< Guru Maharaja | A - I | J - P | R - Z >
Homages to His Holiness Devamrita Maharaja
----------------------------------- A - I -----------------------------------
Acyuta Bhava devi dasi
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
When Dhruva Maharaja saw Visnu face to face by dint of his austerities, he became overwhelmed by ecstatic symptoms and although he wanted to offer prayers to the Lord, he was unable to do so. As Visnu resides within the heart of every living entity, He understood Dhruva's dilemma. Out of the Lord's causeless mercy, by a touch on the head, all Vedic conclusions were revealed to Dhruva Maharaja, who then recited beautiful prayers to the Lord.
I will fumble to glorify you, because when I think of what you have given me, my heart melts, and I cannot properly express myself.
As Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu says in Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya 19.151):
brahmanda bhramite kona bhagyavan jiva
guru-krsna-prasade paya bhakti-lata-bija
"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 Krsna. By the mercy of both Krsna and the spiritual master such a person receives the seed of the creeper of devotional service."
Thank you for this opportunity to engage in devotional service.
I pray that I may be of some use to you in your mission to serve Srila Prabhupada.
Trying to be your aspiring servant,
Acyuta Bhava devi dasi
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Adina Lila devi dasi
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Going to the sea on a ship without a captain, That`s us.
An intelligent and concerned person, standing on the shore, waving, whistling, calling, jumping and running up and down, back and forth, from east to west, from north to south, day and night, thats you.
Desperately you want to save us, and at the same time make sure, you don?t miss a single boat.
Only you know there is no other way out then by following your directions to the closest harbor.
Sometimes you have to jump right into the ocean and pull the lost ship behind you- in order to save it?s passengers. Immediately you take off everyone in the boat and with you sacrificial personal care, you help to cure the acquired diseases. You feed us with the best medicine,
the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra, devotional service, compassion and never ending love. You are expert in knowing, each passengers needs.
Thanks for your efforts to the conditioned souls in the ocean of material existence.
Thanks for elevating us into the ocean of bliss instead.
Thanks for all your efforts during the past year and decades before.
Thanks for this great opportunity to see you at
so many different places in the world.
I pray to inherit your dedication to your Guru Maharajas mission.
Your aspiring servant
and daughter
Adina lila devi dasi
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Bhakta Alexander Kotov
Dear Guru Maharaj,Please accept my humble obeisances at the dust of your lotus feet.
On Your appearance day let me express my sincere gratitude for everything that you do for all conditioned souls on this planet and for me personally.
Your contribution to Srila Prabhupada's and Lord Caitanya's mission is truly immense. Ordinary words are not appropriate for describing the efforts that you apply in order to pull us out of this horrible material world.
Constant flights, change of time zones and change of climatic conditions exhaust your body, but you do not hesitate even for a moment. You regard the thought of reducing your activity as inconceivable. Even the grave trauma you had this year was not an obstacle for you in your travels to the most faraway places on this planet in order to attract sincere people to the chanting of the Holy Name of God.
As already said, in the offering of one of Your disciples, "a tree is judged according to its fruits." It is possible to judge about a spiritual master through his disciples. And I can say with full certainty that all your disciples that I have had a chance to personally associate with are irrefutable proof of their spiritual master's glory. They have all the qualities of a real Vaisnava in full measure. It is my humble hope that I will be able to become a part of your big family and gradually, thanks to the association with such advanced personalities, I will be able, at least in some measure, to develop these qualities in myself.
In one of your lectures you attracted our attention to one line from Sri Guru Vandana:
citete kore yaikya
“My only desire is that the instructions emanating from the spiritual master's lotus mouth purify my consciousness."
While everyday listening to your lectures I try to constantly remember about these words. And the most amazing thing is that I begin to feel that my consciousness is gradually changing. Slowly, with difficulty, but it goes on. Thanks to Your mercy, the dirt that has accumulated in my heart for many long years of my stay in this material world is gradually exfoliating and going away.
Let me always stay under the protection of your lotus feet, in association with your beloved disciples.
Your humble servant,
Alexander Kotov
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Ameyatma das
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Thankyou for you fine example of very steady, determined and enthusiastic preaching. You mood helps to remind me of the earnestness Srila Prabhupada had to fulfill the order of his spiritual master to preach Krsna consciousness to the Western speaking people. Without this mood of eagerness to please Srila Prabhupada and carry out his desires, it would be very easy for ISKCON to loose the loving, caring and giving mood that he founded it on.
You are training your disciples in these basic principles that Srila Prabhupada painstakingly taught, directly when he was here, and through his books. Therefore I am seeing that their quality of Krsna consciousnss is generally very fine. They are also sincerely following the vaisnava standard and enthusiatically helping others come closer to the Lord.
I appreciate very much the personal, hands on training you have given to your disciples over the years and I hope that as you continue spreading the Krsna consciousness movement, increasing the number of disciples, you will still have the time to carefully nuture your students and give them that same love and care that you were able to show them in the 'early days'. I feel this personalism and caring mood has been a major contributor to your success here in New Zealand. And also in ISKCON at large this seems to be one of the greatest needs.
