Dear Gurudeva,

Please Accept My Humble Obeisances,
All Glories To Srila Prabhupada

From Gaura Sundar Kumar (Aatmeshwar’s Son):

Dear guru Maharaj, this is Gaur Sundar, I am 2 and a half. I am wishing you a Krishna conscious birthday. Since I have been born, I have not had your darshan but I regularly take darshan of your spiritual father, Srila Prabhupada. I wish to see my spiritual grandfather. Hopefully, one day, my parents will take me to have your darshan. Looking forward to seeing you soon. Your aspiring servant, Gaur Sundar Kumar.


From Poonam Bharti (Aatmeshwar’s Wife):

Dear guru Maharaj, I am wishing you a Krishna conscious birthday. On this auspicious occasion, I pray to the lord for your well-being and sound health. Although I never had your darshan, I still feel your presence in my Prabhu lifestyle and behaviour.

I believe that your blessings are safeguarding us always and never led us to deviate from the path of Krishna Consciousness. Along with my Prabhu, I follow your instructions and render service within our means. With that, I will continue to serve your instructions and be your servant.

From Aatmeshwar Krishna Das:

Dear guru Maharaj, I am wishing you a Krishna conscious birthday. On this auspicious occasion, I pray to the lord for your well-being and sound health.

Although the real tribute that pleases you is to follow your instructions and serving your preaching mission, there is a significant drop. Over the last few years, I have noticed myself, there is a drop in devotional interest, enthusiasm and lack of active participation. As a result of that, the quality of my sadhana restricted to a basic minimum and has affected my progress in Krishna conscious.

Eventually, the things in life are getting better and I am hopeful to do well in my Krishna conscious sadhna. Serving together with our fellow godbrothers and sisters and respecting them would be my prerogative. The baby steps in Krishna conscious is my offering to you as now and hope to improve myself in coming times.

Although our words would never be enough to describe your glories and your exalted character, the only way to repay you, perhaps, by following the instructions of your dedicated servants and by cooperating with those whose life's mission is to serve you and your guru Maharaj, Srila Prabhupada.

Once again I salute you for your glorious preaching work, your dedication towards the mission of Srila Prabhupada's.

Your servant,
Atmesvar Krishna Das
Poonam Bharti
Gaur Sundar Kumar

Dear Srila Guru Dev,
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada and all glories to your Holiness who has an impeccable nature of serving Srila Prabhupada mission sincerely.
Please accept our humble obeisance
On this auspicious day, I would take the opportunity to beg to Lord Shri Hari – Krishna and Srimati Radha Rani to please allow to me to serve your Vani sincerely, which is coming from Shri Krishna to Lord Brahma to Srila Guru Parampara and is the only way to attain pure devotional service.
Krishna sends his beloved representatives, to keep his Vani resonating for the purification of this material world and to uplift and save the fallen souls like me.
As you mentioned, many times that there are different ways to worship Krishna, but, Hearing and Chanting in the association of devotees and hearing from devotees are the most powerful ways to destroy the ignorance and get uplift in bhakti.
Getting real knowledge to survive is key to beyond survival.
Just like a child who’s heard from his/her first Guru -his parents, who teach him/her the language, which can help to fulfil that child’s needs? Then later to survive in the material world he/she needs to find a material Guru to learn the material science. But these knowledge or skills doesn’t give any stable fulfilment and solutions to real-world problems.
Example of your powerful Vani- I can relate to one of your lectures, in which you explained “how current world focus on matter and consider human consciousness to be material and how we need to realize our consciousness is not material. Even to achieve mater and to manage the matter we need to learn the basic principle that we are beyond matter. You then simplified and gave the solution to solve the problem, that first world needs to connect to the wisdom culture, which nourishes our consciousness with non-material enrichments.”
So, in order for me to achieve the real purpose of the life, and survive with the battle of me and my mind, I need to hear more, chant more and serve more in the association of devotees.
We know that Guru-mukha-padma-vākya, cittete koriyā aikya, My only wish is that my mind is purified by the words coming from the mouth of my spiritual master. I have no other desire but this.
I sincerely beg that to Srimati Radha Rani and Krishna that because of them, I received association of devotees, from them I got association of Your Holiness, who later gave explained me, that, real purpose of my life to be associated with Srila Prabhupada mission which is - Going back home back to godhead.”
I, therefore, beg your Holiness and all my God Brothers and Sister to please kindly forgive me for all impudence, please bless me that May I become sincere towards the instructions of your holiness and remain at the dust of your lotus feet as an insignificant servant.
Seeking blessings
Yours aspiring servants
Abhishek Bhatnagar,
Shubhra, Chakradhar and yours named Murali

Dear Gurudeva,

I offer my humble obeisances unto you.
All glories to you on this day of your appearance, and every day.

Please accept this small attempt to glorify you.

As you travel around the world
Carrying Lord Caitanya’s mercy in your heart,
You expertly deliver it to others
Oh what an art!

Regardless of the audience,
You patiently teach
The timeless wisdom of bhakti
With such expertise, everyone you can reach.

Straight off the street or the committed practitioner
Your association can surely inspire,
The precious spark of bhakti
To ignite into a raging fire.

Amongst so much confusion
Who are we, and why are we here,
Your explanations of bhakti
Make it perfectly clear.

We are spirit soul, to serve Krishna our goal
You illuminate and correct our sight,
And to see others engage in service
Brings you great delight.

The pure devotees mission
To connect the parts to the Whole,
Serving Srila Prabhupada’s instruction
Is your life and soul.

And for those who try to follow you
All success is assured,
For with such a qualified master
At Krsna’s feet we will dwell ever more.

To attain this treasured end
Following your instruction is the key,
So I pray to you Gurudeva
Please lend some strength to me.

To follow in your footsteps
All my life through,
To develop real compassion,
And grow in devotion to you.

Your aspiring servant and spiritual daughter,
Acyuta bhava devi dasi

Hare Krishna Gurudeva,

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

Another year has passed already! I've heard that spiritual masters can be quite generous on the day of their appearance so I thought I'd be cheeky and put in a request.

We're moving on from New Zealand after playing the "Grhasta independence card", despite your good advice. It's so easy to understand theoretically that the guru knows what's best for me, but also - so easy in actuality, to feel that only I know the full reality of my own situation, and therefor only I can make a well rounded, sensible life decision. I know it's all ridiculous on a deeper level, but here we are.
So despite my rascaldom and potential
for foolishness and whim - please don't forget about me. I know you've arranged something nice for us in NZ, and I don't expect you to re-invent the wheel for us in Australia. But let me know how we can serve you in Melbourne. You know we love to cook, and we'd be very happy to team up with some of your disciples there and keep a day out for service every week. It's easy to start taking your frequent visits to Auckland and Northland for granted, and I know we won't see you so much in Melbourne. But we will make every effort to come and see you whenever you visit, and I hope we can fly back to New Zealand for many Vyasa Puja's to come (maybe even for the retreat eventually, although it's at a difficult time of year for us).
I know this isn't much of an offering, but the best I feel I can do at the moment is to let you know that although we're not "here to to stay", we're with you all the way (back to god head ideally).
Thanks Gurudeva. You gave me a grounding in KC, a spiritual family that cares for me, and even a name that rhymes. Please keep the mercy flowing.
Much love and appreciation to you on the anniversary of a very important day for the world.

Your servant, Adi-Rasa Vilasa

Dear Gurudeva,

Please my respectful obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and all glories to you on this most auspicious day of your appearance.

Thank you Gurudeva, for your ceaseless sacrifice for Srila Prabhupada’s mission year after year. Your enthusiasm never seems to wane or run flat, on the contrary with each passing year it seems to only increase in intensity. Endowed with such strength and power and despite all obstacles in your way, you go on spreading Lord Chaitanya’s message to all whom you meet. Once ordinary lives become extraordinary, transforming mundane meanderers into spiritual warriors.
How fortunate I am to have access to a family of such spiritual warriors trained by you, for this I am truely grateful.

Thank you for all you have done for me, despite my stubbornly selfish nature. Thank you for providing me with such a sincere and devoted wife without which you and I both know exactly where I would be. Dutifulness, stability, responsibility and commitment, these were all completely foreign concepts to me. Through providing me with such shelter, somehow these things have become an integral part of my everyday life and I owe this all to you. It’s a fact, you have given me everything I need to make my life a success from the ground up.

If there were one repeated instruction I could recall over the years listening to you speak, it would be - ’Learn to see with your ears’. For such a visually orientated learner it’s something I have always struggled to come to terms with, leaving no clues as to why I am so spiritually slow.
Acknowledging such weakness I pray to you on this day of your appearance that I may learn this art of seeing through hearing that you have so expertly mastered and exemplified so that perhaps one day, I can see what you see, if even just a glimpse.

Forever in your debt,
your insignificant servant,
Aghahanta das

Dear Guru Mahārāja

Please accept my prostrated obeisances in the dust of your lotus feet. All glories to you on this most auspicious occasion of your Śrī Vyāsa-pūjā.

It is taking me a long time to come around in being steady in the performance of my duties as one of your initiated disciples. Still, in spite of my clouded consciousness, the rays of your glories penetrate the dungeon of my heart.

Since facilitating safe passage for me to take up residency at Śrī Gita Nagari Dhama – practically smuggling me past the Trump-itis infected borders of the USA, with particular instructions on how to legitimize my claim of being a tourist – I have seen an extraordinary characteristic of the <i>guru-paramparā</i> at work here at Gita Nagari: the magic of predecessors empowering their successors to perform wonderful feats which the predecessor is only remotely involved in by their guidance.

Śrī Pārtha-sārathi, as the originator of the <i>śaktyāveśa</i> potency, demonstrated this most vividly by empowering Pṛthā to cross over ocean of the battlefield of Kurukṣetra in a single day to kill Jayadratha. Lord Caitanya empowered His servants such as Nṛsiṁhānanda Brahmacārī, the six Goswamis Vṛndāvana, great demigods such as Yamarāja visiting him in disguise, to spread His saṅkīrtana movement to places and in ways He apparently was restrained from doing by His strict observance of <i>sannyāsa-dharma</i>. Later on, this same <i>śaktyāveśa</i> principle of the guru-paramparā was exhibited by Jiva Goswami’s empowerment of the first book distribution <i>saṅkīrtana</i> party, namely Śrīnivāsa Ācārya, Narottama Dāsa Ṭhākura and Śyāmānanda, who systematically weaved Gauḍīya-Vaiṣṇavism into the social fabric of West Bengal. This prime mover in the disciplic succession continued to propagate through Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura to Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta and then to Śrīla Prabhupāda, distinuguished as deliverer of the Western countries.

In your reticulated mission of numerous chapters of devotional enclaves and communities of dedicated disciples around the world, it is quite evident that this empowerment principle of the <i>guru-paramparā</i> lights-up your spiritually-fiery body. Its diffusion as the GBC for Gita Nagari since 2005, Gita Nagari has had numerous upgrades in its guest and hospitality infrastructure, with distinct luxury suites; increase in its <i>ahiṁsā</i> milk production becoming the only USDA certified slaughter-free dairy farm in the USA; revival of its Community Supported Agriculture program; establishment of an alternative breaks volunteerism program for college students, where elite universities pay the Farm to host their students for a week long stay to perform service to the cows and assist resident devotees with new projects. All this simultaneous expansion, with complex integration points happening under your guidance and instructions transmitted mainly through WhatsApp is actually inconceivable.

This tapestry of devotional service you are weaving for the manifestion of the city of Pārtha-sārathi, as prophesized by Śrīla Prabhupāda in his vision for Gita Nagari in 1956, appears to be in the same category as the revelation of the Temple of Vedic Planetrium by Lord Nityananda to Jiva Goswami, by Prabhupāda to your god-brothers such as Ambarīṣa prabhu, and to you as well, for a satellite city in the West to reflect some of the values of the spiritual capital of the world. On this day of your Vyāsa-pūjā, we are very grateful for the superlative spiritual technology that is <i>guru-paramparā</i>, with particular attention to its <i>śaktyāveśa</i> active principle, and to the applied technologist, such as your divine grace, who expertly and organically corporatizes it into mainstream society through multi-national outreach.

My lord and master, I am struggling to keep up with the speed, multiple directions and colors of thread you are weaving this tapestry of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s vision for Gita Nagari. I am wretched sinful fiend, who has been appropriately named by your lordship – servant of the enemy of sin personified – as to my core self-interest for this lifetime. In spite of the numerous benedictions and special favors you have personally given me, I struggle to become a chaste disciple at your lotus feet. In this light, I beg for the benediction to exercise laser focus determination as an everyday function to molding my days around attentive chanting of the holy name. Desiring this only is not good enough; talking about it is still not effective; doing it here and there and tasting it without fixity is a tantalizing agony. My prayer at your lotus feet is to do all that is in the power of my body and morsel of intelligence to observe my vow of chanting with attention everyday as long as I live. In this way, I may be delivered from nescience and join the legion of your faithful disciples.

All glories to you on this most auspicious occasion of your Śrī Vyāsa-pūjā mahā-mahotsava.

Your wretched servant
Aghari Kṛṣṇa dāsa

Dear Gurudeva

Please Accept my Humble Obeicences
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada

A couple of days ago someone activated the fire alarms in our our building. At 1am I found myself crammed in the stairwell with plenty of other grumpy, sleepy conditioned souls trying to get away from the unbearable noise. I tried smiling at a few but I think they took me for a crazy person in the midst of the misery.

The saffron rays shining from the fire trucks outside flickered across the faces of the dressing gown clad gathers on the street, giving some immediate relief. As I was standing there watching I was thinking how it reminded me of the kind light of you compassion. Some of the residents hurried out to save themselves not really caring about anyone left behind but I know that you would never do that, instead you would be prepared to walk through fire, not stopping until everyone was evacuated safely.

Reflections of that night, still dressed in my pyjamas, made me think about how unready I am to go back to godhead.
When life ceases in the the body everything once so dear is left behind. When the deafening sirens were going off there was no time to pack a suitcase or salvage any precious valuables.

Although this valuable human body is a golden opportunity to rectify this unfortunate material condition, I feel
my life is devoid of any devotional flavour. Mid-way through the wheel of life the only progress that I see is a less crazy mind tamed by good association, and an adherence to the regulative principles.

I don’t understand why it is so difficult to take your graceful guidance more seriously, because then this body would have more significance then just piles of ash or sustenance for vultures.

Begging I can receive a tiny drop of your eagerness to distribute unlimited loving charity.

In comparison my awkward attempts are so miserly and fruitless.

P.S I wish you would never leave.

Still trying to be your servant

Akarsini

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

What is real love?
Material love is confined within the realm of limited resources and therefore an undercurrent of miserliness pervades exchanges of affection.

With no understanding of a self beyond physicality and physiology, current conceptions of love are simply sophisticated versions of 'if you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours.'

Material life is a complex interaction of the material elements - without higher knowledge of a reality beyond the limited world of duality, any so-called love leaves the true self untouched.

As Krishna states in Bhagavad Gita (2.23) "The soul can never be cut to pieces by any weapon, nor burned by fire, nor moistened by water, nor withered by the wind." Similarly, we can't expect interactions of the mind, a repository of material desires and sensual impressions of these elements to effect the non-material self.

Real love, based on our identity beyond the body and mind as a part and parcel of the Supreme Self, Sri Krishna, is difficult to find within the realm of selfishness and matter.

Conceptions of material love are undoubtedly deep rooted within the psyche of an aspiring devotee, making your job as a spiritual master even more difficult. Not only is the neophyte devotee entangled in so many attachments to unwanted behaviors, misconceptions and desires - he can not fully understand and appreciate real love!

Earlier this year, it was my great fortune to be able to offer you some insignificant service for a section of your travels in which I witnessed expressions of real love. Here are a few highlights.

I was shocked to see the degree of austerity you are willing to perform in order to execute your service to Krishna, Srila Prabhupada and the devotees. From New Zealand we flew to Melbourne and after a busy few days, including a lecture to over 500 university students, you popped over (at least 15 hours travel time) to India for GBC meetings. Once back in Melbourne after a week or so, you had another busy schedule for a few days. Then we flew to Wales - over 24 hour travel time!

Despite such a severely taxing program of travel you gave your full energies to inspire and encourage the vibrant community in Cardiff. Ingenious thought provoking Bhagavatam classes, ecstatic rock concert intense kirtans and super attractive outreach programs, you didn't hold back.

For the week in Wales I felt pretty tired from the 12 hour time difference and prolonged travel time ...I don't know how you do it. You have been doing such feats for decades!

In my measly attempts to take shelter of the material energy I try to reinforce my false ego by being proud of any insignificant achievement I consider praiseworthy. This was very difficult in your association.

Once, in Atlanta, I remember after cooking for you I was waiting for you to come for prasad so I could serve it out. As you came towards the dining room you heard two devotees make some noise as they left the building. Your face lit up excitedly in anticipation as you asked me who had cooked your lunch. I informed you that I did - your mood immediately dropped as you soberly murmured "mmmmm" and proceeded to the dining table.

Another time, at Gita Nagari during an evening reading session, you were relaying something you heard Prabhupada say in a recording. You were looking around the room at all the devotees enthusiastically sharing what you had heard. As you relayed Prabhupada saying "you are nothing!" you looked at me in such penetrating way that I'll never forget - shaking my false ego's foundations.

From a materialistic perspective these expressions of love may be misunderstood but your expertise is such that I always felt inspired and loved.

In an incredible house program in Atlanta you spoke on kindness. Your presentation was so balanced and mature - further evidence that you have realised not only what the highest expression of love is; giving Krishna to others; but how to deliver it in an expert, personalised and welcomed way.

I thank you for allowing me to be an object of your expressions of real love. I pray that I can be more and more qualified to understand what real love is so I can assist you and the parampara to share it with others.

Your servant,
Amani Gaurahari das

Hare Krishna Maharaja,

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

Parents have a very hard job – they often know what is best for their child, but the child always thinks they know what is best for them. Similarly, from the beginning you have always known what is best for me, but you also knew that I needed to come to this realization on my own. Just as a father is always within an arm’s reach when his daughter is learning how to walk, you were always there telling me and showing me, “We care about you.” Thank you for so patiently giving me space to do things on my own, but at the same time always ensuring me that I have the support I need to succeed.

I can’t say exactly when it is that you won me over - perhaps when you picked on me during class, when you made me laugh or question my whole existence during one of your lectures, or maybe during one of my darshans where you always made me feel cared for. There isn’t a time that I don’t get the sense that you care – either about me, our community, or every living entity. Whenever it was, I’m just glad that it happened. Coming to Krishna Consciousness has changed my life in more ways than I can put into words – and for that I am forever indebted to you.

I thank you for your unending selflessness and compassion; for your desire and willingness to help those who are the least appreciative; but most of all, I thank you for living and following Srila Prabhupada’s instructions. If it wasn’t for you and your sacrifice, Bhakti Lounge wouldn’t be here today. And without Bhakti Lounge I would still be lost and confused, wandering aimlessly in the nightmare that I called life. I especially thank you for all of the wonderful devotees that I have had the immense fortune of meeting. It is no surprise that they are all so caring, loving, and compassionate – they have a great teacher! Thank you for all this and more. I just scratched the surface in all that you have done and will continue to do.

Earlier this year I was having doubts and questioning whether I wanted to continue practicing, then randomly I remembered something you told a guest after a talk. You said, “Read Bhagavad-Gita until the end, and then make up your mind.” I still wasn’t done with it, so I thought there was no harm in doing what you said. I don’t need to tell you what I decided after I was done. Thank you for saving me from the material illusion not once, but twice. And thank you for all of the times that you will continue to do so in the future.

I pray that I have the strength and courage to continue on this path so that I can help you, to the best of my limited abilities, to continue Srila Prabhupada’s mission. I pray with all of my being that you always remain within an arm’s reach in my heart. But most of all, I pray that with your example and instruction, I am able to serve Krishna, whether in this life or the next.

Your aspiring servant,
Ana

Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my respectful obeisances,
All glories to you on this auspicious day of your Vyasa Puja,

Only three years have passed since I first met you and yet, by the purity of your association, my life has already undergone what was once an unimaginable metamorphosis. Whereas previously I was like a moth, attracted by the deathly, scorching inferno of materialistic enjoyment, by your mercy I now have the opportunity to become more like a bumblebee constantly in search of the nectar of the holy name, Krishna katha and devotee association. I pray that in the years to come this Bhakti metamorphosis will run it’s natural course and what is now a soft, vulnerable exoskeleton will solidify and become an iridescent suit of armour able to shield me from the toxic radiation poisoning of Kali Yuga.

While recently reading Caitanya Caritamrta I found these stanzas spoken by Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, which inspired me to reflect on this metamorphosis.

First he asks the question; “But for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is so merciful? He has converted a crow into a Garuda.”

Prior to receiving your mercy, Gurudeva, I was a crow attracted to such dirty places, flitting here and there scavenging through piles of chewed-up and spat-out Kali Yuga delights. But presently by your grace I fly up and down Queen Street carrying Krishna in the form of Srila Prabhupada’s books.

Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya next refers to his past; “In the association of jackals known as logicians, I simply continued to bark a resounding ‘bheu bheu’. Now, from the same mouth I am chanting the names of ‘Krishna’ and ‘Hari’.”

The Bhattacarya speaks of logicians barking “beau beau” but in my case my associates were jazz musicians and so we tended to sing “doo be doo”.

He continues, “Whereas once I associated with the disciples of logic, all non devotees, I am now merged in the waves of the nectarean ocean of the association of devotees.”

By your mercy Gurudeva I dive and swim daily in the purifying waves of that cooling nectarean ocean of devotee association. For which I am inexpressibly grateful.

During my time this year spent serving at the Mantra Lounge in Hamilton one night I dreamt that I was at the dimly-lit, grubby bus station in my hometown, Swansea, having a conversation with you and my father. In the dream I was glad because you were able to pacify my father intellectually and he seemed to like what you were saying about Krishna, which was a little surprising as it’s not usually so easy to pacify his English-professor’s mind, which has been sculpted over the years by tomes of western literature and so-called philosophy. Somehow my father faded out of the dream and you adopted a very concerned mood, you began asking me how I was going to get home. At first it seemed unusual but then I realised you were not concerned with my temporary residential destination. No. Your fatherly concern is that of a transcendental nature. I realised that, as my spiritual father you have the utmost concern for me that in this lifetime I’ll get back to my real home, a completely different dimension of concern to that of someone who’s love is biologically tinged.

Srila Prabhupada writes in the 9th canto 18.43 purport; “Therefore the father who trains his child in Krishna consciousness is the most benevolent father in this world ... everyone gets a father and mother but if one gets a benediction from Krishna and guru, he can conquer material nature and return home, back to Godhead.”

In the Bhagavatam King Rahugana says to Jada Bharata;

jvarāmayārtasya yathāgadaṁ sat
nidāgha-dagdhasya yathā himāmbhaḥ
kudeha-mānāhi-vidaṣṭa-dṛṣṭeḥ
brahman vacas te 'mṛtam auṣadhaṁ me

O best of the brāhmaṇas, my body is filled with dirty things, and my vision has been bitten by the serpent of pride. Due to my material conceptions, I am diseased. Your nectarean instructions are the proper medicine for one suffering from such a fever, and they are cooling waters for one scorched by the heat. SB 5.12.2

On this auspicious day I pray for your mercy and beg my binational Bhakti family to help me eternally remain in the cooling medicinal waters of your nectarean instructions. My hope is that this fever of pride, which constantly burns me, will one day subside and in such a purified state I may be able to serve you properly in an attempt to repay you for your causeless kindness towards me.

Aspiring to be situated as a servant at your lotus feet,
Anadi Kaisora dasa

Dear Gurudeva 
Please accept my humble obeisances 
All glories to Prabhupada! 
All glories to you and your dedication to Prabhupada!
 
Tonight I had the privilege of attending the Sustainable Happiness Project event at Victoria University Wellington, where you spoke to an audience of over one hundred guests.

I haven’t been to the movies/cinema/ theatre since well before my days of Krsna Consciousness, but this evening sitting in the front row of the Memorial Theatre, with a high stage in front, two big wall screens behind, tiered seating, neon green exit signs stage left and right, felt like the best kind of cinema experience I’ve ever been at! 

Reminiscent of the days paying money to go get lost in a fantasy world of fake drama, this was a free event for everyone to find their way to the transcendental world, to get out of the drama, by contacting reality!

It felt like the transcendental world looking up to the effulgent You on stage. Your skin was literally glowing. Your robes were pukka. You looked like a king on his throne. You were in your element speaking so eloquently, intelligently and confidently. The talk flowed in complete perfection. You gave such an expert dose to the audience of newcomers leaving them to be the ones to take the next step up and make further enquiries. You answered the questions so wonderously and respectfully. And when it came to Kirtan you weren't shy, you encouraged the New Zealanders for their innovation and participation and chanted with grace. The Maha Mantra shone boldy on the screen behind you as you struck the karatels together with conviction and vigour. The atmosphere changed as you sang both boldy and sweetly the names of Krsna! A real gentleman. Although I could not see behind me, I could hear and feel people completely lighten up. I looked at your peaceful face wondering ‘What is he thinking? What is he seeing?’.
Once you told me how outreach Kirtans are unique because of the special presence of Gaura Nitai and so I thought They must be here!?

Thank you Gurudeva for being the superstar in my life, saving me from crummy cinema experiences, tacky idols, false hopes and dreams. 

Thank you for being so confident in Krsna.

Your servant 
ananda-candra devi dasi 

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

I have been deliberating for a while on what makes a good quality of kirtan.

I was considering myself a “knower” of the music subject, trained for eight years in classical music from the age of six. But when I met the devotees later in life and experienced kirtan, I realized that I am dealing with something which I cannot explain with music theory or anything else I studied before.

At first, I was very sensitive to the quality of performance – the leader being able to sing the melody following the tune, the musicians - to play in synch, not leading or not lagging behind the leader or not trying to “drag” attention to the individual’s performance. Even though the quality of performance may vary – the effect on my consciousness is not always dependent on it.

Gradually I am realizing that kirtan is not a performance for our sense gratification. Its sole purpose is a glorification of Krishna’s name, form, qualities and pastimes.

At the recent gathering in Wellington at Bhakti Lounge you spoke about the same subject. You have pointed out the important quality the leader of the kirtan should have – humility. You added that the purity of chanting has the biggest effect on the consciousness of the audience – not the “musicality”.

You have that purity, even though you humbly deny it whenever someone glorifies your kirtan.
I have seen the impact your kirtan makes on everyone. After you speak on Srimad Bhagavatam or lead a kirtan the main topic for discussion between devotees for the rest of the day - becomes a discussion of your class or how wonderful your kirtan was. Just after your kirtan at Russian festival one devotee, his face lit with shock, excitement, surprise and wonder, said to me: “I thought I could leave my body if Maharaja would carry on chanting!” He was expressing what many would do as well in that assembly.

SB 1.8.36

śṛṇvanti gāyanti gṛṇanty abhīkṣṇaśaḥ
 smaranti nandanti tavehitaṁ janāḥ
ta eva paśyanty acireṇa tāvakaṁ
 bhava-pravāhoparamaṁ padāmbujam

"O Kṛṣṇa, those who continuously hear, chant and repeat Your transcendental activities, or take pleasure in others’ doing so, certainly see Your lotus feet, which alone can stop the repetition of birth and death."

You mention, that you relish hearing others speaking on topics about Krishna, which shows your humility. I feel fortunate to have you as a great example of how to absorb yourself and take pleasure in chanting and hearing about Krishna’s name, form, qualities and pastimes and I am certain you can always see Krishna’s lotus feet. I hope, by serving you and your servants, I can develop a small fraction of that absorption.

I wish you will continue blessing us with Krishna-katha, enlivening kirtans and, especially, new books. Hope Krishna will give you more time to write in the upcoming years.

Your servant,
Ananta-naga das

Hare Krishna Guru Maharaj,
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada
All Glories to Sri Guru & Gauranga !!

Dear Guru Maharaj,
We wish you a Happy Birthday. May Krishna give good health and millions and millions of years to spread the glorious mission. We like to take your darshan and hope to see you in your next visit to Mumbai this Kartik. We’re trying to chat at least one round of Hare Krishna Mantra every day and try to read books.

Your servants,
Bhaktin Ananya & Bhaktin Vraj dham

To Your Holiness Swami Devamrita
Mentally, I drink Your carinamrita.

By Prabhupad's order, you went behind the Iron Curtain.
Your sankirtan yajñaḥ burnt it down. Of this, I am certain.
Chaitanya Caritamrita, You helped to publish.
ISKCON WALES, You helped to establish.

You mercifully give me direction,
To serve He for whom You have so much affection.
Of all created beings, You are perfection.
The limits of Your knowledge are beyond my detection.

Soldiers on the battlefield rushing to destruction,
As I attempt to follow Your instruction.
They have no time, snatching the latest fashion,
But You, my master, have so much compassion.

To our yatra, you offer Your advice,
To relive us from suffering and vice,
From illusion, pain and strife,
Oh Maharaj, You saved my life.

Of all good qualities, You are the fountainhead.
Please take me with you, back to Godhead.
Give us this day, our daily rounds, not bread.
All these lectures, I like to hear what you've said.

Inspired by Prahlāda and the python man,
Your teachings reach every common man.
You were a graduate from Yale, when You found this yoga text.
Brought it to New Zealand, Australia and Europe, wherever next?

Your Krishna Kata makes demons, yogis and demigods stop and think.
Occasional pizza, ice cream and kombucha, you like to eat and drink.
You have so much love, I seek no benediction.
Ty Krishna for Gaura Purnima, that is my prediction.

I offer You my obeisences like a stick,
For this is what makes me tick.­
I hope you're fine and dandy,
Your aspiring servant, bhakta Andy

Hare Krishna Gurudeva,

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

As another year passes by, I sit here reflecting on the guidance, inspiration and encouragement that you give out so freely to me and countless others around the world. The ever-increasing influence that you have on me on so many levels is something that I notice frequently, particularly during challenging times in my bhakti career. It is because of your encouragement that I have been empowered to undertake service endeavours I never thought imaginable. Indeed, as a parent moulds their child according to their values and behaviour, I can see how you are moulding me into a better and more authentic version of myself. You have taught me about detachment, discipline, tolerance and patience. You have shown me what it really means to critically think, illuminating my two-dimensional vision with the torchlight of spiritual knowledge. I am so grateful for this process of gradually aligning with your wishes and your character, as it is my only hope to begin to re-align with Krishna’s spiritual energy.

Gurudeva, you are the guiding light of my spiritual life and my greatest shelter. I pray that I will not take this for granted but that I only feel more and more indebted to you as the years pass. I am confident - not in my own willpower alone - but in the process of devotional service. Guru-Krsna-prasade paya bhakti-lata-bija: 'by the mercy of guru and Krishna, one receives the seed of the creeper of devotional service'. Krishna Caitanya Himself emphasises service to a qualified spiritual master as central to this process, and I know that if I can please you in some small way then everything will always be alright.

Nothing makes my soul more happy than pleasing you, as it allows me to be directly connected to you and our guru parampara. I am so fortunate to be able to participate in Caitanya's sankirtan lila as a tiny little jiva by assisting you to serve your spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada. If I can be proud of anything about myself, it is that I am associated with you.

Eternally indebted to you, my father.

Your servant and daughter,
Apurva-madhuri devi dasi

Dear Gurudeva,

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

Thank you for your most recent book, Hiding in Unnatural Happiness.

In the purport to SB 1.4.1 Srila Prabhupada explains that personal realisation means you don’t try to surpass the Acharya, rather you have full confidence in them and with your own realisation you repeat what they have told you.
Thus the original meaning is maintained yet the subject is presented in such a way that it’s interesting and understandable to the audience.

Your book “Hiding in Unnatural Happiness” is a perfect example of this.

In the purport to SB 1.2.6 Srila Prabhupada makes the following statements, “Material existence is temporary, illusory and full of miseries. There is no happiness at all. There is just the futile attempt to get rid of the miseries, and temporary cessation of misery is falsely called happiness.”

Recently I read this purport out loud to a couple of devotees and After reading this quote a devotee immediately voiced what I was thinking, “You can see where Gurudeva gets his inspiration for writing books, straight from Srila Prabhupada!”

Now when I look at your book I think, This is Vedic technology, Parampara.

Last year you were speaking to a very enthusiastic Australian radio show host, who described her self in the following way, “You can think of me as a sort of Oprah Winfrey on crack.”
Your expertise in dealing with this person is amazing to listen to, at a certain point in the discussion you explained to her that your a talent scout.

Im sure the talent you’re scouting for is someone like you, the humble soul who is submissive and willing to hear Krishna’s message coming through Parampara.

As Narattoma Das Thakura has sung, “My only wish is to have my consciousness purified by the words emanating from his lotus mouth”

How transcendently talented is that most fortunate person will take your teachings and make them one with their heart, not desiring anything else.

My realisation is that such a person who can do this is the most talented, I bow down before you and chant Jaya Gurudeva everyday but I constantly fail to keep your instructions in the forefront of my consciousness.

As you’ve explained to me before, “your a bit of a mental guy”

Finally it’s sinking in, I messed myself up in Kaliyuga and I need your instructions so I can get it together and become your submissive disciple.

On this Day of your auspicious appearance I pray for your mercy, please help me to focus on your instructions, Attentive chanting of the Maha Mantra and selfless devotional service.

Thank you for showing by your own example what it means to be truely talented, to take the Gurus orders as ones life and soul.

You perfectly represent your own Guru, Srila Prabhupada and the proof is your words, written or spoken. They are always interesting and understandable for the audience yet the original purpose is maintained.

All glories to you Gurudeva!

Aspiring to be your servant, Aravinda Nabha das

Hare Krishna Guru Maharaj

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

First of all, we would like to thank you so much for accepting these insignificant souls under the shelter your lotus feet.

In Cc Madhya 22.54 it is said
sadhu sanga sadhu sanga sarva sastre kaya
lava matra sadhu sange 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.

This is absolutely true and realised in our own life. We feel fortunate to have your most valuable association and because of that association we can see that all success is coming our way. Your powerful instructions had changed our material circumstances and made conducive to advance in spiritual life.

We would like to share the greatest adventure in history of krishna conciousness movement when Srila prabhupada gave instruction to print 18 volumes of Caitanya Caritamrita within 2 months. Initially, the devotees thought it was impossible, but Srila Prabhupada told it must be done. Within 2 months, All the 18 volumes were actually printed and published and maharaj, you were one of the active members in that marathon. Srila prabhupada said whoever took part in this marathon will go back to godhead

This is the standard of your love towards Srila prabhupada which we are aspiring for.

Aspiring to be your humble servants
Ashish & Sonia

Please accept my humble obeisances

Dear Gurudeva,

We are most fortunate and blessed to have you personally present again to celebrate your appearance. I pray for many more opportunities to come!

It can be easy to take for granted, but it is remarkable how fortunate we are to have someone like you that we can approach and take shelter at any time. You are always kind and liberal to those you meet.

You have always showed kindness and encouragement to me and my family. Your association gives me the confidence to function without fear in the professional world. To take risks in order to try and give people a drop of wisdom from our infallible parampara.

An example of such a risk. I recently had an opportunity to present a project at my work. It was based on leadership and I decided to try and share the Siksastakam as a foundation for an ideal leadership strategy. The entire upper and middle management from the company were present and by the mercy of Guru and Gauranga it was a successful speech.

That same night, you appeared in my dreams. I realised no matter what I do to share Krishna Consciousness with others, you will always be with me.

It is an incredible feeling of invulnerability when we endeavour to share Krishna and at the same time remember our spiritual master. To actually feel a sense of fearlessness is a unique and incredible experience. I only wonder how deep that goes and I have no doubt you experience this feeling to a degree I can only imagine.

I pray for many of us to feel that fearlessness you display. To laugh as heartily as you do. And to give that sense of warmth to those we meet.

May you have a blessed and wonderful appearance day.

Wishing for many more to come

Much love




Your fortunate and grateful servant


Asrayananda dasa

Dear Gurudeva
Please accept my respectful obbeisances
All glories to Srīla Prabhupāda

This world is a place of suffering, a place of false hopes, and dreams.
The so called happiness of the material world is insignificant followed by distress.
Your mercy that you make this knowledge available, by your words, your actions and preaching to study Srīla Prabhupāda books.
You are the only sanyassi preaching in NZ and making centres of Krishna Bhakti accessible to everyone and giving everyone an alternative to hogs and dogs life,
A blissfull life of chanting, dancing sublime philosophy and nice prasad, all my your mercy gurudeva.
I am grateful for the opportunity to distribute books and preach krishna bhakti.
I am not so good at writing, so my offering is my trying to distribute Srīla Prabhupāda books for your personal pleasure.
Thank you for your example in pure devotional service.
I pray at your lotus feet I can remain and become more and more enthusiastic in distributing Prabhupāda books and preaching gospel of Lord Chaitanya.

Your servant atma-dharma das

Dear Gurudeva, 

Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to you and your astounding services offered to your beloved Srila Prabhupada! 

In an lecture you once said : 

''How it is that Krsna is simultaneously one with everything and different ? 
that is the great mystery that the Lord Himself speaks of in Bhagavad gita 

mayā tatam idaṁ sarvaṁ
jagad avyakta-mūrtinā
mat-sthāni sarva-bhūtāni
na cāhaṁ teṣv avasthitaḥ

I’m everywhere but yet again I’m not everywhere, everything rests upon My energy but then again I’m not there.

This sounds like word jugglery, but no, this is Krsna explaining the mystical reality of how everything is one with Him and different from Him.
 
Lord Caitanya distributed sankhya knowledge. How did Lord Caitanya do it ?

By distributing the Holy name of Krsna.
When we properly chant the Hare Krsna mantra we are able to perceive as Srila Prabhupada said everything in the world as diverse extensions of the Lords energy...

By properly honouring the Holy name of the Lord... they’ll get the vision to see this mystical paradox of how Krsna is everything and not everything at the same time." 

In a lecture Srila Prabhupada said : 

"So His energy is spread all over the universe, all over the world, and by His energy He can present anywhere and everywhere, but at the same time, He is not in everywhere and anywhere.

The conclusion is:

When His devotee is there, He can manifest Himself in everywhere and anywhere, but when there is no devotee, He is not there, although His energy is there. 

There are many instances. Prahlada Maharaja, he saw Krṣṇa from the pillar... 
So God can manifest Himself from anywhere and everywhere because He is present everywhere.
 But it requires my qualification to see Him... Premañjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena [Bs. 5.38]. If I have developed such consciousness, such love, transcendental love for God, then I can see Him everywhere and anywhere, any place—from picture, from ...statue, without picture, within myself, in air, in water—everywhere I can see. That is the process."

I wanted to express my sincere gratitude for your giving us your treasured Krsna in this world where He is otherwise hidden. 

You are the devotee who perceives the reality of Krsna everywhere in everything.

Due to your inconceivable pure devotional services constantly offered to the Lord, He not only reveals Himself to you everywhere and at all times but speaks to you :

“ You do this way , You do that way “ 

As confirmed by Srila Prabhupada : 

"If you follow those principles, it is not very difficult thing to see God or to become acquainted with God intimately. God is very cheap if we adopt the means. Vedeṣu durlabham adurlabham atma-bhaktau [Bs. 5.33]. Adurlabha. Adurlabha, very cheap. To whom? To the pure devotee."
 
Some devotees recently took time to travel with you as assistants and servants. I was a little startled when it dawned on my dull mind that you don’t come home! Stop, and have ‘me time’ , rest , or put anything for Krsna aside. I realised that after they returned home to resume life as before, you keep going and have kept going for countless years. 

Only to continue in your dedication to reveal to us your Lord the Lord you lovingly joyfully serve in such sacrificial ways.
 
I am in awe of how generous your mercy is to fallen casual outcasts such as myself.
 
When you recently shared your heart in the Ukraine Krsna Kaliya seminar it stunned me how you painted such an emotionally rich and gripping pastime picture. 

Although I was externally familiar with the outline i realised I was only licking the bottle of honey until you plunged us into your sacred world of Love of God. 

You said “ I want to feel something of the devastation, ( speaking to the Vaisnavas present ) so by your association I was able to taste just a drop...” 

“ I remember one prayer given by the elder Gopi’s trying to console Mother Yasoda on the river bank."

What is the day without the Sun?

What is the night without the Moon ? 

What is the cow without the bull ?

What is a forest with a lake if the lake has no water ? 

What is Vrindavan without Krsna ? 

Your service is our only hope of ever deserving to see what is truly right before our eyes. 

Your aspiring servant 
Bala Gopāla dāsa 

Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances in the dust of your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada. And all glories to you on this most auspicious day of your appearance.

I was listening to a lecture of yours recently on Krishna’s pastime where he stomps on Kaliya’s hoods. You were describing how this pastime is used to show how Krishna cares for us more than we care for ourselves. Krishna was purifying Kaliya by stomping on his hoods. This was not what Kaliya wanted, obviously. And you were saying in this lecture that we also will likely have a similar battle with Krishna. He is wanting us to be purified now, but we want the purification to wait.

“For now let me enjoy, and then in the future when I am old and about to die, let me be purified.”
You so boldly stated.

But you went on to explain that if this did happen, if we put off the purification, and if Krishna allowed this to happen, then at the end of life we would lament so much. “Oh, how I have wasted my whole life simply chasing selfish desires, and none of them satisfied me!”

So you showed so expertly through this pastime of Krishna chastising Kaliya, how Krishna actually cares for us more than we care for ourselves. And you elaborated further that this is the glue of the Guru-disciple relationship. You said that when we realise that our spiritual master cares for us more than we care for ourselves, it is an unforgettable experience.

And I can testify that in my own small time of practicing Vaidhi Sadhana Bhakti I very regularly have such experiences. The very roof over my head and the endless opportunities for service I have each day are proof of such care. But still I have this bad habit of allowing my mind to drag me all over the universe and back.

“I want THIS! Now I want THAT!” My mind protests. And I humbly bow down and say “My dear mind, what ever you desire is yours. You have been such a great master so far. How could I ever leave your service?”

And despite the fact that I do that, you still give me shelter. I’m still allowed to stay here in the Brahmacari Ashrama. Or, if I needed to change ashrama, I know you would arrange that I had a different kind of shelter. So on your part, the level of care and personalism that I have experienced has left me feeling very indebted and also ashamed at my own shortcomings to repay back this increasing debt that I owe you.

In another lecture of yours, you were making the point that you are always simply trying to get devotees to respect and care for themselves.

It is a very rough time we live in. Society urges us to degrade ourselves and live a very cheap life of self-harm. And I know that the only reason why I am currently trying to care for myself is because you and your disciples have already shown me such care. I feel obligated to care for myself because you have shown care for me.

And as time goes on I am seeing more and more of Maya’s various tricks and techniques that she has for throwing a semi-young man like myself off course. She has a very strategic array of arsenal at her disposal. But for every trick she pulls out, there seems to be a lecture of yours that completely analyses, pulls apart, and nullifies that trick of hers. Every time, you beat her to the punch Gurudeva.

So there is no lack of care on your part. And I thank you so much for it.

I feel ashamed to admit that I can’t seem to muster up even a drop of that care, directed either to myself or anyone else. I have been raised to be selfish.

And I have a horrible fear that at the end of my life I will have regrets. Initially, when first practicing Krishna Consciousness I thought the worst fate would be to get to the end of my life and realise that I am not actually that Krishna Conscious. But now I think a worse fate would be to get to the end of my life and realise that I did not serve you enough.

So today, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you again for all your care and personalism. And also I would like to beg your causeless mercy that I can do more for you next year, if not with physical output, then at least with attitude. I want so much to be counted among your sincere disciples.

Praying to be a better disciple,

Your aspiring servant,
Baladeva Nitai das.

Dear Guru maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances unto your lotus feet,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada,

On this auspicious day of your appearance I reflect on your influence within the mission of Srila Prabhupada.

In a Vyasa Puja talk given a few years back, you explained that a bonafide spiritual master is one who solely speaks Krsna’s words. Something easier said than done.

Following In the footsteps of Srila Prabhupada and our previous acharyas you have spent almost five decades relentlessly spreading the glories of Krsna, utilising each moment to create fresh opportunities for people to come in to the web of devotional service. I can only imagine how pleased Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura and our Srila Prabhupada are to see the mission of Mahaprabhu in hands of such a qualified devotee. Indeed our acharyas pray for such devotees.

Such a sacrificial life is not possible for an ordinary soul, simply tolerating inconveniences or depending on material abilities. It is your love for Srila Prabhupada and Krsna which mark you as special. You exemplify Krsnas instruction sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja in a way only purified souls can. I aspire for your association which is glorified throughout the sastra.

Through your mercy I have the great fortune of being surrounded by godbrothers and sisters who would be willing to die to assist you in that mission; pleasing guru and Gauranga by giving the gift of Krsna bhakti to others. Your guidance and leadership is the engine driving them to perfection.

You’ve instructed me (and many others) that by sacrificing my energy for Lord Caitanya that I too can make something of this otherwise wasted life. Thank you for putting me in this situation where I can use my youthful energy that I otherwise would have squandered if left to own devises.

Your example gives me the inspiration to develop even a fragment of the love and commitment you have for Prabhupada and his movement .
Please give your mercy to this weak and foolish devotee so he too can be used as an competent instrument.

Your servant,
Bali Daityaraja dasa.

Hare Krishna, Gurudeva!

Please accept my humble obeisances this day, maharaja. For years, I’ve been humbled by how patient you’ve been with my tendency to take the “scenic route” with my sadhana, by how much you remember of our encounter back in NYC, and especially by our correspondence. In your last message to me, you told me that “staying power, over the years, does indicate sincerity.”

I want you to know that I’m done taking the scenic route. Last year, you expressed your desire to see me become a pillar of the Denver community, and I realize that realizing your desire begins with fortifying my sadhana with the fundamentals: chanting, reading, and associating with the devotees. I beg you to grant me the wisdom to completely fulfill your desire in the most effective way, and to forgive the mistakes that I’m bound to make along the way. This is new ground for me, but I have faith in the process that transformed a fellow New Yorker like yourself into a pure devotee of the Lord and steadfast disciple of His Divine Grace, Srila Prabhupada.

All glories to you, Gurudeva, and Happy birthday!

Hare Krsna, please Accept My Humble Obeisances, All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!! Upon meeting you Maharaj, my whole perception of spiritual life changed. Your mood of absorption and shelter of the Holy name has inspired me to want to dive deeper and connect with the Lord and I am grateful that for the five days I have had your association in this life time so far. Your caring heart can be felt by everyone and you made me feel loved. As I dive deeper into my spiritual life, I ask for your blessings to be develop attachment to the Lord and one day, serve you with full conviction, love and devotion. Your aspiring servant, Ian

Hare Krsna Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisance.
All glories unto you!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Taking a moment of honesty, I found myself in front of the deties, praying for the ability and inspiration to glorify you properly, for your glories are so widespread, that I find it truly difficult to pick on something heartfelt.

Amazingly I had to take note as I stared at the effulgent limbs of their Lordships Śri Śri Gaura-Nitai, that I never thought I would have done something like this befor. Praying. What to speak of towards God and that's where you came into play.

For without you, who would have convinced me with such expertise, that the source of consciousness - needs to be conscious too. Moreover, teaching that loving service to the Supreme is the highest goal in existence, which tremendously changed my life. As it says,

Om ajñana timirāndhasya
Jñānānjana-śalākayā

For you have given me spiritual knowledge and established me in service to the divine couple and his devotees as a tiny assistant given my life purpose.

Another one says,

Vāñchā-kalpatarubhyaś ca
Kripā-sindhubhya eva ca
Patitānām pāvanebhyo
Vaisnavebhyo name namah

For you deliberately act for the conditioned souls benefit. As for myself and many others you are a desire tree, someone to whom one feels deep respect, appreciation and gratitude. My life wouldn't be the same without you.

Thus, as it comes across so often, Krishna-presthāya bhū-tale, it is not very wonderful, that you are very dear to Krsna, for you are engaged 24/7 in his loving service, with an unbreakable determination sacrificing all of your life, just to please your spiritual master.

Therefor, I offer my obeisance unto you again and again. With sweet narrations you allow us to dive deep into Krsnas unlimited pastimes and expanding the ocean of nectar, cutting to pieces all our impersonal conceptions of the absolute.

That's why its legitimate to be reminded of your glories in competent Vaisnava dealings. Your unique preaching skill, compassion and selflessness, as the your pranam so nicely describes.

So I'm filled with sumptuous delight, being able to sit in front of the deties, thinking that my connection with the Supreme Personality of Godhead is only due to your sublime service and dedication.
For as Srila Prabhupada offered the words to his spiritual master and we offered them back to him, I do like to offer them also to you, "For if you have not come and preached the glories of Lord Caitanya, who would have done it?"


Your aspiring ever grateful servant

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

All glories to you on this auspicious day of your appearance. I want to thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for the very personal guidance you have bestowed upon me within this past year, and of course thank you for the very kind affection you have given me as well. This year my biological father passed from away from his body, and I know it was due to your mercy that I was able to move on swiftly, with spiritual strength and courage, knowing that my dad received Lord Chaitanya’s mercy. Krishna provides us with all that we need, and in you He provided me with a spiritual father, a real father, who knows exactly what is best for me and who knows exactly how to engage me in Krishna’s service. For this I am deeply grateful. I hope and pray that I may become a worthy son.

Your aspiring servant,
Bhakta Michael McMahon

Hare Krishna Guru Maharaja,

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

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

"The glory of a leader is to see how well he has trained his disciples and his happiness is to see his disciples succeed."

As soon as i heard this line, i couldn't stop meditating on how well you have trained your disciples and students in presenting this gift of Krishna Consciousness philosophy with so much love and compassion that even an ignorant fool like me can come closer to Krishna.

It seems like yesterday, i met your disciples in NZ and being with them i saw a lifestyle that was not just beautiful but also something that has the potential to unite the three worlds. Maharaja i don't have enough words to glorify the success you are having with your urban outreach programs in NZ. Where else in the world can we see so enthused devotees, so sincere and dedicated in giving Krishna consciousness to others. They also make ecstatic Prasad. Having started my spiritual journey in community so beautiful that since the day i left, i have been praying to Krishna to reunite with them.
Maharaja, whatever little i have learned from them in preaching to the "host population" through urban outreach i shall put it in use no matter where i am. By your blessings, i am trying to attract locals to the newly created Bhakti Lounge here in Sydney.

Thank you for welcoming me with open arms and allowing me to take part in serving Mahaprabhu's mission. Please bestow your mercy upon me, so that i can become more sincere and dedicated in this assigned service of book distribution/ outreach and be able to achieve spiritual success like your senior disciples have.

hā ha prabhu koro doyā, deho more pada-chāyā.
Oh master! Be merciful unto me, give me the shade of your lotus feet.

Your's aspiring Sankirtan warrior,
Bhakta Pratham

Dear Gurudev,

Please accept my humble obeisance

All glories to srila prabhupad.

In this special occasion of your Vyasa puja this insignificant servant of yours from hamilton is writing a small offering for you. Dear gurudev I appologise for all my grammatical and spelling mistakes, I am not very good at writing in English but I will try my best.
Our dear gurudev any amount of words and glories I write for is will never be enough in real sense but I will still try to say a couple of words. you are like a sun risen in the lives of your disciples and aspirants. I am also an insignificant aspirant of your humble self.

First of all I would like to wish you a very happy appearance day. I am really glad that you'll be coming to Frankton tomorrow we are all very exited maharaj.

Dear gurdev I don't have words to describe what you have given me,
you have saved me and other devotees like me from going to the darkest region of hell by giving us your special mercy in the form of this transcendental knowledge. dear guru dev for unlimited life times I had been ignoring the voice of the super soul and I would've continued ignoring it for life times ahead but by your causeless mercy I have been given a chance to go back home back to god head.
Dear guru dev I am so indebted to you that thinking that I could every pay you back will be great foolishness of me or anyone because it is simply impossible. gurudev I am actually still more indebted to you because the association you have given me is inconceivably transcendental. guru dev after associating with your disciples especially brahamchaies my attachment for family life have very significantly decreased. sometime I see your glorious brahamchari disciples like hriman Krishna prabhu leaving ashram to spread the mission of lord chatanya by distributing book and I become really inspired to follow in his footsteps and I feel how fortunate I am that I get to associate with such exalted personalities it is by your mercy only gurdev that I have this association. Its my desire in life that I may looses everything that I have in life friends, family etc which in real sense were never mine but I only long to serve the devotees and your humble self again and again. I don not have a desire to associate with anyone else even my own family people after associating with devotees and especially your brahamchari disciples. I have a desire to spread lord chatanyas mission just like you disciples and day by day associating with you deciples this desire is becoming stronger and stronger and surprisingly as this desire is becoming stronger all my attachments are becoming weaker and weaker but then again my complicated situation with having indian upbringing and indian parents makes me feel like I am shackled in chains but I am sure maharaj that by lord chatanya srila prabhupad and your mercy i will get through this situation because ill keep begging to lord chatanya to keep me always engaged in his servents service for rest of life and liftimes.

Gurudev on this special occasion of your appearance day I personally have nothing to give you because what can a servant offer his master apart from service. but instead I have a very deep desire to get this benediction that I may serve devotees for rest of my life especially your (brahamchari deciples) and get there association.

I am sorry gurdev if i said something wrong ,said too much or said things out of context or if I don't make sense I am just an insignificant neophyte servant of yours.


your servant
Bhakta Sourabh
Jay gurdev

Nama om Vishnu padaya
Krishna presthaia bhutale
Srimate Devamrita
Swamin iti namine

Hare Krishna
Dear Guru Maharaja
Please accept Our humble obeisances
At your lotus feet
On this very auspicious day of your appearance.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

It is an unexplainable fortune that we having your guidance in our life.
Since we first met you 10 year ago in Hungary, following your blog and listening a lectures from you, became our helping light true this dark material existence.
And from the endless mercy of Lord Sri Krishna we met you again this year in march when you came to Cardiff...
We are very great full For this opportunity and hope that somehow we will able to assist and serve you.
Please allow us to serve you in your Mission to Srila Prabhupada, and that we may can stay always at a shade of your lotus feet.

You are Guru Maharaja a so beautiful example, your caring love towards every body, and that how you are presenting the art of Preaching just so encouraging and fantastic.


We wish you good Health for many years coming so we could learn and grow in Krishna Counciusness under your guidance by your unlimited mercy.

Thank you for everything...

Hare Krishna

Your fallen aspiring Servants


Bhakta Steve and Bhaktin Diana

Dear Guru Maharaja,

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

Gurudeva, with your intellect and caliber you would have been very successful in whatever you wanted to achieve in life, but you mention, you were looking for the best knowledge and the highest pleasure. Being sincere in desire, when you came across Prabhupada’s books you naturally accepted the knowledge in these books to be far superior than all your academic knowledge.

Carrying Pabhupada’s desire to spread Krishna Consciousness in your heart, with the weapon of the holy name & Prabhupada’s books, you invest your energy in packaging Krishna Consciousness in an attractive way so that people can easily relate to it. In your talk’s, you touch people’s heart by your sincerity in purpose and they keep coming back to hear from you. We have seen several people who have attended all your event happiness talks in Melbourne Uni over the last 2 years and are very appreciative of you.

By sticking to the basics in preaching and by asking everyone to regularly read Srila Prabhupada’s books, you have proven time & time again the effect it has on our consciousness. You have successfully transformed degraded kali yuga residents, into dynamic spiritual practitioners & activists.

The first time I met you was in Manchester, England. In our first meeting, hearing that I was from France, you asked me how to pair white wine & red wine with food. I told you, people say white wine goes better than red wine with certain food than others. You insisted and asked me to elaborate more but I then told you I personally didn’t know as I did not like drinking wine. Satisfied, you smiled & laughed, it was a sweet interaction.

Associating with your disciples in Manchester, I got firsthand experience of seeing your magic on girls aspiring to be Krishna conscious. How you had turned these girls into beautiful, wise, spiritually successful personalities. I wished I could become like them. You encouraged me to chant, read & all heartedly use all my youthful energy in sacrificing in Krishna’s service.

“The expert spiritual master knows well how to engage his disciple's energy in the transcendental loving service of the Lord, and thus he engages a devotee in a specific devotional service according to his special tendency.”
Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta Ādi-līlā 1.35

Thank you for releasing me from materialistic life by gifting me the regulated practice of chanting the Hare Krishna maha mantra and reconnecting me to Krishna.

Prabhupada mentions in The science of self-realization, My spiritual master used to say, "The spiritual master is the transparent via medium." For example, I can see the letters of this book very nicely through these transparent eyeglasses, without which I cannot see because my eyes are defective. Similarly, our senses are all defective. We cannot see God with these eyes, we cannot hear Hare Kṛṣṇa with these ears, we cannot do anything without the via medium of the spiritual master. Just as a defective eye cannot see without the via medium of spectacles, so one cannot approach the Supreme Lord without the transparent via medium of the spiritual master. "Transparent" means that the via medium must be free of contamination. If it is transparent, one can see through it.”

In Easy Journey to Other Planets, Prabhupada mentions, the serious candidate must accept a bona fide spiritual master in order to be trained scientifically. Because the senses are material, it is not at all possible to realize the Transcendence by them. Therefore, the senses have to be spiritualized by the prescribed method under the direction of the spiritual master.

Without your mercy, I would have been lost in the cosmos in this life and who knows for how many more lifetimes? Without your kindness, I would have never known what it means to be a genuine spiritualist. At the most I would have accepted a vague, confused idea of spirituality and settled for that.

In a conversation, Prabhupada explains that the spiritual master is one who solves all confusion. If the spiritual master cannot save his disciple from confusion, he is not a spiritual master. That is the test.

Not only you saved me from confusion but filled my empty life with the excitement, thrill and joy of Krishna’s service.

Ever grateful, I pray I can grow further to be of more help to you.

Your servant,
Bhakti-lata dd

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.

People with polluted hearts burden Mother Earth. Internal dirt is reflected as external pollution. Under such circumstances only Kṛṣṇa Consciousness can save the people of this world. Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu preached the message of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and considered it amala purāṇa. This message can purify the life of misdirected and brainwashed populace.

Gurudeva, your lectures on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam are full of luminosity. There seems to be no gap in what you say and how you act.

eka bhāgavata baḍa—bhāgavata-śāstra
āra bhāgavata—bhakta bhakti-rasa-pātra

One of the bhāgavatas is the great scripture Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and the other is the pure devotee absorbed in the mellows of loving devotion. (Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 1.99)

Here are some words of wisdom from your lectures Gurudeva:

“Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is not just an encyclopedia of information but it is a person and by coming in contact with this person there is transformation.”

“The white and fat-boweled conchshell, being gripped by the hand of Lord Kṛṣṇa and sounded by Him, appeared to be reddened by the touch of His transcendental lips. This proves that everything in spiritual world is conscious.”

By grossly contacting matter and trying to derive pleasure by such contact, we become more and more unconscious of reality. Hearing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from saints, gives us the credit to see the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa and gradually raise our vision upward toward His lotus face.

“On topmost planet of this universe, Satyaloka, living entities exist in subtle bodies and the only anxiety they feel is because of the compassion for suffering of those on the lower planets. Bhāgavatam is full of statements that challenge your mundane sense perception.”

By hearing the paramparā message, we will be able to rewire our sensual & mental faculties and perceive things normally. Then every part of our body will become separately enlivened.

“There is a deep bond of affection but there is precise detachment. Everything happens at the right time in a right way for maximum progress back to Godhead. At the right time Kardama Muni started his family, at the right time he left home, at the right time Kapiladeva left home.”

A neophyte devotee longs to act with flawless precision. One is equipped with appropriate ammunition by hearing from the right source and then one can gain victory over 720 soldiers of time.

Gurudeva you are purifying this planet by spreading the glories of Kṛṣṇa traveling throughout the globe.

bhavad-vidhā bhāgavatās tīrtha-bhūtāḥ svayaṁ vibho
tīrthī-kurvanti tīrthāni svāntaḥ-sthena gadābhṛtā

My Lord, devotees like your good self are verily holy places personified. Because you carry the Personality of Godhead within your heart, you turn all places into places of pilgrimage. (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.13.10)

One can get revelation of Kṛṣṇa’s truths by humbly approaching, inquiring submissively and serving a tattva darśī, seer of the truth.


kṛṣṇa-tattva, bhakti-tattva, prema-tattva sāra
bhāva-tattva, rasa-tattva, līlā-tattva āra

Kṛṣṇa consciousness means understanding the truth of Kṛṣṇa, the truth of devotional service, the truth of love of Godhead, the truth of emotional ecstasy, the truth of transcendental mellows and the truth of the pastimes of the Lord. (Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 25.265)

Many noble people win various awards for their attempt to make this world a better place to live. They have hardly achieved anything apart from completing their ephemeral life span with unfulfilled desires. The greatest award is what a pure devotee receives - it is Kṛṣṇa Himself. We can see Gurudeva that you have got that award because you are manifesting Kṛṣṇa consciousness wherever you go. (kṛṣṇa se tomāra, kṛṣṇa dite pāro, tomāra śakati āche…).

emona durmati, saṁsāra bhītore,
poḍiyā āchinu āmi
tava nija jana, kono mahājane,
pāṭhāiyā dile tumi

O Lord! With such a wicked mind as this I have fallen into the material world, but You have sent one of Your pure and elevated devotees to rescue me.

doya kori’ more, patita dekhiyā,
kohilo āmāre giyā
ohe dīna jana, śuno bhālo kathā,
ullasita ha’be hiyā

He saw me so fallen, took pity, and came to me saying, “O humbled soul, please listen to this good tiding, for it will gladden your heart.




Aspiring to be your humble servant
Bhakti-sar Dasa

Dear Devamrita Swami,

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

I was recently reminiscing on my first experiences of Bhakti and I realised for the first time that you were the main reason I took up an interest in Krishna philosophy. At a talk in Swansea almost 4 years ago now, your lively tone, hilarious remarks, and relatable vibe allowed me to understand that this wasn’t just something to do in my spare time or a place to hang out and have nice vegan food. It’s a lifestyle and an adventure. And although it took a little while for me to take up this adventure, when I finally did it was like you were right there waiting for me. More importantly, every time since then that I’ve needed my taste in the process to be reawakened, your lectures, books, and effulgent presence has been there to guide me. For this, I can’t thank you enough. Though I don’t always remember it, this spiritual relationship that we’re beginning to form is something very special and not to be taken for granted.

So, whilst I’m generally very ungrateful and naive to the incredible opportunity that you and the senior devotees of Wales allow me to have, at least for this one day I’d like to thank you profoundly. Your teachings and genuine unconditional care are something I will never be able to repay. All I can hope is that I will remain in the association of devotees so that I can one day please you by playing a valuable role in Lord Caitanya’s sankirtan mission.

Anyway, thank you for visiting Wales so regularly. Thank you for continuing to encourage me in Bhakti. Thank you for caring about me and always telling me what I need to hear. Thank you for everything.

Your aspiring servant and daughter,
Erin

Hare Krsna Guru Maharaj!
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

All glories to your auspicious appearance day!

Thank you so much for all of your care and attempt to facilitate a trip for me back home, back to Godhead, even though I identify wholly with this material body. To me, this seems like an impossible task. I can only offer prayers from my heart as far as I can appreciate your glories, but unfortunately my capacity to appreciate you is extremely limited as I am too puffed-up to see the quantity and depth of your glorious qualities.

I have always been used to believing that I was the most “sincere” or “compassionate” person in the room, and out of pride I have transferred this idea directly to the practice of bhakti. Through my deeply ingrained lense of false ego, I could never fathom that there could be individuals more sincere, more compassionate, more loving, or more aware of suffering than me. Yet, by Krsna’s mercy, I have been afforded the rare opportunity to not only see and hear you, but actually take shelter at your lotus feet. You have completely shattered all of my notions of what it means to be sincere or to care for someone’s best interest and what constitutes real humanitarian work.

