Vyasa Puja 2007: R to Z



		< Guru Maharaja \| A - I \| J - P \| R - Z \| MP3> Show all Hide all Radha Prasada Devi Dasi Dearest Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances, All glories to Srila Prabhupada, All glories to you on this most auspicious day. Gurudeva, with all my heart and soul I want to thank you. Due to my unintelligence I cannot even muster up the words you truly deserve. Sometimes I wonder where I would be in life if it wasn't for your guidance. In comparison I am like a small child, lost and ignorant, who has no idea what is beneficial for me at all. Without your shelter I have nothing. I am so grateful to you. Thank you for establishing places like Gaura Yoga, which is a wonderful place to outreach to people in such a broad way. Like you say the motto is "we make it easy", every day more and more people are becoming attracted to Krsna Consciousness. Every time I go to Gaura Yoga your disciples inspire me so much. They are all so dedicated to you and the service they do. Each devotee has amazing qualities, and I can see this is a direct result of you. You possess endless qualities, of which I can only describe a few. Your tolerance, determination, humility, compassion and complete surrender to fulfill Prabhupada's mission always encourage me. I remember one time this year when my husband and I were staying at your apartment and you called us to come and talk with you. You are always so patient and kind and so quick to eliminate the havoc I have created for myself. I'll never forget when you brought up the topic of my health and how you quickly got up from your seat and grabbed a book which you had nearby. You carefully flicked through the pages silently reading and every now and again you would recommend different things I should do. At that moment I realized more than ever how fortunate I am to have such an amazing spiritual father. The time and trouble you go to with all your disciples to make sure they are healthy spiritually, emotionally and physically. In order for us to practice a Krsna Conscious lifestyle truly astounds me. Therefore on this day of your Viyasa Puja, I pray, please engage me in your service in your quest of fulfilling Prabhupada's mission. Thank you Gurudeva with all my heart, I am eternally indebted to you. Your spiritual daughter and trying servant, Radha Prasada Devi Dasi. Radha Sanga dd Dear Guru Maharaj Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. "Seeing that Mayavadis and others are fleeing, Lord Caitanya thought: I wanted everyone to be immersed in this inundation of love of Godhead, but some of them have escaped. Therefore I shall devise a trick to drown them also" (CC Adi 7.31-32) Srila Prabhupada explains that this is the symptom of acarya. An acarya who comes for the service of the Lord cannot be expected to conform to a stereotype, for he must find the ways and means by which Krsna consciousness can be spread. Thank you, Guru Maharaj for your revolutionary preaching and for all those devotees who are following you with firm determination. I aspire to be one of them. "Pariksit Maharaj was preparing to leave his body and Sukadev Goswami, his most merciful spiritual master devastated any possible attachment that he might have to the position of king by showing the ultimate insignificance of such a position..."(SB 12.2.44. purport). You perfectly exhibiting this by fearlessly and uncompromisingly cutting the illusory material attachments, never indulging anyone's illusion. Srila Prabhupada explains that Krsna speaks sharply to Arjuna by telling him that although he speaks like a learned man, he is actually fool number one. If we actually want detachment from this material world, we should be prepared to accept such cutting words from the spiritual master. Thank you for lovingly pushing me to function at the higher level. Spiritual master is said to be more merciful then Krsna Himself. Krsna does not interfere with the minute independence of the living entities, buy you Guru Maharaj forcefully drag us back to Krsna. I am grateful for that. It is ultimate love and personalism. As I am becoming more and more dispassionate about material life, I am desperate to, as you say, wake up to the life of positive action based on Krsna conscious desire. "Gurudeva, give this servant just one drop of mercy. Give me all the help. Give me strength ... When will such mercy fall to this one who is weak and devoid of intelligence? Let me be with you." Actually, I wanted this offering to be my promise to you that I will make greater sacrifice in your service to Srila Prabhupada. May I please ask for the strength and intelligence to always remember to "be sensitive to Krsna's pleasure and that any pains we incur en route to Krsna's pleasure are blessings." Your aspiring servant Radha Sanga dd Radhikesa dasa Dear Guru Maharaja, Please accept my most humble obeisances at your lotus feet. Seeing clearly how Maya bewilders the conditioned souls in innumerable and ingenious ways, with a joyful and carefree laughter you clearly present to us her scheming tricks. Whilst reading the following passage from 'Nectar of Devotion', I feel as though Srila Prabhupada is personally describing you: "The laughing sounds coming one after another are compared to flowers falling from the creeper which grows within the heart of the devotee." Although at times her bewildering spells are enough to make us cry in utter hopelessness, I beg the Lord to give me the intelligence to follow your instructions and to be able to laugh alongside you. The soothing laughing sounds emanating from your lotus mouth remain my shelter and guide. Your servant, Radhikesa dasa. Ramdas das Dear Gurudeva Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet All glories to Srila Prabhupada I remember you taking the time to come to my flat. I was only chanting 4 rounds and still smoking. I gave you a chair and I sat on my mattress on the floor. You asked for the Bhagavad gita and we read together for half an hour or so. And you would answer any question I had. At my first Janmastami festival at New Varshan I was wandering around looking in tents, watching plays. I was walking from a tent back to the temple and yourself and Prabhavisnu swami saw me. You called out Rufus like you were glad to see me, and put your arm around my shoulder and asked me how it was going and we walked some way with Prabhavisnu Swami...with your arm around my shoulder. When Julanyatra and his Wife would kindly let me stay at their house on the weekend I would farm and move cows with Rshabdeva and his wife. Once he asked me to move the cows, and bereft of all intelligence I chased them the wrong way. You drove by and stopped, winded down your window, and yelled out...Rufus.I never knew you were a cowherd boy. Once driving you out of Auckland I got in the wrong lane and was forced to take an off ramp, when I tried to get back on I took a wrong turn and suddenly we were on the highway back into Auckland. How much inconvenience you undertook giving me an oppurtunity to begin my first steps in mahat sevam. But you let me drive for you for quite a few years even though at the out set of almost every journey I would say.. "Maharaja, I don't know how to get to where ever we are going." And you would patiently get the map out and tell me were to go. These are very relishable memories of your care and kindness. Its unusual though how I don't relish as much your greatest care by instructing me how to keep constantly engaged in devotional service, even though this is the best gift you can give.How often do I fondly remember those acts of kindness and care. That immeasurable kindness and care like "Read 2 hours day" "Make sankirtana your life long mission", "Become smarter than sex life", "Selfishness is boring" . And I am so foolish I neglect this care. Driving you to your flat one night I mentioned to you how when the devotees come together they talk in amazement about how much care and kindness you show us, and you replied, "yes but some don't want to take it." I wasn't sure if you were referring to me or not. But if I examine myself I can see clearly that to a degree I'm like that. Mad. The madness is, to do as I like is to turn my back on your unconditional care. And especially since I am growing up a little I shouldn't do this. As Srila Prabhupada writes "If a child grows up and doesn't care for his father and acts freely, what can his father do? He can only say, "Do whatever you like." But when a son puts himself fully under his father's protection, he receives more care." Amongst my other desires polluting my mind, my predilection is to put myself fully under you protection; grow up and start to show care for your instructions. Please take away all my so called freedom and never give it back to me. What good is it anyway, I have already done whatever I liked and thus wandered eternally in the cycle of repeated birth and death , and in this life I simply tightly secured my spiritual self an animals body. I must be endlessly Thankful for all you care and instruction. If I could beg in my conditioned state , please allow me to imbibe this gratitude and try tirelessly to thank you with endless service to your instructions under your protection. So far I have seen In my own life by following you instructions, skyscraper problems have shrunk to the size of standard hurdles. Deadly infections of lust, begging for surgical operations have become itches that can be tolerated, and large ferocious lakes of mental activity have become small ponds. This is just a partial result of a mild reception of you care. I can't imagine what would happen if I became addicted to your instructions. Thank you for all the caring and skillful arrangements you have made for us. Giving us the most precious gem of devotional service which you practice in perfection. Your aspiring servant Ramdas das. "How wonderful a companion is the cream of Vedic literature--how sweet it is! And Srimad-bhagavatam is a the perfect low-maintenance partner. You simply pay a few hundred dollars for the set, and it's yours for life, never to say goodbye. Not only is the thrill permanent, but also, with each passing year and reading, the delicious taste intensifies." Rasayatra dasi Dear Guru Maharaj, Please accept my most humble obeisances at your lotus feet. Japa. The devotees sacred connection to the spiritual reality, the opportunity to associate with Sri Krsna Himself. I always remember an analogy you used when first cultivating my husband and I....a foolish person may be given a million dollar cheque and not realising its potential value either drop it in the street, or be talked out of it half way to the bank. Similarly the Holy Name is the most valuable gift, but an unfortunate person may lose sight of this. Moving through the different phases of conditioned life please let me hold tight to this treasured possession; this opportunity to keep my life sane, this opportunity to have Krsna's precious darsana every day. The opportunity to chant Hare Krsna, despite all the trials and tribulations of life in the jagat, is the real jewel. Please let me develop the consciousness to percieve and hold onto the real wealth which you have so kindly offered this ignorant fool. Begging for the mercy of the Holy Name, trying to be your sincere servant, Rasayatra dasi Saktimanta Devi Dasi Nama om Vishnu padaya Krishna presthaia bhutale Srimate Devamrita swamin iti namine pracare purva-daksyam ca bhaktacara-pravinta pararthatapi karunyam yasya sarve ca te namah Dear Srila Guru Maharaj, Please accept my humble obeisances at Your lotus feet. Al glories to Your Vyasa Puja day. