Writings » from disciples » Vyasa Puja Offerings 2005
Vyasa Puja Offerings 2005
(View Devamrita Swami's 2005 offering to Srila Prabhupada)
Aghahanta dasa
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my reverent obeisance’s on this most holy day of your appearance.
As I attempt to write something which describes the significance of your divine appearance in my life and the lives of so many others, I realize that I have very little realization or even qualification to describe such a thing. What I feel I do know though is that for someone to sacrifice so much for the welfare and eternal benefit of others deserves so much more glorification and praise than what I can humbly try and offer today. How rare such a pure and selfless soul is in this world. How rare indeed. There are many who say they know how to love while at the same time simply live a life of lust. But you do not just speak of love; you know what is love, for you show what love is. Thankyou Gurudeva, for being my guide in the dark, my watchful eye and my ever well-wishing friend. I hope to one day show my gratitude in action as well as just words.
Begging to take shelter in the dust of your lotus feet,
Your insignificant servant, Aghahanta dasa
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Bhaktin Angelus
Please accept my humble obaissances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to you on this most auspicious day of your appearance. I am so gratefull for having you as my Guru Maharaja, without you i am lifeless and miserable. I was thinking today of all the times you showered your mercy on me and how i was such a fool to leave your beautiful association, and also how my life just became a whirlpool of suffering and sin. When we saw you in Wellington earlier this year, i felt so happy to be in your presence again, i"m very fortunate to be with you.
I have been kicked over and over again by the material energy, and finally came to realise that there is nothing real in this world but the mercy of Guru and Gauranga. Please Maharaja, let me serve you forever and allow me stay with you always, for i am nothing without you. You are my life and soul and i desire always to serve you to the best of my ability. Just by seeing you once again i feel once more my life has meaning and that you are the inspiration. I only want to please you and if i can"t my life is useless and i am worthless.
Please Gurudeva let me stay with you forever and i promise to do better this time, for i only want to be with you always.
Your worthless and lowly of all your servents Angelus
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Bhakta Antje
Please accept my humble obaissances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
mac- citta mad gata- prana
bodhayantah parasparam
kathayantas ca mam nityam
tusyanti ca ramanti ca
The thoughts of My pure devotees dwell in Me, their lives are fully devoted to My service, and they derivegreat satisfaction and bliss from always enlightening one another and conversing about Me.
Pure devotees, whose characteristics are mentioned here, engage themselfes fully in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. Their minds cannot be diverted from the lotus feet from Krsna. Their talks are solely on the transcendental subjects.
The symptoms of the pure devotees are described in this verse specifically.
Devotees of the Supreme Lord are twenty- four hours daily engaged in glorifying the qualities and pasttimes of the Supreme Lord.
Their hearts and souls are constantly submerged in Krsna, and they take pleasure in discussing Him with other devotees...
When I read this in Bhagavad- Gita capter 10 Text 9, I had to think on you. You sacrificed everything to Lord Caitanyas Sankirtan movement to spread the holy name in every town and village.
In a very compassioned, honest and personal way you are giving the highest knowledge to everyone you meet, to all the fallen souls (including me) and even to demons.
You don`t judge anyone, you see every living entity as part of Krsna and therefore you have this deep desire to open their eyes and fill their heart with transcendental knowledge.
By Krsnas arrangement I got the chance to meet you and I`m so thankfull for this occasion. Without you I would have nothing and nothing to look forward to in my life.
Thank you very mutch for everything you have done for me and for thousands of others.
In deep appreciation I bow down to your lotusfeet.
All glories to your service.
Your humble servant Antje
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Bala Gopala dasa
Dear Guru Maharaj
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to your divine appearance day !
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Once when the great saint Narada went to Prayag to bathe at the confluence of the Ganges Yamuna and the Sarasvati he saw a dear, boar and a rabbit lying along the path throughout the forest they had been pierced by arrows, they had broken legs & were twisting due to much pain Narada Muni was greatly pained at heart to see living entities suffer so .
Your own words exemplify your own pain in observing the sorry state of the people of this country" When you preach here you find out the real story of clean green New Zealand you see the realities , so that these devotees have come through such impediments often such abuse it breaks my heart and still they are coming to Krsna Consciousness this is lord Caitanya's mercy"
Sampasyato mana urukrama sidate me" O great actor I take pity on them and I am very much aggrieved for them.". A pure devotee of the Lord like Brahma and persons in his disciplic succession are always unhappy to see the perplexities of the conditioned souls ...therefore unless the devotees of the lord take pity on them and show them the right path there lives are useless failures SB3.9.8 txt & pp
The great saint Narada met the cruel hunter who had been killing animals in that way and explained the effects of half killing animals, life after life he would experience the same pain he caused others Prabhupad explains that as followers of Vedic principles it is our duty to see that no one suffers due to sinful activity's over 200 million animals are slaughtered every year in New Zealand ,in the name of a so called civilized society we use scientific methods & machines to kill animals on a hugely large scale Prabhupada writes "We can hardly imagine the sufferings of one who maintains a slaughterhouse ...One cannot even estimate the suffering awaiting him" People who are leading our society at present are described in SB as andha yathandhair upaniyamanah these rascals are blind yet they are leading others who are blind When people follow such Leaders they suffer unlimited pains in the future , despite so called advancement all this is happening ,Who is safe? who is happy? who is without anxiety? CCmPp
You are a clear example of one who has taken this duty very seriously, every moment of your life is used for the highest welfare of others ,begging people to refrain from there wholly inauspicious activity's, raising people to Krsna Consciousness ,this makes you as confidential to the Lord as Lord Brahma .
Due to Narada's Powerful association the hunter became convinced of his inauspicious life and begged for guidance on how he could be relieved of the reactions to his sinful life , the hunter submissively received the guidance, broke his bow and began to chant and dance in great ecstatic love .
This is the effect of associating with a pure devotee because of your incredible connection with the Guru Parampara whenever you speak about Krsna Consciousness it has an incredibly transforming effect on the lives of sinful people & people genuinely take your instructions.
As people take shelter of your guidance immense amounts of transformation takes place and a genuine eagerness to engage in hearing and chanting develops as SB 1.2.16 confirms
susrusoh sraddadhanasya vasudeva katha rucih syan mahat sevaya viprah punya tirtha nisevanat
" O twice born sages by serving those devotees who are completely freed from all vice , great service is done . By such service , one gains affinity for hearing the messages of Vasudeva"
And there are those who have sadly minimized your efforts and neglected your guidance, these sorry people unfortunately have gained an affinity for village talk, embarrassing compromises, offenses and mainly sending people away from Krsna Consciousness in the name of empowered preaching. They also indirectly glorify you because without your blessings effective preaching ,taste for the holy name and service to the Vaisnavas never develops.
Another amazing result of your association is the way you share your desire to preach Krsna Consciousness in uncommonly dedicated ways, Your sincere followers are decorated with many of your skills in dedicated outreach work, sankirtan ,cultivation, loft preaching ,expert management, counselling etc .What such amazing environments You and your followers are creating to reclaim the fortunate conditioned souls
Please let me always remain the faithful servant of you and your sincere followers
Your aspiring disciple Bala Gopala dasa
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Bhaktin Benedicte
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Hare Krsna Devamrita Swami,
I was lost not knowing what I was supposed to do, where to go, and why I existed. I wondered if I really wanted to exist. The main thing that kept me going was to think that somehow there must be a meaning to all this, and in the meantime try to act like everyone else, blindly.
om? ajn?na-timir?ndhasya
jn?n?njana-?al?kay?
caks?ur unm?litam? yena
tasmai ?r?-gurave namah?
I am still wondering sometimes if this life full of devotional service, that gives me a bit of a spin, is for real. But when I turn to all the bright faces of the devotees, I see it is. You gave me such a wonderful opportunity to be engaged and get a higher taste for something worthy of living, devotional service, and the chance for a full life in bhakti with very special souls.
I am hoping that one day I will be able to catch up with my words, act in response to my gratitude and serve you better.
Your servant,
Bhaktin Benedicte
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Bhagavat Katha das
nama om vishnu padaya Krishna prasthaya bhutale
srimate Devamrita swamin iti namine
pracare purva-daksyam ca
bhaktacara-pravinta
pararthatapi karunyam
yasya sarve ca te namah
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisance’s on this auspicious day of your Vyasa Puja.
Looking back at my teenage years, I can see how much I was engrossed in degraded activities being ignorant of Krishna. And now, I find myself in association of devotees trying to follow your orders. There has been a lot of up’s and downs while making this journey. But, you have always guided me perfectly as a captain guides the ship to its destination. Whatever I express today is very insignificant to glorify you.
In Bhagavad Gita 4.36 Krishna says:
api ced udasi papebhyah
sarvebhyah papa-krt-tamah
sarvam jnana-plavenaiva
vrjinam santarisvasi
“Even if you are considered to be the most sinful of all sinners, when you are situated in the boat of transcendental knowledge you will be able to cross over the ocean of miseries.”
Guru Maharaj, I have performed many sinful activities before coming to Krsna consciousness, without you I would never be able to cross this ocean of miseries. As Prabhupada states in the purport “If someone comes forward and lifts the struggling swimmer from the ocean, he is the greatest saviour.”
Guru Maharaj, you have been my saviour. It is a journey on a long road and many difficulties will come along the way, but your instructions and guidance are always there to make this journey reach its destination.
This servant of yours prays at your lotus feet that please bestow your mercy and blessings unto me so that I am able to render some service unto you in the future and become an instrument in your hand.
Your foolish servant
Bhagavat Katha das
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Bhava-sandhi devi dasi
Dear Gurudeva
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Gurudeva you are para-duhkha-duhkhi. I cannot comprehend how your heart must break to see the suffering of all the conditioned souls.
In the much adored Sri Caitanya-caritamrta it is said.
Foolish creatures do not know that they are nothing but play dolls in the hands of material nature and that at any moment material nature’s pitiless intrigues can crush to dust all their plans. A devotee is full of compassion for humanity in it’s suffering. He knows that this suffering is due to a lack of devotional service to the Lord, and therefore he always finds ways to change people’s activities making them favourable for the attainment of devotion.
Gurudeva, I can’t for a moment understand a fraction of what you feel when you see the world around you. I can only see the sparkling jewel-like surface of the deep ocean of compassion you hold within. I wonder at how that compassion is transformed into action. Actions of precision, care, urgency, without compromise. To engage in service everyone under Lord Caitanya’s merciful shelter. I can’t comprehend the pain you must feel when you see such excruciating emptiness and abuse in everyday life, what it must be like to see through all the façades, to just see the modes working.
You desire so much for us to comprehend. You take so much time and energy endlessly describing to us how nature mocks us. The first time we ever met, you dedicated a whole class to trying to open my dull, lifeless intoxicated eyes. My disturbed mind clung to the fact that you were my only hope. After that I would come to each of your classes, trying to sit at the back and go unnoticed so as not to reveal my foolishness, but I would love to listen. You said I looked shell-shocked, like I’d just escaped the destruction of the twin towers. Gurudeva, you are rescuing me from worse than that, you are skilfully trying to take me from the burning forest of material existence by engaging me in service.
But I’m so proud, so heavily conditioned and addicted to foolish activity that I have only half-heartedly, mechanically and selfishly performed my service, heavily under the modes of passion and ignorance – but recently by your mercy I have had some realizations of the intense suffering of everyday life. Just a fraction under people’s exteriors is such crippling emptiness and unfulfillment that leads to such degradation and exploitation. Gurudeva only by your mercy that it’s not still me. Only by your endless compassion. I am, as always, forever indebted. But you say actions speak louder than words. So by your mercy I beg you to enable me to fully engage in your service. I beg that when people taste Nitai Nimai’s mercy they will be addicted and not be able to leave the oasis of The Loft. I beg I have the determination to overcome my mind on sankirtana, your most beloved service. I beg the intelligence to preach and cultivate. I beg the desire to become purified to I can hear the holy name and serve the devotees. Gurudeva I am useless I can do nothing without you.
Your insignificant servant,
Bhava-sandhi devi dasi
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Bhaktin Bridget
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to you on this wonderful and auspicious day. As I try to write this offering I am overcome with guilt and sorrow. I cannot even begin to explain what an amazing and special soul you are and how much you have done for so many people, you are truly inspirational.
Because of you so many people are fortunate enough to be able to relish the chanting of the Maha-mantra and Prabhupadas books. Without your drive and emphasis on preaching we wouldn’t be here today.
So on this very auspicious day I would truly like to thank you with all my heart. Because of your kindness and compassion you are giving us all the greatest gift of life, love of Krsna - and dispersing the darkness of ignorance.
I am eternally indebted to you.
Your aspiring servant,
Bridget
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Buddhimanta Dasa & Shaktimanta Devi Dasi
Nama om Vishnu padaya Krishna presthaia bhutale
Srimate Devamrita swamin iti namine
prac?re ’p?rva-d?k?ya? ca
bhakt?c?ra-prav??at?
par?rthat?pi k?ru?ya?
yasya sarve ca te nama?
“Obeisances to you who have all the qualities of unique skill in preaching, competence in Vai??ava dealings, selflessness, and compassion.”
Hare Krishna Dear Guru Dev,
Happy Vyasa Puja Day.
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Your lotus feet.
All glories to your Vyasa Puja day Mahotsava.
Guru Maharaj what do I have to offer at your lotus feet on this auspicious day. Whatever little material possessions or spiritual values I have today is nothing but manifestation of your blessings. Just like we take some water from Ganges and offer that back to Ganges. Similarly I have nothing that I can call mine, everything in my life progresses due to your causeless mercy.
Guru Maharaj on this special day, the Vyasa Puja day I beg at your lotus feet to bestow your mercy at this fallen soul so that I can live this life as per your instructions and stop making more material plans. Guru Maharaj I still remember very much your personal instruction to me, “ Keep your life simple and you will be happy ”. These words penetrate me every day but my heart is so hard does not take a serious note of this simple and the most valuable teaching. Guru Maharaj please be merciful upon me and my family so that we all can chant without committing more offences, read Srila Prabhupada’s books and serve vaishnavas. In this way gradually we may cleanse the dust from our polluted mind to understand the real meaning of ‘living a simple life’ that is naturally conducive for devotional service to Sri Guru and Gauanga.
Guru Maharaj whenever I get your personal association with your mercy, I always realize that your life is grossly an offering to Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada would always emphasize purpose of visiting a dham is not to hanker for liberation but to associate with devotees to discuss spiritual topics. At Pune yatra this year I was fortunate to get the same nectar from yourself when you asked me if I met with some senior devotees there. I could sense your concern for this fallen soul.
Guru Maharaj you are always focused on spreading the message of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu through Srila Prabhupda’s books. And the same fire of preaching you have successfully ignited in the heart of many souls in America, Europe, Africa, Australia and New Zealand. My most of God brothers are following your instructions as their life and soul. I pray at your lotus feet that one day I can also become a sincere student of your teachings like them.
Guru Maharaj in spite of your intense traveling and busy preaching schedule you always spare some time for this useless soul by giving me some little service once a while and that keeps me intoxicated for months. Guru Maharaj kindly consider me for some tiny service so that I can be of some use in your preaching mission.
Today I pray at the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to grant you many more of Vyasa Puja days so that you can take many more wandering souls back home back to Godhead. I also pray at the lotus feet of Lord Narsimha Deva to kindly protect you always so that you can protect many more souls from the influence of Maya.
Guru Maharaj ki Jai
Vyasa Puja Mahotsava ki Jai.
Hari bol
Your humble servant,
Buddhimanta Dasa & Shaktimanta Devi Dasi
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Candidasa dasa
Most dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
You taught me to chant.
You taught me to read Prabhupada's books.
You taught me to try to control my mind and senses.
You taught me to preach, cook, pray and chant.
You taught me to be happy, satisfied, tolerate distress and chant.
You taught me to try to be clean, as well as try to be humble.
You taught me about the foolishness of my material desires.
You taught me to have compassion, live simply and chant Hare Krishna.
Thank you,
Your indebted servant,
Candidasa dasa
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Bhaktine Celie
nama om visnu-padaya
krsna-prestaya bhu-tale
srimate devamrta-swamin iti namine
pracare purva-daksyam ca
bhaktacara-pravinata
pararthatapi karunyam
yasya sarve ca te namah
nama om visnu-padaya
krsna-prestaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada,
All glories to you on your Vyasa-puja day.
Thankyou for being my father, I really need one.
Your servant Celie
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Bhakta Chris and family
All glories to you Maharaja
on this most auspicious day.
We are fools before you,
desperate,needless to say.
You are our master,father and our only true friend.
From the very first sight
to the very end.
Showing us such mercy
we cannot forget those nights
you stayed with us again and yet again
bringing light to our life.
So loving and friendly
yet sharp and acute.
You made us laugh,cry, bold and shy
describing the Absolute Truth.
Have harinam 3 times a week,you said
and chant 16 rounds a day.
Hold a Sunday feast once a week
and throw that marijuana away.
Put Krsna in the centre
and always remember
that Krsnas the enjoyer,
and of all your sinful reactions
Krsnas the destoyer.
On that 1 harinam we had
like Nrsimhadeva you roared.
so many got your mercy in Tokoroa for sure.
Chanting without abandon
giving the holy name at any cost,
those demons who oppose you
will be crushed like a wasp.
There are so many memories of you Maharaja, we hold dear to our hearts.
Where are you now...
oh dear son of Srila Prabhupada.
Pray make us your servants! Pray save these fools without you we"re nothing but worms enjoying stool. Jaya Maharaja!
Chris and family
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Dandakaranya das
o? ajñ?na-timir?ndhasya
jñ?n?ñjana-?al?kay?
cak?ur unm?lita? yena
tasmai ?r?-gurave nama?
I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him.
Nama Om Vishnu padaya
Krsna-presthaya Bhutale
Srimate Devamrta Swami
Iti namine
I offer my respectful obeisances to Srimate Devamrta Swami who is very dear to Lord Krsna on this earth, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.
Pracare purva-daksyam ca
Bhaktacara-pravinata
Pararthatapi karunyam
Yasya sarve ca te namah
Obeisances to you who have all the qualities of unique skill in preaching, competence in Vaisnava dealings, selflessness and compassion.
Dearest Guru Maharaja
Srila Prabhupada states in his purport to Srimad Bhagavatam 2.4.21
“The Lord is revealed not by one's speculative power or by one's verbal jugglery over the Absolute Truth. Rather, He reveals Himself to a devotee when He is fully satisfied by the devotee's service attitude.”