Seeing all of my anxiety, you tell me not to worry, that you will take care of me, and to be myself. Because of identifying lifetime after lifetime with my mind and senses, even trying to follow your simple instruction to “be myself” in Krsna Consciousness has been challenging and scary. However, through the strength that you have given me, it has also been the most relieving and enlivening thing I have ever undertaken. As you put it: “a little Fiona has landed on my doorstep, now what do you think I should do?” I was not at all expecting you to answer the question you posed by stating, “I guess I will just have to take care of you.” In my mind, I do not at all deserve your care and guidance, especially because I put up such a fight and make everything so complicated.

Due to my conditioning, I constantly impose my material conceptions of relationships onto our relationship, as though you are a material person. In the purport of Srimad Bhagavatam 2.9.43, Srila Prabhupada writes, “Arjuna was advised to receive transcendental knowledge from the realized person by surrender, questions and service. Receiving transcendental knowledge is not like exchanging dollars; such knowledge has to be received by service to the spiritual master.” I find myself becoming lost in this “exchange of dollars” idea when I think of my relationship to you, as though it is materially-tinged. Please give me instructions so that I may serve you and hopefully by your mercy I will gain some semblance of intelligence to take your instruction in an appropriate way.

In Srimad Bhagavatam 2.32.42, Srila Prabhupada states in the purport: “A devotee should always be very kind to the general public in instructing Kṛṣṇa consciousness because that is the only solution for getting out of the clutches of māyā. That is really humanitarian work, for it is the way to show mercy to other people who need it very badly.” You always show such compassion and personal care to all of the devotees and individuals you come in contact with, demonstrating the true definition of real humanitarian work. Every time I listen to your lectures, read your books, or take your darsan, I am reminded of Krsna; a truly special thing as my mind refuses to concentrate on Krsna. I certainly need mercy very badly, because I am fallen, contaminated, and so attached to about everything except the name, form, qualities, pastimes, and service to the devotees of Krsna.

I have heard that your mission with Mantra Lounge is to make it easy for people to come to Krishna Consciousness, and I owe my life to you because if it were not for your vision of Mantra Lounge and empowering devotees, I would still be wallowing in depression, lost in a complete sea of animalistic uncertainty and delusion. Furthermore, if it were not for Hiding in Unnatural Happiness, I may have put down the Bhagavad Gita for good and never picked it up again, but by your association through your writing and your profound synthesis and contextualization of Bhagavad Gita, you somehow gave me the intelligence to continue reading sastra. All of this is not to say that I am not still in illusion, but hopefully through your mercy I will now have the chance to cultivate some intelligence or at least remain on the human platform of life.

In my material intelligence I cannot understand how you love and care for us individually to such a great extent. I have heard that Krisna continues to expand a pure devotee’s the capacity to love, and while this understanding is still far beyond me, the closest realization of this concept that I have is your example. I am not sure what I did to deserve the personal attention, care, and mercy you have bestowed upon me. I feel like a nobody wandering aimlessly through the world and yet, I have indeed found myself at your doorstep and, despite all of my reservations, don't want to go away.

Hopefully one day I will actually learn to stop taking shelter of my mind and senses and actually take shelter of your instructions in a sincere way. I humbly fall at your lotus feet asking you to please not give up on me despite my stubbornness, skepticism, constant search for contradiction, and lack of ability to serve you in any appropriate or truly loving way. Thank you for helping me to grow in my natural position: as an aspiring servant of you, a servant of devotees, and a servant of Krsna. I hope to be able to stop making my position so complicated and accept the instructions and mercy that pour out of you so naturally for years to come.

Your aspiring servant,

Bhaktin Fiona

Dear Devamrita Swami Maharaja,

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

I came to New Zealand as a traveller, looking for adventures, experiences, happyness and ultimately myself. I was hoping to go for unique adventures; making life-changing experiences; finding a lifestyle or philosophy that promise endless bliss and getting to know my true identity. I got diappointed. Travelling in New Zealand is in no way better than living in Germany. Maya cheated me...

But I was fortunate enough to meet some of your disciples who brought me to the loft where my bhakti-journey began.

Back then I didn't know that that's where I would find exacly what I was looking for, and more.
Since practicing bhakti yoga I had adventures, life-changing experiences, found a sublime philosophy and got a glimpse of my true identity. And on top of that I found a home.
Home means family and family means love and care.
I didn't expect that I would ever feel such love and care than what I can experience from you.
And no only me but everybody you meet, especially your disciples can experience your personal touch in their lives.
I guess that's what it means to be a personalist.
Thank you so much for your personal guidance and helping us to become personalists, too.

Prabhupada built a house in which the whole world can live, thank you for hosting us and teaching us to host.

I beg for your blessings that I can help expanding this sankirtana movement and write an offering to you next year which will be filled with more knowledge, realisation and gratitude.

Your aspiring servant

Lena Stauber

Hare Krishna,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Gurudeva, you have woken me from this somber sleep.
Years, lifetimes, of silent material grief.
Like a bear out of hibernation, I’m weak, bleak, meek.
But I instinctively know I must now hunt, but hunt for what and why? The most nourishing of meals, to give me strength. The holy name.
Yet my my attachment for the cave, is like a moth to a flame. Who am I to chant this holy name? To have the chance to reach Krishna?
Instead I reach for the shadows, on the cave wall, entertained by their ever flickering nature. Will I ever turn around and permanently walk out?

You and your untold mercy for us fallen souls,
You Walk with Krishna into these bleak holes,
To show us the way, that there is more than this frogs well,
Pleading for us to follow you to the ocean of pleasure,
But I’m To proud, intolerant, deaf.
I’m blind to follow, but I beg that you don’t leave me behind. Let me grab at your coat tails and join you.
Drag me through the dirt, It will not matter, I’m already unclean. I will bruise, I will bloody, I will weep. But as long as I hold on I will succeed.

Then maybe this fallen soul will eventually be dragged to the ocean you know so well, where the wounds can heal and the body cleanse. Where the soul can be in bliss.

Your humble servant

Bhauma Vrndavana

Dear Gurudeva
All glories to you, and all glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I am eternally grateful for all the opportunities that you mercifully provided, and even though I am unworthy, you have taken me under your shelter this year, and that, I can never repay. Everyday, I become more and more grateful for your dedication to outreach, for the wonderful community that you have created in Wellington, NZ, as well as in New Dwarka, where I have a wonderful community of devotees working towards our common goal of serving in our outreach program.
I hope to someday be of more service to you.
Your Aspiring Servant
Bhāva Kanti Devi Dasi

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

This year I was called for Jury service, a bewildering case of a Bulgarian fraudster. The man had 5 different identities on a dozen different charges, there were multiple passports and folders of documents to examine as evidence, as the jury we had to retire and discuss coming to a unanimous decision if he was guilty without a doubt. Behind the scenes was a fiasco, the jury was mostly made up of arguing old men, wanting to show themselves as intelligent and prove they had the right conclusion. I was sobered thinking this mans life is at stake and I was finding it hard to follow the case. But there was one member of the jury who I came to have confidence in, he wasn't proud, talking for the sake of talking, he methodically, logically and patiently cut through the jargon, I found myself taking shelter of his intelligence and everything became much clearer.
In a similar way you found me bewildered, surrounded by people proclaiming loudly and proudly that they know everything about life, but you logically, methodically and patiently showed the evidence in a way that I could understand that I was being cheated in the material world, took shelter of your intelligence and my world changed.

I heard you give an example in a recent lecture of how everyone thinks that the goal of life is to enjoy, and you just said, go on then, enjoy, no ones stopping you. You laughed, showing by this example that actually we can't enjoy, we are frustrated in our enjoying propensities, but seldom do we ever stop to think about it, we just plough on through life thinking if I just get this, do this, change this, then I'll be happy, but no you ask us to stop chewing the chewed and examine the reality. You tirelessly preach, write and travel all around the world demystifying this material energy, showing it for what it is and then revealing the positive spiritual reality. You never asked for blind faith, but for us to follow this process properly and experience the results.

On a recent visit you told me to build up my intelligence through Srimad Bhagavatam, that these books will deprogram me from my madness. Srimad Bhagavatam gives intelligence to understand the world, especially if heard in the association of serious devotees and one is distributing Srimad Bhagavatam. 

In this bewildering world I pray to be able to take shelter of your intelligence by taking your instructions deep into my heart and making them my guiding principles.

Your servant, Bhava Sandhi dd

Dear Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances at the dust of your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

In the 11th canto of Srimad Bhagavatam it is stated that, “…The qualification of the bona fide guru is that he has realized the conclusions of the scriptures by deliberation and is able to convince others of these conclusions…” (11.3.21).

Gurudev I'm always amazed at your great depth of realization in the sastras and how you are able to give such amazing examples to help us also understand. Usually while I read Srimad Bhagavatam or Caitanya Caritamrta I listen to a lecture of yours on the particular chapter I'm on, and in that way it helps me understand that section better. For example recently I was reading about the Avadhuta brahmana in the 11th canto. So I listened to a two part lecture you gave on Pingala Gita. It was amazing how to help us understand the character of Pingala better, you compared her position to a famous modern day Hollywood or Bollywood actress.

Not only are you expert in presenting the conclusion of the sastras to devotees, but also to new people. For example this year I had the fortune to attend your class at the Bhakti Tree in Newcastle. After your class many people were coming to get a copy of your book signed. One man while getting his Hiding in Unnatural Happiness signed was asking you "What was that book you were referring to? Bhaga..." You gave a quick sidelong glance to me, and went on to explain to the man about the Bhagavad Gita and asked us to give him a copy. From this incident I could understand how you give class and talk to new people in a way to bring them to Srila Prabhupada’s books. During your class you always openly quote, “as Krsna says in the Bhagavad Gita…” That night along with 30 - 40 copies of your book being sold, many people also bought Bhagavad Gitas.

Recently I read one verse in 11th Canto that made me think you.
“O King, a saintly person is just like water because he is free from all contamination, gentle by nature, and by speaking creates a beautiful vibration like that of flowing water. Just by seeing, touching or hearing such a saintly person, the living entity is purified, just as one is cleansed by contact with pure water. Thus a saintly person, just like a holy place, purifies all those who contact him because he always chants the glories of the Lord.” 11.7.44. Just like the sound of the waves on a sea shore, the flowing waters of a river or waterfall are very pleasing and soothing to the mind, similarly I always find your lectures to be very soothing to my mind and heart.

Currently I'm on travelling sankirtan and we have nearly finished our trip from Sydney to Cairns. We have distributed books in all the major towns along the coast. We are meeting a lot of elderly people in these towns and it was reminding me of how Srila Prabhupada was saying in 1st canto that “Five thousand years ago there was one Dhrtarastra, but at the present moment there are Dhrtarastras in every home. … To stick to family life to the end of one’s human life is the grossest type of degradation and there is an absolute need for the Viduras to educate such Dhrtarastras even at the present moment.” (SB1.13.24). I was thinking how although I'm not qualified and am very tiny, by your mercy I'm engaging in this most important service. By your own personal example, inspiration and causeless mercy you have inspired so many souls all around the world to become like Vidura by inspiring them to go out and do outreach.

Srila Prabhupada writes in 9th canto, “If there is one pure devotee, his association can create hundreds and thousands of pure devotees. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur has said that a Vaishnava is meritorious in proportion to the number of devotees he has created.” In the western world where devotees now struggle to make new local devotees, you have made so many staunch devotees, preachers, book distributers and brahmacaris! This all goes to show your immense purity and potency. Krsna sakti vina nahe tara pravartana, (Antya 7.11).

Gurudev I wish to bring a smile on your face by reaching out to more and more souls with Srila Prabhupada’s books here in Australia. On this most auspicious day I’m seeking your blessings so I can continue on with this service of sankirtan, life-long for your pleasure.

Your humble servant,
Bhava-vibhusana das

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

This year I was called for Jury service, a bewildering case of a Bulgarian fraudster. The man had 5 different identities on a dozen different charges, there were multiple passports and folders of documents to examine as evidence, as the jury we had to retire and discuss coming to a unanimous decision if he was guilty without a doubt. Behind the scenes was a fiasco, the jury was mostly made up of arguing old men, wanting to show themselves as intelligent and prove they had the right conclusion. I was sobered thinking this mans life is at stake and I was finding it hard to follow the case. But there was one member of the jury who I came to have confidence in, he wasn't proud, talking for the sake of talking, he methodically, logically and patiently cut through the jargon, I found myself taking shelter of his intelligence and everything became much clearer.
In a similar way you found me bewildered, surrounded by people proclaiming loudly and proudly that they know everything about life, but you logically, methodically and patiently showed the evidence in a way that I could understand that I was being cheated in the material world, took shelter of your intelligence and my world changed.

I heard you give an example in a recent lecture of how everyone thinks that the goal of life is to enjoy, and you just said, go on then, enjoy, no ones stopping you. You laughed, showing by this example that actually we can't enjoy, we are frustrated in our enjoying propensities, but seldom do we ever stop to think about it, we just plough on through life thinking if I just get this, do this, change this, then I'll be happy, but no you ask us to stop chewing the chewed and examine the reality. You tirelessly preach, write and travel all around the world demystifying this material energy, showing it for what it is and then revealing the positive spiritual reality. You never asked for blind faith, but for us to follow this process properly and experience the results.

On a recent visit you told me to build up my intelligence through Srimad Bhagavatam, that these books will deprogram me from my madness. Srimad Bhagavatam gives intelligence to understand the world, especially if heard in the association of serious devotees and one is distributing Srimad Bhagavatam. 

In this bewildering world I pray to be able to take shelter of your intelligence by taking your instructions deep into my heart and making them my guiding principles.

Your servant, Bhava Sandhi dd

Dear GuruMaharaj ,
Please accept my respectful obeisances
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada
All Glories to you.

On this most glorious day of your vyasa puja , I would like to take this opportunity to express my grattitude and for the fortune to do Devotional Service in this very life time. Association with advanced Devotees , Chanting the Holy names of Krishna , Hearing Srimad Bhagavatam from higher authorities will awaken love for Krishna. Thank you for your constant endeavors to teach about the Purpose and meaning in life in relationship to the love Supreme Krishna .
The Devotees , and Staff at the loft have such a contagious spirit to serve everyone that comes, whenever I’m in that atmosphere it seems to be very infectious .
I beg to stay within that atmosphere , we’re the sound vibration for Krishna isn’t chanted is like a dead place for crows.

Bhagavad Gita 2.54 explains

Arjuna uvaca
Sthita - prajnasya ka Bhasha
Samadhi Sthasya keshava
Sthita dhih Kim prabhasheta
Kim Asita vrajeta kim

Arjuna said: O Krsna , what are the symptoms of one whose consciousness is thus merged in transcendence ? How does he speak, and what is his language ? How does he sit , and how does he walk?

PURPORT As there are symptoms for each and every man, in terms of his particular situation , similarly one who is Krsna conscious has his particular nature - talking, walking , thinking, feeling , etc . As a rich man has his symptoms by which he is known as a rich man , as a diseased man has his symptoms by which he is known as diseased , or a learned man has his symptoms , so a man in Transcendental consciousness of Krishna has his specific symptoms in various dealings. One can know his specific symptoms from the Bhagavad Gita . Most important is how the man in Krishna consciousness speaks , for speech is the most important quality of any man . It is said that a fool is undiscovered as long as he does not speak , and certainly a well dressed fool cannot be identified unless he speaks , but as soon as he speaks , he reveals himself at once.The immediate symptom of a Krishna conscious man is that he speaks only of Krishna and of matters relating to him . Other symptoms then automatically follow.
GuruMaharaj you are a living example of this verse , and Arjuna is asking such intelligent questions . I beg also that i can follow Arjuna and ask intelligent questions.
Thank you GuruMaharaj i am eternally indebted to you .

Your insignificant servant Bhuribhoja

Here’s a poem i wrote for you GuruMaharaj

Srila Prabhupada has sent a divine messenger

With attention Chant the holy names you will always remember

For over 4 decades thriving as a seasoned practitioner

Living a life of complete Surrender

A ambassador of good will

First deserve then desire then you certainly will

I am fortunate to recieve a Transcendental book

Always think of Krishna you will become a Krishna conscious cook

Please invite your friends to the loft for great talks,yoga and a meal

The friendly staff show the books , you say Wow ! What’s in this book this is the real deal

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

Dear Gurudev,

Please accept my humble obesiences unto dust of your lotus feet.
All glories to Jagat Guru Srila Prabhupada
All glories to you

Another year passed in my Krishna conscious life. When I think of my old days without Krishna in my life, I realise how fortunate I'm now to be a part of Krishna consciousness. Gurudev this is all because of your divine association and concern you showered on me. It is said in Sastras, A minute association with divine souls can purify anyone, this happend exactly in my life.

Each time we get your personal association separately or while serving prasadam, the way you speak to us and guide us I always feel extremely blessed to be your spritual daughter. Thank you so much for all your kindness and giving us opportunity to serve you.

This year we got a new addition to our family. Thank you for blessing Sachit with name. As a mother of two I'm struggling to do my best. Gurudev I beg your blessings to gain strength and stay strong in sadhana.

I'm in India now with family here. When I'm leaving Melbourne , I wrote a email to you , asking for blessings as I'm going away for long time to stay with non devotee family members. I was so restless until I got your reply few hours before I leave. Gurudev I can't express my happiness after seeing your email. I took a deep breath and opened your reply and no words after reading. You wrote "Safe Travels, May be your family becomes devotees by your presence. " I couldn't even reply to your blessings as I don't know what to write . Tears rolled in my eyes. I'm so unqualified , if that happens it is purely because of your words.

Few days back, for the first time we got the opportunity to enter Vrindavan dham and we took my parents and in-laws along with us. We tried our best to explain them the importance of dham and not to commit offenses.

On this auspicious occasion I would like to express the utmost gratitude from the bottom of my heart for the time and care you always have for us. As well as the constant inspiration you express in your preaching and other dealings.

Praying for your healthy life so you can inspire more and more unqualified souls like me.


Aspiring to be your ever humble servant,

Bhuvana Pavana devi dasi
Bhaktin Yamuna
Bhakta Sachit

nama oṁ viṣnu pādāya kṛṣṇa preṣthāya bhūtale
srimate devāmṛta swāmin iti nāmine

pracāre purva-dakṣyam ca bhaktācāra-pravīṇatā
parārthatāpi kāruṇyam yasya sarve ca te namaḥ

Dear Guru Maharaja,

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

As another year passes, it has become more apparent to us that it is only through your blessings that we are able to continue performing devotional service despite our fallen condition. Our association with your glorious self has been brief, yet even such short interactions are a source of inspiration in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. For example, we were fortunate enough to serve you lunch prasadam before the boat cruise this year, but we were initially delayed due to heavy traffic. Upon our arrival, you exclaimed "Come quickly! The boat will not wait for us," showing your enthusiasm and eagerness in serving the mission of Srila Prabhupada. Though you are advanced in age, your dynamism has only grown, and we pray that by your mercy we can imbibe some of your liveliness when engaging in the process of bhakti.

When you granted us permission to receive brāhmaṇa initiation, you instructed us to read the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. By your incessant blessings, we have continued this study, though our understanding is fettered by our limited ability and experience. It is only by the grace of the spiritual master that the disciple can comprehend the meaning of the revealed scriptures, and we thus beg for your inexhaustible mercy so we can correctly interpret the teaching of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam and the other śāstras and apply them in our lives.

On this auspicious day of your appearance we pray to Kṛṣṇa to grant you a long life so that you can continue to preach and deliver the countless conditioned souls like us. We also pray for your blessings so we can continue to serve your lotus feet and the lotus feet of the Vaiṣṇavas, for it is only through your and their mercy that we may even dream of approaching Kṛṣṇa.

Your most fallen of servants,

Bimala Prasad Dasa, Lalitha Prasad Devi Dasi,
Bhakta Charan and Bhaktin Kṛṣṇa Priya

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.

In CC3.98, explaining the mood of Advaita Acarya, Krsnadasa Kaviraja Goswami mentions “Seeing the activities of the world, the Ācārya felt compassion and began to ponder how He could act for the people’s benefit”.

This same mood you have been carrying since your University days, you use to think “what is it that I can do, that will be for the ultimate benefit for the humanity in large” and you say, you found the answers to your questions and mission in life when you came across Srila Prabhupada’s books.

In the Purport to CC3.98, Prabhupada explains the qualification of an acarya. He says “Since the ācārya is a confidential servitor of the Lord, his heart is always full of compassion for humanity in its suffering. He knows that all suffering is due to the absence of devotional service to the Lord, and therefore he always tries to find ways to change people’s activities, making them favourable for the attainment of devotion.”

This explanation of an Acarya by Srila Prabhupada, sums up your life. After reading Prabhupada’s books you gave up all material pursuits to fully absorb yourself in vigorously spreading Krishna Consciousness. You live the shastra and in a contemporary fashion, you repeat the same message without deviating. By your own behaviour you are setting an example to what we should be aspiring for. Just by observing the way you live, you eat, you talk, interact with others we can learn how to be Krishna Conscious. Often someone is either a learned scholar, or an entrepreneur, or a good manager but very rarely do we find all these qualities in one person. Gurudeva you have all these qualities and capabilities in you. You are very learned in Shastra, you are always thinking and coming up with the innovative ways to share your knowledge with others and you are expert in inspiring, motivating and helping others to bring out the best in them so that they can be used as an instrument to share Krishna Consciousness. You deal with difficult situations, issues or challenging questions with great ease.

One time I had an argument with a mataji and she complained to you. Later, I asked you, what do you think I did wrong, thinking either you will tell me what I did wrong or tell me I was not wrong, but you replied, “I don’t know what you said to her”.

Recently I was thinking it must be very frustrating for you to deal with the dull minded people of this world. You have so much to give and share with us, but we are not ready to understand or accept what you are giving. Yet as a dutiful and loving father you continue to care for us, patiently repeating the same message again and again so we can come to a higher level of understanding and acceptance.

I am still a long way far from how a Krishna Conscious person should be, but want to thank you for your tolerance, patience and for giving me opportunities to be engaged in devotional service. I once asked you, do you think I am heading in the right direction and you replied, “you read the same books that I do, so why do you ask”.

In a letter to Devananda, on September 27, 1967 Prabhupada wrote:

“Guru and Krishna are two parallel lines on which the spiritual express runs very smoothly.”

I hope and desire that I can be fixed in devotional service under your guidance and become a trustworthy servant.

Seeking your blessings
Brahmakund dasa

Nama Om Vishnu padaya Krsna-presthaya bhutale, Srimate Devamrita Swami iti namine
Pracare purva-daksyam ca bhaktacara-pravinta, pararthatapi karunyam yasya sarve ca te namah
Hare Krishna dear Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to your Vyasa Puja 2019.
Om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjan- salakaya
Caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah

titiksavah karunikah
Suhrdah sarva-dehinam
ajata-satravah santah
sadhavah sadhu-bhusanah
“The symptoms of a sadhu are that he is tolerant, merciful and friendly to all living entities. He has no enemies. He is peaceful, he abides by the scriptures, and all his characteristics are sublime.”

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."

Guru Maharaj, I wish you a very happy Vyasa puja day and take this opportunity to reflect back. 25 years ago I came in contact with devotees to be a part of Lord Caitanya’s revolutionary movement accelerated by our dear founder acharya Srila Prabhupada. But my spiritual life actually took off 22 years ago when I attended your first lecture in Melbourne temple in 1997. I was moved, touched and awed to your so grave, dynamic and charismatic spiritual personality. I knew very much in the first instance that I found my spiritual teacher who could correct me, guide me and shape me up. At that time you were not giving initiation. In spite of my countless defects somehow by your mercy I had the determination to wait for you start accepting disciples. And after praying intensely to Lord Nityananda which I was advised to do by some vaishnavas, finally the day arrived when you showered your causeless mercy on this useless servant in the first initiation ceremony at the touch stone, the very special Melbourne Mahaprabhu mandir. The day I found the shelter at your lotus feet that totally transformed my existence. Prior to that, my life was a series of continuous suffering. Although I tried to enjoy in so many ways, all my attempts ended in endless suffering. Today I feel so embarrassed to even think of them. I am eternally indebted to you for all you have given to me.
Guru Maharaj, just like the bonafide scriptures, you are an inexhaustible source of both spiritual and material inspiration and will eternally remain the perfect example in all respects. Material inspiration means that you teach us how to engage the material world, which in fact is also spiritual, in Krishna’s service. In the current era of fast changing world who can teach the science of Krishna consciousness to the so called intellectuals and philosophers in a more practical and simple way than yourself. You are widely known and respected for educating the worldly educated gentry. Your heart touching concepts like Loft, empowering vaishnavis and not only vaishnavas in pursing their Krishna consciousness by identifying and engaging their strengths in a meaningful way, your clarity in presenting ‘Happiness’, your enlivening approach to unique ways of ‘Urban preaching’, creating and maintaining brahamcaris, encouraging house holders for a stable and sustainable progress along with your travelling and managerial responsibilities at the top level of our society are some of the feathers in your crown of unlimited achievements.
Guru Maharaj, by your mercy I could survive in Krishna consciousness for quarter of a century in spite of many internal and external challenges. Being possessor of many faults, not worthy a cent, however by your blessings and training I am engaged as a very tiny instrument in this glorious movement of Srila Prabhupada. My area of operation within ISKCON is increasing with additional responsibilities that include more management, preaching and lately added teaching bhakti shastri course. In deed you are turning ‘a dumb into an eloquent speaker’ which we can see in the cases of the most of your disciples, the effect of your Midas touch.
Guru Maharaj I beg for your special mercy to get fixed in my personal sadhna, become humble in my dealing with other vaishnavas and develop determination in my endevour to improve the quality of chanting.
Guru Maharaj, I have the theoretical knowledge from Srila Prabhupada’s statement that Krishna and His representatives are just like Krishna, can be present simultaneously in millions of places. Similarly, the Spiritual Master also can be present wherever the disciple wants. A Spiritual Master is the principle, not the body. Just like a television can be seen in thousands of places by the principle of relay monitoring. But I am unable to apply this to the fullest. Guru Maharaj I am missing your personal association which is generally limited to just a very few days per year.
Although I am totally unqualified Guru Maharaj, please let me stay at your lotus feet forever.
Thank you Guru Maharaj.
Happy Vyasa Puja day Guru Maharaj.
Your humble servant,
Buddhimanta Dasa

Dear Gurudeva,

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

As your Vyasa Puja fast approaches, I want to take the opportunity to reflect upon and appreciate your dedicated efforts to share Krishna consciousness with others.

Through your sincere service to Srila Prabhupada, you have created many opportunities for people to make spiritual advancement.

I am very grateful for the spiritual jewels you have given me, namely increased taste for hearing, chanting and outreach.

Your mercy also manifests through the inspiring and supportive friendships I share with many of my dear Godbrothers.

Thank you for these special gifts.

Your servant,
Caitanya Vihara das

Hare Krishna Devamrita Swami Maharaja,

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

Thankyou for the opportunity to aspire to serve you and serve those who serve you. I hope my attempts, whilst small and insignificant are pleasing to you and i am forever looking to improve my abilities in order to serve you and those who serve you, more and more.
Your association is so powerful and i am so blessed for every second of your presence. Your love shines in every word you speak and empowers me, and i am sure many others, to devote ourselves to service for Krsna. Because of your mercy i am able to be involved in one of the most amazing community i have ever witnessed. Because of your mercy i have the association of enlightened devotees and therefore have the chance to become enlightened and for that i am forever in your debt.
I endeavour to serve better in the future, and can not thankyou enough for your mercy.

Your aspiring Servent,
Caleb Potter

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my respectful obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda.

All glories to you, especially on this most significant day, the day of your appearance.

Your instructions are like a Swiss army knife. So multifaceted, no matter what predicament we find ourselves in, you’ve given us the perfect tools to use, paired with practical instructions to achieve the best outcome.

Whether it’s to cut the hard knot in the heart, uncork the nectar from Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books, prune our fledgling <i>bhakti</i> creeper, or pluck out the pinpricks of material desires—you’re there, showing us the way.

Through your words, in countless lectures, you painstakingly outline how to live a <i>bhakti</i>-centred life, one that’s full of spiritual nourishment.

You expertly teach us how to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra and firmly establish it as number one in our lives. Assuring us that the battle with our wild mind can be won, “if you just patiently chant Hare Kṛṣṇa every day. Because the Holy Name is Kṛṣṇa, and Kṛṣṇa is all attractive, gradually the Holy Name will take top spot in your mind.”

You urge us to develop a relationship with Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, explaining that “these books are not simply like information, they’re also…personal. They nurture you emotionally, they reach deep into the hidden corners of your heart, and they cleanse all those hidden places in your heart.”

You show us how to come before the Deities and pray, “you present your feelings to the Lord and then say, ‘Please let me do what <i>You</i> want.’”

You encourage us to grow by saying, “adjust, polish, balance yourself for better service to Kṛṣṇa.” Explaining that by doing so “is a demonstration of our preliminary love for Kṛṣṇa.”

All these gems you highlight, reveal, and promise to come if we keep to the <i>bhakti</i> process seem far beyond my reach. You’ve given us the tutorials on how to use the tools of your <i>bhakti</i> army knife, now it’s up to us to utilise them in Kṛṣṇa’s service.

In a letter Śrīla Prabhupāda writes, “your liking of engagement there is not at all an inappropriate attachment, rather it is your qualification for pleasing your spiritual master. Attachment must be there, for Kṛṣṇa or for māyā .” (Letter to Jayapataka, Bombay, 19 December, 1972)

Gurudeva, I humbly beg you to please kindly give me your mercy so that I may become unflinchingly attached to service to your lotus feet.

Your aspiring servant,

Cancala-Laksmi devi dasi

Dear Gurudev,

Please accept my humble obeisance!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

On this auspicious occasion, I found myself reflecting more deeply on my relationship with you. In your book Perfect Escape, you mention that the relationship between Guru and disciple is not like that of dictatorship.

You further give the example of Lord Krishna:

<center><i>“For instance, Krishna is the Complete Whole and therefore the original guru. Yet after speaking eighteen chapters of the most wonderful knowledge to Arjuna, Krishna clearly indicated that Arjuna still had his options: “Thus I have explained to you knowledge still more confidential. Deliberate on this fully and do what you wish to do.” (Bhagavad-gita 18.63) Krishna lucidly delineates the results of all possible choices. Yet even the Supreme Infinite, the original teacher, does not interfere with the tiny independence of the minute, finite living entity. Those giving knowledge and guidance on behalf of Krishna also do not wring submission and agreement out of potential students”</i></center>


I have personally seen this mood of yours when dealing with newcomers and disciples alike. As a new devotee myself, when I was facing the typical situation of a job-seeking immigrant not being able to find work, I turned to you for guidance. Should I return to India or remain in Australia?


You never dictated - do this or do that. Instead, you inspired me to make the right choice. All you said was, - “Do what is best for your Krishna Conscious life”, but this made all the confusion disappear.



On another occasion, you told me about your intention to purchase a new laptop. You mentioned that you needed help in setting it up if I had some time for it. Then you called me while you were in Sydney and asked when I would like to migrate the data for you. You were wondering whether you should send it to Melbourne with someone since you had no plans to come to Melbourne at that time. But I understood that I should rather go to Sydney and get it done because I knew you would never directly command me to come to Sydney for such trivial things.



I feel deeply blessed to receive your love and shelter in this gentle but firm manner.


Gurudev you have given the gift of holy names and spread the message of Lord Chaitanya to so many people across the globe and continue to do so. I have been fortunate enough to be one of them. I cannot thank you enough as to how much you have changed our lives. You have been providing guidance at each step of our material and spiritual lives, encouraging our small and feeble attempts to make spiritual progress.



How can we ever repay back the debt to you? This is as impossible as when Satyabhama attempted to purchase Lord Krishna with gold equal in weight to the Supreme Lord Himself! Of course, the scales would not budge, even after she put in tons and tons of gold from her end. Krishna still weighed more. Finally, it was Queen Rukmini who places a Tulsi leaf with Krishna written on it and balances the scales.



Similarly, we cannot repay our spiritual master’s debt through material means. We can only attempt to do this through sincere service to <i>guru vani</i> - the instructions of the spiritual master.



Srila Prabhupada also once said that even if one syllable of Krishna is given or taught one time to someone the debt is so great that no amount of service could ever repay that debt. We simply must be satisfied by making the attempt to repay.



I humbly beg you that you bless us on this occasion to be able to act in such a way that we may make that attempt every day, every moment. We would like to endeavour towards satisfying you and following your instructions no matter what our material circumstances are.



In this way, we can deepen our relationship with you and understand more perfectly the choices you want us to make.



Your servants,

Candanesvar Das

Suvarna Radhika Devi Dasi

Narottam

Sudama

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

nama oṁ viṣṇu pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣthāya bhūtale
śrīmate devāmṛta swāmīn iti nāmine

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

Last year you kindly recommended my family and I go visit Mayapur. It would be my first time in India. Thank you so much for instigating this trip.

You call Mayapur "The Mayapur Miracle", and it really is true. Out of crumbling West-Bengal rises this amazing spiritual city. All material troubles of the surrounding land disappear and Krishna Consciousness takes over. The suffusion of spiritual atmosphere in Mayapur is beyond compare.

A couple of highlights of the trip:
- Chanting Damodarastakam in the evening with yourself, Srila Sivarama Swami and Srila Niranjana Swami, and observing the sweet camaraderie between the three of you.
- Seeing my son's dormant Krishna Consciousness gradually awaken to full bloom under the influence of the Holy Dharm
- Being in awe of the enormous presence of the Temple of Vedic Planetarium; Bhaktivinoda Thakur's prophecy realised
- Seeing the parampara come to life; never before have all the previous acharyas seemed so real
- Getting the association of so many wonderful devotees

Thank you so much for suggesting this trip. It really was the spiritual experience of a lifetime. Even though I got sick for a couple of days, I have no regrets whatsoever. I look forward visiting Mayapur again one day.

your servant,
Candidasa dasa

Dear Gurumaharaj please accept my humble obeisances at the dust of your lotus feet!
All Glories to you! All Glories to Srila Praphupada!
Thank you for inspiring me in my spiritual life and showing a great example of steadiness and determination in devotional service and always reminding me that we came here to achieve as much as we can on our spiritual path and nothing else matters.
Thank you for kindly accepting me as your disciple!
Only because of you and your example, your inspiration I continue chanting my rounds evryday.
Thank you so much for everything!

Your servant
Charumukhi devi dasi

Dear Gurudeva,

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

Thank you so much for being there, caring for me.Your selflessness and desire to help others is unlimited. Your love for Srila Prabhupada can be seen in your actions.

Srila prabhupada writes in the purport SB 4.24.15:
<I>“the order of the spiritual master is the life substance of the disciple. The disciple should not consider whether he is going back home, back to Godhead; his first business should be to execute the order of his spiritual master.” </I>

You are a living example of Srila Prabhupada’s words. I wish i am also able to follow in your footsteps and able to serve you in some way.

Gurudeva you are extremely merciful. So many times, you have to repeat the same instructions: “You know its just your mind. Are you still living in your mind?”
But i still continue to do so, and i have hope that if i stick to your instructions, one day i will be able to control my mind and able to control my mood swings. I am sorry for letting you down Gurudeva.

You are our best well wisher. Always thinking of how to engage everyone in devotional service. Thank you so much for creating such an amazing setup of devotee care. Your disciples are very kind and magnanimous, as expertly taught by you.

I pray to Sri Sri Doyal Nitai and Gaura Hari for your good health so that you can continue in your amazing endeavours to spread Lord Caitanya’s mercy.

Your aspiring servant,
Citta Mohini

Dear Devamrita swami,

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

All Glories to your lotus feet.

I would like to wish you a happy Appearance Day.

Everyday in Life I undergo certain notions of deceit and cheating.

And it's in these moments that when I realise how lucky we are that there exists a Guru who can take us back to Godhead. Day in Day out all I see is materialism with no regard to spiritual life.

It's truly a wonder that the concept of a Guru still exists now - something we only see in the TV serials of Ramayan and Mahabharat.

And you Maharaj genuinely want to take us back to Godhead. Thank you for being there for me.

Your servant,
Dainyarnava Das

Please accept my humble obeiscenses and accept me as your aspiring servant

I find myself gradually becoming free from the anxiety and suffering that drove me to take shelter of Krsna Consciousness. I can see for myself that by making a conscious effort to serve Krsna according to your instructions and that by reading talking about and remembering what's in Prabhupada's books the quality of life improves and I feel myself coming more into alignment with reality. Hopefully one day by the mercy of Krsna I'll be able to inspire those same realisations in others, because on the strength of my own ability I'm just a dried out wreck devoid of any sense of empathy or compassion for anyone.

I'm trying everyday to improve myself for Krsna's service and to become more focused and absorbed in that service, but still my shortcomings are clear for all to see. I sincerely desire to be so focused on devotional service in the right attitude that nothing else distracts me. I also desire to come to a point where I relish and take full shelter of Krsna's devotee's under all circumstances.

At the moment these aspirations seem so far away because of my own lack of authenticity and the pride I have in my own cynical observations of things I think I'm seeing around me. I often think myself able to understand everything and everyone and restrict my decisions and conclusions about what ought to be done within my own limited reasoning, it's quiet clear therefore that purification of heart is needed, and I'll try not to ever begrudge the forms that purification comes in but to take shelter of Krsna in such circumstances.

I vow that for the rest of my life I will progressively try to take shelter of Krsna and the instructions he gives through the written word in scripture and through his genuine representatives. In the beginning of the Adi Lila, Prabhupada mentions that in the spiritual masters absence his instructions should be the pride of the disciple. I hope to become fixed in this consciousness, to repay the debt I owe to you. I pray that one day I may have the gravity and depth of character to fully realise the gratitude and love I ought to have toward you. Until then I'll keep trying to push on trying to serve your instructions, while reflecting on the fortunate situation I don't deserve to be in.

Your aspiring servant Daityari-hari dasa

Dearest Guru Maharaj
Please accept my humble obeisances, All glories to Srilla Prabhupada
All glories to you most auspicious appearance day celebration

There are many ways to preach but to actually talk in a way that makes others understand their nature is difficult. Everyone is completely different and it calls that you approach with different style but somehow you are able to dissect and understand your students and even future devotees. I can personally experienced your outreach program where people leave excited because you delivered Krishna's message properly. It is said the material world is like an ocean of suffering but taking directions from you, I can see it as an ocean of lava, seeing material nature this way I will never get close to playing in it as death of my spiritual advancement is immidiate. But there is one more thing that sets you appart from other teachers is that you give attention to every single student of yours and even retreat participants are given personal attention.

Your humble servant
Damodara Katha Das

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances,

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

All glories to you!

How many lifetimes have I waited to get the good fortune of being your disciple? <i>brahmanda bhramite kona bhagyavan jiva</i> ….

What amazing fortune!

The lucidity of your words is opening my eyes, which were previously accustomed to the darkness of ignorance. However, I must confess, my eyes are still far from being fully open! Therefore, I am begging your mercy.

A spiritual doctor, scalpel in hand, you remove the cataracts of ignorance and passion.

Like an Olympic torch bearer, you wield the torch of knowledge.

It’s amazing to think what your pure words can accomplish.

I am feeling grateful for the education I’m receiving from you. I can’t think of anything more valuable; except of course, for Krsna. Yet amazingly, this education is simultaneously non-different to Krsna.

Krsna-katha, comprising the miseries of matter and glories of Krsna, is also Krsna.

You’ve expressed before that we need to be smarter than sex. What an incredible concept.

As the whole world drowns in the stuff, you command the fortunate: <i>“My hope is that you become smarter than sex.”</i> Those who get your mercy can appreciate its profundity.

I am feeling grateful for this teaching. Where else can one receive it?

I am feeling grateful for your words that dismantle the fantasy of sexual happiness.

Today, I seek your blessings to realise Sri Prahlada’s words, <i>“sukham hi tuccham”</i> — the happiness of sex life is insignificant.

Please bless me to become sudhira, most sober, as I tolerate Maya’s provocation.

How many sadhakas fall to this illusion? Too many…

I recall your fondness of the phrase, <i>“… Conceding to a life of sex, he agrees to suffer all kinds of material miseries….”</i> (Bhagavatam 5.5.7 Purport).

It’s interesting how Srila Prabhupada explains that kings need to understand the science of Bhagavad-gita in order to rule and protect the citizens from bondage to material lust (BG 4.1 Purport).

Again, another incredible concept. Imagine a political campaign aimed at freeing men from bondage to lust. Sadly, in Kali-yuga, we see the very opposite; campaigns designed to increasing our bondage. Indeed, foolish citizens gladly support leaders who increase opportunities for lusty activities.

But you, Gurudeva, are pointing us in the other direction, towards Krsna’s devotional service; namely, the chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, and the distribution of the Holy Name to others.

Modernity plunges one into nudity.

Topless, bottomless passion.

What hope is there without divine leadership?

In the Sixth Canto of Bhagavatam, we hear about the tragic fall of the brahmana Ajamila:

<i>“As far as possible he patiently tried to remember the instructions of the sastras not even to see a woman. With the help of this knowledge and his intellect, he tried to control his lusty desires, but because of the force of Cupid within his heart, he failed to control his mind.”</i> (Bhagavatam 6.1.62).

In the Purport Srila Prabhupada explains, <i>“… to maintain self-control is extremely difficult unless one is specifically under the protection of the Supreme Personality of Godhead through devotional service."</i>

Krsna is the asraya-tattva, the ultimate shelter of everything else (the asrita-tattva). As a representative of the asraya-tattva, the spiritual master is also a giver of shelter, asraya-vigraha, <i>“…the manifestation or form of the Lord of whom one must take shelter….”</i> (Caitanya-caritamrta Adi-lila 1.46 Purport).

I can honestly say that I have only been able to withstand the taunts of Maya, through taking shelter of you.

Otherwise how is it possible? I was totally defeated before meeting you.

The power of Krsna’s name in protecting us from lust, is inconceivable. When fantasies start playing in the mind and I chant Hare Krsna, my illusions are rapidly dispelled; I regain my sanity.

I remember, <i>“I am not the enjoyer. I am the enjoyed, Krsna’s servant.”</i>

I am feeling so grateful for this gift of Hari-nama; the only shelter in Kali-yuga. There is simply no other way.

My hope, is that I can make you proud by becoming smarter than sex. I beg for your mercy in this endeavor.

Thank you for everything,

Your servant,
Damodara Krsna dasa.

Nama om Visnu padaya
Krsna presthaya bhutale
Srimate Devamrita Swami
iti namine

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

Dear Gurumaharaja,

Once on a morning walk Srila Prabhupada asked the question "What is the most important verse in the Bhagavad Gita"? After being offered a few suggestions from disciples accompanying him, Srila Prabhupada himself confirmed it was BG 4.34:

tad viddhi pranipatena
pariprasnena sevaya
upadeksyanti te jnanam
jnaninas tattva-darsinah

"Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth."

This principle of accepting a spiritual master is also emphasised by Rupa Goswami in Chapter 6 of the Nectar of Devotion called 'How to Discharge Devotional Service.'

"He mentions the basic principles as follows: (1) accepting the shelter of the lotus feet of a bona fide spiritual master, (2) becoming initiated by the spiritual master and learning how to discharge devotional service from him, (3) obeying the orders of the spiritual master with faith and devotion, (4) following in the footsteps of great acaryas (teachers) under the direction of the spiritual master, (5) inquiring from the spiritual master how to advance in Krsna consciousness etc."

The spiritual master's qualification is that he delivers the transcendental message of Lord Krsna via the Parampara intact, free of his own speculations and interpretations. The analogy Srila Prabhupada often used to illustrate this point was the post man who delivers the mail intact to the addressed recipient, without censoring or tampering with the contents in any way.

This is the transcendental process or 'science of sabda brahman' for how we understand what is truth and the goal of human life, as the knowledge originates from the Ultimate Source of Everything, the Supreme Personality of Godhead- Lord Krsna.

As stated in SB 6.3.19:

dharman tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam
na vai vidur rsayo napi devah
na siddha-mukhya asura manusyah
kuto nu vidyadhara-caranadayah

"Real religious principles are enacted by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although fully situated in the mode of goodness, even the great rsis who occupy the topmost planets cannot ascertain the real religious principles, nor can the demigods or the leaders of Siddhaloka, to say nothing of the asuras, ordinary human beings, Vidyadharas and Caranas."

Unfortunately in contemporary Kali yuga secular society, led by the blind, this understanding of accepting knowledge from the bona fide source has been either forgotten or deliberately ignored. The commonly accepted mind set now is that the ignorant individual, or, the as equally ignorant collectivist majority, is free to create their own unique adharmic principles based on the feelings and speculations emanating from the whims of their minute, limited and conditioned physiology and psychology. The resulting examples of chaos and barbarity that ensues from this type of godless civilization, tainted with an undercurrent of voidism and impersonalism, is abundant; abortion rates skyrocketing (which now include allowances for late term terminations), depression and suicide rates at all time highs, environmental and economic catastrophe's, slaughterhouse genocide of defenceless animals, epidemics of substance abuse, destruction of marriages and families, and the list goes on...and on......

However, Srila Prabhupada did famously one state :

“The Krsna consciousness movement will go down in history as having saved mankind in its darkest hour.”

You are playing an important role in helping to fulfill this prophecy and I hope that I can be of some small use in assisting you in your service to Srila Prabhupada and the previous acaryas.

Your Servant,

Dandakaranya das

Dear Devamrita Swami Maharaj,

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

In the darkness of maya, that’s where I was.
Sinful and fallen, bewildered and lost.
But you didn’t mind, you simply gave chance
Through your disciples I felt your graceful glance.

The torrents of mercy had fallen on me
from your disciples, who are gentle and meek.
Patient and humble, they opened the door,
they treated me nicely without critic.

I got somewhat confused, it was like a shock.
“Where is this love coming from, folks?”
I dared to ask and got in response
“Spiritual master”. Long pause.

Doubtful and blind I could not perceive.
“Just try, it’s easy, you’ll see”
They were not giving up, they kept moving on
Cheerful and bright, inviting to join them along.

Unwilling and scary I followed advice
“You are ok, just chant and stay with nice friends”
You gave me some hope,
you showed me first step.

“Just read, try to serve. Don’t worry if it’s not much”
You showed me what faith and trust mean.
With your grate endeavour you dug out the seed,
Gave it the water and nutritions to eat.

Gently and softly you are waking me up.
You give me the tools to clean up and cheer up.
By the grace of your powerful light
I start to see the meaning to this life.

You show me the way, you teach me to breath.
Your presence and grace give sustains to live.
Your compassion and care warm up from inside.
Forever indebted for your precious insights.

Dear Guru Maharaja,

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

Please accept my attempted offering on this auspicious day of your Vyasa-puja.

I can properly engage my pride in proudly calling you my Spiritual Master! The combination of your natural skills and your fully surrendering those skills to Krishna make for a powerful bhakti output. Not only your personal ability resources, but all resources you are able to so expertly engage in Krishna's  service, a masterful display of yukta vairagya. Guru Maharaja, your calculated inferfacing with this world to save time and energy is exemplary. As you once told me, you dont want to waste Krishna's time. Because of these skills the whole world is benefited, especially those who accept your mercy. Although you take on more and more disciples and leadership responsibilities, you still you find the time to carefully guide your disciples. My devotee companions were always shocked upon hearing how you would respond so quickly to my inquiries or how I was able to personally  message you back and forth. Thanks for so expertly arranging your life to be able to give us your much needed guidance.

You once told me something to the effect of "lets see what Krishna does with our tiny selves". Now I am really in a sink or swin situation. Serving in a city with a scarily hightened degree of passion and ignorance, I am forced to progress. As you mentioned in your Vyasa Puja offering to Srila Prabhupada this year:
"In Kali-yuga the ravages of time spare no one: anything not spiritually tied down—fixed in maturing bhakti—will deteriorate".
These words are so relevant to me now. I pray for your continued help in helping me progress on my journey.

Thank you for all your care, guidance and  inspiration Guru Maharaja. Please bless me that I can please you and please let me know how I can better serve you.

Your aspiring servant,
Dasya-prema das

Dear Gurudeva,

All glories to Srila Prabhupada,

Please accept my humble obeisances,

Please excuse me as I indulge in a trip down memory lane.

Vyasa Puja 2019.

You were rubbing your eyes and no-one was surprised by this. For I was decked out in my Fluro Pink, 70's suit which was covered in bling. Why? I was striving for that cross over 70's - Home Boy look, as you do. Aesthetically speaking I was killing it. I cavorted like a crazed man before launching into epic break-dancing.

What I said.

There I was cruising down Cuba street while, side stepping feral Pugs and genetically engineered Raptors. I came to an abrupt stop and rubbed my eyes when I saw what I saw. A blast from the past in the form of Pac Man. Boy oh boy. Last time I saw him, was the wedding where he married the soon to be Mrs Pac Man.

We talked and bad news emerged like a bats from a cave. Divorce! All efforts were made, up to and including the mighty efforts of Dr Phil. He had a lot to say so, I'll summarize with key points. Failing to listen to her, instead his misguided attempts to help by fixing her problems. Long hours in the maze so, he earn money and pay off the mortgage. Mrs Pac Man opened the door, to a Husband who was seemingly unwilling to talk. Rather he was tired as well as stressed. She wanted a man who could express and share, but, she saw her soul-mate crash on the couch or escape to his man cave.

Eventually the conversation turned to me and, I started talked about Bhakti Yoga. Less is more so I enclose an overview. The ghosts who chased through the maze weren't his enemy and, his perception of was as aspect of his false ego. When the ghosts caught him, he left his material body. His true self is atma. Long hours at the office and working hard for money, equates to the mode of passion. Not to mention sense gratification. It ended with a man hug. He left with a copy of Hiding In Unnatural happiness and Japa beads, by Krishna's mercy he may tread the Bhakti path. The next time you visit Bhakti lounge you may see us, gosh one day you may initiate him.

With respect and gratitude

David

Nama om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale
Srimate devamrita svamin iti namine
Pracare purva-daksyam ca bhaktacara-pravinata
Pararthatapi karunyam yasya sarve ca te namaha

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

On this most auspicious occasion of your divine appearance, please allow me to make an attempt to glorify you and your deeds, which you perform in the service of Srila Prabhupada.

It’s not easy to understand the greatness of the spiritual master. In fact it is practically impossible to fathom the deep ocean of bliss and mercy that is Krishna bhakti, in which you swim. But still this proud beggar, standing upon the shore, desires to try and realize even just a drop of that ocean.

It’s certainly amazing that just by rendering some small service to the spiritual master, according to our limited capacity, we conditioned souls can get the greatest reward. As the representative of Lord Caitanya and the disciplic succession, you the bona fide spiritual master, are delivering the conditioned souls from this ocean of suffering that is Kali yuga. You are distributing Krishna’s holy name to whom ever is willing to take it, and these fortunate souls are unlimitedly benefited, beyond our ability to even understand it.

Tesam satata-yuktanam
bhajatam priti-purvakam
dadami bhudi-yogam tam
yena mam upayanti te

To those who are constantly devoted to serving me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to me. (Bg 10.10)

By showing the perfect example you have set the standard and illuminated the path by which we can all come to Krishna consciousness. If we simply follow your instruction and serve to the best of our ability, then surely we can taste just some of that nectar of love of God you so freely and diligently distribute. I pray that I may perpetually remain in your service and that of the devotees, lifetime after lifetime, for as long as you will have me.

O’ Gurudeva! Please forgive my offences and accept me as an insignificant servant, prostrated at your lotus feet.

Your aspiring servant,
Dayal Nitai Dasa.

Hare Krishna.

Dear Guru Maharaja

Please accept my humble obeisances on this most auspicious day of your Vyasa Puja.

How to properly honour the spiritual master?
Is it an impossible attempt for anyone to make?

In the SB 4.22.7 this is affirmed:

"A joker’s activities simply arouse laughter, and a person who tries to repay the spiritual master or teacher of the transcendental message of Kṛṣṇa becomes a laughingstock just like a joker because it is not possible to repay such a debt".

And in the very same purport Srila Prabhupada so eloquently explains:
"Knowledge of Kṛṣṇa is such a great gift that it is impossible to repay the benefactor. Therefore Pṛthu Mahārāja requested the Kumāras to be satisfied by their own benevolent activities in delivering souls from the clutches of māyā".

Dear Guru maharaja all glories to you!
By reading Srimad Bhagavatam every day and by seeing you preach and help devotees, either through your lectures or when you are here with us in Wales, i am increasingly convinced about your exalted position as a bonafide pure representative of the guru parampara.

Srila Prabhupada confirms this:
In Sb 4.18.5:
"This Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement directly receives instructions from the Supreme Personality of Godhead via persons who are strictly following His instructions".

Your expertise in considering how to best facilitate others coming to Krsna Consciousness is by far the best.
Prahlāda Mahārāja therefore said:
“They are rotting in material activities for transient material pleasure and spoiling their lives toiling all day and night simply for sense gratification, with no attachment for love of Godhead. I am simply lamenting for them and devising various plans to deliver them from the clutches of māyā.”(Bhāg.5.2.7 purport)

How are you capable of actually preaching so intensley in such degraded environments completely immunised from the attack of illusion Prahlada maharaja exposes the secret to such success in SB 7.9.43:
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.

These two qualities are pricless gems on your character guru maharaja:
1. Remaining absorbes in hearing and chanting about Krsna
2. By applying serious and strong sadhana you have developed genuine love for Krsna and other living entities.

You therefore set the example of how to actually become qualified to be compassionate.

Therefore you unceasingly travel fully equipped with the mercy and mood of a humble servant of the Lord.
In Sb7.9.44 it is stated:
My dear Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, 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 Himālayas 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.

Srila Prabhupada states
Sb 4.18.5 purport
Lord Caitanya therefore says, “By My order you may become a spiritual master.”

Therefore we sing every morning in the gurvastakam text 7:
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.

Also in gurvastakam text 6:
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.

You are expert at making these tasteful arrangments and making that available to others I pray that i may be able to assist you in this attempt by helping Tarakanatha build a thriving bhakti community here in Wales.

Your aspiring servant Dayalu Gaura Dasa

Dear Gurdeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to you on this auspicious day of your Vyasa Puja.

Gurudeva, recently you asked me a question over whatsapp ‘What are you doing currently in service?’

In response to my small list of services, you replied ‘Very good’.

As I meditated on this exchange, I realized 2 things. how limited is my capacity to serve you and how great is your compassion that you encourage me for whatever little I have to offer.

Just as an expert gardener is attentive to the environmental needs of the plants in his care, similarly Gurudeva, you very attentively grow our Bhakti creeper by your encouraging words and also by providing us with appropriate resources and tools for our progress in bhakti.

Through your unlimited lectures, books like Bhakti bhava, you constantly push us to not only go deeper in our own hearing and chanting but also sacrifice more in sharing it with others. You have often encouraged me by giving me electronic devices to enhance my sravanam.

But due to my lethargy, lack of enthusiasm and proactiveness, I am unable to take full advantage of your presence in my life.

On this auspicious day of your appearance, I beg from you the benediction that I may assist you in your service to Srila Prabhupada, by distributing his books in this life and the next.

Just as you tirelessly travel the planet, from one Bhakti center to the next inspiring devotees, may I go from one book spot to the next bringing the lost souls to your lotus feet.

Your classes, which are a perfect combination of logic, humour and shastra, present the irrefutable Vedic truth. Like a child, I repeat what I hear from you and witness people’s hearts open up to accept Prabhupada’s books.

Great saints such as yourself are my only shelter –‘Ohe Vaisnava Thakura , doyara sagara’

Thank you Gurudeva for giving me shelter in the form Holy Name, your instructions , Prabhupada’s books and the holy dhams such as Bhakti Lounge and Loft.

You are an exemplar of both Book distribution and Devotee care!!

I pray that I may always appreciate what you have so lovingly given me, not only on Vyasa Puja day but on a daily basis, from moment to moment, by sincerely attempting to follow the instructions you have given.

All glories to your relentless preaching endeavours.

Your aspiring servant and daughter,
Dayamaya devi dasi

Dearest Gurudeva,

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

SB 11.3.21
tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta
jijñāsuḥ śreya uttamam
śābde pare ca niṣṇātaṁ
brahmaṇy upaśamāśrayam
Therefore any person who seriously desires real happiness must seek a bona fide spiritual master and take shelter of him by initiation. The qualification of the bona fide guru is that he has realized the conclusions of the scriptures by deliberation and is able to convince others of these conclusions. Such great personalities, who have taken shelter of the Supreme Godhead, leaving aside all material considerations, should be understood to be bona fide spiritual masters.

Prior to a few years ago, I had struggled with happiness and purpose for so long. I wasn’t even sure it actually existed and a single moment with you changed the course of my life and thoughts completely. Day-by-day its more and more unbelievable to me how brilliant devotees like you truly are and how I am completely unworthy of such association, but thankful for your causeless mercy. It’s humbling to have you as my Guru and spiritual father. I hope that I may one day be able to serve you in a way that will make you truly proud.

Your aspiring servant,

Deva Darśana Das

Dear respected Maharaj-

Please accept my apologies for not submitting my offerings in the last 1-2 yrs!

Kindly let me know when and where can I meet you in India - whenever you are scheduled to visit.


I just want you to kindly accept my request and initiate me as your disciple.

I am eager to get initiated at the earliest.

Your humble servant,
Deval Joshi

nama om vishnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale 
srimate devamrita swami 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 your lotus feet! 
All glories to your auspicious appearance day!

Sometimes I wonder... Sometimes I hope...

In my quest of trying to describe your Holiness and qualities, where is my intelligence, my English knowledge and ability to put my feelings into words
Sometimes i wonder...

Since it is the duty of a disciple to glorify his Spiritual master on His Vyasa puja day, it is a meagre attempt of mine to even venture in this gigantic task. It is just like finding a needle in the ocean. Will I even be an inch successful?
Sometimes i hope...

It is mentioned how the conchsells of the pandavas sent shockwaves and how when Bhima roared, Hanuman roared together. In melbourne uni prog earlier this year, I saw someone roaring and slashing the ignorance of masses with the sword of knowledge. Is this a glimpse of how it is like?
Sometimes i wonder...

This year during our farm retreat you were really sick and could hardly speak. Yet, you showed up and kept on going with preaching just for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada and to show mercy on some lost souls. Will i ever take anything serious in my life and do something for your pleasure?
Sometimes i hope...

In your recent Srimad Bhagvatam class, you described how Maharaj Prithu displayed the role of an ideal king by setting example to the citizens although he did not need to. During the same visit, you had all the reasons why you did not need to follow Ekadasi namely health issues, you are already enlightened, you had a flight to catch, still, you set the example and teach us. And here I am thinking I am doing enough austerity and always finding excuses. When will I ever be able to recognise who you really are...
Sometimes I wonder...

Despite all my imperfections, you have placed your hand so lovingly on my head, and mercifully allowed me to do some menial service. To make myself a puppet at your hands and be an instrument of yours...
Sometimes i hope...

I find a similarity between you and me. I never fail in missing doing my duty as a son towards you while you as a caring father you never fail in showering your love on me. I always forget you and you always forget my mistakes. How much do you tolerate me...
Sometimes i wonder...

Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado
Yasyaprasadan na gatih kuto 'pi
Srila Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura beautifully coined how by the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of krsna. Here you are trying to give me the treasure of ultimate love while here I am busy collecting broken glasses. I should leave my dog's obstinacy...
Sometimes i hope...

On this auspicious day of yours, I beg for further mercy so I can wake up from my deep sleep. I beg for forgiveness for all my shortcomings and wish that I can somehow be an ideal son...
As it is, I am clinging very hard to the bottom of the ladder and you are so mercifully not letting go of my hand. How much fortunate can I be...
Sometimes I wonder...

Sometimes I wonder... sometimes I hope...
Even if my English eloquency fails and my juvenile attempt fall short in putting my feelings to paper... I simply want to wish you a happy vyasa puja and pray that you keep on pushing Srila Prabhupada's movement to new heights and I know this gives you immense pleasure as opposed to anything else.

Your Insignificant Servant
Dhira Siromani Dasa

Hare Krsna Guru Maharaj
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to you on most auspicious day of your appearance

I have been thinking of your glories especially more since this Balaram Purnima hearing how the spiritual master is representative of Lord Balaram who awards bala spiritual strength. The strength to grow in Bhakti.

It is confirmed by Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī.
in Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta that by mercy of both Guru and Krsna one gets the seed of devotional service.

guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja CC Madhya 19.151

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura recommends dhyayan meditation on the spiritual master and stuvan praise, glorify him at least three times a day.

dhyāyan stuvaṁs tasya yaśas tri-sandhyaṁ

I have been thinking how you are able to introduce Krsna to all different types of people from all parts of the world. How you are able to get them to chant Hare Krsna even new people who have never chanted names of Krsna before. Not only that how you get them to chant and dance in the kirtans.

I have personally witnessed it more so receiving some feedbacks from people who have received your book Hiding in Unnatural Happiness.

One young student sent me a message “This man must be a very pure soul.” I was wondering what is this student seeing in this apparently little book.
Many people looking at various books on the book table say pointing to Hiding in Unnatural Happiness, yes thats the one has caught my attention the most.
Seeing their appreciation I take the opportunity to introduce Bhagavad Gita saying that this author highly recommend read the Bhagavad Gita and many people take the Bhagavad Gita also.

One hotel owner saw this book and asked me how much would she need to pay for a box of this book? On inquiring more why does she want a whole box. She told me that she would like to give it to people visiting her hotel for an event and took a full box.

Hearing all these appreciations I feel surge of enthusiasm to simply remain engaged in this service at your lotus feet and relish the nectar of devotional service.


Begging for spiritual strength and increasingly serving your lotus feet without distractions.

Your servant
Dhira-Lalita Dasa

Dear Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my most humble obeisances.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to you!

A pure devotee is rare and most precious within this world. Whoever, due to some good fortune, comes in contact with such a devotional touchstone has their life transformed, eternally.

The first homage I wrote was in 1999. It was on a card I made and then handed to you as you descended the stairs at the Newmarket Loft. We didn’t celebrate it with you as we do today and there wasn’t such a host of devotees.

This is evidence of your surrender to Srila Prabhupada. Krsna-sakti vina nahe tara pravartana: “One cannot spread the holy name of Krsna without being specifically empowered by Lord Krsna.”

Today I meditate on the humility, forbearance and determination that this must have taken.

Knowing Lord Caitanya’s desire and seeing the need, you focused your intelligence on cracking the western cities. But not every senior devotee in ISKCON always understood what you were doing. Often you were misrepresented, insulted, even sent away. But how gracious you always were. One example that touches me very much is your graceful exit out of Manchester in 2005. Two devotees were deployed to northern regions begging for a little land in which to distribute books. If they should be turned down, you briefed them, they were to humbly ask for the skills needed to earn tickets back to New Zealand. And that is what happened. You never exhibited anger or despair. Depending on Krishna, you returned your troops, treating them to a trip back through Vrindavan and on to another exciting adventure for Krishna—the opening of the Beach Road Loft.

Thank you for being such a wonderful example of a devotee for us to meditate upon and follow, eternally.

And thank you for your always being so merciful to insignificant me.

Praying for the dust of your lotus feet,

Your servant,
Dina Dayala devi dasi.

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

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

On this most auspicious day of yours, I will like to offer my most respectful obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to you on your Vyasa Puja day.


It is our great pleasure to write few words in your glorifications on the auspicious Vyas Puja day although we lack the needed qualification, learning and devotion in order to properly glorify you.