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Guru Maharaj, Srimad Bhagavatam (2.4.18) says that taking shelter of a pure devotee can purify even a person who is addicted to sinful activities Ye'nye ca papa yad-apasrayasrayah sudhyanti tasmai prabhavisnave namah This is the glory of a great devotee like Yourself. You are indeed the Gosthanandi that Srila Prabhupada is describing in His purport to SB 4.30.27 "Devotees like the great sage Narada, who travel all over to preach ,are always wandering just to create different types of devotees...Such devotees, wandering all over the world, deliver those who are actually afraid of this material existence." Guru Maharaj,You are traversing this planet undertaking so many inconveniences and discomforts to please Your spiritual father,Srila Prabhupada and to knock some sense into conditioned souls like me. Your lectures are like bombshells that shatter to pieces our concepts of material enjoyment. Through Your lectures, you provide such deep insight into Prabhupada's purports which fools like me are unable to fathom at first glance. In Your lectures, I have noticed, that You show immense faith in the statements made by Srila Prabhupada.You don't just quote them, rather You sincerely believe in them. And that is so inspiring. Every single word You utter is saturated with Vedic Wisdom. Clearly.You are conveying to us the message of Lord Caitanya, "Jiva jago,jiva jago,Gauracandra bole" Guru Maharaj,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 Krishna -Balaram to bestow upon You ,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, or wherever You like. May You have a very long and healthy life, dear Guru Maharaj. Please bless me Guru Maharaj, so that I can adopt some sincerity and dedication from you. Please give me the intelligence to follow Your order. Please bless me so that I can be of some use to You in forwarding this mission of Srila Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya. Thank You Guru Maharaj for keeping me in Your shelter. Begging for Your mercy Always Your servant Saktimanta dd Bhakta Samuel Stewart-Jacks Dear Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. A short time ago I was trying to distribute Srila Prabhupada's books on the streets in Lower Hutt. I stopped one Polynesian lady who, when I asked if she had heard of stress, responded in the affirmative. She told me that she was right then on her way to visit her seventeen-year-old son, who was serving time in prison for assault. She added that he had caused considerable damage to his victim. She explained to me her aspiration that her son might be able to come home and serve out the rest of his sentence on home detention, and so she was working on her property so that it might meet the home detention requirements. Thus she had spent her morning digging holes to build a fence around her place to keep her son in should he be allowed to come back home. Thank you for the opportunity I have to help reverse the suffering that humanity undergoes in this Iron Age of Quarrel. I aspire that I may be able to offer you my thanks not just with my words but also with my actions. Your aspiring servant, Sam Bhakta Samuli Hirvi Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Srila prabhupada. Please accept this lowly offering from your stonehearted servent. Maharaj, I think I cant never thank you enough or pay you back your kindness upon me. Thank you so much that you came to pick me up from this hellish situvation of conditioned life. Im incredible fortunned that you have showen your mercy on me ,but fool as I am, I dont take full advantage of this sublime way of Krsna consiounes life. Getting oppoturnity to serve Vaisnavas is very rear thing. what to speak of serving devotees of Lord caitanya, Srila prabhupada is praying in his markine Bhagavata-dharma: 3. Most of the population here is covered by the material modes of ignores and passion.Absorbed in material life, they think them selves very happy and satisfied, and therefore they have no taste for the trancendental message of Vasudeva. I dont how they will be able to understand it. 4. But I know Your causeles mercy can make everything possible, because You are the most expert mystic. Spiritual master is like that. You can change crow like people to swan like people.You are like magician. it is so mystical, how great souls like you can make unfortened citizens of Kali-yuga to remember their relationship whit krsna, Who is in the heart of every living being. You are preaching the teachings of Lord Caitanya all over the world and saving people from hellish life of sensegratification. You took Srila Prabhupadas mission in your heart and sucrifying again and again to benefit the conditioned souls. sa yat pramanam kurute You are giving a living exampel how to serve lord Caitanya, how to be a Vaisnava and become dear to Krsna and how to give everything to Lord Service. Im ashamed that I cannot offer you any practical service whit real value to assist you in your glories mission. Sense gratification makes people so dull. In monday we were on sankirtan in eastside of Helsinki. Between a big shopping center and metro and bus stations is a squere where people are rushing by. It is named after Estonias capital city. People are bit low class and police are aresting allthe time these crazy people. They are peaceful to us , but sometimes is difficult to find so called sane people to distibute. In afternoon one lady ,in her forties, came out from metro stop. She was deasent looking. She was feeling sad and explained that she never drink, but last she did. Now she has terrible hang over and she had to leave her job for the day, becouse she making only a mess. I asked: So why did you drank. She said: Because I was pist off. Why? Oh, my husband is an idiot. Ok, so do feel better now after drinking and everything? No, worse. She said. I think I will divorce. He is so agressive and violent to me. Ok, but after a while you will fall on love again and very soon you will find out that your new man is also a fool. Then she cried out loud: But I want to have sex! I said: Yes, that is the problem, cant you see, you are in this pityful situvation because of this desire to enjoy material world. Finally she took some prasadam cookies. But strange thing is that the people are getting so much trouble and still they are determined to go on. They dont see the connection of their desires and troubles they are getting. And the most amazing thing is that im like that also. Maya is kicking me inthe head like anything and stil im holding my childish dreams to become happy trough gratificayng my senses. im hard headedly embrassing my material desires. Please maharaja, please give me shade of your lotus feet. Trying to become your servent bh.sam Sandrananda dd Dear Gurudeva, nama om vishnu-padaya-krsna prasthaya bhu-tale srimate Devamrita-swamin iti namine pracare purva-daksyam ca bhaktacara-pravinata pararthatapi karunyam yasya sarve ca te namah Please accept my humble obeisances. All Glories to you, dear Guru maharaja, on your Vyasa puja day. Do you know how you are renowned throughout ISCKON for your preaching. My friend told me that when her spiritual master, Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu, heard that she was coming to Wellington he requested her "Go have a look at Gaura Yoga and tell me about it". Everyone is talking about it. Many devotees after visiting Gaura Yoga are excited to witness a regeneration of the Loft preaching program that Prabhupada began. Not only that, Gaura Yoga seems to expand more and more. Now we have Gaura Good Food, bringing Prasadam into the Universities, as well as Gaura haven, in Otaki reaching still further a field. Looking after these projects is no easy job, however through your dedication and compassion the work is being actualised. Another project, that is most dear to your heart, is the distribution of Prabhupada's books. Your decision to bring into New Zealand 50,000 Srimad Bhagavatams has given many more people opportunity for service, knowingly and unknowingly. As Prabhupada explains; "This literature is the factual incarnation of the Lord so the laymen can hear the narration of the activities of the Lord and thereby they are able to associate with the Lord and gradually become purified from material disease. The expert devotees also can discover novel ways and means to convert the nondevotees in terms of particular time and circumstance. " Thank you for all of the inspiration that you give us. Please let me develop a strong desire to become your true servant, a servant of all devotees, and a servant of all the good and fortunate souls who are yet to take shelter of Gaura Yoga and its other enterprises. May New Zealand become the leading country in the world for spiritual knowledge. Thank you for giving me shelter Guru maharaja. Please forgive me for my offenses. Aspiring to be a speck of dust on your lotus foot, your servant Sandrananda dd Bhakta Sasha Kotov Dear Guru Maharaja Please accept my humble obeisances in the dust of your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! Let me join congratulations of my senior spiritual brothers and sisters at this remarkable day and express you my great gratitude that you have shouldered this heavy load of pulling conditioned souls out of the mouth of material energy. This your service to Srila Prabhupada's lotus feet is a very hard work. First, it is necessary to convince a conditioned being to follow a path of bhakti though it often does not want it at all being under the charms of illusion. And secondly, it is necessary to guide very carefully to Krishna those lucky people who have accepted this way. The person following the way of devotional service is similar to a blind kitten. It sticks constantly its nose into something, in jnana or in karma. And at times, its heart is overgrown with dense weeds of material desires which stifle the plant of bhakti. And you have to literally bear us on your hands to the spiritual world. But children gradually grow up and start feeling gratitude to the parents. And how is it expressed? Once, one girl asked her parents why parents take care of the children. Her mum answered that when children grow up they would take care of their aged parents. And the dad replied that when children grow up they would take care of their children. My understanding of gratitude coincides with what the dad said to his daughter. I sincerely hope that I will be able to please you through finding sincere people and giving them Krishna consciousness on your behalf. Undoubtedly, for this purpose I need to make a good job for clarifying my own heart. But it becomes possible thanks to the constant hearing of your instructions and followings your directions. And the chanting of the Holy Names of Krishna is the most important among your instructions. The essence of the eternal links between a spiritual master and a disciple consists in the execution of this instruction. There is a tradition to wish something to the person whose birthday it is. But you have everything because you have Krishna. The only thing that I would like to wish you is grateful disciples who are ready to take some part of that load that you received from Srila Prabhupada. Hare Krishna Your humble servant, Sasha Kotov Bhakta Sergey Didenko Dear Guru Maharaj! Please accept my respectful obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! Let me glorify Your Divine Grace on this blessed day of Your appearance! Two years have passed since the day when I got the great chance to get Your mercy and to take shelter under Your lotus feet. I remember that I wanted to cry out of joy because I was realizing that I was unqualified and didn't deserve it and still You, out of Your mercy, gave me hope... Dear Gurudev! The diamond of your devotion to Srila Prabhupada and to Lord Caitanya that You carry in Your heart lightens our way! This light is the light of Your instructions and their essences are: serious attitude to the Holy Name based on the deep understanding of the essence of the process of chanting; correct relations with devotees and only Guru's and Krishna's mercy and our own humility can become basement for them; seriousness in studying scriptures and in preaching the process of bhakti which is the real perfection of life and this process excels the sentimental faith and the desire for liberation. As an experienced guide, You take us with You in this exciting journey to the Holy Dhama and reveal us the true nature of the spiritual world, its beauty in comparison with which all the "wealths" of this material world become colorless. Hearing You, being a witness of Your determined and persistent preaching, I feel inspired and determined to follow the process of devotional service being guided by You all the rest of my life. Such is my sincere desire. Let Your fame be spread all over the three worlds! Your humble disciple and servant bhakta Sergey Didenko Arkhangelsk region, Severodvinsk Sevamrta devi dasi Dear Guru Maharaja Please accept my humble obeisances unto you All glories to Srila Prabhupada All glories to you A few years back I proudly walked into the door of Gaura yoga centre. 