Thank you for your ongoing inspiration in how to develop the appropriate mentality in our devotional practices by demonstrating the proper bhakti attitude through your own personal acar and pracar. It was for these qualities that Sanatana Goswami glorified Haridas Thakur for being an exemplary spiritual master. As he states in Caitanya Caritamrta:
“Some behave very well but do not preach the cult of K???a consciousness, whereas others preach but do not behave properly. You simultaneously perform both duties in relation to the holy name by your personal behavior and by your preaching. Therefore you are the spiritual master of the entire world, for you are the most advanced devotee in the world.”
It is always refreshing and enlivening to hear you speak and relish Krsna-katha which gives one a deeper appreciation and understanding of Krsnas nature and His lila. Also through your enthusiastic yet mature guidance in bhakti yoga we can become alert to avoid the many ‘mental’ pitfalls, such as faulty reasoning and logic and the lethargy and pride that come from bodily attachment that may cause one to stumble on the progressive pathway back to Godhead. I especially appreciate your transcendentally objective sense of humor towards the ‘trivial pursuits’ that are experienced in a mundane existence, which demonstrate the futility of a life that is lived separately from Krsna. Your association always keeps everything in the proper transcendental perspective so that we can always keep the real goal in life, loving Krsna, as the most important focus.
It is enlivening to see you utilize your wonderful intelligence to be always meditating on the genuine welfare of others by thinking of ways to present Krsna consciousness outside of institutionalized paradigms so that bewildered people, such as myself, have been given the blessing to take up the discipline of vaidhi sadhana bhakti. Your inspired vision of creating attractive personalized outreach environments that people are comfortable enough to feel at home in so that they can informally associate with devotees and subsequently be given the valuable opportunity to hear about Krsna demonstrates to me what it means to be a Prabhupadanuga.
Thank you for writing books that are so in tune with current trends and mindsets which conclusively demonstrate that Krsna consciousness and Vedic texts are the only solutions with any real substance to the ever increasing complications and confusions experienced in shallow contemporary living and thinking. Your expertise in writing books not only provides one with a valuable preaching resource, but they also act as a perfect bridge for connecting people to the writings of Srila Prabhupada.
I humbly pray that you will continue to give us the benefit of your Krsna Conscious association over the years even though our material circumstances and surroundings may change and that we remain as useful servants at your lotus feet.
Your aspiring servant
Dandakaranya das
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Bhaktin Daniel Farrant
I would like to say thank you for giving me the impetus to delve into the knowledge and experience of Krishna Consciousness with more vigour and determination, and for calling me up on the conditioned focus that holds me captive in the material whirlpool. I also thank you for the Loft. It is a haven in Auckland providing truth and nectar to the hungry and the thirsty.
Hare Krishna!!!!
From Daniel Farrant
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Dina Dayala devi dasi
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my most humble obeisances in the dust at your lotus feet.
All glories to you, our beloved spiritual master, on your Vyasa Puja day.
The Truth of Krsna consciousness is a priceless and hidden jewel. It’s beauty is concealed by the modes of material nature long settled in the cavern of the heart.
Now, dear Guru Maharaja, you shine that torch-light in there, inviting us to seek it out - to walk by the light of knowledge with our body, mind and words in surrender to Krsna’s desire.
I could never hope to embark upon the search without your boundless mercy. For who could really believe in truth and beauty in this day and age? Who has the courage and strength to face one’s own pride, lust, illusion, envy, greed and madness? Who could walk, without stumbling and falling out of weakness?
Understanding our helplessness you apply your own strength to our plight.
It is simply by your will that we dare search for Krsna, only in your guidance we have confidence, by your instructions we stay alive and with your attentiveness we recognise enemies that we have befriended.
Ohe!
Vaisnava thakura, doyara sagara,
e dase koruna kori
Diya pada-chaya, sodho he amaya,
tomara carana dhori
I realise my hope for spiritual life depends completely on your mercy. And I beg for it.
I pray that I can remember to hold onto your lotus feet. Please let me realise my humble position and allow me to be close by you always by engaging me in your service.
Your servant
Dina Dayala devi dasi
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Divya Jnana das
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
Dear Gurudeva
Please accept my respectful obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
On this glorious day I would like to express my gratitude to you for giving me the opportunity to serve Krsna. I was like a dog looking for a master but could not find anyone who could give me real shelter. By your grace I can take shelter of Krsna.
Srila Prabhupada explains that modern civilization is a patchwork of activity that covers the perpetual suffering of material existence. Helping people see the realities of this material world and teaching people to aim their love towards Krsna is what you do best. To help people in this way requires so much compassion. Your dedication and tenacious drive to serve Srila Prabhupada is an inspiration.
I beg for your mercy that I can contribute in assisting you in your mission to spread Krsna Consciousness. That I can become sincere and take shelter of your instructions.
Your servant
Divya Jnana
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Bhakta Duncan
Dear Srila Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances on this wonderful day of your appearance
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
As each year passes my eyes are seeing more and more the suffering that is taking place within the hearts of the living entities. Generally, when i read or hear about the suffering in the world, i see it on a physical or surface level, through the body and mind like diseases and stress. But now i see that this is the tip of the iceberg and that the real suffering is in the heart of the living entity. So much pain is going on from disappointments, frustrations, let downs and abuse from loved ones, relationships and unfulfilled desires. At every moment these pains are always present in the heart of the living entity if we take the time to notice.
I heard a class by you from Auckland where you were giving advice to some Sankirtan devotees on how you could see & feel the pain in the people of Auckland and how that pained your heart.
As i deeply meditated on your words i began to see and feel a little of this pain and realised that your heart is burdened upon seeing the parts and parcels of Krishna suffering. Your heart is feeling pain from seeing the futility of their actions under the modes of nature and how material nature crushes them.
Everything you do, with your mind, body and words is helping people put an end to this suffering. All your efforts and actions are aimed at one goal, how to end the suffering for the living entities?
Simultaneously you rescue souls like myself and teach us how to really love one another and help others back to their original state of being. Today i glorify your warm loving heart which feels pain for all living entities stuck in the material worlds
All glories unto you!
Now i begin to see a small drop of the ocean of love in your heart for everyone. Now i begin to understand the immense pain you feel when seeing the fallen souls in the ocean of nescience. Without your mercy i would never have seen the true plight of myself or others. Thank you for allowing me into your heart.
All glories unto you!
On this most auspicious occasion of your appearance in this world, I realise that without the great fortune of coming into contact with great saintly devotees like yourself, there is no hope for ending the cycle of birth & death, there is no hope for an end to the suffering in the hearts of all living entities.
All glories unto you!
Today i wish to glorify you by exposing the unlimited compassion & love that you have in your heart. You are selflessly distributing love of Godhead to everyone, including undeserving souls like me.
All glories to you, All glories to you, All glories to you!
Your insignificant servant
Bhakta Duncan
(Wellington)
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Dvarkesh dasa
Dearest Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances on the divine occasion of your auspicious appearance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Gurudeva, I have no ability to properly glorify you.
You are so special to me because you have given me the greatest gift. I was drowning in an ocean of material suffering, and you mercifully picked me up and placed me at the lotus feet of Sri Sri Rukmini Dvarakadisha.
By your mercy I have the strength to approach the conditioned souls to give them Srila Prabhupada’s books and purify myself and give the greatest gift to suffering humanity. My only desire is to serve you completely with my body, mind, and words. Only by your mercy can this desire be fulfilled.
Your eternal servant,
Dvarkesh dasa
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Bhakta Dwayne
Dear Gurudeva
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to you on your appearance day.
I was introduced to Krishna Consciousness through the devotees on sankirtan, distributing Prabhupada's books. I was intrigued by the nature of the devotees, kind and outreaching. After visiting your Gaura Yoga community center, I was bewildered, unsure of what I'd just been a part of and heard, but felt exceedingly positive, looking forward to returning.
This was my first real taste of Krishna Consciousness, and without your compassion, along with the compassion of the devotees who shelter at your lotus feet, such things would never have happened.
Thank you for allowing me to take such wonderful association in the Prama Karuna Ashram. The influence of living with the devotees is helping me create a serious and sincere attitude towards progressing in spiritual life.
Though my personal association with you has been limited, I am always inspired when listening to your classes and lectures, and always encouraged by your lively and strong personality.
Thank you for everything you have given me through your causeless mercy. I am completely unable to express my heartfelt gratitude.
Your servant,
Bhakta Dwayne
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Ekendra das and family
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my respectful obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
This year I just wanted to write a short homage about a particular quality that I really like in your character.
Srila Prabhupada instructed us to "kick these cheating so-called scientists in the face with boots". Perhaps some devotees may become squeemish upon hearing such seemingly harsh speech from someone to whom they attach their deepest conception of purity. I've learned from you that its best not to impose my superficial idea of what purity means upon those higher up in the disciplic chain. You have, by your own precept and example, taught us to adjust our conceptions to conform to the words of the acaryas and not try to adjust the words and behaviour of the acaryas to suit our fanciful and neophyte ideas.
I really appreciate how you make such an effort to smack the bogus scientists where it counts! You painstakingly use their own limited research against the ridiculous conceptions they espouse all over the innocent and easily mislead populace. I find this face-kicking to be quite an ambrosial rasa and I'd like to follow your footsteps and land a few well placed kicks into the faces of these false teachers - with boots! How can they go on cheating the people like this with their fabricated theories and pretentious dissertations?
All glories to your kicking powers!
your inspired servant,
Ekendra das
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Gaura-arati dasi
Dear Srila Gurudeva
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Although I'm not as grateful as I should be and although I don't work as hard as I should to repay the insurmountable debt I owe you, on this most glorious day of your appearance please accept my insignificant gratitude for your ongoing inspiration to increase my offering of love to you.
Without the incessant inspiration flowing from your lotus mouth, the energies of my body, mind and words are all so misdirected.
Last week Bhava sandhi and I took two women on a bush walk in hope of sharing with them this invaluable gift you have given us. They both talked so much about love. Love this, love that, love everything, love everyone. By your causeless mercy Bhava sandhi and I could see the fultility in their attempts to satisfy their desire to love to its full capacity. You have so compassionately give us this opportunity to express and receive real love without which we would simply wallow among the exploiters and exploited. You have taught us that any so called love without Guru and Gauranga as the object is the mother of all misery. It's embarrassing to see these women in the same situation I was in only 3 years ago and I fear to think of the misguided path I would be trudging without your divine grace in my life.
Just like a stray leaf fallen from the tree is helplessly blown this way and that, similarly without the grace of the spiritual master we are wandering so aimlessly with no real goal and no shelter from the violent storm of Kali Yuga.
This storm of Kali Yuga is deep within our heart and it's heavy! Submerged in an ocean of lust, smashed by the waves of pride, saturated in rains of envy, agitated by winds of madness, covered by thick clouds of illusion and blinded by greed for the flickering sunshine, this storm is impossible to overcome without you. But because you're so compassionate Gurudeva, we do have a hope…..a hope that we may always be caught up in the vast net of transformation and distribution of Krsna Consciousness that you have cast into this ocean of nescience. You are so kind Gurudeva, your hands always outstretched pulling us aboard the boat of bhakti, where you offer the shelter of the holy name and warmth of the devotees. Whether on the boat or in the net being causelessly pulled aboard you then give such personal care to each and everyone of us.
We thank you from the rock bottom our heart for your selfless service to Srila Prabhupada and Mahaprabhu, and we beg for your mercy so that we may be used as an instrument to assist you in giving this great love to others. Please give me the strength to follow your instructions wholeheartedly.
Your eternally indebted servant
Gaura-arati dasi
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Bhakta Geoff
nama o? vi??u-p?d?ya k???a-pre??h?ya bh?-tale ?r?mate devamrita-sv?minn iti n?mine
nama o? vi??u-p?d?ya k???a-pre??h?ya bh?-tale srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Thank you for creating the opportunity for myself and many others to become K???a conscious here in Wellington. If it wasn't for your efforts here, then the situation would be grim. However, because of your Gaura-yoga centre, and your expertly-trained leading disciples, there is a bright future for so many souls.
Wherever you are, you bring K???a with you. You have brought K???a to Wellington, and you are expertly guiding us how to keep Him as the centre of our lives. Please come back soon and bring us more K???a!
Your servant, Geoff
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Bhakta Glen and Michelle
nama om visnu-padaya
krsna-presthaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta
swamin iti namine
namas te sarasvate deve
gaura-vani-pracarine
nirvisesa-sunyavadi
pascatya-desa-tarine
Dear Devamrita Swami,
Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
We feel very privileged to be making this humble offering on your vyasa puja.
Having been so addicted to our self-destruction, we have several times deviated from your shelter. But from that sad and lonely place we heard your words "I am waiting for you" These words were instrumental, when we made our decision to act responsibly, in giving us the confidence to try to serve your lotus feet, so that one day, you may be pleased with us.
Although we have not yet attained the devotional standards of your dedicated disciples, if it were not for your merciful patience and for the warmth and kindness of your dear disciples over the years, we would surely be in the most hellish of places.
Thank you so very much for continually leading us back to the shelter of the Holy name.
Your aspiring servants,
Glen and Michelle
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Gokul Lila devi dasi
Dearest Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances,
all glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Celebrating your appearance in this world and in our lives is certainly the most cherished day of the year. Although truthfully each year it becomes more difficult to begin an offering as I watch your spotless pure Vaisnava heart expand before my eyes. Of your expanding heart I'm sure I'm seeing just a small portion. Of this portion I very much love and appreciate your exemplary role as a caring selfless preacher and an expert lover of devotees. Certainly the Panca Tattva's message is in the hands of a very expert person.
You speak in lectures of how before coming to Krsna Consciousnesss you were a "pleasure seeker." It seems that you are now relishing real pleasure through hearing and seeing of someone unknown take Prabhupada's books and through seeing and hearing of another's growth and happiness in Krsna Consciousness.
This quality of yours continues to amaze me and many others. An example of this quality of yours I noticed recently. Your always willing to give your precious time to meet with persons approaching Krsna Consciousness and a devotee seeking instruction and I think its very sweet that you'll honestly respond to there thanks for time "my pleasure."
Who, but an expert caring preacher of the Panca Tattva would truly find pleasure in someone else's joy in life?
Never do we see you sitting back as you watch the workings of Maya destroy people inside and out. No! We watch struck by your expertise, as you roll up your sleeves and with great skill and care you bury yourself deep in the heart of the illusioned being, and careful guide each and everyone of us perfectly for our condition and situation.
An example of your deep compassion for those who are presently being destroyed inside and out by the material energy we will certainly never forget. It was in Christchurch Nz Dec 2004. Your words showed us, who were fortunate enough to witness, how your aggrieved to see the suffering of others(a symptom of a pure devotee.)
With tears in your eyes you begged.....
"You older devotees would do well to know what these younger devotees have to go through growing up in this country and you would appreciate how Lord Caitanya has showered his mercy on them. When you preach you find out the real story of 'clean green New Zealand', you see the realities.So that these devotees have come to Krsna Consciousness through such abuse, breaks my heart and still there coming to Krsna Consciousness, this is Lord Caitanya's mercy. No one can just stand by and watch your country go down like this. Unless they come to Krsna Consciousness-there's no hope."
Your disciples and aspiring disciples I see here in New Zealand are no doubt trying very hard to transform themselves as well as 'clean green New Zealand' due to the great guidance and personal inspiration they receive from you there beloved life coach.
You'll be happy to know there's an increase in book distribution happening here in Wellington with everyone physically capable going out on the streets and door to door every Saturday which is increasing the numbers at our Sunday feast.
Thank you Guru Maharaja for taking me, one of the persons destroyed from inside and out under the protection of your safe lotus feet.
Thank you for encouraging me by your own actions and words to take the precious jewel of Vaisnava sanga very seriously.
Being an experienced fool I see only dirt every where I look but you are certainly a lover of devotees and extract the gold from dirt and like a jeweler you put the gold out on display for everyone to see and admire.
I see you swimming deeply in the ocean of sadhu sanga and do hope to soon jump in after you.Thank you for teaching me what real pleasure is and for always enticing me to carry on in this Sankirtan Yajna.
There is no doubt that in your hands is the message of the Panca Tattva, which your ready to give freely to anyone willing to take.
I pray on this wonderful occasion that you kindly allow me to always keep company with those who have deep faith in you and following your orders.
So that I may hopfully imbibe there mood of surrender unto you and pass it on to others.
Please forgive me for my offenses.
From one of many who loves you very much.
Aspiring to be one of your unconditional servants, Gokul Lila dd
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Gopala Guru Dasa
Dear Guru Maharaja
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to you lotus feet.
My most recent appreciation of your magnificence has been of your amazing ability to encourage young westerners in the practice of Krishna consciousness.
I remember when I first came over to Melbourne and had my first meeting with the Temple President and Temple Commander. I was wearing saffron and was meant to be a humble servant of the Lord's devotees. After prior brainwashing from some devotees in the glories of book distribution and the entanglement of being roster fodder I went in with gun's blazing and made my point clear to the temple commander that I was not going to become roster fodder, but a full time book distributor. Somehow or other they both managed to keep their cool and ease me slightly onto the roster, to the point where I am now the temple commander looking after the rosters and dealing with persons similar to myself when I first came over - it is funny how Krishna arranges for our purification, Krishna is definitely the source of all humour.
This makes me think of how expert you were at cultivating me in devotional service. You have always given me good guidance and the association of nice devotees who can look after me, tolerate me and guide me in your absence.
The new generation of devotees, which I come from, is emerging from a degraded culture. They are bombarded with advertising, internet and computer games - the results of this being that one cannot focus and remain attentive for more than 15 minutes. Due to excessive illicit sex life and intoxication most new practitioners need to get medical help to get their health together and due to broken families, multiple broken relationships, loneliness, lack of fulfilment and drug misuse nearly half of them need to get psychological help.
Somehow or other we need to engage these spirit souls in Krishna's service.
You have established ashrams where young men and women can get their material and spiritual lives back on track, with expert guidance and advice from yourself and your disciples who you have personally trained in this difficult task. The results speak for themselves and nice devotees are being cultivated due to your efforts.
You have devised a means to drag conditioned souls out of the dark depths of this material ocean. I have been fortunate enough to be a recipient of your mercy and by your grace I am able to render some meagre service in a sincere attempt to show you my gratitude.