I know I haven't been so much use to you for a few years now, but I am hopeful that as I become more strongly positioned to fight maya, I will be able to continue to assist you in some small way in your efforts to help others. I am desirous to preach, and I am constantly praying for the vision and enthusiasm to once again come so I can do so effectively. Please continue to help me on this path and show me what it means to be a genune Prabhupadanuga vaisnava.
From your fallen servant,
Ameyatma das
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Bhakta Angiras
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet on this most auspicious appearance day of yours.
You are incessantly traveling all around the world to save the souls of this age, afflicted with kali-yuga vices; with least botheration of your own comforts. This year you went through serious physical discomforts as a consequence of the accident; however, within a span of few days or hours, you resumed extending yourself to others around the globe with full enthusiasm and dedication. This year July, I was fortunate to see a glimpse of your glorious preaching mission in New Nandagram farm. Indeed, you are creating good fortune for all of us. Your activities are always wonderful; however, it is inconceivable to me. All of your glorious acts are driven by deep compassion and selflessness for the unfortunate living beings of this age.
Srila Prabhupad mentions in the purport of SB1.12.16 that out of compassion for the conditioned souls, the Lord sends His representative, the spiritual master, whom He always protects. Hence, you are under the complete shelter of Srila Prabhupad and Sri Krsna.
Srimad Bhagavatam (last two lines of 2.4.18) says, even a person who is addicted to sinful acts can be purified by taking shelter of a devotee of the Lord. "ye'nye ca papa yad-apasrayasrayah sudhyanti tasmai prabhavinave namah". This is the glory of a Great devotee like you.
I had the good fortune of getting your association and to receive your instructions. I sincerely express my gratitude and indebtedness to you. Though I am aspiring to be your servant, I see myself unqualified in so many different ways. However, I beg your mercy to develop full faith in your instructions and to serve your instructions wholeheartedly.
Aspiring to be your eternal servant,
Bhakta Angiras
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Atma-maya devi dasi
Dear Guru Maharaja, let me congratulate and thank you for your love, care and tolerance. For your unlimited compassion for your ‘little angels’.
All children are different: some are good, some are thorny and particularly from the last ones are usually creating unsuspected ‘mischief’. But you are very observant and in each disciple you see unique quality that is peculiar only to him. You always inspire and encourage us, you are lavish in praises but at the same time you can be very strict.
Despite immense hardships you are coming to us day by day, from town to town, bringing the message of God.
You are teaching us how to live proper live in Krisna Consciousness, real and exalted life, life which is noble, exciting, sublime, delightful, dynamic, grand and worthy. This is what Srila Prabhupada was talking about and this is what you are talking about, dear Guru Maharaja.
You love your spiritual master very much and try to satisfy him with your noble service.
Thank you very much.
Your disciple,
Atma-maya dd (Omsk)
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Bal Gopal das
Dear Gurdeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to you on this most auspicious day of your appearance.
"It is said that great personalities almost always accept voluntary suffering because of the suffering of people in general. This is considered the highest method of worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is present in everyone's heart." - Srimad-Bhagavatam
8.7.44
Day after day, year after year, decade after decade you are continually embracing voluntary suffering because of the suffering of the people in general. This consistent sankirtan service to the disciplic succession is very endearing to the Lord, therefore as Bhagavad-Gita explains, there will never be one more dear to the Lord than such a preacher of Krishna consciousness, but how do you stick, without wavering, to such dedicated services? You are a possessor of pure devotion, therefore you possess the key element to long lasting urban outreach; compassion.
As an aspiring disciple, you have so kindly given me all kinds of service in relationship to this urban outreach mission, but the enduring ingredient is certainly lacking, as you have expressed.
"Now you may go on mechanically trying to distribute Krishna consciousness for a while, but it's not going to last, there has to be the development of the heart. Recognise how strong the heart's input is into our endeavours, and then cultivate compassion… 'Yes, I will wilfully accept inconvenience for the sake of others', this is what it takes to preach in a city these days; don't fool yourself, nothing else is going to work. You can go on mechanically for a while, you can go on superficially for a while, and yes, you can benefit a lot of people, but you won't last, because sooner or later your insides are going to be affected, like 'what am I doing here' or 'I've got better things in my life to do this every day'. Its gunna hit you in your heart and your 'what am I doing on south street, you know, day after day, who cares anyway, where's my name and fame, where's my profit, how do you justify it'. And this is embarrassing for us Krishna conscious persons, giving out Lord Caitanya's Supreme Mercy, the most sublime thing in existence." – Lecture 2006
I am certainly devoid of this element which you so obviously possess, please give me this much needed heart development, so I can be an effective instrument in your service.
"When one becomes serious to follow the mission of the spiritual master, his resolution is tantamount to seeing the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As explained before, this means meeting the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the instruction of the spiritual master.
This is technically called vanik-seva. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti T?hakura states in his Bhagavad-gita commentary on the verse 'vyavasayatmika buddhir ekeha kuru-nandana' (Bg. 2.41) that one should serve the words of the spiritual master. The disciple must stick to whatever the spiritual master orders. Simply by following on that line, one sees the Supreme Personality of Godhead." – Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.28.51, Purport
Because of your exalted connection to Prabhupada through van?i-seva, you are seeing and experiencing Krishna constantly, therefore you are so effectively giving Krishna to others. You have given me Krishna in so many amazing ways.