'This place looks good for me, my health and maybe... spiritual life. I can do with a bit of this.' Little did I realize it was the door to life's ultimate goal -reviving love of Krsna. And it was open entry to any kali yuga refugees. There was nothing I had to be proud of. Still you gave me the chance to be engaged in devotional service. You gave me the devotees' association. You gave me the urge to develop love for Srila Prabhupada's books. You gave me courage, inspiration and a tiny taste in distributing Srila Prabhupada's books and preaching. And you gave me the holy name -direct contact with the Lord. You gave me a higher taste in everything. Still, I dog-stubbornly cling to temporary sense gratification. Challenges are thrown by maya, 'hey, are you sure you want to forget me?'. I only sheepishly answer,' Well, you know... I love prasadam. Devotees are better than 'non-devotees', I don't love chanting Hare Krsna but I would like to love it. I love to love distributing Srila Prabhupada's books. I love all these, don't I? ' In the mean time, my attention is drifted off from precious opportunities to render selfless service. You raised a question in one Srimad-Bhagavatam class, 'why does a conditioned soul not accept Krsna's instruction, "surrender unto Me? ". The answer was that, we, as conditioned souls, think that we know what pleasure is. That is, I am thinking 'I know who I am- I think like this, I act like this. I know what I should do and should not do. I know' Yes, dog-stubborn, am I not? Yet you still tolerate so much of my foolishness. Right from the beginning you are telling me "By taking Krsna consciousness, you can be successful in life". What is the success? I already have 'success' in my life because I have your shelter. "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." [cc 2.19.151] For me, the best jewel is to realize that you know me and care for me more than I do. It is my greatest success and fortune to have such, you the loving father. Guru Maharaja, I love you so much. I love how you are dedicated to Srila Prabhupada. I love how you are selfless in spreading Krsna consciousness. I love how much you care for your disciples. "Gurudeva, I am low, fallen and devoid of all strength and intelligence. Please make me your beloved servant. When I examine myself, I find nothing of your value, your mercy is therefore essential to me". [Gurudeva by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura] Gurudeva, I am so weak on my own. Therefore, please give me the intelligence to analyse maya's propositions and the strength to wrap myself around with devotional service. Please allow me to embrace devotional service as a life-time 'career' with full head, full determination and full knowledge. Please allow me to steadily strive to realize that Krsna is the Supreme Person and the Supreme enjoyer- as you tell me. Please allow me to only desire to assist you. I hanker for that moment when I can live up to the name you gave me, nectar of service to Krsna. I beg your causeless mercy upon me so that I can give you the nectar! Praying to be a selfless servant at your divine feet Sevamrta devi dasi Bhakta Shashwat Singh nama om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate devamrita swamin iti namine pracare purva-daksyam ca bhaktacara-pravinata pararthatapi karunyam yasya sarve ca te namah Dear Guru Maharaj, Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. It is by great fortune that after attending farm retreats with you and listening to your lectures, I developed a respect towards you. After meeting you personally, I felt that I can reveal my mind to you and put full trust in you. In Bhagavad Gita Krsna says that we should approach a spiritual master, inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. Srila Prabhupada explains in the purport that the spiritual master should be accepted in full surrender, and one should serve the spiritual master like a menial servant, without false prestige. This ideal attitude of submission seems a distant goal for me. Only by your causeless mercy I will be able to subdue my expanded pride. With great compassion you are spreading Srila Prabhupada's and Mahaprabhu's mission throughout the world. With my tiny ability, please allow me to assist you in this magnanimous endeavour. Guru Maharaj please bless me so that I can serve you, your disciples and all devotees in right mood. Aspiring to be your humble servant, Bhakta Shashwat Shastra krit das Dear Most Gurumaharaj I beg you to please accept my humble obeisances unto your lotus like feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. I was listening to one of your recent lectures "Real Relationships vs. The Itch" it was really ecstatic. There your were kindly explaining how Sri Prahalad takes note of his background, what kind of family he comes from, he is mindful of the past and he is being careful of his tendencies from the past.We should similarly be careful. So i was remembering the beginning of my Krishna Con in Wellington Loft. I was still working in Burger King. I was coming to the Loft, reading and chanting Srila Prabhupada's books. In one of His books Srila Prabhupada explained "The bonafide spiritual master will always repeat the words of His spiritual master, not manufacture anything new". I wanted to meet a bonafide spiritual master, i was praying to Krsna for one. I came to one of your Sunday feast lectures with my mum. After the lecture on my way home I was asking my mum" mum wasn't that feast lecture by Devamrita Swami really amazing? Have you ever heard anybody speak like that before? unbelievable ah?" She casually said he is just repeating what ever we hear in Prabhupad's tapes nothing new, whats so amazing? When she said that this realization just hit me. yes ,yes He was just repeating Prabhupada, He is a real guru, He is a real guru. He is my guru, He is my guru ! "bramanda bramite kona bhagyavan jiv ,guru krishna prasade pay bhakti lata bija" Lord Caitanya dev out of His causeless mercy has sent you to save us from rotating within this material universe, all glories to Him, all glories to You. Many more happy returns of the day from Prema mala d.d, Vaninathraya dasa & Kishor madhava das Your humble servant Shastra krit das New Dwaraka dham Los Angeles 10/14/07 Shaun Nimai Shahani, Nitai Prema Devi Dasi and Gaura Prema Das Dear Gurudev, Please accept our humble obeisances at your lotus feet. Thank you for setting such a wonderful example of how to be Krishna Conscious. Your mercy is our only real treasure. We pray that Krishna will look after your health so that you can continue your glorious mission of preaching worldwide year after year. Your humble servants, Shaun Nimai Shahani Nitai Prema Devi Dasi Gaura Prema Das Sita-pati das Dear Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to your lotus feet. These are a couple of things that you have said to me that stick with me: "If you want to be a preacher, don't expect to be appreciated - but you will feel the warm smile of Krishna". "My realization is that we are cannon fodder". In the Hari Bhakti Vilasa Sanatana Goswami recommends that the prospective disciple spend one year living with the guru in order for the two to examine each other's character. By the grace of Krishna I had the opportunity to do that. In the time that I spent with you I examined your character and personal behaviour, and I was satisfied and inspired by it. If I touch a person's computer I can tell what that person does with their senses. Several times I upgraded your computer operating system or did some other work on your machine. I spent time traveling with you and observed your daily program, watched the movements and dalliances of your mind - what you talked about, what you thought about, the subject matter you dwelled on. In a conversation this year one of your sannyasi Godbrothers said, of you: "Yes, he has better sadhana than most of us". As a new devotee, an old-timer challenged me: "Yeah, sure you're fired up now, but just wait for ten years - then you'll know what it's all about". I felt no fear, no doubt, because I had you standing before me as living proof that come what may, you don't have to fade out in bitter disillusionment. Now, ten years later, you remain there as living proof of the process of Krishna Consciousness. In that time I've watched you change, continuing to develop in your Krishna Consciousness and in your service to your spiritual master, ISKCON Founder-Acarya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, and this continues to satisfy and inspire me. Several times in my service I've been hit really hard, and your example and your instructions to me have held me up. I remember the night, many years ago, when you called me into your room in the dark and with such heart-felt anguish said: "The people are suffering so much, and the people who should be helping are creating such difficulties." When I suggest that it might be easier to preach outside ISKCON you said: "It is difficult, we all find it difficult; but it's our burden of love for Srila Prabhupada that we continue to try to work together, in spite of the difficulties." This is a burden of love that I aspire to take on, and I look to your example of bearing that burden through thick and thin, good times and bad times, honor and infamy, for the strength to carry it forward. your aspiring servant, Sita-pati das Sri Yasoda Devi Dasi To my dear Spiritual Master, Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet, All glories to Srila Prabhupada, All glories to you on the most auspicious occasion of your appearance. Dear Guru Maharaja, one day I was about to serve you lunch at a farm retreat in Melbourne. For some reason the key to your room had been left behind, so while your servant went to retrieve it, I was given the great fortune to remain in your personal presence for some time. SB 4.6.25 purport "...any place automatically becomes a place of pilgrimage if either the Lord or His pure devotee remains or resides there. In other words, such a pure devotee, who is engaged one hundred percent in the service of the Lord, can remain anywhere in the universe, and that part of the universe immediately becomes a sacred place where he can peacefully render service to the Lord as the Lord desires." Sometimes chanting and sometimes kindly talking with my fiancé, I watched as your effulgent, spiritual form gracefully walked up and down the veranda. Although externally such a simple, sweet interaction, by meditating on your form and qualities I felt I had had a glimpse into the spiritual world. You once said that you rest on the holy name, but Guru Maharaja I think you float on the holy name! I watched as your lotus feet barely touched the ground, each step a dance and each word a song. Completely and lovingly surrendered to your beloved Spiritual Master Srila Prabhupada, you set the highest example of what a real disciple actually is. Constantly absorbed in selfless devotional service you travel the world, despite so many inconveniences even severe personal injury and pain. You are always so personal in all your dealings with each and every individual. You instruct us perfectly taking such interest in our lives and endeavours to become Krsna conscious. You are the true loving Father and our greatest well wisher. SB 11.2.37 purport "...