Gurumaharaj you are a general in the sankirtan army of Srila Prabhupada. Properly executing his orders, placing them on your head and in your heart, you have received Srila Prabhupada’s mercy. You have realized that the highest goal of life is to surrender fully to the orders of the bonafide spiritual master. We pray to you and Krishna we get the same faith as you.

You have been working so hard and amazingly spreading the orders of Srila Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya,
not only in the U.S but all over the world!
Everytime we hear you speak, we understand the deep wisdom you have and you answer our doubts immediately through your classes.

Guru Maharaj you are the dierct representative of Krisha for us and even thoug we are not qualified , you allowed these fallen soul to take shelter of your lotus feet. We express our gratitude for extending your rope of mercy on my family.


We pray on the occasion of your vyas puja that Lord Krisha will give you long and healthy life so that you can continue to spread Krishna Consciousness like Prabhupada did at your age.

Please shower your mercy on fallen souls like us and give us the strength and conviction to serve you in your mission
of service to Lord Krishna.

Your humble servants
Dinod dhari das and satya dhari dasi and
Bhakta Krishna Das

Hare Krishna Guru Maharaj, please accept my humble obeisances.

Your Holiness Devamrita Swami Maharaj, on the day of Your appearance, I want to try to glorify You and Your exemplary life in this incarnation.

You are the perfect tool in the hands of Srila Prabhupada. You give to all Your disciples a good example of the sermon through Your personal example – prachar’ poorva daksyam cha. Your behavior is already preaching for devotees and ordinary people - bhaktachara-provinata. You are the owner of true wealth – pararthatapi karunyam yasya sarve chate namaha, I bow down before You.

Thank Krishna, I feel my insignificant in front of You. Please accept my achievements for this year, which I have been able to achieve by the grace of Krishna.

During this year I have read the 2nd Canto and two volumes of the 3rd Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam. I also began to study Bhagavad-Gita for the third time. And this time she opened up a little bit for me, which I am very, very happy. To speed up the process of Scripture study, I began to develop speed reading skills. During this year, I conducted a Nama-Hata where we, together with devotees, studied the 1st Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam.

This year I devoted a lot of time and effort to earning money. As a result, my cash balance became positive. And I even managed to save some money. I want to visit the Holy Dhama for the first time next year.

A greater understanding of what my nature (my conditioning) is has come to me. I began to understand better what I should do in this life.

I'm not sure if I've come close to perfection this year. But I tried to always remember my spiritual master. Ananta-Naga Prabhu greatly helped me in this. I am very grateful to him.

To all this, I want to add that I was very inspired to improve my knowledge of English, at least to the level of B1 intermediate.

Guru Maharaj I ask Your blessings to be the same as You are in the power to serve Krishna. I also ask for Your blessings for purity and maturity in Krishna consciousness.
Guru Maharaj, I wish You the deepest connection with Srila Prabhupada and Sri Krishna.

Your disciple
Djitamitra das

Dear Gurudev,

Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada

It is only because of your mercy that a sinful person like me has been given access to the sublime process of Krishna Consciousness, for which I am eternally indebted to you.

Having been wandering from one place to another looking for material enjoyment, I have been rescued by your special agents and have been given a wonderful opportunity to discover true happiness.

Gurudev, when I chant, I sometimes think how my life would have been without Krishna Consciousness, and what comes to mind is a picture of hopeless frustration. Despite not making the most of the opportunity that I've been given, due to my laziness and lack of organizational skills, I still consider myself much better off than when I wasn't practicing Krishna Consciousness

Having still a long long way to go, I look to gain inspiration from the stories of great devotees who have been living the Bhakti lifestyle in a consistent and stable manner for many years.

Despite the challenges of traveling across the globe, you have been traveling extensively for more than 4 decades endeavoring to spread Krishna Consciousness, due to your sincere desire to please your Guru Maharaj His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. You are a great example of how surrendering to a bonafide spiritual master is the only way to please Krishna.

You are a great example of showing how to stick to ones commitment, despite all odds.

You are a great example of showing that if we persevere enough, Krishna is pleased. Establishing hugely successful preaching houses like the Loft and Bhakti Lounge, is one such example.

I pray to Krishna that I keep trying and never give up in the endeavor to progress in KC, by surrendering to you.

Your servant,
Duranta-sakti Dasa

Hare Krishna Dear Gurudev,

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

I would like to thank you for your wonderful classes that are my source of inspiration in all times. I always look forward to hearing your lectures in your every visit and asking you questions means we can get even more nectar! In this Vyasapuja offering I would like to quote from your Srimad Bhagavatam lecture earlier this year in Melbourne.

You gave an ecstatic lecture describing gravity and importance of human life, components of material happiness and glories of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s magnanimity. At the end of the lecture, I asked "While the drunkard Muslim governor developed Love of Godhead immediately, as soon as he heard about Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu from his servant, how is it that I am taking so long in receiving the same mercy of Mahaprabhu?" Your answer was very inspiring and it’s something I meditated on for a while.
You said, <i> "what do you mean it's taking so long?! How old are you? Just see the miracle of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. You never thought you will be doing this before you started practicing." </i>
• In material world, we have strong desire to achieve and enjoy. We work very hard towards that gain. If we persist despite difficulties and if we have necessary good karma then we may enjoy the good results for a short while. However, Krsna consciousness, even though the most expensive and highest gift, was received without me looking for it and definitely I didn't work hard to receive this fortune. Yet I have it. How is it possible without the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu?

<i>"You were studying, working... You had no intention of becoming a Krsna bhakta, but now for past 9 years you have been a very nice devotee! Isn't that a miracle, isn't that Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mercy? It acted so quickly!"</i>
• brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva | Guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja | After so much of wondering over so many species and for so many lives, finally I have come in contact with this great process that awards highest destination ever possible. Practicing Krsna consciousness was definitely not in my wish-list. It is a miracle that an unqualified person like myself with no good qualities is still somehow engaged in some devotional service. It must be the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and your holiness. What hope do I have otherwise. harāv abhaktasya kuto mahad-guṇā, a non-devotee has no good qualities. Manorathenāsati dhāvato bahiḥ: because they are simply hovering on the mental platform. Me being one of such non-devotee, aspiring to be a devotee at some point, can not exhibit much of good qualities either. However, you, being on such an advanced platform see some good quality even in me and fan that little spark of enthusiasm that I may possess by your mercy.

<i>"So continue like that all your life and you will see even more miracles performed by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in your life."</i>
• I very much look forward to, Guru Maharaj. With instruction comes mercy and this is your blessing so I could continue to be engaged in Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s sankirtan movement until the end of my life. Thank you so much for your constant encouragement for us to engage in book distribution. As we continue our tiny efforts in sankirtan and outreach, we are able to see many miracles in our own lives and on lives of those who come in touch with this transcendental literature.

Your classes always cut through the ignorance and inspire us to get out of our comfort and serve in the mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. This was also felt by one of the guests. You mentioned in one of your lectures how one of the guest started crying after hearing your outreach lecture. He said, "you just destroyed all the conceptions that I always believed in."

So thank you for destroying all our misconceptions and thank you so much for your amazing lectures that constantly inspire us to do more and better and not just get comfortable in our little worlds. On this most auspicious appearance day of yours, I humbly beg you to please bless me so I can continue to serve the mission of Lord Caitanya without any distractions.

Your aspiring servant,
Dvija Pitambar dasa

Dear Guru-Mahãraja
Please accept my humble obeisances at your divine lotus feet.
All glories to you on your auspicious appearance day!

I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your mercy and blessings upon me. It is only by your grace that I am able to engage in the devotional service of the Supreme Lord Krishna.

I read a verse from Śrímad-Bhãgavatam Canto 7.9.28
In the translation of the verse, Prãhlada Mahãraja says:
"My dear Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, because of my association with material desires, one after another, I was gradually falling into a blind well full of snakes, following the general populace. But your servant Nãrada Muni kindly accepted me as his disciple and instructed me how to achieve this transcendental position. Therefore, my first duty is to serve him. How could I leave his service?"

This verse reminded me so of my own position in this material world as a fallen conditioned soul and how you like Nãrada Muni was for Prãhlada Mahãraja, kindly accepted me as your disciple. I understand that I don't deserve such great mercy. I wish to serve you as a real disciple should, following the example of Prãhlada Mahãraja.

In the purport to the verse, Śríla Prabhupãda writes: "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." Further on in the purport Prabhupãda also writes: "The first service should be rendered to the spiritual master so that by his mercy one can approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead to render service." This is a lesson that I always want to be conscious of and apply.

"Devotional service is my life." It is by your mercy that I can perform devotional service. I thank you greatly dear Guru-Mahãraja for your kind mercy. I am nothing without your mercy and therefore I desire to always have your mercy.

Aspiring for to serve you,
Dyuti-mandala Das

Hare Krishna Dear Guru Maharaj!

Please accept my humble obesiances

All glories to your lotus feet. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to your Vyasa Puja 2019.

Guru Maharaj, I do get very less chances to talk or meet with you. Though we do not meet regularly, still I found connected myself with you. You had told in one of your book or lecture that there are only very few moments when you met Srila Prabupada personally. Even Srila Prabhupada met his Spiritual Master, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakura very few times. Yet, you could be able to rise in Krishna Consciousness, because you followed the instructions of your spiritual master Srila Prabhupada. This inspires me. I never felt alone. I can feel your presences in every moment of my life. Though I do not get your personal services, yet while performing my services at ISKCON Noida, I do think that how would have want me to perform the services. By your mercy I am able to continue my services here at temple.

I do remember that while interviewing me during my first initiation, you had instructed me to chant 16 rounds without fail and properly. I am trying to do that.

Guru Maharaj, you are known for creating leaders in ISKCON. Your lectures, seminars and books are inspiration for all of us. In one of the lectures, I had heard that the perfectionists can never be happy and this is the problem I have. Many a time, I do want perfection at home, at office and at temple services. I know that no one can be perfect. Only Krishna reserves the right of a perfectionist and He always remains happy. So, I will try to serve Him more and more.

Another disease I do have is not to spend time for book reading. Sometimes, I do blame that being too much engaged in administrative services, I don’t read your books. But I know that this is just an excuse. On this auspicious day of your Vyasa Puja, I am praying at your lotus feet to help me to come out of my diseases. Guru Maharaj, my sincere prayer on the Lotus Feet of Lord Nityananda to bless you a healthy and long life, so that more souls like me could be saved.

Thank you, Guru Maharaj. Wish you a very happy Vyasa Puja Guru Maharaj.

Your Humble Servant

Ekant Dham Das

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

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

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

Every year on this auspicious day, I feel so unqualified to glorify you to your full credit, what you have provided me in my life. The only thing I can understand that I am not a good student who can glorify one's own Spiritual Master.

I can just try to start by realising that You have always been my inspiration to continue in my spiritual endeavours. I can see that you have been continuously pushing the movement as you cannot be in peace while seeing other people suffering. You have established dynamic bhakti centres which are a connection centres for souls to Krishna.

Sometimes I wonder the depth of vision, compassion and good interest at heart for everyone, from the start of your spiritual journey in this lifetime.

You had once said in a lecture that Don't take any of your good position for granted because you may lose it any moment but I see myself that sometimes I take my good fortune of having exemplified Spiritual Master as granted and I am not able to serve you properly.

Thank you, Gurudev, for inspiring me as always and giving directions to stay on track. Something I hope not to take for granted!

Life of the disciple can only be successful and perfect when Guru is satisfied with his service and gives him his blessings.

On this auspicious day of your appearance, Gurudev, I beg for your guidance and blessings to improve my quality of chanting and apply my intelligence to get some time to read Prabhupada's books.

Gurudev, today I pray at the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha Ballabha to grant you a healthy life and maintain the glowing aura you carry, so that you can keep expanding Srila Prabhupada’s movement by helping many more souls.

Begging to always get your direction and guidance and the ability to become an useful servant.

Ekatma Gaur Das

Dear Gurudeva

Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and all glories to you on this divine day of your appearance.

Thank you for allowing me to personally serve you. Its so enlivening to see how you conduct yourself. I get to see how a pure devotee walks, talks and acts in his daily life.

Chanting your rounds at 1:30am isn't unusual for you. Jet lag is something you tolerate for the benefit of your disciples all over the globe.

Thank you for Krishna's holy name. You can always count on Krishna in any situation, by taking shelter of His name.

You have said our mentality should be "I must hear the Hare Krishna mantra"
This is our number one concern.

In 2015, when you were here, you said:
"I can tell you confidently, clearly, straightforwardly, that after more than 4 decades of trying to chant the Hare Krishna mantra, I can tell you 100% the process does work.
The question is, will you stick it out?"

Thank you for these words. Knowing that we just need to keep at it is so reassuring.

You also said
"And in fact, the easiest way to assist your daily effort in chanting Hare Krishna is to focus on giving Krishna to others.
Its a simple formula"

Sometimes working men feel ground under with all their responsibilities and duties, and so don't have time to chant.

In relation to this, you said
"Better to give up reading or eating"

By this statement, you made it very clear how important our vow to daily chant 16 rounds is.

You revealed your inner dynamics when you said
"My heart and soul is chanting Hare Krishna and giving Krishna to others"

And

"The driving force behind everything is attachment to chanting the Hare Krishna mantra."

Thank you for setting the standard.

Thank you for writing transcendental literature. Your book Searching for Vedic India clears the way for Srimad Bhagavatam, by destroying our faith in our so called "scientific" upbringing. It clearly exposes the real truth. The truth being, that for the most part, our modern mainstream academics are just glorified speculators.

Thank you for the opportunity to share Krishna with others. Its such a wonderful service. Giving someone the chance to come in contact with Krishna is so refreshing.

You said here in 2015
"It is my desire that you always be dedicated to reading Srila Prabhupada's books, distributing them and helping others to come to bhakti and grow in bhakti. These efforts will consume all your life."

Thank you for creating a network of devotee association. Without them I'd be finished. They are continually helping me to give up all my bad habits.
But the best part is, that hearing and chanting about Krishna in their association is very tasty.

Thank you for doing Western outreach. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here practicing bhakti, and I wouldn't be writing this offering to thank you for such efforts.

Your well known for your 1st world outreach.
In 2015 you said

"In our attempts to make the treasures of bhakti accessible to a western audience, we made a few small adaptations"

"Nice facilities, basic hospitality. Its not rocket science. Thats all it took, the main thing is the spirit, the savy, that is what is lacking in many places around the world"

"What little service I've tried to do... mainly is to get that spirit going.... 'Come on, Get Going, It can be done'."

"Thats whats lacking in most places in the world, devotees have lost that... spirit"

"Just some common sense hospitality, some real good prasad, personalism from the devotees, offering guidance to new candidates [that's all that's required]"

Gurudeva, you've given us the template, now we just need to execute the game plan.

Thank you for your instructions, which give us direction, focus and purpose.

I can say so many words, but when will I actually do something that pleases you?
Actions speak louder than words.
As Krishna says in the 10th Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam:
"Actual heros do not talk much. They prove their prowess by practical exhibition of chivalrous activities" (KB chp77)

When will I be a real hero, a goswami, a master of the senses?
When will I be able to really do something substantial for Krishna's pleasure?
Please allow me to do something meaningful with this short life.

You couldn't have summarized your glorious attitude to spreading Krishna consciousness better than when you said:

"We've seen its possible to do something, so now we want to be greedy for Krishna. Lets do more."

Yes Gurudeva, let us assist you to do more.

Aspiring to execute the game plan,

Your servant
Gadai Gauranga dasa

Hare Krishna Gurudeva.
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I am truly blessed to be able to have a spiritual teacher like yourself. I am always amazed by your lectures and kirtans. I am so grateful to be part of the outreach mission. I love all that you teach us. I am truly a fallen rascal, but I hope I can someday please you. Thank you so much for everything you do for us. I am truly indebted to you.
Your servant,
Gaura Avatara Das

Dear Gurudev

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

Gratitude is something easy to talk about but very hard to practice. My recent life choices have led me to a place a long way from home. A land where spiritual life is not necessarily easy, yet a spark of the Divine burns bright enough to consume all who seek it. Sometimes gratitude only comes when something good is taken away from us. Appreciation blooms from yearning. On this Vyasa Puja I find myself extremely grateful and humbled by your presence in my life. A bond built on faith which keeps me afloat through the storm of illusion I find myself in.

My faith in Divinity may still be in its' foundation phase. But my faith in Krsna's ambassadors is strong and sturdy. And you are nothing if not a Prabhupada man. I have faith that your guidance and love will grow my creeper of devotion so that I may please the vaisnavas to their full satisfaction.

"Krsna is yours. You have the power to give Him to me. I am simply wretched and fallen and I run after you crying 'Krsna, Krsna!" (Bhajana Lalasa Song 7, verse 4)

Please accept this as a small attempt to start showing my gratitude more by trying to take my bhakti more seriously in all its' aspects. I count down the days to your association.

Aspiring to be a servant
Your daughter
Gaura Bhumi Devi Dasi

Dear Guru Maharaj, please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Guru Maharaj, on the occasion of your vyasa puja I would like to ask for your blessings. Please pray that I may remain in the mode of goodness, and eventually please bless me and my family to return back to Krishna. You are very dear to Lord Krishna, so I am therefore begging for your mercy.

Please give me your blessings so I may protect and guide my family in Krishna consciousness. I wish to be a good husband and a good father for Gokulesvari and Nitai respectively.

I know there is so much to conquer, but I feel optimistic of your mercy, and I am hopeful of a future beyond the three modes of nature, back with Krishna where we can all serve him in peace, joy, and bliss.

Thank you so much for being the most important part in our lives. We really miss you and we hope to be able to please you and serve you in the near future.

Your fallen son, full of ignorance and malice.

Gaura Nataraj das.

Dearest Gurudev,

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

We pray at the lotus feet of Sri Pancha Tattva every day that They take care of your health and bless you in your mission to use Srila Prabhupada's resources to spread Krishna Consciousness all over the world.

Your servants,
Gaura Prema das, Nitai Prema devi dasi, and Krishna Prema das

Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

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

“Śrīla Vyāsadeva and his representatives are pure in thought due to their spiritual enlightenment, fixed in their vows due to their devotional service, and determined to deliver the fallen souls rotting in material activities.” SB 1.5.13pp

On this glorious day of your appearance, we give all honor to you for you are the pure representative of Srila Vyasadeva, and thus a firm and secure link in the guru parampara system. Yet every year it feels like an impossible task, to offer you the honor you deserve for the sacrifice you've made of your life.

By guiding me through the last 17 years of my life you’ve saved me from the worthlessness and pain of having no understanding of the real purpose of life. People are so lost and empty-hearted, all for want of bhakti. I would be too, if it weren’t for you.

You’ve saved me from enslavement to the degraded tendencies of my conditioned self. The karmic debt that would accrue from such a life would be sure to bring copious amounts of suffering. You’ve given me the opportunity to put an end to that once and for all by engaging my mind and senses in the service of the master of the senses, Sri Krishna.

By educating me and training me in the essential practises of devotional service you’ve saved me from yet another lifetime in the dungeon house of forgetfulness of Krishna. Not just another life but I know that if I remain chaste to your instructions, and welcome the purification that comes, keeping my purpose aligned with yours, an end is put to the cycle of repeated birth and death forevermore. Instead of rotting in material activities, a life replete with the opulence of devotee association, hearing about Krishna and His wondrous feats, chanting His holy names, honoring prasadam and helping others in Krishna consciousness is what you’ve made possible.

And I am just one insignificant servant. One little try hard amongst hundreds of disciples who you have given shelter. You’ve given us all the opportunity to make our desires one with yours, which are one with Srila Prabhupada’s, the previous acaryas and ultimately one with Lord Gauranga’s. You’ve given us perfection.

Aswell as your disciples, thousands of devotees and people in general are inspired by your teachings and life example.

Every inch of your self exudes purity of purpose. Every breath for Krishna, every word for Krishna, every step, jump, stretch, google search and plane ride - all for Krishna. All so refined, focused and strategic for the utmost good.

You are not one to sit on your laurels or remain in a ISKCON time warp, nor are you one to focus only on your own enlightenment. Rather you are the epitome of dynamism in bhakti compassion.
Dynamism - ‘the quality of being characterised by vigorous activity and progress.’
Following in the footsteps of mahajana’s like Narada Muni and Srila Prabhupada you’re constantly traveling to wake us up, keep us inspired and moving forward. You keep Krishna consciousness relevant and appealing to the audience of the day, for both devotees and non-devotees alike. You expose the mass ignorance, the exploitation, and idiocy of the goings-on in this world. Your presentations have listeners sitting on the edge of their seats, they’re exhilarating, funny, for real, purifying and undoubtedly my favourite place to be.

Thank you for being so determined to deliver the fallen souls rotting in material activities. It’s mind-boggling how you have such and a huge portfolio of responsibility and non-stop schedule of events yet you are so personal and so balanced. You seem primed in every way for your service, something we have a lot to aspire for.

Thank you for your incredibly unique and superlative example of dynamism, compassion and balance in bhakti. There is no way to ever repay the debt I owe you, but I will try, for that is what love is about. That you have shown that by your own example.

On this most auspicious day I pray that I may hold your lotus feet upon my head, take your instructions deep into my heart and serve you with intelligence in all phases of life. You’ve saved me and given me everything the soul desires, yet I’m so caught up in the bodily conception I lack the ability to properly appreciate this gift of the topmost love. I know that the best way I can try to repay my debt to you Gurudeva, and to realise it’s true value, is to give this gift to others. To whom a lot is given a lot is expected. Please help me to develop in the art of balance and compassion so I am better fit to share bhakti with others even in the demanding years of mothering a young child.

Your insignificant servant,
Gaura-arati dd

nama om visnu- padaya
krsna pesthaya bhutale
srimate devamrita
swamin iti namine

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

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

Dear Guru Maharaj,
Please accept our humble obeisances at your lotus feet on this auspicious day of your divine appearance.
All Glories to Srila Prahbupada
All Glories to you Guru Dev and your preaching, kirtan and your compassion.

This day I reflect on your extraordinary choice of words infused with transcendental realization you speak in your lectures. Recently I was fortunate to hear your series of lecture on Kaliya pastime. You started your first lecture with “It is extremely rare to get a chance to hear Krishna katha....” I was bit taken aback hearing from you who is absorbed in Krishna consciousness 24 hours and myself being absorbed in material consciousness, with few years in practicing Krishna consciousness thinking it is not all that rare(reflecting on my fallen consciousness). I was trying to meditate on your words and reflecting on below verses to regain my consciousness.
Mahabharata (vana parva 313-116)
“Day after day countless living entities in the world go the kingdom of death. Still those who remain aspire for a permanent situation her. What could be more amazing”

Lord Krishna’s words in Bhagavat gita (BG7.19)
“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”

Sukudev Goswami SB1.1.10 - what Kali yuga offers
“In this iron age of Kali men almost have but short lives.They are quarrelsome, lazy, misguided, unlucky and above all always disturbed”

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

Srila Prabhupada’s graphical portrayal in introduction of Gita
“Actually we are all swallowed by the tigress of nescience, but the Lord is very merciful upon living entities, especially human beings. To this end He spoke the Bhagavad-gītā,making His friend Arjuna His student”

Your every word is a perfect outpour of parampara’s mood, compassion and representation.

Extending your divine words, everything in Krishna Consciousness is extremely rare, being it hearing Krishna, tasting Krishna prasadam, devotees association, to chant, to dance in kirtan, reading and understanding spiritual books, giving books, preaching, going to holy dham, opportunity to serve vaishnavas. I have no realization of what I write but aspire to have some by your causeless mercy.

I am quite ashamed to say my reading of books of Srila Prabhupada has been very slow over the years and by next year I am setting targets of reading at least once all small books of Prabhupada, Bhagavat Gita, Krishna book, Nectar of Instruction, Nectar of devotion and 1-4 cantos of Srimad Bhagavatam. Seeking your profound blessings to delve deep into Srila Prabhupada’s words of wisdom and allow him to transform me.
I usually carry Srila Prabhupada small books where I go and try to distribute after speaking few words on spirituality. As soon I open this topic in few situations I was amazed to note suddenly the soul within the hearer is lighted up brightly and now I am really connecting with the person. In preface in Nectar of Devotion, Srila prabhupada says
“The Nectar of Devotion will teach us how to turn the one switch that will immediately brighten everything, everywhere. One who does not know this method is missing the point of life.”
In the process of connecting to the supreme powerhouse of Krishna consciousness not only the hearer but speaker and everyone is lighted up. You are doing that most amazing task of sharing the wisdom in most personal natural way that both lighten the consciousness and the heart in a profound permanent way.

Thank you for everything and hope to serve you more in your service to Srila Prabhupada.

Your servants
Gauramandala das, Vraja mandala dd, Sanjitha and Shruti.

Dear Gurudeva,

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

In the Srimad Bhagavatam, The nine Yogendras explain to King Nimi :

“Any person who seriously desires real happiness must seek a bona fide spiritual master and take shelter of him by initiation. The qualification of the bona fide guru is that he has realised the conclusions of the scriptures by deliberation and is able to convince others of these conclusions. Such great personalities, who have taken shelter of the Supreme Godhead, leaving aside all material considerations, should be understood to be bona fide spiritual masters.” (SB 11.3.21)

It doesn’t take long for one to see the great qualities as indicated above in your magnanimous self. Your life consists essentially in preaching the conclusions of the scriptures that you have perfectly realised. So many fallen souls became great and fortunate again by hearing you speak about Krsna and observing your transcendental character. By your travels and preaching, you are leading the Krsna consciousness movement always further behind the lines of maya’s army, on your way smashing and crushing her forces like Bhima ravaging the Kauravas’ army with his large tree-trunk-like arms on the battlefield of Kurukshetra.

You have left aside all material considerations and maintain yourself by fixing your mind, intelligence and activities on the Supreme, without which it would be impossible for anyone to perform the extraordinary austerities that your lifestyle involves. Indeed, you don’t live anywhere, having no possessions besides a couple of suitcases - which can easily get lost-, you spend a massive amount of time in the air in between places or waiting patiently at customs desks. You never express any sign of fatigue and never complain about bodily demands. You are always dealing so expertly with your disciples and with anyone who ask for your guidance, shining the sacred light of the Vedas straight in their hearts. Beside all these, you bear the weight of so much responsibilities, being one of our ISKCON leaders, GBC members, and initiating spiritual masters.
When any mundane person would collapse under such a burden, like the ill-fated Atlas carrying the unbearable heavenly planet, actually, it seems for you as easy to perform as it was for Krsna to lift Govardhana Hill with his pinky finger!

As Dhruva Maharaja made half of the Earth quake under the pressure of his toe and the total universal breathing choke after performing six months of intense penances, your own feats, accomplished out of pure love for the Supreme, endear you to Him, and give you the empowerment to bring the whole world to take His shelter without any considerations.

May your divine determination inspire us all in Wales to achieve our project of building a temple more beautiful than the one Indra owns in the celestial kingdom, so we can bring always more lost souls for you to reconnect with their forgotten Love. May you bless us again and again with your boundless mercy so we can as well one day perform unconditional devotional service to Lord Krsna and ourselves fall in love with Him once more.

Your eternal servant,

Gauranga-Gopala Dasa

Dear Gurudev,

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

All glories to you on this auspicious and wonderful day.

Gurudev, your advice and instructions are always in my mind and daily I am striving towards achieving them. This time when you visited Los Angeles, you gave a lot of advice to my daughter and I am sure it will remain in her mind forever and will implement in her life by your mercy.

It is always ecstatic to feel your presence when you are here in New Dwaraka and please forgive us for all the mistakes committed while serving you.

Thank you for all you have done to our family and with sincere gratitude, we pray to Lord Krishna that you live a long life and guide many more people in the path of Krishna Consciousness.

Your servant,
Gaurangachandra Das

Shri Guru Charan Kamlebhyo Namaha

Dear Gurudev,

Please accept my humble obeisances!
All Glories to Guru And Gauranga
All Glories to Iskcon Founder Acharya Srila Prabhupada!

I take this opportunity to wish you Many Many Happy Appearance Day Dear Gurudev

Thank you for taking us in your shelter and giving the opportunity to serve in Srila Prabhupada’s mission of propagating the Science of Krishna Consciousness.

Before meeting you, dear Gurudev I did not have a proper goal in my life, since I met you things have become clearer and I also have found the purpose of my life. Always endeavouring to be in the service of Krishna and to follow your instructions in making my life a success in Krishna Consciousness.

Next time when we meet you, we hope that we have some important questions to ask. Your smile and caring nature inspire us to come closer to you. The immense efforts you put to cultivate the new comers into by giving them the knowledge of Krishna is unfathomable.

May you always shower your mercy upon all of us and engage us in service.

Aspiring to be humble servants
Girish Dixit
Aarti Dixit
Achintya Nitai

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

Gurumaharaj, words are really insufficient to describe the importance and power of your presence in my life. I don’t know how to communicate the indebtedness and gratefulness I have for you, because I actually can’t even conceive of the depth and gravity of your care. My brain and my tiny experience have no way of measuring or comprehending how much you actually care for my well-being, and my heart is too clouded by material desires to fully appreciate it. 

In the Bhagavad Gita introduction Srila Prabhupada writes, “Arjuna was in a relationship with the Lord as friend. Of course there is a gulf of difference between this friendship and the friendship found in the material world. This is transcendental friendship, which can not be had by everyone.” Similarly, the care that Gurumaharaj provides is not found in this material world, it is transcendental, and therefore inconceivable to someone like me with a limited material vision. All I can perceive is that Gurumaharaj takes many risks, and sacrifices so much in order to care for devotees, and in order to help me when I am in spiritual danger. Gurumaharaj is so present and there to listen, while also delivering a dose of reality, and at the same time showing extreme tolerance, forgiveness, and compassion. When I 'enflamed my own plane', Gurumaharaj showed me so much mercy and that is the only thing that makes me fortunate - that I am the recipient of Gurumaharaj’s mercy.

Gurudev, you told me that the true test of repentance is ‘do not repeat’. I always think about this instruction, and the clarity and gravity that your words carry. I have a strong desire to follow it and purify my heart, but I don’t know how well I am doing. I wanted to take this opportunity to please beg for more of your mercy so that I may have the internal strength to make real changes in myself, not repeat old mistakes, and grow into a worthy disciple. You have given me so much, there is no question of the ability to repay, but I only hope I can become Krsna Conscious and stay that way. Mostly I wanted to humbly beg that you please bless me with greater intelligence in properly associating with devotees with appreciation and gratitude. 

Gurudev, you always appreciate the tiniest, most insignificant service that I do and encourage me to keep trying. You seem to only see the good qualities in me when at times I can’t see myself at all. Your shelter is the one stable base in my life that keeps me safe and secure, the only real secure attachment in this world, because it is not of this world. At times I become frustrated with myself when I see that I am struggling like a fish out of water it seems, for some illusory sense of ‘independence’, thinking that will make me happy. And my pride and ego make me my own greatest enemy. In moments of sobriety, I know without any doubt the rare opportunity you have afforded me to practice undeviating, uninterrupted, intense devotional service under your expert guidance; and I know that this whole-hearted attempt to become the servant of the servant of the servant of your servant is the only real source of happiness that exists, the only times I have ever felt genuine contentment, satisfaction, and peace, and the only true worthwhile purpose that exists for my life, which is nothing but an insignificant lightening flash. Gurudev is always instructing to ‘finish it!’ and I am continually struggling to ‘complicate it’; but I pray intensely that by Gurudev’s powerful mercy I can give up this struggle once and for all and truly surrender to Krishna.

Gurudev, thank you for never giving up on me, and for propelling me forward through the most difficult obstacles. Without you, I would be nothing but a tiny lost fish tossing about eternally in the waves of nescience with no shelter and no way home. Fervently I am praying that you will keep me under your shelter forever, and desperately am begging to always be engaged in your service.

Your servant and spiritual daughter,
Gita Govinda devi dasi

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

Here we are again. Already, another year has gone by. Another year closer till the final lesson. Here we are all gathered here to glorify you in genuine gratitude for everything that you do for us, your spiritual family, and how you actually do make a real impact globally, on all the continents of the world.

Gurudeva, you are making an important impression in this world. This is what a lot of us want to leave; an impact to influence, to leave a legacy, just like Srila Prabhupada has left us all. But we are so tiny and insignificant. We don’t have your expertise, your skillset and we lack the Bhakti to be able to touch others the way you touch the many you meet on your extensive travels all over the globe. Srila Prabhupada left us a legacy; A succinct way to live that’s sustainable, spiritually nourishing, balanced, fun, fulfilling, satisfying, and healthy, to a certain extent, depending on the type of prasadam we eat. Of course, all prasadam is glorious on a spiritual level. This legacy in real Param Para has changes hundreds of thousands and even millions of people’s lives. Because you are following tirelessly in the footsteps of your wondrous spiritual master, we thank you so much for your consistent efforts in outreach, your motivating or correcting words definitely have had an impact on me. You are always so encouraging and loving and just a genuine hero. In a world that’s bombarded by Superhero fiction films, where this society is filled will fake, unreal news, stories, agendas, politicians, we’ve lost so much trust. But if there’s someone I do trust with real authentic words, it is you, my dear Guru Maharaj.

Over the years, I realise I’m no where near where I thought I was in Bhakti. I like to think of myself as a long term project. Please be patient with me. I feel not so focused, or disturbed at times, and my needs are not being fulfilled but my enthusiasm for the Bhakti process is still alive and well. I’m chanting my 16 rounds everyday, reading Srila Prabhupada’s books regularly…just being completely honest. And I’m following the principles that I vowed to keep till the day I leave my body. You on the other hand are demonstrating such a high example of pure dedication; You’ve taken Sannyas which is no easy feat and you keep travelling so extensively. I honestly can’t conceive of what you go through and pray that one day you’ll perhaps… slow down? You must have a super higher taste for doing what you do so fervently. Simply incredible.

Srila Gurudeva, I will always remember when we met back in early August 2005. Visnumaya had prepared me and I was ready to meet someone who was incredibly gifted, someone with integrity, who walked his talk, who marched to another drum beat beyond what the masses follow. She had quoted from the SB about the rarity of meeting an authentic, pure devotee of Krishna. I was meant to leave NZ at the end of July but Visnumaya convinced me to change my flight and to stay so I can give Bhakti a shot and at the same time, meet you. That decision changed my life forever.
I could’ve left NZ and been on my way to Australia, to go to the Gold Coast “Sunny place for Shady people”. And I most likely would’ve been sucked into the wrong association, just drifting in illusion.

Where would I be today if I had left the devotee’s association? I have no idea. I guess, I was meant to meet you and I was meant for greater things in life. I can thank super soul perhaps and thank my spiritual intelligence who trusted Visnumaya. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for changing me, believing in me and motivating me to take up Bhakti seriously.

Thank you so much Gurudeva for taking your life energies to spread Krishna consciousness. What you do, is completely inconceivable to me. At my age…hrhrrrgh middle age now, I could never be comfortable to do what you do. It really does point out that you are on a mission of a lifetime. You have found your drive, your "why", your purpose that drives you to excellence. With conviction, you go on year after year, to do what you’re brilliant at; to deliver cutting edge Bhakti infused seminars and workshops to enlighten this world of misguided individuals, and bring about a revolution in the impious life of our misdirected civilization.

I wish you a very happy appearance day, have a good one.

Your loving spiritual daughter, and aspiring servant,
Gitavali dd

Гуру Махарадж,простите за дополнение к подношению.Я поняла положение преданного служения и очень обрадовалась.Это я прочла в Источнике вечного наслаждения,в Молитвах олицетворенных Вед.Брахман это излучение тела Господа и он пронизывает материальный мир своими лучами,а преданное служение находиться в Брахмане.Значит оно трансцендентно к материальному миру и преданные находящиеся в состоянии любого служения находятся над гунами,а обусловленные души,не занимающиеся преданным служением, находятся в материи.Я вроде бы понимала философию -ачинтья-бхеда-бхеда-татвы,но очень ясно поняла после прочтения о преданном служении.
Гуру Махарадж правильно ли я это представляю? Извините меня пожалуйста и благодарю Вас.

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


When king Prataparudra pleased Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu by singing to him the glories of Krishna, Mahaprabhu arose telling the king “You are the most munificent. You are the most munificent” and inquiring “who are you? who are you.”

I am often wondering the same, who are you, who are you?
How is that you are SO munificent, always giving Krishna to others?

So munificent, that hearing of Srila Prabhupada’s insistent plea for devotees to preach behind the iron curtain you left sunny California only fours years into your bhakti career, taking this wish of Prabhupada deep into your heart.
You relay that your eight-year underground service was practically by yourself, you couldn’t speak with other devotees due to security reasons; therefore, you had to keep all the terror you witnessed within yourself.

Is your unimaginable sacrifice giving the holy name in the Eastern block as an apparent ‘young devotee’ unknown to most of the wider ISKCON world?
Most of us desire reciprocation and recognition for any so-called small austerity, but you willingly undertook sacrifice for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada without a motive to be known for your efforts.
When Srila Prabhupada would go out to distribute magazines in India pre visiting the west, there was no one to read out his name in the book scores when he returned home, similarly who was there to praise you for risking your life?

In kali yuga, most of us are crawling through the door with hearts and minds wounded by traumas. You, on the other hand, at the age of twenty-seven, put your life on the line to assist Srila Prabhupada, living through traumatic experiences so others could come closer to Krishna.

Your expertise in human smuggling continues well after you left the Soviet Empire.
Year after year, your smuggling so many conditioned souls from the clutches of the material energy. Compassionately finding where people are at and trying to elevate their consciousness.

To smuggle books you used to wrap them in foil and stick them into car engines, now you give the most incredibly animated lecture, tapping into the latest trends and concerns on people's minds, packaging so creatively the message ~wake up and connect with Krishna.


You always plead with us not to be wallflowers but to be greedy for Krishna. Your life is a living example of greed for KRISHNA.

Just as you are remembering Srila Prabhupada’s great determination, I am meditating on yours with reverence and gratitude.

May your glories be known all over the three worlds.

Your aspiring servant,
Gokul Lila dd

Dear Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada,
All glories to your auspicious appearance day !

Dear Guru Maharaj,

I roaming here and there in burning material work for looking real happiness,By causeless mercy Krishna brought me to your lotus feet in Cal State LA university program 9 year back,I started following you and ISKCON Program, Many time heard in your lecture, to get real happiness we need to connect source of real happiness,To get real enjoyment we need to connect supreme enjoyer ,that two line change my life,I started chanting Hare Krishna Maha-Manta and started developing test in HARE KRISHNA MAHA-MANTRA, and out of your mercy and compassion you accepted me as your disciple last year in Atlanta ,I am very grateful and indebted to you.I hope in time,I will be able to develop real gratitude and serving mood toward you.

“ The spiritual master is therefore the mercy manifestation of the supreme person.The conditioned soul has to take direct instruction from the spiritual master, and thus he gradually becomes enlightened to the path of Krsna consciousness.The seed of Krsna consciousness is sown within the heart of the conditioned soul, and when one hears instruction from the spiritual master, the seed fructifies, and one’s life is blessed. (SB 3.31.16 purport)

I pray at lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha Vrindavan Chandra that He should keep you healthy.

Thank you guru Maharaj for your kindness on this fallen soul.

Your humble servant,
Gopa Bhava Das

Dear Gurudev,

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

In Nectar of Devotion, Srila Prabhupada distinguishes between principles and details in execution of devotional service. Among these two, the former is static whereas the latter is dynamic according to the needs of circumstances. In practical scenarios, this distinction would be apparent for advanced devotees, however, fledgling devotees would be puzzled in figuring out how to apply this concept. When Srila Prabhupada was asked about application of this concept, his answer was, “it takes some intelligence.” Srila Prabhupada’s answer left enough room for devotees to mature and realize this in one’s own devotional life. The paradigm of innovation for a diligent and compassionate preacher is in “adjusting the details,” which involves bringing novel ideas and brilliantly executing them to suit the audience’s needs without loosing the authenticity of the process or intent of practice. The success of such innovation is when the contemporary audience readily accept eternal bhakti principles, practice and lifestyle and go through inner transformation. In recent ISKCON history, you have pioneered compassion driven innovations in Krsna conscious outreach to the non-Indian community.

You try to make everything relevant to the audience and I have personally experienced this numerous times. In one of our university events, you commented about the genre of music played before the event as people were settling into their seats. Similarly when you saw our staff members serving some light snacks and drinks before the event, you appreciated by commenting this would help the audience to relax and be more open to Krsna conscious philosophy. I was wondering you are so in tune with the audience even before the lecture then what to speak of during or after the lecture. Even such small interactions for us are openings into the world of your pure devotional desires to please guru and Krsna.

The care that you show for your disciples is as par or even surpasses the efforts that you put in the outreach. You are innovative and strategic in your care for devotees that span across all varnas, asramas and age groups. Once I told H.G. Bhurijana Prabhu about some of your personal instructions to me and he was amazed to see the depth and details of your instructions and commented, “there is nothing left for your spiritual master to see in you.” You like to see us grow in bhakti while facing the material realities of life. Your constant encouragement to please Lord Caitanya is the at most care that you bestow upon us because it is the path to attain perfection. I owe everything to you and disciples naturally inherit your mood and mission. An attempt to adapt your mission in my life is inspiring, however, it opens up the baggage of shortcomings in my heart including insincerity, lust, lack of faith and determination, hard heartedness etc I have no one but you to help in fighting my inner enemies while serving your desires. Similarly it takes a broader vision in carrying out your orders and adapting to dynamic scenarios and I am helpless and seek you mercy. I remember a stanza from Srila Prabhupada’s offering to Bhakti Sidddhanta Saraswati Thakur in vyasa puja offering in 1936.

Forgotten Krishna
We fallen souls,
Paying most heavy
The illusion's toll.
Darkness around
All untrace.
The only hope
His Divine Grace.

I have composed a small verse of prayer in your glorification.

sandeha ratrāviva pūrṇacandraṁ
sandeśa yuktaṁ suguroḥ sudhīraṁ
vindeta bhaktiṁ kṛpayā kṛtārthaḥ
vande dayāyair gurudeva pādaṁ

Gurudev, you are a perfect messenger of the most eminent spiritual master Srila Prabhupada. Like the full moon, you dissipate the darkness of doubts and misconceptions in the path of devotional service by the effulgent and soothing moon rays of your instructions. You are very sober and deep in your Krsna consciousness and by your mercy can one start devotional service and make advancement. I am immensely grateful to you for all that you have done for me and I offer my respectful obeisances at your most auspicious feet and pray for your mercy.


Your servant,
Gopa Vrndesa Dasa

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

I have been reflecting recently on the process of Krishna consciousness and its application in different phases of life, from the new devotee who may be in an ashram to a householder fully immersed in work and family life. The science of Krishna consciousness is quite straight forward, however the practical application of it can be quite difficult and complex given ones circumstances and consciousness.

They say it takes a village to raise a child, similarly it takes a community to raise a devotee. And that raising never finishes, the cultivation and care of devotees needs to happen through all stages of life, and it takes commitment from both the individual and the community, and each have their own responsibilities towards that relationship.

Developing such a community from scratch is a daunting task. No longer do we have families and individuals of similar education, wealth, ethnicity and cultural values, we now live in a society that has many different cultures, different levels of wealth and education, and an increasing amount of mental illness and family dysfunction - society is like a plate of kitchiri that has some part hot, some parts cold, some part too spicy, some parts no spice at all, some parts too salty, some parts no salt. It truely is a kitchiri of a kitichiri.

It is the members of this society that makes up most of our Krishna consciousness society, our community. We then try and connect on the transcendental platform, dovetailing what we do in Krishnas service. The problem being though, is that we are not always transcendental. We bring our false ego and material conditioning to the table, especially when family affairs affairs are involved, and with that the trials and tribulations that follow.

You recently mentioned to me that the reason why so many senior devotees do not do western outreach is because it is such a hard task, you put so much effort into helping them to only have them turn their back on you with a complete lack of appreciation for everything that has been done for them, sometimes even becoming inimical. Hence the easiest route is for senior preachers to focus on Indian outreach, dealing with more cultured and stable families.

Despite all these difficulties, and the attractive path of less resistance -you always persevere, you don’t give up on us. In fact, you empower us to carry on your mission, Srila Prabhupada’s mission. Everything I have today, and I would say that this would apply to a lot of devotees here today, is because of you. Our Bhakti, our Krishna conscious families, and in my case even my material career has been a result of rendering service to you and the community of devotees - without you New Zealand would still be in the dark ages.

Thank you Gurudeva for everything you have done for me, my family and the community. Although it is not possible to reciprocate I pray that I can at least develop your patience and fortitude so that I can assist you with developing further what you have been developing over these years, a Krishna conscious community.

Your servant,

Gopala Guru dasa

Dear Gurudev,
please accept my humble obeisances!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu!

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.”

In every army there is a General who gives instructions to his soldiers. With his higher knowledge the General knows the best tactics and techniques with which the soldiers can win the battle and reach their goal.

In our case we are the soldiers and you are the General who guides us and gives us instruction on how we can win the battle with this material world. I am thankful and proud to be part of your army and I will be always ready to receive newer and newer instructions of how best I can serve and help you in the mission of Caitanya Mahaprabhu!

Thank you for lighting up my way through your guidance!

Your servant,
Gopi-gitamrita devi dasi

Hare krishna maharaja. All glories to you on this auspicious day of your vyasa puja.

Please accept my humble obeisances.

Whilst writing this vyasa puja I reflected upon when we first met. At mantriraja initiation as you were leaving you looked into the audience and said I wonder who will be next.....

And you were looking straight at me. I had no idea what to do so I just verry awkwardly said "thank you". And then you left.

Thank you for tolerating my awkwardness.

Thank you for undergoing the austerity of travelling to visit iskcon Wales.
Thank you for giving srimad bhagavatam class as well as evening programme talks during your last visit. It is verry much appreciated.

I admire how you give all the devotees your individual time despite your busy schedule.

Thank you for the inspiring association of your disciples.

You gave me the most amazing instructions. When we last met.

Please help me become more steady in my practice. Please help me become a better instrument in lord chaitanyas service.

Thank you. All glories to your devotional service. All glories to srilla prabhupada.
Your aspiring servant Gopi ramana das.

Dear Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada,
Happy Vyasa Puja

Dear Maharaja earlier this year I attended one of your classes in Melbourne Uni with my father and I admired how you spoke with such confidence making all the people there very happy to listen to you and explain about Krishna. I also liked listening to lots of the funny stories you told.
Please give me you mercy to chant 16 rounds, I want to try to do this.
Hari Krishna,
Your servant Gopikaa

Dearest Spiritual Father,

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.

Once again, I take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude for accepting me as your spiritual daughter.

I’m extremely happy and grateful to be back in service. After being back to Sydney, I just feel it’s another new phase of Krishna Consciousness in my life. You have blessed me with such wonderful Devotional service, all those services that I have hankered to do for these many years. In fact, in so many years of trying to practise bhakti yoga, I feel only now I have actually started doing some devotional service. Extremely happy to be part of a preaching program. The fact that I’m being used as an instrument in Lord Chaitanya’s Sankirtan mission gives me a great joy. Guru Maharaj, I know I absolutely have no qualification to be part of the Lords Sankirtan movement, but its just by your grace that I’m given an opportunity to serve.

The more I try to reach out to people, the more I can see how people are suffering in this material world. There are family issues, issues at work and lot more. There are so many things happening in my family back home, I understand I was born in a particular family because of my Karma but if not for your grace I would have just been part of all these problems and would have never got to know what is the real value of Human life. I really pray that being used as your instrument I can could pass on the mercy to my family and to the other people too.
Thank you for always guiding me through your lectures. A sincere Prayer in front of your photo has always been answered. I can see that you have always been guiding me through wonderful devotee association.

In one of the lectures you mentioned that “We need to have a sense of sportsman ship. if the mind slams you, you slam them back” you know what I’m going to chant Hare Krsna”. You need to have a spirit, if you get in my face, I’m going to get in your face, it’s fun. You push me round, I push back. you push back by taking more shelter of Lord Chaitanya and Nithyananda.” You mentioned how we are not the mind. For a nano second, I thought that yes I’m not this mind. GuruMaharaj often I’m taking my mind too seriously, please give me the strength to slam the mind back by taking shelter of Gaura Nitai.

In another wonderful lecture you mentioned “we want to be overwhelmed by devotional service, never complain about having too much service, instead think I need to learn better how to swim in the flood, don’t reject the flood. Feel happy about the flood, “I’m travelling, this is so wonderful, so much service”. Never resent the flood, just realize you need the ability to swim better in the flood. The flood is glorious. you simply need to know how to swim better in It”
Guru Maharaj, though I’m extremely happy to be blessed with devotional service, I find it overwhelming at times, as I do not know to swim better in the flood. Please give the intelligence and strength to organise my self and to learn how to swim in the flood of devotional service.

Please always fill my life with devotional service. Please always give me the vision to appreciate and understand the potency of devotional service. Whatever service I’m doing, please bless me that I always do it with the only intention to please you and not for personal recognition. I do not know how to preach or cultivate and guide people in Bhakti, but with your blessings I would surely able to do it. I’m always amazed by the effort that you take to guide, encourage, love and care for the new devotees. As your spiritual daughter, out of the millions of wonderful qualities in you, I pray that I could imbibe this quality of reaching out to people selflessly. Every devotee is precious, please constantly guide me that I have the proper intelligence to associate with the devotees.” May the right words come at the right time with the right intention”.

Thank you for blessing me with a wonderful devotee family, please giving me your blessings that I always remain a chaste wife and also a mother who is able to guide and train the children in bhakti.

On this most auspicious day I Pray to Lord Narashimadev to bestow you with good health for you to continue with your mission to spread the Sankirtan movement.

Thank you, Guru Maharaj, for accepting me as your spiritual daughter.

Yhs
Gopi premamrita Devi Dasi



Dhanishta's Offering


Dear Guru Maharaj,

you are my only well-wisher and please help me and my family go back to godhead. I have been missing you a lot so please come to Sydney more often. You are so merciful, friendly to children and give lots of wonderful lectures. This is why I am grateful to you. Dear Guru Maharaj I also hear a little bit of your lovely lectures, chant 1 round and I have recently have started following Ekadashi. Please bless my family.

HARE KRISHNA AND HAPPY BY VYASA PUJA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

With lots of love
Dhanishta

nama om vishnu padaya krishna presthaya bhutale
srimate devamrita swamin iti namine
 
pracare purva-daksyam ca bhaktacara-pravinata
pararthatapi karunyam yasya sarve ca te namah
 

Hare Krishna dear Gurudev 
All glories to Srila Prabhupada 
Wishing you a happy appearance day 

Your lectures are the nectar for the heart and soul; especially your preaching style and pitch are very attractive and pulling. Gurudev, the more I hear you more I experience ecstatic feelings in devotional service to Krishna.

Your caring and merciful attitude is glorious and you show great concern for your disciple's spiritual growth, in a similar way Srila Prabhupada did.

Your clear instruction of preaching is my goal. I thank you for your continual guidance; seeking your blessings for fulfilling yours and parampara's desire of spreading the mission of Lord Caitanya to anyone and everyone.

I pray to Sri Sri Radha Vallabha for your best health.

Your disciple
Govinda Darsana dasa

Dear Guru Deva,

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

On this most auspicious day of your appearance, I feel immense pleasure and gratitude towards Krishna because by His grace I got your mercy, association and instructions. You have blessed our family with your shelter.

According to Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur, one who follows religious principles and teaches others is an Acarya. By exhibiting his own behaviour, he attracts the attention and faith of other entities. So according to this definition there is no doubt that you are amongst those who teach by their perfect example.

I am reminded of your compassion and kindness to anyone who is in your vicinity. Your compassion is shown by the way you give Krishna to everyone who comes to you no matter how fallen or advanced he/she is. You are constantly encouraging and showing the proper way to do things.

Guru Maharaja your service to Srila Prabhupada and his movement is very inspiring, and your conviction is the force for your disciples. Your mercy has empowered us to follow this process of devotional service.

Guru Deva, if any transformation or purification has happened in me and whatever services I am engaged in, is simply Srila Prabhupada's mercy flowing through your kind, faithful and transparent soul. I only depend on your mercy for further journey in serving Krishna better. Bhakti towards the Supreme Lord is not possible without your mercy and guidance.

It is said that guru is the form of Krishna's presence in disciple’s life, it is my desire that under your guidance, I can be engaged in Krishna’s service life after life after life and be able to please you. Almost every disciple being at a certain stage thinks that the guru loves him/her more than anyone else in the world. It happens due to the guru's ability to know the heart of his disciple and give him exactly what he/she needs.

I wish you continue to be a perfect loving and profound guide for all your disciples, and I wish you to continue spreading the holy name with the same level of purity, sincerity and dedication that you constantly show by all your actions and teachings.

I am forever your servant
Govindakund devi dasi

Hare Krsna Guru Maharaj please accept my humble obeisances all glories to Srila Prabhupad. All glories to You especially the more on the higher than auspicious, transcendentally situated day of Your appearance.

Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur explains “mahaprabhoh kirtana nrtya gita vaditra madyan manaso rasena romanca kampasru taranga bhajo vande guroh sri caranaravindam”. How can show my gratitude such a useless attempt I can try, that You are so great You are giving opportunity for anyone, everyone to please You. Guru is direct associate of Krsna and external representation of super soul who is actually Krsna which replaces Visnu as a devotee practices bhakti more intensely.

So You are giving us opportunity to do the top most and most sublimely affective anga of bhakti. And this is our business. Most people we meet on streets for books say “oh you Hari’s are back” or “you guys are Hare Krsna”. This is all possible only by Your mercy and Your loving Srila Prabhupad.

Chanting dancing & being firmly pin pointedly saturated and absorbed to the extreme furthest extent in sankrtan will undoubtedly please You and Prabhupad the most because we aspiring to do something nice for Sriman Mahaprabhu.

You are living example of “sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami ma sucah” that You gave up everything to give yourself fully to Krsna and you giving that same Krsna to others. Your selflessness cant be matched.

I met a person 1 week ago in Bundaberg a small country town at top area of Australia Queensland, lady took the books in hand and said “yes you will find many fishes to give this bait to”. I said “yeh that’s ok but problem is im looking for sharks”. She laughed & took 6 Srimad Bhagvatams. You are a Maha Bhagvat I just do lip service as if im very pure. Show the world You can make this fish into a shark.

Guru Maharaj “prema bhakti yaha hoite avidya vinasa yate” Prema is coming from You! You are giving this citamani gem, most rarest esoteric jewel please make prema ruruksu, completely hell bent on achieving prema, so absorbed I don’t know anything else make me a total 100 percent qualified mad man.

I just desire these so I can fufill You and Prabhupad’s deepest and top most desire in the best way. Whole point of sankirtan is to give prema, I dont have, I really really need so I can begin to aspire to please You. I cry & cry & cry and hold Your lotus feet to my insignificant head to beg at the particles of the dust of Your lotus feet, im a beggar please help me.

All glories to You, all glories, all glories to Srila Prabhupad

Your tiny aspiring servant
Hamsa sanga dasa

Dear, Gurudeva

Please accept my prostrated obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to you on the glorious day of your Vyasa puja.

All success in life comes from following your instructions, what you have done and what you are doing for Srila Prabhupada is revolutionary and is the future for generations to come.

In the Srimad Bhagavatam we read:

SB (4.12.51)

Translation: The narration of Dhruva Mahārāja is sublime knowledge for the attainment of immortality. Persons unaware of the Absolute Truth can be led to the path of truth. Those who out of transcendental kindness take on the responsibility of becoming master-protectors of the poor living entities automatically gain the interest and blessings of the demigods.

Although extremely unqualified by your mercy alone, you have engineered us to help the poor, and by that mercy you have placed us in an extremely fortunate position as servant of the servant, a most valued position within the absolute reality of life in this universe.

Srila Prabhupada further explains in his purport to (4.12.51):

“Pure devotees, out of compassion for the fallen souls, are kṛpālu, very kind to people in general; they distribute this Bhāgavata knowledge all over the world. A kindhearted devotee is called dīna-nātha, protector of the poor, ignorant mass of people. Lord Kṛṣṇa is also known as dīna-nātha or dīna-bandhu, the master or actual friend of the poor living entities, and His pure devotee also takes the same position of dīna-nātha. The dīna-nāthas, or devotees of Lord Kṛṣṇa, who preach the path of devotional service, become the favorites of the demigods.”

By your compassion you are traversing the globe over and over again, training and inspiring us to become human beings of the highest caliber, allowing us to share the Super-most knowledge of life with others. Expertly guiding us to properly infiltrate the inner crevices of the illusory energy, in search of those ready to be awakened from the dream of material consciousness.

Although this is no easy task, by your example alone we gain strength, and so we aspire to follow in your footsteps as you selflessly and expertly share the message of Srimad Bhagavatam with the seekers of today’s world. And by great mercy and fortune, their path of devotional service opens, and the journey to factual immortality; association of the Supreme Person begins.

For this I am most grateful, you have made this spiritually crippled boy somewhat useful for the service of Srila Prabhupada. Eternally indebted to you forever.

Your insignificant servant,
Hari-Bhakta das

nama om visnu - padaya
krsna – presthaya bhu-tale
srimate Devamrita -
swamin iti namine

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

Hare Krishna Dear Gurudev,

On the auspicious day of Your appearance, I would like to thank Krishna for sending You in our lives. Gurudev, You are an ocean of mercy. Only through Your Lotus feet, we can attain Krishna. My prayer is that I become fixed in Your service, life after life.

Unluckly , I am not able to do service this time on this auspicious day. When i sit alone I always think about the examples you give in you lectures. When I deal with the situation and try to figure out the solution always Your examples make me realise that You already warn and told us before about this particular time and situation.


Gurudev what can I say in Your glorification. My words will fall short in every respect. It is Your mercy that I am Your disciple. I don't have the qualification to be so. I pray to Krsna Balaram to bestow upon my you, very good health and a very long life so that You can continue to shower Your mercy on suffering living entities like me and take them back to Godhead.

Your servent
Hari loka das

Hare Krishna dear Gurumaharaj,

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

On this auspicious day, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for your causeless mercy on me. Every time I think of what you have given me in this life, I feel immensely thankful to you. Who would have ever thought that I could attempt to become a bhakti practitioner, chanting the holy name, touching and reading Bhagavad Gita & Srimad Bhagavadam - the top most jewel of the universe? This wouldn't have been possible if you have chosen to ignore me, for which I was truly worthy of. Instead you chose to lift me up from the gutter where I belonged to and you cared, tolerated, guided, appreciated and accepted me with all my faults as your spiritual son. If I can ever claim any inheritance, please allow me to call you as my spiritual father "eternally". That could be the only way if at all Krishna has any interest in me.

Generally, I do not know how to express my love & gratitude for you but I truly value our relationship and ever indebted to your mercy of accepting me.

Please bless me to continue my insignificant preaching efforts as an attempt to please you and be of any value in your loving service unto your beloved spiritual master - Srila Prabhupada.

I sincerely pray to Sri RadhaGopinath, Lord Narasimha dev, Rajapur Jagannath, Nita-Gaura to bless you with good health and strength to continue travelling and uplifting more leftover souls like me wandering around the gutters of the material world.

Ever with love & gratitude,
Harinamamrita das

Dear Gurudeva,

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

Bhakti Lounge in Wellington is a place where I first came into contact with your flow of mercy in August 2016. Without your mercy, this entangled jiva wouldn’t possibly begin this transformational journey. Thank you for saving me from wasting this rare opportunity, Gurudeva. Under your superior and expert guidance, I desire to remain steadfast on this Bhakti yoga railway, towards the ultimate goal of life - pure love of Krishna.

But first, here are my duties: I must render service to you with devotion and determined faith; I must please you and satisfy you; I must cleanse my heart and become pure in my speech, thoughts and actions; I must abandon the lower self and embrace the high self; Only in doing so, I may become an effective instrument to assist in your important preaching mission.

On this auspicious day, I pray that my desire to serve you with love and devotion may increase, and if you are satisfied, that you may grant me further desire to serve you with increasing love and devotion. I pray that this may go on and on, eternally. I pray that I may develop the intelligence to understand the full meaning of surrendering unto the spiritual master and Krishna.

In BG 18.66, Krishna compassionately encouraged Arjuna to surrender to Him, and reassured Arjuna that he did not need to fear. I pray to you that my fear may gradually dissipate, to a point where I can fully and truly surrender with my whole heart unto Krishna, and you, the pure representative of Krishna.

Bhakti Lounge is a transcendental gift pack compassionately given to me, and my other spiritual brothers and sisters. Feeling ever refreshed when tasting this transcendental gift of maha-mantra, devotee association, spiritual literature, etc., I am still unable to understand the breadth and depth of this gift. I hope one day I will understand.

I am deeply indebted to you. Please allow me to pay off this debt as your insignificant servant.

You are my spiritual teacher and father who has opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. Thank you for filling my heart with true satisfaction at my early stage of Bhakti practice, and I am looking forward to serving you and devotees with increasing faith and attachment.

Eagerly to be a servant of yours,
Bhakta Harry

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


Observing the sinful activity and consequent wrecks I meet on the street, I feel like a soldier-medic at wartime. Sankirtan and preaching in the Waikato is like trying to resuscitate life in half-dead bodies that have been blown to pieces by Kali Yuga’s arsenal. It’s amazing to perceive how Lord Caitanya’s mercy works wonders when people take books and begin their bhakti journey.

I met one young farmer from Huntly who revealed that he had attempted suicide several times. Just getting over his condition from being in rehabilitation for three months, he hung on to a stack of books for dear life as if they were the only hope in the world that will save him. He gave a large donation and took four books. Unfortunately he was psychologically disturbed and I wondered whether a recovery was even possible in his lifetime.

I think I’m beginning to feel compassion for these poor people. They have no hope without Krishna and my heart is gladdened when they take the only thing that will actually give them any benefit. Everyday I don’t feel as satisfied unless I do some book distribution and many times I feel bad when I have to leave the street. Some of the best jappa sessions where I felt Krishna was most present were chanting another sixteen rounds after Sankirtan in the Hamilton gardens.

I love doing this service, I love chanting Hare Krishna and I love Srila Prabhupada’s books and you are the very dear devotee of Krishna who brought this inspiration to my life!

A few months ago you called me on the phone while I was distributing a Bhagavad Gita to someone in Waihi. You said that there was one peculiar boy in Wellington sitting outside Bhakti lounge giving flowers to the public and now he should stay in Mantra Lounge.

Well, two years ago when we recently revived this preaching venture in the Waikato, I met that young boy outside the Warehouse in Hamilton. He took a Bhagavad Gita from me and left it with his mother for safe keeping until he was ready to read it. A year later he met Munjaranya who sold him another book, straight after that he spent six months with devotees in Wellington before returning to the Mantra Lounge ashram. It’s a great relief to see young Regan happily engaged in service, he has already increased his book distribution while finding shelter in the Holy name as I can only teach him what I know best. Finding a vocation in Lord Caitanya’s movement, he now comes out with me everyday on Sankirtan.

You laughed and jokingly said that after I’m done developing the Hamilton scene, I should deliver all the dole-bludgers in Whangarei and Masterton. Gurudeva, I’m happy that you can entrust me with liberating the lowest of the low. By your order I will go to hell and back and leave my body on the frontlines. I can only try and do what you do best – you risked your life many times to preach fearlessly, so I hope that my tiny effort pleases you.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur told Srila Prabhupada to preach in the English speaking nations and now you have become an ISKCON-icon for cracking Western cities. Your success in non-Indian outreach proves that people from all parts of the globe can still take to Krishna consciousness just as enthusiastically when Prabhupada first came to America.