Associating with your sincere followers is so beneficial and is the means to rapid progress in devotional service. Please let me progressively and carefully associate with your devotees, based on the nourishing exchanges of love. Sankirtan is always amazingly refreshing, and is becoming more of an 'at home' experience.
Prabhupada's books are so full of Krishna conscious points to reflect on, and to endeavour to repeat, is so satisfying. Kirtan is truly an adventure; thank you for the privilege of being able to chant and dance with the guests at the Loft, and the devotees at the temple and ashram, these experiences are incomparable.
By your mercy I've been able to assist you in your personal service to Sri Sri Gaur Nitai, who are very very beautiful. Please let me treasure these universally rare moments, and not anxiously overlook what I am actually doing. The temple and ashram, being a place of residence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the spiritual world, Goloka Vrindavan, Navadwip Dham. Please give me the much needed reverence to properly enter these holy dhams, and experience the perfection of going home back to Godhead, instead of just going back to the ashram, to hang out at the ashram, or experience whatever unwanted familiarity there may be.
"Some of you may want perfection as soon as possible, but what is that perfection you're wanting, what do you think it is? Perfection means devotional service; if you have devotional service you have perfection, please think about that, and the more devotional service you have, the more perfect your life is. Perfection is not some vague, imaginary thing, or self-constructed thing; perfection means devotional service to the Lord. Then you're peaceful; you're simply thinking how Krishna can be satisfied." – Lecture 2006
Because you so powerfully experience perfection continually, you're so mercifully giving it freely all over the planet. Please always let me meditate on the incalculable value of devotional service, and eagerly, greedily, indulge in devotional service to the Lord, thereby truly experiencing the transcendental gifts you have so kindly given me.
Your aspiring servant,
Bal Gopal das
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Bhava Sandhi devi dasi
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
In Krsna book, King Yudhisthira says ' great personalities and devotees in full Krishna consciousness always think of Your lotus feet and remain fully satisfied by drinking the nectar of transcendental bliss. This nectar which they constantly drink sometimes comes out of their mouths and is sprinkled on others as the narration of Your transcendental activities. This nectar coming from the mouth of a devotee is so powerful that if one is fortunate enough to have the opportunity to drink it he is immediately freed from the continuous journey of birth and death.'
I meditate on your selflessness in travelling continuously, and how fortunate are we to have your association? When I listen to your discussions all around the world, I sense how you perfectly adapt yourself like a chameleon to your audience. Not of course in anyway changing the pure message passed down through the parampara, but in the mood of Srila Prabhupada, you remain at the cutting edge, thoughtfully packaging Krishna consciousness in the most dynamic way and suitable way for your listeners.
As you lean back and gently close you eyes, you pause before speaking. We sit huddled together waiting in anticipation, our eyes drinking your effulgent association. Then you begin, and as perfectly composed words dance from your tongue, we melt in contentment.
In your college days you had been a late night radio DJ, but now you really do soothe the hearts and minds of your listeners.
You chose to go without the complication of family life, but now you have so many sons and daughters, sometimes sitting in contentment at your lotus feet, sometimes clamoring for your attention. The 11th canto describes a man harassed by many wives, all pulling him in different directions, struggling for their own self interest, is this how we act towards such a selfless father?
You have an ever expanding family, but to each individual you so selflessly give yourself. You never see a moment wasted, and with your heavy responsibilities to Srila Prabhupada's world-wide mission you certainly have ample work before you, but when you sit with a disciple you have all the time in the world. You ask nothing for yourself, you only implore us to care for ourselves, and others, in Krishna Consciousness. You tell us, 'you can become free from the pushings of this world, if your urge to care for others in Krishna Consciousness, exceeds the urge for your own sense gratification.' You are such a gleaming example of selflessness, and care.
Gurudeva, without my awareness you acted in such a way as to increase my attachment for you at every moment, and now I find that you have captured my heart.
So I find myself begging for your mercy to enable me to be of some use to you. I am yours, but my conditioning is so strong, constantly being beaten by the waves of passion and ignorance as I try to be a servant of the devotees. Please enable me to break free from my foolishness and at last become your sincere disciple.
Trying to be the servant of your servants,
Bhava Sandhi Dasi
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Buddhimanta dasa & Shaktimanta devi dasi
Krishna presthaia bhutale
Srimate Devamrita
swamin iti namine
pracāre ’pūrva-dākṣyaṁ ca
bhaktācāra-pravīṇatā
parārthatāpi kāruṇyaṁ
yasya sarve ca te namaḥ
“Obeisances to you who have all the qualities of unique skill in preaching, competence in Vaishnava dealings, selflessness, and compassion.”
Hare Krishna Dear Guru Dev,
Happy Vyasa Puja Day.
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Your lotus feet.
All glories to your Vyasa Puja day Mahotsava.
Guru Maharaj, we wish you many more Vyasa Puja festivals to deliver many more fallen souls from the darkness of hellish life. Guru Maharaj this very day is always very special; this gives us an opportunity to think more of your lotus feet, your instructions, chastisements and many sweet memories of your personal association. This auspicious day engages us to plan the format of the Vyasa puja festival, discuss the nectarine time with your self, invite guests and the most importantly to discuss and finalize the Prasadam Menu for the Mahotsava.