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur said we should be prepared to shed hundreds of gallons of blood to make one devotee. I pray that we can, through nice practice of Krishna consciousness, become nice devotees ourselves and powerful assistants in your service. Purity is the force and good teamwork, friendship and camaraderie is what is required to make more devotees - because these are the things which are attractive to non-devotees because these are things they are lacking.
I pray that I can follow in your footsteps and make you a happy father through my efforts as your spiritual son.
Your servant,
Gopala Guru Dasa
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Gopi Gita dasi
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I am completely amazed seeing how much you care for all of us, every single living entity in this world.
How much love you have for devotional service and how much you desire for everyone else to also develop our Krishna Consciousness.
You go out of your way to help and guide others, to me it seems inconceivable how you do it.
But what you offer is the greatest gift one could receive, love of Godhead.
Having changed my lifestyle to one of working outside in the material world, as well as living outside the ashrama, I realize more and more how cruel Kali Yuga is. How difficult it would be to exist without Krishna Consciousness, dealing with so many people daily, who haven't got Krishna in their lives, seeing their sad faces, how abused, stressed, anxious do these people look. More than anything else they need KC.
I am amazed to see that they really think there is happiness to be found in this world, but in their eyes one can see that every attempt to find happiness is a failure.
I understand more and more now why you said in Christchurch that without KC there is no hope for anybody.
If there is anything small that I can offer you of value than please let me assist you more and more in your mission of saving the conditioned souls from the cruel face of Kali Yuga.
I know that my attempt to glorify you is insignificant and not very great, but please accept this little offering as it is truly coming from my heart.
Your servant and daughter,
Gopi Gita
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Bhakta Hitesh
Dear Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Through your compassion, I’ve been able to receive and act upon your much needed expert guidance. You’ve enabled me to make positive strokes forward in my spiritual life, after having so long treaded the murky and stagnant waters of Manchester as you so well know.
I’m not able to fully comprehend the extent of your compassion but I pray to Sri Sri Panca-Tattva that I’ll be able to remain in your loving care, aspiring that I may become qualified to assist your disciples in serving both you and your beloved spiritual master.
Aspiring to be your servants’ servant,
Bhakta Hitesh
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Hriman Krsna das
Dear Gurudeva
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prbhupada
I met this very old lady once, in a small town near Taupo last year.
I introduced myself as a monk. She was very enthusiastic to see me, she probably hadn't spoken to anyone in a long time. No doubt she was being neglected by society and her family. She spoke for awhile, as I listened to her stories of the second world war and how her husband escaped from a Nazi concentration camp. Material nature had really given her a hard time. Her husband had passed away a few years ago and I could see she was deeply attached towards him. I presented to her the SSR and explained to her the journey of the soul and the deterioration of the material body. I told her that her husband was a spirit soul eternal and everlasting and that there was no need to lament. She immediately pressed the book to her chest and gave ten dollars from a money machine. She wanted to read the book and even forced me to sign it, I wrote 'chant Hare Krishna and be happy'.
Before we parted I got her to say Gauranga. Her eyes opened wide and she called Gauranga with such enthusiasm, I replied by saying again Gauranga! Again she called Gauranga! We carried on like this shouting Gauranga six times. At that moment by Krishna's mercy, I could feel the heaviness in my heart drop for a few seconds, as if I was floating of the ground. She was in such ecstasy, she swiftly paced back home to relish the nectar. I was so happy for her to get Krishna in her old age. There are so many others who have yet to hear the Holy name and I'm thinking how incredibly fortunate I am to be able to give Prabhupadas books to those sleeping conditioned souls.
Gurudeva, three years ago I was a blasphemous, long haired lout with no real direction. I was wallowing in permutations of ignorance, playing diabolical music to a pack of animals. By some means, I am now proselytizing the transcendental message of Lord Caitanya and talking about God to little old ladies on the street. This is your inconceivable mercy! Who would have thought a drastic change of life to occur, my mother certainly didn't. I was to be another generic slave for economical development.
Gurudeva, you generously give the highest ecstasy to one whose fate was to surely glide down to the darkest regions of hell. How can I even begin to conceive my debt to you. Tyring to be your sincere servant, I am following in your mood of compassion by taking this transcendental anxiety in giving Krishna to others, hoping to relieve you of some of your anxiety. A saintly soul as yourself is always anxious to relieve the suffering of others, due to your deep conviction and immersion in the pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahaprbhu.
Gurudeva, I have no compassion, only a mad mind and a stone heart that plagues my existence. May I always grab hold of your lotus feet, depending always on your mercy, allowing even the dumb to be eloquent in speech and the lame to cross mountains.
Gurudeva, the forces of Maya are bitterly strong. Let the demons spit on me, curse me and even kick me. Witnessing your spiritual strength and magnanimous presence, gives me the courage to march on against the obstacles in devotional service.
Gurudeva, you will always be a living source of my inspiration, a reservoir of spiritual fortitude, a testimony of real sympathy and a loving father who is always there for this most unworthy child. I aspire to be your servant and always remain attached to your lotus feet, longing for the day I can be free from all the devious desires that is encrusted in the depths of my heart. Until then how can I be a real servant being infatuated and motivated by a demon like fervor.
Gurudeva, I wish I could be of any real use to you. You are leading by exemplary acts Gurudeva. All I have is the faith and determination that one day by following in your footsteps, I may gain a fraction of your devotion. Prabhupada says in the fourth canto that, determination is fulfilled according to the strength of ones devotion.
I am not qualified for devotion. So I beg for your mercy.
Gurudeva, may I always be able to please you by distributing the fruits of love of God in the form of Srila Prabhupadas books. As long as this body stands, this is my ode to you, this is my hope.
Trying to be a servant
Hriman Krsna
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Bhaktin Hyesoo
Dear Guru Maharaja
Please accept my humble obeisances unto you.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I am wishing that all university essays I have struggled with would somehow or other help me to glorify your transcendental qualities and activities, at least with English. Your glorious characters and activities are unfathomable to understand or describe, yet your preaching mood is one I would like to attempt to glorify.
You preaching mood reflects your unbreakable dedication to Srila Prabhupada’s mission and compassion on all living beings. Out of compassion, you go through the austerities of traveling around the world. Out of compassion, you forgive offences, mistakes that all conditioned souls make.
Out of compassion, you preach, preach and preach. Your selfless preaching mood is perfectly in the line with Prahlada Maharaja’s ;
" My dear Lord, I have no problems and want no benediction from You because I am quite satisfied to chant Your holy name. This is sufficient for me because whenever I chant I immediately merge in an ocean of transcendental bliss. I only lament to see others bereft of Your love……I am simply lamenting for them and devising various plans to deliver them from the clutches of maya"( Srimad Bhagavatam 7.9.43)
Indeed, you have devised a perfect plan, out of many, delivering us from samsara to bhakti yoga. You have given a perfect style of preaching centers, such as Gaura Yoga in Wellington. One step into those preaching centers, NOBODY can help but like at least one of the following- friendly devotees, enthusiastic music (kirtana), amazing feasts, various programmes (yoga, meditation classes, etc) and Prabhupada's transcendental books on display.
Such an exemplary mood inspires one to shake off material desires and simply to develop a desire for spreading Krsna consciousness. Therefore, I am very indebted to you. Your mercy, love and compassion saved me from the fire of material existence. Moreover, you are kindly bestowing mercy upon me so that I can be an instrument in your mission. I helplessly rely on your mercy to train me to be your humble instrument.
Your ever inspiring servant,
Hyesoo
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Indrakarma das and family
Dear Devamrita Maharaja,
On this auspicious day I offer my humble obeisances unto your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupad and all glories to Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
In this quarrelling Kali-yuga age everyone is suffering in so many ways. People are always in trouble. "Duhkalayam Asashvatam"- this place is abode of miseiries and it is also Asasvatam- temporary. Simptom of this age is given in Srimad Bhagavatam: "Tatas canudrinam dharmam satyam saucam ksama daya kalena ba lina rajan nanksyaty ayur balam smritih"- In this age each day religion, truthfulness, cleanliness, forgiveness, mercy, duration of life, bodily strenth and memory will all decrease more and more by mighty force of time.
We are facing these things in our daily life. World rapidly goes to hell. Only pure devotees of Krishna can safe humanity through their strong preaching and personal example. You are the son of Srila Prabhupada, who is preaching in different parts of the world and here in New Zealand. As a fruit of your powerfull mission you are saving so many young lost lives.
Like a mercifull father you are leading your desciples back home to spiritual world.Vyasa Puja is coming down from the disciplic succession. We observe vyasa-puja only for pure devotees, paramahamsas. Paramahamsa means "the perfect swan". If we give a swan milk mixed with water, the swan will take the milk and leave aside the water. Similarly such a person who gives up the material part of this world and takes only the spiritual part is called Paramahamsa. So a Paramahamsa like you saves us from this kingdom of darkness and you are giving the priceless gift to the fallen souls.
Thank you for giving me instractions and inspiration, just by looking at me you give me a great support. I can only pray to Krishna that I will be able to be next to your desciples to get your mercy.
Your servant,
Indrakarma das and family
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Jai Sri Radhe dd
Todas las Glorias a Sri Guru y Gauranga
Todas las Glorias a Srila Prabhupada
Querido Gurumaharaja:
Por favor acepte mis más humildes y respetuosas reverencias
Muchas gracias por toda su misericordia, por estar siempre recordandonos a Srila Prabhupada y a Krsna, Usted es un manantial de cualidades vaisnavas, lugar donde Usted va, Gurudeva, lo convierte en un lugar sagrado de peregrinaje.
Su forma de tratar a los devotos es tan amorosa y humilde que su sola presencia alegra el corazon de los vaisnavas. Cuando comienza a predicar y dice las cosas de una forma tan veraz y elocuente, una se da cuenta que la unica buena desicion que una ha tomada en la vida, es tratar de convertirse en una devota siguiendo la sombra de sus pies de loto.
Gurudev Usted esta siempre tan preocupados por todos, que me hace ver y puedo entender como son las verdaderas relaciones vaisnavas sin envidia y de falso prestigio.
Cuando le canta al Señor hace que todo el Templo empiece a vibrar y uno no puede dejar de bailar y cantarle al Señor, Gurumaharaja Usted nos muestra parte de lo que es la bienaveturanza trascendental.
Muchas gracias por toda su misericordia, por su preocupacion y por ser un padre tan cariñoso y preocupado. Me siento endeudada eternamente con Usted, y ruego a Usted y al Señor que alguna vez pueda serle útil en su mision de servir a Srila Prabhupada.
Gracias por considerarme una hija y darme tan buenas instrucciones en mi vida para poder salir adelante. Y le pido perdon por ser tan floja y tonta de no aprovechar la gran misericordia de tener no solo un guia, si no un padre como Usted.
Luchando para ser una sirvienta útil
Jai Sri Radhe dd
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Khela-tirtha dasa
Dear Guru Maharaja
Please accept my most humble obeisances in the dust of your lotus feet on this most auspicious day of your appearance.
As you increase the numbers of devotees in Srila Prabhupada ISKCON we see that the dire need for spiritual emancipation in this worlds degraded situation, as predicted in Srimad Bhagavatam, will polarize as the age advances.
Your preaching is showing up the simultaneous darkness of unrestricted sense gratification of those who defy dharma and the pious efforts of those who choose to, try as they might, follow the ways of God.
Distinct polarization is more prevalent and you are providing facility for those who want and need to “follow the ways of God”
Year after year these humble attempts of offerings to you to glorify your all important work in continuing to bring to light the message of the Bhagavat, are, as always, bereft of proper and appropriate words that sufficiently glorify you.
This conditioned soul does pray that its actions will be of some remuneration to you, not just on this auspicious day, but every day of the year ??.year after year.
I do also see that the needful has to be done. I don’t have time to either rest on my laurels or emotionally beat myself up in a false way.
Practical reality is that I have a lot of work to do to assist you in your mission to not only serve Srila Prabhupada ISKCON but to save the conditioned souls from intense suffering.
Another reality is that I can’t actually fully repay you for your boundless mercy that shines like a million suns.
On the one hand that is daunting and on the other hand it is an unlimited opportunity for service to your lotus feet to try and show you gratitude.
How does one properly thank you Gourde?
Is this life that I would have wasted had you not intervened,Gurudev,enough Is an array of conditioned souls, strung as a garland to place around your feet so that they can come home also, what you would consider remuneration?
If so I am all yours and whoever you choose to preach to, through me, via book distribution and loft environments, they are yours to cultivate and take back to Krsna.
Gurudev you make it possible, by your purity and sacrifice, to see that Krsna IS actually real. The process for achieving love of Krsna tangible and the fruits readily tasted.
Hoping and praying that I may one day be a usable instrument for your capable hands And remain your insignificant servant Khela-tirtha dasa
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Khadiravan devi dasi
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to your beloved master Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to you on this most auspicious day of your appearance.
Again comes the time to attempt to offer some praise in honour of your auspicious qualities and activities. You always teach us to see you in relation to our glorious Founder/Acarya Srila Prabhupada. Never to take your position as separate and concoct a personality cult. I pray that I may attempt to offer glorification of your exalted self in light of your connection to the parampara through Srila Prabhupada.
“The bona fide spiritual master is he who has received the mercy of his guru, who in turn is bona fide because he has received the mercy of his guru. This is called the parampar? system.”
- ?r?mad-Bh?gavatam 8.16.24 purport excerpt
You display the qualities of an ideal disciple of your spiritual master, which inspires us to follow in your footsteps. You show us the great, grave respect and reverence one should have for the spiritual master. Your intense faith in his instructions, his books, his teachings, set the standard to aspire for. Your life is fully surrendered in His Divine Grace’s service – what else is your business but striving with full hearted determination and conviction, free from desire for prestige, to please Srila Prabhupada?
Your unshakeable, immovable dependence on and love for Srila Prabhupada’s books teaches us that they are our guidebooks, our shelter and we are moved to attempt to study them with the same intensity with which you have done and continue to do. What to speak of giving us a solid foundation and framework for our spiritual life, sustenance and nutrition for the heart lifelong, you show how Srila Prabhupada’s books are always meant for distribution to the masses as you champion this paramount desire of His Divine Grace’s heart with unbreakable faith and love.
Your deep compassion for all living entities, following perfectly in the footsteps of your Guru Maharaja, is so beautifully manifest in your vigorous preaching. You are always reaching out, and you beg us all to follow suit and continue Srila Prabhupada’s legacy of love. You teach us to really look into people’s lives and see how they are suffering so badly in material life. I aspire to really have that vision some day and feel some measure of your great feeling for their pain, inspiring us to go great lengths to try and relieve it, as you do. Meanwhile never sniff at dutiful attempts, you encourage.
Your introduction of contemporary urban preaching centres/styles are again strictly following the footsteps of the Founder/Acarya. You were relaying to us once that Mukunda Maharaja was telling you that you were doing nothing new – it is just like Srila Prabhupada used to do in the early days in New York in his loft – circulating with the guests, making them feel at ease, offering them Prasad, some talking on the Vedic knowledge in a relaxed forum.
I wanted to offer some small appreciation for your Searching for Vedic India – such an amazing work of contemporary preaching, written, you are quick to tell us, to direct people to Srila Prabhupada’s books. I witnessed the effect on my father (his intelligence destroyed by hearing so many speculative theories over his life) when he read it – certainly for the short time he gave his attention to it he was uplifted to an almost devotional state – he shone with uncommon inspiration and clarity due to your empowered preaching and association, and he periodically burst forth in praise that you were writing “just like all the ‘real’ academics write – referencing so many other works of contemporary study etc!" I’m reading it properly for the first time and it is very inspirational because it really communicates to people on their terms - within their conditioning and world view. As your pranams declare - pracare purva daksam ca – you are inarguably endowed by your Guru Maharaja and Krsna with unique skill in preaching.
You are expert at accessing the heart of people – talking to them in a way they can understand, in their language, taking the time to understand the life they are coming from at this stage in Kali yuga’s destructive march. You make Krsna consciousness so accessible for them (and us). I beg to learn this art of connecting with people effectively to help them approach Krsna.
Your charitable, liberal, broad hearted love begins at home – visible in your painstaking personal care of disciples and devotees in general. Only a heart sadly troubled could deny your offer of care for anyone who is willing.
Your glorification of Krsna that we are fortunate to witness is emotionally charged and heartfelt, teaching us how to give our heart to Guru and Krsna. Otherwise, as you work so hard to expose, we are all giving our heart and emotions to something, someone – so put those same feelings into glorifying Krsna and all success and fulfillment will be ours. The photograph of Srila Prabhupada singing bhajans in the front of the Vaisnava songbook comes to mind. His face is strained with emotional intensity in devotion for Krsna. Again you are teaching us the same that you have learnt from Srila Prabhupada.
Lastly, I beg to realise the DESPERATE NEED to attain your mercy through attempting to please you according to your desire.
nai??? matis t?vad urukram??ghri?
sp??aty anarth?pagamo yad-artha?
mah?yas?? p?da-rajo-’bhi?eka?
ni?kiñcan?n?? na v???ta y?vat
Unless they smear upon their bodies the dust of the lotus feet of a Vai??ava completely freed from material contamination, persons very much inclined toward materialistic life cannot be attached to the lotus feet of the Lord, who is glorified for His uncommon activities. Only by becoming K???a conscious and taking shelter at the lotus feet of the Lord in this way can one be freed from material contamination. ?r?mad-Bh?gavatam 7.5.32
Trying to become a useful servitor,
Khadiravan devi dasi
- -- --- ---- ----- ----- ---- --- -- -
Kishor Murti dasa
namo om visnu padaya krsna prestaya bhutale srimate devamrta swamin iti namine
Dear Gurumaharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
On the anniversary of your appearance I would like to offer some words of thanks, appreciation, submission and dedication to you.
Mercifully, you have taken ultimate responsibility for my spiritual advancement in Bhakti yoga.
I, a fallen conditioned soul, overflowing with nescience, am not a worthy disciple and each time I am asked my Gurudeva's name by others, that realisation of my fallen position, enters my mind very quickly as I softly say, "His Holiness Srila Devamrta Swami".
I am very grateful for the efforts of my Godbrothers like Ekendra Prabhu and Candidas Prabhu, who's computer skills provide all of us with the facility of hearing your all-important siksa in the shape of classes, seminars and lectures because the more I hear form you, the more my heart feels illumined, connected and enthused to make progress in bhakti.
