me and keep me in their association. I always get amazed to see how they have inherited your quality of outreaching in all circumstances. 

I beg you for the intelligence and genuine mood to assist these devotees in their preaching.

Aspiring to be the servant of your servants,

Dvija Pitambar das

Hare Krishna dear Guru Maharaj

Please accept my humble obesiances

Happy Vyasa Puja Guru Maharaj. Shastra says that you can serve your spiritual master in two ways i.e. Vapu Sewa & Vani Sewa. Vapu Sewa can be performed when spiritual master is present in front of you physically but one can perform Vani Sewa always. Doesn’t matter your spiritual master is present in front of you or not. Srila Prabhupada shown this example, he insists to perform Vani Sewa. He travelled across the sea, just to please his spiritual master, to do his Vani Sewa, as it was instruction of His Spiritual Master that print the books in English and preach Krsna Consciousness in Western World. Just to fulfill His intense desire of preaching Krsna Consciousness, He did take the responsibility of preaching Krsna Consciousness in the whole world. He could do it as He was having full faith in His spiritual master and Krsna. I may not be capable to preach or do some sewa, yet I have full faith that your instructions would guide me to perform my duties and preach Krsna Consciousness. Dear Guru Maharaj, construction of Noida Temple is very near to complete and all of us are working hard to complete this project. The temple opening date is 12 Feb 2014 i.e. Nityanand Tryodishi. I wish that this temple would celebrate its opening festival in your kind presence, so that we could get your blessings. I wish that as we have given efforts to complete this project we would work together in team manner to run this temple and would preach Krsna Consciousness all over.

Thank you very much Guru Maharaj.

Your Humble Servant
Ekanta Dhama Dasa

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 on this auspicious day of your vyasapuja.”

Another year has passed and I can see that how you are mercifully expanding the family of Srila Prabhupada all over the word by giving the fortunate souls your merciful shelter and guidance.

It is a duty of the disciple to offer his appreciation and service to honour his spiritual master on this auspicious day, but I am so unfortunate that I have no realisation, although I have been trying to practice Krishna consciousness for years but I am not able to relish the actual flavor of your mercy as my heart is filled with all kinds of anarthas.

Guru Maharaj you are always eager to help the people in all walks of life and make them devotees by your sincere attempt of skillfully delivering the message of scriptures and carving your way to the heart of listener and thereby pleasing your eternal spiritual master.

I have no qualification other than being called a disciple of your Holiness who is the most merciful master. Gurudev, your fatherly instructions through your lectures are the source of my inspiration in whatever little services I am trying to offer.

On this auspicious day of your appearance, I need your special mercy and guidance so that I can become a mature devotee and train myself and guide my family and others in spiritual development.

Guru Maharaj, today I pray at the lotus feet of Lord Chaitanya to bless you with a long and healthy life so that you can carry on with the mission you have taken up to please Srila Prabhupada.

Aspiring to be your useful servant

Ekatma Gaur Das

Dear Devamrita Swami,
please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

This day I would like to thank you.

Your instruction is powerful.

Your decision is the best and the most unselfish.

"Forget about tomorrow , just how do you feel now."

I always remember this sentence.

Maybe if not for you, I would not come back to Melbourne , I would not keep staying here without your instruction.

I appereciate your powerful advice !!

Thank you very much.

Your aspiring servant,
Erika Matsuura. (Japan, Melbourne)

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

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

Everything has a price in this world and for all that you’ve done for me I will never be able to pay back the debt. You often joke about how you adopted me, taking me from maya’s playground and enrolling me into The Bhakti Academy. Giving me this golden opportunity to learn the highest knowledge available, allowing me to get a real education and experience real happiness. While reflecting back I kept thinking to myself, “Where would I be now if I hadn’t met you?” The answer is - I would still be lost in the dark, dense forest of material existence.

……….“Its pitch black, freezing! I can hardly feel my fingers. I’m exhausted. It feels like I’ve been walking for days. It’s like there’s no way out of this place. I’m fearful and with every step I take my anxiety increases. What’s out here? What’s lurking in the darkness? I trip, fatigue drops me to the ground and I land in a muddy pool. Helpless, tired and desperately wanting out! I sit, tears running down my face. Loneliness seeps into my heart and doubt crawls into my mind. I guess this is it, my mind tells me, might as well make yourself at home. After a while of bathing in the mud I give in. Struggling to keep my eyes open I make myself comfortable ready to slip into the dream. With my eyes slowly coming to a shut, a spark of light in the distance catches my attention. Rubbing my eyes I look ahead, focusing my attention on that flickering spark. What is it? I exclaim! I become attracted like a moth. Pulling myself up I walk towards the spark. As I get closer, it starts to grow. LIGHT, I scream! Picking up my pace, I quickly try to find the source. I rush towards the light forgetting my painful condition.

I feel a wave of warmth surround me. Now I start to run, fast, as if someone is chasing me from behind. I get closer and closer until finally I collapse, out of breathe….and there you are....”

oṁ ajñāna-timirāndhasya jñānāñjana-śalākayā
cakṣur unmīlitaṁ 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.”

Today I would like to express my gratitude and take some time to try to glorify your wonderful qualities.

Gurudeva, I admire your Dynamic approach to Krishna Consciousness; your Energizing, enlivening, ecstatic kirtans; your Very expert preaching; your Attraction for the Holy name; your Merciful glance; your Reciprocation with the devotees; your Intense desire to satisfy Lord Caitanya’s Sankirtan movement; your Taste for Bhakti and your Affectionate smile. I also admire how Super encouraging you are to all the devotees; your Warm heart; your Amazing sense of humour; your Most humble attitude and your Inspiring lectures.

I am so fortunate to have the association of your devotees, the opportunity to serve the devotees and the chance to learn and grow in Krishna Consciousness in this community of devotees. Such a rare opportunity; given to someone so undeserving as myself, all because of your mercy. I will never be able to pay the debt I owe to you for what you’ve given me but I will make an attempt to try..

Aspiring to be your servant,
Fremah

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.

This year I thought I’d ask, “What would please you, Gurudeva?”

Have I actually really seriously considered this question before, or has it always just been a formality?

Is my offering to you each year just something to put down on paper, something to show to others proving how sincere I am, only to be put back in the deep dark depths of the dirty heart?

Who am I? Who are you? What is our relationship? Do I really care? Do I actually want pure love for Krsna, or has this become just another religious ritual to say that I do?

Actually, what can I say? I am so insignificant. I have no realization of the importance of our relationship and I have no love for Krsna.

But, then I heard something, which inspired me.

I heard your words Gurudeva.

So, as an offering to you Gurudeva, to reveal to others what will really inspire devotional service, I submit the following plea.

Please accept the following transcription of a fragment of your 2013 Gaura Purnima Bhagavatam class. I pray this will please you, as I hope it will inspire others in Krsna Consciousness, in the same way it inspired me.

I pray that anyone who reads this will, understand your desire. Your desire is the desire of Srila Prabhupada, which is ultimately the desire of Lord Caitanya.

Desiring the desire to be your servant,
Gadai Gauranga dasa

<u>Your words:</u>

Gaura Purnima is a great day to think how we can increase our giving Krsna to others. Vaisnavas don’t live for themselves; they live to give Krsna to others. That’s what it means to follow Lord Caitanya. We’re not content just to have Krsna for ourselves. We don’t want to be sedate; we don’t want to be sedated.

We want to be dynamic and thinking: “Somehow or other according to my ashram situation, somehow or other according to my bhakti lifestyle, I have to be involved in giving Krsna to others. “
This is not just one person’s work. We’re all followers of Lord Caitanya. We all want to see the ocean of Lord Caitanya’s mercy expand. That’s our heritage. That’s our tradition.

Not to just be ritualistic followers on our own. That is neophyte. Everyone starts off as a neophyte of course, but in order to mature in bhakti, it means to take it upon ourselves; Lord Caitanya’s anxiety that everyone become Krsna conscious. Then the bhakti community becomes successful.

“How are others getting the chance to be Krsna conscious? How can I sacrifice so that others will be Krsna conscious?” Then we become qualified to taste ecstatic love of Krsna.

But as long as we’re just hung up on thinking “I, me and mine”, in a devotional way of course, we’ll not taste that ecstasy of Lord Caitanya’s sankirtan movement. By taking Lord Caitanya’s mercy, we have a responsibility to give it to others.

Of course, different ashrams will meet that responsibility in different ways, no doubt, but still everyone has that responsibility.

It’s not like, for example, the sanyasis or the brahmacaris are the sacrificial lambs who carry that responsibility only themselves. No. What does Bhaktivinoda Thakura say?

ghre tako vane tako
sada hari bole tako

Everyone, every ashram has the right to chant Hare Krsna and also to give Krsna to others. As Bhaktivinoda Thakura himself demonstrated, as a householder with 13 children.

The best way we can celebrate Lord Caitanya’s appearance day is by making a vow “How to increase my activities, my participation in activities for giving Krsna to others?”

Everything begins with desire.

We can also say, “I don’t know if I can do so much myself, but I can support others who are doing” Support means a lot these days. Emotional support. Financial support. Logistical support. “I’ll help make it easier for others to serve Krsna’s desire that His name be heard everywhere. I’ll help others to carry out the mission of Lord Caitanya”. That’s also necessary.

Still, there is a way that everyone can participate directly. So directly or indirectly, this should be our motivation. A selfish Krsna conscious life is a very boring life.

“Ohhhh, what about me? Am I feeling blissful today? I’ve been chanting Hare Krsna for 10 years. Where’s the ecstasy? I’ve been around the same prabhus for 5 years. They know me. I know them. Where’s the ecstatic association that I read about in the books?”

If we want to get out of that rut, we take part in Lord Caitanya’s sankirtan movement. That means somehow or other, try to increase the glories of Lord Caitanya.

Dear Guru Maharaj,

Please accept my humble obeisancess, all glories to Srila Prabhupada.

This is the first offering I am writing as a formal initiated disciple. My god-brother Shastra Krit told me once that initiation can happen before, during or after initiation. In my case I feel it happened even way before you came to Guadalajara. I still remember when I had a chance to surrender at your lotus feet at Dr. Nanda´s house in Apple Valley. What I never imagined was that surrendering to a pure and transcendental devotee like you would be the most amazing and fulfilling feeling in my entire life.

My life had been boring and meaningless until I had the fortune to be present at your lotus feet and ask for guidance in my spiritual life. I remember it was a cold night in Apple Valley, and during Thanksgiving eve, and it was then when I had the chance to express my desire to get out of this material world and surrender to Krishna´s transcendental party. Thank you so much for guiding me all these years, for encouraging me so much, for having amazing disciples all over the world. I don´t know if there is such a thing as feelings of transcendental ego or pride but I feel so proud and at the same time puffed up to be one of HH Devamrita Swami´s children. You are my spiritual father, and to my eyes you are perfection personified.

One of my favorite pastimes is to glorify your qualities along with my spiritual siblings. I would often go to Gaura Prema´s house and start talking about your amazing personality. Then I would also have conversations with my brother Shastra Krit and together we would glorify your amazing detachment to everything mundane and now days I take great pleasure in glorifying your transcendental activities along with Gokulesvari. She would prepare nice prasadam and we would immediately start glorifying your lotus feet.

Please know Gurudeva that Gokulesvari and I are working diligently to become good leaders in our movement. Please know that Gokulesvari and I defend the movement of Harinam Sankirtan to the core of our hearts. I asked for a week off at work by the end of this month in order to go on travelling Sankirtan with Gokulesvari to universities in Northern Mexico. I am also making sure the ISKCON Yatra in Guadalajara becomes more organized and dynamic. I am part of the temple committee and I am preparing the ground for a successful Sankirtan and Harinam program in Guadalajara.

Dear Gurudeva I have no words to express my gratitude. Thank you so much for adopting me and for guiding me throughout the darkness of Kali Yuga with the torch of knowledge. I want to always make you proud, just like a child wants to make his father proud with his responsible endeavors.

Happy Vyasa Puja Gurudeva!

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

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

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


Dear Gurudeva,
The material contamination of false pride creeps into my endeavor to write some suitable words of appreciation and gratitude on this most auspicious occasion; pride in wanting to outdo my previous offerings and be the best, pride in writing some majestic piece of prose, pride in being such a talented disciple…. the list goes on. However in order for me to become freed from this malady and although I have no qualification to truly encompass the magnitude of service that you render, I will try and present some words for your pleasure and in this way hopefully gain some humility.

“Myriad”
A myriad of smiles sit and look up in awe
Senses poised to soak up your words so pure
The intensity of bhakti and its practical application
You make it all so straightforward pushing our motivation
Tirelessly giving your kind attention to all
Protecting us from maya and her alluring call

A myriad of emotions can be seen
Your realisations our hearts do clean
Patiently waiting for us to apply the wisdom
Of Srila Prabhupada words, the keys to Krsna’s kingdom
Selfless in your efforts to tender to the creepers of our devotion
All the while plying the waves of your own spiritual emotion

A myriad of excuses I have up my sleeve
To not want to sit up and believe
To ignorantly plead against common sense
To be fooled by my ignorance so dense
That you really care even though so far away
All you want is for us to never stray



A myriad of words should be used
To convey my admiration of all that you do
You have given your life to Srila Prabhupada’s cause
Never stopping for a moment not even a pause
To deliver this message far and wide
To us all even those who may hide

A myriad of praise I offer to you
Although there is so much more that I should do
You patiently wait for me to stop pretending to sleep
And once again embrace Hari’s lotus feet
Thank you my father for steering my boat
May your words be ever present in my life and never remote

Your eternal son
Gaura Kishore dasa

nama om visnu padaya
Krishna presthaya bhutale
srimate Devamrita Swamin
iti namine
Pracare purve daksham ca
bhakta cara pravinata
parartha tapi karunyam
yasya sarve namo namah

Dear Gurudeva,
please accept my humble obeisances in the dust of Your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

On this most auspicious Day please accept this small offering.

To my best of the best
The most important of important. Gurudeva.

Oh my tirthi kurvanti tirthani
Before You I'm standing on my knees..

The sun is Your force
The moon is Your heart
Your mood is the lion
That can never be stopped.

Poetic as a denizen of heaven
You share intimate research
That we would know never ever
The vani-vapuh drama parallel
You demonstrate, no need to spell.

Your struggles for the Guru are herculean
There is no question of re-union,
Always together, always in shape,
The whole parampara You make a sweeter nectar grape.

Your lectures are sharp, authentic and wise,
Making sleeping innocent demons to rise.
You've gone through the Communist boarders and laws
And won Prabhupad's mercy locked in store.

Your mission is clear:
Books! Books!
To You to become dear
One has to in their ears to smear.

Far and wide
Your plans are reaching
To decide
Lord Caitanya's preaching
In every island, country and state
All Your disciples know it as their fate.

Sublime is Your smile
And so are Your deeds,
Of service You'r planting
The bhakti-lata seeds.

Your love 'n will-power are contagious
Make some very simple men courageous.
Illuminating submission 'n humility
By example You show -
Cooperation is the key.
Purity is the force
No need to question
Unity in diversity.

You are free from propensity to criticise,
But spiritual virtues You won't compromise.
You'r brave, smart and courageous
Being Your disciple makes one feel so advantageous.

Like a diamond You'r spreading Your mercy to all,
Discovered in Russia, You brought me here from snow.

You tell me:
"You are my daughter, I care for you".
--The words I've been waiting since last kali-yug(a).

You encourage:
"Do yoga, preaching and kirtaan",
Your enthusiasm makes me feel stunned.

Your walk is so sure
Your eyes are so deep,
No longer You want to see me immature,
Stone-hanging on Your lotus feet.

Every time I fail and cry,
You tell me to get up and fight,
"Forget your mind, dignity--it's mada,
Can't you just live for me and Prabhupada?!"

You are the Star of my life,
Helping me deeper and deeper in my bhakti to dive.

Making Panca-Tattva dance
Your kirtan is a moving trance.
Ukraine, India, UK
Your body-- transcendental plane.

Reciprocating to the max
You still are waiting for the legal tax:
Maturity, submission, dedication,
No need of further explanation.

Please forgive me, but don't forget.
This dog must listen to what her Master said.
Only..
I beg You for the strength, only
To change the way You want, wholly.
The choice's been made,
Maya's prey is silent-lame,
Now it's time to start YOUR game...


Non-deserving to be Your disciple and daughter,

Gaura-Mantra dasi
(or Your "Russian smuggler", as You named me).

Dearest Gurudev,

Please accept our humble obeisances at the dust of your lotus feet.

SB 11.18.39, Purport: "Srila Prabhupada always emphasized that service to the spiritual master in separation, pushing on the mission of the guru, is the highest form of devotional service." Gurudev, we would like to take this statement in the Srimad Bhagatavam to heart. We pray that despite not always being physically present before you, please give us the mercy to be able to perform the Krishna Conscious activities that are representative of your transcendental mission.

Your humble servants,
Gaura Prema das, Nitai Prema dd, & Krishna Prema das

Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to you, the life of my life.

I wanted this offering to be something that would bring you pleasure. Knowing that nothing pleases you more than hearing about people getting caught up in Lord Caitanya’s sankirtan party, for your glorification on this most auspicious day I would like to share a nectar story. Last week you sent an email to myself, other managers and book distributors to encourage us in our outreach efforts. After reading Anjali’s book distribution account in great ex-hil-a-ra-tion, you wrote, “When I get reports like this, my joy knows no bounds, my enthusiasm increases, as well as my love for devotees.”
You also wrote that her story shows how centres like Bhakti Lounge and the Loft are all about outreach, hospitality, cultivation, care, all focused on Prabhupada’s books.

This story I hope, will also depict the wonders of book distribution and your Bhakti Lounge here in Wellington, both which are fueled by your desire to please Srila Prabhupada.

About a year ago you asked me to organize and energize a monthly community sankirtan festival in Wellington. Four months back on our festival day I was having a particularly difficult time. There was an hour of technical issues when trying to have an international speaker over skype, I was weak both physically and emotionally, and having only one senior devotee turn up for the program I was in anxiety over how I could pull everything together to create an enlivening day for everyone participating. My ability to tolerate stress was utterly low and I became very upset. As most married women do when they’re upset I sought shelter of my husband. However, being the independent wife I currently am, I wouldn’t hear his advice. Don’t worry the story does get better. I knew in my heart the only thing that would get me off the mental was book distribution. The time came when I could distribute on Cuba and I eagerly arrived there with Michelle. As usual many rejections came, but with just the effort to distribute Prabhupada’s books I immediately and deeply felt the shelter that sankirtan offers the soul. I felt like a fish having been flapping about on the sand, finally back in water. A young, skater dude approached, and stopped. I showed him Bhagavad Gita, talked him through the pictures and he noted how interesting it was that I was showing him this book as he was just thinking about these kinds of things that morning. He was vegetarian and thoughtful about life. I was sure I had met a very special soul, and longed to pick him up from the sand and throw him back in the ocean of devotional service. He didn’t have enough money for Bhagavad Gita but gave a donation that covered the King of Knowledge. I prayed we would see him that Sunday but he did not come.

After a couple of weeks you were in town Gurudeva and you were speaking on a Wednesday night in your usual heroic style. I’ve been fortunate enough to attend some of your workshops with the guests and every time I’m completely amazed at your brilliant performance. Watching you urge people to see the inherent flaws in material existence and the futility of their pleasure seeking pursuits is the most exciting experience. Like an expert sportsman with full vigor and enthusiasm back and forth, over and over you outsmart everyone on the material platform what to speak of the transcendental! My young skater friend had been umming and arrring whether or not to come hear from you that day, but then somehow forgot it was happening. Fortunately Supersoul did not forget and had him walk by Bhakti Lounge on his way home from work. Krishnaloka happened to be standing outside and, as the transcendental opportunist she is, naturally she encouraged him to come in. At dinner he told me he had been reading King of Knowledge on the bus to and from work. Something captivated him about the book but he was suspicious that it was just another religion... which, for most kiwis, as you know, is simply repulsive. But he read on and decided to not make a cast aside judgement until he heard you speak about it... Your dynamic workshop left him enthused at what he had come across, intellectually satisfied but at the same time hungry for more! His ideas of just another religion were pacified. He devoured prasad, and was in ecstasy upon receiving a dessert to take home... actually so much so that he ate it before he left that night. He also signed up to come to New Gupta Vraja for the retreat in the upcoming weekend.

After the retreat he didn’t come for a couple of weeks, but sent me a message saying he was sorry he hadn’t been coming and that he really missed the beautiful people at Bhakti Lounge. The next weekend he popped his shoulder out of it’s socket whilst skating, which gave him two weeks leave from his gardening job. He came and read with me and helped out at Bhakti Lounge almost everyday of those two weeks which was enough to grant him (our young hero Jordan) a higher taste. He told me that a clairvoyant had told him that around the age 18-19 he would encounter something that, if he didn’t take up, he would basically end up wandering aimlessly for the rest of his life.

On your most recent visit, whilst sporting with the guests, you likened material existence to be like a prison house and asked the guests what they would like as their last supper. How creative and innovative you are in finding ways to get people to think! People were saying all the expected things, chocolate, beer, a burger... but when it got around to Jordan he said - Have you tried Vraja nari’s cooking? I’m sure this comment gave you much delight.

At Bhakti Lounge you always encourage us to be on the cutting edge by perpetuating three revolutions:
1. Devastatingly delicious prasad;
2. The topmost knowledge presented in a practical, easy to understand and relate to way;
3. Kirtan that moves the heart and the feet.
What person in their sane mind would turn their nose up at such a presentation?

Now we must find a way to get more people in the door to experience the Vaikuntha you’ve created in Vivian Street. On a very good day, I’m racking my brains how to do that for you. We both know, your mercy is all that I’m made of Gurudeva, so please grant this little computer who is attached to you, the big computer, the intelligence and ability to crack the code you’ve already given me and make everyday a very good day, fully utilized in your service, not a precious moment wasted.

In your Vyasa Puja offering to Srila Prabhupada from 2005 you write that Srila Prabhupada explained that expert management means creating a situation of interest in Krishna even when apparently there is none. Clearly the Bhakti Lounge, which is your intelligentsia expansion, is bringing Srila Prabhupada much joy, and surely this is what he meant by expert management.

The guests that are coming are floating from listening to Bal Gopal speak rivers of ambrosia Krishna katha, to blissing out in bhakti-filled kirtan from the Vanas, to relishing mouth-watering prasad cooked by Vraja-nari and Ramadas, to being mothered by the love monster Krishnaloka who so wonderfully cares for both the devotees and guests...that’s just to mention a few, there are so many devotees, both on the front-lines and behind the scenes, who have taken your mission as their life and soul, and who are therefore making Bhakti Lounge an irresistible place to be.

In Srimad Bhagavatam 11.3.22 purport we hear of this phenomena:
“Srila Jiva Goswami comments that the spiritual master is to be considered the atma or the very life, of the disciple, since real life begins when one is initiated by a bona fide spiritual master. Although one may experience many seemingly wonderful or important events in a dream, one's real life begins when he wakes up. Similarly, since the spiritual master gives birth to the disciple by awakening him to spiritual life, a bona fide disciple understands that his spiritual master is the very basis of his life.”

How is it that your disciples feel so inclined to serve you wholeheartedly in Srila Prabhupada’s mission? Certainly, they are all glorious by properly using their freewill, but we all know that it is by your endearment of love that this has been made possible. The care you give to us all on such a personal level I’m certain is unparalleled within the three worlds, and the way you so perfectly reciprocate with even our unspoken desires is astounding. Like the most accomplished salesman you urge us, take more, the price is so small and return so high, don’t be complacent, don’t sit on your laurels, action, action, action, what are you saving yourself for? What better time than now? In this way you give us the most priceless gift, the opportunity to perform selfless devotional service for Krishna. At the same time, you also know when not to push but patiently wait for us to rise, all the while letting us know that the treasure we all deep down desire is available in the marketplace.

Thank you for giving us this opportunity Gurudeva. Thank you for giving us life. Without your mission in sight life would be empty, pointless and painful. I pray that in some way or other, in all phases of my life, I may render service to your devotees and be involved in pushing on the three revolutions for the benefit of all.

With heartfelt appreciation from your insignificant servant,
Gaur-arti dasi

P.S Jordan popped his shoulder again and has therefore been at the mens ashram chanting 16 rounds everyday this week. Due to friendship and mercy from all the devotees - as they say it takes a village to raise a child - he’s now wanting to live with devotees, dreaming up a concept for the beautification of the site surrounding Krishna kunj for our working bee cultivation retreats and, best of all - as a special offering to you on your Vyasa Puja day he has purchased a Srimad Bhagavatam set!!!

All glories to you Gurudeva, who are teaching us by your personal example how to be hospitable, how to outreach, how to cultivate and how to care, all focused on Srila Prabhupada’s books.

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 obeisances 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 namah
I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him.

We are blessed this year by your grace to get initiation into Harinam chanting. We may take a lifetime to fathom the meaning of getting a formal access to the mercy through initiation coming through parampara system designed by and coming from Lord Krishna Himself. But on this day of your Vyasa puja, I can easily reflect on the visible relentless and selfless sacrifices of your holiness strictly in the line of disciplic succession, with unswerving determination to bring all kinds of people into their own Krishna Consciousness.

Lord Krishna plainly declare in Bhagavat Gita that everyone is eternally related and connected to Him.
mamaivamso jiva-loke
jiva-bhutah sanatanah
manah-sasthanindriyani
prakrti-sthani karsati
The living entities in this conditioned world are My eternal, fragmental parts. Due to conditioned life, they are struggling very hard with the six senses, which include the mind.

The conditioned mind keeps us intact the slaves of senses and push us to continue the hard struggle for existence in ignorance, vainly and sheepishly lifetime after lifetime. Prahlad Maharaj, the child maha bhagavata boldly declares in Srimad Bhagavatam "Except for the uncontrolled and misguided mind there is no enemy in this world". Lord Krishna provides the solution to control and guide the mind by suitable practice and detachment. By detachment from matter and engagement/attachment of the mind in the activities of spirit. Srila Prabhupada explains " This attachment is called paresanubhuti, spiritual satisfaction. It is just like the feeling of satisfaction a hungry man has for every morsel of food he eats. Similarly, by discharge of devotional service one feels transcendental satisfaction as the mind becomes detached from material objectives. It is something like curing a disease by expert treatment and appropriate diet. Hearing of the transcendental activities of Lord Krsna is therefore expert treatment for the mad mind, and eating the foodstuff offered to Krsna is the appropriate diet for the suffering patient. This treatment is the process of Krsna consciousness.”


But the world we live everyone accepts their mind their friend, philosopher and guide and themselves their proud followers (slaves). This way everyone lives in their own world view - which is merely the projection of their wild minds phantasmagoria. Now within this phantasmagoria, one finds somebody as friend and somebody as enemy, something as nice and something as bad. Based on mind's dictation they change friend as enemy and enemy as friend, good as bad and bad as good and it goes on and on as eternally illusionary movie scene after scene, year after year also alluring others too on the way.

By the establishment of ISKCON society founded by extremely compassionate and empowered Srila Prabhupada, we the typical citizens of Kali yuga who are lazy, misguided, unlucky and, above all, always disturbed souls got a sublime unprecedented shower of knowledge, tailor-made process and divine spiritual guidance by dedicated teachers as your holiness to turn to life of simplicity, sanity and devotional service which would have otherwise remained out of question. We fully feel the satisfaction as much a hungry man has for every morsel of food he eats. But you explain in your "Bhakti Bhava" book that the emotional fulfillment and nourishment one can experience and derive in Bhakti is far beyond initial relief. That spiritual taste is especially sweetened by Lord Chaitanya’s sankirtan process of simply chanting, dancing and eating prasadam and distributed freely unlimitedly through the flood gates of ISKCON. What more can we ask or deserve?

We are indebted wholly. We seek on this auspicious day that you grace us that we simply remain humble, grateful and sincere recipient of that unfathomable mercy and qualify ourselves progressively to distribute the same sensibly, intelligently and fully intact to one and all.

Your humble servants
Gauramandal das, Vraja mandal devi dasi and Sanjitha.

Dear Devamrita Swami

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

Srila Prabhupada has kindly established an international network of Vaisnavas congregating for the propagation of Krsna Consciousness. A society to reunite each conditioned soul with their true calling in life as a servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. But beyond the external observations of the mission we can experience the unique opportunity to become part of a spiritual family supporting each member in a journey that can be safely described as outside of the norm. Journeying down the road less travelled by I am slowly beginning to appreciate the family atmosphere our society creates. You have mercifully permitted me admittance in a tight family here in Auckland, allowing me an opportunity to serve alongside your sons in my insignificant attempt to serve my Spiritual Master’s mission, which is exactly the same as your mission; to serve Srila Prabhupada.

Thank you for your depth of compassion and kindness. Thank you for this facility and training, this opportunity to cleanse the mirror of the heart and taste a drop of the nectar that is reading Srila Prabhupada’s books, devouring their content, and distributing this to others. Thank you for engaging me here alongside these wonderful devotes, each an inspiration on the long road I have back to Godhead.

It’s tradition that we call siblings under the same Spiritual Master our Godbrothers but this environment has taught me that we are all one family under the parampara, that I am still living with my Godbrothers, serving our Godfathers, and praying for your mercy, which you repeatedly show you obtain beyond fathom.

I thank you with any true amount of character I may contain.
Your servant
-Gauranga Prema das

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

“ Gentlemen, the offering of such an homage as has been arranged this evening to the Acharyadeva is not a sectarian concern, for when we speak of the fundamental principle of Gurudeva or Archaryadeva, we speak of something that is of universal application,. There does not arise any question of discriminating my Guru from yours or anyone else’s. There is only one Guru, who appears in an infinity of forms to teach you, me and all others.”

(Srila Prabhupada ‘s Vyasa puja offering 1936)

I was thinking of how to best express my inexplicable good fortune which lies in the nature of the Diksa and Siksa Gurus, and in particular my situation, one could say how I have become separated but remain connected. By your sweet Grace.


The unique and broad relationship of Guru and disciple provides an untold wealth in all areas of experience if only one can take it, and keep it, keep it real close. By following your example, by learning from your experience, by your sweet Grace, anything is possible.
It’s true, I’m on the path to becoming a real person. What is that reality? it is that I’m filled with gratitude, and appreciation a recent example ia an email that you sent us a few weeks back.

“ Krsna has blessed you both with the priceless wealth of devotional service and for plundering that wealth you have each other”

How those few words cut through weeks of mental anguish, just brushed them aside like the sun removes the dark. I was blind and blinded by the problems of me and my mental grumpy ego objections and ‘no can do’ selfish attitude, which all too often bewilder this tiny jiva and sing the sad poor me lullaby’s of ‘your better than this’ and ‘remember the good ole days’ and the number one on the hit parade ‘Don’t you deserve more Gaura? More sense satisfaction’? More time to yourself, what are you killing your self for? kick back, and kill some time instead.

IT’S A LIE!!

Your words and instructions are the killer blow to the hard knot of my useless material attachments and awaken me to my folly. Please Srila Gurudeva keep me close to your instructions and service and keep the blows comming. This imperfect fool begs to remain the humble servant of your servant


Gauraraya dasa

Dear Maharaj.Please accept my humble obeisances.All Glories to Srila Prabhupada. Wishing you a very Happy Vayasapuja.May Sri Krishna Shower His all mercy onto you. Hope you are keeping well in terms of your health. You have given a lot to all of us in Melbourne and revolutionized the movement of Srila Prabhupada. To this fallen soul  you have given your personal blessings in many ways and many times. Out of your mercy and your disciples guidance I could maintain myself in the congregation uptill now. I have, to some extent realized the nature of my conditioning which had no bounds, and because of your mercy I could recognise that. Your strictness for maintaining Srila Prabhupada’s standard is highly appreciated and attracted a huge audience and personally me as well. A few examples are : not compromising in Bhakti due to any reasons, teaching that, preaching is the essence, Glorifying the holy name, Krishna is the first and rest after that etc. Your way of teaching Bhagvat Gita to modern world in their own way is absolutely magnanimous. I am fan of your lectures and some lines i remember all the time, like, we have to tolerate always when we are living with the devotees , Chanting is the primary service and should be given preference, and Preach yourself and then to others.Please keep on showering your mercy on this conditioned soul and bless so that I can do something for you and Srila Prabhupada.Your aspiring ServantGaurav Sharma

Dear Srila Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisance at your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada, all glories to you, whose appearance day brings joy and all auspiciousness.

As I’m writing this humble homage, I’m thinking of you my dear spiritual master and all that you have been doing over the last few decades. Everything that you do is so Krishna centered. Every word that you speak, and every step you take is in a Krishna conscious direction. Your dedication to Srila Prabhupada and to the spreading of Krishna consciousness all over the world is astonishing. How I wish I had a few drops of your eagerness.

As for me, I’m in Portugal visiting my in-laws. Where we are staying is materially very comfortable, but there are no devotees nearby. The nearest temple is three hours drive away. I’ve recently learned from some of our latest seminars at New Gupta Vraja about the importance of devotee association and devotee care. When we live with devotees, we may take it for granted. While in Portugal where the sun is shining, the ocean is inviting with its gorgeous waves and soft sand, with its beautiful white villas and large patios, with its cute restaurants and cafes, the people though are suffering. We’ve been staying in an English colony, really full of old retired Brits. All they can talk about is the weather, moan about their aging bodies, their pains, diseases and the different types of medication they are taking. Over the last week, we’ve been meeting many couples, most of whom are in their second marriage, some have lost their partners due to old age, sickness and…death. Their only joy lies in wine, cigarettes, coffee and tea, the beach, Sky television, the colorful sunsets, the odd visit of their grown-up children and grand-children. But no Krishna, no Kirtan, no prasadam, no deities, no knowledge of who they are, and what they’re a part of. There is an underlying fear amongst them, as they have no clue of what will happen when that momentous time comes when they too will have to say goodbye their loved ones, their nice Portuguese villas and their prized possessions. If only they had a bit of Krishna.

How grateful I am Gurudeva to have met you. You completely changed my life around. Along with Srila Prabhupada’s books, your lectures and seminars are heart warming. Knowing the ultimate reality of this world and of our true nature is so amazingly reassuring. All over the world, you tirelessly give of your time and energies all for the ultimate goal of pleasing the Supreme Lord, Krishna and Srila Prabhupada. (Bhagavad Gita 18.68-69.)

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.”


To me, you are the embodiment of these verses.

Being away from devotees in such a remote part of Iskcon, I’m beginning to appreciate what we have in New Zealand. It may be a small country in relation to the world, but New Zealand’s got a vibrant community of KC outreach, kirtan and wonderful devotees whom I consider great friends. We’ve got a real spiritual family working together for the same goal. Thank you for providing such great facilities as the Loft here in Auckland.

At times like these when I’m half way across the other side of the world, I feel indebted to you and relish the great opportunity of devotee association. This is real wealth, not living in a big Villa in the middle of no-where, even though its very beautiful here, I choose to live close to home, where you are.

Without you Gurudeva, I’d be endeavouring for the same things as what these old folks have strived for.

Thank you for keeping us focused and inspired to push on serving in Lord Caitanya’s army. There’s no other place I’d rather be.

Your aspiring servant,
Gitavali devi dasi

Dearest Gurudeva ,

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

Lighting a fire is an art. One requires the appropriate starter fuel set in special grids combined with the correct amount of air. The fire quickly combusts with the right ingredients, but if not set properly then as quickly as it catches alight it fizzles out, leaving you with only smoke. To maintain the fire take works and attention, adding fuel when and where necessary, easily dying out if left to its own devices. One undergoes such effort to start and sustain a fire in order to enjoy the results of a cosy warm room.

A spiritual master and disciple relationship is similar to this analogy. A disciple requires a good foundation in the beginning which comes through association of mahatmas, especially with the spiritual master and by receiving his instructions. To go the distance in bhakti and to not fizzle out after the initial ‘nectar bliss’ phase one needs expert continual attention from the spiritual master who knows the nature of the disciple and how much or little to give.

A person who lights a fire in his home is endeavoring to enjoy the results for himself and those in relation to his body. A bona fide spiritual master like you, on the other hand, gives so much to help us catch a light in bhakti. For example in the early stages of my bhakti you said “I want to see how to get your heart pumping more for Krishna’s pleasure”. Once the flames of desire for bhakti start burning you persistently give so much attention to ensure that the flames are as big as they can be and that they don’t simply turn to smoke.

Your attention to our bhakti flames is highlighted by countless examples, but to name a few; the customized encouragement you give to each disciple, including those from distant parts of the world, through Skype calls, texts and in person, training us to take deep shelter in hearing and chanting and showing us how sweet and easy it is, creating services to suit our natures and keep us absorbed, the mentor system of care and guidance, giving us hours of your precious time through lectures and kirtan, and, foremost, by your own example of perfect character and application of the process. You don’t endeavor in these ways so as to enjoy the results, or to receive adoration and respect. In fact you never ask for anything for yourself. Even this simple offering will be accepted by you on behalf of the Parampara. Your disciples can testify that you are pure to the bone, without material motivation and selfish desires.

‘King Videha said: I think that you must be direct associates of the Supreme personality of Godhead, who is famous as the enemy of the demon Madhu. Indeed, the pure devotees of the Lord Visnu wander throughout the universe not for their personal, selfish interests, but to purify all the conditioned souls.’ Srimad Bhagavatam 11.2.28

Over the years I have several times asked you: “What can I do for you”? You would artfully reply in some way trying to inspire me in my tiny outreach efforts. Once I tried to rephrase the question in a complaining mood: “What can I do for you personally, Gurudeva?” to which you again answered something in relation to Lord Caitanya’s Sankirtan mission.

What is most pleasing to your spiritual master is only what you ardently ask of us. You accept personal service with such gravity and humility passing it on to your spiritual master. Once you found me ironing your cloth while a roaring kirtan went on in another room, and you very politely thanked me but said it was better that I be in kirtan. I’ve heard once after staying with a particular grhasta couple that you apologized for inconveniencing them in any way, explaining that you were very demanding to serve.

In this age of cheating gurus where can one find a master who’s not personally motivated? I never imagined nor even slightly desired or deserved that just off Cuba Street I would get this opportunity.
Your life illustrates to the world that you are lavishly decorated with selflessness, without material motivations, never utilizing the respect your disciples have for you to exploit and use them and the facilities they offer you. You are always thinking about how to serve the devotees to help them remain stable and sane and go back to Godhead. Even when you take the responsibility of correcting or chastising a disciple it’s always saturated with selflessness. You are always acting with everyone’s greatest interest at heart. Thus you are simultaneously the perfect master and expert servant.

The result of your pure heart is that so many extraordinary devotees have given their lives to you with full faith and trust in whatever you ask of them. I am fortunate to be in their association and hopefully by that sanga may I too be able to one day do whatever you ask of me, free of personal desire and motivations. You have given me everything of value in my existence and I therefore owe not just a few words today but my life to you. I pray that one day, by your grace only, my words and actions unite.

Thank you for saving me from the drum-and-bass dungeons on the streets of Wellington and repeatedly stirring me to return to those streets and party hard for Lord Caitanya’s pleasure.
Please forgive me for my offences.