Guru Maharaj, I was reading from Prabhupada’s book where Prabhupada says that the prime duty of a disciple is to assist his Guru so that his Guru can serve His Guru properly. Guru Maharaj you have got such a huge task of distributing love of Caitanya Mahaprabhu to every where and I am so incompetent that I am neither worthy nor qualified to assist you in pushing on Srila Prabhupada’s dreams. Guru Maharaj if you want you can transform this unqualified soul to qualified one, so please bless me so that I can be of some use to this wonderful movement ISKCON. Guru Maharaj you have been so kind to this little servant by connecting me in this divine parampara.
I understand that I have to find you in your instructions, lectures and books, however still I am feeling the separation of your personal darshan specially this year when you are not visiting Sri Vrindaban dham in Kartik. That was the only time when Noida devotees could get your divine association for a little while. Now they all have to wait for Feb. next year.
Guru Maharaj I always feel your blessings in each and every step in my life. You exactly know what, when and how much I need. I can experience your mercy in my success and failures. Guru Maharaj I still remember your valuable and personal instructions to me “to live a simple life”, I am unable to follow that. Please be merciful upon me so that I can stop hankering for material happiness and start obeying to your instructions, which is the only way to eternal happiness.
Guru Maharaj please bless me so that I can stay under the safe shelter of your lotus feet.
Hari bol Guru Maharaj.
Guru Maharaj’s Vyasa Puja ki Jai
Your insignificant servants,
Buddhimanta Dasa & Shaktimanta Devi Dasi
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Candidasa dasa
Dear Guru Maharaja,
You can go to the Sloka Raja website and see a series of verses hidden by a saffron veil. Each verse number is given in a tab along the top of the window. If you hover the mouse over the veil shrouding a particular verse, then that text's veil becomes transparent and you can "peek" at a single line of the original Sanskrit or the English translation. You can also click the mouse button and the text becomes permanently uncovered. Clicking again re-hides the verse.
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Dandakaranya das
Nama Om Vishnu padaya
Krsna-presthaya Bhutale
Srimate Devamrta Swami
Iti namine
Pracare purva-daksyam ca
Bhaktacara-pravinata
Pararthatapi karunyam
Yasya sarve ca te namah
All glories to you on your divine appearance day.
As the time factor pushes on with each passing year the reasons for getting out of the material world once and for all become more evident. You only have to keep up with a week of mundane media reports to work that one out. Sometimes people wonder why Krsna spoke the Bhagavad gita, The Song of God, on a battlefield of all places.
I guess the underlying thought process behind a person who asks that question is that “if there is a God didn't He make the material world a place for us to enjoy?” Prabhupada points out in his introduction to the Bhagavad Gita. “Material consciousness has two psychic divisions. One is that I am the creator and the other is that I am the enjoyer.”
So here is the ongoing challenge for those who are fortunate enough to realise it; overcoming our own false conditioned sense of reality and learning how to see things as they actually are through the divine eyes of Prabhupadas purports. I must admit that I don't like the wearying and burdonsome experience that the material world has to offer, who really does, but at the same time I don't have much love for Krsna either. However it is inspiring to see someone who does have genuine love for Krsna in your own transcendental example.
Krsna explains in the Bhagavad Gita that it is only through bhakti that He can be understood and He reveals himself to those who render service to Him with affection. After all of your years as a sincere servant to Lord Caitanyas mission you are living proof of Krsnas words in the Bhagavad Gita. Please sprinkle some of your mercy my way so that I can become free of my material conditioning and become a sincere servant of the Lord.
Your Aspiring servant,
Dandakaranya das
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Dharmaraj das
srimate Devamrita swamiin iti namine
pracare purva daksyam ca
bhaktacara pravinata
pararthatapi karunyam
yasya sarve ca te namah
Dear Spiritual master,
In this day, which we lived the favorable appearance on you, Gurudev, i pray so that Lord Nrisimhadeva protects to you, and to all devotee, Vaisnavas of this movement of sankirtana so that we pruned his holy association.
Always throughout this time it has demonstrated her many qualities Oh! Devotee pure of the Lord! and worthy representative of Srila Prabhupada! , emphasizing indeed its interminable force, its pure and noble desire to take the glories of holy name to places inospitos, in spite of the difficulties, with its body, and the influence of the age of Kali, you, are transcedental to all that, because you take in his heart the mission of Srila Prabhupada.
All Glories to you, that you hvae compassion, granting mercy, to many people in several forms, but his grace, accepting us like spiritual sons when taking refuge on his lotus feet, is, within many. but the merciful one of all.
You, always can see to Krishna in everything, which had that the message of Lord Caitanya, within its heart, comes us at us, in the forma Extatic and Kirtana , a strong one and energic class, Krishna-katha or darshan. Because the Holy Name, is his a tool, to wake up conscience of Krishna to, and to animate us to others to follow manteniendonos. "SAtatam kirtayanto mam na but ca ta drdha vratam nama syanta ca mam bhaktya nitya yukta upasate" .