Each time you say the word Bhakti, it effects my mind in the way I onced heard a devotee describe the way he was effected when the Glorious Jayananda Prabhu would say the word prasadam... like something intensely and blissfully relishable must be experienced at once.
The way you describe how the service a Vaisnava performs is like that of an expert physician, and the deep commitment to, and realisation of this principal you eminate and demonstrate by your preaching and your character, has a tremendous effect on my belief in the process of bhakti. Simply I am becoming more and more convinced.
Your words are also instructive in recognising the Glories of the Vaisnava's who we associate with on a daily buisness, you are teaching me how to understand and appreciate them too.
Your presentations about lifestyle management and desire engineering betray a simple fact about you also - you are speaking from the realised platform of one who is as you say,"at the top of his/her game in bhakti" and "keeping in tip top shape to serve the Lord better". Vaisnavism, Real and Apparent.
Gurudeva, I aspire to gain entrance, at your emphatic encouragement, to the real nature of devotional service. Maybe one day I can serve Srila Prabhupada's Iskcon with a similar missionary spirit that you embody. And maybe then I will relish a drop of nectar from the Caitanya Caritamrta which, you assisted Srila Prabhupada in giving to the world, from the editing department of the BBT, and with which you now criss-cross the globe inummerable times annually, championing the Logic of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, serving the Divine Order of the Lord. amara ajnana guru hana tara ei desa.
na ca tasman manusyesu
kascin me priya-krttamah
bhavita na ca me tasmad
anyah priyataro bhuvi
Such a dear servant of the Lord,
Such a dear servant of Srila Prabhupada.
Your Grateful servant,
Kishor Murti dasa
- -- --- ---- ----- ----- ---- --- -- -
Krishnagraja das
nama om visnupadaya krsna prasthaya butale
srimate devamrta swami iti namine
pracare purva dakshyam ca bhatachara pravinata
pararthathapi karunyam yasya sarve ca te namo namah
My dear Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances unto you.
All glories to Srila Prabhupad and all glories to your Divine Appearance Day
The duty of the disciples, is to appreciate and thank you every day for teaching and directing us in Krsna consciousness, and especially on this most auspicious Divine Appearance of yours.
From time immemorial the conditioned souls are wandering around all these universes in different bodies, suffering the repeated birth and death (Samsara). By Krsna’s special mercy we get an opportunity to come in contact and associate with a bona fide spiritual master. The love of the devotees such as Narada Muni and Srila Prabhupad is that they left their comfort zone (Spritual world, Radha Damodar temple), so that they can help others to get a happier life style (Krsna Consciuousness). This is also your mood.
Your compassion is very deep and has no boundries. As conditioned soul we are confused in life and do not know our real aim. We become like krpanas (miserly persons). Again and again we continue to misuse the human form of life. Although Arjuna is a liberated soul, he shows us the importance of having a spiritual master. He also showed us the process of surrendering to Krsna. In this world 99.9% of the people are perplexed, but out of your kindness, following in the footsteps of great Mahajans like Srila Prabhupada and Narada Muni, you travel around the world giving Krishna Consciousness to others.
Lord Krishna makes so many qualifications for one to hear the Bhagavad Gita. One must be austere, engaged in Devotional Service, non envious and etc. But your mercy is so great that you took the risk for spreading Krishna Consciousness during the 80’s in Communist world, although they weren’t qualified and it was dangerous to do so.
The Communist were against Krishna but never the less you wanted to fulfill the desires of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu that is to preach Krishna Consciousness in every town and village.
Mahajans like your good self are ready to go to hell just to deliver people from their hellish conditionings.
Krishna taught Bhagavad Gita to devotees like Arjuna. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught Bhagavad Gita only in India. Your mercy is much greater because following in the footsteps of Narada Muni and Srila Prabhupada you taught Bhagavad Gita to those who have no connection with Krishna what so ever.
As stated in Bhagavad Gita: One who teaches Bhagavad Gita to others is very dear to Krishna.
Maintaining practitioners in Krishna Consciousness requires a great deal of love, affection and compassion. Kali Yuga makes it much more difficult for practitioners in Krishna Consciousness to maintain their loyalty to the process.
The practitioners are nourished and enthusiastic, when Mahajans like yourself comes and gives their loving association.
I remember when I lost the momentum after graduating from Mayapur Gurukula. I slackened my Gurukul training, but it was the loving and affectionate care of yours that I got a greater taste than ever before to continue Krishna Consciousness more sincerely.
This is your greatest compassion.
On this most auspicious day I would like to thank you again and again and offer my obeisances unto you again and again.
I desire to always remain Krishna Consciousness, taking shelter of your instruction and remembering your glories.
Striving to be your loyal servant,
Krishnagraja das
- -- --- ---- ----- ----- ---- --- -- -
Krsna Katha Dasa
nama om vishnu padaya Krishna prasthaya bhutale
srimate Devamrita swamin iti namine
pracare purva-daksyam ca
bhaktacara-pravinta
pararthatapi karunyam
yasya sarve ca te namah
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisences. It is stated in the Caitanya- caritamrita
"brahmanda brahmite kona bhagyavan jiva guru-krsna-prasade paya bhakti-latal-bija" [Caitanya- caritamrita, Madhya 19.151]
Guru Maharaja you have thus very mercifully created my good fortune by giving me the seed of devotional service. At my initiation you instructed that the bhakti-lata-bija consists of the instructions from the guru, it is the core of what we need for developing our life in the best way. You also mentioned that you were formally placing the resources of the holy name, sastra and association of vaishnavas in our hands.
"mali hana kare sei bija aropana sravan-kirtana-jale karaye secana" [Caitanya- caritamrita, Madhya 19 .152]
"When a person receives the seed of devotional service, he should take care of it by becoming a gardener and sowing the seed in his heart. If he waters the seed gradually by the process of sravana and kirtana [hearing and chanting], the seed will begin to sprout."
Therefore I would like to thank you for giving me the most valuable gift of the seed of devotional service and resources of the holy name, sastra and association of vaishnavas. I fall at your feet and pray for your mercy and strength so that I can sow this bhakti-lata-bija in my heart and constantly water it by the process of sravana and kirtana. In the purport of the verse Caitanya- caritamrita, Madhya 19.152 , prabhupada explains that one who has not properly heard from the spiritual master or who does not follow the regulative principles is not fit for chanting (kirtana). Thus I pray that I humbly, sincerely, faithfully and eagerly receive your instructions and strictly follow the vows taken on initiation, only then I will be able to chant the holy names properly and share it with others.
Your Servant
Krsna Katha Dasa
- -- --- ---- ----- ----- ---- --- -- -
Krsnaloka devi dasi
nama om visnu-padaya
krsna presthaya bhutale
srimate devamrta
swamin iti namine
pracare purva daksyam ca
bhaktacara pravinitah
paratatapi karunyam
yasya sarve ca te namah
nama om visnu-padaya
krsna presthaya bhutale
srimate bhaktivedanta
swamin iti namine
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
I am always deeply moved how you go that extra mile for others. I have seen it time and time again how you pick people out of the ocean of material existence. How you guide and care for so many devotees, for the pleasure of your guru maharaja. Your actions show how selfless you are.
I remember once around 1994 with your first Loft in Ponsonby. We would go tramping most weekends with guests. You would quite often come. One Sunday you didn’t come for some reason but we were running quite late and left the kitchen looking like a bomb site. When we returned, the kitchen was spotless. When I asked who cleaned it up, you replied that you did. I looked surprised and you said “I like to do service too you know”. I was quite new and didn’t know much but I was very impressed.
Srila Prabhupada would do that. At matchless gifts after all the guests left he would clean up after them.
I love how you are so dedicated to Srila Prabhupada’s books. You love to read them and you love to distribute them and you love your disciples to distribute them. Recently one comment you made after asking if we were doing a book marathon heading up to your vyasa puja - “When I feel the offering of such devotional efforts, then I become enlivened and can think that maybe I am pleasing Prabhupada. Let me be happy in this way.” Your happiness is pleasing your spiritual master. So selfless, so humble.
I don’t at all understand the depths of your relationship with your Guru Maharaja but I have noticed how you end many of your offerings with “Aspiring/attempting/trying/praying/struggling/still struggling – to be an unconditional servant”. What does it actually mean to become an “unconditional servant”??
If I could serve you with just a fraction of the love and intensity that you serve Srila Prabhupada…..
You have been very merciful to engage me in your service. Your instructions are my shelter. They give me something to aspire for, a goal - something to live for. You told me “the heart of bhakti is sacrifice. If you act in that way the spiritual master can be present with you”. That is our connection.
But what stops me from sacrificing more? I don’t really know.
I do know that I can never repay you for your instructions and your shelter without which I am completely lost.
your servant,
Krsnaloka devi dasi
- -- --- ---- ----- ----- ---- --- -- -
Krsna Murari devi dasi
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Seeing the conditioned souls suffering the onslaughts of the three modes of material nature, Guru Maharaja you compassionately take pity on us and show us the right path. You tirelessly travel around the world preaching the message of Bhagavad-Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam, saving souls, such as myself, whose lives would otherwise have been hopeless failures.
I find that I am lost for words to describe your glories, of which I realize just a minute fraction. You reached out to us and melted our hearts, and now you encourage us to do the same for others. You teach us what devotional service to Krsna is about, you encourage us to put our hearts and minds into our service, wether apparently a small service or not. You teach us the value of devotional service, for which we are forever indebted
Thank you for being such a caring spiritual father, for placing us under the care of spiritually strong senior devotees, and for equipping us with the weapons to fight against Maya’s agents; the holy name, Prabhupada’s books and devotee association.
The disciple owes a debt to the spiritual master for saving him, I pray that I may make some sincere attempt for repaying this debt, even though this debt is impossible to repay. I pray that I may follow your instructions faithfully and that I may one day become qualified to be used purely as your instrument in Lord Caitanya’s sankirtan mission.
Please forgive me for my offences.
Aspiring to be your faithful servant,
Krsna Murari devi dasi
- -- --- ---- ----- ----- ---- --- -- -
Mahalaxmi dasi
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances on the auspicious day of your appearance.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Thank you for continuing in your endeavor to help me, though i continue to be unqualified and undeserving.
This is just one sign of your great mercy.
your servant,
Mahalaxmi dasi
- -- --- ---- ----- ----- ---- --- -- -
Mahavan das
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and your merciful lotus feet.
In Krsna book chapter 22, Srila Prabhupada writes:
"Later K???a, in the company of His cowherd boyfriends, took shelter of the shade of some trees and became very happy. Thus He addressed the inhabitants of V?ndâvana: 'My dear Stoka K???a, My dear Var?thapa, My dear Bhadrasena, My dear Sudâmâ, My dear Subala, My dear Arjuna, My dear Viúâla, My dear ??abha—just look at these most fortunate trees of V?ndâvana. They have dedicated their lives to the welfare of others.
Individually they are tolerating all kinds of natural disturbances, such as hurricanes, torrents of rain, scorching heat and piercing cold, but they are very careful to relieve our fatigue and give us shelter. My dear friends, I think they are glorified in this birth as trees. They are so careful to give shelter to others that they are like noble, highly elevated charitable men who never deny charity to one who approaches them. No one is denied shelter by these trees. They supply various kinds of facilities to human society, such as leaves, flowers, fruit, shade, roots, bark, flavor extracts and fuel. They are the perfect example of noble life. They are like a noble person who has sacrificed everything possible—his body, mind, activities, intelligence and words—for the welfare of all living entities.'”
Thank you Gurudeva for being the best example of truly noble life, and thank you for tolerating me for another year.
“Thus the Supreme Personality of Godhead walked on the bank of the Yamunâ, touching the leaves of the trees and their fruits, flowers and twigs, and praising their glorious welfare activities. Different people may accept certain welfare activities to be beneficial for human society, according to their own views, but the welfare activity that can be rendered to people in general, for eternal benefit, is the spreading of the K???a consciousness movement. Everyone should be prepared to propagate this movement. As instructed by Lord Caitanya, one should be humbler than the grass on the ground and more tolerant than the tree. The toleration of the tree is explained by Lord K???a Himself, and those who are engaged in the preaching of K???a consciousness should learn lessons from the teachings of Lord K???a and Lord Caitanya through Their direct disciplic succession.”
Thank you again for the most blessed opportunity to follow in your footsteps – please give me the humility, forbearance and maturity to truly represent you (again make you present) in all my thoughts, words and deeds.
(Trying to be) your faithful dog,
Mahavan das.
- -- --- ---- ----- ----- ---- --- -- -
Mangal Vaisnava dasa
Dear Gurudev,
I offer my sincere obeisances to your lotus feet, even though I'm not worthy of a single glance, and due to your mercy & compassion this lost & fearful soul is ever indebted to you for releaving him of so much suffering, but he doesn't use his intelligence & because of his selfish nature he goes on suffering & not realizing that all he has to do is grasp hold of your lotus feet ever so tighly & then Maharaj the joy of serving you, all will be revealed.
I'm also indebted to you for your class you gave on chanting/dancing and feasting, a saving grace for this very conditioned soul. Oh Gurudev, to be able to relish the joy of chanting the holy name is only due to your mercy & to dance & sing for Krsna fills my whole being with so much nectar, your glances in kirtana are so dear to me ,for these tastes alone I bow down to you for revealing them to me in such a sweet & caring way,
All glories to you dear dear Gurudev on your Vyasa Puja day,
your eternal servant,
Mangal Vaisnava dasa
- -- --- ---- ----- ----- ---- --- -- -
Mantramala devi dasi
Dear Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances every day and especially on your Vyasa-Puja, October 9 this year.
Vyasa-Puja is so nice because the disciple can express her gratitude freely and loudly toward her Spiritual Master. What else can I do for you, really?
Even when I am doing some service, I am serving my senses. I want to feel good about myself.
So let me tell the whole world that I am grateful to you because a/ you are Krishna's servant and your only objective is to serve Krishna. As such, by your personal example you are showing to me that it is not the highest objective in life to be a good man or an honest man. To aim for those is "a personal attachment, but to act on behalf of the Supreme is to act without attachment for the result. That is perfect action of the highest degree, recommended by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna."
(Srila Prabhupada's purport on BG 3.19.) This is very difficult for me to understand what to speak of applying.
b/ you have a very important Krishna conscious programme, the Loft programme, which make a lot of sense and it allows all sorts of contributions from a wide range of people, including me. This contribution depends on one's level of surrender that can increase or decrease at any given point in time. There's more flexibility -- lofts can be relatively easily opened or closed, relocated, transformed, etc. That's what you explained to me once.
c/ you stress personal transformation along with the mass distribution of Krishna consciousness. As such your disciples have developed brahminical qualities such as patience, friendliness, etc. and they show me how I can have them, as well.
d/ you give wonderful classes: your classes are our sense gratification. You mastered the art of keeping people's attention (which is not easy because people have short attention span and ISKCON classes are relatively long), while remaining genuine. You always prepare for your class so we just know that it will be a good and well-rounded class. Your presentation is entertaining as well as full of deep meaning.
e/ you try to take a good rest the night prior to class, as much as possible. So you look fresh and energetic. I find it hard to listen to a lecturer when he is seemingly dead tired. That gives me guilty feeling and diverts my attention from the speech. I'd rather want the person to have a rest than to be "on stage".
f/ you always feel the need to stress that we should give our japa top priority.
g/ you follow Srila Prabhupada so nicely. I can hear that in your classes and see that in your actions. I especially like your non-compromising attitude - your spiritual father and grandfather's line.
h/ you give out trust advanced so that we can grow up to it.
i/ you see the positive side in us and fan that. Also, you build a personal relationship with everyone. (I don't know how you can remember so many names and lives.)
j/ you are our true well-wisher who only wants us to be Krishna conscious.
Only our conditioning holds us back.
k/ you're not afraid of going against the flow, if that is how Krishna can be the best served. You completely lack any herd-mentality.
There are many, many more things I am grateful to you. But it is 9.30pm. I'd better take rest asap so that I can chant my rounds attentively, in the morning, in your disciples' association, at the Auckland Loft. How fortunate I am!
Your aspiring servant,
Mantramala dd
- -- --- ---- ----- ----- ---- --- -- -
Bhaktin Marianne
Dear Devamrita Maharaja,
Please accept my most humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila prabhupada.
All glories to your divine lotus feet.
I have been extremely fortunate to have had the shelter of your lotus feet, for just over 2 years now.
And I'm starting to get a glimpse of the immense ocean of mercy that you distribute.
Material life seems so overwhelming at times, and it makes me realise the true value of the transcendental guru-disciple relationship, with each passing day.
I very much value the time and expert guidance you give to each one of your disciples.
Despite all the anarthas and shortcomings that I have, I intensely pray to have my heart purified by the words emanating from your lotusmouth.
I remember one darshan with your Holiness Devamrita Maharaja, soon afterwards I felt as if my heart was overflowing with some kind of love I'd never experienced before.
Tears were flowing from my eyes, and I experienced a few moments of ecstatic love.
My wish is to always serve you with great reverance and affection.
May the torchlight of knowledge open my eyes and fill my heart with transcendental knowledge.
I bow down to your lotus feet.
Your insignificant aspiring servant.
Bhaktin Marianne
- -- --- ---- ----- ----- ---- --- -- -
Bhakta Matt W.
Dear Devamrita Swami,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I would like to thank you for allowing me to benefit from your association.
I really appreciate you taking the time to give me guidance, by following your instructions I can already see the impact it has made on my spiritual life.
Thank you so much for your causeless mercy,
your aspiring servant, Bhakta Matt from Wellington
- -- --- ---- ----- ----- ---- --- -- -
Bhakta Matt
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
On this Special day I am trying to write even just a few words to glorify someone so worthy of it. Being as selfish and proud as I am this is quite difficult. Please forgive me for any offenses I have committed in the past and am bound to commit in the future.
Since we first met you two and half years ago I have learned so much. And as everyday goes by I realise how little I know and try to imagine how much more there is to know.
You are walking proof that this process most definitely works. Your selflessness and compassion is such an attractive quality, who could not admire this about you?
I often think how many people must be so fortunate to be exposed to Krsna Consciousness through your travels around the globe. I wish I could do just a fraction of what you do. How fortunate I am to have such a spiritual master as yourself. How is someone like me worthy of this?