By keeping Srila Prabhupada’s instructions alive through your extraordinary sacrifice you’ve been blessed by all confidential knowledge to push on this movement, therefore you can tell us all that you have scientifically learned.

“(SB 1.1.8): brūyuḥ snigdhasya śiṣyasya guravo guhyam apy uta. “A disciple who has actual love for his spiritual master is endowed with the favors bestowed upon a gentle disciple.”

One day I hope to take your company culture in Western outreach beyond the land of the long white marijuana cloud – Aotearoa. In your auspicious day of appearance, I fervently beg to do more for you and Srila Prabhupada.


Determined to be your obedient and selfless servant.

Hriman Krishna das

Hare Krsna, please Accept My Humble Obeisances, All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!! Upon meeting you Maharaj on your trip to Wales where my friend and mentor, now Narasimha Nāma was taking shelter at your lotus feet, my whole perception of spiritual life changed. Your mood of absorption and shelter of the Holy name has inspired me to want to dive deeper and connect with the Lord and I am grateful for the five days I had your association in this life time so far. Our conversation on me choosing this as the right path and also of what would best cater for my spiritual needs gave me insight on a part of myself I didn’t explore. You’re living proof that Krishna Consciousness is the ultimate solution to all life’s problems. Your caring heart can be felt by everyone and you made me feel loved. As I dive deeper into my spiritual life, I ask for your blessings to develop attachment to the Lord and one day, serve you with full conviction, love and devotion. Your aspiring servant, Ian

Dear gurumaharaja,

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

Get a Guru
--------------

The heart is cold
when there's no one to hold.

A helping hand
instead of a back hand.

Who will explain
the finer lane?

Who will challenge,
teach you balance?

Who will push you,
help you cut through?

Real person in flesh
your memory refresh,

Your flaws point out
clear you of all doubts,

Your ego will smash
mental speculation bash,

Help you stay humble
avoid lots of trouble,

Teach you self control
realize you're the soul.

Who is your guide
in this journey so wide?

You don't know what you get
and end up with a karmic debt.

The path is ambiguous
the ride far to strenuous,

The waves of the ocean
will toss your devotion,

If you're independent
and not transcendent.

You need to surrender
to be a contender,

You can't reach the Lord
unless you're adored,

By special devotee
with purest degree.

Bill Gates had Warren Buffet
Get one quick or you will stuff it!

------

My eternal gratitude dear Master.

Your servant always,

Indranila devi dasi

Hare Krishna, Guru Maharaj. Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to you.

You are a source of strength and enthusiasm for us. You are the vibrant connection between us and Srila Prabhupada's instructions and mercy. You are quarding us from philosophical and cultural deviation. You push us to execute Srila Prabhupada's main instruction - to become pure devotees. You are showing us how to preach according to Srila Prabhupada's instructions and desire.

Every time on book distribution when is "hard" we remember your sankirtan pastimes.

We try to implement your instruction that "Krishna consciousness is a lifetime career."

For us there is no Krishna consciousness without your mercy.

For us there is no preaching without following your instructions.

trying to be your servants,
isvar candra das and candrika devi dasi

Hare Krsna Guru Maharaja,

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

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to your divine appearance!

Thank you Srila Prabhupada that You not only personally descended in this darkest age, but through Your compassion and intense desire to fulfil Your Guru Maharaja’s order, also brought amazing assistants like yourself, Guru Maharaja, into this world.

Guru Maharaja you are the perfect preacher. Your mouth wouldn’t allow any word to come out, would it not be fully in line with what Krsna and our founder acarya teach us.
You are fully chased to guru parampara, the true Vedic technology for realizing the highest consciousness and yet present it ever newly for the contemporary audience, catching the attention of minds which otherwise wouldn’t bother about spiritual wisdom because of their absorption in passion and ignorance.

Thus you exhibit the qualities of an uttama-adhikari, who is eager to not only serve Krsna or His devotees directly but even the non-devotees by giving them a chance to reawaken their KC, seeing everyone and everything as Krsna’s.

Knowing how grateful Srila Prabhupada was for any little service of His disciples but especially for those who risked their lives for spreading the movement, I can only imagine how pleased He must be with you.

When shall I forsake my relationship with my perpetual enemy, the mind, and become chased to you?

In BG 18.18 where Krsna tells the factors that motivate action (impetus) and the constituents of action, Srila Prabhupada writes: “When the inspiration is there and the worker is there, then actual activity takes place...”.

This means that the disciple simply needs to sincerely hear the guru’s instructions and will thus be enabled to execute them by the Lord, knowing himself as a mere instrument.

Despite your lovingly giving ever-fresh inspiration through your words and your personal example, myself still being unable to fully act accordingly, shows how madly I am attached to my pathetic conditioning.

Srila Prabhupada concludes the 15th chapter of BG by explaining that we have to overcome weakness of the heart, 1 – to lord over m. nature and 2 – attachment to matter.

Frankly until now I was simply too much of a coward to dare to dive deep into the ocean of bhakti. After all artha pravrtti and anartha nivrtti have to go side by side.
Thus to become genuinely attached to serving your and Sri Sri Radha Gopinath’s lotus feet, I have to be ready for my darker side, to be exposed and worked on.
As you say, we have to let Krsna do His job (of cleaning up our heart).

Yet by your mercy I feel that I progressed at least that far as to slowly being ready to admit that, as Srila Prabhupada said, the only one to blame for our lack of spiritual advancement is ourselves.
Thus instead of “living in the mind” which would always “look for” the ideal situation that never exists and thus deprive myself of being able to appreciate the extent of such undeserved mercy right in front of my eyes, ears, nose,...I beg for your blessings to rather realize what amazing, rare gift of Krsna and guru devotional service, especially living in the association of sincere devotees, is.

Watching you marching on representing and fulfilling Srila Prabhupada’s mission and desire with ever great strength, I can simply hope that a drop of that strength and mercy may fall upon my head, enabling me to hold on to your lotus feet.

Aspiring to become your worthy disciple,

Your insignificant servant,

Isvaresvara Das

Dear Guru Maharaj,

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

"We come into this world alone and we leave this world alone."
These are some of the sobering words you blessed me with the last time I saw you.

No material relationship can last the moment we leave this world.

You reminded me that my relationship with Krishna is permanent and is the only one I should be chasing after.
That relationship is first established with the spiritual master and deserves the most attention.

In a lecture given by Srila Prabhupada he said,

"So in every transaction there is a negotiator. So spiritual master is the negotiator. He is the broker—of course, without any brokerage. But he is supposed to be the broker, or the transparent medium. My Guru Mahārāja used to say, "the transparent media, via media." Just like my eyes are not very perfect, so I am using this transparent via media to see. Similarly, because we have forgotten our relationship with Kṛṣṇa, or God, so we have to see through the transparent via media of spiritual master. Otherwise it is very difficult. That is the process. That is the process."

Despite all my shortcomings, my pride and my teenage outbursts you continue to negotiate on my behalf. You continue to be a kind and loving father. You continue to be my guide and help keep me on track. You continue to be my main inspiration. And above all you continue to be my hero; a fierce and bold spiritual preacher and leader.

I wish you many many more years of good health. I wish you all the time and facility to write many many more books. And I wish you many many more years of travelling the globe to empower the people of the world to use their able bodies and their intelligence to spread this Krishna Consciousness. You are a leader creating leaders. Your service is invaluable.


Your aspiring servant and daughter,
Isvari Kesavi dasi

Dear Devamrita Swami

All glories to Srila Prabhupada, and all glories to you on this auspicious day of your appearance.

It has been just over a year since I have come into the association of devotees by your mercy and it has been the best year of my life.

Last year I expressed my gratitude to you for having pulled me our of this ocean suffering, and I prayed that I may have some realization of the extent to which you have saved me.

After following your advice I have now completed my university degree, and recently at graduation I was reflecting how out of the tens of thousands of people at the university some how I became a recipient of your mercy. This made me feel very humbled and undeserving.

When I saw the people going on stage to get there degrees I saw the 2 seconds of material happiness you speak of, after 4 years of austerities and a 50 thousand dollar loan these poor peoples happiness was finished before they even got off the stage. Now they will start an unsatisfying job and will continue trying to grab material happiness which is just like smoke in their hands.

I pray that I will be able to keep this realization fresh in my mind so that I can stay always engaged in your service.

I feel so grateful knowing that if it were not for you I would be just like all of these other students, chasing a mirage and not knowing the goal of life. You are so merciful that you allowed me to stay in the association of great devotees in the bramachari ashrama, even though unqualified, and even allowed me to serve you personally at the airport, although I am most unworthy. I pray that i can use to the fullest extent all the mercy which you so kindly distribute and that I can use this opportunity of living in PK ashrama to become a more qualified and sincere servant of yours.


Your aspiring servant,

Bhakta Jack

Dearest Devamrita Swami,

Please accept my humble obeisances.

I feel most unworthy and unqualified to truly appreciate your glories, and I remain bewildered that I have encountered your association.

My initial contact with Bhakti Lounge began when Krsna yanked me out of a hellish life to a Soulfeast. But the true gift of mercy was that I was placed front row at your feet. I hope I can reveal my gratitude, that sits deeper than the ignorance in my heart, for it is only by your ambitions to serve your spiritual master that I kept encountering devotees and the Bhagavad Gita.

I offer my unshakeable apologies for all the months I have continued to waste your mercy, as I understand now that BhaktiLounge is an extension of your eternal love. While I am still so attached to the mirage of reality, you still bestow blessings without hesitation. Your sincerity to give Krsna, the greatest gift, is the highest form of love that I have never understood.

But your devotion is not sentimental and you offer both heart and mind to your service. It was by reading ‘Searching for Vedic India’ that I began to wake up from the lap of Maya. Your depth of intelligence is what inspired me to finally reach for the Bhagavad Gita that had been resting, untouched, amongst my other books.

I hope to learn from you as Srila Prabhupada writes that we can’t gain knowledge without being humble. In a recent darshan you granted me a glimpse of your humility when you asked ‘Please help me to help others.’ I am only just coming to the understanding of your true compassion as you asked me to help not for your benefit, but for mine.

Thank you for your sacrifices and purity of devotion. Everything that has grounded my practice is only by your mercy and service to Srila Prabhupada.

Thank you for your tolerance, as I have been selfish in recognising only how Krsna Consciousness has benefited my life. I have little understanding of the true worth of what you give to the fallen souls but I hope I can grow a seed of sincerity to offer you.

On this auspicious day of your appearance, I call to Krsna for the vision to appreciate your glories and pray that I can learn to serve your mission.

Aspiring to serve you,

Jade

Namo om Vishnu padayaya Krishna pastalya bhutakle Shrimate devamrita-swamin iti namine

Pracare-purva-daksyam-ca bhaktacara-pravinata Pararthathapi-karunyam yasya sarve ca te namah

Om Ajnana-timirandhasya
Jnananjana-salakaya
Caksur Unmilitam Yena
Tasmai Sri-gurave Namah

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

All glories to you Guru Maharaj.

Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet on your divine appearance day.

Dear Gurumaharaj,

On this auspicious day of your Vyasa puja celebrations, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for showering your causeless mercy and by accepting me as your disciple despite of my disqualifications.

You are a true disciple of Srila Prabhupada in following his footsteps like solider tirelessly marching in the battlefield for protecting the nation. Generally, in the material world a solider dedicates his life for the nation but you as a solider dedicating your life to protect and safe the whole world by showering your compassion to deliver the humankind from this material world through the process of bhakti yoga. Year after year you are serving the mission of Srila Prabhupada by spreading glories of the Supreme Lord through your dynamic preaching approach and inspiring many audiences across the globe. Your dedication to Srila Prabhupada is a source of inspiration and the fire that ignites my Krishna Consciousness life. I desire to have at least 1% of dedication following your footsteps in becoming an instrument in the mission of serving Srila Prabhupada.

As mentioned in CC Madhya 19.151
brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja

On this Radhastami, it is been a decade that I took Harinam Diksha and started my Krishna Conscious journey, In this short journey I have experienced few instances that deeply touched my heart in understanding that how Krishna as a paramatma residing in our heart reciprocates with whatever we desire through his representative. First time when I came across your teachings in the retreat in Hare Krishna Valley you have captured my mind to think about our significance of life and further left me with a deep thoughts of childhood days memories of worshipping the Supreme Lord without any spiritual knowledge and understanding. A couple of years later, I had a desire to invite you our home for honouring prasad and you kindly fulfilled my desire and blessed me when I was full term pregnant with my first child. As the saying goes the sky is the limit, such as my personal desires list went on, and this time I wish to invite you for our house warming ceremony and had a desire that you personally invite Gaura Nitai deities at my new home. And you again fulfilled my desire and held a home program open to the whole Melbourne congregation. The mercy list goes on …and this time my heart stuck with so much pleasure to understand how Krishna reciprocates. I was pregnant with my second child and was due shortly after Govardhan puja, and I was finding difficult to do parikrama to Giri Govardhan and was thinking of the situation until I blessed with the second child. To my surprise it was such a coincident that you named my second boy HARIDEVA. This incident is a such a striking experience that I could feel how Krishna reciprocates with whatever we desire, and he fulfils this through His pure devotee.

Dear Gurudeva, I feel very fortunate to get your valuable association and I feel indebted to you in this lifetime. On this special day, I bow down at your lotus feet and beg you to continue to bestow your mercy so let my desire to perform devotional services without any selfish motives and to read Srila Prabhupada books be fulfilled. Please protect me under your umbrella of love and affection so I get the strength to cope with the material influences and balance my spiritual and material life. We pray to the Lordships that your eternal shelter continues to allow my family to become instruments in serving Srila Prabhupada preaching mission by serving the servants of the Lord in whichever way that please you.

I pray to the Lordships Sri Sri Radha Vallabha, Gaura Nitai and Jagganatha, Baladeva and Subhra Mayi for your good health and well-being so you continue to spread the glories of the Lord and deliver many conditioned souls.

Your insignificant disciple,

Jahnavi Jivan dd

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


Dearest Guru Maharaja,

I would like to express my deep gratitude towards you in this short offering.

You have had a deep impact on the course of my life and helped shaped my future and for this I remain indebted to you.

I feel words cannot express how fortunate I have been to come in your association and to have got your guidance in key junctures or my life.

The most valuable thing I have got from you is the knowledge of shastra (scriptures) and that to get this knowledge from an absolute truth seeker like you is a great benediction.

I hope to get your association going forward however I have been not fortunate enough in the past couple of years to get your close association as much as I would have liked.

I also pray to the Lordships to give you a very very long life good health so that you can transform the lives of countless others.

My wife and I also yearning that one day you visit our house and grace us with your presence.

Your Servant
Jaisacinandana

Dearest Devamrita Swami,
Please accept my offering obeisances at your shelter-giving lotus feet

~ There is always so much to say about the glories of the spiritual master.. it never ends. As one realises, more & more - this divine grace - the pages keep filling up ~

You are what keeps me going on, day after day, in this pursuit of bhakti. You are a constant source of life for me, like a wondrous spring fountain that keeps pouring forth inspiration & determination.

Whenever my life seems drab & exhausted, I know I can always turn to you - & recharge/refocus - by listening/watching a class, or a presentation on the bhakti yoga outlook & lifestyle in this day & age, that you give so brilliantly.

Your classes are the best! One time when listening to a class of yours, I just bursted out saying to myself, "Gosh he's such a great speaker.. Is this scripted?". It definitely sounds like you're reading from a book or you're having an internal dialogue with the Lord in the heart.
I also love how your chadar slowly slips off your left shoulder during the course of a talk :)

I will never leave you; I always want to be with you, in some way, whether direct or remote, a big service or small - it doesn't matter; the seemingly small service has such great power when done properly, that somehow by the magic of parampara it brings the presence of the Guru. Somehow this allows the connection to continue on & on... I am so grateful, thank you

Devamrita Bhaktivedanta! ki jaya!

mat-prāṇa-nāthas tu sa eva nāparaḥ (CC Antya 20.47)

James

Dear guru Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances in the dust of Your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to You on this most auspicious celebration of Your appearance in this world.


In Your book : " Hiding in Unnatural Happiness ", You write ( p 104)
"Arjuna, you are limited consciousness, I am unlimited consciousness.
We're meant to function together like the part functions with the whole.
You are the finite, I am the infinite.
If you forget about Me, you're in illusion.
Imagining your separateness from Me, thinking you're the body and the mind, dreaming that the world and its resources are yours, you'll never achieve natural happiness, peace, or progress.
Listen to Me, follow My techniques and you will come out of illusion.
Only then can you actually see how to benefit yourself and all living beings. "

This profound truth spoken by Sri Krsna, has become Your life - mission.
Constantly traveling the globe, inspiring others, dispelling their misguided illusions.
You are our "life - saver", or better still our " soul- saver".

Dear GuruDeva,
The disease of misidentification of "I" and "mine", is deeply rooted .
Wanting to control and enjoy the recourses of material nature, separate from Krsna, seems sometimes impossible to overcome.
What would my life have become if You had not shown Your causeless mercy and compassion upon me?

I recently discovered that You drove all the way from Auckland to Ohope and back ( about a 5 hour drive each way), to a home program I was invited to attend.
It was a very profound experience.
Rasayatra was leading the chanting of the Hare Krsna maha mantra, and tears flowed from my eyes, feeling the potency of the maha mantra, soothing my misguided heart and soul.

I had been searching for several years to find my Guru and Master, Who could guide me back on the right track.
Once I was in Your divine presence and association, I knew without a doubt that You were my spiritual teacher and guide, sent by Krsna.

The relationship between Guru and disciple is not ordinary. Nor is the spiritual master to be considered an ordinary person.
To the degree we have Guru nishta, to that degree we move forward in Bhakti.

I pray that one day I will have complete faith in Your instructions, without ulterior motives for personal gain or safety.

GuruDeva, I am eternally indebted to You.
I pray that on this day, You will shower Your compassionate glance upon me and my family, so that we may take this priceless gift of Bhakti serious.

Thank You from the depths of my stone-like heart, for undergoing so many tribulations and inconveniences, in order to distribute Lord Caitanya 's inconceivable mercy to all fallen conditioned souls, like myself.

We pray for Your mercy, so that one day we may be able to please You, and assist in serving Your beloved spiritual Master, Srila Prabhupada, with unalloyed devotion.


Your aspiring servant,

Janesvari devi dasi

Dear Guru maharaja

Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada, and all glories to you for your sincere effort in serving him.

I tell myself every year it’s not going to be like this, but here I am again, writing this homage at 10pm trying to beat the midnight cut-off.

Having just returned from the altar, worshipping the Deities at New Varshan on your behalf, I feel great wonder at my fortune to have such an opportunity to serve. In this lifetime I’ve always been serving in some form or another - serving a boss, friend, family member and more importantly and acutely: the selfish desires situated in my heart. And thus I remember you, gurudeva, from whom I have been given the chance for transcendental, <em>devotional</em> service. If not for you, who would have bothered to save this soul from a life of meaninglessness?

Your care has been shown throughout many phases in my life. First, you gave me the opportunity to live under the guidance of Mahavan, receiving training in various services, studying Srila Prabhupada’s books and learning how to be a decent human being. Next was the brahmacari ashram, in which the lifestyle was even simpler and the study and distribution of books more intensified.

Upon my graduating you told me that the brahmacari lifestyle serves at a beacon for the ashrams that follow . Life as a householder is a real juggle of desires, expectations and responsibilities. To keep it all together while maintaining a healthy diet of hearing and chanting, as well as regulated, sattvic habits is a regular battle. Waking before brahma muhurta, daily reading, chanting all one’s japa in one stretch – these are all luxuries of devotional life that can easily become slackened. Having once lived like this in the brahmcari ashram, I have that ‘beacon’ to guide me. So I try to remember this. I’ve done it before, and it’s possible to do it again.

Listening to a fabulous initiation class you gave some years back, I quote the following:

“We should remember that this formal giving of the holy name means you will be mindful of the 10 offences to chanting Hare Krishna. Don’t just take it that, ‘alright, now I’m initiated and I just finger my beads and mumble the mantra and that’s it, because I have a sanskrit name now, that’s the everything.’ No, this ceremony marks your determination to chant Hare Krishna without offence. And you can see when devotees of Krishna have struggles and pitfalls, and problems, that means they’ve let go of the holy name as the most important thing in their life and they don’ even think anymore put how to chant with attention properly. If you try to chant Hare Krishna with attention you can avoid all the other offences. To chant Hare Krishna with attention means you have to arrange your life properly. No matter what ashram you’re in there has to be some lifestyle management and it’s an ongoing process. Because things in this material world change. So devotees are constantly adjusting and readjusting to make sure chanting has it’s proper place in life.”

I thank you for all your guidance, encouragement in bhakti and also your discouragement. Life in the material world can get complicated; the whole situation is a big complication. Even your <em>discouragement</em> of unnecessary complications to life is a sign of your compassion, because you don’t want your dependents to loose focus on the real jewel of life: attentive, offenceless chanting of Krishna’s holy name.

The anniversary of your appearance is an auspicious occasion for us to remember this unique guru-disciple relationship, pay homage to you, and ask for blessings. My request is that you continue guiding me, as stubborn as I sometimes am.

Your servant,
Jayadeva Kavi dasa

Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada on this auspicious occasion - where we celebrate you, a person who we can never fully comprehend, and try, with words that can never repay, to thank you for being that person.
You're so personal, thoughtful, caring, expert. A genius from whichever angle we look.
Your compassion is deeper than any ocean, yet you are unsentimental and ambitious for Krishna.
Creative, yet sharp.
Loving, yet subtle.
Sober, yet witty.
And possibly the combination I am most meditating on and grateful for on this Vyasa Puja: encouraging, yet patient.
I know I have, do and will cause you much need for patience, much more than you allow yourself as you push so hard for perfection in your own devotional service.
All I can say is thank you for accepting this lowly soul, for seeing and replying to and loving me again and again.
I'd love to connect with strength and to show you more how grateful I am.
Praying and striving selfishly for a drop of your devotion and determination, Gurudeva, like a child begging a little pocket money to buy their parent a useless gift.
Praying for your good health this year, and for the jiva-souls you meet that have any semblance of strength or sanity to recognise the reality that is in you.
Aspiring forever to truly be your servant,
Jiva-maya devi dasi

Namah om visnu padaya Krsna presthaya bhu tale Srimati Devamrita iti namine

Pracare purva daksyam ca
Bhakta-cara pravinata
Paratatapi karunyam
Yasya sarve ca te namah

Hare Krsna Gurudeva,
Please accept my most humble obeisances. Thank you so much for granting me shelter at your Lotus feet. I feel so safe and fortunate for having received a drop of the ocean of your mercy. I am most unqualified to render any tangible service to you, let alone your devotees, yet I sincerely hope that one day I am capable of doing so. You inspire me in so many ways. It is so bewildering to me how little of vapu you actually had with Prabhupada, yet you are a most magnanimous and pure devotee of Lord Krishna. This helps me to better understand the importance of Vani. You always associate with Prabhupada through his books and instruction. Prabhupada says that one should take the order of the spiritual master as ones life and soul. This is clearly exemplified in yourself by how dutifully and enthusiastically you continue to carry on Prabhupadas mission. I am so fortunate to have received the opportunity to hear from you personally several times, as well as getting the opportunity to walk with you once. Thank you so much for giving me personal instruction as well. I hope one day I am able to carry that order on my head and execute it properly. Hearing of your past times in Communist countries are always enlivening to me. Such dangerous circumstances and many close encounters all for the sake of sharing Prabhupadas books with others. I sincerely hope that one day I can attain a fraction of the dedication You have to Lord Caitanyas sankirtan movement. Gurudeva I am an extremely fallen and unfortunate soul. I have a severely contaminated mind and Maya has been pulling all the ruses on me lately. I know I have to stay in the shower but sometimes I don't think I'm strong enough to face what lies in my heart. Please lend your mercy unto me so that I may never give up the association of your devotees. Without them there is no way I can make it back to Godhead. Please lend me the spiritual strength and intelligence to always stay in their association and humbly serve them. Thank you for all you have done for me thus far and all that you will continue to do. Happy appearance day.

YAS Jose

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.

All glories to you on this most auspicious day.

Unfortunately as a little toddler in my bhakti career I can’t conceive of the value of what you have given me and therefore am not able to offer you suitable praises. I will still try to express my gratitude in the hope that in the future I may be able to repay the countless debt.
As all the conditioned souls in the material world I was looking for water in a place where there is only sand. Trying everything to gratify my senses in different ways and going to different places seeing different people and places I finally got frustrated by a hopeless search for happiness in a place of misery. At that point I got in touch with a few of your disciples. At the first encounter with them I knew these are the most amazing people I have ever met even though they were at that time simply serving me prasadam. I knew that I just wanted to speak to them and learn about what they are doing and why they’re doing what they’re doing. My first encounter was with your disciple Nrkesari dasa. He gave me so much time and tried to explain me as much as he could even though I didn’t ask many questions at that point I was happy to listen and read Prabhupadas books. Everything made sense to me and by associating with nrkesari and Dvija Prabhu I could see the practical example of the teachings from the books. I just had one wish, to get what they have. They seemed so happy and fearless without selfish motivations which I had never seen before. After a little bit of practise unfortunately i left the devotees and try to pursue my travel goals just in order to get crunched again by the cruel hands of maya. Coming back to their sangha I slowly started to get into the practise again when I started to come New Zealand where I met you for the first time. Initially just wanting to stay in new NZ for 2 weeks, by your association and instructions I am still here after 2 years. The Bhakti Lounge and the devotees in Wellington and foremost the meeting with you inspired me to spend my time moving into the ashram and trying to serve your instructions. From the first meeting with you I tried to take your words deep in my heart and apply them in my life. Before meeting you I had a little desire to practise Bhakti but coming in your association the dormant desire for devotional service in every living entity accelerated to a much larger extent than before. Coming from a completely self centered life, every action directed toward my own gratification, to going toward a life of obedience and service to your lotus feet is for me still a mistery. In the beginning especially I just couldn’t get my head around the idea that I could be happy by serving someone else especially without selfish motivation, but by association with your instructions and your dear disciples I can already see how much my heart has changed even though I just started to practise. I know that I don’t have any strength on my own and in my tiny efforts to perform devotional service I can perceive that I don’t have any independent ability. Whenever I do something, forgetting your shelter and Krishna’s empowerment I’m failing, but if I humbly beg for your strength I am able to increase my abilities in your service.

In my little attempts to assist you in your preaching I got some insight of how powerful your words are and how simply by being in your presence people’s perceptions change. Sometimes I speak to guests and try to repeat your words and not much happens but when they come and see you, within a few minutes you’re able to convince them of their foolish attempt of gaining material happiness and the futility in their mundane pursuits.

One quality of the devotee of Krishna is that he is more merciful than Krishna himself. With this in mind I am determined to try my best to humbly carry out your order having deep faith that at some point I will gain your favour and you will bestow your causeless mercy upon me even though I don’t deserve your blessings. I also heard that you said that if we help Lord Caitanya, Lord Caitanya helps us. In that way I beg for your mercy to assist you in increasing the sankirtan movement and be one pointed in your service to overcome all obstacles on the path of Bhakti.

I am thankful for everything you have given me and all the arrangements which you have made that even someone like me can take up the process of bhakti which is most rarely obtained by any conditioned soul.

Your aspiring disciple
Kai

Hare Krishna Dear Guru Maharaja!
Please accept my humble obeisances,

All glories unto Srila Prabhupada! 

All glories unto you!


This year I had the fortune to observe your deep awareness of every aspect of Bhakti Lounge. I had a discussion with you about cookbooks and what types of cookbooks would help the chefs to expand and I was stunned to see that you are so attentive to details that you knew so many cookbooks and there contents! Despite your travels all over the world, and have many disciples! You inspire people to get attached to Krsna through different methods, one of them through making Krsna's kitchen into adventure park and empowering devotees to be so excited to cook, to expand for Krsna, to make people become absorbed in prasadam that we serve to them. I pray to be able to engage in this mission and dedicate all my life to cooking and baking for Krsna and distribute His prasadam to all people under your guidance dear Gurudeva.


I'm grateful for the opportunity to have seen you and your interactions with devotees at the Russian festival. You always see the best in everything. Russia is an austere country in many aspects, the people, environment or just your flight there, but you still come there to see your disciples and give them so much of your energy and time. You asked your disciples to ask the most important questions during the seminar. I was amazed to see how even if people asked you the same question you would answer differently, your answer is always personal and just what that particular person needs, but at the same time everyone gets encouraged from you. You always glorify Srila Prabhupada and always give credit to him when someone is praising you, even now when you read all these offerings.

Dear Gurudeva, thank you so much for accepting me as your student, enrolling me into Bhakti school and allowing me to serve to best of my ability. I feel incredibly fortunate to be your disciple, to be part of your family, to be a servant of the servant of the servant. Thank you for saving me from clutches of Maya. Your words are so powerful! You told me to get into Krishna Consciousness, and I got the opportunity to live in Ashram and do devotional service. You told me to bake for Krsna, and I got the fantastic opportunity to cook at Bhakti lounge, take part in catering yajnas. You told me to teach others how to cook, and I got an amazing chance to run cooking classes, demonstrations and head chef. Please, dear Guru Maharaja order me always at every moment of my life to be attached to lotus feet of Krsna and carry out service to Krsna in any circumstances throughout all my life.
Thank you for being so kind to me.


For servant,

Kaisori sundari dd

Guru Maharaja,

please accept my humble obesciences,
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada, and all glories to you on the most auspicious day of your appearance.


I am now just starting to realize the impact that you have had, not just on my life, but on the entire world. I once heard it said that Srila Prabhupada never took a step that was fruitless; wherever he went devotion to Krishna manifested. I have seen a similar effect present in your lotus footsteps. Sri Hanuman jumped over the ocean to reunite Lord Rama with His energy. Like Hanuman, you traverse the oceans again and again to reunite everyone with the Lord Sri Krishna.

Just about a month ago, you mercifully initiated me right before I went back to my graduate program at Temple. Kala-Svarupa — you said it was a good name for a physicist. When the semester did start, it felt at once familiar but also foreign. The words that Arjuna spoke after Krishna left came to my mind. There were to same classes, the same professors, the same textbooks, I was there again…but this time I could see that Krishna was there as well. Only when Krishna is added does anything else have value.

You see, I spend most of my day looking at zeros. Change in energy equals zero, this function equals zero, net force is zero. But there are still more zeros. A great education, that I was using to further my own false ego and pride; zero. My great teaching ability; teaching people only relative truth that most will forget anyway after the semester ends — that is also a zero. The respect of my peers and seniors, who cannot control their own senses and do not have any higher knowledge beyond the body and mind - that too is zero. Even the ability to contribute to the cutting edge of research, gaining the ability to more and more speak in ways that less and less people will actually understand - zero. Every day I am left with an endless string of zeros. But, due to your great mercy, you added Krishna - added the Supreme One - that gives me, the big zero, any value.

Every morning I sing the guruvastakam. Eight stanzas glorifying the spiritual master. But do I really hear them, or just parrot them back again and again?

<strong>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.</strong>

Do I actually believe this? Is it possible that the peace that I have been looking for my entire life, the ability to be content and satisfied, is to be simply found in hearing the words emanating from your mouth? Why then do I not pay attention, instead letting my mind present so many ideas and plans, rather than learning to learn by hearing.

<strong>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.</strong>

Then why do I keep thinking in terms of my own sense gratification? Keep Thinking in terms of trade - I do this for you and you do this form me. Wanting recognition, praise or displays of affection, when I am unable to see that you are always providing them, and that I am the one that is not reciprocating properly, contaminated by what this modern culture thinks of as affection. Why do I approach you as a merchant - instead of a servant?

<strong>By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Krsna. Without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement. Therefore, I should always remember and praise the spiritual master. At least three times a day I should offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master.</strong>

Then why do I have any goal than to serve your lotus feet? Conditioned men like myself are attracted to heroism. Why can I not see that the most heroic thing in this world is to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead - which is done by pleasing you? By following the words of the spiritual master, one forgets and overcomes all limitations. Why then do I see only all of the impediments, instead of the goal and the purpose?

I am told day after day, in one way or another, of my glories. My peers come to me when they can’t solve a problem set - telling me I am the best in the class. My professors praise me for my mathematical ability and physical intuition. My students praise me by telling me that my class is one of their favorite. None of them know my secret: despite their praise of my scholarship, I am simply the biggest fool. Why? Because despite hearing repeatedly, I cannot listen. I do not see yet that I am not this body, not this mind, but simply your servant.

Guru Maharaja, whether you want me to be a great scholar or a great fool, in a prestigious position or one of humiliation, a rich man or a beggar on the street; please allow me some service at your lotus feet and at the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada.

Your Aspiring servant,
Kala-Svarupa das

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.

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”.

This past year tossing more within the material ocean I have had some glimmers of understanding about the unparalleled nature of devotional service and the value of the gift I have been given. I reflect on my good fortune. That I have the holy name, the association of devotees, devotional service. That I have your guidance and I try to meditate on your instructions and realise their importance in my life.

"The order of the spiritual master is the active principle in spiritual life. Anyone who disobeys the order of the spiritual master immediately becomes useless."
Caitanya Caritamrita Adi lila 12.9

“I want to see you motivated and dynamic in action” you said. A call to motion, to utilise mind, senses, body, and heart in service. To throw aside lethargy, numbness, and ambivalence. To bring your mission into my heart, hold it as my incoming and outgoing breath, my life and soul.

I am a child in possession of the most valuable diamond. I grasp it an immature grip, unaware of its value, in danger of dropping it at any time. I pray keep a hold of this gem and one day understand it’s glory.

naṣṭa-prāyeṣv abhadreṣu
 nityaṁ bhāgavata-sevayā
bhagavaty uttama-śloke
 bhaktir bhavati naiṣṭhikī

“By regular attendance in classes on the Bhāgavatam and by rendering of service to the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is almost completely destroyed, and loving service unto the Personality of Godhead, who is praised with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact”. (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.18)

This is the remedy which will cleanse the heart, smashing through the obstacles on the path of devotional service. The simple and sublime method leading us toward perfection. Through serving the books and the pure devotee progress can made along the journey of devotion. You mercifully give me, an unqualified and uncouth Kali Yuga refugee the opportunity to engage in the highest activity and to acquire the supreme knowledge.

This Bhakti Lounge you have created is a place of wonder. An oasis in the dessert, a cooling glade within the concrete jungle. It is more than it’s physical components, not merely four walls and a ceiling. It is a home and a refuge. Bhakti Lounge truly is a beating heart of Bhakti. Walk in from the hustle and bustle of the outside world and get met with soul awakening kirtan, delectable aromas of prasad, and the beautiful smiling faces of devotees. Spending time away from this hub of cultivation and devotional inspiration I am slowly realising the shelter that regular absorption in devotional service is.

I am eternally grateful to you. You give so much time for your devotional children, patiently listening, guiding, and teaching. We are so lucky to have your physical association so frequently through out the year to re-enliven and re-inspire.

I pray that I can be attentive to your instruction all year round, to be an all weather devotee. Bearing the winter chills and summer heat.
I am grateful to be a part of such a loving and supportive community. This is true love and care and slowly the steel frame encompassing my heart melts away.

After working for some time out of the association of devotees I realise that I don’t know how good I’ve got it.
Thank you for the mentor system. I would not be where I am without it. The association of my mentors, mothers, and sisters propels me forward in devotional life.

I pray to serve you better every day and to one day be useful to you in fulfilling Srila Prabhupada’s mission.

Aspiring to be your servant and daughter,
Kalyani Radha Devi Dasi

Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my respectful obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to you!

Being a bona fide representative of the Guru Parampara you simply repeat the message as it is. Not only do you repeat but the words emanating from your lotus mouth, charged with your personal realisations and ecstasies, enter into the heart of the listener and shatters the material conception of life by establishing pure devotional service to Krsna as the eternal occupation of the spirit soul.

Following in the mood of the Guru Parampara you present pure devotional service and nothing else. You teach it and you practice it yourself.

“You simultaneously perform both duties in relation to the holy name by your personal behavior and by your preaching. Therefore you are the spiritual master of the entire world, for you are the most advanced devotee in the world.” (CC Antya 44.10)

Srila Prabhupada notes in the purport that the bona fide acarya not only acts according to scriptural injunction but also preaches it to others. I felt that this perfectly describes you because as the bona fide acarya in the Guru Parampara you preach Krsna Consciousness in such a way that it appeals to all persons but it always is in relation to pure loving service to Krsna.

Srila Prabhupada writes that "[The speaker] must have full confidence in the previous ācārya, and at the same time he must realize the subject matter so nicely that he can present the matter for the particular circumstances in a suitable manner. The original purpose of the text must be maintained." (SB 01.04.01 purport)

Gurudeva while at outreach programs I marvel at how expertly you introduce the Bhagavad Gita. You have the mystic ability to present the subject matter in such a way that everyone attending the program, regardless of their progress on the path of Bhakti, can understand it.
I recall in an outreach program you gave the audience an analysis of material happiness in the three modes from the Bhagavad Gita. You presented an intricate subject matter in such a way that everybody, even the staff, could understand it. Although you just repeated what was in the Bhagavad Gita it was a fresh way of understanding it.

I wish to thank you for your great mercy; the opportunity to engage in devotional service, in Mahaprabhu's Sankirtana movement. Ten years have passed since I met you and I do not feel that I have done anything to repay my debt to you.

I constantly meditate on how hearing of me joining the Sri Radha Gopinath Travelling Sankirtan Party you encouraged me to continue using my energies in expanding Srila Prabhupada's mission. Presenting your efforts in your late twenties to preach under the iron curtain you gave me confidence that you have done it and how others should do it too.
Boldly you declared : "Sacrifice for Krishna’s pleasure and rejoice!"

Gurudeva I am at your mercy. Please use me as an instrument in expanding Srila Prabhupada’s mission by distributing his books, for this is the best way to engage the senses in pleasing the Guru Parampara, Mahaprabhu and Sri Krsna. Let me rejoice knowing that this sacrifice pleases you.

Your servant,
Kamsari Sena dasa

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and your selfless service!

Krishna is very grateful towards his sincere devotee. In the Nectar of Devotion, chapter 21,”Qualities of Śrī Kṛṣṇa”, one of Krishna’s qualities are described as grateful. It is stated:

“Any person who is conscious of his friend’s beneficent activities and never forgets his service is called grateful.”

“So to anyone who is constantly engaged in addressing the Lord and His energy, we can imagine how much the Supreme Lord is obliged. It is impossible for the Lord to ever forget such a devotee. It is clearly stated in this verse that anyone who addresses the Lord immediately attracts the attention of the Lord, who always remains obliged to him.”

From this statement we can understand how obliged Krishna must feel towards you for your service.

The devotee, however, is also very grateful towards Krishna. In the purport to SB 4.21.44, Srila Prabhupada writes:

“A devotee acquires all the good qualities of the demigods; he is guṇāyanam, the reservoir of all good qualities. His only asset is good behavior, and he is grateful. Gratitude for the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is one of the qualities of brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas. Everyone should feel grateful to the Supreme Personality of Godhead because He is maintaining all living entities and supplying all their necessities.”

Even in trying circumstances, a devotee offers gratitude to the Supreme Lord. Srila Prabhupada pointed this out in a lecture:

“The devotee of the Lord never finds faults with the Lord. Although they may be put in uncomfortable situations even then they offer their gratitude to the Lord, that it is Your mercy. This is the outlook of a devotee of the Lord.”
(75-08-30 - Lecture BG 07.03 Hindi - Vrndavana)

No doubt that your whole being is full of gratitude towards the Lord. You are teaching us by example!

Srila Prabhupada was immensely grateful to all his disciples who helped him fulfil the mission of his spiritual master. We can all see that this is what you have dedicated your life to. He wrote:

“By distributing my books profusely you are giving me great encouragement to translate. And you are all helping me to fulfil the order which Guru Maharaja gave me. So I am so much grateful to you, and I am sure Krishna will bless you a million times over, for doing this work.”
(Letter to Kesava -- Bombay 1 January, 1972)

Srila Prabupada also expressed the gratitude of his disciples:

“Every student, every disciple, they write me letter how much they are feeling grateful, that "We have got something. Prabhupada, you have given us something." Of course, I have not given. It is not my property. I have simply informed them, "Here is Krsna, and the life's business is to become a devotee."
(Lecture on SB 2.1.3 -- Delhi, November 6, 1973)

So the Bhakti tradition is so wonderfully saturated with gratitude. Although not near any of the above, I am also feeling immense gratitude towards you. You have given me the most valuable gift. And you always care so deeply about all of us. By your kindness you transform our hearts.

Recently you expressed in a class in Wellington the experience of opening your inbox. The first email will be full of gratitude and praise, the next one full of blame and resentment towards you. I feel sorry that you have to take all this blame, when all you’re trying to do is to selflessly encourage us closer towards Krishna.

Although my heart is full of knots, I pray that my gratitude towards you will continue to flow towards your lotus feet and never be blemished.

With love and gratitude,
Your servant Karuna-purna dasi

Hare Krishna Gurudeva

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

Om ajnana timirandhasya

You dedicated your life to Srila Prabhupada's mission to open the eyes of the lost conditioned souls, sometimes gently, sometimes more forcefully. Tactfully you consider the hang ups and ways of the local population and the individuals and decide with how much intensity of light you shine the torchlight of knowledge into our eyes. People like me, so comfortably dreaming while in deep sleep.

You constantly encourage and remind us to keep the eyes open, how easy it is to think the are despite being fast asleep.
Your endurance and dedication to reach out is out of this world. Constantly travelling with all its austerities, constantly giving talks, lectures, classes and managing different centres and projects all around the world, your GBC duties - all of that keeps you constantly in the fire of spiritual association with Srila Prabhupada and Lord Chaitanya and you become yourself a burning fire by which touch us cold iron may one day become a little more fire like.

By your untiring example you are showing us the way of how to be constantly connected with Srila Prabhupada, Lord Chaitanya and Sri Krishna. Maya always tries to allure us to turn our back to Krishna and how easily we are distracted. However no matter how hard she tries, you do not even notice her while keeping your eyes fixed on Lord Sri Krishna's smiling lotus face, your heart fixed on Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's mission and your hands tightly clasped around Srila Prabhupada lotus feet.

Where ever there is the sun, there is no question of darkness. You show by your example and become the sun-like torchlight for us.

I pray and beg that one day I will truly understand your glorious example.

Your aspiring servant
Kasi Priya das

Namo om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale Srimate Devamrita Swamin iti namine
I, offer my respectful obeisances unto His Holiness Devamrita Swami, who is very dear to Lord Krsna, having taken shelter at His Lotus feet.
Pracare purva- daksyam ca bhaktacaram pravinata parathatapi karunyam yasya sarve ca te namah.
Obeisances unto You who have all qualities of Unique skills in preaching, competence in vaisnava dealings, selflessness and compassion.
Dearest Srila Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances unto you…
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada..
All Glories to You…
Happy Vyasapuja Gurudeva….
Among all tattvas we hear, Guru tattva is most inconceivable and magnanimous in nature. Guru is magnanimous as he imparts his inner mood and attitude in his preaching and helps a disciple to learn this science of self realization.
And Gurudeva, you are most expert at dealing with us and make things easier to understand by your scientific, intellectual, practical presentation of the sastra filled in with sense of humor. You leave us with thought provoking questions – urging the audience to see our real situation we are caught up in .One such questions you put forward was - As how many of you have signed up for material miseries….and subtle science behind it how just by signing up for material gratification or run after material happiness we are unaware that we are signed up for the material miseries.

No one wants to encounter with material miseries yet not knowing the nature and cause is material existence, we tried to apply our so called material solutions. Not only that You urge us to take shelter of Krsna and His names, and invest in it for our spiritual career if we are really futurist. Just to make things crystal clear for us you use different examples like shooting the star, powered iron attracted to magnets, carrying false burdens, getting caught up in control game or the two birds – more and better, illumination through lamps etc.
Although, Your book Hiding in Unnatural happiness is the best seller and collecting huge profits, you directed everything to BBT and kept no single penny for your purposes. Thank You Gurudeva, your life is exemplary and selfless.
When plans were made for me to go Gita Nagari, although I haven’t expressed my hesitations as being unaware of the farm life, and perplexed in my decision, the very evening you sent me email expressing Your inner desire. And at once, the dense fog of hesitations were removed. As I made up my mind to move forward, seemingly Krsna has other plans. You weren’t hesitant to tell me how US government made visas for Indians tough and it is not possible at this point of time. I, once again regretted that I couldn’t do any for You.
In Caitanya Caitramrita, Adi lila 10.1, it is described as follows:
śrī-caitanya-padāmbhoja-
madhupebhyo namo namaḥ
kathañcid āśrayād yeṣāṁ
śvāpi tad-gandha-bhāg bhavet
Let me repeatedly offer my respectful obeisances unto the beelike devotees who always taste the honey of the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. If even a doggish nondevotee somehow takes shelter of such devotees, he enjoys the aroma of the lotus flower.
May I always remember to take shelter of Your Lotus feet and purify from this doggish mentality .
Once you shared your experience in a lecture how you go through weary due long and constant travels yet you continue just to save us. My Godsister Gaura Bhakti, shared me that How You used to escape from KGB behind the iron curtain, by getting wrapped in blankets in back seat of the car. All these selfless efforts are made just make us Krsna conscious. Thank you Gurudeva, for all your love and true affection.
Another magnanimous feature of You, is that You are express your gratitude to your dear disciples who are selflessly serving your mission and encourage them. You are very thoughtful and magnanimous.
I feel fortunate as Krsna blessed your shelter and You, still hold on me.
May my stone heart melt and accept this beautiful gift of Krsna Bhakti and be an instrument in your mission. I, pray one day I can also learn how to serve you selflessly.
Aspiring to be Servant of the Servant,
Kasturika dd.

Hare Krishna Gurudeva

Please accept my respectful obeisances. All glories unto Srila Prabhupada. All glories unto you, on the celebratory day of your appearance in this world.

āyur harati vai puṁsām
 udyann astaṁ ca yann asau
tasyarte yat-kṣaṇo nīta
 uttama-śloka-vārtayā

Both by rising and by setting, the sun decreases the duration of life of everyone, except one who utilizes the time by discussing topics of the all-good Personality of Godhead.

In a section of the purport Srila Prabhupada writes:

---

This verse indirectly confirms the greater importance of utilizing the human form of life to realize our lost relationship with the Supreme Lord by acceleration of devotional service. Time and tide wait for no man. So the time indicated by the sunrise and the sunset will be uselessly wasted if such time is not properly utilized for realizing identification of spiritual values. Even a fraction of the duration of life wasted cannot be compensated by any amount of gold. Human life is simply awarded to a living entity (jīva) so that he can realize his spiritual identity and his permanent source of happiness. A living being, especially the human being, is seeking happiness because happiness is the natural situation of the living entity. But he is vainly seeking happiness in the material atmosphere. A living being is constitutionally a spiritual spark of the complete whole, and his happiness can be perfectly perceived in spiritual activities.

---

Your activities in this world have been miraculous. Recently, you mentioned that you had no idea you would live so long. You thought you would have been caught by the KGB, or killed while travelling extensively by car or by plane. Never, you said, did you imagine all of this... and that is the nature of a pure devotee. The pure devotees are in awe of their own lives as much as everyone else! This is due to their humble way of crediting all glorious activities to the Giver of all ability, Lord Sri Krishna. Simultaneously, Lord Krishna is constantly seeking to make the glories of His devotees known. And this dance goes on and on, and no one can tell anymore who is leading. The Lord and His pure devotee are both controlled by love and it is love that leads.

What is that love you feel for Lord Krishna, Gurudeva? What is that love that dictates within you what to do, how to speak, what to say? What is that love that compels you to go here, or there? What is that love that inspires you to accept the fallen, pick them up, brush them off and offer them up? What is that love that puts you to sleep, helps you to rise early, and floods every utterance you vibrate? What is that love you hear in silence, you witness in every being, and see in each particle of light? How does it move you? When you become overwhelmed by that love, do you cry? Do you wish you weren't here; or do you feel yourself somewhere else altogether? Does the love you have for Lord Krishna carry you away when you dance and chant? Where does it carry you?

Beyond time, beyond words, beyond the mind and body- you are connected to the love Supreme. You defy time. Your love is timeless, and it is beautiful to behold, and very encouraging to follow.

Utilized the human form- an understatement. Happy? It's no longer a consideration. While you help us all get a grip with how badly we all want to be happy, the depth of your activities shows that there is something you are tasting that is much more rich and sublime than anything a typical human being would ever imagine. While we are all so hung up over trying to satisfy ourselves thinking self-action will make us happy, you've been concentrated on Lord Krishna's happiness... 'what would make the Lord happy?'

I aspire for eternity to act as you do- to act for the satisfaction of the love Supreme. I desire to be moved by that love for Lord Krishna through disciplic succession, and pray for your mercy to expedite my purification. I pray for this so I may please you with my services and ultimately to be engaged with purified senses that suitable for His service.

Grateful to follow you, worship you within my heart, offer to you and through you, but mostly for the glorious luxury of depending on you.

Thank you for being so dependable, and for providing me such great shelter.

I live indebted to you. Praying I may become dependable and trusted in your service so that I may reciprocate with you more fully.

Thank you my dear Spiritual Father.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare


Your servant,
Kathamrta

Dear Maharaja
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
So I was serving you by serving under Guru Prasad Mahraja for a while. Now I am back in England, you gave me the order to stay in ISKCON Soho/ London. So I willtry and take that order seriously. Although I don't know how it fully works, thankyou for your mercy.
your servant
Kavi Karnpura das

Dear H.H. Devamrita Swami Maharaja.

All glories to your selfless service to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
and His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

Addressing you on the most auspicious occasion of your yvasa-puja appearance day,
I would like to express my eternal gratitude, appreciation and indebtedness to you for
the compassion you have shown that has touched my life and countless others.

You are an ocean of transcendental qualities. The way your effulgence lights up any room you enter,
and stays lingering for weeks to come after you depart is an astounding phenomena every time
i have the good fortune of observing it. You’re gravity, scholarship, sense of humour, articulation, devotion,
energy and enthusiasm not only inspire, but saturate all those souls whom come within your association, for even
a moment, with positivity and vibrance.

Out of your innumerable attributes and virtues, the one that leaves me most in awe is the perpetual dedication and
sacrifice you make year after year for the welfare of all kali-yuga souls lost in the void of deep material entanglement and pointless pursuits.

I pray that Radharani continues to allow your manifest presence in this world for many many years to come.
May your energy never dwindle and all obstacles be made powerless as you continue to travel and preach
for the benefit of all conditioned and liberated souls.

I am aware that the only way to get the mercy of Krishna is to get the mercy of Guru, but I can find no way to
please you other than to follow the example you have given and to also sacrifice my energies in the selfless service
of propagating the Yuga dharma of harinama sankirtana to all whom I may have the privilege of serving in my short
Sojourn through time and space.

Your aspiring servant and disciple,
With all sincerity,
Keli-Kānana dasa

Oh dear lord Krishna, I beg at the dust of your lotus feet that I can distribute your ocean of nectar in the form of srila prabhupadas books as long as possible in this life and for eternity. I want to become a beggar for opportunities to spread your holy dust, which is relishable for all living entities in every single village in this material world. I hope I will be able, by my gurudevas merciful wishes, to be an instrument of your love. Without any deviation, I want to develop the desire to selflessly spread the holy name in the most effective way to finally realise that there is nothing more. Nothing is in my possession, everything is yours. Please let surrender the deepest core of my heart unto you. Please let me understand and never forget your glories so I can finally attain and share prema with your children who are craving deeply for even just a second of your association. I am blind so please let me wake up to satisfy you eternally without any limitations; so that I always can try to increase my love which i try to express in a mood of loving service.
The fact that I have to leave the body at some point is no cause for lamentation because it doesn't matter what I want
it is Just about your satisfaction
if it makes you happy that I go in a certain direction and serve you in this way
everything else doesn't really matter
Whatever makes you happy
will always fully satisfy my heart
Even though I want to cultivate the desire to eternally distribute prema in the material world I will try my best to follow my gurudevas blissful instruction to serve you according to your desire only

Dearest Guru Maharaja,

Hare Krishna! Please accept my repeated obeisances in the dust of your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and all glories to you, his fully surrendered servant.

Every year on your Vyasa-Puja day, I have this most fortunate opportunity to reflect on your divine qualities and the transcendental character which you exhibit. I am so grateful that I have had such opportunities to witness your constant endeavors in Krishna consciousness and your munificence to all the conditioned souls you meet.

Whilst remembering our interactions and the time I get the mercy of your association, I undoubtedly and unfortunately must also remember how foolish, disappointing, and outright offensive I have been in the year since your last Vyasa-Puja. Though you are a constant source of encouragement, guidance, and loving correction, I must admit how sorry I am to you and to myself for lacking the intelligence and fortitude to take full advantage of the mercy which you are so willingly offering. Due to the strong knots of material attachment in my heart, my mind is easily bewildered by sensual desires and thus I become distracted from devotional service. This is a great and terrible loss for me.

As you constantly point out, we do not know how long we will be in this body. Death can come at any time. Therefore, with sober consciousness we must become fully engaged in Krishna consciousness, not letting a moment to waste. This quality is something that you have perfectly mastered Gurudeva. You have shown with expertise how to please Krishna by utilizing every moment of time and every ounce of your energies in spreading the mission of Lord Caitanya and fulfilling the instructions of your spiritual master.

Gurudeva, you are an unlimited storehouse of devotional qualities. I pray to you and to Lord Krishna that my heart and mind will be constantly purified so that I can observe, appreciate, and also develop such qualities for myself. In this way, as you have shown by example, I can become a true friend to others and bring about the best good in the world. As Krishna explains, without seeing all living entities equally, samah sarveshu bhuteshu, one cannot achieve the platform of devotional service. Not only do you have this equal vision Gurudeva, but you are perfectly acting for the upliftment of all.

As I studied in school, I searched for a career that I thought would give me the opportunity to bring about the best change in the lives of others (of course, while also enjoying life for myself). By your merciful guidance I can now appreciate that the real career is performing devotional service and sharing it with others. As time continues to move on, bringing me closer to departure from this body, I beg at your lotus feet Gurudeva that I can develop the strength, dedication, and sober mind to continue in my Krishna conscious career. With the shelter of your instructions and guidance I also beg that you may utilize my life to inspire others to take on the process of bhakti-yoga and push forward the mission of your dear Srila Prabhupada.

Always begging to remain at your lotus feet,

Your ever-aspiring servant,
Kesi-mardana dasa

Dear Gurudev,
please accept my most humble obeisances at your lotus feet,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to your divine service!

Speaking at your Vyasa puja last year, you shared with us a conversation with Srila Prabhupada about results in outreach, and you described how Srila Prabhupada said that he had to walk through fire to start this Krishna consciousness movement. Srila Prabhupada explained that actually his godbrothers didn’t really try when they went to the West before him, but just went officially, not penetrating deeply into working with the local population.You said that in contrast, Srila Prabhupada really rolled up his sleeves, and more than that, put everything on the line to work out how to share Krishna consciousness in the local environment.

We see that you, following in Srila Prabhupada’s footsteps, for his pleasure, have really “rolled up your sleeves” and tried with heart and soul to share Krishna consciousness, and the results are obvious and amazing. Many outreach and devotee care efforts around the world thrive based on your spearheading, inspiring, maintaining, expanding and reviving them as needed.


If there is one word to me that describes your immaculate service to the parampara from this angle that we examine the diamond of your character from, - it is “fresh”.
Full-hearted sacrifice all day, everyday for the last almost 50 years.
No cliches, no mechanical efforts, no tired old ways.
The energy that others may without hesitation put into achieving their own sacred desires for success, fame and wealth in the material realm, you have put that equivalent and way beyond into serving Srila Prabhupada. For example, who would risk their life for the sake of their own selfish goals? But you did that, risking your life to share Krishna consciousness in the communist bloc. We all know the intensity and dedication with which we can act for our own sense gratification, but to fully reverse, hair-pin turn, that full effort and more back into Krishna’s service is a full purification of desire, a complete sacrifice of pranair arthair dhiya vaca - life, wealth, intelligence and words.

The spiritual love and nourishment you give to everyone you meet is deep and life changing. You are actually helping others - in the fullest sense, practically, tangibly. Their lives transform under your guidance.
Your service empowered by the parampara is changing the world.
In fact, you are exactly the leader the wider, secular world needs - both highly spiritually intelligent and materially brilliant, empowered to see practical solutions to all the ills humanity is facing. No bluster, no empty self-serving slogans, no blind and destructive action, but real knowledge and practical application of the same for the benefit of all. You should be running the world, not the present insane politicians, and I hope you are soon!

I can only beg from you that I can freshly, full-heartedly try for the pleasure of you, Srila Prabhupada and Gaura-Nitai so I can assist in making a difference in this crazy world. I also need spiritual intelligence to see clearly how to best benefit myself and others. And lastly at this time, please bless me with the intelligence, humility and love to learn to work together with other devotees, along with our naturally different approaches and opinions, as we try to learn to serve in a combined effort - the unity in diversity that Srila Prabhupada taught is so vital.

Finally a short nectar story about your book Hiding in Unnatural Happiness and the buzz about your presence in Wellington recently: it is a small city and hopefully we can really make our presence known there more and more, and network with the local community, entangling them in Lord Caitanya's loving network.


I went to my physiotherapist today, she is young and interested in spiritual things. She was fascinated that I was involved with a yoga and meditation centre. I gave her a Hiding in Unnatural Happiness and a flier a couple of weeks ago at a previous appointment. The following week I wanted to invite her to your Soulfeast presentation but our appointment was rushed and we had no time to talk. I left hoping to meet her on the street somewhere to invite her, it didn’t happen unfortunately. When I went today for an appointment she immediately said to me, without my saying anything, “was that monk talking at your place last night? My friends went. And he is talking tonight at Vic Uni right? I want to go but can’t because of work. some of the girls here at work are talking about it and are going. One of them went last night to the Bhakti Lounge talk the monk gave. She said she felt more confused when she left than when she arrived. I told her that’s ok, she would learn more tonight at the Vic Uni event.” So then I told her that’s normal she felt confused, he is trying to stimulate thinking about these deep topics, and you can ask more questions afterwards from him to clarify! She said she would tell all the girls that. Then she said, as we cycled on the exercise bikes at the gym,”I am reading that book, I really like it! I was reading it with my friend and she wants to read it too. So when I have finished I’ll pass it on to her, and then I’ll pass it on to all the girls at work, and then I’ll give it back to you.” I said no, keep it, it is a gift, you are so special. I can bring more books for all the other girls!

aspiring to become your servant and servant of your servants,
Khadiravan

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

Gurudev,You’ve mentioned in recent lectures that Hot on the press at this very moment is the climate change issue.

While undeniable symptoms of global warming and its disastrous effects are common news ,for some years now,many influential leaders and those in power,varying in their views,approach and solution finding,are having their tolerance and egos tested by a 16 year old Swedish climate change activist.

“Fanatical “ some chide.

Rightly pointing the finger at a rather large group,who are,or should be ,responsible for the industries that contribute the most to carbon emissions ( by the billions of tonnes)and consequent environmental damage and irreversible adjustment,this activist is succinctly pushing the right buttons that pinch the very sore environmentally negligent nerves of those in power and simultaneously bringing about global dissension ,between both our children & rebellious teens siding against the Governments and Industries in question,fighting for their future.
Resulting in Active protesting with the loud,well informed voices of the X,Y and Z generations.

The media and its opinions ,with huge social influence and global exposure ,run the gamut of responses to this activist’s ,now viral ,speech at the UN climate change summit meeting.

Praised by some ,ridiculed and downplayed by others;even some are
questioning the mental disposition of such a protester.

Unfazed ,this activist was prepared for both the accolades and backlash no matter how scathing and obnoxious.

Taking a stand ,this activist reminds the world that to do what’s right ,despite opposition and death threats ,should not be avoided .
And that such activism can-
Polarise the noble minded from the antagonists.
The righteous from the wicked.
The sane from the insane.
Exposing hidden agendas and fairytale hopes for economic development.
Considering Mother earths health as well as our own.
Distinguishing who is for proactive change and who isn’t.

You pointed out in one lecture the dismal response at a climate change seminar in the US ,as to how many people would change their habits after hearing the state of the environment and the danger of global warming and what we need to do to change.

Practically no one was willing to do the needful,despite mother nature’s increasingly frequent and intensified ,cataclysmic wrath combined with a desperate call for healing change.

In another talk on climate change you describe the natural disasters as reactions to humans sinful activity on earth.
But the materialists keep the two at seperate poles.
Natural disasters on one pole over here and getting on with our sense gratification on the other pole over there.
The movement of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and the teaching of Srimad Bhagavatam brings these two poles together.
Which automatically bestows accountability and responsibility upon the practitioner .

However,being too habituated to creature comforts and utterly afraid of impending change,
most people try to avoid compromising their hopes and aspirations of eternal hedonistic carnal indulgence, to protect “I ,me and mine”
The mass consensual trance combined with deeply rooted bodily identification dictates that the solving of impending big issues must be placed further down their “to do “ lists that clutter the doors of their refrigerators ,generating
the icy,ingratuitous reactions to Mother nature’s plea.

For the spiritual practitioner this is
Contradictory in terms.

Preaching The absolute truth and establishing Dharma in Kali Yuga is no doubt THE ultimate proactive protesting against Maya’s labarynthine all but deceptive influences.

Spreading the Sun of Krsna consciousness in an age where the normalcy of dark clouds of sinuous
carnal desire pervading gross and subtle bodily demands,it takes the expertise of a self effulgent Krsna conscious Acarya to push the appropriate buttons to activate spiritual fervour in the bewildered living entity,and simultaneously inspiring material dissension,working from the inside out,sparking mass protests in the form of Harinam Sankirtan and book distribution ,to announce to the world the Birth of Lord Krsna ,again and again,and the true eternal solutions that seriously effect change ....internally and externally.

Gurudev ,you have clearly solidified these solutions in many talks you’ve given on Janmastami,where you state that the appearance of Krsna is -

“The ecological solution of all solutions”
and heralds the auspicious events of environmental change.

Along with Out of the ordinary natural adjustments that set the dazzlingly beautiful stage for the appearance of The Lord and the benefit of all living entities.

“When the time was mature for the appearance of the Lord ,the constellations and planetary systems were automatically adjusted so everything became auspicious”
“At that time ,in all directions-east north ,west and south,everywhere there was an atmosphere of peace and prosperity”
The moon appearing in its full glory ,seasons all appearing at once
Flora and fauna blossoming at night.
Birds and forest animals ( not endangered species) flourished ...

Gurudev ,your auspicious protesting on behalf of Srila Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya is literally saving the
World and it’s endangered environment and species of life.

Your practical ,thoroughly Krsna conscious approach to assist the individual to go back home to Krsna and the collective mass protest to herald to the world Who is Krsna and How to serve Him ,has become a global ,eco friendly network of Krsna conscious beings working together under your masterful guidance to save the planet ,nay,the entire universe in its darkest hour.

Thankyou ,Gurudev for your unceasing ,divine compassion and ultra intelligent application of Prabhupada’s books and subsequent teachings for your fledging disciples to themselves apply and for allowing us to assist you in this divine mission.

Your eternally indebted servant of your servants
Khela Tirtha dasa

nama oṁ viṣnu pādāya kṛṣṇa preṣthāya bhūtale
srimate devāmṛta swāmin iti nāmine
pracāre purva-dakṣyam ca bhaktācāra-pravīṇatā
parārthatāpi kāruṇyam yasya sarve ca te namaḥ

Dear Gurudev

I humbly offer my obeisances to you on the auspicious occasion of your Vyasapuja.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Gurudev, firstly I would like to thank you for the continuous encouragement and guidance you provide us by your instructions as well as by your personal example to make advancement in devotional service.