I just pray, so that Lord Krishna maintains to us with his impresindible association, and I can be a servant.
Dharmaraj dasa
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Dharma-setu das
Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Although I am not your formerly initiated disciple I thought I would take the opportunity of your vyasa puja to express my appreciation and gratitude for your being involved in helping me progress in spiritual life. Ones spiritual masters instructions come through to the disciple via the local Krsna conscious authority and by Krsna's causeless mercy I have the good fortune of serving under your care.
So I am very ecstatic to have such a wonderful Siksa-guru as yourself.
One of the qualities of a devotee is that he is expert. When I think of someone who is expert in preaching Krsna consciousness I think of you. When hearing your various lectures and talks on bhakti I am realising that you have meditated very deeply on how to make a relevant and effective presentation of Krsna consciousness.
Your audiences, knowingly or unknowingly, are captivated your by your inner blissful experience of service to Krsna and your compassion for them. You are like a whirlpool in the centre of the room that is churning an ecstatic mood drawing in the minds of your listeners and drowning them in nectar. It is wonderful to experience such high caliber preaching and inspiring to see the result of taking the service of preaching seriously. Srila Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya are obviously pouring mercy on you and I am very grateful for your association in my life.
Thank you for your kindness and for setting such a wonderful example of a preacher in Krsna consciousness.
Your eternal servant,
Dharma-setu das.
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Divya Jnana das
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
You are surely the kindest guru a disciple could ever have. Despite all my faults and weaknesses you accept my service even though improperly performed. In fact you always give me unlimited encouragement and mercy to go on serving. While I should be offering praise and glorifying you, it would appear that you end up glorifying me. The Nectar of Devotion states that one should not fail to offer some praise in the presence of the spiritual master. Though I feel completely inadequate to do so I pray that I can receive such a gift that I can glorify you forever.
In Mayapur you gave me shelter at your lotus feet for which I’m eternally thankful. I remember walking with you to the Ganga the day after my initiation with some of my god brothers. You were in front leading the way and we were following behind, one by one. I felt like a baby duck following the parent. It was a very warm feeling, one that felt protective and pleasing to the heart, that you were my shelter, my spiritual father and I must follow you.
I remember asking you in class how one can avoid the false burden of material existence. To which you replied, “By following the instructions of the spiritual master.” Srila Prabhupada wrote in regard to his spiritual master, “He lives forever by his divine instructions, and the follower lives with him.” I am praying for your mercy that I can develop great attachment to your instructions and keep them close to my heart.
Srila Prabhupada said that a disciple can never repay the debt to the spiritual master but can attempt to do so by preaching Krsna Consciousness. By your grace I pray that I can renew my efforts to assist you in your service to Srila Prabhupada. To go on enthusiastically and help others learn to love Krsna. Please forgive me for my offences.
Your servant
Divya Jnana das
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Bhakta Dwayne
Dear Gurudeva,Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada, All glories to You.
Thank you for Gurudeva for everything you have given me.
For your Vyasa-puja this year, I wanted to glorify you and your wonderful qualities. I wrote a long offering explaining my thoughts and emotions. Upon finishing, I felt like I had barely begun. How could I write about what I am only just beginning to realise and understand?
Through your mercy you make personalized travel plans for each of us, steering us down the right road, back to Godhead. In my case, I feel that you're giving me the highest opportunity, though I am most unworthy.
I only beg that I may be able to please you.
Aspiring to serve you,
Bhakta Dwayne
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Ekendra das & Seva Kunja devi dasi & Sukha Sindhu das
nama om vishnu padaya
krishna presthaia bhutale
srimate devamrita
swamin iti namine
pracāre ’pūrva-dākṣyaṁ ca
bhaktācāra-pravīṇatā
parārthatāpi kāruṇyaṁ
yasya sarve ca te namaḥ
nama om vishnu padaya
Krishna presthaia bhutale
srimate bhaktivedanta
swamin iti namine
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Collating the Vyasa-puja homages for my godbrothers, godsisters, and other co-dependents leaves me in awe every year. It is truly amazing how many people you've helped and are continuing to help.
Many devotees point out that its a tough time to preach these days. I'm earnestly in reverence at what you've done despite all odds.
When I browse over these sincere offerings of gratitude I'm moved almost to tears at how much transformation has taken place and gain faith that, indeed, the mercy of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu can turn refugees of the Iron Age into Vaisnava sadhus.
I pray that we can continue forward in our journey towards our true home and thank you for all of your selflessness and compassion in helping us along the way.
your servant,
Ekendra das
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Bhakta Elliot
Please accept my most humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
On this most auspicious occasion, I would like to offer my sincere and heartfelt thanks for your guidance and blessings over the past year. You have helped me so much by your personal association, and through your humble servants Sita Pati das and Param Satya devi dasi. Without their and your help I would still be wholly immersed in the miserable illusion that is this material world.
All glories to you, such a humble servant of Srila Prabhupada and Krsna, always endeavouring to save the lost souls from the clutches of maya.
Please help me to remain in Krsna Consciousness, letting me serve you and your transcendental mission to bring everyone to Krsna's loving service.