Always desiring to be your true servant,
Gokula Lila devi dasi

Hare Krsna Gurudeva,

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

Health is very low at the moment, but I am nonetheless very glad to have some Krsna Conscious knowledge to be able to turn to, thanks to your missionary efforts in New Zealand. On the bad-health forums on the internet, I read of those who suffer without any Krsna Conscious knowledge, and their fear and misery is unlimited. Even on the worst of days, I would not trade the things I know for perfect health.

Your servant,
Gokula-rajana dasa

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga.
All glories to Devamrita Swami Maharaja.

Please accept my humble and respectful obeisances at your lotus feet.


Hare Krishna
Dear Guru Maharaja:

In this very special day of your transcendental appearance, Vyasa Puja, I just want to glorify you.
You are a liberated soul; a pure devotee of Krishna, your heart is completely devoted to the service at the lotus feet of Sri Radha and Krishna, Srila Prabhupada, the vaishnavas, and conditioned souls.

Your life is an example of Bhakti, always busy in chanting, remembering, and preaching Sri Krishna´s glories. You are always inspiring so many conditioned souls like me to take to Sanatan Dharma. You are always so expert in teaching us with your charismatic classes, practical knowledge, analogies, quotes from scriptures and enlightening us about the nature of this material world. You are always proving to us that this is not our real home.


I would never forget when I met you in Santiago de Chile, that day you saved me. You taught me that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and that we can re-establish our lost relationship with Him.

I also remember the ecstatic kirtans that you do. Where we would get inspired and we would enjoy dancing and chanting the holy names. We would all get energized by all your devotion to Krishna. You are an example of Krishna Prema. Thank you so much Guru Maharaj for all your help and for your personal care all these years in my attempt to follow Krishna consciousness. As time goes by it becomes more difficult for me to surrender this rebel heart, but thanks to your causeless mercy, I desire to always take shelter at the shadows of your lotus feet. Be able to serve you one day properly and reciprocate with the eternal debt I got with you.

Devamrita Swami Maharaja ki jaya!

Your aspiring servant,

Gokulesvari devi dasi

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

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

Dear Guru Maharaj,

Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to divine Vyasa puja day

I lack sufficient eloquence to glorify you, still let me take this opportunity to glorify you with my very limited abilities for my own purification.

If we stand right close to a mountain, the proximity impedes the vision so much so that it’s vastness remains unfathomable. However, a distance from the mountain helps to give a broader view that reveals it’s true glory and helps to realize the insignificance of an onlooker in the presence of the vastness and depth. Similarly, when I saw you first; when I heard you first; when I witnessed your activities; when I heard your glories; now I realize, hardly did I understand anything about you. It was only by Krsna’s grace that you allowed me to come under your shelter. Just as the distance gives a broader view of the mountain, the time spent in Bhakti yoga reveals the true glories of Sri Guru. There is no limit to the glories of Sri Guru and these glories are revealed and realized in our hearts, by the agency of descending mercy, as much as we try to please the spiritual master and Krsna. However, the sastra presents impossibility of knowing a great devotee even with a complete scriptural expertise.

dhanyasyāyaḿ nava-premā
yasyonmīlati cetasi
antar-vāṇibhir apy asya
mudrā suṣṭhu su-durgamā

“‘Even a most learned scholar cannot understand the activities and symptoms of an exalted personality in whose heart love of Godhead has awakened.’ CC M 23.40

Your devotion for Krsna, your commitment to Srila Prabhupada’s preaching mission and your compassion for living beings are your very nature and you are an exemplar of these qualities. I may not quite understand this, however, your greatness is spread thought out the world as time goes by. A vaisnava may not be know from his birth but surely his life makes him glorious and his glory is spread through out the world.

ha ha prabhu koro doya, deho more pada-chaya,
ebe jasa ghusuk tribhuvana

O master! Be merciful unto me! Give me the shade of your lotus feet! Your fame is spread all over the three worlds!

Srila Prabhupad has attracted many gems of disciples through out the world and Srila Prabhupada considered all his disciples to be sent by his spiritual master to assist in the mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. You are one of those precious gems Srila Prabhupad has attracted and you are guiding us and engaging us in the mission of Srila Prabhupada. You can happily march back to Godhead, Sri Vrndavana Dhama, without difficulty; however, you are ready to carry a burden like me with love. Without your example; without your encouragement; without your compassion; without your smile, without your subtle suggestions, without your corrections; without your light but heart touching remarks; without your powerful speeches; without your hand holding; without your presence; without your exuberant kirtans; this life is empty.

The success of the spiritual life is to follow your instructions and please you. The real gratitude to the spiritual master is manifested when one realizes that one has obtained the highest gift from the spiritual master in the form of divine Holy name; when one realizes the greatness of opportunity to be in the sankirtan mission of Sri Caitanya; when one realizes the gift of invaluable association of the devotees and one sees growing desires within the heart to serve the Sri Sri Radha and Krsna. Srila Raghunath Dasa Goswami offers his obeisances to Sri Guru in his perfect platform, while performing pure bhakti, in the following way.

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 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 Svarpa Damodara, Rupa Gosvami, and Rupa’s older brother Sanatana Gosvami, the supreme abode of Mathura, the blissful abode of Vrndavana, the divine Radha-kunda and Govardhana Hill, and the desire within my heart for the loving service of Sri Radhika and Madhava in Vrndavana.”

I pray that my gratitude and service to you increase day after day and let me become a real disciple executing your instructions and pleasing you. I pray that let me be an instrument in your mission and dedicate my life in your service. 

Your servant,
Gopa-Vrndesa Dasa

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

On this auspicious day of your appearance I have another opportunity to reflect upon the significant impact you have had on my life and the life of others, an opportunity to reflect upon your dedication to Srila Prabhupada’s service and how you empower others to imbibe the same dedication.

Near the end of last year I consulted you about my work situation and took on your recommendation to simplify things, since then I have embarked on a new career which has brought with it more stability and regular work hours, hence more time and head space for service. The instruction you gave was very pragmatic and the way it was given was very interesting, you made me think. You helped me analyse the situation and then determine what the best action would be to take. Your instruction wasn’t specific, it was enough to send me in the right direction with a clear understanding of the situation I was in and how it could be improved for Krishna’s service.

Since then the flavour of my service has taken on a different spicing this year, I now have more time for family and for outreach – all of this from following your guidance and being taught how to determine the best way to situate myself in Krishna consciousness.

I have been fortunate enough to be able to attend the Soulfests on Sunday at Bhakti Lounge and contribute in whatever way I can with introducing others to this practice of Krishna consciousness. It is amazing how Krishna fulfils ones desires, for so many years I have wanted to be involved in outreach yet for some reason or another I had immersed myself in other services and activities. I managed to discipline myself to come regularly on Sundays and have been amazed at a whole new realm of bhakti that I had not yet delved into, the giving of Krishna consciousness to others. Although I had tried it indirectly for so many years I had never been on the field before engaged in such a concerted effort.

The team work first came with having senior devotees and experienced cultivators teaching me their practices. Then on the field there is the transcendental teamwork. Only being able to come to Bhakti Lounge once or twice a week there is only so much that I can do, but by teaming up with others and communicating with them we can ensure the guests are well looked after and facilitated.

And from this process we are awarded with a valuable gift, an amazing experience. The experience of seeing another person’s Krishna consciousness reawakening is amazing, even if only a small bit it is so satisfying to see that their real journey in this life has begun and the fact that this is happening with Kali yuga westerners is even more amazing.

So this, Gurudeva, has led me to much better appreciate what you have done for myself and others. It takes so much time effort to introduce others to Krishna consciousness, yet you tireless travel the world to introduce others to Krishna consciousness and to teach others how to do the same. You have trained and mentored so many devotees in this fine art and because of this I and so many others have this opportunity to again engage in Krishna’s service.

People like giving and receiving gifts, they especially like being on the receiving end, and I can honestly say that from you Gurudeva I have received the most valuable gift – this process of Krishna consciousness. Not only have I received this gift, I have received so many other gifts from you. The opportunity to render service in such a nice community, the opportunity to introduce others to this process of Krishna consciousness, a loving Krishna conscious family and many friends who have my real interest and wellbeing at heart. You have given me so much.

I consider myself very fortunate to have your instructions and guidance Gurudeva, and naturally I feel indebted because of all you have given me. I cannot offer much in return, although I can try my best to reciprocate. Despite the many obligations awarded to one in household life I pray that I can try my best to assist you and the devotees in this sankirtan in whatever capacity I have and that I can assist you in this very special service on brining others closer to Krishna.

Your servant,

Gopala Guru dasa

Dear Gurudev,

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

As a child growing up in South Africa, I remember long sunny afternoons sitting with our maid as she recounted stories of her distant family in the heart of the U.S. “Bible belt”. With glistening eyes, her generous body would bob up-and-down as she described colourful scenes of a lively congregation in America’s deep-south. Her gap-toothed smile would broaden as she spoke of a soulful minister who would sing with upraised arms in glory to God; his joyful African-American parishioners spontaneously jumping a-top the church pews while shouting “PRAIIISE TH’LORD!”. I would lie on the grass as she spoke, and dream of visiting such a place, of being in the midst of such spirited people and of meeting such an inspirational leader.

Gurudev you are that vivacious singing preacher I dreamed of meeting as a child.

Thank you for allowing me to be one of those privileged parishioners who dances arms upraised to the powerful oomph of your uproarious praise of Krishna. Witnessing your heart and mind uninhibitedly celebrate Krishna through the medium of your body is truly an out-of-this-world sight for this world-weary soul.

I pray that I may be able to bind my gratitude to this offering – thank you, thank you, thank you for allowing me the daily privilege of celebrating Krishna’s holy name. I pray that I may be able to do your gift justice and ‘pay it forward’, offering others the same opportunity as you have so freely offered me.

Thank Krishna for leading me to you, and thank you Devamrita Swami Gurumaharaja for leading me to Krishna.

Your grateful, aspiring personalist and servant,
Gopesvari dasi

Dear Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances onto your lotus feet.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

All glories to you.

Another year has passed and it is your vyasa puja again, the best of the festivals. You came to this world because Lord Chaitanya sent you for playing a significant role in spreading His mission. It gives me great joy that i am one of the fortunate ones to whom you have showered your mercy by accepting as your disciple and given the most valuable gem of Krishna Bhakti. If it wasn’t for you, i would still be a puppet in the hands of maya trying to enjoy in the material world.

Gurudeva, thank you so much for your guidence, support and unlimited kindness. It is not possible for conditioned souls like me to measure and repay your mercy. Only by your mercy I am in Krishna Consciousness and trying to do some service. But you never take any credit for anything you do, you only pass it on to Srila Prabhupada and Lord Chaitanya. In a conversation last year you said, how it was Chaitanya Mahaprabhu miracle that I am now chanting. This is how by your own example you are teaching us to become humble. You are a store-house of transcendental knowledge and qualities. I have come across many devotees who only met you for a short period but they told me, how in a short moment you able to touch their hearts and leave an impression. You are a source of inspiration to us

I pray to Srimati RadhaRani to always keep you protected.

Aspiring to be your humble servant,

Govinda-kunda devi dasi

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

Okay, now for a poetic, witty, creative, sastrically-aligned vyasa-puja offering…. …um… …well I’m afraid such abilities do not come so easily to srimati pragmatic Gurudeva, so I hope you will be satisfied with this humble attempt to appreciate one aspect of your greatness – your artful creation of a caring devotee community.

At the Hare Krishna School they have a behaviour management practice called Nutured Heart – the principle is to energize all the small positive behaviours of the children with verbal praise & encouragement (and to empower them to act positively) and to not energize the negatives, by use of a simple “reset” command. In your dealings with me you have always, consciously or unconsciously, used this method of nurtured heart. So many times I think of how you have overlooked all my mistakes and short-comings (without even a simple reset) & instead fanned, with encouragement and confidence, any small attempts to serve you. You have always trusted and empowered us to rise to greater and greater challenges.

In earlier days we were spoilt with your personal care – regular visits and classes, darshans, coaching sessions, pep talks, hours of dealing with our personal woes. How many litres of blood did you shed for each and every one of us? From that we could feel secure of our place in your family, and naturally we tried to share that caring mood with others, and with each other.

Now, as your family has grown ten-fold, no doubt it is an increasing challenge to give each disciple that level of personal attention – so, to anticipate this you have expanded your nuturing heart in many insightful ways: by creating a model of ashram life that encourages balance – between service & sadhana; through mentoring systems and marriage guidance systems; through facilitating opportunities to engage in sankirtan and preaching (thus nurturing your disciples chances of receiving Srila Prabhupada’s blessings); by sheltering us from the managemental challenges of a wider ISKCON world; by arranging nectar yearly festivals for strengthening ones spiritual resolve and strengthening devotee relationships; by bringing senior devotee speakers to little ol’ NZ to broaden our vision of the greater ISKCON in a positive and inspirational way; and, even by respecting the needs of mothers and encouraging them to responsibly care for their small children whilst expecting little more than to chant ones rounds.

Recently, whilst having an obstinate moment with our daughter, my husband said “if only she’d follow our lead and do what we ask, she would be much happier and more peaceful” then, after a contemplative moment, he continued “I guess that’s how Gurudeva feels about us”.

As our caring spiritual father you’re nurtured heart is shown by the caring culture you have created for us to grow organically in Krishna Consciousness. As obstinate children we don’t always take advantage of your unconditional care. For this I am deeply regretful.

Again this year, I pray for the strength to realign myself with your instructions and follow you lead much more closely.

Aspiring to actualize the meaning of my name,
Your ever-grateful daughter,
Guru vani devi dasi

Dear Gurudeva,

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

On this most auspicious day of your appearance, I sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart for having saved me from a life of sense enjoyment. There is no hope in this world, but for the fact that Vaisnavas are present and have taken up the most difficult service of bringing the conditioned souls to the Lotus feet of Guru and Gauranga.

You are one such glorious dear devotee of Lord Krishna who is spreading the Sankirtan mission of Lord Caitanya all over the world. We are fortunate to have your guidance and well wishes in navigating the huge ocean of samsara which otherwise is impossible to even fathom.

We beg for your mercy and pray that we become qualified to assist you in this most noble mission. Aspiring to be your servant in the true sense.

Your Servant,
Hamsavatara Dasa

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

I was meditating on the fact that there is no love in the material world, despite people trying so hard to find it. The erroneous conception is that love is something that arises from some kind of mere infatuation, or a feeling that comes and goes like the winter and summer seasons. Their attempts to secure these material relationships simply fall short of a disaster. Moreover people are in want to nourish the desert in their hearts by reposing this loving propensity on such futile objects of affection. I was witnessing one elderly lady giving her hearts care to a bushy old dog, as they sit together in a lonely park, caressing and patting the animal in expression of her devotion. My own heart revolted at the scene and simultaneously felt deep gratitude towards you and Srila Prabhupada. I shuddered to entertain the notion that this could have been me, if I did not have the immaculate fortune in being an object of your mercy.

I then began to deliberate on why we love the spiritual master so abundantly? It is because you are giving us Krishna, the Supreme object of every ones love. Your every deed is an expression of real love, whether it manifests as a thunderbolt or rose. Your indefatigable efforts know no bounds, as you travel endlessly accepting all kinds of difficulty for the greatest self interest of others. Indeed this is the trademark of true a Vaisnava. Therefore my heart is surrendered to your service as an expression of humility towards your magnanimous self. The more I contemplate your interactions and kindness towards this bewildered soul, the more I feel your grace. The path of bhakti is indeed the path of grace, in that for my insignificant efforts to please you and Srila Prabhupada, I can achieve something greater and beyond all expectations, beyond my capacity to attain without your love. The freely given, unmerited favor and love of God resides with in you. You are that abode in which love of Krishna dwells.

In the first part of Brhad Bhagavatamrta, Narada muni was so enthusiastic to get the darshan of the greatest recipient of Krishna's mercy. Why? Because in the heart of that fortunate devotee is love that is so forceful, that it can move Krishna to bestow His mercy. What is Krishna's mercy? Krishna, Himself. By the force of your love, Krishna gives His heart to you, as one can see by the abounding service that over flows from your very presence. You are so dear to Krishna that by your loving service Krishna gives Himself to you. Therefore you are the most worthy object of my surrender, which I try and inadequately express through my service, in the hopes that you will keep on bestowing your blessings upon me. Just as Bhaktivinode Thakur sings; krsna se tomara, krsna dite paro, tomara sakati ache, ami to kangala, ‘krsna’ ‘krsna’ boli’, dhai tava pache pache. “Krishna is yours, and you can give Him to me, for such is your power. This wretch is simply running behind you, crying out, Krishna! Krishna! Krishna!”

I am slowly beginning to realize the sweetness of love as a reality and not some vague abstraction. I am slowly beginning to realize the sweetness of what it means to have a real relationship and a real father. I owe this to one else but you. Everyday I pray to my Salagram sila and thank Him for sending such a benevolent master.

Before your departure overseas you had expressed your gratitude towards this undeserving soul. You said that you were happy to pass on this burden of love that Srila Prabhupada had left. I had to contemplate the gravity and intimacy of what you said and I felt your mercy so affectionately that day, I began to feel ashamed of my incapacity to reciprocate. I reminded myself that love is not some mere infatuation; rather it is born from duty and obligation to the direction of one who has real love in the heart. In this auspicious day of your appearance, I simply pray to always remain in your service, whether it be in the material world, or in Goloka. Gurudeva, you know how to serve Krishna best, therefore whatever it takes, please bring me with you back to Godhead.

Determined to be your obedient selfless servant

Hriman Krishna das

Dear Guru Maharaja,

Please, accept my humble obeisances in this glorious day of your appearance.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to you!

As remembering this year, I am very grateful for your association and mercy you bestow upon my dull head. Your visit was not long but you gave me an opportunity to serve you, just to encourage me. By combination of you gentle and strong nature, you gave me the best example to follow in life, in the moments when I need strength, courage and spiritual wisdom.
Thank you for being my Spiritual Master.

Your insignificant servant,

Indranath das.

Dear Gurumaharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Your Lotus feet who are so deeply compassionate.

I wish so much that I would have some encouraging and inspiring things to say but unfortunately I haven't had much transcendental realisations lately. Despite that for some special reason I always feel warmth in my heart every time I remember you.
Thank you very much for everything you do for all of us and for Srila Prabhupada. I pray to Krsna with all my heart that He always take care of You.

Your servant,
Indranila devi dasi

Hare Krsna Guru Maharaj.
Please accept mu humble obeisances into your lotus feet. All glories to you. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I am standing in front of the computer with folded hands and I am praying to Krsna "Please Krsna, let me write something that will please my guru."

As far as I can say (and as far as I can see in the eyes of the others) I'm foolish, arrogant, greedy, envious, lazy and offensive. Srila Prabhupada is explaining, that the subtle sex desire is seen by the desire to be different, to always have gain and to be adored. Right now I'm swimming in the puddle of these desires. Drinking the water of this puddle, i won't be able to say something pleasing to you. But please Maharaj be merciful and accept the few words that I will blurted.

Being sick , with polluted mind and body, I went to many doctors with the hope of a bright future. I was cheated - all of them turned out to be just an image of my sick mind. But you Maharaj, you are the real physician. During the wars the most brave persons are not the soldiers with the guns in hand, no, the most brave are the physicians on the battle ground. And you Maharaj, you are the brave of them all. You risk your life and health just to recover us, the fallen, cut down souls. The army of Maya is never stopping. Missiles and bullets are flying everywhere, but you are also never stopping. With compassion in your heart and the transcedental knowledge in your mind you are reviving us.

I am lying down with disfigured mind and body, the pain of the material desires is my constant companion, but still you decided to cure me. Amazing. With so many others that have more chance for recovery, you pick me. Amazing. Although I can not understand this, I know and believe one thing - you are the only one that can cut down the material cancer in my heart.

There is a story of one American who recorded his voice on а vinyl plate and when he past away whenever this record was being played his dog used to sit down and start crying for his beloved master. I pray that one day I will be able to understand the words that are coming out from your lotus mouth. I pray that one day I will be able to please you and Srila Prabhupada. Unfortunately the only thing that I can do now is to bark foolishly and wag my tail.

Guru Maharaj you are torch of transcedental light and on the auspicious day of your vyasa-puja I pray to Nrsimhadev to protect you and that you may always increase your light.

Please excuse my offences and foolish words.

With the desire to be your servant, Isvar Candra das.

Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisance’s in the dust of your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhpada.
All glories to you.
Although I am not qualified to glorify a pure devotee like you, please forgive me for any offences I may commit in this offering. I realise the degree of your humility, devotion, love and dedication you have in following the Prabhupada’s mood and mission ‘as it is’ and spreading the glories of the Lord across the globe. You are a perfect disciple of Srila Prabhupada in showing us how to follow the footsteps of previous acharya’s and practice the process of Bhakti yoga to the fullest. As stated in BG 18.68
ya idam paramam guhyam
mad-bhaktesv abhidhasyati
bhaktim mayi param krtva
mam evaisyaty asamsayah
For one who explains this supreme secret to the devotees, pure devotional service is guaranteed. There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear. You are not only tirelessly chanting and hearing the glories of the Lord but also take pain to preach others to follow the path and get so much pleasure if others take up the process of practicing bhakti-yoga. As stated in SB 1.2.6 –
sa vai pumsam para dharmo
yato bhaktir adhoksaje
ahaituky apratihata
yayatma suprasidati
The supreme occupation [dharma] for all humanity is that by which men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendental Lord. Such devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely satisfy the self. You are serving Srila Prabhupada selflessly and setting an example of how to advance in attaining the supreme treasure and pleasure of Krishna Bhakti. You explain this deep subject matter of science of God to common man in a simple manner and make them convince how to attain the hidden satisfaction in this material world by keeping life simple and sweet and serving the Lord without any ulterior motives. You are taking risk to deliver the fallen conditioned souls by showing them that in contrast to the pleasure someone gets after achieving something temporary happiness in this material existence the pleasure and eternal happiness one get serving the Lord. You are helping everyone by showing this path of self-realisation without expecting anything in return allowing them to accumulate permanent satisfaction in terms of getting away from the cluthes of maya and the material misery of repeated cycle of birth and death. But I notice my inability to completely utilise my time to be able to relish the nectar of experiencing what Krishna Bhakti is as such.
In your lecture this year in Melbourne you have mentioned about how a devotee’s heart gets cleaned of the dust accumulated by appreciating other devotees efforts of serving and spreading the Lord’s glories. I always get inspired by the devotees who are submerged in preaching activities and try to preach others. However, my efforts are compared to like a baby trying to learn how to walk and immediately fall and cries. I see more often that I am incapable of preaching this sublime knowledge to others. And after hearing your lecture I got so much relief to my heart that without proper understanding of the scriptures one cannot ignite the love of God in others heart. Please give your blessings to me so that I can be able to read Srila Prabhpada books on a regular basis and try to distribute books to others, in particular, I desire to teach my sons from these valuable books to give them healthy and happy Krishna Conscious environment for their upbringing.
24/7 looking after children, I realise how they feel secure and safe dependent on us is making me to understand that the more I fix on my sadahana the more I can be able to develop unflinching faith in the Lord and feel secured under the umbrella of Guru and Krishna’s protection and perform my duty and the rest is taken care. I am so much indebted for your kind mercy and tolerance to us in spite of my inability to serve you. I really desire to do some service to you to get purification of all my anartha’s in my heart. Like the parents who would love to look after the child selflessly even though the child does not recognise their efforts and pain they are undergoing at that point of time in the similar way you are also very compassionate and concern about our well-being and progress in every walk of our life. Year after year I express my inability but never I inquire or put any efforts to learn how to serve you when you are personally present in Melbourne. I have intense desire to do some useful service to you for the pleasure of serving Srila Prabhupada but always been a failure to attempt it. In spite of this attitude, on this special occasion, holding on to your lotus feet I beg for special mercy for our family so that we can able to learn how to serve you and your servants.

Learning and seeking to serve you,
Jahnavi Jivan 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

Dearest Gurudev,
Once again on this auspicious day I'm presented with the opportunity to glorify an exalted devotee like you. Actually an insignificant person like me is not qualified to sing your glories but I will try my best.
Gurudeva, you represent purity and each time I see you it has a cleansing impact on me. You represent truthfulness and this is a rare achievement. You understand and impart real spiritual knowledge and this knowledge dwarfs anything comparable. You exhibit real love of Krishna prema and this is the pinnacle of any relationship. Your core is based on scriptural foundations and therefore you are unshakeable in your determination to march forward in devotional service conquering maya like a true warrior.
Gurudev honestly I have no hope to survive the onslaught of maya, the pushing of the mind, the rat race and mundane battles for supremacy in social/corporate circles if not for your mercy and constant reminders via your vani & vapo.
This insignificant son cannot express enough gratitude towards you please continue to give shelter to this insignificant person, your disciple.
I cherish every second of your personal association each time you come to Melbourne. Please forgive me any short comings.

Your Servant
Jai Saci Nandana Das

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada and to you on this special day.

*

<i>“The power of devotional service is so great that a pure devotee can electrify another person by his transcendental instruction on crossing over the ocean of nescience.”</i>

There are few words to describe the experience of seeing you, but for me this concept of spiritual electricity definitely comes close. It is a false-ego frazzling force that spontaneously combusts open the soul and sends the heart haywire.

The reality of devotional service and transcendental knowledge feel so tangible in your association. In a transformative whirlwind of truth, service and <i>harinama sankirtan</i>, somehow all the jigsaw pieces of realisation magically fall into place.

I am always in awe of your deeply personal ways of sharing Krsna consciousness with others. They were evident as always in your recent visit to Wales; laughing along with the candid locals, cutting through the pseudo-spiritualist clouds, charming the hearts of the devotees – and not to mention tolerating the joking threats of my boisterous mother!

*

<i>“The relationship between the guru and the disciple is not a child’s game; a relationship so sweet, yet on the other hand so full of responsibility, that it cannot be found anywhere else.”</i>

I’ve heard you speak before of the “burden of love” in relationships. The heaviness of responsibility and commitment are so alien and like allergies to us in Kali-yuga. Yet when we taste the sweetness of spiritual care and affection, as you have so mercifully showered me with, the depth and reality of true love comes alive.

Thank you for accepting me, despite all my faults and offenses. Thank you for reassuring me repeatedly past all my insecurities and misunderstandings.

I pray that I can make your instructions my life and soul, as you have with those of your spiritual master.

All glories to you on your Vyasa Puja, Gurudeva, and to your inconceivably selfless service the other 364 days of the year.

Your aspiring servant,
Jamie

Dear Guru Maharaja,


Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada & all glories to Your Divine lotus feet, on this most auspicious occasion of Your Vyasa Puja celebration!!

I would like to take this opportunity to glorify You, my Spiritual Master and -- Father.

With inconceivable patience and expertize, You guide and inspire each and every one of Your disciples, in such a way which impels them to rise to a higher level in their Krishna consciousness.

Sastra explains that in order to cross the ocean of material existence, we have to take shelter of a bona fide Spiritual Master, who comes in the line of the disciplic succession.
Such a Spiritual Master is very special, because he is the via medium between the struggling jiva and Krishna.

Being in such a position, his intention is to enable the struggling jiva to get out of the clutches of Maya or material energy and place him in his rightful position as the servant of Sri Krishna.

Such a thought is very hard for the common man to understand, let alone appreciate the Spiritual Master’s role in one’s life.
But if he carefully analyzes it, he will see that the Spiritual Master indelibly enhances one’s quality of life. The quality of life actually becomes meaningful and wonderful.

Simply seeing such changes, one must agree that having a Spiritual Master is a necessity in one’s life.

Fortunate are those souls who come in contact with a bona fide Spiritual Master. Just like when iron comes in contact with fire, it takes the quality of fire.
In the same way, by associating with a bona fide Spiritual Master a disciple becomes purified of all the impurities of material contamination.

No one can progress in devotional service without satisfying the Spiritual Master.
The Spiritual Master is very merciful in bestowing the boon of devotional service upon the sincere disciple.
That is the best possible gift which the Spiritual Master offers.

Endowed with the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Spiritual Master distributes this mercy to those who are sincere.
Thus, the Spiritual Master trains his disciples to render devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

This is special “Guru-krpa”. It is Krsna-prasada—Krishna’s mercy which He sends through a bona fide Spiritual Master to the deserving disciple.

By the mercy of the Spiritual Master, the disciple is fully trained in the devotional service of the Lord.

This is the Bhakti-lata bija, which is received from the Spiritual Master by the grace of Krishna.
Therefore, one has to satisfy the Spiritual Master in order to get the Bhakti-lata bija.
This is the prime duty of a disciple – to act according to His instructions.
This is the secret of all success.

The lotus feet of the Spiritual Master are the only way to attain pure devotional service.
Such feet are worshipable.
I bow down to the lotus feet of my SpiritualMaster.
Vande guroh sri-caranaravindam.


Dear Gurudeva, You have surrendered Yourself wholeheartedly, to executing the instructions of Your Spiritual Master, HDG Srila Prabhupada.

You have risked Your life and work(ed) tirelessly to assist him in distributing the transcendental message of love of Godhead to everyone You meet.

You are the expert captain of the transcendental ship, which can carry us across this ocean of nescience.

You help us realize that this human life is meant for reviving our dormant love for the Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna, and His loving devotees, through Your enlivening classes and ecstatic kirtans.

Without devotee association or the Holy name, our lives are meaningless and mundane.

A Spiritual Master’s potency is shown by the quality of His disciples.

I pray on this day for Your blessings and mercy upon me and my children, so that we may become qualified to become Your humble and sincere servants.

Your aspiring spiritual daughter,

Janesvari devi dasi

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

Thank you Gurudeva for being so kind to this hopeless case. You re helping me to grow up in Krsna consciousness, to become more mature and responsible. You are helping me in everyway just like a loving father. It is only by your mercy that I can swim deep in the ocean of Bhakti and thus attain the loving shelter of the lotus feet of the most beautiful Sri Sri Radha Vallabha. Because you are an intimate servitor of Radha Vallabha you know what is the best thing for me. I just have to have strong faith in you and your instructions. You are so magnanimous that you are constantly pushing devotees closer to Krsna and inspiring us in so many ways through your ecstatic leading in Sankirtana, in your heart touching lectures on the Srimad Bhagavatam, your courageous preaching spirit, and the way you deal with all devotees with so much care and affection. And thus so much more can be said to glorify you. I am just an insignificant beggar, and I pray that you please be merciful unto me on your Holy Vyasa Puja Day, please bless me with unflinching faith and devotion and that I can always be the humble obedient servant of the servant of your servants.

Your Servant,
Jaya Jaganath das

Dear Guru Maharaja

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

Leading up to your Vyasapuja celebration this year I am meditating on your selfless attitude as an ideal itinerant preacher and humble servant of Srila Prabhupada.

When one initially sees the life of a travelling preacher there is the tendency to have a superficial and somewhat sentimental view. Like seeing only one side of a plastic coin.

Catching jumbo jets to various exotic locations; personal service and home-cooked meals from adoring followers; praise, honour and respect wherever you go; regular pilgrimage to India; no mortgage or power bills. And then there’s the avoidance of the 9 to 5 job, and no nagging boss. Sound kind of nice, right?

But as you often say, “there are no free lunches in this world.” There is always a price to pay. Earlier this year you were asked by one brahmacari what the price is that one has to pay being in the sannyasa ashram. You said:

“You have to deal with so many varying conditions rapidly changing. Like the python man says in the 7th canto: ‘sometimes I’m in a nice place, sometimes I’m just sleeping on the side of the road…’ You just have to be able to handle so many varying conditions. As you travel and preach, it’s the material word so there’s always gonna be upheavals, there’s always gonna be the unexpected.

“Travelling is very austere. Intercontinental travelling… very austere. It may seem glamorous at first but it’s very demanding. Constantly dealing with changing circumstances – a sannyasi has to be able to deal with that. Your circumstances are constantly changing, you can’t be attached. It’s like Prabhupada said (because wherever he went in the world, of course he had rooms in every temple that he stayed at). He said, ‘I’ve got rooms in so many palaces but I can never stay in them; I’m always on the move.’” [13-08-13 at brahmacari ashrama]

As you summed up, the travelling is austere. The strain it has on the body is taxing, especially considering that you are often changing time zones. But you accept this austerity for Srila Prabhupada’s service.

Service by “adoring followers” also has it’s tough side. One point is that they’re not always “adoring” or possessing the proper mood of a servant. I remember the first time I got to stay at your apartment to serve you in 2007. It was at the old Hannah’s shoe factory near Courtney Place, Wellington. I was supposed to be serving you, but I didn’t really know what that meant. Maybe we’d just have kirtan all day and eat prasad?

But you ended up engaging me in cleaning the apartment and I got to serve you your meals. After only one day I didn’t feel I was being of any use doing menial service, so I decided to leave. My old friends had organised a band practice for that day, so I left without telling you and met up with them thinking that making mundane music would be better utilisation of my time and energy.

You had to put up with such a foolish so-called servant as me! I had completely missed the point: by serving Krishna’s devotee, Krishna is pleased. And by this process one receives the mercy of guru and Krishna, which is so necessary to advance in spiritual life.

A second point why service from others is unwanted is that a Vaisnava, being the humble servant of everyone, naturally is adverse to accepting service from others. It creates an improper conception because the devotee is trying to relinquish his false conception as master of this world and come to his original position as the servant. But a sannyasi and especially a guru is obliged to accept service from others. And so I have heard from a brahmacari friend that in your natural humility, you have said that this obligation to accept service from others is an austerity. This can only be an austerity for one perfectly situated in their constitutional position as servant of Krishna. As Prahlada Maharaja prays:

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. (SB 7.10.6)

You tolerate the incompetence of unqualified servants, accepting their humble service, only out of duty as a great general in Srila Prabhupada’s service.

As for praise, honour and respect, their shadow counterparts called blame, scorn and criticism are also part of the job description. The spiritual master is a transparent via medium between the student and Krishna, via the rest of the parampara. You have nicely explained this position on more than one occasion. The spiritual master passes the praise and honour up to his spiritual master and Krishna, and he passes the mercy coming down to the student. He cannot pocket the praise and he cannot pocket the mercy. But as for the kicks, he’ll willingly suffer this as part of his duty.

What’s the problem with a 9 to 5 job, wife and a few kids? Up against your profession which requires round-the-clock duties taking care of hundreds of ‘”big kids,” and their problems, there’s no question which requires more responsibility and dedication.

The position of service you have taken in order to serve Srila Prabhupada is astounding, because you have sacrificed so much and are always giving so much to keep pushing this movement forward. As you said in one Vyasapuja address in 2008:

“Sannyasa ashram is the risk-taking ashram. Risk-taking in that you are always going out on a limb. You’re not so much caring for your personal situation. ‘Oh, let me be comfortable.’ That’s just the nature of the ashram; you’re always thinking how to go out on a limb so that others can be Krishna conscious. You can’t do that if you have a family. To some extent, of course, even to a great percentage you can think how others can be Krishna conscious, but still you have to be mindful of your own nest. To some degree at least. But sannyasa ashram you don’t have to think about that. So, therefore, as someone pointed out, when I was in Eastern Europe my motto was, ‘I may live or die; Bhagavad-gita is eternal.’ Often I didn’t know when I crossed the border whether I’d be coming back. I Just didn’t know.”

So my basic realisation is that you Gurudeva, who are the most important, influential and loving person in my life, and who I look up to as giving such deep and wonderful explanations of Srimad-Bhagavatam and roaring like a rockstar, causing everyone to jump in the wildest kirtans – that although you are my great master and well-wisher, you are also the biggest servant, for every way you deal with a devotee, and even a non-devotee, is in such a way as to increase the Krishna consciousness of that person. In this way you are the servant of everyone, trying to reconnect them with Krishna. You are the big servant.

This day marking you appearance is a great day for celebration and remembrance because I am so grateful for having such a befitting spiritual master. On this auspicious day I am begging that I may develop a strong longing and urgency to make advancement in bhakti yoga. I need to fully understand the necessity of advancing quickly and not remaining a lazy, dull, stone-like entity. I need to wake up. If I can actually develop this strong desire to make solid advancement then I will have hope that I may someday become a useful instrument in this sankirtan movement. If I do not develop this desire there is no hope and I will remain a rock, but at least a rock amongst devotees. Thank you my dear spiritual father.

Aspiring to become a qualified servant,
Jayadeva Kavi dasa

nama om visnu pādāya krsna-presthāya bhūtale
srimate devāmrta swāmin iti namine

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

pracāre pūrva-dāksyaṁ ca bhaktācāra-pravīṇatā
parārthatāpi kāruṇyaṁ yasya sarve ca te namaḥ

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

Thank you, Gurudeva, for saving me from the deep, dark abyss of my own ignorance. I thought I was so happy, strolling merrily through the prison house of this material world. By coming to this dark world, and especially by desiring to take birth in Kali-yuga, I have certainly made it clear to Krsna how serious I am about misusing my independence. According to my own desire, I was born into a thoroughly irreligious family in an atheistic civilization of two-legged animals. To achieve full absorption in lust and intoxication quickly became my goal of life. Achieving this situation, it appeared that I was as far away from contacting Krsna as I could have wanted. It seemed that I could have a solid go at being a godless debauchee in this dark age of Kali. However, little did I know there are people in this world like you, Gurudeva, who’s mission in life is to give the ultimate blessing of love of Krsna to those who are here to chase after the complete opposite; sinful activity. Wandering this earth you bestow bhakti in such a wonderfully attractive way that even a contaminated reject like myself can easily turn from his resolute focus toward sense gratification and take up the chanting of Krsna’s holy names.

To me this is rather inconceivable. But such is the power of Krsna’s pure devotee.

It is often said that as finite particles of marginal potency, the Lord has endowed us all with free will. We may choose to make proper use of this free will by engaging in our constitutional position of loving service to Krsna in our eternal home, the spiritual world. Alternatively, we may decide to misuse such free will by pursuing our own independent attempts at selfish enjoyment within the realm of the material energy.

It is also said that Krsna does not interfere with our free will. The Lord is unbeatable in His ability to relish and reciprocate loving relationships with anyone and everyone. He therefore knows that we must have free will to express our love from a platform of spontaneous attraction rather than being forced to engage in His service due to having no other engagement for our loving propensity. Therefore, wanting to taste the purest, most heartfelt love from us all, Krsna has awarded us our free will.

Krsna conscious practitioners are certainly made well aware of the pain, confusion and suffering brought about by one’s opting to misuse one’s free will. Consequently, a doubt may arise within a devotee’s mind. Similar to the age-old argument of “Is God all-good or all-powerful?” the bhakti-yogi might pose the question: “Why does Krsna even make our material existence a possibility? Is it not certainly within His power to keep us all in the spiritual world, engaged in His service?”

Of course, this question is easily answered with the previous explanation; Krsna does not enjoy forced love and robot-like service, but desires to receive the pure, unalloyed loving service offered by devotees out of their own free will and with spontaneous attraction to His unparalleled sweetness. But upon contemplating this reasoning, a doubtful soul like myself may wonder whether Krsna has lost at His own game. In His attempt to enjoy the highest bliss of loving relationships, it seems that Krishna also has to cope with the unavoidable reality that many of His innumerable parts and parcels will turn their backs on Him. Choosing to forget His loving association we simply suffer birth after birth. Even when Krsna comes to this material world to perform His wonderful pastimes for our benefit, few souls can actually appreciate Krsna’s real position as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore rare is the soul who chooses to return to Him to serve in His eternal pastimes.