In the section discussing Narada Muni's instructions to Mrgari the hunter, Srila Prabhupada writes in the purport to CC Madhya 24.254 as follows:

<i>"By associating with a saintly person, one is able to understand the reactions of his sinful life. When one voluntarily surrenders to a saintly person who is a representative of Kṛṣṇa and follows his instructions, one can become freed from sinful reactions. Kṛṣṇa demands the surrender of a sinful man, and Kṛṣṇa’s representative gives the same instructions. The representative of Kṛṣṇa never tells his disciple, “Surrender unto me.” Rather he says, “Surrender unto Kṛṣṇa.” If the disciple accepts this principle and surrenders himself through the representative of Kṛṣṇa, his life is saved."</i>

While reading this section, I was reflecting how my life was saved after coming in contact with devotees. I recollected how in our initial meetings, you instructed me to give up my sinful life and take my first steps towards Kṛṣṇa - starting from moving in with devotees and living close to the temple. I fully understand that I've got a long way ahead to my destination, yet happy that I've been fortunate to be on the right path guided by someone who knows what is best for me.

In a recent darshan, you were sharing examples of successful senior grihasta devotees and how they were able to inspire each other in their devotional journey over many decades. As a loving father you warned us of the common mistakes made by young devotees and how to stay safe by not repeating the same. The pearls of wisdom that you shared took away all the doubts and concerns from my mind and inspired me not just to continue my services with enthusiasm, but also to become a better person. I'm often awestruck by how wonderfully you manage every problem presented before you and offer solutions that are not just practical but also cognizant of the sensitivity of the situation for everyone involved.

Gurudev, today I beg to you to give me the intelligence to surrender unto you completely, giving up all my anarthas and thereby perfect my life.

Your aspiring servants,

Kirtiman Krsna Das
Priyamvada Madhavi Devi Dasi
Priti

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

On this special occasion we would like to thank you for everything.
Thank you so much for keeping us on track and giving us the opportunity to re-establish our long lost relationship with Krishna

Although we have only known you for a short time, you have done a great deal for us.Thank you for your dedication and your compassion for the fallen souls. We really learned a lot from the last retreat held at the Hare Krishna Valley on the 29th June 2019. We still remember your instruction about how to chant properly and how we need to progress in the spiritual pathway together as a family and how I should support Meera in her spiritual quest. You answered our questions so humbly and without getting disturbed. We felt so blessed that we were able to have your personal darshan.
Simply by following your instructions we have been making our life closer to the path of bhakti. From then onward our chanting have been more consistent and more focus on Krishna consciousness.
We would like to thank you for showing us the true meaning of life.
We are neophyte in this process and we deeply wish that your divine grace be our guide in Krishna's service for eternity.
Please bestow your blessings upon us.

Your insignificant, aspiring, servant.
Kishore and Meera

Dearest Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to you!

Today is the most auspicious day of your appearance in this material world, a day when you graced this earth to selflessly perform the most challenging task of saving the conditioned souls from the clutches of maya.

The dictionary definition of auspicious reads: conducive to success and characterized by success. There could be no better word to describe this extraordinary event.

What is this auspiciousness?
By even a fraction of second of your divine association, the lost soul starts the journey from darkness to light.

You are laser-focused in bringing the auspiciousness to thousands of lives by giving them simple access to Krishna. There is a mastery in your every action. What you say, how you say, what you do, how you do, etc. Everything is precisely executed with this one goal in mind: how to attract more conditioned souls to Krishna’s lotus feet.

There are countless hours you spend on developing strategies to spread Krishna consciousness dynamically and effectively. The projects you directly oversee are thriving with vibrant energy and progress.

Your body must be often exhausted due to an intense traveling schedule, yet there are no excuses, procrastinations, complaints in your vocabulary.

You are a high achiever in Krishna’s service, you don’t settle for ordinary, you always sacrifice and go far and beyond to please Srila Prabhupada, whom you love so dearly.

Your eagerness for Bhakti is contagious! Your actions, exemplary!

Dearest Gurudeva, you have so mercifully allowed me to take shelter at your lotus feet. This is the most auspicious event that took place in my life. I was waiting for this moment millions of lifetimes. I am privileged to be your disciple, aspiring disciple, your spiritual daughter.

This privilege carries a huge responsibility. Not just to maintain and develop my own Krishna consciousness, but to also give Krishna to others. The disciple has to carry out the mission and heritage of the spiritual master.

Please allow me to contribute with my mind, skills, talents, strengths, activities, resources and whatever else I am equipped with, to your mission, the mission of bringing auspiciousness to people’s lives by connecting them to the ultimate source of all, Krishna!

Your humble, aspiring servant,
Krishna-mayi dd

My dear Gurudev,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupad and all glories to you.
The illusory energy is so powerful that the living entities gets caught up and is entangled in the web of seeking shelter of something that will not last and will bring disappointment. The mind is so convinced that the answer to all problems is taking shelter of anything else other than Krishna or His representatives.
Mother Kunti in her deep realized prayers to Krishna shares:

janmaiśvarya-śruta-śrībhir
edhamāna-madaḥ pumān
naivārhaty abhidhātuṁ vai
tvām akiñcana-gocaram

This verse reveals both the materialist and spiritualist mind set. The materialists are interested taking shelter of the opulence’s of this world, trying to improve one’s respectable parenthood, trying to achieve high academic education and increasing one’s bodily beauty. Whereas, a devotee is only interested taking shelter of Krishna and His representatives.
In recent times, I came to realization that in pursuit for material admiration and happiness, it leads me to frustration and disappointment. As the scale of material desire and fruitive work increases, my Bhakti decreases. During this time, I am reminded of how you represent me as a true father, teacher, master, well-wisher and friend.

I remember in Melbourne at Mahaprabhu Mandir, when I was 24 years old, I was going through a very rough patch where it affected my psychological wellbeing and spiritual life. At that time, you called me to your room which was opposite Prabhupad’s quarters; with great compassion and with all sincerity you told me that you didn’t want to see me as one of the name in the disciple list but rather establish a personal relationship.

Gurudev, I was very stubborn at that time and I remained noncommittal to your sweet words. You read my heart and shared your feeling which melted my stone like heart.
You said to me, “please allow me to take responsibility for you”. I remained silent.
Glancing at me with compassion, you again requested, “please allow me to take responsibility for you”. I still remained silent. At that stage I was confused, unaware what to do or what to say and I just froze.

Gurudev, you didn’t give up and requested me one more time, “please Krishnagraja, allow me to take responsibility for you!”. By that time, I was so touched, all I could say “yes, Gurudev”. Over the years, I still remember that sweet exchange and your kindness which literally saved me from running away.
Just as a surgeon is able to expertly remove the tumour, similarly, you are always thinking about Krishna Conscious wellbeing of all living entities and will go any extent to help all of us to clear the web of material entanglement and re-establish the living entities lost connection with Krishna.

Therefore, in Nectar of Devotion, when Srila Rupa Goswami elaborates different Angas of Bhakti he begins with Guru pada asraya; to take shelter of the lotus feet of one’s spiritual master. This part of Bhakti item, Guru pada asraya, is the key to accessing the treasure troves of all other Bhakti elements.

Although, I am lost in the ocean of material bewilderment, I pray that I can take shelter of your lotus feet and that I try to be loyal servant.

I remain ever grateful and indebted to you Gurudev.

Your servant,
Krishnagraja Das

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

Recently, I had the good fortune of you entering one of my dreams.
A couple of other devotees and myself were painting a wall.
You walked up behind us and explained that this paint was special Bhakti paint.
The more love and devotion that was put into the painting, the paint would reveal amazing things.
You would be able to see exactly where our consciousness was at by the paints finished result.
You were encouraging and motivating us by saying “I know you can do better than that”. As we tried harder, the paints colour and vibrancy would change.

You mentioned in a class, how the sooner we can grasp the fact that this Material World is a difficult place and full of problems, the sooner we can be peaceful not having to try and search for happiness in a limited way.
I am slowly beginning to see that this Material World is not a nice a place. Full of setbacks, designed to work against us and instead of uplifting, it will always bring everything down.

You Kindly visit multiple times throughout each year to bestow your mercy on us. You encourage us to try harder and go deeper. I see you interact with a wide variety of devotees and guests and all your dealings are done in an expertly personal way with each individual. You can see everything as it is. We stubbornly hold onto unwanted things and don’t even know it. You can see exactly, our individual walls we are all painting in our hearts. If only I could see and be conscious of what I am actually painting in my heart on a daily basis.

Please allow me to use what’s left of this short life to its fullest potential.
To take on board everything you are trying to teach us, see things as they really are and not take for granted the selfless sacrifice and contribution you have made to Srila Prabhupada and all of us.

Hopefully one day I will be able to give something back in return and paint like I’ve never painted before.

Your servant,

Krsna Prasada das.

Hare krsna
Dear guru maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to srila prabhupada.
All glories to u on this auspicious vyasa puja.
Gurumaharaj,
I really don't know-how to express my feelings when I think of the day, I got initiated. From that day ,it had changed my life. The more I think about u everyday, it inspires me more n more in chanting, singing kirtan, dancing and reading srimad bhagvatam. Most of all coming to mangala aarti on the very auspicious days of ekadasi. Slowly slowly, doing book distribution n joinning in harinama.
Please gurumaharaj, bless me so that I can serve u in more better way. I am so grateful to become your servant and always praying to be.
Hare krsna.
Trying to learn to be your servant,
Krsna Sanga Devi Dasi

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

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

Dear Gurudev,

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

All glories to Prabhupada!
All glories to You.

Another year of your Vyasa Puja, another year of appreciation and realisation of all the sacrifices and renunciation that you go through to spread Lord Caitanya’s message without expecting anything in return!

No glorification would ever be enough to describe your selfless act and compassion.

The path of spiritual realisation is very difficult; it is sharp like a razor’s edge. While the process might be attainable, we often find ourselves surrounded by all sorts of uncertainties and distractions which make this practice hard sometimes. We count ourselves very lucky to be under your shelter and guidance which makes this already very complicated life a bit less complicated.

Can we imagine being stuck in the 9-5 routine, trying to enjoy life to find temporary happiness and then getting frustrated when we fail to succeed, oblivious to the fact that there actually is a way to be eternally happy under the shelter of the Supreme Being?
We will be lost and the thought itself is scary.

As humans, we tend to take things for granted, forgetting that everything in this material world is only temporary and the perpetual cause of misery.
We feel entitled to certain luxuries and then we feel angry or disappointed when we cannot achieve those.

You beautifully explained in the Bhagvatam class during your last visit to Melbourne.
We want more cars, bigger houses, better paying jobs but what’s the point of having all these when eventually we will die and all these material belongings which we worked hard for, day and night will be useless.

Listening to you automatically gets our brains thinking, the wrongs and the rights that we doing, how we can improve our lives, how we can please others and most importantly how we can please the Lord.
The whole beauty of listening to you talk is that you might be addressing the whole audience but you somehow find a way to clear doubts and questions that we may have in the back of our minds. We are sure others can attest to this fact.

For normal people like us, travelling once or twice every few years is an austerity in itself; being in a confined space with limited leg room and long seating hours. The fact that you keep travelling weekly from one side of the continent to the other, giving discourses and attending programs as you land, with the jetlag and all is truly inconceivable.

We certainly cannot imagine a life without Krsna, Prabhupada, the devotees, the temple, kirtan, home programs, prasadam but most importantly your association.
Our lives will simply be sad, boring and stressful.

We sincerely pray we can follow in your footsteps, develop faith and ignite unconditional love towards the Lord in order to cultivate a pure relationship.

We pray that we can always be engaged in devotional service.

Thank you for being such an outstanding example. We consider ourselves very fortunate to have you as our spiritual guide.

Please forgive us if we fail to express ourselves or fail to show our appreciation towards all the hard work that you do. We are still learning.
We truly hope we can make you proud one day.

Wishing you good health,

Your undeserving servants,
Krsnamrita das and Rasamrita devi dasi

Dear Gurudeva,

Dear beloved Spiritual Father,

Please accept my prostrated obeisances at your lotus feet.

All glories to you!

I always relish your Wellington visits. Like a child who adores their parent and shouts with excitement when they walk in the door, you have the same effect in my heart when your plane lands in NZ’s capital.

You often ask me about my Uber driving when you visit. After around five thousand Uber/Ola/Zoomy rides completed, dropping various people to various destinations throughout Wellington I realise something. Despite this being a simple way of earning money, without doubt the hardest aspect of this work is establishing whether I should try to interact with the passenger(s) on a level of personalism, or impersonalism, or somewhere in-between. Should we ignore each other? The usual small talk? Or maybe try to at least understand the basics of what’s going on in our respective worlds.

Personalism is not easy. In this unfavourable, bizarre material world, we take birth after birth interacting with others using different methods of impersonalism. This prevents us from being fully nourished in the heart. What choice do we have? If we want to forget about Krishna, naturally this leads us to be impersonal with Him, and therefore that extends to our dealings with others.

The tendency in this painful world when we encounter someone of very high caliber? A choice; 1) to strive to cultivate, to imbibe the qualities of that person (more the path of personalism), or alternatively 2) contaminated by envy in the heart, we want to topple that person, and take their place as king (more the path of impersonalism). I am always looking for ways to improve myself so that you may be happy with me. It is with a greater level of determination that I wish to purify my heart so I can demonstrate real personalism in my dealings. Of course, you are the king of personalism as I will now attempt to explain:

Gurudeva, you are an expert spiritual strategist. In pioneering the Bhakti Lounge/Loft outreach program, you have applied personalism in the understanding of how we can make it easy to attract Westerners to Bhakti. Many of which might otherwise be disinclined to enter the society of devotees due to the cultural foreignness that the temple culture may create. This vision requires personalism because you have this skill in seeing into the hearts of potential candidates in Bhakti and sensing what might attract them to Krsna. Now nearly 30 years after starting from scratch in Auckland, we have this incredible devotee making machine in Wellington called Bhakti Lounge which seems to be flooding over with interest from people from all walks of life. It’s an exciting time as we can all see that this is a mission that is going places!

In order to achieve what you have achieved in your spiritual career, there is no doubt in my mind that your personalism when connecting with the Holy Names of Krsna is impeccable. If we approach the chanting of the Holy Names with impersonalism, we limit ourselves. We stagnate. But you’ve ploughed ahead, and achieved great wonders. Krsna can empower his devotees to do anything, Krsna is the ability in man, but to access this potency we first require full attentiveness, full surrender, full heart-giving, soul searching intimacy with these Names! You have led the way and encouraged us to follow. Just like a world famous baseball player told the reporter “I just see the ball, and hit it” you encourage us: “just chant the Holy Name, and hear it!” Clearly this has been your strategy all along and the results are there for the world to see.

Of course we cannot advance in Bhakti without enlivening devotee association at regular intervals. To take part in the six loving exchanges with devotees helps us overcome anarthas and come closer to Krsna. Vaisnava dealings are not of this world as you have explained in your classes. It requires spiritual purity. At the level of Guru (which for me, I can’t even fathom – I can’t even sleep properly sometimes, what to speak of taking ownership of helping others back to the Spiritual World!) you operate at such a high level – year in year out – which demonstrates how soft-hearted and kind you must be in your various channels of Sadhu Sangha. We are your spiritual children and we can learn so much from your life. I certainly for one can look back over the years and see many mistakes in my social dealings, in my family dealings – pride and impersonalism are both intertwined toxins in my heart. Lacking maturity in Bhakti, I often put my priorities in the wrong order. Gurudeva, please bless me to change my ways.

Lastly, the relationship with Sri Guru is very sacred. I can only catch a glimmer of the tiniest drop at the tip of an iceberg of what love and devotion must lie in your heart towards His Divine Grace, Srila Prabhupada – your beloved Spiritual Father, our beloved Spiritual Grandfather, Founder Acharya of the International Society of Krsna consciousness. In this regard the following from Srila Prabhupada is pertinent:

"Śrī Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Mahārāja comments…, “One can become perfectly successful in the mission of his life if he acts exactly according to the words he hears from the mouth of his spiritual master.” This acceptance of the words of the spiritual master is called śrauta-vākya, which indicates that the disciple must carry out the spiritual master’s instructions without deviation. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura remarks in this connection that a disciple must accept the words of his spiritual master as his life and soul."

CC Ādi 7.72 purport

What can I say, meditating on the above, and then reflecting on your life Gurudeva, you have made it perfect. You have exemplified a perfect life. You have exemplified personalism in Bhakti – in all aspects.

Please bless me that I may receive a drop of personalism from your heart. I long to take up the gradual process of transforming my heart into a suitable place for the Lord to reside.

I am dependent on your mercy, have always been dependent on your mercy, and always will be.

Thank you for everything you have done for me.

Your insignificant servant
Krsnananda dasa

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

Dear Srila Gurudev Please accept my humble obeisances.
All Glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga.
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Dear Gurudev, year by year you ever encourage me to do my devotional service properly and attentively. Human form is not so easy and devotional service is yet another milestone in it.

I always wonder how you could be so motivate in your devotional service, but for me thinking of you, listening to your lectures, cooking for you and your shelter keeps reminding me of my position as your eternal servant.

Dear Gurudev, this year we have another addition to this little family with your prayers and blessings. We humbly thank you for giving him name Sachit. Please pray that little Yamuna and Sachit continue their devotional service without any deviation and go back to Goloka Vrindavan.

On this auspicious occasion of your appearance day I pray to Sri Sri Radhawallaha for long and healthier life to motivate more souls to be Krishna conscious.

Your Servant,
Kula Pavana Das

Dear

All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to Guru and Gauranga

Hope you well!
Happy Vyasa Puja day.

Gurudev I take, this opportunity to thank you for allowing this insignificant disciple to make an offering.
I certainly don’t deserve to be a disciple of yours but it is your causeless mercy I am here and part of the parampara.

In the last few months, it had been a great journey in my life.
Where I had some deep realisations on the things that are happening.
Contemplating these realisations I came to the conclusion it is the blessing upon me by your divine grace.
Though things are happening due to my action and per Lord’s plan I still lament on these things as if with no or limited knowledge of The Lord and His activities.
It is through Srila Prabhupada’s teachings and your presence (vapu and vani) gave me the strength and an attempt to understand my lamentation.

Though I don’t get many opportunities but I always relish the moments when I drive you around in Sydney for various programs.
Those are the times were personally I admire you and the simple/personal things you enquire with me.
This shows me how much compassionate you’re with your disciples and wider devotees, people, society etc..

I pray to Narishmadev for safe health and all the travel you do for spreading Srila Prabhupada’s mission.
Once again Gurudev, happy appearance day!
Also, seeking your blessings and inspiration on us to continue Krishna Consciousness and spread Srila Prabhupada's mission.

Your insignificant servant
Kumara Sanandana Das

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to your lotus feet on this special day of your appearance.

Last friday I was amongst the climate strike crowd of over 40,000 people in Wellington, distributing flyers for your event at Victoria University - Chasing Sustainable Happiness: Mirage and Reality. It was midday, it was hot and the crowds were massive and growing in number. It looked like most high school kids had come along just to get the day off school. Occasionally, several young girls with looks of anxiety on their faces would try to steer the crowd by yelling something inaudible over their megaphones from various high ledges in the civic square. Most people stood, waiting to be told what to do and waiting for something to happen. By overhearing their words, I realised how vacant these people were: “Oh my god it’s so hot”, “Should we make an elbow dash towards the centre of the crowd or should we just chill back here?”, “Hey man, how was your weekend?”. I wondered how many of these people were actually serious about what they had come for - “CLIMATE JUSTICE”. After all this was a public demonstration, a protest, a serious call for action! We asked one guy what exactly is climate justice? “Well, that’s a good question, I think it means different things to different people”... The whole situation annoyed me - it had so much potential, so many people apparently ready for change, but instead the whole atmosphere was covered in a thick blanket of ignorance and illusion. One of the young leaders of this climate strike, screaming into the microphone, I actually knew from my hometown. Her public life a series of activist and various youth leadership roles, her private life a train wreck of boyfriends, one after another. This is what Srila Prabhupada meant by the blind leading the blind! What is there to say about activism? They were all still sleeping.

But you, Gurudeva, I realised, have actually given us something sooo worth being active about. Bhakti is the true activist lifestyle, awakening the soul, working on the platform of reality, making transcendental change and lasting benefits for all. There is nothing better than being your spiritual daughter and being part of your vision - Srila Prabhupada’s vision - for saving this planet from hellish life. We see people come from suffering life to blissful life, experiencing for the first time real peace, real satisfaction, real happiness that lasts and gets better all the time! Bhakti is tasty and never dry, never dull, never boring. You keep us active and dynamic, not stale like the zombie crowd of climate strikers, but bouncing with positive mantra energy. You plug us in to the power source, Krishna, we get strength, intelligence, knowledge and realisation for deepening our actions and causing wider ripples wherever we go. The change is tangible, it’s happening in front of our eyes and is experienced by us - you don’t do false promises or sympathetic hope speeches - it’s all real and ready for direct experience. It’s serious fun, a serious art, and a serious science. You inspire us with your talks, outreach lectures and kirtans, firing us up to give more and experience more. The love dynamic, so much missing in the material world, is here. We can experience deep heart connections with others, even strangers on the street, because we have your mercy - we have devotional service.

You have given us the best life. We have the only real life and the only lifestyle worth living.

Writing this directly after your talk to 130 or so students at Victoria University, I am struck as usual by your ultimate realness. I always craved authenticity and genuineness in my material life and connections, and I have definitely found it in you, my amazing spiritual master. You said tonight “the purpose of this talk is to pat you gently on the shoulder and say ‘there could be a different way..’”. Thank you for patting me on the shoulder and showing me this gift of real life. I feel so fortunate that somehow I have heard from you and have been able to take up this lifestyle. Otherwise I would be exactly like the zombie crowd.

Please bless me with some intelligence to be able to take your instructions deeply and seriously into my heart and to meditate on them constantly. You are one of the true climate change heroes in this world. I hope the whole world will one day see.

Aspiring to remain eternally in your service,
Your servant Kunja-mandana devi dasi

Dear Devamrita Swami,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

It is hard to express all my gratitude for you, but I am realising how Krishna really understood my lack of faith in accepting a guru, from what I had heard about other people's negative experiences in the past, and even though He knew that I could keep practicing Krishna Consciousness in Brazil, He sent me to New Zealand to meet you.

I still remember the first time I met you, I was wwoofing at BL and I asked to move to the ladies ashram. Since then, only by your infinite mercy I have been experiencing full time bhakti yoga lifestyle and getting the best association that I could ever have.

I consider myself so lucky to have met such a bonafide spiritual master as you are, who have saved me from material existence and have been teaching me everyday by your example and sweet words, inspiring me to engage in Krishna Consciousness movement and realising that I am more than this body.

Thank you for being so merciful to me. If it wasn't by your mercy I would probably still be wandering from one place to another - looking for happiness and enjoyment.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be engaged in devotional service, trying to serve the devotees and contributing with Srila Prabhupada's movement. I am very glad to be part of a community that follows so seriously Sri Caitanya's mission, spreading Krishna Consciousness for everyone in such a sweet way.

I am so sorry for being so stubborn and selfish, but my only wish is to have the shelter of your lotus feet and being always engaged in your service. Praying for Krishna to have my consciousness purified so maybe one day I will be able to somehow please you.

Your aspiring servant,
Larissa

Hare Krishna, dear Gurumaharaj! Please, accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

On that most auspicious day of Your Vyasa-puja I would like to express to You my gratitude. You possess the ocean of virtuous qualities, those are: Your unflinching faith in Holy Name, You constantly preach the glory of the Holy Name and share with others Your attachment to the Holy Name; Your unconditional devotion to Srila Prabhupada and His mission, Your simplicity. You show in the practice how spiritual life is simple, it is only needed to have faith in the instructions of the spiritual master and follow him. Your patience and equanimity: You accept me and other your disciples as we are and help me and them to understand and to love Krishna. Your qualities touch my heart and I am so grateful to the Lord Krishna for such a Spiritual Master as You. I pray that by following Your example, I could fully surrender my life to the mission of Srila Prabhupada.

Your eternal servant, mataji Lavangi dasi

Hare krsna Gurudev
Thank you so much for being my spiritual master and loving father.
Whenever i meet you and listen to your lecture, kirtan i feel very greatful to you. Your words give me so much encouragement and help me to increase and improve my sadhana.
I pray that i can serve you and follow your instructions.please shower your mercy and blessing so that i can read and listen more about krsna, please bless my family that we can always remain under your shelter
Your daughter
Leela rasa dasi

Hare Krishna Guru Maharaja
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada,
All glories to you on your Vyasa Puja celebration.

Hari Krishna Guru Maharaja,
By your mercy I am now staying a little more in Vrindavan dham. Please bless me that I can increase my service to you here.
Thankyou for your wonderful classes, I love to listen to them.

Your servant Lila Katha devi dasi

Dear Gurudeva, please accept my most sincere obeisances at your lotus feet.

The devotees of the Lord, peacefully fixed in absolute knowledge, are the ultimate shelter for those who are repeatedly rising and falling within the fearful ocean of material life. Such devotees are just like a strong boat that comes to rescue persons who are at the point of drowning. (S.B. 11.26.32)

As a little girl often, I closed my eyes and saw the ocean where I am drowning and I do not know where to swim, completely lost and helpless, and I started to cry and beg the Lord let Guru appear in my life. And after many years I again beg the Lord let me become a sincere servant of my Spiritual Master, who serves Him every day with heart, mind, words and body.

In one lecture at Ukraine You told the story about man who won the lottery twice in two months, at first glance it is unbelievable great fortune. But our fortune is incomparable – get shelter at the lotus feet of the devotee – that is the only true fortune. Often, I wonder how I got this fortune to get Your shelter and association. And I beg the Lord to give me the intelligence and ability how to use this opportunity in the best way, not to waste it.

In Srimad Bhagavatam Srila Prabhupada explains: “… the order of the spiritual master is the life substance of the disciple. The disciple should not consider whether he is going back home, back to Godhead; his first business should be to execute the order of his spiritual master. Thus a disciple should always meditate on the order of the spiritual master, and that is perfectional meditation. Not only should he meditate upon that order, but he should find out the means by which he can perfectly worship and execute it”. This is the highest of my aspiration.

Your servant, Lila-madhurya dasi

Dear Guru Maharaj,
Please accept our humble obeisances.
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All Glories to your divine service.

We trust you are in good health. On this most auspicious day of your appearance we pray that may Krishna offer you a prolonged healthy and happy life. We pray that you are here to inspire and guide us through this overwhelming ocean of material existence for decades to come. As each day passes by, we realise the effect of passing time that is forcing this body to age and dwindle. We realise the importance of becoming absorbed in Krishna Bhakti and the fact that not much time remains to reach this goal. We beg for your mercy in fulfilling your directions as best as we can. We hope to please you in whatever small way we can to make a difference in our spiritual lives and those whom we associate with.

Your servants,
Madhava Seva, Tulasi Seva and Saandhni

Dear Gurudeva

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

Who are you Gurudeva? How do I understand your devotion to Srila Prabhupada and Krsna? I have meagre intelligence to understand your determnation in serving your spiritual master.

I have been observing how things are expanding in the community. The opportunities that devotees have been getting to expand the preaching programs, book distribution and prasadam distribution. I have been wondering how Krsna must be so pleased with your sincere dedication and purity to allow such things to be happen. When we were given the opportunity to open a cafe at the university and the support we were given by the university for having this space was so bewildering that I noticed myself saying this has to be Krsna! And Krsna reciprocates like this with his pure devotee which is you. All your years of sacrifice and tolerance to get things going and stable in NewZealand naturally Krishna wants to reciprocate with your efforts.

Tolerance and humility are necessary qualities that Lord Caitanya wants us to develop and you show by example how these qualities can be developed. One has to stick it out through thick and thin in Krsna’s service. Take responsibility and take everything that comes along with it. I have recently been meditating on how If I want to take responsibility and do something substantial for Krsna I have to develop these qualities. The qualities of tolerance and humility which are completely missing in me.

The only thing that keeps me going in your steady example. I often find myself praying to you and thinking if you were in this situation what would you do. And if you were here how would you want me to act. Makes me wonder how much you have had to tolerate in order to serve your spiritual master over the years!

SB 10.14.8 “Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains in his commentary that just as a legitimate son has to simply remain alive to gain an inheritance from his father, one who simply remains alive in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, following the regulative principles of bhakti-yoga, automatically becomes eligible to receive the mercy of the Personality of Godhead. In other words, he will be promoted to the kingdom of God.” Just to stay alive in the association of devotees is not easy, especially not when one wants to take some responsibility. The process of purification is made faster thats why you are always stressing take some responsibility for Krsna. It is challenging but nectar at the same time because of the realisation one gets and the reciprocation from Guru and Krsna.

I pray to you for always giving me the intelligence to stay in the association of devotees and learn to serve them.

Your servant
Madhava mohini devi dasi

Dear Gurudeva,

I offer my respectful obeisances unto his Holiness Devramita swami who is very dear to Lord Krishna having taken shelter of his lotus feet. Obeisances unto you who have all the qualities of unique skills in preaching, competences in Vaisnava dealings, selflessness and compassion. Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and glories to you on this auspicious day of your appearance.

CC Antya 3.143
PURPORT
It is said, phalena paricīyate: one is recognized by the result of his actions. In Vaiṣṇava society there are many types of Vaiṣṇavas. Some of them are called gosvāmīs, some are called svāmīs, some are prabhus, and some are prabhupāda. One is not recognized, however, simply by such a name. A spiritual master is recognized as an actual guru when it is seen that he has changed the character of his disciples. Haridāsa Ṭhākura actually changed the character of the professional prostitute. People greatly appreciated this, and therefore they all offered obeisances to Haridāsa Ṭhākura and glorified him.

Gurudeva before I met the devotees I was a small fish swimming aimlessly in the ocean of material sense enjoyment, no purpose, just swimming here and there, temporarily enjoying and suffering. Growing up in the classic American school system I felt the pressure to succeed, graduated with high scores and got into a good college. But I was questioning, “what's the purpose of all this, what's the goal of life?” Not getting sufficient answers, I took matters into my own hands, taking to the path of “chemical self-realization” (as you so expertly called it in a recent darshan). Poisoning my brain, body, and mind with a large variety of intoxicants while working 2-3 jobs, and trying to succeed in modern education resulted in me losing my mind. BG 14.8 translation: O son of Bharata, the mode of ignorance causes the delusion of all living entities. The result of this mode is madness, indolence, and sleep, which bind the conditioned soul. Srila Prabhupada later says in the purport, everyone under the spell of the mode of ignorance becomes mad, and a madman cannot understand what is what. Instead of making advancement, one becomes degraded.

I have many memories of driving in my car thinking, praying, “please, please let death come quickly”, or expressing “I'm so stressed, I'm going to die anyway, what's the purpose of living, like this, just to die? I wished I would go to sleep and never wake up.” But it was a trap, the reality of taking your own life means high burden, and high bills… However, if I accidentally drive off a cliff, get in a car crash or overdose, then at least I won't be blamed for selfishly taking my life. That was my desire, that was my character.

I'm not telling you these things to make a show of how much I suffered, or how hard I tried to enjoy the illusionary energy. But to show how you have completely transformed my character. From drugged up delinquent to desperately trying to just hear the maha-mantra.

One prayer by Rūpa Gosvāmī quoted from Nectar of devotion says, “I have no love for Kṛṣṇa, nor for the causes of developing love of Kṛṣṇa – namely, hearing and chanting. And the process of bhakti-yoga, by which one is always thinking of Kṛṣṇa and fixing His lotus feet in the heart, is also lacking in me. As far as philosophical knowledge or pious works are concerned, I don’t see any opportunity for me to execute such activities. But above all, I am not even born of a nice family. Therefore I must simply pray to You, Gopījana-vallabha. I simply wish and hope that some way or other I may be able to approach Your lotus feet, and this hope is giving me pain because I think myself quite incompetent to approach that transcendental goal of life.”

I have this same prayer for you Gurudeva, and I'm hoping against hope that in some way I will be able to please you by my child-like attempt at devotional service. There is no one in the 3 worlds I want to please more than you.

When I first moved into the ashram, one devotee told me “you must have been a bear in your past life, because all you do is eat and sleep.” This woke me up to the painful reality of how deeply stuck in the black tar of the mode of ignorance I am. Trying to escape on my own is impossible, only by grasping hold of the lifebuoy represented by your lectures, kirtans, and personal instructions are the only way for me to wake up.

Gurudeva you have given me a reason to live, the instruction to humbly serve, and a clear and sublime process to achieve the perfection of life. I am eternally indebted. I'm simply praying to you that I may always be engaged in your service. That bear-like mentality still lingers, the mode of ignorance is definitely still here, but my desire is to be able to assist your sankirtan mission in some way.

Your servant,
Madhupāna-līlā devi dasi

Jai Srila Gurudeva

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

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

Please accept my humble obeisances at your Lotus Feet
All Glories to Srila Prabhuapada

Time is such a vital factor in our lives. It is the only commodity that when spent, can never return. The Supreme Lord even goes so far as to say that He is time to show it's importance.

I often wonder where time goes. In the throws of raising a family, time it seems slips away at an alarming rate. Our once young children grown personalities day by day and, being blessed with one more child, I wonder how fast we will time travel.

HDG Srila Prabhupada warns us about the importance of human life. How we must utilise this rare opportunity in service of the Lord. How then, in the thick of our attempt at a spiritual ashram, can we find opportunities to serve? Where can we squeeze a moment of devotional remembrance amidst the ocean of work, schools, family, commitments and duty?

You've often pointed out the mistake we all make in our grand endeavours to control our material situation. The beginning of material suffering is bodily consciousness. The illusion of thinking we're the body and even that we have control of the little bodies we have brought into this world. How often we're reminded of just how little control we have!

Yet, I remember how you instructed a group of students in India that chanting Hare Krsna will help them with their stress. But they protested that they simply did not have time to chant. Your simple answer what that chanting Hare Krsna will create more time for them! Had your stumbled on the secret of time travel? Had the Supreme Lord that is time itself grant more time to those who chant His name? No, you pointed out to the devotees that this was not exactly the case. Chanting clears the consciousness so that no time is wasted on unnecessary material endeavour. Indeed, our time spent is just a reflection of what we value

Please help us not waste our time on endeavours that will not please you, and please help us to see our real purpose so we can properly see how to spend our time

your servant,
Madhurananda das

Dear Gurudev,

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 most needed spiritual guidance.

Thank you Gurudev for your love, kindness, and inspiration you bring to my life.

Through your lectures, writings, and kirtans, I feel you are always with me, inspiring, guiding and keeping me engaged in devotional service.

Your instructions are your real mercy. I have no place more secure than your lotus feet. I pray that I have the fortune to eternally remain there by following your instructions.

Your glance represents a ray of hope for me. In the constant turmoil of this world, whenever my mind thinks of you, it immediately becomes full of joy even in the midst of all kind of stress, frustration and disappointment.

You are one of the rarest and purest souls who has surrendered to service of Guru and Krishna. It is the purity of your service that makes you so attractive and radiant, charged with the divine power to pull wandering souls to their rightful place.

You are full of love for Krishna. You are my greatest inspiration.

I beg for your forgiveness for any offences I have committed during this offering.

Sincerely your humble servant and disciple,
Madhurya-sindhu devi dasi
Dallas, Texas.
October 1, 2019

Hare Krishna Guru Maharaj,
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada
All Glories to Sri Guru & Gauranga !!

On this auspicious day of your appearance, I beg for your wellbeing and good health. May Krishna bless you with millions of years to spread the wonderful glories of Krishna in the divine movement of preaching in Prabhupada's mission.

I'm so happy to get this opportunity to write this Vyas Puja offering. I've seen one more year of your causeless blessings on this fallen soul. I could survive the widespread affects of kaliyuga. Somehow or other, you qualified me to get Krishna's protection.
I'm attending weekly Bhakti Shastri classes and completed Nectar of Instruction and now we're on Third chapter of Bhagavad Gita. By your grace we are able to conduct the yearly Rath Yatra festival in the month of Dec and last year was very special as we saw huge increase in number of devotees taking darshan and participating in the service.
Ananya is now 13 years and every now and then showing symptoms of young rebellions. Vraj dham is happy go lucky. Both of them only occasionally do chanting.
I'm hopeful that I could have your darshan this kartik when you visit Mumbai.

In the service of Srila Prabhupada,
Your aspiring servant
Madhuryadham devi dasi.

Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories unto you on the auspicious occasion of your vyasa puja celebration!

You are indeed an extraordinary devotee of Krishna. I feel very fortunate and grateful to have your association. Hearing your lectures fires up my enthusiasm to want to get to know Krishna more and more. Your description of bhakti is so enticing to the soul. I love the way you answer questions; you have such a great sense of humor and you are expert at addressing the real issue no matter how subtle the question is presented. I was listening to one of your recent lectures while cooking and I was compelled to stop and write down what you had said. These are my notes:


Arrange your life in the best way for serving Krishna.
Share your happiness with others.
Why not be concerned about others, about their opportunity to serve Krishna. Let’s not be so mental and hung up on ourselves, “How am I feeling? Am I truly blissful like they say?”. Actually, you should be so busy in devotion that you don’t have time to worry about that. Then you’re really in the zone, in the flow, that’s perfection for a devotee, “I’m so absorbed in service I don’t have time to stare at my navel”


And coming from you, these words penetrate deep into my consciousness. You embody this selfless service to Krishna. For so many decades you have been sharing your happiness, the precious jewel of Krishna consciousness, with others. You have taken on the tremendous sacrifice of guiding so many of us back to Krishna. I can’t even fathom the magnitude of such a magnanimous service. You are so caring and compassionate, encouraging us to keep on growing in bhakti; to uncover our true identity as servants of Krishna and His devotees. You are the living example for us to follow, dedicating all your energy and time in devotional service. You inspire me, an utterly selfish jiva, to stop staring at my navel and become aware of the suffering of others, even the ones that seem to be ok on the surface, but are ‘hiding in unnatural happiness’.

You also mentioned that we can make it our career to appreciate devotees. When I asked you earlier this year about engaging in outreach despite having a baby to care for as my main duty, you recommended Bhava Sandhi’s association. She is such a wonderful devotee, very sweet and humble and constantly engaging in devotional service to please you and Krishna. I truly cherish our weekly reading sessions. And her sankirtan fever is highly contagious!

A few days ago, I talked with a very nice devotee that is chanting 16 rounds, has been coming to the Loft for a few months and has been hearing your YouTube lectures. He told me he’s really looking forward to meeting you. And instantly it reminded me of when I was in that position several years ago. I was so attracted to the kindness and warmth and wisdom of the devotees at The Loft that I couldn’t wait to meet the person that was inspiring them to practice bhakti seriously. Around that time, I was dragged to serve in a Vipassana meditation retreat. I was counting down the days till the Sunday which was the day that the retreat finished and the very same day I would finally meet you. It was during that first darshan at The Loft that I accepted you as my spiritual master in my heart. I was convinced that developing pure love of God was my purpose in life and that He had given me the amazing opportunity to meet and follow the guidance of His bonafide representative.

Ten years have passed, I’m still fully convinced of my purpose but I’m also still full of anarthas. I am trying to chant the holy name more attentively. Nonetheless, I feel like a dwarf trying to catch the moon! Pure love for Krishna is such an exalted platform. I am completely dependent on your mercy Gurudeva. I know I’m not qualified for it, so I am pleading at your lotus feet:


“Alone, I find I have no strength to chant the holy name of Lord Hari. I beg you, therefore, please be merciful, and with a particle of faith, give me the great treasure of the holy name of Krishna.
Krishna is yours; you have the power to give Him to me, for such is your power. I am indeed wretched and simply run after you, crying, “Krishna! Krishna!”


Please Gurudeva feel free to chastise me as you see fit. My deepest desire is to please you with my service.

Your servant,
Madhuryamrita devi dasi

Dear Srila Devamrita Swami Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories unto your divine grace.

Thank you for your kind association over the years. I am very grateful to you.

I distribute with great gusto your books "Searching for Vedic India", "Bhakti Bhava", and "Hiding in Unnatural Happiness". Please write more. These books are resonating deeply with individuals, inspiring us all, and making us all more receptive to Srila Prabhupada's books.

Recently I walked the vicinity of Yale, while on a business trip, and I was wondering if there are other great saintly souls hiding amongst the relatively bored-looking clearly intellectual elites on campus there. I pray that your grace may spread to all places where people are capable of sane thought.

On the occasion of your divine Vyasa Puja which I almost missed this year, I re-commit myself to your mission, Srila Prabhupada's mission of respiritualizing the consciousness on this planet, even though I am woefully unqualified for the enormity of this task given the difficult circumstances owing mainly to my impurities. In any case, I pray I may continue to assist your disciples as they are certainly most qualified.

Begging for your mercy that some say I may be actually Krishna conscious,

your servant,
Mahabhagavat Das, Toronto

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my most humble obeisances at your merciful lotus feet.

Many years ago I asked “How long does it take to become aware of our real desires?” You replied “You’re basically involved in a lifetime endeavour to become Krishna conscious.”

Today, looking at my heart, I wonder how much upward mobility I have been able to generate in my attempts at a Krishna Conscious career.

While in our early years we may have many notions of what constitutes success in devotional service, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu reveals what genuine career advancement in bhakti is:

“O Lord of the universe, I do not desire material wealth, materialistic followers, a beautiful wife or fruitive activities described in flowery language. All I want, life after life, is unmotivated devotional service to You.” Caitanya Caritamrita, Antya 20.29

Although the idea of pure devotion is appealing, like a dwarf trying to touch the moon I feel helpless to make this prayer with the required sincerity.

Beholding your extraordinary example of non-material career achievement however, I become encouraged and hopeful.

Begging with all I have for promotion to the next level,

Your servant,
Mahavan das

Dear Gurudeva
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet on this auspicious day of your appearance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Gurudeva, you have often talked about the living entity’s capacity to love as ever-expanding. You yourself demonstrate in astonishing ways that there is no limit to what a devotee can do for Krsna as long as he or she is determined to carry out the desire of the spiritual master and that when channelled in the right direction, the love capacity is indeed ever-expanding.

In a lecture on the cleansing of the Gundica Temple, Srila Prabhupada says:

“Lord Caitanya's sampradaya. That is my joy, that we have now a sampradaya, a party of Lord Caitanya in the Western country. That is my success. That's all. I have no value—insignificant—but somehow or other you cooperated, and you are still cooperating, as Lord Caitanya's sampradaya. That is my life. Thank you very much…

“We Vaisnava-sampradaya, Caitanya Mahaprabhu's sampradaya, our process is a little different. Although we have nothing to do with this material world, Caitanya Mahaprabhu's sampradaya gives facility that we can make the best use of this material world.”

(Class given on 4 July 1970, San Francisco)

Through your endless energy and commitment to Srila Prabhupada, you show how to make the best use of this material world by combining intelligence and external resources with inner devotion and purity to propel Lord Caitanya’s spiritual movement forward into the 21st century. The way you present your lectures at outreach centres and universities is just one of the many broad-minded and cutting-edge ways you do this. Always in tune with the concerns and illusions of modern society, you present spiritual wisdom in a relevant and appealing way which is especially tailor-made to shake up the Western world mindset.

Another way you pull the suffering searcher of the truth towards Krsna in a way that captures the modern thinker is through your writing. Now that there has been so much distribution of your book Hiding in Unnatural Happiness, we meet more persons on the street who have read the book. Contemporary psychological and scientific research carefully integrated with spiritual truths has had a strong impression on these readers. Recently I met a young lady who had already read the book. She reported that she particularly liked the Spiritual Economics chapter about satisficers and maximisers and she expressed her realisation based on what she had read. Prompting her to introspect, these powerful points had influenced her way of thinking about relationships. The next day, a Sunday, she came to the Loft for the first time.

Sometimes it seems impossible to expand our physical or mental capacity to serve in Lord Caitanya’s movement although the desire is there. Sometimes we may compare ourselves to others who have greater capacity. But nevertheless, regardless of this external capacity, whether huge or tiny, your expert guidance empowers so many persons to expand their love for Krsna where it may have seemed impossible.



As it is said of the spiritual master, once he takes someone into his heart, that person is the most fortunate soul. So how fortunate are we, or anyone who even hears from you, or about you, because as soon as they enter your consciousness you contemplate how to deliver them to Krsna.

Thank you for always having the time for me. Thank you for your patience, for your tolerance of my faults, and for engaging me in uplifting service according to my nature and capacity. I’m grateful to you for engaging me in the Enough magazine outreach project and through this service helping me to understand that all efforts and activities, regardless of the difficulties or setbacks, if performed under your instructions - and are pleasing to you and to Krsna - are all I need to centre my heart on.

On this auspicious day, I appeal to you for mercy, feeling that my heart is so hard and selfishly motivated, that I can develop more determination to serve the dear devotees, increase my capacity to participate in Lord Caitanya’s mission according to your desires, and ultimately expand my capacity to love Krsna.

Your servant
Manada dd

Dear Gurudeva,PAMHO,agtSP & you on your most auspicious appearance day.
My dandavatts to you many many times over for your kindness in giving me the opportunity to serve & represent you here@ New Vrshana temple,
My seva has become my rock, grounding me, giving value/purpose to this wretched lost soul's existence.
By my meditation upon you every morning I have become regular in my seva to SRi SRi RadhaGirihari & a reliable asset to the diety department of there Lordships.
Without you in my life darkness would have consumed me decades ago, you are the shining beacon showing the way, even though I may be dragging the anchor I haven't sunk.
I pray you are well & happy on your travels of saving thee fallen.
ys & aspiring disciple,
Mangal Vaisnava dasa

Dearest Guru Maharaj
Please accept my humble obeisances, All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to your most auspicious appearance day

Dear Guru Maharaj you had once explained to me <i>“Krishna is unlimited and his service is unlimited. One door shuts and many others open.</i> “ Thank you for giving me a sneak peak into the unlimited world of Bhakti. Whenever I get comfortable and start to feel “I got it, I can see everything now”, just a few words from you enable me to see the entire universe of service opportunity I am missing. When you arrived in Philly earlier this year I was thinking, Gurudev would be so happy we are so busy in preaching...we obviously can’t do more. And then the vision transplant came when I least expected it, in the middle of me telling Gurudev what others were not doing for campus outreach, you said <i>“well you aren’t doing anything either and perhaps you can add university programs in your busy schedule”</i>. Thank you Guru Maharaj for smashing my illusion with simple words and always opening my eyes to the ever expansive world of Bhakti. We distribute handful of plates of Prasad and you send us articles about hunger problems in Philly that we could potentially help solve. Thank you for empowering us and expanding our vision about service possibilities.

<i>Caksu dan dilo jehe janme janme prabhu sei </i>

A few months later at a cutting Srimad Bhagvatam class during you explained to us all the different levels of devotional endeavors, devotional intentions and varieties of possible outcomes in such a comprehensive way that it applied to every single person in the room. You summed it up by saying <i>“some people will want to loiter around (in the material world) and others just want to get the heck out of here”. You asked us if you are stuck in an ocean and you simply want to paddle around, what will be the outcome? You then explained that if you simply tread water then sooner or later you will go down and before you go down you will try to pull others down or blame them.</i> In so many ways and through so many examples you made us see that Bhakti is about making choices and choices have consequences...it is not just some sort of inert faith you impose on your mind and tread water with.
<i>The choice depends on one’s priorities: how much one values spiritual development and devotional service beyond everything, even in spite of potential material inconveniences. If one sees devotional service as the priceless gem, the real wealth, then one sacrifices for that.</i>
Your ever expansive vision and ease and simplicity with which you explain deep devotional principles, demonstrates repeatedly that you are in touch with and see clearly the spiritual reality we try to study about in Srila Prabhupada’s books.

I am remembering the times in Toronto that Gurudev got off long international flights and drove straight to events and delivered 2 hour workshops without a chance to rest. You work so hard to push Srila Prabhupada’s movement and it is incomprehensible to me how you can give so much of yourself to something and be so detached to the outcome. You told me <i>“we try to give the best, some will take it and some won’t“. You had also told me devotional enthusiasm doesn’t waver with varied outcomes, we go on.</i> I guess this is what it means to render unconditional devotional service, we give more than 100 percent and our enthusiasm doesn’t waver despite of results. Thank you so much Gurudev for being such an example of unconditional devotional service and imbibing this service attitude in every aspect of your lifestyle so we can learn.

Be it pushing for a high grade and high capacity waffle maker or sending exciting new cookbooks and checking on our outreach menus, you are constantly demonstrating that you are eons ahead of us in knowing the demands of our audience. Recently you told me <i>“That’s how everything starts: minimal skills. Gradually a cooking culture develops...Also, by the way I eat, it forced Devotie‘s to upgrade their cooking skills, in terms of both quality and a variety. (That’s one of the ideas behind my eating the way I do.)” </i> Thank you so much Gurudev for trying to make us more Krishna conscious in so many ways. It feels like you cast a multidimensional care network for us so we can move forward in our service endeavors. It reminds me of the pastime of the churning of ocean of milk where Krishna expands as Kurma dev to support the mountain, he arranges for Garuda to carry the mountain and even when the demigods and demons combined together could not balance the mountain, He expands as Lord Ajita to be on the top of the mountain and then when the churning is over, He simply hands the nectar and all the credit to demigods. This is Krishna’s mercy and truly spiritual master is the mercy incarnation of Krishna because the same degree of multi level support is manifested in your care for your us.

Dear Guru Maharaj it’s fascinating to watch you cut through layers of illusion in people and to see the extent to which you would go for helping even the seemingly most insignificant person. Recently a devotee shared with me how you gave him feedback and then added <i>“will your false ego be able to handle it”.</i> He was so enlivened by that comment, a very unexpected response to a comment like that but you are so expert at it that even your correction enthuses people. You constantly up the bar on devotee care while teaching us to be detached and see the bigger Bhakti reality. You said to us <i>“ Mutual understanding is becoming very scarce in the world today and that affects Devotees. Whatever veneer of unity was there is breaking apart. Disunity, anger, greed, hate affects devotees and week devotees get affected by external environment”.</i> Thank you so much for showing us through such sutras How the world we live in today actually has an effect on us...Thank you for helping us understand the illusion that covers our eyes.

Ever expansive vision, giving more than your 100% and being completely detached to the outcome - is the exemplary standard that you set for us. In difficult situations you have repeatedly told me <i>“Somehow or other somewhere just go on pushing Srila Prabhupada movement. Somehow, somewhere”. </i>An instruction so simple that I almost missed it and it has taken me a few years to realize that it’s the main thing. Through my layers of attachment to certain outcomes and my zeal to be the controller, I could not hear or understand you properly. On your most auspicious appearance day I humbly pray that I can be that disciple who is as eager for your chastisement as I am for your encouragement. Please help me see that your chastisement is your real mercy, the real jewel I hanker after. Please lift the curtains of attachment and control from my eyes and let me be that devotee who you can mold any which way you want for Krishna’s service. Please let me see that this, if attained, will be the greatest fortune of my life.

Seems to be a trend that on an average my slow and covered over intelligence takes a while to fully get your instructions. A while ago you had asked me to <i>pray to Lord Caitanya to take away the trauma and anger from my heart</i> and now I am realising why you said that. I humbly pray at your lotus feet that waves of disatisfaction in my heart due to unfulfilled promises of material energy subside and I be able to focus on serving your mission and serving your servants with one pointed attention.

Recently you reminded us that there are two things Prabhupada emphasized three times:
<i>Book, Book, Book and
Farm, farm, farm</i>
You have given a clear mandate that you want us to demonstrate the farm-city connection and facilitate inspiring more people to consider the farm option. You also pushed us to expand the city outreach. I humbly beg at your lotus feet for
unmotivated intelligence, and ability to execute that order. <i>You also said that book distribution is the safest position in the material world. </i>Please help me be completely absorbed in this service.

<i>The order of the spiritual master is the life substance of the disciple. The disciple should not consider whether he is going back home, back to Godhead; his first business should be to execute the order of his spiritual master. Thus a disciple should always meditate on the order of the spiritual master, and that is perfectional meditation. Not only should he meditate upon that order, but he should find out the means by which he can perfectly worship and execute it. Srimad Bhagvatam 4.24.15</i>

I have a desire to please you Guru Maharaj, I humbly pray that you give me the ability to please you. Please let your instructions be the destination of my life and your pleasure be the inspiration to get there. Beg you very humbly to give me the ability to listen to and follow your instructions as my life and soul.

<i>Guru Mukha padma vakya, cittete kariya aikya
Ar na kariha mane asa

Rejecting all other desires, make one with the heart of the words from the Guru’s lotus mouth. (Bhaktisiddhanta vaibhav) </i> Let this please be my life’s destination.

Your humble servant
Mangalarti

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances. 

All glories to Srila prabhupada to you on this auspicious day of your appearance.

I would like to express my gratitude for having accepted me as a disciple and allowing me to serve you and Srila Prabhupada. 

Despite my initial skepticism in first meeting you, I can now appreciate that you conform to the description of a bonafide spiritual master as described in SB 11.3.21:

"...The qualification of the bona fide guru is that he has realized the conclusions of the scriptures by deliberation and is able to convince others of these conclusions. Such great personalities, who have taken shelter of the Supreme Godhead, leaving aside all material considerations, should be understood to be bona fide spiritual masters"

Having the chance to associate with your disciples who are convinced of the conclusions of scripture both in Wellington and now in Auckland, I can see that only through your qualification is this possible. The dedication of your disciples both individually and collectively definitely says something - that you are the linchpin from which such dedication and enthusiasm arises. 

Your own realization of scripture can be seen by the fact that never do you adulterate, twist or misrepresent the words of scripture  as you have heard them through Srila Prabhupada and the previous acaryas. A feat no ordinary person can perform. Your words therefore contain a potency which can convince even the most skeptical - as I once was. 

Your having taken shelter of Krishna in all circumstances can be observed by the fact that you never use a second of your time for anything other than service to Krishna. A point you once impressed upon me long ago. 

Through your example I am inspired with conviction continue under your guidance in trying to best please Krishna. The only worthwhile goal in one's life. 

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to utilise my life properly. I hope by your grace that I may be able to help many others to do the same and increase the number of children in your ever-growing spiritual family.

Your servant,

Manobhirama das. 

Hare Krishna Gurudeva,

Please accept my best wishes for your Vyasa Puja day, and for the upcoming year which separates us from the next Vyasa Puja celebration.

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to You. All glories to your efforts for giving your association to your godbrothers. When it is Radhastami (or Janmastami) it is New Vraja Dhama for you.
HH Sivarama Swami has noted your jolliness, and is much jollier than he used to be.

Allow me to write about something that took place during the 2016 Xmas marathon in Budapest. This appears to have something to do with your merciful disposition towards me and the transcendental dealings between your godbrother, you and Panca Tattva. So here is my story:

We received the following Viber message on 05-Dec-2016 from your godbrother and friend, Sivarama Maharaja. Allow me to quote:
”Dear devotees. Its my last day in Mayapura. I will go to see Panca Tattva and put in a special prayer to them for them to inspire, protect and empower you. So if all of a sudden you feel a super burst of bliss, energy and ability, then we
will know my prayer worked. Tomorrow I go to Kolkata and Wednesday I will
be in Budapest in time to see you all – I hope. Whatever seperation I will feel
from Mayapura will be made up by being with the book distributors. Srila
Prabhupada ki jaya!!!”

As far as I was concerned I did not think that I would experience any ”super
burst of bliss” because I had not been at the height of my Krishna
consciousness, to say it mildly. I am not entitled to such an experience.

The days went by. The system I set up for myself that I had to give the previous day’s collection to Tarangini mataji in the street to take it back to the temple kept me going out and joining her at the Bazilika, a prominent Catholic Church whose square and street has been turned into a market place.

I forgot about your godbrother's prayer completely.
Around 9pm one night, having finished sankirtana, I started to walk toward
Vraja-loka matajis who were waiting for me somewhere in the middle of the Bazilika square. The tents of the Christmas market did not allow me to see them.

As usual, I looked upon the main tower of the shining Bazilika in a thanking
mood. And right there and then... a ”super burst of bliss” ran over me: I felt
utmost love-gratitude-appreciation for you, Gurudeva. It was a special,
immense, once-in-a-lifetime kind of feeling and also a very instructive one. It
was a beacon.

I did not indulge in the feeling but shrugged it off and started to walk swiftly because the team of devotees was waiting for me. We walked to Deák Square together and said goodbye - Hare Krishna - to each other there. As such I was alone and recalled the experience, thinking, ”This is my aim. I should aim to feel like this towards you, Gurudeva. Always, no matter what. Drop the
grudges. If you cannot do that immediately, then remember this feeling.
Cultivate it.”

Gurudeva, you wrote to me that you always prayed for me. Wow.
Please kindly say prayers that I never forget this incident and that I take
advantage of its teachings. I need to become humble, loving, but I am unable to do without your help, your beloved godbrother's help and Panca Tattva's help.

Thank you very much.


Your servant,
Mantramala dasi

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

Watching you live and breathe Krishna Consciousness has been my sustenance in pursuing Krishna Consciousness. Every word I write in this offering, although intended as glorification, feels like an offense. But deep down I know that you, as a completely transparent via medium of the Supreme Lord, manifest His compassion and patience.

Although knowing this soothes the heart, it also makes it ache with the painful awareness of my ingratitude and laziness. Without you, I would never have given Krishna Consciousness a chance. Kali yuga is marching on and the world is becoming more grim and degraded day by day. I see no beacon of light and hope shine so brightly as yours. You inspire sacrifice by your own selfless example. This sacrifice made by your disciples and well-wishers saves countless lost souls from the crushing wheels of time.

Though my words are mostly empty, I pray on this day to you for only one benediction: that I may never offend the devotees and always stay in their association.

Thank you for your blessings, your patience and your compassion.

Your insignificant servant,
Mantriraja dasa

Dear Gurudev
Happy Vyasa Puja

On this auspicious day I would like to express my gratitude towards you. I was thinking about when I first started book distribution. I really liked to go on Harimans and to really feel the vibe of chanting, dancing and book distribution. But as I started to go on a regular basis, I started to think why I have to wake up early in the morning and go out in the cities giving books to strangers. When I could be with devotees enjoying myself in the temple. But to come to think of it, those strangers are also devotees but haven’t realised it yet.

This is something that inspires me to go on book distribution once a week to try and preach Krishna Consciousness. I pray to you Gurudev that one day they will realise that they are actually devotees of Krishna. Please bless me so I can continue book distribution and thank you so much for inspiring me to sing, dance and preach for Srila Prabhupad and RadhaGopinath.

From your Grand daughter
Meira Badmi (RadhikaPrasad Das’daughter)
Sydney Australia

Dear Gurudeva

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

I was talking to a senior devotee recently and he mentioned that many devotees come to him and immediately spill there problems without even asking how his day is going. I was catching the bus from uni the next day and noticed a boy getting off without acknowledging the driver. It made me reflect on the tendency to take it for granted that those in roles of service are perfectly happy to do that service with zero reciprocation from the people they serve.A child does that. I love children but they are often very blaze about the needs of adults. Rarely will a young person ask "how are you" even if they are asked the same question.

I discovered that I am that blase about your role as my guru and the service that role calls for. I take it for granted that you will always be there for me, that you happily board plane after plane to carry the message of Krsna to people who are at varied levels of appreciation. Some devotees like my seniors appreciate your role so much that they have appropriately given their lives to you completely while others in the middle of the spectrum chant Jay gurudeva in kirtan but then later eat chips and watch you tube videos about screaming goats or some other dumb thing to waste precious time. 

Today I would like to acknowledge and express deep thanks for the amazing work you do which I have never properly appreciated.
Your constant flying around the globe and all the austerity that entails, your uninterrupted selfless service in preaching the message in such a tailored and considerate way for those who think they arent interested in Krsna consciousness, your replying to my emails even though I am not doing anything to assist you in your work, your grace towards me despite my slow speed in bhakti and your appreciating me and encouraging me even though I am more of a hindrance than a helper in some ways.

Your impeccable with your speech and your dress. You role model beautifully how to associate with god family and of course you show us at the bhakti lounge how to be conservative at the core but innovative at the edge in terms of sharing Krsna consciousness.
You are my favorite guru in ISKCON besides Srila Prabhupada and I am so grateful for our relationship.

Your eternal servant,
Muchukunda das

Nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale
srimate Devamrita-svamin iti namine

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

Dear dear Gurudev,
Please accept my very most humble obeisances! All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!
In 11.14.26, Srila Prabhupada said cakṣu-dāna dila yei, janme janme prabhu sei:  the bona fide spiritual master, the representative of Lord Kṛṣṇa, restores our spiritual sight, and thus he is our eternal lord and master.
Dear guru maharaj, words will never ever adequately express my gratitude to you for so kindly giving me this gift of transcendental vision to try to see Krsna. Without you, I am literally blind, and my vision is twisted, and I will never be able to understand or know Krsna at all!
Dear gurudev, the other day at work, a coworker was telling me how unhappy she was currently working at our unit and was revealing to me that she wanted to find another work.
Dear guru maharaj, I was thinking at the time that Oh my God ! how fortunate I am that I am practicing Krsna consciousness and working for Krsna. Srila Prabhupada said in SB 7.2.48 that the happiness and distress derived from the activities of the material senses are not actual happiness and distress. Whatever distress or happiness we manufacture by mental concoction through the subtle mind has no reality, but is simply a mental concoction.
Dear gurudev, I am learning to see happiness that is transcendental to the material body and mind. I am learning to see a higher reality than what I have been conditioned to for so many many many lifetime since time immemorial. And I am given this chance to recover and go back to my original identity. This would not have been possible if it's not for your mercy!
“ Real truth is eternal, and real mercy means to situate people in eternal truth.” I read this from SB 11.13.1 the other day. I was so thrilled and excited when reading this. I was thinking of you , guru maharaj. You are so amazing! You have been working and preaching so hard to bring people this real truth. Just like Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, you want to give Krsna to everyone, and you want everyone to know and remember Krsna. This is real mercy! This is real love!
Dear gurudev, Srila Prabhupada said many times in his books that one should practice Krsna consciousness in the association of devotees. I feel very extremely fortunate to be living with a group of very wonderful, sincere, dedicated, and advanced devotees. And I learn so so so much from them every day and every moment. But this is only possible because of you!
Dear gurudev, I am finally beginning to understand and realize what real happiness is, and I never ever want to forget Krsna ever again. I am more than thankful for your causeless kindness upon me and for bringing me a bit closer to Krsna!
I pray to Krsna very hard with whatever sincerity I have that He would always let me serve devotees and MA in serving you in giving Krsna to more and more and more people!
Thank you so so so very much again for your humility and kindness guru maharaj!
Sincerely, MKDD YAS

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!

Hare Krsna Guru Maharaja

I understand that a Vyasa puja offering should contain 3 things. Firstly the glorification of my beloved spiritual master, then a description of how the spiritual master is so advanced and senior and as a disciple I am just small and insignificant and finally the explanation of how my spiritual master has helped me in every way in my spiritual life. How you have done so much for me without the appropriate amount of appreciation on my part, what a thankless task you have done

This seems such an impossible thing. You excel at everything you do. You are 100% engaged in the service of your spiritual master. You are always preaching, constant world travel to share Krsna consciousness with those who know they don't know anything and also with those who don't know that they don't know anything. What a thankless task you do

I remember the occasions that you have driven yourself to our house, through the Auckland traffic, to encourage us and help us move forward on the bhakti path. We would even cook for you. I can remember the first time you came. Sruti and I were very new devotees and had no idea what to cook or how to serve you properly. A senior devotee recommended that we cook what we like and then it will turn out good for you and you will like it also. So I cooked you my favourite subji, just 4 ingredients: salt, chillies, sour cream and cream cheese! That was it, I used to call it my Total Nectar subji, apart from chillies there were no vegetables in it at all!. I don't think you liked it unfortunately but still you ate it and encouraged us so much, what a thankless task.