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." On that day, as today, I prayed that I may perfect this human form of life. So that when the end of my life comes I may see that same effulgent form of my beloved Spiritual Master walking towards me, allowing me to continue in his eternal service... Meanwhile the key returned, and taking that beautiful meditation deep within my heart, I began to serve your lunch. I looked over my offerings in disappointment, what was supposed to be steaming hot and aldante, was now a little overcooked , the dessert was dry and the subjis' similar to the previous day. As usual nothing was quite as I desired it to be and on top of that I had forgot to bring the flax seed oil. So with a heavy heart and great anxiety I rushed back to the kitchen to find it, thinking, "My Spiritual Master is taking me back to Goloka Vrindavan, and I can't even serve him lunch on time". What inconceivable mercy is this that this unworthy fool can be engaged in your divine service. SB 3.9.8..."O great actor, my Lord, all these poor creatures are constantly perplexed by hunger, thirst, severe cold, secretion and bile, attacked by coughing winter, blasting summer, rains and many other disturbing elements, and overwhelmed by strong sex urges and indefatigable anger. I take pity on them, and am very much aggrieved for them. Purport "...Therefore, unless the devotees of the Lord take pity on them and teach them the right path, their lives are hopeless failures. The devotees of the Lord who voluntarily take the responsibility of raising the foolish materialistic sense enjoyers are as confidential to the Lord as Lord Brahma." "O Vaisnava Goswami, please be merciful to me now. There is no one except you who can purify the fallen souls." Dear Guru Maharaja I am so grateful that you have given me your shelter. Weather the rose or the thunderbolt, you have always been the most affectionate and loving father. You once told me that one day I would have my own family of devotees, thank you Guru Maharaja you have always kept your promise to me, I now have an instant family and am most fortunate to have the association of your loving servants the Katha family and all the devotees of the Mahaprabhu Mandir headed by Anirudha Prabhu and Acintya Rupa Mataji, please help me to selflessly serve my spiritual family, I know they are all so dear to you. I am so grateful that you allowed me to stay at your Gaura Yoga center, where Krsnaloka Prabhu and all the devotees there have tolerated me for so long, somehow turning this animal into hopefully a human being. I cannot forget this mercy for one moment and pray I never will, they are like hundreds and thousands of stars shining their mercy in all directions under the direction of one beautiful moon, our beloved Spiritual Master. ANANTA KOTI VAISNAVA-VRNDA KI!!! SRILA GURUDEVA KI!!! To whom much has been given much is expected. I feel my debt to you ever increasing in weight, I pray that I may never disappoint you. I desire the dust of your holy feet in every birth I may take. Please consider me yours, and be kind upon me. I beg to be engaged in your servant's servant's service. Begging to be your servant, Sri Yasoda Devi Dasi Sruti-cari dd Dear Guru Maharaja, Please accept my humble obeisances, All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Guru Maharaja I'm in debt - Big time! You have given me so much, I owe you so much, More than I can calculate. Both materially and spiritually you give me inspiration, knowledge, goals, motivation, skills, protection, shelter, occupation... Every thing that's valuable to me seems to come from you. Sometimes I try to imagine my life without your guidance: I might have been able to maintain a marriage - maybe, I might have been able to hold down a job - maybe, I might have started a small business - maybe, I might have had friends, I might have travelled, I might have had children - maybe, More likely I would have rotted in a pit of depression, loneliness, nervous anxiety and morose self doubt. I would never have been happy either way. I see how totally self centred and therefore dull and empty my life would have been without your guidance. I want to thank you for saving me from such an existence. And I want to try to repay you for your immense kindness to me. I can see that you have a great desire to give your mercy to others the way you have done for me. You want to save everyone and you're willing to work so hard to achieve that goal. I see so many students and staff at the university, and I notice how their existences are just as pointless and empty as mine was - even worse. Their lives are dry and dull and boring, although they assume such self importance. I want to help you achieve your desire. I want to help break through their pride and ignorance to give them Krsna. This is the only way I can think of to begin to pay back my debt to you. But I can't even do that without your help! So I am eternally in your debt! But, if it's ok with you, I don't mind being in debt so long as I can continue helping you. Your servant and spiritual daughter Sruti-cari dd Sukanthi Radha dasi Dear Guru Maharaja, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to your lotus feet on this auspicious day of your appearance. I can only imagine what such a compassionate soul like yourself must percieve as you see so many conditioned souls suffering. I can only imagine what immense love you must have for Srila Prabhupada to be doing so much about it. Through your actions and projects you are showing us the work to be done, by your valiant preaching you have pulled out the gun. With the weapon of knowledge you are shooting all around; devoid of false sentiment, you smash our illusions to the ground. As I contemplate your expertise and your unlimited mercy, it is your absorbtion and compassion that is clear to me. This great care, this attentive guidence, this most glorious plight; you have taken upon yourself, I beg to assist in your fight. Your absorbtion in the holy name is so inconceivable to me, and your commitment to preaching, there are such depths to see. Due to your disciples, in my deep darkness I saw light. I was never asked to buy a book, but I thought I might. I bought Bhagavad-Gita, went home and sat on my bed, and let Srila Prabhupadas words enter my head. Every word, every sentence made such perfect sense; tears flowed from my eyes, the relief was immense. "I've found it! I've found it!" there was no doubt. My illusions, in time, would soon get a clout. Thank you, Gurudeva for showing me how to live; thank you Gurudeva for showing me how to give. Thank you for engaging me in the distribution of Srila Prabhupadas books. Please protect me so that I may never leave your service or lose appreciation for what you have given me. Please forgive my offenses and inatentivness I have commited both knowingly and un-knowingly at your lotus feet. Trying to be your unconditional servant, Sukanthi Radha dasi Sukha rupa devi dasi Dear Gurumaharaj Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to srila Prabhupada. Wishing you well on Your birthday. Miss you. Hope times goes by fast ,so I can be in Your divine presence. Your servant Sukha rupa d.d Bhakta Supratik Sen Please accept my humble obeisances on this most auspicious day. There I was, shipwrecked and stranded on the decaying, lonely coastlines of impersonalism and voidism. In those days, it was my illusion in thinking that I knew what illusion was all about. Though I felt a heady sense of pride in being a 'true' spiritual seeker, in reality, Maya had me in her vice-like grip and was wringing me dry for all it was worth. Somehow my plaintive appeals for help were heard by Krishna and I found myself sitting within the soothing walls of Gaura Yoga. Looking back, I can now see that not surprisingly enough, the Supreme Architect had indeed arranged for me to meet your dedicated and pure Gaura Yogis at the best time possible. After the Gaura Yoga medicine had worked on me awhile and parted the dense curtains of stupefaction, it dawned upon me that there had to be someone behind such a precise arrangement. And I wanted to meet that person. I did meet you, soon enough, through the technological wonder of MP3 CDs. The very first night, listening to your reverberating voice through the earphones of my CD player I wondered whether it could be really possible that someone could speak with so much wisdom, clarity and compassion. Gurudeva, I love to hear you speak. Your classes completely mesmerize me and leave me overwhelmed. A few months ago, while travelling with you to another home programme, while the sun set in the distant Brisbane sky, the realization struck me with force that you had extended your hand to guide me away from my shameless career of crime and depravity in the material world- an inconceivably compassionate gesture, with which any sane person should wholeheartedly respond. However, now, my deliberate rebellion against the Supreme Lord, only to leave behind an impressive track record of innumerable atrocities committed on other living entities and other acts of self-destruction, strikes me as unmistakably insane. In the purport to Chapter 15, Text 20 of the Bhagavad Gita, Srila Prabhupada writes, "While one is performing devotional service in the association of pure devotees in full Krsna consciousness, there are certain things which require to be vanquished altogether. The most important thing one has to surmount is weakness of the heart. The first falldown is caused by the desire to lord it over material nature. Thus one gives up the transcendental loving service of the Supreme Lord. The second weakness of the heart is that as one increases the propensity to lord it over material nature, he becomes attached to matter and the possession of matter. The problems of material existence are due to these weaknesses of the heart." Needless to say, that I am pitifully weak, with criminal propensities deeply engraved upon my heart. In a few minutes, I will again be ensconced within the safe and haloed portals of the crest jewel among all urban preaching centres, Gaura Yoga, another Krishna Fest, another attempt at humble service, another attempt at rectifying the criminal heart. While I try to write this offering to you, I feel incompetent to express my gratitude for all the unsurpassable gifts that you have bestowed upon this thoroughly undeserving soul. Gurudeva, as you painstakingly free us from the entangling web of insanity, I take this most auspicious opportunity to rest my case. Gurudeva, please keep on freeing me, so that even this incorrigibly arrogant heart is eventually compelled to respond to your clarion call of selfless devotional service. Aspiring to be your worthy son, Supratik. Svetadvipa Das and Manjulali dasi To our Dearest Spiritual Father and Father in-law Please accept our humble obeisances, All glories to Srila Prabhupada, And all glories to you on this special day. Thank you for being so very kind to us this past year. Thank you for guiding us. Thank you for the service you allow us to do. Thank you for enthusing us. Thank you for your endeavors for Srila Prabhupada. Thank you being so caring to all the devotees. Thank you for making us laugh. Thank you for your integrity. Thank you for encouraging us Thank you for being so compassionate. Thankyou for your example. Thankyou......... We could go on and on. There is a lot to be thankful for and I hope we show our appreciation through actions and not just merely words. Oh, and one more thing, on this auspicious day we would like to make small request, please keep us under your wing. Always. Through your association may we become better servants. Your spiritual children, Svetadvipa Das & Manjulali dasi Swarupa sakti devi dasi Hare Krsna Please Accept My humble Obeisances All glories to Srila Prabhupada All glories to you Gurudeva It has now almost been 3 years since i have met you and still i learn somethinh new about you all the time and at every step. I just saw you over the weekend in Soweto and i felt like i had just seen you for the first time. Those are the moments that time freezes for me and nothing else matters.. Guru maharaj, you have saved so many of us fallen souls from the clutches of maya and situated us in devotional service. Although there is danger at evey step in this material world, you have equiped us with all the necessary tools. You have told us to read Srila Prabhupada's books, honour prasad, cooperate and most importantly to chant Hare Krsna. That is the best treausure and the only treasure in this world. I was looking at how you have spoilt all of us, giving us high quality prasad, association, books and places to perform devotional service. Your lotus feet keep all the miseries of a conditioned soul away. This year started of as a bang and it will end with a bang. I started the year in Vrindavana and I will end it in Vrindava while pulling the Lord back during our second ratha yatra in Cape Town. Wherever Krsna is there is victory. The Baghavat gita has taught us and Krsna has told us that we must accept a spiritual master. It is no secret that you are the Lord's representative. You have been sent here to come and rescue us and place us back at our orignal position. Your confidence, humility, determination and firm and fixed attention at Srila Prabhupada's instructions is drivng all of us. We have been able to know Srila Prabhupada through his disciples. This weeked you said that you want to give us the best facilties ever and that you have done. You saved millions and now by some mercy, I a little African girl from the dusty country of Botswana has been given an opportunity to chant the most sacred mantra. Hare Krsna. What I would be now is nothing but a waste of the human form of life had I not met you. I was not even qualified but you took me to Vrindavana and you showed me Krsna and his land. Every single day I remember Vrindavana and I remember how much that did for my spiritual life. You are absolutely the best father I could ask for and so merciful towards all of us trying to be devotees of the lord. Lastly, I would take this opportunity to thank you for introducing me to a few special souls that whenever I look at, remind me of you and tears form in my eyes. Thank you for giving me wonderful association of Radha Sanga mataji, Parijata mataji and Mother Daivi sakti. They have been so tolerant and so loving towards me. But the one person that i have never met i am greatful for is my wonderful sister and dear friend Syam gauri. Thank you gurudeva for allowing me to be able to have such association of serious and mature devotees in Krsna Conscious. Thank you for accepting me into your family, Srila Prabhupada's family and as one of your disciples. My only wish at this point is to devote my life and all my efforts to the Lord, Srila Prabhupada, and to your lotus feet. Please help me by giving me what I need instead of what I want. I am really nothing without your mercy and guidance. Hare Krsna your servant swarupa sakti devi dasi Syama gauri dd Dear Guru Maharaj. Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. To my understanding, your most recent morning Bhagavatam classes at Gaura yoga have stressed two things: Attentive chanting and selfless service. Before I elaborate on this I would like to tell you how powerful your words are, I feel that each class is so wholesome, so nourishing and empowering. I'm always inspired to upgrade myself in different ways after drinking the sweetness of your realizations and understanding. You recently explained that selfless service beginners with attentive chanting. I have been thinking about this point a lot. Even during my japa, I hear the words "selfless service begins with attentive chanting", so I cling on to my beads and squeeze my eyes shut trying to hear "Hare Krsna"... no luck. I'm afraid to disappoint you by saying that I am the complete opposite to your request; there's no attentive chanting, there's no selfless service. Guru Maharaj I really want to also taste this selfless service, it sounds so inviting. My heart almost sinks when I remember that selfless service begins with attentive chanting . I feel already disqualified, thinking "it's not gonna happen", but then I look at you Guru Maharaj, how incredible you are, how untouchable by any material glitches you are, how giving of yourself you are, how sharp, how sure of Krsna you are. You say the process works, so it must work. Please can I also jump in the pot of intense endeavour to hear and chant the Lord's names attentively? May I also use every opportune moment to repay my great debt to you? "My progress in spiritual life is very slow, so I'm asking your help" Krsnadas Kaviraj Goswami. This is my position now. "There is no difference between the spiritual master's instructions and the spiritual master himself. In his absence, therefore, his words of direction should be the pride of the disciple". On this treasured day of your Vyasa-puja, Guru Maharaj, I'd like you to know how special you and your instructions are to me. Please help me not to simply glorify you without practically applying and striving to take pride in and follow your instructions day by day. I want to be your selfless servant, to be available to be empowered to help others as well. Like you said to me "become Krsna's slave". Please help me to qualify myself for this position. It's only because of your care that I know the purpose of my life, I'm happy to be yours. Thank you guru maharaja, please help me to act on my words and then the real work begins. Happy Vyasa-puja Guru Maharaj!! Your insignificant aspiring servant and daughter Syama gauri dd Bhakta Tanmoy Dear Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my most humble obeisances at the dust of your lotus feet. All glories to you, All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Following the footsteps of your dedicated servants who inspire me constantly by their undaunted devotional service, I beg to offer my humble homage to you on this auspicious occassion of your sacred Vyasa Puja. I wish I could also glorify you to my heart's content in the similar way to your servants ,who have completely surrendered to your lotus feet , who are blessed with your mercy and protection and who have dedicated their lives in carrying out your nectar instructions as their heart and soul, against all odds of material life to push forward yours and Srila Prabhupada's mission. I see them paying their homages to you every day of the year as they live in your instructions and immerse in various Sankirtans you've engaged them into,being bereft of any such qualifications and devotional service how could I ever glorify you with just written words? When I look back to myself even just couple of years ago I feel like one of those corrupted files you were reffering to in one of your nectar Bhagavatam class, migrated from where I belong, and being affected by deadly viruses, when i found myself incompatible and useless in the system and environment i've migrated into and got angry and frustrated on myself, your trained servants found me loiterring on queens street and carefully brougt me back at the loft, the divine laboratories you have set up for misdirected,polluted souls like me, where I was treated with the healing tools of love and respect, in the expert hands of your most compassionate servants. The recovery program began under your directions,although unknown to me then. Amazingly I started feeling better and more enlivened after each and every session of Kirtan and the Bhagavat Gita class at the loft. The bengali bhajans of the Vaishnav Acharyas soothened my ears and flooded my eyes. The sanskrit verses of the vedic scriptures shook of my disbeliefs born out of ignorance, and awakened a new consiosness. The diet of Prasadam gave strenghth to my malnourished body and mind, and the association of the devotees gave me protection from further pollution. A year later when I was brought to your attention and I had my first Darshan of your lotus feet, at a glance you could check my weak pulse reflecting in my face and instructed me to chant the Mahamantra regularly as my daily medication, my ultimate virus protection. Eversince then,following the footsteps of your servants, I chant the holy name as my life saving medicine, and wonder what could have happened to me without your mercy and shelter in your recovery programme. Out of your causeless mercy, when you allowed me to see the expanse of your recovery programme at work, I met so many fortunate souls you've recovered out of the clutches of deadly viruses of illussory energy. How can the corrupted files like me ever be able to thank you and glorify you,for bringing us back into life, restoring our lost and forgotten qualities,showing us who is our creator, and reestablishing our eternal connection with Krishna's system, where we all belong. No amount of written words will ever be able to express my gratitude to you, instead i beg most humbly for your mercy Gurudeva, so that I can also remain in your servitude eternally and sweat like your servants in executing the devotional service and shed tears in ecstasy wash your lotus feet. Aspiring to be the servant of your servants, Tanmoy das Taraka devi dasi Dear Devamrta Swami, Happy Vyasa Puja. Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to you on this most auspicious day of your appearance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. What an opportunity this is to thank you for all your support!! This is also an opportunity to declare it boldly that you are a great preacher for Lord Caitanya's mission, and a chance to appreciate your attachment to the sadhana given by Srila Prabhupada as part of Lord Caitanya's teachings. Maharaja, you give me a special role as target for your jokes and philosophical points to be illustrated - I understand that this is a favourable position, and that only persons with a deep trust in you can be given this role. It is also a kindness so I don't take myself too seriously and can laugh at myself as part of a cast of billions on the earth planet 'show' right now. I acknowledge this as part of the way you support me in my devotional life as you do in such a caring and concerned way. Even though you don't tell me what to do, or interrogate me about my spiritual practices, you give me the idea subtly that you expect the best and appreciate persons who continue to follow the process year by year for their whole lives. This gives me strength to follow in your footsteps. You support me also by giving me opportunities to teach your disciples and assist your mission, and you have also given me the chance to travel with you and learn so much about the techniques for teaching others about Krishna consciousness and personal spiritual practice. You are an example of an active and thriving limb of Srila Prabhupada's devotional tree. He planted a seed of ISKCON in the West and you are one of those limbs growing from the tree and sprouting leaves, flowers and fruits. Despite a seemingly barren environment for preaching, you encourage souls to take up the practice of bhakti and supply such nice association for new persons in the form of your dedicated disciples. These disciples take on your mood of preaching by teaching people about bhakti and distributing Srila Prabhupada's books. This is truly a glorious effort following the mission of Lord Caitanya. Another way that you follow Lord Caitanya is your inner mood of relishing Srimad Bhagavatam, residing in the holy places, worshiping the Deity, associating with devotees and chanting the holy names. You do these things with full enthusiasm and give me the opportunity to see the effect of blissfulness that you always radiate. Sometimes there are ups and downs in preaching, and practice, but Maharaja, you are fixed on the process and when there are problems you seem to sit above them like a lotus flower above the water. Thank you for allowing me to participate in your mission, even though for only a few minutes here and there. I hope in the future those moments will increase and my assistance will be more worthy of such a saint as you. Your servant, Taraka dd Bhaktin Tina Hirani To our dear Devamrita Swami Please Accept My humble Obeisances All glories to Srila Prabhupada I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, who has opened my eyes, which was blinded by the darkness of ignorance, with the torchlight of knowledge. On this very wonderful occasion of your appearance day I would like to begin by offering my sincere gratitude to you. I would like to thank you and glorify you for so many things, the list is endless; your kindness, compassion, love mercy, your association, your classes, books and most of all being you. I could say so many more words of appreciation to glorify you, however I know that my genuine appreciation of you will be reflected in how much I surrender to your instructions, fulfil your orders and please you. By following Srila Prabhupada's instruction, you have travelled around the world just to preach, showing so much compassion towards us, you have given every single one of us a chance to understand who we really are and how we should live our lives through service to the Supreme Lord, Sri Krsna and His devotees. Your mercy is so deep that still we get to remain within the shelter of your lotus feet, even after breaking so many promises to you and constantly making mistakes, I am eternally grateful to you, for continually tolerating us and guiding us in our lives through your wonderful instructions. I still need the protection and the guidance, even after all these years of knowledge and chanting I still fail to do the most simplest task, please give me the determination to overcome the mind when it waivers, as without this no matter how much service I do it won't be enough. I pray that my tendency for recognition, becoming envious and my false ego do not get in the way of my endeavours to please you and serve Srila Prabhupada's mission, this can only be removed through your mercy. Please give me the strength and