Although this notion had crossed my mind on a few occasions, I hesitated to speculate on such a topic beyond my realization. But recently, while meditating on how to glorify your Holiness on this auspicious day, Krsna allowed a simple yet profound insight to enter my mind.

Yes, Krsna is so merciful that to allow us to feel the most genuine loving sentiments toward Him, He awards us free will without personally interfering with it even though He could. But His mercy goes even further than that. By His arrangement, there exist certain benevolent beings, gifted with unbelievable amounts of compassion and selflessness. These persons, deeply feeling for those of us who are sadly devoid of love for the Supreme Lord, and fully understanding the heart of the Lord, freely roam this dark material realm only for the purpose of bringing the fallen souls to the shelter of the Lord’s eternal service. By the power of their purity and love of God, these most magnanimous messengers of Vaikuntha fully transform the hearts of all those they come in contact with. In this way, they manage to “interfere” with everyone’s independence in the most wonderfully sublime fashion. These pure-hearted personalities are therefore empowered to achieve something that the Supreme Lord seemingly cannot achieve by Himself. The Lord thus fulfills His desire that all wayward souls come back home, back to Godhead, by manifesting Himself as the merciful spiritual master.

In the Bhagavad-gītā (3.29), Krsna says: “Bewildered by the modes of material nature, the ignorant fully engage themselves in material activities and become attached. But the wise should not unsettle them, although these duties are inferior due to the performers' lack of knowledge.”

In his purport to this text, Srila Prabhupada reveals something wonderful: “Men who are ignorant cannot appreciate activities in Krsna consciousness, and therefore Lord Krsna advises us not to disturb them and simply waste valuable time. But the devotees of the Lord are more kind than the Lord because they understand the purpose of the Lord. Consequently they undertake all kinds of risks, even to the point of approaching ignorant men to try to engage them in the acts of Krsna consciousness, which are absolutely necessary for the human being.”

Gurudeva, I would like to thank you for making me a victim of your kindness. I, and so many others are so fortunate that you have appeared in this world. It is obvious that you have come here just to bestow the supreme gift of service to Krsna, even though fools like me so stubbornly try to reject it.

I had the right to remain in māyā, the right to avoid service to the Lord, the right to be a killer of my soul. But by the strength of your love and dedication to Srila Prabhupāda, by the power of your own purity and compassion and by the sheer beauty of your spotless character you have forcibly taken away these rights of mine. With unlimited kindness you have engaged me in the supreme spiritual occupation, though I do not at all deserve such mercy.

As Srila Prabhupāda states in Renunciation through Wisdom:
“The devotees of the Lord understand that it is mäyā's influence that has spoiled the people and made them demoniac. Thus the inherently noble disposition of the devotees leads them to think only of the demons' benefit, without a tinge of envy. The devotees are therefore known as patita-pāvana, "the saviors of the fallen." In fact, the devotees are more compassionate than the Supreme Lord Himself. Of course, it is the Supreme Lord's grace alone that makes them more compassionate than the Lord. And by the mercy of such devotees, the lowest sinful men and women can attain the lotus feet of the Lord.”

samsara-davanala-lidha-loka, tranaya karunya-ghanaghanatvam
praptasya kalyana-gunarnavasya, vande guroh sri-caranaravindam
Gurudeva, you are the embodiment of Krsna’s most sublime mercy. Krsna is karuna-sindhu, an ocean of mercy. As Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Krsna bestows even more causeless mercy upon all. Being a servant of the servant of Sri Krsna Caitanya, you are travelling the entire globe constantly, sharing the nectarean ocean of Krsna’s mercy with all. In this way you are just like a cloud showering water not just on a single forest, but over an entire planet which is burning in the fire of material suffering. All glories to you Gurudeva!

Unfortunately for me, careless and dull as I am, even after having tasted relief from the fire of material life, I endeavored to again set myself ablaze by running back into the Kali-yuga inferno. Yet fortunately, I wasn’t to escape so easily. Sometimes it is seen that a small mouse may run deep into the forest seemingly escaping with its life after being bitten by a poisonous snake. Thereafter however, it only dies and is gobbled up by the patiently pursuing serpent. Similarly, although I ran swiftly into the fierce jungle of modern hedonism, I had already been injected with your merciful glance, so potent with love of God. Consequently, while lost in the wilderness I eventually felt my fever of material desire come to its inevitable death. No more did I hanker after so-called success in the material world. No more did I desire to chew that which I had previously chewed over countless lifetimes. By your grace, I came to feel that I was dead to the worldly affairs with which I had become so enamored. More recently, just like the mouse being consumed by the serpent, I have been finding myself gradually consumed by a wonderful life of service to Lord Caitanya. I now find myself in the New Zealand brahmacari ashram with the rare opportunity to fully engage in humble devotional service. When I do take full advantage of this opportunity I know that it is pleasing to the Lord. After all, you are so dear to the Lord and whatever tiny service I am able to do is simply performed under your direction.

Gurudeva, you have given me the name Jiva-daya dasa, and have told me that I should become qualified to show mercy to others. But I understand that such a qualification will only ever be achieved by me if I wholeheartedly serve your lotus feet, since you are the one who is actually qualified to bestow the highest mercy upon all living entities. If I can just become a small instrument of your compassion, which flows through the disciplic succession, then my life will be a complete success.

Gurudeva, please accept my most heartfelt gratitude. You have saved me from myself. Please continue to teach me how to properly use my God-given free will for the spiritual benefit of others as well as myself. Please engage me in a lifetime of selfless service to Srila Prabhupada and his dedicated servants. I can neither thank you enough, nor can I beg enough for your blessings.

All glories to you Gurudeva,

Your servant,
Jiva-daya dasa

Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada

Dear Gurudeva,

A verse that comes to mind at this time SB 10.14.58 I feel bears a significant relevance to my relationship with you in this point of time.

"For those who have accepted the boat of the lotus feet of the Lord, who is the shelter of the cosmic manifestation and is famous as Murāri, the enemy of the Mura demon, the ocean of the material world is like the water contained in a calf's hoof-print. Their goal is paraḿ padam, Vaikuṇṭha, the place where there are no material miseries, not the place where there is danger at every step."

Throughout this year, I have been tested both spiritually and materially. Over a period during April-May I faced one of the biggest challenges in my spiritual life. In hind sight I actually asked for it. A year or so ago, I slowly began developing more sincere attachment to you and I prayed to understand the significance of having the shelter of a bonafide spiritual master, as it can be easy to just let the gravity of this concept breeze past us without being firmly understood, resulting in a superficial relationship, a fragile connection that can be easily severed if severe difficulties arose. Hearing sincere devotees express their love for their spiritual master has been, for me, once of the most heart-fulfilling experiences in Bhakti.

Entering the grhastha ashram with your blessings was an exciting new prospect for me. The idea of sailing the ocean along with some great examples to follow, gave an immense amount of encouragement and responsibility as a captain of a boat (grha), with a crew (wife and family) to manage, protect and deliver safely back home, back to Godhead. In April-May, the material ocean was stirring, causing doubts in my mind regarding my shelter. I hadn't contacted you for a while and had isolated myself from your guidance. I then lowered the sails and waited for direction. Waiting in my vessel with the sails down, not catching the breezes of your guidance, I sat and contemplated. I was unaware of which direction to go and although the ocean wasn't tumultuous (yet), I became greatly fearful of what could happen. I began praying for mercy, not that I felt I was in immediate danger, but my confidence had slipped, I needed confidence and direction. I would beg Radha-Giridhari and Srila Prabhupada to clear my doubts and protect me.

You then came to me in a dream. It was so lucid in the way you, with a mere glance, removed all doubts from my heart and the heart of my wife. In that dream I cried incessant tears as I just knew we were safe with you. I don't often cry so this emotion was significant for me. The next day when I chanted my rounds, I felt as though you were right behind me, pushing me forward. This force was vividly felt and was of great significance in strengthening my spiritual life thereafter. This is when I emailed you on Nrsimhadeva's appearance day, of which you replied and gave us darshan later that weekend when you visited. At this point, I again hoisted the sails and with renewed vigour and we resumed our journey at full speed, catching the winds of your guidance that will take us home.

Although we are out of the ocean of materialistic life, I'm still damp from my lifetimes of splashing uselessly in a vain, hedonistic attempt to be satisfied. I try my best to bask in the sun of good sadhana and seva while steering clear of the rocks and icebergs of slack sadhana, and du-sanga, which have shipwrecked even some the most stalwart devotees; All the while keeping warm and dry with the coat of sadhu-sanga. But sometimes despite all of this I still feel I need the warmth of your glance of communication. Even though you had very few personal exchanges with Srila Prabhupada, to give as much time as you do makes me feel so fortunate. It is sad that we can become over familiar and take this for granted like babies inheriting diamond jewellery, but some of us do like to wear the bling of our Gurudeva's mercy.

This ocean is so treacherous and although having the compass of Prabhupada's books, it can still be hard to pick the right winds (instructions) in the right circumstances. I am learning of the absolute necessity of good guidance in order to achieve success in spiritual life, and for that, I'm indebted to you and my mentor Dharma-setu prabhu. Thank you for always being there to push me home. I'm slowly waking up to the task ahead and even though one day your boat of the lotus feet of The Lord will disembark onto the land of Vaikuntha, you will continue to lovingly send us breezes of blessings for us, just to bring us home.

So this year with its challenges have been paramount in fulfilling my desire to further develop genuine attachment to you, my spiritual master. It has taken me further than what I could previously imagine. To personally feel these emotions developing gives me immense faith and security in the process of Bhakti. It is real and I have barely touched the surface. I pray that this continues and that I can share this taste with other sincere devotees. I have written this in the hope that this offering conveys the emotion I'm trying to express. I hope the allegory is clear and also relates to the meaning of the SB verse mentioned.

Happy Vyasa-puja Gurudeva. May you receive innumerable offerings of heartfelt spiritual emotion.

Please continue to send us your blessings. I feel like I'm your child and that you are my spiritual father. And as children who like to boast about the prowess of their father. I like to say how "my father is so strong, that he can cross the ocean of material existence, and go back home, back to Godhead." I hope one day, I will grow up to be strong like you.

Thank you



Your aspiring servant


Josh Darvill (Auckland)

Querido y Recordado Maharaja

Muchas Felicidades Maestro en el día de su aparición. Solo quiero darle las gracias por las grandes bendiciones que le ha dado a mi familia( Jai Saci Nandana, Sammohini, Pamela y Bhima).

Aunque yo este lejos yo estoy tranquila sabiendo que mis hijas se han vuelto devotas de Krishna y que viven rodeadas de muchas lindas devotas y lindos devotos.

En mi trabajo siempre hablo a mis colegas y pacientes de Krishna.

Su aspirante a sirvienta
Julieta Pozo

Dear Guru Maharaj,
Please except my humble obeisances,
All glories to your lotus feet. You are so merciful to except me. All glories to the day you took shelter in His Holiness A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to all devotees.

On that day I will try to express my deep gratefulness to you and to the other
Vaisnavas that helped me to reach this level - to have the opportunity to
associate with you and to listen to the wonderful transcendental vibrations coming out of your lotus mouth. Although I was so unfortunate and I didn't use my opportunity for the last 34 years to learn English - to understand every word that you are saying in your lecture. I am very happy of every single drop of nectar that I am able to receive. For me the true happiness is that I have the chance to learn from person like you. Your devotees in Bulgaria like Pandava Bandava Prabhu are great souls and really merciful. Thanks to them I am having the opportunity to go more deeper in the practice of Krishna consciousness. That is why I want to thank them.

Because of your unreasonable kindness I am starting to realize my condition in this world. One who doesn't have the chance to receive that mercy is blind and is suffering in this dark and miserable world of duality. I am sure that I can not even fully appreciate your mercy. Giving obeisances to you, men are honored with the great strength to preach in a way that people can easily understand. From the moment you have given me the shelter of your lotus feet, I can see how this is helping me with my relationships with the Vaishnavas and even with other people. Thanks to your advises and instructions I understand how to act in the best way in this world and to engage the talent that Krishna gave me for his devotee's satisfaction. Your guidance and lectures gave me the taste to perform devotional service. They are my armor, they are my shield that protects me in this unfavorable world. Thanks to them I can remember the temporary nature of this material world and that there are more valuable things. Wherever I go I am trying to remember your lotus feet. They are my only chance. Your thunderous lough is like a rain cloud that is washing the dirtiness of my heart.

Please Guru Maharaj, come in to my heart and bless me to always remember the great goal of life and never to go far from the real path. Please be merciful and take my imperfection and bless me to achieve amenability and patience to advance in my spiritual life, to qualify and to become your worthy servant whit whom you'll be proud with.

Sincerely your servant,
Kardami Kapila Das

Hare Krishna Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble and heartfelt obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
And all glories unto you on this most auspicious day of your appearance in this world.

When Krishna appeared in this world, everything became auspicious. Lotuses blossomed at night, birds sang and peacocks were dancing. Brahmanas found their homes suitable for sacrificial offerings which had been stopped out of fear for Kamsa, the demigods showered flowers, all the auspicious stars were visible in the sky and the moon in the sky appeared to be full out of joy of His appearance.

When Lord Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared in the world the whole of Navadvipa was absorbed in chanting the holy names of Hari due to the occasion of a lunar eclipse and in this way the atmosphere was most auspicious and inaugurated the appearance of the most merciful of Krishna’s incarnations who distributed the sweetness of the Holy Name to everyone without discrimination and is therefore even more merciful then Krishna Himself.

Then Srila Prabhupada appeared in this world as a pure devotee of Krishna just one day after Krishna Janmastami on Nandotsava, the day where Nanda Maharaja has observed a festival to honor Krishna’s appearance in this world. Therefore his uncle called him Nandulal but his parents gave him the prophetic name Abbay Charan – “one who is fearless, having taken shelter at Lord Krishna’s lotus feet” being inspired by his ‘Lion-Guru’. The stars were pointing out that a great personality had been born who would cross the ocean at the age of 70 as a great exponent of religion and build 108 temples. And Krishna tested Srila Prabhupada’s determination for a many years before He allowed and inspired him to cross over the Atlantic and set foot to New York, the auspicious place of your birth, Gurudeva.

In the year of your birth Srila Prabhupada practically retired from his business activities and was just a little in touch with his business until it became basically nil. Another 15 years and he would find his way across the ocean into an environment of a counter cultural movement where Krishna allowed him to plant the bhakti lata bija into a foreign environment because of his strong desire to please his Guru Maharaja and his compassion for the suffering humanity.

I don’t know about any auspicious stars on the day of your appearance or any other auspicious signs which indicated the birth of a pure devotee of the Lord but I am sure the statue of liberty must have smiled sweetly that finally liberation will come into this world. Fulfilling the prayers of your mother, Krishna sent her a ‘servant of the Lord’ as a son and with that He sent Srila Prabhupada a sincere disciple to preach and distribute the glories of the holy name all over the world.

Assisting Srila Prabhupada on the street by distributing books, at the BBT to print Prabhupada’s books at an ‘impossible’ pace or by preaching behind the iron curtain you were showing your sincerity and surrender to Srila Prabhupada and Krishna. But still more was expected from you and with your compassionate heart you were thinking about all those unfortunate Kali Yoga city dwellers who couldn’t care less about God and the world and are simply immersed in selfish desires for sense gratification. Inspired by and filled with the mood of Prahlada Maharaja you think about means to reach out to everyone by trying to create a wide, vast net to catch two legged animals and make them not only into humans but into sincere devotees of Krishna under the shelter of Srila Prabhupada’s International Society for Krishna Consciousness.

Prahlada Maharaja prays to Lord Nrisimhadeva as follows (SB 7.9.43+44):


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.’

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.’

You have fully taken shelter of Krishna’s lotus feet and therefore you know that without Krishna consciousness there is no happiness but only the suffering of the pangs of material existence. And therefore your heart is filled with love and compassion for all those miserable people who think they are happy by chewing the chewed and you reach out to them sneakily and undercover.

I am very grateful that you looked at Srila Prabhupada’s early examples of simply making friends with people and in this way making them attached to associate with devotees. In this way you started the Loft and other urban outreach centres where people can come and without cultural barriers learn about chanting, hear about Vaishnava philosophy, take prasadam, get to read Srila Prabhupada’s books and making friends with devotees. And everyone who comes is automatically engaged in devotional service as they have prasadam, hear the holy names of Krishna and also have the opportunity to chant, helping out with little tasks, appreciating devotees and everyone pays a part of the rent and facilitate further outreach activities. In this way by your merciful compassion you sneakily start them off on their way back home with this unknowingly performed service.

It worked for me, I don’t know how to thank you enough. Most people today couldn’t care less about their spiritual life but I did care and tried and tried and only got lost. Proud as I was and still am I thought I knew it all better than anyone else and wasn’t willing to join any religion because God is neither this religion nor that religion. Looking back I understand that the only way I could come to Krishna consciousness was through the Loft. Krishna helped me to arrive finally in Auckland after years of struggle and confusion through reading about different scriptures of the world, spending time in a monastery, doing a pilgrimage and then without a clue simply traveling with my drive for spiritual search almost gone only to meet one of your wonderful disciples who brought me to the Loft and made me take up Prabhupada’s Srimad Bhagavatam in the Hostel again. I touched it before but put it back in the shelf as it was full of commentary and ‘I didn’t want to read how someone else wants me to understand the text’. But through the enthusiasm of your disciple and the beautiful blue book staring at me I had to take it up again and actually start reading – and I was hungry for more. And the nonthreatening environment of the Loft filled with Vaikuntha angels did the rest and broke my barriers down.

On a visit to Germany a couple of years back I actually understood why Krishna didn’t allow me to hear or read anything about ISKCON or Hare Krishna. I visited 2 temples there was shocked to see that there was not really a program or facility to bring in and cultivate new people. With my anti-organisation and anti-ritualistic attitude I would have not been able to understand and appreciate what was going on there. I had so many hang ups and probably still have but by your mercy and expertise you made me a devotee without me knowing and many of the hang ups are now gone due to the knowledge you kindly offered me.

Now you kindly engage my wife and myself in this service of reaching out to all those lost young people who know it all better than everyone else but have no knowledge, who are so confused about their lives and who don’t want to know anything about religion and religious organisations and are so attracted to pseudo spirituality if there is this inclination to spiritual life at all. And it is so inspiring to see how people over time become attached to prasadam and devotee association and actually start asking questions.

One day a lady who comes regularly twice a week for yoga to the Loft was asking my wife why all the staff here are so genuinely friendly and polite. As she knows that we are Hare Krishna’s my wife explained to her that it is because of chanting Hare Krishna and had a good talk with her.

It is so inspiring to see how a good team of devotees can really make things happening and launch a major attack on the conditioned souls at university. For years and years now the heavy artillery of prasadam distribution is weakening the defences of the students, firing now around 200 plates of prasadam three days in a row per week into the students hungry bellies and empty hearts. Now we launch with Dina Dayal and Gopinath Prabhus as cultivation veterans a major attack and some students even asked us for Bhagavad Gitas out of their own accord.

I am so grateful, Gurudeva, that you allow me to serve you in this way and allow me to see the magic of Krishna consciousness and reaching out to others. In this way you actually allow me to see how much you care not only about your disciples but about every other living entity as well. And I see more and more my good fortune of having your guidance in this difficult journey back home.

And I beg from you the blessing to be always enthusiastically engaged in assisting you with your service to Srila Prabhupada. That’s my only way to try to repay this ever increasing debt which is actually impossible to repay but which is the only debt in existence which brings me unlimited bliss and happiness in the heart. Please bless me that I will never forget about this debt.

Thank you so much Gurudeva for your patience and tolerance and your expert guidance and care.

Your ever indebted, aspiring servant
Kasi Priya das

Pleas Accept my humble obeisances all glories to srila prabhupada.

nama om vishnu-pâdâya krishna-preshthâya bhû-tale srimate devamrita swamin iti namine

Hare Krishna Guru Maharaja ,due to work and life situations and being in maya i have missed seeing and hearing from you in your last visit to wales,iam listening to your lectures everyday and feel connected to you that way,i have no qualification to write an elaborate offering ,so i would just like to say that i pray that you have many more years of health sadhana and service.all glories ys
kasinatha das.

Dear Guru Maharaja,

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

I have recently been meditating on being happy and grateful in my position and situation in devotional service and not taking the good fortune I have to swim in the nectar of devotional service for granted.

Krsnaloka Mataji has been impressing upon us (ladies ashram residents) how fortunate we are to live in a ladies ashram and I hope that I can fully take advantage of all the opportunities I have been given to grow in spiritual life and have a long career of service in Bhakti yoga.

You do really make it easy to come to Krsna consciousness and to grow in Krsna consciousness, especially under the loving guidance of mentors, mothers, and friends.
Thank you for creating this community in which I can have the daily association of so many amazing devotees. Please help me to cleanse my heart of anarthas so that I can take advantage of the association of all exceptional examples you have given us.

Dear Gurudeva, thank you for your care, your patience, your time, and your presence which is enough for that moment to push all the material concerns from my heart and mind.

You have a better vision of myself than I could ever have and I hope one day to be able to follow your instructions with an "open heart and an eager mind" and to help you in some small way to fulfill the mission of your spiritual master. Please help me to open my mind and heart to your instructions and to my Bhakti family so that I can one day become useful to you and Srila Prabhupada in Lord Caitanya's sankirtan mission.

your aspiring servant,
Kat

Dear Gurudeva,

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

Nama om Vishnu padaya Krishna presthaya bhu tale
Srimate Devamrita Swami Itin namine
Pracare purve daksyam ca bhakta cara pravinata
Prararthatapi karunyam yasya sarve ca te namah

I need you, Dear Spiritual Father. You accepted my heart even though it was very weak; dying. You instructed me to read Bhagavad Gita, chant Hare Krsna, help Mangal Arti. Now I am living in a ladies asrama, chanting 16 rounds, reading Srimad Bhagavatam, giving classes, learning the mrdunga, and doing more service than I knew was physically possible. My life is so beautiful, Gurudeva. My heart is overwhelmed with gratitude for you on this special day.

Before I was dust, blowing aimlessly in the wind, but now I have a chance to be dust at your feet. This little speck of dust begs for you to impress your causeless love and mercy upon her. I pray to remain forever in your footprints, as a little speck of dust. I wish to expand your glories by remaining in this way, conserving your boundless efforts in service to Sri Guru and Gauranga.

Haribol!

Hare Krsna

Your Aspiring Servant,

Bhaktin Kathleen

Dear Gurudeva,

Nama om visnu padaya krsna presthya bhutale srimate devamrta swami iti namine...

pracare purva-daksyam ca, Bhaktacara-pravinta, pararthatapi karunyam, yasya sarve ca te namah....

PLease Accept my Humble Obeisances unto your lotus feet....
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada...
All Glories to You...


i am not really sure where to begin to describe your love and compassion towards me ... In beginning of last year you promised me that " whatever happens you will never leave me alone" and this has come true again and again with time. Year 2012 was the most toughest year in my life and i was completely heartbroken due to circumstances and which occurred due to my deepest foolishness.

You played a rebound to protect me from those shackles of miseries and saved my life from further collapsing. You did so much for this insignificant rascal and how would i ever know how much effort you invested to save my life...its all beyond my capacity of understanding. I also realized, this deep concern you display for each and everyone whom you meet .... thank You Gurudeva.

In spite of doing so much for me, when i had darshan in year ending New Zealand retreat 2012, you expressed your heartfelt sorry for my circumstances... Other than you for me who could ever possible do this ?

I read,heard so much about humility and compassion but now i had witnessed by your example....

This year 2013, when nothing was working materially, especially with my visa you instructed me to depend on Krsna and you promised to pray for me to remain dedicated to Krsna. With your prayers and immense love and affection, i got an opportunity to be a part of this beautiful congregation. Seeing my situations,you mentioned it was " weighing on your heart".

I know no one other than you, Gurudeva who could shower such deep concern .... when i sit back and think about last 4 years of my life every time i did come before you with so much false prestige yet you tolerated so patiently and guided me and loved me more and more.

i truly don't deserve any of your love.... Thank you Gurudeva, i sincerely pray to Sri Sri Radha Ballabha for your best health.
i also pray that i become a humble and sincere instrument in your loving hands. Please never give upon me although i am useless.

Please please forgive me for my offenses and mistakes and i am so sorry as i am unable to describe you ... i am always short of words to describe your glories....


Thank you Gurudeva... for being my eternal father and Spiritual Master...Happy Vyasa puja Gurudeva...

aspiring to be your servant,
keerthi.

Dear Devamrita Swami

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

I feel inadequate trying to write an offering to you in house current pregnant state I am in. All of these physiological changes, hormones and emotions going on with this body housing two jivas, I am unable to think straight but I will try to speak from my heart.

I remember when I first had the opportunity to have your association. Two years ago you invited me to have a meeting with you. During this meeting you were so kind and practical with me. I experienced this feeling that my heart was opening. Just by being in your association, I could feel the genuine compassion you had and right then I felt that I wanted to be of some assistance to you.

You allowed me to have so much of your association in the following months. How was I so fortunate of this?
I developed complete trust in you and would write to you every other week expressing all of my mental and emotional disturbances and you just put up with all of my complaints, tolerating me and still patiently guiding me and encouraging me. You would continue to let me know the good qualities and potential that you saw in me and emphasised that you can see me being of use in Lord Caitanya's mission, all these things which I definitely can not see in myself.

During that first year I completely mentalled out over "finding and choosing a guru". I found myself becoming sentimentally attached to any guru who said something that I liked hearing. After a year of taking your association but being so skeptical of you and not thinking you could be my guru, I realised, "wait, what am I doing? Why am I looking everywhere else? I have this precious jewel that has just been sitting here in my hand, staring at me the entire time".

At the beginning of this year I felt I needed to finally ask for shelter. "can I please aspire to be your disciple?" I asked. You looked at me with this confused look and told me you already knew that I was yours.

I realised then that initiation isn't merely an external thing. You had already given me your shelter and unknowingly I had already taken it.

"Out of many millions of wandering living entities, one who is very fortunate gets an opportunity to associate with a bona fide spiritual master by the grace of Kṛṣṇa. By the mercy of both Kṛṣṇa and the spiritual master, such a person receives the seed of the creeper of devotional service" (Cc. Madhya 19.151).

Looking back on the occurrences in my life, I can see now that reality had only begun when I met you. That year I had been in search for some truth, I didn't know exactly what or who I was looking for, but by Krsna's mercy He gave me the chance to meet you.

So far this year has been materially the worst year for me and I have come face to face with how low my tolerance is. I realised I don't really know what Krsna consciousness is but now understand that it isn't always going to be "nectar and ecstasy" and that I won't become a pure devotee overnight. I can't just be a whimsical, pretend devotee, wearing Vaisnava dress and projecting myself higher than I actually am. I have realised that Krsna consciousness requires maintenance, intelligence, tolerance, endeavouring with confidence and patience. All of these qualities which You possess and demonstrate.

You are the perfect example of having given your life as an offering to your spiritual master. And I am slowly beginning to understand my responsibilities in nourishing, nurturing, growing and protecting this seed of Bhakti that you have planted within my heart so that one day my life can also become an offering to you, my spiritual master.

So Gurudeva, please help me to mature quicker so that I can be of some real assistance to you rather than the current disturbance I am in my neophyte state. I also ask for your blessing that I may be able to relish Srila Prabhupada's books like you do.

Look how far I have come just from receiving your association. Thank you for everything. I have faith that by having your guidance and shelter that my life will become a success.

Your aspiring servant
Kez

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

saṁsāra-dāvānala-līḍha-loka-
trāṇāya kāruṇya-ghanāghanatvam
prāptasya kalyāṇa-guṇārṇavasya
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam

The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as a cloud pours water on a forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master delivers the materially afflicted world by extinguishing the blazing fire of material existence. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is an ocean of auspicious qualities.
Sri Sri gurv-ashtaka 1

titikṣavaḥ kāruṇikāḥ
suhṛdaḥ sarva-dehinām
ajāta-śatravaḥ śāntāḥ
sādhavaḥ sādhu-bhūṣaṇāḥ

The symptoms of a sādhu 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.
Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.25.21

You mentioned in a recent post about the Ukraine festival how we bhakti yoga practitioners in the first world can become jaded and familiar with the luxurious benefits of senior devotees visiting often and in contrast, the Ukrainian devotees take nothing for granted as HH Radhanath Maharaja commented to you. I appreciate the reminder and I take the opportunity to try to reverse that mentality with this offering and day to day hereafter. Let your ever-increasing glories be sung although my attempt is meagre in comparison to the reality!

Growing up in a spiritual community so carefully designed and calibrated by your transcendental vision, you sometimes kindly point out that we don’t know how good we’ve got it in such a purified environment, sanctified by regular visits from the doctor, your merciful self. And the reason is that you pour your heart and soul into every inch of your pure devotional service, and go every extra mile to give everyone who comes in contact with you or the centres you oversee, the opportunity to blossom in bhakti, life-long. Taking no credit yourself, you render your sacred, selfless service to Srila Prabhupada.

Gradually I’m at least hoping, if not coming, to understand that there is nothing particularly special about me, I’m just another very fortunate recipient of your merciful activities, and I should just get out of the way of myself and jump on board in full focus to assist you in your mission to outreach and care for devotees. This position is gradually revealing itself as a great relief from cumbersome materialistic consciousness where everything revolves around me and my petty desires. The extent of your compassionate effort you don’t advertise unless necessary for teaching us; we need to grow up and understand its super-human scope, like a baby one day realising the effort it takes a parent to raise a child. Typical of the self-obsessed character produced by heavy negative-karma-kali yuga activity and impious birth, the Western mind can remain oblivious to another’s sacrifice for them from parents to well-wishers, to even the painstaking service that is being rendered by a great spiritual master to oneself, shamefully. I would like to realise the real situation of your magnanimity and attempt to reciprocate accordingly. Unfortunately currently the reverse is true, I take service from yourself and other Vaishnavas and remain kripana, miserly in response. Nevertheless you encourage the smallest step outside this foul cocoon. Yes. Come on out! Well done! Who else could be so merciful to such low living entities?

“A sādhu behaves with all conditioned souls for their ultimate relief from material entanglement. Therefore, no one can be more friendly than a sādhu in relieving a conditioned soul.”
Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.25.21 purport

This is a laborious task of love for you, dealing with living entities who are quarrelsome, lazy materially and spiritually, misguided, unlucky and above all always disturbed as the Bhagavatam describes, yet you remain always encouraging, upbeat, and inspired, while very realistic. Thus I find myself the recipient of more of your mercy in the form of patience, tolerance and understanding of where I sit in the overall journey back to Krishna, over years and years. An ordinary person would give up after a few weeks, but you go on, powered by your sadhu characteristics, decade after decade. I so much appreciate this real friendliness you show us. It is unlike any material friendship, you always act for our ultimate benefit, with purity and foresight, with immortal care – all comes to me laced with the refreshing winds of the spiritual platform, which capture my mind and remind me of what is really going on beyond the movie-manufacturing of my materialistic mind, attracting me to get out and above this mess I’ve got myself into. In a recent friendly nugget of wisdom you posted: “Material existence, the Bhagavatam teaches, is a drama that happens through the mind. Fabricating superficial stuff known as happiness and distress, the mind drags us into one existential absorption after another, swinging us from body to body.“

It is a great fortune to have your physical association so often over so many years – and the periods without your physical association provide a satisfying continuum of association to test the fledgling connection with you through vani – hopefully one that doesn’t dull my gratitude for your physical presence when you reappear to kindly visit us after another painstaking circle around the globe or at least the South Pacific. You show the example how to act in so many different circumstances, how to respond, whether to respond, why to respond…you train us personally with your penetrating transcendental intelligence, carefully tempered according to time, place, circumstance, and the persons involved. For example:

Lessons in empathy: “I try to see what life is like from the other person’s angle, what their difficulties are…”

Lessons in reality, detachment: “That’s just the way it is in that situation ….” Again and again you adminster these teachings, hopeful they will penetrate my intelligence eventually.

Lessons in a balanced, intelligent, pragmatic approach: “It’s not black or white, it’s all shades of grey, it’s case by case, I work in real time, that was not an iron-clad siddhanta for all time…”

By your grace I’m hoping that my intelligence can be trained to operate fully in line with yours at every moment, yours which is focused only on satisfying Krishna in every circumstance and dealing. I’m blessed to observe over many years how you deal with things and the kindness and generosity with which you distribute your seasoned experience to us who are trying to learn something, again by your grace. Without your engaging me in service what good could I do for myself or others? And as if that were not enough you follow up by training us how to best do that service, while expertly giving us the space to try our best and use our brains at the same time.

Thank you for your sparkling example of pure devotional service which teaches volumes, and for generously sharing your saintly self, your deep realisations and experience, your infinite care and guidance with us year after year, visit after visit.

Aspiring to assist you and your servants selflessly and gratefully,
Khadiravan devi dasi

Dear Guru Maharaja
Please accept my most humble obeisances in the dust of your lotus feet on this most auspicious day of your appearance
All glories to You
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
The theme of this offering for you,Gurudev,is simultaneous glorification of you combined with a sankirtan story.
You once said that sankirtan stories "purchase you"
Being eternally indebted to you,Gurudev,for the unlimited,priceless gift of devotional service,in the form of book and prasad distribution along with cultivation, the least that can be done is try to repay you ,as part of the payment,with sankirtan stories that indeed"purchase" you.
This gift you've given your disciples is a gift that isn't plagued by material depreciation.This gift is everfresh and actually gets better as time wares on.Generally when we are given material gifts they are either worn,used or eaten and have a limited material life.
But the transcendental nature of a krsna concious gift is non different from Krsna Himself Who is nava yauvana,"ever fresh"
You Gurudev,as Krsna's pure representative are selling these wares in the market place of kali yuga and only asking ,as payment,laulyam,intense greed to obtain it
To further the glorification of you Gurudev,you are gifting the unfortunate who dont even have laulyam to purchase what was originally meant to be sold
"Bargain basement SALE on now"you declared in a Christchurch festival class
"Step right up and take repsonsibilty" and "Devotional service to Krsna going cheap"
We your disciples are eternally indebted to you for this gift of Devotional service.You are a perfect exemplar of Service to Guru and Krsna and you are the potent,influential inspiration behind so many disciples seva

This sankirtan story will illustrate your desire to serve your Spiritual master,Srila Prabhupada and spread krsna conciousness all over the world.

Your desire is the driving force.

This being unboubtedly pleasing to Prabhupada and ultimately Sri Sri Gaur Nitai.

One of your aspiring disciples,who wishes to remain anonymous,met an Indian lady on an Auckland city street some years ago and handed her a Bhagavad Gita.She didnt have money on her at the time and asked if the devotee could meet her outside the YMCA,where she was staying for the 10 days while visiting Auckland from OS, the next day and she would give donation then.So the devotee followed up this contact and indeed the lady got the Gita.She purchased The Gita more as a sentimental fulfilment to her "culture"rather than a serious act of devotion to Sri Krsna,much less appreciating fully,THE most powerful ,Transcendental sankirtan movement in the milleniums history.

So 12 years later this Indian lady is back in Auckland at the Sri Sri Radha Giridhari Mandir in Riverhead and to her great suprise she recognizes a face amongst the devotees.A face she remembers from 12 years back,the face that came to the YMCA to deliver the Gita.
She approaches the devotee and asks"do you recognize me?"
The devotee is scanning the memory but the file doesnt come up straight away.
She continues"I recognize you.I have something to show you.Please wait here"and walks off and comes back and brings the devotee a photo album with many pictures.
She is very happy to finally meet ,again,the person who gave her the book that radically changed her life.
She introduces herself"I am an initiated disciple of HH Jayapataka Swami"As she opens the photo album she explains
""I read the Gita and became so inspired,so enlivened by Sri Krsna's instructions to Arjuna and Srila Prabhupada's purports" flipping through the album photos of her intiation she exclaims "I went Mayapur in search of my eternal Spiritual Master.My whole family came with me and they got initiated also.
"So I begged My Spiritual master"she went on"that myself and my family could do some seva for his pleasure"flipping through the album further"He gave me preaching seva........at the prison!!"
"Gurudev,you are sending me to Jail??" she joked
"you just released me from this worldly prison house"
Showing the devotee pictures of her programmes in the Jails in India.Then a relish appeared in her voice as she said'The prisoners loved getting Prabhupada's books" as she showed pictures of the book tables and her team distributing to not only the prisoners but the guards,wardens and heads also.
"My Guru Maharaja and his Godbrothers like Banu Swami,the twins Jananivas and Pankajangri prabhus are regularly attending and speaking at hese programmes"
Showing the photos to the devotee of your Godbrothers,Gurudev,the devotee is mesmerised,gob smacked and in total awe of this movement and its founder,Srila Prabhupada, its Gurus,leaders, followers,practioners and wellwishers.
"Many devotees have come from these progs and they now reside in Navadvip/Mayapur"
As she closes the album she thanks the devotee for the Gita given to her in Auckland all those years ago.
The devotee humbly thanks her for her inspiration and inspirational presentation but doesnt feel complete with out pinning,like a golden war memorial medallion,on the true inspiration and empowered emissary,for the distribution of "that" Gita
That medallion is pinned in its rightful place on you ,Gurudev
The devotee humbled by the incredible gift of ever fresh and exciting Devotional service
And to be an ever useful instrument.
All glories to you ,Gurudev ,on this most auspicious day of your appearance
Your aspiring servant of your servants
Khela-tirtha dasa

namah 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 my humble obeisance at your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to you on this auspicious occasion of your Vyasa Puja.
Another year goes by, and for me it’s that time of the year for a bit of introspection to check where I’m going in life and what I’ve had to offer my spiritual father during the year. The thought doesn’t inspire me much because my saadhana hasn’t been great and little have I been able to do for you. Nevertheless, putting on my optimist hat, I overcome my lack of inspiration with the thought that the opportunity for improvement is enormous and by your mercy, I’ve been blessed with the association of devotees to do so. Gurudev, I pray to you to kindly forgive my ocean of faults and continue to engage me in your service.

In BG 10.9, Lord Krsna says,
mac-cittā mad-gata-prāṇā bodhayantaḥ parasparam
kathayantaś ca māḿ nityaḿ tuṣyanti ca ramanti ca
“The thoughts of My pure devotees dwell in Me, their lives are fully devoted to My service, and they derive great satisfaction and bliss from always enlightening one another and conversing about Me.” Gurudev, in all means you are a living example of this verse, fully engaged in the mission of Srila Prabhupada, constantly travelling from one destination to another to associate with devotees and share with them the divine instructions and pastimes of Lord Krsna. And above all, it is well-known fact that it is these preaching opportunities that give you the greatest pleasure.