The next time you came another devotee came also. That night was very serious, super intense discussion, you were reaching out to this devotee so much. It was very emotional, with tears and strong words. You explained how its necessary to put your heart on the line to help some people, I am sure the other devotee remembers it very much. Its a risk and a thankless task combined.

I do miss the old days very much, when it seemed I was able to talk to you any time, to ask you questions and explain my difficulties. But the world is a lot bigger than just me, full of people so much more important than just me. Thats your duty, what a thankless task

So my prayer and hope for today is to be able to truly thank you and appreciate all you have done for me, and maybe turn that thankless task of yours into a sincerely thanked one

Thank you, once again, for allowing me to stay in Krsna consciousness, for inspiring me and giving me the direction I need to stay on track.

Begging to always get your direction and guidance and the ability to serve you.

Your insignificant disciple and spiritual son,

Muni-cari DASA.

Dear Gurudeva,

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

All glories to you, all glories to your utmost fidelity and service to Srila Prabhupada!

ohe! vaiṣṇaba ṭhākura, doyāra sāgara

Srila Prabhupada writes in Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 2 “Compassion for the eternal soul is self-realization”. All glories to your compassion – all your energies are directed towards the welfare of Kali Yugaites.

Your books bring the sincere seeker closer to the guru parampara and you strive to create opportunities for connecting everyone to guru parampara. You have the wealth of bhakti vaibhava and as a bonafide spiritual master in the disciplic succession; your only desire is that everyone comes to possess this wealth. Your words are an embodiment of your compassion, of your pure desire for the conditioned souls to revive their transcendental loving service to the lotus feet of Krishna. Your words penetrate the thick veil of illusion and act like giant speed breakers in one’s mental concoction factory. You urge with conviction, compassion, care and precision. Your adeptness at tuning your style and intensity of preaching to your environment makes you an expert and unfazed preacher. Out of your compassion, you meet people where they are at and try to elevate their consciousness. You sense the mindset & modes of your audience and speak the language that they can relate to, and deliver the most essential & rare capsule of transcendental knowledge.

You work hard with great vigor, determination and patience, to spread the sankirtan movement, to bring as many people as possible under ISKCON’s fold. You are an ecstatic servant of Caitanaya Mahaprabhu and you only desire for His mercy to spread far and wide. It brings you great pleasure when you see people engage in devotional service. I have seen this at our outreach centres – you take pleasure in watching people queuing up to chant the Holy names, dancing enthusiastically in kirtan, appreciating prasad, buying books, asking questions. You intensely desire for sankirtan to expand all for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada.

You are expert at engaging us and encouraging our fledgling attempts in bhakti. You tolerate our faults and make the best use of whatever is available to serve the orders of your spiritual master. You teach us the science of perfect, spiritual, personal expression, following in the footsteps of our predecessor acarayas. Gurudeva, you are an exemplar of humble service and sacrifice to the mission of Lord Caitanya and Srila Prabhupada. All the great qualities found in the exalted devotees of the Lord are found in you without exception.

ekākī āmāra, nāhi pāya bala, hari-nāma-sańkīrtane
tumi kṛpā kori', śraddhā-bindu diyā, deho' kṛṣṇa-nāma-dhane
kṛṣṇa se tomāra, kṛṣṇa dīte pāro, tomāra śakati āche
āmi to' kāńgāla, 'kṛṣṇa' 'kṛṣṇa' boli', dhāi tava pāche pāche

I have no taste for the chanting of the Holy name, nor any appreciation for the devotees, their association and service. I am full of myself, and only by your causeless mercy may I amend my ways and start my journey to selfless devotion. Please help me see my existence in its true terms – opportunities for devotional service v/s those for sense gratification, give me the strength to make the right choices. I pray for your causeless mercy to be able to invest my entire heart energies in devotional service and serve Krishna with emotional attachment. I pray to have a glimpse of how it is to feel dynamic emotions of anticipation for our bhakti practices and feel the senses come alive in excitement of this anticipation. I beg for your causeless mercy to become a selfless and humble servant of your servants.

tomāra se śakti pele guru-sebāya bastu mile
jībana sārthak jadi hoy
sei se sevā pāile tāhale sukhī hale
taba saṅga bhāgyate miloy

You are always compassionate; on this most auspicious occasion of your appearance, please consider my plea.

Your aspiring servant,
Munjaranya dd 

Dear Srila Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.

“Nama Om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale
srimate Devamrita Swamin iti namine
pracare purva-daksyam ca bhaktacara-pravinita
pararthatapi karunyam yasya sarve ca te namah.”

On this auspices day of Your Vyasa Puja, I would like to thank you for taking me under your shelter. Though you shower your mercy upon me, I am so unfortunate that I am not utilising this Great and Rare opportunity, because of my own conditioning.

I feel very happy and inspired when I see my god brothers/my siksha gurus, very enthusiastically serving you along with other senior vaishnavas. I also want to serve you and I do not want to waste this opportunity given by you.
On this auspicious day, I pray to Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu for your good health and beg for your blessing so I can serve the Vaishnavas and help spread Srila Prabhupada’s Movement.

Your Insignificant Eternal Servant,
Nama Kirtana Das

His Holiness Devamrita Swami Maharaja Vyasa Puja Offering 2019

Hare Krishna Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada!

All glories to your lotus feet, whose mercy I have yet to realise my dependence on...

By the grace of the spiritual master, a lost soul such as myself has the opportunity to engage in the highest welfare activity. Struggling to find my place in the world after leaving university, you gave me the instructions to lead me onto the right path. This path I will endeavour to see as the greatest gift Lord Chaitanya has given me.

The first time I received your divine association, despite being so unconscious, my heart told me that you were "the real deal"; please forgive me for using such crude language Gurudeva. What I mean is that your transpareny was so rare and overwhelming for me. I thought "this gentleman is a real leader, he knows something beyond this world, he knows what true happiness is."

I will always be in awe of you Gurudeva, how you spend your every being serving the highest purpose. I have so much to learn from you. I pray at your lotus feet that I may energetically carry out your sweet instructions with 'enthusiasm'. You are always encouraging me. That has always meant so much to me. So I pray to you for guidance, knowing that I am a spiritual infant.

You told me Gurudeva: "I accepted you the first time I saw you" and to me, that meant everything. That is unconditional love. What more could I ask for? I hope that one day I can depend on you fully Gurudeva, so that I vanquish my false ego, thinking myself the doer.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to go on travelling sankirtan this year. I hope the mission of Lord Chaitanya is achieved for your pleasure.

"A disciple serves the spiritual master with the sole purpose of getting instructions from him." - A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

I hope to fulfill your instructions Gurudeva; that is the goal of my life.

Your aspiring eternal servant,

Nanda-Patni Devi Dasi

Dear Gurudev

Please accept my humble offering

All glories to you on this most auspicious day

As I sit down to write my offering to you I find myself thinking where are the devotional sentiments to my Gurudev.

I cast my thoughts back to the opportunities I've missed to take advantage of your mercy.

One of those memories is when I dropped you off at the Paraparaumu airport and before you left to board the plane you asked me if I had any questions but due to insincerity I failed to ask.

Another time while driving you to NVG from the Wellington airport at midnight you kindly again shared some helpful tips on married life then before closing your lotus eyes to nap you again said I'm going to take a rest now unless there are any questions more you have I looked over to you and took snap shot of your kind expression showing me deep complete compassion I have this vision etched into my heart which I'm thankful to remember while writing this homage today.

While reading Prabhupada's purport today in the bhagavatum I read. "For advancement of material knowledge there is a need for personal ability and research aptitude but in the case of spiritual knowledge all progress depends more or less on the mercy of the spiritual master, the spiritual master must be satisfied with the disciple only then is knowledge automatically manifest before the student of spiritual science" 2.1.10.

On this day I pray and beg to cosistantly satisfy you and remain an eligible candidate for your mercy.

Your servant Nandisvara das

Dearest Gurudeva,

Please accept my humblest of obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to you on your auspicious Vyasa Puja!

This year marked an important milestone for me. A milestone where I formally made my vows to you to follow the various principles of bhakti for the rest of my life under your guidance and shelter. Something that can often be seen as an achievement, but as I sit here and look at the long road ahead, I realize it’s just the start of my journey. The road doesn’t just look long, it also looks daunting, full of obstacles, challenges and tests. However, I sit here quietly confident not because I have any special ability but because I have you, an expert spiritual master to guide me through the forest of material life and one who shows me how to love Krishna.

Mahaprabhu broke open the treasure chest of bhakti for the world to experience, and you diligently serve tirelessly to demystify that treasure chest to the layman. Time and time again I have seen how through your deep absorption in Srila Prabhupada’s books you have been able to make the complexities of bhakti so accessible to the spiritually blind; this to me flares compassion.

Your spiritual depth inspires me to go deep, your overflowing compassion enthuses me to reach out, your gravity keeps me grounded and your dynamism encourages me to shoot for the rhino.

A word of gratitude will never express how thankful I am for you performing the thankless task of accepting me as your disciple, I can only endeavour to show you through how I lead the rest of my spiritual life.

You bring so much clarity to my life without which is full of clouds. Please always allow me to remain at your lotus feet and swimming in the ocean of devotion.

Deeply praying I can become the disciple you desire me to be,

Your servant forever,

Narasiṁha Nāma das

Dear guru maharaja! Please accept our humble obeisances!
Let us congratulate you on the day of your appearance! We wish you good health and long life! We pray to the Lord that you serve Srila Prabhupada's missions as long as possible and give spiritual refuge to your disciples and followers.
Let us express our gratitude to you for your patience, your spiritual qualities that inspire us very much.
We really appreciate the fact that you are so personal with your disciples, remember the smallest details of their life and try to give them spiritual support. You see very well the nature of your disciples and help them occupy this nature in the service of Krishna.
This year you came to the festival in Russia only in order to give your communication to your followers, to support them in their spiritual life and to answer their questions.
Your kirtans charge devotees with the greatest enthusiasm. You graciously give your love and care to everyone.
We are very grateful to Lord Krishna for sending us such a spiritual master. We dream of becoming worthy of your disciples and learning to strictly follow your instructions.

Your servants, Narottam Vilas das and Rati Vilas d.d.

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

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

Dear Gurudeva
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to Your Lotus Feet.
All glories to you on this auspicious Vyasa-puja day.

Dear gurudev, from the day I met you, you had inspired me. you had completely changed my life, putting me on the path of devotional service. Even now while I am spelling out gurudev the name guru developer popped up in the suggested words section. And from my perspective it is an apt name. You have developed thousands of souls from illusions of Mayadevi into full fledged devotees who are now under your guidance and instructions are delivering other souls from this mundane cycle of birth and death.

In the Vaishnava Pranam:

vancha-kalpatarubhyas ca kripa-sindhubhya eva ca
patitanam pavanebhyo vaishnavebhyo namo namah

it is said that vaishnavas are desire trees that give to you. But they do not give you what you want, but rather what you need, just a few years ago I was struggling in this world entangled in Maya’s thick vines and choking on the smoke from my ever growing fire of desires. But you saved me by giving me the fruit of mercy. My family had told me many times when I was young when you grow up you must achieve success , and that in order to be successful you must get a good house, get a good wife good car, good status, etc.

In my eyes it seemed that it was a social mandate to have all of these, but I soon realised what true success is in the purport of the verse 4.29.51 in Srimad Bhagavatam by his Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ‘...success in life means accepting a spiritual master who knows Krishna as the only supreme beloved personality. One should worship such a confidential devotee of the lord…’. Gurudev after reading this purport I realised then that I had already achieved success.

Thank you gurudev for delivering this fallen soul and happy Vyasa puja.

Your humble servant,

Navadvipa Vasi Das and family

nama om vishny padaya
krishna preshthaya bhy-tale
shrimate devamrita swamin
iti namine

prachare purva dakshyam cha
bhakta chara pravina ta
pararthat api karunyam
yasya sarve cha te namaha



All glories to Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Dear Guru Maharaj !
Please accept my humble obeisances at the dust of Your lotus feet.
Today is the happy day for all of Your disciples from all over the world because on Vyasa-Puja Day we gathered together and we have the opportunity to express You our special gratitude and make special worship to Your lotus feet.
Many years ago having get the initiation from Your spiritual master Srila Prabhupada and surrendering to his lotus feet You completely devoted Your life to the service of his mission of spreading Krishna Consciousness.
The pure devotee is compassionate to all living beings and You travel all over the world carring the light of the transcendental knowledge to the suffering conditioned soules.
Srila Prabhupada once said to his disciple:
"By the mercy of the spiritual master everything in Krishna Consciousness becomes very simple...
What will take you millions of lives can be revealed in
one minuture thanks to the kripa - mercy of the spiritual master."
Thank You, Guru Maharaj, for accepting me as Your
disciple giving me the opportunity to find happiness
in the devotional servise to Krishna.
On this happy day - the Day of Your Vyasa-Puja - I bend down to Your lotus feet and pray for Your kripa and blessings to be always in the service of Srila Prabhupada's mission.

Your eternal servant
Netrananda devi dasi
St Petersburg,4 th of October, 2019

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to you on this very special occasion and celebration of your appearance in this world.
I will always remember the first time I heard you give class at Bhakti Lounge. Newly moved in as a 'wwoofer', I was full of curiosity and feeling an irresistible pull towards these amazingly sweet, kind, intelligent people (your disciples) and this yoga process that seemed to offer the ultimate solution for all of life's problems, specifically my relatively insignificant ones. I remember feeling excited by the promise or at least the prospect of something better, beyond what I had imagined for myself- something that was already beginning to give me a sense of fullness, an antidote to the emptiness, disillusion and lack of purposeful direction I had been feeling.
You began 'Jaya Radha Madhava' and to me your voice was just so comforting, immediately. I had no knowledge or understanding (and still don't), but the way you sang each word with such natural yet purposeful devotion and then proceeded to speak with such conviction and clarity made a deep impression on my heart.
You commented afterwards at prasadam time that I seemed to be 'like a fish in water' at Bhakti Lounge. I certainly felt that way- my heart was overflowing with happiness and relief to be in that warm and welcoming sanctuary, created and sustained by your vision and compassion-fuelled desire to give Krishna Consciousness to others.
Unfortunately, I have subsequently allowed myself to be tossed around by the waves of happiness and distress that were inevitably still to come, despite my naive assumption that everything would be easy and peaceful in spiritual life- I have so far failed to even slightly bring my wild, untamed mind under control and under the shelter of your lotus feet.
Yet I remain inconceivably indebted to you for the fatherly concern and kindness you have shown towards me. You are always so gently encouraging and patient with me, and although I am so far from being able to reciprocate by serving you and helping you in your mission to save many more lost, conditioned souls like myself, I hope that I will at least one day have the strength and determination to become steady and fixed in devotional service and to associate with and serve devotees, no matter what my circumstances. I know that this will please you.

Thankyou for continuing to care even though I cannot appreciate or understand the depths of your love.

Aspiring to be your servant and daughter,

Nikki

Hare Krishna
All Glories To Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga
All Glories to Jagat Guru Srila A C Bhakti Vedanta Swami Prabhupada

Dear Guru Maharaj

I offer my obeisance's to your lotus feet. On this auspicious day you have appeared in this material world to rescue thousands of conditioned souls like me across the globe. As a devoted disciple of Srila Prabhupada you are very kind, merciful, loving and caring to everyone those sought shelter under your lotus feet.

I pray to Sri Sri Panca Tatva , Sri Nrsinga Dev and Sri Sri Jagannadha to shower Their Lordships Mercy upon you always at all times with excellent health

Wishing You A Very Happy Krsihan Consciousness Filled Appearance day.

Your humble servant
Nilacala Candra Das
Honolulu, Hawaii

nama om vishnu padaya Krishna prasthaya bhutale
srimate Devamrita swamin iti namine

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

Dear Guru Maharaja,

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

Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet on this auspicious day of your Vyasa-Puja. Guru Maharaj, on this special occasion of your Vyasa Puja, I beg at your lotus feet to bestow your mercy at this fallen soul so that I can live this life as per your guidance and instructions.
My fortune is boundless to have your grace. Without you and your shelter, my life is worthless. Thank you so much for giving me the right direction as I was wandering in this ocean of nescience.
Guru Maharaj, you have always been fixed and focused on spreading the message of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu through the Holy name and Srila Prabhupda’s books. You are selflessly distributing the love of Godhead to everyone, including undeserving and fallen soul like me. You have successfully ignited the same fire of preaching in the hearts of so many souls throughout the world. I pray at your lotus feet that one day I can also become a sincere disciple of yours and kindly please consider me for some tiny service so that I can be of some use in your preaching mission.
Though my personal association with you has been limited, I am always inspired by the strong messages you give through many classes and Srimad Bhagavatam lectures.
O my Spiritual Father, I would like to thank you for accepting me as your daughter and taking care not only my spiritual needs but also guiding me to tackle with the problems of this material life. You have always been very merciful and compassionate towards all of us. Please keep showering your blessings upon me so that I can become a proper recipient of your abundant mercy and can serve your lotus feet with ever increasing purity, love and devotion.
Thank you for continuing in your endeavor to save me, though I continue to be undeserving, fallen and unqualified. Please bless me and instill in my heart a drop of that mood of servitorship for your divine grace as you have for your spiritual master “Srila Prabhupada”.
I pray to Lord Nrsimha Dev to always protect you so that you can protect many more fallen souls like me and take us back home back to Godhead.

Yours insignificant servant,
Nisha Abrol

Dear Guru Maharaja,

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

“This is the secret of success. After being initiated and receiving the orders of the spiritual master, the disciple should unhesitatingly think about the instructions or orders of the spiritual master and should not allow himself to be disturbed by anything else. This is also the verdict of Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, who, while explaining a verse of Bhagavad-gītā (vyavasāyātmikā buddhir ekeha kuru-nandana, BG 2.41), points out that the order of the spiritual master is the life substance of the disciple. The disciple should not consider whether he is going back home, back to Godhead; his first business should be to execute the order of his spiritual master. Thus a disciple should always meditate on the order of the spiritual master, and that is perfectional meditation. Not only should he meditate upon that order, but he should find out the means by which he can perfectly worship and execute it.” Srimad Bhagavatam 4.24.15

“In any case, the order of the father or the order of the spiritual master must be carried out without hesitation, with an immediate yes. There should be no argument. That is real service to the father and to the spiritual master. Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura has stated that the order of the spiritual master is the life and soul of the disciples. As a man cannot separate his life from his body, a disciple cannot separate the order of the spiritual master from his life. If a disciple follows the instruction of the spiritual master in that way, he is sure to become perfect. This is confirmed in the Upaniṣads: the import of Vedic instruction is revealed automatically only to one who has implicit faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead and in his spiritual master.” Srimad Bhagavatam 3.24.13

Thank you Guru Maharaja for finding me (in Toronto, Canada), giving me your magnanimous mercy and saving me. I know that I am eternally indebted and will forever be trying to repay you with some small service. Although slow and inadequate, I am endeavouring to carry out the most recent instruction you gave me. The ‘Friends of the Loft’ or 'Loft Connection' that you ask me to do along with many of your amazing disciples and aspiring disciples such as Jo, Anjali, Munjaranya, Madhuryamrita and Rasa yatra is happening despite me. There are more that are helping to make this happen but this is the current core team. There are bush walks and we will be running our first retreats in Kaiwaka this year, which I am grateful to be apart of. I feel so blessed to be in the association of such sincere devotees and be able to chant the 'Holy Names' under your meticulous care and guidance.

Thank you also for giving us such a wonderful ‘God Family’ as I know that to create our family you continue to give tirelessly with your time, travel, compassion, endless austerities and deep mercy. There are not enough words in the English language when it comes to talk about your amazing qualities and the depth of your own commitment to carry out the orders of your spiritual master. Please allow me to be used as a tiny instrument in your innovative and amazing preaching mission to please your spiritual master His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

Aspiring to be your humble servant,
Nitya-priya dd

om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-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.

Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my respectful obeisances on this most auspicious occasion of your Vyasa Puja.
At the end of last year, I saw you in Sri Mayapur Dham inside Srila Prabhupada's Pushpa Samadhi Mandir on the annual festival of Srila Prabhupada's disappearance day. I am not sure if you noticed me, among the hundreds or even thousands of devotees there, but for me this event left a long lasting impression and that especially because of seeing you.
I remember how you got called forward to speak.
After falling down in front of Srila Prabhupada like a rod you spoke about the potency of the instructions of the spiritual master - how with the instruction of the spiritual master also comes the potency to fulfil them. This Sri Mayapur Dham is the living proof, and how it gives great hope in the future of our Krsna Consciousness Movement.
I was stunned, just by following the spiritual master even the most difficult task can be easily accomplished. Indeed Sri Mayapur Dham is the living proof but even more than that for me personally you also are the living proof. Your whole life is directed to please Srila Prabhupada and follow his instructions from your very early days as brahmacary until now. You understood what Prabhupada desired in his heart and despite so many challenges & inconveniences you carried out is order.
It is so inspiring to hear from you how you went for book distribution despite unfavourable circumstances and rejections. How you went through the Caitanya Caritamrta Marathon, despite the excessive nearly unimaginable amount of work and also how you later on decided to preach behind the iron curtain in the UDSSR just to get Prabhupada’s special mercy.
Not only once but again and again you have proven by your own example that a disciple needs to understand the mood and mission of his spiritual master and that a sincere disciple by following the instruction of the spiritual master can then achieve all perfection.

But not only that, you have not only understood Srila Prabhupada’s heart but also you very eager to share that with your disciples.

I remember ones you called me for darshan and you simply ask me: “I have a request: please help me to please Srila Prabhupada.” I was deeply impressed, even thou everybody is bowing down in front you, even thou it seems that there is absolutely no problems for you in all the three worlds still you present yourself with the utmost humility asking me to help you.

On another occasion when I returned from my trip to India I saw you here in Melbourne. Unfortunately I arrived one week to late. It was December and the Christmas marathon had already started. - without me. That very next day I came to serve you breakfast and you looked at me not very impressed: “Nrikesari what are you doing here? Why are you not distributing books?” That time it clicked, way more important than your personal conveniences, way more important then my trip to the dham is your service to Srila Prabhupada. You know that by heart and not only that but you also very expert in transmitting this message to your disciples. You know what is pleasing to Srila Prabhupada and you know me and how to engage me just the right way to become a useful instrument in Srila Prabhupada’s Sankirtan Mission.

I am eternally indebted to you,
Your Servant Nrikesari dasa

Dear Gurudev,

Namo om Vishnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale
Srimate Devamrita Swamin iti namine

Please accept my humble obeisances.

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.

All glories to you on this auspicious day of your vyasapuja.

You fatherly affection continues to be a source of nourishment for me. The kind exchange you had with me during your stay at Dallas is fresh in my memory and your words of encouragement and advice are guiding me in my devotional life. I am so thankful to the god-brothers here who arranged for me to serve you by driving you around as needed. I eagerly look forward to more such opportunities. Your specific instructions on the personalities that I should associate is manifesting itself through many indirect reminders. I will be following through and try to locate myself close to the Kalachandji temple which should provide an opportunity to gain the association you so kindly recommended.

I am ever grateful dear gurudev to your kindness and mercy. I am sure there is no way whatsoever to repay you but I will try.

your humble servant,
Padaravinda Dasa

Dearest guru maharaj

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

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I am usually not good at being expressive; but I have read that one should do glorification of his Guru, for one’s purification. I actually have neither the words nor the qualification to describe or understand your exalted position, but I wanted to thank you for all the efforts you put in for us.

Guru maharaj, I beg you for your special blessings and guidance on this very auspicious day so that I can become mature and follow your instructions as they are and implement them in practice. I pray that you will never give up on me as I struggle to make progress. I pray that I can have more and more of your association so that I can find some steadiness in my devotional life.
Gurudev, on this vyasa puja of yours, I wish you nothing but the best and I pray to sri radha vallabha for your good health and spirit.

In my tiny attempts at serving you, I pray that I can be of some assistance in your wonderful service to Srila Prabhupada.

Learning to be your servant,
Pallavee Ramparsad

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

I want to thank you again and again for being an example for all of us, ordinary people. As you have pointed out many times, we are afraid to surrender to Krishna. We are living in the duality of “me and Krishna”, thinking that we have separate interests from the Lord and his pure devotees. In Bhagavatam this is described as the cause for fear:

Fear arises when a living entity misidentifies himself as the material body because of absorption in the external, illusory energy of the Lord. When the living entity thus turns away from the Supreme Lord, he also forgets his own constitutional position as a servant of the Lord. This bewildering, fearful condition is effected by the potency for illusion, called mäyä. Therefore, an intelligent person should engage unflinchingly in the unalloyed devotional service of the Lord, under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master, whom he should accept as his worshipable deity and as his very life and soul. (SB 11.2.37)

Krishna says in Bhagavad-gita that he is our best friend. We accept this theoretically, but in practical life we still think that we now our interest best. As you said, the symptom of our ignorance is that we are still convinced that we know what happiness is, and how to attain it by material, or half-devotional means. It is hard to surrender to the Lord if you still think that you are the Lord.

But here you are, our glorious Spiritual Master, the living proof that it is possible to surrender fully to Krishna and the proof that by such full surrender one attains full success in all spheres of life. On the other hand, by partial surrender one attains partial success, which according to Srila Prabhupada is not good enough.

Thank you that you are patiently waiting for me to grow in bhakti and for your constant care and nourishment. Thank you that you always encourage me and have faith in me. I pray that one day by your mercy I will become that intelligent person who engages unflinchingly in the unalloyed devotional service of the Lord, under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master.

Your servant,
Pandava bandhava das

Dear Gurumaharaj,

Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada,
All glories to your divine self,

Gurudev,

It is only your causeless mercy which keeps me going in bhakti. I am not a worthy disciple of your divine self, yet you shower your mercy upon me. I remember your last instruction to me was to somehow associate with sincere devotees and I am trying to follow that instruction of yours.
Kindly continue to shower your causeless mercy upon me, so that i might be of some help to you.

Aspiring to be your servant,
Prabhuram Subramanian

Dearest Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and all glories to your divine appearance in this world.

During your recent few trips to Wellington I saw how you’re running of a completely nonhuman fuel source. You give immense amounts of energy, completely focussed and fine tuned for Krsna’s pleasure and for our ultimate benefit.
You give classes where you entice us to deepen our chanting, simply hear the holy name without worrying about what to think, like an expert baseball player just sees the ball and hits it.

Then after the classes there’s always an ecstatic, earth rocking kirtan.
Darkened room, lights on the altar. You’re in the front with the mic and the tambourine, looking like a rockstar, sounding like a rockstar. Krsna’s rock star. You begin the vibration, every syllable perfectly sounded and perfectly heard. You make us dance more, jump higher, hear the transcendental sound, respond, get absorbed in the kirtan. You really plug the Holy Name into our ears, there’s nothing else to hear when you’re singing. Then even though our legs are aching, hearts pounding you lift your arms and chant again egging us on- get more into it! It’s like you’re saying come on, I know you can give more! So we have to. We’re caught in the wave of your nonhuman energy. You sing Nitai Gaura Haribol and the whole congregation lifts off the floor, Jaya Panca Tattva, Jaya Prabhupada. Then afterwards, we’re sweating, panting, maybe even shaking, ridiculously happy, screaming jaya to all your ki’s. Then you casually exit the room, still chanting sweetly, to honour Krsna’s prasadam.

This is an everyday event for you. Wherever you are you’re giving the Holy Name with such power. Kirtan in the form of Bhagavatam class or talking about Krsna, or meeting us one on one to discuss our situation, our services our hearing and chanting, to encourage us in our endeavours to become Krsna conscious.

I was recently reading about the passing away of Bhismadeva, how even though he was lying on a bed of thousands of arrows he was still completely sound in mind and so able to uphold religious principle of welcoming all the great rsis assembled. At the start of that purport Prabhupada says “Expert religionists know perfectly well how to adjust religious principles in terms of time and place.”

When reading this purport I immediately thought of you Gurudeva. You preach expertly according to time, place and circumstance despite inconvenient or painful conditions. You told us last time how someone fed you ice cream on a cold day and sure enough, the next day you were sick with a devastating flu, body aches and sweats. But that didn’t stop you preaching with intensity in Melbourne, at university, at the outreach centre, meeting people one on one, trying to hold in the coughing. Unsure if you would be able to lead kirtan, you did anyway. You said you were all the time praying please Krsna let me somehow get through this without coughing. And then so many people came to you afterwards to congratulate and thank you.

How do you do it Gurudeva!? Later in the same pastime of Bhismadeva, Srila Prabhupada explains “The body of Bhismadeva lost its material effects due to being surcharged with spiritual realization as when iron becomes red hot when in contact with fire. The body of a fully self realized soul is not, therefore, accepted as material.” You’re the iron fully in the fire of Krsna consciousness and therefore no longer dull iron but the same in quality as the fire.

I don’t know very much, but I do know one thing, if I can somehow get it together to follow you, then everything will be ok. I want to increase, I want to be more useful to you and your assistants, please Gurudeva today give me your mercy so I can get over my laziness and excuses of insecurity and inability. Please cut through my ignorance and show me how to do what’s needed.

Eternally aspiring to serve your servants,
Prema-lahari devi dasi

Hare Krishna Guru Maharaj,
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada
All Glories to Sri Guru & Gauranga !!

I wish all very best for your health and to constantly get Krishna's love. Your smile and uninterrupted laughter make me feel the divine touch you have of Krishna.

When I look back a year all I see is your mercy and blessings that kept me alive in the service of Krishna. I know for sure, my own trivial attempts to remain in Krishna's bhakti are not enough. And again, it is because of your compassion I could survive in the most important mission of Chataniya Mahaprabhu.
We regularly attended weekly Bhagavad Gita classes by HG Kanai Thakur Pr and he keep on engaging in service by allowing me to address IIT students in Mumbai. I'm so happy to get great association of devotees here in Pune.
My last year was filled with financial success. I could see increasing responsibility of raising kids in Krishna Conscious way. It is a huge task and I'm no way qualified for it. I beg for your mercy to empower us to have Krishna conscious in our home. Please bless me so that I could read more of Prabhupada's books.
In the service of Srila Prabhupada,
Your aspiring servant
Premdham das

Dear Gurudev

Please accept my humble obeisances.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

All glories to you.

I pray that you are in good health and continue to achieve great successes in your endeavors to spread Krishna consciousness around the world.

I feel so enthusiastic when I hear your lectures and experience your genuine concern for the audience. I hope one day I can be a genuine person like you. Please give me the strength and tolerance to persevere.

Seeing you in person, especially your kirtans in the morning program followed by your Bhagavatam class, all in the association of wonderful devotees, is a special treat!

I pray that I always remain attached to your lotus feet and steadily continue my journey in devotional life by constantly hearing your lectures and serving you in whatever way pleases you the most.


Your servant
Priyanka.

Dear Gurudeva,

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

I cannot thank you enough for saving me from the absurdity of material existence. I am also grateful to you for giving me the opportunity to serve you and your disciples and to help assist other souls on their journey back to Krishna.

I see so much suffering in this country when I observe the daily grind and wanderings of family members and people on the street, watching them desperately trying to fill the void in their hearts with the lifeless mundanities offered by contemporary materialistic society. I see many of them searching for something more, grasping for a higher taste, but slumping back into glum dissatisfaction at each attempt. Many are resigned to their misery as just the way things are, the status quo. It is through your mercy that many of these suffering souls come into contact with a higher taste - through your disciples, through your outreach centres and through your books. And although not all of these souls become engaged in devotional service in this life, this contact is the reignition of something extraordinary for them. At the root of all these life-changing occurrences is your boundless selflessness, sacrifice, care and compassion, all through devotedly taking heed of the wishes of your dear spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada.

The more I hear about your great sacrifice in Krishna’s service, which you so humbly reveal in brief glimpses just for the benefit of your disciples, the more I begin to gain some sense of your elevation and I start to see how limited and covered my perceptions are. I am grateful to Krishna for allowing me to come into contact with such a soul.

As a bestower of all well-being, you are helping to lead the greatest humanitarian welfare work in this country and abroad. This is visible in the miraculous transformations in individuals taking up Krishna consciousness under your guidance, and from the shelter that so many individuals take to at your preaching centres. It is also greatly heart-warming to see your compassion radiating to universities around the world where you deliver real education. There is also so much we cannot see in action on a spiritual level as a result of all your endeavours: the seeds of devotional service that have been sown in the hearts of the fortunate and the inconceivable workings of Krishna’s mercy. The selflessness by which you give your time to guests at your outreach centres is another crucial aspect of this inconceivable web of mercy and for the conditioned soul, although most likely unaware of their good fortune, they stumbled upon a priceless treasure. I am eternally thankful for the priceless treasure that I have in your association dear Gurudeva.

I pray that I may assist you with great focus and determination in helping to spread this Krishna Consciousness movement and to develop some quality of selflessness. Through the process of devotional service I hope that my insignificant material desires are washed away so that I may be more effective in serving you. I pray that I may become thoroughly absorbed in the profound knowledge that you have shared with us and to teach it to others. I hope to receive instruction from you on how I can best serve so I can truly begin repaying my debt to you.

Your grateful servant,
Purnananda devi dasi

Dearest Gurudeva,

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

Where can I start? How can I find the words to truely articulate how grateful I am to you. You have been in my life longer than my own mother. The other day when you met my twin sister for the first time, you told me it’s her good fortune that I’m her sister. It got me reflecting on the real facts and the truth is, my good fortune is that I met you. You took me under your wing and became my spiritual father, master and teacher. That is my only qualification.

I shudder to think what my life would of been like without you. No doubt I’d be a complete mess doing all sorts of crazy things. No direction or purpose just aimlessly pursuing attempts at temporary so called happiness. Instead we get to live a life full of joy and opportunities in Krsna’s service which is so vast, unlimited and deep.

Thank you Gurudeva for everything you do. You selflessly extend yourself to countless persons all over the world, which isn’t an easy task. You have taken on the immense burden of love to help spread Srila Prabhupada’s mission. Wherever you go you are constantly giving lectures and kirtans, guiding and encouraging devotees and newcomers, replying to countless emails and dealing with managerial affairs all over the world.

When searching out precious jewels like diamonds for example, avid seekers are quick to suss out the 4 C’s - Cut, clarity, carat and colour.

In reality, expensive diamonds are actually lumps of coal formed well under pressure. This isn’t a process that happens overnight, it takes time. Similarly Bhakti is also a process that takes time.

Little did I know, that I had found the ultimate priceless jewel when I stumbled upon Bhakti or rather, when Bhakti found me.

Like diamonds, there are 4C’s that are essential to diving deep into the path of Bhakti.

Cut - Cutting unnecessary and unwanted things from our lives which inhibit our growth in Bhakti.

Clarity - Diving deep into the unlimited depths of the scriptures. To bring through a clarity of vision and understanding so that a continued shift of consciousness in the mind and heart can happen.

Carat - Refers to the weight of the diamond, or in this case the weight of the commitment to chant Hare Krsna with focus and attention. To the degree we are chanting with love and attention, is to the degree we will be absorbed and attracted to the supremely all attractive Krsna.

Colour - Diamonds occur in a variety of colours, similarly we as devotees are all individual and unique.

If we don’t develop these 4 C’s we can run into trouble. You Gurudeva are our expert. Like the gemologist who can see the true nature of a precious stone. You see things as they truely are and guide us on our path back to Krsna.

Just like when purchasing diamonds, we need to know what we are looking at, otherwise we can be cheated. Or even due to our own ignorance, sometimes like a small child not understanding the real wealth and treasure that Bhakti is, we can throw this most precious and priceless jewel away.

Please Gurudeva, I beg of you on this most glorious of days, please always keep me under your merciful glance. I pray that I can continue to dive deep into these 4C’s of Bhakti and to never take for granted this most priceless of all jewels that you have so lovingly given to us.

Your indebted servant and spiritual daughter,

Radha Prasada devi dasi

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

Recently Sri Jiva Caran, a few friends and I had a little adventure.

We went to an escape room. It is game where people are locked in different rooms and have to solve puzzles within an hour to get out. Each escape room is set up in a different environment. For example rooms can be arranged as an Egyptian lost tomb, a crazy asylum or a spaceship. To escape the rooms people have to cooperate as a team. They must find all the clues hidden inside the rooms and solve a series of puzzles that lead to the exit. We chose to do the scariest one, the crazy asylum house.

Before we went inside we were shown a short video about the background story of the asylum. The story was about different patients that lived there under the care of Dr. Rutger. The patients were never cured but instead died mysteriously. Dr. Rutger’s wife Helen made a death bed confession. Her husband had a special room where he performed his darkest and unspeakable works. After the video ended the door to the escape room opened. First Jiva went inside, then our friends and then me at the end. I didn’t feel like going in. The room was quite dark, filled with many weird props and spooky noises. I could feel my hair standing on end a bit, my heart beating, my mind disturbed. Finally one hour was over. We didn’t win the game because we couldn’t solve all the puzzles on time. The guy who worked there had to let us out. We returned to the real world and had some prasadam.

Later on I thought to myself that it was so fascinating how much we were identifying with the environment of this escape room even though everything was just game. Dr. Rutger wasn’t a real person and everything that happened inside the asylum was just a fake story. I realized that this game is exactly like our real life when we live in ignorance of our real self.

Like in the escape game with each birth we, the conditioned souls, are locked by material nature into different fantasy worlds. Not for an hour, but for lifetimes!
Covered by a spooky costume called the material body, we identify with everyone and everything around us and helplessly wander here and there desiring some profit, power, prestige, sensual enjoyment in exchange for our dear soul. Sukadeva Goswami calls this escape room, the great forest of enjoyment. We became so familiar with this forest that we don’t understand it is a place full of miseries.

As we got a chance to get out of the escape room by finding the clues and solving the puzzles, we also have the opportunity to get out of this forest of material enjoyment. That is if we carefully listen to Krishna and his pure representatives.


Gurudeva thank you so much for working so hard to pull us out of this deep forest fire!
You put yourself through so much endeavor for our ultimate escape. Constantly flying from one continent to the other with practically no break! Each time you give a lecture, you are giving us BIG CLUES on how to escape to the real world. You give hints like “here we won’t find real happiness! Only by pleasing Krishna’s senses and by rendering loving service to Him can we achieve the ultimate freedom. Here we are just like dolls playing parts different from our real identity. I am very grateful to have you in my life!

Thank you for tolerating me. I need to develop more tolerance, determination and compassion to be able to assist you in Lord Chaitanya’s great mission. The mission of assisting the conditioned souls in cracking the codes for their perfect escape.

Your aspiring servant Radha ananda devi dasi

Dearest Gurumaharaj,

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

On this most auspicious day of your Vyaspuja, I am reflecting upon my good fortune that somehow by the causeless mercy of Guru and Gauranga, I got the darshan and shelter of your divine lotus feet in this lifetime. I was loitering in this material world without any purpose or motivation, and you, Gurumaharaj, out of your causeless mercy, picked me up and saved me from the constant onslaughts of maya.

While I continue to fail to follow your instructions with full sincerity and dedication, I pray at your lotus feet to not give up on me and devoid me of the shelter of your lotus feet. That is my only hope in this miserable life in the material world.

On this most auspicious day, I beg for your mercy and pray for your good health so that many more conditioned souls like me an become Krishna conscious in this very life time.

Your eternally grateful servant
Radha-Mohan das

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

Recently Sri Jiva Caran, a few friends and I had a little adventure.

We went to an escape room. It is game where people are locked in different rooms and have to solve puzzles within an hour to get out. Each escape room is set up in a different environment. For example rooms can be arranged as an Egyptian lost tomb, a crazy asylum or a spaceship. To escape the rooms people have to cooperate as a team. They must find all the clues hidden inside the rooms and solve a series of puzzles that lead to the exit. We chose to do the scariest one, the crazy asylum house.
Before we went inside we were shown a short video about the background story of the asylum. The story was about different patients that lived there under the care of Dr. Rutger. The patients were never cured but instead died mysteriously. Dr. Rutger’s wife Helen made a death bed confession. Her husband had a special room where he performed his darkest and unspeakable works. After the video ended the door to the escape room opened. First Jiva went inside, then our friends and then me at the end. I didn’t feel like going in. The room was quite dark, filled with many weird props and spooky noises. I could feel my hair standing on end a bit, my heart beating, my mind disturbed. Finally one hour was over. We didn’t win the game because we couldn’t solve all the puzzles on time. The guy who worked there had to let us out. We returned to the real world and had some prasadam.

Later on I thought to myself that it was so fascinating how much we were identifying with the environment of this escape room even though everything was just game. Dr. Rutger wasn’t a real person and everything that happened inside the asylum was just a fake story. I realized that this game is exactly like our real life when we live in ignorance of our real self.

Like in the escape game with each birth we, the conditioned souls, are locked by material nature into different fantasy worlds. Not for an hour, but for lifetimes!
Covered by a spooky costume called the material body, we identify with everyone and everything around us and helplessly wander here and there desiring some profit, power, prestige, sensual enjoyment in exchange for our dear soul. Sukadeva Goswami calls this escape room, the great forest of enjoyment. We became so familiar with this forest that we don’t understand it is a place full of miseries.


As we got a chance to get out of the escape room by finding the clues and solving the puzzles, we also have the opportunity to get out of this forest of material enjoyment. That is if we carefully listen to Krishna and his pure representatives.


Gurudeva thank you so much for working so hard to pull us out of this deep forest fire!
You put yourself through so much endeavor for our ultimate escape. Constantly flying from one continent to the other with practically no break! Each time you give a lecture, you are giving us BIG CLUES on how to escape to the real world. You give hints like “here we won’t find real happiness! Only by pleasing Krishna’s senses and by rendering loving service to Him can we achieve the ultimate freedom. Here we are just like dolls playing parts different from our real identity. I am very grateful to have you in my life!

Thank you for tolerating me. I need to develop more tolerance, determination and compassion to be able to assist you in Lord Chaitanya’s great mission. The mission of assisting the conditioned souls in cracking the codes for their perfect escape.

Your aspiring servant Radhananda devi dasi

Dear Gurudev, all glories to your vyasa pooja, all glories to Srila Prabhupad who has kindly left you on this planet as a sign of his message - a messenger of God - for us to be able to take the opportunity to return back to the spiritual world. You stand tall like a rescue officer with a torch (in times of emergency) showing the path of guidance.


I wish to take this vyasapooja as an opportunity to express my gratitude and also reflect on my spiritual progress, if any !?

Recently I was cherishing the moments of one of my first meetings with you and my initial enquiries with you, which was;

“Gurudev, how can one measure his advancement in spiritual life or spiritual path”. I had in my earlier life thought about this question and implicitly waiting in my mind “whoever would provide me a perfect answer for this question has to be my spiritual master”

Without a moment’s hesitation you answered me saying that there are 3 checks.

1. Number 1 - That one would stop identifying as one’s body and start acting as a soul. And that how to act as a soul has been fully described in Srimad Bhagavatam and more explicitly in Chaitanya charitamrta.

2. Number 2- One’s material fever comes down, in the sense that one does not feel anxious and eager to achieve prospects relating to this material body, or in other words, doesn’t identify oneself with material goals and does not strive for achieving them

3. Number 3 - One is always very impatient to see Krishna through his ears by way of chanting His names or by hearing about His glories in the form of His scriptures.

Vyasapooja is obviously a special day and a special sign for us that you have appeared in this material world and brought a hope, a scope for me to be able cross this material ocean.

Your book ‘Bhakti bhava’ had turned out to be an eye opener for me, where you mention that Bhakti life if not just about the external practices and symbols, but is an act of deliberate investment of emotions for Krishna’s mission, and towards a Krishna conscious life.
These are some of things that I can immediately remember amongst the various other merciful instructions you have provided.

In the recent times I have been also a little high maintenance for you in terms of my emails and dependence on your guidance, but your advises comes back to me like a boomerang just in time to save me from sway. It’s even embarrassing how much I need you and how much I depend. Even right in front of you, right under your nose, I would be swaying off my ways, and you, very lovingly, like a lioness brings her cub back to shelter, bring me back to protection.

So how much can I thank you, how can I pay this debt. I don’t really know ….

Please forgive me for all my childish persistence on my stubborn ways, please forgive me for hesitating to do enough for your mission to help Sria Prabhupad in advancing Krishna consciousness to this world.

Your humble servant Radhika Prasad Das

Hare Krishna Gurudeva,

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

“A qualified reciter of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam gives the right medicine (bhavauṣadhi) for the conditioned souls. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is therefore trying to train qualified preachers to recite Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and Bhagavad-gītā throughout the entire world, so that people in general in all parts of the world may take advantage of this movement and thus be relieved of the threefold miseries of material existence.” Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.1.4 purport

My heart fills with gratitude when I think of you, and I don’t want this to be mere sentiment Gurudeva. I don’t want to talk the talk without walking the walk because you have truly given me everything. By your mercy I am plugged into devotional service, associating with devotees who are priceless gems (even if my dirty eyes can’t always see that), having realisations that smash down material dreams and gives me insight into the sublime reality, and I have your expert self as my guide.

You are so qualified to administer medicine. When I was sick this year, you gave me some immune support medicine. You watched as I foolishly spilled the liquid trying to pour it onto my spoon, and told me to swish it 10 times then swallow. My face curled up at the taste, and you told me all of the good properties in the liquid, just like a father would knowing that the child isn’t in any knowledge. You said to me “this will stop that ‘blah’ feeling”. I was so surprised because that was exactly what I was feeling and when I told you that you simply responded “I know”. You know me more than I know myself. At this time with you Gurudeva I saw literally how you are administering medicine, and although not everyone appreciates this you will still mercifully give it because you genuinely care, and your compassion moves my heart.
I have no good qualities, but you have them all in full. So if I try to serve you, then maybe I could develop them- and this seems like the best goal in life.

Thank you for being the real deal. Someone who took the bhakti process seriously, and is teaching us how to do the same.
I pray that I can try and render some useful service to you to help you serve Srila Prabhupada’s mission, and that I will always hold dear your instructions so I will never be separated from you.

Eternally grateful and aspiring to be your servant,
Radhika-bhava devi dasi

Dear Guru Maharaja,

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

Your constant observation of how material nature isn’t getting any more elevated and consequently how those who are entangled in its complexity are becoming quickly degraded, breaks your heart to see. Being outraged at how such a materialistic society destroys peoples opportunities for any kind of higher thinking, you travel the world to re-educate the populace thus allowing such conditioned entities to make the Perfect Escape.

Knowing that anyone who adds just a little Krishna Consciousness to their lives is automatically made very fortunate, you’ve dedicated your life to ensure that those bereft of such an opportunity gain some degree of involvement with Bhakti-yoga.

Inspired by your purity, a soul may then enter the Bhakti laboratory and engage themselves in the process, but, if they decide to walk out the door and never do anything in devotional service again in this lifetime, you’ve made them much more fortunate than anyone else in a general population. You’ve fully realised the exclusiveness of devotional service and that’s the standard you’re preaching from.

For those that continue on the path however, you speak strongly about how one should not be satisfied with simply being an official card carrying Hare Krishna - that it’s about rendering devotion service. Your expertise is once again evident by your ability to engage all sorts of stubborn practitioners who once again feel an aversion to the rendering of devotional service, even if that means to forcibly put a camera in their hands.

Thank you for being an expert in re-connecting souls to Krishna.

Your servant,

Radhikesa dasa 

Dear Gurudev,

Please accept my humble obesiances
Thank you so much for forgiving my fallacies and accepting me as your disciple.
You understand me so very well especially during the personal darshans that you give,
I hardly speak much about the problem and you yourself talk about it and give the solution.
You understand my nature so well that I just come in front of you and you give me an instruction. But along with the instruction you also give me the power to fulfill it and I enjoy all the credit. How can I ever repay you, if I tried I would look like a fool. On this very auspicious day I have only one request, I am not very qualified but please never discard me.

Your insignificant servant

Rahul

Dear Gurudeva
Please accept my humble obeisance’s
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Reading about Bali Maharaja passing the severe test put before him by Vamanadeva, we couldn’t help but be reminded of you.
Srila Prabhupada explains a devotee is sometimes put into adversity while executing devotional service. In adversity everyone becomes aggrieved, but by the grace of the Lord, a devotee, even in the worst condition, can understand that he is going through a severe examination by the Lord.
Bali Maharaja was bereft of his riches, fallen from his superior position, defeated and arrested by his enemies, rebuked and deserted by his relatives and friends, suffering the physical pain of being bound and chastised and cursed by his spiritual master.
Bali Maharaja passed the test. This pass was further proof of the Lords mercy toward His devotee. Prabhupada explains that the Lord sometimes puts a devotee to almost unbearable tests, conditions that one could hardly live under. That the devotee can endure as Bali Maharaja did is the Lords mercy. Further more the Lord certainly appreciates the devotee’s forbearance and it is recorded for the future glorification of the devotee.
He writes “Hardly anyone could survive such a test, but for the future glorification of Bali Maharaja, one of the Mahajanas, the Supreme Personality of Godhead not only tested him but also gave him the strength to tolerate such adversity. The Lord is so kind to His devotee that when severely testing him the Lord gives him the necessary strength to be tolerant and continue to remain a glorious devotee.
In Teheran Prabhupada spoke about how one becomes qualified as a devotee. As an introduction to the subject he said, in India, in order to join civil service, one has to pass a rigorous test before being allowed to accept a responsible post. Similarly, to be recognized by Krsna, Krsna says, na ca tasman manusyesu, one has to pass severe test of examination.
“All the big, big devotees we see. Narada Muni, before becoming Narada Muni, he had to pass through severe examination, test… Vedic civilization, is to prepare the human beings for passing the test, examination for being recognized by God.
He quoted tapasa brahmacaryena samena ca damena ca, saying that one must follow a strict life of austerity of one wants to pass the test. Austerity, celibacy, controlling the mind and senses, truthfulness and cleanliness, yoga. These are the different items for being qualified. But all this can be done by one stroke, one becomes qualified in one stroke by kevalaya bhaktya, bhakti to Vasudeva.
Prabhupada said “for devotees, there is test, we see from the devotee’s life, Prahlada Maharaja, how much severe test he had to pass through. Bali Maharaja, Narada Muni. After you pass the examination, there is no more test. But before coming to the post of recognized devotee, Krsna tests very severely.
Then Srila Prabhupada answered the question; If passing the test was dependent on one’s faith.
“Faith means that you are meant for giving some service to Krsna. You should stick to that service, that path, in spite of all impediments. That is passing the test. Generally, just like we are meant for preaching Krsna consciousness. So, there may be severe test, but still we shall remain determined. That is the test. Not that as soon there is some difficulty, I give it up. We must go on. That is determination. One has to take order from spiritual master and execute it, despite all impediments. That is determination.
We see in you the determination to take the order from the spiritual master and execute it, despite all impediments. Preaching Krsna consciousness no matter how much severe adversity you have to pass through. Thus, clearly displaying the necessary strength to be tolerant and continue to remain a glorious devotee. Because one can not do this without austerity, celibacy, controlling the mind and senses, truthfulness and cleanliness, we see that have all these qualities also, which, you gathered in one stroke by kevalaya bhaktya, bhakti to Vasudeva.
And we see today, on your auspicious appearance day, as we have seen in the past, and will see in the future, you holding the post of a recognized devotee.
Aspiring to become your servant and the servants of your servants
Ramadas das

Dear Guru Maharaj, accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Let me congratulate You on this wonderful day, the day of Your appearance. You have created such a wonderful atmosphere of questions and answers on Sadhu Sanga festival. It was very inspiring. You inspiring to make plans how to satisfy Krishna and how to stay in Krishna Consciousness all my life. And also be more patient and understand that Krishna will do everything in the best way and at the best time. I’m happy that life is more and more concentrated around Krishna and devotees. And You very inspired by words, that You don’t planing to take new material body. And I understand that it’s great idea, to do all the best right in this life. Thank You Guru Maharaj for our happy present in Krishna Consciousness. Your insignificant servant Ranga-Nayaki dd.

Dear Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to you who serves Srila Prabhupada so diligently!

You have always taught us to prioritise our spiritual life. No matter what. Through thick and thin always prioritise chanting Hare Krsna, hearing about Krsna, serving Krsna. Not unlike a marriage- we stick to the process no matter what. Sunshine days, tumultuous days, weary days. Such conviction and endurance is a rare thing to achieve in this ocean of faults time. Yet you instil that conviction in us. Your classes and personal dealings inspire so much commitment to the process of reawakening our long lost love for the Supreme Absolute Truth, Krsna. Your systems of support cradle and nurture the creeper of devotion within. Given the distractions of modern life, the pushing of our material minds and bodies- this process of direct perception of self by realisation is truly miraculous.
True global solidarity can only be realised on a spiritual level. "There is need of a clue as to how humanity can become one in peace, friendship and prosperity with a common cause. Srimad Bhagavatam will fill this need, for it is a cultural presentation for the respiritualisation of the entire human society" (Prabhupada's preface to Srimad Bhagavatam).
Thank you for wholeheartedly engaging in the work to bring about this respiritualisation of society. Thank you for engaging us in respiritualising our own, small insignificant lives. For reminding us that no matter what: our first priority is our spiritual life. Through thick and thin. In good times and bad. Aspiring for self realisation,
your daughter,
Rasayatra dasi

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

Thank you for stopping me from continuing my transmigration into the hellish planet where you swim through pus bile mucus stool urine and blood as a wormish creature. Still I am in anxiety about my consequences still to come for my sinful life, I am too cowardly to engage with my heart in Krsnas service.
I have been shown inconceivable mercy and given many chances to be a sincere practitioner, yet I am to shameful to face the music.
Because you are so merciful I am under Lord Caitanyas shelter and somehow or other I have been able to cling to the space I am occupying under his umberella.
still haven’t revealed my mind truthfully, so I find it a challenge to engage my hearts desire in Krsnas service But I hope that if I continue to try serve, the way I should engage myself will become clear.
Your sacrifice to Srila Prabhupad is bestowing rainfall of love of God all over the world and I am grateful that there are real, sincere and true people dedicating their lives and giving real benefit to all beings.
Your lotus feet are the protection and shelter and ecstasy of so many and I am clinging to those under you. I have been given glimpses of my hearts contamination and I am sorry I am so envious and lusty. I have brung devotees down with my condition and I offer nothing in reciprocation of whats been imparted to me.
Your presence is inspiring and warm and your character is steady and uncompromising.
I pray that Krsna will let me please you by serving Hriman, Vrajanari, Ramadas, Munja an other devotees well with my efforts in this life.
I am in so much debt and I will never begin to be able to repay a fraction.
I have nothing worthy to offer you because I am really bereft of all value.
So for my own benefit I write this offering in the hope that Krsna lets me stay in association for a few moments extra. I think im so special an important but I am no more than a lurking serpent.
I am sorry for my disgraceful presence But I cant go anywhere else.
I shall attempt to become stuck scum on the bottom of your shoes and thereby become glorious.
All glories to Hriman Krishna Das
All glories to the Vaisnava Devotees of Wellington, Auckland and Hamilton
All glories to your outreach program
All glories to you Devamrita Swami


Your washed out servant Regan.

Nama om Vishnu-padaya

Krishna-pressthaya bhu tale

Srimate Devamrita

Swamin iti namine

Pracare purva-daksyam ca

Bhaktacara-pravinata

Parathatapi karunyam

Yasya sarve ca ten amah



Dear Gurudeva,


Please accept my humble obeisances

All glories to Srila Prabhupada and onto the dust of your lotus feet



A few month ago, my eyes got caught in one article “Suicide rates rise to highest-ever level” - There has been an increase in the numbers of young people dying by suicide, particularly those in the 15 to 19 year age group, where numbers rose from 53 to 73. In the 20 to 24 year age group, the numbers of people who took their own lives grew from 76 to 91.

In the past decade, the number of suicides has risen 29 per cent, from 531 deaths in 2008/09, compared to 685 in 2018/19. In the same period the rate of suicides per 100,000 people went from 12.04 to 13.93 - up 15.7 per cent.

<img src="/assets/epub/rrp-2019-pic1.png" width="563px" />

Sad to see so many young people taking their own lives. Even many politician and doctors discussed solutions but the situation is getting worse year by year.
There are so much technological development in last decade but more and more young people commit suicide due to loneliness, abuse, and dysfunctional relationships.

SB.2.1.1–12 explains the symptom of the age of Kali and the situation gets worse when kali yuga progress.

I could have ended up one of these despaired young people, if I hadn’t met you, Gurudeva.

Your outreaching centre is the hospital for those suffering young people. So many guests mentioned that they are attracted to due to warm atmosphere and nice devotees. You established outreaching centre all over the world and all helping countless people. Also you raised tens and thousands of devotees to assist you. This is all coming from you and your spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada. You do all these activities as devotional service – Srila Prabhupada explained in his class 20 Jan 1974, Honolulu

“one who is working, anasritah karma-phalam, without any desire to enjoy the fruits of his activity. These sannyasis, they are working for Krishna; they have no desire to make any profit out of it.”

Approaching and serving such a guru is not an easy task as SB.6.3.19 explained.

“One has to approach a bona fide spiritual master to receive the knowledge. Such a spiritual master should be accepted in full surrender, and 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. Inquiries and submission constitute the proper combination for spiritual understanding. Unless there is submission and service, inquiries from the learned spiritual master will not be effective. One must be able to pass the test of the spiritual master, and when he sees the genuine desire of the disciple, he automatically blesses the disciple with genuine spiritual understanding.”

Please accept our humble achievement as below

<img src="/assets/epub/rrp-2019-pic2.png" width="563px" />
<img src="/assets/epub/rrp-2019-pic3.png" width="563px" />

Your servant of servant
Rudrarama Pandit Dasa

Hare Krsna Guru Maharaj,

Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet on this auspicious day of your Vyasa Puja. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to your transcendental adventures all over the world!

nama om vishnu-padaya Krishna-preshthaya bhu-tale
srimate Devamrita-svamin iti namine

pracäre purva-daksyam ca
bhaktacära-pravinäta
pararthatäpi karunyam
yasya sarve ca te namah

I have been suffering without Your personal association this past year. Needless to say, I’m sensing that my enthusiasm is flagging. Earlier this year, when I happened to be in New York, I missed getting your darshan by half a day! How unfortunate I have been. Clearly I have not done anything to deserve your association or even your glance.

In lieu of your physical presence, I am getting your association through various Youtube videos. I never tire of watching and listening to the same videos. I always long to see new videos. I am hoping that I will soon see a video of your Vyasa Puja celebrations.

My wife is planning on retiring within the next 6 months and I will follow suit within another year. We will be looking to get your blessings and instructions as we begin that phase of our lives. Your instructions will sustain us and motivate us to increase our level of service to Radha Kalachandji’s servants.

I am continuing to do my weekly service in the deity kitchen of Radha-Kalachandji Dham. I am determined to increase that service to twice a week.

All glories to you, Gurudev, on this auspicious Vyasa Puja day. We pray to Radha Kalachandji for your good health, so that you can continue your tireless worldwide preaching mission, as your loving service to Srila Prabhupada, for many more decades.

As an ignorant devotee, I may have committed offences in writing this offering. I beg your forgiveness for any offences I may have committed.

Your insignificant aspiring servant,
Rupamrita-sindhu das
Dallas, Texas

Dear Gurudeva

Please accept my obeisances.

Your heart is saturated with the overwhelming desire to serve Krishna and help others do the same. Even a wretched soul like me, deeply conditioned by the gunas, can experience this reality.

Therefore, allow me to declare it boldly: Whether you are right, or whether you are wrong, you are always right. I pray to Krishna to let me always remember this and I also pray to Krishna that those who hearts are covered by envy may also realise this.

Knowing me to be relentlessly victimized by the six enemies of the mind, please forgive the offenses I have knowingly or unknowingly committed at your lotus feet.


Your grateful servant,
Sachi Dulal das.

nama om visnu-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 very humble obeisances. All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda, and all glories to you on your most auspicious appearance day.

I will be honest - I am fraught with much difficulty in writing an offering to you this year. There is difficulty every year, but somehow I feel it particularly this year.
This is characteristic of the task at hand - attempting to glorify and worship the perfect and unlimitedly glorious and worshipable representative of the Supreme Lord.
How is this to be done? I have no clue. I guess that’s why I have been staring at my computer screen for scattered long periods of time.

What can I say to the personality who plucked me out of my sojourn in the material world? Who nipped my material life “in the bud”, as you said? To the person who continues to constantly encourage, gently and lovingly correct, and push me on in my attempts at devotional service to Krishna? This is certainly not an easy thing - a painstaking effort, to say the least - but you do it all with such expertise, for that is your quality of service and perfection in Krishna consciousness.

My dear spiritual master, I have so much to learn. There are so many examples and instructions of yours that I have failed in following in my immaturity and indolence. Conditioned by the modes of passion and ignorance, indeed I have wasted a lot of time in this human form, within devotional service and certainly outside of devotional service. How is it that you still tolerate me? Allow me to stick around? I’m not sure. How is it that you keep finding ways to pull me closer to Krishna although my moods and whims are not always perfectly synced up with the Lord’s pleasure? This is beyond me. The only understanding I can come to is that it is your causeless mercy. As a perfectly situated, pure devotee of the Lord, you extract nectar from desperate, poor people and situations.
As Prabhupada explains, a swan can extract milk from a mixture of milk and water. Similarly, no matter who, what, where, how - no matter the circumstance - you know where to find the essence of bhakti in the heart and fan the spark into a blazing fire.

Gurudeva, I’ve begun to understand your perfection in character (though remotely) through my own interactions with you and through observing your interactions with others over the past (very few) years. I am just one minuscule example of someone you allow to stay at your lotus feet, but what about the multitude of others who you are so apt to engage in Krishna’s service without delay? Though we may not always see the way in which a person can be brought closer, engaged, encouraged, you always see the way. It is many times shocking to see the transformation in persons who we had no idea what to think of, but this shouldn’t come to me as a surprise, because this is the nature of your influence. Just a sprinkle of your association brings out the sweet flavour of bhakti in everyone.
Whether it be a friend of Krishna, a very ripe candidate, or someone I, in my immaturity and limited vision, might not even think of taking a second look at - every one of them feels so very special having gotten the gemstone of your sanga. How special it is. Indeed, you make everyone feel wanted in Krishna’s service, ensuring that everyone feels they can do something in the scope of their ability to serve Krishna and/or the devotees. This is quite the miracle to perform in these destitute days of Kali-yuga living, where everyone is racing - dying and trying for real love, genuine connection, and heartfelt relationships - only to straggle behind with the false hope of finding any of what the heart is seeking in this material world. You inject life where there is none. I thank you profusely for this.

This year we went to a sankirtan festival further off in Bethlehem for their annual Bethlehem Veg Fest. As we finished setting up and as Gaura-bhakti started taking charge and stopping people who were walking by, 2-3 boys stopped at the table we had set up and Gaura-bhakti was showing them the books. They recognized your name and your photo pushed their memory further, and they went on to say how they attended the talk that you gave at West Chester University some years back. They very fondly remembered the experience of hearing your talk, and they got more books that day.

In book distribution, even on the streets of Philadelphia, I constantly run in to people who have heard of your coming, have wanted to attend your talks, or who have actually attended your talks.

At 69th Street station I met a girl named Zah who was running in a hurry but got a card advertising the recent July 26th event we were hosting with you. She ran back up to me and asked me to take her number to remind her about coming, as she wanted to come to your previous talk but couldn’t make it.