determination to stay on this path and to always remember the goal of life, which is to serve Krsna and His beloved devotees. Everyday I am reminded of how unqualified I am to receive even a drop of Srila Prabhupada's and your mercy, and yet, you keep the mercy coming. Please Maharaj, help me to become a better servant. please help me to please the devotees. Please, I beg you; help me to become free from the shackles of the mind and false ego so that I can become an instrument for yours and Srila Prabhupada's divine will. I sincerely pray that I can follow your example and teaching, rendering unmotivated service unto you, Srila Prabhupada, Srimati Radharani and Lord Sri Krsna and His devotees and only then I will become eligible of your full mercy. Please continue to give me guidance in my spiritual life so that I humbly continue to serve the vaisnavas. Thank you for letting me continuingly serve Srila Prabhupada's mission to fulfil Lord Caitanya's prophecy. Begging to remain your servant for all eternity, With love, Tina Hirani (Sydney, Australia) Bhakta Tluhovsky Yura Dear Guru Maharaj, please accept my humble obeisances to Your lotus feet. All glories to Your Holiness! All glories to Srila Prabhupad! The day of Vyasa Puja is a very special and wonderful day as it gives an opportunity to a disciple to look into his hart and try to understand whether his relations with his Spiritual Master have become closer. This day also helps to deepen the meditation on the Guru's lotus feet and His wonderful qualities, to glorify Him one more time and try to thank Him as possible. Every morning we sing that the Spiritual Master is the ocean of great qualities - praptasya kalyana gunarnavasya. All of them are really special, but I'd like to single out one in particular. Who IS a Spiritual Master? First of all, he is a perfect disciple. That is who understood the just of Guru's instructions and also realized his Guru's mood, bhava, put it into his own heart and organized one's whole life in accordance with them. A perfect disciple is always in such position ready to accept all the instructions. And that is actually a goal, a real goal. And day by day I understand it better and better. So, if we did not have Your example, for us this goal would be unreachable. You are always ready to listen to Srila Prabhupad with great attention using every opportunity to apply to His books. This attachment is so deep in You that Your God Brothers cannot but mention it glorifying You. It is like during one of Srila Niranjana Swami's Vyasa puja, Srila Indradyumna Swami glorified Him saying that Srila Niranjana Swami has been following all the regulative principles and chanting His rounds for already more than 300 years. Also in one of Your lectures You spoke about one couple that wanted special instructions from You, but You told them that to chant 16 rounds and follow the regulative principle are those special instructions. Some time after it those devotees admitted how difficult it has become to follow those very instructions. You have been following everything that Srila Prabhupada taught and wanted You to follow for already 40 years. Thank You that You give us such a good example. You have managed to understand Srila Prabhupada's mood and put His feet on the lotus of Your heart, though it is SO difficult to give away one's heart and leave the desire to take it back! To give privilege to sb's desires+ All this is an evidence that You are a special, perfect disciple, who teaches by means of His own example. Thank You for teaching us how to become happy in the service to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga! In the end of my letter I am begging Your Devine Grace of the mercy. Please, help me to understand You and Your mood at least a bit more, just a bit. Thank You! Trying to become Your servant, Bhakta Tluhovsky Yura. Simferopol, Ukraine. Tri-yuga das Dear Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances, All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Thank you for engaging me in devotional service. I feel satisfied in my service, and I consider this a great boon for me. I find my service engaging, challenging and enlivening. This sense of satisfaction frees me to be a little humble, a little honest about the smallness of my existence, which is a deep relief. While doing my service I meditate on your mood, Gurudeva. I have found that accepting responsibility in the preaching mission and trying to care for people as they explore Krishna Consciousness tempers my own practice and brings the Krishna Conscious wisdom to life. I begin to understand why Krishna Conscious leaders emphasize as they do, stressing certain values and practices. This growth of insight is experienced as tangible advancement. Although I am limited, and not at all perfect, tasting the mellows of servant hood allows me to be comfortable with this reality. This brings a peace that I have not been able to experience before. This, I am aware, is your mercy, and I am grateful. So as I do my service and meditate on your mood, I can begin to understand it. Thankyou for being a good example in Krishna Consciousness. All I have to offer is my gratitude, and a little service. Neither offering is perfect, yet I feel that real surrender is coming gradually, as I learn to value what you value, and adjust according to your indications about how to better align with your approval. Spiritual life really does transform the heart. Thankyou for showing me the way, Gurudeva. Your servant, Tri-yuga das. Uddhava dasa Nama om visnu padaya, krsna prestaya bhutale, srimate devamrta swamin iti namine Dear Maharaja, Please accept my humble obeisances on this most glorious day of your appearance. All glories to your service, all glories to Srila Prabhupada. The Lord distributes His mercy in the form of rains on the scorched earth at times of dire necessity. He supplies rain when we are practically on the verge of death for want of water. God is merciful undoubtedly, but He bestows His mercy on us when we need it most. This is so because we forget God as soon as we obtain this mercy. We should therefore remember the mercy of God constantly if we want to avoid distress. (Light of the Bhagavata - text 3 purport) Before I came to Krsna consciousness, I was dying for want of Krsna. Now that I'm here, I've forgotten God's mercy that I receive so much of here at Melbourne temple. It's you and your disciples who remind me. Please continue to help me remember Krsnas mercy. From your aspiring servant, Uddhava dasa Vaishnava Charan Das Dear Guru Dev, Please accept my Humble Obeisances at your Lotus Feet. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada. All Glories to you. This year the most memorable incident which comes to mind is your staunch, determined attitude of preaching despite your physical difficulties. It just gave me glimpse of what means to be uninterrupted servant and how much compassion that you have for us. From this you taught me how my mind should be fixed in what ever little service that I do. Rain or hail get to the temple and cut the fruits for the pleasure of Sri Sri Radha Vallabha & Devotees. Plus this year you taught me what it means to a be servant of the servant, from the letters that you wrote to me this year. I hope learn these lessons by your & senior devotees' Blessings, Guru Dev. All Glories to your Service Attitude once again! Learning to be your Servant, Vaishnava Charan Das Vamsidhari das nama om visnu padaya krsna prestaya bhutale srimati devamrita swami iti namine pracare purva-daksyam-ca bhaktacara-pravinata pararthatapi karunyam yasya sarve ca te namah "I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Holiness Devamrita Swami who is very dear to Lord Krsna having taken shelter at His lotus feet. Obeisances to you who have all the qualities of unique skills in preaching, competence in Vaisnava dealing, selflessness and compassion." Dear Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. While meditating upon your Vyasa-Puja day I find myself reflecting, and asking, "How can I please my spiritual master?" Love means selfless striving to fulfill the desires of the beloved. Witnessing your qualities and activities, I see how boldly, selflessly you are pushing on the sankirtan movement, so attentive and absorbed in your intimate service to Srila Prabhupada. Through your causeless mercy I've somehow received the opportunity to assist you in your most important mission. You are rescuing so many souls from falling into the animal species, bringing so many infected with deadly "Kali-Yuga-itis" through the emergency doors of the Loft, to receive open heart surgery at your lotus feet. Surely this is a great testament to your magnanimity. In spite of the escalating madness of Kali-yuga, that's beaten us so out of shape, you encourage us to keep on preaching, to absorb our minds in higher engagements, selfless service in the distribution of the fruits of love of Godhead. You have equipped us with the weaponry, and amour required to push on. Like a loving father, you're constantly providing increased facilities for shelter and service. The wonderful 'mentor system'; 50,000 Srimad Bhagavatams; new preaching centers; university programs; mass prasadam distribution; home programs; retreat centers. You give so much inspiration to us through your own example: how to tolerate personal inconvenience, and against all odds, strive to live a sacrificial life for the welfare of others. "We're always concerned with the others." In the Bhagavad Gita (6.23), Srila Prabhpada lucidly describes the qualities and activities of a Krsna conscious yogi, which I see present in yourself: TRANSLATION He is a perfect yogi who, by comparison to his own self, sees the true equality of all beings, in both their happiness and their distress, O Arjuna! PURPORT One who is Krsna conscious is a perfect yogi; he is aware of everyone's happiness and distress by dint of his own personal experience. The cause of the distress of a living entity is forgetfulness of his relationship with God. And the cause of happiness is knowing Krsna to be the supreme enjoyer of all the activities of the human being, the proprietor of all lands and planets, and the sincerest friend of all living entities. The perfect yogi knows that the living being who is conditioned by the modes of material nature is subjected to the threefold material miseries due to forgetfulness of his relationship with Krsna. And because one in Krsna consciousness is happy, he tries to distribute the knowledge of Krsna everywhere. Since the perfect yogi tries to broadcast the importance of becoming Krsna conscious, he is the best philanthropist in the world, and he is the dearest servitor of the Lord. Na ca tasman manusyesu kascin me priya-krttamah (Bg. 18.69). In other words, a devotee of the Lord always looks to the welfare of all living entities, and in this way he is factually the friend of everyone. He is the best yogi because he does not desire perfection in yoga for his personal benefit, but tries for others also. He does not envy his fellow living entities. Here is a contrast between a pure devotee of the Lord and a yogi interested only in his personal elevation. The yogi who has withdrawn to a secluded place in order to meditate perfectly may not be as perfect as a devotee who is trying his best to turn every man toward Krsna consciousness. Your example encourages us to extraordinary levels: "Don't become dull! Kali-Yuga means let's become dull, let's just waste time, space out, fester in our material desires and forget all about Krsna." You're truly the factual friend of everyone. In spite of our fallen backgrounds, wallowing in sinful activity, your transcendental brilliance shines a light so powerful that we're able to follow your footsteps, and in the process help others to follow also. Kali Yuga has bent us so badly out of shape, but you're the expert bhakti yoga teacher, carefully instructing us in the ways and means to correct our posture. Whilst studying your lectures I'm often left stunned in silence, amazed at how expertly you've revealed the techniques for improving our devotional service. "Envy?" - No problem, just clean up the indirect appreciation. "Problems with the Prabhus?" - Just understand and accept the responsibility that we may be influencing others with our 'not the best' consciousness, and therefore they may do things that displease us. "Lust?" - Study the books with