Without your mercy, I'm lost.
yasya prasadan na gatih kuto 'pi
dhyayan stuvams tasya yasas tri sandhyam
vande guroh sri caranaravindam
"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 the spiritual master."
Please be merciful unto this fallen conditioned soul.
Your aspiring servant,
Elliott
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Gaura-arati devi dasi
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
As you walked into the Gaura Yoga centre to sit before your eagerly awaiting disciples, you appeared very radiant and said "what angels". I was captivated thinking "wow, he's the angel!" As you sat back on the couch I thought you were almost floating. But I soon realised you weren't some bogus yogi displaying mystic power to attract scores of followers, no, you were a genuine transcendentalist, free from the contamination of selfish desire, distributing the message of Godhead to guide us lost conditioned souls back to our original spiritual nature. When I later got to talk with you this became more apparent. After attentively listening about my self-centred life you fired some straight-up cutting instruction at me. Usually, had someone speak to me in such a way I would have run a mile, but you delivered your message on a foundation built of such deep compassion that I became bound to try and follow.
Since this first time we met I often I think of where I would be without your guidance in my life. It's never a pleasant thought. At very best I'd still be drifting from phase to phase trying to fit in somewhere, pretending to myself and everyone else that I'm happy, I'm going somewhere wonderful and that by merely smiling at someone as I walk down the street I'm making some kind of valuable contribution to the world.
But Gurudeva you are rescuing me from such a miserly life. You are diligently following in the footsteps of Patita Pavana Srila Prabhupada and Srila Narada Muni. 'Nara' means - the Supreme Personality of Godhead and 'da' means – one who can deliver. And you are relentlessly traversing the world delivering the glories of Lord Krsna to anyone fortunate enough to gain your association. Lord Caitanya instructs the brahmana Kurma in the most sublime mission…"Instruct everyone to follow the orders of Lord Sri Krsna as they are given in Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam. In this way become a spiritual master and try to liberate everyone in this land."
CC Mad 7.128. Your lectures and instructions carry such depth of realisation that they have tremendous potency to transform one's heart's desires. I love the way you address such relevant issues, exposing the stark realities of material life. You then show that spiritual life isn't simply a dry process of vairagya, but a dynamic devotional process of glorifying Krsna.
You recently wrote a letter officially introducing the 'mentor system' to your Wellington spiritual dependents. Within you said "I'm constantly thinking of your benefit." We can so practically see this in your life. You personally teach us to serve the disciplic succession with great earnestness and ingenuity, by giving instruction and even more powerfully through your own example. This involves great sacrifice, selflessness and compassion of which you are a shining emblem of all three. Although you never thought you would have children you are now father and master to over 100 spiritual dependents all over the world. With each of us you give yourself, offering all assistance for us to loosen our grip on our foolish material attachments.
You know it, and I know it, I'm completely lost without you Gurudeva. You are the life of my otherwise worthless life. I need you. The ironic thing is you've always been there for me. You've never let me down. It's my reciprocation that is lacking. Please therefore sever my irrational attachments to maya's enslavement so I may act only for your pleasure, trying to reciprocate with your endless love to my full capacity.
Aspiring to serve you free from selfish desire,
Gaura-arati dasi
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Bhakta Gaurav
srimate bhaktivedanta swamin iti namine
namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine
nirvisesa-sunyavadi-pascatya-desa-tarine
All Glories All Glories All Glories to Sri Guru !
All Glories to Sri Hari Gauranga !
My dear Gurumaharaj
Please accept my Koti Koti Dandvat Pranaam.
All Glories be at Your Kind self !
Dear Gurumaharaj
Please accept the thank you of this unthankful servant. Through your kind mercy and through the mercy of Sri Sri Radha-Gopinath I've been trying to practice Krishna Consciousness.
Your instructions for me now appear to me as your kind will. Your kind will for the protection and betterment of this degraded soul. As it is understood that Sri Hari Vasudeva's will is in the will of his pure devotee I understand that even though I have no qualification, sincerity or taste for the holy name The Lord is still allowing me to be situated the way I am situated. I feel this is all because you wanted this for me. All because of your causeless kind mercy and heart felt blessings. I feel, only because you have decided this for me, I am trying to follow the path of spirituality. Otherwise, at my own I am too restless, unambitious, ignorant, mundane and vulnerable that I will never be able to sustain or cherish the glories of Krishna Consciousness. It's been taking place all because of your kind mercy and your blessings. By accepting the love that You send me through your replies to my mails I have tasted the pure love that can be experienced by an individual.
The last time I saw you Gurumaharaj at the Melbourne retreat I revealed to you my difficulties at work and in relationships. I am sure you fixed something with that too. You charged me with this great amount of spiritual energy with your captivating instructions. Up on returning back to Sydney it so happened that I quit my mundane job as I got too busy with Janmastami Advertising and fund raising. Krishna took me right into his lap and arranged a room in his temple for me to move in. I was also involved in learning about Krishna's glories and fame through the morning programs. I was able to establish a relationship with your Gurumaharaj and my spiritual grandsire – Sri Srimad A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada by getting to serve him by dressing him. I am definite this has all been arranged through you, through your kind will and blessings. The limitless mercy that you have bestowed on this degraded, ungrateful pretender is a proof that Vaishnavas are in fact full of compassion for the fallen degraded souls.