In a Bhagavatam lecture in Melbourne during your visit this September, you spoke about the aspect of gratitude and its importance in the community of devotees. You also spoke about the technique that you used to show your gratitude to devotees – reminding and thanking a devotee for whatever they had done for you whenever you meet them, even if it’s for something they had done a few decades ago. I thought to myself the priority you give to relations amongst devotees. Meditating on it for a while, I reconciled it further with the section of your pranam mantra – ‘bhaktacara pravinata’ which translates as ‘an expert in devotee dealings’. For myself as a person who takes a lot of devotees and the things they do for granted, it was another reminder not to take anything for granted. Thank you Gurudev for constantly instructing me through your own example.

I along with the rest of your disciples here in Melbourne are eagerly looking forward to the Vyasa-Puja in your personal presence in January and pray to Krsna give us the strength and intelligence to work together to please you to the best of our capabilities.

Your aspiring servant,
Kirtiman Krsna Das

Dear Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to your lotus feet on this most auspicious occasion of your appearance day.

My dear spiritual father thank you for taking care of my family, even though you are so busy and have a huge service schedule, you always make the time to guide us and help us through the trials and tribulations that come up in our lives.

The last time I had darshan with you was just after the first big earthquake that hit Wellington. My family and I were at Bhakti Lounge when the earthquake struck, I recall feeling a bit shaken and a little apprehensive about whether another larger one would occur. I also recall feeling so safe and secure as I came into your presence soon after, I partly wished I could be a little atom on your lotus feet and thus be with you always. At that darshan you kindly shook me out of my ignorance, imparting words of transcendental wisdom that touched my heart, you gave me the strength to carry on.

I pray that I may follow your instructions so that I may always be at your lotus feet, safe and secure. Please guide my family to be selfless and somehow or other serve in Lord Caitanya's sankirtan mission.

Your spiritual daughter and servant,

Krishna Murari devi dasi

My dear Gurudev,

Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupad and all glories unto you.
Gurudev, I do not know how to adequately thank you for all you have given to me. Although, I am unqualified, I will make an attempt to write a Vyasa Puja homage.
The nature of a pure devotee is that they are very expert in relishing and sharing the nectar of Krishna.
Gurudev, you have tirelessly dedicated yourself in pleasing your spiritual master by sincerely following his instructions.
On countless occasions I find myself being rebellious when good instruction is given. What inspires me the most in my Krishna Conscious endeavors is when I witness the wonderful example you set by following your spiritual master’s instructions. It is simply amazing:
When I hear you chant the Holy Name
When I see you read Srila Prabhupad’s books
When I see relishing Krishna Prasadam
When I witness you dance in the Kirtan
When I see how expertly you glorify Krishna to others
In this way, as years, months, weeks, days, minutes and seconds passes by it becomes more and more evident that you relish every aspect of Srila Prabhupad’s instruction.
Gurudev, I also get inspired when you selflessly share the greatest treasure of Krishna to everyone without any discrimination. You always think of ways where the audience are able to strengthen their Krishna Conscious journey whether they are a beginner, intermediate or advanced levels. You take the risk in presenting Krishna Consciousness in time and places where the condition souls could never have a chance to hear or taste Krishna’s name.
In this way you demonstrate the perfect example of how you relish and share Krishna to others.
On this day I would like to pray for your mercy so that I can make an endeavor to follow your instructions sincerely. I would like to thank you for all you have given to Sri Radhika and me.

Your servant,
Krishnagraja das

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances on the auspicious event of your vyasa puja.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

In an attempt to glorify you here is an account of one outcome from your many outreach activities.

After your workshop a young boy came sat next to you on the couch - I could sense your eagerness to give him Krishna! You talked to him for some time and patted him on the shoulder during the course of conversation. After that night I noticed a visible change in him, it was like he had woken up. His countenance became brighter, he became so much more interested in what we had to offer, enthusiastic for more! Then one month later you visited again, and again you gave him your mercy – challenging his scientific view of reality and giving him your garland. Now that boy is chanting 16 rounds and brought a Srimad Bhagavatam set.

’sādhu-saṅga’, ‘sādhu-saṅga’—sarva-śāstre kaya
lava-mātra sādhu-saṅge sarva-siddhi haya

“The verdict of all revealed scriptures is that by even a moment’s association with a pure devotee, one can attain all success.

CC Madhya 22.43

Being so fixed in conviction and practice, your Krishna conscious self is a touchstone; those who come in contact with you are transformed and develop the desire to dive deeper into the bhakti pool.

With deep gratitude I thank you for the service you have given me and I thank you for your instructions and care over the years. I apologize for my many shortcomings and ignorance. Striving for purification so that I can become a more useful tool in your service.

your servant,
Krishnaloka devi dasi

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

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


Dear Gurumaharaj,

Please accept my humble obeisences at your lotus feet on this auspicious occasion of your Vyasa Puja.

After my recent trip with you I was very inspired by seeing you constantly read on your ipad.I was fully engrossed in my temporary world...and
you were as always fully engrossed with the spiritual world.

Following your instruction I bought a ipad and downloaded it with all of Prabhupada books.So after a long time I read 'Nectar of Instruction' on my recent plane trip and in of the purports Prabhupada commented - "Endeavor executed with intelligence in Krsna consciousness is called utsaha or enthusiasm.The devotees find the correct means by which everything can be utilized in the service of the Lord (nirbandhah krsna-sambandhe yuktam vairagyam ucyate). The execution of devotional service is not a matter of idle meditation but practical action in the foreground of spiritual life.These activities must be executed with patience. One should not be impatient in Krsna Consiousness."

Gurumaharaj you demonstrate these qualities of enthusiasm, patience & Yukta Vairagya in all your activities...I will attempt to enlist some of them below...

1. You study comtemporary subject matters & relate it back to the spiritual topics , to make us understand & appreciate spiritual subject matters.
2. You have designed the intelligent means of urban preaching which is slowly being followed all around the world.
3. You encourage everyone to read & distribute Srila Prabhupada Books.
4. You guide us so patiently in our petty attempts to serve Krsna.
5. You have been travelling to every continent spreading Krsna Consiousness over 4 decades.
6. You have been serving the GBC body of ISKCON for over 2 decades.
7. You are always encouraging all your disciples and other devotees to engage in devotional service.
8. You so patiently fan even a little spark of devotion in any person who comes in contact with you and eventually guide them to fully use their intelligence and skills in devotional service.
9. You are always using innovative technology to increase your preaching and make us understand spiritual subjects.
10.You are always so enthusiastic to associate with your God Brothers and other senior practioners of Bhakti.

Gurudev, above is just a tiny drop of the ocean of your spiritual qualities and activities...On this auspicious day i pray to you to kindly continue to bestow your mercy upon me so that I can follow in your footsteps and allow myself and my family to be engaged in your service.

Your Servant

krsna katha dasa

Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to your Holiness and all glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to your transcendental appearance day.

Just as a small child cannot possibly appreciate all that his parents do for him - making sure he doesn't get hurt, sick, kidnapped, etc. - similarly, I'm completely ungrateful and unaware of your kindness upon me. You are a sage who is constantly praying for the welfare of your disciples. When will I be able to appreciate your kindness upon me? When will I be able to reciprocate with you?

You have such an intense travel schedule, and you sacrifice your very life force just for the benefit of your dependents. You give your time, energy and attention to help us grow. If I every seriously accept your instructions, I am confident that I will someday achieve taste for chanting Krsna's holy names and for reading Srila Prabhupada's books. Please bless me with this sincerity. Thank you.

In a Loft gathering in 2004, you led a discussion on reincarnation. At the very end, a girl threw in one last question. She asked, "So, what do you think YOU'LL be in YOUR next life?" You asked her what benefit she would receive by having that information, and she replied "Oh, I'm just curious, that's all."

Immediately I began thinking you'd hint about attaining a spiritual body. Maybe even something about taking birth in the womb of a gopi to assist Srimati Radharani, or some esoteric answer, related to your eternal spiritual form. I assumed you were thinking in these terms. Instead, you carefully replied, "Well... let's put it this way. There's a way to take birth and not take birth at the same time. That is if you appear in this world simply for the benefit of others."

When will I simply desire to assist you, birth after birth, in your service to Parampara?

Please accept this sad attempt at an offering of gratitude.

Hare Krishna.

Aspiring to aspire to serve you and your servants,
Krsna Kumar dasa
ISKCON Berkeley / San Diego

Dear Gurudeva,

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

This has got to be the most purifying time of the year for me. I always realise how much of a fool I really am. Following in your footsteps, all your disciples write so eloquently. On the other hand, I can hardly put together a coherent sentence, but I feel obliged to dig deep and at least make an attempt to express some appreciation.

The main thing that keeps coming to the surface is your service and care for devotees. One devotee recently told a pastime of when he was traveling with you. You had just arrived at a particular temple and instantly you were bombarded with "such and such has done this, and this money problem and why is this happening? etc". You cut them off and just said calmly "I don't want to know about all of that, all I want to know is how are you?"
This example really cut through for me, showing your care and attention.
The way you have dealt with me in so many ways proves this point.

You perform the most monumental service traveling the World giving someone new a snippet of your association every day. Just by that moments association being surcharged with Bhakti it brings all of us back to life.
But Gurudeva I am actually more impressed by all those little things you do or say to us and your personal attention you have blessed us with at New Gupta Vraja is another of your priceless gifts.

You never force us to do anything or anything out of reach, all while giving us an opportunity to go to higher levels.
Please create the desire in me to desire your service at every moment. This is when I will be truly happy.

Trying to desire to be your servant,
Krsna Prasada das

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

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

Dear Guru Maharaj,

Please accept our humble obeisances at the dust of your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to you on this auspicious day of your vyasa puja.

We always thank Krishna for sending you to be such a great influence in our lives.

You are always here for us- telling us the truth, guiding us, making sure that we advance.

Unfortunately, sometimes we fail to appreciate the sacrifices that you are making to free us from this hellish life. However, life can be very bewildering and we then realize your efforts and determination.

We really admire the fact that you are so practical and genuine. During your retreats, you always show us videos about the facts of life- the miseries, the ups and downs. Sometimes we are just trying to escape these harsh realities of life by ignoring these facts but as an expert teacher you always pull us down from the cloud.

We are really grateful for your instructions, guidance and care. We hope that we can follow and apply these in our lives and be one step closer to being good devotees.

We wish you good health and a good year ahead so that you can continue doing what you do best and continue saving the ignorant souls.

We look forward to having you in person for your vyasa puja celebration in Melbourne next year. It really is once in a lifetime opportunity for us.

Aspiring to be your servants,
Krsnamrta das & Rasamrta devi dasi

Dear Guru Maharaja
Please accept my prostrated obeisances at your lion-hearted lotus feet.
All glories to you on this divine, most auspicious occasion.

I am hoping that you will accept this offering, as it may seem a little over-the-top. What I would like to attempt to do with what limited vision i have, is to glorify you as a great Vaisnava Acharya drawing upon an analogy to amplify my gratitude and appreciation to you, O great lion among men.

Krishna spoke the Bhagavad-gita to Arjuna on a battlefield. Guru Maharaja, you have spoken to us the same message, on that same battlefield. Not literally in a geographic sense of course, but the same battle of heart and mind is there. Do we not face the same doubts, the same illusions, the same lack of confidence, clarity, and direction that Arjuna faced? Are we not, at least some of the time, completely bewildered? This is the battle.

We have met the enemy and he is us. When we turn away from Krishna, we descend into this mad world, filled with mad ideas, blinded by lust, greed and anger, we unleash the all-powerful force of maya upon us with devastating results. Maya is truly formidable, and we, the nitya-badha legions, meet with various severe punishments in our bizarre attempts at imitating the All Attractive, Supreme Person, Lord Sri Krsna. Our insane insurrection against the Lord culminates in horrible acts meant to destroy the world. And yet we actually think can be happy here. This is the struggle.

A struggle that takes place in gritty, trench-like warfare. Of course, being fully in maya means you don’t even put up a fight. The bhakti yogis are the true spiritual warriors. Shining the Vedic light wherever there is darkness marks the real battle front. Now from my comfortable position far removed from the action, in a quiet trench, eating cookies and reading the newspaper, I make my observations. With maya firing mortar rounds, rockets, missiles in our direction at every moment, one can safely assume this is not going to be easy. If we are going to survive the onslaught we have to use every available tool in our bhakti belt. Gurudeva you have equipped us with the best tools through your divine parampara authorised instructions. Without the blissful practice of bhakti, you tell us, there is only the barren, North-Korea like desert that burns the heart dry with dissatisfaction and unfulfilled desires.

Some of us cling on for dear life, besieged by the constant allurement of maya, defecting always seems an option. Others find inspiration in your example Guru Maharaja and charge forward, firing back missiles in the form of Srila Prabhupada’s books, Krsna kirtan, and prasadam. Slowly, one by one, reaching out and saving a few more souls from mind and sense slavery and bringing them towards the light of the Bhagavata. This is your mercy Gurudeva. You fearlessly cross enemy lines, day and night, your heart overflowing with compassion. You have empowered some glorious disciples who will follow you to the ends of the earth. You are the admiral we rally around and love so dearly.

Maya is relentless and she has an impressive arsenal; a devastating array of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. Suddenly Kaboom! an explosion nearby, two more souls loose their spiritual lives to maya’s most potent device - sex desire - the dreaded heat seeking brahmastra juggernaut. As if we didn’t have enough on our plate, the earth shakes, storms are brewing, riots loom and nations are failing. Hell is coming with reinforcements. The karmic load of the conditioned souls is becoming enormous. It is intense. What stability is there in this deplorable world?

We need you Gurudeva. We need your mercy and we need your strength. Briefly raising my head above the parapet to recall my wife back from the frontlines to discuss improvements in the taste of cookies, suddenly, I am captivated by seeing our beloved commander, His Holiness Devamrita Swami Maharaja, effulgent like the sun. Something like fearlessness personified. Always blasting maya’s sophisticated network of distractions and excuses to smithereens, your magnanimity and purity combine magnificently as you liberate souls by the hundreds, thousands wherever you go. Entire battle lines have to be redrawn in you lotus-like wake. You turn all of maya’s plans upside down which is so wonderful. Our entire platoon leap for joy, Jaya Gurudeva! Jaya! The Holy Names are yours to distribute in all the three worlds, because you have obtained the perfection of life. Love of God.

I have to really put my hand up here and confess my cowardliness. My great fear in life is that I have caused many offenses at your divine lotus feet. My great regret in life is that I have not taken full advantage of your mercy and acted whimsically upon receiving your instructions. Speaking from a pitiful condition I ask that you forgive me for my offenses and that you empower me enough to get off the mental platform, at least for one day.

I look around me on the battlefield and I have so many magnificent comrades much more qualified than me whom I love very much. I have you to thank for their association. You have given me everything auspicious in a world full of everything inauspicious. As I meditate on the precariousness of this short life and the potential imminence of death which we all face, I wish to pledge that I would like to devote my life to try and do some small act of service that might please you. Perhaps in this way my meager participation in Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s nectarian army will finally be of some worth.

Aspiring to serve you (somehow)
Krsnananda dasa

AllgtSP
AllgtSG

On this special day of Vyasa -puja, we remember you, as we do with the great acaryas. Because you are indeed a reliable supporter of the six Goswamis of Caitanya and Nitynanda , that's why we honor you in the same way that we do it to them, there is no difference because everyone is on the level of eternal devotional service and relish the nectar of krshna lila. Only great soul like you can understand and teach how to come home to our true eternal position.
You are true to Srila Prabhupada and your determination is unmatched, your intelligence shines like the sun and destroys the ignorance on my life.

We all need your fatherly hug, you're a genuine father always aware of the progress of your children, never leave us alone. How lucky we are to have you, always need a genuine father, a father like you who really knows what is beneficial for their children. I'm really grateful for your teachings and your love. My eternal love for you and your mercy has no limits. I always beg for your association, life after life, to be back in our real home .


Happy Vyasa puja, Dear Guru Maharaja !


All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga !

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

All glories to Gurudeva !

Your servant, Kurmadeva Das.

AllgtSP
allgtSG




On this special day of Vyasa -puja, we remember you, as we do with the great acaryas. Because you are indeed a reliable supporter of the six Goswamis of Caitanya and Nitynanda , that's why we honor you in the same way that we do it to them, there is no difference because everyone is on the level of eternal devotional service and relish the nectar of krshna lila. Only great soul like you can understand and teach how to come home to our true eternal position.
You are true to Srila Prabhupada and your determination is unmatched, your intelligence shines like the sun and destroys the ignorance on my life.

We all need your fatherly hug, you're a genuine father always aware of the progress of your children, never leave us alone. How lucky we are to have you, always need a genuine father, a father like you who really knows what is beneficial for their children. I'm really grateful for your teachings and your love. My eternal love for you and your mercy has no limits. I always beg for your association, life after life, to be back in our real home .


Happy Vyasa puja, Dear Guru Maharaja !


All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga !

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

All glories to Gurudeva !






Your Servant, Kurmadeva Das

Dear Guru Maharaja,

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

In hopes of becoming happy in this material world the foolish conditioned soul performs fruitive activities that result only in suffering. But by rendering service to The Supreme Personality of Godhead one becomes free from such false desires for happiness. May my supreme spiritual master cut the knot of false desires from the core of my heart (SB 8.24.47).

I have been meditating on this verse from the Srimad Bhagavatam. It has recently started to dawn on me that I am prone to getting overwhelmed by my material analysis of situations. It’s like I think I can see things for what they are, that I can have some confidence in my purview of reality, but then I take a fall of sorts and it turns out that my vision is subject to the insubstantiality of happiness and distress, of being right or wrong, of what I like and what I don’t like.

In light of these incidents I have been reflecting in a more personal way on Arjuna’s predicament on the battlefield of Kuruksetra. Arjuna expressed his self-assuredness that nothing good can come from the battle when he tells Krsna ‘I will not fight.’ Krsna, however, had a completely different outlook on the situation at hand and He enabled Arjuna to see to the core of what was really going on.

“But Arjuna had Krishna right there to instruct him”, we may say. Even though we may not have such good fortune, says Srila Prabhupada in a purport in this chapter, we may rest assured that ‘the Lord’s representative is as good as the Lord Himself because such a representative does not say anything unless it is spoken by The Supreme Personality of Godhead’.

In my favourite lecture Material Happiness is Misery you challenge us to take a deep look at the realities of material life and to observe within ourselves when we are impelled by the fruitive mentality mentioned in this verse. For those who are awake in Krsna Consciousness, you say, ‘the dreamy wishes and events of the material world are not very important.’ And you convey the elucidating point that it is simply by virtue of one’s contact with material nature that there are problems. With so much compassion you are helping me to transform that contact with material nature so that it will be antiseptic and, in due course of time, I can get out of the river of material happiness and distress. Taking so much trouble, you have given us the facility with which to use everything in Krsna’s service and to see everything in connection with Krsna.

Material existence is such a dream, but devotional service is for real. Practicing Krsna Consciousness in Srila Prabhupada’s international society actually allows us to be for real. That’s what I was looking for in my life before I encountered bhakti and its right here in this community of devotees – a vibrant, supportive, encouraging and enchanting family of practitioners who, under your guidance and expertise, are very serious about life, about getting out of the clutches of material existence, and about helping others to do the same.

Gurudeva, thank you for giving me shelter at your divine lotus feet. By your mercy I am becoming a little less convinced of the absolute nature of my perceptions and interpretations, a little less reliant on the dictations of my mind, noticeably more inquiring of my own motivations, and certainly more determined to hear and chant with some intensity of purpose. I am intent on not being a fool in material existence.

Thank you for being so patient while I take time to get established in bhakti. So many of my anarthas are being stirred, but with love and care. The association of devotees here in Wellington has ignited my desire to relish devotional service to Krsna and yet it is so soothing that it enables one to be eased into the spiritual reality.

I aspire for the benediction of surrender to my spiritual master and to the supreme spiritual master.

Trying to be a servant of your servants,
Laksmidhari devi dasi

Dear Guru Maharaja,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
We congratulate you with the day of your appearance! Please, live long, healthy and cheerful.
I’d like to thank you for your attention and care that you give me and all living entities. Thank you for being in my life in the form of wonderful lectures, inspiring kirtans and instructions.
Your eternal servants,
Lavangi, Mikhail, Amala

Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada,
All glories to you on this most auspicious day of your Sri Vyasa Puja celebration.

Dear Guru Maharaja, thankyou for showing me the path of Krishna Bhakti. You are such an expert and humble servant of Krishna. I am not so qualified to offer you any praise, please forgive my offences Guru Maharaja. I pray that I can serve you and follow your instructions. Please give me the intelligence to study Srila Prabhupada's books and to follow your example.

Your servant Lila Katha devi dasi

Dear Guru Maharaj,
Please accept our humble obeisances.
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All Glories to Shri Guru and Gauranga.
All Glories to your Divine services.

Namah Om Vishnupadaya Krishna prestaya bhutale
Shrimati Devamrita Swami iti namine
Pracharve purva Bhaktyam cha Bhaktya chara pravinatha
Parartha api karunayam yasya sarve chate Namah

Please accept our gratitude and appreciation on this occasion of your Vyasa pooja. Thank you for personally coming to Canberra and blessing our family and other local devotees after so many years of absence. We hope to carry out your vani instructions for the reminder of our lives with great enthusiasm, vigor and spiritual strength. Our lives have become successful through the mercy of your Divine Holiness through connecting us to Krishna by serving to please Him.

We wish you best of health and hope you visit us again in future to enable us to serve you better. Also thanks for kindly sharing your instructions and lectures on your website. These instructions are our real property and our life and soil.

Hare Krishna,
Your Servants,
Madhavaseva Das, Tulasiseva Dasi and Saandhni.

Dear Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada, who said that Vaisnavas are as soft as a rose petal and as hard as a thunderbolt.

You strike me with your soft kindness Guru Maharaja. You know I need your kindness and you mercifully give it, yet you do not tolerate my ignorant ideas. You challenge them, forcing thoughtfulness, rejecting foolishness, teaching introspection. Thank you for this training which sometimes sends thunderbolts to keep my intelligence out of the sand.

Thank you for your efforts to give me a spiritual foundation of selfless service and for pushing me to experience the unbeatable value of devotional service. I know you gave a lot for this and, though I didn't quite grab what you offered, the unforgettable experiences I received while doing full time service are what keep me hanging in there. Your care and support impelled me to do things I never would have done otherwise, and then I never would have glimpsed the reality of Krishna consciousness.

Thank you for relentlessly and patiently teaching me tools to overcome my mind with the Maha Mantra and to come out of myself in devotional service. If not for you, my teacher, I think I would be crazy now with no hope of holding onto a job or a relationship.

These gifts you have given me are really some of the most valuable things I have ever received. Yet it is your birthday! and I have really not much to offer in return, except a renewed spark of desire to hopefully please you by using in service the intelligence, life and mind which you have enriched with your association.


Your servant,
Madhu-puri dasi

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.

I want to begin by apologising for my offering last year. I foolishly spoke about my own personal issues and forgot the meaning behind this wonderful occasion, to glorify the Spiritual Master. Please forgive me for this offence to Your Lotus Feet.

Although I only managed to spend a little time with you, I was touched to see how personal and caring you were towards my wife and I. I’ve never really appreciated how much you have to go through for your disciples and the greater ISKCON community. How much you have to travel, how restricted your lifestyle is and how much your body and mind has to endure. It’s truly humbling to see the level of sacrifice you make for us.

You have an amazing ability to cut to the heart of a subject and help a person to understand subjects way beyond their current understanding. You are able to take the spiritual and make it relevant for the conditioned souls of Kali Yuga. You can take even the most off topic subject or comment and skillfully connect it with the unlimited Supreme Lord. Even when people have strange questions and misunderstandings, you lovingly and carefully guide them onto the spiritual path. I was amazed to see how you took the problems I faced and showed me a deeper way of understanding them and showed how to use them as means to connect with the Lord. You truly are Srila Prabhupada’s books in action.

Srila Prabhupada beautifully illustrated this point to a reporter in Melbourne June 26, 1974 when asked about a true guru:

Reporters Interview -- June 29, 1974, Melbourne:

Guest (4): Your Divine Grace, there are many swamis and gurus and religious people throughout the world. How does one know which is the true guru?

Prabhupāda: One who knows Kṛṣṇa, he is guru. Otherwise a rascal. That's all.

Guest (4): What is the test of a true guru?

Prabhupāda: He will describe about Kṛṣṇa. He will ask you to become devotee of Kṛṣṇa. His business is to propagate Kṛṣṇa. That is the symptom of guru.

HH Bhakti Caru Swami once mentioned how each Spiritual Master commands a battalion of Srila Prabhupada’s army and that the word battalion literally means to battle like lions. Somehow. by my good fortune, I have been lucky to be enlisted in Srila Prabhupada’s army under your your battalion. The humble soldiers watch in awe at the strategic brilliance of the commanding officers, carefully planning the next attack on Maya. Any opportunity to speak about Krishna and Srila Prabhupada’s books. Any opportunity to share prasadam. Any opportunity to encourage the chanting of the Holy Names.

I await your command

Your servant
Madhurananda das

Dear GuruMaharaj
Please Accept my Humble obeisance in your lotus feet.

On this very special occasion of your Vyas Puja I just pray to Lord Krishna for your good health and long life.

For Last 2 yrs. we have gone through lots of ups and down in our lives. It is not easy to settle in India after staying long in Melbourne and that too very near to temple. It is like starting from the scratch. I want to say you that I AM MISSING YOU TOO MUCH MY ETERNAL FATHER.

One day, I remember when I was missing you too much and as the day passed my desire kept on increasing and I want to write you email but I didn’t write as I don’t want to waste your time. But my desire to meet you was very intense, so much so that I started crying and crying and felt that If I was in Melbourne. It was so easy to meet you there and never feel such love for my Guru. But now you’re not approachable and don’t know which country you’ll be……and I cried. That night you came to my dream and gave me so nice darshan and talk to me. The other day when I wake up I feel so happy and satisfied just felt so complete from inside. Please always bless me and my family with your love and mercy.

Here in Pune we are now in association with very good devotee and we go to class as well. Premdham is also busy with his business and writing book but I sometime lose patience. Please bless me so that I keep more patience and help him.

Please bless me , Ananya and Vraj Dham because we really need your blessing as we can’t see you. Please don’t forget your useless daughter as I have no qualification to serve you.

Your Useless Daughter
Madhurya Dham DD

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

This time of the year is very special; it is an impetus to increase my meditation on your wonderful qualities of kindness, determination, compassion, and humility, to name a few, and on how important your guidance is in my life.

In many lectures you stress the point of understanding that hearing and chanting the holy name is our lifetime career (not a short term goal) and you have instructed me to chant Hare Krishna if I’m in anxiety and also to chant Hare Krishna if I’m not in anxiety, to ALWAYS chant. And you yourself are constantly engaged in chanting and preaching just like verse 9.14 from Bhagavad Gita describes:

satataḿ kīrtayanto māḿ
yatantaś ca dṛḍha-vratāḥ
namasyantaś ca māḿ bhaktyā
nitya-yuktā upāsate

Always chanting My glories, endeavoring with great determination, bowing down before Me, these great souls perpetually worship Me with devotion.

And as Lord Caitanya states in His Siksastakam Prayers, only a humble soul can constantly chant the holy name. Thank you for kindly encouraging me to chant constantly and sincerely.

A few weeks ago I read the following from my Bhakti Sastri notes:
“The spiritual name is empowerment. The spiritual master sees in the distance the disciple’s mood and potential and the disciple must work sincerely to fulfill it. “

Of course we are all eternal servants of Krishna and I am trying to act as a servant instead of my deeply ingrained habit of being the enjoyer and controller but I wondered how the name you gave me played a part in this process.

That same night I dreamt that we were chanting japa together and suddenly you stopped and looked at me and said, “This is the sweetest nectar.”

My most cherished hope is that, with your blessings, I might also have that realization someday.

Before meeting the devotees I often asked God to show me what my mission in life was. I didn’t want to live a purposeless life like the “zombie” analogy you cleverly used when preaching to students this year. I wanted to help others but didn’t know how. I felt my volunteering activities weren’t having a deep impact in people’s lives. And Krishna also answered that question through your simple but priceless instructions: Give Krishna to others.

In Srila Prabhupada’s beautiful purport to Bhagavad Gita 5.25, he confirms this fact:

“The sufferings of humanity are due to forgetfulness of Krishna as the supreme enjoyer, the supreme proprietor, and the supreme friend. Therefore, to act to revive this consciousness within the entire human society is the highest welfare work.”

As you point out in a lecture:

“In the neophyte stage of bhakti, we’re always thinking about me, me, me. How am I today? Do I feel blissful today? What is my mood today? But the followers of Lord Caitanya are always thinking about the others. How are the others getting Krishna?”

I fit perfectly in that neophyte description and somehow, undeservingly of course, Krishna has mercifully given me your association which has opened a whole new world in moment to moment decisions. You have given me knowledge of the best alternative: To please Krishna instead of my material mind and senses.

Thank you Gurudev for being such an inspiring example of selfless service.

I want to share with you this short sankirtan story about Eliana. One day, I was walking through a nearby neighborhood and saw a “new age” type shop with a small yoga studio at the back and was inspired to go in and share Krishna Consciousness. The girl was very favorable, she asked me to give her singing and harmonium lessons for leading kirtan and we arranged to have a kirtan program at her studio in the near future. I didn’t have any books with me that day but as soon as we started the mantra meditation sessions she bought a Bhagavad Gita and took many of Srila Prabhupada’s books to sell at her shop. And this Saturday, out of her own initiative, she went to the Hare Krishna Temple in town and participated enthusiastically in the 8 Hour Kirtan! Seeing how Krishna uses us to bring His parts and parcels back to Him is more satisfying than anything this world can offer.

Gurudev, I am simply amazed at how your compassion has no limits. This verse from Srimad Bhagavatam 3.25.21 describes your wonderful nature:

A sādhu is not satisfied with his own liberation. He always thinks about others. He is the most compassionate personality towards all the fallen souls. One of his qualifications, therefore, is kāruṇika, great mercy to the fallen souls.

Purport: The symptoms of a sādhu 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.

Teachings of Lord Kapila, the Son of Devahūti, Verse 21:

A sādhu, as described above, is a devotee of the Lord. His concern, therefore, is to enlighten people in devotional service to the Lord. That is his mercy. He knows that without devotional service to the Lord, human life is spoiled. A devotee travels all over the country, from door to door, preaching, "Be Kṛṣṇa conscious. Be a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Don't spoil your life in simply fulfilling your animal propensities. Human life is meant for self-realization, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness." These are the preachings of a sādhu. He is not satisfied with his own liberation. He always thinks about others. He is the most compassionate personality towards all the fallen souls. One of his qualifications, therefore, is kāruṇika, great mercy to the fallen souls.

You have such a great heart and dedicate your life to helping others remember their purpose of existence, their loving relationship with Krishna. I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to serve such an exalted personality as yourself. Thank you for fulfilling my soul’s eternal craving by engaging me in Krishna’s service.
Your eternal servant,
Madhuryamrita devi dasi

Dear Gurudeva:
Please accept my humble obeisances to your lotus feet!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to you on your vyasa puja day!

I hope you have a wonderfull day celebrating with the devotees and your spiritual children!

We are here in Buenos Aires , Argentina with maduryamrita mataji. We will sponsor the sunday feast in your honor and will give a lecture trying to glorify you and the importance to recieve the mercy of the spiritual master to advance in spiritual life.

You are our guide and our protector, we are so fortunate to have you in our lives.

I hope I can assist you to spread the glories of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's movement eternally.
If you bless me I will certanly be under the shelter of the vaisnavas and the protection of service to please Lord Krishna.

Happy vyasa puja day Gurudeva!

Your son and servant
Maha Hari das

Dear Guru Maharaja, your Devine Grace, please accept my humble obeisances in the dust of your lotus feet.

Let me bow down to your lotus feet thousands and thousands of times on this auspicious day. To my question ‘How to find a true friend?’ one Vaisnava replied, ‘You already have your eternal friend – your Guru!’ Gradual understanding of this transcendental truth, which is possible only in the process of sincere and serious and selfless service to you, to Srila Prabhupada and to all the devotees, fills the spiritual practice with deep feelings and makes it dynamic. Your care of devotees irrespective of their spiritual level, your example of association with your spiritual brothers, priceless experience of devotion to your own spiritual master is the wonderful gift upon getting which I have become your eternal debtor.

Hopelessly foolish and useless,
Maha Matsya das

Dear Guru Maharaja,

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

In the first verse of Guruvastakam which we sing every day, Vishvanatha Cakravarti Thakur is singing in order to save all conditioned souls who are suffering in the fire of material existence.

"The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as a cloud pours water on a forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master delivers the materially afflicted world by extinguishing the blazing fire of material existence. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is an ocean of auspicious qualities.
You, like rain cloud shower torrents of mercy."

In the second verse we sing:

"I worship the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, whose heart is mad from the love of Sriman Mahaprabhu in congregational chanting of the Holy Name! When he is dancing and singing, playing karatals, his body is trembling from happiness and tears are flowing from his eyes."

When you are leading kirtan it is like a bomb exploding in the face of Kali Yuga. In Simferopol you said the more we become filled with Krishna consciousness the more we want to give it to others, but how to do it? Distributing books of Srila Prabhupada! Because saṅkīrtana translates as congregational chanting of the Holy name of the Lord, in Kali Yuga there is no way back to God other than chanting the Holy names of the Lord. It could be asked - why books? We understand that the the Holy name is omnipotent whether sung or written down. As such, the distribution of Srila Prabhupada's books is the Brihad mrdanga and can be heard throughout the planet and sometimes even outside of it.

One day when my friend, a sankirtan devotee, was distributing books on the street he gave a book to one person who read the title - 'Easy journey to other planets'. This man was inspired and asked how much it cost. The devotee told him the cost and the man triumphantly said "I'll buy this book and give it to my mother-in-law so she can travel!" Another woman recently met us on the street and expressed her gratitude towards Srila Prabhupada's books. Since having read some of them she has become a vegetarian.
Every day I go out on sankirtan I pray to your Lotus feet for protection and mercy.

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

Thank you very much for caring about your students so nicely. By your grace we can experience the nectar of sankirtan which has the potency to reveal the great mysteries of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra.

Your servant,
Maha Prema Dasa

Dear Srila Devamrita Swami Maharaja,

Please kindly accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories unto your divine grace.

Maharaja, on this auspicious day of your Vyasa Puja celebration, we fall at your lotus feet in gratitude. Your mercy upon us is certainly undeserving, which is why we are even more grateful. Through your talks, projects, books, writings, and your dear disciples, you have blessed us with unending lifetimes worth of mercy. If someone went looking for mercy all over the three worlds, and not come upon your grace or the grace of your gracious godbrothers and godsisters, they might not come back with as much as you have bestowed upon us. Our only hope is that we can reciprocate with all this undeserved kindness by doing some service, not to try to foolishly repay this insurmountable sweet debt but to gather up more of your mercy.

Even though you come to Toronto far too rarely and it is rare that one can hear your vani in person, still, you have left us your dear daughter Mangal Aarti Mataji, and your dear son Radha Mohan Prabhu. For these two blessings alone, amongst countless others, we are eternally indebted to you.

Over the years, I reflect upon your various little nuggets of wisdom, helping us situate ourselves happily in Krishna consciousness, how to see beyond and through the razzle-dazzle of our world, how to remain always enthusiastic, how to stay hungry for more and more and more mercy, how to share Krishna consciousness with others, how to retain the fire of the preaching spirit, how to practically arrange our marriage so that Krishna is in the centre, and also how to render service to a child so that Krishna remains at the centre of the child's life. You have helped us so much by ridding us of foolish misconceptions and unnecessary baggage. Truly you have helped us remain useful in Srila Prabhupada's movement through changing circumstances. Your consitency, your humility is what makes those messages sink into our hearts, your tolerance of those who strive to irritate you, these qualities endear you to so many thousands of souls.

While it seems amazing in the modern world that I should approach a person in the renounced order of life, a Tridandi Sannyasi Goswami for advice on marriage and family life and so on, it is no surprise as going back to the Vedic scriptures we find numerous examples of persons in the renounced order of life giving perfect advice for all. Your dear father, Srila Prabhupada did this, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu did this, and even as far as Bhishmadeva, and going further, Narada Muni and Angira Muni, they gave perfect advice to householders while themselves remaining fixed in the renounced order of life, both internally and externally. It is so wonderful to see that the Vedic culture of the highest order is in fact manifested right here and now through your mercy. This is yet another proof that "yasmin vijnate sarvam evam vijnatam bhavati" and "krishna bhakti kaile sarva karma krita hoy" - the person who has perfected the art of remaining always in Krishna consciousness, one who knows Krishna, is perfect in every other area. You are the example of this.

My spiritual master instructed us that whenever I come across a pure devotee of the Lord, there is one thing that one must do. One must get down at the lotus feet of such great soul and beg humbly for pure devotional service, and when they give us the service, then one must joyfully do one's best to execute that service practically.

So on the auspicious day of your Vyasapuja celebration, we beg for pure devotional service at your lotus feet, lifetime after lifetime of serving your dear associates, your spiritual sons and daughters, your disciples, and know that when they are pleased, then you are pleased also, knowing them to be mercy expansions of your divine grace.

We beg Krishna that you are granted a long long life in good health and every possible facility increasingly so that your mercy continues to expand its reach eternally, upon the trillions of souls trapped in this material universe alone, what to speak of the trillions of material universes that are popping up and bursting like bubbles in the ocean.

your servants,
Mahabhagavat Das
Arusha,
Vitthal Bhakta

Dear Gurudeva,

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

As aspiring devotees, and particularly for those of us engaged in the activities of direct outreach, we hear and repeat so often, "We are not this body, we are all part and parcel of the Supreme," and "Krishna consciousness is a spiritual science, not a religious belief." But how do we practically experience these profound truths?

As Krishna explains, it is only by the mercy of the bona fide spiritual master in disciplic succession, and thus if we are at all serious about taking bhakti-yoga off the theoretical platform, sooner or later we must, as the Christians sometimes say, "get right with the Lord" by "getting right" with His devotee.

Having obtained real knowledge from a self-realized soul, you will never fall again into such illusion, for by this knowledge you will see that all living beings are but part of the Supreme, or, in other words, that they are Mine. (BG. 4.35)

By your grace I can, at least partially, testify to the efficacy of this process. On Janmastami this year I dutifully attended the morning program at Bhakti Lounge and during the mangala-arati kirtan I tried to beg the Lord, "I am so tired of serving my material contaminations, on this special day, please let me see the glories of Your devotees."

The speed of the Lord's reciprocation was startling. My vision of the kirtan and those in it changed 360 degrees, and I suddenly saw all those present as part and parcel of Krishna, engaged in His service with love and affection. I mention this not to glorify my lowly self, by rather to glorify the power of your mercy on this most holy occasion.

Throughout the rest of the Janmastami day, Krishna repeatedly humbled me by fulfilling my desire to see the reality of His glorious devotees. From Gopal Guru Prabhu's empowered morning Bhagavatam class to Krishnaloka Mataji's heartfelt kirtan finale leading up to midnight, I was certainly, and happily, put in my place - what a relief!

Although I love reading Srila Prabhupada's books, due to my own shortcomings the philosophy in them is for the most part theoretical for me. However, such rare yet undeniably tangible experiences of it cause me to seriously consider how could I not fully dedicate whatever remaining time and energy I have left in this body to the one by who's mercy such victorious moments are at all possible.