On South Street, this middle-aged man I ran into took your book Hiding in Unnatural Happiness and gave a donation, then asked me, to my surprise, “So, he’s coming back?” I told him yes, and he told me he might come by, as he had been to a previous talk of yours and enjoyed it.

More recently, a boy from UPenn came to Mantra Lounge as a volunteer, without any spiritual intention. As soon as I saw him I thought he looked so familiar. Then, as he was leaving, we all connected the dots that he had been to one of your talks at UPenn a few years back, and had recently gotten prasadam at our Krishna Foods vegan lunch table on campus. 

You even touch the hearts of those who seem so cold and harsh. This very wealthy, mid-to-late 50s, fast-moving businessman was walking by our table during the marathon in 2018. I stopped him to show him your book Hiding in Unnatural Happiness, and went about my normal way of explaining. He cut me off and said “Yeah, yeah, yeah, how much?” I told him the amount and that we were asking donations. He was still standing there, looking very cynical and suspicious, so, attempting to soften him, I said “These books help a lot with stress and lifestyle engineering, do you ever get stressed out?” He looked at me like I was crazy, and then told me he was some kind of executive or something. I said “Wow! That’s such a crazy occupation! How do you manage?!” He replied, “You don’t even know what that is, do you?” Slightly embarrassed, I told him no, but that it sounds stressful and that he should read the book. He finally agreed, pulled out his wallet, gave 5$, and rushed off. 7 or 8 months later, I recognized the same man walking by in Rittenhouse on Walnut Street, a few blocks away from where I had originally met him. I told him “Hey, how are you doing?” He was surprised I remembered him, and to my surprise, he smiled, walked up to the table, and said “I enjoyed that book you gave me, what else you got for me?” I was pleasantly shocked. His demeanour had completely changed! He was looking at everything we had on the table, and I told him slowly about Bhagavad-Gita. He again cut me off and said, “Alright, alright, I’ll take it.” He pulled out his wallet, gave 20$, smiled and said “Is that alright?” I thanked him and said yes. He again rushed off, but I was stunned! Gurudeva, your words and your association altered his consciousness towards devotees, towards books about Krishna in such a way that he became so friendly and favourable with me.

Your influence is boundless - not something I, with my tiny, faulty mind and senses can measure in the least. But somehow, by your mercy, everywhere I turn I am shown again and again how extensive is your glory, and, in turn, your mercy. These persons, of course, do not understand the impact that their fond memories of your association or the liking of your books may have on them, but it is a fact that you are constantly walking, talking, thinking, and living Krishna consciousness in perfection, and when they are remembering anything to do with you, they are engaging in devotional service.

sadhu sanga sadhu sanga sarva sastre kaya
lava matra sadhu sanga larva siddhi haya

Even a moment’s association with a sadhu, especially of your caliber, grants one the topmost perfection of life. They chanted Krishna’s names, they took prasadam, attended a class by you, or read your books… What better experience can one expect to have while wandering around in this material world? There is no better deal.

As Srila Prabhupada has said, and as you have reiterated - one has to make the best use of a bad bargain.
This material world, material existence, this material body - it’s all a bad bargain. However, it is the loophole to quickly wrap up our business and get outta here, as you say.

Thank you for extending the perfect program Śrīla Prabhupāda laid out to those in such materialistic situations, in such traps. Where there is no conception of Krishna consciousness - no conception of God, surrender, devotion, even just the sanity of the human standard of living - this is where you make sure to open up access to knowledge of, practice of, and worship in Krishna consciousness. It’s right under people’s noses, and those with a little sense can see that this is not an artificial program. Wandering on the streets of one of the biggest cities in America, who can foretell what they’re coming into contact with when they agree to take a book or two? This is not possible. It’s too good to be true. But you have taught us so diligently, so thoroughly, how sankirtan book distribution, cultivation, having a centre, doing prasadam distribution, maintaining, investing in and growing the farm-to-city connection - everything is a perfect formula to give people the best chance at making a mass exodus from the cycle of birth and death. What would we do without your guidance, care, broad vision? I know I’d certainly be lost.

Thank you so much for granting me further engagement in Krishna’s service by giving me brahminical initiation. I never thought in my wildest dreams I might ever be allowed near the service of deity worship, and indeed, I am cent percent unqualified, and approach from a far, respectful distance. The only thing I live off is your mercy in everything I do, that is the foundation, my lifeline, and you keep, year after year, making sure that I know how much you care for me, though I unfortunately don’t always take it to the extreme of seriousness. I’m working on that, please bear with me.
In speaking with me about second initiation this past August at the retreat we recently held at Gita Nagari Dham, I told you I didn’t know what to say, and expressed my surprise. Your response was “You’re surprised at how much I care for you.”
Guru Maharaja, in my poor material existence, I knew no one cared for me. Now, in devotional service, I’ve come to understand that there’s no one who cares more than you and the devotees. You’ve given home, family, engagement - everything. However, the more I stick around, the more you show me the extent of your care, and I’m shocked at every seeming exponential increase. Of course, what care and love you show me is already there, but I am so foolish and childish that I don’t understand. Please forgive me for my foolish ways and lack of understanding.

Dearest Guru Maharaja, I cannot fathom everything you’ve given me, nor do I think I will ever be able to. As you yourself have said, you struggled to think of anything you could get me to do for you in my beginning days, due to how spaced out and incapacitated I was then. Though I have been around for some short years, surely I still have remnants of that nature, and I don’t make it as easy as I could make it for you and others to engage me in service. Still, though I am very fallen and hold tightly to my conditioning, you are expertly shaking it out of me, like one shakes a rag out of a dog’s mouth, and thus I am engaged in more than I was back then. This is your power!
I’m praying on this day to become completely pliable to your pleasure and desire, and to improve my ability to listen to your instructions from you yourself and those that you give for me through your disciples. Please bless me with the taste to carry on and go deeper in to sankirtan, prasadam distribution, kirtan, and most of all, service at the lotus feet of the Vaisnavas. This has repeatedly been your instruction to me, now let it be fulfilled.
Please forgive me for my failures in devotional service, and allow me the intelligence to be eager and enthusiastic for feedback to improve. My greatest fear is to fall out of your service, your shelter. Though I know it’s not possible due to your pervading program of care, I still beg you for protection from my mind and senses. Please never allow me to deviate. Please never kick me away, for I have nothing but your lotus feet, my most prized possession.

I don’t know what more to say, really. I am completely indebted, and though I know I cannot pay off this debt, I intend to attempt by at the very very least giving you whatever functioning or malfunctioning faculties I have in my body, mind, and speech - I offer you my very life, though that is not much, but hopefully it can be bettered and improved to a standard suitable for use in your transcendental service.

Please accept my humble, immature offering.

Praying for firm situation in your service,
Your aspiring servant, your spiritual daughter,
Sachidevi devi dasi

Dear guru maharaja
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to srila prabhupad and to you on this most auspicious day of your appearance.

The first time I met you was an unforgettable day. When I heard your seminar, I knew I was with a special human being. I never forgot what you told in the seminar. I still remember till this very day. I was covered in ignorance until I met you. I use to look in the mirror and ask myself who am I becoming and wondered if I will stand up for my beliefs. Now after so many years, I finally see what I'm suppose to do, I'm letting go of things that don't serve me no more.

I cannot begin to tell you the way you have changed my life. Not only have you brightened my days but you have given me something that no one else could have given me-- you have given me the chance to live life in a proper way. With your guidance and encouraging words, you have given me a glimpse of a beautiful future.

Thank you for always making time to see me and giving me a wonderful god family.

Your servant
Samantha

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


Dear Guru Maharaja

Another year past and this one have being a hard one in my spiritual practices. Because of health issues it gets so hard to practices spiritual life properly and get enough and good association.
What make me to continue and inspire? Your memory, classes, instructions and example.
You are such an example of a good disciple of your Guru Maharaja and Srila Prabhupada gave us such a tremendous Knowledge that can be enough to practice Bhakti but I feel fortunate to have someone like you, active and alive to show us properly how a disciple should be and how to please a Guru. I know also you are there when I need an instruction and direct guidance.
Inside my heart I feel the separation of personal association and service to you and to the deities in Melbourne. I will try to hold tie this feeling to make me tolerate difficulties.
I feel you do so much for others and you has being so merciful and helpful to me and my family that I don’t feel like disturbing you when I am facing a hard time and knowing is a completely temporal problem.
Days like your Vyasa Puja are a good one to make me feel stronger thinking about you and help me to increase my appreciation and desire to serve you more. I hope that day will come soon.
Personally I feel bless I had a treasure on my heart holding amazing memories serving you directly.
Sorry for not being able to be so active as I wish to serve you better but Thank you so much for gave so many opportunities as a young devotee. You made my spiritual foundation and pillar very strong and I hope to always stay firm in my Bhakti process under your guidance.

Your eternal servant
Sammohini.dd

Hare Kṛṣṇa Guru Mahārāja!
Please accept my humble obeisances.

All glories to you on this most auspicious day.

Although I have no qualification to write this offering still for my purification, I am paying my homage to you Guru Mahārāja.

The greatest moment in my life had been when you accepted me as your sheltered disciple. This shows how devotees of Kṛṣṇa are so compassionate that they simply distribute their causeless mercy to anyone like me who has no sincerity, dedication, and gratefulness. Whatever little Kṛṣṇa consciousness I am practicing it is only due to you Gurudeva else I have no hope. Due to my past sinful activities, I undergo a lot of crisis and temptations in life and it is only and only due to your mercy and instructions that I am surviving. I am extremely grateful to you for giving this wretched soul the mercy of Gaura-Nitai else I would have been simply dictated to hell due to my past sins.

Gurudeva, no words can glorify your greatness. Even though you have a tight schedule, you give endless darśans to your disciples never thinking of your personal inconvenience. Associating with your Vani is no different from your Vapuh association,please blesses me to increase my regularity of associating with your divine instructions and to practically apply them in my life.

Gurudev please bless me that I become more Kṛṣṇa conscious every moment and surrender with all my thoughts, words and deeds in all times, place and circumstances and carry out the world deliverance mission of Lord Caitanya.

Although my attempts to serve you in the past have been miserable, somehow you have continued to allow me the opportunity to render some insignificant service at Your lotus feet. I am indebted to your causeless mercy life after life. Gurudeva, I beg with folded hands before you and seek your blessings so that we (my mother and I) earnestly serve you at our best wherever we are. Please continue to hold our hands and engage us in your service always; that is our only way to perfection. Life after life, please engage us.


Your aspiring servant,

Sankarsana Rama Das

Hare Krishna dear Gurudeva,

may you please accept my humble obeisances on this auspicious occasion.

'When a person receives the seed of devotional service, he should take care of it by becoming a gardener and sowing the seed in his heart. If he waters the seed gradually by the process of sravana and kirtana (hearing and chanting), the seed will begin to sprout.' CC-Madya-lila;20;152

While reading this I was thinking of your upcoming Vyasa-puja. It made me realize again how fortunate we are to receive this seed and how exceptional to become a gardener.
Following your instructions and by the mercy of Krishna and his devotees somehow this insignificant servant is trying to become a lover of Krishna; a qualified gardener.

Thank you so much for all the help and support, all the strenght you give me again and again.

your aspiring servant
Santa-rupa Devi Dasi

Nama om visnu padya krsna presthya bhutale
srimate devamrta swamin iti namina
pracare purva daksyam ca bhatacara pravinta
prathapi karunyam yasya sarve ca te namah

Respected Gurudev,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Shrila Prabhupada. All glories to you on this auspicious day of your appearance.
Attachment to the guru’s lotus feet is the best way to make spiritual advancement. His mercy fulfils all our spiritual desires. Guru’s mercy is a necessity in one’s daily spiritual life. Gurudev, I am eternally indebted to your divine grace for saving me from all the devouring jaws of material civilization. As a servant I keep trying and wait for your mercy. It is your divine grace’s causeless mercy that you lifted us up from the ocean of birth and death and engaged us in Krsna’s devotional service.
Gurudev you awaken us from our slumber by your brilliant classes. Our greatest fortune is that your presence is felt by hearing your talks. Your preaching efforts in Russia, Australia, New Zealand, USA, are yielding amazing results. Your expertise in empowering young westerners, teaching them how to approach Krsna and serve Krsna is very inspiring. I had the opportunity to serve Brahamacharis of Brahamachari Ashram of New Zealand twice and I was amazed to see their discipline and humility. They are Brahamacharis under your divine care and guidance. I am very fortunate that with your instructions one can never deviate from the auspicious path of devotional service. Please bless me so that I can maintain my daily sadhana of attentive chanting, hearing, reading in the association of devotees. I simply want to thank you for all your care throughout the phase of my spiritual life.

Your humble servant,
Satyasaar devi dasi

Hare Krishna dear Gurudeva.

Please accept my respectful obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to you on this most special day of your appearance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Every morning when I rise, I offer my obeisances while chanting your pranama mantra. I take this time to remember you and your instructions with gratitude in my heart, praying to you that I can have the strength and devotion to take your lotus feet into my core and please you more day by day. I have been trying to deeply meditate on the meaning of your pranama mantra more recently.

Pracare purva daksam ca
Bhakta cara pravinata
Paratatapi karunyam
Yasya sarve ca te namah

Your expertise in preaching, care for devotees and compassion for all living entities. This perfectly sums up your divine qualities.

Potency and expertise in preaching:

Who are you Gurudeva? It is apparent that you are not of this material world. The depth of your potency is striking. Fully empowered. Your words penetrate the core of anyone who is fortunate to accept them.
So deeply humble yet powerfully bold.
So softly caring yet strikingly strong vigour to smash the illusions of this world.
Once I heard you say that when you speak, you are thinking about how your every word can diminish all misconceptions of shelter, so that all we are left with is the shelter of Srila Prabhupada’s books and the mahā mantra. This is your expertise.
I feel so enlivened hearing your Bhagavatam classes, every drop is nectar and I want to swim in it continually. I relish observing others hear you speak and can see how they are soaking up every word. Tonight at the inaugural Victoria University event, I could feel how hundreds of blessed guests were literally drinking the nectar of your words, they were glued and they were bathing in the purity emanating from your lips in your revolutionary talk and ecstatic Krishna kirtan. For those who are fortunate, your powerful words become the very substance that changes their lives. I was somehow fortunate. The purity behind your words transformed my whole life, my heart, intention and direction. It is the power and purity of your words which propel and inspire my every action and underlie my existence.
You speak so expertly on behalf of Srila Prabhupada and Krishna. I pray that someday by your grace I can follow your footsteps and preach in a pure, potent way that is pleasing to you. You said if you get the chance to do sankirtana as your service you are very fortunate. Please help me see my rarest fortune and embrace this preaching mission, which is so dear to you.
You told me that your desire is that I actively distribute Lord Caitanya’s mercy, have life and preach! Please let me dance to your desire.

Personal care for devotees:

Only the most exalted and empowered servant of Krishna can exhibit such deep care to so many. Your care penetrates all levels materially, mentally, spiritually. From checking I have warm clothes for sankirtana, to giving me breathing exercises to sleep better, giving me your own medicine, to picking me up when I am a complete mental wreck to firing me up spiritually with sankirtana inspiration messages and more. You care for each devotee with every fibre of your being. I am simply stunned at how you can be so personal, sensitive and genuinely caring for myself and all of us under your shelter.
Like an immature toddler I constantly fumble and trip up and splutter out all my frailties and misconceptions and you expertly and gently smash them to pieces. Your care comes in the form of bravely exposing our illusions- you strip us bare. Thank you for constantly lifting me up, putting me back on track and reigniting my spiritual fire.
I recently was on my knees- frail, vulnerable and you scooped me up like a lost orphan child and bathed me with such intense fatherly care. Like the soothing moon rays, your sincere care cradled me in my disturbed state.
How could someone care for me so deeply? Why does someone like you give little me so much of your time? I was moved to tears. “What can I do to care for your more?” you compassionately asked. But Gurudeva I responded, ‘you have given me everything.’ I just need to realise this and apply. Everything in my life is a manifestation of your care for me. The ashram, my service, books, devotees, maha mantra, prasad, sankirtana- what to speak of your personal association and guidance? You have overflooded me with your mercy and care. Help me swim in your mercy and please help me share this flood of care with others. I cannot just take and not extend the care you have given me to others. I am deeply grateful for all the gentle care and kindness you have given me despite my rough, proud and stubborn nature. You still see my potential amidst my whirlwind demoniac tendencies. You continue to encourage and uplift me. You told me to care for devotees and care for persons so they become devotees. Please allow me to humbly fulfil your instructions, following your glorious and gracious example.

Compassion for all living entities:

Your compassion must not have a limit. Your every action, thought, word is a manifestation of your realisation of the suffering in this world of souls not in connection with Krishna. You can see the absurdity in this and the simple solution. You once told me that we want to be competent servants of Lord Caitanya and that means to see the reality of material existence. With this reality in the forefront of your vision, you are impelled by the force of compassion gushing down through the parampara to shower the world with Krishna consciousness- because you can see the reality.
The whole world is so lost, thrown so far off track. You recently said that the faultline runs to the core. But we must see with a good eye and a bad eye- see the faults but also compassionately see the potential in everyone. There is so much work to do. I desperately want to assist you.
You have invested everything in this mission. I think I will never fully conceive of how you have given and continue to give every drop of blood, every ounce of energy, every breath to this mission to lift the burden of this world, to wake us up to Krishna consciousness.

Tolerance

Humility

Deep dedication

You have sacrificed everything for Srila Prabhupada’s pleasure and for our sake. You are intimately linked to the flow of compassion coming down the parampara, from showing us how to sincerely call out to the Lord like Advaita Acarya, to feeling others suffering like Prahlada Maharaja to personally tolerating inconvenience for others upliftment like Prabhupada- you are directly in alignment with our family lineage of compassion- the essence of the sankirtana movement. I pray that I am not a block to this flow. I really want to be a useful instrument of compassion in your hands Gurudeva. I am so happy simply distributing books on your behalf. I feel you there with me. But I need to align with this mission more deeply. I want to feel the Sankirtan movement..By your mercy my heart may become soft and compassion may flow there and I may be able to do some valuable service for your pleasure.

Dear Gurudeva,
In my mind I am a victim and weak but under your shelter and following your instructions of immersing myself in Sankirtan ocean I am in the safest and happiest place in this dangerous world. Thank you for giving me this most rare opportunity.

I want to cling to your lotus feet, imprint them in my heart as my only driving force in life. But my heart is hard and has sharp rough edges and stubborn security gates. Only the warmth of your care and guidance, your roaring hot kirtans and your mercy of throwing me into the blazing fire of Sankirtan can my heart gradually melt until it may one day be soft like butter and able to develop some genuine love for Krishna and real service to you.
Please help me let your lotus feet, your service become my only focus and exclusive shelter. SrI guru carane rati ei se uttama gati.
I desperately beg for your mercy upon me, without which I truly have no other hope. I pray that one day my service, attitude and action can reflect or express an ounce of the gratitude I feel for you Gurudeva.

Your insignificant aspiring servant,
Saumya-mayī devi dasi.

Hare Krishna Gurumaharaj.

Please accept my humble obeisances unto your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga.

Very recently I came across this wonferful purport of Srila Prabhupada "Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has instructed that an unalloyed devotee should consider himself a servant of the servant of the servant of the Supreme Lord (gopī-bhartuḥ pāda-kamalayor dāsa-dāsānudāsaḥ). In Vaiṣṇava philosophy, one should not even become a direct servant. Prahlāda Mahārāja was offered all the blessings of an opulent position in the material world and even the liberation of merging into Brahman, but he refused all this. He simply wanted to engage in the service of the servant of the servant of the Lord. Therefore Bali Mahārāja said that because his grandfather Prahlāda Mahārāja had rejected the blessings of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in terms of material opulence and liberation from material bondage, he truly understood his self-interest." SB 5.24.25
I was meditating on this purport and I understood one thing that although I am meditating on this purport but the real realization will come more when I will continue to serve an empowered personality like you who is actually living by this verse. Many a times in your lectures you have said that the verses of Srimad Bhagavatam will be revealed more and more when we serve a living bhagvatam. You give so much emphasis on Srila Prabhupada books and you relish them so much because you in all your life have lived by this verse.
It is not an easy task to continue devotional service in the age of hypocrisy and quarrel but time and again through your lectures and by your personal life you have showed to us what is devotional service. You have said again and again that make devotional service as our career and I am seeking inspiration from you as to how to make this as a career. Your tireless preaching work, book writting,BBT seva, your successful Loft programes is a glaring example as to how continuously we should use our mind and senses for bhakti.
Everytime when I do any school preaching I take inspiration from you as to how we can inspire young minds. You so expertly uses modern fallacy to attract the attention of youths towards spiritual wisdom. Your techniques are something that we can learn. Very recently I have send a 2 minutes short video of yours to one of my colleague who got so inspired. How expertly you used current enviornmental cricis and blend it with spiritual solution.
Srila Prabhupada says "One has to serve Krishna sincerely with whatsoever talent one may have. Guidance of the Spiritual Master and sincere service to the Lord will give us all strength in the science of Krishna" Letter to Dayananda, Nandarani, Uddhava Sep 20, 1967. Prabhupada gives the importance of using of talent but guidance from Spiritual Master is very important. You are guiding thousands of condition soul and expertly engaging in service of Lord Gauranga.

I sincerely beg from you on this auspicious ocassion of your vyas puja that may I continue to remain as the servant of servant and serve you eternally. I may not have the mood of Bali Maharaj in the above verse but as Srila Prabhupada says "the disciple and spiritual master are never separated because the spiritual master always keeps company with the disciple as long as the disciple follows strictly the instructions of the spiritual master" SB 4.28.47.I may continue to follow your instruction and never be bereft from you.

I beg from you to bestow your causeless mercy so that I can have the "shakti" to carry on your instructions.

Your aspiring insignificant servant
Sayak Basu

Dear Gurudeva,

nama oṁ viṣṇu pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣthāya bhūtale
śrīmate devāmṛta swāmīn iti nāmine

I offer my respectful obeisances to Śrīmate Devāmṛta Swāmī who is very dear to Lord Kṛṣṇa on this earth, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.

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 Vaisnava dealings, selflessness and compassion.

<strong>G</strong>lorious. All glory to you on this auspicious day of your appearance! All glory to Srila Prabhupada! All glory to Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu! All glory to Lord Nityānanda! All glory to Śrī Advaita Ācārya! And all glory to all the devotees of Lord Caitanya!


<strong>U</strong>ndisturbed. You’re so fixed in your service no matter the conditions. The real qualification of the liberated soul is that he remains Kṛṣṇa conscious, undisturbed by the actions and reactions of the material energy. Such a liberated person is always jubilant. He never laments or aspires for anything.

<strong>R</strong>esilient. From country to country you travel incessantly. Different time, food, home, audiences climate but remembering Kṛṣṇa’s transcendental qualities, you fully engage in the loving service of the Lord.

<strong>U</strong>nique. Your preaching style is unique. Just like your relationship with the Lord. Everyone has a particular relationship with the Lord, and that relationship is evoked by the perfection of devotional service. Every living being, out of the many, many billions and trillions of living beings, has a particular relationship with the Lord eternally. That is called svarūpa. By the process of devotional service, one can revive that svarūpa, and that stage is called svarūpa-siddhi – perfection of one’s constitutional position.

<strong>D</strong>evoted. There’s never a moment where you don’t think of the Lord. “A pure devotee, who is attached to the activities of devotional service and who always engages in the service of My lotus feet, never desires to become one with Me. Such a devotee, who is unflinchingly engaged, always glorifies My pastimes and activities.”


<strong>E</strong>cstatic and effulgent. Ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa, which is known as anubhāva, is symptomized by the following signs: one becomes engaged exclusively in the service of the Lord, being attentive to carry out the orders of the Lord faithfully; one becomes undisturbed and nonenvious in full transcendental loving service to the Lord; and one makes friendship with the devotees of the Lord who are situated in faithful service to Him. All of these symptoms are called anubhāva, ecstatic love.

<strong>V</strong>enerable. Just as the Lord himself. The relationship of a disciple with his spiritual master is as good as his relationship with the Supreme Lord. A spiritual master always represents himself as the humblest servitor of the Personality of Godhead, but the disciple must look upon him as the manifested representation of Godhead.

<strong>A</strong>mazing. All your qualities amaze me. A devotee who is actually advanced is not afraid of anything, provided he has the opportunity to execute the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Also, only because of this principle does a mahā-bhāgavata, who has nothing to do with the material world, come down to the second platform of devotional service to preach the glories of the Lord all over the world. 



Your obliged servant,

Sevā Vilāsa Devi Dasi


nama om visnu - padaya
krsna – presthaya bhu-tale
srimate Devamrita -
swamin iti namine

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

Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisance at the dust of Your lotus feet
All glories to Srila Prabhupada

śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya-dayā karaha vicāra
vicāra karite citte pābe camatkāra (CC Adi 8.15)
If you are indeed interested in logic and argument, kindly apply it to the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. If you do so, you will find it to be strikingly wonderful.

I feel the mercy of Mahaprabhu’s sincere devotees’, Your mercy on us, is even more strikingly wonderful. Your whole life completely dedicated in distributing the mercy of Mahaprabhu, without any discrimination to all of us, the rebellious conditioned souls. With your deep devotion and powerful words, you transform our hearts. Representing Your beloved Lord Krishna, You clarifies all our misconception in the path of pure devotional love for Him. I love every word You speak, that is the only solace for me. Your words clear our vision in Bhakti to approach Krishna with purified love for Him. Your narrations of Sri Chaitanya Charitamirta, Srimad Bhagavatam or anything is like pouring nectar in my ears. Those narrations are the only medicine to cure my material disease. bhavauṣadhāc chrotra-mano-’bhirāmāt (SB 10.1.4)

Guru maharaj, I really struck with words to explain your mercy on me. Since You accepted me as your servant everything is so wonderful. Sometime, due to my shortcomings I did not understand your instructions properly and bothered you. But, still You showered your causeless mercy on me. You train us to be a real devotee, not a sentimentalist. I am so fortunate to be guided and personally taken care by you every time. When my mother was in final days, You instructed me, “Study the situation and learn from it. Because you will also go through the same situation. We all will.” Initially my dull mind did not understand your instruction. In my mind I was planning and thinking something else. Your words cut off my attachment to material tendencies. Later I started meditating on your instructions. I studied the situation very closely until the soul leaving the body. That was the most amazing lesson you thought me. Just 5 mins before the soul leaving the body, I was sensing that she will leave the body. I was bit panic and calling different devotees here and there. Suddenly, a thought came in my mind, “What are you doing? Who will help? Start Chanting”. Immediately I started chanting.

I learned from this lesson that, unless I develop niskapata bhakti, devotion without duplicity, I cannot able to remember Krishna at the crucial time of death. And I also learned that, devotion to Guru and Krishna is the only thing helps in this entire existence. And, with the mercy of Sri Guru all wonderful things happen.
Finally, you said, “It’s Krishna’s mercy that she could depart in Vrindavan”.

yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo
yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto 'pi
dhyāyan stuvaṁs tasya yaśas tri-sandhyaṁ
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam

By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Krishna. Without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement. Therefore, I should always remember and praise the spiritual master. At least three times a day I should offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master.

Guru Maharaj, by Your mercy my mother received a wonderful opportunity to depart from Sri Vrindavan. Other than Your mercy there is no qualification for me or my mother to get this opportunity. jogyatā-vicāre, kichu nāhi pāi, tomāra karuṇā-sāra, I have no qualities. Your mercy is all that I am made of.

Krishna’s mercy on us, the rebellious conditioned souls, incarnated as Grantha-bhagavata and Bhakta bhagavatha. We could see no difference in You and Grantha Bhagavata. Whatever you say is Grantha bhagavata, the scriptural incarnation of Krishna, because Grantha Bhagavata recorded in your heart. Following in the footsteps of Srila Prabhupada, You continuously travel all over the world and makes our lives purified. Just by seeing You, associating with You and serving You our hearts contamination will be purified.

na hy am-mayāni tīrthāni
 na devā mṛc-chilā-mayāḥ
te punanty uru-kālena
 darśanād eva sādhavaḥ

Mere bodies of water are not the real sacred places of pilgrimage, nor are mere images of earth and stone the true worshipable deities. These purify one only after a long time, but saintly sages purify one immediately upon being seen. (SB 10.84.11)

Gurudev, on this auspicious Vyasa Puja day I pray, You please engage me in whatever service pleases You. And also,

manaso vṛttayo naḥ syuḥ
 kṛṣṇa pādāmbujāśrayāḥ
vāco ’bhidhāyinīr nāmnāṁ
 kāyas tat-prahvaṇādiṣu

May our mental functions always take shelter of Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet, may our words always chant His names, and may our bodies always bow down to Him and serve Him. (SB 10.47.66)

Your obedient servant,
Sevya Bhagavan Dasa

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

Thank you for the opportunity to serve the devotees and you.
Thank you for your guidance.

Your humble servant.

Nama om vishnu padaya krishna prestaya bhutaleSrimate Devamrita Swamin iti namine

Dear most Gurudev! On this most auspicious occasion, I beg you to please accept my humble obeisances unto the dust of your lotus feet millions of times. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Lord Sri Krishna Himself tells Uddhava, "With the dust of My devotees' lotus feet I desire to purify the material worlds, which are situated within me. Thus I always follow the footsteps of My pure devotees, who are free from all personal desire, rapt in thought of My pastimes, peaceful, without any feelings of enmity and of equal disposition everywhere."

In the Caitanya Caritamrita , there is an  example of a poor man immediately becoming rich when the astrologer told him where his late father has hidden the treasure. Similarly, by some good fortune when we met you,  immediately our lives became enriched with Bhakti and all the so called problems became trivial. 

You are fervently engaged in spreading the Sankirtan movement. You ignite the same Sankirtan spirit and ecstasies that you are experiencing into the hearts of anyone who comes in contact with you wether they were searching for it or not.

For example: In the late 90's the books were finding their way into my apartment through my roommate, Krishna, who would run into loft devotees in Manners mall again and again. I remember asking him, 'why are you buying so many of these books? How much are they charging you for these books?' Even he didn't have an answer. He told me he just couldn't say no to them.

When I went with my roommate to my first Sunday feast I met Jenny and Donna (Guruvani and Urjeshvari ) who approached me with forms for automatic payments. They had it all worked out, how I take a SB set from Jenny and Caitanya Caritamrita set from Donna. I had no idea what automatic payment they were talking about or what books they were trying to sell.
There after I was approached every time at The Loft by different devotees . Just to name a few Dinadayal Mataji, Kadhiravan Mataji, Krishna Loka Mataji, Svetadvip Prabhu, Raivata Prabhu and finally Mahavan Prabhu who convinced me to buy the sets from him. I kept thinking to myself why are they all doing this? Which college student has time to read so many books & the money to sign up for $1100 worth of books? But their enthusiasm and purity kept alluring me back.

Then when I met you it all made sense. Desiring to please you, like my worship-able God siblings at The Loft and #1 book distributor in all of North America Bhakta Luke (Khela Thirtha Prabhu), I developed the strong desire to learn from them how to cultivate and sign up guests to buy full sets of Srila Prabhupad's books and do street Sankirtan. I'm grateful toward these devotees like Ramdas, Nandagopa, Jhulan Yatra, Gaura Raya, Municari, Sitapati, Ameyatma, Aghahanta, Balagopal and Mahavan prabhus who showed me how to distribute books on the street. 
Your love for Prabhupada's books was (is) coming out of the pores of everyone connected to you.

You make Srila Prabhupad available to us through this most intimate service (book distribution). So much so, Srila Prabhupada appears even in the dreams of beginner devotees like my wife and I. 

Few dreams to share:
I) Long dream in short,  my wife had with Srila Prabhupada.  He was signing the Gitas for the devotees and in one book he wrote " thank you very much for distributing my books." Everyone was excited to grab it and he stopped them saying, "This is for Shastra krit. " He looked into my wife's eyes and handed it to her.

 II) In another recent dream, Prabhupada was showing me how to distribute books from my book table. He boldly stopped an African American young man and gave him 4 books. Krishna Book, Gita, S.B 1.1 and a Hiding in Unnatural Happiness. He told the young man by reading these books the boy will develop attachment for him, and that the beginning of spiritual life is to engage in loving exchanges. 'Now I have given you these books, you should reciprocate by giving some donation.'

III) In one of my older dreams, all of us Sydney book distributor b-caris were riding a bus with Prabhupada, and everyone was asking him different questions. Prabhupada could see I really wanted to ask him a question. So he asked me, " YES, WHAT DO YOU WANT?" I wanted to ask Srila Prabhupada how to do mass book distribution. Before I finished asking, Prabhupada said, "OH, that you discuss with Devamrita Swami, he is expertly doing that in all the hellish cities."

By your grace I had a humble realization in this connection, that by rendering service under proper guidance of a pure devotee like you, no matter how degraded of a position one may come from, all can be elevated to the supreme position of being recognized by The Acaryas and Krishna.

You always impart to us valuable lessons on service. I once asked you a question about how to make up for my offenses to devotees. You immediately with conviction told me, "service must go on."In a recent visit you told me, "I don't want this all or nothing mentality with new comers. Keep in touch with them all, as friends of Krishna, let them do a little service."

Since the beginning, you always encouraged me to develop love for Srila Prabhupad's books, to love reading them and to love distributing them. One time, trying to imitate my God siblings, I was trying to a give a powerpoint presentation at a Sunday feast in Gaura yoga. It came out all sloppy, and on top of that you happened to be there in the audience. I was ready to jump out of the window. You gently with much love approached me saying, 'Just fill yourself with nectar( from reading Prabhupad's books) and let it ooze out of you when you speak. Just tell them about Krishna and have a good time. Nobody asked you to do a powerpoint presentation. It's not natural for you. I myself, I don't use it all the time."

In your example I witnessed how you tell people about Krishna, and have a good time. At a recent Uni event, one girl approached you with this serious face, saying, "Can I ask you a question." You peacefully responded, "Sure." She asked, "Are you happy?" With a huge smile, you responded, "I let you be the judge." She was like, 'Yes, yes you look so happy.'

About 12 years or so ago, I was having serious health problems, and living in a big city & devotional community like LA was not helping. You kindly, out of love said I can move back down under. I was in a dilemma because the temple had already applied for my GC, so I was wondering what to do. I wrote to you with what I thought was a most difficult question in life . You responded saying, "I sent you there to distribute books, I did not send you to America to get a GC. You can do so much service down under without your GC, come immediately." My so called problem was smashed. 

One Christian couple was coming along nicely for a while and they even bought a full Bhagavatam set from me. The lady freaked out all of a sudden about Krishna philosophy, went back to church and stopped coming to our ashram. You kindly remembered them and asked me how this couple is doing. When I told you they don't come anymore, your realization was profound as usual-" But they have the books". Sure enough I met the man later on, and he told me how he is reading the books secretly in his music studio in the basement.
 
You choose your words so carefully. You are sober and self controlled. You are a Goswami. 
Your words carry so much potency. You openly say things as they are to your disciples.  Specifically to the male disciples whom were personally trained under you. You don't candy coat things. You speak the truth in all circumstances. Even your vocabulary is so perfect. Since meeting you my English has improved so much. I'm starting to think before saying or writing anything these days.

Before your recent Atlanta visit, I wrote you saying two of my God siblings are coming to assist me. You wrote back, "Assist me? Help me?" Then I realized it's not the proper thing to say. I then corrected myself and replied, 'they are coming to assist you.'

My wife cooked you lunch  and you appreciated her spice level. So I proudly said, "I was sampling the lunch to make sure it tasted good." You looked at me and asked, "You sampled the lunch?" I clarified how I just tried a drop or crum just to make sure it's not plain. Then you were satisfied with the clarification. 

Whenever I share book distribution scores or stories with you, I know it's one thing that always makes you happy. Even if you just respond with one word like : 
Sets!  more sets! Increase. Let there be an increase. High voltage emoji. Non-Indians buying full sets? Ecstatic. Breaking open an untouched market, selling to African Americans. 
All these, even just one word response from you, makes my life worth while.

Just by observing you even in ordinary dealings we are learning how to become a perfect gentleman. I offered you probiotic drink, you took some and asked me if it needs to be refrigerated. I said 'you can, but you don't have to'. You then read out loud the instructions,'to be refrigerated.' I realized how you simply follow the prescription of the those in knowledge. On the other hand I rebel. 

You carried your ID when we went for a morning Japa walk. I was surprised you were carrying your ID, and you were surprised I was not carrying my ID being in a brown body. Now the media confirms the racial discrimination going on in the US, something you hinted months ago. You are so conscious and careful of the current world situation.

You asked me what form of exercise I'm doing these days. I said I work out on a rebounder. You asked me how I do it. I responded," Just like you do it." Knowing me, you asked,"When did you last see me doing it?" "Few years back." I said. You corrected me saying, "Oh I do it differently since then." You are never stagnant, you are always with the times and always doing the needful.

In reading from the books, in the past leadership meant so many things. You have explained so practically how leadership in Kali means first learning how to get along with people that are different from us. You are an expert manager and leader.
You always teach us how to tolerate, and work for the higher cause. You don't let us quit. I was trying to complain about one of the temple leaders ( from Indian background ), and you simply responded, "Oh really, what do you think it's like for me to deal with you." I never complained about him after that.

I had all these questions on how to deal with different new comers. Different age groups, gender, cultures etc. So in a morning walk I wanted to clarify how to deal with each one of them. You simply answered,"Let's see what THEY want to do. How far THEY want to go. Give them Prasad, chant with them, help them understand the books, and let's see." You made it so easy for me.

You asked one of our regular girls if she is encouraging her partner in spiritual life. She responded,"I'm trying." You said, "yes that's what I do as well, we can only try."

You are so humble, you don't take credit even though you have accomplished so much. Whichever zones you agree to lead starts thriving. Your God siblings appreciate you so much. Devotee communities world wide appreciate you so much. Devotees love your Kirtans, Bhagavatam classes, seminars filled with humor and depth, your tactful presentation of Krishna philosophy to western audiences, last but not least your books. Book distributors world wide really appreciate your recent book Hiding in Unnatural happiness, and are eagerly waiting for you to write more books.

Yasya prasadat Bhagavath Prasado. This way by simply assisting you and remaining under your loving shelter we feel totally satisfied in life materially and spiritually. 

The firewood Krishna and Sudama carried for his spiritual master came from trees. The transcendental books we carry and distribute for your pleasure also come from trees.

On your behalf, in the coming year I wish to carry hundred's of cases of Bhagavatam and Caitanya Caritamrita sets to peoples cars and homes. I wish to distribute 10's and thousands of plates of prasadam and do 100's of out reach events.  

"I, the soul of all beings, am not satisfied by ritual worship, brahminical initiation, penances or self discipline as I am by faithful service rendered to ones spiritual master."- Lord Krishna to Sudama.

Prostrated obeisances and hearty birthday wishes from My mother Prema Mala Devi & wife Kumari Gopi Devi Dasi.

Aspiring servant
Shastra Krit das

Hare Krishna Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada, and all glories to you on this most auspicious day.

ohe! vaiṣṇaba ṭhākura, doyāra sāgara,
e dāse koruṇā kori'
diyā pada-chāyā, śodho he āmāya,
tomāra caraṇa dhori

“O venerable Vaisnava, devotee of Krsna! O ocean of mercy, be merciful unto your servant. Give me the shade of your lotus feet and purify me. I hold on to your lotus feet.”

Gurudeva, whatever attempt I may make to glorify you can only be insufficient and meager, yet I pray to you to accept this humble offering of your immature spiritual son and grant me the shelter of your lotus feet.

Gurudeva, at last year’s Recharge Festival, you shared with us your good mother’s criteria for success. She longed for a son who would be a scholar, an entrepreneur and a Christian. On this occasion of your appearance day, I have been meditating on how you are in fact all of these things in a most resplendent form, all for the pleasure of Krsna and Srila Prabhupada.

Who could be a greater transcendental entrepreneur, spearheading innovative urban Bhakti centers and farm communities spanning the world, at the vanguard of ISKCON’s preaching in the contemporary west? You combine business shrewdness and down-to-earth practicality with utter dedication to Srila Prabhupada’s mission.

And as a transcendental scholar coming in the line of the Six Goswamis themselves, your words penetrate the dense fog of mass consensual illusion and offer a transcendental lifeline to all those fortunate enough to encounter them. I will remain forever grateful for your contribution of Searching for Vedic India, which helped to expose the reductionist, empirically-bound worldview that I was born and raised in as merely the false religion of a spiritually debased society.

And who can match your brilliant lectures; perspicacious, bold, brimming with lucid realisation, lovingly peppered with transcendental humour and charm? Your classes are an astonishing feat of spiritual heart surgery; impersonalism and illusion removed with awe-inspiring precision, every example so perfectly and unambiguously conveying the essence of Srila Prabhupada’s teachings.

And, though many so-called Christians of today might be apt to disagree, you embody the compassionate mood of the great Bhakti Yogi Jesus Christ, who sacrificed his life to distribute God consciousness.

The Lord’s prayer reads: ”<i>Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be thy name</i>”, and indeed, your taste for the Holy Name is undeniable. The intensity with which you chant in kirtan is inimitable, and your absorption indubitable.

<i>Thy will be done.</i> As Prabhupada writes in his Bhagavad Gita purports: “There is a specific plan being carried out in this material world. What is this plan? This cosmic manifestation is a chance for the conditioned souls to go back to Godhead, back to home.” You patiently and persistently execute this plan of Lord Krsna by expertly propagating His sankirtana movement, and this is the evidence of your empowerment: <i>kali-kālera dharma—kṛṣṇa-nāma-saṅkīrtana; kṛṣṇa-śakti vinā nahe tāra pravartana.</i>

As Srila Prabhupada writes in his purport to SB7.5.55: “[...] as Kṛṣṇa is always compassionate to the fallen souls, His servants, the devotees of Lord Kṛṣṇa, are also interested in educating the entire populace in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. The mistake of materialistic life is understood by devotees, and therefore they smile upon it, considering it insignificant. Out of compassion, however, such devotees preach the gospel of Bhagavad-gītā all over the world.”

Indeed, you spare no energy in tirelessly preaching the gospel of Bhagavad-gītā all over the world, entreating us conditioned souls to wake up from our slumber. I remember one occasion where you, in a end-of-year festival class, jolted me out of complacency, at least momentarily. In a comical imitation of a fanatical neophyte you cried out: “Sam, why don’t you just surrender?” Although these words were spoken with comic intent for the general audience, they were pregnant with personal meaning for me also, rattling my material cage. For days afterwards devotees couldn’t help but tease: ‘Sam, why don’t you surrender?’ I found myself forced to ask: why do I not take Krsna’s final and conclusive instruction in Bhagavad Gita more seriously?

And so I thank you, the topmost transcendental entrepreneur, scholar and Christian, for your shelter and for so mercifully providing me with such an abundance of service. I pray for the purity to be able to execute this service in proper consciousness, for the pleasure of Guru and Gauranga.

O Gurudeva, when will I realise, as you have, that real nectar comes from dedicating everything to Krsna rather than a miserly mentality of exploiting this world for the flickering pleasure of one’s false self?

When will I kick off the shackles of impersonalism and learn to treat all of Krishna’s parts and parcels properly, with the sensitivity and compassion that I see in you and your sincere disciples?

When will I go beyond being a ‘card-carrying member’ of Srila Prabhupada’s movement, and truly embody a mood of service?

When will I truly beg for the Holy Name, realising that it is my only shelter, relinquishing false pride and illusion?

These are lofty aspirations, but I see in your mercy the hope to cultivate them. And so I conclude with words from Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s timeless bhajan:

ekākī āmāra, nāhi pāya bala,
hari-nāma-sańkīrtane
tumi kṛpā kori', śraddhā-bindu diyā,
deho' kṛṣṇa-nāma-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.

Aspiring to serve you,
Sivananda Sena Dasa

Hare Krishna Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to you.

This year has been filled with ample opportunity for me to realise the harsh and flickering way of material nature, with several family members having unexpectedly received the threat of death. One might think that such an unforeseen event might spark the desire to improve the standard of life. But, alas. One example that illustrates the tragic cycle of material existence without Krsna, is my (material) father. He was informed earlier this year that there was a high chance the lump in his stomach was cancerous and terminal and explained that the only chance for recovery was to be “gutted like a fish”. A few weeks later? He decided that to recuperate he would go fishing, an unfortunate favoured hobby of his, whereupon he would engage in gutting fish.

The irony in this situation was so clear that it was almost humorous. But for one stuck in the clutches of tama guna, the reality of material life is very dark. I was confronted, was this what my future could have been? A tragic cycle of depression and destruction? I am convinced that I could never have found real life without your unbounded mercy and kindness. Stuck in the depths of illusion, my life was headed to places that now I prefer not to think of.

However due to your intervention, I can now see that it was never ‘my life’, at all. I can’t conceive of my good fortune at having been accepted as your disciple.

Srila Prapbhupada states in Srimad Bhagavatam (1.5.23) that “the expert spiritual master knows the art of utilising everything to glorify the Lord, and therefore under his guidance the whole world can be turned into the spiritual abode by the divine grace of the Lord’s servant”. Thankyou Gurudeva for utilising this otherwise useless lump in the ultimate service of Lord Caitanya’s mission. You have so expertly transferred the skills and abilities Krishna supplied and directed them to where, by design, they should be used. Your senior disciples nurture and actively apply your instructions so expertly, a perfect reflection of your preaching spirit. You told me once that to associate with Krsna’s devotees “is not a material skill, it’s a spiritual skill” and that you yourself “beg Krsna for the spiritual quality to associate with His devotees”. I pray that I can also have this meditation, for I will be eternally indebted to you and your disciples for what I have received.

I am so grateful for your unwavering patience and faith in me and I pray that I can one day meet your expectations.

Your aspiring servant and spiritual daughter,

Smita-Kanti devi dasi.

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

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

Hare Krsna Dear Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my most humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to you on this auspicious day of your divine appearance.

My offering is but a feeble attempt to glorify your unlimited qualities and achievements. My senses are imperfect hence I cannot even conceive of your glories, how many times you have guided devotees out of their mire, how many times you must have had sleepless nights to complete the many projects you have for Srila Prabhupada. How many times you must have gone hungry during your service, I am so bound by my own life, my own responsibilities, my own problems, how can I adequately glorify you?

As it is mentioned in the 4th Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam, chapter 22 that the spiritual master’s service of distributing knowledge of Krsna is the greatest gift, it is impossible to repay the spiritual master. How can I repay a personality who is already satisfied by his own devotional service? It is like offering a cupful of water to the vast ocean. What can I possibly offer you? I become a laughing stock - Vinoda patram by even attempting to do so. Yet you accept it for my purification, so to benefit me you accept this offering. You are satisfied when I advance in Krsna consciousness, such is your giving nature.

This year, I want to focus on my mood and attitude, how can I give more of myself when I chant, when I read, when I carry out some service. I have been doing it mechanically for decades, and have become good at practicing shadow Bhakti. I have measured my advancement through my popularity amongst the devotees, through how I have made delicious prasadam, through how early I wake up and chant, through how many pages of Bhagavatam I have read. In all, how much different services I render rather than the quality I give and remember Krsna.

Your every personal instruction to me, has been a boon to me once followed. These instructions may seem simple and without meaning at first. Once followed for some time, through experience and commitment, I see some growth and happiness in myself. But my advancement in Krsna consciousness, I am unable to measure for it could be just my false ego telling me I am doing ok. yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado
yasyaprasadan na gatih kuto 'pi- My only gauge is your satisfaction. I don’t want to only satisfy you while you are personally present front of me. I want to satisfy you while I am practicing my sadhana, when I am doing some service while you are traversing the world preaching. This cultivation of practicing giving satisfaction to the spiritual master is an eternal art and not a drama performance in front of you when you are in town. I need to carry you in my heart, as you are always present through Vani. Through your instructions, I am protected.

I beg to remain forever your servant, and follow in your footsteps. I am forever grateful to be your disciple. Thank you for being an inspiration and mentor to me for so many years.

Your servant,

Sri Goloka das

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

Gurudeva you have sacrificed everything to uplift humanity and save the world. Thank you.
O how magnanimous you are Gurudeva. Risking your life behind the iron curtain to spiritually liberate nations gagged by communism. You are a real hero, a true saint to lead civilisation.

You have achieved the zenith of all aspirations, pure bhakti. Something that even the billionaires of today's world cannot afford.
As one of the rarest beings you having gained wisdom of the fallacy of material enjoyment. Knowing to the extent you materially enjoy, you must suffer. Unnatural happiness. Although there are copious material allurements in this world you are indifferent to them. It would not be possible to keep walking the path you have chosen if you where not free off material desire. krishna says in Bhagavad Gita 2.70:

A person who is not disturbed by the incessant flow of desires—that enter like rivers into the ocean, which is ever being filled but is always still—can alone achieve peace, and not the man who strives to satisfy such desires.

Ahhh peace. The world needs so much peace. Gurudeva you have realised and hold the ultimate remedy to the worlds sufferings. The elixir of divine Love.

Desiring to become more qualified to assist you in your mission I pray for your mercy.

Your servant Sri Jiva Charan das.

Dear Guru Maharaj
Please accept my humble obeisance’s.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and your illustrious self.
Thank you very much for being such a kind, caring father, putting up with silly tantrums from my mind and senses. You ignore this silliness and prune the weeds in the heart and water the root of the creeper of bhakti which can outgrow and outshine the weeds in the heart, leaving no room for them to grow.
You shower your mercy by giving all of us your association and through nectar classes whose rays of knowledge about Krishna shed light on the bhakti creeper enabling it to grow. Also you have the Loft which gives us and newcomers the opportunity to do outreach service and spread Lord Chaitanya’s sankirtan movement. You follow closely in the footsteps of Srila Prabhupada and I hope that one day we do as much to be proud of, as a community.
You are very soft hearted and kind, offering guidance and support through the mentor network. Thank you for putting up with my failings and having hope for my spiritual future and allowing me to attempt to do some small service for Krishna and his devotees.
Your aspiring and lowly servant
Sri Radhika Devi Dasi

Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada,
All glories to you on this most auspicious occasion of your Vyasa Puja celebration.

Thankyou for giving me such a life that I am able to participate in such a sacred event as this special day.

Actually this is my favourite day of the whole year. Remembering you and glorifying you all day with devotees. A day to meditate upon the relationship between Guru and disciple. Thankyou for this opportunity.

As I meditate upon this connection, I remember when I had been practicing Krsna Conscious for a short time, maybe a little under a year, and had been visiting my family in Auckland.
I remember the moment very clearly, we were driving back one night and I thought, ‘I don’t want to be Krsna Conscious, It’s so hard, I just want to be with my family.’ Then the penny dropped and I realised, ‘No one is forcing me, I don’t have to be Krsna Conscience, it is my choice!’
At that moment I physically felt something snap in my heart..... I guess I had left Krsna.

After searching for unlimited lifetimes and with a whole lot of unconditional and unexpected mercy, I had finally come to Krsna, only to leave him again...

At that point I realised that for me, leaving Krsna, would actually mean leaving you, and there was no way that I could do that.

I didn’t (and still don’t) know much about Krsna. My Krsna Conscious has always been my relationship with you, everything is within that from beginning to end, and through your instructions I am able to attempt to serve and remember Krsna and his devotees.

At that time I didn’t want to continue, but the thought of leaving Krsna and my spiritual father, was so empty, dark and terrifying, I scrambled to catch a hold of my Lords lotus feet once again.

Not a situation I am proud of in any way, like many in my life, but that was the day I decided to take Krsna Consciousness with both hands and never look back again.

A few years later I was in Wellington.
In the days before mobile phones and emails were an extension of our daily lives, at least in our part of simple Kiwi-loka, you would ring your disciples once a month or so to check on us - so personally taking care of your dependents, the memory of this always melts my heart at your compassion, outreach and care, (how could I ever attain such a spiritual father is beyond me)

I always waited along with many others to talk to you, although disappointingly I never had anything intelligent, pressing or important to say, this moment was always the highlight of my month.

Occasionally I would ask any ridiculous question about anything I could possibly think of (which wasn’t much!) just as an excuse and any attempt to talk to you.

I guess this was very obvious, but you once again kindly tolerated me.

On one such a day I finally had a genuine question and revealed how I struggled balancing my practice of Krsna Consciousness with my family attachment.
You simply asked me to put my attachment into my spiritual father.
For the second time this was a defining moment in my life. A moment of choice. I felt a physical change in my heart as something deep within me, cut off for eternity, finally clicked into place. You asked me if I felt that, which I definitely had.
For me (always slow on the initial uptake) this was one of the most powerful moments I had ever experienced, the day I finally realised and felt my relationship with my Spiritual Master was deeper than any other so called relationships I had in this material world. This was something actually real. A relationship of freedom rather than material bondage and ultimately pain.

Realisation of this is one thing, but to act upon this realisation is my desire.
I pray to one day be worthy of such a relationship.

On the day of my initiation you mentioned in the class that real initiation takes place in the heart, and this can happen before the ceremony, during, after or.... never.

What must it take to take real initiation in the heart?

How to become the tiniest particle of such a disciple as you are to your spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada? Offering a life so transparently and unconditionally pure, dedicated, personal and fully surrendered to his service and instructions.

Looking back all those years ago, at that time I had just met you, yet I knew you were always there for me as I was new in Krsna Consciousness and you were helping me to become a ‘real devotee’.
A few more years went by and I was convinced that maybe Guru Maharaja is so merciful to me due to my husband’s service and surrender to him, and by dint of his service, Guru Maharaja is being compassionate to me so that I might make some advancement (which would also make both of their lives easier!).
A few more years went by and I thought maybe it is a challenge Guru Maharaja has taken that if I can become Krsna Conscious anyone can, in this way my spiritual master is still helping me, otherwise why would anyone bother?

Now I am beginning to wonder, are you teaching by example what real love looks like? Something so pure, eternal and selfless, an unconditional love that is dutifully personal and ever existing, a love that only Krsna and his pure representative can bestow upon the world?
A love channeled straight from the spiritual world. The love of the spiritual master...

I have been deeply meditating upon your kindness and mercy in my life. I know without which I would not have made it this far.
I need to do so much more but compared to what you do for me I feel like I do nothing.
Acting on what you have given and instructed me would definitely be the correct and real offering I should be giving today, which I sincerely and repeatedly pray that I can attempt to make such an offering happen. I feel desperate to do this, to fight through all my conditioning and become even the smallest particle of a disciple that you are to your spiritual master.

You are truly an ocean of surrender and service at the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada and my eternal inspiration and aspiration is to follow in your lotus footsteps.

yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo
yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto 'pi
dhyāyan stuvaḿs tasya yaśas tri-sandhyaḿ
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam

By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Krsna. Without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement. Therefore, I should always remember and praise the spiritual master. At least three times a day I should offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master.

Please bless me, again, to be able to follow your instructions and offer you what little you have requested of me at the very least.

Your aspiring servant
Sri Yasoda dd

Hare Krsna Guru Maharaj.
Please accept my respectful obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to you! All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

This year as I write my offering, I find myself amidst a transcendental journey, a sankirtan voyage travelling up north along Australia's east coast. You would be pleased to note Guru Maharaj that I have the good fortune of travelling with three other Godbrothers at whose skill and potency I am awed and humbled by as they distribute Srila Prabhupada's books in many villages, towns and cities. No doubt their ability is coming from their connection to your vani and in their pleasing the Parampara authorities.

I am, right now, sitting in a caravan park in Rockhampton in central Queensland. This town is famous as the "beef capital of Australia" and after coming across statistics of the annual number of animals sent to slaughter in Australia, I feel sad; but also, I am amazed at the mercy of Srila Prabhupada's transcendental book distribution scheme. It gives causeless fortune and opportunity to those, including my lowly self, who are destined to degradation. Come what may as the result, but I feel comforted that this small effort brings direct pleasure to you and to Srila Prabhupada.

My mind is drawn back to the Recharge Festival in Otaki years ago during my Harinam Initiation darshan that I had with you. As a new ashram recruit, I was proudly insistent to perform only Harinam as my service, yet my local authority suggested I focus on book distribution. I placed the matter before you then and you gently yet confidently requested me to try sankirtan book distribution. Now I feel extremely glad for your guidance. Your instruction has saved me in Krsna consciousness and in my ashram over the years. I am truly fortunate to have a preaching inspiration as yourself Guru Maharaj. Thank you for being 'down to earth', practical, and an ideal representative of Srila Prabhupada in my life.

Thank you Guru Maharaj for giving me the best service. Thank you for giving me the best association; thank you for the Holy Name; thank you for giving me faith and thank you for the treasure of my life, Sri Radha-Gopinath and Their servants. It was my fortunate contact with you at a retreat a decade ago that has opened the doors to all this and more for me. I am grateful.

Your insignificant servant,
Sriman Nrsimha das

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

The planet is heating up.

In your class last Friday, you pointed out that the present political situation is the same as it was in the nineteen-thirties, just before world war two. In your words: “Autocratic leaders, body consciousness, nationalism—it’s all coming back” “And in Germany, the far right is gaining strength; something no one ever thought would happen after the world war one and world war two.” I am chilled by the comparison.

You discussed the intergenerational tyranny of climate inaction. Describing Greta Thunberg, the sixteen-year-old heroine, demanding action on the climate emergency, and the UN doing absolutely nothing. You compared the current uprising of youth to that of the nineteen-sixties, when young people protested against the consumer lifestyles of their elders. When told 3.5% of the New Zealand population marched for the climate last Friday, you were surprised. “The kiwis are getting riled up about something? Well that’s good!”

Around the world, people in general are more worked up; you told us. Descension, strife, and arguments come about because of the predominance of the modes of passion and ignorance. It’s the forest fire of material existence. And you warned us “All the commotion even affects our devotees, if they are not strong.”

But you also gave solutions. In your outreach talks you explained how bhakti practices not only reduce material striving—which naturally reduces our carbon footprint—but gives actual satisfaction in its place.

When you spoke to the devotees you entreated us to call out to Krishna to protect ourselves from the material contamination and to revive our love for Krishna. The same message you must have spoken millions of times in your years of travel. I am awestruck by how tirelessly you continue to deliver this message. Still, it is always relevant.

Your analysis of the world situation is penetrating. It jolts me out of my complacency. The solutions you present are practical. And listening to you, I feel inspired to make more effort.

I am ashamed to admit that my chanting is very poor at the moment. So mechanical and unenthusiastic. I’m still working on cleaning up my heart, so I can call out to Krishna with love. But I realise I must work on my “yoga practice discipline” too. I need to apply myself to arranging a set time and place for my japa. So that it isn’t squeezed in around other stuff but receives the priority it deserves. You promise me that “as your sincerity and service increase in quality, you naturally become more attracted to the sound of Krishna’s name.” I am looking forward to that.

As always you are so patient and caring with me. You give me little sewing projects, just so I get your association, which is super sweet. And you check in just to see how I’m doing. I am so grateful.
Thank you for everything you do for me, and for the world, Guru Deva,
Your servant
Sruti-cari dd

Dear Gurudeva

Please accept my humble obeisance's
All glories to you on this most auspicious day of your appearance.

It is the injunction of the Vedas that the Spiritual Master should not be treated like an ordinary man, even if sometimes the Spiritual Master behaves like an ordinary man. It is the duty of the disciple to accept him as 'superhuman man' possessed of supernatural power. In this years Vyasa Puja homage I would like to seize the opportunity to glorify you for your superhuman activities.

Generally people of the mundane world enjoy traveling because it means a change of scenery, a time to wind down and relax or maybe an exiting time to discover a new experience in life. The pure devotees of the Lord however, travels for a different reason. Driven by compassion for the wayward Jivas rotting in this material world, they constantly traverse the planet reclaiming conditioned souls, sometimes even risking their own lives to inspire and guide them back to take shelter of Krishna's lotus feet.

S.B. 3.5.3

janasya krsnad vimukhasya daivad
adharma-silasya suduhkhitasya
anugrahayeha caranti nunam
bhutani bhavyani janardanasya

"O my Lord, great philanthropic souls travel on the Earth on behalf of the Supreme personality of Godhead to show compassion to the fallen souls who are averse to the sense of subordination to the Lord."

Purport
"Great Unalloyed devotees of the Lord are compassionate towards the fallen, and therefore they travel all over the world with the mission of bringing souls back to Godhead, back to home. Such pure devotees of the Lord carry the message of Godhead in order to deliver the fallen souls, and therefore the common man who is bewildered by the influence of the external energy of the Lord should avail himself to their association."

In the days of yore, Sannyasis would travel on foot with a kamandalu and a danda, sleeping under a different tree every night. In the modern technological age that we now live in, Sannyasis travel on jet planes with a laptop and iPhone, sleeping in a different temple or hotel every night. Although these externals have drastically changed, the same principles of detachment, sacrifice and disseminating transcendental knowledge to the general mass of people is rigidly observed. Seeing you embrace the austerities of the Sannyasa ashram is a powerful source of inspiration for those aspiring to live a life of renunciation, having maintained this lifestyle for over thirty five years is certainly an extraordinary achievement.

Over the years, the following are some of the austerities I have seen you so expertly tolerate:-
Having to board planes at ungodly hours of the day.
Having to deal with jetlag and constantly changing time zones.
Missing flights because of bad traffic.
Having to wait hours for flights that are delayed and/or missing connecting flights.
Checked luggage not making it on to connecting flights, which unfortunately I had to witness last month on the way to London from Ukraine.
Having to pack clothes for all four seasons.
Constantly fighting against colds and sickness from other people while being in close quarters with them in cars and planes.
Traveling while sick or injured.
Being trapped on a plane with an ear splitting symphony of screaming babies.
Traveling and preaching in countries where governments are inimical towards devotees and devotional service.

These are just a few to mention, as I'm sure that I've missed some. No ordinary person could embrace such austerity without a profound taste for glorifying the Supreme Lord and his devotees.

It is because of this compassion which compels you to travel, that I had the greatest fortune of coming in to your association, I cringe to think what my life would be like otherwise.

Certainly your exalted level of compassion is an example for all devotees to aspire for, indeed, as a result of this compassion, Lord Caitanya's Sankirtan movement is continuing to expand. Out of love and attachment for glorifying the Supreme lord and his pure devotees, wherever you travel you surcharge the atmosphere with spiritual energy which gives whoever comes in to your presence an unforgettable transcendental experience. Yudhisthira Maharaj so eloquently glorifies Mahatma Vidura in the first canto of Srimad Bhagavatam for this transcendental quality.

bhavad-vidha bhagavatas
tirtha-bhutah svayam vibho
tirthi-kurvanti tirthani
svantah-sthena gadabhrta

"My Lord, devotees like your good self are verily holy places personified. Because you carry the Personality of Godhead within your heart, you turn all places in to places of pilgrimage."

To you whose heart is overflowing with love and compassion, in a mood of deep gratitude, I offer my prostrated obeisance's in the dust at your lotus feet.

Your aspiring servant

Stambha bhava das

To my dearmost Gurudeva,

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

I am reading The Nectar of Devotion at the moment with Haridev and I came accross some parts that I wanted to use today in an attempt to glorify your transcendental existence.

"A devotee who is actually advanced in Krishna consciousness, who is constantly engaged in devotional service, should not manifest himself, even though he has attained perfection. The idea is that he should always continue to act as a neophyte devotee as long as his material body is there." (NOD pg 134)

Although you are relishing your pure relationship with the Lord from within, you come down to our level to guide us with patience; trying to elevate us through the sublime levels of bhakti yoga.

As a neophyte devotee, or maybe even less than neophyte, I am living a selfish and miserable life devoid of service to Krishna; just like a leaf hanging on by a single fibre from its tree, somehow I remain hanging by the thread of your mercy, to the lotus feet of Lord Gauranga.