My dear Gurumaharaj, please please accept my thank you for igniting the fire of bhakti in me. Please also engage me in your service as that mercy will surely work as fuel for this fire. Please also accept my apologies for all the times when I have been getting distracted and deviated from the path of devotion.
Seeking nothing more than your lotus feet
Your Lowest Unworthy Servant
Gaurav
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Bhakta Geoff
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada,
I have an attitude problem with God. This is not a surprise for a Kali-yuga inhabitant. What is unusual is that, by your mercy, I have the chance to rectify my bad attitude.
Thank you for your revolutionary Gaura Yoga center. Through this center I came in contact with the best knowledge, Srila Prabhupada's books. I not only learnt why I was suffering, but also received the best spiritual technology for reform.
Thank you for your ongoing care through Gaura Yoga management. You are expertly organising for all types of persons to come in contact with Krsna and remain in contact with Him. Your recently-introduced 3 hour Saturday kirtans are bringing together and enlivening all the whole devotee community.
Thank you for your 'mentor system'. Although recently formalised, it has existed and been essential throughout my spiritual life. I feel a great debt to such mentoring, and would not be here without it.
Despite so much help, I remain habituated to embarrassment by material desires. But my hope is that, by remaining in the association of your disciples and clinging tightly to your instructions, I will one day become purified enough to render some service to you.
Your servant,
Geoff
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Gokul Lila devi dasi
To Lord Caitanya's dear charitable warrior, O Vaisnava Goswami, our beloved Lord, master, affectionate father and well-wisher. Oh you the Gardner who plants the Bhakti seeds and uproots the weed of material desire. To you who is president of my heart, my life source, my very dear friend, my strength and inspiration, overseer and permitter, you who continually corrects and adjusts me, uplifts and enlivens, who perfectly reciprocates and is the best lover, you who prescribes the medicine, who teaches and trains, protects and cares, chastises and transforms, you who kills the nescience which constantly attacks, oh YOU who we run after crying "Krishna, Krishna!"
Praying at your divine lotus feet, always desiring your mercy, I, your insignificant daughter, attempt again to glorify you on this most auspicious day. Please accept my humble obeisances, All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
These roles are played by you in the lives of many all over the globe, disciples, aspiring disciples, dependents and non devotees. Your association, guidance and mercy is an essential part of our existence. Without you and your capable navigation through the Kali choas I'll remain suffering the attacks of ignorance blinded devoid of all strength and intelligence.
This boundless mercy and kindness your bestowing, you say is not your own but coming from the Param para. You take but not one drop of credit upon yourself, instead humbly pass it on to those ahead.
I'm made up of nothing but this special mercy. Borrowed swan feathers from you are decorating my crow tail. Yet still you ask, "how is such a transformation taking place in you?"
Just like when the Lord saw His reflection in the water and wondered who such a beautiful person looking back at Him was.
Your mood, words, and actions are my map through life, your directions, instructions and representatives are the only way any slight ignorance has lifted from my consciousness, how any service worthy of appreciation by you is taking place. Any transformation you see, is indeed because of your great power.
By the mercy of the spiritual master, a dumb man can become a poet, a lame man can cross mountains, and a blind man can see the stars.
In my crow tail I proudly show off the few borrowed swan feathers, this is the nescience which constantly attacks.Therefore I thank you for seeing this wretched fool as worthy of such mercy. I am undeserving yet still I've found such a saintly personality as you by whose mere glance all un wanted qualities go away.
In the Caitanya-caritamrta it states that one may be very a learned and intelligent scholar, but that does not enable him to understand the activities of a Vaisnava. I am yet to discover what will enable me to understand the service of my spiritual master, as your activities, your service to Srila Prabhupada and the Iskcon society is inconceivable to me.
I can barely schedule a few persons on Sankirtan, but you, to say the least you are leading a worldwide Sankirtan stragedy based on quality and quantity distribution. Such is the great power of you, our fitting master.
With firm, faith and conviction your carefully carrying Lord Caitanya and Srila Prabhupada's vision into the latest phase of the Kali Yuga storm. Fearing the gale force winds and rain most are attempting to stay sheltered and dry, while you bravely go out into the labyrinth to tactfully rescue those who are drenched from the deadly storm.
The mood and mission you have is the same as Srila Prabhupada. Your uniqueness and success sometimes misunderstood is your ability to asses the weather forecast and adjust accordingly. Recognizing the temperature, seeing its worldwide effect your expertly conducting operations which have transcendental flare to transform the mess.
In your Vyasa Puja offering to Srila Prabhupada in 2005 you quoted Srila Prabhupada who said that,
"Expert management means creating a situation of interest in Krishna even when apparently there is none".
Then you expressed your heart felt desire to reciprocate with your spiritual master and bring about fulfilment of his vision.
" Now more than ever, let us push to return your love by giving to the world the only meaningful progress: understanding Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in a conducive, favourable ambience and setting".