Thank you for encouraging me to use my bass as a tool in Krsna’s service. I never thought there could be such a taste this good in playing an instrument. It makes it so easy using what you already have for Krsna.
Thank you for teaching me the intricacies of married life, it has helped so much and I’m sure there is a lot more to come.
Thank you for being such an inspiration and giving me this wonderful opportunity to try to serve you.
Your trying servant,
Matt
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Muni-cari dasa
nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale
srimate devamrita-swamin iti namine
pracare purva-daksyam ca
bhaktacara-pravinata
pararthatapi karunyam
yasya sarve ca te namah
“Obeisances to you who have all the qualities of unique skill in preaching, competence in Vaiñëava dealings, selflessness, and compassion.”
Dear Guru Maharaja
Please accept my most humble attempt at humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada,
And all glories to you on this your Vyasa puja!
Another year has passed and once again we, the expanding family of your disciples, have gathered here again to express our heart felt gratitude and appreciation for all you have done, and continue to do, for us.
It appears, from your own descriptions, that you were not an ordinary child. Like the time you went with your family to the road that surrounded the international airport. The activity was simple. You were standing, with other families, in the flight path of the big Jumbo jets as they came into land. They flew just over head. What an exhilarating experience, but no, you said what is the point and went and sat back in the car.
You have also explained how when you were younger you used to question why people married, what was the motivation behind their activities. Things that other people just blindly did, you questioned. It appears that right from day one Krsna was shaping you to be used directly in his service.
Every day when we do diety worship we recite a verse as part of bhuta-suddhi, purifying bodily elements, it is as follows:
“I am by nature the eternal servant of Krsna. But because of my bad fortune, I have been inimical toward Him from time immemorial, and thus I have identified myself with my body and continuously wandered in the cycle of birth and death in the material world, suffering the burning threefold miseries. Now, as a result of some unimaginable good fortune, my spiritual master’s mercy has enabled me to know that I am Krsna’s eternal servant, an infinitesimal spiritual being completely apart from the gross and subtle body. And so by the order of my spiritual master I have obtained the good fortune of serving his lotus feet and, following in his footsteps, the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Sri Radha-Vallabha” – Pancaratra pradipa.
As I recite this verse I am reminded that the things I take for granted, that is my very opportunity to perform devotional service in the association of devotees, is given to me by you. By myself my only achievement would be the burning three fold miseries and the cycle of death.
This year, more than ever, I am trying to comprehend just how much you do in the service of your spiritual master Srila Prabhupada. You have taken on extra GBC responsibility, namely chairman, but still you continue to travel the globe, meeting so many conditioned souls and inspiring all you meet in the path of Bhakti yoga. You give Krsna to so many people and tirelessly have time for everyone. In the past you have preached behind the iron curtain, risking your life for the service of your spiritual master. All of this seems to make my puny efforts at serving out lunch prasada to a few people at crossways completely insignificant. I am sorry Guru Maharaja, in my mind I want to do so much for you but unfortunately this is all I have to offer at present, such that it is.
Recently I got to watch a mother wrestling with her infant child at crossways. The mother knew what was best for the child, it was time for him to eat his lunch (a yummy lunch from the Hare Krsna’s she told him). But the little boy wanted nothing to do with it. He refused to open his mouth, no matter what she tried. He threw the food at her, on the floor or where every else he could stuff it. Then he suddenly got up and tried to race away. As I watched this ghastly scene, I realized 2 things. Firstly I really don’t like children, and that’s a fact. But the second thing I observed was how this mother had so much love and tolerance for her child. In the same way you show so much love and tolerance for me. Even though I may refuse to do what is best, or even get up and try to run off my own way, still you don’t push me away. Some how you still give me the chance to perform devotional service. Thank you Guru Maharaja, thank you so much!!!!
I guess a summary, for my so called offering, would be to once again thank you for the chance to perform bhakti yoga with my God family. I did not stuff up anywhere near as badly this year as I did last year, I guess there is always a positive side to everything.
Oh, and one more thing, please get ready for the roaring kirtana we are about to offer you. You will probably hear it where ever you are!!!!
Sankirtana yajna ki – Jaya
Devamrita Maharaja ki – Jaya
You spiritual son (aspiring not to goof up)
Muni-cari dasa
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Nalakuvara dasa
Dear Guru-Maharaja,
Please accept my respectful obeisances at your lotus feet on this most auspicious day of your appearance.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
If in the vast and mighty ocean, a small, sea weathered turtle emerges and extends his leathery head upwards through a hole in a piece of floating driftwood, one may well ask, what are the chances of that?
The immense expanse of the maha-tattva is truly oceanic in its proportions. Beyond the scope of all instruments and beyond the hope of all astronaughts. Littered with life it is the ferris wheel of temporary destinations, full of illusory temptations.
If in the swelling current, of such a cosmic description, a moded out spirit spark stagger’s into the net of mercy cast by a genuine spiritual master, one may well ask, what are the chances of that?
Gurudeva, you release your net with love and precision, offering the lost and tormented souls terrorized by Kali’s beasts a chance for redemption and emersion into a loving comradeship.
In your beloved Caitanya Caritamrta there is splendid narrative outlining the qualities of a genuine spiritual master. Whilst I was bumbling my way through this exalted literature, like an infant flipping through a book of Michelangelo, I came across such an explanation.
Bhatta kahe, - tanra krpa-lesa haya yanre Sei se tanhare krsna kari la-ite pare
The Bhattacarya replied, “A person who has received but a small fraction of mercy from Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu can understand that He is Lord Krsna. No one else can.
PURPORT: The sankirtan movement can be spread by a person who is especially favoured by Lord Krsna (krsna-sakti vina nahe tara pravartana).
Without first obtaining the mercy of the Lord, one cannot spread the holy name of the Lord. One who can spread the Lord’s holy name is called labdha- caitanya in the words of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati. The labdha-caitanya is one who has actually awakened his original consciousness, Krsna consciousness. The influence of the pure devotees in Krsna consciousness is such that it can awaken others to become immediately Krsna conscious and engage themselves in the transcendental loving service of Krsna. In this way the descendants of pure devotees increase, and Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu takes much pleasure in seeing the increase in His devotees. The word su-medhasah means “sharply intelligent”. When one’s intelligence is sharp, he can increase the interests of common men in loving Caitanya Mahaprabhu and through Him loving Radha-Krsna?..
Madhya-lila Ch 11 Verse 102
‘The labdha-caitanya is he who has awakened his own Krsna consciousness and can immediately awaken others to theirs’.
By mercifully pouring the flood lights of transcendental knowledge into innumerable covered snake pit hearts you cause the serpents of ignorance to slither away providing their hosts the opportunity to take up Krsna consciousness and serve in the ISKCON branch of the Caitanya tree.
Whether we were scientists, ravers, hippies, utopian students, wave- chasers or an underworld shadies, before we met you, where were we all heading, on that best intentioned, or not, royal path?
‘The word su-medhasah means “sharply intelligent”. When one’s intelligence is sharp, he can increase the interests of common men in loving Caitanya Mahaprabhu and through Him Radha-Krsna?.’
In the wild wild west, now, in the so-called post modernity, the worst of the drunkard ‘low-riders’ and their sportive pursuits, live day by day, night by night, for the thrill of the moment with no care for what’s in sight. Yet, out of love for them, you have been engineering brilliant schemes, to pull them out of their hellish, saloon-like dreams.
Recently, I was listening to a class you gave at Gaura-yoga in Wellington.
At the end you were requesting all of the devotees to be innovative, to think about how to present Krsna consciousness in new, relevant ways. You said that is what you have been doing for years, going into book stores looking for popular themes and trends that can be favourably dovetailed in preaching Krsna consciousness for the upliftment of the illusioned masses.
Guru-Maharaja, because of your compassionate efforts and dedication to pleasing Srila Prabhupada, you have so many thoughtfully executed urban centres, full of happy, talented and focused devotees that you have made, nourished and cared for.
You also have wonderful Krsna conscious presentations for the timid, adverse wrecks of the wild frontier. Stress Management, Frustrated Love, Fire of Desire, Lifestyle Management are all “su-medhasah” deliveries of the timeless Vedic Wisdom.
I am very inspired by your progressive, spiritually ambitious strategies to spread Krsna consciousness throughout society to “increase the interests of common men in loving Caitanya Mahaprabhu and through Him loving Radha-Krsna?..”
Unfortunately all of my ambition is materialistic and self serving. To date I have caused a lot of disturbances and have not done a very good job of trying to pay the unpayable debt. Even though I have so many rough edges and have made so many offences I pray for you not to kick me away.
Guru-Maharaja, you rescued me from myself, from an all consuming darkness.
You gave me the wonderful gift of devotee association in the form of my saintly godbrothers. To clean me up, you engaged me in full time sankirtan. To straighten me out you gave thunderbolts. Thank-you.
In the dust of your lotus feet, I beg, that I can eternally be of some service to you in Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON branch of the Caitanya
tree.
Trying to be a servant of your servants, Nalakuvara dasa
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Nanda Sunu dasa
Dear Devamrita Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada, all glories to you!
On this auspicious occasion of your appearance day I would like to take the chance to thank you. Whether you are aware of it or not, you have had a profound impact on my life. At a time when I was in a very dangerous position spiritually somehow Krishna sent me your guidance. I had just started University and was 200 miles away from home and steady devotee association. I was scared to be entering this environment but, as my spiritual master had reconfirmed that I should, I went ahead.
A few weeks before going to University I found out that you had your devotees in Manchester, one hour away from my university town, Liverpool. Then you came to the UK and I met you at the Manor. You kindly offered to support me in my spiritual endeavors and I again met with you shortly after beginning my studies.
I was pleasantly surprised to discover a wonderful and dynamic preaching hub in Manchester. You had imbibed such an inspiring mood in your disciples who were distributing books and doing programs there. I got to see you in action, a seasoned preacher doing what you do best, reaching out to the conditioned souls - including myself.
During the year that your disciples were preaching in Manchester I got so much help and support from them, and from you. I listened to your tapes as much as possible and was enthused to hear your forward thinking preaching techniques and to see them in action. It is enlivening to see how some of the people you plucked from material life in Manchester during that year are now fully taking to Krishna consciousness and are in turn saving others from the clutches of material life.
Since the devotees left Manchester I have unfortunately not had much contact with you. I have been following your travels, listening to your classes from the internet, and in this way getting your association. I hope to have your physical association also again soon and to offer you some service in reciprocation for the gifts you have given me.
I am a disciple of HH Bhakti Tirtha Maharaj, and certainly I owe him my very life, but he has always taught us that we are part of a family, and this is wonderful. Srila Prabhupada has given us such a dynamic and powerful family that I am proud to be a part of.
I hope you can consider me your spiritual nephew and servant.
With love,
Nanda Sunu dasa (UK)
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Nitai Prema devi dasi
Dear Guru Maharaj,
Please accept our humble obeisances at your lotus feet. We can't ever repay the kindness showered on our family by you. We wish you continued success in spreading Krishna consciousness all over the world. Hare Krishna.
Nitai Prema devi dasi, Gaura Prema das, and Shaun Nimai
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Bhakta Patrick
Dearest Maharaj
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Thank you, Your Grace
For your grace.
Thank you for your help.
So that we can help ourselves.
Thank you for your clarity
So that we can see clearly.
Your aspiring servant
Bhakta Patrick
Cape Town
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Bhaktine Pia
To Devamrita Swami,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I want to show my great appreciation that you have given me this amazing and extremely rare opportunity to come to Krsna Consciousness and execute devotional service. I cannot even understand how amazing this diamond of Krsna Consciousness is. I am still too blinded by the darkness of ignorance to be able to see the full glow. But what I have experienced so far has been like the great relief and happiness one feels after being lost in the most dark, cold and foggy forest without a goal, and suddenly comes to a warm and bright house, full of love, happiness and friends.
You are so merciful to me and the conditioned souls, that I can never even slightly do anything great enough to pay back for what I have been given. I really wish I fully could understand and appreciate this, but that is not possible since it is such a huge and totally transcendental thing. I especially want to show my greatest thankfulness to this Gaura Yoga centre, set up and run under your transcendental glance. Without that I would certainly not be intelligent or brave enough to take up Krsna Consciousness.
Although seemingly full of material splendour, my life before was empty and see-through grey, because I did not know about Krsna. I walked around like a dry autumn-leaf, not knowing what to do, why I am here or how to get out of this material world, that binds me with its iron bars. Always agitated by the mind, and the constant flow of material desires, I was eaten by the flames of material existence. I can never enough express my thankfulness that I so undeservingly have been saved from this blazing fire only by your mercy. I cannot understand how fortunate I am, nor is there a reason why I was given this opportunity to meet you, as a pure devotee of Lord Krsna. I can only beg for your mercy to always let me stay in the service at your lotus feet.
Your aspiring servant /Pia
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Prema Sankirtan das
My dear Guru Maharaj
Only way to please Krishna is to glorify You all the time and acknowledge that any spiritual advancement I am making is simply Your mercy alone.
There is no other way, no other way, no other way. Just like You are serving Srila Prabhupada and the Guru Parampara unconditionally, please allow me to serve You somehow or other. Please be mercifull unto this foolish, unworthy disciple.
Prema Sankirtan das
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Radha sanga devi dasi
Dear Guru Maharaja
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All Glories to You Maharaja on this auspicious day of your Vysasa Puja.
Just like last year I still feel inadequate to glorify you.
I even feel inadequate to be your servant. Sometime during your visits in SA I get a glimpse of your extraordinary position in Srila Prabhupada’s mission, your expertise in connecting conditioned souls to Krishna. By your faith you have in me, I get the glimpse of how great your faith in Krsna is.
I had a dream that I was on a ship. It was very unpleasant so I decided to approach the captain; and that was you.
You were peacefully standing at the front and told me to go inside, not to worry, and that you will take care of everything.
Your presence is very soothing. I cannot handle the separation. The surface beneath becomes very slippery. I understand that my mind is putting a limit to something that is beyond the influence of time, space and thought- to a simple and powerful transcendental instruction. If I could just hook on that chain I would quickly attain perfection.
“O transcendentally blissful guru when my mind finally achieves a place at your lotus feet, all the tiresome labor of my spiritual practices will be finished and by your mercy I will experience the greatest happiness.”(SB10.87.33, purport) I think that the greatest gift thespiritual master gives to the disciple is the association of devotees that are shining lamps in this darkened place. As a materially exhausted spiritual aspirant I pray to you for the benediction that no matter what, I always remain closely at the lotus feet of the devotees, and you I pray for the strength and intelligence to become an unconditional servant. I have no doubt that this is the safest place.
“Gurudeva! By a drop of your mercy make this servant of yours more humble than a blade of grass. Give me strength to bear all trials and troubles, and free me from all desires for personal honor.”
Desiring to please you
Your spiritual daughter
Radha sanga devi dasi
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Radhey Shyama and Vishaka Pran devi dasi
Nama Om Visnu Padaya Krsna-Presthaya Bhu-Tale
Srimate Devamrita Swami iti namine
All glories to srila prabhupada.
All glories to srila gurudeva.
Happy birthday to His Divine Grace Sri Srimad Devamrita Swami.
My dear beloved spiritual father,
On this most auspicious day of your sri Vyasa Puja,we would like to offer our most humble and respectful obeisances unto the dust of your lotus feet again and again.
Srila gurumaharaja Once again I would like to thank you for accepting us fallen souls under the shade of your divine lotus feet.We realyfeel secured under your protection.Glorifying your divine grace will be just like showing a lamp to the sun.Though words cant say,may be I cant find any more good and bonafide words for your glorification.Srila gurumaharaja,you are our only shelter,our only hope.You did so much for us and still doing to uplift us in devotion.
After srila gurudevas departure everything appeared to be vacant.You brougth life again in our devotion. We never knew where to go.Whom to look upon.At such a moment you were the one who gave us a huge support and lifted up.We will always be indebted to you.
Srila gurumaharaja,your support not only to us is valuval but also to this chirst church community.This community is blessed by your divine mercy only.Today Iam giving my life to you and I always pray to their lordships to protect you from all sides and keep us always under your divine shelter.
All glories to His grace nandagop prabhu for organizing sri vyasa puja of your at the temple in a bigger way.Hoping all the devotees.Please bless me so that I can put some little energy to make this celebration a wonderful one.
Srila gurumaharaja we are totaly depended un to you. You are the one to whom we can rely on.No one is more fallen than me therefore I need more compassionate than anyone.Your tow lotus feet are my only shelter whcih I humbly hold unto.I can only be happy if you show your mercy unto me.Please dont neglect us.We need you and your divine association every now and then.If you are mercyful unto us than only their lordship sri sri nitai gaurachandra will be pleased with us and by that all vaisnavas will be satisfied and will be easier for us to advance in krsna conscious and reveive the mercy of whole guru parampara.If you are kind to me they will be kind to me.
I always pray to their lordships for your protection and for your dharshan very soon.
Maharaja we realy miss your holy association.Hoping to see your return and thank you once again for your kindness.
Have a very nice and wonderful sri Vyasa puja.
Happy Birthday to our most beloved father.
Jai srila Devamrita Swamis vyasa puja celebration ki jai.
Hare krsna
your most fallen and insignificant daughters,
radhey shyama and vishaka pran devi dasi
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Ramadas das
Dear Guru Maharaja
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
This year I am trying to understand you, as usual, from Srila Prabhupada’s books. Pretty much this is a straight narration from his books, and in some parts I use my own words.
His encyclopaedia Srimad Bhagavatam is, as he said, “the topmost theological science and therefore can react on the layman as medicinal doses. The layman can hear the narration of the activities of the Lord, and thereby they are able to associate with the Lord, and thus gradually become purified”.
You have actually achieved what is going on in this statement. Although if we unpack some of the words like “layman” and “Srimad Bhagavatam”, we can understand it was an almost impossible task.
First, what’s a layman these days’. It’s not just a guy or girl wandering about with a few worries about hearth, home, and the economy, and doesn’t really know what’s the purpose of it all. No. As far as I’ve heard from statistics, my mother (about my sister) and on sankirtana, a layman or laygirl is someone who has generally been in 4 to 30 relationships, who almost certainly does drugs. Has been abused in some way, sexually or mentally, who has started intoxication and illicit sex from perhaps the age of 10 or 12 and has no concentration power. And if they are a layman and not a lay girl, they are pretty much laid out, addicted to pornography.