You make Krishna consciousness real for us - by your own shining example of pure bhakti, by your expert guidance, by the tailor-made service opportunities you lovingly distribute, and by your personal efforts to create a genuine spiritual community for us be inspired in, and to increase.

After over four decades of selfless service to the mission of Srila Prabhupada and the Panca-Tattva on every habitable continent of the world, you have captured Krishna within your heart, the proof being that, out of compassion, you relentlessly continue the austerity of devotional globetrotting, giving lowly persons like me opportunities to serve you, and to thus come to the same platform.

I am grateful for all those opportunities and I aspire for more, as well as for the ability to make whatever service I can render with the remainder of this insignificant life pure and selfless, for your pleasure. I would like to reach out and touch the hearts of others in the most practical and profound way, as you do, bringing them for real shelter at your lotus feet, and to increase my vision and appreciation of the glories of Krishna's dear devotees. For this purpose I humbly request your benediction. In the worlds of King Satyavrata:

In hopes of becoming happy in this material world, the foolish conditioned soul performs fruitive activities that result only in suffering. But by rendering service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one becomes free from such false desires for happiness. May my supreme spiritual master cut the knot of false desires from the core of my heart. (SB. 8.24.47)

(Trying to become) your faithful son,
Mahavan das

Hare Krishna! All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Dear spiritual master, dear spiritual father. Please accept my humble obeisances and congratulation on the day of your Vyasa-puja!
How can this useless disciple make you happy? What should I offer to your lotus feet on this wonderful day? Every year this question plays me up. Only a few days ago I had the opportunity of your priceless association but the thought of separation is intolerable. Every time it gets warmer and hence more exciting.
When we were coming back to Saint-Petersburg I was talking with one elderly devotee. He is 62, a bee-farmer living in a village. I can’t help but remember Srila Prabhupada’s words that devotees are like bees flying to nectar, and I began to ask him of subtleties of this science.
Sri Caitanyadev prabhu told me that the life in a beehive depends on one female by which the whole family consisting of thousands of insects is organically exists and collects big quantity of honey. One working bee collects one drop of honey in 35 days (the duration of its life) and then dies. By winter the female gives progeny of so called drones who make her warm throughout winter – they get together in a ball with queen in the center and by slightly vibrating with their wings they maintain proper temperature and from time to time shifting places with each other. In this way they spend the winter in anabiosis and by spring the queen gives new generation of working bees. When workers grow up they gradually force out drones by not allowing them to feed on the nectar. Drones become week and die although their lifespan is much longer than that of a working bee. There are also other bees that impregnate, protect etc. Such is highly organized bee life with their Mama in the center.
It is so wonderful – so many hints for bhakti around us!
I realized at once that the life of a devotee is based on attachment, but for who? For Krishna?! After rummaging in my small heart I did not find even a hint on attachment to the Personality of Godhead there. I heard of Govinda, read about Him and even told others of Him and this gave me great satisfaction. But because of what or who? And here my heart thrilled and my throat choked. My dear spiritual master – he is the one I’m indebted to with everything! Care, tolerance, love and many other qualities that I enamored with. I strive to learn this from you. The life example of devotion to Krishna – the best gift of Krishna.
But even this is not enough for me. And I thought, ‘What is your life?’ What attachment nourishes your heart? I came to a conclusion that Srila Prabhupada is the source of your breath, he is your life.
My dear spiritual master, I’m asking you to please give at least a drop of your mercy to me, this wretched soul, and allow me to always stay at your lotus feet. Allow me to come closer to Srila Prabhupada at least a little bit and obtain the taste for reading his books and understanding his mercy.
My life would be empty without you and Srila Prabhupada. No matter that it is difficult. I do not wish any other.
Your servant and disciple, ]
Mahimarnava das

Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.

I appreciate the opportunity on this auspicious day of your appearance to ask myself where would I be if you had not adopted me as your spiritual daughter thirteen years ago? It’s almost unbearable to think. Actually, the truth is that I’m too embarrassed to describe what my life would be like. I was spiritually feeble and dying inside, and only because of your causeless mercy, was I saved. I’m grateful you never gave up, and never give up, on me.

You have given me so much, and you are always giving. Even when you give me some service, and I try to do some service in the mood of gratitude to you, imagining that my help assists you in some way, I realize that you only gave me the service to help ME and I haven’t even come close to starting to repay the debt I owe you. I’ve only become more indebted. Not that a disciple can ever fully repay what she owes, but I feel so far away from doing that one thing you asked for—just to bring at least one person to Krsna consciousness. Just trying to chant my rounds nicely is a massive endeavour!

But you encourage us by explaining that even a small spiritual desire is a special desire, and we just need to nurture it in the right way so that it grows. The small spark of the desire is enough for Krishna to reciprocate with. This statement is a breakthrough for me! In this contemporary material world where we are barraged with distractions from our relationship with Krishna, we can draw courage from knowing that even a tiny spiritual desire is potent and has huge potential to develop.

There’s a lot about what you do that I’m sure I take for granted, the way children innocently assume their parents will care and provide for them always and unconditionally. From developing facilities such as Bhakti Lounge and The Loft to the mentor system—all intended to make it easy for anyone to grow in bhakti—down to even the smallest details of your exemplary life that influence our community, these achievements are unique, effective, and situated against a backdrop of purity.

Sometimes I catch a glimpse of you online, giving a lecture in a far off place. I notice that you are speaking to accommodate the audience, a little differently to how you may speak to a New Zealand audience. And then, astonishingly, in another country you’ll have a different approach too. The ways you reach out to others are everfresh, always developing, expanding, improving unlimitedly. You gauge the kind of audience from country to country, skilfully adjusting your language and rhetoric and cogently speaking the message of the sastras, keeping Srila Prabhupada’s words intact, yet delivering the message in a whole new package, neatly tailored for that particular audience. Your skill combined with spiritual potency inspires people from all over the world, from different cultures and ethnicities, from a range of ages and social backgrounds, to take up bhakti enthusiastically.


You reach out to people personally. You see each person as spirit soul waiting to be reconnected to Krsna. You teach us how the Absolute Truth is a person because you yourself are so personal. Through your instructions I’m learning how to be more personal, and I hope, more responsible, as I grow to further understand my role as your disciple.

I pray to you for blessings that I may have the intelligence and the humility to contribute to your mission.

Aspiring to be your true servant,
Manada dd

Dearest Gurudeva,PAMHO,agtSP&you on this most auspicious day of your appearance.
As time is accelerating@such an ever increasing rate,i look back@our very first meeting which seems so distant&for me many changes but as I focus my attention/meditation on you Dear Gurudeva I see you are as you have always been steady/strong/caring as ever&always open arms to giving shelter to those who are open to receiving that shelter.
I'm so blessed to be living here@ New Vrshana dham&worshipping RadhaGirihari&Giriraj in his sila form which is such a lovely meditation for me of Krsna lifting Govadhana hill& saving the residents of Vraja by giving them shelter&it's all due to your expert guidance&care,that myself&thousands of other fortunate souls are under your shelter.
As always I pray you are well&from the bottom of my heart thank you for giving me a glimpse of reality&what is possible in this short space of time that we have.ys.MVd

Dearest Guru Maharaj

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

<i>jogyatā-vicāre, kichu nāhi pāi,
tomāra karunā-sāra
karuṇā nā hoile, kāndiyā kāndiyā,
prāna nā rākhibo āra

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, your mercy fills my life and the life of many others that I can never fully describe. It is impossible to repay my debt to you. Today on your auspicious appearance day I want to make a humble attempt to remember your mercy that manifests in every aspect of my life.

At the first ever retreat in Toronto, I heard you raise a question ‘what is our qualification for love’. Never before had I considered that love needed qualification. Through personal example you have trained so many ‘to love’. Your motto for the loft programs is ‘We make it easy for people to come to Krishna consciousness, practice consciousness and distribute Krishna consciousness’. This is possible only through real love

Srila Prabhupada says in the Nectar of Devotion <i>“Our loving propensity expands just as a vibration of light or air expands, but we do not know where it ends. The Nectar of Devotion teaches us the science of loving every one of the living entities perfectly by the easy method of loving Krishna.”</i> Through your personal example you give us a beautiful glimpse of the extent to which this loving propensity can expand. Just from my own life I can see how you have taught me everything, cooking, cleaning, distributing books, interacting with devotees, reading Prabhupada’s books – everything, with personal attention and guidance at each step. Thus achieving the impossible , providing me shelter in a world where there is no shelter at all. And I am not the only person who is the recipient of this shelter, every god-sister I have ever spoken to describes how Gurudev is personally taking care of every little detail. Mystically transcendentally you expand your care to so many living entities so quickly. Recently I saw an example where there was an emergency with a young devotee and Gurudev responded through personal calls to this devotee in less than an hour. Materially one cannot understand this care you provide to each one of us.

Your fierce, incessant and super effective preaching sets wonder in everyone’s heart. Just in Toronto I can count 15-20 devotees who have fully taken to Krishna consciousness due to your yearly mercy of preaching festivals in Toronto. Now some of these devotees are helping run Bhakti Lounge. Your seminars and workshops make us feel the need to study Srila Prabhupada’s books. You constantly encourage us to chant properly and creatively eliminate our barriers to effective chanting through your personal darshans. Most of all you are distributing the taste for Sankirtan to your servants all over the world. I never thought I would ever distribute one book in this life, but you planted that desire in my heart. As Srila Prabhupada said Management means creating an interest in Krishna where there is none. Thank you for creating in my life an interest in Krishna, and his Sankirtan party. What could be more precious gift than what you have given us ?

I was just an unfortunate woman and you have filled my undeserving hands with precious gems - this is mercy. My night and day are brilliantly illuminated by these Cintamani gems: Harinam diksha, regulated devotional service at Bhakti Lounge, association of saintly devotees and exposure to Sankirtan. How can I properly worship Gurudev? How can I ever duly glorify Gurudev on this auspicious day? How can I ever repay this debt to your lotus feet?<i> ‘According to Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, even by rendering devotional service for the total duration of one thousand universal creations, a devotee cannot repay the debt he feels to the Lord for having awarded him loving service to the Lord's lotus feet. The Lord appears within the heart as the Supersoul and externally both as the spiritual master and as His literary incarnation -- the supreme Vedic knowledge of Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam.’ (11.29.6)</i>

Dearest Guru Maharaj, sometimes it feels like everything I had ever planned to make myself materially happy in this world will soon come to an end. Instead of being excited and grateful, my ungrateful mind is sometimes scared. Please give me strength and sincerity to be a real disciple and take shelter of ‘all your instructions’ with surrender. Family, fame, fortune, friends – everything I have in this life and previous ones, in one species or the other. Because of my long standing attachment to these so called pleasures I am conditioned to think of happiness in relation to the above. Somehow or other in this life I have received something more special – your shelter, your instructions and several examples of selfless devotees you have exposed me to. There is no fear in my heart, greater than the fear of being separated from you or your instructions. So please give me strength, determination, desire and clarity of vision to act in a way that I can remain always in your shelter and render active devotional service for your pleasure.

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

Thank you for granting me a life, more beautiful than I could have ever imagined.

Your humble servant
Mangal-arti devi dasi

Dear Gurumaharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

I feel safe and secure with you at the helm of the parampara ship. For me it is you who steers my way through the time's illusions, confusions, and imposter solutions. Just as Srila Prabhupada did for you. You are my translator to the knowledge that was channeled down through him and his spiritual masters. Even though I may not be able to fully grasp them, still, his perfect conclusions will always be available to me because you are my guide. You are my captain, and the parampara is ever increasing cubic bliss swelling ever greater the flood of love of Godhead, the very force of diciplec succession that propels you forward.
I no longer fear the threat of organized religion digesting my rational body inch by fleshy psychic inch, leaving me a sticky skeletal automaton with no real thought of my own. I do not fear this because you are real, relevant, unflinching and realised in the preaching of your guru's treasure. You demand that we don't just believe, but we constantly and consciously strive to know the Absolute.
The potency of the parampara and its custodial truths remain eternally exquisite and ripe yet basic and elusive. You are my only hope of ever tapping this truth. You are my most capable and competent captain. I have no other instrument to navigate the storm of material existence. Without you I am hopelessly lost. Please, Gurumajraja, may I always take shelter and serve at your lotus feet!

Your poor excuse of a servant
Mani manjari dd

Dear Devamrta Swami,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. We have such fond memories of your early visits to Sydney. It was intense but also so sweet as we learned the first steps in serving you. I am grateful to you for all you have taught me from the times where you humbled me, to the times where you appreciated my first attempts as I learned how to cook. I also remember unexpected challenges where we dropped you at the wharf for the boat cruise and went to park the car. As we were walking to the wharf we watched you sail away, missing the cruise altogether. We went back home depressed only to have you call us and say the prasadam on the boat was not suitable, asking if we could cook something-very soon. I remember us racing to the shops to buy the bhoja and cooking as fast as we could and Sveta zooming down to pick you up. After this opportunity we felt fully satisfied as we found our purpose in service to be fulfilled.

I also remember the time when you suddenly asked us to cook dinner for you. We were driving you around all day and didn't have time to fill the petrol tank. We went and cooked and were so happy as we were going to make it to the temple on time so you could eat before the arati. We got in the the car and it wouldn't start. It was pouring with rain and Sveta was jumping up and down on the car to try and get it started and (unusual for him) was swearing. We called someone from the temple to collect us but they didn't come with enough time for you to eat. When you saw us all you said was "I can see you tried" in such an understanding manner.

Now we are planning on leaving Sydney and will miss the opportunity for serving you there, but are happy to see the family of devotees has expanded so you will be looked after on your future visits. We are now planning on moving for a more simple life in New Govardhan, Murwillambah and are hoping we can continue to serve you in some capacity there. Thank you for the opportunities for service and for being straight forward enough to point out where I need to improve myself, while also showing me the kindness of Krsna through you.

Wishing to remain, the servant of the servant

Manjulali dasi

Dear My Spiritual Father,

Please accept my obeisances on your Vyasa Puja day, and every day.

This time of this year especially makes me thoughtful: I am some months older than 45. You were roughly the same age when I first met you in Sydney. And that is about all the similarities between you and me.

The differences are striking:

I am just hanging in there with little resolute determination to rise higher in Krishna’s service. Since nothing is static, everything is dynamic, it means slow erosion. No complaint: Mayadevi allows only the sincere devotees with purified motives to ultimately reach Krishna. Fair enough.

You are shining and full of energy and determination to serve Krishna and His devotees. You know the sastra. You are self-realized, and you are dedicated to make as many persons Krishna conscious as possible. You have humor. So you entered the temple room on the corner of Miller and Falcon, and, noticing that the audience was sitting somewhat far from the vyasasana, said “The seats in the front cost the same as the seats in the back.” Smiling or laughing, depending on our temperament, we moved closer. Then I heard the first class ever from you: a convincing and powerful Devamrita Swami class – those became my food for the following years.

Subsequently we formed rows and the Sunday feast was served out. I remember I sat in one of the middle rows, toward the end of the temple room. I was eating and you were walking in my row and reached where I was. Always in favour of good lectures, be it in any classroom situation, I said to you “It was nice.” You asked where I was from. So I stood up, plate in my hand, prasadam in my mouth, and replied “Hungary”. “I spent a lot of time there”, you said. My answer was immediate and emotionally laden “It was very dangerous”. Rather than agreeing verbally or at least nodding/winking or something like that in agreement, you made some belittling hand movements and a similar facial expression, completely underrating your time and efforts spent preaching underground in my Eastern European country under the communist regime. I was stunned and speechless first, and then felt anger rising in me: here you were, challenging MY knowledge of the Hungarian system by making your extremely risky preaching endeavour look like a tiny affair. It also said a lot about your utmost and genuine humbleness. You suddenly disappeared from my vision, before any possible outbreak on my behalf. I sat down and finished my prasadam. And started to wait for the time when I could see you again.

Guru Maharaj, you invited me to home programs, to dinners given by John and Jessy, accepted invitations to my home programs to speak, ate the dinner Lai and I put on the table somehow or other. You stayed at my place in Cammeray over the Christmas period while I moved elsewhere, and regularly drove my old, funny-looking yellow Renault to the pool, just to mention a morsel of your merciful actions. Yes, I was a mercy-case! Absolutely! I was desperately after your personal attention. Thank you for giving me that. I don’t blame myself for that; young Satsvarupa had that same deep need for Srila Prabhupada’s personal dealings, as was admitted in Satsvarupa Das Goswami’s book entitled, “With Srila Prabhupada in the Early Days”.

Lot of water has flown down the River Danube since those early years of your presence Down Under, lots have changed, e.g.:

Your tiny group of reliable followers increased many-folds.

You have many experts in their chosen occupational field. As such the “solve-it-all-yourself” way changed to a “leave-it-to-the-expert” or “talk-to-the-expert” method.

Sophisticated preaching organizations developed under your guidance and care.

You are becoming an exporter of your very own, mature disciples.

You have your cooks (to my utmost relief :), and possibly to yours :)

Behind this success story there has been your ardent desire that Srila Prabhupada’s books get distributed widely and in a concerted effort. Some of the other pillars of your success have been your stress on the importance of

• Individual sadhana

• Addressing our heart-issues

• Growing in Krishna’s service (by taking up new challenges)

• Team effort (accompanied with amicable ways of co-operation)

• Love and care for each other (camaraderie, mentor system, your personal care and your fast, reliable communication with us).

I wish you good health and favourable winds for executing your plans in the future.

On a personal level, I am sorry that I haven’t fulfilled your expectations, and have been lacking in a big way in the above mentioned areas.

Still, Gurudeva, you are always there for my spiritual advancement. Thank you for your patience. Please kindly pray for me that I shall embrace your ways wholeheartedly and without resentment, and that I shall have the intelligence to want to run after you again, shouting Krishna, Krishna.


Your indebted servant,
Mantramala dd.

Dear Gurudev,

Please accept my most humble obeisance’s.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Aboard this stranded ship, its inevitable demise still yet to resonate concern within this thick-skulled sailor, my vision is cast upon the devotional shore --- Mists of passion and ignorance come rolling in, obstructing my sight, and blinded my endeavors become misdirected --- Yet majestically, upon that shore you stand – a lighthouse beckoning us safely home again. I pray to cultivate the strength to hold your instructions as one with my heart. Because without your guidance we are lost at sea, sure to sink in the deepest of sorrows, or to smash against the rocks of impersonalism and voidism.

All glories to you on this most auspicious day.

Hare Krishna,

Martin (from Wellington).

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 a true blessing to have such a Krsna conscious family!!

In the 5th chapter of the Bhagavad Gita Krsna explains that the yogi, abandoning attachment, acts with body, mind, intelligence and even the senses, only for the purpose of purification. Srila Prabhupada finishes that purport by saying ‘This is the perfect stage of Krsna consciousness’. We see this example so nicely demonstrated by you Guru Maharaja. You told me once that Krsna consciousness is like driving a car, you have to change gears and be attentive to speed. But you explained that the sanyasa ashram is top gear, full speed, no brakes, everything for Krsna. Totally abandoning attachment as that verse points out.

It never ceases to amaze me Guru Maharaja how much you care for me. The many times I have had your close physical association I see you are constantly dealing with ISKCON world issues. Sometimes I have answered the phone for you and it has been ISKCON leaders, GBC, or world famous sanyasis wanting some of your time. And I know this goes on constantly. Yet despite this relentless requirement to deal with serious issues, still you have time to text me from the Ukraine, or Russia, or London, or some far out place I have totally never even heard of, and deal with my tiny insignificant issue. Or maybe it’s just to give a word of encouragement. These texts and emails mean so much to us, do you realize we save them, store them, print them out, frame them, or store them on our iPhones, just to remember how fortunate we were to get your contact!!

Thank you for giving Sruti-cari and myself the opportunity to move to Wellington recently. It has been so nice to get the sanga, once again, of some of my god brothers I have not seen, or served with, for a long time. It’s like happiness and distress even within KC. Sad to leave your wonderful family in Auckland and then so happy to be reunited with the Wellington crew. The Krsna consciousness you have given us is always so exciting!!

Recently I was shopping in the city organic store. I was doing my duty as an honest Wellingtonian by making myself seen and known as environmentally friendly, earth wise, carbon foot print reduced, sustainable and above all ‘organic’. I fitted in well with my high viz jacket, cycling shorts, yoga mat sticking out my bag and bicycle helmet clipped to my waist.

As I approached the counter with my eco paper bags of grains, spilling their contents all over the floor, a ladies voice called out ‘Hare Krsna’. How was this possible I thought? My disguise was complete to my reckoning. She said you must be from that Bhakti place. She went on to explain how much she loves going there. She said I don’t know what you guys do there but somehow you make the place so attractive to come to. In response to the questions that followed I was able to tell her about you and how you started the loft here in New Zealand and how you inspire us so much by your personal example. She was very inspired to make a comeback at Bhakti Lounge, and when she spotted my yoga mat she agreed to come to my class real soon.

This whole exchange got me thinking. The love you have poured into Kiwiloka goes way beyond just the distribution of Srila Prabhupadas books, way beyond dancing in the street with cartels and mrdanga singing the Holy name, it is actually the way you have directly and indirectly touched so many people’s hearts. Making them, somehow or other, favourable to Krsna and Krsnas devotees. This is not measured on the sankirtana score sheet necessary, but it is measured in the beaming smile this lady gave me when she said Hare Krsna.

And of course your disciples never forget the situations you had to deal with behind the iron curtain. (the ones that we know of anyway). We have people smiling and saying Hare Krsna rather than trying to arrest us or kill us. Once again Guru Maharaja I would like to beg you to write the accounts of those early days into a book. We would all be so inspired in our service if we could read more about the inconceivable sacrifices you performed in the service of your beloved spiritual master.

Thank you Guru Maharaja

Begging to one day become sincere,

Your insignificant disciple and spiritual son,

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 Srila Gurudeva
Please accept my humble obeisance’s. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All Glories to You on this auspicious day of your Vyasa Puja.

The process of devotional service consists of nine items, of which the second is Kirtanam or chanting or glorifying. Glorification of the devotee is more important than glorifying the Lord directly. The Lord Himself confirms this in the SB 11.19.21 mad-bhakta-püjäbhyadhikä. Krishna finds the greatest pleasure in worshipping His devotees. In the Srimad Bhagavatam we see how Krishna Himself, worshipped His own devotee Sudama, the brahmana, who was very poor. Therefore what to speak of us! Vyasa Puja affords us this wonderful opportunity to glorify You. On this occasion I am making this childish attempt for my own purification.

How do we know who is a spiritual master. Lord Caitanya told Mukunda in CC Madhya 15.117 “A spiritual master is one who awakens devotion to Krishna.” We can see this in You, by your intense travelling & preaching all over the world, you are rekindling the spark of devotion which is lying dormant in the hearts of the conditioned souls. As Srila Prabhupada mentions in his purport to SB 10.2.31 “The duty of the guru is to find the means, according to the time, the circumstances and the candidate, by which one can be induced to render devotional service, which Krsna accepts from a candidate who wants to be successful in going back home, back to Godhead. After wandering throughout the universe, a fortunate person within this material world seeks shelter of such a guru, or acarya, who trains the devotee in the suitable ways to render service according to the circumstances so that the Supreme Personality of Godhead will accept the service. This makes it easier for the candidate to reach the ultimate destination.” When I read this purport, You immediately came to my mind. The first big step in preaching is to attract the conditioned souls. You have expertly done this by opening centres like the Loft, which are all about outreach, hospitality, cultivation & care. The next big step then is to engage the devotee in Krishna consciousness for the rest of their life. You are very expertly doing this by understanding their psycho-physical nature, where they are at & finding the appropriate means & service for them.

You have many times repeated in your lectures what Srila Prabhupada said “Krishna consciousness should always be a challenge.” You have taken up so many challenging services in Srila Prabhupada’s mission to the extent of even risking your own life. You quite often challenge your disciples in Krishna’s service, thus making us depend on & take shelter of Krishna. I am very grateful to you for giving me a challenging service.

The mercy of the spiritual master is critical to the disciples advancement. Yasya prasadad bhagavat prasado, yasyaprasadan na gati kuto ’pi: “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.” Dhyayan stuvams tasya yasas tri-sandhyam, vande guroh sri-caranaravindam: “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 such a spiritual master.” We meditate on the guru at least three times in a day while chanting Gayatri mantra but ideally we should always think of the spiritual master by being absorbed in His mission of spreading Krsna Consciousness.

I would like to thank you for all your love, affection & care. Of course the best way I can try to repay my debt to you is by sharing with others what you have shared with me.
I pray for your mercy that I can be a sincere soul & take all your instructions seriously.

Your aspiring servant

Nanda Mandir dasa

Dear Gurudeva, please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada.
To endeavour to be Krishna conscious is to declare war on the illusory energy.
This seems like a big deal, because the illusory energy is very big and we are very, very small. Sometimes it feels like an uphill battle, like I'm just destined to lose against this fierce opponent.
But then I remember your kindness and compassion and I feel strong in the face of even the most difficult tests of maya. If it wasn't for your encouragement I would be smothered by the powerful influence of material desires.
I see my school friends enveloped in the strong rope of the material modes of nature, such as ignorance and passion, and yet I still desire these so-called material enjoyments. But with your support and encouragement I am inspired to go beyond the flickering pleasures and agonising pains of this material world.
Your lectures are an inspiration, when you speak you leave no doubt as to the greatness of Krishna and his devotional service, you are always pushing forward the glories of the sankirtan movement and you are always fixed in the service of Srila Prabhupada.
I am really happy to have been given the opportunity to render service to you.
I hope that someday I will be able to repay you for all the strength you have given me in my quest for spiritual enlightenment and that I will be able to serve you one hundred percent.
From your aspiring servant Nanda

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

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 life as in these years I took my first steps towards my spiritual life and because you gave me shelter on march 4 2011 at Krishna valley and on 15 august 2012 you blessed our home with your lotus feet even though I am not eligible, on the day of shelter I had explained about my problems in my spiritual life and gracefully you had advised how to deal with them and by your blessings today I am free from that problems.
Initially my wife not favourable to Krishna conscious but by your mercy things had changed now she also does 16 rounds daily and I am hoping very soon she would seek your shelter, my seven year old son Nikhil also chants one round a day.
Gurudeva please bless me on this auspicious day of Vyasa-puja so that me and my family may further improve in spiritual life.

Your aspiring srevent,
Narender Reddy

An offering Unto my Spiritual master
My dear Gurudev,
Please accept my humble obeisances on this auspicious day of your divine appearance.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and all glories to your divine grace!

Nama Om Visnu-padaya Krsna –presthaya Bhu-tale
Srimate Devamrita Swami iti namine
Pracare purva dakshim ca
Bhaktacare Pravinatha Prarathapi
Karanuyam yasya Sarveca te namah

Dear Gurudev,
Although I have no intelligence to write an offering unto You. However, I have attempted to glorify Your personality from the core of my heart.

“The verdict of all revealed scriptures is that by even a moment’s association with a pure devotee, one can attain all success” (Sri Caitanaya Mahaprabhu, CC Madhya 22.54)

I would like to refer to the New Zealand Retreat 2012 that was a very sensitive, sweet and nectarean experience through your Divine Training.

Perfect Father:
During my visit to New Zealand retreat, I felt like a school going child, which is utterly true, because I feel a primary school student in Bhakti. Amongst various dedicated and highly intelligent students of Your, I felt very minute. However, you looked upon all of us with the same eye. Just like a father has no difference for his intelligent child and a not so intelligent child. That highlights your Fatherly care for your disciples.

Perfect Teacher:
In my early school days, my tutor in school will allow us time to learn, understand the topic and ask questions that may assist to understand the topic well. I felt the same during the retreat. You personally associated for longer hours, allowed us to learn/ experience/ get nourished with nectar of Holy Kirtan that lasted for hours. That depicts the quality of a great spiritual teacher.

Perfect Vaisnava:
You then allowed time to ask questions and answered to thousands of questions, that was impeccable. You taught us many valuable chapters with your association with your disciples as well as Your God-Brother “Sesa Prabhu” during the retreat.
You consulted with Sesa Prabhu, allowed him to answer the questions of disciples as a Senior Vaisnava in the room. You again and again praised Sesa Prabhu for being your friend/ mentor in your early Bhakti Days. You have taught us how to deal with Vaisnavas (God Brothers and sisters as well as disciples of other Siksa Gurus) with respect, humility and politeness. You humbly requested us to continue to associate with devotees.
You stated in reference to the loss of physical presence of Srila Prabhupada, “If we are expert in associating with Devotees, anything can be tolerated in devotees association. Such is the Glory of sadhu-Sanga”. That proves that You are truly an expert in your dealings with the Vaisnavas.

Perfect Guru and Perfect Disciple:
You taught how to deal with awkward situations as well as nectarean moments. You humbly then requested to Chant, preach in whatever way, to whatever capacity and to whatever limits. That describes how much dedicated you are in Srila Prabhupada’s mission. You even clearly explained disciples to address you as “Gurudev” and not “Srila Gurudev”. That humble quality of yours touched me a lot. You are a perfect example of a “Disciple” and a “Guru” who engages the disciples in the service of His Guru.

It is stated :
“The Body is just like a chariot or car in which one may go anywhere. One may drive well, or else one may drive whimsically, in which case it is quite possible that he may have an accident and fall into a ditch. In other words, if one takes direction from the experienced Spiritual Master one can go back home, back to Godhead; otherwise, one may return to the cycle of birth and death”
(His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivendanta Swami Prabhupada, S.B purport 7.15.41, Purport)

With your divine instruction and direction, I took Hari-nama initiation early this year. I am too ignorant to render any service unto your lotus feet. But I feel overly confident that you would use me, to my abilities, in somewhat way in your spiritual mission of serving Srila Prabhupada.

Thank You for being a loving father and a perfect Spiritual teacher.

Aspiring to be your Servant,
Nava-Rasa Dasi

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

Whist travelling New Zealand, prior to coming in to contact with the devotees, I once considered how I could best spend my life...Is giving people some temporary relief from the pains of their body, as a chiropractor, a worth-while choice? Maybe I could use this profession as an avenue to teach people about a better way of thinking, a better world view? Should I try to live off the grid, off the land, living with nature, on a secluded rural property - separate from the obviously unsatisfying, dead-end career-centred city life - selfishly concerned only about my own happiness? Maybe I should completely dedicate myself to educating others, by finding happiness not through material circumstances but some higher knowledge? I thought that the last choice was probably the best option - but it required for me to first acquire the knowledge and to sort myself out.

At the time I was reading a biography of Ghandi where he mentioned a book called the "Bhagavad-gita" and I decided that I needed to find myself a copy, but being firmly within the confines of tama-guna, I never actually went out of my way to get one. Fortunately, a few months later I came across an effulgent devotee on Cuba street in Wellington holding that same book...

Now, looking back on what had transpired, I'm completely amazed at how Krsna has so cunningly fanned my microscopic desire to do more than simply satisfy my senses. I thank you for being Krsna's instrument and giving me the opportunity to fulfil this desire by setting up Bhakti Lounge and the Loft, and encouraging the devotees to make book distribution such a big focus in NZ. Now, by the mercy of yourself and Gauranga, I have access to the highest knowledge, and I am situated in such a position that I can devote the majority of my energies to the highest welfare work - Lord Caitanya's sankirtan mission. I feel ashamed at my inability to completely realise the full glory of sankirtan and the greatest gift of all the 'bhakti-lata-bija' - I thank you nonetheless.

As I slowly progress on the path of bhakti I'm starting to see the dirt in my heart, and therefore I am also beginning to appreciate the facilities you have given us to do the cleaning - the outreach centres, Garuda asrama, the mentor system, the brahmacari asrama, first-class association....the list goes on. It out stands me how you have so intelligently set up a net to catch the straggling lost souls of kali-yuga, drowning in the ocean of nescience, allowing us to begin our journey towards Krsna.

I would like to also use this opportunity to thank you for the retreats - not only do we get a program dedicated entirely to Krsna, but also inspiring sadhu sanga. How fortunate we are to get the personal association of such highly elevated souls as yourself.

Thank you for all the guidance you have given me - through your personal association (I will never forget the discussion we had at bhakti lounge over dinner when I was first coming along) and indirectly through your senior disciples. You have gently guided me into a situation where I feel comfortable to develop Krsna Consciousness - I do not like to imagine what state I would be in without your hand in my life.

As Srila Prabhupada once prays: "O Lord, I am just like a puppet in Your hands. So if you have brought me here to dance, then make me dance, O Lord, make me dance as You like." I sincerely hope that one day I will be your puppet, and this mood will pervade my entire life - in this way I would like to try to repay the limitless debt I have so willingly acquired, and assist you in pleasing Krsna.

Your aspiring servant,
Nick

All Glories To Srila Prabhupada

Dear Gurudev

I offer my humble obeisances to your lotus feet. Dear Gurudev you have been always very merciful upon me and your recent visit to Dr. Raval's Place at New Windsor, indeed was a great blessing to me.

Your brief interaction with my grand daughter left a lasting impression in her mind, she always mentions that 'You will take us to Krishna'.

Today you have appeared in this material world to carry the legacy of Srila Prabhupada and to give spiritual direction to all such souls who are experiencing miseries and perils in their lives.

You have given me shelter under your lotus feet and you have been very kind to me always. You are Patitapavana, Your Love for one and all is unconditional. I am blessed and I am extremely fortunate for being under Your Merciful Shelter.

Today, I offer my prayers to All Vaishnavas And To The Supreme Lord Sri Sri Rukmini Dwarkadish To Shower Their Blessings Upon You And Keep You in Sound Health And Excellent Spirit.

'Wishing You A Very Happy Birthday And A Blissful Krishna Consciousness Life'

Your humble servant
Nilacala Candra Das
Saratoga Springs, NY

Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to you on this auspicious day of your vyasa-puja.

Dearest Gurudeva,

As the years pass by I realise the good fortune I have been given by meeting you. I am so very grateful that you came to Canada and shared your thoughts on spiritual economics with others and me at the University of Toronto on that fateful day.

While I was sitting there I knew for the first time in my life I had met someone with real knowledge and I knew that you were someone special. You touched my heart in a way that I am forever grateful for. I now feel so blessed to have your care and protection. I use to think of myself as quite unfortunate to not have met you earlier but now I consider myself fortunate to have been your disciple even for a moment in this lifetime. I am overwhelmed with gratitude and appreciation for all that you have given me. Thank you so very much. I will try to serve you with enthusiasm, sincerity and determination and do my best to follow your instructions so that my life will be complete. This year I want to try to serve you more and more and serve maya less and less. I pray for the strength and intelligence to know the difference and act with discernment under your careful guidance.

Your aspiring servant and spiritual daughter,
Nitya-priya devi dasi
--------------------------------------------------

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

Dear Gurudeva,

I would like express my gratitude for your kindness. With passing time I am realising how difficult it is to sail in this material world without direction and protection. I want to thank you because I feel that protection and guidance from you. I am fully aware that I have a long way to reach my destination of devotional service. I pray that one day you will shower your mercy so that I will be able to gain enough strength to serve Krishna to your full satisfaction.

Your servant,
Gaura-priya das

Dear Devamrita Maharaja,

Please accept my respectful obeisances. All glories to you on the celebration of your vjasa puja.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

When I was about eighteen years old I met one really interesting person. This person revealed me that he had been practising Diamond Way buddhism for about 10 years. I had never heard about something like this before in my life. I could see in him that he was different compared to my materialistic friend, he was really atractive to me he because he was so open minded, relaxed without anger or holding onto something. His energy was just emanating to all directions :D. I just crazily fell in love with him. I wanted to know everything about his spiritual practise so I started visiting his centre and trying to know more about it. The centre was full of nice people who were welcoming and I also tried some chanting on the first day for about 10 minutes. The following week I visited the centre again and did some more short chanting. I was listening to the talk of a local famous buddhist teacher, it was quite confusing but anyway it sounded cool. Later on there was a special event, their spiritual guru was planning to make a big assembly and speak some wise words. The whole year everyone was looking forward to this moment. I was thinking that would be awsome to see a guru because I had never seen one before. So I had to save quite a lot of money and then on D day there was about two thousand people and the talk lasted almost 5 hours. Basicly everyone was waiting for the end of the talk because when he finished the speech everybody was just crazy and the whole crowd was running towards him to get some special shelter called lunk. I was also running to the front and when finaly it was my turn and my head was touched by his hand I just got stiff for a moment and I was like wauuu now I am someone now I can really feel something is changing:D..after a few days I just forgot about the whole show.....

Now it will be one year since I met you and your devotees. I didn't get any special head touch from you. Interesting. How come? How come you have been treating me so nicely as your daughter? As someone who really needed help and proper wake up. I don't know how to thank you for such care of my insignificant self. Without you and your devotees I would probably continue in my sinful life style forever. Now I can safely say that I know what the real purpose of the word guru means. The real power of guru is like a touchstone which can turn the iron of a dull headed person to golden hearted Vaisnava.

I was thinking if the German people in 1939 would have gotten the opportunity to write a vjasa puja offering to their beloved guru Adolf Hitler they probably would have glorified his harshness, uncompromisingness, and his tough nature. They would thank him for protecting them and destroying so many "enemies" of the German nation. The potency of the most influential people is amazing to see. This same potency which is given only by Krsna can be used either to help or to harm living entities. You are using your potency in the first case because you are so merciful. Actually you are also uncompromising but in a different way. You uncompromisingly do the highest welfare work for others, trying to give Krsna to everyone!

your aspiring servant,
Bhaktin Paja.

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my humbles obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to you in your appearance day

It is difficult for me to find the right words to express my gratitude to you. Since I met you in 2009 you have been very kind to me, helping me to find my way and encourage me to follow the path of devotional service, even though I was very far away from the devotees and even though I haven’t been a very good disciple. I feel in debt and I’ll do my best to reciprocate your care and affection.

your aspirant servant
Pamela

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

I heard a story how once some devotees made very enthusiastic kirtan in the presence of Gourakisora Das Babaji. Listening to the loud kirtan, Babaji Maharaja commented:

“The mridangas are cracking, but the heart is not cracking.”

After hearing the sadhu’s words the devotees felt somewhat embarrassed.

This is how I often feel in your presence – I am ashamed because I am keeping my material attachments and stubbornly refuse to surrender. With your instructions you are showing very clearly the way out of the material world of suffering to the spiritual realm of pure love of God, but I am unwilling to follow you. My only hope is that you don’t give up on me while I am trying to become serious about Krishna consciousness.

Association of exalted uttama devotees like you is the only chance for poor, materialistic, so-called devotees like me. Your pure example is the only remedy for my material decease called asat-trisna, hankering after illusory phenomena and hridaya-daurbalyam, weakness and hesitancy of the heart. In Srimad Bhagavatam 11.3.30 it is stated:

One should learn how to associate with the devotees of the Lord by gathering with them to chant the glories of the Lord. This process is most purifying. As devotees thus develop their loving friendship, they feel mutual happiness and satisfaction. And by thus encouraging one another they are able to give up material sense gratification, which is the cause of all suffering.