Thus like a magical puppeteer, you are moving the strings and producing real Vaisnava's.Your teaching us the best- have a life full of hearing and chanting, have communities of trained and nourished Devotees and make lifes mission to create this conducive, favourable setting with ambience with the goal of awakening interest of Krishna where apparently there is none. This shows your immense love to your Spiritual Master and your great power.
Like a useless puppet, I am dependent on the strings you pull.I have no strength on my own to forfill your wishes, I therefore beg to become the dynamic daughter you desire and more than ever to push forward to return this immense love to you by assisting you in the fulfilment of Srila Prabhupada's vision as the obedient servant of your servants.
Gokul Lila devi dasi
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Gopi Gita devi dasi
nama om visnu padhaya Krsna prestaya bhutale Srimate Devamrita Swamin iti namine
Pracare purva- daksyam ca Bhaktacara pravinata Parathatapi karunyamYasya sarve ca te namah
Nama om Visnu padya Krsna prestaya bhutale Srimate Bhakitvedanta Swamin iti namine
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
As time passes I begin to understand more and more how fortunate I am to be your disciple. Each year you have been sticking by my side like glue.
No matter what I do or how wrong I do it you have never given up on trying to inspire me to become a better devotee and servant. Whether your words have been chastising, soft or joking your causeless mercy and care has always been enlivening and kept me going forward in my Krishna Consciousness. I sometimes wonder where I would be now if I didn’t have such a true and loving father in my life. It is certainly amazing how personally and lovingly you deal with every single devotee, how well you know our heart and what we need. Please let me thank you for going out of your way to help me. Please let me thank you for not taking my mind and senses seriously but caring for my real needs and true desires that I often don’t even know or understand. Please let me thank you for being patient with me and understanding of my short comings. And please let me thank you for accepting me as your daughter and disciple. Dear Gurudeva please forgive me for the many disturbances that I have caused or instructions that I may have neglected. I am sorry.
Still I hope to always be able to somehow serve and assist you in Lord Caitanya’s sankirtan mission.
Your aspiring servant & daughter,
Gopi-Gita
Hriman Krishna das
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Without being empowered by the direct potency of Krsna, being favoured by the Lord no one can distribute the Holy name and enjoin countless fallen souls to worship Him. Gurudeva, by distributing the Holy name you cleanse the hearts of the most degraded people, therefore extinguishing the blazing fire of the material world, like a soothing balm of sandalwood pulp on a scorching summers day. Prabhupada said that such a spiritual master broadcasts the shinning brightness of Krsna's effulgence throughout the world and he should be considered none different form Krsna, that is he should be considered the incarnation of the Lords potency. Such a personality is Krsna lingita-vigrahali, 'he who is always embraced by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna'.
Gurudeva, your affection and care towards your children transpires from Krsna spiritual potency, flowing down through disciplic succession you instil in our hearts this transcendental inspiration to be constantly engaged in devotional service. Without your inspiration, without your empowerment, how can I carry on? As I stand on the street, I think how am I ever going to bring any one to Krsna's lotus feet? How am I ever going to distribute these books to the conditioned souls, when I'm bound in conditions myself? Everyone is bigger than me, everyone is taller than me and I'm uglier than all of them. I feel just like a dirty street dog yelping and barking at the passing people and every now and then someone will throw money at me to shut me up. What can a dog really do? I see and think what wonderful services your dear disciples are achieving, their magnanimous and saintly character, their qualities. What do I really posses? I suppose in every family there is a family dog and I'm not even qualified to be that. To be 'das' to be a servant of one always embraced by Krsna, is such an elevated occupation, I beg you that I can fulfil the true meaning of being 'servant' and not become just another so-called devotee. To see your merciful glances, to see you smile, to see you in ecstasy, that is my embrace. I pray that I may continue to serve you, pleasing your dear disciples, hoping to please you.
As always trying to be an unconditional servant
Hriman Krsna
Indrakarma das
I humbly offer my respectful obeisances unto your lotus feet.
It is very difficult for me to describe your transcendental glories. A conditioned soul doesn't have the words to glorify correctly a pure devotee of Sri Krsna.
My dear spiritual master, guide and father, only through your mercy can my uncontrolled mind take shelter of your lotus feet and in this way cross the ocean of material existence.
yasya deve para bhaktir yatha deve tatta gurau
tasyaite kathita hy arthah prakasante mahatmanah
"Only to those great souls who have implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master are all the imports of Vedic knowledge automatically revealed" You are giving us the greatest treasure in the world, which is pure love for God, and are guiding and giving unlimited mercy so we can use this human form of life in the service of the Supreme Lord, Krsna.
yadyapi amara guru - caitanyera das
tathapi janiye tanhara prakasa
"Although I know that my spiritual master is a servitor of Sri Caitanya, I know Him also as a plenary manifestation of the Lord". Lord Sri Krsna told Uddhava, "You should know that the spiritual master is exactly like Myself". The spiritual master is the sum total of all the demigods. It is proven by Srimad Bhagavatam that the spiritual master is exactly like the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
I hope I will always remember to chant, glorify and fall at the feet of my spiritual master who is an ocean of good qualities. He is Krsna Himself with all His knowledge and potencies, the beginning and end of everything. He destroys ignorance and helps us reach the supreme abode.
Your insignificant servant,
Indrakarma das