Now what is this Srimad Bhagavatam that the layman of kaliyuga is supposed to submissively hear from??” It is the topmost theological science” Srila Prabhupada writes “Theological science is a very difficult subject, especially when it deals with the science of God. It is not a subject matter to be understood by persons who are too much attached to material activities. Only the very expert, who have almost retired from materialistic activities by culture of spiritual knowledge, can be admitted to the study of this great science.
Imagine if we went to another country with the task of connecting the layman with the Srimad Bhagavatam. These two are completely incompatible. One is the topmost transcendental science to be received by the most experience Vedic kings / rishis, the other is embedded in the dirt of constant phornification, strong liquors, gambling, and drugs that can take decades to recover from.
To get these madmen to hear “ The narrations of the activities of the Lord” is not the task of an ordinary devotee. Srila Prabhupada writes “Vyasadeva is himself a personality expert in this science, and he is unattached to material enjoyment. Therefore he is the right person to describe it and Sukadeva is the right person to receive it. We have you in NZ in the early nineties ?..but where are the Sukadeva Gowamis. Of course one could say just sell books. But to get them to hear as medicinal doses??? That’s calling for a miracle.
But that is what you have amazing done with your loft preaching and book distribution. You came to New Zealand almost alone and now so many devotees here are relishing Srimad Bhagavatam. There are so many, that you can send them off to help others overseas. This is your expertise His Divine Grace writes “The expert devotees can discover novel ways and means to convert the non devotees in terms of particular time and circumstances.
But its not that you just stumbled on a far out technique for enticing layman, that can be imitated by any ordinary devotee.
Krsna comes to teach. Lord Caitanya comes to induce The Lord also empowers special devotees to teach people their constitutional position.
Cc Antya Lila Ch 7 Text 12
You have spread the Sankitana movement of Kc therefore it is evident that you have been empowered by Lord Krsna. There is no Question about it.
Cc Antya Lila Ch & Text 19
He is such a great personality that by his mercy He can convert even the meat eaters (mleccas) to the devotional service of Krsna. Who therefore, can estimate the power of His Vaisnavism.
PURPORT: It is extremely difficult to convert a mleccha or meat eater into a devotee of Lord Krsna. Therefore anyone who can do so is situated on the highest level of Vainavism.
These days you are converting not just the meat eating people, but the magic mushroom eating, ecstasy eating, cocaine sniffing, booze guzzling, sex mongers.
These are all Srila Prabhupadas points; I’m just trying to gather evidence to glorify you as a greatly advanced Vaisnava who is so fortunate to be personally empowered by the special spreading potency of the Lord.
And its seems there will always be a jealous few, just like in Srila Prabhupada’s time, who criticize your methods, but as Srila Prabhupada says, “they will simply have to be satisfied with their foolishness because they cannot spread Kc by their stereotyped methods?? or by imitating yours. It takes special potency?and that’s what you have.
Please aim your potency at me,
Your insignificant servant
Ramadas das
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Rohininandan das and family
Dear Guru Maharaj,
namah om visnupadaya krsna presthaya bhutale
srimate devamrta swamin iti namine
Please accept our humble obeisances at the dust of your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories unto your merciful self Maharaj on this blessed occasion of your Vyasa Puja.
A few days ago, it suddenly dawned on our dull minds that you have been extra merciful to have given us shelter considering our circumstances. We are extremely indebted to Maharaj for your kindness and we also feel guilty of no where even coming close to reciprocating that love you have shown us.
It has been about a year now that Maharaj has given us shelter and all the e mails to us have been a the greatest source of inspiration and direction for us.
Yet with all that mercy, we are still struggling very hard to try and become really steady in Krsna Consciousness. Sometimes, when we look back we feel embarrassed at the pace with which we are traveling on this royal road. The obstacles that were there in the past are also still present now and we struggle to try and overcome them.
Our efforts at trying to fulfill your instructions pale out or are completely non-existent when we compare them to your dedication to Srila Prabhupada. Sometimes we wonder if our whole life is going to pass in the manner that we never become true disciples, sad sisyas.
However with your encouragement and darshan via your instructions either personally or through the email or through your very potent lectures, we are trying very hard to lift ourselves up and hold on firmly to the rope of mercy that you have given us via your instructions.
Maharaj, on this blessed occasion of your Vyasa Puja, we pray very earnestly at your lotus feet to bless us to very strictly follow your instructions and with that we know that the Supreme Lord will be pleased and life’s goal would be attained.
Your insignificant servants
Rohininandan das
Meera
Sachi Devi
Sita Devi
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Sandrananda devi dasi
Dear guru maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Please forgive me for all my offenses.
At Gaura-yoga three years ago you asked me “If I knew what the qualifications were of a spiritual master.” That question caught me off guard for I stood without finding an answer. I mumbled something along the lines of I would have to get back to you later with the answer. I felt like my spiritual life depended on finding out that answer.
Although I still have no realisation as an offering I want to be able to try and answer it.
In this age there are many cheats and many who claim to be spiritually enlightened. People are unfortunately cheated by many phoney spiritual practioneers but in Krsna Consciousness we can be sure that if one is master in the science of Krsna, he is the perfect bona fide spiritual master. By following in parampara it does not matter if one is a vipra or a person born of a lower family, or is in the renounced order of life, it is his qualification not birth right that is important. One who preaches all over the world, Prabhupada said, has to be empowered by Krsna otherwise it is not possible.
This world is full of people who are either workaholics or drug users. No-one knows who they are or why they are here. The real spiritual master’s business is to get the ignorant mass of people to re-establish their lost relationship with the Personality of Godhead, Krsna. Prabhupada explains that under the spiritual master’s guidance and by his grace, the whole world can be turned into the spiritual abode. Gurudeva, you are constantly endeavouring to distribute the fruits of loving devotion in the form of Prabhupada’s books. These books are not ordinary books, they are the start of spiritual life for many devotees and they have the power to lead one from the neophyte stage all the way to bhakti. Your deep love for them is evident in your words and actions.
Apart from the necessary qualification in the science of Krsna and full engagement in spiritual activities meant for the good of the whole world, a spiritual master is also perfect in character. There are twenty-six qualities that decorate a devotee and I will mention only a few.
To them no-one is an enemy or friend; they are a friend to all. They are compassionate. They are fixed and cannot be shaken. They are respectful. They control their mind and senses. They are expert. They are silent. They are grave. They are without false prestige. They are surrendered to Krsna.
According to what is needed at the time for Krsna’s service a devotee displays these qualities.
Gurudeva, you have all these wonderful gifts. I am a fallen conditioned soul lower then a dog, and you are more then qualified to be my spiritual master. Pure devotion is as much infectious as infectious diseases and who is needier than I am for this pure devotional infection. I am seeking to please you in some small way by this offering, my dear spiritual master. Please deliver me and overlook my inabilities.
From your servant,
Sandrananda devi dasi
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Bhaktin Sara
Dear Devamrita Swami Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to you on your most special appearance day!
Hare Krishna!
This is a day to celebrate because it's a day when a special soul entered this world.
A soul who would teach others to bring Krishna to the center of their lives and to experience real pleasure.
Personally I am so grateful to you because you teach me to be realistic about myself. This can save me from so much unnecessary suffering if I take your advice. I can't believe that even when I try to leave my real shelter somehow each time I take a step back to return you are always there ready to once again offer compassionate advice.
You teach the purports of the Bhagavatam in a way we can relate to. You patiently help us understand that real pleasure is in service not selfishness, and is in making Krishna happy.
Not only do you explain this, but you show by example. You joyfully chant Hare Krishna, study the Bhagavatam with devotion, serve Lord Caitanya's sankirtana movement with dedication and enthusiasm, and always have time to help others.
Thank you for your example and your care.
Your presence is soothing and your words a guide for our daily lives.
Your servant,
bhn Sara
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Sastra-krt das
Although I am unable to glorify you adequately, I nonetheless have a transcendental taste for glorifying your activities. I shall try to glorify you according to the instructions received from authoritative sages and scholars. Whatever I speak, however, is always inadequate and very insignificant. Dear Gurudev, because you are a direct representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, all your activities are liberal and ever laudable.
Some behave very well but do not preach the cult of Krishna consciousness, whereas others preach but do not behave properly.You simultaneously perform both duties in relation to the holy name by your personal behavior and by your preaching. Therefore you(following in footsteps of Srila Prabhupad) are the spiritual master of the entire world, for you are the most advanced devotee in the world.
The Spiritual Master is present wherever his sincere disciple is trying to serve his instructions. This is possible by the Mercy of Krsna. In our attempts to serve you and in all our sincere devotional sentiments you are with us just as your Guru Maharaja is with you. We pray to remember this always.
Heart felt birthday wishes from Prema mala d.d. also:
Gurudev on this auspicious occasion i beg you to flood our hearts with prema bhakthi so the seeds of material desires cannot sprout .
Hare Krishna to you , Hare Krishna to you , Hare Krishna dear father, Hare Rama to you.
Loving son
Sastra krt das
NewDwaraka dham.
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Bhakta Simon
Dear Guru Maharaja,
nama om Vishnu- padaya Krishna- prasthaya bhu-tale
srimate Devamrita-swamin iti namine
pracare purva-daksyam ca
bhaktacara-pravinta
pararthatapi karunyam
yasya sarve ca te namah
Guru Maharaja on this auspicious day of your Vyasa Puja I want to thank you for all the mercy you have shown me.
In the last year I have only been slightly inquisitive about what actions to take in regards to my spiritual and material life, but unfortunately I have been quite adverse to taking the advice given. This has not been due to my lack of faith in you as my Guru, but rather because of my arrogance.
As time goes on I am receiving more and more of Krishna’s mercy through you and am slowly realising the role of a disciple and devotee.
Please allow me to learn how to become your servant and the servant of all vaisnavas for many lives to come.
Hare Krishna
Simon Exley
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Bhakta Simon Kitty
namo om visnu-padaya
Krishna-presthaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta-
swamin iti namine
namas te sarasvati deve
guara-vani-pracarine
nirvesesa-sunyavadi
pascatya-desa tarine
Dear Devamrita Swami Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances on this most auspicious day of your appearance All glories to Srila Prabhupada !
You are one of Prabhupada's generals - a compassionate and stubborn preacher of Krishna Consciousness. You constantly travel from city to city – tirelessly preaching in various different places & situations, to many different kinds of people. It is evident, that you continually 'rack you brain' to come up with better & better ways to preach Krishna Consciousness to the fallen people of this age. This is true sannyass.
Back in January, 2004 when Sri-Gaura & Gopi-Gita were initiated, you strongly warned us against "dropping the diamond" of Krishna Consciousness. You also instructed us in another lecture, that all emotional fulfillment could be found in Krishna Consciousness.
I regret that I have not listened properly to your fantastic lectures – or acted upon them.
But from this point onwards, I do not want to waste any more time.
My observation is that you are certainly a pure devotee - who has deeply absorbed the shastra into your consciousness. Your instructions are very important and by following your guidance our lives can become Krishna Conscious. Your lectures are a blessing to the whole of ISKCON, and you are certainly a siksha-guru for Melbourne Temple. Your disciples are a continual blessing to my spiritual life, and I would still be completely in maya without their preaching, instructions & enthusiasm.
I asked you once a question during darshan - "at what point, does 'initiation of the heart' happen to a disciple ?" ( ie: not the physical ceremony itself, but 100% connection in the mind & heart ) You gave me a very grave, super-serious look and then replied immediately ... "It may happen before initiation, at the point of initiation, after initiation – or it may never happen." Today I ask you to please give me your blessing, that I may never be in the last category !
May I dedicate my entire life to fulfilling the desire of Srila Prabhupada, and to follow the instructions of the gurus Krishna sends to me.
Your well-wisher,
Bhakta Simon Kitty
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Sri Yasoda devi dasi
nama om visnu-padaya krsna-prestaya bhu-tale
srimate devamrta svamin iti namine
pracare purva-daksyam ca bhaktacara-pravinata
pararthatapi karunyam yasya sarve ca te namah
nama om visnu-padaya krsna-prestaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine
Dearest Guru Maharaja, my beloved spiritual father, saviour of the fallen and well-wisher of the entire universe.
I am falling at your lotus feet with great awe and reverence, begging you to please accept these most humbly offered obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to you.
O greatest of great souls, you have given so many hearts a reason to beat, darkened eyes a reason to see. All the Vedic scriptures sing of your character.
May I also learn these prayers, and may they enter the core of my heart.
May I serve you in truth birth after birth. May my mouth sing only of your praises and reject everything else.
On this, your most sacred Vyasa-puja day, please forgive me as I attempt to glorify you.
How can a glow worm try to glorify the sun? But still, for my own purification if nothing else, I will attempt to glorify you, a pure vaisnava, my eternally glorious spiritual master, shining like the brilliant sun.
Unable to tolerate the suffering of others, out of compassion and mercy, you have this mystical ability to transform with great patience, love and expert guidance, the most fallen and wretched on the face of this Kali-yuga earth, into effulgent, blissful servants of Lord Caitanya. You have given us your absolute mercy and benediction to carry forward the torch of Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s sankirtana movement, the prime benediction for humanity at large.
This is the most merciful thing. Words cannot describe your unlimited ocean of mercy.
And the most selfless thing?
How you have completely surrendered your life to the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada. Selflessly travelling the world, preaching Krsna consciousness.
The most powerful thing?
To hear the words emanating from your lotus mouth. Your preaching saturated with power, genius, clarity, humour, love, compassion, conviction and honesty, melts the most stone cold heart.
The most careless thing?
Is to not take your instructions seriously.
The most frightening thing?
Is to think of where I would be now, had you not given me your mercy.
The most enlivening thing?
To see someone take shelter of you
The most loving thing?
Is how you love, tolerate, forgive and never give up on anyone.
The most valuable thing?
Is the gift you give of devotee association. My effulgent god brothers and sisters who work so hard to blissfully serve you in every way they can, with such deep love and devotion to your most glorious self, always inspire me. I pray for their mercy to serve you following in their footsteps.
The most compassionate thing?
Is your unique skill in preaching. Reaching out to everyone, you make it easy to come to Krsna consciousness, to grow in Krsna consciousness, and to distribute Krsna consciousness to others.
The sweetest thing?
To have your personal association.
The most painful thing?
To see someone leave your shelter.
The most lamentable thing?
To leave my body knowing I have not done what I could to serve you.
The most sublime thing?
To hear you chant the Maha Mantra.
The most pleasing thing?
To have received your affectionate glance.
The most purifying thing?
Exhausting every last drop of energy to preach Krsna consciousness.
The most ecstatic thing?
Is seeing you chant and dance in kirtana.
The most satisfying thing?
Is when you are somehow pleased with our humble service.
The most devastating thing?
Is when you are not!
The most fortunate thing?
That Krsna so mercifully sent you to save us.
And the saddest thing?
That he might take you away.
On your most sacred Vyasa-puja day, I beg to pray for your desire to be my desire; I pray that your instructions may be my life and soul. Please give me the shade of your lotus feet so that I may eternally serve you, in any way I possibly can, on the front line of your sankirtana army.
What you have given the entire world, what to speak of this insignificant nobody, cannot be described by anyone with a mortal tongue and an impure mind.
In order to chant your glories I will need millions and millions of births but your glories will make such births bearable.
Eternally bound by the ropes of an unpayable debt, I cling to your fearless lotus feet and pray for the strength to never let go.
Begging to be your unconditional servant,
Sri Yasoda devi dasi
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Sruti-cari devi dasi
nama om vishnu-padaya
krishna-presthaya bhu tale
srimate devamrita
svamin iti namine
pracare purva-daksyam ca
bhaktacara-pravinata
pararthatapi karunyam
yasya sarve ca te namah
"Obeisances to you who have all the qualities of unique skill in preaching, competence in Vaisnava dealings, selflessness, and compassion."
Dear Guru Maharaja
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Writing Vyasa Puja homage really makes me think about, and evaluate my year’s service. Have I really done my best to please you this year, could I have done better? What Krishna conscious progress have I made since last year, or have I slipped in some areas? What is my mentality, am I enthusiastic to serve or more selfish than ever? Vyasa Puja time is also a time to rededicate my life to your service. To try to pay the unpayable transcendental debt I owe my spiritual Master.
In my service I meet a lot of people and I hear their stories. Something I have been especially noticing recently is how people are so exploited by this material world, in so many different ways.
One man who has been coming to the Loft recently told me how his father would beat him viciously for no reason when he was a child.
Another woman has a gambling addiction; as soon as she gets her fortnightly dole money she goes to the Crown Cassino and gambles the lot. She has no money for anything else.
One girl was convinced by her mothers ‘partner’ that they were ‘soul mates’, and being adolescent didn’t know how to avoid a sexual relationship, which she didn’t want, with someone who should have been a father figure to her.
Another woman, a lawyer, told me that she works 7.00 am to 9.00pm seven days a week, just to keep her job.
So much exploitation! On so many levels! The mental and emotional even physical wounds that people bear are astronomical. All these people seem normal when you meet them, they smile and laugh and talk, but the pain they carry in their harts is horrific.
This material world makes no sense; it is barbaric and cruel. I often think of Prabhupada’s phase “The Cheats and the Cheated”. If you aren’t cheating someone else – instantly you are being cheated. Actually everyone is being cheated all the time. People try so hard for things that are so worthless and they get hurt again and again and again. I don’t want to be a part of it, I don’t want to be cheated and I don’t want to cheat. I want to get out!
Krishna Consciousness is the perfect solution, the ‘way out’ of material existence. Guru Maharaja, You are so kindly showing me how to take advantage of this wonderful process. With out your help it is unlikely I would have taken up Krishna consciousness, even if I had, I certainly would not have made much progress. You are my inspiration, teacher and guide; with out you I am totally lost.
I know you want me to share this solution with others, to pass on your kindness. But I am without the
skills or ability to do this work. My efforts are so puny. Where is my heart? How much do I care? Why is it so hard to focus my mind and energies?
I wish I could inspire people to take to Krishna Consciousness, just as you have inspired me. But I can only do what you have taught me. I owe you so much, but in order to repay this transcendental debt I must beg you again,
Please, Please - teach me how I can serve you.
Show me how to deal with my crazy mind,
Help me to soften my heart,
Teach me to care.