the intent to understand the monster and how to defeat it. "How to improve our service?" - Put more focus on the quality of our chanting. "When in doubt?" - Just chant! You captivated my heart in a 2006 Loft class, 'Another civilisation is possible': "What to do about this? The truly compassionate person feels this great tragedy immensely. What to do? There has to be some kind of attempt to systematically educate people in higher spiritual knowledge, and give them a process of purification by which they can throw off the pollutions and contaminations of material ignorance and illusion. It is possible, even in this very materialistic day and age to attain spiritual perfection, if you strive by the right means. Of course the whole process becomes much easier if you can see examples of that, and become inspired to mold your life in that way. We're trying to develop the kind of human beings who can be like radiant examples of the true potential of human consciousness; at the very least, human consciousness, and then beyond that to Krsna consciousness. Consciousness of the personal source of all the energy's, material and spiritual. The Love Supreme. The bhakti relationship. The bhakti yoga relationship between the all-attractive source of everything, Krsna, and the conscious living entities, the parts of Krsna. This is what real yoga is about. That process can go on even amidst the grossly materialistic society, and people will become changed, their hearts will become changed, transformed, when they come into contact with such persons who are executing, carrying out, living out their lives according to Krsna Consciousness." In your Searching for Vedic India, you allude to the coming storm: "The first half of this new century promises to be both a fascinating and a traumatic epoch. Watch forward thinkers fling off the shackles enforced by the mechanistic approach to life. As the conventional certainties crumble, the general populace will become bewildered. A confused mind is a very dangerous thing. Therefore, heroic and compassionate sages are needed, to ferry people across the turbulent seas of a major paradigm shift. The Vedic text, seen in a new light, is a civilization saving beacon." I pray that whilst these fierce storms tumult, I'll be able to cling tightly to your instructions. In this way difficulties will become opportunities for deeper purification. My heart felt prayer to you today is that you please hold this rebellious soul tightly in the fires of sankirtana, the flames of preaching, of distribution, so that my heart might become cleansed. That's my only hope, your mercy, to be able to continue striving to fulfill your desires, and overcome my selfish mind. The following two texts and purports from the Srimad Bhagavatam ( 3.25.20,21) have given me great inspiration in preaching this year. Again, they so vividly glorify your transcendental qualities and activities. TEXT 20 prasangam ajaram pasam atmanah kavayo viduh sa eva sadhushu krito moksha-dvaram apavritam SYNONYMS prasangam-attachment; ajaram-strong; pasam-entanglement; atmanah-of the soul; kavayah-learned men; viduh-know; sah eva-that same; sadhushu-to the devotees; kritah-applied; moksha-dvaram-the door of liberation; apavritam-opened. TRANSLATION Every learned man knows very well that attachment for the material is the greatest entanglement of the spirit soul. But that same attachment, when applied to the self-realized devotees, opens the door of liberation. PURPORT Teachings of Lord Kapila, the Son of Devahuti, Verse 20 Here it is clearly stated that attachment for one thing is the cause of bondage in conditioned life, and the same attachment, when applied to something else, opens the door of liberation. Attachment cannot be killed; it has simply to be transferred. Attachment for material things is called material consciousness, and attachment for Krishna or His devotee is called Krishna consciousness. Consciousness, therefore, is the platform of attachment. It is clearly stated here that when we simply purify the consciousness from material consciousness to Krishna consciousness, we attain liberation. Despite the statement that one should give up attachment, desirelessness is not possible for a living entity. A living entity, by constitution, has the propensity to be attached to something. We see that if someone has no object of attachment, if he has no children, then he transfers his attachment to cats and dogs. This indicates that the propensity for attachment cannot be stopped; it must be utilized for the best purpose. Our attachment for material things perpetuates our conditional state, but the same attachment, when transferred to the Supreme Personality of Godhead or His devotee, is the source of liberation. Here it is recommended that attachment should be transferred to the self-realized devotees, the sadhus. And who is a sadhu? A sadhu is not just an ordinary man with a saffron robe or long beard. A sadhu is described in Bhagavad-gita as one who unflinchingly engages in devotional service. Even though one is found not to be following the strict rules and regulations of devotional service, if one simply has unflinching faith in Krishna, the Supreme Person, he is understood to be a sadhu. Sadhur eva sa mantavyah [Bg. 9.30]. A sadhu is a strict follower of devotional service. It is recommended here that if one at all wants to realize Brahman, or spiritual perfection, his attachment should be transferred to the sadhu, or devotee. Lord Caitanya also confirmed this. Lava-matra sadhu-sange sarva-siddhi haya: [Cc. Madhya 22.54] simply by a moment's association with a sadhu, one can attain perfection. Mahatma is a synonym of sadhu. It is said that service to a mahatma, or elevated devotee of the Lord, is dvaram ahur vimukteh, the royal road of liberation. Mahat-sevam dvaram ahur vimuktes tamo-dvaram yoshitam sangi-sangam (SB 5.5.2). Rendering service to the materialists has the opposite effect. If anyone offers service to a gross materialist, or a person engaged only in sense enjoyment, then by association with such a person the door to hell is opened. The same principle is confirmed here. Attachment to a devotee is attachment to the service of the Lord because if one associates with a sadhu, the result will be that the sadhu will teach him how to become a devotee, a worshiper and a sincere servitor of the Lord. These are the gifts of a sadhu. If we want to associate with a sadhu, we cannot expect him to give us instructions on how to improve our material condition, but he will give us instructions on how to cut the knot of the contamination of material attraction and how to elevate ourselves in devotional service. That is the result of associating with a sadhu. Kapila Muni first of all instructs that the path of liberation begins with such association. TEXT 21 titikshavah karunikah suhridah sarva-dehinam ajata-satravah santah sadhavah sadhu-bhushanah SYNONYMS titikshavah-tolerant; karunikah-merciful; suhridah-friendly; sarva-dehinam-to all living entities; ajata-satravah-inimical to none; santah-peaceful; sadhavah-abiding by scriptures; sadhu-bhushanah-adorned with sublime characteristics. TRANSLATION 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. PURPORT A sadhu, as described above, is a devotee of the Lord. His concern, therefore, is to enlighten people in devotional service to the Lord. That is his mercy. He knows that without devotional service to the Lord, human life is spoiled. A devotee travels all over the country, from door to door, preaching,"Be Krishna conscious. Be a devotee of Lord Krishna. Don't spoil your life in simply fulfilling your animal propensities. Human life is meant for self-realization, or Krishna consciousness." These are the preachings of a sadhu. He is not satisfied with his own liberation. He always thinks about others. He is the most compassionate personality towards all the fallen souls. One of his qualifications, therefore, is karunika, great mercy to the fallen souls. While engaged in preaching work, he has to meet with so many opposing elements, and therefore the sadhu, or devotee of the Lord, has to be very tolerant. Someone may ill-treat him because the conditioned souls are not prepared to receive the transcendental knowledge of devotional service. They do not like it; that is their disease. The sadhu has the thankless task of impressing upon them the importance of devotional service. Sometimes devotees are personally attacked with violence. Lord Jesus Christ was crucified, Haridasa Thakura was caned in twenty-two marketplaces, and Lord Caitanya's principal assistant, Nityananda, was violently attacked by Jagai and Madhai. But still they were tolerant because their mission was to deliver the fallen souls. One of the qualifications of a sadhu is that he is very tolerant and is merciful to all fallen souls. He is merciful because he is the well-wisher of all living entities. He is not only a well-wisher of human society, but a well-wisher of animal society as well. It is said here, sarva-dehinam, which indicates all living entities who have accepted material bodies. Not only does the human being have a material body, but other living entities, such as cats and dogs, also have material bodies. The devotee of the Lord is merciful to everyone-the cats, dogs, trees, etc. He treats all living entities in such a way that they can ultimately get salvation from this material entanglement. Sivananda Sena, one of the disciples of Lord Caitanya, gave liberation to a dog by treating the dog transcendentally. There are many instances where a dog got salvation by association with a sadhu, because a sadhu engages in the highest philanthropic activities for the benediction of all living entities. Yet although a sadhu is not inimical towards anyone, the world is so ungrateful that even a sadhu has many enemies. What is the difference between an enemy and a friend? It is a difference in behavior. A sadhu behaves with all conditioned souls for their ultimate relief from material entanglement. Therefore, no one can be more friendly than a sadhu in relieving a conditioned soul. A sadhu is calm, and he quietly and peacefully follows the principles of scripture. A sadhu means one who follows the principles of scripture and at the same time is a devotee of the Lord. One who actually follows the principles of scripture must be a devotee of God because all the sastras instruct us to obey the orders of the Personality of Godhead. Sadhu, therefore, means a follower of the scriptural injunctions and a devotee of the Lord. All these characteristics are prominent in a devotee. A devotee develops all the good qualities of the demigods, whereas a nondevotee, even though academically qualified, has no actual good qualifications or good characteristics according to the standard of transcendental realization. As I meditate upon you today, Gurudeva, it's clear to me that in order to truly help myself and others, and in order to truly please you, I must strictly follow your instructions, and strive to become the example you require for your mission. Aspiring to become your unconditional servant, Vamsidhari das Varsana dasi Dear Maharaj, I would like to thank you for always helping me and for making my parents devotees. If they were not devotees I would have probably passed this life in complete unhappiness. Also you have always encouraged me to do what is best for me and my God consciousness. You have always tried to get me to chant and it will hopefully please you to know I am now trying to chant every day. Not many, just one round, but I hope to improve that soon. It is only by your mercy. Thankyou so much for everything. Your insignificant servant, Varsana dasi (aged 14 years) Bhaktas Veejaye and Harsha Seesaha nama om vishnu padaya Krishna prasthaya bhutale srimate Devamrita swamin iti namine Dear Guru Maharaj, Please accept our humble obeisances at the dust of your lotus feet. All glories to your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Happy Appearance Day to you! We hope that Lord Krishna always keeps you in good health so that you can deliver the fallen souls like us. Gurudev, the first time we saw you and heard your lectures and kirtans we felt really inspired. You are such an expert preacher according to circumstance. You always teach how to be practical in different circumstance. You are so good at tackling questions that you always clear the doubts. We are very grateful to the Lord who gave us the