PURPORT:

"Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura has pointed out that glorification of the Supreme Lord is especially potent when performed in the association of pure devotees. When devotees engage in saìkértana, chanting the glories of the Lord together, they experience the highest transcendental bliss and satisfaction. Thus they encourage one another to give up material sense gratification, which is based on illicit sexual connections with women. One devotee will say to another, "Oh, you have given up sense gratification. Starting today, I shall also give it up."
One should learn to increase one's love for the devotees, to satisfy them and to give up sense objects unfavorable to serving Krsna. And one should learn to view the entire universe as paraphernalia for the Lord's service. By engaging the objects of the senses in Krsna's service, one automatically becomes detached from them. And as one passes one's days in the association of the Lord's devotees, one's transcendental ecstasy increases more and more, through discussions about the topics of Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita. Therefore, one who wants to be free from the harassment of mäyä in the form of sense gratification must constantly associate with pure devotees of the Lord who have no engagement other than chanting and hearing the glories of the Lord and carrying out His mission on earth."

Dear Gurudeva, since you are one of those great personalities described in this purport, who have no engagement other than chanting and hearing the glories of the Lord and carrying out His mission on earth, I pray for you mercy to be always engaged in your service. Let me see the world only as paraphernalia for service to Krishna and not as an opportunity for sense gratification. Please bless me with the qualification to be able to associate properly with the devotees, to serve them selflessly, and to feel the happiness of the humble servant.

Your servant:
Pandava bandhava das

My Dearest Srila Gurudev

Please accept my humble obeisance’s
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to you on the auspicious day of your appearance.


I have attempted to write this so many times ...every attempt at formulating words to express myself to you are inadequate.
How do you take that feeling inside that has been set alight by guru and fashion it into a sentence? Words fail me...in your presence right words fail me, in your absence right words fail me...

Thankyou for telling me what was obvious to you...You took the things that seemed insurmountable to me and you doused them with your intelligence...I am eternally grateful.

Thankyou for your ever present and well-wishing devotees, who guide me wisely and lovingly. They have laughed with me and they have laughed at me - the experience in Krsna consciousness is pure bliss!

This time a year ago I had no knowledge of the relationship between guru and devotee, devotee and devotee, nor that such a love for Krsna and from Krsna existed...now I cant imagine anything but.

I am a work in progress Master, all I have to offer is a sincere heart ...overly passionate at times but always sincere.
On the night I first heard you speak, you were a gift to my searching soul. Your appearance day is a gift from Krsna to all who encounter you.

Your aspiring servant


Patti Sobieski

Dear Maharaj,

Please accept my humble obeissances.
All glories to srila prabhupada.
All grlories to you.

Six years have passed since I last had your darshan maharaj. I feel intense separation from you. Please arrange so that I will have your darshan in near future.

My spiritual life is intact only because of my listensing to your lectures and by your mercy maharaj.

I pray to krishna that you continue your preaching activities for the benefit of conditioned souls like myself.

Aspiring to be your servant,
Prabhuram Subramanian

To my dear Gurudev,
Please accept my most humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Happy Appearance Day Gurudev! I wish that you continue to be with us and guide us for many more years to come.
The great fortune that comes with your association is beyond what mere words can describe. Every time you visit Auckland I look forward to your ever so powerful Kirtans. Your voice is just like a roaring lion which chases away any influence of maya that lingers inside of me. Also the way you speak, it feels like you push away those curtains of illusions within my mind. In these times my thoughts come to a halt; I forget all my anxieties and attempts to plan things my way. I really become appreciative of your patience and the amount of compassion you have towards me and my family.
On the other hand, while you are not present desires of all sorts are ready to get a grip of me and expectations from others cloud my way. In the midst of all that, the most caring and adorable Gopala reminds me that this time last year, I had offered you a promise of a lifetime in service.
That promise gives me a platform to stand on but to walk on the rest of the journey under your shelter I would like to offer you my heart. It’s the one thing I hide from everyone. In fear of worldly attachments I avoid sentimental matters but it sure has a lot of room to help you serve Srila Prabhupada. My mind has shown me the dark side and my body has chalked out a plan of unending distress but my heart longs to reach Krishna. Please accept it in your service.
I hope to give more of myself to you till the day I am truly surrendered and you are satisfied. Please give me the blessing through which my heart grows stronger in service and is capable of helping others too.

Your spiritual daughter and servant,
Prema-lata Devi Dasi

Hare Krishna Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.

On this very auspicious day of your appearance day I like to wish you good health and long life.
In spite of ups and downs of our life, it is no less than a miracle that we still able to perform devotional service. It is only because of your mercy and love that we somehow or other able to chant, read and attend programs.

We've moved to Pune Dec 12, and the temple here in Pune is very vibrant, lots and lots of programs happens here. We also have fortune of having association of many visiting maharaj.

I'm about to complete the book and Krishna willing it’ll be send to print in second week of October. Please bless, that this small effort of mine bring me closer to serve you and Krishna.

I don't have any qualification to serve you. Please be merciful on this useless soul and guide us to take small steps in devotional service.

Your aspiring servant,
Premdham das.

My dear Guru Maharaj

Please accept my most humble obeisances.

All glories to Srila Prabhuapad

I pray to Krishna for your good health and longevity.

I have often wondered how I can develop a more personal relationship with you so I can feel the same love for you the way some of my God sisters do and at the same time experience reciprocation of that love from you.

Some months ago you instructed me to take the initiation exam. It was only by your mercy that I was able to sit for that exam and pass it. However, for various reasons I was not recommended to you for initiation. Whilst in my heart I knew those reasons were legitimate, I felt quite disheartened. At that point I did wonder what this rejection would mean to you. Your subsequent email gave me the much needed encouragement and it also opened the door for developing a personal relationship with you.

Maharaj, recently I realised my children and I do not spend any time in your physical presence. It is largely due to my lack of desire to do so. However, by the mercy of devotees that I associate with this situation is changing. I am praying to Krishna that in future when you visit Melbourne, my family can take your darshan and get your blessings. I am praying that we can hear your Bhagvatam class in person, attend your retreats and dance with you in the kirtans.
Your servant
Priyanka

Dear Gurudeva,

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

When I was in India, my knowledge about god was rituals, occasional temple visits, speculate and declare that all the demigods are god (although we do not use the term demigod. Its just GOD). Most of us don't even know Krishna had appeared as Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu in Bengal to distribute knowledge that no other incarnation had offered.

I came to NZ for more material opulence. But, I was offered much better deal by your devotee Sachi Dulal prabhu - knowledge about god. I was bewildered when I first went to Bhakti Lounge and all I see is white people dancing and singing the Mahamantra. It took me a long time to understand the glories of chanting the holy name. In Sri Caitanya Caritamrita, Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami quotes a verse from SB 11.5.32 "In the age of kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of godhead who constantly sings the name of Krishna. Although his complexion is not blackish. He is Krishna himself. He is accompanied by his associates, servants, weapons and confidential companions." Congregational chanting is the only way to understand Krishna.

To spread this knowledge of Krishna, you risked your life in the communist countries. As you were explaining in one of your class, all the risks and impediments you underwent in those countries made me appreciate your service more. You took your spiritual master's instructions very seriously as Srila Prabhupada took his spiritual master's instruction to be his life and soul. Your devotees have taken up your mission in New Zealand. I thank you for this opportunity to server your devotees. Indeed they have help me realize the potent of the holy name. I also thank you for guiding me on my spiritual path as the captain guides his boat to cross the ocean. I am indebted to you and your devotees for your compassion and help. Hopefully I can reciprocate the same one day.

All glories to your service Gurudeva. I pray that I always remember and follow your instructions.

Your ever aspiring servant,
Puneeth Anandaraj

Dearest Gurudeva,

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

It’s hard to believe that another year has flown by. Again here we all are so fortunate to share in this most beautiful occasion - your Vyasa Puja.

I’m here trying to muster up some sincerity and words of love and appreciation for you Gurudeva, my beloved spiritual father. I wish I had a way with words to eloquently explain how wonderful and dear you are to me.

In the purport of the second canto of Srimad Bhagavatam, chapter 2, text 30, Srila Prabhupada explains that through bhakti yoga one can understand the importance of service to the Lord through the causeless mercy of the Lord, as well as that of the spiritual master. A sincere soul is helped by the Lord through meeting a bona fide spiritual master, the representative of the Lord. By the instruction of such a spiritual master, one gets the seed of bhakti yoga.

Not only do you give us the seed of bhakti-yoga Gurudeva, but you help us sow the seed of bhakti within our hearts and show us how to nurture this delicate seed by the watering process of hearing and chanting the holy names of the Lord.

Real love doesn’t just happen over night it's a process and takes time and commitment. 11 years in I’m still a newbie and so far away from reaching the ultimate goal of life - developing love of Krsna.

You’ve taught me its not just the service we are doing but our mood and intentions behind the service that really counts.

One day you referred to me as Wonder Girl and the name has stuck ever since. The first time you called me that I thought, why does he call me wonder girl? There's nothing of wonder about me. Then I realised the wonder and miracle that I’m still here is because of you.

Your expert ways guide us through this crazy maze of existence. You have always been so real with your dealings with people. You say how it is and you walk the talk. Countless times you have rescued me from my deepest darkest moments.

We are living in a world where the modes of passion and ignorance are raging ahead and the mode of goodness hardly gets a look in.

Life is always constantly changing and the test of our sincerity is always in the forefront. Maya’s tricks know no bounds. I remember some years back when a man was killed outside Bhakti Lounge while he was trying to cross the road. I was deeply disturbed by seeing this incident unfold. One thing you said to me was right now the curtains of maya have been ripped right open. Its so raw and real right now but just you wait. Wait and see how long it is before the curtains of illusion again draw closed.

Thank you for all that you do for everyone. I see how you constantly give your time, care, love and wisdom to everyone you meet. Your determination and firm faith in Srila Prabhupada’s mission never waivers.

Gurudeva, I want to be sincere but to actually truly and deeply develop real sincerity, not to just say it, but to think and act sincerely throughout my dealings with all living beings.

I pray on this most special of days please always engage me in your service, please help me to develop true sincerity and love for Krsna and to never be lazy and selfish in my dealings with all devotees.

Begging always to please remain at the shelter of your lotus feet.

Your indebted servant and spiritual daughter,
Radha Prasada devi dasi

Dearest Gurumaharaj,

Please accept my most humble obeisances at your lotus feet!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to the most auspicious day of your Vyaspuja!

On this most auspicious day, I wanted to glorify you by remembering your offering to Srila Prabhupada on His Vyaspuja celebrated a few weeks ago. While I don’t have the intelligence to fully comprehend the humility and depth of your words, I still felt in those words, your deepest, ever-growing love and appreciation for His Divine Grace. Thank you Gurumaharaj for teaching us by your own example how to serve and glorify one’s spiritual master, both in vani and vapu.

Gurumaharaj, in my offering, I would like to meditate on the special position of your merciful instructions in my life.

I was wandering aimlessly in this material world until I met you in May 2007 in Toronto. Your instruction to live a simple, bhakti-centric life changed the course of my otherwise boring life, and gave me a goal to aspire for. Amazingly, by your divine mercy, somehow I got the intelligence to adjust my work situation to allow for more time for direct devotional service. Since then, my life has been a wonderful spiritual journey of ever-growing devotional service in the association of the devotees. Thank you Gurumaharaj for changing the course of my Karmic cycle towards Krishna Consciousness.

Gurumaharaj, every time I receive an instruction from you, I feel that it opens up to me a whole new world of opportunities in Krishna Consciousness. Your words become the ‘sutras’ that not only help me make the right decisions in my life, but also allow me to help others deal with their life questions. I am amazed how these powerful sutras help me understand and explain an apparently complex life situation. Thank you Gurumaharaj for showering your wisdom and care upon me in the form of your merciful instructions.

Gurumaharaj, I realize that I have no qualification to be able to fulfill these instructions. My only solace, however, is in the words of Srila Prabhupada in the purport of Srimad Bhagavatam verse 2.9.8:
“Following the order of the bona fide spiritual master is the only duty of the disciple, and this completely faithful execution of the order of the bona fide spiritual master is the secret of success.”

On this day of your Vyaspuja, Gurumaharaj, I pray for strength and intelligence to always remember, and try to faithfully execute, your instructions.

We all pray for your good health so that many more conditioned souls like me can become Krishna Consciousness in this life.

Your eternally grateful servant,
Radha-mohan das
Toronto, Canada

Dear Guru Maharaja,

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

An important lesson was learnt on your recent visit to Wales. This lesson was directly perceived by our temple president and he quickly broadcast his realization to those under his care.

Tarakanatha Prabhu spoke in utter amazement as if he couldn’t quite believe what he had heard from you. Whilst laughing, he addressed us as follows:

“It really touched me. Maharaja asked me, ‘How can I best serve the Welsh yatra?’. In response I requested him to keep sending us devotees. Can you believe it? Someone of THAT caliber asking how they can serve!” He continued to laugh before finally revealing your glorious position. “And that’s how those devotees up there, at the top, stay at the top—by being a humble servant of everyone else.”

As the years go by in my attempted devotional practice I collect thoughts in relation to your association. In New Vraja Dhama one year, you teach me, “The vani is more intense but you cannot understand that on the bodily platform”. With this in mind, I think of how to intensify such association.

After humbly petitioning Tarakanatha Prabhu for service you depart to give your association and service to 11,000 devotees at Bhakti Sangam, Ukraine. However, in a very mysterious way, you leave behind something immeasurable for disciples, well wishers and even those meeting you for the first time—you leave behind your association. I pray that we can all come off the bodily platform to realize, appreciate and act upon what you keep leaving for us here in Wales and in each and every place you visit.

Trying to steal your association in anyway I can,

Your servant,
Radhikesh das

Dear Gurudeva.

Please accept my humble obeisances in the dust of your lotus feet.
All glories to His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada.

For a boy like myself of small knowledge, attached to the flowers of poisonous trees, elevation to the heavenly breweries, a smashing next birth, power and so forth, it is truly astonishing to me that your Holiness can attain the full pleasure of your hearts desire by submissively hearing the transcendental, sublime social welfare book, Srimad Bhagavatam. What need is there for skin and bones when as a realized soul you take continual pleasure in hearing such literatures. You, the learned scholar relish the real rasa in the spiritual form.

In kirtan it looks like your spiritual plant of devotional service has penetrated the coverings of the material universe. Its definitely not on earth anymore because I have never seen anyone look so ecstatic with earth bound plants. I dare not say where it goes from there for fear of being called a sentimentalist. I doubt its in the brahmajyoti effulgence as you are always criticising our impersonalism. You constantly glorify svayam Bhagavan Sri Krsna who doesn't live in Vaikuntha, Hari dhama. Maybe your plant has reached the highest planet, Goloka Vrndavan; has taken shelter under the lotus feet of Krsna and rests there. It looks like your tasting the spiritual fruits of your plant in kirtan. Srila Prabhupada writes..buddhi-yoga is the process by which one gets out of the entanglement of this world."
All your devotional service has been so sacrificial, nothing small or unworthy, but large, painstaking, and consistent.
When the gardener is out of this world surely his plant must be.


Please allow me to humbly try to express my tiny glorification as silly as I am.
My mind beats me a100 times with a broomstick in the morning and another 100 times in the evening with my shoes. Grief it gives me regularly and selfish as it is it hardly thinks of anyone else.

It is wonderful that you have trained your mind to be always thinking of doing good for others. As Srimad Bagavatam is nihsreyasaya lokasya– for the ultimate good of all people; so is your mind. Your mind is for the ultimate good of all people. It swarms with thoughts of various novel ways to see that no one should suffer. Having long ago discharged the human mission, your wonderful mind, conquered and trained, exclusively serves spiritual dictations.
Srila Prabhupada explains...
But when the mind is conquered, one voluntarily agrees to abide by the dictation of the Personality of Godhead, who is situated in the heart of everyone as Paramatma. Real yoga practice entails meeting the Paramatma in the heart and then following His dictation.

I wonder if you have discussed about me with the Paramatma. I can imagine you saying "My dear Lord Krsna; I have one disciple... You could bang a cast iron pan over his head and it would just go 'clang'. He is such a block head...a block headed dinosaur, what should be done."

Finally if I could please add one last thought. It’s amazing to me how its the most gentle, kind, mild, meek and humble devotees like yourself who volunteer to spear head the fight against the insurmountable, most brutal and unrelenting illusory energy. It seems only the most angelic can really cope with this most ferocious attack on the human race. She would devour us all like a meal if not for your munificent grace.

Please forgive me for all my shortcomings in writing this Vyasa-puja offering.
All glories to you on your auspicious appearance day.
Begging to become your servant, Ramadas das

Hare Krshna Dear Guru Maharaja,

Please, accept my humble obeisances.
All glories Srila Prabhupada!
All glories unto the dust of your lotus feet!

I give thanks for your care. This auspicious day I remember your patience. A person who wants to be a realized person must have this quality. You are always very patient with this fallen soul, no matter what I am like.

Your insignificant servant

bh Richard Szepvolgyi

Dearest Gurudeva

Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and onto the dust of your lotus feet


On this special occasion I would like to share what I have experienced when you mercifully took this humble servant of your servant to expand and develop deep love of Krishna in prema bhakti.


You showed me a perfect example of bhakti yogi even before actual travel starts.
Both you and I were waiting at the airport to check in but at the last moment I realised that I brought expired passport. My hart was pumping and also devastated by my careless mistake. For a moment, I could not say any words due to thinking about what to say and how you react. Cue is getting shorter and I made up my mind to confess my mistake.
“Excuse me Gurudeva.” I said.
“Yes?” you turned around and glimpse at me.
“I made the biggest mistake that I grab my expired passport, instead of new one.” My voice is half choked due to afraid of consequence.
“What?”
My whole body freezes.
Short silence then you opened your mouth.
“I was looking forward to travelling with you. Ok, go to the customer service desk and change your flight. As long as you can get to Las Vegas by Thursday, it will be ok.”
I was struck with wonder. Instead of telling me off you showed me the perfect example of vaishnava “Enthusiasm” and “Patience”. You have tolerated my mistake and showed me your enthusiasm about travelling with me.


First time in Bhakti Lounge at Toronto, I was bit nervous due to no known faces and surrounded by many young enthusiastic guests and devotees. First night, just after your amazing talk, now it is time for prasada with guest, but my both legs are so heavy and not much energy to talk with guest so I sat behind the crowd and kept myself quiet. The programme was over and both you and I jumped in the car to go back to the apartment where we stay. In the car you asked.
“What were you doing? You just sat behind the crowd”
“Sorry Gurudeva, my health was not good” I replied.
“I didn’t take you to sit quietly, I wanted you to talk. Talk with the guest.”
That has blown off my nervousness and shyness. From next day on I could sit with so many different guests to talk and introduce Krishna Consciousness.

Prabhupāda: If you are incapable of raising yourself to the standard of becoming spiritual master, that is not your spiritual master's fault, that is your fault. He wants, just like Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, āmāra ājñāya guru hañā (CC Madhya 7.128), By My order, every one of you become a guru. If one cannot carry out the order of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, then how he can become a guru? The first qualification is that he must be able to carry out the order of Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Then he becomes guru. So that carrying out the order of Caitanya Mahāprabhu depends on one's personal capacity. Āmāra ājñāya guru hañā. Acceptance of Caitanya Mahāprabhu as Kṛṣṇa, that is there in the śāstra, in the Upaniṣads, in Mahābhārata, in Bhāgavata.
(Room Conversation – 29 June 1972, San Diego)


yare dekha, tare kaha ‘krsna’ upadesa
amara ajnaya guru hana tara’ ei desa
(CC Madhya 7.128)
“Whomever you meet, you just give him the advice Krishna has given.”

Gurudeva, you simply execute this verse. Wherever you go you simply introduce and encourage people to chant Hare Krishna and read Bhagavad-gita.


Gita-Nagari farm is the ideal Hare Krishna farm in Pennsylvania; they produce protected cow milk which Prabhupada always encourages us to take. Although it looks perfect place for Bhakti yoga, you still encourage community to improve.
“Senior devotees’ knowledge and experience mix with young devotees’ enthusiasm and energy can bring miracle. If you guys cooperate together to develop this Gita-Nagari farm, miracle will happen.”
I could see that you are very confident and clear about this. This reminds me of ISKCON in 1970th as Prabhupada’s knowledge and those young hippy devotees brought miracle in Krishna Consciousness, which spread all over the world.

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.”
(BG 4.34)
As you have told us that you had read Srila Prabhupada book 4 hours every day for 9 month even before coming to the centre. Also you always give us clear point about how important to do reading everyday. “Without sharpening your sword every day, how can you fight against maya?”
Gurudeva, I would like to be able to support your activity nicely according to sastra that is the way to develop the knowledge.


amala harinam amiya-vilasa
vipina-purandara, navina nagara-bora,
bamsī-badana suvasa

These pure, holy names of Lord Hari are full of sweet, nectarean pastimes. Krsna is the Lord of the twelve forests of Vraja, He is ever-youthful and is the best of lovers. He is always playing on a flute, and He is an excellent dresser.


I was singing this bajan every morning everyday at New Dwarka, LA. This is very beautiful bhajan. Thank you Gurudeva, you taught me such a amazing knowledge and never leave me.



I really do not know how much debt I owe to you and I do not know if I am paying back or not. I sincerely desire to contribute and support your activity some how or other within this tiny life. In recent email you stated “Thank you for not giving up” I am very insignificant one of your servant and I will be the same in the future eternally.

Your most insignificant servant

Rudrarama Pandit das

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept our prostrated obeisances.

All glories to you and your irreproachable dedication to the service of your spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada.

Much like teenagers yet to fully appreciate the sacrifice of their parents, we hover in the region where true awareness of the significance of the gifts that you have bestowed upon us is yet to dawn.

And then there are the times when we see the light.

An occasional glimpse of the sweetness of the maha-mantra, a sweetness that floods our consciousness with the recollection of our irrevocable service-connection to the Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna.

A brilliant insight from one of your Bhagavatam classes—sparking our spiritual intelligence—temporarily lifting the fog induced by the modes of material nature.

A special encounter on sankirtan—surcharging the heart with a nectar-drop of Mahaprabhu’s mercy.

Thank you for all this and much more.

Today we pray that we become more fully aware of your munificence, and in that awareness aspire to selflessly reach out more to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s love.

Begging for shelter at your lotus feet,
Karuna Purna dasi and Saci Dhulal das.

Dear Guru Maharaj
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada

The process of developing love for Krishna is very scientific. Spiritual master is person who has understood these scientific principals from revealed scriptures and after applying them in his own life, he has gained realization. Then he becomes very expert in instructing others how they can also use these eternal principals for waking up from the dream of illusion and begin once again to lovingly serve Krishna.
The person who had received these instructions, seeing them so valuable, will always carry gratitude for his instructor in his heart. The more he is following those instructions, to more he feels dependency on the instructor.

After practicing the process of bhakti-yoga under the guidance of Sri Narada Muni, Dhruva Maharaj became qualified to receive the darshan of the Lord and then spoke words of nectar and our Srila Prabhupada is giving so wonderful purport to it.
Dhruva Mahārāja continued: O unlimited Lord, kindly bless me so that I may associate with great devotees who engage in Your transcendental loving service constantly, as the waves of a river constantly flow. Such transcendental devotees are completely situated in an uncontaminated state of life. By the process of devotional service I shall surely be able to cross the nescient ocean of material existence, which is filled with the waves of blazing, firelike dangers. It will be very easy for me, for I am becoming mad to hear about Your transcendental qualities and pastimes, which are eternally existent.
PURPORT
The significant point in Dhruva Mahārāja's statement is that he wanted the association of pure devotees. Transcendental devotional service cannot be complete and cannot be relishable without the association of devotees. We have therefore established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Anyone who is trying to be aloof from this Krishna Consciousness Society and yet engage in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is living in a great hallucination, for this is not possible. From this statement by Dhruva Mahārāja it is clear that unless one is associated with devotees, his devotional service does not mature; it does not become distinct from material activities. The Lord says, satāḿ prasańgān mama vīrya-saḿvido bhavanti hṛt-karṇa-rasāyanāḥ (Bhāg. 3.25.25). Only in the association of pure devotees can the words of Lord Kṛṣṇa be fully potent and relishable to the heart and ear. Dhruva Mahārāja explicitly wanted the association of devotees. That association in devotional activities is just like the waves of an incessantly flowing river. In our Krishna Consciousness Society we have full engagement twenty-four hours a day. Every moment of our time is always busily engaged in the service of the Lord. This is called the incessant flow of devotional service.
A Māyāvādī philosopher may question us, "You may be very happy in the association of devotees, but what is your plan for crossing the ocean of material existence?" Dhruva Mahārāja's answer is that it is not very difficult. He clearly says that this ocean can be crossed very easily if one simply becomes mad to hear the glories of the Lord. Bhavad-guṇa-kathā: for anyone who persistently engages in hearing the topics of the Lord from Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and Caitanya-caritāmṛta and who is actually addicted to this process, just as one becomes addicted to intoxicants, it is very easy to cross the nescience of material existence. The ocean of material nescience is compared to a blazing fire, but to a devotee this blazing fire is insignificant because he is completely absorbed in devotional service. Although the material world is blazing fire, to a devotee it appears full of pleasure (viśvaḿ pūrṇa-sukhāyate).
The purport of this statement by Dhruva Mahārāja is that devotional service in the association of devotees is the cause of the development of further devotional service. By devotional service only is one elevated to the transcendental planet Goloka Vṛndāvana, and there also there is only devotional service, for the activities of devotional service both in this world and in the spiritual world are one and the same. Devotional service does not change. The example of a mango can be given here. If one gets an unripe mango, it is still a mango, and when it is ripe it remains the same mango, but it has become more tasteful and relishable. Similarly, there is devotional service performed according to the direction of the spiritual master and the injunctions and regulative principles of śāstra, and there is devotional service in the spiritual world, rendered directly in association with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. But they are both the same. There is no change. The difference is that one stage is unripe and the other is ripe and more relishable. It is possible to mature in devotional service only in the association of devotees.

Jaya Srila Prabhupada!!

Activities of the Lord and His devotees recorded in Srimad Bhagavatam are so nice to hear. Srimad Bhagavatam is one’s best friend. SB will give his shelter when one is happy or sad. When one needs guidance, uplifting association, answers to questions or shear happy moment, SB will generously deliver it. Always, without fail.
When I met SB for the first time I was only fourteen-years-old. I heard Hare Krishna maha-mantra from my father’s music record and then I started to search for Krishna everywhere. I didn’t find anything with which I would be satisfied. My last hope was a library. I went to the main library of my city. After looking everywhere I found religion department and then non Christian books and then Asian religions and then ( I was so excited) finally Srila Prabhupada’s SB set. I took one book, which I think was ninth canto, and I started to read it there in the library immediately. I was trying to read and read, but I wasn’t able to understand anything, not even a single sentence. I cried in disappointment and left the library and that magical book set behind.
Now, thanks to your wonderful guidance in devotional service, I am very happily reading Srimad Bhagavatam every day and I am praying to get opportunity to read more.

Devotees in Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s movement are so wonderful. They are unique personalities full of life. If one is examining their character, one will find that every one of them has some unique quality which makes them outstanding and they have unique ways how they want to dedicate themselves in Krishna’s service. One can always be inspired in their association, because one will always see how they are serving Krishna very nicely in according to their own capacity. It is also so easy to stay Krishna conscious in their association, because then there is always an opportunity to serve them and that is so much pleasing for the Lord.
When I met devotees for the first time I was afraid of them and I thought that they were fanatics, so I tried to avoid them. When visiting the temple, I always went there when I knew that devotees were not there. I didn’t consider their association in any way necessary for advancing in bhakti-yoga. I was thinking I would do it alone, in this way I would not end up an odd fanatic like they were.
Now, thanks to your wonderful guidance in devotional service, I am very happily serving and associating with devotees everyday and I am praying to get an opportunity to have more sanga and service.

Your servant
Sadhu-marga 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

My dear Guru Maharaja
Every year I feel stronger how devotional service has changed my life and purified my consciousness.
I had the opportunity to do different services and learn a lot. At the same time I enjoy the freshness to do something new and closer to the deties. Since I started doing services more direct to the deities my desire to be a better devotee and make other devotees increased.
Since I met you in 2007 you have been an inspiration for me because you surrendered your life unto Krishna and you are carrying with you and distribute to others the seed of devotional service. Just to see how empower and enthusiastic you are make me feel I should also help and do something to help another souls.
Wasn’t my plan but I never thought than will be cooking my first preaching key. I have been teaching small kids, old people, adults and running cooking retreats. All this moments have been magical because people after having Krishna’s remanets their hearts melted and they became ready to listen more. Last Monday teachings in Albert Park community centre people were eager also to sing Sarira abidya jal together and we did it. All this moments are empowered by Krishna and you Gurudeva because was you who gave me the opportunity to cook more and more at the Loft even to cook for you when I wasn’t initiated jet. You encourage me many times and at the same time correct me saying how to improve something I cooked.
Book distribution, specially December Marathon is another thing I am doing knowing how important is for you, Prabhupada and our movement to distribute Krishna’s instructions.
Guru Maharaja
Thank you for being an example for your disciples
And thank you for showing me devotional service because is the more important thing I have.

Your eternal daughter and servant
Sammohini.dd

Dear Gurudeva,

Pracare purva- daksyam ca
Bhaktacara-pravinata
Parathatapi 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.
Sometimes I remember the first time my eyes saw you. We were in Gaura Yoga, or bhakti lounge as it is now known as. I fell to the ground and offered my obeisance’s to your lotus feet. You walked past me in the corridor on your way to give class to some eager and spiritually hungry guests. You stopped when you saw me and asked who I was. One of the devotees with you told you and you shot me a smile before walking out of the corridor into the yoga room. That kind of special personal treatment got me out of the grips of maya and into the safety of your spiritual family. I am feeling so indebted to you words cannot describe it.
You are so willing to give time and attention to any fallen soul that approaches you. How can anyone who has received your incredible help ever be able to turn away from your shelter. Over the years I have seen a devotees become totally transformed by your personal treatment and then they go away and take shelter elsewhere. To me this is totally inconceivable since I cannot understand how one can survive the pain that such a void would create in ones life?
Despite the letdowns you sometimes must endure you remain very merciful. One particular conversation that showed me this quality took place in the Bhakti Lounge a few years ago. You were holding a community meeting and a challenge was made regarding the uniformity of the devotees dress which was being described as being ‘sheepish’. You told the girl who was asking, “I don’t really notice these things and certainly I never told a female disciple what they should be wearing, but if someone goes and dyes there hair blue or something radical then I may say something! But generally that doesn’t happen.”
You were able to turn the tables around while treating this girl very kindly. You brought her closer to you by your clear reply, instead of belittling her for her accusation. You are caring and thoughtful when dealing with others despite their lack of reciprocation. Please, gurudeva, I beg you that I may develop this quality for my service in preaching.
Recently you have ordered 25,000 books into New Zealand. You once described book distribution to be your “Blood-line”. Meaning that devotees who serve you by book distribution are keeping you alive! I hope to be of some value to you by preaching as much as possible.
Please forgive me for all of my excuses. Please help me to overcome my conditioning so that I can serve you more this year.

Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances at Your lotus feets. All glories to You in Your divine aparition! All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
This is a very special day for all Your disciples. Since I am mother, is hard to make some service, but I try to do my best for my son as a service.
Here, in Peru, my godbrothers Divyanama and Yamanuja make arrangements for a great feast in Your honour. I offer my pranams to my surrendered godbrothers.
I hope to offer some service in the future at Your lotus feets.
Please forgive my present, and bless my family and myself for the future.
Your lowest servant,
Sasi Mukhi d.d.

Dear Guru Maharaja

Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to you, my beloved spiritual master, on this auspicious day

A master orchestrator is expert at perfectly arranging various instruments to achieve a successful performance. Under the orchestrator’s baton, different sounds bring harmony, giving pleasure to the audience.

In a similar way, I see you as an expert, transcendental orchestrator engaging your disciples’ propensity and strength, up to their fullest extent, for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupupada. Firstly you accurately recognize your disciples’ nature, and then you expertly fine-tune their propensity for more tasteful performance of devotional service. Therefore, you’re glorified in the Sri Sri Gurvastakam verse;

<center><i>nikunja-yuno rati-keli-siddhyai
ya yalibhir yuktir apekshaniya
tatrati-dakshyad ati-vallabhasya
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam</i></center>

<i>The spiritual master is very dear, because he is expert in assisting the gopis, who at different times make different tasteful arrangements for the perfection of Radha and Krsna's conjugal loving affairs within the groves of Vrndavana. I offer my most humble obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.</i>

Then, I wondered; how can you be free from partiality of preferring one nature to the other? What allows you to see the hidden beauty beyond the thick layers of our ignorance and coverings? Where does your expertise come from?

You perceive things as it is, free from duality, due to having a pure heart. This is verified by SB 4.20.10; <i>When the heart is cleansed of all material contamination, the devotee’s mind become broader and transparent, and he can see things equally.</i>

Then, where does your expertise come from? Well, as people will talk of how a mundane master-orchestrator is ‘gifted’ by God, you’re simply empowered by the parampara for your pure devotional service, being endear to Lord Krsna (<i>prabhor yah priya eva tasya</i>)

Gurudeva, thank you for being such an expert spiritual master, perfectly and constantly guiding us on the path of devotional service under your transcendental baton.

Aspiring to be your instrument and servant,
Sevamrita devi dasi

Full prostrated and humble obeisances to our most venerable and saintly master, His Holiness Guru Devamrita Swami Maharaja ! All glories to that munificent preacher who has given his disciples the most glorious qualities, guiding these angels of mercy on the selfless task of delivering the conditioned souls into the blissful warmth and spectacular light of Lord Sri Krishna's eternal loving embrace !

Maharaja Devamrita, you are a truly auspicious personality of divine origin, a spiritual master who, with Krishna Prema, offers a hand of unlimited mercy that shelters the cold and lonely souls from the ocean of nesceince and suffering ! Pray... If only the blinded bodies, clouded minds and blunted souls could comprehend the ocean of opulence that is within your palm !

Oh most Saintly Teacher, you spread the timeless and infinite message of Bhakti, turning a material cheater into a spiritual preacher. I have learnt from you the most important messages to live by...
... *Reciprocation in the transcendental loving service of the Lord is the real purpose and meaning of life !
* Knowledge of the transcendental pastimes of the Lord are the real enjoyment and wonders of the universe ! * Transcendental visions of the 'Supreme Absolute Truth' is what brings real happiness and bliss !

I have learnt to 'love living life whilst living a life of love'. My experience in Bhakti is limitless and i have found that the hearts of the Devotees are priceless !

Gurudeva is an angel, an angel with the most liberating message... Krishna !! And like an angel, even when you are not in sight, I know your always there for me. You were there for me before i met you in this life and you will be there after i give this life up. I will follow you and serve you to the best of my ability until the day Krishna comes to collect his children and wipes the tears from our eyes... and the stars from the sky !!

As you watch over me and guide me along, my faith is renewed and hope grows strong. I have found it possible to achieve my dreams, with your gifts of faith and hope, i have done extraordinary things. So i know i am most blessed when you bring from above, those most precious things from Krishna... Faith, Hope and Love !

Perfect knowledge imparted from a glorified Vedantist satiates the insatiable, the words emanating from your lotus mouth is sweet nectar, has real substance and is medicinal ! So on this most celebrated day, I fall at your feet with great awe and reverence and i offer my heartfelt appreciation and thanks for offering your divine hand of deliverance that has dragged this lowly soul from the painful suffering and clouded existence i had inflicted upon myself. This soul kept feasting on of poison, a putrid river being funneled through all of my senses into the abysmal depths. My body, being limited, would have burst like a balloon full of stool !

You offer a glimpse of Krishna and through our own initiative find Krishna is everywhere, Krishna is in everything !..
... I desire to add influence to the breeze and sweeten it with roses and to throw songs to the wind as it is a messenger of love !
All this because the Devotees showed me Krishna ! I desire no hankering but Krishna !! Nothing but Krishna, nothing but Krishna, Nastina Krishna !!

All those who seek the shelter of the Great Saddhu's, such as His Holiness, Maharaja Devamrita Swami, who's sole purpose is to serve at the Lotus Feet of the Supreme Lord, gains a gift of spiritual vision ! A directive from Guru leads down an auspicious path and gives a gloriously worthy meaning. And those who commit to service at Gurus divine feet creates themselves a legacy ! The legacy of Krishna Conciousness is eternal and to be a part of that legacy is an inconceivable honor !

How is it possible to to express appreciation for your limitless mercy, how is it possible to repay an unlimited debt ? I am insignificant and deserve nothing but i ache with heartfelt gratitude for everything you have offered to me... you have returned my soul to me !

I know, now, that i knew nothing before you lit up my life, fanning a faded spark into a roaring fire, fueled on Prasadam and Krishna Lila ! I can only express my appreciation with humility and i sincerely wish to offer my innexhaustable soul back to you for tireless service at your soft lotus feet !! So thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to our Divine Father and Well Wishing Friend...
... All Glories unto You, Hare Krishna !!

From your aspiring servant
His Holiness Devamrita Swami Ki - Jai !!

Dear most Gurudeva! Please accept my humble obeisances unto your lotus like feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

As a brahmacari I'm attempting to serve you and your spiritual master's mission but the tendency to become impersonal is very easy. This is my favorite time of the year where i sit down and express my gratitude and glorify your Holiness in writing.

As it is said among vaisnava circles " don't try to be great, just serve the great". Serving my great Gurudeva is my only hope. Sri Guru carane rati , ye se uttama gati. ye prasade pure sarve asa.

Gurudeva thank you for teaching us the basics in bhakti like how to avoid gross distractions while chanting japa and also higher levels of Krishna consciousness namely avoiding subtle distractions while chanting like profit, adoration & distinction. Through your personal example, lectures and your writings you have taught us how to invest our heart & emotions while we chant & when we serve Krishna & devotees.

I always remember how happy you become when devotees or guests ask you questions at the end of your classes how to chant nicely or even ask any question related to chanting hare Krishna. You have taught us that any spiritual difficulty we might have can always be traced back to our inattentive japa and japa begins the night before ( preparing how we going to chant next morning in mind). You also told us that the" yogi is one with predetermined plan for his senses". Lately I'm trying to chant at least 12 rounds before mangal arati, the experience and potency is magical.

Unless empowered by the gaudiya vaisnava parampara for being such a great disciple ,how can you give us so many valuable tips how to have a smooth sailing in Bhakti yoga with in this turbulent material world of maya?

Year after year i admire seeing how much mercy & shelter you give your disciples, the disciples of God bothers and even to your God brothers if they are in need.

This aspect of shelter & personal guidance can be lacking sometimes with in our glorious society. I see even second initiated devotees are confused without personal guidance from their Guru. Recently a devotee friend got separated from his wife and he was so desperate to get some council from his Guru or his senior God brothers but he was not successful. Another devotee friend went off to go to Vrindavan to bhajan for 6 months without any guidance. i see so many examples like this all the time.

I personally feel so grateful to have a Guru like you , who goes out of his way to take care, guide us your disciples and give us so much mercy & shelter.