Your servant and spiritual daughter
Sruti-cari devi dasi
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Bhakta Steve
Please accept my Respectful obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
My name is Steve and about a year ago i was most fortunite to have met some of H.H.Maharaj Devamrita Swamis very sincere disciples while going about my illusions in Wanganui.
After meeting with them and being invited to attend a class at the Gaura yoga centre i was fortunate to have met the most truly caring and inspiring soul it has ever been my great fortune to come across.
Sorry Prabhus no prizes for guessing who!
After a brief time staying at the Parama Karuna Ashram and loads of great association i very willingly decided to send myself back into illusion,looking back i guess the only down fall to such nice association is seeing how much of a mess i had made of my false self trying to be the supreme Kali Yuga enjoyer.
It took about 10 minutes of being back in bad association and there i stayed for the next 3 months bombarding myself with every type of chemical known to present so called society.
If it was not for the persistance of one truly sincere devotee and her telling me of Maharajs ecstatic display of love of Krishna during a Kirtan on his most resent visit i would not have found the desire to tell Maya enoughs enough and picked up my Japa beads.
Thank you Maharaj for your causeless mercy and perfect example of what my heart so longs to posess.
Pure loving devotional service to our dear Lord Krishna no matter where it is so auspiciously and mercifuly found.
your aspiring servant, steve
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Sukanthi Radha devi dasi
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Unlimitedly merciful and deeply compassionate you selflessly traverse the planet so expertly preaching the glories of Krsna.
In Manchester I remember a little protest I made once; "I don’t want to be a Hare Krsna", don’t worry you told me, “You won’t be a Hare Krsna”. As soon as you said that my psychology reversed. Suddenly I wanted to be a “Hare Krsna”.
You know how to painlessly administer the medicine of Krsna consciousness to people who don’t think they want it, all glories to your patience, tolerance and skill in dealing with the conditioned souls.
So kindly you have given me so much mercy although I have done nothing to deserve this position of constant opportunities for devotional service. By your causeless mercy I am fortunate to be in the association of Krsnas devotees and engaged in service; I am completely indebted, my words are inadequate. All I can say is thank you so much.
Please forgive me for all my offences at your lotus feet, from being too familiar with you, to carelessly carrying out my service, I am sorry that so many impurities cloud my mind and impede my absorption in devotional service.
Sankirtan is what enlivens Prabhupada and therefore it’s what enlivens you.
Desiring to please you in some way I try to distribute books. As I stand idly on the street holding Prabhupadas books, it is only by your grace that I am able to witness the flow of mercy through the parampara down to the conditioned souls. I have no strength of my own but please let me be a receptacle of Krsnas energy in this way.
SB 5.18.9
May there be good fortune throughout the universe, and may all envious people be pacified. May all living entities become calm by practicing bhakti-yoga, for by accepting devotional service they will think of each others welfare. Therefore let us all engage in the service of the supreme transcendence, Lord Sri Krsna and always remain absorbed in thoughts of him.
Trying to be your devotee,
Sukanthi Radha Devi Dasi
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Sukha Rupa devi dasi
Dear Gurudev,
Wishing you good health and Krishna Prema always.
Sukha Rupa devi dasi
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Sukhi Krsna das
Dear Guru Maharaja.
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I would like to express my gratitude to you for bringing me to Wales and putting me under the loving care of His Grace Tarakanath Prabhu.
The welsh yatra has almost doubled in size in little over a year and eager new souls are lining up just waiting to join in. This is without any doubt due to your influence here.
Wales comes to life when you are here and there is always a buzz of anticipation amongst the devotees upon awaiting your arrival.
I can always feel your fatherly embrace whenever I remember you instructions and I know that without your care and expert guidance my attempts at devotional service would simply be lost to illusion.
Thank you for helping this fool not to fool himself and thank you for giving me an opportunity to serve in this wonderful family of Iskcon.
Always aspiring to be your servant.
Sukhi Krsna das
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Svetadvipa Das
Dearest Guru Maharaja.
Please accept my humble obeisance, All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to your relentless service
What can I say that I haven't already tried to express. The shear relevance of words in such matters seem insignificant. I could use words like distinguished, prodigious, eminent, upright, indispensible, humble, intelligent, honorable, virtuous, scrupulous, dependable, savior, father, Guru. But I'm not sure if that gets the message across because in comparison to you such words get overshadowed .
Is that a little over the top, because I'm always conscious of keeping it real, which is something you always taught us. I guess I'm just trying to express how instrumental you are in my life even though our direct contact is minimal although it is anything but minimal when we are in contact.
Your preaching efforts around the world never cease to amaze me after having traveled with you. I saw you give the perfect prescription to those with any given combination of material complexity. Your dosage is always precise.
Just what the doctor ordered. Let us please ingest that which you prescribe.
On this special day I pray that you continue to unload your mercy on everyone. I also want to thank you for your kindness, tolerance, and presence, for without this I am nothing. Thanks for making me something.
Aspiring to serve you properly,
Svetadvipa Das
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Syam Gauri devi dasi
nama om visnu-padaya krsna-prestaya bhu-tale
srimate devamrta-svamin iti namine
pracare purva-daksyam ca
bhaktacara-pravinata
pararthatapi karunyam
yasya sarve ca te namah
nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine
To my dear spiritual master
Please accept my attempted humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to this awaited day of your appearance!
Praying that you will accept as this neophyte living entity
tries to glorify you.
Beginning to give worthy glorification to my spiritual master who considers himself a
servant is quite difficult,especially because of the thick false ego layered within my heart.
This thickness has covered my vision, not allowing me to see that my spiritual master
is not just an ordinary person.
Guru Maharaj, how dear you are to Krsna.
How dear you are to Srila Prabhupada.
How dear you are to your servants.
I feel that it will take me a long time to perform my services in
such a way as to please you,
and not do them"according to my propensities". You give so much, but foolishly I am
too slow to take.
I don't know how to glorify you Guru Maharaj.
Even on this day when I am supposed to be giving more to you,
still I am taking by praying that you will make me your tool, using
me in whatever way you see suitable.
In these early stages of my Krsna conscious career I am trying to understand
your love for Srila Prabhupada's books and how vital they are for all.
You are filled with compassion for others-
Where is such a person whose heart breaks just by seeing
other's suffering?
Your instructions are very clear
"teach and distribute Krsna consciousness and see the suffering. If you want to see
life as it is then teach and preach Krsna consciousness to others"
Without your instructions, I am useless, my so-called abilities actually come from you,
so please let me say something meaningful to someone so that they take
these books and eventually enquire from you and are sheltered by you.
On this day when I am supposed to be giving more to you, still I am taking
by praying that you will accept this puny offering.
please forgive me for my incapability, Guru Maharaj
praying to be your servant always
anytime, anyday, anywhere, anyhow
your daughter
Syam Gauri devi dasi
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Taraka devi dasi
Dear Devamrta Swami,
Please accept my humble obeisances on this most auspicious occasion of your Vyasa Puja. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to your service to him.
You have blessed many devotees with your care either belly laughter or strong oveure
I am one of that many
sometimes laughing
sometimes reduced to stunned contemplation
of my lack
of my folly
of not following in the footsteps of the empowered pack
of soul
body and mind and words
surrendered devotees who model the role
how to behave
as a human
in Krishna consciousness, not in an urban cave
made of glass and metal
of degredation
of monosyllabic groans and weapons of technology
But you are one of that transcendental pack of expert operations generals who plan and strategise and attack
The world of Maya
with your words surcharged with energy
coming from your beloved sire
Srila Prabhupada
Have a day, full of appreciations from those who feel your kindness and care.
I will be thanking you on this day.
Your servant
with heartfelt service,
Taraka dd
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Bhaktine Tash
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Please Gurudev accept my humble obeisances.
Dearest Merciful Gurudev,
I bow down again and again to your lotus feet. Thinking how you make my spiritual path more realized, that this is the only way, the only way back home back to Godhead. How foolish I am to be attached to material enjoyment. When will the day come that I will serve your lotus feet 24 hours a day. Reminding me of Krishna.
I feel like a naughty child when you give me an instruction I follow in the start then as time goes on I fall back down in the pit. But over and over again you help me to rise.
I am even foolish when you give me your time I don't want to go. But I force myself because I know it will help me to be stronger.
Please Gurudev you have been so kind to me: your association, classes, kirtans and instructions have given my life a meaning, a purpose. I wouldn't be where I am today, chanting the Holy Names.
I want to reach deeper in my heart because deep down you are my life, my protecter, my rescuer, my father, my heart. I wish I could express deeper to let you know what you have done for me. I do know Gurudev. I thank you deeply for being my shelter, my father, my everything. I was suffering so much and now I am much happier.
Your loving daughter, servant
Tash (Auckland)
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Tri Yuga Das
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Thank you for being such a sincere devotee and follower of your spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada. It is dedicated servants like you who carry the mercy of Prabhupada to those of us who are a generation removed from Srila Prabhupada's manifest presence. If you were not to put in such a dedicated effort in your service to Prabhupada then many souls, including myself, would be doomed to suffer, lost in dark illusion and ignorance.
I know this verse from Srimad Bhagavatam is dear to you, as it was to
Prabhupada:
SB 7:9:44
My dear Lord N?si?hadeva, I see that there are many saintly persons indeed, but they are interested only in their own deliverance. Not caring for the big cities and towns, they go to the Himalayas or the forest to meditate with vows of silence [mauna-vrata]. They are not interested in delivering others. As for me, however, I do not wish to be liberated alone, leaving aside all these poor fools and rascals. I know that without Kåñëa consciousness, without taking shelter of Your lotus feet, one cannot be happy. Therefore I wish to bring them back to shelter at Your lotus feet.
This verse as spoken by Prahlada Maharaja in his prayers to Lord Nåsiàhadeva is an expression of the spirit of Vaisnava mercy. Your preaching efforts are a manifestation of this sublime outreach spirit.
I am a debtor to you for everything you have done for me out of care for my existential wellbeing. I can only attempt to repay your display of mercy with my gratitude, and then, more practically by endeavouring to become qualified to pass it on. I will admit that the notion that I am obligated to strive to pass on what I have received is a daunting one, not so much because I doubt that such activities will deliver the highest satisfaction to the self, but rather because I know that I am so unqualified. I am riddled with material desires, I cannot control my mind and senses, I am puffed up and self centred. If I am to overcome my overwhelming disqualification it will be, again, only by your mercy.
I thank you for your constant efforts, your continued striving to reach out to those of us who are dependent on your mercy. Such a push for ever-increasing selflessness can only come from sincere devotional love and gratitude felt toward Srila Prabhupada and Krishna.
Many times I find myself enamoured by your display of expertise in many fields. I find myself thinking, "Wow this person has such amazing abilities." As time goes on however, I am finding my appreciation is becoming more and more focused on your amazing sincerity as a devotee.
More than your seemingly endless display of expertise in your activities, I am struck, inspired and moved by the quality of your devotion.
So on this auspicious day of your appearance I would like to thank you for being such a wonderfully sincere devotee, and, of course, for being such a kind and caring spiritual father. And then I pray, with all the sincerity I can muster, that I can become qualified to one day render some pleasing service to you.
With love from your unqualified servant, Tri Yuga Das
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Urjjesvari devi dasi
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
In this Kali Yuga there is so much turmoil, so many dilemmas and so much conflict… it definitely takes no genius to figure that this world is not the place to be.
But amongst all this chaos, in spite of everything, there is the greatest opportunity.
"The Spiritual master brings the rains of mercy from Krishna and extinguishes the fire that is burning within the hearts of all the materially afflicted, frustrated, fallen souls."
As we pound about the waves or grasp tightly to the rocking boat, a transcendental lifeguard is throwing out a rope and pulling in as many as possible. Not deterred by any inconveniences, you are forcefully carrying on the divine mission of your spiritual father.
You once told me that this is our duty - to give others what we've been given: "Assist me in my occupation, that's your family responsibility - teach others about Krishna. Don't be selfish."
True, you've never been selfish toward us so why should I be.
In fact you are so charitable; you fuel our dismal lives with divinity and endlessly educate us. You're right, what is more appetizing than Devotional service? Nothing, certainly not what maya is presenting!
I can appreciate the time and constant effort you put in to aiding our unruly minds and tainted hearts burdened by material desires. You bring the rays of Krishna and give hope to the hopeless -- we have something to really be thankful for.
Begging for some ability to, in some way, be able to serve you.
And praying to never fall off the boat again,
Urjjesvari dd
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Vaishnava Charan Dasa
nama om visnu - padaya
krsna – presthaya bhu-tale
srimate Devamrita -
Swami iti namine
pracare purva-daksyam ca
bhaktacara-pravinata
pararthatapi karunyam
yasya sarve ca te namah
Dear Gurudev,
Please accept my Humble Obeisances,
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada,
All Glories to you!
This year was one the most memorable year of my life when you gave shelter to this unworthy soul. When I look back into my past animalistic life, I had never dreamed of such a revolution in my life. Getting a second birth, in the human form to perfect my life is very unique in this age quarrel and hypocrisy.
You have picked me up from this ocean of material existence and given me shelter, which I don't deserve, but my wicked mind still says still I deserve. My faith was flickering like the glittering light of waves in a flowing river. Your glance into my life had given me the hope of battling the flickering nature of my mind, through the medicine of Hari Nam.
From the first time we meet at Loft in Melbourne you guided and taught me like your Son, through the net and your visits to the Melbourne Mahaprabhu Mandir. Reading your past replies to my letters still enlivens and refreshes my memory where I was at. To keep an check at my false ego barometer.
I should be always be indebt to you and the devotees who helped me set footings of Krsna Consciousness in this life. If the foundation is not strong no matter what we build on the top it's matter of time before it collapses. Your self and the dear devotees had given me the foundation, Bless me that I don't build anything which would harm the foundation.
I wish I could sincerely from the bottom of my heart always remember and serve you and the devotees who had pulled me out from further drowning in this ocean of Kali.
Humbly thanking You and the dear devotees who brought me ashore.
Wishing you a Memorable Vyasa Puja Day.
Yours trying to be a genuine servant of the servant,
Vaishnava Charan Dasa
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Vamsidhari das
nama om visnu-padaya
krsna-presthaya bhu-tale
srimate devamrita-
svamin iti namine
nama om visnu-padaya
krsna-presthaya bhu-tale
simate bhaktivedanta-
svamin iti namine
namas te sarasvate deve
gaura-vani-pracarine
nirvisesa-sunyavadi-
pascatya-desa-tarine
Bearing a simple offering. this lowly disciple approaches your resplendent lotus feet, that sparkle with the dust of Vrndavana.
As the hour of your auspicious appearance draws nearer, I find myself absorbed in thoughts of my munificent spiritual master, and consider with great respect and admiration the attachment you have for fulfilling Srila Prabhupada's instruction.
You were offered so much facility for material enjoyment in this world. You were young, high education, beautiful fiancé, charisma and connections, a pleasure lover amongst pleasure lovers. That professor who told you," Your a Yale-Man, you will influence the world!" Did he realise then the influence you would one day carry? In spite of these allurements, you understood so clearly what could not. The value of surrender to Prabhupada.
kali-kalera dharma-krsna-nama-sankirtana krsna-sakti vina nahe tara pravatana "The fundamental religious system in the age of Kali is the chanting of the holy name of Krsna. Unless empowered by Krsna one cannot propagate the sankirtana movement"
taha pravartaila tumi-ei ta 'pramana'
krsna -sakti dhara tumi,-ithe nahi ana
"You have spread the sankirtana movement of Krsna Concisness. Therefore it is evident that You have been empowered by Lord Krsna. There is no question about it."
(Excerpt from purport)..."One cannot become an acarya simply by mental speculation. The true acarya presents Krsna to everyone by preaching the holy name of the Lord throughout the world. Thus the conditioned souls, purified by chanting the holy name, are liberated from the blazing fire of material existence. In this way, spiritual benefit grows increasingly full, like the waxing moon in the sky. The true acarya, the spiritual master of the entire world, must be considered an incarnation of Krsna's mercy.
Indeed, he is personally embracing Krsna..." -Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Antya lilla 7.11
These urban preaching centres Gurudeva, they are like brilliant waxing moons arisen amidst the pitch darkness of night. They are a living testament to the sakti contained within the order of ones spiritual master. "vyavasayatmika buddhir ekeha kuru-nandana" -Bhagavad-gita 2.41
Not only have you saved us from the blazing fire of material existence, but you've also saved us from the smouldering existence of remaining a pious religious sect, that offer up all their food to Krsna, and say, "Jaya Gurudeva", to a portrait on the wall. Prabhupada writes in a letter, " The Krsna Consciousness movement is for training men to be independently thoughtful and competent in all types of departments of knowledge and action, not for making bureaucracy. Once there is bureaucracy the whole thing will be spoiled. There must be always individual striving and work and responsibility, competitive spirit, not that one shall dominate and distribute benefits to the others and they shall do nothing but beg from you and you shall provide. No."
Thank you for trimming the fat Gurudeva. Your centres embody this desire of Prabhupada. Under the loving care, of expert guidance, the bhakti creepers within our hearts are being nourished with hearing and chanting, our aspirations for service are encouraged and given full facility, and we're lovingly reminded that the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing...service to the Vaisnavas and the chanting of Krsnas holy names.
When Visnu-priya mataji heard that her husband, Lord Gauranga Mahaprabhu planned to leave Navadwipa, cut His beautiful long hair, and take to the renounced order of life, she begged and pleaded with Him. " Im to young, your mother is a dependent widow, all of Navadwipa is so much attached to your lotus feet." Yet the Lord replied, "Everything in this world is an illusion, only two things are real. Service to the Vaisnavas, and the holy name of Krsna!"
Your preaching centres are embodiments of that supreme truth. Where distribution of Prabhupada's books, Krsna Prasadam, and the holy name are a foremost priority. Where cultivation and loving exchanges amongst devotees are the norm, not the exception, and the highlight of the week is the congregational chanting of the holy names of Krsna! Hare Krsna Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare!!! - In this way spiritual benefit grows increasingly full, just like the waxing moon.
Through your uncompromising desire to give pleasure to Krsna's senses, Prabhupada's dream is now looking liss like a dream, and more like a reality. Because of your compassion for the burning state of this world, Prabhupada's vision is looking less like a vision, and more like a reality.