chance to associate with you and to be under your shelter. In the scriptures it is mentioned that the spiritual master is the sum total of the demigods. We bow down to your lotus feet with great awe and reverence. Please bless us so that we can become serious and attentive in chanting. You are very dear to Lord Chaitanya. Please guide us so that we are able to contribute in the Sankirtana Movement. Your aspiring servants, Veejaye & Harsha Seesaha. Vidyapati das Dear Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Around five thousand years ago, in an attempt to counteract the impending disaster of Kali-Yuga, the greatest saints and sages of the world assembled at Naimisaranya. Appointing Suta Goswami as the captain of their mercy ship, they presented their very heart felt concerns for his consideration. And based on these concerns Suta Goswami relayed the beautiful Srimad Bhagavatam. O learned one, in this iron age of Kali men have but short lives. They are quarrelsome, lazy, misguided, unlucky and, above all, always disturbed. SB 1.1.10 Srila Gurudeva, the more I hear about the horrors of life in Kali-Yuga, the more I understand why the people of Kali-Yuga are described as being 'above all, always disturbed'. They are disturbed because from the very beginning of their lives they have experienced routine physical, sexual and psychological abuse. They are disturbed because of peer pressure at school, because of bullying and school violence. They are disturbed because of their inability to live up to the standards, expectations and desires of their parents and family members. They are disturbed because all of their attempts to fulfill their desires for love and affection have resulted in their being treated like just another object to be exploited. They are disturbed because for the last 15 years they have saturated their minds with all kinds of mind-numbing intoxicants, in an attempt to block out the painful reality of their lives. They are disturbed because of the stresses of their work week, the stresses of their relationships, and the stresses of their insatiable desires. They are disturbed because they have to work two jobs, 18 hours a day just to make ends meet for the family. They are disturbed because they have no one to talk to, because they have no real friends or because it takes so much energy just to maintain a superficial relationship that they just can't be bothered trying anymore. They are disturbed because every time they leave their home they fear that their flatmate, partner or family member will use the opportunity of an empty house to end the disturbances in their own lives by committing suicide. Even one of these disturbances present in a person's life can make a person's mind and emotions completely unstable. This instability of mind can even carry on well after the sources of disturbance are completely removed from one's life. Over this past year I have heard the most shocking, frightening and unbelievable stories from people's lives of the various disturbances they have had to face, and as a result I am starting to wonder how it is possible for this age to get any worse; but then I hear another Kali-Yuga horror story and my hope for the people of this age drops even further. From what I can see, everyone in Kali-Yuga has reason to be disturbed, myself included. And as preachers of Krsna consciousness, this makes things very difficult. Gurudeva, if things continue to progress in this direction, what hope is there for the people of this age? How will people with such disturbed minds be able to come to Krsna consciousness, grow in Krsna consciousness and distribute Krsna consciousness to others? We think that we have met Your Goodness by the will of providence, just so that we may accept you as captain of the ship for those who desire to cross the difficult ocean of Kali, which deteriorates all the good qualities of a human being. SB 1.1.22 Srila Gurudeva, when I first had the incredible experience of meeting you, I had the great honour of hearing you speak about the true longings of the soul, and the methodology of achieving the full satisfaction of our hearts most dear desires. Afterwards, by no small effort on the part of one of your disciples, I had the fortune of having personal audience with you. At that time you told me that I should make the goal of my life to actually help all the two-legged animals of the world, not just focus on some limited welfare activities for the four legged animals. In reply, I asked you my first real question, which was something like this: "The people of the world today are indeed animals. Their level of intelligence may be just slightly higher than that of a super chimpanzee. And the teachings you have talked about today are very difficult to understand. How, then, can the average person take up this process that you have talked about this evening? How can we actually help everyone?" Of course, at the time, I didn't realize that this description of ignorant two legged animals also fit me perfectly, blinded as I was by my own pride and lusty desires. Living beings who are entangled in the complicated meshes of birth and death can be freed immediately by even unconsciously chanting the holy name of Krsna, which is feared by fear personified. SB 1.1.14 Your answer to my question was so simple, yet so profound. I didn't appreciate its weight and meaning at all at the time. You said, "The holy name of KRSNA is so powerful that even the most degraded person can be elevated simply by taking up the chanting of it. So you start chanting Hare Krsna, wrap your intellect around Bhagavad Gita, and then you will be able to help the people of the world." Since Sri Krsna, the Absolute Truth, the master of all mystic powers, has departed for His own abode, please tell us to whom the religious principles have now gone for shelter. SB 1.1.23 In October last year, I received a phone call from the BBT in Sydney. It was Prabhodananda Prabhu. He was calling to tell me that the BBT no longer had room for the 50,000 SB 1.1's that you had requested be printed for distribution in New Zealand over the next three years. Therefore, Prabhodananda Prabhu said that the devotees in New Zealand would have to take all of them straight away, instead of taking small installments over the next three years as originally planned. The prospect of being responsible for a quarter of a million dollars worth of books caused me to shiver on the spot. It took me several minutes to digest the situation. How would we store that many books? How could we pay for the customs on the shipping? How could we even pay for the shipping? What would we do with all those books anyway?! This Bhagavata Purana is as brilliant as the sun, and it has arisen just after the departure of Lord Krsna to His own abode, accompanied by religion, knowledge, etc. Persons who have lost their vision due to the dense darkness of ignorance in the age of Kali shall get light from this Purana. SB 1.3.43 Srila Gurudeva, I can say with all honesty that the greatest moment in my devotional life thus far came at the beginning of April of this year. That was the day that eleven pallets of Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1s arrived at the brahmacari asrama, and filled our garage to the roof. After several hours of hard labour, all of the devotees moving the books by hand from the back of several trucks into our garage, ten books at a time, I spent another 30 minutes just standing there, staring at all those beautiful bhakti missiles wrapped individually in plastic. At that moment I was filled with such hope for the future of New Zealand, and I knew that this whole arrangement was simply a manifestation of your mercy and compassion upon all the Kali-Yuga victims of New Zealand, myself included. That moment was followed by a similar feeling after spending another day moving the rest the remaining 35 pallets of books into the free storage warehouse, so kindly donated by Govinda Prabhu for the sake of the New Zealand sankirtana devotees, and the suffering souls of Kali-Yuga. During these two occasions I felt a glimpse of the meaning of the verse yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah. And now, because of your desires and the blessings of the whole parampara, the unbelievable is happening in New Zealand. Since receiving that shipment of books New Zealand book distribution has increased and increased. We are now holding a steady fifth place ranking in the world for book distribution, up there with the sankirtan superpowers of India, Russia, America and the UK, and since those books have arrived on our shores your dedicated frontline soldiers have distributed well over 11,000 SB 1.1s to the residents of New Zealand. For a tiny little country like New Zealand this is completely unprecedented. There is only one explanation for this situation; the pure, selfless desire of the Lord's pure devotee. On the other hand, that literature which is full of descriptions of the transcendental glories of the name, fame, forms, pastimes, etc., of the unlimited Supreme Lord is a different creation, full of transcendental words directed toward bringing about a revolution in the impious lives of this world's misdirected civilization. Such transcendental literatures, even though imperfectly composed, are heard, sung and accepted by purified men who are thoroughly honest. SB 1.5.11 Srila Gurudeva, despite all the faults and problems of this age of Kali, specifically here in New Zealand, there is hope. That hope is Srimad Bhagavatam and the Holy Name. Without your expert packaging and distribution of these two bhakti gems in New Zealand the residents of this country would be completely lost in the ocean of disturbances that is Kali-Yuga. Thank you so much for taking me away from my Kali-Yuga induced disturbances, and allowing me to be part of this revolution. I beg that I may remain constantly engaged as a servant of the sankirtana devotees and as a revolutionary soldier in your army of mercy. Please help me to develop the real compassion, strength and honesty required to take up the life-long mission to save the suffering souls of this world. In this way, I beg that I may be able to turn my entire life into an offering at your lotus feet. Your unworthy servant, Vidyapati das Vira Krishna das Dear Srila Devamrita Swami, Please accept my humble obeisances! All glories to Srila Prabhupada and to his disciples who are fully dedicated to his transcendental mission! Your Vyasa-Puja is such a wonderful event because it gives many people the opportunity to do the most important thing in the whole universe: the adoration of the Vaishnavas! Even though I am such a fallen soul I am given the chance to make spiritual advancement only because of your great intent to spread Lord Krishna's message in every town and village. Through your lectures on Srimad Bhagavatam which are available on the internet many people like me are being inspired and are having their faith strengthened by your wise words. Only expert Vaishnavas are capable of using the powerful tools of Kaly Yuga in the service of Sri Krishna and thus reach the mass of ignorant people who suffer on the hands of the evil witch maya. Lord Krishna Himself says in the Bhagavad Gita [18.68-69] that no one is more dear to him than those who are striving for distributing the art of devotional service (paramam guhyam) to others. As we can read in Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta, this creativity and eagerness that you have in your preaching activity are very pleasing to our Jagad-Guru. Therefore it is a duty for all intelligent men and women to offer you reverences and honour not only in this very special day, but every day. ALL GLORIES TO SRILA DEVAMRTA SWAMI!!!!!!!! From your aspiring servant, Vira Krishna das. Bhakta Viran Gami Dear Guru Maharaja, Please accept my humble obeisance's at your divine lotus feet! All glories to Srila Prabhupada and all glories to you! On this auspicious day of your Vyasa puja, I offer my dandavats to the dust of your lotus feet. Guru Maharaja, you have guided me very nicely, you have listened patiently to all my problems, which I Thank You deeply, As I fight the struggles with Maya you have shown me logical solutions to my problems, which has improved my spiritual life. Please allow me and enable me to serve Your Divine Grace All glories to you! Your eternal servant Viran Gami Visnu-maya devi dasi Dear Guru Maharaja,