We are like children with good parents, very happy and proud. You have taken thankless position of a Guru & the headaches and responsibilities that comes with it so seriously ,therefore you command so much respect. Once you said you didn't want to accept disciples in a place where you are not able to visit regularly, guide and train them. What an amazing, first class devotee you are.

You have always taught us this principle " the more you give Krishna, the more you will get Krishna" even a new, aspiring disciple of yours knows how dear to your heart it is that we read Prabhupads books and present the books to others in various ways. Once you wrote to me saying " when i hear your dedicated sankirtan results i jump high in ecstasy" and you have sent a photo of you jumping really , really high in kirtan. I have this pic with me always on sankirtan.

Takur Bhakti Vinod writes there are two types of disciples

Antaranga Mukha sisya (disciple)

One who is introspective or face inward

Such a disciples thinks :

I belong to my Guru and he can treat me as he likes

I want to serve my Guru with body mind and words 100%

I should give pleasure to my Guru through vani & vapu

Such a disciples always thinks, what can I do for my spiritual master?

Bahiranga Mukha sisya (disciple)

Outwardly disciple

Such a disciple thinks:

My guru belongs to me

My Guru must serve me

My Guru should please me

What can my spiritual master do for me?

Unfortunately I'm a bahir mukhi disciple, but by your mercy and guidance hoping to become a good devotee one of these life times, selfless and fully surrendered like you are unto your spiritual master.

Krishna says one who claims to be my devotee is not my devotee but one who claims to be servant of my devotee i take him/ her seriously.

So on this occasion of your Vyasa puja as our Guru worship goes up through you to Krishna ,the mercy of Krishna also comes down the parampara through you.

As a refugee of kali yuga i have no qualification on my own, I'm so fallen and deeply conditioned like an animal tied with strong ropes. My only hope is your instructions, merciful glances and special recommendation to Krsna on my behalf.

I know distribution of Prabhupad's books is so dear to you and my God family down under they even have a mini marathon as an offering to you for your vyasa puja. I would also like to commit on your Vyasa Puja that in the next coming months including December Marathon i will distribute atleast 10k Gitas as an offering to you Gurudev. Please bless me i can do this successfully free from all obstacles.

Mahaprabhu says one who receives even a moment association with a pure devotee while wandering up and down the material universes is the most fortunate soul. I have had so many years of your association how fortunate i am. I don't deserve it.

All i can say is thank you for everything Gurudev. I am made of your causeless mercy.

Since the first thing you ask me always when ever you see me is about my health, i want to conclude my offering saying that I'm taking good care of my health. Exercising, eating healthy, going to bed early etc..i am feeling much better. Cant wait for the day i have enough energy to travel with you and assist you in your out reach efforts.

Please consider accepting this humble offering of this fool Gurudeva.

Love you my real Father.

Yhs

Shastra Krit Das
New Dwaraka Dham
Los Angeles
10/7/13

nama om visnu-padaya krishna presthaya bhu-tale
srimati devamrita-swamin iti namine

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

Dear Guru Maharaj,

Please accept my repeated obeisances at your lotus feet.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to your Divine Grace.

A smile comes to my face every time I remember the sweet nectar of your association. Your vapu association enriches me with inspiration and enthusiasm to carry out your instructions (vani). Every time I come in touch with your lotus feet, I feel a surge of something very special, something beyond this world, something so sweet. Your nectar-like words are so fragrant and caring. Whenever I have a question, no matter how complicated I make it in my mind, you always seem to analyze it with such precision, peeling back each layer and then answering the root cause of my inquiry. You help me realize my question wasn’t really my question and you elevate this into something I can learn from. I am extremely fortunate to have such wonderful exchanges with your Divine Grace.

I have very fond memories of being your personal servant in Toronto, Canada last year, I felt honored and privileged serving your Holiness. In each exchange, you taught me something deeper about my service. As Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 11, Chapter 17, verse 27 explains:

ācāryaḿ māḿ vijānīyān
nāvanmanyeta karhicit
na martya-buddhyāsūyeta
sarva-deva-mayo guruḥ

TRANSLATION
One should know the ācārya as Myself and never disrespect him in any way. One should not envy him, thinking him an ordinary man, for he is the representative of all the demigods.

While reading the purport, something really stuck out to me:

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.

You are completely attached to the service to Srila Prabhupada and Sri Sri Radha-Govinda. You are tirelessly traveling the world spreading Krsna-bhakti and touching the hearts of everyone you meet and saving them from the miseries of material existence. Although, you are detached from any personal needs, it is only through your mercy that I have been given such treasure of being allowed to serve your Divine Grace in such a way. It is my lifeline that I continue to serve you through both vapu and vani. My advancement solely lies in your service. Mercy is already there through your service, I just need to focus and serve you selflessly and consistently.

I would like to thank you dear Guru Maharaj for continuing to be my shining light in this darkness of materialistic existence. I have made so many mistakes in life, I have caused so many offenses to you and the devotees, yet you still see some hope in me, this is your unconditional compassion on me, something I will always continue to worship but never quite understand.

All glories to you Gurudeva! All glories to your tireless preaching and service to Srila Prabhupada.

Your servant,

Sri Goloka das

Dear Guru Maharaj

Please accept my humble obeisances.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

All glories to your illustrious self.

I understand that you are not attached to this body and that to you, this Birthday only marks another year of serving the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but this warrants a celebration, as serving the Lord is the highest occupation. You do so much cultivating, preaching and mentoring throughout the world. You look after your disciples individually with so much kind, personal attention. Today is a chance for all of us to come together and appreciate your many glories, and thank you so very much for all that you have done for all of us. Thank you so much for all the mercy you have showered apon me and my husband over the years.

I am sorry that I am not eloquent nor do I have the vocabulary to fully (or even partially) describe your glories, nor all the amazing service you have performed over the years rescuing us all from the stringent grip of Maya, but thank you so much Gurudeva, thank you so much for every thing you have done. Please tell me how I can somehow serve you, although no matter what I do I can never hope to repay even the smallest amount of the mercy and kindness you have given me.

Your aspiring Servant

Sri Radhika dd

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

Dearest Guru Maharaja, although I am unqualified, for my own purification I feel very blessed to meditate upon the glorious qualities of my spiritual master and father on this most auspicious occasion of your Vyasa Puja celebration.

mukam karoti vachalam
pangum langhayate girim
yat-kripa tam aham vande
shri-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-timirandhasya
jnananjana-shalakaya
chakshur unmilitam yena
tasmai shri-gurave namaha

"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."

Dear Guru Maharaja, another year has passed in the blink of an eye and yet again I reach out for your mercy from the trenches of my material conditioning and mind. Surrounded by lifeless matter and the shackles of the day to day, my heart cries up into the dark night sky searching for the brightest star to light my path and guide me on.

Thankyou Guru Maharaja for being my light, my inspiration, my guide and my strength. From my trench like existence there is is nothing to hide from you, you can see straight through me, you know where I have come from and you can see where I am going, what humbles me to my knees is that despite all of this you have never left me or let me go.

I was meditating on this beautiful verse that we chant before the worship of Sri Sri Gaura Nitai here in the Melbourne temple:

nama-shreshtham manum api shachi-putram atra svarupam
rupam tasyagrajam uru-purim mathurim goshthavatim
radha-kundam giri-varam aho radhika-madhavasham
prapto yasya prathita-kripaya shri-gurum tam nato 'smi

"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 Shachimata, the association of Shrila Svarupa Damodara, Rupa Gosvami, and his older brother Sanatana Gosvami, the supreme abode of Mathura, the blissful abode of Vrindavana, the divine Radha Kunda and Govardhana Hill, and the desire within my heart for the loving service of Sri Radhika and Madhava in Vrindavana."

At least the first two lines are applicable to me. How fortunate I am that you have so kindly given me the maha mantra and always led by example how to relish and perhaps more in my case, how to cling on to these divine syllables as my life's goal through thick and thin.

I was remembering back to one of the sweetest memories in my life when my husband and I were serving you in Sri Mayapura dharm in 2008. From the balcony of our room, all I could see were the fresh green fields of Mayapura and the dharm basi's working in them, the distant sound of murdangas beating in kirtan and the chanting of vedic mantras echoed through the fields. That was where I sat for the next two weeks listening to your lectures and cooking for you. This was the greatest most blissful gift I had ever received.
While we were returning to Kolkata you were seemingly resting, sitting in the front passenger seat of the car. I was sitting behind you in the back seat 'chanting'. All of a sudden you jumped up and shouted 'Krishna! Krishna!' A large truck flew around the corner and narrowly missed wiping us off the road. My husband was also shouting out the holy names, but somehow I didn't feel the whole impact, assuming I would live forever and a little too familiar with vehicles in India always seeming to almost drive into each other. You told us how you had been resting but something had alerted you. You said to me 'Sri Yasoda, I didn't hear you chant?'

Once again this year you saved us Guru Maharaja. On one of your visits to melbourne a heat wave struck and started a fire behind our house in our neighbours freshly painted restaurant. It was late at night and everyone was taking rest, once again Krishna from within your heart alerted you to the danger as you loudly called out His name, my husband was not to far behind and called the fire brigade. As for me, had it not been for your loud cries of the holy name, I, along with the rest of our street would have woken up too late. Remembering our journey back from Mayapura in 2008, I made sure to grab my japa bag and chanted loudly this time. By Krsna's mercy you saved us all once again by your pure chanting of the maha mantra.

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 and the service of the son of Shachimata....

The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as a cloud pours water on a forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master delivers the materially afflicted world by extinguishing the blazing fire of material existence. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is an ocean of auspicious qualities.

'Gurudeva, give to this servant just one drop of mercy. I am lower than a blade of grass. Give me all help. Give me strength. Let me be as you are, without desires or aspirations.

I offer you all respects, for thus I may have the energy to know you correctly. Then, by chanting the holy name in great ecstasy, all my offences will cease.

O Lord and Master! When will such mercy fall to this one who is weak and devoid of intelligence? Allow me to be with you.

If you examine me, you will find no good 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.'

Dear Guru Maharaja please bless me to hold on to Krishna's holy name and to give this holy name to others as well.

As your unqualified and ever aspiring servant I pray for your blessings on this most auspicious day that I may be able to hear the holy names and be allowed to serve you, as a daughter I pray for your good health, long life and safety and as a mother and wife I pray that you may please bless my family to always remember Krishna.

All glories to you on this most auspicious day,
Your eternally indebted servant Sri Yasoda devi dasi.

Hare Krishna Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my obeisances at the dust of your feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Your qualities of selflessness and unrestrained compassion, just befitting a true Vaisnava, are saving many souls within this material mire. Being the true benevolent friend of the fallen, one such, was our tiny yet fortunate self. “I bless you such that you may start chanting the Hare Krishna Mahamantra” was your first dose of mercy and in the few years that followed I realised that this sound vibration was my life preserver and life enhancer. Srila Prabhupada explains that as a train travelling in a dark tunnel requires light to escape the tunnel; similarly, we require the illumination of a bhagavat to escape the dark confines of the material energy and reach that luminous spiritual sky full of spiritual activity. Your solid instructions, which are all attractive and always available to me, have revealed the clear path back to Godhead. Thank you Guru Maharaja.

Under your untiring guidance and strong desire for the pleasure of the parampara, Sydney sankirtan is gradually taking root. We’re "shedding nappies" as you mentioned amusingly. ‘Physician heal thyself’ – initially we should focus on ourselves and develop the necessary grounding faith; but for how long? The real empowerment and spiritual advancement gradually would accrue as we assist Lord Gauranga in reconnecting others with Krishna. We hope that Lord Caitanya's mercy movement floods Sydney and many sankirtan devotees come forward soon so that your wishes will be fulfilled.

I admire your competence and eagerness in tirelessly using all your time and energy in devotional service. We chant in order to be ever engaged in seva, but when the opportunity arises all too much, we may lament: “too much service, where’s my-time?” You mentioned that “chanting Hare Krishna creates time”. Gurudeva! Please bless me to become increasingly efficient in Krishna's service - avyartha-kalatvam. The Gosvamis forgot to eat and sleep being intensely absorbed in Krishna's name, form, qualities and pastimes. Arjuna became Gudakesa on account of his deep adoring attachment to Krishna as his friend. What is this stage of loving immersion and when will I be able to see and utilise time as a great devotional asset?

On the auspicious day of your divine appearance (especially) I humbly beg you that within me develops the earnest service attitude, which is so attractive to Krishna. I also pray again and again for the benediction of always being able to hear Hare Krishna attentively and chant Hare Krishna being freed from all offenses.

In bhakti yoga I am beginning to feel myself to be more or less helplessly dependant – a mercy case. Although I have no adhikara, and my spiritual desires are feeble and infantile, I am trying to patiently wait for your causeless mercy to descend. I also need to recognise how to catch it.

A while back I was thinking to myself, that some may exclusively try to attach themselves to the lotus feet of Krishna, but why should it not be that the lotus feet of my spiritual master are also not as attractive? After all, it is only by your divine grace that I can even dream of attaining the service of Krishna anyway. Sri-guru-carane-rati, ei se uttama-gati. All glories to you Guru Maharaja!

Your aspiring servant,
Sriman Nrsimha das

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

It is twenty years since you came to New Zealand and started the now world famous loft preaching strategy. How many people have your outreach endeavors reached since then? So many lives transformed. So many books distributed. So many people sampling the holy name. So many people tasting prashada. Most would never have had the opportunity without this wonderful program. On top of that you have developed a supportive system for devotees, so they can develop to their full devotional potential. We are sustained all the way.

It has been an interesting year for me. In my homage to you last year I expressed my gratitude to you for giving me time to work on myself and for encouraging me to do that. It has been a revealing period. I have learned a lot about myself and seen a lot of things in my heart that I didn’t realise were there. Dealing with all this murky stuff in the heart is not easy and confidence in my new self fluctuates. So it has at times been a difficult year for me. I want to thank you for your patience and love during this ongoing journey.

I also want to thank you for sending Krishnaloka to guide and help me. She has been an invaluable support in this heart cleaning endeavor. Her kindness and patience are incredible; she is truly a saintly person. I could not have made such progress without her constant support and encouragement.

I had a dream a couple of months ago, I don’t normally dream very much, and this one seemed special. In the dream, I felt that I was wrapped in a soft, loving mist. It was warm and effulgent, I was completely supported on all sides and I felt very loved and comfortable. I could feel your presence and see your face in the mist, you were smiling. After some time, you showed me a verse you had just read from Chaitanya Caritamrita. You were very excited to show it to me. I don’t remember the verse, but in it Lord Chaitanya was expressing how much He loves devotees that are dedicated to sharing Krishna consciousness with others. He was explaining that they come to Him without fail; He will even drag them back if they forget Him. You then indicated that I could become (or even am) that dear to Lord Chaitanya. I woke up feeling very comfortable, peaceful and loved. Unfortunately my old anxieties quickly took hold again. But I do like to remember the special emotions of this unusual dream.

I feel myself to be limping in your service at the moment. There are so many things I would love to do here at Bhakti Lounge. The loving sanga of such sweet devotees inspires me, but frustratingly poor health restrains me. I am trying another régime of health treatments with the hope I will soon be able to assist you with full energy and enthusiasm. For now, I can only do what I can do, and I am learning to relax and accept that nothing more is expected of me.

Thank you once again Guru Deva for all your loving care.
Your servant and spiritual daughter,
Sruti-cari dd

Dear Gurudeva

Please accept my prostrated obeisances in the dust at your lotus feet.

Another year of devotional service has flown by and I feel my dependance upon you mercy increasing more than ever. When I see the sorry situation of the world around me, I wonder, " will I ever acquire the purity and empowerment to follow in your footsteps and do something significant for Srila Prabhupada's mission to change the world from it's course of destruction." With my God family increasing every year on almost every continent of the planet I am so very proud to have such a powerful, influential and loving spiritual father as yourself.
As a humble attempt to glorify you on this most auspicious day, I have written a short poem.

In your association we have found,
peace of mind in spiritual sound.
On our consciousness you have made Krishna engraved
my beloved Gurudeva

Divine inspiration one acquires in your association,
for pure devotional service our one pointed motivation.
Your enthusiasm sets us ablaze
my beloved Gurudeva

Emancipation from material existence,
is the reason for your persistence.
The path to liberation you pave
my beloved Gurudeva

Heavy with knowledge which you expertly expound,
from your lotus mouth emits Vedanta so profound.
Following in the footsteps of His Divine Grace
my beloved Gurudeva

Austerity of traversing the world,
accepted out of love for the conditioned souls.
Selfless compassion you constantly crave
my beloved Gurudeva

Vrindavan you always carry in your heart...
Sri Krishna from whom you'll never part
upon His lotus feet you constantly gaze
my beloved Gurudeva

Countless lives I have been enslaved
by sinful activities but still you forgave...
Your compassion is unfathomable, worthy of praise
my beloved Gurudeva

So many divine qualities you do possess,
my inability to glorify you I do confess,
for my own purification I try and praise,
my beloved Gurudeva

Your mercy upon this conditioned soul
is unprecedented in all the three worlds.
Stambha bhava das thy name you gave,
my beloved Gurudeva

Your most insignificant servant

Stambha bhava das

Dear Guru Maharaj,

Please accept my humble obeisances on this auspicious day of your appearance.

When you once said to me “Thank you for your play” I was ecstatic.
When you once said to me “He’s back! With more energy” I was so happy.
And when you once told me “Your doing exactly what I was doing when I was your age, so keep going…onwards and upwards!” I didn’t know how to react, but I sure was inspired.

You are so inspiring Gurudeva. In every way I want to be like you, your character is flawless and so attractive.
Your Vaisnava dealings and service attitude are impeccable. But what most spark’s me is your determination to make the Guru’s instructions your life and soul; Srila Prabhupada’s desire to spread Krishna Consciousness throughout the western world, which is so full of impersonalism and voidism.

So many people I meet are setting their own ‘Goals and aspirations’ in life. It’s part of the NZQA curriculum. But what do we know? Who are we to think ourselves worthy of some title, position, position of authority?
“Let’s be for real” I can hear you say. The root of the problem is identification with the temporary body and mind as the self.

You are so intently embodying Srila Prabhupada’s teachings and taking shelter at his lotus feet, under his authority, carrying out his goals. So naturally I find myself begging for the shade of your lotus feet, because you carry the mercy of Srila Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya. Please shower your blessings upon this fallen soul and allow me to serve you with so much more love, eagerness and determination.

Thank you for being a constant inspiration to all the Vaisnava devotees, tolerating some many things and encouraging us all to “Take more shelter of Krishna, His name, His service.”

Aspiring to be the servant of your servants,
Stephen

Hare Krsna Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to your transcendental adventures all over the world!

Namah om visnu-padaya Krsna-presthaya bhu-tale srimate Devamrita Swamin iti namine.

I first met you through your book, Searching for Vedic India, thanks to your most wonderful disciple, Caitanya Lila Prabhuji. The spiritual realizations I received from the book were life altering. I could not help but talk about the book to everyone I came across, and soon began selling or distributing the books that I was able to get.

Then for your Vyasa Puja last year (2012), which was wonderfully organized in Dallas by Caitanya Lila Prabhuji with help from other devotees, I had not come prepared to deliver an offering. On the insistence of Rasaraj Prabhu, I had to stand up in front of the devotees and give my offering. That was the first time I had ever spoken to a gathering of devotees! It was the first time that I was speaking into the microphone in the temple room, in front of Radha Kalachandji!!

Being unprepared, I don't know what I rambled. The words just came from the heart; it didn't even appear to be a conscious effort on my part. All that I remember is that I ended my humble offering saying that I'm aspiring to be your servant!!! I said that in front of the devotees and in front of Radha Kalachandji. And in front of my wife, who was also in the audience.

My wife, who had already been chanting 16 rounds, had asked the question of other devotees about how to "pick your guru", and had received many good answers. At that time, I was barely chanting 4 rounds a day, and so had thought that I had a long way to go, before I could aspire to even think about finding a Guru. It quickly dawned on me that my search for a Guru had ended even before it started. I had found my Guru! Why me? I am so fallen, undeserving, and unworthy of this great fortune. All I can say is that this is the greatest evidence of Krsna’s causeless mercy!

All glories to you, Maharaj, on this auspicious Vyasa Puja day. We pray to Radha Kalachandji for your good health and many more years of loving service to Srila Prabhupada’s mission.

I beg your forgiveness for any offences I may have committed in writing this offering.

Your insignificant aspiring servant,
Subra Narayana

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!

For those who are traversing on the path of perfection in spiritual life, it is essential to receive guidance from a bona fide guru, without such a person we cannot directly or immediately approach Krishna on our own.
The example is given that if you want to meet the prime minister or president, you can’t expect to just knock on their door and get an audience! First you would require an appointment from his secretary, or an introduction by a mutual friend. So of course it is even more so when it comes to Krishna.
That’s why Srila Prabhupada states in a purport in the 7th Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam that one should serve the spiritual master first. It is not that one should bypass the spiritual master and desire to serve the Supreme Lord. This is not the principle for a Vaishnava.
We are all Gods children and as such all of us have a direct relationship with Him. So in my attempt to become pure and realize this relationship I would like to thank you for your selfless training and guidance in reviving this lost relationship with Krishna.
In Bhagavad Gita 10.9 Krishna says that “The thoughts of My pure devotees dwell in Me, their lives are fully devoted to My service, and they derive great satisfaction and bliss from always enlightening one another and conversing about Me.
How fortunate are we who associate with you who so clearly have these qualities.
The spiritual master carries the mercy of Krishna; he carries the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is your qualification. A spiritual master will say, “I am servant of God”. I have bought His mercy. Please take it and be satisfied.
Therefore we are so much obliged to you.
Krishna is the original guru He is the guru of everyone and anyone accepting the authority of Bhagavad Gita he is also accepting Krishna as his guru. Therefore, a bonafide spiritual master means one who is representing Krishna.

You are without a doubt this kind of spiritual master.

The representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead who acts to spread Krishna glories is guided by the Supreme Lord to act properly in executing the Lord’s order. It is said that such a person may appear to be an ordinary human being, but because he acts on behalf of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the supreme spiritual master, he is not to be neglected as ordinary. It is therefore stated in Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 8. Acaryam mam vijaniyat: an acarya who acts on behalf of the Supreme Personality of Godhead should be understood to be as good as the Supreme Lord Himself.

You are this kind of merciful spiritual master.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura has commented. “Without being empowered by the direct potency of Lord Krishna to fulfill His desire and without being specifically favored by the Lord, no human being can become the spiritual master of the entire world. So only the empowered personality can distribute the holy name of the Lord all over the world and enjoin the fallen conditioned souls to worship Krishna.

Such a personality like you is always embraced by Krishna.

As an acarya you give us the suitable mood for crossing the ocean of nescience by accepting the boat of the Lord’s lotus feet, if this method is strictly followed by us we can ultimately reach the desired destination by the mercy of guru and Krishna. Therefore one must accept the acarya-sampradaya, otherwise ones attempt will be futile.

(Trying to be) your servant
Subuddhi-Raya Das

Dear Guru Maharaj,

Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada and all glories to you.

“The supreme occupation for all humanity is that by which men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendental lord and Guru Maharaj, you are always engaged in it”.

I am very thankful and fortunate to get the shelter of your lotus feet. Please bless me so that I am able to serve the servants of your servants to the best of my ability and till my last breath.

I pray for your long and healthy life so that you can fulfill the mission you have taken up.
All glories and gratitude to you Maharaj,
With full respect and heartfelt love.

Your servant,

Sudha Sindhu devi dasi

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

It surely hurts to admit ones frailty in attempting to fend off the various pressures the world. Yet how can we not feel some sense of responsibility in trying to bring some harmony to the situation? When we see the suffering of people around us or even those close to us, and are faced with the limitation of our minute powers, we cannot help but cry out for help.
But what is the use of calling for help if we do not know where and how and who to turn to?
This is why I am so grateful for all that you are Gurudeva..
Painstakingly you have shown us that it doesn't matter how perfectly the pieces of the puzzle are put together, the picture is lifeless and incomplete until Krishna is in the centre.
It is indeed the most supreme level of science and art... and yet how you wield such art, dexterously applying it to time, place and circumstance.
It is not hard to see that you do all you can, faithfully carrying out the instructions of your spiritual teacher Srila Prabhupada, selflessly giving out the keys of knowledge to those in need, with the desire to illuminate the lives of our brothers and sisters in all conditions and bodies. While I continue to seek proper solutions both materially and spiritually in my own life, with still much to learn, I have faith that by your mercy these things are possible.
You have already completely re-arranged our perceptions of life, and given guidance in how to engage our energies that we may become not only purified, but compelled with a yearning to give of ourselves in deeper and more personal ways. I pray that I may some day develop a truer sense of sincerity in this regard.
Gurudeva, please help me to keep opening my eyes and heart that I may realize the beauty of bhakti and be able to share something of it with others.

Your trying servant,
Sudha-nidhi das.

My dear Guru Maharaja,

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

Through your vibrant and enchanting classes as well as the precious personal instructions you give us, you train, entertain, charm, correct, guide, encourage and inspire us.

It is inconceivable that all the words coming from your lotus mouth should be accepted as having been directly spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. You are no ordinary person Gurudeva.

CC Antya lila 5.71 purport

One is forbidden to accept the guru, or spiritual master, as an ordinary human being (guruṣu nara-matiḥ). When Rāmānanda Rāya spoke to Pradyumna Miśra, Pradyumna Miśra could understand that Rāmānanda Rāya was not an ordinary human being. A spiritually advanced person who is authorized to act as the spiritual master speaks as the Supreme Personality of Godhead dictates from within. Thus it is not he that is personally speaking. In other words, when a pure devotee or spiritual master speaks, what he says should be accepted as having been directly spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the paramparā system.

Srila Prabhupada followed his spiritual masers instructions so perfectly and changed the face of the world. Now you are following in his footsteps, fully encompassing his mood and saving so many lost souls who are being tossed around in the heaving ocean of material existence.

As your disciple, I am praying that I can always meditate upon and follow your instructions and make some contribution in assisting you in your glorious service to your spiritual master.

I can understand that by meeting you I have received the topmost fortune and I cannot thank you enough for this gift of coming into my life.

Today maybe I can offer one small effort I made on my trip to India earlier this year.

After spending some time in Sri Mayapur Dhama, I went to Calcutta to stay with my in-laws and to buy a few things for our apartment in Mayapur.

Before leaving Mayapur, I bought some small books to distribute in Calcutta.

One day I went out with my sister-in-law to do some shopping. I was armed with my small books that day but didn’t quite know how I was going to distribute them. Many faces looked at me as the only white sari-clad lady amongst the bustling brigade of Bengalis going about their daily duties.

In regards to doing book distribution, one devotee once told me never to make eye contact with a karmi unless you are going to hit them up for a donation. So with that in mind, and with so many opportunities for making eye contact, I started to hit people up…

On the bus, by your mercy, some people gave donations and took books. Then we got off the bus and went to the train station. On the platform, I distributed a book. I started talking to one young lady who boarded the train with us and she also took a book. Another lady on the train gave a donation for a book.

Then we got off the train and onto an auto rickshaw. There were two men already on the rickshaw. Both gave a donation and took a book! The rickshaw driver wanted one too but he couldn’t speak English so my sister-in-law directed him to the temple to pick up a book in Hindi.

Next time when I went to the temple in Calcutta, I also stocked up on Hindi and Bengali books as I was only distributing English books. I distributed them in the same way and also to some family members.

The instruction you have given me to preach and distribute Krishna consciousness is so dear to me and I am always amazed to see how Krishna reciprocates. I love the simplicity of book distribution; we just need some desire and some books and with the essential ingredient of your mercy, amazing things can happen.

I feel so enlivened, excited, enthusiastic and connected to you in this way. I want to always seek opportunities to preach and distribute Krishna consciousness. As you say, if you look after Lord Caitanya, Lord Caitanya will look after you.

Gurudeva, please help me give more of myself to you and tolerate the onslaughts of the material energy. Despite mayas constant attacks, please always be present in my heart in the form of your instructions, reminding me of the urgency to help as many people as possible during this short life.

Thank you again Gurudeva for giving me so many valuable instructions to follow and thus introducing me back to my real existence as an eternal servant of Lord Caitanya.

Please forgive all the offences I have committed thus far in my spiritual life.

Praying to serve you eternally,

Sukanthi Radha devi dasi

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada and to you, Srila Prabhupada’s dedicated servant.

nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale
śrīmate devamṛta-svāmin iti nāmine

nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale
śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāmin iti nāmine

namas te sārasvate deve gaura-vāṇī-pracāriṇe
nirviśeṣa-śūnyavādi-pāścātya-deśa-tāriṇe

For the past few days I have been turning over in my mind what to write for your Vyāsa-Puja. As your godbrother Rajendranandana Prabhu once said in one of the many Bhagavatam classes I have had the good fortune to hear from him, when a neophyte is in the association of an advanced devotee, it is so easy for the advanced devotee to see the contaminations within the heart of the neophyte. After class that morning, I was reflecting on the message and realized that I must be like a kid with a big ugly puss-filled pimple sitting square on my nose to most of the devotees I get to associate with. Everything I do is just a manifestation of all the dirt I have picked up over countless lifetimes of rolling in the muck of the three modes of material nature without a clue as to what the real aim of life is. I am sure that this will be no exception, but am hopeful that you may accept it anyway.
In one of your lectures posted on YouTube you said that one must put one’s heart into every service one does. When I heard this I wanted to cry out to you, “But my heart is full of so much junk!!!”. Every time I put my heart into anything I am just contaminating it. It is only by the mercy of the Vaishnavas that I am being allowed to try to engage in some devotional service. As Srila Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura writes:

jogyatā-vicāre, kichu nāhi pāi,
tomāra karuṇā-sāra
karuṇā nā hoile, kāndiyā kāndiyā,
prāṇa nā rākhibo āra

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.

Considering all of this, I can only express my gratitude that you have so mercifully given someone like me the shelter of your lotus feet despite the fact that I am so unqualified to receive such mercy, and that you are connecting me with the Gaudiya Sampradaya so that I may have some chance of rectifying my sinful consciousness and reestablishing my relationship with Krishna and His devotees.
I am occasionally asked why I decided to seek shelter from you. When I read Srila Prabhupada’s books and try to understand them by my own endeavor, I get a little understanding. It is like if I were to look at a house and I could see some of what the outside looks like, maybe a little of what’s through a window. But when I listen to your lectures, I feel like I am being given a grand tour of the house and getting to see some of the intricacies of what goes on inside the house. As far as I could tell and as far as I could apply the advice of the devotees senior to me who have given me their guidance, this is what it means to receive knowledge through the disciplic succession. Furthermore, all I can see in you is a desire to serve Krishna and to help others serve Krishna. I saw this in my first personal interaction with you when you told me, “I’m glad I could help you in your devotional service”, and I continue to see this more and more. I have therefore concluded that if I simply follow your teachings and instructions, which are a transmission of the teachings and instructions of Srila Prabhupada and all the past acaryas, that I have some chance to be successful in going back to Godhead.
I pray that I may be of some service to you and that, like a mother who excuses her child who kicks within the womb, you may excuse me for my mistakes born out of ignorance and rock-hard material conditioning.

Your insignificant servant,
Sukhī Bhakta dāsa

Dear Gurudeva

Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet on this auspicious day of your vyasa puja. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.

With your caring guidance Gurudeva, within the last year we have moved from Wellington, New Zealand to full-time temple service at Sri Gita Nagari Dham where life is centered around service to Sri Sri Radha Damodara, their cows and their devotees. Gurudeva your mercy and attentive shelter is allowing us this most wonderful opportunity. Thank you so much!

Recently my husband found an old copy of ISKCON FARM NEWSLETTER Vol. 2 No. 1 and we were enlivened to read your letter as follows

“Dear Paramananda prabhu, Please accept my humble obeisances. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada. I would like to beg you to please put me on the mailing list for your nectarean farming magazine. There are several serious farms in my region of Eastern Europe and the devotees would love translating this newsletter into their own language and relishing it. Your servant, Devamrta Swami. PS Can you send me a copy of back issues? Ox training info. is very relishable. In East Europe only the government farms have machinery and tractors. Everyone else uses animals.”

Gurudeva it seems this letter from you was written in the early 1980s and we were enlivened to read about your globe spanning vaisnava dealings and long term vision for farm projects.

Gurudeva I wish I could adequately glorify your wonderful qualities – your kindness, your straight forward, personal and practical advice. Your bellowing rolling laugh soothes my heart and makes it easy to keep practicing Krsna consciousness. Gurudeva as the representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead you embody the Srimad Bhagavatam that states “...You are the direct protector of Your devotee, he is able to step over the head of whatever obstacle...” (SB 11.4.10). With just a few words or a glance you make my mental monsters shrink to insignificance and allow me to be conscious of the real business to serve Krsna.

Gurudeva when I first met you six years ago you asked me to see my real ego as Krsna's servant, to commit to a relationship as an unmotivated servant and to pray for no material desires in my heart. This is going to take some work and more importantly humility – more and more I am realising that I just need to focus on your service. Desire management you call it – seems that we need to see every circumstance as a perfectly arranged opportunity to increase our desire to love and serve Krsna, to step-up with deeper offerings of love.

Thank you for your shelter Gurudeva. I can see already your shelter means so much more than I ever contemplated. Within the last twelve months you have provided devotional service, a place to live and caring spiritual mentors. Thank you for allowing me to write this offering, this opportunity to look closer at my hard heart and try to crack the shell to extract some of the true sweetness and appreciation. Thank you for your mercy Gurudeva.

Please forgive my shopping list however I'd like to take this opportunity to request if possible please bless me with the mercy to
1. Proceed with humility, enthusiasm, confidence and determination trying to repay my debt to you.

2. Properly appreciate and take care of all the gifts you have given me.

3.Understand that you are the very basis of my life

your aspiring servant
Sundarangi devi dasi

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.

Dear Gurudev, I wish you a very happy Vyas Puja and may Lord Krishna
bestow you with good health, lots of strength and power to carry on with Srila Prabhupada’s mission throughout the world. Gurudev, Bhagwat Gita sloka 7.19 keeps coming to my mind and I always remember you,

“bahūnāḿ janmanām ante
jñānavān māḿ prapadyate
vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti
sa mahātmā su-durlabhaḥ”

“After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare.”

Gurudev you are that great soul, whose only agenda is to spread true knowledge to the whole world .

I have never met His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, but I can perceive Him through you, I can see His great work through His disciples like you.

I consider myself the most fortunate – that you accepted me as your disciple and showered your mercy by giving initiation at Noida temple, on 28th October, 2012. I wish to stay at your lotus feet as a tiny dust particle forever. One of the highest blessings that we could receive from God while living on this earth is meeting a true spiritual master . The spiritual master is God in human form.

Gurudev I feel your presence in my day to day life by hearing your lectures and reading your notes in facebook -- that gives me a lot of guidance, inspiration and motivation. One of your notes that affected me --- “ The mind is the root cause of lust, anger, pride, lamentation, illusion and fear.”

Please forgive me for my offences and bestow your blessings on this fallen and undeserving servant of yours.

Your servant,
Sunirmala Gaur Devi Dasi,
Faridabad.

Dear Guru Maharaja,

I offer my respectful obeisance’s unto you, who are very dear to Lord Krsna. Thank you for kindly allowing me to be here today to be with devotees so that we can express our gratitude to you.

Three years ago you allowed me to move into the brahmacari ashram. Over these three quick years (and five houses) there has been a great opportunity for me to read Srila Prabhupada’s books and distribute them to the public. What could possibly be a better engagement of my inexperienced, immature self at this time of my life?

Srila Prabhupada spent much time translating his books in his room at the Radha-Damodara temple in Vrndavana before coming to the West. After coming to America he insisted on reserving these rooms, considering them his ‘eternal residence’. To ordinary vision they may have looked like modest quarters, but he considered them ‘just like the hub of the wheel of the spiritual world-it was the center’ (Yamuna Devi Dasi – SPL ch.37). This is because those rooms at the Radha-Damodara temple are situated at the eternal home of the founders of the Krsna Consciousness movement, Srila Jiva Gosvami and Srila Rupa Gosvami - having their Samadhi‘s on site. Srila Prabhupada felt the company of these Vaisnava acaryas and they, along with his spiritual master His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja were giving him direct guidance in his heart to fulfill Lord Caitanya’s mission and to bring Krsna Consciousness to the Western world.

My feeling is that you have given us an opportunity to take a similar, spiritual situation by encouraging us to relish and distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books. Our brahmacari ashram here has relocated physically numerous times but the center has always remained to somehow assist the glorious service of Srila Prabhupada’s book distribution. The books and their distribution were said by Prabhupada to be his own heart, they are like the ‘hub’ of his spiritual organization ISKCON, and these books actually give us residence – a place to work, eat, breathe and sleep (or take a little rest), happily in Srila Prabhupada’s spiritual society. Of course, you are fully able to award us this boon, due to your own faith and dedicated service to Srila Prabhupada and also because you are so very merciful.

Thank you also for allowing us to take a day or two out each week for distributing prasadam to grateful University students. There is something very much relishable in watching students regularly devour platefuls of prasadam. Over time as we see these students again and again on campus, or on the streets where they often take books, we can actually witness the amazing effects that being a regular prasadam-taker has on these people.

I can understand that my own perceptions are bounded by illusory identification with the material body, with the mind and senses. In order to destroy my illusion I hope I can assist you in your service to Srila Prabhupada and I pray for the strength to give up all my offences to the devotees and the holy name. I hope I can develop an attraction and appropriate mentality for properly utilizing this opportunity; which you yourself have told me I probably wouldn’t find anywhere else, at least in this part of the world.

Trying to be your obedient servant, Surata-natha dasa

Dearest Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my most humble obeisances at your Lotus feet,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to your auspicious appearance

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

"I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Holiness Devamrita Swami who is very dear to Lord Krishna having taken shelter at His lotus feet. Obeisances unto you who have all the qualities of unique skills in preaching, competence in Vaisnava dealings, selflessness and compassion."

I haven't written any offering for a while although I have been doing some sort of presentation on the auspicious day of your appearance. Today I would like to sincerely admit here that I have had no significant realizations in my Krishna Conscious life as I strive to surrender myself completely and struggle to uplift my spiritual life.

Last year has been a remarkable one for me. By your mercy and blessings I got married and found a Krishna Conscious life partner in Suvarna Radhika. As I distinctly remember when meeting with you first time after marriage you had said "So..This is your new acquisition..." and I reluctantly replied "Yes.." I have experienced myself and also heard from my god brother and sisters how much you personally take care of your disciples. But this time I could also see you show even more compassion and care for your god brothers disciples.

Whenever Suvarna Radhika meets you during darshans her joy knows no bounds. Even after darshans she always keep talking about every single moment that we spent with you. She feels immensely grateful for all the love and care that you are showering upon us. Sitting in front of you makes her feel completely protected from all the dangers of material life. Looking at her my heart cries that I don't feel such emotions at all. Then, when I look at myself I think there is a lot of work still to be done.

Gurudev I have always been struggling to know your exact mood. Devotees do mention that pointing to my senior god brothers/sisters that "he/she has understood the mood of gurudev nicely and is serving accordingly." I have been fortunate to get a glimpse of that mood through your lecture in Chowpatty temple about your preaching experiences in Russia. I understood how happy you feel when you see devotees performing sankirtan and doing book distribution. I got a deeper understanding of this when hearing about your past times when preaching in the communist country. It was very heart touching.