A few pages on, in the same book, it is said that:

"When a realized soul who is engaged in the service of the Lord is speaking, he has the potency to inject spiritual life within the audience." (NOD 141)

The above describes you, Gurudeva. Your speech is so pure and potent that it is able to change a persons heart through a trascendental spiritual injection. How can words describe the glory of this spiritual power? Thank you for your every word Gurudeva; injecting life into innert matter and turning peoples lives around.

We celebrated your glorious appearance here in Mayapur at our home with your disciples and aspiring disciples here as well as Saumya Radhika and Keshava Priya (the Danish devotee who you trained as a bramacarini in Denmark in the 1980's), She shared many entertaining and fond memories of you during her time under your care which we all relished.

Thank you for everything Gurudeva, please forgive my millions of offences made knowingly and unknowingly.

Please keep me close to Lord Gaurangas movement eternally so I never lose sight of the Supreme goal of life and can one day serve in His transcendental mission.

Aspiring to be of humble selfless service one day,

Your servant,
Sukanthi Radha dasi

Dear Gurudeva

Please accept my most humble and attentive obeisances at your lotus feet on this auspicious occasion of your appearance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Only by your causeless mercy am I here today. I remember Gaura Aarti literally had to drag me out of a yoga class to attend your workshop at Bhakti Lounge in 2007. Please let me continue to wake up to the opportunities I'm given so that I may become a worthy disciple.

The opportunity to join in the outreach efforts at The Loft is evidence to me of the unlimited and merciful opportunities you provide. It seems to me that I am getting a glimpse of the relishable qualities of more subtle devotional service - relationships are really what I mean. Thank you for your unlimited care with this slow train disciple and please continue the heart surgery.

I read recently that the development of fine affection and love is necessary to be able to offer suitable prayers (SB 3.8.6). This is further evidence to me of the extent of your care and helps me form a desire to be qualified in that way.

Your aspiring servant
Sundarangi devi dasi

Dearest Gurudeva, Hare Krishna!
Please accept my humble obeisances in the dust of your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and your loving devotional service for His Divine Grace satisfaction.

Your 69 Vyasa-puja is a very special day because all conditioned souls indebted to your lotus feet can celebrate your Appearance Day. Always it is an extraordinary opportunity to think more intensely about you and meditate about our personal, spiritual relationship with you. This is also an excellent opportunity to offer you our homage and pray for your mercy that you can make us able to follow your footsteps eternally in pure love and devotion to you and Krishna.

Gurudeva, you are the personification of Lord Krishna’s mercy for everyone privileged to become your disciple or your follower. You are the external manifestation of the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna who is residing in everyone’s heart as Paramatma. These sastric descriptions about your spiritual position as bona fide representative of the Lord are very helpful for us because allowing us to understand how important role you have in the life of the conditioned soul as an ambassador of Krishna. As years passing by, by your mercy and Lord Krishna’s blessings I am getting more and more opportunities to realize this fact in my life. Fortunately, by inconceivable Krishna’s grace, I am a lucky soul that had your divine association in the early days of my spiritual life in ISKCON family when you personally blessed us with your training in art and culture of Bhakti lifestyle. Also for the last 20 years, I experienced your loving care, compassion and inspiration as everyone else in the world is also similarly blessed by your compassionate endeavor of sharing your pure love of Krishna with others.

Kali-yuga people, like my fallen self, had no idea before who Krishna is, how to be religious, what to speak what is and how to perform devotional service to God, what is real love, etc. You, however, from the very beginning of your presence in this Kali-yuga world were attracted to Krishna’s lotus feet… Till you manifested your real spiritual identity as a bonafide representative of the Supreme Lord, like Maharaja Pariksit you were constantly looking for the best of the best, the excellent source of everything, the All-Attractive One from whom everything emanates…

Lord Krishna is your beloved Lord and Master of your life eternally. The same Supreme Lord Krishna blessed me with His causeless mercy by sending you into my life. No doubts, following your guidance leads to liberation from material entanglements, spiritual purification, and the development of pure love of Krishna. Thus your divine guidance on Bhakti path is the only way back home, back to Godhead. Those who are eager to follow your divine guidance are not only able to survive all tribulations of material existence, achieve peace of mind, experience real happiness but most importantly develop pure love of God.

In the present time, the atmosphere of the world is getting more and more surcharged by the demonic influence of the greedy and exploitative mentality of modern men. Although it is difficult nowadays to teach Kali-yuga people how to live the civilized life of human beings, still empowered pure devotees of the Lord like your Holiness can influence hundreds and thousands of people all over the world. As Lord Krishna’s bona fide representative you perfectly know that we, ordinary Kali-yuga people are intoxicated by lusty desires, anger, illusion, envy, greed, madness, and many other low-grade qualities that create strong bad habits and mold our unfortunate, very rebellious conditional nature. To deal with all that ignorance it requires from such a representative like your Holiness unbelievable amount of patience, compassion, determination, enthusiasm, tolerance, humility and many other noble qualities which have its source in pure love of God, pure love of Krishna. Krishna and your pure love of Krishna is your source of all noble qualities you manifest all the time.

As a pure devotee of the Lord who manifests all these noble qualities during the performance of your pure devotional service to the Supreme Lord and being empowered by Him - things impossible to do become possible. Therefore under your divine spiritual care hundreds and thousands of conditioned souls who were before ordinary Kali-yuga people become devotees of the Lord. Although it is not an easy task in this age of degradation where every 10 years is observed a noticeable significant degrading shift in the consciousness of human society still you continue decade after decade with great vigor, enthusiasm, and determination. As a perfect preacher, you are very proactive and teach Krishna consciousness according to time, place and circumstances. Your extremely clever and practical approach in your teachings makes your presentations of Krishna’s instructions very easy to understand and relate to. This is your masterly expertise to present Krishna’s timeless wisdom without any compromise of unchangeable principles of Absolute Truth to demanding audiences and at the same time very cleverly let them resonate with everything they hear from you. In this absolutely brilliant way, you are helping them to more easily accept and absorb Krishna conscious philosophy in their minds and hearts and apply it in their lives.

As the Supreme Father’s representative during your missionary preaching activities and while extending your spiritual care to your disciples or followers, the most probably you often face some private drama of individuals who want to take shelter at yours and Krishna’s lotus feet but due to unfortunate conditionings they struggle with anarthas who are like stumbling blocks on their path. Often perturbed by intricacies of material interactions they often lose their trust to anyone, what to speak about love… Although natural propensity to love and be loved is in the heart of everyone… such tormented conditioned souls seemed to be empty spiritually and emotionally because they don’t know and don’t experience what real love is.

Speaking also for myself often conditioned souls have a hard time to overcome trauma from the past… Not educated enough in spiritual science often conditioned souls are absorbed in frustration thinking “why it happens to me?” instead of thinking “I am grateful that it is happening for me”. I remember as a child I always wanted to feel loved and wanted to love - it obviously seems natural for a child - however I don’t remember such experiences. Being hungry for such experiences in my teenage-hood I mistook love for a lust that was never fulfilled. Finally, at the age of 20 as a young man being blessed by causeless Lord Krishna’s mercy, I was privileged to enter Bhakti path where pure love was discussed. During all my life in Bhakti although I was very passionate to talk about love and how different it is from lust, how love and trust are natural for all living beings… just now by your inconceivable mercy I am starting barely grasp the shadow of the concept of love. Therefore I have to honestly admit that for a long time due to my spiritual blindness I didn’t feel loved and I was not able to love. I just didn’t know and feel what love is.

However witnessing your sacrifice for conditioned souls, the risk you took preaching under iron curtain in communistic countries and all your present endeavor, your tireless effort to spread Krishna’s glories and attract conditioned souls to Krishna as well as help you offer everyone to develop love of Krishna - finally gives me a hint what real love means. As Sannyasi it seems that it is indiscreet for you to say that you love someone nonetheless according to the principle that “action speaks louder than words” I have clear evidence and example of what pure love is. In this way, I can intellectually understand what selfless and unconditional love means. I admire your love for all of us and personally, I thank you very much from the bottom of my heart for your selfless love to me. And on this special day of your Vyasa-puja I pray to you; I beg you, please, let me develop such pure, selfless and unconditional love in my heart for you and Krishna as you have for all of us.

Experiencing your love, care and guidance, being blessed by your inconceivable mercy I am honored together with my wife who is a wonderful disciple of yours to have the privilege to be engaged at your lotus feet in your mission of spreading Krishna’s glories. With your permission and blessings together we continue our service of preparing preaching facility in State College. Naturally, when conditioned souls even fallen like my insignificant self, experience kindness of another person or selfless act of loving care it inspires me to reciprocate with trust and love as well. Because I was and I am still one of those who receive your loving care all the time and seeing your constant loving endeavor to help conditioned sous to find real purpose of life, tirelessly educating them in art, science, lifestyle and culture of Krishna consciousness it inspires me to do something nice for you, for your satisfaction.

In this situation, the perfect role-model from the sastra is also coming to my mind namely Maharaja Yudisthira who due to his pure love of Krishna wanted to conquer all world for Krishna and offer it to His lotus feet. Understanding that everyone belongs to Krishna… he wanted to see that everyone respects the Supreme Father and the Supreme Master of everyone and in submission tries to be the surrendered soul to the Supreme Lord Krishna. As Maharaja Yudisthira desired to see everyone as a submissive servant of the Lord, out of gratitude and love to you I would love to do similarly - to become empowered like Maharaja Yudisthira, “conquer” the world and offer to your lotus feet as Guru dakshina that you can make everyone Krishna conscious.

Therefore, together with my wife, we promise you today that for your next year, 70 Vyasa-puja we will offer you a very nice preaching center in one of the biggest university campuses in the US, where around 60 thousand students need your mercy. The place that desperately needs your causeless mercy because statistics shows that tragically 1-2 students leave their body every week due to overdose of drugs or suicide. As you know young people nowadays suffer enormous pressure, stress, and depression and having no alternative they don’t see other solutions like the only end their valuable life in a very unfortunate way. As all world State College needs also your mercy very much, Gurudeva.

The effort of arranging this facility is inspired by the desire to offer you this opportunity of blessing thousands of lives here and thus give all those struggling conditioned souls an alternative of taking advantage of their human form of life and achieve liberation from all entanglements of material existence. In this way, being enlightened by your grace they can be privileged to join the company of Gita Nagari wonderful devotees to have blissful Krishna conscious lifestyle and take advantage of becoming part of Varnasrama Vedic College which is next stage of your transcendental desire to fulfill Srila Prabhupada’s desire to establish such college in Gita Nagari Farm.

So, together with my wife being already empowered by your divine blessing to proceed with this project at the present from the day of your present Vyasa-puja we inaugurated with many members of our Ausadham Healing Herb Team an extra endeavor in the mood of “marathon” to become financially empowered to the end of December this year and thus become fully qualified to obtain facility for Bhakti Academy - a wonderful preaching center in State College till Nrisimha Caturdasi next year. This with your mercy Gurudeva will allow us to have Grand Opening on your 70 Vyasa-puja as our humble offering to you.

Gurudeva I feel that I am worthless, but by your grace, I have been given the chance. So kindly accept whatever little service I can give. I am offensive. I beg you, kindly excuse me. Please bless me and my wife that our humble effort becomes successful for your full satisfaction and Lord Krishna’s pleasure. And in this way, all people of this area will have an opportunity to learn from you about Krishna’s absolute alternative of blissful life of Krishna consciousness and by your grace they can develop pure love of God and come back Home, back to Godhead.

Your humble and very grateful servant,
Surapala dasa

Dear Gurudeva

Please accept my humble obeisances, jaya Srila Prabhupada

When will I give up my laziness and do some real work to assist you in your dedicated service to your spiritual master? Is this an eternal question I shall ask?

Reflecting on all the countless blessings in my life, such as great devotee sanga, an abundance of service opportunities and a happy service-based grhasta life, gives me hope that I'm making progress by your expert guidance and will one day have a fixed position at your lotus feet.

Thank you, Gurudev

Suratanath das

Dearest Gurudeva
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to you on your vyasa puja celebration

This year I find that I am constantly reminded that by serving in Srila Prabhupada’s movement in your mood has so much benefit, but at the same time it is extremely challenging. This increases my admiration for you as you make every effort to reach out to a diverse group and at the same time you never deviate.

The mood I have once received is that we must set the standard before managing and maintaining. I accepted this, it makes complete sense, how can it be done any other way if we desire the results for the benefit of our community. I promise to continue in this stride and will make more effort to learn from you. I pray that I find the strength to continue in this mood.


In the SB CANTO 11 there is mention that one might argue that while human beings are certainly prone to ignorance, the elevated forefathers and demigods are considered to be all-knowing within universal affairs. Although the demigods are all-powerful in awarding material benedictions to inferior species such as human beings, they are sometimes thwarted in their personal programs of sense gratification. The demigods and forefathers encounter many difficulties in maintaining and expanding their celestial standard of living. They must therefore constantly take shelter of superior Vedic knowledge. Even in the administration of cosmic affairs, they strictly follow the guidelines of the Vedas, which are the laws of God.

So it is confirmed, your words are so valuable.


Your servant and spiritual daughter,
Sveta Manjari Devi Dasi

Dearest Gurudeva

Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

It feels like only a short while ago when I was attempting to write an offering for your previous vyasa puja. Time seems to be running faster every year. I remember in one particular Recharge Festival, you were pointing out to us the value of our short time here in this world, how time is ticking away as we make plans in life, possibly oblivious to its effects. In another class you said something that finally hit home for me “a vaisnava lives for others”. You had probably said this so many times before but on that particular occasion, your words got me thinking, “what have I actually done for my spiritual master in these years?”

You’ve been patient and kind, waiting for me to finally snap up and start doing something in Krsna’s service. There are so many things to thank you for, there’s so much about you to be glorified. You are incredibly sharp, attentive and aware of so much around you and every moment of your sharpness, attentiveness and awareness is always directed to Krsna. Your moments are used for engaging others in Krsna’s service, for showing people what it means to be personal, to be cared for simply because we are parts of Krsna and not orphans.

For sometime now, when listening to your classes, like a child, I'm amazed by the endless ways you deliver this knowledge to your audiences everywhere you go. In those moments I can’t help but joyfully celebrate you in my heart, hearing you laugh as you expose the insanity of material existence, hearing you pierce through the minds of your audience with bhakti knowledge. You’re ahead of the game in so many ways Gurudeva. I’m trying right now to put my child-like emotions of excitement into mature sentences. I don’t know how else to tell you how incredible you are.

As the old saying goes “actions speak louder than words”. So now I have an opportunity to practice what you’ve taught and given to me, an opportunity to practically appreciate you through giving Krsna to others. You’ve trained so many of us up, coaching us how to care for others with compassion and intelligence, how to push on Srila Prabhupada’s movement, how to live for others, how to distribute Krsna’s glories wherever we are. May I use this time in my life, when I still have a bit of youthful energy to put into action what you’ve given me.

Though I know some aspects of running an outreach centre, there are many other aspects where I feel like I don’t know what I’m doing. I look up to so many of your other disciples that are running outreach centres or projects around the world and I really want to live up to your vision like they are doing. I want to try my best for you so that next time you’re here, the room is packed with young people eager to hear you speak, that these young people will take up to Krsna consciousness and the community will grow. “Krsna is unlimited, so He wants unlimited devotees” is what you repeatedly said in your recent classes here in Wales. I’ve seen how enthused you are with young audiences, how you connect with them and capture their hearts, lock their attention and blow them out of ignorance whilst humouring their material attempts at happiness. Even they can’t help but laugh at themselves!

You recently gave me instructions that require a lot more inward work, more than I’ve had to do for sometime. One of them was to be confident. Everyday since then, I remind myself that you believe in me being able to do this, that you are lovingly encouraging me through it. And what a good father says to his daughter, the daughter holds it dearly in her heart, so she can please him. Please give me the intelligence how to engage these people, how to care for them, how to come up with innovative ways to serve Krsna, how to be fearless in living for others.

With gratitude
Your servant
Syama gauri dd

Dear Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
And certainly All glories to you on this most auspicious occasion of your Appearance Day!

As the fallen & conditioned soul that I am, I bow down to your Lotus feet with so much gratitude in my heart for accepting me as one of your spiritual daughters.
 As a late starter in my Krishna Consciousness I thank you for the shelter that you have provided to me through initiation and how much this means is something difficult to put into words alone.
Ma Suchaha " Lord Krishna protests boldly... Do not fear,do not worry, do not hesitate.. I know all your needs,everyone's needs who serves in this loving and caring mood will be wonderfully provided for...
A Devotee shared this with me recently and it brought me to tears of appreciation for what you have done for me by connecting me to this wonderful community and family of Devotees who serve from pure hearts through the guidance of your mood through the
" Loft Yoga Lounge" in Auckland.

Krishna definitely blessed me with the benediction of your transcendental knowledge, your firm but gentle guidance and your no nonsense approach to living a life of Bhakti.
May Krishna's blessings be continually bestowed on to you through good health and the continuation of your committed & determined service as God's representative.
I continue to pray for yours & Krishna's mercy within my life so that I can engage in the acts of devotional service that can inspire others to walk the path of Bhakti also.
Aspiring to become more qualified
& to lead by example. 

Happy Vyasa-puja day to you!
yours in loving service
 aspiring to be your servant
Syamali devi das

Dear Gurumaharaja, please accept my humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to you on this auspicious day of your vyasapuja!

My family and I have now been inspired by you for over 12 years. Your consistent display of mercy, kindness and profound spiritual wisdom has pierced through our many layers of material illusion and provided us with a small glimpse of spiritual existence. I say "small glimpse" due to our inability to fully comprehend all that you have to teach; but we have faith (a firm conviction that by rendering transcendental loving service to Krsna one automatically performs all subsidiary activities) and a firm conviction that you can, and are willing to, lead us, and the whole world, to such a transcendental loving service to Krsna.

We have now being consistently chanting our 16 rounds for 9 month and 3 days and are very much eager to complete the necessary 12 month and hopefully, and finally, become your formal servants!

Thank you, dear Gurumaharaja, for dedicating your everything to the loving service of Krsna and in this way giving us a perfect example to follow which is the only worthy goal in this temporary material life!

All glories to you!

Your aspiring servant(s),
Tadeu Souza and family.

Vyasa Puja September 2019---Tamalavan das

Dear DevAmrita Swami,

All glories To his grace His Divine Grace Srila Prapbupada.

Please accept my humble obiesances.


Found on Krishnapath.org
I.E:
https://www.krishnapath.org/chanting-hare-krishna-maha-mantra/ :-

VEDIC REFERENCES FOR CHANTING =====One of many set out:-

krsna krsneti krsneti
svapan jagrad vrajamstatha
yo jalpati kalau nityam
krsna-rupi bhaveddhi sah
Translation:
“Whoever continuously chants Lord Krsna’s holy name, even in his sleep, can easily realise that the name is a direct manifestation of Krsna Himself, in spite of the influences of Kali-yuga. This has been ordained by Lord Krsna.”
(Varaha Purana)
This refers to the purpose of maintaining chanting as you mentioned in your address, Guru Dev to us 27th September 2019 (Bakti Lounge Wellington, to me via internet). (Within your talk on fear of Cow Herd Boys( in the pastimes), Vrindavin losing their loving connection to Krsna).

The most basic realisations of practice are most valuable when “on the road”.

I had struggled to get my rounds in at times while travelling these last weeks (due to my inexperience of serious wandering and not having an organised schedule. ( flexibility verging on chaos,)

Please excuse any of my mistakes in referencing and memory.

(Context: Forest Fire destruction of Paradise city in Northern California your reference GuruDev on 28th September 2019.
Me:42 degrees air temperature at 7pm in the back streets of Nantes, France :a local all-time record )


Tamalavan

My Dear Gurudav

Please accept my humble obeisances on to your lotus feet.
All glories to your service to Guru and Gauranga.


Gurudav i stare at the blank page wondering what should i write ,words appears inadequate ,how does one express their feelings given all that you have done for each of us. i cant forget that day when first time i did get the chance to have your Darsen. It was the most auspicious day of my life that i ever had before.you explained me so nicely that how can one make his life successful simply by serving Krishna.but for me the meaning of success was good money,good social status,so it was quit confusing for me to understand it completely,but as i started my Krishna consciousnesses and by reading the prabhupada books its became clear to me .thank you gurudav for giving me krishna

The affection and care you have for every devotee its really inspiring,even-thought you always busy in traveling to share your most beloved krishna with other,despite of that busy schedule you always look after each devotee and motivate them to go more deep in krishna consciousness by your amazing Bhagvatam classes etc,,
Now after spending few years in krishna consciousness and by reading the Sastra,s i can understand how important it is to have bona fide spiritual master in spiritual life .( Bhagvat gita,4.34 ,it is said that the path of spiritual realization is undoubtedly difficult .one has to approach a bona fida spiritual master to receive the knowledge,he is the personal representative of the lord,one should serve the spiritual master like a manial servant ,without false prestige,satisfaction of self realized spiritual master is the secret of advancement in spiritual life). please give your blessing so that i can serve you in someway with sincerity.
This year in mid marathon i participated ,it was really inspiring i could have see that how humality and tolerance is so important for every devotee specially on sankirtan,when we neglect by people so many time,its purifies our consciousness and gives us shakti to fight with material energy,and this way we can help all the conditional soul by bringing them close to krishna.
Gurudav on this auspicious day of your appearance i am begging you for your mercy please remove all my selfish desire from my heart so that i can serve you with real faith and devotion.

your aspiring servent

Tarun Saini

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

In the previous year, I wrote a poem for you. Looking back I felt I had left out some important aspects - so here is the unabridged version:
I hope it is accurate.


New York 1972

What is the highest pleasure?
You sincerely yearned to find
As well as a solution
to the problems of mankind

Given free admission to study
whatever you desired
You researched, you studied
and earnestly inquired

But something was amiss,
you weren’t content with what you found
Until you destined on a book
with wisdom so profound!

The teachings of Prahlad,
what a gem! What a find!
And sitting on the couch,
you read these words within your mind:

‘In the body of a human,
we work hard and we strive
To achieve the same taste
that the animals derive.

In the body of a cat or dog’,
the book strongly exclaimed
‘eating, sleeping, mating defending
-that taste - it’s all the same.

The human form is meant
for something higher to achieve
so why work so hard just to get
what even the beasts receive?

Seeing the expression on your face,
your fiancée approached and said
“What’s the matter, honey?
Is it something that you read?”

“Oh, nothing,” you responded cooly
Though Prabhupada's words had struck a chord
You dare not admit to her, just yet,
they had actually left you floored...

Now, knowledge of this calibre
cannot be overlooked
And although you’d only read a little
already you were hooked!

Confronting the devotees
was something you still had to assess
Instead, you got more books mailed
straight to your address

The more you read, you realized
the folly to pursue
A lifetime full of material pursuits
chewing on the chewed
And the answers to all problems
required spiritual advice
No matter what one does,
material solutions will not suffice

Revealing your disillusion to your dean,
whose mind unfurled
“You are a Yale man,
you will influence the world!..."

These words, to us- prophetic
I think that they ring true
as many of us wouldn’t be here
if it had not been for you.

Bhakti seeds have been sown
in countless souls, worldwide
By virtue of your touchstone words
many hearts are purified...

Part Two: Getting more of Prabhupadas’ books.

You’d read the books you’d ordered,
but wanted to get more
And these books were not available
to buy inside a store

So furtively you searched
and searched way down the street
In anticipation a devotee
you would meet

but not to stick around to chat,
those Hari’s were far too strange
In eagerness, your heart was set
on a book exchange

You desired Srimad Bhagavatam,
Not obtainable by mail order
Then locating a devotee out on books,
you cautiously implored her:

"I’ve read the other books,
I just want the Bhagavatam"
but she had other plans for you,
while you strived to remain calm.

You didn’t want to be seen with her
And you tried to make it quick!
but sankirtan devotees, we know,
are full of every trick!

As it came to be,
she saw you were a thinker
from there, I believe the phrase goes
'hook, line and sinker!'

It had actually been six months since
you'd read your first Vedic book
and the push of this sankirtan devotee
was all that it took

Just as iron in contact with fire
gains the quality of fire
you gave up a promising corporate career
and forsook material desire

And one morning, in the pre-dawn hours,
whilst the household slept
You gathered your belongings,
and into the night you crept

Now this moment, down on Henry Street,
to us is monumental
When you marched up to the door
and moved straight into the temple!

Of course, You’re not ordinary,
that wasn’t really where it began
You engage your life so fully in
Lord Chaitanya's sankirtan
Who knows where you preached before this life,
and where it was you went?
Even your conception was no ordinary event:

“Son, when I conceived you,
it was Jesus I implored
to send me a child that was
a servant of the Lord

“Well, just see, mother! You retorted.
Your prayers have come to pass!”
“But I meant Jesus, not Krishna!”
Your mother said aghast.

Come on mother, surely
it can’t be that horrific?
“I guess,” you quipped,
“You should have been a bit more specific?”

And now you have this service,
as initiating spiritual guide
and who could ask for someone
that is more qualified.

You train and assist the devotees
–as a spiritual physician
Inspiring us to further commit ourselves,
to the bhakti-yoga mission

You tell us to fully engage our senses
in any service that we do
With full absorption and enthusiasm,
just as you imbue

Like when chanting, we should wholly
feel the beads and meditate
Use our tongues to intensely chant the mantra,
and you demonstrate:

“Hare Krishna Hare Krishna” –
“then you’re always quick to mention
Not to chant mechanically,
but with feeling and attention

You follow in Prabhupada’s footsteps,
by committing to awaken
us souls, whose identity
in this world is mistaken

And your enthusiasm is contagious,
you soon attract a squad
Only possible by one
who is empowered by God

You continually show our philosophy
is practical -not dry
Not just theoretical knowledge
but something we can apply
“we’re not into ‘Religious belief’ –
You say “indeed, we aim for more”
With hands-on experience,
a higher taste is in store

“If we enter the bhakti workshop,
and we read and we consult
Then apply that wisdom from the scriptures,
we will get the result.”

One reason the Guru is worshipable,
and why your words impact
is that you carry the message of Krishna
entirely intact,
without adding or subtracting anything,
just as it’s received
through disciplic succession,
from the time it was conceived.

Thank you for your patience
and your gifts of inspiration
also the sacrifices you make
to give us a spiritual education

Grateful for your guidance,
And your persistent endeavour
to raise us to the platform of loving service-
the greatest treasure

I pray I can overcome any material obstructions,
to reciprocate by following your divine instructions

Your aspiring servant,
Urjjesvari dd

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept our humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to you, Gurudeva!

There once was pervading the sweet song of a witch, that promised joy and beauty, everlasting youth, peace and wholesome fulfilment, riches and recognition…whatever you desire… just around the bend…soon, very soon… TOMORROW!….captivated by her charm the people followed in throngs, thoroughly oppressed yet fully enamoured, never realizing that “tomorrow” never came…

In line with your glorious predecessors, in accordance with the wish of Lord Caitanya, you Gurudeva carry the sweet sound of the Maha Mantra, which at this point is the only universal remedy for the witch Maya’s songs.

In your kirtans we taste a sense of endlessness…like standing on the shore of an ocean with no end in sight…you embody endless possibilities for being more absorbed, more enthusiastic, more attentive, more dedicated, more energetic, more co-operative, more creative, more dependent on Krishna’s mercy, in performing devotional service.
Being in your kirtans are enlivening, uplifting and purifying – within mere moments all the clutter, confusion and contamination vanish. Suddenly we find ourselves free from the menacing magic of Maya, akin to the town folk in the story of Hamlin, who were rejoicing upon being freed from the rat plague thanks to the mysterious melodies played by the Pied Piper.

The people of Hamlin’s joy was short lived - taking the Pied Piper’s help cheaply, breaking their promise to repay him, they were plunged into calamity. Similarly, if we take our daily chanting of this sweet Maha Mantra lightly, we will again find ourselves confidently in illusion.

Please give us the strength to cling to your example of clinging to the Holy Name, making a real effort to focus the mind and cultivate a desire to be the servant of the servant of Krishna, so that we may become able to vigorously do our part in assisting you in Lord Caitanya’s mission.

Your aspiring servants,
Vaishnava Charana Das and Yasomati Dasi

nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale,
śrīmate devāmṛta-svāmin iti nāmine

pracāre ’pūrva-dākṣyaṁ ca
bhaktācāra-pravīṇatā,
parārthatāpi kāruṇyaṁ
yasya sarve ca te namaḥ

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada, whom you so selflessly represent.
All glories to your all-merciful lotus feet on your Vyasa-puja, a most significant day for conditioned souls suffering in this material world.

Vyasa-puja is so-called because it is for honouring the representative of Srila Vyasadeva; and to me, you are just that. Sukadeva Gosvami represented his father by speaking Srimad Bhagavatam on his behalf and, on hearing the description of him, given by Suta Gosvami in Srimad Bhagavatam (1.2.2-3), I feel proud to be able to recognise that great sage's attributes in your person. I will enumerate the qualities that Suta mentions, which I see also in you, trying to glorify you to the best of my ability, though I know that your glories are unlimited, and my attempt is like that of a dwarf trying to touch the moon.

You can 'enter the hearts of all';

You never fail to leave your hearers stunned and transformed by your penetrating speeches.
When I first heard you speak, on my first visit to Swansea's Panca-tattva Temple, your sound vibration entered my heart and made ineffable change. If you forgive my sentimentality, I treasure a moment when, after I came to thank you for the talk, and mentioned that I had been reading Bhagavad Gita for 6 months, you beamed at me with your blooming lotus face and said, emphatically, "you finally came!" Of course, in one sense, you meant that I had finally attended a programme after 6 months, but within myself I could feel that, after wandering up and down in the universe for countless lifetimes, I had finally come to the shelter of your lotus feet. That most merciful glance which you bestowed upon me, in front of the dazzling Panca-tattva, certainly entered my heart and made a deep impression.
In my daily life I find hearing your lectures to be one of the most transformative and enlivening activities I can do, making me long to study the science of Krishna unlimitedly and follow your enthusiasm to drink deeply in His glories. And, during your visits to Wales, I behold with wonder how you respond to my immature questions by quickly diagnosing me, entering my heart with surgical precision and detonating my misgivings whilst simultaneously pouring nectar on my head. It is also a most enlivening spectacle to watch you enter the hearts of all the other devotees, particularly the newcomers, whose sparks of bhakti you fan into flames, so expertly, according to their receptiveness.
Your instructions to make Prabhupada's mission my life and soul and to be a dynamic member of ISKCON Wales have entered my heart, and I pray for increasing receptiveness and sensitivity to your instructions, that I may allow your desires to become the very core of my heart.

Srila Sukadeva is described as 'the spiritual master of all sages';

All my siksa-gurus hold you in the highest regard, as a most learned and expert authority on the science of Krishna, and the art of it's distribution. Though great sages in their own right, such great souls all over the world take guidance at your lotus feet.
In recordings I have heard, from your recent travels, I noted how great souls like His Holiness Srila Sivarama Maharaja and His Grace Madhavananda Prabhu were hearing from you and glorifying you; so often do I hear you praised as 'the best class giver', 'the acarya for urban outreach', and so on.
Your character being spotless, it is natural that all great sages would accept you as a spiritual master.

Srila Sukadeva is lauded for his 'great compassion for those gross materialists who struggle to cross over the darkest regions of material existence';

No one could travel as you do, from continent to continent, for no material reward, unless driven by a selfless desire to benefit others. Devotees encourage you to slow down; certainly you would be within your rights to 'retire', at least partially. Yet you determinedly push on and continue your life-marathon, to teach devotees like us how to have relationships.
Your ever-fresh outreach talks are further proof of your great compassion, as, in order to devise them, one would require to constantly meditate on how to present Krishna Consciousness in ever new and interesting ways, as Srila Prabhupada revealed that he himself did.
Patiently, you sit and meet with us every time you visit Wales, paying great attention to detail, to inspire us as we struggle to cross over the darkest regions of material existence. For this great compassion of yours, I thank you sincerely.

Sukadeva 'spoke this most confidential supplement to the cream of Vedic knowledge, after having personally assimilated it himself';

Finally, the quality of yours which I hold most dear to my heart, is the way in which you speak Srimad Bhagavatam.
The pastimes contained in Prabhupada's books come to life for your listeners; you speak with such relish and realisation. I regularly behold with wonderment how you recite such narrations, presenting the different philosophical aspects, adding nectarean details from the commentaries of the previous acaryas. And yet, as you made clear, recently, in your magnificent seminar on the pastime of the Kaliya serpent, you present the subject matter according to the mood and meaning that you want to convey, as well as the audience's attention capacity, rather than simply adding details for the sake of it. You are an expert in the science of Krishna.
I have often wondered: how could a person have assimilated Srila Prabhupada's writings so deeply as you show that you have? Of course, you follow the same program you always prescribe to us, for which I am very thankful, of sufficient and regular hearing. However, to try to understand wherefrom you may have obtained, not only your capacity for the bhakti knowledge, but the depth from which you speak it, I find an answer in a lesson you gave to me, a couple of years ago, when I asked you how to go deeper into my study of Prabhupada's books. You responded that by distributing (serving) the Srimad Bhagavatam, I would be given the qualification to understand it. Surely you have served Srimad Bhagavatam exaltedly, with heart and soul for many, many years, always forgoing your own personal convenience, even to the point of risking your life; and thus, you have 'personally assimilated' its message.
You are the 'person Bhagavata', and I pray to serve Srimad Bhagavatam under your guidance eternally.

Gurudeva, thank you for exemplifying the perfect devotee and giving me the good fortune of your association and guidance. May I accelerate my slow progress for your pleasure, and may I obtain the strength to always assist in bringing you pleasure by increasing Krishna's unlimited number of devotees.

Aspiring to be always in your service,
Vamsi-vilasi dasa

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

This year has been deeply transformational in many aspects, the main one is that you accepted me once again as your disciple out of your causeless mercy and I can’t seem to find the words to fully express my gratitude to you.

Five years ago when I took harinam initiation you mentioned my “humble beginnings” as an aspirant bhaktin and those words were etched in my mind ever since, making me realize my slow progress in bhakti and your ocean of mercy which carried what I lacked. Five years later, I am still feeling the same although today I realize even more how much deeper your mercy runs and how much you truly care about me. It is then safe to assume that the gap will always be present, but it is my sincere prayer that I can realize more and more how magnanimous you are, how insignificant I truly am, and that the only real and constant thing in my life is service to the devotees and the Panca Tattva. During your last visit you shared with me how much you care about me and my progress and I promised you I would do better and you kindly smiled to encourage me. As a result, I feel closer to you than ever before. I also experienced something I had never before, the power of grace, and I was able to better understand the meaning of Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura’s Sri Gurvastakam, especially:

yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo
yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto ’pi

“By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Kṛishṇa. Without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement.”

By your mercy, coming closer to you and Krishna has been possible. I have been able to see more clearly what stands in the way of my own progress and although it is difficult to take a personal inventory daily or even weekly and make changes, it has allowed me to understand the urgency of taking my vows more seriously, nourishing my japa and reading with rapt attention to then share this treasure with others. This is the only way to truly serve you, but I am dependent on your mercy so that I can be successful in this attempt. Thank you for not giving up on me and encouraging me to be the quality person I was meant to be. Thank you for encouraging me and leading by example.

Gurudev, your qualities are unlimited and magnanimous, therefore it is impossible to name them all, but one of them that deeply inspires me is your ability to connect current world affairs with the vast spiritual teachings for which today’s youth are hankering. You deliver these ancient teachings in such practical ways that it is impossible to not feel embarrassed due to our attachment to the mirage that materialism is and to which we are deeply devoted. You disarm us through the systematic presentation and explanations of these teachings and leave us convinced that there is nothing else worth pursuing. You not only captivate us intellectually, but you have tirelessly and selflessly set up centers around the world to help the youth of today turn towards Srila Prabhupada and consequently Krishna, in the most organic of ways and without much trouble transitioning. The wonderful loft communities are transforming countries and the world by the thoughtful and caring ways in which your disciples present Krishna Consciousness to those who are eager to hear. And even for those, who don’t yet know they are eager to know, you masterfully set up these centers to awaken that interest where it appears to be non-existent. I pray to be a part of your mission to assist Srila Prabhupada’s mission in expanding Lord Caitanya’s movement. I beg for your blessings in this endeavor.

With gratitude, your aspirant servant, Varangi Radha Devi dasi

nama oṁ viṣnu pādāya kṛṣṇa preṣthāya bhūtale, srimate devāmṛta swāmin iti nāmine

pracāre purva-dakṣyam ca bhaktācāra-pravīṇatā

parārthatāpi kāruṇyam yasya sarve ca te namaḥnama

Dear guruDEV, hare krishna.

I humbly offer my obeisances to you on the auspicious occasion of your Vyasapuja. All glories to Guru, Srila Prabhupada, Gauranga.

I am indebted to you, guruDEV so much for your service onto RadhaKrishna

Thank you, guruDEV so much for blessing me & Harita Madhavi Devi Dasi on our marriage interest/proposal & thanks for letting us to invite you for our marriage in Rajapur, Mayapur, Kolkata on 17-Oct-2019. We both felt so much happy by having your glorious darshan in Melbourne. Thanks to GopaVrindeshPrabhuji & others.

By your blessings, we make YOU, H.H JayaPatakaSwami Maharaj, srila A.C. BhaktiVedantaSwami prabhupad, ISKCON, & RadhaKrishna as center of our lives.

You are helping thousands of fallen souls like me to connect back to GuruGaurangaGovinda through your continuous service to srila A.C. BhaktiVedantaSwami prabhupad, ISKCON, & RadhaKrishna.

Take care, guruDEV, please. RadhaKrishna is with you & RadhaKrishna blesses you, guruDEV.

Jai guruDEV. Jai, Jai guruDEV. guruDEV ki jai.


Your aspiring servants,
Venkata Brahmanandarao Nelluri
Harita Madhavi Devi Dasi (Disciple of H.H JayaPatakaSwami Maharaj)

Dear Gurudeva, please accept my dandavats at Your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

How can one understand a heart of the pure devotee of the Lord? In Srimad Bhagavatam 11.2.55 part of the verse says: “…when a devotee who has taken shelter of the Lord’s lotus feet chants the holy name of Kṛṣṇa with genuine love, the Supreme Personality of Godhead can never give up the heart of such a devotee. One who has thus captured the Supreme Lord within his heart is to be known as bhāgavata-pradhāna, the most exalted devotee of the Lord.”

Who am I to understand Your level of bhakti Gurudeva? All I know is when You chant the holy name my heart is pumping with joy and body is up dancing even if it is tired. And sometimes even my dry eyes are wet with tiers…How do You do that?

I notice how You follow in the footsteps of Your beloved spiritual master, our grandfather Srila Prabhupada, by tirelessly travelling all over the world and giving out Yourself completely to spread the glories of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, You give yourself to all devotees by serving them, “a Vaishnava doesn’t live for oneself”, these words are often on my mind when I think of You, and austerities You went and still go through.

We have heard in 7th Canto how Prahlad Maharaj, a pure devotee, best of the Mahajans undergone so many difficulties while practicing bhakti, we know from Prabhupada Lilamrita how tough it was for Srila Prabhupada to spread Krisna Consciousness, how many austerities He has gone through not just in USA, but even before that in India. But as for Your preaching in the Eastern Block we know just the few stories, from 8 years of constant work and dedicated preaching, will we ever know the true glories of our beloved spiritual master…?

By Your causeless mercy You tolerate my service as Your translator on festivals in Russia and Ukraine for 8 years now. As years pass by and I still translate darshans of Your faithful disciples, I witness how they progress in Krisna Consciousness, indeed it depends as Srila Prabhupada explains in purport to BG 4.34.: “Satisfaction of the self-realized spiritual master is the secret of advancement in spiritual life.” Those disciples who serve You with all their hearts and soul, strictly following Your instructions they shine and blossom in Krisna Consciousness, whereas those who don’t, they are not happy, and often start to seek for happiness elsewhere in material world.
SB 8.24.47 states: “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.”

Today I pray You please cut that knot of false desires from the core of my heart so there is only focus left on how to serve Your instructions, to satisfy You.

I pray for intelligence and strength how to make Your orders a priority number one in life, and dedicate our whole life and energy to it, that is my aspiration.
As Srila Prabhupada stresses in BG 18.57 purport: “…That order of Kṛṣṇa comes through disciplic succession from the bona fide spiritual master. Therefore the spiritual master’s order should be taken as the prime duty of life.”

Your insignificant servant,
Venu-madhurya das

Please accept my most humble obeisances dear Guru Maharaja
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada and to your lotus feet.
In this auspicious day of your appearance l’ll do my best to express and glorify your unlimited and auspicious qualities as a bonafide Spiritual Master, disciple and a servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
It is said that to achieve success in life, one should follow the example of Lord Brahma, the first living creature in the beginning of creation. After being initiated by The Supreme Lord to execute tapasya he was fixed in his determination to do it.
In the same way my dear Gurudeva you are the personification of all good qualities and personification of how a disciple should have determination and conviction in following the Spiritual Master’s instructions. I always admire the way you preach. You are so sharp, you always blow my mind in so many ways every time I listen to your lectures. You are so expert to reach to different kind of audiences and your high aristocratic way to put ideas into words OMK! for me most of the time is hard to understand not only because of my poor English but because of my lack of knowledge, purity and sincerity when talking about being a sincere disciple. Every time I have the opportunity to take your personal darshan it feels like a gift to reinforce my faith to you, Krsna, and to my vows made once in front of a fire sacrifice 20 years ago in Peru when you decided to give me my first initiation, from that very moment I knew my life was yours and I only wanted to do things that were pleasing to you and make you a proud father. I did had my ups and downs and even in my often downs you were merciful enough to keep me as your disciple showing your love through your kind words or simply when you showed your disappointment through your lotus eyes or words.
Dear Guru Maharaja we all pray to The Supreme Personality of Godhead to keep you in good health to continue for many more years your exceptional service of preaching this Krishna Consciousness movement and take many unfortunate souls back home back to Godhead in this same life.
With love in respect
Your humble servant and disciple
Vilasini dd

Dear Gurudeva,

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

The celebration of your Vyasa-Puja brings an abundance of gratitude, joy, and hope, as we reflect on how much you've saved our lives, and how much you genuinely care.

The spiritual master is so dear to Krishna, especially at this dark time when people so desperately need the light of Krishna Consciousness.

Thank you for bringing that light. Your preaching efforts are so perfect for the people of this time. You know exactly what to say and how to say it. Like an expert surgeon, removing the disease and restoring life.

Thank you for teaching us how to engage in devotional service, so we can become pure in heart and strong in our connection to Krishna.

Thank you for your incredible kirtanas, your expert lectures, your dedication to devotee care and preaching centres, all the austerities you undergo, and your Krishna Conscious endeavours all over the world.

Thank you for saving me, and for giving me the opportunity to save others.

This year I've been fortunate to start working in Early Childhood Education, which gives lots of opportunities to chant the Holy Name to young children. For example:

While comforting a child
"It's ok, Hare Krishna"

While praising a child
"That's great, Hare Krishna!"

And "Hare Krishna" spoken in general conversation or play time.

Here are two of my favourite nectar stories:

Holding a toddler who'd woken up from her afternoon nap crying, and chanting the maha mantra to her until she stopped crying and was well and truly comforted.

And singing to another toddler after making a cake out of sand in the sandpit, adding a twig on top like a candle, and singing

Hare Krishna to you
Hare Krishna to you
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Hare Krishna to you.

She thought it was great, and kept saying "Do it again! Do it again!

So much enthusiasm for the Holy Name. 

Please allow me to always have the shelter of your lotus feet, and the association of those who serve you.

Your aspiring servant,
Vinita devi dasi

Dear Guru Maharaja,

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

On this auspicious day, we have the good fortune to be able to offer some words of appreciation and gratitude to our Spiritual Master, to whom we are eternally indebted. Of course it is not possible for me to fully grasp my indebtedness to you guru maharaja. Being too blinded by material attachment and insincerity, I am not able to appreciate the value of your presence in my life. But at least on this day, I can try to understand to a fuller extent, the fortune that I have received to be able to come in touch with a pure devotee of the Lord.

Srimad Bhagavatam (6.1.15) states:

“Only a rare person who has adopted complete, unalloyed devotional service to Krishna can uproot the weeds of sinful actions with no possibility that they will revive. He can do this simply by discharging devotional service, just as the sun can immediately dissipate fog by its rays”

I feel this verse applies to you guru maharaja. One of the first impressions I remember getting from you was when we spoke personally in Los Angeles. You mentioned about how degraded this age of Kali has become, as if it were a battlefield where we are all being bombarded. It struck me that you were existing on a platform completely different from what I had accepted as the status quo. I was entangled in so many sinful activities which had seemed simply normal in the atmosphere of Kali, but you showed me there is another way of life. You opened my eyes to this life and you showed me the way to get out. By your instructions you have pulled me out of the cyclone storm of Kali and have placed me under the shelter of Srila Prabhupada and Lord Chaitanya’s blissful sankirtan movement. All glories to you guru maharaja. The verse above also states about the power of unalloyed devotional service. As Sukadeva goswami asserts, it is only a rare soul who has firm faith in unalloyed devotional service who is able to uproot the weeds of sinful activities so that they never grow back. By your personal example you have imparted the vision of pure devotional service into my dull brain and thus showed me the way out of this labyrinth of Kali yuga and ultimately out of the material world all together. In ISKCON today, at least in the area where I am serving, we are seeing increased implementation of contemporary methods to solve the deep rooted problems that people today are exhibiting. Certainly there are many helpful and necessary methods for addressing such disorders today, but without knowing the ultimate cure to all of our diseases, there is no use in applying any other subsidiary cure. Guru maharaja, your level of faith in pure devotional service as the ultimate cure to all our problems is awe inspiring. I see that this medicine is what you are administering to me and so many others in order to solve our problems at the deepest level. Getting a small glimpse of such taste for pure devotional service has enlivened my spiritual life more than I can imagine.

Recently, I came across this statement in Srimad Bhagavatam 11th canto:

“Srila Jiva Gosvami 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.” (11.3.22 purport)

As the years go on since my initiation, I am experiencing this. By staying faithful to your instructions and continuing whatever feeble attempts I can to assist you in your service to Srila Prabhupada, I am seeing how a real human life, and gradually a divine life of sublime vaishnava culture is becoming available to me. I would never have been able to dream of such a life without coming in touch with your divine grace. Thank you for tolerating my insincerity and helping me to glimpse the real desires in my heart. I pray that, by your grace, I can be engaged in some special service for this divine sankirtan mission. May I be engaged today, tomorrow and forever more in the unalloyed service of the Lord, under the shelter of your lotus feet.

Remaining ever more grateful.

Your humble servant,
Vinoda Kovida das

nama oṁ viṣnu pādāya kṛṣṇa preṣthāya bhūtale
srimate devāmṛta swāmin iti nāmine
pracāre purva-dakṣyam ca bhaktācāra-pravīṇatā
parārthatāpi kāruṇyam yasya sarve ca te namaḥ

Wish you a very happy Vyasa puja Gurudev. Every year I wait for this time of your vyasa puja when, despite of being unqualified, I get an opportunity to glorify You. This day helps me to connect to you by remembering You, by meditating on Your unlimited qualities and compassionate nature.

In Adi Lila 1.58 it is mentioned:-

jīve sākṣāt nāhi tāte guru caittya-rūpe
śikṣā-guru haya kṛṣṇa-mahānta-svarūpe

Translation: Since one cannot visually experience the presence of the Supersoul, He appears before us as a liberated devotee. Such a spiritual master is none other than Krsna Himself.

Just like Supersoul knows everyone's heart, spiritual master is also well aware of disciple's desires. Few months ago I woke up while thinking about you. Came to temple for my service and was thinking how can I get some personal service of Gurudev and with in 2 hours, Gopavrendesa Prabhu asked me if I can go to airport to drop Gurudev and I was shocked to know that you were in Melbourne, as you came only for 1 night transition. That day I had a realisation, service comes according to the intensity of our desire to serve and how Sri Guru knows everything of disciple's heart.

In one of the lectures you mentioned
"When you experience that the Guru cares for you more than you care for yourself, that is an unforgettable experience. By following the instructions of the Guru you get to see that Krishna cares about you, more than you care for yourself."

Recently, Gopavrendesa Prabhu was mentioning that one of your disciples came for your darshan. He mentioned that he is taking all guidance from his temple authority and Siksa guru but you told him that he should be coming to you also to take guidance. I am there to guide you. This really shows that how much you care personally for your disciples.

In SB 11.3.21, it is mentioned :-

tasmād guruḿ prapadyeta
jijñāsuḥ śreya uttamam
śābde pare ca niṣṇātaḿ
brahmaṇy upaśamāśrayam

Translation: Therefore any person who seriously desires real happiness must seek a bonafide spiritual master and take shelter of him by initiation. The qualification of the bonafide guru is that he has realized the conclusions of the scriptures by deliberation and is able to convince others of these conclusions. Such great personalities, who have taken shelter of the Supreme Godhead, leaving aside all material considerations, should be understood to be bona fide spiritual masters

Also in the purport of srimad Bhagvatam (1.7.43), Srila Prabhupada writes "guru is called also an acarya, or a person who has personally assimilated all the essence of sastras and has helped his disciples to adopt the ways".
That is why by your mercy, a dull headed person like me, is also able to appreciate and follow Krishna consciousness. Just as fire is kindled from wood by another fire, spiritual master can kindle the spiritual fire from the wood like disciple by imparting proper spiritual messages.

By your perfect example you are teaching us how to be sincere disciples. Your enthusiasm and determination to serve Srila Prabhupada's mission is admired by everyone. His mission of spreading Krishna consciousness is your life and soul.
It amazed me when I heard first time that you only had a moment of personal association with Srila Prabhupada and how you gave your life in serving his mission just by His vani. Gurudev, we hear that "vani is more important than vapu" but I have also heard in lectures that "Nothing can replace vapu". We will always need you.

On this auspicious day, I pray to Sri Sri Radha Vallabha to bless you with good health, so that you continue serving Srila Prabhupada's and SriCaitanya Mahaprabhu's mission of delivering fallen souls by giving them opportunities of chanting Holy Names of Krishna.

Seeking your blessings on this most auspicious day. I must have committed offences in the past and due to my conditioning will commit more offenses again but as a loving and Forgiving father, please don't give up on me.

Aspiring to be your humble servant,
Viracandra Dasa

Dear Gurudev

Accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

This is my first Vyasa-puja offering after being initiated. I don't know what activities I did that you accepted me as your disciple. It is only by your causeless mercy and the mercy of your disciples like Hari Bhakta Prabhu, Gaura Avatara Prabhu, Amani Gaurahari Prabhu etc. that I have been able to take your shelter and engage in your service.

You are expert in spreading the glories of Caitanya Mahaprabhu and bringing the conditioned souls to the lotus feet of Gaura-Nitai. You have vast knowledge of the Vedic Shastra's and you can package that knowledge to attract the people of the western world to devotional service. It was by your amazing talks and your instructions that I was able to take Krishna Consciousness seriously. You are a specialist of urban outreach and you know all the tricks and schemes to bring the youth to Krishna Consciousness. By intelligence and organization, you have expertly provided sustainable urban contemptory ashrams for sincere people all around the world to practice devotional service.

Your instructions have changed the lives of uncountable people, and I am among one of them. I can never forget your first instruction to me to chant as many rounds of Hare Krishna Mantra as possible. Even in infinite universes, there would be no one as merciful as you. As you are in direct contact with Krishna, your words, activities and behavior are all transcendental and they cannot be fathomed by ordinary living entities. You are an expert in dealings with Vaishnavas on different level of their devotional service according to time, place and circumstances.

I can only be an instrument in helping you spread Krishna Consciousness around the world. It is by your endless mercy and blessings of Prabhupada, that Mantrahouse in Los Angeles in flourishing. It is only because of you that Hari Bhakta Prabhu has achieved this incredible success. You are our inspiration and motivation to perform devotional service, and it is only by you that we would be able to preach the message of Caitanya Mahaprabhu to the youth.

My only desire is to serve you life after life and fulfill all your desires. There is nothing more dearer to me than serving you and your devotees by following your instructions sincerely.

Your Aspiring Servant
Vraja Kumuda Das

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada,
All glories to you!

I wanted to thank you for turning my miserable condemned life into a life of bliss. You truly make it easy even for a fool like me.

Easy to come to Krishna Consciousness, grow in Krishna Consciousness and.bring others to Krishna Consciousness.
Without you I would probably still be sweeping some hallway at a temple, while totally spacing out or I would have left Krishna Consciousness all together and gotten annihilated by Maya again.
Because of your wonderful arrangements I am surrounded and can take shelter of the most beautiful devotees, who are strong in their devotional practice, so knowledgeable and full of wonderful qualities.

I have the most amazing service opportunities. And it is all just a 7 minute scooter ride away!
Cultivating newcomers, mentoring those who have been around for a while, making and distributing prasad. What to speak of all the opportunities I am not taking enough advantage of like book distribution and strong sadhana.

With you super fantastic bhakti brain you have given us the perfect facilities for a steep Krishna Conscious career.
Thank you so much for all the hard work you put into Bhakti Lounge and all of us including myself.

The other day I saw you walking out of your apartment and you looked just like a young man but much, much more beautiful and radiant! Out of pure selfishness I wish that was true and that you will be around forever. Then we can always tell people: ‘Please come to Bhakti Lounge this really cool monk Devamrita Swami is giving a talk! You shouldn't miss it for anything in this material world!'

Thank you Gurudeva for being pure transcendental awesomeness!

Your aspiring servant
Vraja Nari dd

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.

My appreciation for you continues to grow every time I hear you speak or hear of your glorious life and past times. Seeing the effect that you have on guests at outreach programmes always reminds me of the start of my own spiritual journey and how you ignited the flames of desire in me to seriously take to the path of Bhakti. It amazes me how in this small insignificant town in Wales we have the incredibly good fortune of having your regular association year after year. You visit our yatra and give your time so freely to anyone with the good sense to come and hear from you.

Thank you for always accepting me and being so understanding. Over the years since I have known you you have been nothing but supportive through the changes in my service and family life.
Recently becoming a mother of two has brought about new challenges in my life. I heard you once say that there is not much difference between spiritual parenting and biological parenting, there are agonies and there are ecstasies in both. You are the perfect spiritual father and I pray that I never cause you anxiety however, I know I fall short in so many ways. I have heard you talk about how hard and heart wrenching it is for the spiritual master when a disciple turns their back on them, I want you to know that regardless of my shortcomings I will never turn my back on you.

Your eternal servant,
Vraja Varuni Devi Dasi.

Dear Grudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All Glories to Srila prabhupada

In the midst of many helish conditions I have stubornly determined to be happy. In a "home warming" gathering you once tactfully replied "be as happy as you can in a world with no happiness!".

"I want to be loved, i want to be important, i want to control" is the bottom line you explained. In the general public and in the neophyte devotee this intention lingers.

Analysing our quest for Happiness you discuss our futile attempt in this impossible task. Just as Krishna does-you encourange our departure from this temporary and miserable world to a life of bliss back home.

Therefore you remind us that human life is meant for austerity not for hapiness. Tolerate a little and gain the most. If possible accept more difficulty for incremental advancement.

Early in Krishna conciousnes i sensed that my looking for hapiness was troubling. At the end of my first darshan with you in 2013 you stood up to walk away when I lastly presented for a solution that "I feel like i am always looking to be happy". You turned around and replied "Dont look for happiness. Look for service and happiness wil be forced upon you!". A selfish life is a miserable life is the phrase you coined.

When I apply this princple of accepting voluntary difficulty I can see that the formula works. By watering the root the branches do infact become nourished. And going beyond my comfort zone in service along side sharing Krishna with others gives the greatest reward.

Ultimately you embrace all difficulty for Krishna's pleasure. The most exhalted devotees feel
"I do not mind My personal distress. I only wish for the happiness of Krishna for His happiness is the goal of My life. However, if He feels great happiness in giving Me distress, that distress is the best of My happiness. "(C.C Antya 20.52)

By your example I can see. You accept the greatest challenges, tasks, difficulties, inconveniences and blame. Yet you are always Jolly and energized. Your presence is radiant and you are the most blissful. You have sacraficed your life for Krishna and he has given himself to you.

Krishna says the devotee gets his happiness from hearing, chanting and preaching His glories (BG.10.9). This is certainly true for you and by your kindness in the little years I have been around the devotees I can see this is where satisfaction lies.

As you recently said to a devotee audience " some are older becoming less advanced and some are younger becoming more advanced" and Srila Bhakti Siddhana Sarasvati pointed out that selfishness is an internal worm which eats away any progress. Hoping to not retract and to give up miserliness, I ask for your help.

By sharing your vision allowing us to understand things as they truely are and by guiding us with a heart full of compassion, you are our greatest wellwisher. Trying to make the best use of a bad bargin, I offer this insignificant life at your service and beg for your protection until it's completion.

your insignificant servant,
Vrindavan-madhurya das

Sri Gurudeva,

The first week I arrived in New Zealand, which is about 8 or 10 years ago, I met your chief servant Ramadas Prabhu on Willis Street Wellington. I was such a miser that just to save a few dollars’ bus money I would daily walk 2 hours between my flat and work place. While performing my austerity of walking, one day I met Ramadas who was doing book distribution. He showed me a copy of Bhagavad Gita and asked me what my goals were for life. I told him my short term goals, such as getting a better job and renewing my visa, etc.

Ramadas was a very interesting person to talk to. I promised to chat more with him after I visited the post office for some paperwork. But after half an hour when I went back, he was gone! Obviously he thought I was saying no in a Chinese way. I started to look for him and found him standing on Cuba Street. I explained how I was looking for him and I also invited him to sit down at steps on the floor. We had half an hour talk. He was very friendly. At the end I didn’t buy his books but gave him only my cell phone number.

Later on Ramadas started to cultivate me. Sometimes when I met him on the street he would set aside his book distribution service and go with me to the museum. By your mercy, Gurudeva, I was able to have association with such an advanced devotee leader, Ramadas Prabhu.

I was a very difficult person to be convinced to take up the practice of Sadhana Bhakti. The first barrier for me was that I didn’t have a good command of English to understand what devotees were saying. Later when I could speak English better I disagreed with devotees’ philosophy. I was more inclined with atheistic philosophy. That was the second barrier.

By devotees’ association I became more open and at least not against theism. But there was another barrier, which was that I placed sense gratification as the ultimate goal for my life. Very soon I had experience and realization that “selfish life is miserable”. Especially if we obtain sense gratification in a sinful way, it is extremely painful for the body, for the mind and for the heart.

Just at the most unhappy point of my life, Gurudeva, you increased your mercy. One day after the second kirtan of Sunday feast you patted on my shoulder from behind and said that you wanted to talk to me. In that personal meeting with you, I revealed my mind.

I said “I feel too weak and powerless to overcome the illicit sex addiction”.
You instructed “Chant Japa. That will give you strength”.

I said “I am not very determined”.
You instructed “Associate with devotees who are determined”.

Gurudeva, you are a maha yogi. You know what works.

Following your instructions I started to chant 16 rounds in devotees’ association. Krishna is present in the Hare Krishna maha mantra. One will experience so when one chants in the mood of renunciation. A few days later, news spread through out the whole community. Wanzi has become a devotee.

Gurudeva, you are glorious.
You are our father because you give us a new birth.

Giving up illicit sex and other bad habits, now we can happily chant Hare Krishna and engage in your service. Jaya Gurudeva!

Your servant,
Wanzi

Namo om Vishnu padayaya Krishna pastalya bhutakle
Shrimate devamrita-swamin iti namine
Pracare-purva-daksyam-ca bhaktacara-pravinata
Pararthathapi-karunyam yasya sarve ca te namah

Om Ajnana-timirandhasya Jnananjana-salakaya
Caksur Unmilitam Yena Tasmai Sri-gurave Namah

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to you Gurudev.
Please accept my humble and most respectful obeisance’s at your lotus feet. On your divine appearance day, I look back at my life in amazement. Fifteen years have passed since I have met you and since meeting you, my life had changed in for good. As soon I met you, Subhadaha and Kleshagni – bringing in all Auspiciousness and freedom from misery and afflictions of material life. The difference is so striking that I can see is like that of Melbourne weather of terrible, windy, chilly winter day to that of a most pleasant day like the one we had in Melbourne yesterday 25 Degrees.
Times flies and as I grow old, I am amazed to see your determination, steadfastness and each time you visit Melbourne, your preaching getting better and Nectarian. While I have no doubt about the empowerment of Lord Chaitanya and Srila Prabhupadas blessings on you for continuing the mission of delivering the fallen souls like me, I am also wonderstruck at you own discipline in overcoming the limitations of age, the fatigue of travelling across the globe by keeping strict control on your diet and trying to maintain the routine and keeping the body working continuously in Service of Krishna.
It is said that “Svadhunya darsanad eva sadhunam ca smaranad api muktir: One can attain liberation by seeing the ganga and by remembering the devotees. Similarly, I maintain my devotional life by thinking of you, having your darshan, listening to your wonderful classes on Srimad Bhagavatam and being the recipient of your wonderful, loving glances. Also, just two days ago, I had a wonderful dream in which, I was able to associate with you and serving you.
In this most auspicious day, I pray to Sri Sri Radha Vallabha, Gaur Nitai, Sri Jagannath Baladev and Subhadra Mataji and Srila Prabhupad to bestow their blessing on you for your good health. I also request you to please continue to shower your mercy on me and my family so that, we continue in devotional life and keep serving you.

Your Humble Servant,
Yamuna Jivana Das

Dear Guru Maharaja


Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and all glories to you on the anniversary of your appearance in this world.


"It is said, phalena paricīyate: one is recognized by the result of his actions. In Vaiṣṇava society there are many types of Vaiṣṇavas. Some of them are called gosvāmīs, some are called svāmīs, some are prabhus, and some are prabhupāda. One is not recognized, however, simply by such a name. A spiritual master is recognized as an actual guru when it is seen that he has changed the character of his disciples. Haridāsa Ṭhākura actually changed the character of the professional prostitute. People greatly appreciated this, and therefore they all offered obeisances to Haridāsa Ṭhākura and glorified him." CC Antya 3.143 purport


Like your preceptor, Srila Haridasa Thakura, you, Gurudeva, have also proven beyond any shadow of a doubt that you are an actual spiritual master. I'm honored to call myself your disciple and I do so with confidence because I know exactly how you have changed my character for the better - not by chance or circumstance, but by your personal attention and affection, by your unrelenting encouragement, by your unsolicited correspondence, by your uncanny memory of details, by practical advice in the matter of "life, love and finances", and especially by your self-evident ecstatic Krishna consciousness.


I'm now slowly trudging through the anartha-nivrtti stage of bhakti and at times it can seem like an never-ending struggle. But when I look back at the progress I've made, when I consider how much damage has been undone by your capable counsel, then I feel enthusiastic in devotional service.

I greatly appreciate what you've done for me and therefore I offer my obeisances to you.


your servant,
Yasodeva das

Dear Maharaja,

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

It constantly astounds me how you are so caring and personal to not only every one of your disciples but all conditioned souls that have the fortune of your association.

Most days I still cannot believe how I ended up with this once in countless lifetime’s opportunity. Before coming to Bhakti Lounge I had almost given up hope entirely on the world’s situation, coming to the conclusion that there was no ultimate solution to all the suffering. It is by your mercy only that I was shown the purpose of life and a path capable of ending all my countless fears and for that I am eternally indebted.

I pray that by your mercy I can be delivered from illusion and become less self absorbed so I can attempt to help you in your Sankirtan mission. And to truly realise how fortunate I am to have been saved so undeservingly.

All glories to you on this auspicious day,

Your aspiring servant,
Zoe