Gaura Yoga is evidence for all to experience. Conditioned souls are attracted, they stumble in, enchanted by purified beauty, bewildered by compassionate affection, intoxicated through 'knock out prasadam, and when they see the Pancatattva......!!!! jaya jaya sri-caitanya jaya nityananda, Jayadvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vrnda!
Its a mystic spectacle that must be seen to be believed. These people come, full of anxiety, reservation and scepticism, yet end up dancing, leaping, running, jumping and in great ecstasy crying out in loud voices the sublime names of the Supreme Personality of Godhead! - Thus the conditioned souls, purified by chanting the holy name, are liberated from the blazing fire of material existence.
As my time in your service continues, I pray that I will be able to follow in the footsteps of my shelter here in Wellington. I pray for your mercy and blessings that I can become more the servant of the servant of the servant, a beggar at the lotus feet of the holy name, and I pray that somehow my small efforts may increase, and please you Gurudeva.
The ancient's knew of the art of alchemy that could transform lead into gold, but see how this child's-play pales in comparison with the wonders that are taking place under your shelter. The Lame are leaping and dancing, the blind are made to see .... Sri Sri Pancatattva!!!
Obeisance's to you who have all qualities of unique skill in preaching competence in Vaisnava dealings, selflessness and compassion.
All glories all glories to you on your most auspicious appearance day.
Praying at the dust of your lotus feet,
your lowly servant
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Vidyapati dasa
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Gurudeva, every morning, while chanting Hare Krsna, I pray to the Pancha-Tattva to allow me to chant the Holy Name with attention as an offering to you. I am now begging for the mercy of Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga so that I can prepare another offering of words for your glorification.
I am forced to acknowledge my total lack of qualification in presenting to you such an offering. This is not because I feel the lack of writing skills, or knowledge of guru-tattva, though both may be true, but because without faithfully serving your instructions with full determination, any attempt to glorify you with words is only so much useless lip service. And in this respect I am a failure.
Kr?s?n?ad?sa Kavir?ja Gosv?m? points out in his Sri Caintanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 12.10:
?c?ryera mata yei , sei mata s?ra
t??ra ?jñ? la?ghi' cale, sei ta' as?ra
"The order of the spiritual master is the active principle in spiritual life. Anyone who disobeys the order of the spiritual master immediately becomes useless."
This is the potency of your vani. By serving your instruction with firm determination, one engages in spiritual life, making progress towards the only real goal. But without serving your orders with faith, ones life is entirely void of any worth. Spiritual life means faithful, determined service that is pleasing for ones Guru. I am begging today to realise this fact. When will I be able to develop a friendship with your instructions?
When I arrived in Auckland a year ago, you sent me an e-mail with a very simple sounding instruction: "engage in sankirtana with eagerness." With these few words you exhibited your complete dedication to Srila Prabhupada and his Iskcon movement, and simultaneously displayed your unlimited mercy towards this very fallen soul. Please bear with me as I struggle for the rest of my life to fulfil this simple sounding request.
Gurudeva, thank you for your complete faith in and dedication towards Srila Prabhupada's intense desire to print and distribute Krsna conscious literature in order to give everyone the chance to hear and learn about Krsna. Because of your dedication to Srila Prabhupada, so many of us who were destined for a Kali-yuga thrashing have been giving the most precious gift, the opportunity to give the Holy Name to others. In his purport to Adi-lila 12.8 Srila Prabhupada explains the potency of this principle:
"yasya deve par? bhaktir yath? deve tath? gurau, tasyaite kathit? hy arth?h? prak??ante mah?tmanah? ( Svetasvatara Upanisad 6.23) 'To one who has staunch faith in the words of the spiritual master and the words of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the secret of success in Vedic knowledge is revealed.' The Kr?s?n?a consciousness movement is being propagated according to this principle, and therefore our preaching work is going on successfully … ?r?la Bhaktisiddh?nta Sarasvat? T?h?kura wanted to print as many books as possible and distribute them all over the world. We have tried our best in this connection, and we are getting results beyond our expectations." In the current day, where Kali-yuga has hit my generation so heavily, and is threatening immense devastation on generations to come, you are continuing to propagate this Krsna consciousness movement according to this yasya deva para bhaktir principle, and your mercy net is successfully dragging so many souls from the cesspit of Kali-yuga. As I have been fortunate enough to be caught in this mercy net, I will never be able to thank you enough.
When I first started full time book distribution last year, I had no real idea what the lives of the average person was like. I, myself, have lived a relatively sheltered life, but I have experienced the intense kickings Maya can pull, specifically in this age of Kali. But now, everyday I am confronted with some of the most frightening examples of the devastation caused by Kali in this modern day. Gurudeva, I never realised the extent of suffering, and the incredibly horrible situations people are forced to endure during their lives. And even worse is the fact that the next generation of Kali-yugites seem set to take the biggest hammering yet.
Obviously my full realisation of this situation is yet to manifest, otherwise my full determination to help would not seem millions of miles away. But I can see, by your endeavours, that you are fully aware of the horrors that are occurring, and this is why you have dedicated your full engagement to trying to pull as many refugees as possible out of the eye of the Kali-yuga storm. This is your anxiety, as it is also the anxiety of Lord Caitanya and the whole parampara. And as you disciple I must also take on the duty of trying to relieve this anxiety. In reality this is the best offering I can make to you. Please bare with me as I struggle to relieve you of this anxiety by dedicating my energy to trying to spread Srila Prabhupadas books, and encouraging everyone to take these books seriously. The opportunity to try in this way is surely your mercy, as Bhaktisiddanta Sarasvati Thakura has explained "A person who has attracted the attention of the spiritual master by his sincere service likes to dance and chant with similarly developed Kr?s?n?a conscious devotees. The spiritual master authorizes such a devotee to deliver fallen souls in all parts of the world." Thank you for this opportunity.
Gurudeva, recently I met a man on the streets of Manuwera who Krsna used to show me how my life could have turned out, had you not informed me that the goal of life was not sense gratification. This man was a modern Ajamila; an Indian raised in London who left his pious Indian wife for a prostitute, only to have the prostitute run off with his children. He now spends his days walking around Manuwera in total despair. After talking with him, I realised that all of his problems began when he placed his sense gratification as the most important part of his life. Thank you, Gurudeva, for showing me the positive alternative lifestyle I was always searching for. And now that I have this opportunity, please give my your mercy so that I will not fall again into the deep darkness of material life. May the following verse and purport eternally remind of your mercy, and my debt to you:
?r?mad Bh?gavatam 6.2.35
so 'ham? tath? yatis?y?mi
yata-cittendriy?nilah?
yath? na bh?ya ?tm?nam
andhe tamasi majjaye
TRANSLATION
I am such a sinful person, but since I have now gotten this opportunity, I must completely control my mind, life and senses and always engage in devotional service so that I may not fall again into the deep darkness and ignorance of material life.
PURPORT
Every one of us should have this determination. We have been elevated to an exalted position by the mercy of Kr?s?n?a and the spiritual master, and if we remember that this is a great opportunity and pray to Kr?s?n?a that we will not fall again, our lives will be successful.
Trying to be your humble servant,
Vidyapati dasa
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Vikash and Shital
Dear Spiritual uncle
We offer our prostrated obeisances at the dust of your lotus feet on this most auspicious of occasions.
Your big booming laugh
Your wonderful smile
That transcendental humour
Keeps all the gloom at bay
Your razor sharp intelligence
Cutting our ignorance away
The many happy memories we have of you
Which brighten our day
We can only but try to glorify you today But it will never be enough As you are so kind You keep giving more shelter our way The balance is unfair We can't keep up But at least we will strive To increase our faith And live with you as our guide Day by day We continue to pray That we may never stray From your lotus feet Which brighten our day.
Thank you so much for continually engaging us in you service and tolerating our inadequacies. Please continue to give us your shelter.
Your insignificant servants
Vikash and Shital
(Soho St. London)
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Visnu-maya devi dasi
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
pracare purva daksyam ca
bhaktacara pravinata
pararthatapi karunyam
yasya sarve ca te namah
Obeisances to you who have all the qualities of unique skill in preaching, competence in Vaisnava dealings, selflessness, and compassion.
In one early letter I wrote to you, you replied with “I like hearing from you. Your letters are so honest and for real”. I now attempt to resurrect a moment of this realness in my offering to you today.
I have reflected upon several correspondences over the last 4years. Within them, I find a library of words that are a great source of stimulation, education and profoundness. I not only read words, but revelations advocating the deepest care.
Such a letter of this deep concern quotes “I feel for your pains and know the cure”. It is remarkable looking back at these early communications and seeing how much love you gave right from the beginning. You saw value even in me. “What is precious”, you said, “we are concerned with”. You felt my pain through my simple writings and you emphatically stated “I have heard your cry and will reciprocate…don’t worry”.
You so willingly accepted me as your daughter, both materially and spiritually, and from there on, my love for you as a father grew. I have come to realise that this is an eternal position.
You encouraged me with that positive alternative that I hankered so much for “Yes”, you said, “leave behind the polluted self and reclaim your spiritual self…Krsnas service is dynamic, I will show you”. Although I thought I was amongst the alternative elements of this urban jungle, you showed me that I too was just another component amid the mass consensual trance of promissory materialism.
One time I asked you what the worldly situation was like, and you responded “The worldly situation is its usual blend of passion and ignorance: consumerism and war talk”. In other words, there is no nice taste out there, just the usual Kali Yuga atrociousness. A secret shared with me recently identified that the same taste received by one sacrificing in the position of servant, is actually the same emotion that the person being served feels. Nowhere is there such joy as that which is tasted in this emotion of servitude, and nowhere in this world, in this urban jungle of consumerism and war talk is there better service to bestow than giving Krsna Consciousness to others. I have no doubt that you taste this highest joy. You fulfil our desires by preaching to us this Krsna Consciousness.
Yes, I am completely made up of your mercy, and no, I don’t have any great material abilities, so please, I beg, work through me so I can selflessly give your love and care, in which you have given me so much, to others. Although I find it a tough game of individual strive, I voluntarily have the desire to hold on tight to my dear spiritual master and plunge into the depths of sacrificial service. There is no safer place for me. Like a stray kitten, I cling to the endless yarn of wool in which you selflessly throw.
As the Visnu-maya taskmaster, you are leading my path on this confidential journey Guru Maharaja. I know you know the way and I know there is no alternative. I pray for some intelligence, expertise, forbearance and compassion to make serving you the active principle of my spiritual life.
Fumbling my way towards the grasp of your lotus-like stride, I beg for your pardon.
You are the servant of the servant of the servant…
Sincerely,
Visnu-maya devi dasi
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Vraja Dhama das
Hare Krishna Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my most respectful obeisances,All Glories to Your relentless service to Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga. And All Glories to Srila Prabhupada, to whom You faithfully serve.
Who can properly give honor to a great devotee of Krishna?Certainly not me,so I have written a series of questions to at least help me understand You more,so that one day I may be qualified to properly honor and glorify You......
It is astounding to me when I stop and think of the amount of selfless service You give to Srila Prabhupada's movement.Meditating on Your efforts brings me solace and strength in my efforts to fight illusion.
How do You muster so much determination?
You give me everything I need to progress from material consciousness to blissful Krishna Consciousness.I have everything in You,the perfect example,the perfect instruction,and the perfect vision.But I fail miserably to take advantage,yet You continue to accept me.
Do You possess unlimited tolerance?
You give so much good instruction in every word and in every act,it is hard to keep track.I still find myself trying to follow instructions given years ago,not being able to catch up on so many lessons given after that.ButYou never make me feel like I have been left behind.
You shower me with undeserved compassion,why is that?
Regretably,I am the one terrible example,amongst an entire family of shining young Vaisnavas You have brought into this world.That's the one thing that sometimes amazes me more than Your exquisite devotional example....:Your outstanding disciples.I long to be able to serve You with the kind of heartfelt love displayed by those disciples.I feel myself to be the wealthiest person in the world in the association of my wonderful Godbrothers and Godsisters.They are continually drowning me in loving exchanges.
How do You bring out so much Bhakti in those disciples?
So as the years go by,my debt to You increases.I cannot possibly repay You.Your Holiness already owns this soul,but like a thief I continue to use this body as my own.Although I am constantly taking from You,and giving little in return-You are constantly giving,and receiving what ever little thing that I give sincerely and with gratitude.
How far does Your mercy extend?
If I can know these mysteries, in the future I will properly be able to honor You on this day.I pray to Their Lordships to help me to understand these mysteries about You.
Thank You for everything you have given me.
Your aspiring servant, Vraja Dhama das
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Vraja Nari devi dasi
Dear Guru Maharaja,
nama o? vi??u-p?d?ya k???a-pre??h?ya bh?-tale ?r?mate devamrita-sv?minn iti n?mine
namas te s?rasvate deve gaura-v???-prac?ri?e nirvi?e?a-??nyav?di-p??c?tya-de?a-t?ri?e
As Parasurama being a brahmana acted as a ksatriya in the Lords service, similarly you became the most expert vaisya and trainer of a whole mercantile class.
Through your mercy the streets of New Zealand became a market place, while you declared it boldly: "It is bargain time!"
What is it that you put on sale and why are you so exited about it?
It is all described in the treasure itself. There it is stated that Lord Caitanya became the gardener of the fruits of love of God. And this very fruits took the shape of books through His divine grace Srila Prabhupada, being tasted by himself they even enhanced their sweet flavor and became easily digestible for the conditioned souls.
As everything in Krishna Consciousness is passed down through the parampara, so you experienced the distress and the anxiety of your beloved spiritual master. The same anxiety Lord Caitanya already experienced, thinking Himself to be unable to distribute this unlimited amount of fruits or books of love of Godhead.
Searching for help to fulfill his divine mission, Srila Prabhupada found you, and who could be more able to do this service for the Lord than you Guru Maharaja?
So many times I've been able to witness how you like the most sophisticated fisherman coughed the little fishes swimming in Maya's dirty, dark well to place them in the ocean of ever increasing ananda.
I've seen how you, like the most expert doctor supplied the sweetness of KC to the from jaundice of material existence suffering living entity.
I could experience how you like the most wonderful artist painted the brightest smile on faces marked with the pain of this world.
Even though I'm unable to experience myself what I described and I have very good reasons to feel horrible and embarrassed when I think about all my inabilities and unimportant problems and reasons to hold back from sacrificing myself for you and your mission.
I pray to the Lord and His dear devotees that your instructions become my very life and soul. What else is there to do for me in this world?
Please forgive me for not being a better disciple.
Sincerely, your aspiring servant, Vraja Nari devi dasi
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Vrndaranya devi dasi
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances, on this most auspicious day of your Vyasa Puja.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Guru Maharaja I feel very happy to once again be able to write an offering to you, even though I certainly lack any qualification to do so. At the same time I feel sorry that these words will not even honour a fraction of your wonderful qualities and pastimes. There are so many, where does one even begin.
I can say for sure that I feel really blessed to have your association in this life time, and to have witnessed your compassion in helping conditioned souls transform from their dark and unfortunate worm like existence, into beautiful, happy transcendental butterflies.
I admire how you sincerely give so much affection and care to your disciples, to see us become Krishna conscious. Once you told me in Wellington, when I was going through a challenging time in my life. You said that no matter what obstacles life throws our way, or challenging situation we may find ourselves in that you would always be there for us.
This, for myself has always proven to be true. Even from when I was a school girl struggling to live a Krishna conscious life style due to inimical parents, and ignorant school friends, you were there to offer helpful guidance and support. You taught me that I could be Krishna conscious under any circumstance.
From living in the Brahmacarini ashram, and now as a house holder you still continue to care. Often you humour my husband and I on your observations of the day to day dealings of husbands and wives, and bless our home when you come to take prasadam there.
Thank you for showing us through your words and activities that the goal of our lives is to develope our love and attraction for Krishnas lotus feet, and to somehow and in some way pass this understanding to others.
Your lowly servant and daughter,
Vrndaranya devi dasi
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Yadu raya das
Dear Guru Maharaja
Please except my humble obeisances on this most auspicious day of your appearance
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Meditating on how i can best glorify you on this most auspicious day, i am again drawn back to what was probably the first time i ever had the good fortune of meeting you at one of your mercy out posts in Wellington, New Zealand.This time i hold to be most precious and need it be said, life changing, actually life saving! As with many others who have benefited from such contact, i was to get a chance to make something of this other wise embarrassing life.
My attraction to you was instant and my foremost thought was, " I want to know what this person knows". I was thinking you seemed very different from everyone else i had come across, in what way i was not really sure , i was simply attracted to you and wanted to learn and hear more from you.
A few years down the track of devotional service i can see what this attraction was based on , Krsna says, " those who are not deluded , the great souls , are under the protection of the divine nature. They are fully engaged in devotional service because they know me as the Supreme personality of godhead, original and inexhaustible".
Even in my ignorance i could understand that what was influencing you, was not in the slightest the same energy that had a grip on the general masses, making being around you an enlivening experience.
To the purport of this verse, Prabhupada explains that the mahatma`s are not under the control of material nature, that his qualification is that he is always surrendered to the all attractive personality of godhead "Sri Krsna", thus the pure devotee is attractive because of his relationship with Krsna.
How else could you do what you do? You have carefully preserved and nurtured what Srila Prabhupada has given and continuing his legacy you selflessly travel enlightening conditioned souls to see the very thing they are looking for, all the while seeking out new challenges to serve lord Caitanya`s mission of inundating the world with Krsna preme .
The mahatma`s are under the guidance of the spiritual nature and because of your efforts we also have protection. The mahatma does not divert his attention to anything outside Krsna and his devotional service , these qualities can be found in you and your relentless endeavor to spread Krsna consciousness.
So much can be gained from from studying you convincing example , just as Rupa gosvami instructs, "one should associate with and faithfully serve that pure devotee who is advanced in undeviated devotional service and whose heart is completely devoid of the propensity to criticize others".
You are allowing us, your sons and daughters, to associate with you through service and you are always engineering ways for us to have such opportunities. Without this service we are simply lost in maya`s kingdom, in this way you are allowing our own faith to develop, giving us the opportunity to free ourselves from the strong grip the material energy has on us.
Prabhupada specifically mentions that faith in Krsna consciousness is developed by association, and your association is just what one needs to develop this faith. Your example of undeviated devotional service is an inspiration and also a mystery, a mystery that is worth working very hard to understand.
Therefore I pray to always have your association, thank you for your gift of Krsna seva
Your servant
Yadu raya das