Fortunately this year I also got an opportunity to serve you personally during the retreats at New Nandagram. Serving you personally was kind of a mixed feeling. Even though it was so blissful to serve you, with so much enthusiasm, I could also feel the pressure of getting things right. But you have always tolerated my nuisance.

Dear Gurudev on this auspicious day of Your appearance I cant even beg as I have no intelligence and my heart has become as hard as a rock and I cannot even think of a prayer. But all I can do is offer the prayers by acaryas following their footsteps.

ekaki amara, nahi paya bala,
hari-nama-sańkirtane
tumi krpa kori', sraddha-bindu diya,
deho' krsna-nama-dhane

I do not find the strength to carry on alone the sankirtana of the holy name of Hari. Please bless me by giving me just one drop of faith with which to obtain the great treasure of the holy name of Krsna.

krsna se tomara, krsna dite paro,
tomara sakati ache
ami to' kańgala, 'krsna' 'krsna' boli',
dhai tava pache pache

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.


This is my only prayer.

Your insignificant servant,
Suvarna Radhika Devi Dasi & Candanesvara das

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

Dear Guru Dev,

Please accept my most humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada

On your appearance day I would like to thank you for the love, care and attention you have given to me. And a big thank you for visiting Cape Town this year. Allowing us to serve you brought great satisfaction.

Your guidance of me, a conditioned soul is whole-heartedly appreciated. Equally so is my admiration for the fact you guide, love and tolerate so many more conditioned souls.
Your skillful preaching, leave us fallen souls with the strongest desire to practice Krishna consciousness, only because you have made this process so much more accessible to people by utilizing Srila Prabhupada's genuine teachings.

Since I have met you, you have systematically analyzed my difficult situations without any input from me. Even in the most recent discussions you did so again, and in my own foolish way I did not admit to it. Due to your mercy I then have to face reality and am forced to realize that you know better than I do.

Gurudev, my every successful attempt to serve is labeled HH Devamrita Swami Maharaj while my every unsuccessful attempt to serve is labelled by my anarta's. I am thankful and confident that my continued relationship with you and my growing attempts to satisfy your requests will ensure a gradual increase of my successes and decrease of my failures.

Kindly allow me to serve you sincerely and to help you to spread Krishna Consciousness.

Your servant and spiritual daughter,
Sveta Manjari DD

Dearest Guru Maharaja

Please accept my humble obeisance
All glories to Srila Prabhupada

In this existence of duality and uncertainty Thank you for creating and exposing us to to an environment that is stable clear and certain. Thank you for opening up the door and giving us shelter from the harsh elements of this selfish society. Thank you for nurturing us in this spiritual creche and being our carer, our guide, our mentor, our Guru. And true to form as inherent naughty children we make mistakes and test the boundaries only to have you lovingly correct us and encourage us back. We may kick and squirm and wriggle, but always in the core of our hearts are your lessons on the way forward in the comfort of our contemporary wonderland.

You are truly our inspiration and strength. Thank you for your guidance., thank you for your presence, and thank you for accepting me as your aspiring disciple.

Always desiring your mercy
your servant
Svetadvipa Das

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

Vyasa puja 2013 seems to be a mission impossible.The meditation can go on for hundreds and thousands of years;how is it possible to begging to explain the mercy of Sri Guru.

Observing myself on the Battlefield of material existence, how many generals have i had trying to enjoy my senses, how many times have i cheated, lost, become famous, defamed, experinced loss,suffering etc. The list is endless. Countless births in all species of life that have led me to this life, a life of torment, a life of confusion, a life of forgetting Krsna.Every year the river of my grief would flow just with this thought.. However,the great fortune of having your glance ended the dark shadow of my existence.Your presence has annihilated all the pain and suffering experienced in the past.How then is it possible to praise the calibre of such a person?A person who ended the great depression of material misery?. In the words of Narottama das Thakura 'After a great deal of suffering, you have kindly tied your rope of mercy around my neck and brought me back to Vraja.' Thank you Gurudeva.

Dhruva maharaj experienced something very wonderful.
SBG4:9:4
Although Dhruva maharaj was a very small boy, he wanted to offer prayers to the Supreme Lord in a suitable language.. But because he was inexperienced, he could not adjust himseld immediately.. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, being situated in everyone's heart could understand Dhruva maharaj's akward position.Out of his causeless mercy, he touched his conchshell to the forehead of Dhruva maharaj, who stood before with Folded hands.

I am a very small insignificant jiva, what prayers can i offer? I can only rely on our predecessors who have paved the way and pray that i can touch a fragment of your glories.


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. It is not befitting to express such love of Godhead, yet a madman must speak. But even though he speaks, no one believes him. [ Caitanya- caritamrita, Madhya 2.49]
These words of Krsnadas Kaviraj Goswami echoe in my ear.
Having been a political major student, i was accustomed to studying and doing lot of homework but this type of assignment is extremely difficult.Having studied sastra, bhajans,letters, biographies, still the extremity of this situation still leaves a huge question mark, what are we dealing with when we speak of Sri Guru?

Sri Hiranyakasipu addresses Prahlada in this way, 'My dear son, association is very important, it acts just like a crystal stone,which will reflect anything it is put before it'. Similarly if we associate with the flowerlike devotees of the Lord,and if our hearts are crystal clear, then certainly the same action will be there'. You walk the walk and talk the talk, following always the beaming Rays of his Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada.

First in your life we watched how you we raised by your very much Christain mother. Second you receiving scholarships to the best Prep schools, ending with studies at the highly prestigious Yale University.

Months later you met a life-saving sankirtan devotee at a subway station in Jersey City. Attracted by his soft heart you purchased “The Transcendental Teachings of Prahlad Maharaja.” One hour later, sitting down to read it,you only reached page three when the words of Srila Prabhupada literally dropped you to the floor.
The very next day you sought out a trendy bookshop in Greenwich Village, determined to find more books by this Indian swami whose name you could not pronounce. Then, afraid that the exotic-looking devotees would capture you ordered ordered books from BBT mailorder--rather than risk another monumental encounter with sankirtan devotees on the street. For six months straight I read your books four hours a day--before even once going to a temple or preaching centre.

The next path was one of surrendor, compassion and a huge preaching misson behind the Iron curtain. After the departure of your Divine master you ventured out to live his words and walk in his footsteps;expanding krsna's glories and making him accessible to the masses of people in Kali yuga.

Because of your BHAKTI , we chose to lay prostrate at your feet, and then, gazing upwards into your compassionate face saying HARE KRSNA .

Because of your BHAKTI, some of us have the opportunity to come across Srila Prabhupada and his movement.

Because of your SURRENDOR to the Parampara , you travel to every habitable continent of the World, fanning and magnifying whatever inclinations we fallen souls have towards Krsna and his service.

The Bhagavatam explains of two things that we should not try to count in this world; the unlimited incarnations of Krsna and the unlimited faults of Kali Yuga. Truly we are Kali Yuga residents and full of faults but somehow or the other you have given us the only good trait in the age of Kali THE MAHA GUNA, the chanting of Hare Krsna.

Your bhakti career began in the USA, extending to the far east block where bravery and fearlessness reigned. Preaching behind the iron curtain after the departure of his Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada.

Years later emerges a pioneer, empowering devotees to give their life to Krsna and relish every moment of it, through thick and thin.Reading Srila Prabhupadas books and distributing them is the message.Obviously you are more than just a link in the parampara. You carry blessings and mercy from your own Spiritual master.

The exchange of spiritual happiness between Krishna and His devotee in which Krishna is controlled by His devotee is compared to an ocean of nectar into which the devotee and Krishna plunge. This is the verdict of learned scholars who appreciate Krishna 's opulence. [ Caitanya- caritamrita, Madhya 19.229]

Sacred texts reveal that the most unfathomable secret of existence is how the Supreme Personality of Godhead personally reciprocates with his dearest devotees.

The Supreme Lord, who is greater than the greatest, becomes submissive to even a very insignificant devotee because of his devotional service. It is the beautiful and exalted nature of devotional service that the infinite Lord becomes submissive to the infinitesimal living entity because of it. In reciprocal devotional activities with the Lord, the devotee actually enjoys the transcendental mellow of devotional service. [Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi 7.145]

Speeechless and left to drown in an ocean of your qualities, indeed What can i say!

Thank you for accepting Srila Prabhupada as your guru.

Thank you for your continued nectar drops, enthusiasm and taste for preaching the cult of Lord Caitanya.You have given me goals, spiritual desires, service to the vaisnavas and a desire to fully surrendor to Krsna.

You gave me the holy dhama, holy association and off course the jewel of all mantras, the same mantras chanted by Haridas Thakur, Bhaktivinoda Thakur, 6 Goswamis and Lord Caitanya himself. There is no wealth greater than this.

I pray that i may serve you with great reverence and that i may amalgamate my desires to serve the Supreme desire of guru and Krsna; to give Krsna to whomever i meet.

Ecstatic love of Krishna makes Krishna and His devotees dance, and it also dances personally. In this way, all three dance together in one place. [Caitanya-caritamrita, Antya 18.18]

Since you are an ocean of mercy I pray to your divine Grace for a drop of that mercy-the pleasure of serving your lotus feet.I pray that i may develop the sufficient adhikara to follow your wherever you may go birth after birth and that i may dance, eternally in the ocean of vaisanava sanga with the hope of attaining the mercy of Gaura Nitai.

Your menial servant eternally
swarupa sakti devi dasi

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

mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ
paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande
śrī-guruṁ dīna-tāraṇam

"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."

Dear Guru Maharaj
Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada

The years have flown by so quickly, almost in fast forward mode. Throughout this time our community (its members) have also undergone so many changes, yet at the forefront of our lives with your guidance in different ways is our attempt to come closer to Krsna. In these transient times, you have always remained true to Srila Prabhupada, his mission, to those you are sheltering and you continue to expand your shelter to others. I remember years ago, a regular visitor to (then) Gaura yoga would occasionally ask you how you are. One of these times you replied with a full-hearted laugh “I’m always the same!”. Of course out of care, though you remain the same, you also very thoughtfully acknowledge the external changes and internal growth of your spiritual children, and help us keep our eyes on the road despite the sometimes turbulent changes.

Recently in a conversation, you were emphasizing the value of devotee association to me. I was inspired by your words to really yearn for and appreciate the association of devotees and to pray for it (something which I would have otherwise not done if I lived in close proximity to other devotees). After all we are practicing now that which we will do in the spiritual world, bhakti is about relationships, and we are here to serve Krsna together. I would like to thank you for developing this community of devotees which we have today. Though I do not know factually the hardships you would have undergone to develop such a community over the years, still I can appreciate that it required both head and a lot of heart.

As we are growing up in spiritual life, trying to face our own battles of Kuruksetra with the training we received from you and our seniors, it’s the relationships (the bonds) which we have with other devotees that will pull us through along with serious calling of the holy names. Had you not spent tireless hours personally developing this community, we would not have the sadhu sanga which we now have. Our problems, our challenges are part of what is necessary for each individual to be able to go back to the spiritual world. However we face these with the support of our community, those individuals we spent time serving alongside. We have come to this wold in particular situations for the fact that this is what it is part of our own battle to bring us back home. But we do this with the help of association. And that association we find in a community of loving individuals. You have seen so many of us come and go, but never did you give up on shaping and tending to this community.

I remember you mentioned years ago that you are affected by some of the turbulent times your spiritual children go through. I don’t mean affected in the sense that you receive a reaction for our improper practices in bhakti, but that you actually feel it in your heart. At first I could not understand how this could be, but then a god-sister pointed out that “It’s like one of your family members removing themselves from the family, any parent would be experiencing it emotionally”. Knowing that these things may happen, you still continue to give of yourself to all of us. Though I may not be in a position to fully offer my energies right now, I hope that I can take part in giving to and continuing to hold our community together, developing genuine care for new and long-time practitioners. The community of devotees you are developing is of course not limited to this particular location, and so I pray that wherever I may be placed by Krsna, that I too will give to others what you have given to us.

Thank you Guru Maharaj, your determination to see every soul experience real love is so selfless, so honorable.

Praying to somehow be of assistance to you,
Your servant
Syama-gauri dd

Namo Om Vishnu padaya
Krishna presthaya bhutale
Srimate Devamrita
swamin iti namine

pracāre ’pūrva-dākṣyaṁ ca
bhaktācāra-pravīṇatā
parārthatāpi kāruṇyaṁ
yasya sarve ca te namaḥ

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


Om ajñāna-timirāndhasya jñānāñja na-śalākayā cakṣur unmīlitaṁ 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."

Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances and prostrated dandavat at the dust of your lotus feet on the most auspicious occasion of your most glorious appearance in this world.

“kṛṣṇa-mantra haite habe saṁsāra-mocana
kṛṣṇa-nāma haite pābe kṛṣṇera caraṇa”

In 2005 at the year end “ Recharge festival” at Otaki, New Zealand, you instructed this verse from CC Ādi 7.73 to be projected on the board after chanting “ Jaya Radha Madhava “ in complete absorption in your unique tune and voice that melted my heart and took my mind on a space tour to the spiritual world.

I was ” sold”, just by your powerful presence and almost tangible force of your purity. At the end of the “ Jaya Radha Madhava ”, you chanted “ Shanti dhwani” and then very graciously moved your merciful glance to reciprocate with hundreds of your disciples packed in the room.
To my surprise you spotted me in the crowd and requested me to recite this verse as its in Bengali and as Bengali happens to be my mother tongue. Suddenly the devotees turned their heads towards me as I merely uttered the verse while stumbling and fumbling a few times .
I was a new bhakta attending my first festival at Otaki, had no clue about the meter of reciting verses but by your causeless mercy you got me to chant this verse on the power and potency of the Mahamantra, the meaning as I understood then made a deep impact in my heart.
You then started chanting this verse most amazingly with accurate pronunciation and meter and the whole room full of devotees resounded the verse accordingly.
I felt like sinking under the floor as I realized, although this verse is composed in my mother tongue, still I am millions of light years away from realizing this simple and sublime message of Sri Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu composed in poetical perfection by Krishna das Kaviraj Goswami in His Chaitanya Charitamrita.

You then read Srila Prabhupada’s translation of the verse,
“Translation:
“Simply by chanting the Holy name of Krishna one can obtain freedom from material existence. Indeed, simply by chanting the Hare Krishna mantra one will be able to see the lotus feet of the Lord.”

What followed was a three hour long, completely mesmerizing Srimad Bhagavatam class which felt like a rejuvenating massage of my whole subtle bodies.

You ended the class saying, “Everything begins and ends with Hare Krishna Mahamantra”.

Gurudeva, since that day a few years have passed, out of your causeless mercy you gave me shelter under your lotus feet by awarding Harinam Diksha and then Brahmin Diksha, arranged my marriage with your spiritual daughter Sukanthi radha devi dasi and got us married at the Sridham Mayapur two years later where you personally attended the ceremony despite you busy GBC meeting schedule, and most importantly last year you gave us the service of worshipping the Shalagram form of Lord Sri Krishna to worship at our ashram.

These are only the big events of my life which I have been awarded by your causeless mercy, although I have no material or spiritual qualification to acquire them and serving them.

Gurudeva, I bow down at your lotus feet and beg for your blessings to actually realize the value of these priceless gifts you have awarded me so that I never chew and throw this priceless garland of pearls like a monkey. And kindly empower me to be able to serve your instructions on practising and preaching the art and science of Bhakti Yoga.

Aspiring to be the servant of your servants,
Thakur saranga das

Dear Guru Dev,
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada, 
All Glories to you,

It's been an very active year for me, ashram change,  work change & responsibilities too a complicated degree. Looking back, Have I could have handle the pressures of these changes, without your mercy & guidance,  definitely would have been deep down struggling in the material waters.
Thank you Guru Dev, for taking your precious time to guide me & show the direction on intricate issues that I was dealing with. 
Thank you Guru Dev, for being a father & helping out problems in our lives personally.
Thank you Guru Dev, for always with your lectures, which inspires  me to take Krsna consciousness seriously.
Finally if it wasn't for your mercy & protection with all these external changes affecting my consciousness, I would have lost the grip of holding into the Krsna Bhakti rope.

Learning to be a servant,
Vaishnava Charan Dasa

Dear Gurudeva



Please accept my humble obeisances

All glories to Srila Prabhupada



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



You are worthy of more glorification and honour then I know how to bestow, but like a child offering some simple present with love to the father, please on this very sacred day, accept the offering I have to place at your lotus feet, as one though certainly flawed, honestly heart felt.



Witnessing you executing the process of devotional service inspires and amazes me. The illumination which you shine with the words you speak, the doubts, misgivings and delusions you help willing souls cross beyond, and the ecstatic floods of kirtan you unleash are but a few of the devotional opulence’s that have captured my heart this past year.



But of all your beautiful and endearing transcendental qualities and activities, its your authentic love, care and compassion for Krsna's lost servants that attracts me the most. Seeing your willingness to roll up your sleeves, and personally rescue souls drifting comatose in the battering waves of Kali-yuga vice, time after time, year after year.



In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krsna explains to His friend Arjuna, that in order to rise above the atmosphere of illusion, one needs to approach, serve and inquire from a self-realised soul:



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-realised souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth. ~ Bhagavad Gita 4.34



And then one of the symptoms of a soul who’s been woken by the Lords process:



yaj jnatva na punar moham evam yasyasi pandava

yena bhutany asesani draksyasy atmany atho mayi



Having obtained real knowledge from a self-realised soul, you will never fall again into such illusion, for by this knowledge you will see that all living beings are but part of the Supreme, or, in other words, that they are Mine. ~ Bhagavad Gita 4.35



Thank you for demonstrating, by your own example, how this can be done. I am so grateful that you have given your life it illustrate these seemingly simple, but revolutionary principles. Thank you for representing the mission of the parampara without personal motivation or agenda. Thank you for delivering the mail "As It Is". Thank you for always encouraging the core essentials, the potent essence and not diverting course, but returning time and time again to the principles of Lord Caitanyas sankirtan, hearing, chanting and distribution. Thank you for administering the medicine as its prescribed, so carefully, so compassionately, so personally, despite the kicking and screaming, despite the headaches, and heartaches I see that you show no sign of slowing down, or giving up, but driven further, invested deeper in the campaign of the acharyas, to bring conditioned souls back into the society of devotees, back home, and out of the insane asylumn.



On this most auspicious day I pray that I'll continue to follow in your footsteps, and serve you and your mission to Srila Prabhupada by following your guidance, your instructions to the best of my ability. Thank you for serving the Yuga-Dharma so wonderfully, for always encouraging me/us to chant the sublime Hare Krsna Maha mantra: Hare Krsna Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Thank you for being my spiritual master, for all you love, care, attention, patience, encouragement, and mercy.



Thousands of obeisance’s to you on this glorious day of your appearance.

I pray that I may continue to remain in your service, and in the service of

those in your service, life time after life time,



Your aspiring servant and son,

Vamsidhari das

Sri Gurubhyo, DevaMRTaSwami_namah.

Om namo VISHNU padaya, KRSNA presthaya bhutale srimathe A.C.BhathiVedanthaSwami ithi namine.

Om namo VISHNU padaya KRSNA presthaya bhuthale sri DevaMRTaSwami ithinamine.

GuruDEV, you have presented me KRSNA and changed my life all together, you are so merciful to all, and so on.
Forgive me Guruji on my mistakes and misdeeds. Thank you so much GuruDEV.

Please accept my humble obeisances.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to you

Born and brought up in the land of Dharma - Bharath Varsh, I came to NZ when I was 25 years old, with absolutely no idea about the purpose of life, no idea about the self, no idea that we are not the body.
I was stunned when I first entered the devotee churning machine - The Loft, Auckland. I heard devotees singing the Hare Krishna maha mantra, the sweetest words I had ever heard. It was amazing to see western men and women wearing Dhotis/Sarees, playing the harmonium. The experience just got better with the talk and the prasadam afterwards. I had an out of the world experience. Thank you Gurudev for the wonderful facility.
It was been an exciting and eye opening journey since then. Your selfless disciples have been assisting and mentoring me with such love and care that I could only expect from my own parents. I consider myself very fortunate to have this opportunity.
Thank you Gurudev, for opening the eyes of this ignorant fool. I will forever be grateful to you.

Your Servant,

Vikas Arya

Nama om visnu padaya Krsna prestaya bhutale
Srimate Devamrita Swami iti namine.
Please accept my humble obeisances to you and your lotus feet.
Gurudeva for many of us is hard to explain in words how grateful we are to you for being so kind, so lovely and so dedicated on following Srila Prabhupada's instructions expanding Krsna Consciousness. Your own example keep us standing up in the most difficult times of our own spiritual challenges.
We know by Srila Prabhupada the meaning of vapu and vani regarding the association with the spiritual master,but at the same time for many of us take your darshan in person make us stronger to continue following your instructions. Every time I hear a class giving by you, I know I have the knowledge that I need to battle maya, every instruction coming from your lotus mouth become like nectar to my ears and a purpose of life to belief that Krsna Consciousness is sublime, and when I see you smiling because I did something good, that smile make my heart cry of happiness.
Gurudeva this year wasn't a good year for me, still I'm trying to figure out how to handle grihasta lie, but something I never forgot is that I have my spiritual master beside me all the time. You are my heart and soul gurudeva, that is the reason I'm still here in this movement. Your example, your preaching, your instructions, and your kindness is what keeping us alive to love this movement and to preach others the happiness of being a devotee of Krsna.
Gurudeva, thank you for all you effort
Thank you for been there everytime we need it.
Thank you for you endless sacrifice to make others and ourselves more Krsna consciousness.
Hare Krsna
Your eternal servant and disciple
Vilasini dd

Dearest Gurudeva,

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

Recently I've been reflecting on the magnitude of how many lives you've saved, how many suffering souls you've transformed, and how much genuine peace and happiness you've brought to people's lives. This magnitude is incredible. And it spreads throughout the world.

I can't even begin to imagine the state of my own life, if you hadn't so kindly intervened. Years ago now, after helping me move into an Asrama, you told me "I didn't want to see you rotting away in material existence". And I was amazed at how accurately you'd summed up my situation.

Last year, by your mercy, I even experienced my life being saved at the time of death. During a difficult time, I had a dream that I left my body. It happened very suddenly, and it was very scary. I went to a type of limbo, where everything was dark, and I didn't know what to do. But somehow, I had the feeling I should chant. So I started to chant, and found myself at New Govardhana in Australia, before the Deities of Radha and Krishna. Then, I was in a Srimad Bhagavatam class, then I saw Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai, and then I was in the Temple Room at Bhakti Lounge, in a kirtana with devotees. And then I woke up. My first thought was that Krishna saved me. But then I realised that actually, you saved me, because it's only by the grace of the spiritual master that we receive the benediction of Krishna. It's only by the grace of the spiritual master that we can wake up from the dream of material life, become free from suffering, and become happy in the devotional service of the Lord. And it's only by the grace of the spiritual master that work done in Krishna Consciousness will carry us again to Krishna Consciousness, even after the loss of the body.

It is described in the Srimad Bhagavatam (11.7.46) "For the welfare of the conditioned souls who desire real happiness, a saintly person may accept the worshipable position of spiritual master, and thus like fire he burns to ashes all the past and future sinful reactions of his worshipers by mercifully accepting their offerings."  

Thank you for everything you have so kindly accepted, so kindly given, and so kindly tolerated. I am forever indebted and grateful.

Thank you for your continued support, encouragement and inspiration, a few drops of which is enough to sustain a lifetime of devotional service.

Thank you for being the spiritual father to such an amazing spiritual family, and for your incredible purity, faith, enthusiasm, dedication, devotion, and mercy.

Following in the footsteps of Srila Prabhupada, you have created a warm, secure, and happy home in which we all can live, practise Krishna Consciousness, and give Krishna Consciousness to others. For this incredible and on-going task, most sincerely, I thank you.

Please allow me to always remain at your lotus feet, in the association of those who serve you.

Your aspiring servant,
Vinita devi dasi

Dear Gurudeva,

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

To help the human being to understand our constitutional position is the mission that you desired to follow by the selfless mercy of His Divine Grace, your beloved Spiritual Master. You are following his lotus feet, working sincerely and humbly to bring the Western world up to the spiritual standard of Krishna Consciousness. It is not an easy task to raise the levels of consciousness of the actually uncivilized human race. There are not many people who decide to give up their particular material inclinations for the spiritual benefit of others, actually it is very rare, but your transcendental vision was beyond your personal material welfare. Unfortunately, I do not have the realization to understand that there is no higher pleasure then to undergo difficulties to serve God. However, fortunately, by the grace and mercy of Krishna, I came in contact with the pure devotee from whom I am trying to learn the art of transcendental attachment to the loving service to the Lord. The scriptures describe that one cannot reach the real point of factual knowledge without being helped by the right person who is already established in that knowledge.

Your transcendental qualities show the purity and honesty within your heart. By your perfect example you are teaching us how to be a devotee of the Lord. Your realistic understanding of the human phantasmagoria and Your constant analysis of how to present Krishna Consciousness to the young generations express your determination to fulfill the desire of your Spiritual Master.
Only transcendental knowledge can awake the consciousness and change the heart of the people, just a little bit of faith is required in the beginning, something difficult to find out in the youth today. But you are travelling all around the world putting the seed in the heart of their dry and exhausted lives; awaking their real identity as servants of Lord Caytania`s movement, just as you did with me due your causeless mercy.

Your instructions are the conduct in my tiny existence. Having the opportunity to help you is the truthful meaning of my life. I pray to Krishna to be a useful instrument in your mission in the association of devotees.

Your humble servant
Visnupadi Devi Dasi

Dear Guru Maharaj,

Please accept my humble and respectful obeisances in the dust of your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!

By your ongoing compassionate outreach strategy and execution I am inspired to help others. People are lacking the tools to connect with that transcendent aspect of themselves and instead search to fill that missing part of themselves in so many ways-often negative. People need community, friendship and a way to spiritually connect- so they can escape the often false ideals of a very externally oriented society.

Seeing people find their freedom and becoming inspired to help others to do so- is one of the many rewarding aspects of this volunteer work. The group chanting of the Hare Krishna Mantra creates such a tangible surcharged atmosphere of positive energy and upliftment. I even met a guy who told me that kirtan helped him to overcome severe depression. People are being affected in such a positive way and to be a part of giving this to others is such a joy and privilege.

So we thank you for your inspiration and perseverance always. We hope that something we do is somehow serving your mission. We hope that at the end of each day we can look back and feel, that we used all that we were given for the service of this beneficial movement.

Your aspiring servants- Vraja Dhama das and Bhakti Candrika d.d

Dear Gurudeva,

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

I have been thinking of your expertise in exactly understanding every person perfectly and how to guide everyone approaching Krishna consciousness. Over and over again I have been wonderstruck seeing your ability to look straight through people, into every chamber of their heart. No doubt, you know exactly what is going on in there.

In Manu’s conversation with Svayambhuva Manu we hear about the Guru’s desire to elevate everyone to Krsna Consciousness, the spiritual master’s expertise to exactly see how the devotee should be employed and guided to bring his life to perfection and also what it takes to receive guidance and instructions from the Guru.

In his purport to Srimad Bhagavatam 3.22.7 Srila Prabhupada explains:

'A bona fide spiritual master or saintly person always desires to elevate a common man who comes to him. Because everyone is under the delusion of māyā and is forgetful of his prime duty, Kṛṣṇa consciousness, a saintly person always desires that everyone become a saintly person.
…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." …
…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.
…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.'

You are so expert to instruct and engage everyone so perfectly.
No doubt, you are the external manifestation of Krsna within the heart. Otherwise how could you know all the things you know? So many times you said something to me, sometimes verbalizing my most private thoughts, thoughts I myself never even had put in words, and feeling unexpectedly exposed I could just think, how does he know?

And still I am so convinced that I know what is good for me, I think I know how I can be perfectly happy and through continuous practice I know how to blame everyone and everything when things surprisingly don’t work out.
How useless it is to hold on to my beliefs, I have got the perfect Guru with perfect knowledge and all I really have to do is just to open my ears and listen.

In a conversation June 22 1976 in New Vrindavan Srila Prabhupda talks about the absolute necessity to approach a spiritual master and get some heavy knowledge from him.

‘So any knowledge. Knowledge means you have to learn it from a superior person. And what to speak of the knowledge of God. That is the ultimate knowledge. Yesterday we were speaking that Kīrtanānanda Mahārāja learned how to make samosas. Now that knowledge is distributed. So every knowledge, you have to learn it from an expert. That is called guru. Guru means expert. Heavy. Who's knowledge is heavier than your scanty knowledge. You have to learn knowledge. Guru means heavy. Therefore Vedic injunction is tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet (MU 1.2.12). You must. Abhigacchet, this word is used when the sense is "must." Not optional, that I may go or I may not go. No, you must. This is Vedic injunction.’

How heavy you are dear Gurudeva, in front of you no scanty knowledge, no nonsense can stand.
Just recently you put me in an arm lock with two other devotees so that finally some knowledge can infiltrate through my thick head into my dull brain. Although I felt highly uncomfortable and embarrassed, I felt very much honored and enthused.

You are giving us hands on guidance and giving us so much care, time (over and over again and again), attention and love. You are investing so much in us.
I have very little realization of how fortunate I am that I have found a bona fide spiritual master.

If I would become serious about following your instructions I would be in direct contact with the Supreme Lord through His representative.

Srila Prabhupada writes in his purport to 4.28.51

‘When one becomes serious to follow the mission of the spiritual master, his resolution is tantamount to seeing the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As explained before, this means meeting the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the instruction of the spiritual master.
…Instead of being eager to see the Lord in some bush of Vṛndāvana while at the same time engaging in sense gratification, if one instead sticks to the principle of following the words of the spiritual master, he will see the Supreme Lord without difficulty.‘

Somehow or other I stumbled into Krishna Consciousness and somehow I have stuck to it.
But I don’t want to just hang around, eat the Prasad and become an old devotee in years only. I want to take my good fortune seriously and want to learn to listen and then act on it to try to reciprocate with all the efforts you have put into me.

Thank you very much for being the most important person in my life,

Your aspiring servant,
Vraja Nari devi dasi

Dear Gurudeva!
Accept my humble obeisances in the dust of your lotus feet. All glories to His Devine Grace Srila Prabhupada!

We can perform our attempts in our chanting of the Holy Name of God only by the mercy of Srila Prabhupada and the spiritual master, only by the mercy of parampara can we perform the service of the Lord in this Lord. Only by your mercy, Gurudev, I have a chance to live spiritual life. Only by your mercy I understood that neither my family, nor work should be obstacles for the devotional service which should be selfless and uninterrupted.
Only by your mercy we gain spiritual strength and conviction of our own choice if Krishna. Your mercy ignites the fire of spiritual knowledge and dissipates the darkness of ignorance in the heart transforming the life of everyone who encounters you directly or via your transcendental books or classes.
Gurudev, thank you for your classes – they are the limitless source of inspiration for me! I listen to them again and again with the hope to learn them by heart and apply in my life. Please let me remember you, follow all your instructions without any ulterior motives so that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would be pleased with my service to your lotus feet.
Let me stay in association of devotees and do any service no matter how insignificant it may be. Please accept all the good fruits of my service on this day.

Trying to be the servant of your servants,
Vraja-gopi dasi

Dearest Gurumaharaja,

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

When a baby cries in distress for their mother, one would think that such a noise would only agitate and distress her heart. But often it brings joy to a parent to think that 'this child has such dependence and affection towards me, that they cry in distress in my mere absence'.

I thought how endearing we must become to Lord Krishna, when we feel ourselves completely at His mercy, and cry in happiness or distress to get his attention.

By the mercy of Lord Caitanya and his pure hearted servant we can easily do this by sincerely calling out the Lord's holy name.

I often get asked by people what career path i may like to take when my children are grown. I would love to reply that i want to have a career in seriously chanting the Hare Krishna maha mantra.

Thank you Gurumaharaja for making this life's goal so simple to understand and for being a wonderful example of devotion to Srila Prabhupada preaching movement and the Lord's holy name.

Your lowly servant
Vrindaranya devi dasi

Om Ajnana-timirandhasya Jnananjana-salakaya
Caksur Unmilitam Yena Tasmai Sri-gurave Namah
I offer my respectful obeisance’s unto my spiritual master, who has opened my eyes, which were blinded by the darkness of ignorance, with the torchlight of knowledge.

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

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to your most auspicious appearance day.
Please accept my humble obeisances unto your lotus feet on this auspicious occasion of your Vyasa puja day.
Within 5 minutes of meeting you on my first darshan with you, you have shattered my preconceived, crazy ideas and Mayavada philosophy about God. Within five minutes, you have given me answers for which I have been looking for decades. Your purity, conviction and faith transformed my heart completely and then and there, within my heart of hearts accepted you as my spiritual Master. And on the next visit to you again asked me some more questions and told me that, “I am making sure that there are no more remnants of that philosophy”.
I also remember your initial instructions when I was a beginner, “‘don’t bite off more than you can chew' and ‘don’t try to pay all your bills over night’. When I turn around and look back, over the years, I could see your unlimited mercy that kept me hanging on to the spiritual path. What ever little bit of progress that I could make both spiritually and materially is completely due to your mercy and accepting me as one of your disciples. Although, I am so insignificant and compared to my other God brothers, I am doing a negligible amount of service to you, still whenever I take your darshan, you treat me with so much compassion and concerned about my welfare and spiritual progress, that I could see that you are my true well-wisher.
Mukam karoti vacalam pangum langhayate girim
yat krpa tam aham vande Srigurum dina taranam
By the mercy of the guru, even a dumb man can become the greatest orator, and even a lame man can cross mountains.
I only wish and pray to Lord Krishna, that one day I will be able to offer some service to you, especially in fulfilling your mission of assisting Srila Prabhupad and Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu by way of preaching and doing outreach work.
I happened to be hearing to one of your lectures, where you caution about reading other esoteric literature other than, the books written by Srila Prabhupad.You explained that how the moment when one start reading the books dealing with the higher subject matter, one starts feeling that he had reached and is on a higher platform than others. Especially, where there is no warnings and check from Srila Prabhupad constantly reminding of one’s real and insignificant position. Because, you `have so thoroughly read and still read the books written by Srila Prabhupad and relate the message to the contemporary world, you are able to expertly pass on the message to the people from all walks of life, be it upcoming or full time devotees in the temple and students in Melbourne University.
I pray to Sri Sri Radha vallabha for your good health and long life so that many fallen souls like me can get delivered by your mercy.
Yours Humble Servant
Yamuna Jivan Das

Dear Guru Maharaja

Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and all glories to you on the auspicious day of your appearance in this world.

This year, you've extended your kindness to me even further than anything I've previously experienced from you, and for this I am truly grateful. During a time when my life was rapidly changing you made yourself more available to me and gave me the sort of counsel which not only carries the weight and authority of a powerful spiritual master, but also the affection and patience of a compassionate father.

I had the good fortune of hearing your brilliant Bhagavatam lecture at the Bhakti Sangama Festival in Ukraine. You spoke about Lord Kapiladeva thanking His mother within Himself for her questions, and His smiling. You spoke about the need for transcendental instructions to be delivered with affection. Afterwards, H.H. Indradyumna Swami praised you for your unique eloquence...

I considered myself the most fortunate amongst the eleven thousand or more listeners on that day because you also personally demonstrated to me the efficacy of affectionate instructions by reaching out to me when I needed it most.

I remember being in the midst of the blissful ocean of devotees, many of whom are your disciples, as they were moving quickly from one place to the next to hear their gurus and other favourite devotees give their inspiring seminars. Many of these devotees would see you or their respective spiritual masters nay but once in a year, so they were all teeming with trascendental happiness.

But I was feeling dejected on account of my recent offenses to your lotus feet and my failure to maintain a standard of behaviour which is worthy of your reputation as an expert spritual master. Still, in the middle of all the hustle and bustle of the festival, you made the effort to personally call me on my mobile phone and revive my spiritual potential with your perfectly timed and perfectly affectionate instructions, thus lifting me from a pitiable stage of gross materialism to a refreshed enthusisasm in Krishna consciousness in a matter of moments.

I'm reminded of Srila Prabhupada's purport to the Srimad Bhagavatam verse, 3.5.45:

"Offenders have to wait until they receive the mercy of devotees, and then they can become eligible to see the lotus feet of the Lord within themselves. But due to their offenses and their extreme materialism, they cannot see even the devotees of the Lord. Engaged in external activities, they kill the internal vision. The Lord’s devotes, however, do not mind the offenses of the foolish in their many gross and subtle bodily endeavors. The Lord’s devotees continue to bestow the blessings of devotion upon all such offenders without hesitation. That is the nature of devotees."

Your blessings are so intense, Gurudeva. A mere glance from you can make me feel the gamut of spiritual emotions, from crushing defeat to unprecedented spiritual victory and empowerment. Your chastising words are like the thunder which immediately follows the blinding lightning strike of my selfish, materialistic activities, but which also heralds the soothing rains of your patient, compassionate and loving support.

I pray that you will continue to bestow your abundant blessings upon me, blessings which are often unsolicited and always undeserved. I've been so privileged to have spent so much time with you and to have served you personally on so many occasions and thus my mind is filled with powerful memories of your manifest blessings. I'll never take those opportunites for granted, Gurudeva, for those memories will be my undying source of inspiration for the remainder of this life.

Begging to remain your humble servant,
Yasodeva das

Dear Gurudeva,

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

You exemplify real integrity Gurudeva, the true meaning of making a firm commitment to someone, in the promise you had made to Krishna, Gurudeva, to help me go back to Godhead.

I am inspired by the strong irrevocable faith you have in the process of Bhakti: how any person, with any conditioning, can achieve the highest success, if they diligently apply the process under guidance.

By your being so patiently and steadily merciful to me– through the ups and downs of life - beyond anything I ever experienced or anticipated, I am getting a taste of how kind and caring Krishna must be.

You inspire faith Gurudeva, that it is true, that when someone connects with Krishna, they know exactly how to deal with all Krishna’s parts and parcels also.

The very best, fully and immediately, the spiritual world, is what you are prepared to give us; how sincere and eager we are to accept that, is the only limiting factor.

Thank you for making reading the scriptures so attractive – that which would be too severe or simply go over my head, becomes an absorbing and enthralling experience, an exciting challenge, by the grace of your lectures.

How accessible you make yourself, Gurudeva, through your words and instructions – available in all times, places and conditions of peace or grief.

SB 11:2:45”A mahā-bhāgavata, being empowered by the Supreme Lord, Yogeśvara, is endowed with the supernatural power to inspire and give success to the madhyama-adhikārī who follows in his footsteps and to elevate a kaniṣṭha-adhikārī gradually to the intermediate platform.”

I am starting to realize that every day that I have access to devotional service, and have the desire to serve, it is not coming from me, but rather the supernatural power that you have, Gurudeva, coming from Krishna, by which you are allowing me to gradually progress, in spite of myself.

Please Gurudeva, help me to firmly hold on to devotional service, which is the only true and lasting thing in this world.

Your servant,
Yasomati Dasi